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An air-stable mononuclear complex of bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) zirconium pentafluorbezenesulfonate was successfully synthesized by treating C 6 F 5 SO 3 Ag with [(CH 3 ) 5 Cp] 2 ZrCl 2 , which showed the cationic uninuclear structure of [{(CH 3 ) 5 Cp} 2 Zr(CH 3 CN) 2 (H 2 O)][OSO 2 C 6 F 5 ] 2 · CH 3 CN ( 1 ) confirmed by the X-ray analysis. Complex 1 was also characterized by other techniques and found to have the good nature of air-stability, water tolerance, thermally-stability and strong Lewis-acidity. Moreover, the complex showed high catalytic activity and recyclability in catalytic epoxide ring-opening reactions by amines or alcohols. This catalytic system affords a simple and efficient approach for synthesis of β -amino alcohols or β -alkoxy alcohols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The use of heterogeneous bimetallic Pd‐based nanocatalyst for directing the inactivated sp3 C−H coupling has been scarcely explored. This work reported the formation of symmetrical C−C bonds from the inactivated sp3 C−H bonds catalyzed by employing reduced graphene oxide supported PtPd@Pt porous nanospheres. The reaction of sp3 C−H activation proceeded under mild conditions without any solvent, ligand or directing group. It is a higher atom‐, step‐ and cost‐effectiveness strategy for developing heterogeneous catalysts in the synthesis of bibenzyls with various functional groups (e. g. aryl, alkyl, methoxyl, halogen, ester, and pyridyl). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel and flexible Mn 3 O 4 nanosheets/reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (Mn 3 O 4 NSs/rGO NSs) paper-like electrodes have been developed by a feasible method. The rGO works as a flexible substrate and an electron conductor. The synergetic effect of interconnected nanosheet structure can effectively depress self-agglomeration of rGO, which displays eminent conductivity. Moreover, the crumpled surface with more active sites are more convenient for the ion and electron insertion/desertion in the reversible reactions. So flexible Mn 3 O 4 NSs/rGO NSs electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 409 F g −1 at a current density of 0.5 A g −1 , superior cycling stability of 92% after 3000 charge-discharge cycles. More importantly, the composite material was first applied in 3D printing and screen printing of micro-patterns because of the desirable processability. It is anticipated that the high-performance Mn 3 O 4 NSs/rGO NSs composites are a promising electrode material in printable energy storage and wearable electronic equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel bamboo activated carbon (BAC) with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) functionality was prepared by direct grafting in the presence of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as a crosslinking agent. The BAC@SiO 2 -EDTA was characterized by SEM, TEM, TGA, FTIR, XPS and its adsorption property for removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) under various experimental conditions was also investigated. The characterization results reflected that EDTA was successfully assembled on the surface of the BAC and average pore size increased from 4.10 to 4.83 nm as BAC grafted with EDTA. Adsorption data fitted very well in Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. As compared with the raw BAC, the maximum adsorption capacities of BAC@SiO 2 -EDTA for the Pb(II) and Cu(II) increased from 45.45 to 123.45 mg g −1 and from 6.85 to 42.19 mg g −1 , since the existence of EDTA on modified BAC promoted the formation of chemical complex. The removal of heavy metal ions mainly depended on the complexation with EDTA and the electrostatic attractions with negatively charged surface of BAC@SiO 2 -EDTA. The adsorption of Pb(II)/Cu(II) on the BAC@SiO 2 -EDTA was pH dependent and pH 5–6 was considered an optimum. However, lower temperature favored the adsorption and the maximum adsorption was recorded at 20 °C. In addition, BAC@SiO 2 -EDTA had an excellent reusability with about 40% decline in the adsorption capacity for Pb(II) after fifth reuse. Insignificant influences of co-existing cations and natural organic matter (NOM) were found on the adsorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II). All the results demonstrate that BAC@SiO 2 -EDTA is a potential adsorbent for metal ions in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PPy/PANI double-layer nanotubes anchored reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets with three-dimensional architecture (3DGP) have been obtained for supercapacitors applications. The freestanding electrode yields specific capacitance (542 F g at current density of 1 A/g) and excellent cycle stability (92.1% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles in a three-electrode cell configuration). The further assembled symmetric supercapacitor device exhibits a high energy density of 20.8 W h kg at a power density of 250 W kg and good cycle stability (capacitance loss of 7% up to 2000 cycles). The exceptional electrochemical performance of 3DGP can be ascribed to the unique structure and the synergistic effects of the components: (1) Integrating the highly capacitance matrix PPy/PANI coaxial nanotubes hybrid in rGO to enhance the reversible faradic reactions can boost the utilization rate of the electrode materials and circumventing the predicament of pseudo materials. (2) The desirable π- π interactions between highly conductive rGO films and polymer chains construct a high-performance network, which facilitates rapid transport of the electrolyte ions in the electrode. (3) The as-prepared electrode materials fabricated into electrodes directly decrease the 'dead weight,' for the addition of binder and conductive agents can be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent mushroom substrates (SMSs) are a typical by-product of mushroom production, which is rich in nutrient like nitrogen. The reuse of SMSs as soil amendments has become the focus of attention. Due to its nutrient content, SMSs could contribute to reduce the use of non-renewable resources, such as peat. Recently, a SMSs recycling strategy was adopted in an edible mushroom industry Ltd., China. The waste materials experienced a continuous cultivation, composting process which sequentially includes the cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii , the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus , the composting process, and were finally used as soil amendments. The main objective of this study was to investigate the composition variability of SMSs during continuous cultivation, composting process and their effects on mineral nitrogen transformation in amended soil. The components analysis suggested the relative moisture and polysaccharide content of SMSs decreased by 33.6% and 17.1%, respectively, during the continuous cultivation, while protein increased by 29.5%. Moreover, relative humic acid content of SMSs increased by 18.6% during composting process while biodegradable matter (BDM), polysaccharide and protein decreased by 38.6%, 79.4% and 50.0%, respectively. The results of a 42-day incubation experiment suggested that addition of spent mushroom composts (SMCs) can significantly enhance the mineral nitrogen contained in soil. With the amendment of SMCs, 39.4% of input nitrogen was converted into mineral nitrogen within day 42. Combined application of SMCs/urea was considered to be a better strategy, since it provided soil with more mineral nitrogen than SMCs alone throughout the whole incubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel Sn-Cu nanotubes enveloped in three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical polyaniline (PANI) hydrogel (Sn-Cu/PANI) were successfully prepared as a high performance anode for lithium-ion battery. The binder-free electrode exhibits reversible capacity of 548 mA h g −1 after 500 cycles and admirable rate capacity even up to 5000 mA g −1 . The exceptional electrochemical performance of Sn-Cu/PANI hydrogel could be attributed to the unique structure: (1) The inactive Cu matrix in binary Sn-Cu compounds and the tubular construction conduce to relieve the volume swing; The high porosity originated from galvanic replacement reaction accelerates ions transmission, which contributes to rapid charging and discharging. (2) The 3D porous PANI framework offers a continuous electron and lithium ions transport network among the whole electrode; the hierarchical PANI serves as mechanical support to accommodate the stress related to the large volume change of Sn-Cu nanotubes, thus reducing the risk of electrode pulverization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly efficient way for the direct (trans)esterification of acyl acids (esters) and alcohols in a strict 1 : 1 ratio using a zirconocene complex (1, 1 mol%), a strong Lewis acid of good water tolerance, as a catalyst under solvent-free conditions has been developed. A wide range of acid and alcohol (esters) substrates undergo (trans)esterification to produce carboxylic ester motifs in moderate to good or excellent yields with good functional tolerance, such as that towards C–Br as well as C=C and C≡C bonds. And complex 1 can be recycled six times without showing a significant decline in catalytic efficiency. It was demonstrated that cyclandelate, which is used to treat high blood pressure as well as heart and blood-vessel diseases, can be directly synthesized on a gram scale with 81% yield (6.70 g) using complex 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd-catalyzed reactions between aryl boronic acids and aryl halides have undergone rapid development since the pioneering work of Suzuki and co-workers in 1979. In this paper, we described a high-efficient and cost-effective bimetallic Pd-Pt nanodendrites catalyst based on a ligand-free strategy to synthesize diaryl ketones via CO direct insertion to boronic acids and aryl halides. A variety of aryl boronic acids and aryl halides were investigated, which showed great functional group tolerance and versatile aryl ketone products in high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a comparative evaluation of synthetic FeS and natural pyrite was performed to investigate their adsorptive potentials toward Hg(II) in aqueous system. Characterization analyses such as BET, SEM and TEM suggested that FeS had porous structures with abundant active sites, while pyrite with a hard and smooth surface relied mainly on surface adsorption to immobilize Hg(II). Results of batch tests revealed that FeS offered much greater Hg(II) maximum adsorption capacity (769.2 mg/g) as compared to pyrite (9.9 mg/g). Both iron sulfides showed high removal efficiency (>96%) with the initial Hg(II) concentration (1 mg/L) at pH = 7.0 ± 0.1, and the effluent could meet the permissible effluent concentration (<50 μg/L). Condition experiments (such as pH, co-ions) proved that the adaptive capacity of FeS was significantly higher than that of pyrite. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model was better able to illustrate the sorption kinetics on both FeS and pyrite (R 2 ≥ 0.9992). XRD and XPS analyses supported that precipitation, ion exchange and surface complexation were main reaction mechanisms involved in the adsorption process. In addition, it was also revealed that the structural changes of FeS before and after adsorption was much larger than pyrite. Findings from this study suggest FeS is a promising candidate for treatment of high-concentration Hg(II)-containing wastewater (<20 mg/L), while pyrite can be applied as a long-term adsorbing material in the immobilization of wastewater containing low Hg(II) concentration (<1 mg/L) due to its cost-effective property and local availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles were known for their excellent ability to scavenge aqueous Hg(II). However, the aggregation and oxidizability of FeS nanoparticles greatly restricted their practical application. This study developed an Al 2 O 3 -supported nanoscale FeS (FeS/Al 2 O 3 ) which effectively optimized the material performance. Characteristic data suggested that FeS/Al 2 O 3 (mass ratio of FeS to FeS/Al 2 O 3 is 30%) with a large specific surface area (142.7 m 2 g −1 ) could evenly distribute FeS, suppressing the aggregation of FeS successfully. The maximum enrichment capacity of Hg(II) on FeS/Al 2 O 3 achieved ∼313 mg/g at pH 6 and 30 °C. The pH studies indicated that alkaline environment strongly inhibited mercury uptake, while removal rate of 1 mg/L Hg(II) maintained a high level (>97.5%) over the pH range of 3–9. However, FeS/Al 2 O 3 loss was observed at low pH due to the acid corrosion. Additionally, the rates of Hg(II) reduction were almost unaffected over the range of 0.1–100 mM NaCl, but greatly inhibited by the presence of humid acid (HA). The synthetic FeS/Al 2 O 3 remained high mercury removal efficiency (over 95% in 1 mg/L Hg(II)) and low iron dissolution rate when preserved for 30 days, showing good long-term stability and remarkable application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and different stabilizers (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, starch, and carboxymethyl cellulose) were applied to simultaneously support and stabilize Fe-Mn binary oxide (FeMnO x ) nanohybrids, and enhanced removal of As(III)/(V) from water was achieved. TEM images shows that the aggregation of FeMnO x on RGO was effectively inhibited after the starch stabilization, meanwhile, the loading of FeMnO x on RGO was also increased. The adsorption capacity of As(III) and As(V) on starch-FeMnO x /RGO via Langmuir isotherm model was 78.74 mg g −1 and 55.56 mg g −1 , respectively, which was 1.99 and 2.39 times higher than bare FeMnO x . The adsorption kinetics was well fitted by the pseudo-second-order model. The effects of initial pH and coexisted anions were investigated. Over 90% of As(III) and As(V) could be removed by starch-FeMnO x /RGO during the five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. The results revealed the potential of the RGO supported and starch stabilized FeMnO x as an efficient adsorbent for arsenic removal from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ni-catalyzed oxidative C–H/C–H cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction was developed for constructing various highly functionalized alkyl (aryl)-substituted thiophenes. This method employs thiophenes and aliphatic (aromatic) amides that contain an 8-aminoquinoline as a removable directing group in the presence of a silver oxidant. The approach enables the facile one-step synthesis of substituted thiophenes with high functional group compatibility via double C–H bond cleavage without affecting C–Br and C–I bonds. DFT calculations verify the importance of KH2PO4 as an additive for promoting C–H bond cleavage and support the involvement of a Ni(iii) species in the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer Zn-doped SnO 2 nanospheres are successfully synthesized by using Sn/Zn bimetal-organic nanoparticles as precursor. These multilayer spheres are found to be very suitable for solving the critical volume expansion problem and mass transfer property due to its high surface area, small crystal size and hollow structure, which is critical for high capacity metal oxide electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, the covalently interconnected three-dimensional graphene foams encapsulated these multilayer spheres are successfully obtained through self-assembly effect and chemical cross-linking of graphene oxide nanosheets. The graphene network could further greatly improve the cycling stability and rate capability of the Zn-doped SnO 2 spheres electrode due to its flexible buffering matrix and high electric conduction. As a result, the graphene encapsulating multilayer Zn-doped SnO 2 spheres anodes exhibit excellent rate capacity and a high reversible capacity of 446 mA h g −1 even after 1000 cycles at the current density of 1 A g −1 . These excellent electrochemical performances are ascribed to its large specific surface area, fast electron/ion transfer, and stable electrode structure. Furthermore, this strategy using covalently interconnected 3D graphene foams encapsulate the Zn-doped SnO 2 spheres not only develops a high performance anode material with long cycle life but also holds great promise for binder-free lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, SiO 2 -EDTA was prepared by silanization reaction between N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl) ethylenediamine triacetic acid, trisodium salt (EDTA-silane) and hydroxyl groups for enhanced removal of Pb(II), Pb(II)-Cit (the clathrate generated by Pb(II) and trisodium citrate dehydrate(Cit)) and Pb(II)-EDTA(20%) from aqueous solutions. SiO 2 -EDTA composites were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX-mapping, FTIR, XPS and TGA analyses. The influence of solution pH, initial concentration, contact time and co-existing interferents were also studied. Results demonstrated that the composite successfully adsorbed 147.52, 107.65 and 124.18 mg g −1 of Pb(II), Pb(II)-Cit, and Pb(II)-EDTA (20%), respectively with the initial Pb(II) concentration of 100 mg L −1 . Kinetics study revealed that the adsorption rate was significantly high at the beginning and then reached to equilibrium within 1.0 h. Moreover, Pb(II) adsorption capacities were found to considerably affected by co-existing cations and not inhibited by natural organic matter (NOM). Characterization analyses confirmed that EDTA was successfully assembled on SiO 2 which had been used as a supporting matrix due to its huge specific surface area. Findings from this study suggested that the present composite could be considered as a promising adsorbent for large scale treatment of wastewater containing elevated Pb(II) concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Adjustment of structure and interface of MFOC through soft-template is successful. • SMFO-B can achieve high removal rate and efficacy of Sb(V) and strong stability. • Direct tools with EXAFS and CD-MUSIC model showed specific inner-sphere complex. • E2 complex played the most important role in the Sb(V) adsorption onto SMFO-B. To achieve high removal rate and efficacy of Sb(V) from textile wastewater and simultaneously realize cyclic Sb(V) recovery, the structure and surface property of amorphous Mn-doped Fe oxide composite (MFOC) were regulated via the combination of facile soft-template synthesis and sintering treatment. Characterization and adsorption results indicated MFOC structure was greatly changed from aggregated large sphere to dispersive small sphere after adjusted by the optimal Brij-58 (SMFO-B). Because of the generated fasciculate micelle, long carbon chain feature and the lowest residual amount of Brij-58, abundant mesopores were generated and the aggregation of unit particles was apparently decreased for SMFO-B. Surface area and total pore volume of SMFO-B became 10 and 6 times of MFOC and more functional hydroxyl groups were generated and exposed on the interface between SMFO-B and water solution. Additionally, the surface positive potential of SMFO-B under neutral condition was also greatly increased. Thus, the maximum adsorption capacity and rate of SMFO-B towards Sb(V) reached to 147 mg/g and 0.1067 mg/(g·min), 2 and 5 times of MFOC. SMFO-B also possessed better selective adsorption ability, exhibited stronger static and dynamic adsorption performance in real textile wastewater and realized the cyclic desorption and enrichment of Sb(V) due to its better phase stability. X-ray absorption spectroscopy showed two main specific forms, such as bidentate edge-(E2) and corner-sharing (C2) complexes, for the inner-sphere complexation during Sb(V) adsorption and E2 complex was proved to play the most important role through the analysis of CD-MUSIC model. This study supplied an excellent adsorbent for Sb(V) removal from textile wastewater and a deeper insight about Sb(V) adsorption onto amorphous Fe oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiant cooling is an energy-efficient space cooling technology in built environments to achieve high thermal comfort. However, there are technical bottlenecks of condensation risk and insufficient cooling capacity in hot and humid climates. The use of double-skin infrared-transparent membranes (DIMs) to separate the radiant cooling surface from the air-contact surface can improve the cooling capacity while preventing condensation. Current research focuses on theoretical analysis and reduced scale experiments, and the lack of measured operational and performance data creates a key limitation on DIMs use. Therefore, the verification of radiant cooling system with DIMs in a full-scale experimental space and its radiant cooling performance need to be further studied. In this study, two full-scale radiant cooling chambers (one with DIMs and one without DIMs) were constructed. The effect of DIMs on radiant cooling performance was studied by monitoring surface temperature, condensation risk and cooling capacity. The results indicated that the air-contact surface temperature in radiant cooling with DIMs was always maintained above the dew point temperature for condensation-free safety at a low water supply temperature of 8 °C. In contrast, the conventional radiant cooling without DIMs had severe condensation. Moreover, the cooling capacity of radiant cooling panel with DIMs was 105.5 W/m2 at water supply temperature of 8 °C, 24.4 % improved compared to radiant cooling panel without DIMs at water supply temperature of 14 °C. This study provides prototype experimental verification for new technology with DIMs to improve radiant cooling performance and provides experimental data as a reference for related theoretical and model studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient route for the synthesis of (Z)-vinylic sulfides is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel one-pot approach for the synthesis of ( Z )-vinylic selenosulfides is demonstrated through the thioselenation of a wide range of alkynes with unsymmetrical diorganoyl dichalcogenides (RSSePh) catalyzed by cesium hydroxide monohydrate, avoiding the use of the transition metal catalyst and the previous preparation of chalcogen alkynes. Other outstanding features include mild reaction conditions, high regio- and stereo-selectivity, excellent yields and wide functional group tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and facile method is described for the morphology-controlled synthesis of bimetallic Au–Pd alloyed nanochain networks (NNCs) that show high catalytic performance for the Ullmann intermolecular homocoupling of aromatic or alkyl halides (X = I, Br, Cl) in aqueous media and can be reused at least five times, which can also be applied to intramolecular homocoupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel reversible interaction in polymeric nanoparticles is used to induce hollow Sn 4+ -MOPs. Then ultrafine Sn nanoparticles uniformly embedded in shell of N-doped hollow carbon spheres is successfully synthesized by pyrolysis of the Sn 4+ -MOPs precursor. In this architecture, the N-doped carbon shells can effectively avoid the direct exposure of embedded Sn nanoparticles to the electrolyte and efficiently accommodate the volume change of Sn nanoparticles. Furthermore, the hollow structure of carbon sphere can prevent Sn nanoparticles aggregation over repeated cycling and shorten the diffusion path of both electrons and ions. As a consequence, this N-doped hollow Sn/C anode delivers a reversible capacity of 606 mA h g −1 at a current density of 0.2 A g −1 after 250 cycles and a reversible capacity of 221 mA h g −1 even at a much higher current density of 10 A g −1 , which are much better than those of pure Sn nanoparticles. The desirable cyclic stability and rate capability were attributed to the unique architecture that provided fast pathway for electron transport and simultaneously solved the major issues of Sn-based anodes, such as pulverization, aggregation and loss of electrical contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to discuss the effect of polymer coating layer on the Sn anode, the composition and morphology of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the surface of Sn and Sn@PEO anode materials have been investigated. Compared with the bare cycled Sn electrode, the SEI on the surface of cycled Sn@PEO electrode is thinner, smoother, and more stable. Therefore, the Sn@PEO nanoparticles can basically keep the original appearance during cycling. Based on the results obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the SEI formed on the Sn@PEO electrode is characterized by inorganic components (LiCO)-rich outer layer and organic components-rich inner which could make the SEI more stable and inhibit the electrolyte immerging into the active materials. In particular, the elastic ion-conductive polyethylene oxide (PEO) coating could increase the toughness of SEI and allow the SEI to endure the stress variation in repetitive lithium insertion and extraction process. As a result, the Sn@PEO electrodes show significantly better capacity retention than bare Sn electrodes. The findings can serve as the theoretical foundation for the design of lithium-ion battery electrode with high energy density and long cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a supramolecular self-assembly hydrogel was designed for SnO-based anode through electrostatic interaction and ionic bonding between poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) chain and gelator phytic acid. Microrheology measurement was employed to investigate the self-sorting mechanism of the hierarchical nanostructured PAH. Results confirmed that ionically cross-link PAH improves the structural integrity of SnO nanospheres due to the reversible ionic bonding and thus increases the lifetime of the electrodes obviously. Besides, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were applied to improve the electrochemical performance of hollow SnO nanospheres due to their high conductivity. Results confirmed that the conductive network constructed by MWCNTs reduces the polarization of the composites while increases the specific capacity of the electrodes. Attributed to the synergistic effect of PAH-60 and MWCNTs, the composite electrodes show excellent electrochemical performance with a reversible capacity of 574 mAh g after 100 cycles at 100 mA g, a discharge capacity of 321 mAh g at 2000 mA g and a spring-back capacity of 506 mAh g at 200 mA g. Additionally, the prepared composite electrodes were observed to have a complete network structure after rate capability test, demonstrating a superior structural stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we reported the highly ordered NiCoO nanoneedle@polypyrrole arrays anchored on three-dimensional graphene (NiCoO@PPy/3D graphene) for high-sensitivity detection of trace lead ions (Pb). The 3D graphene was prepared by a hydrothermal process and then decorated with NiCoO nanoneedle arrays by another hydrothermal process. This two-step hydrothermal method is simple and mild. Furthermore, the highly conductive PPy was coated on NiCoO via a chemical vapor-phase polymerization to prepare NiCoO@PPy/3D graphene. The free-standing NiCoO@PPy/3D graphene can be directly utilized as 3D electrochemical working electrode without being decorated onto working electrode like Au and glassy carbon electrode. High conductivity, large specific surface area, short ion diffusion path and excellent adsorption capacity of NiCoO@PPy/3D graphene efficiently improved electrochemical property for the detection of Pb. Using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV), a linear range between the currents and the concentrations of Pb of 0.0125-0.709 μM with a high sensitivity of 115.621 μA μM was obtained. The limit of detection can reach to 0.2 nM. In addition, the fabricated sensor of Pb also had good selectivity, reproducibility and long-term stability. Finally, NiCoO@PPy/3D graphene electrode was utilized for determining Pb in tap water sample using the standard addition method, revealing a promising application for the quantitative detection of certain concentration ranges of Pb in real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel MWCNT/long nanotubular TiO(B) loaded with SnO nanocrystals (SnONC/TiO(B)NT/MWCNT) ternary composite has been prepared by two-step hydrothermal method and used as the anode material for the first time. In this work, the mechanical stirring improved the diffusion and surface reaction rates of reactants and promoted the appearance of longer intermediate TiO(B) nanosheets, leading to the formation of TiO(B) nanotubes with a length of ~9 μm. Among the SnONC/TiO(B)NT/MWCNT composite, the wrapping and mechanical supporting functions of TiO(B) nanotubes can effectively avoid the pulverization and aggregation of SnO nanocrystals (SnONC) in lithium-ion charging and discharging process. Moreover, the synergistic effects of nanotubular TiO(B) coating layer and three-dimensional interconnected network structure composed of TiO(B) nanotubes and MWCNT were taken to mitigate volume expansion of SnONC and improve the transport of lithium ion and electron in the network. Tested as anode materials, the SnONC/TiO(B)NT/MWCNT composite maintained 211 mAh g at 3000 mA g after three testing processes with alternative current density of 200 and 3000 mA g and could rebound to 338 mAh g at a current density of 200 mA g, indicating an effective way to optimize electrochemical properties of SnO as anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent mushroom compost (SMC), a spent mushroom substrate (SMS) derived compost, is always applied to agriculture land to enhance soil organic matter and nutrient contents. However, nitrogen, phosphate and organic matter contained in SMC can leach out and contaminate ground water during its application. In this study, biochars prepared under different pyrolytic temperatures (550 °C, 650 °C or 750 °C) from SMS were applied to soil as a nutrient conservation strategy. The resultant biochars were characterized for physical and mineralogical properties. Surface area and pore volume of biochars increased as temperature increased, while pore size decreased with increasing temperature. Calcite and quartz were evidenced by X-ray diffraction analysis in all biochars produced. Results of column leaching test suggested that mixed treatment of SMC and SMS-750-800 (prepared with the temperature for pyrolysis and activation was chosen as 750 °C and 800 °C, respectively) could reduce 43% of TN and 66% of COD Cr in leachate as compared to chemical fertilizers and SMC, respectively. Furthermore, increasing dosage of SMS-750-800 from 1% to 5% would lead to 54% COD Cr reduction in leachate, which confirmed its nutrient retention capability. Findings from this study suggested that combined application of SMC and SMS-based biochar was an applicable strategy for reducing TN and COD Cr leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful algal blooms frequently occur globally, and forecasting could constitute an essential proactive strategy for bloom control. To decrease the cost of aquatic environmental monitoring and increase the accuracy of bloom forecasting, a novel single-parameter approach combining wavelet analysis with artificial neural networks (WNN) was developed and verified based on daily online monitoring datasets of algal density in the Siling Reservoir, China and Lake Winnebago, U.S.A. Firstly, a detailed modeling process was illustrated using the forecasting of cyanobacterial cell density in the Chinese reservoir as an example. Three WNN models occupying various prediction time intervals were optimized through model training using an early stopped training approach. All models performed well in fitting historical data and predicting the dynamics of cyanobacterial cell density, with the best model predicting cyanobacteria density one-day ahead ( r = 0.986 and mean absolute error = 0.103 × 10 4 cells mL −1 ). Secondly, the potential of this novel approach was further confirmed by the precise predictions of algal biomass dynamics measured as chl a in both study sites, demonstrating its high performance in forecasting algal blooms, including cyanobacteria as well as other blooming species. Thirdly, the WNN model was compared to current algal forecasting methods (i.e. artificial neural networks, autoregressive integrated moving average model), and was found to be more accurate. In addition, the application of this novel single-parameter approach is cost effective as it requires only a buoy-mounted fluorescent probe, which is merely a fraction (∼15%) of the cost of a typical auto-monitoring system. As such, the newly developed approach presents a promising and cost-effective tool for the future prediction and management of harmful algal blooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacterial bloom events in South Taihu Lake cause serious water quality problems and disturb aesthetic view of lake’s environment. In this study, correlations between cyanobacterial blooms and hydro-meteorological factors, including water quality, temperature and precipitation were investigated. Results demonstrated that South Taihu Lake was heavily affected by cyanobacteria and the proliferation of cyanobacteria due to variations in hydro-meteorological factors and water quality conditions. Water quality parameters, including COD, NH3-N, TN and TP improved significantly since 2008 even at an elevated cyanobacterial bloom situation. Correlation analyses have shown that the development of cyanobacterial density and chlorophyll a concentration was sensitive to a wider temperature variation. The optimum temperature for cyanobacteria was 20°C, while extremely low and high temperatures were found to suppress their growth. Moreover, unusual rainfall patterns were measured during the study period (2003–2009), which showed an adverse impact on cyanobacterial development. Findings from this study suggested that seasonal lake’s water quality monitoring; suitable treatment of cyanobacterial blooms and strict policy implementation can solve the water quality issues in highly eutrophic lakes like Taihu. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In order to mitigate the drastic volumetric expansion and maintain solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) stability of Sn anodes for lithium-ion battery, Sn/Ni@PEO bimetallic nanotube arrays are designed and fabricated. The Sn/Ni nanotube arrays grow directly on Cu foil by electrodeposition and a facile template based solution route, and further modify the surface by uniform PEO coating on the outer surface of the Sn/Ni nanotubes. Owing to the short lithium ion diffusion distance, high contact surface area, and very good structure stability of the nanotube arrays, the Sn/Ni@PEO nanotube arrays exhibit remarkable cyclic stability (approximate 806 mA h g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 after 200 cycles) and high power capability (a reversible capacity of 300 mA h g −1 at 2 A g −1 ). Such excellent electrochemical performance suggests that the Sn/Ni@PEO nanotube arrays can serve as a promising anode for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared to support Pd/Fe nanoparticles, inhibit the aggregation and passivation, and achieve magnetic separation to avoid the environmental risk of nanoparticles. Rapid adsorption of initial contaminant, steady dechlorination, and gradual desorption of final product was observed. The micromorphology, chemical structure, and components of the nanohybrids were comprehensively characterized by a series of analysis technologies, such as EDX, XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS. The interactions between the nanohybrids compositions were discussed according to the characterization and experimental data. The whole insight of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) adsorption- dechlorination-desorption was studied in detail, including the pathways, influence factors, dechlorination kinetics and selectivity. Weak acidity (pH = 5.0 and 6.5) favored the 2,4-DCP removal. Satisfactory reactivity of the Pd/Fe-Fe 3 O 4 @MWCNTs nanohybrids was observed in five consecutive runs, and 99.2%, 89.6%, 92.1%, 99.8%, and 99.9% of 2,4-DCP was removed, respectively. Most of the final product (phenol) was steadily desorbed to the liquid phase, resulted in the re-exposure of active sites on the nanohybrids and maintained a longer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active pipe-embedded building envelope can allow for substantial heat flow for relatively small temperature difference due to the embedded pipes in the external wall/roof. This structure can directly utilize the low-grade sources for reducing building cooling/heating load and improving indoor thermal comfort by intercepting the heat gain/loss through the building envelope due to the circular water inside the embedded pipe. This paper presents the experimental validation of a semi-dynamic simplified model of the active pipe embedded building envelope. The experiment test rig consists of two environment chambers with one for simulating the ambient environment and one for indoor environment with a pipe-embedded building envelope sample separating both chambers. A small chiller and a buffer tank are installed to provide stable water temperature for the test sample. The temperatures and heat fluxes on both sides of the test sample, the inlet and outlet water temperature as well as flow rate are measured. The measured boundary conditions are used as the inputs of the semi-dynamic simplified model for calculating the thermal performance of the active structure. The results show the semi-dynamic simplified model can predict the semi-steady or pure dynamic thermal performance of the pipe-embedded building envelope very well by comparing with the measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel polypyrrole (PPy) coated three-dimensional (3D) SnO 2 nanotube arrays (SnO 2 @PPy) is synthesized via a template-assisted method followed by a chemical vapor-phase polymerization process as a high performance anode for lithium-ion batteries. In this new type electrode material, the hollow interiors of SnO 2 are able to provide enough spaces for the accommodation of large volume expansion during the insertion of lithium-ion, making for the improvement of the stability of electrode. Meanwhile, the addition of conductive PPy layer could facilitate the electron transport, prevent the aggregation of active materials and warrant the stability of as-formed solid electrolyte interface (SEI) films. As a result, the integration of 3D hybrid nanostructure electrode is capable of retaining a high capacity of 646 mA h g −1 after 150 cycles with a coulomb efficiency above 98% and a capacity retention of 221 mA h g −1 even at a high current density of 5000 mA g −1 , revealing better cycling and rate properties compared with bare SnO 2 nanotube arrays anode. This nanoengineering strategy can provide a facile and controllable way to synthesize other anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction and design of nanomaterials are important for improving their performance. Here we present a simple one-pot wet-chemical method for the preparation of alloyed Pd-Cu nanowires using octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol (NP-40) as structure-directing and stabilizing agents. The obtained nanocrystals display outstanding catalytic activity for ligand-free Suzuki cross coupling reaction under mild conditions, and can be easily recovered and reused for at least 5 consecutive cycles without showing significant loss of catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To simultaneously enhance the catalytic activity of Pd and lower its dosage, we report a Pd/Co-MOF nanosheets/Ni foam electrode (Pd/Co-MNSs/Ni foam) with conductive 2D MOF nanosheets as interlayer for electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (ECH). Such electrode delivers high ECH activity for nearly complete dechlorination (~97%) of chloramphenicol (CAP) with an apparent rate constant of 0.11 min−1, outcompeting the well-reported and the commercial electrode materials. Pd/Co-MNSs/Ni foam maintains its activity after 9 consecutive runs and 5-day exposure to air, and shows rapid degradation kinetics for other priority contaminants. The formation of Pd/Co-MNSs heterojunction interface increases the electron density of metallic Pd and brings the d states closer to Fermi level than Pd alone, thus optimizing the binding of ECH intermediates. This support construction-based strategy tunes the interface of catalytic electrode to expose active sites and modulate the electronic states of catalyst to promote intrinsic activity, boosting electroreductive remediation of organic halides. [Display omitted] • Co-MNSs mitigates Pd agglomeration and provides abundant active sites for ECH. • Pd/Co-MNSs/Ni foam rapidly catalyzes the reduction of priority contaminants. • Pd/Co-MNSs/Ni foam maintains its ECH activity after runs and long exposure to air. • The Pd/Co-MNSs heterojunction interface enriches electron on Pd. • Stronger H* and CAP binding, and weakened product adsorption promote ECH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to nitrite reduction (AOM-NIR) is ecologically significant for mitigating the methane-induced greenhouse effect. The microbes responsible for this reaction, NC10 bacteria, have been widely detected in diverse ecosystems. However, some defects were discovered in the commonly used NC10-specific primers, 202F and qP1F. In the present work, the primers were redesigned and improved to overcome the defects found in the previous primers. A new nested PCR method was developed using the improved primers to amplify 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes from NC10 bacteria. In the new nested PCR method, the qP1mF/1492R and 1051F/qP2R primer sets were used in the first and second rounds, respectively. The PCR products were sequenced, and more operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of the NC10 phylum were obtained using the new primers compared to the previous primers. The sensitivity of the new nested PCR was tested by the serial dilution method, and the limit of detection was approximately 10 copies g dry sed. for the environmental samples compared to approximately 10 copies g dry sed. by the previous method. Finally, the improved primer, qP1mF, was used in quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine the abundance of NC10 bacteria, and the results agreed well with the activity of AOM-NIR measured by isotope tracer experiments. The improved primers are able to amplify NC10 16S rRNA genes more efficiently than the previous primers and useful to explore the microbial community of the NC10 phylum in different systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting polymer hydrogels are emerging as a promising class of materials that combine the advantageous features of conventional hydrogels and organic conductors, and would potentially be used in many applications, especially for energy storage devices. To overcome the drawbacks of conventional synthesis, this work describes the use of amino trimethylene phosphonic acid as the gelator and dopant for rapidly fabricating hierarchical nanostructured polyaniline (PAni) hydrogel with excellent electronic conductivity and electrochemical properties. Owing to 3D porous nanostructures and high surface area, the PAni hydrogel exhibits potential as high-performance supercapacitor electrodes with specific capacitance over 420 F g. Furthermore, the rapidly formed PAni hydrogel was first used for 3D multilayer printing of micro-patterns due to the unique synthesis method and desirable processability. Taken together, these results suggest that the PAni hydrogel networks exhibit highly useful for a broad range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, EDTA-functionalized Fe 3 O 4 (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -EDTA) was prepared by silanization reaction between N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl) ethylenediamine triacetic acid (EDTA-silane) and hydroxyl groups for Pb(II) and Cu(II) removal from aqueous solutions. Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -EDTA composites were characterized using SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR, XPS, TGA and saturated magnetization techniques. Maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity was found to be 114.94 mg g −1 with SiO 2 /EDTA molar ratio of 2.5:1. The adsorption rate was significantly fast and the equilibrium was reached within 10 min. The optimum pH was recorded to be 5.0. The maximum adsorption capacity of the studied heavy metal ions calculated by Langmuir model followed the order: Cu(II) (0.58 mmol g −1 ) > Pb(II) (0.55 mmol g −1 ) ≈ Ni(II) (0.55 mmol g −1 ) > Cd(II) (0.45 mmol g −1 ). Moreover, Pb(II) and Cu(II) adsorption capacities were not significantly affected by co-existing cations and NOM. These results suggested that this adsorbent can be considered as a promising adsorbent to remove Pb(II) and Cu(II) from wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triphenyl bismuth bisperfluorooctanesulfonate is an air- and water-stable Lewis acid. It exhibits high catalytic efficiency for the synthesis of nitrogen heterocycles such as diindolylmethane derivatives, dihydropyrimidinones, dihydropyridines and 1,2-disubstitued benzimidazoles under mild condition. Furthermore, it can be reused without loss of activity in a test of five cycles.This catalytic system affords a simple and efficient way for the synthesis of N-containing compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel biological nitrogen removal process can be developed based on the newly discovered nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) process. In this work, the short- and long-term effects of mineral nutrients on the n-damo process were investigated by single-factor and orthogonal experiments, respectively. The pH buffering capacities of different media were determined by acid–base titration. KHCO 3 and KH 2 PO 4 greatly influenced the activity of n-damo bacteria and the pH changes of the media. An improved n-damo medium was proposed, containing 0.3 g L −1 CaCl 2 , 0.2 g L −1 MgSO 4 , 0.3 g L −1 KH 2 PO 4 and 0.2 g L −1 KHCO 3 . Moreover, the presence of 1% of CO 2 in gas could maintain the pH near neutral in the improved medium, which was first estimated in theory and then verified in practice. Finally, these results were applied in an n-damo reactor. The nitrogen removal rate was slightly increased (from 10.0 ± 1.2 to 10.8 ± 1.4 mg N L −1 d −1 ), and the pH was quite stable after the improvement (daily changes from 0.58 ± 0.05 to 0.11 ± 0.02). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) is a newly discovered bioprocess that reduces nitrite to dinitrogen with methane as electron donor, which has promising potential to remove nitrogen from wastewater. In this work, a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated for 609 days with methane as the sole external electron donor. In the SBR, nitrite in synthetic wastewater was removed continuously; the final volumetric nitrogen removal rate was 12.22±0.02 mg N L day and the percentage of nitrogen removal was 98.5 ± 0.2 %. Microbial community analysis indicated that denitrifying methanotrophs dominated (60-70 %) the population of the final sludge. Notably, activity testing and microbial analysis both suggested that heterotrophic denitrifiers existed in the reactor throughout the operation period. After 609 days, the activity testing indicated the nitrogen removal percentage of heterotrophic denitrification was 17 ± 2 % and that of n-damo was 83 ± 2 %. A possible mutualism may be developed between the dominated denitrifying methanotrophs and the associated heterotrophs through cross-feed. Heterotrophs may live on the microbial products excreted by denitrifying methanotrophs and provide growth factors that are required by denitrifying methanotrophs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A silver-catalyzed highly efficient and regioselective synthesis of ketones from a wide range of alkynes is described. The reaction is dramatically accelerated by its performance in aqueous emulsion, which is self-assembled by the addition of silver perfluorooctanesulfonate ( 1 ) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) to water. The reaction is conducted under convenient conditions with broad substrate scope, including a variety of aromatic and aliphatic terminal alkynes and internal alkynes. Furthermore, the air- and light-stable silver catalytic microemulsion can be reused for 4 times with minimal change in catalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nanosized titanium nitride (nTiN) doped palladium/nickel (Pd/Ni) foam electrodes were prepared via electroless deposition method for the dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Characterization analyses including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that nTiN was successfully doped onto the electrode surface. 2,4-D was first dechlorinated to intermediate products p -chlorophenoxyacetic acid ( p -CPA) or o -chlorophenoxyacetic acid ( o -CPA) and then to the final product, phenoxyacetic acid (PA). The effects of environmental factors including initial 2,4-D concentration, current density, reaction temperature and dissolved anions were also studied. High initial 2,4-D concentration increased the efficient utilization of active hydrogen atom [H] by nTiN doped Pd/Ni foam electrodes. Increases in current density promoted better dechlorination efficiency while the hydrogen evolution side reaction was undesirably increased, leading to a lower average current efficiency. Higher reaction temperature was proved to be favorable for the enhancement of dechlorination efficiency. NO 3 − and reduced sulfur compounds including S 2− and SO 3 2− showed negative impacts on Pd catalytic capability, whereas CO 3 2− and Cl − exhibited less adverse effects on dechlorination efficiency. The activation energy ( E a) value of 2,4-D dechlorination by nTiN doped Pd/Ni foam electrode was calculated to be 32.06 kJ mol −1 . Two typical stages namely electrode activation and efficient dechlorination procedures occurred in 2,4-D dechlorination by nTiN doped Pd/Ni foam electrodes. The reaction paths of [H] on the electrode were also summarized. The removal efficiency of 2,4-D dechlorination on nTiN doped Pd/Ni foam electrodes was observed to slightly decrease from 100% to 89.95% after 5 consecutive experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation (n-damo) is a potential bioprocess for treating nitrogen-containing wastewater. This process uses methane, an inexpensive and nontoxic end-product of anaerobic digestion, as an external electron donor. However, the low turnover rate and slow growth rate of n-damo functional bacteria limit the practical application of this process. In the present study, the short- and long-term effects of variations in trace metal concentrations on n-damo bacteria were investigated, and the concentrations of trace metal elements of medium were improved. The results were subsequently verified by a group of long-term inoculations (90 days) and were applied in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) (84 days). The results indicated that iron (Fe(II)) and copper (Cu(II)) (20 and 10 μmol L −1 , respectively) significantly stimulated the activity and the growth of n-damo bacteria, whereas other trace metal elements, including zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), had no significant effect on n-damo bacteria in the tested concentration ranges. Interestingly, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that a large number of dense, large aggregates (10–50 μm) of n-damo bacteria were formed by cell adhesion in the SBR reactor after using the improved medium, and to our knowledge this is the first discovery of large aggregates of n-damo bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binding order of sorbent, sediment and organic compounds, as well as binding time is important factors determining the potential success of sorbent amendment, which should be considered when the practicability of sorbents was assessed. But until now, relevant research was rare. In this study, desorption in three practical conditions were simulated, by three mixing spiking orders among nonylphenol (NP), rice straw black carbon (RC) and sediment (the order of mixing spiking is (RC + Sediment) + NP, (Sediment + NP) + RC and (RC + NP) + Sediment, for situation I, II and III, respectively), to discuss the feasibility of using RC to remedy NP pollution. Results demonstrated that amendment of RC into sediment decreased desorption fractions of NP, and increased the resistant desorption fraction ( F r ), implying strong affinity of NP to RC and efficient sequestration by RC. No significant differences were observed for desorption among the three fresh situations, meaning NP may be adsorbed on RC exterior surface sites and inter-phase diffusion is faster than desorption. However, F r for three aged situations was in the order: situation I < II < III, due to NP diffusion into the inter-pores or irreversible sorption sites of RC, reducing the releasing risk of NP. Regardless of time, F r of three situations were all > 0.5, suggesting RC is an effective sorbent for remedying NP pollution in the aquatic environment. Overall, we proposed a practical and analytical method for properly assessing the validity of a sorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and efficient method for the synthesis of O -allenes and N -allenes via isomerization of terminal alkynes catalyzed by cesium hydroxide monohydrate is described. The advantages of this method include: mild reaction conditions, high yields and wide tolerance toward functional groups. The protocol provides an efficient route to O -allenes and N -allenes, which are important intermediates in organic synthetic chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-coated hollow Sn–Co nanospheres (Sn–Co@PMMA) with superior electrochemical performance had been synthesized via a facile galvanic replacement method followed by an in situ emulsion polymerization route. The properties were investigated in detail and results show that the hollow Sn–Co nanospheres were evenly coated with PMMA. Benefiting from the protection of the PMMA layers, the hollow Sn–Co@PMMA nanocomposite is capable of retaining a high capacity of 590 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles with a coulomb efficiency above 98%, revealing better electrochemical properties compared with hollow Sn–Co anodes. The PMMA coating could help accommodate the mechanical strain caused by volume expansion and stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film formed on the electrode. Such a facile process could be further extended to other anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to optimize the electrode system of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for problems like lithium-ion diffusion, electron transport, and large volume change during cycling processes, a novel three-dimensional (3D) hybrid FeO nanotube array anode coated by polypyrrole (FeO@PPy) is synthesized via a sacrificial template-accelerated hydrolysis method followed by a chemical vapor-phase polymerization process. In the hollow core-shell nanostructures, the conducting PPy layer could not only facilitate the electron transport, but also force the core to expand inward into the hollow space, which allows for free volume expansion of the FeO without mechanical breaking. Besides, the static outer surface is contributed to form a stable solid electrolyte interface film. As a result, the integration of 3D hybrid nanostructure electrode is capable of retaining a high capacity of 665 mA h g after 150 cycles with a coulombic efficiency of above 97 %, revealing better cycling properties compared with bare FeO nanotube arrays' anode. This nanoengineering strategy is proven to be an ideal candidate for the development of high-performance anode for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Pd/Ni foam exhibits an excellent ECH performance of clofibric acid. • The ECH activity of Pd/Ni foam electrode can be optimized by adding sodium acetate as complexing agent. • The addition of sodium acetate effectively reduced Ni(OH) 2 deposition on the electrode surface. In the present study, Pd/Ni foam electrode was prepared by improved impregnation method for electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (ECH) of clofibric acid (CA). The effects of complexing agent addition into the impregnation solution for the formation of Ni(OH) 2 and the ECH activity of Pd/Ni foam electrode were investigated. Results revealed that the introduction of sodium acetate (the complexing agent) greatly enhanced the ECH activity as compared to common impregnation liquid. Characterizations analyses demonstrated that the addition of sodium acetate did not change the phase of the electrode's surface, but effectively reduced the deposition of Ni(OH) 2. The surface morphology of the electrode was changed simultaneously by the addition of sodium acetate and the interlacing structure of Ni(OH) 2 and Pd catalyst was formed. NaAc before -Pd/Ni and NaAc after -Pd/Ni foam electrodes were used to perform ECH experiments on CA, and the combined Pd/Ni foam 15 min electrode was compared with the Pd/Ni foam 6 h electrode. After 2 h of electrolysis, the NaAc after -Pd/Ni foam electrode was found to remove the CA (∼100%) in the solution, which was 1.3 times the removal rate of the Pd/Ni foam 6 h electrode to CA and exceeded the Pd/Ni foam 15 min electrode. Findings from the present study demonstrated that adding the complexing agent into the impregnation solution can improve the ECH activity of Pd/Ni foam electrode and achieve a faster and more efficient dechlorination effect of CA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • In this study, monolayer titanium carbide nanosheets were prepared. • The sensor displayed a linear dynamic range from 0.1 to 1200 μM. • The modified ZnO and Ti 3 C 2 T x were self-assembled to obtain the composite material. In this study, monolayer titanium carbide (Ti 3 C 2 T x) material was prepared, then the modified ZnO and Ti 3 C 2 T x were self-assembled to obtain the MXene based composite material. Finally, ZnO/Ti 3 C 2 T x /Nafion/Au electrodes were prepared to construct a dopamine electrochemical sensor for detection of dopamine. SEM, XRD measurements and so on verified the synthesis of monolayer Ti 3 C 2 T x and preparation of the MXene based composite material. Utilizing Chronoamperometry (I-t), we found the electrodes displayed a linear dynamic range from 0.1 to 1200 μM with a limit of detection of 0.076 μM (S/N = 3). Meanwhile, the sensitivity of the sensor is 96nA/μM and in the prepared biological samples, the recoveries of the sensor were 97.8%∼102.2%. Finally, the electrochemical sensor showed a good reproducibility and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 76 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]