Multicomponent Self‐Assembly with a Shape‐Persistent N‐Heterotriangulene Macrocycle on Au(111)

Multicomponent network formation by using a shape‐persistent macrocycle ( MC6 ) at the interface between an organic liquid and Au(111) surface is demonstrated. MC6 serves as a versatile building block that can be coadsorbed with a variety of organic molecules based on different types of noncovalent interactions at the liquid–solid interface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) reveals the formation of crystalline bicomponent networks upon codeposition of MC6 with aromatic molecules, such as fullerene (C₆₀) and coronene. Tetracyanoquinodimethane, on the other hand, was found to induce disorder into the MC6 networks by adsorbing on the rim of the macrocycle. Immobilization of MC6 itself was studied in two different noncovalently assembled host networks. MC6 assumed a rather passive role as a guest and simply occupied the host cavities in one network, whereas it induced a structural transition in the other. Finally, the central cavity of MC6 was used to capture C₆₀ in a complex three‐component system. Precise immobilization of organic molecules at discrete locations within multicomponent networks, as demonstrated here, constitutes an important step towards bottom‐up fabrication of functional surface‐based nanostructures.     

Random close packing of spheres in a round cell

The paper describes the method of construction of cells containing large numbers (10⁵-10⁶) of close packed spheres, ranging in packing fractions from 0.2 to 0.60. The cells are constructed in a round form, utilizing varying surface curvature to prevent ordered packing. The properties of the cells are described by a series of distributions: (i) polar angle of contact points, (ii) maximum displacement of loose spheres, (iii) and Voronoi volumes for individual spheres. The cells of varying density appear to show the liquid-to-solid transition. All cells described here contain loose spheres. It is proposed that cells with zero loose spheres are ideal amorphous solids. Ideal amorphous solids are characterized by a number of elements, described herein.     

Palladium-catalyzed 2-pyridylmethyl-directed β-C(sp~3)—H activation and cyclization of aliphatic amides with gem-dibromoolefins:A rapid access to γ-lactams

The direct Pd-catalyzed β-C(sp³) H activation and cyclization of aliphatic amides bearing a removable 2-pyridylmethyl directing group with gem-dibromoolefins is described for the first time to construct a variety of γ-lactams.     

Macrocyclic peptides as regulators of protein-protein interactions

Protein-protein interactions are attractive but challenging targets for drug discovery. Recent technological progress and examples using macrocyclic peptides as protein interaction modulators are reviewed.     

A homopolymer based on double B←N bridged bipyridine as electron acceptor for all-polymer solar cells

A homopolymer based on double B ← N bridged bipyridine was reported as a novel polymer electron acceptor. The resulting all-polymer solar cells show power conversion efficiencies of 2.44%–3.04%.     

Improved Biodegradation of Synthetic Azo Dye by Anionic Cross-Linking of Chloroperoxidase on ZnO/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanocomposite Support

A novel ZnO nanowire/macroporous SiO₂ composite was used as a support to immobilize chloroperoxidase (CPO) by in situ cross-linking method. An anionic bi-epoxy compound was synthesized and used as a long-chained anionic cross-linker, and it was adsorbed on the surface of ZnO nanowires through static interaction before reaction with CPO, creating a new approach to change the structure, property, and catalytic performance of the produced cross-linking enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of CPO. The immobilized CPO showed high activity in the decolorization of three azo dyes. The effect of various conditions such as the loading amount of CPO, solution pH, temperature, and dye concentration was optimized on the decolorization. Under optimized conditions, the decolorization percentage of Acid Blue 113, Direct Black 38, and Acid Black 10 BX reached as high as 95.4, 92.3, and 89.1%, respectively. The immobilized CPO exhibited much better thermostability and resistance to pH inactivation than free CPO. The storage stability and reusability were greatly improved through the immobilization. It was found from the decolorization of Acid Blue 113 that 83.6% of initial activity retained after incubation at 4 °C for 60 days and that 80.9% of decolorization efficiency retained after 12 cycles of reuses.     

Electrical and electrochemical characteristics of La<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>CoO<Subscript>3-δ</Subscript> cathode materials synthesized by a modified citrate-EDTA sol-gel method assisted with activated carbon for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell application

The electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance of a La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-δ (LSC) cathode produced by a modified citrate-EDTA sol-gel method assisted with activated carbon are characterized for a proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell (H⁺??SOFC) application at intermediate temperature. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the decomposition of the unrequired intermediate compounds in the precalcined powder was completed at 800?°C. A single LSC perovskite phase was formed at a calcination temperature of 900?°C, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The particle size, crystallite size, and BET-specific surface area of the powder are 219–221?nm, 18?nm, and 9.87?m²?g^?1, respectively. The high index value of the extent of agglomeration (5.53) showed that the powder was barely agglomerated. Bulk LSC sintered at 1200?°C for 2?h showed the highest direct-current electrical conductivity (σ_d.c) compared to that of bulk LSC sintered at 1000?°C and 1100?°C. The value of σ_d.c was affected by the density and porosity of the sintered samples. The area specific resistance (ASR) of screen-printed LSC working on a proton conductor of BaCe_0.54Zr_0.36Y_0.1O_2.95 (BCZY) decreased from 5.0?Ω?cm²–0.06?Ω?cm² as the temperature increased from 500?°C to 800?°C with an activation energy of 1.079?eV. Overall, in this work, the LSC material produced with the aid of activated carbon meet the requirements for the application as a cathode in an intermediate temperature H⁺-SOFC.

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Template in situ inducing dispersion of nickel on SBA-15 for methane reforming with carbon dioxide

Highly dispersed Ni/SBA-15 catalysts were prepared via template extraction with varying different extraction times (Ni/S-x, x = 0.5, 3.5, 6.5 h) for methane reforming with carbon dioxide. Based on the various characterization results and initial activity evaluation, Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst showed the best catalytic performance. Compared with the catalyst prepared via template calcination (Ni-S), Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst held steady with CH₄ and CO₂ conversions while those of the Ni-S catalyst respectively decreased by 15 and 11% during the long-term stability test at 700 °C for 50 h. As TEM and TG–DSC results confirmed, Ni particles in spent Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst stayed well-dispersed with size slightly increasing from an initial 3.9–4.1 nm and nearly no carbon deposition was observed. On the contrary, Ni-S catalyst was subjected to sintered metal particles (increased from 11.6 to 18 nm) and formed carbon fibers. The prominent resistance to sintering and coking over stable Ni/S-3.5 h catalyst was attributed to the high dispersion and strengthened metal-support interaction induced via the residual in situ templates.     

Cycloadditions between methyl (Z)-2-bromo-4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butenoate and various tosylacetamides: Synthesis of trifluoromethylated pyroglutamates and 2-pyridones derivatives

Cycloaddition reactions between methyl (Z)-2-bromo-4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butenoate and various 2-tosylacetamides are described. Various 2-tosylacetamides react with methyl (Z)-2-bromo-4,4,4-trifluoro-2-butenoate in the presence of NaH at room temperature in one step to form trifluoromethylated pyroglutamates as single diastereomers. However, employing the same reactants using t-BuOK as base at ?78?°C results in the formation of trifluoromethylated 2-pyridones. A ring-closure mechanism is proposed for the reaction.     

Sensitive and selective fluorescence detection of aqueous uranyl ions using water-soluble CdTe quantum dots

Herein we report a fluorescent method for sensitive and selective detection of uranyl ions using CdTe quantum dots functionalized with mercaptopropionic acid, which the fluorescence of the quantum dots could be quantitatively quenched through electron transfer mechanism. The detection limit of the method was estimated to be 4 nM, less than the maximum allowed content of 130 nM for uranyl in drinking water defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Furthermore, the probe was successfully applied in detection of uranyl ions in real samples, demonstrating its potential practical applications for monitoring of uranyl ions in environment.