Decorating Channel Walls in Metal-Organic Frameworks with Crown Ethers for Efficient and Selective Separation of Radioactive Strontium(II).

Nuclear accidents and the improper disposal of nuclear wastes have led to serious environmental radioactive pollutions. The rational design of adsorbents for the highly efficient separation of strontium(II) is essential in treating nuclear waste and recovering radioactive strontium resources. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are potential materials for the separation of aqueous metal ions owing to their designable structure and tunable functionality.

HIVEP3 inhibits fate decision of CD8+ invariant NKT cells after positive selection.

CD8+ invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are functionally different from other iNKT cells and are enriched in human but not in mouse. To date, their developmental pathway and molecular basis for fate decision remain unclear. Here, we report enrichment of CD8+ iNKT cells in neonatal mice due to their more rapid maturation kinetics than CD8- iNKT cells.

Protocol for optical detection of iodide ions in aqueous environments using a zirconium(IV)-enhanced strategy.

Detection of radioactive iodide ions (I) is important for protecting human beings from the hazards of radioactive pollution. Herein, we present a protocol for detecting I using a zirconium(IV)-enhanced strategy. We describe steps for optimizing the I detection approach, establishing standard curves, and finally applying the approach.

Vam6 reduces iNKT cell function in tumor modulating AMPK/mTOR pathways.

Activation of mTORC1 is essential for anti-tumor function of iNKT cells. The mechanisms underlying impaired mTORC1 activation in intratumoral iNKT cells remain unclear. Via generating mice and using flow cytometry, image approach, and RNA sequencing, we studied the role of Vam6 in controlling mTORC1 activation and intratumoral iNKT cell functions.

Ultrafast Luminescent Light-Up Guest Detection Based on the Lock of the Host Molecular Vibration.

Light-up luminescence sensors have been employed in real-time visual detection of target molecules including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, currently employed light-up sensors, which are generally based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) or solvent-induced energy transfer effect, exhibit limited sensitivity for light-up detection and poor recycling performances thereby significantly hindering their industrial applications. Inspired by the low-temperature enhanced luminescence phenomenon, we herein propose and show that a guest-lock-induced luminescence enhancement mechanism can be used to realize the ultrafast light-up detection of target VOCs.

The solvent-induced isomerization of silver thiolate clusters with symmetry transformation.

A novel ligand-stabilized Ag12 nanocluster was synthesized as a model cluster to investigate the solvent-induced isomerization of Ag12 clusters. Another two novel Ag12 clusters as well as their related symmetry transformations were also successfully obtained through the above solvent-induced isomerization process.

Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes of a PNN Type Ligand as Photoenhanced Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Hydrogen will be an important energy vector of the future, and improved efficiency in electrohydrolysis will accelerate this transition. In a fundamental study, we have prepared Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of a new PNN type ligand -((diphenylphosphanyl)methyl)-2-amino-1,10-phenanthroline () incorporating the photoactive 1,10-phenanthroline group and the strongly coordinating diphenylphosphine to obtain photoelectrochemical (PEC) catalysts [Co()(NO)] () and [Ni()Cl]Cl () which catalyzed the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media (1 M KOH). Overpotentials (η) of 430 () and 364 mV () could be reduced to 345 () and 284 mV () under Xe light irradiation.

A cationic [AgS] cluster-based 2D coordination polymer and its dye composite with enhanced photocurrent and dielectric responses.

A cationic two-dimensional coordination polymer sustained by a [AgS] cluster secondary building unit has been prepared from a stepwise solid-state reaction. This coordination polymer is capable of associating the anionic dye Congo Red, yielding a composite material that exhibits improved photocurrent and dielectric responses as compared to the pristine polymer.

Preparation of carbon-based AuAg alloy nanoparticles by using the heterometallic [AuAg] cluster for efficient oxidative coupling of anilines.

We herein report the preparation of unique heteroatom-doped and carbon-based AuAg alloy nanoparticles (NPs) via the pyrolysis of a structurally defined octanuclear heterometallic Au(i)-Ag(i) cluster [Au4Ag4(Dppy)4(Tab)4(MeCN)4](PF6)8 (2, Dppy = diphenylphosphine-2-pyridine and Tab = 4-(trimethylammonio)benzenethiolate). This cluster-precursor approach exerts a fine control over the spatial arrangement, size and uniformity of the AuAg alloy NPs as well as the doped heteroatoms (P, N, F and S). The optimized material prepared at 450 °C efficiently catalyzes the oxidative coupling of anilines to yield azobenzenes under mild conditions.