Visible-Light-Driven Methanol-To-Ethanol Conversion via Carbene Pathway by Frustrated Lewis Pairs.

Carbenes are critical intermediates in organic chemistry, recognized for their exceptional reactivity and versatility. However, conventional methods for carbene generation are often associated with safety risks and hazardous procedures. This study presents a Ga-ZnO nanosheets photocatalyst with a (100) preferred orientation, featuring abundant refined frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) sites, excellent light absorption, and efficient charge transport properties.

Artificial Carbon Neutrality Through Aprotic CO Splitting.

Global climate change mitigation necessitates global efforts to reduce CO emissions. Natural photosynthesis exemplifies an ingenious approach to carbon neutrality, converting CO into O and glucose through light and dark reactions. Inspired by the hydrogen-involved processes in photosynthesis, an aprotic electrochemical strategy for CO splitting into O and carbon using lithium as a reducing mediator is presented.

Boosting Li-CO Battery Performance via High-Entropy Alloy Catalysts: Insights into Configurational Entropy Effect.

Li-CO batteries have attracted considerable attention for their ability to combine CO fixation and conversion with high-density energy storage. However, sluggish kinetics of CO reduction and evolution reactions at cathodes lead to large overpotentials and poor cyclic stability. To address this issue, it is critical to develop advanced cathode catalysts.

Optimizing Formation Energy Barrier of NiCo-LDH Cocatalyst to Enhance Photoelectrochemical Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation.

Using organic oxidation reactions to replace the oxygen evolution reaction is a promising approach for producing high-value organic products and hydrogen. Here, we report a photoelectrochemical benzyl alcohol oxidation system based on an α-FeO photoanode coated with a NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) cocatalyst. By adjustment of the relative content of Ni and Co in the NiCo-LDH, the optimized photoanode achieved a benzyl alcohol conversion efficiency of 99.

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer in Photoelectrochemical Alcohol Oxidation Enhanced by Nickel-Based Cocatalysts.

Using biomass oxidation reactions instead of water oxidation reactions is optimal for accomplishing biomass conversion and effective hydrogen generation. Here, we report that α-FeO photoanodes with a NiOOH cocatalyst exhibit excellent performance for photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The conversion efficiency for HMF reaches 98.

Thermal and Combustion Properties of Biomass-Based Flame-Retardant Polyurethane Foams Containing P and N.

Biomass has been widely used due to its environmental friendliness, sustainability, and low toxicity. In this study, aminophosphorylated cellulose (PNC), a biomass flame retardant containing phosphorus and nitrogen, was synthesized by esterification from cellulose and introduced into polyurethane to prepare flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foam. The combustion properties of the PU and PU/PNC composites were studied using the limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94, and cone calorimeter (CCT) methods.

Highly Efficient Phosphazene-Derivative-Based Flame Retardant with Comprehensive and Enhanced Fire Safety and Mechanical Performance for Polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate (PC) as a widely used engineering plastic that shows disadvantages of flammability and large smoke production during combustion. Although many flame-retardant PCs have been developed, most of them show enhanced flame retardancy but poor smoke suppression or worsened mechanical performance. In this work, a novel nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur synergistic flame retardant (Pc-FR) was synthesized and incorporated into PC with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

A Rechargeable "Rocking Chair" Type Zn-CO Battery.

Rising global temperatures and critical energy shortages have spurred researches into CO fixation and conversion within the realm of energy storage such as Zn-CO batteries. However, traditional Zn-CO batteries employ double-compartment electrolytic cells with separate carriers for catholytes and anolytes, diverging from the "rocking chair" battery mechanism. The specific energy of these conventional batteries is constrained by the solubility of discharge reactants/products in the electrolyte.

Integrating Lithium Sulfide as a Single Ionic Conductor Interphase for Stable All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

As a very prospective solid-state electrolyte, LiGePS (LGPS) exhibits high ionic conductivity comparable to liquid electrolytes. However, severe self-decomposition and Li dendrite propagation of LGPS will be triggered due to the thermodynamic incompatibility with Li metal anode. Herein, by adopting a facile chemical vapor deposition method, an artificial solid electrolyte interphase composed of LiS is proposed as a single ionic conductor to promote the interface stability of LGPS toward Li.

Recent Advances in Ammonia Synthesis: From Haber-Bosch Process to External Field Driven Strategies.

Ammonia, a pivotal chemical feedstock and a potential hydrogen energy carrier, demands efficient synthesis as a key step in its utilization. The traditional Haber-Bosch process, known for its high energy consumption, has spurred researchers to seek ammonia synthesis under milder conditions. Advances in surface science and characterization technologies have deepened our understanding of the microscopic reaction mechanisms of ammonia synthesis.

Boosting a practical Li-CO battery through dimerization reaction based on solid redox mediator.

Li-CO batteries offer a promising avenue for converting greenhouse gases into electricity. However, the inherent challenge of direct electrocatalytic reduction of inert CO often results in the formation of LiCO, causing a dip in output voltage and energy efficiency. Our innovative approach involves solid redox mediators, affixed to the cathode via a Cu(II) coordination compound of benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid.

Machine-Learning Enhanced Enantioselective Single-Shot-Single-Molecule ac Stark Spectroscopy.

Enantiodiscrimination with single-molecule and single-shot resolution is fundamental for the understanding of the fate and behavior of two enantiomers in chemical reactions, biological activity, and the function of drugs. However, molecular decoherence gives rise to spectral broadening and random errors, offering major problems for most chiroptical methods in arriving at single-shot-single-molecule resolution. Here, we introduce a machine-learning strategy to solve these problems.

Bifunctional electrolyte additive MgI for improving cycle life in high-efficiency redox-mediated Li-O batteries.

Here, MgI is introduced as a bifunctional self-defense redox mediator into dimethyl sulfoxide-based Li-O batteries. During charging, I is first oxidized to I, which facilitates the decomposition of LiO, and thus reduces overpotential. In addition, Mg spontaneously reacts with the Li anode to form a very stable SEI layer containing MgO, which can resist the synchronous attack by the soluble I and improve the interface stability between the Li anode and the electrolyte.

Trifunctional imidazolium bromide: a high-efficiency redox mediator for high-performance Li-O batteries.

In this work, 1-aminopropyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (APMImBr) is introduced in dimethyl sulfoxide-based Li-O batteries. The Br functions as a redox mediator to catalyze the decomposition of the LiO products. Meanwhile, the APMIm serves as a scavenging agent for superoxide radicals as well as protects the lithium metal anodes an formed LiN-rich solid electrolyte interface layer.

Li-intercalated CeO as an ideal substrate for boosting ammonia synthesis.

We present a Li-intercalated-CeO catalyst that exhibits outstanding activity for ammonia synthesis. The incorporation of Li significantly reduces the activation energy and suppresses hydrogen poisoning of the Ru co-catalysts. As a result, the lithium intercalation enables the catalyst to achieve ammonia production from N and H at substantially lower operating temperatures.

Dual-Signal Triple-Mode Optical Sensing Platform for Assisting in the Diagnosis of Kidney Disorders.

As known biomarkers of kidney diseases, -acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) and β-galactosidase (β-GAL) are of great importance for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The feasibility of using multiplex sensing methods to simultaneously report the outcome of the two enzymes in the same sample is even more alluring. Herein, we establish a simple sensing platform for the concurrent detection of NAG and β-GAL using silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) as a fluorescent indicator synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal route.

Binuclear Cu complex catalysis enabling Li-CO battery with a high discharge voltage above 3.0 V.

Li-CO batteries possess exceptional advantages in using greenhouse gases to provide electrical energy. However, these batteries following LiCO-product route usually deliver low output voltage (<2.5 V) and energy efficiency.

A Bridge-Linked Phosphorus-Containing Flame Retardant for Endowing Vinyl Ester Resin with Low Fire Hazard.

The high flammability of vinyl ester resin (VE) significantly limits its widespread application in the fields of electronics and aerospace. A new phosphorus-based flame retardant 6,6'-(1-phenylethane-1,2 diyl) bis (dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide) (PBDOO), was synthesized using 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and acetophenone. The synthesized PBDOO was further incorporated with VE to form the VE/PBDOO composites, which displayed an improved flame retardancy with higher thermal stability.

Biomass-derived polyphosphazene toward simultaneously enhancing the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy resins.

As one of the most widely used polymers, the intrinsic brittleness and high flammability bring about a stringent requirement for the practical application of epoxy resins (EPs). It is difficult to toughen EP without compromising its mechanical and thermal properties for many conventional toughening agents. Here, a novel furan-derived bio-based polyphosphazene (PFMP) with a flexible backbone and rigid side groups was prepared by the nucleophilic substitution reaction between polydichlorophosphazene (PDCP) and furfuralcohol.

A fluorescence probe based on carbon dots for determination of dopamine utilizing its self-polymerization.

A rapid and sensitive strategy for sensing dopamine (DA) was proposed based on the fluorescence quenching effects of polydopamine (PDA) on carbon dots (CDs). The green-emission fluorescence CDs were synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal approach by employing p-phenylenediamine and ethanol as reagents. In alkaline environments, DA would polymerize to form PDA on surface of CDs, resulting in the fluorescence quenching of the detection system owing to the effects of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FERT) and inner filter effect (IFE).

Branched poly(ethylenimine) carbon dots-MnO nanosheets based fluorescent sensory system for sensing of malachite green in fish samples.

Malachite green (MG) is an organic dye compound that is frequently used as a fungicide and antiseptic in aquaculture. However, human or animal exposure to MG causes carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic effects. Herein, a novel fluorescent assay was designed for the detection of MG using manganese dioxide nanosheets (MnO NS) as an energy acceptor to quench the fluorescence of branched poly(ethylenimine) carbon dots (BPEI-CDs) via Förster resonance energy transfer.

Reversible fluorescent test strip with red fluorescent carbon dots for monitoring water in organic solvents: Visual detection via a smartphone.

Herein, a novel type of red-emitting carbon dots called TN-CDs was created via a one-step hydrothermal approach using neutral red and tartaric acid as raw materials. The fluorescence of TN-CDs was gradually quenched as the amount of water increased, and the color of the solution changed from yellow to pink mauve (or purple to pink). The reaction could be completed within only 5 s in various organic solvents such as N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), methanol (MeOH), acetonitrile (ACN), and ethanol (EtOH) with linear detection ranges of 1.

Ultrabright silicon nanoparticle fluorescence probe for sensitive detection of cholesterol in human serum.

A highly sensitive fluorescence-based assay for cholesterol detection was developed using water-dispersible green-emitting silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) as a fluorescence indicator and enzyme-catalyzed oxidation product PPDox (Bandrowski's base) as a quencher. The SiNPs were facilely synthesized via a simple, one-step hydrothermal treatment using 3-[2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethylamino]propyl-trimethoxysilane (AEEA) as the silicon source, which has ultrahigh quantum yield and low phototoxicity. Under the catalysis of cholesterol oxidase (ChOx), hydrogen peroxide (HO) was generated as a result of cholesterol oxidation.

A universal sensing platform based on iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots for detecting hydrogen peroxide and related metabolites in human fluid by ratiometric fluorometry and colorimetry.

A universal ratiometric fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode sensing platform for detecting hydrogen peroxide (HO) and related metabolites in human fluid was constructed based on iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (Fe/N-CDs). As a fluorescent nanomaterial with peroxidase-like property, Fe/N-CDs emits fluorescence at 449 nm (F) under excitation of incident ultraviolet light, and can catalyze the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) by HO for generating 2,3-diaminophenazine (oxOPD) that exhibits obvious absorption at 420 nm (A) and fluorescence emission at 555 nm (F). The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between Fe/N-CDs and oxOPD would result in the fluorescence quenching Fe/N-CDs and the fluorescence enhancement of oxOPD, which facilitates the quantitation of oxOPD by ratiometric fluorometry.