A novel two-nozzle electrospinning process for preparing microfiber reinforced pH-sensitive nano-membrane with enhanced mechanical property

A novel pH sensitive membrane (pHS-M) with mechanical integrity is synthesized firstly by two nozzles electrospining in this work. We report an excellent strategy here to combine indicative nanofiber from 9% PAN solution and micro-sized fibers from 20% PA-66 solution homogeneously in one electrospinning setup. The pH indicative property of electrospun sheet can be achieved by PAN nanofibers that first aminating with ethylenediamine and then immobilizing phenolphthalein covalently through a Mannich reaction, while micro-sized PA-66 fibers are responsible for the improvement of mechanical property of electrospun mat due to their elastic and flexible behavior. The composite membrane was characterized by SEM, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Results show that two kinds of pH sensitive membranes (single PAN nanofibers (pHS-NF) or composite PAN/PA-66 fiber (pHS-CF)) all exhibited remarkable color change from pale yellow to violet in a wide range of alkaline solution and rapid response time within 100 s. But after added of microfiber, the tensile strength was enhanced from 1.3 MPa to 6.90 MPa prominently which is beneficial to put the membrane into practice.     

Polyynes from Toona ciliata var. ciliata and Related Cytotoxic Activity

A phytochemical investigation of Toona ciliata var. ciliata afforded three new polyynes, 1 – 3 . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Only compound 3 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the HL‐60 cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 6.7±0.27 μM .     

Synthesis, characterization and adsorption performance of a novel post-crosslinked adsorbent

In this paper a post-crosslinked polymeric adsorbent PDHT-2 with high specific surface area was prepared by Friedel-Crafts reaction of the pendant vinyl groups without an externally added crosslinking agent. It was obvious that both the specific surface area and the pore volume of starting copolymer PDHT-1 increased significantly after post-crosslinking. Batch adsorption runs of phenol from aqueous solution onto adsorbent PDHT-1 and PDHT-2 were researched, and commercial macroporous resin XAD-4 was chosen for comparison purpose. Experimental results showed that the adsorption isotherms could be fitted by Langmuir model and Freundlich model and the adsorption capacity onto PDHT-2 was much larger than that onto PDHT-1 and XAD-4 with respect to phenol and phenolic compound, which possibly resulted from its larger specific surface area. The adsorption process for phenol onto the three adsorbents was proved to be exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The thermodynamic parameters such as Gibb's free energy (ΔG), change in enthalpy (ΔH) and change in entropy (ΔS) had been calculated. The adsorption kinetic curves obeyed the pseudo-second order model and the intraparticle diffusion process was the rate-controlling step.     

Enhanced rate of arene hydrogenation with imidazolium functionalized bipyridine stabilized rhodium nanoparticle catalysts

The imidazolium functionalized bipyridine compounds, {4,4'-bis[7-(2,3-dimethylimidazolium)heptyl]-2,2'-bipyridine}(2+) ([BIHB](2+)) and {4,4'-bis[(1,2-dimethylimidazolium)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridine}(2+) ([BIMB](2+)), were prepared and used as Rh nanoparticle stabilizers. The dispersed Rh nanoparticles were used as catalysts in the biphasic hydrogenation of various arene substrates. The catalytic activity was strongly influenced by the stabilizer employed and followed the trend [BIHB](2+) > bipy > [BIMB](2+). The steric and electronic characteristics of the imidazolium functionalized bipyridine ligands were assessed via the synthesis of rhenium carbonyl complexes, which facilitated the rationalization of the catalytic properties of the nanoparticles.     

Porous ZnCo2O4 nanowires synthesis via sacrificial templates: high-performance anode materials of Li-ion batteries

A simple microemulsion-based method has been developed to synthesize ZnCo(2)(C(2)O(4))(3) nanowires that can be transformed to porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires under annealing conditions. The morphology of porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires can be tuned by the initial ZnCo(2)(C(2)O(4))(3) nanowires and the annealing temperatures. The as-synthesized porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires have been applied as anode materials of Li-ion batteries, which show superior capacity and cycling performance. The porous one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures and large surface area are responsible for the superior performance. Moreover, it is indicated that porous ZnCo(2)O(4) nanowires synthesized at low annealing temperature (500 °C) show larger capacity and better cycling performance than that prepared at high annealing temperature (700 °C), because of their higher porosity and larger surface area.     

Large-scale synthesis of water-soluble nanowires as versatile templates for nanotubes

This study presents a large-scale synthesis of water-soluble sodium fluosilicate (Na(2)SiF(6)) nanowires, which serve as a versatile template for producing nanotubes.     

One pot iridium-catalyzed asymmetrical double allylations of sodium sulfide: a fast and economic way to construct chiral C2-symmetric bis(1-substituted-allyl)sulfane

One pot asymmetrical double allylations of sodium sulfide catalyzed by an iridium complex along with a combination of caesium fluoride and water in dichloromethane have been realized and the double allylation products with two C-S bond chiral centers were obtained in 67-99% yields with b/l 81/19-99/1, dr 85/15-99/1, and 96-99% ee.     

Rhodium nanoparticle catalysts stabilized with a polymer that enhances stability without compromising activity

Rh NPs coated with a PVP-derived polymer, that combines several distinct protective interactions, exhibit superior thermal and catalytic stability compared to analogue NPs coated with PVP.     

Ion-exchange synthesis of a micro/mesoporous Zn2GeO4 photocatalyst at room temperature for photoreduction of CO2

Micro/mesoporous Zn(2)GeO(4) with crystalline pore-walls was successfully synthesized via a simple ion exchange method at room temperature. This structure showed enhanced activity in photoreduction of CO(2) in comparison with Zn(2)GeO(4) prepared by a solid state reaction.     

Large-scale synthesis of ultrathin hexagonal tin disulfide nanosheets with highly reversible lithium storage

Ultrathin hexagonal SnS(2) nanosheets are synthesized via a simple hydrothermal reaction. The nanosheets have been applied as an anode for lithium-ion battery, which shows highly reversible capacity and good cycling stability with excellent capacity retention of 96% after 50 cycles.