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In this paper, flame retardant composites were prepared by incorporating three flame retardants (FRs), including triphenyl phosphate (TPP), polysiloxane (PSQ) and phosphite functionalized polysiloxane (PPSQ), respectively into a polylactic acid (s/PLLA) matrix. The results indicated that the ultimate oxygen index increased from 20.6% (s/PLLA) to 22.5% (s/PLLA/TPP), 21.1% (s/PLLA/PSQ), and 23.3% (s/PLLA/PPSQ). The composites exhibited a decrease in peak heat release rate (pHRR) and prolonged peak time according to the cone calorimetry analysis. s/PLLA/PPSQ possessed the highest residual carbon content and the densest char residue with finest and smallest pores, indicating excellent flame-retardant performance. The crystallization behavior analysis revealed that the three FRs resulted in an increased crystallization rate and crystallinity. Notably, the crystallinity of s/PLLA/PPSQ increased from 25.8% in s/PLLA to 37.3%. Additionally, PSQ and PPSQ effectively enhanced the mechanical properties of composite materials. Compared to s/PLLA, the tensile strength of s/PLLA/PSQ and s/PLLA/PPSQ increased by 11.5% and 31.3% respectively, and storage modulus increased by 50.0% and 14.6%. This research demonstrated that among the three additives, PPSQ can effectively provide both flame retardancy and mechanical properties to the s/PLLA matrix, resulting in the composite with the best comprehensive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a contents list for the New Journal of Chemistry, providing a summary of papers published in 2024. The journal covers a wide range of topics in the chemical sciences, including selenium compounds as antiviral agents, guanidinium-terminated gold nanoparticles for protein delivery, and the synthesis of macroporous nanocarbon for sodium ion batteries. The journal aims to connect the global chemistry community and reinvest profits into the field. Additionally, the document includes an expression of concern and a correction for previous articles. [Extracted from the article]

As a significant reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypochlorous acid (HClO) plays a key role in the human immune system, ensuring the normal function of the organism. However, abnormal HClO levels have been linked to immune system disorders, neurodegenerative damage, and cancer. Therefore, rapid, and sensitive monitoring of HClO is important for the diagnosis of certain diseases. Here, we designed a probe XL for the detection of HClO in living cells, which is a mixture of phenothiazine and semi-cyanine. The probe XL is highly sensitive, selective and has an ultra-fast (<10 seconds) response to HClO in solution. The detection limit of probe XL for HClO was as low as 31 nM, and we also successfully used the test paper prepared with probe XL for the colorimetric fluorescence detection of HClO in real water samples. In addition, probe XL showed good response to both endogenous and exogenous HClO in cells. Finally, we successfully used probe XL for imaging HClO in zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal sulfides have attracted much attention due to their excellent electrochemical properties. However, their preparation process often requires multiple steps to be completed, which poses difficulties for their application. In this paper, a NiCo2S4(NCS)@NiCo-LDH material was successfully prepared as the cathode material for the prepared supercapacitor by a one-step hydrothermal method using a MOF as a sacrificial template. The electrode material exhibits good electrochemical performance due to the regular microstructure with abundant active sites. The electrode material exhibits a specific capacitance as high as 4191.25 mF cm−2 in the three-electrode system at a current density of 2 mA cm−2. This is much higher than the sum of the capacitances of the NiCo2S4 and NiCo-LDH materials. To further validate its practical application, it was assembled with an activated carbon negative electrode to prepare a high-performance supercapacitor with a scalable voltage window of up to 1.6 V. The device was able to maintain 90% capacity retention after 5000 cycles and showed excellent performance. This work provides a new way to design and fabricate electrode materials with high performance and lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, three-dimensional TiO2 nanoflowers (NFs) were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method, and Ag3PO4 was grown in situ following alkali treatment to design and synthesize a Ag3PO4/OH/TiO2 catalyst with excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light. The test results show that the photocatalytic degradation performance of TiO2 NFs after alkali treatment and Ag3PO4 loading is significantly improved. This is because the alkali treatment and the introduction of Ag3PO4 can provide a large amount of –OH, which can be converted to ˙OH under UV irradiation, followed by an increase in the number of active radicals to enhance the photocatalytic degradation performance. Meanwhile, the introduction of Ag3PO4 can effectively improve the light absorption ability of the photocatalyst. Moreover, the in situ growth of Ag3PO4 on TiO2 NFs can construct a high-quality Ag3PO4/TiO2 heterojunction to promote the charge separation and transport. Therefore, the degradation rate of Ag3PO4/OH/TiO2 can reach 90% after 30 min for degrading 3 mg L−1 RhB under visible light. The Ag3PO4/OH/TiO2 photocatalyst designed in the present work provides a new tool for the degradation of organic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two D–π–A structured self-assembly monolayers (SAMs: FNE29 and DT-1) are self-assembled onto the indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates as hole-transport layers (HTLs) for inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Due to the presence of a terminal –COOH group, the SAMs can be adsorbed onto the surface of the ITO substrate through the covalent self-assembly. The employed FNE29 and DT-1 SAMs differ in the π bridge (linker); the FNE29 SAM has a hexyl-substituent terthiophene while the DT-1 SAM contains dithienopyrrolobenzotriazole as the linkers, respectively. Upon the self-assembly of ITO with the SAMs, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) is enhanced from 9.36% for the control device to 16.75% for the FNE29 modified device and further to 20.65% for the DT-1 modified PSCs. As the D–π–A structured SAMs with a large fused π bridge as a linker is beneficial for hole transfer, the self-assembly of DT-1 achieves a higher PCE with an improved fill factor. Moreover, due to the good hydrophobic characteristics of the SAMs, the inverted PSC devices self-assembled with these two molecules display good stability, maintaining over 80% of the original PCE after storage in air (relative humidity of 20–30%) for ∼1000 h without encapsulation. In addition, the FNE29 and DT-1 based devices also show good photostability after operating for 1000 h. These results indicate that the D–π–A structured SAMs with large conjugated fused π bridges as linkers have obvious advantages as the HTLs for inverted PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method using gum arabic (GA) and tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl aminomethane (tris) as precursors. The resultant NCDs show uniform size distribution and stable optical performance. Then a fluorescent signal quenching probe based on NCDs was proposed for the quantitative detection of mercury ions (Hg2+). The developed fluorescent nanoprobe based on NCDs demonstrated a good linear relationship in the range of 10 to 120 μM (R² = 0.99265) for toxic mercury(II), with a detection limit of 4.87 μM. Additionally, the present assay system could be efficiently used for the detection of Hg2+ in real water samples with a satisfactory recovery rate (96.11-104.04%). The metal-free NCDs, which exhibited little cytotoxicity, were successfully applied to in vitro fluorescence imaging of human triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, achieving visualization of Hg2+ in cells. With good water solubility and biocompatibility, the nitrogen-doped carbon dots synthesized by this economical and ecologically friendly process are suitable for use in analytical testing and biological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature, PDIs have been shown to demonstrate extensive applications in the area of organic electronics due to their ability to act as n-type semiconductors. PDIs have been applied in a wide range of electronic devices, including energy storage devices. To fit in these applications, we have modified the valine-terminated PDI core by substituting groups, viz. phenoxy, 4-methoxy phenoxy, and 3,4-dimethoxy phenoxy groups, at bay positions to fine-tune their HOMO-LUMO levels. In this paper, a series of conjugation-extended 1,7-, 1,6- and 1,6,7-regioisomers of Val-PDIs were synthesized, and 1,6,7-PDIs were removed by utilizing the Soxhlet extraction technique used for the first time. The 1,7- and 1,6-PDIs were separated by repeated crystallization and their structural characterization was performed using FTIR, ¹H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Further, the structures of as-synthesized PDIs were optimized by DFT calculations using the B3LYP approach with a 6-31+G(d,p) basis set, and the electronic transitions were visualized by analyzing natural transition orbitals (NTO). The photophysical properties of the highly soluble bay-substituted PDIs were evaluated using UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques in organic solvents ranging from non-polar to polar. Furthermore, their relative polarities in the ground vs. excited state were determined by employing the Lippert-Mataga relations. The electrochemical investigations of PDIs were done using cyclic voltammetry to evaluate their redox behavior. In addition to their unique structural relationship, 1,7- and 1,6-regioisomers revealed intriguing optoelectronic properties. Finally, symmetric supercapacitors (SSCs) were developed by exploiting the regioisomerically pure 1,7- and 1,6-disubstituted PDIs as electrode materials. The as-fabricated PDIs/GF electrodes were optimized in a two-electrode SC device given their electrochemical performance. Two of the PDIs, viz. M1 and D1, demonstrated good results of specific capacitances, i.e. 59.41 and 23.60 Fg-1 respectively, in the SSC devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list for the New Journal of Chemistry, providing a range of research topics for library patrons interested in chemistry. It includes articles on the transformation of CO2, mechanochromic photoluminescence, nanocellulose-based electrocatalysts, bone formation rate prediction, and the synthesis of halogenated benzimidazolyl-C nucleosides. The journal also covers industrial chemistry, material innovations, and interdisciplinary features. Additionally, the document includes a retraction notice for a previous paper. [Extracted from the article]

It is crucial to develop high-performance catalysts for the degradation of antibiotic pollutants. In this paper, we reported an inverse opal Mn-doped WO3 (IO Mn–WO3) catalyst to effectively activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of levofloxacin (LVX) under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of this novel photo-Fenton-like system could reach almost 100% for LVX. The catalyst showed good recyclability and stability within five cycles. In addition, the possible degradation pathways, the main reactive oxygen species and the degradation mechanism were systematically investigated in this work. ˙O2− and 1O2 were identified as the main reactive oxygen species in the degradation system. Mn doping can initiate PMS activation and improve charge transfer efficiency, WO3 can promote the reduction of Mn species to make the reaction in the system occur continuously, an inverse opal structure can further enhance light absorption and increase the contact area between the catalyst and the pollutant. This work integrated the Fenton-like catalytic effect and the photocatalytic effect into the designed catalyst for PMS activation and antibiotic degradation, which developed a feasible strategy to improve the degradation performance of Mn-based materials for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimising advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) by creating oxygen vacancies (OVs) on metal oxides via doping with different ions to improve catalyst activity is currently a significant research field. OVs produced by doping have the potential to substantially reduce the reaction energy barrier, and impact the reaction products with high selectivity. However, there is currently a lack of reviews on the utilization of dopant ions to induce OVs and the application of dopant-induced OVs in AOPs. This paper provides a systematic overview of the selection of dopant ions for the construction of OVs by doping. Additionally, we present two theoretical explanations highlighting the ability of doping to obtain OVs, explaining how doping can be used to design catalysts with ample OVs. Next, we methodically illustrate the kinetic and thermodynamic interactions between OVs and dopant ions. We also discuss the direct and indirect destruction of OVs by environmental factors that influence dopant elements in AOPs. Finally, the paper concludes with a detailed account of the application of OVs induced by doping in typical advanced oxidation techniques, such as Fenton-like oxidation, activated persulfate oxidation, catalytic ozonation, photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation. Additionally, potential avenues of future research are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiency and accuracy are two major criteria for evaluating a test method. The thermal stability evaluation of PVC materials is now mainly based on the color change of PVC samples and Congo red test paper with manual observation as the main method, which is inefficient and imprecise. In this work, a machine vision-based evaluation system was developed to address the issues of low efficiency and poor accuracy in evaluating PVC thermal stability. During the degradation process, the color change recognition characteristics of PVC film samples and Congo red test paper were determined by analyzing the RGB SUM value and the R value, respectively. In comparison to manual observation, the machine vision-based evaluation system is more objective, efficient and accurate, and it is particularly suitable for evaluating PVC samples with similar thermal stability. Moreover, this study also resolves the issue of color mutation during the window period of the thermal stability test, and obtains the thermal degradation evolution trend through the color value change curve. This method holds great importance and application potential in guiding the processing or reprocessing of PVC materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-cost and binder-free cobalt electrode is prepared by the electrodeposition of Co nanoplates onto a flexible conductive substrate, which is prepared simply by scratching a piece of A4 paper with a common 8B pencil. The morphology and phase structure of the cobalt–graphite–paper (CGP) electrode are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and an X-ray diffractometer. The catalytic activity of the CGP electrode for NaBH4 electro-oxidation is investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The catalyst combines tightly with the paper and exhibits a good stability. The oxidation current density reaches up to 180 mA cm−2 in 1 mol dm−3 NaOH and 0.10 mol dm−3 NaBH4 at −0.4 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate performance of LiFePO4 batteries is improved by inserting a carbon interlayer, which is synthesized by a simple and cheap pyrolysis of the filter paper commonly used in the laboratories. The specific capacity of the LiFePO4 batteries at low current density is only slightly improved after the introduction of the carbon interlayer, while the specific capacity at high current density is greatly enhanced with a specific capacity of 90 mA h g−1 and 76 mA h g−1 at 10 C and 20 C, respectively, compared to a specific capacity of 17 mA h g−1 and 8 mA h g−1 of LiFePO4 batteries without a carbon interlayer. The improved electrochemical performance is attributed to the porous architecture of the carbon interlayer, serving as a conductive skeleton, largely reducing the charge transfer resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two chemosensors with large hexaazatriphenylene-pyrene chromophores were designed and synthesized. Both of them exhibit a selective fluorescence quenching response to Hg2+ in aqueous acetonitrile solution, and their detection limits are lower than the toxic level of Hg2+. Additionally, these compounds were successfully used for test paper detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures aligned on a conductive substrate are advantageous for various energy applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of hierarchically nanostructured NiO nanotube arrays supported on carbon fiber paper (CFP) via a simple ZnO-template method and evaluated the arrays as supercapacitor electrodes. We demonstrate that subtle changes in the annealing temperature during the preparation of NiO affect the porous structures of both NiO and CFP, which synergically enhance the pseudocapacitive performance of NiO according to in-depth electrochemical analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of hydrazine in production is not to be underestimated due to its strong reducibility. However, every coin has two sides. Hydrazine represents a great hazard to the environment, which cannot be ignored. Aiming to prevent harm to people or the environment, a new near-infrared fluorescent probe is presented. This probe is specifically designed to sense hydrazine vapor accumulated in an enclosed space and detect excessive hydrazine in water samples. It shows good selectivity and a turn-on effect, as well as a remarkable color change that can be distinguished by the naked eye. This effect has been utilized for quantitative detection in real water samples. Moreover, the color change of the probe adsorbed on filter paper can be observed by the naked eye to monitor the presence of hydrazine in the air in real time; this property of the probe is expected to be used for hydrazine detection in industrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, our aim was to synthesize Gd–Ni doped M-type calcium hexaferrites using a solid-state reaction method. The chemical composition of the synthesized material was Ca1−xGdxFe12−yNiyO19, (0.00 ≤ x, y ≤ 0.07). This study focused on examining the impact of low concentrations of Gd3+ and Ni2+ ions in the formula. The M-type hexagonal structure was confirmed with high certainty using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. In addition, a minor impurity phase, α-Fe2O3, was detected. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis focused on examining the surface morphology of the sample, and the obtained images revealed the presence of anticipated grain sizes ranging from 0.80 to 1.06 μm. This study employed energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to validate the elemental composition and oxidation states of the constituent elements. A vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and theoretical calculations are used to determine crucial parameters, including remanent magnetization (Mr), coercivity (Hc), saturation magnetization (Ms), squareness ratio (Mr/Ms ≤ 0.5), magneton number (μB), and magneto-crystalline anisotropy constant (Ka). Examination of these parameters contributes to a deeper understanding of the magnetic properties under investigation. This paper presents an analysis of the obtained samples, highlighting their remarkable suitability for applications in high-frequency devices and high-density recording media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the synthesis of a Mn2+ and Pr3+ co-doped Zn2GeO4 optical probe by introducing boron-doped and histidine- and serine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (BHS-GQD) to Mn2+/Pr3+-Zn2GeO4. The resulting Mn2+/Pr3+-Zn2GeO4-BHS-GQD have a rod-like nanostructure, with rods that have an average length of 378 ± 1.8 nm and a width of 11 ± 0.8 nm, where the rods self-assemble into nanorod bundles. The Mn2+/Pr3+-Zn2GeO4-BHS-GQD can produce a strong green fluorescence emission under the excitation of 254 nm ultraviolet light. The fluorescence emission strongly depends on the pH and ambient temperature. Increases of pH in the ranges 3.0–5.8 and 6.8–8.0 bring a slow increase in the fluorescence intensity. However, a sudden leap in the fluorescence intensity appears at pH values between 5.8 and 6.8, indicating good pH-switching properties. These properties should be attributed to the acid–base substitution reaction that occurs at the interface between the Mn2+/Pr3+-Zn2GeO4-BHS-GQD and the aqueous solution. At a relatively low pH value, the H+ ions in the aqueous solution can replace the GeO44− ions in the Mn2+/Pr3+-Zn2GeO4-BHS-GQD to form weakly acidic species, H4GeO4, leading to the reduction in the peak fluorescence intensity. In addition, the study reveals that an increase of the temperature between 20 and 80 °C causes a linear decrease in the peak fluorescence intensity and that this fluorescence intensity change exhibits an excellent reversibility when the temperature is varied. The Mn2+/Pr3+-Zn2GeO4-BHS-GQD have been satisfactorily used as an optical probe for sensing pH and temperature and for encrypting information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The New Journal of Chemistry, published by The Royal Society of Chemistry, has released its latest issue which includes a variety of articles covering different topics in the field of chemistry. The papers discuss recent progress in areas such as nitrogen-heterocycles, chemisorption of gases, photoactive derivatives, and potential applications of nanoribbons. The journal aims to connect the global community with the chemical sciences and provides scientific insights and advancements in various fields of study. [Extracted from the article]

The problem of water pollution has become increasingly serious, posing a great threat to human health. Among the various water pollutants, a significant one is dyes, which have strong toxicity and carcinogenicity and seriously pollute water bodies, thus further posing a great threat to the health of aquatic life, animals, plants and human beings. However, dyes are widely used in textile, paper, and printing industries, and thus it is difficult to prevent their discharge into water bodies during the production process. Therefore, it is necessary to develop efficient methods to remove dyes from process wastewater as much as possible for wastewater purification. In this regard, the adsorption method has become one of the most effective methods to remove dyes because of its simple process and low cost. In this study, we prepared a biomimetic seaweed absorbable membrane (BSAM). This membrane has a unique porous structure and can adsorb dye molecules. After testing, the highest removal rate of methylene blue dye reached 97.72%. This type of membrane looks like seaweed, can curl when dry, is easy to disperse in water, and has excellent water solubility. In addition, because of its hydrophilicity, it exhibits good separation efficiency in the separation of water-in-oil emulsions. Thus, this membrane has certain application potential in the treatment of dye wastewater and dye-containing oil water in special processes on ships and in oil fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a novel approach for the preparation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) through the radiolytical reduction of commercial graphene oxide (GO). The method is highly efficient and environmentally friendly compared to other synthetic routes. We conducted a detailed study on the influence of absorbed doses during the synthesis process. The reduction process for the production of rGO is induced by the radiolysis of water at ambient temperature and pressure, confirmed using several sophisticated techniques. Our results demonstrate the efficiency of the radiolytical process compared to conventional methods of GO reduction. The C/O ratio increased from 3.3 (GO) to 11.2 (rGO), surpassing those of other reduction methods. Additionally, the intensity ratio of D and G bands (ID/IG) increased for rGO due to an increase in order by reduction, implying the restoration of π-conjugation. Furthermore, the thermal stability of GO improved upon irradiation. Electrochemical measurements finally showed that our rGO exhibited a specific capacitance of 229.3 F g−1, indicating its high potential as a candidate for energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a contents list of the New Journal of Chemistry, published on March 14, 2024. It includes a variety of articles and papers on topics such as SARS-CoV-2 detection, synthesis of branched bottlebrushes, glycosyl sulfonation, catalytic behavior, and more. The journal, published by The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, aims to explore new directions in chemistry. The document provides a comprehensive overview of the articles included in the journal issue, which cover a wide range of topics and provide valuable research and insights in their respective fields. [Extracted from the article]

Na3(VOPO4)2F (NVOPF) is an ideal cathode for high-energy-density sodium ion batteries (SIBs), due to its impressive output voltage and stable structure. However, the high production costs and complex operation processes associated with conventional synthetic methods impede its commercial applications. Herein, a simple but efficient method for large-scale low-cost synthesis of NVOPF at low temperatures is proposed. The optimal sample obtained at a suitable pH delivers a high discharge capacity of 119.6 mA h g−1 at 0.2C and remarkable cycling performance with a decay rate of merely 0.0043% per cycle over 1400 cycles at 1C. Coin-type full cells composed of NVOPF and commercial hard carbon achieve a distinguished energy density of 426.2 W h kg−1 calculated based on the cathode material. Most importantly, 2.1 A h soft-pack batteries with 100 mm in length and 60 mm in width were assembled based on the as-synthesized kilogram-scale NVOPF, which can stably cycle at 1C for 400 cycles with a capacity retention of 93.2% and an average coulombic efficiency of 99.96%. Moreover, the soft-pack battery exhibits fascinating performance in a wide temperature range, including superior rate capability at −20 °C (86.4% at 5C compared to 1C) as well as stable cycling performance at 50 °C (72.5% capacity retention after 400 cycles at 1C). This paper proposes a low-temperature co-precipitation method for synthesizing NVOPF, which significantly reduces the cost of production and contributes a solution for the industrial-scale production of NVOPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) are regarded as a promising hydrogen storage and transportation technology. However, problems of incomplete dehydrogenation and the high dehydrogenation catalyst costs have hindered the development and application of this technology. Therefore, the research and development of a dehydrogenation catalyst with low cost and high reactivity have become the focus of current research in this field. In this paper, we report on a dehydrogenation catalyst with low noble metal loading prepared using amino silane coupling agent. The catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance on dodecahydro-N-ethylcarbazole (12H-NECZ). At 473 K, the hydrogen release of 0.3% Pd–NH2(1) catalyst prepared by the amino modification method is 4.44 wt%, which is 2.1 times that of Pd catalyst prepared using the traditional impregnation method. The amino-modified catalysts with increasing Pd loading of 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0 wt% displayed hydrogen release of 4.96, 5.14 and 5.21 wt%, respectively. The characterization of amnio-modified Pd catalysts showed that Pd was uniformly distributed on the SiO2 support, and the Pd particle size of the 0.3% Pd–NH2(1) catalyst was only 1.6 nm. The reaction kinetic parameters of two catalysts in the 12H-NECZ dehydrogenation were calculated, and the results indicated that the activation energy of the rate-limiting step (4H-NECZ to NECZ) in dehydrogenation was reduced with amnio-modified catalysts compared to impregnated catalysts. By analyzing the relationship between the Pd particle size and turnover frequency (TOF), the optimal Pd particle size in the overall dehydrogenation reaction and each step of the 12H-NECZ dehydrogenation was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickering emulsions are considered as promising chemical oil repellents in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In this paper, an amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(dopamine methacrylamide) (mPEG–PDMA, abbreviated as mp) containing catechol adhesion groups was synthesized. The surface modification of A200 and SBA-15 nanoparticles was carried out using the strategy of dip-coating with mp solution, and the emulsification properties of the two modified particles and their stability were comparatively investigated. The results showed that both modified particles could achieve excellent emulsification performance. The best emulsification effect was achieved when the concentration of A200-mp and SBA-15-mp particles was 2.5 mg mL−1 and the oil phase volume fraction was 0.5. The emulsions stabilized by SBA-15-mp tended to be invertible when the volume fraction of the oil phase was 0.7 or pH = 2–3 or when NaCl was added, and O/W emulsions could be inverted into W/O types. Interestingly, the emulsions stabilized by A200-mp particles showed good acid resistance, alkali resistance, high salt resistance, multiple oil phase applicability and centrifugal shear stability. In the simulated rock permeation experiments, the emulsions prepared using A200-mp particles could stably permeate in the silica sand column without an obvious chromatographic separation effect, which is promising for application in tertiary oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low coulombic efficiency and mild conductivity have impeded the commercialization of sulfur-based batteries despite pairing with high energy density and low-cost aluminum anodes. In this study, we investigated cost-effective electrolyte confinement of the sulfur cathode to an Al/S@Gf battery, which employed a sulfur-graphite (S@Gf) cathode, an aluminum metal anode, and 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride (EMImCl):AlCl3 as an electrolyte. The Al/EMImCl:AlCl3/S@Gf battery exhibited remarkable performance in terms of rate capability and cycle life, delivering a high capacity of 1281 mA h g−1 at a current density of 300 mA g−1 with 90% coulombic efficiency (CE); additionally, it was stable at 800 mA g−1 withdrawing current. By employing an embedding technique to incorporate sulfur particles onto the graphite, we emulated previously observed glitches, such as capacity degradation and poor conductivity resulting in the accumulation of insoluble discharge products hindering ion diffusion. We demonstrated the potential of graphite to enhance the capability of holding sulfur for creating cells with repeatable, stable, and long-lasting charge storage features. This paper elucidates the interactions between carbon, sulfur, and aluminum electrolytes, and sheds light on their respective roles in the fundamental charge-storage process of aluminum–sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an electrochemical procedure for synthesizing graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets in a diluted acidic medium (0.05 M), featuring 100% synthesis yield. Characterization results revealed that the synthesized GO in this approach exhibits a low XRD peak position (around 10°) and a C/O ratio of 2.9, offering higher surface functionality than conventional electrochemical methods reported in the literature. We also demonstrated the tunability of the GO's surface functionality by manipulating the synthesis parameters, such as electrolyte concentration and synthesis time, offering flexibility that surpasses the constraints often seen in chemical methods. Additionally, it was observed that assembling the current GO nanosheets into diverse microscopic (e.g., layered and porous) and macroscopic (e.g., paper and aerogel) structures results in distinctive characteristics and properties. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shields with tunable specific EMI shielding effectiveness (SSE/t) and shielding mechanisms have been devised by fine-tuning the synthesis and processing methodologies. Excellent SSE/t ranging from 5000 dB cm2 g−1 for compact to 2000 dB cm2 g−1 for porous shields has been achieved, unraveling the importance of multi-scale materials design for the performance of the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane separation technique has been widely used in recent years for oily wastewater treatment because of the advantages of simplicity of operation, lack of residual contamination and high separation efficiency. However, membrane fouling and pore plugging can cause serious problems, such as short membrane life and decreased flux. Therefore, in this paper, a self-cleaning polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite membrane with excellent oil–water emulsion separation properties was prepared. The PAN membrane modified with AgI/UiO-66-NH2 was first prepared using electrospinning. The zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (pSBMA) was then modified onto the prefabricated electrospinning membrane by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to prepare hydrophilic polymer brush grafted PAN/AgI/UiO-66-NH2 composite membranes after 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BiBB) was introduced to the composite membrane. The membrane possesses a self-cleaning capacity because AgI/UiO-66-NH2 has the ability of visible light driven catalytic degradation. The powerful hydration ability of the pSBMA and the surrounding water molecules enhance the wettability of the composite membrane. The existence of a photocatalyst and hydration of a zwitterionic polymer brush greatly improve the resistance of the membrane towards contamination. The as prepared membrane was used to treat oil/water emulsions and the results revealed that the membrane has high permeability to four kinds of different oil/water emulsions when driven by gravity. The mentioned membrane might have potential application prospects in oily water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid is an important organic acid with wide applications, and preparation of lactic acid from biomass-derived 1,2-propanediol was considered a green reaction route. In this paper, a Cu modified Au/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was designed for the oxidative esterification of 1,2-propanediol to methyl lactate in an alkali-free methanol system. The structural properties of the Au–Cu/γ-Al2O3 catalyst were characterized by various characterization methods, and interaction between Au nanoparticles and Cu species was discovered. Moreover, the catalytic tests showed that the Cu modified Au/γ-Al2O3 catalysts exhibited higher methyl lactate selectivity than the monometallic Au/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. It was revealed that the synergistic effect between the Au nanoparticles and Cu species could promote the oxidation of primary hydroxyl groups of 1,2-propanediol to produce methyl lactate and reduce the generation of by-products. In addition, a reasonable reaction pathway for the oxidative esterification of 1,2-propanediol was proposed based on the comparative experiments. These findings may provide favorable guidance for design of Au based nanocatalysts for the oxidative esterification of alcohols to esters and carboxylic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper details the preparation of an aluminum-based organic metal complex doped with fluorine and nitrogen (2-Ml/Al–F–N). The synthesis method combines hydrothermal synthesis and calcination for modification. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized for its composition, structure, and morphology using various techniques, including XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, and others. The electrochemical performance of the material was assessed using an electrochemical workstation, and gas chromatography was employed to analyze the results. DFT calculations were used to compute the material's properties and energy barrier diagram. The findings demonstrate that the catalyst exhibits a carbon nanoline morphology and showcases high catalytic activity in the CO2RR to CO. Notably, the catalyst exhibits excellent performance with a maximum current density of 14.08 mA cm−2 and a peak faradaic efficiency of 90.1% at −1.1 V vs. RHE. The active sites are predominantly located within the nanoline structure. The DFT calculations reveal that the introduction of ammonium fluoride during the synthesis process leads to the formation of a highly efficient fluorinated aluminum metal catalytic center derived from nonahydrate aluminum nitrate. This specific structure demonstrates excellent hydrogen suppression properties and effectively lowers desorption energy barriers, which enhances the CO2RR activity and promotes the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuO/CeO2 catalysts were widely studied as an alternative to precious metal catalysts, and the Cu–Ce synergy was essential to improve the catalytic performance. In this paper, the effects of CuO loading on Cu–Ce synergy in CuO/CeO2 nanorod catalysts and their performance in toluene combustion were systematically investigated. It was found that non-equilibrium plasma facilitated the dispersion of CuO active species on the CeO2 surface. With the increase of the CuO loading from 1 wt% to 4 wt%, the Cu–Ce synergistic effect was gradually improved, which generated Cu+/Cu2+ and Ce3+/Ce4+ redox electron pairs. The highest oxygen vacancy concentration and Cu+ content of CuCe-4 (4 wt%) resulting from strong Cu–Ce synergy accelerated the activation of chemisorbed oxygen and consequently improved the efficiency of toluene catalytic combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urease may rapidly hydrolyze urea, causing a significant amount of ammonia to be released and decreasing the efficacy of urea fertilizers. However, urease inhibitors (UIs) can prevent the interaction between urease and urea, allowing crops to absorb ammonium nitrogen for an extended period of time. In this paper, by using different O-donor second auxiliary ligands, we have designed and synthesized two Cu-based coordination polymers (Cu-CPs) to operate as UIs by combining two aromatic carboxylic acids and a bis-pyridine-bis-amide ligand, which show excellent urease inhibitory activity. Cu-CP-1 has an obvious inhibitory effect on the inhibitory activity against jack bean urease, with the IC50 of 1 being 0.83 ± 0.01 μM while the IC50 value for Cu-CP-2 was 2.53 ± 0.01 μM, respectively. Furthermore, inhibitory activity against urease, kinetics, molecular docking, and comparisons of the title Cu-CPs and other complex-based materials have been comprehensively investigated. More importantly, the bridging atoms of μ2-OH and μ2-Cl play important roles in urease inhibition activity. The structure–function relationships were further discussed and indicate that Cu-CPs can be used as a kind of UI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy offers significant benefits over standard antibiotic therapy in terms of rapid sterilization and resistance reduction. In this paper, a series of ruthenium complexes were designed and synthesized for antibacterial studies. [Ru(tpy)(dppz-R)Cl][PF6] (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine; dppz = dipyrido [3,2-a:2′,3′-c] phenazine; R = H, CH3, C(CH3)3, F, CF3, NO2, NH2 or CN), Ru1–Ru8 all showed superior in vitro antimicrobial effects under blue light irradiation. Ru2 has the best antimicrobial activity, with its inherent dark toxicity and photodynamic inactivation rapidly killing S. aureus without developing drug tolerance. Binding and damaging DNA as well as generating ROS may be its potential antimicrobial targets. Ru2 lacks a hemolytic effect on rabbit erythrocytes and has low phototoxicity against G. mellonella Larvae. In addition, Ru2 has been successfully used to treat skin wounds in mice infected with S. aureus. Therefore, Ru2 has shown great potential as a photodynamic antimicrobial agent against the threat of S. aureus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of small molecule anti-tumor drugs has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, meanwhile the EGFR is associated with tumor formation and progression. In this paper, we designed, synthesized and obtained a series of novel bis-oxidized thiopyran derivatives, and the compound S-16 was identified as the most promising compound for treating NSCLC. A series of experiments (cell cycle, apoptosis assays, in vitro/in vivo animal model and western blotting) were performed to investigate the anti-tumor mechanisms of S-16. The results indicated that S-16 could inhibit A549, H1975 and MCF-7 cancer cells (IC50 of 4, 3.14 and 0.62 μM, respectively), block the cell cycle of H1975 in the G0/G1 phase and induce apoptosis with dose-dependent effects. What is more, the toxicity of S-16 was estimated using the hemolytic test in vitro and H&E staining and blood biochemical analysis in vivo. In addition, H1975 xenograft tumor-bearing BALB/c nude mice were established to evaluate the antitumor activity in vivo, and the results showed that a dose of 80 mg kg−1 of S-16 could inhibit 46.07% tumor growth. These data suggest that S-16 exhibited strong in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. The molecular docking results also showed that S-16 had a high binding affinity for the EGFR protein. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that S-16 could be a potential anti-tumor drug for targeting the EGFR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing multifunctional materials with oil/water separation, dye adsorption, and antibacterial activities presents an enticing prospect for wastewater treatment. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) porous cellulose (CE)/quaternized cellulose (QCE) composite aerogel with super-wettability through co-deposition of polydopamine (PDA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) is reported. The PDA/PEI coating endows the aerogel with superhydrophilicity (WCA = 0°), and the QCE act as an anionic dye sorbent at the same time, endowing the material with antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). Oil/water mixtures can be separated on an as-prepared aerogel with high efficiency (>99%), even when the filtration was repeated 10 times, and the as-prepared aerogel can also separate oil-in-water emulsions. Moreover, the as-prepared aerogel exhibited excellent adsorption performance for alizarin red, with a calculated maximum adsorption capacity of 454.545 mg g−1. Besides, our modification also endowed the aerogel with antibacterial and anti-oil-fouling activities. The inhibition zone test verified the efficient elimination of E. coli. This work may open a new avenue for designing versatile aerogel with multiple functions for waste water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of efficient materials for capturing radioactive iodine in nuclear waste is of great significance to the development of nuclear energy and the protection of ecological environment. Nitrogen-rich imide covalent organic framework materials (COFs) have attracted much attention because of their excellent ability to adsorb radioactive iodine, but the harsh synthesis conditions limit their application in the adsorption neighborhood. In this paper, a simple and mild synthesis method was used to synthesize a covalent organic framework material (TFPT–Pa COF) connected by imine bonds at room temperature. The existence of electron-rich N atoms and the π–π conjugated structure make the TFPT–Pa COF material exhibit excellent iodine enrichment performance, and the enrichment capacity of iodine vapor is 3.67 g g−1. The adsorption is mainly chemisorption. For the adsorption of iodine in cyclohexane solution, the maximum adsorption equilibrium capacity reached 1407 mg g−1, which was more consistent with the Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption process was dominated by monolayer adsorption. After absorbing iodine vapor, the material can be desorbed quickly in ethanol and exhibits good reusability performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In organic solar cells (OSCs), the intricate synthesis and lower yield of ladder-type fused ring small molecule receptors (FR-SMAs) have prompted the quest for simpler, higher yielding non-fused ring (NFR)-SMAs. In this paper, a type of NFR asymmetrical SMA with an A–D–π–A structure, namely DPCT8-4F and DPCT10-4F, was primarily designed and synthesized, in which an alkyl chain dipyran (DP) ring, cycllopentadithiophene (CT) and fluorinated 1,1-dicyanomethylene-3-indanone (4F) are employed as the donor (D) unit, π-bridge and acceptor (A) terminals, respectively. The influence of the alkyl chain originating from the DP unit on their optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties was systematically investigated. The DPCT8-4F with n-octane chains exhibited enhanced crystallinity and molecular packing compared to the DPCT10-4F with n-decane chains. After being blended with the polymer donor PBDB-T, the OSCs based on PBDB-T:DPCT8-4F demonstrate an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 12.52%, surpassing that of 11.68% for the DPCT10-4F-based ones. This work demonstrates that these asymmetric NFR-SMAs can improve the efficiency of OSCs by pairing alkyl chains on the dipyran ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel Pt/CoP/C photo-electro synergistic catalyst was successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method combined with phosphorus doping treatment. The addition of Vulcan XC-72R is in favor of effectively preventing agglomeration of active catalytic sites, resulting in more uniform and smaller Pt and CoP nanoparticles. The as-obtained Pt/CoP/C shows excellent photo-electro catalytic performance for the HER with simulated solar light irradiation. The optimal hydrogen production is 5384.18 mmol h−1 g−1, which is obviously higher than that of the commercial catalyst (20 wt% Pt/C: 4608.52 mmol h−1 g−1). The research results show that introducing cobalt phosphide into the Pt catalyst can improve the electrocatalytic activity and stability for the HER; in particular, the existence of Co3O4 in Pt/CoP/C leads to an efficient photo-electro catalysis under irradiation, which significantly improves the catalytic activity of Pt. The results above provide a novel strategy for the rational design of cost-effective Pt-based composites towards a fast HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the research and development of perovskite long afterglow materials has received extensive attention. In this paper, we review the research progress of ABO3-type inorganic halide perovskite (including semiconductor and metal halides) long afterglow materials. Initially, we have introduced in detail the afterglow properties of perovskite long afterglow materials (including the afterglow wavelength, afterglow intensity, and afterglow time), their afterglow mechanism (based on the three most widely accepted basic theoretical models, namely the conduction band–valence band model, quantum tunneling model, oxygen vacancy model, and the complex experimental models of specific materials) and afterglow applications (including optical information storage, information encryption, anti-counterfeiting, X-ray detection and imaging, and biological imaging and therapy). Finally, the customization and regulation of the afterglow properties of perovskite long afterglow materials, the expansion of their applications, and the development of perovskite matrix materials are prospected, hoping to provide a reference for the reasonable design and application of long afterglow materials in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the piezoelectric polarization strength of materials to promote the photogenerated carrier separation is of great significance for piezoelectric polarization-assisted photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this paper, P-BiFeO3 composite photoelectrodes were synthesized by modifying BiFeO3 photoelectrodes with phosphate ions. The maximum photocurrent density of the P-BiFeO3 composite photoelectrodes could reach 0.87 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE, which is significantly enhanced compared to the BiFeO3 photocurrent. The enhanced photoelectrochemical activity of the phosphate ion-modified BiFeO3 photoelectrodes may be attributed to the increased visible light absorption and larger active area due to the presence of phosphate groups. Furthermore, the photocurrent density of the P-BiFeO3 composite photoelectrodes after the introduction of the piezoelectric polarisation field reached 2.58 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs RHE, which was 2.2 times higher than that of BiFeO3 (1.17 mA cm−2). The presence of phosphate groups on the surface of BiFeO3 photoelectrodes can improve their asymmetry and increase their piezoelectric polarisation intensity, further enhancing the PEC water splitting performance of the material. This study provides a strategy for the design of highly active photoanodes with ionic modification to enhance the piezoelectric polarisation of the material to improve PEC water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) possess outstanding photostability and interesting physicochemical and photochemical properties. Herein, we present cyan-emitting N-CDs that were fabricated through the treatment of salicylic acid with ethylene diamine using a simple microwave-assisted method. It was observed that the reaction produced N-CDs that strongly emitted cyan light with a quantum yield (QY) of 33%. The N-CDs were examined with the assistance of HR-TEM, XPS, XRD, FTIR, PL, and UV measurements. Due to the fluorescence enrichment effect caused by the N atoms in carbon dots, these N-CDs can be used as a fluorescent material for the detection of nitro-explosives and toxic metal cations. The addition of picric acid resulted in splendid quenching of the N-CDs, with a limit of detection (LOD) value of approximately 82.9 nM that was ascribed to the Förster resonance energy transfer between the N-CDs and the nitro-aromatics. Furthermore, the powerful coordination between oxygen-rich moieties and N-CDs for the detection of Fe3+ and Hg2+ cations induced fluorescence quenching through photo-induced electron transfer and the inner-filter effect pathway, leading to the effective recognition of metal ions. The sensor probe exhibited a wide-ranging linear response with an LOD of approximately 30 nM for Fe3+ and 160 nM for Hg2+ ions. Thus, the as-prepared N-CDs can function as a fluorescence sensor, a secure portable information device, and a paper-based probe for detection in biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing porous organic polymers (POPs) as efficient adsorbents for wastewater treatment began a new era in environmental remediation. In the current paper, an amine-rich triazine-based POP with excellent flexibility, denoted as MDA-POP, was synthesized using a facile method from accessible building blocks. The prepared MDA-POP was thoroughly characterized using various analytical techniques and its application in removing Congo red and Scarlet 4BS, two widely used textile colors, was investigated. The optimal conditions for the adsorption process were determined by studying different effective parameters, including pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage, and contact time. By optimizing the adsorption conditions, the dye removal efficiency reached up to 99%, with maximum adsorption capacities of 71.43 mg g−1 for Congo red and 136.97 mg g−1 for Scarlet 4BS. The adsorption isotherms of both the dyes were best fitted to the Langmuir model, which indicates monolayer adsorption. Moreover, the study on the kinetic aspects of adsorption shows that the pseudo-second-order model is the best model for describing the adsorption process; thus, the chemical interactions play a vital role in the rate-determining step of the adsorption. The thermodynamic studies show that the standard enthalpies of adsorption (ΔH°) are −178.8 kJ mol−1 for Congo red and −75.4 kJ mol−1 for Scarlet 4BS, indicating that the nature of adsorption is chemisorption. Also, the negative standard free Gibb's energy (ΔG°) values reveal a spontaneous adsorption process. This paper provides a facile and efficient method for synthesizing POPs as adsorbents for water treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano zero-valent iron activated persulfate (nZVI/PS) advanced oxidation technology is a novel approach with advantages in treating high-concentration and refractory organic pollutants. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the research progress on nZVI/PS technology for the degradation of organic pollutants in recent years. This paper comprehensively introduces the activation methods of persulfate, the basic principles, and reaction mechanisms of nZVI/PS technology, as well as the degradation of pollutants using supported nano zero-valent iron activated persulfate. The paper discusses the mechanisms and degradation effects of different types of supported nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) activated persulfate (PS) technology for the degradation of organic pollutants under various conditions. The composite material formed by loading nZVI onto a solid support material is beneficial for improving nZVI dispersibility, stability, and reactivity. The synergistic effect of the carrier and nZVI in the composite material significantly improves the removal efficiency of organic pollutants. Furthermore, the paper discusses in detail the degradation efficiency of this technology under different conditions for various types of organic pollutants, including trichloroethylene (TCE), phenol, pyrene, and Ciprofloxacin. The PS/nZVI process can remove the majority of organic pollutants within 60 minutes. Organic pollutant molecules in the solution are degraded into small intermediate products such as organic acids and simple compounds, ultimately transforming into CO2 and H2O. The paper identifies the challenges of nZVI/PS technology in engineering applications and proposes future research directions to further promote the application of this technology in organic pollutant treatment. This review is a valuable reference for further research and application of nZVI/PS technology in the field of organic pollutant control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimized structure design of three-dimensional (3D) net-like carbon based Mn3O4 (Mn3O4/CP) composites was realized based on the theory of explosive nucleation and in situ growth. Mn3O4/CP composites have been successfully prepared on a large scale with filter paper adsorbed with manganese(II) oleate as the raw materials using a facile thermal decomposition route. The obtained Mn3O4/CP composite shows a reversible capacity of 1005 mA h g−1 after 90 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1, with a remarkably enhanced rate performance and excellent cycling stability compared to the pure Mn3O4 nanostructure which loses most of its capacity within 10 cycles. Even at a current density of 2000 mA g−1, the specific capacity of the Mn3O4/CP composite was still as high as 486 mA h g−1, which is much higher than that of pure Mn3O4 (38 mA h g−1) and the carbon materials (111 mA h g−1). The enhancement of the electrochemical performance could be attributed to the synergy of Mn3O4 enwrapped with the 3D conductive carbon network, thus making it a promising anode material for large-scale energy storage applications. Moreover, this facile and effective synthetic strategy can be further explored as a universal approach for the rapid synthesis of other transition metal oxides and carbon hybrids with subtle structure engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible graphene sheet (GS)/polyaniline (PANi) nanofibers composite paper was prepared viaa facile and fast two-step route composed of electrostatic adsorption between negatively-charged poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) mediated GS (coded as PSS-GS) and positively-charged PANi nanofibers and the follow-up vacuum filtration of the as-prepared PSS-GS/PANi nanofibers suspension. By observations of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), it is clearly seen that representative and highly ordered layered PSS-GS/PANi composite papers have been achieved and PANi nanofibers are coated by PSS-GS. In addition, the synthesized PSS-GS/PANi composite papers are also characterized by Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the results further confirm the successful synthesis of PSS-GS/PANi composites and the existence of strong interaction between PSS-GS and PANi nanofibers. The most interesting thing is the effective synergy can remarkably improve electrochemical properties of GS by introducing PANi nanofibers, which can ascribe to high surface area of GS and good combination between PSS-GS and PANi nanofibers. The highest specific capacitance of the composites reaches 301 F/g. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) indicates that the thermal stability of the PSS-GS/PANi composites is obviously improved compared to the pure PSS-GS and PANi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a facile hydrothermal method has been developed to synthesize a three-dimensional porous birnessite manganese dioxide hierarchical structure (pMHs) using thermally reduced graphene oxide paper as a sacrificing template. The morphology, microstructure, and thermal stability of the obtained samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the pMHs as an electrode material for supercapacitor were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte, and a specific capacitance of 194 F g−1 was achieved at a current density of 0.1 A g−1. The long-term stability implies that the synthesized pMHs is a good candidate as an electrode material for SCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste newsprint paper was chemically modified with p-aminobenzoic acid to prepare a sorption active gel. This gel proved useful for the selective uptake of gold, palladium and platinum over other coexisting metal ions such as copper, nickel, zinc and iron. A remarkably high capacity for Au(iii) was observed together with a moderate uptake of Pt(iv) and Pd(iv). Furthermore, Au(iii) was reduced to elemental gold which formed aggregates. A high percentage recovery of the precious metal ions (85–95%) and regeneration of the gel was attained by using a mixture of 0.15 M thiourea and 1 M HCl. Repeated cycles of uptake and elution by using a column packed with this new sorbent indicated that the gel is suitable for industrial application in continuous mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral Ph-dbfox (Ph-dbfox = (R,R)-4,6-dibenzofurandiyl-2,2′-bis(4-phenyloxazoline))/Zn(NTf2)2catalyzed enantioselective Friedel–Crafts reactions of β-CF3acrylates with pyrroles and indoles have been investigated, which afforded the corresponding chiral trifluoromethyl pyrrole and indole derivatives in high yields (90–99%) with a range of 66–99% ee values. With the aid of the chiral adduct of the asymmetric Friedel–Crafts reaction, the chiral trifluoromethylated heliotridane has been successfully constructed in good total yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing organoiron-mediated nucleophilic aromatic substitution, a number of allylamine-containing organoiron complexes were prepared. Amide formation between 1,1′-ferrocene dicarbonyl chloride and allylamine produced a similar ferrocene compound. These materials were subjected to hydrosilation with methyldiethoxyhydrosilane to generate cationic organoiron siloxanes and ferrocene-containing siloxane complexes. Electrochemical analysis of the allylamine and siloxane complexes showed redox couples characteristic of nitrogen-substituted arene-coordinated cyclopentadienyliron complexes. In situcleavage of the ethoxy groups followed by the addition of H2SO4resulted in the formation of polymeric materials. Thermal analysis revealed that the cationic organoiron moieties decomposed between 200 °C and 250 °C, whereas the ferrocene moiety decomposed at 110 °C and the backbones of the polymers began to decompose above 400 °C. The polymers displayed glass transition temperatures between 68 °C and 111 °C. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the polymers possessed very different morphologies, ranging from particulates to crystalline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]