Miniaturized electrochemical sensors and their point-of-care applications

Most of the current analytical methods depend largely on laboratory-based analytical techniques that require expensive and bullky equipment,potentially incur costly testing,and involve lengthy detection processes.With increasing requirements for point-of-care testing(POCT),more attention has been paid to miniaturized analytical devices.Miniaturized electrochemical(MEC)sensors,including different material-based MEC sensors(such as DNA-,paper-,and screen electrode-based),have been in strong demand in analytical science due to their easy operation,portability,high sensitivity,as well as their short analysis time.They have been applied for the detection of trace amounts of target through measuring changes in electrochemical signal,such as current,voltage,potential,or impedance,due to the oxidation/reduction of chemical/biological molecules with the help of electrodes and electrochemical units.MEC sensors present great potential for the detection of targets including small organic molecules,metal ions,and biomolecules.In recent years,MEC sensors have been broadly applied to POCT in various fields,including health care,food safety,and environmental monitoring,owing to the excellent advantages of electrochemical(EC)technologies.This review summarized the state-of-the-art advancements on various types of MEC sensors and their applications in POCT.Furthermore,the future perspectives,opportunities,and challenges in this field are also discussed.     

Machine Learning towards Screening Solid-state Lithium Ion Conductors

Machine learning is an emerging method to discover new materials with specific characteristics.An unsupervised machine learning research is highlighted to discover new potential lithium ionic conductors by screening and clustering lithium compounds,providing inspirations for the development of solid-state electrolytes and practical batteries.     

Surface defect-rich ceria quantum dots anchored on sulfur-doped carbon nitride nanotubes with enhanced charge separation for solar hydrogen production

Designing defect-engineered semiconductor heterojunctions can effectively promote the charge carrier separation.Herein,novel ceria(CeO2) quantum dots(QDs) decorated sulfur-doped carbon nitride nanotubes(SCN NTs) were synthesized via a thermal polycondensation coupled in situ depositionprecipitation method without use of template or surfactant.The structure and morphology studies indicate that ultrafine CeO2 QDs are well distributed inside and outside of SCN NTs offering highly dispersed active sites and a large contact interface between two components.This leads to the promoted formation of rich Ce³⁺ ion and oxygen vacancies as confirmed by XPS.The photocatalytic performance can be facilely modulated by the content of CeO2 QDs introduced in SCN matrix while bare CeO2 does not show activity of hydrogen production.The optimal catalyst with 10% of CeO2 loading yields a hydrogen evolution rate of 2923.8 μmol h-1 g-1 under visible light,remarkably higher than that of bare SCN and their physical mixtures.Further studies reveal that the abundant surface defects and the created 0 D/1 D junctions play a critical role in improving the separation and transfer of charge carriers,leading to superior solar hydrogen production and good stability.     

Superfast and solvent-free core-shell assembly of sulfur/carbon active particles by hail-inspired nanostorm technology for high-energy-density Li-S batteries

The demand on low-carbon emission fabrication technologies for energy storage materials is increasing dramatically with the global interest on carbon neutrality.As a promising active material for metal-sulfur batteries,sulfur is of great interest due to its high-energy-density and abundance.However,there is a lack of industry-friendly and low-carbon fabrication strategies for high-performance sulfur-based active particles,which,however,is in critical need by their practical success.Herein,based on a hail-inspired sulfur nano-storm(HSN)technology developed in our lab,we report an energy-saving,solvent-free strategy for producing core-shell sulfur/carbon electrode particles(CNT@AC-S)in minutes.The fabrication of the CNT@AC-S electrode particles only involves low-cost sulfur blocks,commercial carbon nanotubes(CNT)and activated carbon(AC)micro-particles with high specific surface area.Based on the above core-shell CNT@AC-S particles,sulfur cathode with a high sulfur-loading of 9.2 mg cm^-2 delivers a stable area capacity of 6.6 mAh cm^-2 over 100 cycles.Furthermore,even for sulfur cathode with a super-high sulfur content(72 wt%over the whole electrode),it still delivers a high area capacity of 9 mAh cm^-2 over50 cycles in a quasi-lean electrolyte condition.In a nutshell,this study brings a green and industryfriendly fabrication strategy for cost-effective production of rationally designed S-rich electrode particles.     

Unraveling the stabilization mechanism of solid electrolyte interface on ZnSe by rGO in sodium ion battery

Transition metal selenides have been widely studied as anode materials of sodium ion batteries(SIBs),however,the investigation of solid-electrolyte-interface(SEI)on these materials,which is critical to the electrochemical performance of SIBs,remains at its infancy.Here in this paper,ZnSe@C nanoparticles were prepared from ZIF-8 and the SEI layers on these electrodes with and without reduced graphene oxide(rGO)layers were examined in details by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies at varied charged/discharged states.It is observed that fast and complicated electrolyte decomposition reactions on ZnSe@C leads to quite thick SEI film and intercalation of solvated sodium ions through such thick SEI film results in slow ion diffusion kinetics and unstable electrode structure.However,the presence of rGO could efficiently suppress the decomposition of electrolyte,thus thin and stable SEI film was formed.ZnSe@C electrodes wrapped by rGO demonstrates enhanced interfacial charge transfer kinetics and high electrochemical performance,a capacity retention of 96.4%,after 1000 cycles at 5 A/g.This study might offer a simple avenue for the designing high performance anode materials through manipulation of SEI film.     

CXN天然沸石的研究2: 吸附性质

采用N~2,NH~3,CO~2,乙烯,丙烯,水,甲醇,乙醇,丙醇等作为吸附剂,研究了由我国CXN天然沸石改性制得的H-STI和Na-STI沸石的吸附性质,H-STI和Na-STI沸石的BET表面积及微孔孔体积约为420m^2/g和0.20m^3/g。根据NH~3和CO~2在H-STI沸石上的吸附等温线计算得到它们的吸附热分别为44.8和26.5kJ/mol。乙烯,丙烯,甲醇,乙醇,丙醇等在Na-STI沸石上的吸附等温线表明该沸石对有机分子的吸附具有链长选择性。在低分压下水相对于甲醇的吸附量表明沸石具有一定的疏水性质。     

常温常湿条件下Au/MeO~x催化剂上CO氧化性能

利用共沉淀法制备了Au/MeO~x催化剂(Me=Al,Co,Cr,Cu,Fe,Mn,Ni,Zn)。在常温常湿条件下,考察了不同氧化物负载的金基催化剂的CO氧化性能。结果表明,氧化物种类对催化剂的活性和稳定性均有较大的影响。Cu,Mn,Cr等氧化物负载的金基催化剂的活性较差,而Zn,Fe,Co,Ni,Al等金属氧化物负载的金基催化剂可将CO完全氧化,又具有一定的稳定性,在相同反应条件下,CO完全转化时的稳定性顺序为Au/ZnO>Au/α-Fe~2O~3>Au/Co~3O~4>Au/γ-Al~2O~3≈Au/NiO。还发现水对Au/MnO~x催化剂的活性和稳定性有负作用,而对180℃焙烧制备的Au/ZnO-180催化剂的活性和稳定性均有明显的湿度增强作用。     

Boost oxygen reduction reaction performance by tuning the active sites in Fe-N-P-C catalysts

Cost-effective atomically dispersed Fe-N-P-C complex catalysts are promising to catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and replace Pt catalysts in fuel cells and metal-air batteries.However,it remains a challenge to increase the number of atomically dispersed active sites on these catalysts.Here we report a highly efficient impregnation-pyrolysis method to prepare effective ORR electrocatalysts with large amount of atomically dispersed Fe active sites from biomass.Two types of active catalyst centers were identified,namely atomically dispersed Fe sites and Fe_xP particles.The ORR rate of the atomically dispersed Fe sites is three orders of magnitude higher than it of Fe_xP particles.A linear correlation between the amount of the atomically dispersed Fe and the ORR activity was obtained,revealing the major contribution of the atomically dispersed Fe to the ORR activity.The number of atomically dispersed Fe increases as the Fe loading increased and reaching the maximum at 1.86 wt%Fe,resulting in the maximum ORR rate.Optimized Fe-N-P-C complex catalyst was used as the cathode catalyst in a homemade Zn-air battery and good performance of an energy density of 771 Wh kgZn^-1,a power density of 92.9 m W cm^-2 at 137 m A cm^-2 and an excellent durability were exhibited.     

Regulation of carbon distribution to construct high-sulfur-content cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)battery is regarded as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage systems due to the ultra-high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg^-1.To address the insulation nature of sulfur,nanocarbon composition is essential to afford acceptable cycling capacity but inevitably sacrifices the actual energy density under working conditions.Therefore,rational structural design of the carbon/sulfur composite cathode is of great significance to realize satisfactory electrochemical performances with limited carbon content.Herein,the cathode carbon distribution is rationally regulated to construct high-sulfur-content and high-performance Li-S batteries.Concretely,a double-layer carbon(DLC)cathode is prepared by fabricating a surface carbon layer on the carbon/sulfur composite.The surface carbon layer not only provides more electrochemically active surfaces,but also blocks the polysulfide shuttle.Consequently,the DLC configuration with an increased sulfur content by nearly 10 wt%renders an initial areal capacity of 3.40 mAh cm^-2 and capacity retention of 83.8%during 50 cycles,which is about two times than that of the low-sulfur-content cathode.The strategy of carbon distribution regulation affords an effective pathway to construct advanced high-sulfur-content cathodes for practical high-energy-density Li-S batteries.     

Confined Ni-In intermetallic alloy nanocatalyst with excellent coking resistance for methane dry reforming

Carbon dioxide and methane are two main greenhouse gases which are contributed to serious global warming.Fortunately,dry reforming of methane(DRM),a very important reaction developed decades ago,can convert these two major greenhouse gases into value-added syngas or hydrogen.The main problem retarding its industrialization is the seriously coking formation upon the nickel-based catalysts.Herein,a series of confined indium-nickel(In-Ni)intermetallic alloy nanocatalysts(In_xNi@SiO₂)have been prepared and displayed superior coking resistance for DRM reaction.The sample containing 0.5 wt.%of In loading(In_0.5Ni@SiO₂)shows the best balance of carbon deposition resistance and DRM reactivity even after 430 h long term stability test.The boosted carbon resistance can be ascribed to the confinement of core–shell structure and to the transfer of electrons from Indium to Nickel in In-Ni intermetallic alloys due to the smaller electronegativity of In.Both the silica shell and the increase of electron cloud density on metallic Ni can weaken the ability of Ni to activate C–H bond and decrease the deep cracking process of methane.The reaction over the confined InNi intermetallic alloy nanocatalyst was conformed to the Langmuir-Hinshelwood(L-H)mechanism revealed by in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(in-situ DRIFTS).This work provides a guidance to design high performance coking resistance catalysts for methane dry reforming to efficiently utilize these two main greenhouse gases.     

基于翻转课堂的大学实验化学教学研究与实践

Experimental chemistry is an important public foundation course for the undergraduate student during their first year at Shihezi University. This paper introduces the teaching status and implementation of the experimental chemistry curriculum. Based on the student activities, this paper firstly constructs flipped learning mode of the experimental chemistry, combining the curriculum resource preparation with online and offline teaching. Secondly, the experimental chemistry curriculum takes deep integration of information technology and classroom teaching as an opportunity. Furthermore, the teaching implementation is carried out by the network teaching platform of Shihezi university. Finally, the student's questionnaire displays that it works well in improving the teaching quality.     

基于MOOC“一站式”有机化学在线翻转课堂实践

Under the case of novel coronavirus (COVID 19), and in response to the Ministry of Education's call for "postponement of school without suspension of learning", online teaching should be equivalent to the real class teaching. Based on Chinese University MOOC platform, this paper establishes SPOC on campus with the open online course Organic Chemistry as the online learning resource. Before class, students learn online video and self-testing. The teacher will answer questions and interact with students through live broadcasting. The student will practice and consolidate after school. "One-stop" solves the learning needs of the three stages of online flipped classroom and demonstrates online flipped classroom teaching effect.     

在线课程与翻转课堂相结合的大学化学混合式教学实践

介绍了自2017年以来天津大学大学化学课程使用在线课程和翻转课堂相结合的混合式教学实践,包括课程的组织模式、翻转课堂内容的选择、翻转课堂课时与课程总课时的比例、期末成绩分析和教学反思等。教学实践结果显示,选取学生在中学化学有一定基础的知识点作为教学内容,课时占课程总课时的30%–50%时进行翻转课堂教学,教学效果明显好于完全传统教学的平行对照班。     

现代教育技术构建氧化还原反应线上实验教学的策略探索与实践

In the era of "Internet +", with the help of national excellent MOOC course of Chinese university and Mlabs-virtual experimental software, Tencent classroom is built to provide a diversified and efficient online inorganic chemistry basic laboratory classroom by combining a variety of modern education technologies with the concept of flipped classroom. Taking the redox reaction experiment as an example, we designed a multi-link teaching process and carried out a multi-faceted assessment. The online teaching can not only strengthen the cultivation of students' comprehensive and innovating ability, but also help teachers to update the teaching mode and create the new experimental content in line with the development of the times, so as to realize the mutual learning between teachers and students in the exploration of experimental teaching reform.     

英才班基础化学原理自主学习模式的构建与实践

"Creative teaching" is the most suitable teaching pattern for the training of top-notch talents and the core is the cultivation of elite-class students' autonomous learning ability. We have tried to build the autonomous learning mode in the course of Principles of Basic Chemistry for the elite-class major in polymer materials engineering. The teaching practice has been carried out in six aspects that are "leading both teachers and students to change minds, constructing autonomous learning platform, activating the classroom teaching, complementary integration between PBL teaching method and 'the flipped classroom', 'a line' for extracurricular self-study, and 'point-line-face' generalization and summarization".     

利用有机波谱教学网站iSpec进行游戏化课堂教学的实践*

针对学生在有机化学波谱学学习过程中枯燥、难以形象化的具体情况,介绍一个利用有机波谱在线学习的网站进行游戏化课堂教学的学习活动,以期提升学生在该课程学习中的积极性及学习效果。该教学活动的实施分为课堂和课后进行,主要依托iSpec网站游戏竞赛的答题模式,结合教师课堂教学及学生自主学习,进行相关知识技能的教授,最终提升学生的学习效率与效果。     

激励机制辅助的翻转课堂教学模式的应用——以有机化学实验为例

针对我校有机化学实验课程传统教学模式中存在的弊端,探索了激励机制辅助的"翻转课堂"教学模式,并以正溴丁烷的制备实验为例,介绍了课前、课中以及课后的教师和学生工作内容以及教学评价。实践表明:激励机制辅助的"翻转课堂"教学模式,极大地调动了学生自主学习的积极性和主动性,且激励机制可以更有效地保证"翻转课堂"的顺利实施。     

翻转课堂在仪器分析教学中的应用

针对当前仪器分析课程普遍存在理论知识抽象、枯燥、难以理解,学生学习难度较大、学习积极性不高的问题,提出将翻转课堂的教学模式应用于仪器分析教学中。该教学模式通过学生课前预习、课中完成知识吸收与内化、课后教师布置练习作业或者拓展性学习任务,线上与线下学生与教师交流互动的方式,提高了学生学习该课程的兴趣,培养了学生自主学习、独立思考及创新的能力。同时,该教学模式适用于多民族学生的共同学习。     

SPOC模式下无机与分析化学课程教学实践

以无机与分析化学课程教学为例,探讨了SPOC混合教学模式下提高学生知识与能力的有效途径。在该课程教学中的应用和考核评价中,采用课堂教学与在线自主学习相结合的教学方式,实现了以能力培养为目标的本科教育模式的"三个转变":(1)以教为主向以学为主的转变;(2)以课堂教学为主向课内课外结合为主的转变;(3)以结果评价为主向以结果与过程评价相结合为主的转变。有效地提高了教学质量,突出地解决了目前高等院校本科教育模式面临的学生学习主动性差、参与度少的问题。     

从知识到智慧:有深度的教和学——化学生物交叉班分析化学课程教学思考

以面向本科化学生物学交叉班的专业基础必修课分析化学为例,从构建多维度关联的课程知识结构,营造意义丰富、身心沉浸以及层层剖析、步步推进的自主学习氛围,探索启发式与翻转式相结合的教学形式,以及教材分析和研究、课外实践、学习过程评价、课程资源建设等方面,探讨分析化学课程的深度学习与深度教学途径,使学生不仅获得高级认知和高阶思维能力,而且在动心用情的学习过程中,把握知识的本质和思想方法,促进知识向学科核心素养和关键能力的转化。