The application of neutron imaging to examine ethene hydrogenation over a carbon-supported palladium catalyst.

The combination of a heterogeneous catalyst operating within a defined reactor comes within the domain of reaction engineering, which takes cognisance of combined roles for both the catalyst and the reactor to define the overall operational system. One technique which is demonstrating much promise in investigating reaction engineering issues is neutron imaging. The technique is skewed towards monitoring hydrogen and hydrogenous species so, with hydrogen being ubiquitous in industrial organic chemistry and the penetrating power of the neutrons, neutron imaging can monitor hydrogen concentrations distributed throughout steel reactors whilst the reaction is taking place.

Solvent-free processing of lignin into robust room temperature phosphorescent materials.

Producing room temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials from biomass resources using a solvent free method is essential but hard to achieve. Here, we discovered that lignin dissolved well in the liquid monomer, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), due to extensive hydrogen bonding and non-bonding interactions between lignin and HEA. Motivated by this discovery, we developed a solvent free system consisting of HEA and urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) for converting lignin into RTP materials.

Bioinspired gel polymer electrolyte for wide temperature lithium metal battery.

Stable operation of Li metal batteries with gel polymer electrolytes in a wide temperature range is highly expected. However, insufficient dynamics of ion transport and unstable electrolyte-electrode interfaces at extreme temperatures greatly hinder their practical applications. We report a bioinspired gel polymer electrolyte that enables high-energy-density Li metal batteries to work stably in a wide temperature range from -30 to 80 °C.

A visual COD sensor based on the magnetically oriented graphite flake-enhanced photoelectrochromic effect.

A visual chemical oxygen demand (COD) sensor was developed by electrodepositing Prussian blue (PB) on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive glass to form an electrochromic layer, followed by the vertical alignment and immobilization of graphite flakes under a magnetic field. A TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction photocatalyst was in situ integrated with the graphite flakes to enhance the performance. Under the irradiation of visible light, reductive substances in the water sample are oxidized by photogenerated holes from TiO₂/g-C₃N₄, while photogenerated electrons are conducted through the graphite flakes to the electrochromic layer, reducing PB to Prussian white (PW) and causing a color change.

Degradation and transformation of tylvalosin by newly selected Providencia vermicola strain CT1: removal efficiency, pathways, mechanisms, and actual applications.

Tylvalosin (TAT) is a widely used veterinary antibiotic whose residual contaminants promote antibiotic resistance and pose potential risks to human health and ecosystems. This study successfully isolated and identified a TAT-degrading bacterial strain, Providencia vermicola strain CT1, through 16S rRNA analysis and biochemical tests. Under optimized conditions (30 °C, pH = 6, initial TAT concentration of 300 mg/L, and bacterial culture volume of 50 mL), strain CT1 achieved a TAT degradation percentage of 97.

Identification and biophysical characterization of Plasmodium peptide binding by common African HLAs.

Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) are immunoreceptors that present peptide antigens at the cell surface to T cells as a primary mechanism of immune surveillance. Malaria, a disease associated with the Plasmodium parasite, claims > 600,000 lives per year globally with most deaths occurring in Africa. Development of efficacious prophylactic vaccines or therapeutic treatments for malaria has been hindered by the lack of a basic understanding of the role of HLA-mediated peptide antigen presentation during Plasmodium infection.

Cadmium passivation induced negative differential resistance in cove edge graphene nanoribbon device.

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have emerged as promising candidates for nanoelectronic devices due to their unique electronic and transport properties. In this study, we investigate the impact of passivation on cove-edge graphene nanoribbon (CGNR) using both cadmium (Cd) and hydrogen (H) atoms. Through a comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) analysis coupled with non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) simulations, we explore the electronic transport properties and device behavior of these passivated CGNRs.

Activatable second-near-infrared-window multimodal luminogens with aggregation-induced-emission and aggregation-caused-quenching properties for step-imaging guided tumor therapy.

Traditional organic luminogens, such as aggregation-caused quenching or aggregation-induced emission luminogens, only suitable to exhibit bright luminescence in the single state (i.e., solution or aggregated state), restricting their applications in heterogeneous environments.

Photocatalyzed Three-Component Difluoroalkyl-Halogenation of Electron-Deficient Alkenes via a Halogen α-Nucleophilic Addition.

Here,we disclose a halogen α-nucleophilic addition via photocatalytic oxidation of the in-situ generated α-carbonyl radical of amides or esters to corresponding α-carbonyl cation. The α-carbon radical is generated by the β-addition of difluoroalkyl radical, formed by the photocatalytic reduction of BrCF2CO2R, to the α,β-unsaturated amides/esters. This umpolung strategy enables an efficient three-component difluoroalkyl-halogenation of α,β-unsaturated amides or esters with BrCF2CO2R and Cl/F-nucleophiles to produce diverse biologically important CF2-containing α-halo-1,5-dicarboxylic derivatives under mild conditions.

Insight into the Specific Adsorption of Cu(II) by a Zinc-Based Metal-Organic Framework Mediated via a Proton-Exchange Mechanism.

In the context of scarce metal resources, the one-step separation and recovery of high-value copper metal ions from secondary resources is of significant importance and presents substantial challenges. This study identified a Zn-based triazole MOF (Zn(tr)(OAc)) with accessible and noncoordinated terminal hydroxyl groups within its framework. The Zn(tr)(OAc) surpasses most currently reported Cu-specific MOF adsorbents regarding adsorption capacity and Cu selectivity.

In-situ quantitative detection of hypochlorous acid in food samples by employing a near-infrared fluorescent probe in association with a portable optical data acquisition system.

Background: Hypochlorous acid (HClO) is a crucial disinfectant in the food industry. It can be used to soak perishable foods like vegetables, fruits, eggs, fish, and raw meat before processing and storage, eliminating microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, and pathogens to ensure food safety. HClO also helps preserve vegetables and fruits by reducing ethylene production, delaying rotting, decreasing cell membrane permeability, inhibiting polyphenol oxidase activity, and postponing discoloration.

Fabrication of tailored imprinted layer and cladded layer on magnetic nanomaterials with enhanced specificity for recognition of PFOS.

Background: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant with significant risks to ecosystems and human health. Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) provide a promising solution for selectively extracting PFOS from contaminated water. However, while bifunctional monomer imprinting improves the imprinting effect by introducing diverse functional groups, it can also increase non-specific adsorption.

Optimization of Cyclophilin B-Targeted Tri-vector Inhibitors for Novel MASH Treatments.

Cyclophilins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Pharmacological inhibition of the cyclophilin B isoform has the potential to attenuate liver fibrosis in MASH, but current cyclophilin inhibitors in clinical trials lack isoform selectivity. We previously reported the novel tri-vector small-molecule inhibitor that exhibited improved subtype selectivity by simultaneously engaging three pockets on the surface of cyclophilins.

Dynamic reactive synthesis of bio-based compatibilizer via diepoxide monomers grafting polylactic acid and reactive compatibilization of incompatible polylactic acid/bamboo powder composites.

The synthesis of monomers with two epoxy structures (EIA) was successfully achieved by adopting holo-biobased feedstocks and in situ solvolysis reaction. The molecular structure of EIA was subjected to characterization through the use of infrared spectroscopy (IR), mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (H NMR). The EIA was employed as the epoxy monomers for the synthesis of the grafted compatibilizer, resulting in the successful preparation of a fully bio-based and high epoxy value grafted compatibilizer (PLA-g-EIA (PLE)).

Effect of sodium lignosulfonate as an additive in enhancing the corrosion and tribocorrosion behavior of micro-arc oxidation coatings on titanium alloy.

A corrosion and wear resistant coating was developed on the surface of titanium alloy using micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technology with addition of lignin sulfonate (SLS) as an additive in electrolytes containing 15 g/L of NaSiO·9HO and 10 g/L of NaPO·12HO. The effects of concentration of SLS on the surface morphology, microstructure, and corrosion-wear performance of the MAO coatings were systematically investigated. Wetting properties and mechanical characteristics of MAO coatings were determined by contact angle measurements, microhardness testing, and bonding strength assessments.

Distribution and potential sources of iodine in particulate matter at an industrial city in Northwest China.

Iodine plays a key role in atmospheric chemistry that can significantly affect the atmospheric oxidation capacity. Although the oceans are the main reservoir of iodine on Earth, iodine is also widely present in the terrestrial environment. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the present sources of iodine in inland areas is warranted for the evaluation of its environmental effect.

Preparation of the conjugated hypercrosslinked polymers containing phenylenediamine and phenylenetriamine derivatives for fluorescent sensing of three nitrophenols.

Hypercrosslinked polymers (HCPs) are the most promising porous organic polymers for large-scale production due to their easy preparation, extensive raw material source, good stability, and large specific surface area. However, due to the lack of extended conjugability, their application in fluorescence sensing is limited. Herein, three conjugated hypercrosslinked polymers (the conjugated HCPs: TPPDA-DMB, TDPAB-DMB, and MTDAB-DMB) were easily prepared by the Friedel-Craft arylation reactions with phenylenediamine or phenylenetriamine derivatives and p-dimethoxybenzene (DMB).

An efficient circularly polarized luminescence probe base on anthryl-modified Eu(III)-helicates for the detection and imaging singlet oxygen in living cells.

Singlet oxygen (O) is the main active ingredient in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, an excess O can cause unnecessary toxicity. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop reliable and sensitive methods or probes for detecting O in biological systems.

High performance persistent organic pollutants removal using stabilized enzyme aggregates over amino functionalized magnetic biochar.

Herein, a highly efficient and recyclable biocatalyst was developed using stabilized enzyme aggregates on amino-functionalized magnetic biochar for removing persistent organic pollutants from water. The biochar derived from biomass featured abundant hydroxyl functional groups, after functionalization with amino functional groups and magnetic nanoparticles, it was employed for laccase immobilization via enzyme electrostatic adsorption, precipitation and cross-linking in a favorable orientation. This immobilized enzyme aggregates exhibited enhanced pH tolerance, thermal and storage stability than free enzyme.

FeMo integrated covalent organic frameworks: Peroxidase-mimetic colorimetric biosensors for multivariate sensing hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid in serum and beverages.

An efficient and readable sensor is desirable for food safety and diagnosis. Herein, a homogeneous mimicking enzyme was constructed by encapsulating polyoxometalate (NH₄)₃[FeMo₆O₁₈(OH)₆]·6H₂O (FeMo) into the covalent organic framework (FeMo@COF). Coordinating the spatial confinement effect of COF, FeMo exhibited superior peroxide-like activity to catalyze HO to O• which achieved the "on-off" consecutive sensing of HO and AA via a readable colorimetric mode, with the limit of detection (LOD) at 30 μM and 0.

MoB/MnCdS Schottky heterojunction composites: A novel and noble-metal-free photocatalyst for high-efficiency photocatalytic H production.

The development of efficient and low-cost photocatalysts has always been sought in H production from water cracking. Herein, a series of MoB/MnCdS composites were developed for high-performance photocatalytic H production. MnCdS nanoparticles were deposited on bulk metalloid MoB via a hydrothermal method (as confirmed by morphology tests) to construct a Schottky heterojunction.

MOF-based nanomaterials for advanced aqueous-ion batteries.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based nanomaterials have great potential in the field of electrochemical energy storage due to their abundant pore size, high specific surface area, controllable structure and porosity, and homogeneous metal center. MOFs complexes and derivatives not only inherit the original morphology characteristics of MOFs but also provide excellent electrochemical performance. Batteries operating in aqueous electrolytes are cheaper, safer, and have higher ionic conductivity than those operating in conventional organic electrolytes.