Preparation of a tetraethylenepentamine grafted magnetic chitosan bead for adsorption of Re(vii) from aqueous solutions.

A cross-linked magnetic chitosan bead (MCB) and tetraethylenepentamine grafted magnetic chitosan bead (TMCB) were synthesized using the water/oil (W/O) emulsion cross-linking method and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The saturation magnetization and remanent magnetization of TMCB were 7.09 emu g and 0.

Strain-induced charge delocalization achieves ultralow exciton binding energy toward efficient photocatalysis.

The exciton effect is commonly observed in photocatalysts, where substantial exciton binding energy ( ) significantly hampers the efficient generation of photo-excited electron-hole pairs, thereby severely constraining photocatalysis. Herein, we propose a strategy to reduce through strain-induced charge delocalization. Taking TaO as a prototype, tensile strain was introduced by engineering a crystalline/amorphous interface, weakening the interaction between Ta 5d and O 2p orbitals, thus endowing a delocalized charge transport and significantly lowering .

An optimized heating source for heat-not-burn tobacco products through synergistic combustion of tobacco stalk and graphite carbon with KCO catalyst.

Waste tobacco stalk is blended with graphite carbon to form a composite carbon source, which is a promising external heating system for heat-not-burn tobaccos. In the current work, the effects of tobacco stalk amounts and the catalyst KCO on the co-combustion characteristics (, the ignition temperature, burnout temperature, ) of graphite carbon were investigated. As a result, the ignition temperatures of the blend were determined by the tobacco straw, while the burnout temperature of the samples was reduced by approximately 60 °C due to the addition of a tobacco stalk.

Revealing the overlithiation effect on cycling and calendar aging of a silicon/graphite electrode for high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium (Li) plating, triggered by fast charging and low temperature, will cause performance degradation and safety concerns for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, strategically limited and controlled Li deposition might be advantageous for enhancing energy density. The detailed mechanism and regulation for performance improvement are yet to be fully explored.

Amorphous conversion in pyrolytic symmetric trinuclear nickel clusters trigger trifunctional electrocatalysts.

The pursuit of multifunctional electrocatalysts holds significant importance due to their comprehension of material chemistry. Amorphous materials are particularly appealing, yet they pose challenges in terms of rational design due to their structural disorder and thermal instability. Herein, we propose a strategy that entails the tandem (low-temperature/250-350 °C) pyrolysis of molecular clusters, enabling preservation of the local short-range structures of the precursor Schiff base nickel (Ni[2(CHNNiO)]).

4-Fluorobenzyl cyanide, a sterically-hindered solvent expediting interfacial kinetics in lithium-ion batteries.

The electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is plagued by sluggish interfacial kinetics. Fortunately, the Li solvation structure bridges the bulk electrolyte and interfacial chemistry, providing a pathway for promoting electrochemical kinetics in LIBs. Herein, we improve the interfacial kinetics by tuning the Li coordination chemistry based on solvent molecular engineering.

Crystal Structure and NMR of an α,δ-Peptide Foldamer Helix Shows Side-Chains are Well Placed for Bifunctional Catalysis: Application as a Minimalist Aldolase Mimic.

We report the first NMR and X-ray diffraction (XRD) structures of an unusual 13/11-helix (alternating i, i+1 {NH-O=C} and i, i+3 {C=O-H-N} H-bonds) formed by a heteromeric 1 : 1 sequence of α- and δ-amino acids, and demonstrate the application of this framework towards catalysis. Whilst intramolecular hydrogen bonds (IMHBs) are the clear driver of helix formation in this system, we also observe an apolar interaction between the ethyl residue of one δ-amino acid and the cyclohexyl group of the next δ-residue in the sequence that seems to stabilize one type of helix over another. To the best of our knowledge this type of additional stabilization leading to a specific helical preference has not been observed before.

Correction: Immunoassay-aptasensor for the determination of tumor-derived exosomes based on the combination of magnetic nanoparticles and hybridization chain reaction.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA10159A.].

Plant Functional Genomics Based on High-Throughput CRISPR Library Knockout Screening: A Perspective.

Plant biology studies in the post-genome era have been focused on annotating genome sequences' functions. The established plant mutant collections have greatly accelerated functional genomics research in the past few decades. However, most plant genome sequences' roles and the underlying regulatory networks remain substantially unknown.

Coaxial nickel cobalt selenide/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube array as a three-dimensional self-supported electrode for electrochemical energy storage.

Herein, we propose a one-step urea pyrolysis method for preparing a nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube array grown on carbon fiber paper, which is demonstrated as a three-dimensional scaffold for constructing a nickel cobalt selenide-based coaxial array structure. Thanks to the large surface area, interconnected porous structure, high mass loading, as well as fast electron/ion transport pathway of the coaxial array structure, the nickel cobalt selenide/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube electrode exhibits over 7 times higher areal capacity than that directly grown on carbon fiber paper, and better rate capability. The cell assembled by a nickel cobalt selenide/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube positive electrode and an iron oxyhydroxide/nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube negative electrode delivers a volumetric capacity of up to 22.

Photo-enhanced dehydrogenation of formic acid on Pd-based hybrid plasmonic nanostructures.

Coupling visible light with Pd-based hybrid plasmonic nanostructures has effectively enhanced formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation at room temperature. Unlike conventional heating to achieve higher product yield, the plasmonic effect supplies a unique surface environment through the local electromagnetic field and hot charge carriers, avoiding unfavorable energy consumption and attenuated selectivity. In this minireview, we summarized the latest advances in plasmon-enhanced FA dehydrogenation, including geometry/size-dependent dehydrogenation activities, and further catalytic enhancement by coupling local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) with Fermi level engineering or alloying effect.

Template-assisted synthesis of isomeric copper(i) clusters with tunable structures showing photophysical and electrochemical properties.

A comparative study of structure-property relationships in isomeric and isostructural atomically precise clusters is an ideal approach to unravel their fundamental properties. Herein, seven high-nuclearity copper(i) alkynyl clusters utilizing template-assisted strategies were synthesized. Spherical Cu and Cu clusters are formed with a [M@(V/PO)] (M: Cu, Na, K) skeleton motif, while peanut-shaped Cu clusters feature four separate PO templates.

Spontaneous and site-specific immobilization of PNGase F spy chemistry.

Protein -glycosylation plays a critical role in a wide range of biological processes, and aberrant -glycosylation is frequently associated with various pathological states. For global -glycosylation analysis, -glycans are typically released from glycoproteins mediated by endoglycosidases, primarily peptide -glycosidase F (PNGase F). However, conventional -glycan release by in-solution PNGase F is time-consuming and nonreusable.

Halide solid-state electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries: structural design, synthesis, environmental stability, interface optimization and challenges.

Since the huge breakthrough in 2018, research on halide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) has set off a new craze. In comparison with oxide and sulfide SSEs, halide SSEs have more balanced properties in various aspects, including ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability window, and moisture resistance. Herein, the overall knowledge and deep understanding of halide SSEs and their practical applications in all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are introduced.

Engineering the microenvironment of electron transport layers with nickle single-atom sites for boosting photoelectrochemical performance.

Advances in the rational design of semiconductor-electrocatalyst photoelectrodes provide robust driving forces for improving energy conversion and quantitative analysis, while a deep understanding of elementary processes remains underwhelming due to the multistage interfaces involved in semiconductor/electrocatalyst/electrolyte. To address this bottleneck, we have constructed carbon-supported nickel single atoms (Ni SA@C) as an original electron transport layer with catalytic sites of Ni-N and Ni-NO. This approach illustrates the combined effect of photogenerated electron extraction and the surface electron escape ability of the electrocatalyst layer in the photocathode system.

Nano-biosensor for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 detection: methods, mechanism and interface design.

The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a huge disaster to human society. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which led to COVID-19, has resulted in a large number of deaths. Even though the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most efficient method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, the disadvantages (such as long detection time, professional operators, expensive instruments, and laboratory equipment) limit its application.

Isomerization and reaction process of NO(HO) .

Liquid propellant NO is prone to absorb HO to form an NO(HO) system during long-term storage, ultimately generating HNO, HNO, and other substances capable of corroding the storage tank, which will adversely affect the performance of weapons and equipment. In this work, the reaction process of the NO(HO) system is simulated using density functional theory, and the potential energy surface, the geometric configurations of the molecules, the charge distribution, and the bond parameters of the reaction course at = 0-3 are analyzed. The results show that the potential energy of the system is lower and the structure is more stable when the HO in the NO(HO) system is distributed on the same side.

Enhancing Thermo-Osmotic Low-Grade Heat Recovery by Applying a Negative Pressure to the Feed.

A newly developed technology, thermo-osmotic energy conversion (TOEC), is supposed to convert low-grade heat into power. However, the performance of existing TOEC experiments is deficient. This paper discusses the feasibility of strengthening TOEC by applying negative pressure to the feed liquid, which can reduce air pressure in the membrane pores and molecular diffusion resistance.

Theoretical study on the mechanism of water oxidation catalyzed by a mononuclear copper complex: important roles of a redox non-innocent ligand and HPO anion.

The water oxidation reaction is the bottleneck problem of the artificial photosynthetic system. In this work, the mechanism of water oxidation catalyzed by a mononuclear copper complex in alkaline conditions was studied by density functional calculations. Firstly, a water molecule coordinating with the copper center of the complex (Cu, 1) generates Cu-HO (2).

A spatiotemporal drug release scaffold with antibiosis and bone regeneration for osteomyelitis.

Introduction: Scaffolds loaded with antibacterial agents and osteogenic drugs are considered essential tools for repairing bone defects caused by osteomyelitis. However, the simultaneous release of two drugs leads to premature osteogenesis and subsequent sequestrum formation in the pathological situation of unthorough antibiosis.

Objectives: In this study, a spatiotemporal drug-release polydopamine-functionalized mesoporous silicon nanoparticle (MSN) core/shell drug delivery system loaded with antibacterial silver (Ag) nanoparticles and osteogenic dexamethasone (Dex) was constructed and introduced into a poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold for osteomyelitis therapy.

Miniaturized lithium-ion batteries for on-chip energy storage.

The development of microelectronic products increases the demand for on-chip miniaturized electrochemical energy storage devices as integrated power sources. Such electrochemical energy storage devices need to be micro-scaled, integrable and designable in certain aspects, such as size, shape, mechanical properties and environmental adaptability. Lithium-ion batteries with relatively high energy and power densities, are considered to be favorable on-chip energy sources for microelectronic devices.

N-doped graphene for electrocatalytic O and CO reduction.

The electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are important approaches to realize energy conversion and sustainable development. However, sluggish reaction kinetics severely hinders the practical application of devices related to these reactions. N-doped graphene (NG) with unique properties exhibits great potential in catalyzing the CORR and ORR, which is attributed to the electron redistribution.