Enhanced polarization of electron-poor/rich micro-centers over nZVCu-Cu(II)-rGO for pollutant removal with HO.

Nanoscale zero-valent copper combined with Cu(II)-doped reduced graphene oxide hybrid (nZVC-Cu(II)-rGO) is synthesized through an annealing reduction process, and it shows very high activity and efficiency for removing refractory organic compounds with HO. The conversion rate for the organic pollutant in this system is ∼77 and ∼13 times higher than that in the graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) systems, respectively. The characterization shows that nanoscale Cu(0) and Cu(II) are generated on the rGO surface during the annealing process and they are accompanied by the COCu bonding formation between the rGO substrate and the Cu(II) species in nZVC-Cu(II)-rGO, which induces cation-π interactions on the surface, resulting in the reinforced electron-rich micro-centers formation around the nZVC-enhanced Cu(II) species and electron-poor micro-centers on rGO-aromatic rings.

Heteroatom-doped porous carbons from sucrose and phytic acid for adsorptive desulfurization and sulfamethoxazole removal: A comparison between aqueous and non-aqueous adsorption.

Sucrose and phytic acid as abundant biomass resources have been combined for the fabrication of highly porous carbons with surface areas up to 1897 m/g through hydrothermal carbonization and phytic acid-induced in-situ activation in the absence of additional activation agents. The carbons were employed as efficient adsorbents for the adsorptive removal of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from water and the adsorption of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from model fuels. Kinetic and isotherm studies were performed for both processes.

Enhanced hydrolysis of cellulose by catalytic polyethersulfone membranes with straight-through catalytic channels.

The aim of this study was to prepare sulfonated graphene oxide/polyether sulfone (GO-SOH/PES) mixed matrix membranes (GPMMMs) with high porosity and straight-through catalytic channels by segregation and used for dynamic and continuous hydrolysis of cellulose. The high porosity and segregation increased the exposure of catalysts synergistically and the formative GO-SOH enriched, straight-through catalytic channels had higher catalytic performance, enhancing the diffusion of hydrolytic products. Dynamic hydrolysis of cellulose is more efficient than static hydrolysis due to the enhanced contact between cellulose and catalysts achieved by the extra driving forces, and the further degradation of produced saccharides was suppressed due to the high freedom of products.

CO absorption and desorption characteristics of MgO-based absorbent promoted by triple eutectic alkali carbonate.

Carbon capture and sequestration is emerging as a promising technology to mitigate the greenhouse effect by reducing CO emissions. Of a number of metal oxides applied as CO absorbents, MgO is a potential material that can operate in a relatively low elevated temperature range (200-500 °C), namely, intermediate-temperatures. In the present research, we investigated the characteristics of CO absorption and desorption on MgO-based absorbents promoted by molten alkali metal carbonate that has a melting point of 397 °C (eutectic molar ratio of LiCO : NaCO : KCO = 0.

The Critical Role of Reductive Steps in the Nickel-Catalyzed Hydrogenolysis and Hydrolysis of Aryl Ether C-O Bonds.

The hydrogenolysis of the aromatic C-O bond in aryl ethers catalyzed by Ni was studied in decalin and water. Observations of a significant kinetic isotope effect (k /k =5.7) for the reactions of diphenyl ether under H and D atmosphere and a positive dependence of the rate on H chemical potential in decalin indicate that addition of H to the aromatic ring is involved in the rate-limiting step.

TiO quantum dots loaded sulfonated graphene aerogel for effective adsorption-photocatalysis of PFOA.

With the pollution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) became increasingly serious, the researches focused on removal of PFASs by adsorption-photocatalysis method has attracted considerable attention. To make the catalyst TiO disperse uniformly as quantum dots onto hydrophobic surface which was liable to attract perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were used in this work, which not only connected the hydrophilic TiCl to the hydrophobic sulfonated graphene (SG) nanosheets, but also behaved as the molecular template for controlled nucleation and growth of the nanostructured TiO. After 3D SG-TiO QD nanosheets were fabricated, a series of 3D SG-TiO QD aerogels were self-assembled by ice-template.

Fabrication of P(AN-MA)/rGO-g-PAO Superhydrophilic Nanofiber Membrane for Removal of Heavy Metal Ions.

The process in which the nanofiber membrane is used to remove heavy metal ions and separation of oil-water solution is analyzed. Herein, smooth structures are induced by rGO-g-PAO sheets, which could be attributed to the strong interaction between P(AN-MA) and rGO-g-PAO. It is rewarding to note that the P(AN-MA)/rGO-g-PAO nanofiber membrane would exhibit superhydrophilic traits in the air and ultra-low oil-adhesive traits underwater when the concentration of P(AN-MA) and PAO is 13 wt.

Efficient pretreatment of industrial estate wastewater for biodegradability enhancement using a micro-electrolysis-circulatory system.

A self-made micro-electrolysis-circulatory system with the mixture regime of an upflow bed and reactor was tested for the pretreatment of industrial estate wastewater with a low ratio of biological to chemical oxygen demand (BOD/COD) at room temperature, 1:1 vol ratio of sponge iron (SFe)/granular activated carbon (GAC), and an intermittent process in aeration and discharge. The system efficiency was evaluated in view of the effects of various processes (hydraulic retention time (HRT), fillers/wastewater ratio (S/L) and aeration). COD reduction of about 51% was obtained for industrial estate wastewater at an S/L ratio of 25%, refluence rate of 16 L/h, HRT of 24 h, and aeration of 60 L/h as the optimal conditions.

Accumulation and metabolism of di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in mature wheat tissues and their effects on detoxification and the antioxidant system in grain.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) are the major phthalic acid esters to be used during the plastic manufacturing process; they have emerged as pollutants that result in serious environmental problems. However, their impacts on wheat at the reproductive stage remain unclear. Here, we examined the distribution of DEHP and DBP and their respective metabolites mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) in mature wheat, along with the mechanism of detoxification and oxidative burst in wheat grains under DBP and DEHP stress conditions in a pot experiment.

Electrostatic Assembly of a Titanium Dioxide@Hydrophilic Poly(phenylene sulfide) Porous Membrane with Enhanced Wetting Selectivity for Separation of Strongly Corrosive Oil-Water Emulsions.

The efficient treatment of oil-water emulsions in extreme environments, such as strongly acidic and alkaline media, remains a widespread concern. Poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS)-based porous membranes with excellent resistance to chemicals and solvents are promising for settling this challenge. However, the limited hydrophilicity and the poor hydrated ability of the hydrophilic PPS (h-PPS) membranes reported in the literature prevents them from separating oil-water emulsions with high efficiency, large fluxes, and good antifouling performances.

Graphene-Coated Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Nonwoven Hollow Tube for Continuous and Highly Effective Oil Collection from the Water Surface.

Graphene (GE) has attracted significant attention on account of its unique structure and superior performance, arousing a new research field for materials science. Herein, a novel GE-coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) nonwoven (PGNW) hollow tube (PGNW-T) was fabricated for continuous and highly effective oil collection from the water surface. The PGNW was prepared via a dip-spray coating method, which possessed superhydrophobicity-superoleophilicity and could absorb a variety of oils or organic solvents with the absorption capacity () value of 18-34 times its own weight.

Resolving the Ultrafast Changes of Chemically Inequivalent Metal-Ligand Bonds in Photoexcited Molecular Complexes with Transient X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

Photoactive transition-metal complexes that incorporate heteroleptic ligands present a first coordination shell, which is asymmetric. Although it is generally expected that the metal-ligand bond lengths respond differently to photoexcitation, resolving these fine structural changes remains experimentally challenging, especially for flexible multidentate ligands. In this work, ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy is employed to capture directly the asymmetric elongations of chemically inequivalent metal-ligand bonds in the photoexcited spin-switching Fe complex [Fe(tpen)] solvated in acetonitrile, where tpen denotes ,,','-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-ethylenediamine.

Manipulation of Grafting Location via Photografting To Fabricate High-Performance Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer Membrane for Protein Separation.

Ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) membrane has great potential for applications in protein separation and purification, but the uncontrollable distribution of grafting location when membranes are modified by the grafting method limits the membrane performance. Herein, an effective strategy for controlling the distribution of grafting location was designed to fabricate a high-performance EVAL membrane via photografting. The UV intensity through the membranes was weakened when the local concentration of the photoinitiator benzophenone (BP) on the topside of the membrane increased; thus, the grafting location inside the EVAL membrane changed from homogenous to asymmetric distribution based on the UV absorbability of BP.

A polar-hydrophobic ionic liquid induces grain growth and stabilization in halide perovskites.

The addition of a polar-hydrophobic methylammonium trifluoroacetate ionic liquid tailors the hydrophobicity of halide-perovskite precursor solutions and assists in grain growth. This unique additive also functionalizes the grain boundaries via polar-polar interactions, thereby enhancing the optoelectronic properties and chemical stability of perovskites. This study opens the door to the solution hydrophobicity control towards high-performance perovskite devices.

Mechanical Characterization and Impact Damage Assessment of Hybrid Three-Dimensional Five-Directional Composites.

The effects of braided architecture and co-braided hybrid structure on low-velocity response of carbon-aramid hybrid three-dimensional five-directional (3D5d) braided composites were experimentally investigated in this study. Low-velocity impact was conducted on two types of hybridization and one pure carbon fiber braided reinforced composites under three velocities. Damage morphologies after low-velocity impact were detected by microscopy and ultrasonic nondestructive testing.

Construction of a sp /sp Carbon Interface in 3D N-Doped Nanocarbons for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

The development of highly efficient metal-free carbon electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one very promising strategy for the exploitation and commercialization of renewable and clean energy, but this still remains a significant challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a facile approach to prepare three-dimensional (3D) N-doped carbon with a sp /sp carbon interface derived from ionic liquids via a simple pyrolysis process. The tunable hybrid sp and sp carbon composition and pore structures stem from the transformation of ionic liquids to polymerized organics and introduction of a Co metal salt.

Microstructure evolution of sandwich graphite oxide/interlayer-embedded Au nanoparticles induced from γ-rays for carcinoembryonic antigen biosensor.

With the capability of inducing small particle sizes of supported metal in graphite oxide (GO), the γ-ray irradiation method applied for preparing graphite oxide-gold (GO-Au) nanocomposites as electrochemical immunosensors has attracted specific attention recently. To study the accurate factors influencing the precise morphology and final performance of the prepared composites in the γ-irradiation system, we proposed a facile method to investigate the evolution of the GO structure, size and dispersion of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) produced with the addition of isopropyl alcohol to the system. The GO-Au nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction spectra, Raman spectra, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy.

A porphyrin-based optical sensor membrane prepared by electrostatic self-assembled technique for online detection of cadmium(II).

An optical sensor membrane was prepared by electrostatic self-assembled technique for online detection of cadmium ion (II) (Cd(II)). The optical indicator 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-N-methylpyridyl) porphyrin p-toluenesulfonate (TMPyP) was adsorbed on a hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membrane by electrostatic attraction and further immobilized through layer-by-layer deposition of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) on the membrane surface. The electrostatic self-assembly of polyelectrolytes on the membrane is influenced by pH and salt concentration of polyelectrolytes.

Robust Corrole-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks with Rare 9-Connected Zr/Hf-Oxo Clusters.

The corrole unit from the porphyrinoid family represents one of the most important ligands in the field of coordination chemistry, which creates a unique environment allowing for the observation of unusual electronic states of bound metal cations and has shown great promise in various applications. Nevertheless, studies that directly and systematically introduce these motifs in porous crystalline materials for targeting further functionalizations are still lacking. Herein, we report for the first time the construction of two robust corrole-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), M(μ-O)(μ-OH)(OH)(HO)(HTCPC) (M = Zr for and M = Hf for , HTCPC = 5,10,15-tris(-carboxylphenyl)corrole), which are assembled by a custom-designed -symmetric corrolic tricarboxylate ligand and the unprecedented -symmetric 9-connected Zr/Hf clusters.

Low pressure modified polyamide 6 membrane for effective fractionation of dyes and NaCl.

A co-polymer (SPAA6) of 5-sulfoanthranilic acid (5SAA) and ε-caprolactam was used to prepare membrane through nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. The micro-structure of membrane was adjusted by small molecules to improve mechanic strength and performance, involving 7 commercial ionic surfactant and a self-synthesized one, S20. S20 showed the best compatibility with SPAA6, which converted spherical phase into network of strip-like units in micro-structure of membrane.

Encoder-decoder with dense dilated spatial pyramid pooling for prostate MR images segmentation.

Automatic segmentation of prostate magnetic resonance (MR) images has great significance for the diagnosis and clinical application of prostate diseases. It faces enormous challenges because of the low contrast of the tissue boundary and the small effective area of the prostate MR images. In order to solve these problems, we propose a novel end-to-end professional network which consists of an Encoder-Decoder structure with dense dilated spatial pyramid pooling (DDSPP) for prostate segmentation based on deep learning.

Natural-based Hydrogels: A Journey from Simple to Smart Networks for Medical Examination.

Natural hydrogels, due to their unique biological properties, have been used extensively for various medical and clinical examinations that are performed to investigate the signs of disease. Recently, complex-crosslinking strategies improved the mechanical properties and advanced approaches have resulted in the introduction of naturally derived hydrogels that exhibit high biocompatibility, with shape memory and self-healing characteristics. Moreover, the creation of self-assembled natural hydrogels under physiological conditions has provided the opportunity to engineer fine-tuning properties.

Efficient separation of vitamins mixture in aqueous solution using a stable zirconium-based metal-organic framework.

High-efficiency separation of niacin (NIA) and nicotinamide (NIC) still faces large challenge up to date. In this work, a stable zirconium-based metal-organic framework (DUT-67) was used to adsorb and separate NIA and NIC in aqueous solutions. The adsorption capacities for NIA and NIC at the concentration ratio of 1:1 were 110.

Incorporation of clusters within inorganic materials through their addition during nucleation steps.

Nanomaterials are known to display chemical and physical behaviours that are different from those of their bulk counterparts, but assembly processes in the sub-nanometre region are difficult to control. The early growth of nanomaterials is typically thought to involve two separate steps: nucleation and the growth stage, as described by the LaMer model. Control of the shape and size of the final structure is typically determined during the growth stage by interactions between the nuclei and surrounding monomers.

Oxalic Acid-Induced Photodissolution of Ferrihydrite and the Fate of Loaded As(V): Kinetics and Mechanism.

The fate of arsenic in the water environment is of great concern. Here, the influences of oxalic acid and UV light illumination on the dissolution of naked ferrihydrite (Fhy), Fhy loaded with As(V) [Fhy*-As(V)], as well as the fate of As(V) at pH 3.0 were studied.