Baroque glass mosaics from the Capela de São João Baptista (Chapel of Saint John the Baptist,Lisbon): unveiling the glassmaking records

For the first time, 18th‐century glass mosaics from the Capela de São João Baptista (Chapel of St. John the Baptist, Lisbon) were analysed by Raman microscopy (RM). This masterpiece in baroque mosaic art had one of its major contributors the most famous glassmaker in Rome, Alessio Mattioli. Mattioli was celebrated because of the opacity of his mosaics and the astonishing number of hues he was able to produce for mosaic decorating Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. This study had two goals in mind: (1) characterising the materials involved in the manufacture of these glass mosaics and (2) lengthening the understanding of what was left of Mattioli's glassmaking records. As expected the mosaics presented a high ratio of crystalline phases, making RM the ideal technique for non‐destructive analysis. The mosaics contained a white ‘background’ or opacifier added identified as Ca₂Sb₂O₇. The yellow tesserae are opacified with lead antimonate (Pb₂Sb₂O₇) and ternary oxides, structures related to lead antimonate but with other ions entering the position of Sb⁴⁺ (namely Sn⁴⁺). Those ternary oxides are pervasive in most colours, admixed with other colorants. The red, orange, pink and brown colours were accomplished with cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) and admixed with a ternary oxide to create the latter three colours. The red copper‐based colours were made according to the procedure to make a ruby copper glass and with the exception of the red colour; all mosaics exhibited a dark layer on each side of the mosaic, named scorzetta. This layer is the outcome of an oxidation reaction because of a quick cooling process and is composed of CuO. Finally the blue and green colours are accomplished with cobalt oxide and copper oxide, respectively, and the purple/black colour with manganese oxide. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The enormity of the zinc deficiency problem and available solutions; an overview

The societal cost of micronutrient deficiency (MND) or the “hidden hunger” is in millions of dollars/year, reducing the GDP of some countries by as much as 11%. Zn is an important micronutrient for both plants and animals. An estimated 17% of the world population, or around 1.1 billion people, are at the risk of zinc (Zn) deficiency. The deficiency has been related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, stunted growth, premature deaths, immune system dysfunctions, neuro-behavioral disorders, and recently with the failure to recover from COVID-19. These health risks associated with Zn deficiency have compelled FAO and WHO to recommend Zn fortification of diet. Correcting Zn deficiency is a challenge due to several reasons. Close to half of the agricultural soils are Zn deficient, and chemical Zn fertilizers are costly and ineffective. Developing Zn-rich crops through plant breeding and genetic engineering is challenging. Zn-dense diet is costly and cannot be implemented in the low-income region most affected by Zn deficiency. Lack of consensus among regulatory bodies on defining and diagnosing Zn deficiency in plants and Humans. Awareness and other sociocultural issues. Among the most important available solutions are zinc biofortification of the cereal crops, use of zinc biofertilizers, development of Zn-efficient crops with reduced phytate content. The use of Zn supplements, dietary modification, and diversification, especially with fish, are proposed as the most accessible and affordable solutions. Awareness programs in areas suffering the most from Zn deficiency are required. Despite the suggestions from FAO and WHO, global efforts to combat Zn deficiency matching those for combating diseases like HIV are not in place. Coordinated efforts of the international community, especially policy-makers, agricultural scientists, dieticians, physicians, and others, are required to address the issue of hidden hunger.     

An innovative SiO2-pyrazole nanocomposite for Zn(II) and Cr(III) ions effective adsorption and anti-sulfate-reducing bacteria from the produced oilfield water

Novel SiO₂-pyrazole (SiO₂-PYZ) nanocomposite was introduced for the elimination of Zn(II) and Cr(III) from oil reservoir water. Characterization analysis of prepared SiO₂-PYZ nanocomposite was investigated using SEM, FTIR, TGA, XRD, TEM, and BET. Studying the effects and optimization of the parameters such as retention time, pH, initial Cr(III) and Zn(II) ions concentrations, adsorbent dosage, and temperature were examined. For kinetics investigation, the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model matches the adsorption process effectively under different operating conditions. After applying two other isotherm models (Langmuir and Freundlich), the experimental data was adequately equipped with Langmuir, R² = 1. The thermodynamic results pointed that the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cr(III) ions was spontaneous, endothermic, and physisorption reaction. At pH 12, the influence of more than one ion, such as Ca(II) and Na(I), was checked, and the results revealed that this conjugate substance was highly selective to Cr(III). After washing with water in multiple cycles, the adsorbed material was regenerated with 0.1 M HCl and subsequently reused without deterioration in its case cavities. Interestingly, SiO₂-PYZ was highly effective against sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the petroleum field.     

Zn-Induced Interactions Between SARS-CoV-2 orf7a and BST2/Tetherin

We present in this work a first X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy study of the interactions of Zn with human BST2/tetherin and SARS-CoV-2 orf7a proteins as well as with some of their complexes. The analysis of the XANES region of the measured spectra shows that Zn binds to BST2, as well as to orf7a, thus resulting in the formation of BST2-orf7a complexes. This structural information confirms the the conjecture, recently put forward by some of the present Authors, according to which the accessory orf7a (and possibly also orf8) viral protein are capable of interfering with the BST2 antiviral activity. Our explanation for this behavior is that, when BST2 gets in contact with Zn bound to the orf7a Cys₁₅ ligand, it has the ability of displacing the metal owing to the creation of a new disulfide bridge across the two proteins. The formation of this BST2-orf7a complex destabilizes BST2 dimerization, thus impairing the antiviral activity of the latter.     

珊瑚状Ni2P修饰新型四足状Cd0.9Zn0.1SZB/WZ同质结光催化剂的高效可见光光催化产氢

随着社会发展,传统化石能源消耗加剧,人类迫切需要开发新型的清洁能源.半导体光催化分解水产氢是一种非常具有潜力解决能源危机的清洁技术.目前,金属硫化物半导体有着合适的能带结构和高效的光催化产氢能力而得到了广泛的研究.通常,为了提高光催化剂产氢性能,添加贵金属助催化剂是一个行之有效的方法.但是贵金属昂贵的价格限制了其大规模的应用,因此有必要研究储量丰富,价格低廉的高效助催化剂.Ni₂P,CoP,Co₂P,MoP,Cu₃P等过渡金属磷化物具有价格低廉,优异的稳定性和催化性能而被用作电催化产氢的催化剂.通常,用于电催化产氢的催化剂往往可以作为光催化产氢的助催化剂.众所周知,催化性能与材料的形貌密切相关,因此,具有棒状、中空、片状等形貌的金属硫化物被制备并用于光催化产氢.然而,四足状结构的金属硫化物研究较少.在已有的Ni₂P(NP)相关研究中,仅合成了纳米颗粒状的NP.本文成功合成了四足状Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S(CZS)和珊瑚状形貌的NP,进一步得到一系列Ni₂P-Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S(NPCZS)光催化剂,采用XRD,SEM,TEM,XPS和ICP-AES测试了样品的结构、形貌、表面成分和元素含量,并测试了样品的光催化产氢性能.采用水热法合成的CZS样品具有特殊的四足状形貌,足部由纳米棒组成.XRD结果表明,四足状CZS中立方相(WZ)和六方相(ZB)共存.经TEM进一步分析,发现CZS中心部位呈ZB相结构,而足部却是WZ相.经光催化性能测试,这种新型四足状CZS表现出优异的光催化产氢性能.进一步通过超声或研磨破坏四足状结构后,发现CZS的产氢性能显著下降,说明四足状形貌是材料性能提高的关键.通过分析WZ和ZB两物相的价带顶和导带底的电位发现,ZB/WZ间形成的同质结可以加速光生载流子的分离和传输.NP也采用水热法制备,其具有珊瑚状形貌.该形貌具有高的比表面积,可以提供更多的活性位点,进一步提高了材料的光催化性能.光催化性能测试表明,NP负载量为12 wt%的NPCZS-12样品表现出很好的产氢性能(l.88 mmol h^-1),是纯CZS的1.43倍.同时,NPCZS-12具有良好的光稳定性和循环使用性能.结合光催化实验、光谱实验、表面光电压和电化学测试的结果发现,四足状形貌、同质结和NP助催化剂的协同效应是NPCZS具有良好光催化性能的主要原因.     

三维分等级花状Cd0.8Zn0.2S的结构调控及其光催化CO2还原

近年来,光催化CO2还原被视为一种既能解决能源短缺又能减少温室气体,改善人类生存环境的绿色新型技术.然而,由于CO2气体的相对稳定性,构建高催化活性和高选择性的催化体系仍然面临着巨大挑战.锌硫镉固溶体作为一种廉价的固溶类材料,具有吸光范围适宜、化学性质稳定以及能带结构可调控等特点,在光催化还原CO2的方面表现出巨大的潜力.本文发展了一种简单的原位自组装法合成三维分等级花状结构的Cd0.8Zn0.2S,主要包括Cd^2+和Zn^2+离子在含硫氛围下自组装成核状前体,然后以柠檬酸钠作为形貌诱导剂进一步组装生长,同时控制Cd2+/Zn2+摩尔比和反应时间以实现三维分等级花状Cd0.8Zn0.2S的合成.结果表明,三维分等级花状结构的Cd0.8Zn0.2S在光催化还原CO2的过程中表现出优异的催化活性和稳定性.其中,在光照3 h后,CO产量达到41.4μmol g^?1,大约是相同光照条件下Cd0.8Zn0.2S纳米颗粒的三倍(14.7μmol g^?1).此外,三维分等级花状结构的Cd0.8Zn0.2S在光催化过程中展现出对光催化产物CO的较高选择性(89.9%),其中在没有任何牺牲剂或共催化剂作用下的TON为39.6.太赫兹时域光谱(THz-TDS)表明,这种三维分等级花状结构的Cd0.8Zn0.2S相较于Cd0.8Zn0.2S纳米颗粒更有利于对光的吸收,从而提高对光的有效利用率.原位漫反射傅立叶变化红外光谱表征分析揭示了三维分等级花状结构的Cd0.8Zn0.2S在光催化过程中表面吸附物质以及光催化还原中间体的存在及转化.通过实验数据和理论机理预测表明,该种三维分等级花状结构的Cd0.8Zn0.2S具有较高的电流密度和较好的载流子传输能力.基于这种三维的花状结构,使得Cd0.8Zn0.2S具有较大的比表面积和吸附位点,进一步提升体系的CO2吸附性能和光生电子的转移效率,从而有效提高光催化CO2还原的活性.     

水溶液法原位构建ZnO亲锂层稳定锂-石榴石电解质界面

固态电池以其高安全性和高能量密度而备受关注。石榴石型固体电解质(LLZO)由于具有较高的离子导电性和对锂金属的稳定性,在固态电池中具有应用前景,但陶瓷与锂金属较差的界面接触会导致高的界面阻抗和可能形成的枝晶穿透。我们利用LLZO表层独特的H⁺/Li⁺交换反应,提出了一种简便有效的金属盐类水溶液诱发策略,在电解质表面原位构建ZnO亲锂层,界面处LiZn合金化实现紧密连续的接触。引入改性层后,界面阻抗可显著降低至约10Ω·cm²,对称电池能够在0.1mA·cm^-2的电流密度下实现长达1000h的长循环稳定性。匹配正极LiFePO₄(LFP)或LiNi_0.5Co_0.2Mn_0.3O₂(NCM523)的准固态电池在室温下能够稳定循环100次以上。     

Application of multi-buffer layer of (Zn,Mg)O/CdS in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 solar cells

(Zn,Mg)O (ZMO) buffer layer has attracted attention for having the potential to control the conduction band offset of buffer layer and large band-gap (Eg) Cu₂ZnSn(S,Se)₄ (CZTSSe) absorber interface, where the ZMO layer is deposited by the sputtering. However, the solar cell efficiency is decreased with the ZMO layer as compared with the CdS layer. The decrease in conversion efficiency is attributed to the sputtering damage on the absorber and high light reflection from the surfaces of CZTSSe solar cells. To completely suppress the damage, a CdS layer with very thin thickness of 20 nm is inserted between the ZMO layer and the CZTSSe layer. In addition, MgF₂ layers are deposited on CZTSSe solar cells as anti-reflection coating. Ultimately, the solar cell with multi-buffer layer of ZMO/thin-CdS is almost same level as that with the CdS layer. Therefore, the multi-buffer layer can be an appropriate buffer layer of the large-Eg CZTSSe layer.     

新型单核Zn（Ⅱ）配合物{Zn（H2O）6·（pbsa）2·2H2O}的合成、晶体结构及其光学性质

在水中采用回流法合成了Zn(Ⅱ)单核配合物{Zn(H2O)6·(pbsa)2·2H2O(1),pbsa=2-苯基苯并咪唑-5-磺酸阴离子},其结构和性能经UV-Vis,FL,X-射线单晶衍射和TG表征。1属单斜晶系,空间群C2/m,晶胞参数a=23.223(2),b=6.905 6(5),c=11.670 1(9),β=119.660(2)°,V=1 626.3(2)3,Z=2,Dc=1.544 mg·cm-3。1的中心离子为Zn(Ⅱ),与六个水分子配位;pbsa没有与中心离子配位,只起电荷平衡作用;未配位的水分子像节点一样通过氢键将1连接成三维网状的空间结构。1的λmax位于318 nm;在430 nm波长激发下,1的最大荧光发射峰位于425 nm和465 nm。     

σ-Aromaticity-Induced Stabilization of Heterometallic Supertetrahedral Clusters [Zn6Ge16]4− and [Cd6Ge16]4−

In this work, the largest heterometallic supertetrahedral clusters, [Zn₆Ge₁₆]⁴⁻ and [Cd₆Ge₁₆]⁴⁻, were directly self-assembled through highly-charged [Ge₄]⁴⁻ units and transition metal cations, in which 3-center–2-electron σ bonding in Ge₂Zn or Ge₂Cd triangles plays a vital role in the stabilization of the whole structure. The cluster structures have an open framework with a large central cavity of diameter 4.6 Å for Zn and 5.0 Å for Cd, respectively. Time-dependent HRESI-MS spectra show that the larger clusters grow from smaller components with a single [Ge₄]⁴⁻ and ZnMes₂ units. Calculations performed at the DFT level indicate a very large HOMO–LUMO energy gap in [M₆Ge₁₆]⁴⁻ (2.22 eV), suggesting high kinetic stability that may offer opportunities in materials science. These observations offer a new strategy for the assembly of heterometallic clusters with high symmetry.