Conjugated Phthalocyanine-Based Mesoporous Covalent Organic Frameworks for Efficient Anodic Lithium Storage.

Organic anode materials have been recognized as promising candidates for low-cost and sustainable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which however suffer from the inferior cycling stability and low conductivity with unsatisfactory LIBs performance. Herein, two conjugated phthalocyanine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs), namely CoPc-Ph-COF and CoPc-3Ph-COF, are synthesized by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of hexafluorophthalocyanine cobalt (II) (CoPcF) with 1,2,4,5-tetrahydroxybenzene and 9,10-dimethyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyanthracene, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy analysis reveal the crystalline porous structure of both COFs with a pore size of 1.

Vacancy-rich NiFe-LDH/carbon paper as a novel self-supporting electrode for the electro-Fenton degradation of polyvinyl chloride microplastics.

Electrochemically upcycling polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into high-value small molecules represents a sustainable strategy for mitigating plastic pollution. Herein, a cost-effective self-supporting electrode with abundant vacancies, i.e.

Facile one-step synthesis of a WO/ZnWO heterojunction modified using ZnFe LDH enhances the PEC water splitting efficiency.

Photoelectrochemical water splitting represents a promising approach for directly converting solar energy into green hydrogen, offering a potential solution to the challenges of energy shortages and environmental pollution. In this work, a WO/ZnWO binary heterojunction was synthesised by a simple and effective one-step drop casting method to enhance the charge separation efficiency; ZnFe LDH was deposited on the surface of the heterojunction with the aim of accelerating water oxidation and synergising with the heterojunction to enhance the photoelectrochemical performance of the photoanode. The photocurrent density of the WO/ZnWO/ZnFe LDH electrode can reach 2.

Fabrication of multifunctional hybrid pigment for color cosmetics based on chitosan-modified palygorskite and sappanwood extract.

Consumer perception and market demand have driven the replacement of synthetic colorants with naturally derived alternatives in the cosmetic industry. This study describes a facile way to prepare durable inorganic-organic hybrid pigment with advanced biocompatibility, antibacterial and hydrophobic properties tailored for color cosmetics by initial modification of palygorskite with chitosan to anchor sappanwood dye extract and subsequently coating with amino-modified silicone oil (ASO). The hybrid pigments were characterized by transmittance electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method.

Recent advances and perspectives on intercalation layered compounds part 1: design and applications in the field of energy.

Herein, initially, we present a general overview of the global financial support for chemistry devoted to materials science, specifically intercalation layered compounds (ILCs). Subsequently, the strategies to synthesise these host structures and the corresponding guest-host hybrid assemblies are exemplified on the basis of some families of materials, including pillared clays (PILCs), porous clay heterostructures (PCHs), zirconium phosphate (ZrP), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), graphene-based materials, and MXenes. Additionally, a non-exhaustive survey on their possible application in the field of energy through electrochemical storage, mostly as electrode materials but also as electrolyte additives, is presented, including lithium technologies based on lithium ion batteries (LIBs), and beyond LiBs with a focus on possible alternatives such XIBs (X = Na (NIB), K (KIB), Al (AIB), Zn (ZIB), and Cl (CIB)), reversible Mg batteries (RMBs), dual-ion batteries (DIBs), Zn-air and Zn-sulphur batteries and supercapacitors as well as their relevance in other fields related to (opto)electronics.

Recent advances and perspectives for intercalation layered compounds. Part 2: applications in the field of catalysis, environment and health.

Intercalation compounds represent a unique class of materials that can be anisotropic (1D and 2D-based topology) or isotropic (3D) through their guest/host superlattice repetitive organisation. Intercalation refers to the reversible introduction of guest species with variable natures into a crystalline host lattice. Different host lattice structures have been used for the preparation of intercalation compounds, and many examples are produced by exploiting the flexibility and the ability of 2D-based hosts to accommodate different guest species, ranging from ions to complex molecules.

Fenton-like Degradation of Methylene Blue on Attapulgite Clay Composite by Loading of Iron-Oxide: Eco-Friendly Preparation and Its Catalytic Activity.

The continuous discharge of organic dyes into freshwater resources poses a long-term hazard to aquatic life. The advanced oxidation Fenton process is a combo of adsorption and degradation of pollutants to detoxify toxic effluents, such as anti-bacterial drugs, antibiotics, and organic dyes. In this work, an activated attapulgite clay-loaded iron-oxide (A-ATP@FeO) was produced using a two-step reaction, in which attapulgite serves as an enrichment matrix and FeO functions as the active degrading component.

Colloid Mill-Assisted Ultrasonic-Fractional Centrifugal Purification of Low-Grade Attapulgite and Its Modification for Adsorption of Congo Red.

Attapulgite (APT) is widely used in wastewater treatment due to its exceptional adsorption and colloidal properties, as well as its cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. However, low-grade APT generally limits its performance. Here, a colloid mill-assisted ultrasonic-fractional centrifugal purification method was developed to refine low-grade APT.

Adsorption of Co and Cr in Industrial Wastewater by Magnesium Silicate Nanomaterials.

In this paper, two flower-like magnesium silicate nanomaterials were prepared. These and another two commercial magnesium silicate materials were characterized using a scanning electron microscope, the N adsorption-desorption method, and other methods. The structure-activity relationship between the adsorption performance of these four magnesium silicate materials and their specific surface area, pore size distribution, and pore structure was compared.

A α-L-rhamnosidase from Echinacea purpurea endophyte Simplicillium sinense EFF1 and its application in production of Calceorioside B.

Calceorioside B, a multifunctional phenylethanol glycosides (PhGs) derivative, exhibits a variety of notable properties, such as antithrombotic, anti-tumorigenic, anti-neocoronavirus, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. However, the large-scale production of calceorioside B is routinely restricted by its existence as an intermediary compound derived from plants, and still unachieved through excellent and activity chemical synthesis. Here, a total of 51 fungal endophytes were isolated from four PhGs-producing plants, and endophyte Simplicillium sinense EFF1 from Echinacea purpurea was identified with the ability to de-rhamnosing isoacteoside to generate calceorioside B.

Fe(OH) modified ultra-small Ru nanoparticles for highly efficient hydrogen evolution reaction and its application in water splitting.

Developing highly active electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is of remarkable significance for industrial production of H. Herein, exceptionally active Fe(OH) modified ultra-small Ru nanoparticles on Ni(OH) nanosheets array (Fe(OH)-Ru/Ni(OH)) for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are reported. The Fe(OH)-Ru/Ni(OH) nanosheets array prepared with Fe/Ru molar ratio of 5 only requires extremely low overpotentials of 61, 127 and 170 mV to reach current densities of 100, 500 and 800 mA cm in 1 M KOH, respectively, exceeding Pt/C catalyst (75, 160 and 177 mV).

Facile preparation of Au-loaded mesoporous InO nanoparticles with improved ethanol sensing performance.

The monitoring of toxic volatile organic compound gases using metal oxide-based gas sensors is still challenging. Herein, mesoporous InO nanoparticles, assembled using smaller nanoparticles, were synthesized a facile solvothermal method and used to load Au nanoparticles to prepare mesoporous Au/InO for ethanol detection. The obtained InO and Au/InO were meticulously analysed by XRD, SEM, BET, TEM and XPS techniques.

NiFe-LDH-Decorated Ti-Doped Hematite Photoanode for Enhancing Solar Water-Splitting Efficiency.

Ti-doped α-FeO nanorods were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method, followed by a NiFe-LDH catalyst that was electrodeposited on the doped α-FeO nanorods to structure an integrating photoanode Ti:FeO/NiFe-LDH for improving solar PEC water-splitting efficiency. The structure and properties of electrode materials were characterized and the PEC properties of photoanodes were measured. The results show that the photocurrent density of the photoanode enhances 11.

A new l-serine binding orphan SerBP affects indole synthesis in Pantoea ananatis.

Indole is traditionally known as a metabolite of l-tryptophan and now as an important signaling molecule in bacteria, however, the understanding of its upstream synthesis regulation is very limited. Pantoea ananatis YJ76, a predominant diazotrophic endophyte isolated from rice (Oryza sativa), can produce indole to regulate various physiological and biochemical behaviors. We constructed a mutant library of YJ76 using the mTn5 transposon insertion mutation method, from which an indole-deficient mutant was screened out.

Modified approaches to prepare nano-magnesium silicates with hierarchical pore structure and their performance towards adsorption of Cd.

A series of flower-like magnesium silicate samples with hierarchical pore were prepared by the solvothermal method under template-free conditions using sodium dodecyl sulfate as the modifier and ethanol-water as the solvent. These samples were characterized by various methods and were evaluated for the adsorption of heavy metal Cd. The results showed that the adding modifier did not change the crystal structure of the magnesium silicate samples.

Indole inhibited the expression of csrA gene in Escherichia coli.

Indole is a very important signal molecule which plays multiple regulatory roles in many physiological and biochemical processes of bacteria, but up to now, the reasons for its wide range of functions have not been revealed. In this study, we found that indole inhibits the motility, promotes glycogen accumulation and enhances starvation resistance of Escherichia coli. However, the regulatory effects of indole became insignificant while the global csrA gene was mutated.

Bi nanoparticles modified the WO/ZnWO heterojunction for photoelectrochemical water splitting.

The novel ternary photoanode was successfully prepared by Bi nanoparticles (Bi NPs) modified on type II heterojunction of WO-ZnWO using the simple and effective drop casting and chemical impregnation methods. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) experimental tests revealed that the photocurrent density of the ternary photoanode of WO/ZnWO(2)/Bi NPs reaches 3.0 mA/cm at 1.

Construction of tea tree oil/salicylic acid/palygorskite hybrids for advanced antibacterial and anti-inflammatory performance.

This study describes the construction of a tailor-made clay-based hybrid with advanced dermocompatibility, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory performance by incorporating tunable ratios of tea tree oil (TTO) and salicylic acid (SA) into the naturally occurring porous structure of palygorskite (Pal). Among the three TTO/SA/Pal (TSP) systems constructed, TSP-1 with a TTO : SA ratio of 1 : 3 demonstrated the lowest 3T3 NRU predicted acute oral toxicity and dermal HaCaT cytotoxicity as well as the most pronounced antibacterial activity with a selective inhibitory action against the pathogens (, and ) over the beneficial () species inhabiting on the human skin. Also noticeable is that exposure of these skin commensal bacteria to TSP-1 prevented the antimicrobial resistance evolution compared to the conventional antibiotic ciprofloxacin.

NiFePB-modified ZnO/BiVO photoanode for PEC water oxidation.

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has been recognized as the most promising approach for directly converting solar energy into chemical energy, and substantial efforts have been made to develop a highly efficient and low-cost photoanode for enhancement of PEC water splitting efficiency due to sluggish water oxidation reaction kinetics. A ternary NiFePB-modified ZnO/BiVO heterojunction photoanode was simply assembled by low-temperature hydrothermal, metal-organic decomposition and electrodeposition methods to improve the water splitting efficiency; its photocurrent density for water oxidation reached 1.66 mA cm at 1.

Synthesis of unconventional Pd-Se nanoparticles for phase-dependent ethanol electrooxidation.

By tuning the amount of the Se precursors during the synthesis, orthorhombic PdSe, cubic PdSe, and monoclinic PdSe nanoparticles are synthesized, which show phase-dependent electrocatalysis for the ethanol oxidation reaction. This work advances the controllable synthesis of transition metal selenides and inspires their applications in electrocatalysis.

Introducing High-Valence Iridium Single Atoms into Bimetal Phosphides toward High-Efficiency Oxygen Evolution and Overall Water Splitting.

Single atoms are superior electrocatalysts having high atomic utilization and amazing activity for water oxidation and splitting. Herein, this work reports a thermal reduction method to introduce high-valence iridium (Ir) single atoms into bimetal phosphide (FeNiP) nanoparticles toward high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and overall water splitting. The presence of high-valence single Ir atoms (Ir ) and their synergistic interaction with Ni species as well as the disproportionation of Ni assisted by Fe collectively contribute to the exceptional OER performance.

Fibrous Clays in Dermopharmaceutical and Cosmetic Applications: Traditional and Emerging Perspectives.

Functionalization of natural clay minerals for high value-added pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications receives significant research attention worldwide attributable to a rising demand and ongoing search for green, efficient, economically sustainable and ecofriendly geomaterials. Fibrous clays, i.e.

Fibrous palygorskite clays as versatile nanocarriers for skin delivery of tea tree oils in efficient acne therapy.

This paper presents a facile approach to develop palygorskite (Pal), a fibrous clay mineral, as a delivery system of tea tree oil (TTO) for topical acne therapy. The obtained TTO-Pal composite showed an efficient loading of TTO (27.4%) with a selective accumulation of terpine-4-ol and 1,8-cineole (two major antimicrobial TTO constituents), sustained release of TTO at skin physiological conditions (pH5.