Regarding the importance of the biological effects of nanomaterials, there is still limited knowledge about the binding structure and stability of the protein corona on nanomaterials and the subsequent impacts. Here we designed a hard serum albumin protein corona (BSA) on CTAB-coated gold nanorods (AuNRs) and captured the structure of protein adsorption using synchrotron radiation X-ray absorption spectroscopy, microbeam X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy, and circular dichroism in combination with molecular dynamics simulations. The protein adsorption is attributed to at least 12 Au-S bonds and the stable corona reduced the cytotoxicity of CTAB/AuNRs. These combined strategies using physical, chemical, and biological approaches will improve our understanding of the protective effects of protein coronas against the toxicity of nanomaterials. These findings have shed light on a new strategy for studying interactions between proteins and nanomaterials, and this information will help further guide the rational design of nanomaterials for safe and effective biomedical applications.

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A novel nanostructure of perpendicular ultrathin MoSe2 nanosheets directly grown on graphene was produced by a facile hydrothermal method in the presence of CTAB. The vertically-oriented and ultrathin MoSe2 nanosheets distribute uniformly on the surface of graphene, and the nanosheets are typically 2-3 layers, which is confirmed by TEM and red shift of the A1g Raman peak. In comparison with pure MoSe2 and MoSe2 nanospheres on graphene, vertically oriented MoSe2 nanosheets on graphene show enhanced organic dye adsorption ability and photocatalytic performance in the degradation of MB, RhB and MO under dark conditions and visible light irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic activity may be contributed by the unique perpendicular MoSe2 nanosheets with fully exposed active edges and hybridized with graphene for reduced electron-hole pair recombination.

Sodium ion batteries are one of most promising alternatives to lithium ion batteries for large-scale energy storage, due to the high abundance and low cost of sodium in the earth. However, the lack of advanced electrode materials greatly affects their applications. Here, layeredstructure SbPO 4 is explored as an anode material for sodium ion batteries in terms of SbPO 4 nanorods on reduced graphene oxide (SbPO 4 /rGO). In situ transmission electron microscopy images reveal the preferential expansion along the transverse direction of the nanorods upon the first discharging, which arises from the reduction of SbPO 4 to Sb and the subsequent alloying of Sb as supported by in situ X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns. SbPO 4 /rGO exhibits a capacity retention of 99% after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g −1 both in half cells and in full cells. Its specific capacity at 5 A g −1 is 214 mA h g −1 in half cells or 134 mA h g −1 in full cells. Moreover, the energy density of the full cells at 1.2 kW kg −1 total is still 99.8 W h kg −1 total , very promising as an advanced electrode material.