Search

[Display omitted] • The regulation of trace Cu+ ions on the structures and band of Cu x In 0.25 ZnS y solid solution are studied. • The mechanism of energy band bending and matching between Cu x In 0.25 ZnS y and cocatalysts are revealed. • The optimized Cu x In 0.25 ZnS y @Rh photocatalyst exhibits a high catalytic HER activity under the visible light irradiation. As an attractive semiconductor photocatalyst, (CuInS 2) x -(ZnS) y has been intensively studied in photocatalysis, due to its unique layered structure and stability. Here, we synthesized a series of Cu x In 0.25 ZnS y photocatalysts with different trace Cu+-dominated ratios. The results show that doping with Cu+ ions leads to an increase in the valence state of In and the formation of a distorted S structure, simultaneously inducing a decrease in the semiconductor bandgap. When the doping amount of Cu+ ions is 0.04 atomic ratio to Zn, the optimized Cu 0.04 In 0.25 ZnS y photocatalyst with a bandgap of 2.16 eV shows the highest catalytic hydrogen evolution activity (191.4 μmol.h−1). Subsequently, among the common cocatalysts, Rh loaded Cu 0.04 In 0.25 ZnS y gives the highest activity of 1189.8 μmol·h−1, corresponding to an apparent quantum efficiency of 49.11 % at 420 nm. Moreover, the internal mechanism of photogenerated carrier transfer between semiconductors and different cocatalysts is analyzed by the band bending phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is the most common complication associated with mechanical ventilation. Electroacupuncture (EA) has shown potent anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA on VILI and explore the underlying mechanisms. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to high tidal volume ventilation to induce VILI. Prior to mechanical ventilation, mice received treatment with EA, nonacupoint EA, or EA combined with zinc protoporphyrin. EA treatment significantly improved oxygenation, as indicated by increased PaO 2 levels in VILI mice. Moreover, EA reduced lung injury score, lung wet/dry weight ratio, and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. EA also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-18, chemokine keratinocyte chemoattractant, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and malondialdehyde. Furthermore, EA increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in VILI mice. At the molecular level, EA upregulated the expression of Nrf2 (nucleus) and heme oxygenase −1, while down-regulating the expression of p-NF-κB p65, NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3, Cleaved Caspase-1, and ASC in VILI mice. Notably, the effects of EA were reversed by zinc protoporphyrin treatment, nonacupoint EA did not affect the aforementioned indicators of VILI. EA alleviates VILI by inhibiting the NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing three inflammasome through activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The balance centered at Cr3+, La3+ and Al3+ was investigated and the stabilizing mechanism of Cr3+ was proposed during crystal remolding. The crystallinity of bulk STO perovskite is improved by the molten-salt method, and the exposure of new non-equivalent facets is more conducive to internal charge separation and migration. The above development is helpful for the overall water splitting under visible light. [Display omitted] • Designed single-crystalline La/(Cr, Al) co-doped SrTiO 3 was successfully prepared. • Introduced Cr3+ for visible-light excitation is fixed and stabilized by La3+ and Al3+. • Ti3+ defect concentration is effectively suppressed after crystal remolding. • The designed SrTiO 3 material performed well in visible-light-driven water splitting. Achieving efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion through visible-light-driven overall water splitting poses a significant challenge for particulate photocatalysts. Although bandgap engineering can be realized by ion doping, the introduced defects simultaneously enhance the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Herein, La/(Cr, Al) co-doped SrTiO 3 was remolded via the ion implantation flux method. The La, Cr and Al achieve valence state equilibrium upon stabilizing the crystal lattice, resulting in visible-light absorption. The optimized La/(Cr, Al)-SrTiO 3 photocatalyst exhibits an overall water-splitting reaction under visible light, yielding 73.2 μmol·h−1 for H 2 and 35.0 μmol·h−1 for O 2 with an apparent quantum yield of 1.44 % at 420 nm. Based on theoretical calculation, we proposed a La, Al-cooperated mechanism that a little Cr3+ was fixed by the surrounding Al3+, and the valence state was stabilized by La3+ during the crystal remolding, thereby giving the guidance for designing visible-light materials applied in overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]