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The creation of an environmentally friendly synthesis method for silver nanomaterials (AgNPs) is an urgent concern for sustainable nanotechnology development. In the present study, a novel straightforward and green method for the preparation of silver nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide (AgNP/rGO) composites was successfully developed through the combination of phytosynthesis, continuous flow synthesis and microwave-assistance. Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) extracts were used as both plant reducing and capping agents for fast online synthesis of AgNP/rGO composites. The experimental parameters were optimized and the morphologies of the prepared materials were investigated. The characterization results reveal that spherical AgNPs were quickly synthesized and uniformly dispersed on rGO sheets using the proposed online system. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed that phenols, flavonoids, and other substances in the plant extracts played a decisive role in the synthesis of AgNP/rGO composites. Using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) degradation of p-nitrophenol (4-NP) as a model, the catalytic activity of the prepared AgNP/rGO materials was evaluated. The complete degradation of 4-NP was achieved within 12 min through the use of AgNP/rGO materials, and the composite had a much better catalytic activity than the bare AgNPs and rGO had. Compared with the conventional chemical method, our online method is facile, fast, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Two-dimensional (2D) material-based membranes hold great promise in wastewater treatment. However, it remains challenging to achieve highly efficient and precise small molecule/ion separation with pure 2D material-fabricated lamellar membranes. In this work, laminated graphene oxide (GO)-cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) hybrid membranes (GO/CNC) were fabricated by taking advantages of the unique structures and synergistic effects generated from these two materials. The characterization results in physiochemical properties, and the structure of the as-synthesized hybrid membranes displayed enhanced membrane surface hydrophilicity, enhanced crumpling surface structure, and slightly enlarged interlayer-spacing with the incorporation of CNCs. Water permeability increases by two to four times with the addition of different CNC weight ratios in comparison to a pristine GO membrane. The optimal GO/CNC membrane achieved efficient rejection toward three typical antibiotics at 74.8, 90.9, and 97.2% for sulfamethoxazole (SMX), levofloxacin (Levo), and norfloxacin (Nor), respectively, while allowing a high passage of desirable nutrients such as NO3- and H2PO4-. It was found that SMX removal is primarily governed by electrostatic repulsion, while adsorption plays a crucial role in removing Levo and Nor. Moreover, the density functional theory calculations confirmed the increased antibiotic removal in the presence of an organic foulant, humic acid. Such a 2D material-based hybrid membrane offers a new strategy to develop fit-for purpose membranes for resource recovery and water separation.

The stable storage of sodium ions always presents some difficulties for sodium-based dual-ion batteries (S-DIBs), such as the irreversibility of guest-storage and kinetic hindrance in the anode. Based on the low strain volume and stable phase structure, herein, lithium titanate (LTO, Li4Ti5O12) was developed to store sodium ions between the working potential (∼0.8 V), which expands the lower plateau over than that of lithium ion storage (∼1.55 V) to obtain a high energy density of full batteries. The spinel lithium titanate shows negligible volume change and extremely stable structure under Na+-storage, which completely overcomes the shortage problems of the Na+-host. Additionally, by the detection of the transfer state of anions and cations in dual-ion batteries, the diffusion coefficient of the sodium ion in the LTO electrode is higher than that of the cathode, which shows that the transport process of sodium ions can meet the kinetic demands of full batteries. Such S-DIBs exhibit a large working voltage of 2.0–4.6 V and stable electrochemical performance over 1280 cycles, which is superior to conventional sodium-based systems, and further exhibit many advantages such as high energy density, environmental friendliness, and low cost.

La-doped strontium titanite (Sr0.9La0.1TiO3) is a promising candidate for n-type oxide thermoelectric materials. However, the ZT values of this material are low, leading to low conversion efficiency. Improvements in this efficiency are required. In this work, a high ZT value of 0.50 was obtained for Sr0.9La0.1TiO3 ceramic samples by adding 10 wt % Bi2O3 sintering aids and 20 wt % nanosized Ti powders to the matrix material. Although Ti was oxidized to TiO2 during the sintering process, nanoscale phase interfaces were beneficial for phonon scattering and thermal conductivity reduction. Nanosized metallic Bi and Bi2O3 particles were observed. These two factors played an important role in reducing the thermal conductivity from 2.5 W/(m K) at room temperature to 1.31 W/(m K) at 1073 K. Nanostructure control using nanosized metal powders as additives combined with the Bi2O3 sintering aid paves a way for enhancement of thermoelectric properties of oxide thermoelectric materials.

Rice straw bales and fresh pig manure were used as feedstock, and added microbial fortification agent and stepwise spraying methods were used to investigate the effect on the gas yield characteristics and fermentation properties of garage-type anaerobic solid-state fermentation at ambient temperature. The test results showed that the added microbial fortification agent advanced the arrival time of the peak temperature by one day and increased the average fermentation temperature by 8.28%. The microbial fortification agent can increase gas production and the time of first yield peak and shorten the start-up time. The maximum gas yield of the enhanced groups was 13.01% higher than the ordinary groups, and the methane concentration increased 16.98%. After the second gas yield peak, the reduction of spraying frequency had almost no effect on the gas yield. The stepwise spraying method was helpful to improve the moisture distribution and the degradation rate of the middle layer. This study provides a basis for evaluating and improving the operating efficiency of the anaerobic solid-state fermentation systems.

Functional nanocapsules from low-cost and renewable materials are an urgent need for environmental applications. Herein, lignin-based nanocapsules with tunable size are synthesized using an interfa...

Lithium-rich layered oxide (LLO) cathode materials have drawn extensive attention due to their ultrahigh specific capacity and energy density. However, their commercialization is still restricted by their low initial coulombic efficiency, slow intrinsic kinetics and structural instability. Herein, a facile surface treatment strategy via gaseous phosphine was designed to improve the rate performance and capacity stability of LLOs. During the solid-gas reaction, phosphine reacted with active oxygen at the surface of LLOs due to its reductivity, forming oxygen vacancies and spinel phase at the surface region. As a result, Li ion conductivity and structural stability were greatly enhanced. The phosphine- treated LLOs (LLO@P) showed a layered-spinel hybrid structure and delivered an outstanding rate performance of 156.7 mA h g−1 at 10 C and a high capacity retention of 74% after 300 cycles at 5 C.

Side chain engineering plays a substantial role for high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, a series of non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) molecules with A-D-A structures, TTC n -4F, with gradient substituent lengths of terminal side chains (T-SCs) on the molecular backbones have been designed and synthesized. The effects of T-SCs length, ranging from hydrogen atom to n -dodecyl, their optoelectronic properties, thin film molecular packing, blend film morphology, and overall photovoltaic performance have been systematically studied. The results show that among this series of molecules, TTC8-4F with n -octyl substituent, showed the best photovoltaic performance when applied with PM6 as the donor due to its favorable morphology, balanced charge mobility, effective exciton dissociation and less charge recombination. Based on this, its ternary device with F-Br as the secondary acceptor achieved a high PCE of 15.34% with the simultaneously enhanced V oc of 0.938 V, J sc of 22.66 mA cm−2, and FF of 72.15%. These results indicate that the engineering of T-SCs is an effective strategy for designing high-performance NFAs.

锂金属电池具有能量密度高的优点, 有望成为下一代可充电 电池. 然而, 其液态电解液泄露的风险及锂枝晶生长造成的短路等 问题阻碍了其应用. 使用凝胶电解质被认为是提高锂金属电池安 全性的有效方法, 但是因锂枝晶生长导致循环寿命差的问题仍未有效解决. 本文设计了一种结合原位聚合和硼酸添加剂双重效果 的凝胶电解质(B-GPE), 并组装了锂金属电池进行测试. 其中, 原位 聚合的方法使得凝胶电解质与电极界面接触良好, 硼酸添加剂一 方面可以增强锂盐的稳定性, 抑制副反应发生; 另一方面可以形成 稳固的SEI膜, 抑制锂枝晶的生长. 以上双重作用使得这种凝胶电解 质应用于锂金属电池可以获得超长循环寿命, 在0.5 C的倍率下循 环950圈仍有87.7%的容量保持率, 是目前类似的凝胶电解质、液 态电解液和固态电解质应用中循环寿命最出色的. 该结果证明结合原位聚合和硼酸添加剂双重效果是制备高性能凝胶电解质的简 单且有效的策略, 并进一步为锂金属电池的广泛应用提供了有价 值的方法.

Graphene oxide membranes (GOMs) are promising separation technologies. In forward osmosis (FO), we found that the water flux from the feed solution to the draw solution can prevent ions from diffusing to the feed solution in a highly tortuous and porous GOM. In reverse osmosis (RO), we found that the salt rejection is low compared to that in commercially available RO membranes. While this prohibits the use of GOMs for RO and FO water desalination, we believe that such membranes could be used for other water treatment applications and energy production. To examine the transport mechanism, we characterized the physical and chemical properties of GOMs and derived mass transfer models to analyze water and salt transport inside freestanding GOMs. The experimental reverse salt flux was between the largest and smallest theoretical values, which corresponds to the lowest and highest tortuosity, respectively, in FO. Furthermore, the concentration profile for the reverse salt flux shortened as the NaCl draw concentration increased because the water flux increased and the electrical double layer (EDL) decreased with increasing NaCl in the draw solution. We provide insights into the transport mechanisms in GOMs and provide guidance for future exploration of GOMs in efficient water treatment and energy production processes.

Biochar is widely used as adsorbents for gaseous or liquid pollutants due to its special pore structure. Previous studies have shown that the adsorption performance of untreated biomass pyrolysis crude carbon is poor, which can be improved by optimizing physicochemical properties such as pore structure and surface area. The study focused on the co-pyrolysis of skins, pith, and leaves with polyethylene and potassium hydroxide modification to adjust the quality of the biochar, compared with raw materials of corn stalks without separation. The physical and chemical properties of the biochar were analyzed and the adsorption effect, adsorption isotherms, and kinetics of Pb(II) removal were investigated. Results demonstrated that co-pyrolysis of biomass and polyethylene increase the yield of biochar with an average increase of about 20%. Polyethylene brought high aromaticity, high calorific value and stable material structure to biochar. Potassium hydroxide modification increased its specific surface area and made the pore structure of biochar more uniform, mainly microporous structure. The specific surface areas of the four modified biochar were 521.07 m2 g−1, 581.85 m2 g−1, 304.99 m2 g−1, and 429.97 m2 g−1. The adsorption capacity of biochar for Pb(II) was greatly improved with the increase of the OH functional group of biochar. The stem-pith biochar had the best adsorption effect, with an adsorption amount of 99.95 mg g−1 and a removal efficiency of 50.35%. The Pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model could preferably describe the adsorption process, indicating the adsorption of lead was monolayer accompanied by chemical adsorption. It can be concluded that co-pyrolysis of biomass and polyethylene and modification may be favorable to enhance the properties of biochar. In addition to syngas and bio-oil from co-pyrolysis, biochar may be a valuable by-product for commercial use, which can be used to remove heavy metals in water, especially stem-pith biochar.

A new acceptor–donor–acceptor (A–D–A) small molecule acceptor, named FCO-2F, is designed and synthesized based on the previous acceptor F-H. By inserting an oxygen atom into the backbone of F-H and fluorination on the end group, FCO-2F shows a much red-shifted absorption compared with F-H, and also a wider absorption up to 830 nm. Using polymer PM6 as the donor, the organic solar cell (OSC) devices based on FCO-2F offer a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.36%, with a much improved short circuit current (Jsc) of 20.90 mA cm−2.

The trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity and membrane fouling, including both physical and bio-fouling, are major challenges that limit the practical application of nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In order to address these issues simultaneously, multifunctional membranes with maximized water permeability/salt selectivity and enhanced antifouling and antibacterial properties are desired. In this work, we prepare a novel multifunctional thin film nanocomposite (TFN) NF membrane by embedding cellulose nanocrystal/silver (CNC/Ag) nanocomposites into a polyamide layer. The CNC/Ag TFN NF membranes exhibit excellent properties by taking advantage of both CNCs, a highly hydrophilic, low-cost, bio-renewable, and environmentally friendly nanomaterial, and Ag nanoparticles, one of the most effective bactericidal materials. With the incorporation of only 0.01 wt% CNC/Ag nanocomposites, a high pure water permeability (25.4 L m−2 h−1 bar−) and a high rejection rate of Na2SO4 (99.1%) of the CNC/Ag TFN NF membrane can be achieved, respectively. Besides, the membrane also exhibits exceptional antifouling (flux recovery ratio reaches 92.6% for humic acid) and antibacterial performance (99.4% reduction of Escherichia coli viability). Ag+ leaching tests also demonstrate the good stability of Ag nanoparticles in the active thin-film layer of the CNC/Ag NF membranes. These findings have strong positive implications for the development of next-generation high performance NF membranes for water treatment.

Summary Pseudocapacitors with a fast faradic redox reaction during the electrochemical charge/discharge process hold great promise for delivering high power and high energy. Here, we used emerging oxygenated carbon nitride (OCN) as a model for nitrogen- and oxygen-enriched carbons and found an anion-selective charging behavior in aqueous electrolytes. The N- and O-mediated hydroxyl anion-selective charging originates from inbuilt surface-positive electrostatic potential localized at heptazine and quaternary N atom structural units. The carbon atoms in heptazine adjacent to pyridinic N act as the electron transfer active sites for faradic pseudocapacitance. The OCN free-standing films (FSFs) were developed as current collector-free electrodes, and stacking OCN FSFs can confer a cell with loading weight over a commercial level. For demonstration, a symmetrical cell with 17.7 mg cm−2 delivers an energy of 140.9 mW h at a high power of 2,499.9 mW, and almost 100% capacitance retention after 20,000 charge/discharge cycles at 50 mA.

In this study, the leaves extract of Cordia myxa, has been used for the first time to synthesize zinc oxide (ZnO) hierarchical microstructures. The solution combustion method was employed as a self-sustaining reaction between zinc nitrate and the leaves extract. The surface properties of leaves mediated ZnO microstructures were determined by UV–Visible spectral analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Cold field emission-scanning electron microscopy (CFE-SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In addition, the effect of the leaves extract concentration on ZnO structures, size and surface properties was also studied. ZnO structures synthesized employing C. myxa were found to be hexagonal, triangular and round in shape which was determined using CFE-SEM. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of compounds. Furthermore, C. myxa mediated ZnO microstructures shows good bactericidal activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Keywords: ZnO microstructures, Solution combustion, Leaves mediated, Antibacterial activity

Two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet membranes have been widely studied for water and wastewater treatment. However, mass transport inside 2D nanosheet membranes is far from being fully understood, and suitable applications of these membranes are yet to be identified. In this study, we investigate ion transport inside a 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) membrane by combining experimental results with numerical modeling. Specifically, we analyze the influence of the electrical double layer (EDL) extension on ion diffusion in the MoS2 membrane, and a parameter called the exclusion-enrichment coefficient (β) is introduced to quantify how the electrostatic interaction between the coions and the EDL can affect the ion diffusion. Using the model developed in this study, the β values under different experimental conditions (feed solution concentration and applied hydraulic pressure) are calculated. The results show that coion diffusion inside the membrane can be retarded since β is smaller than one. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism is explored by theoretically estimating the radial ion concentration and electrical potential distributions across the membrane nanochannel. In addition, we find that convective mass transport can weaken the exclusion-enrichment effect by increasing β. Based on the results in this study, the potential applications and feasible membrane design strategies of 2D nanosheet membranes are discussed.

The rare flavonoid isolaxifolin, a potent insecticide, has been touted as a potential grain-protecting agent. In order to assess any impact of this natural product on human health and to explore its various other biological properties, we have established a semisynthesis from the simpler but structurally related and more abundant natural product apigenin. The five-step reaction sequence has provided, for the first time, sufficient material for an in-depth evaluation of the cytotoxic properties of the title natural product. The impact of isolaxifolin on certain pro-inflammatory cytokines in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells has also been examined. Such studies have revealed that isolaxifolin displays no toxic effects toward normal cells while displaying greater cytotoxicities against certain cancer cell lines than its synthetic precursor apigenin. Furthermore, unlike apigenin, isolaxifolin only reduced NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 secretions in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells in a rather modest and dose-independent manner.

Phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activity against HepG2 cells were studied in the kernels of apricot cultivars grown in the northern areas of Pakistan.Relatively, the kernel of Habbi cultivar/AP-12 depicted significant potential to scavenge DPPH and ABTS+ free radicals as well as oxygen radical absorbance capacity along with highest contents of total flavonoids, phenolics, chlorogenic and syringic acids on dry weight basis. The average concentration of quercetin ranged 0.072–1.343 mg/100 g, and of EGCG from 0.713 to 6.521 mg/100 g with maximum concentration in Hulappa/AP-3 and Kho Chali-Khatta 3/AP-17, respectively. Amygdalin content was highest (1145 mg/100 g) in the kernel of Balaani/AP-14. Highest inhibition of HepG2 cells was found in the kernel of Waflu Chuli/AP-9 (EC50 = 15.70 ± 3.77 mg/mL). The PCA showed significant contributions of polyphenols and flavonoids towards biochemical assays, while CA revealed similarities and associations among various cultivars. Our study revealed that Habbi, Waflu Chuli, Thukdeena and Balaani kernels are rich sources of bioactive compounds and possess significant antioxidant and anticancer activity and can contribute considerably in the prevention and treatment of chronic health disorders. Keywords: Polyphenolics, Amygdalin, Antioxidant, Antiproliferation, Kernels, Apricot

Large quantities of burned or abandoned rose stalks are leading to serious environmental pollution. In this study, the effect of the moisture content of a solid-state NaOH pretreatment on methane production was first determined by a biochemical methane potential test. Then, the effect of codigestion with pig manure on methane production was investigated under the optimal moisture via thermophilic semi-dry anaerobic digestion by leaching bed reactor. Biogas production kinetic was assessed by the first-order kinetic model and modified Gompertz model. An increase in methane yield and biogas production kinetics was shown in the solid-state NaOH pretreated biomass. There was no significant difference in methane production for the three moisture contents studied during pretreatment (54%, 70%, and 77%). The anaerobic codigestion of rose stalk and pig manure increased 41% to 52% for methane yields and improved biogas production kinetics compared with monodigestion of rose stalk. Anaerobic codigestion did not greatly change the process stability, except for NH4+-N. The optimal process for the anaerobic digestion of rose stalk was as follows. The rose stalk was initially pretreated via solid-state NaOH pretreatment with a moisture content of 70%. Then, the pretreated rose stalk was co-digested with pig manure at a total solids ratio of 1:1.

The bottleneck for the reclamation of low concentration waste acid by electrodialysis (ED) is the proton leakage through anion exchange membranes (AEMs). In order to reject acid without compromising conductivity, we have designed and prepared a series of weak base AEMs with ion-nanochannels through introducing weak base groups. Various weak base groups of different carbon chain lengths and grafting densities were linked onto the Polysulfone skeleton as side chains. Fourier transform infrared spectra provided proof of the successful synthesis of chloromethylated polysulfone (CMPS) and the corresponding AEMs with designated chemical compositions. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed their thermal stabilities were high enough for ED applications. AFM phase images and a two-phase model confirmed the formation of a microphase-separated structure and the corresponding ion-nanochannels because of the polarity difference between hydrophilic side chains and hydrophobic skeletons. Subsequently, the effects of side chain lengths and ion exchange capacity on the properties of prepared AEMs, including conductivity, water uptake, permselectivity and acid blocking performance, were explored in detail. Lastly, the acid concentration behavior and electrodialytic transport properties of a typical AEM sample were investigated and compared to those of commercial AEMs. Experimental results have shown that the as-prepared AEM exhibited an outstanding performance in membrane conductivity, surface homogeneity, and the rejection of acid. Accordingly, it is reasonable to believe that the confinement effect in the formed ion-nanochannels simultaneously contributes to the reduction of membrane water uptake, the enhancement of the Donnan exclusion for protons, and the facilitated transport for counter-ions. Therefore, the synthesized membranes are promising for the applications in waste acid reclamation by ED.

A One step-synthesis method was developed to fabricate composite photocatalysts from cuprous oxide and carbon nanocapsules (Cu2O/CNC), using sodium alginate as a template. Carbon nanocapsules and nanosheets were self-generated by calcination in the presence of Cu2+ species. And Cu2O particles with a diameter of 20–50 nm were distributed in the carbon nanocapsules or on the surface of the carbon nanosheets. The carbon nanomaterials provide a large surface area, which makes it easier for Cu2O to immobilize dye molecules through hydrogen bonding. Batch adsorption and degradation experiments were carried out using catalysts synthesized under different conditions, including sodium alginate fraction, crosslinker concentration, and precipitant concentration. The results showed that the Cu2O/CNC composite catalysts exhibited excellent photodegradation performance under visible light, removing 90% of methyl red in 120 min. The removal efficiency and photodegradation rate were affected significantly by a) the specific area of the catalysts; b) the morphologies of Cu2O and carbon nanomaterials; c) the synergy between Cu2O and carbon nanomaterials. A detailed mechanism for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity towards degradation of methyl red is proposed.

Lithium-rich layered oxide (LLO) has been considered as an attractive candidate due to its high capacitive performance. However, its practical applications are hindered by voltage/capacity fading, low initial coulombic efficiency, and non-negligible Mn2+ dissolution. Herein, we have prepared boron-doped LLO (LLO@LBO) with excellent cycle/voltage retention and improved initial coulombic efficiency by a facile synthesis process. First-principles calculations and ex situ XRD have clarified that the incorporation of boron atoms in the tetrahedral interstices can effectively impede the migration channel of the transition metal ions. The strong B–O bonds can enhance the structural stability of LLO@LBO. Furthermore, the boron doping technique can suppress Mn2+ dissolution in LLO@LBO during cycling and improve the life time of the cathode and anode electrodes simultaneously. In the lithium ion battery cathode tests, the LLO@LBO delivers a reversible capacity of 293.9 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention of 89.5% at 0.5C after 100 cycles. The full cell test shows an initial energy density of 472.1 W h kg−1 with excellent energy retention of 84.1% after 150 cycles.

High-performance organic semiconductors that can be processed with environmentally benign solvents are highly desirable for printable optoelectronics. Herein, four acceptor–donor–acceptor conjugated molecules, i.e., DRTT-T, DRTT-R, DRTT-OR and DRTT, with 3-ethylrhodanine as acceptor terminal units and 2,5-bis(4,8-di(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene derivatives as donor units were synthesized. 5-(2-Ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl, 2-ethylhexyl and 2-ethylhexyloxy were introduced at the β-positions of the central thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) units in DRTT-T, DRTT-R and DRTT-OR, respectively, and unsubstituted TT was used as the central unit in DRTT. As revealed by density functional theory calculations, DRTT-OR and DRTT adopt an almost planar geometry, while DRTT-T and DRTT-R have “twisted” backbones due to the introduction of bulky substituents on TT units. Differing from DRTT-OR and DRTT which are only well soluble in chlorinated solvents such as chloroform, DRTT-T and DRTT-R also show high solubility in “greener” solvents, including toluene and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Non-fullerene small molecule (NFSM) organic solar cells (OSCs) were fabricated with these molecules as donor materials. The molecules (DRTT-T and DRTT-R) with twisted backbones displayed remarkably higher device performance compared to more planar ones (DRTT-OR and DRTT), attributed to the formation of ordered face-on microstructures with π–π stacking distances of 3.7–3.8 A and interpenetration networks of donor and acceptor components in the blend films based on DRTT-T and DRTT-R. Most importantly, the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of DRTT-T and DRTT-R based devices processed with THF reached 9.37% and 10.45%, respectively. This study demonstrates that “twisting” conjugated backbones is an appropriate strategy to design eco-friendly solvent processable organic semiconductors for high-efficiency OSCs.

Currently, the effective way to improve energy density of lithium ion batteries may include choosing active materials that could guarantee both high voltage and high capacity. Herein, a pouch cell of 4.8 V was assembled by stacking several layers of (−) SiOC || LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) (+) electrodes. Under wide voltage windows, the stability of the non-aqueous electrolyte is a great challenge. Ethylene carbonate (EC) are commonly used in LIBs, as the electrolyte can hardly withstand the high voltage above 4.5 V, but the sulfone (SL) solvent can keep stable under such condition. Even so, the structural stability of Si-based anode has to been considered in such batteries owing to the well-known volume expansion. The FEC additive was to improve the SEI formation for Si materials, and it was added into the SL-based electrolyte to study the compatibility of full cell for the first time. For pouch cell, the tri-electrode curves were measured during discharge process. And the volume changes and gas composition were recorded by a special equipment with respect to the charge voltage and cycling. Then, a failure mechanism and gas generation of the SiOC||LNMO system in both electrolytes was deduced, and the study of full (pouch) cells can guide the practical application.

Consumption of cereal foods has been related to health improvement, which is partly because of their phytochemicals. To explore the functionality and effective application of barley malt, a widely consumed nutritional food, the entire phytochemical profiles and bioactivities of three common barley malt products obtained under different roasting temperatures were analyzed. Results showed that they are abundant in phenolics including flavonoids with high antioxidative activities, as displayed by cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), oxygen radical absorbance capacity, peroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Among the three barley malts, the raw barley malt bound extract and the dark barley malt free extract exhibited higher CAA values, while the raw barley malt contained a negligible amount of bound phenolics. An efficacious antiproliferation capacity of the dark barley malt free extract was detected in Caco-2 cells. Results also provide an insight into the positive attributes of thermal processing for the biofunctionality of barley malts, especially through the tuning of the accessibility and variability of beneficial phytochemicals.

Heterogeneous catalysts have gained increasing attention for catalytic processes because they are easy to recover and reuse. However, it is a challenge to achieve catalytic performance as high as the level of homogeneous catalysis on heterogeneous catalysts due to the inevitable mass transfer resistance between phases. Herein, Mn2+-bonded oxidized carbon nanotubes (Mn2+-OCNTs) were investigated as a heterogeneous catalyst with homogeneous catalytic performance for catalytic ozonation. Their homogeneous catalytic performance was achieved through the reversible desorption and adsorption of Mn2+ on OCNT surfaces. The de-/ad-sorption reversibility of Mn2+ was induced by the spontaneous variations of solution pH during pollutant degradation. Benefiting from the dropped solution pH (from 6.2 to 3.5) that is caused by the generated organic acid intermediates during phenol (20 mg L−1) degradation, around 92% of Mn2+ is rapidly desorbed from OCNT surfaces and accumulated in solution. The desorbed Mn2+ in the solution allowed the homogeneous catalytic ozonation for phenol mineralization, as revealed by a total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency of 95%, which was comparable to that of the homogeneous Mn2+/O3 system. With the degradation of the generated organic acid intermediates, the solution pH was increased from 3.5 to 4.5, which contributed to the re-adsorption of Mn2+ on OCNT surfaces and achieved the high recovery of Mn2+. Moreover, the Mn2+-OCNT/O3 system could not only perform homogeneous catalytic ozonation in a controlled laboratory setting, but could also be practically feasible with the assistance of oxalic acid.

Remarkable progress has been achieved in non-fullerene polymer organic solar cells. However, most all-small-molecule solar cells (All-SMSCs) exhibit poor performance. In this work, two small molecule (SM) donors using thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) or thiophene as π-bridge to link dithienosilole (DTS) and the terminal group in conjunction with the SM acceptor IDT-C8 were employed for the fabrication of All-SMSCs. The effect of different π-bridges of the donors on the photovoltaic performance was systematically investigated. DINTTDTS which consists of TT unit presents red shift and stronger crystallinity compared with DINDTS containing a thiophene linker. However, DINDTS film shows a better complementary absorption to that of IDT-C8. All-SMSCs based on DINTTDTS give power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 2.79%. However, All-SMSCs made with DINDTS achieve a higher PCE of 4.52%, which are mainly due to the better complementary absorption between DINDTS and IDT-C8 and its better morphology of active layers.

Inorganic porous materials have found a great many applications in fields such as filtration, catalysis, and so forth. However, most of these materials have been prepared using complicated template and foaming methods and furthermore in many cases suffer from low electrical and thermal conductivity. Herein, we developed a universal and simple method for the synthesis of dual network reduced graphene oxide–ceramic/metal foam materials from commercial powders directly with graphene oxide as a 2D dispersant following a two-step process (solvothermal and partial sintering). This approach leads to the formation of a three-dimensional and interpenetrating dual network of both reduced graphene oxide and inorganic material. Importantly, this method not only is rather scalable but can also be applied universally for various ceramic materials, such as Al2O3 and TiO2, and even metals such as Al and Cu. Furthermore, the material’s porosity can be controlled by varying sintering temperatures and using different sizes ...

A graphene oxide membrane (GOM) has the potential to be used in forward osmosis (FO) because it has a high water permeability and low reverse salt flux. To explore suitable applications, we initiated the investigation of the forward solute transport through a freestanding GOM in FO. Both uncharged solutes (PEG 200 and PEG 1000) and charged solutes (NaCl, MgSO4, and MgCl2) were investigated, and the forward solute flux in FO was tested. The Donnan steric pore model (DSPM) was utilized to calculate the forward solute flux of the freestanding GOM in FO when discussing diffusion, convection, and electromigration. Our results showed that the freestanding GOM has a better separation performance for multivalent ions than the monovalent ions in the FO mode. We found an information gap between the calculated and experimental forward solute flux values, especially when charged solutes were used in the feed solution and the electrical double layer (EDL) was thick. We propose that the EDL inside the GOM has a screening effect on the forward ion transport during FO, even in the presence of relatively high water flux. According to our analysis, the forward solute transport for charged solutes is governed by steric exclusion and interfacial Donnan exclusion as well as EDL screening along the nanochannels inside the membrane. Our study provides guidance for the future use of the freestanding GOM during FO for water and wastewater treatment.

The wide applications of lithium metal batteries have encountered a severe conductivity issue when operating in cold weather. Here we report a freeze-resistant lithium metal battery, which displays outstanding rate performance, negligible polarization deterioration, and a good capacity retention of 94.25% after 700-cycles of use at -30 °C, the lowest temperature ever reported for gel electrolyte-based lithium metal batteries. Remarkably, the lithium metal batteries are even workable at temperatures down to -60 °C. The key point of the innovative design is the utilization of a newly created anti-freezing ionogel as an electrolyte, which is produced by gelation of an electrochemically inert ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoro-borate ([BMIM]BF4), via dynamic condensation of a specially designed benzaldehyde-terminated polyethylene glycol (PEG-CHOs) with the tetra-hydrazide derivative of p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene (CTH). The as-prepared ionogel electrolyte demonstrates a high ionic conductivity (0.43 mS cm-1), a broad stability window (2.4-4.3 V vs. Li+/Li), and high flexibility at -30 °C. The outstanding property of the ionogel electrolyte is ascribed to its unique gel network structure as it enables enrichment of Li+ and enhances its efficient transportation. Further tests demonstrate that the ionogel electrolyte could be also used for the assembly of flexible lithium metal batteries.

Oxidative dispersion has been widely used in regeneration of sintered metal catalysts and fabrication of single atom catalysts, which is attributed to an oxidation-induced dispersion mechanism. However, the interplay of gas-metal-support interaction in the dispersion processes, especially the gas-metal interaction has not been well illustrated. Here, we show dynamic dispersion of silver nanostructures on silicon nitride surface under reducing/oxidizing conditions and during carbon monoxide oxidation reaction. Utilizing environmental scanning (transmission) electron microscopy and near-ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy/photoemission electron microscopy, we unravel a new adsorption-induced dispersion mechanism in such a typical oxidative dispersion process. The strong gas-metal interaction achieved by chemisorption of oxygen on nearly-metallic silver nanoclusters is the internal driving force for dispersion. In situ observations show that the dispersed nearly-metallic silver nanoclusters are oxidized upon cooling in oxygen atmosphere, which could mislead to the understanding of oxidation-induced dispersion. We further understand the oxidative dispersion mechanism from the view of dynamic equilibrium taking temperature and gas pressure into account, which should be applied to many other metals such as gold, copper, palladium, etc. and other reaction conditions., Designing ultra small metal nanoclusters or single atoms with metallic state is a challenge. Here, the authors demonstrate the stabilization of ultra small silver clusters in the nearly-metallic state by oxygen adsorption at high temperature, using in situ spectroscopy and microscope technologies.

Hydrogel-based material have been demonstrated promising potential for hemostasis. Herein, we prepared a composite hydrogel (CH-P 40%) by combining pectin and cellulose in ionic liquid. The superficial morphology of the CH-P 40% was explored by SEM; the internal chemical bonds, crystal form and thermal stability were determined via FTIR, XRD and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The biocompatibilities of the CH-P 40% hydrogel was evaluated by MTT, flow cytometry, and histological observation with H&E staining. Furthermore, the hemostatic effect was evaluated via the blood clotting index and mouse liver hemostatic model. The results showed that the CH-P 40% hydrogel exhibited a dense network structure and retained its chemical bonds, including the OH, CH, C=O, -CH2, CO, C1-H, and β-glycosidic bonds. Simultaneously, the hydrogel retained the Cellulose I and II crystal structure and favorable thermal stability. Moreover, the proliferation rates of CH-P 40%-treated cells increased (P > 0.05), and there were no pathological lesions in the mouse organs, which suggests favorable biocompatibility. The results showed less bleeding in the hydrogel-treated liver wound within 3 min. Overall, the pectin-cellulose hydrogel is stable and possesses favorable biocompatibility and hemostatic ability, further highlighting that the composite hydrogel has the potential to be rapid hemostatic biomedical material.

Summary Ribonucleoside monophosphates (rNMPs) represent the most common non-standard nucleotides found in the genome of cells. The distribution of rNMPs in DNA has been studied only in limited genomes. Using the ribose-seq protocol and the Ribose-Map bioinformatics toolkit, we reveal the distribution of rNMPs incorporated into the whole genome of a photosynthetic unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We discovered a disproportionate incorporation of adenosine in the mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA, in contrast to the nuclear DNA, relative to the corresponding nucleotide content of these C. reinhardtii organelle genomes. Our results demonstrate that the rNMP content in the DNA of the algal organelles reflects an elevated ATP level present in the algal cells. We reveal specific biases and patterns in rNMP distributions in the algal mitochondrial, chloroplast, and nuclear DNA. Moreover, we identified the C. reinhardtii orthologous genes for all three subunits of the RNase H2 enzyme using GeneMark-EP + gene finder., Graphical Abstract, Highlights • The sites of ribonucleotides embedded in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii DNA are revealed • Adenosine is disproportionally abundant in algal mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA • There is a high ATP level present in the algal cells • C. reinhardtii orthologous genes for the three subunits of ribonuclease H2 are found, Molecular Biology; Genomics

This paper presents a novel eco-sustainable wastewater treatment using silver nanoparticles and biochar (AgNPs@BC) synthesized from an Eriobotryra japonica leaf. A simple green pyrolysis method was chosen to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for organic pollutant degradation under the action of visible light. Rhodamine B (RhB) was chosen as a typical containment to assess the photocatalytic performance of the AgNPs@BC/PDS system with visible-light illumination (AgNPs@BC/PDS-vis). When Ag@BC750 (referring to the AgNPs@BC pyrolyzed at 750 °C) was added, the photocatalytic activity of PDS for RhB degradation was enhanced (from kapp = 0.165–2.984 min−1). The result confirmed that 99.9% of the RhB was degraded in the AgNPs@BC/PDS-vis system within 10 min and with a 2.0 g/L photocatalyst, 10 mM PDS and under pH 9.03 (kapp = 6.723 min−1). Over 100 mg/L of RhB could be degraded completely in the AgNPs@BC/PDS-vis system within 30 min mainly attributed to various free radicals. The possible degradation pathways of RhB were illustrated and the recyclability of the AgNPs@BC photocatalyst was confirmed. The findings in this study reveal the virtue of using the AgNPs@BC/PDS-vis process for advanced water disinfection and its provision as an alternative solution in addressing the green way for further water treatment.

The hydrolysis properties of lipase in castor was evaluated using two different substrate forms (tripalmitic glycerides and trioleic glycerides) to catalyze the reaction under different operational conditions. RcLipase was obtained from castor seeds and results show that RcLipase is a conservative serine lipase with a conserved catalytic center (SDH) and a conserved pentapeptide (GXSXG). This enzyme exhibited the greatest activity and tolerance to chloroform and toluene when it was expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 at 40 ℃ and pH 8.0. Zn and Cu ions exerted obvious inhibitory effects on the enzyme, and displayed good hydrolytic activity for long-chain natural and synthetic lipids. HPLC analysis showed that this enzyme has 1,3 regioselectivity when glycerol tripalmitate and oleic acid are used as substrates. The fatty acid composition in the reaction product was 21.3% oleic acid and 79.1% sn-2 palmitic acid.

A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) doped PbO2 anode with a highly hydrophobicity was fabricated by electrodeposition method. In this process, vertically aligned TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2NTs) are formed by the anodic oxidation of Ti plates as an intermediate layer for PbO2 electrodeposition. The characterization of the electrodes indicated that PTFE was successfully introduced to the electrode surface, the TiO2NTs were completely covered with β-PbO2 particles and gave it a large surface area, which also limited the growth of its crystal particles. Compared with the conventional Ti/PbO2 and Ti/TiO2NTs/PbO2 electrode, the Ti/TiO2NTs/PbO2-PTFE electrode has enhanced surface hydrophobicity, higher oxygen evolution potential, lower electrochemical impedance, with more active sites, and generate more hydroxyl radicals (·OH), which were enhanced by the addition of PTFE nanoparticles. The electrocatalytic performance of the three electrodes were investigated using dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as the model pollutant. The efficiency of the DBP removal of the three electrodes was in the order: Ti/TiO2NTs/PbO2-PTFE > Ti/TiO2NTs/PbO2 > Ti/PbO2. The degradation process followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic model well, with rate constants of 0.1326, 0.1266, and 0.1041 h−1 for the three electrodes, respectively. The lowest energy consumption (6.1 kWh g−1) was obtained after 8 h of DBP treatment using Ti/TiO2NTs/PbO2-PTFE compared to Ti/TiO2NTs/PbO2 (6.7 kWh g−1) and Ti/PbO2 (7.4 kWh g−1) electrodes. Moreover, the effects of current density, initial pH and electrolyte concentration were investigated. Finally, the products of the DBP degradation process were verified based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, and possible degradation pathways were described.

SummaryRibonucleoside monophosphates (rNMPs) represent the most common non-standard nucleotides found in the genomic DNA of cells. The distribution of rNMPs in DNA has been studied only in limited genomes, such as yeast nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, as well as human mitochondrial DNA. In this study, we used the ribose-seq protocol and the Ribose-Map bioinformatics toolkit to reveal the distribution of rNMPs incorporated into the whole genome of a photosynthetic unicellular green alga,Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The study presents the discovery of a disproportionate incorporation of adenosine in the mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA, in contrast to the nuclear DNA, relative to the nucleotide content of theseC. reinhardtiigenomes. Our results demonstrate that the rNMP content in the DNA of the algal organelles reflects an elevated ATP level present in the algal cells. In addition, we reveal specific rNMP biases and patterns in the mitochondrial, chloroplast and nuclear DNA ofC. reinhardtii.

Chemical modification of end groups has proved to be an effective way to design new acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A)-structured nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) for high-performance organic solar cells (OSCs). Herein, we designed and synthesized two nitro-substituted end groups, N1 and N2. Using the two end groups as A units, two A-D-A acceptors, F-N1 and F-N2, were obtained. It also has been found that the nitro substitution position on end groups affects not only the absorptions and energy levels of the resultant acceptor materials but also their molecular packing behavior and active layer morphologies. In addition, the devices based on the two acceptors showed different energy losses. Power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 10.66 and 11.86% were achieved for F-N1- and F-N2-based devices, respectively. This work reveals that the nitration of end groups is one of the potential strategies for designing high-performance photovoltaic active layer materials.

Adsorptive membranes offer an effective mode to remove heavy metal ions from contaminated water, due to the synergies made possible by low-cost, high-affinity adsorbents and highly scalable filtration in one system. However, the development of adsorptive membranes is hampered by their instability in the aqueous phase and low binding affinity with a broad spectrum of heavy metals in a reasonable flux. Herein, a regenerated cellulose support membrane is strongly grafted with stable and covalent-bonded polyelectrolyte active layers synthesized by a reactive layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly method. The LBL assembled layers have been successfully tested by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. The covalent bonding provides the membrane with long-term stability and a tunable water flux compared to a membrane assembled by electrostatic bonding. The maximum adsorption capacity of the membrane active layers can reach up to 194 mg/g, showing more efficient adsorption at lower heavy metal concentration and higher pH value of feed solution. The membrane can remove multiple ions, such as Cu, Pb, and Cd, by adsorption and is easy to be regenerated and recovered. The strong covalent bonding can extend the membrane lifetime in water purification to remove multiple heavy metals at high efficiency.

It is a great challenge to develop a high-efficiency reactive flame retardant, applied to anhydride-cured epoxy resin (EP) system, simultaneously possessing good compatibility with matrix and mechanical reinforcement. In this respect, we successfully synthesized a novel phosphorus/nitrogen/boron-containing carboxylic acid (TMDB) through the facile esterification and addition reaction among 1,3,5-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate (THEIC), maleic anhydride (MAH), 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and boric acid (BA). TMDB was utilized as a co-curing agent for EP/methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride (MeTHPA) system and finally cured EP behaved great transparency, suggesting excellent compatibility of TMDB with EP. Compared with pure EP, modified EP exhibited comparable thermal stability and heat resistance but higher flame retardance. With only 15.1 wt% TMDB loading, the LOI value of anhydride-cured EP increased to 29.6% from 20.1% of pure EP, and UL-94 V-0 rating was achieved. The peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) remarkably decreased by 58.5%, 41.7% and 47.2% compared with that of pure EP, respectively. Besides, different measurements revealed TMDB simultaneously functioned in the condensed and gaseous phase during combustion. Furthermore, after incorporation of TMDB, mechanical properties of cured EP were improved and the maximum increments of flexural and tensile strength can reach 11.8% and 61.4%, respectively.

With the fast development of peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-dominating processes in drinking water and wastewater treatment, residual PMS is easy to come across chlorine as these processes are usually followed by secondary chlorine disinfection. The synergistic effect of PMS and chlorine on the degradation of micro-organic pollutants is investigated by selecting acetaminophen (ACT) as a reference compound for the first time in this study. Unlike conventional PMS or chlorine activation which generates reactive species such as hydroxyl radical (HO•), sulfate radical (SO4•-), chlorine radical (Cl•), and singlet oxygen (1O2), the efficient ACT removal is attributed to the direct catalytic chlorination by PMS due to the significantly enhanced consumption of chlorine along with negligible change of PMS concentration at neutral condition, and the same reaction pathways in both PMS/chlorine and chlorine processes. The kinetic study demonstrates that ACT oxidation by PMS/chlorine follows second order reaction, and the degradation efficiency can be promoted at alkaline conditions with peak rate constants at pH 9.0-10.0. The presence of chloride can enhance the removal of ACT, while ammonium and humic acid significantly retard ACT degradation. Higher formation of selected disinfection by-products (DBPs) is observed in the PMS/chlorine process than in the sole chlorination. This study highlights the important role of PMS in organic pollutants degradation and DBPs formation during the chlorination process.

A new small molecule donor with an acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) structure, namely DRTB-FT, has been designed and synthesized for all-small-molecule organic solar cells (ASM-OSCs). By introducing fluorine atoms on the thienyl substituent of the central benzodithiophene unit, DRTB-FT shows a low-lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of -5.64 eV. Blending with an A-D-A type acceptor F-2Cl, DRTB-FT based ASM-OSCs gave a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.66% with a high open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.070 V and a low energy loss of 0.47 eV. The results indicate that high Voc of ASM-OSC devices can be obtained through careful donor molecular optimization.

The demand for plant-derived antidiabetic nutraceuticals is increasing. In this study, the effects of three common caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) (chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and cynarin) on α-glucosidase activity and glucose consumption in HepG2 cells were systematically compared. Their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities followed the order of isochlorogenic acid A > chlorogenic acid > cynarin. The fluorescence analysis indicated that they exerted the inhibitory role by forming the complex with α-glucosidase at the molar ratio of 1:1. Isochlorogenic acid A possessed the highest binding capacity, followed by chlorogenic acid and cynarin. The effect of caffeoyl group distribution on the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was clarified by the molecular docking results. In the HepG2 cells, isochlorogenic acid A also showed the best glucose consumption with negligible cytotoxicity, which might be related to its reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity in cells. Our results confirm its potential application as the antidiabetic nutraceutical. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The hypoglycemic activities of three common CQAs (chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and cynarin) were systemically evaluated in this study. Isochlorogenic acid A exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and highest glucose consumption in HepG2 cells with low cytotoxicity. The results suggest that isochlorogenic acid A can be used as the potential hypoglycemic nutraceutical in functional foods.

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3 ) based materials are promising for high-temperature thermoelectric applications. In order to enhance their performance, annealing is usually required and carried out under various atmospheres. Annealing with graphite is quite effective, but the mechanism is not yet clear. In this work, we use IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC) to monitor the chemical environment under the annealing conditions (1350 °C for 8 h under 16.9 mL/min N2 with graphite) and quantify the various gases evolved in the process. It is shown that reducing agents, H2 and CO (concentrations peaked at ca. 0.4-0.5 %), are generated from graphite in the annealing process. H2 is produced in carbon gasification reaction, which also generates CO. Additional CO is produced from incomplete combustion of carbon. In the annealing of a La-doped SrTiO3 -based ceramic with graphite, higher levels of H2 O and CO2 are detected, which is resulted from the reduction of the ceramic by H2 and CO, respectively. About 67 % of the oxygen vacancies were created by CO reduction while about 33 % by H2 reduction. The conclusions are well supported by direct weight loss measurements with a difference of less than 6 %.

Alternative splicing and duplication provide the possibility of functional divergence of MADS-box genes. Compared with its Arabidopsis counterpart PI gene, Zmm16 in maize recruits a new role in carpel abortion and floral asymmetry, whereas the other two duplicated genes, Zmm18/29, have not yet been attributed to any function in flower development as a typical B class gene does. Here, alternatively spliced transcripts of three PIL genes were analyzed, among which we described the candidate functional isoforms and analyzed the potential effects of alternative splicing (AS) on protein-protein interactions as well, then their phylogenetic relationships with orthologs in typical grasses were further analyzed. Furthermore, we compared the cis-acting elements specific for three maize PIL genes, especially the elements related to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and gibberellic acid (GA), both hormones involved in the sex-determination process in maize. Together with the results from the co-expression networks during reproductive organ development, we speculated that, due to duplication and alternative splicing, Zmm18/29 may play a role in GA- and MeJA-related developmental process. These results provide novel clues for experimental validation of the evolutional meaning of maize PIL genes.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar cell. Silver nanopillar arrays on indium tin oxide layer of the a-Si thin-film solar cells were designed. Design/methodology/approach The effects of the geometrical parameters such as nanopillar radius (R) and array period (P) were investigated by using the finite element simulation. Findings The optimization results show that the absorption of the solar cell with Ag nanopillar structure and anti-reflection film is enhanced up to 29.5 per cent under AM1.5 illumination in the 300- to 800-nm wavelength range compared with the reference cell. Furthermore, physical mechanisms of absorption enhancement at different wavelength range are discussed according to the electrical field amplitude distributions in the solar cells. Research limitations/implications The research is still in progress. Further studies mainly focus on the performance of solar cells with different nanograting materials. Practical implications This study provides a feasible method for light-trapping structure based on Ag nanograting for a-Si thin-film solar cell. Originality/value This study is promising for the design of a-Si thin-film solar cells with enhanced performance.

A biomass-based hydrogel prepared from polymerization of Enteromorpha with acrylic acid (p(EP-g-AA)), was tested for application as a green and effective soft reactor for three purposes. First, swelling property of the p(EP-g-AA) hydrogel was tested and its use as an adsorbent for Cu(II) removal was studied. Then, these hydrogel networks were used as a template for in-situ copper nanoparticle synthesis. Both TEM and SEM images confirmed the formation of Cu particles sizing smaller than 100 nm. EDS mapping showed a homogeneous dispersion of the nanoparticles within the hydrogel structure. XRD patterns of the nanoparticles correspond to metallic Cu establishing a hexagonal crystallinity. Finally, the hydrogel-metal nanoparticle (p(EP-g-AA)-Cu) were employed as a catalyst for reduction of two organic contaminants, p-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methylene blue (MB). Reusability and stability studies demonstrated that the p(EP-g-AA)-Cu catalyst still maintained 80–90% of catalytic activity after 5 times use and 30 days storage.

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([Bmim][HSO4]) was employed to catalyze the in-situ transesterification of wet Nannochloropsis oceanica. Algal cell wall was dissolved by [Bmim][HSO4] according to TEM analysis of untreated Nannochloropsis sp. cells and lipid extracted algae (LEA). The temperature and time are favorable to biodiesel production in 100–200 °C, time of 0–70 min, with methanol: algae, however, it decreased to 10.64% at time of 90 min. The biodiesel and energy production of [Bmim][HSO4] catalyzed in-situ transesterification varied due to the competition of catalytic property and algal dissolution ability with variation of water content. The catalytic property of [Bmim][HSO4] was the dominate parameter affecting biodiesel production, therefore, total energy production of in-situ transesterification, as a parameter of biodiesel production, was slightly increased from 13.12 kJ to 14.51KJ with water content of wet algae varied from 0 to 15 wt%. However, it decreased to 8.37 at water content of 20 wt% due to the weakened algal dissolution ability, which was proved by the decrease of hydrogen bond acceptor capacity(β) from 0.942858 to 0.942851 in water content of 0–30 wt%. The decomposition of carbohydrates and proteins in IL – water mixtures enhanced biodiesel production according to elemental analysis of LEA.

Many kinds of adsorbents have been developed for removing fluoride from water. However, the unclear actual mechanism of fluoride adsorption greatly restricts the structural design and application of novel adsorbents. Based on the understanding of the interaction between hydroxyl and fluoride, a novel core-shell nanostructure of boehmite was synthesized via an in-situ-induced assembly for removing fluoride. The formed polycrystalline boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanostructure significantly enhances adsorption performance. The transformation of fluoride forms (including F−, HF, HF2−) is closely related to the solution property. The acidic solution is more favorable, mainly because of the conversion of HF (pyrazine) and HF2− (the bifluoride ion) with a strong hydrogen bond effect from fluoride (F−) with pH