Carbon dots (CDs) are a kind of zero-dimensional carbon-based nanoparticles with superb light-trapping ability, high optical absorption ability, and superior intrinsic catalytic activity. Due to these advantageous properties, they have received enthusiastic attention from researchers in the field of optical devices. The application of carbon dots in dye-sensitized solar cells has increased with steady steps recently, especially as a substitute for precious Ru-sensitizers and Pt counter electrodes. In this review, we classified the application of carbon dots in dye-sensitized solar cells in recent years and explained the mechanisms of improving the performance of carbon dots. The significant impact of surface functionalization of CDs on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells was discussed. Lastly, some challenges and application prospects of carbon dots in the dye-sensitized solar cell were proposed, which is meaningful for the further exploration and application of carbon dots as a new energy material.

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Electrospun nanofibers with superior performance have attracted widespread attention from researchers due to their extensive application in biomedical materials, filtration, catalysis, and so forth. However, the low mechanical properties, such as elongation at breaking strength and tensile strength, restrict the application of the nanofibers in many aspects. This article describes the recent progress in improving the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibrous membranes. At present, methods to increase the mechanical strength of nanofibers are mainly based on the introduction of appropriate polymer materials, improvements in spinning parameters, and post-treatment. Herein, the principle, advantages, and disadvantages of those methods in depth are described. Finally, the research on enhancing the mechanical properties of electrospun nanofibrous membranes and their future development is being discussed.

Ammonium transporter (AMT) proteins have been reported in many plants, but no comprehensive analysis was performed in wheat. In this study, we identified 23 AMT members (hereafter TaAMTs) using a protein homology search in wheat genome. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that TaAMT1;1a, TaAMT1;1b, and TaAMT1;3a were relatively more highly expressed in comparison with other TaAMTs. TaAMT1;1a, TaAMT1;1b, and TaAMT1;3a-GFP were localized in the plasma membrane in tobacco leaves, and TaAMT1;1a, TaAMT1;1b, and TaAMT1;3a successfully complemented a yeast 31019b strain in which ammonium uptake was deficient. In addition, the expression of TaAMT1;1b in an Arabidopsis AMT quadruple mutant (qko) successfully restored NH4+ uptake ability. Resupply of NH4+ rapidly increased cellular NH4+ contents and suppressed expression of TaAMT1;3a, but not of TaAMT;1;1a and TaAMT1;1b expressions. Expression of TaAMT1;1a, TaAMT1;1b, and TaAMT1;3a was not changed in leaves after NH4+ resupply. In contrast, nitrogen (N) deprivation induced TaAMT1;1a, TaAMT1;1b, and TaAMT1;3a gene expressions in the roots and leaves. Expression analysis in the leaves of the stem rust-susceptible wheat line “Little Club” and the rust-tolerant strain “Mini 2761” revealed that TaAMT1;1a, TaAMT1;1b, and TaAMT1;3a were specifically induced in the former but not in the latter. Rust-susceptible wheat plants grown under N-free conditions exhibited a lower disease index than plants grown with NH4+ as the sole N source in the medium after infection with Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, suggesting that NH4+ and its transport may facilitate the infection of wheat stem rust disease. Our findings may be important for understanding the potential function TaAMTs in wheat plants.