Construction of ZnAl LDH-Derived Sulfides with Etching Modification to Trigger Photocatalytic H Production and Degradation Oxidation.

Constructing novel functional photocatalysts represents a promising approach to optimize the energy band structure and facilitate the separation of photogenerated carriers. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) exhibit notable advantages in photocatalysis due to the exceptional photoelectrochemical properties and elevated number of active surface atoms. However, an unsuitable band gap and limited carrier migration have inhibited their development in photocatalysis.

F-free etching and ingenious construction of hydrogel layer-prepared MXene membranes for oily wastewater separation.

A strategy for the preparation of hydrogel layer MXene membranes by an F-free method was proposed. It maintained high permeance (2686.1 L m h bar) and separation efficiency (99.

Cracked-earth-like titanium carbide MXene membranes with abundant hydroxyl groups for oil-in-water emulsion separation.

Membrane separation technology is one of the best methods to deal with wastewater released from oil spills and industrial wastewater. Therefore, we designed and prepared hydroxyl-rich titanium carbide MXene materials and filtered them onto a commercial polyvinylidene fluoride substrate membrane to obtain a cracked-earth-like MXene membrane with abundant hydroxyl groups and excellent underwater wettability. The underwater oil contact and sliding angles were approximately 157° and less than 3°, respectively.

A Critical Review on Black Phosphorus-Based Photocatalytic CO Reduction Application.

Energy shortages and greenhouse effects are two unavoidable problems that need to be solved. Photocatalytically converting CO into a series of valuable chemicals is considered to be an effective means of solving the above dilemmas. Among these photocatalysts, the utilization of black phosphorus for CO photocatalytic reduction deserves a lightspot not only for its excellent catalytic activity through different reaction routes, but also on account of the great preponderance of this relatively cheap catalyst.

The construction of NiFeS/g-CN composites with high photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of refractory pollutants.

In this work, a novel NiFe layered double hydroxide-derived sulfide (NiFeSx)-modified g-C3N4 nanosheet photocatalyst (NiFeSx/g-C3N4) was synthesized, and its morphology, structure and visible light absorption capacity were simultaneously characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XPS, UV-Vis DRS, PL techniques and EIS Nyquist plots. Furthermore, it was discovered that at an optimum mass ratio of 3% (NiFeSx to g-C3N4), 3% NiFeSx/g-C3N4 composites exhibited the best degradation efficiency toward tetracycline hydrochloride refractory pollutants. The degradation rate of tetracycline hydrochloride by 3% NiFeSx/g-C3N4 composites was 92.

Recent progress on removal of indoor air pollutants by catalytic oxidation.

Indoor air pollutant is a serious problem due to its wide diversity and variability. The harmful substances from construction materials and decorative materials may make the indoor air pollution become more and more serious and cause serious health problems. In this paper, the review summarizes the advanced technologies for the removal of indoor air pollutants and the development in the treatment of indoor air pollution by catalytic oxidation technologies.

The Roles and Working Mechanism of Salt-Type Additives on the Performance of High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries.

In this work, we study the effects of three salt-type additives, particularly lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB), lithium difluoro(bisoxalato)phosphate (LiDFBP), and lithium difluorophosphate (LiPOF) on the charging capacity and elevated temperature performance of high-voltage LiNiCoMnO and graphite. These salt-type additives possess different functional groups and thus they perform differently; therefore, it is especially important to investigate the impact of functional group on the electrochemical properties. The experimental results show that the three additives modify the interface of positive cathode or anode.

Highly-sensitive and selective determination of bisphenol A in milk samples based on self-assembled graphene nanoplatelets-multiwalled carbon nanotube-chitosan nanostructure.

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) and chitosan (CS) were self-assembled by a facile one-step hydrothermal reaction to obtain novel MWCNTs-CS enfolded GNPs (GNPs-MWCNTs-CS) composite. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy and zeta potential analysis were employed to characterize the morphology, surface composition, interaction, surface charge and stability of the GNPs-MWCNTs-CS composite. The electrochemical behaviors of GNPs-MWCNTs-CS composite modified glassy carbon electrode (GNPs-MWCNTs-CS/GCE) were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Three-dimensional porous graphene oxide-maize amylopectin composites with controllable pore-sizes and good adsorption-desorption properties: Facile fabrication and reutilization, and the adsorption mechanism.

Three-dimensional (3D) porous graphene oxide-maize amylopectin (GO-MA) composites with controllable pore-sizes composites in the range of 6-40 nm were prepared by facile hydrothermal-assisted assembly approaches. The morphologies, pore sizes, specific surface area (SSA) and compositions of GO-MA composites with and different GO-to-MA mass ratios (x:y) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To reveal the adsorption-desorption mechanism, effects of contact time, temperature, initial adsorbate concentration, pH value of the solution on the adsorption process were studied in detail.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on self-assembled platinum nanochains - Multi-walled carbon nanotubes-graphene nanoparticles composite for simultaneous determination of dopamine and ascorbic acid.

In this study, platinum nanochains (PtNCs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanoparticles (GNPs) were assembled together to form a novel nanocomposite by a facile ultrasonic-assisted blending process. The PtNCs-MWCNTs-GNPs nanocomposite was characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The nanocomposite was used for the modification of glass carbon electrode (GCE) and simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and cycle voltammetry (CV).

A novel electrochemical chiral interface based on the synergistic effect of polysaccharides for the recognition of tyrosine enantiomers.

Electrochemical chiral interface based on two polysaccharides, soluble starch (SS) and chitosan (CS), was fabricated and used for chiral recognition of tyrosine (Tyr) enantiomers via square wave voltammetry (SWV). The SS-CS composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the oxidation peak current ratio of L-Tyr to D-Tyr (I/I) and the difference between the peak potential (ΔEp = E - E) were observed to be 1.

Novel high-gluten flour physically cross-linked graphene oxide composites: Hydrothermal fabrication and adsorption properties for rare earth ions.

Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were immobilized and cross-linked by high-gluten flour (HGF), and a series of biomass-GO composites with various HGF-to-GO mass ratios were fabricated through a one-step hydrothermal method. The HGF-GO composites were used as novel adsorbents to adsorb rare earth ions (REE: La, Yb, Y, Er and Nd) from aqueous solutions, and their adsorption properties were also investigated detailly. To evaluate the physicochemical properties of HGF-GO composites and further understand the mechanisms of adsorption of REE onto HGF-GO composites, the HGF-GO composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA), Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.

Solvothermal Synthesis of Cs WO /LDHs Composite as a Novel Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalyst.

A novel Cs WO /LDHs (CWLDH) composite was synthesized by simple two steps solvothermal method and first investigated as the photocatalyst for tetracycline (TC) and Congo red (CR) degradation under visible light irradiation. The CWLDH heterostructures catalysts were characterized by XRD, UV-Vis, SEM, XPS and BET. The composite CWLDH showed enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with pure Cs WO and NiAl-LDH under identical experimental conditions.

Enantioselective extraction of phenylsuccinic acid in aqueous two-phase systems based on acetone and β-cyclodextrin derivative: Modeling and optimization through response surface methodology.

A novel aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) derivative and acetone was developed for enantioselective extraction of racemic phenylsuccinic acid (PSA). Binodal curves, tie-lines, and critical points for the investigated ATPS were determined and the experimental tie-lines data were successfully correlated by Othmer-Tobias, Bancroft, and Setschenow-type equations. ATPS containing sulfobutyl ether-β-CD (SBE-β-CD) exhibited better enantioselectivity than that using carboxymethyl-β-CD (CM-β-CD).

Removal of mercury by adsorption: a review.

Due to natural and production activities, mercury contamination has become one of the major environmental problems over the world. Mercury contamination is a serious threat to human health. Among the existing technologies available for mercury pollution control, the adsorption process can get excellent separation effects and has been further studied.

A novel and label-free biosensors for uracil-DNA glycosylase activity based on the electrochemical oxidation of guanine bases at the graphene modified electrode.

Uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG) as an important base excision repair enzymes is widely distributed in organism, and it plays a crucial role in sustaining the genome integrity. Therefore, it is significant to carry out the analysis of UDG activity. In this present work, a novel and label-free electrochemical sensing platform for the sensitive detection of uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG) activity has been developed.

Sensitive characterization of polyphenolic antioxidants in Polygonatum odoratum by selective solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

The complexity of natural products always leads to the co-elution of interfering compounds with bioactive compounds, which then has a detrimental effect on structural elucidation. Here, a new method, based on selective solid phase extraction combined with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) spiking and high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS/MS), is described for sensitive screening, selective extraction and identification of polyphenolic antioxidants in Polygonatum odoratum. First, 25 polyphenolic antioxidants (1-25) were screened by DPPH spiking with HPLC.

Graphene nanosheets as novel adsorbents in adsorption, preconcentration and removal of gases, organic compounds and metal ions.

Due to their high adsorption capacities, carbon-based nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, activated carbons, fullerene and graphene are widely used as the currently most promising functional materials. Since its discovery in 2004, graphene has exhibited great potential in many technological fields, such as energy storage materials, supercapacitors, resonators, quantum dots, solar cells, electronics, and sensors. The large theoretical specific surface area of graphene nanosheets (2630 m(2)·g(-1)) makes them excellent candidates for adsorption technologies.

Sustained release of naproxen in a new kind delivery system of carbon nanotubes hydrogel.

In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added into chitosan (CS) hydrogels in the form of chitosan modified CNTs (CS-CNTs) composites to prepare carbon nanotubes hydrogels (CNTs-GEL). The products, named CS-MWCNTs, were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Swelling properties and effect of pH on controlled release performance of the two kinds of hydrogels, CNTs- GEL and pure chitosan hydrogels without CNTs (GEL), were investigated respectively.

Hemodialysis membranes for acute and chronic renal insufficiency.

As an incomplete renal replacement for the patients with either acute or chronic renal failure, membrane-based hemodialysis therapy is progressing rapidly. However, the mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high. Much effort has been put into improving the biocompatibility of the hemodialysis membranes.

Irradiation-mediated carbon nanotubes' use in cancer therapy.

Anticancer drugs such as biological therapeutic proteins and peptides are used for treatment of a variety of tumors. However, their wider use has been hindered by their poor bioavailability and the uncontrollable sites of action in vivo. Cancer nano-therapeutics is rapidly progressing, which is being applied for solving some limitations of conventional drug delivery systems.

Enantioseparation of racemic mixtures based on solvent sublation.

A method of solvent sublation was developed for the enantioseparation of racemic ofloxacin (rac Oflx) and racemic tryptophan (rac Trp). In this method, dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid (L-DBTA) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS) were used as chiral coextractants and foamer, respectively. Several important parameters influencing the separation performances, such as pH in aqueous phase, concentrations of rac mixtures, L-DBTA, D2EHPA, and SDS, were investigated.

[Resolution of clenbuterol hydrochloride enantiomers by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel impregnated with beta-cyclodextrin].

The resolution of clenbuterol hydrochloride enantiomers was achieved by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel GF254 plates impregnated w ith beta-cyclodextrin. The effect of stereoselective auxiliary (acetonitrile and alcohol) was investigated. Resolution of clenbuterol hydrochloride enantiomers could be attained by using alcohols of butanol, 2-butanol or tert-butanol together with acetonitrile as developing solvent.