Sustained Hydrogen Spillover on Pt/Cu(111) Single-Atom Alloy: Dynamic Insights into Gas-Induced Chemical Processes

Hydrogen spillover, involving the surface migration of dissociated hydrogen atoms from active metal sites to the relatively inert catalyst support, plays a crucial role in hydrogen-involved catalytic processes. However, a comprehensive understanding of how H atoms are driven to spill over from active sites onto the catalyst support is still lacking. Here, we examine the atomic-scale perspective of the H spillover process on a Pt/Cu(111) single atom alloy surface using machine-learning accelerated molecular dynamics calculations based on density functional theory. Our results show that when an impinging H₂ dissociates at an active Pt site, the Pt atom undergoes deactivation due to the dissociated hydrogen atoms that attach to it. Interestingly, collisions between H₂ and sticking H atoms facilitate H spillover onto the host Cu, leading to the reactivation of the Pt atom and the realization of a continuous H spillover process. This work underscores the importance of the interaction between gas molecules and adsorbates as a driving force in elucidating chemical processes under a gaseous atmosphere, which has so far been underappreciated in thermodynamic studies.     

Establishing TA-Pb/Cu and SA-Pb/Cu interface catalyst shells on HMX surfaces via in situ coprecipitation to ameliorate the performances of HMX

Lead/copper tannate (TA-Pb/Cu) and lead/copper salicylate (SA-Pb/Cu) interface catalyst shells are established on the surface of 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane (HMX) via in situ coprecipitation to prepare HMX@TA-Pb/Cu and HMX@SA-Pb/Cu composites. The structures and properties of the obtained HMX@TA-Pb/Cu and HMX@SA-Pb/Cu composites are characterized in detail. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study the adsorption mechanism of TA-Pb/Cu and SA-Pb/Cu on HMX surface. The residues after HMX@TA-Pb/Cu and HMX@SA-Pb/Cu combusted in air are collected and characterized to study the catalytic effect of TA-Pb/Cu and SA-Pb/Cu on combustion. The study results show that TA-Pb/Cu shells are coated on HMX surface due to the excellent membrane-forming properties of TA, while SA-Pb/Cu shells are embedded in the gullies and holes of HMX surface. TA-Pb/Cu and SA-Pb/Cu shells can decrease the mechanical sensitivities and catalyze the decomposition and combustion of HMX, and the catalytic effects of in situ coprecipitation are better than that of physical mixing. In addition, the phase transition temperature of HMX in HMX@TA-Pb/Cu is increased while that of HMX@SA-Pb/Cu is decreased, illustrating that TA-Pb/Cu can enhance the thermal stability of HMX while SA-Pb/Cu can catalyze the phase transition of HMX.     

Rapid synthesis of bovine serum albumin-conjugated gold nanoparticles using pulsed laser ablation and their anticancer activity on hela cells

Nanoscience research aims to produce nanoparticles without adverse effects for medical applications. The pulsed laser ablation (PLA) technique was utilized in this study to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using bovine serum albumin (BSA) in simulated body fluid (SBF) at the fundamental wavelength of the Nd: YAG laser (1064 nm). BSA acted as a stabilizer, reducing and capping agent to produce spherically shaped AuNPs (diameter 3–10 nm). The successful synthesis of AuNPs was confirmed through color changes and UV–vis spectroscopy. The agglomeration and precipitation of AuNPs are attributed to the presence of BSA in the solution, and electrostatic repulsion interactions between BSA and Au nanoclusters. The effect of salt concentration of SBF on BSA stability as well as the interaction of BSA conjugated AuNPs to form complexes was studied using molecular dynamic simulations. Our results show that the stability of AuNPs-BSA conjugates increase with the salt concentration of BSA. Moreover, the synthesized AuNPs exhibit low toxicity and high biocompatibility, supporting their application in drug delivery. Investigation of the cytotoxic effect of the synthesized AuNPs show that normal fibroblast cells (L929) remain intact after treatment whereas a dose-dependent inhibition effect on the growth of cervix cancer cells (HeLa) is observed. In general, this study presents an effective, environmentally-friendly, and facile approach to the synthesis of multifunctional AuNPs using the PLA technique, as a promising efficacious therapeutic treatment of cervical cancer.     

Electrochemical performance of a nano SnO2-modified LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode material

The nano SnO₂-modified LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ was successfully prepared by a carrier transfer method. The pristine and modified samples were characterized with various techniques such as XRD, SEM, XPS and EDS. The results showed that the SnO₂ particles did not enter the crystal structure of LiNi1/3Co1/ 3Mn1/3O₂, many nano SnO₂ particles were uniformly covered on the surface of LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ and the modified thin layer could inhibit the dissolution of transition metal oxides. The electrochemical tests indicated that the existence of nano SnO₂ could improve the discharge capacity and rate capability owing to the decreased interfacial polarization. The cycling stability was remarkably improved at room temperature and 55 ℃. The XRD patterns of the fresh NCM electrode and after 50 cycles proved that the structural change of NCM was not so effective on the capacity fade.     

预处理温度对甘油氢解双金属Ir-Re催化剂性能的影响

在生物柴油生产过程中大量副产的甘油是重要的生物质转化平台化合物.通过甘油氢解制备高附加值的1,3-丙二醇是甘油的资源化利用的重要途径,能够显著提高生物柴油产业的经济效益,同时也是探究更复杂的糖醇类化合物氢解的模型反应.因此,甘油氢解制备1,3-丙二醇成为当前学术界的研究热点.通常,以Re或W为助剂修饰的贵金属催化剂是有效的甘油选择性氢解制1,3-丙二醇的催化剂,其中,双金属Ir-Re催化剂是目前最高效的催化剂之一.甘油氢解反应是典型的结构敏感性反应,它的催化性能依赖于双金属催化剂的结构,而后者受制备工艺条件如热处理方式及条件的影响.最近,我们报道了以直接还原法(即浸渍-还原法)制备的Ir-Re催化剂为合金结构,在甘油氢解中表现出更为优越的反应活性及目前报道中最高的1,3-丙二醇生成速率,并提出了可能的双功能反应机理,即催化剂表面的Re-OH酸性位和Ir均为甘油氢解的活性位.本文采用直接还原法制备KIT-6(具有三维有序介孔孔道结构的SiO2)负载的双金属Ir-Re催化剂,进一步研究还原温度对Ir-Re/KIT-6的结构及其催化性能的影响,揭示催化剂表面酸性在甘油氢解反应中的重要作用并阐明其构-效关系.结果显示不同还原温度(400–700 oC)制备的催化剂的比表面积、孔体积及孔径数据基本一致,表明还原温度对Ir-Re/KIT-6的织构性质的影响很小.根据程序升温还原和透射电镜-能量散射点扫描结果可知,不同温度还原后的催化剂表面Ir和Re均以金属态形式存在,同时两者存在直接的相互作用,形成了Ir-Re合金;而漫反射红外图谱上CO吸附峰的红移以及峰形的显著变化也印证了Ir-Re合金结构的形成. TEM结果显示,在400–700oC还原后得到的Ir-Re合金纳米粒子均匀分布于KIT-6上,尺寸基本一致(2.5–2.8 nm),与CO化学吸附结果一致.此外, NH3-程序升温脱附结果表明催化剂的酸量随着还原温度的升高而逐渐增大,但酸强度没有明显变化,这可能是由于高温还原进一步促进了Ir和Re的相互作用,在原子尺度上混合更为均匀所致. Ir-Re催化剂上甘油氢解反应结果显示,随着还原温度由400提高到600 oC,所制催化剂的活性先增加而后趋于稳定.由此可以认为Ir-Re催化性能的差异与Ir分散度和酸强度的关联较小,主要是由于催化剂表面酸量所致.直接关联酸量与反应活性(以反应时间内的平均1,3-丙二醇生成速率表示)可以看到,反应活性随着酸量的增加而线性增大,表明Ir-Re/KIT-6的表面酸量直接影响了甘油氢解反应速率的快慢,即酸位Re-OH直接参与了催化反应.众所周知, Re金属活化H2的能力很弱,而金属Ir在反应中起到催化加氢的作用.实验结果很好地印证了Ir-Re合金催化甘油氢解反应的双功能反应机理,即酸位Re-OH与金属Ir协同参与氢解反应,分别作为甘油吸附位和H2活化中心,因此提高催化剂的表面Re-OH的数量将是进一步提高催化活性的途径之一.总的来说,在400–700 oC还原得到的Ir-Re/KIT-6催化剂具有Ir-Re合金结构.还原温度对催化剂的织构性质、金属纳米粒子的尺寸、Ir的分散度及表面酸强度的影响不大,但还原温度的升高有利于Ir和Re的相互作用,显著提高了催化剂的表面酸量,因而提高催化活性.此外,表面酸量和反应活性的线性关系表明酸位Re-OH参与Ir-Re合金催化甘油氢解反应,印证了双功能反应机理.     

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted dual stimuli-responsive filter paper for protein separation

Thermal and salt dual stimuli-responsive filter-paper-based membranes were prepared by UV-induced grafting of NIPAM-based polymers on paper surface. The grafting ratio could be controlled by monomer concentration during grafting polymerization. The results from pressure drop measurement of the mobile phase flowed cross the membrane demonstrate that an appropriate grafting ratio would be 8%-10%. Protein adsorption on the membrane through hydrophobic interaction could be promoted by increasing temperature and lyotropic salt concentration. The effect of grafted polymer structure on protein binding performance was studied. Filter paper grafted with NIPAM-based branched copolymer consisting of hydrophobic monomer moieties shows ten times higher protein binding capacity than that of the original filter paper. The separation of plasma proteins using the dual stimuli-responsive membrane was examined to demonstrate feasible application for hydrophobic interaction chromatographic separation of proteins.     

静电纺丝法制备PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜及其性能研究

以辛酸亚锡为催化剂,利用HNTs表面的羟基引发L-LA开环聚合,合成了表面接枝聚(L-乳酸)(PLLA)链段的埃洛石纳米管(g-HNTs),通过红外、热失重和透射电镜对改性前后HNTs的组成与形貌进行了观察;然后采用静电纺丝技术制备了PLLA纳米纤维膜以及不同组成的PLLA/HNTs和PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜,探讨了纺丝条件对纳米纤维膜形貌的影响,并对复合膜的组成、形貌、力学性能和细胞相容性进行了研究.结果表明,当HNTs与L-LA的摩尔投料比为1∶10时,g-HNTs表面PLLA链段的接枝率为14.22％,HNTs纳米管的形态在接枝后变化不大,易于在无水乙醇中分散.电压强度和进样速率对纤维膜的形貌有一定影响,当电压强度为15 kV、进样速率为1 mL/h时,电纺纤维的直径较为均匀.复合纤维膜中g-HNTs在基体PLLA中的分散性以及与基体的界面相容性要优于相应的HNTs,当g-HNTs含量高达40％时,复合纳米纤维膜中的纤维形态仍然保持较好,可以得到连续、粗细较均匀的纤维;随着HNTs和g-HNTs含量增加,复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度和模量先增大后下降,当HNTs和g-HNTs的含量为5％时,两种复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度和模量均达到最大值,但PLLA/g-HNTs组复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度始终大于相应的PLLA/HNTs组.体外3T3细胞培养结果显示,PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜具有良好的细胞相容性,且优于相应的PLLA和PLLA/HNTs纳米纤维膜.     

Imprinted ZnO nanostructure-based electrochemical sensing of calcitonin: A clinical marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma

The present work describes an exciting method for the selective and sensitive determination of calcitonin in human blood serum samples. Adopting the surface molecular imprinting technique, a calcitonin-imprinted polymer was prepared on the surface of the zinc oxide nanostructure. Firstly, a biocompatible tyrosine derivative as a monomer was grafted onto the surface of zinc oxide nanostructure followed by their polymerization on vinyl functionalized electrode surface by activator regenerated by electron transfer–atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET–ATRP) technique. Such sensor can predict the small change in the concentration of calcitonin in the human body and it may also consider to be as cost-effective, renewable, disposable, and reliable for clinical studies having no such cross-reactivity and matrix effect from real samples. The morphologies and properties of the proposed sensor were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, difference pulse voltammetry and chronocoulometry. The linear working range was found to be 9.99 ng L⁻¹ to 7.919 mg L⁻¹ and the detection limit as low as 3.09 ± 0.01 ng L⁻¹ (standard deviation for three replicate measurements) (S/N = 3).     

Fabrication of solid‐state nanopores and its perspectives

Nanofluidics is becoming an extensively developing technique in the field of bioanalytical chemistry. Nanoscale hole embed in an insulating membrane is employed in a vast variety of sensing platforms and applications. Although, biological nanopores have several attractive characteristics, in this paper, we focused on the solid‐state nanopores due to their advantages as high stability, possibility of diameter control, and ease of surface functionalizing. A detection method, based on the translocation of analyzed molecules through nanochannels under applied voltage bias and resistive pulse sensing, is well established. Nevertheless, it seems that the new detection methods like measuring of transverse electron tunneling using nanogap electrodes or optical detection can offer significant additional advantages. The aim of this review is not to cite all related articles, but highlight the steps, which in our opinion, meant important progresses in solid‐state nanopore analysis.     

不同形貌Ag_3PO_4的表面自由能及原位光催化过程的热力学和动力学参数

<正>目前,在利用表面能研究纳米催化剂形貌效应时,多以催化剂表面原子排布或不同晶面的夹角与密勒指数间的关系来定性描述表面能高低[1,2],或利用密度泛函理论对表面能进行理论计算[3,4],但其数值可能会因计算方法和模型不符而与真实值存在偏差,而表面能的实验测定至今仍无精确、可靠、通用的方法[5].因此发展一种准确获取表面能的普适性方法并与材料的催化性能相关联非常必要.微量热技术能对体系变化过程进行实时监测,通过体系变化过程的热力学和动力学参数获取纳米材料的