Overcoming Gas Mass Transfer Limitations Using Gas-Conducting Electrodes for Efficient Nitrogen Reduction.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a very attractive strategy for ammonia synthesis due to its energy savings and sustainability. However, the ammonia yield and Faraday efficiency of electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction have been challenges due to low nitrogen solubility and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in electrolyte solution. Herein, inspired by the asymmetric wetting behavior, i.

Potent Covalent Organic Framework Nanophotosensitizers with Staggered Type I/II Motifs for Photodynamic Immunotherapy of Hypoxic Tumors.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using oxygen-dependent type II photosensitizers is frequently limited by the hypoxic microenvironment of solid tumors. Type I photosensitizers show oxygen-independent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation upon light irradiation but still face the challenges of aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) and low efficiency to produce ROS. Herein, we first prepare an efficient type I photosensitizer from a perylene derivative via intramolecular donor-acceptor binding and sulfur substitution, which significantly enhance intersystem crossing between singlet and triplet states and electron transfer capability.

Hybrid Solid-State Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications.

The translation of inorganic-polymer hybrid battery materials from laboratory-scale to industry-relevant battery manufacturing processes is difficult due to their complexity, scalability, and cost and the limited fundamental knowledge that is available. Herein, we introduce a unique and compelling approach for the preparation of hybrid solid electrolytes based on an synthesized halide electrolyte (LiInCl) in the presence of a non-conducting polymer (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer). This innovative approach delivers flexible self-standing membranes with good ionic conductivity (0.

Evaluating the Antibacterial Potential of Distinct Size Populations of Stabilized Zinc Nanoparticles.

Engineered nanoparticles are precisely synthesized to exploit unique properties conferred by their small size and high surface area for environmental, biomedical, and agricultural applications. While these physical properties dictate functionality, they can also have various intended and unintended implications for biological systems. Both the particle size and shape influence cellular uptake.

Reversible Lubricating Layer for Improving the Endoscope Field with High Transparency and Antipollution Property.

Endoscopes, a minimally invasive medical tool, are susceptible to impaired visibility due to the adhesion of biological fluids. However, traditional self-cleaning coatings face limitations in terms of transparency and sustainability, making it difficult to apply them to lenses. Inspired by the phospholipid layer of the eye, a reversible lubricating layer (RL-layer) with low-adhesion and high-transparency properties is reported.

Persistent Photoinduced Antibacterial Activity of MoS Nanosheets Immobilized in Porous Polymer Beads.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) photogenerated by two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials provide a means of delivering persistent antibacterial activity in fluid media. Semiconducting molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanosheets are an attractive option for exploiting such activity by using visible light. However, the tendency of MoS nanosheets in suspension to restack or otherwise aggregate remains a critical obstacle, as it results in the loss of the desired photoactivity.

Heterostructured S-Scheme BiOBr/CuO Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Glyphosate.

Metal oxide semiconductor-activated photocatalysis has become a promising sustainable technology for the mitigation of emerging organic pollutants. The rational design of a photocatalyst heterojunction allows the degradation of a broad range of organic contaminants. Herein, we optimized hydrothermal approaches for the facial synthesis of well-defined BiOBr/CuO heterojunction photocatalysts.

Toward Sustainable Polyurethane Foams: Effects of Corn Cob Fibers and Silver Nanoparticles on Mechanical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity.

Polyurethane foams (PFs) are widely used in mattresses, upholstery, and insulation, but disposal is difficult due to the disintegration time and environmental hazards of synthetic polyol. This work investigates a sustainable alternative by replacing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with corn cob fibers and incorporating antibacterial silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Corn cob fibers and sodium hydroxide-treated fibers were used to make foams, with corn cob fibers substituting PEG at 5-30 wt %.

Stable and Promiscuous Galactose Oxidases Engineered by Directed Evolution, Atomistic Design, and Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction.

Galactose oxidase (GOase) is a versatile biocatalyst with a wide range of potential applications, ranging from synthetic chemistry to bioelectrochemical devices. Previous GOase engineering by directed evolution generated the M-RQW mutant, with unprecedented new-to-nature oxidation activity at the C6-OH group of glucose, and a mutational backbone that helped to unlock its promiscuity toward other molecules, including secondary alcohols. In the current study, we have used the M-RQW mutant as a starting point to engineer a set of GOases that are very thermostable and that are easily produced at high titers in yeast, enzymes with latent activities applicable to sustainable chemistry.

Renewable, All-Natural Flute Membrane with Excellent Mechanical Properties for Osmotic Energy Harvesting.

Ion-selective membranes serve as key materials for reverse electrodialysis (RED) technology in osmotic energy harvesting, and the search for a class of membranes that are economical, highly robust, and sustainable has been a relentless goal for researchers. In this work, all-natural biomass membranes (reed membranes) are often used as a flute diaphragm, which makes the flute produce a brighter and crisper sound, presenting high strength and elasticity. Ultrathin natural reed membranes (thickness of ≈4.

Synthesis of Palladium Nanoparticles by Electrode-Respiring Biofilms.

Electroactive microorganisms such as can couple organic electron donor oxidation to the respiration of electrode surfaces, colonizing them in the process. These microbes can also reduce soluble metal ions, such as soluble Pd, resulting in metallic nanoparticle (NP) synthesis. Such NPs are valuable catalysts for industrially relevant chemical production; however, their chemical and solid-state syntheses are often energy-intensive and result in hazardous byproducts.

Defective h-BNs-Supported Pd Nanoclusters: An Efficient Photocatalyst for Selective Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural.

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is one of the most promising biomass-based chemicals that is used to produce many kinds of important compounds. Especially, the selective conversion of HMF to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA), an important chemical feedstock, has high industrial significance but is technically challenging. In this study, we present a high-performance photocatalyst for selective oxidation of HMF to HMFCA.

Novel Nanocomposite of Carbonized Chitosan-Zinc Oxide-Magnetite for Adsorption of Toxic Elements from Aqueous Solutions.

Herein, a novel nanocomposite (carbonized chitosan-zinc oxide-magnetite, CCZF) was developed to effectively remove toxic elements in water remediation. Combining the high adsorption capacities of chitosan with the magnetic properties of magnetite and the chemical stability of zinc oxide, the combination of these unique properties makes it an efficient and versatile material that offers a sustainable solution for water purification. The (CCZF) nanocomposite was synthesized through the coprecipitation method and characterized using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and zeta potential analysis.

The Future of Electro-organic Synthesis in Drug Discovery and Early Development.

Electro-organic chemistry presents a promising frontier in drug discovery and early development, facilitating novel reactivity aligned with green chemistry principles. Despite this, electrochemistry is not widely used as a synthesis and manufacturing tool in drug discovery or development. This overview seeks to identify key areas that require additional research to make synthetic electrochemistry more accessible to chemists in drug discovery and early development and provide potential solutions.

Repurposing First-Row Transition Metal Carbon Dioxide Reduction Electrocatalysts for Electrochemical Carboxylation of Benzyl Chloride.

Carbon dioxide (CO) is an abundant and useful C feedstock for electrocarboxylation, a process that incorporates a carboxyl moiety into an organic molecule. In this work, three first-row transition metal CO reduction electrocatalysts, NiPDI (), NiTPA (), and Fe(salenCl) (), were explored as electrocarboxylation catalysts with benzyl chloride as a substrate. The cyclic voltammograms of all three catalysts showed current enhancements in the presence of benzyl chloride under a CO atmosphere.

Copper Ion-Chelated and Polydopamine-Modified Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Nanoparticles with Multiple Responses for Intelligent Pesticide Release and Improved Foliar Deposition.

Intelligent controlled-release nanopesticides have been a crucial tactic in advanced precision agriculture during the past few years, which can improve pesticide utilization and reduce environmental pollution. Herein, a novel hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based nanopesticide carrier (PCH) with pH-/enzyme-/near-infrared multiple responses was constructed by the initial cross-linking with dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride and the subsequent copper ion chelation and polydopamine coating. Avermectin (Av) was further loaded to create the intelligent pesticide release system (APCH) by antisolvent precipitation.

Sustainable Antibacterial Surface of Transparent PMMA Membranes with α-ZrP Nanosheets Adsorbing Tetraalkylammonium Ions.

We fabricated composite membranes containing inorganic nanosheets (NSs) and polymers and demonstrated their outstanding antibacterial performance against several opportunistic pathogens. Layered α-zirconium phosphate [Zr(HPO), α-ZrP] as a pristine compound of NS was exfoliated by ion-exchanging protons in the interlayer space of α-ZrP with bulky tetraalkylammonium ions (TRA: R = butyl, hexyl, and octyl). During the exfoliation process, TRA was electrostatically adsorbed onto α-ZrP NS with a negative surface charge (ZrP-TRA-NS).