The Electrocatalytic Role of Oxygen Vacancy in Nitrate Reduction Reactions.

Ammonia, with high energy density and easy transportation, holds significant potential to become an integral part of future energy systems. Among tremendous strategies, electrocatalytic ammonia production is no doubt an efficient and eco-friendly method. One particularly intriguing class of electrocatalysts for reducing nitrate to ammonia is transition metal oxides, which have been heavily researched.

From salt water to bioceramics: Mimic nature through pressure-controlled hydration and crystallization.

Modern synthetic technology generally invokes high temperatures to control the hydration level of ceramics, but even the state-of-the-art technology can still only control the overall hydration content. Magically, natural organisms can produce bioceramics with tailorable hydration profiles and crystallization traits solely from amorphous precursors under physiological conditions. To mimic the biomineralization tactic, here, we report pressure-controlled hydration and crystallization in fabricated ceramics, solely from the amorphous precursors of purely inorganic gels (PIGs) synthesized from biocompatible aqueous solutions with most common ions in organisms (Ca, Mg, CO, and PO).

Fluorescent Biomass-Based Platform for Detection of ClO in Cells and Water-Soluble Systems.

The generation and presence of excessive hypochlorous acid derivative ionic form (ClO) could cause various diseases, such as arteriosclerosis, DNA damage, and cardiovascular illness. It is a critical need to develop a highly sensitive sensor for reliable detection of ClO in cells and water-soluble systems. In this work, a hydroxyl group has been introduced into the compound 2-amino-3-(((E)-4-(2-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl)-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-6-yl)benzylidene)amino)maleonitrile (NDC) to increase its solubility in water, at the same time, the hydrazone unit was designed as a specific recognition group for the "off-on" fluorescence probe of ClO.

Orbital Coupling of PbO Node in Single-Crystal Metal-Organic Framework Enhances Li-O Battery Electrocatalysis.

Optimizing the local coordination environment of metal centers in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is crucial challenging for regulating the overpotential of lithium-oxygen (Li-O) batteries. Herein, we report the synthesis of a class of PbO nodes in a single crystal MOF (naphthalene-lead-MOF, known as Na-Pb-MOF) to significantly enhance the kinetics of both discharge and charge processes. Compared to the PbO node in the single-crystal tetramethoxy-lead-MOF (4OMe-Pb-MOF), the bond length between Pb and O in the PbO node of Na-Pb-MOF increases, resulting in weaker Pb 5d-O 2p orbital coupling, which optimizes the adsorption interaction toward intermediates, and thereby promotes the rate-determining steps of both the reduction of LiO to LiO and the oxidation of LiO to O for reducing the activation energy of the overall reaction.

Hydrogen-bond activated ESIPT in naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe for sensing volatile amines.

Amines levels present important indicative value in food safety and human health. Although they are involved in some normal physiological responses of the organism, their overproduction or intake may cause pathological responses. Herein, we report a recyclable visual packaging bag for volatile amines detections based on the naphthylamide derivative N-S and its positive PL characteristics.

An o-hydroxyl aldehyde structure based naphthalimide derivative: Reversible photochromic properties and its application in ClO detection in living cells.

A bifunctional organic compound 2-butyl-6-hydroxy-1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[de] isoquinoline-5-carbaldehyde (BHC) with photochromic properties in solid state and probe detection for ClO in complete water solution was synthesized and fully characterized. A 'white-yellow-white' reversible photochromic behavior could be observed when alternating UV/vis light irradiation on the solid BHC powder. Good fatigue resistance and adjustable bleaching rate were shown when heating conditions changes.

Synthesis, crystal structure and aggregation-induced emission of a new pyrene-based compound, 3,3-diphenyl-2-[4-(pyren-1-yl)phen-yl]acrylo-nitrile.

The title organic compound, CHN, crystallizing in the triclinic space group [Formula: see text], has been designed, synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffaction, MS, NMR and elemental analysis. There are alternating relatively strong and weak intermolecular π-π interactions between adjacent pyrene ring systems, forming a one-dimensional supramolecular structure. The compound is weakly fluorescent in THF solution, but it is highly emissive in the condensed phase, revealing distinct aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics.

A series of 4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrene-based tetraarylethenes: synthesis, structures and solid-state emission behavior.

By controlling the number of 4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrene segments around the tetraarylethene core, a series of 4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrene-based tetraarylethenes were synthesized and structurally characterized. An aggregation-induced emission (AIE) study indicated that all the compounds are AIE active: they are weak emitters in good solvents but highly emissive in the condensed phase, and hence are potential solid-state emitters. Their optical properties, electrochemical properties and theoretical calculations were investigated, and the results prove that the π-conjugation degree of these compounds increases with the increasing number of 4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrene units.