Construction of a Graphene/Au‐Nanoparticles/Cucurbit[7]uril‐Based Sensor for Pb2+ Sensing

The development of highly sensitive and selective methods for the detection of lead ion (Pb²⁺) is of great scientific importance. In this work, we develop a new surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)‐based sensor for the selective trace measurement of Pb²⁺. The SERS‐based sensor is assembled from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and graphene using cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as a precise molecular glue and a local SERS reporter. Upon the addition of Pb²⁺, CB[7] forms stronger complexes with Pb²⁺ and desorbs from AuNPs, resulting in a sensitive “turn‐off” of SERS signals. This SERS‐based assay shows a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 nm and a linear detection range from 1 nm to 0.3 μm for Pb²⁺. The feasibility of the assay is further demonstrated by probing Pb²⁺ in real water samples. This SERS‐based analytical method is highly sensitive and selective, and therefore holds promising applications in environmental analysis.     

Creating Coordination‐Based Cavities in a Multiresponsive Supramolecular Gel

Creating cavities in varying levels, from molecular containers to macroscopic materials of porosity, have long been motivated for biomimetic or practical applications. Herein, we report an assembly approach to multiresponsive supramolecular gels by integrating photochromic metal–organic cages as predefined building units into the supramolecular gel skeleton, providing a new approach to create cavities in gels. Formation of discrete O‐Pd₂L₄ cages is driven by coordination between Pd²⁺ and a photochromic dithienylethene bispyridine ligand (O‐PyFDTE). In the presence of suitable solvents (DMSO or MeCN/DMSO), the O‐Pd₂L₄ cage molecules aggregate to form nanoparticles, which are further interconnected through supramolecular interactions to form a three‐dimensional (3D) gel matrix to trap a large amount of solvent molecules. Light‐induced phase and structural transformations readily occur owing to the reversible photochromic open‐ring/closed‐ring isomeric conversion of the cage units upon UV/visible light radiation. Furthermore, such Pd₂L₄ cage‐based gels show multiple reversible gel–solution transitions when thermal‐, photo‐, or mechanical stimuli are applied. Such supramolecular gels consisting of porous molecules may be developed as a new type of porous materials with different features from porous solids.     

Zn or O? An Atomic Level Comparison on Antibacterial Activities of Zinc Oxides

For the first time, the influence of different types of atoms (Zn and O) on the antibacterial activities of nanosized ZnO was quantitatively evaluated with the aid of a 3D‐printing‐manufactured evaluation system. Two different outermost atomic layers were manufactured separately by using an ALD (atomic layer deposition) method. Interestingly, we found that each outermost atomic layer exhibited certain differences against gram‐positive or gram‐negative bacterial species. Zinc atoms as outermost layer (ZnO?Zn) showed a more pronounced antibacterial effect towards gram‐negative E. coli (Escherichia coli), whereas oxygen atoms (ZnO?O) showed a stronger antibacterial activity against gram‐positive S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus). A possible antibacterial mechanism has been comprehensively discussed from different perspectives, including Zn²⁺ concentrations, oxygen vacancies, photocatalytic activities and the DNA structural characteristics of different bacterial species.     

A Selective RhI‐Catalyzed Substrate‐Controlled C−C Bond Activation of Benzyl Sulfonamide/Alcohol‐Tethered Alkylidenecyclopropanes

Benzyl sulfonamide/alcohol‐tethered alkylidenecyclopropanes undergo a rhodium‐catalyzed and substrate‐controlled selective C?C bond activation, producing three types of common organic structural units: benzo[c]azepine/oxepines, dihydronaphthalen‐1‐amines, and conjugated dienes. Epoxidation and aromatization of these products to construct two useful compounds have also been achieved.     

Hierarchically Designed Three‐Dimensional Macro/Mesoporous Carbon Frameworks for Advanced Electrochemical Capacitance Storage

Mesoporous carbon (m‐C) has potential applications as porous electrodes for electrochemical energy storage, but its applications have been severely limited by the inherent fragility and low electrical conductivity. A rational strategy is presented to construct m‐C into hierarchical porous structures with high flexibility by using a carbon nanotube (CNT) sponge as a three‐dimensional template, and grafting Pt nanoparticles at the m‐C surface. This method involves several controllable steps including solution deposition of a mesoporous silica (m‐SiO₂) layer onto CNTs, chemical vapor deposition of acetylene, and etching of m‐SiO₂, resulting in a CNT@m‐C core–shell or a CNT@m‐C@Pt core–shell hybrid structure after Pt adsorption. The underlying CNT network provides a robust yet flexible support and a high electrical conductivity, whereas the m‐C provides large surface area, and the Pt nanoparticles improves interfacial electron and ion diffusion. Consequently, specific capacitances of 203 and 311 F g^?1 have been achieved in these CNT@m‐C and CNT@m‐C@Pt sponges as supercapacitor electrodes, respectively, which can retain 96 % of original capacitance under large degree compression.     

The first excited single-proton resonance in 15F by complex-scaled Green's function method

The complex-scaled Green's function(CGF)method is employed to explore the single-proton resonance in 15F.Special attention is paid to the first excited resonant state 5/2+,which has been widely studied in both theory and experiments.However,past studies generally overestimated the width of the 5/2+state.The predicted energy and width of the first excited resonant state 5/2+by the CGF method are both in good agreement with the experimental value and close to Fortune's new estimation.Furthermore,the influence of the potential parameters and quadruple deformation effects on the resonant states are investigated in detail,which is helpful to the study of the shell structure evolution.     

间二甲苯分子在不同外电场下结构和解离特性研究

间二甲苯是挥发性有机物(VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds)的关键活性成分,研究其在外电场下的性质十分重要.采用密度泛函理论(DFT),在B3LYP/6-311G++基组水平上对间二甲苯分子进行优化,从分子结构研究了不同外电场(-0.025 a.u.～0.025 a.u.)作用下,间二甲苯分子的总能量,键长,电偶极矩,前线轨道,红外光谱和解离势能面.计算结果表明,沿两甲基中C原子连线方向的电场(-0.025 a.u.～0.025 a.u.)增加时,分子总能量和能隙先增大后减小,电偶极矩先减小后增加.通过计算发现外电场对间二甲苯分子不同键长和不同振动模式的红外光谱的影响均有所不同.间二甲苯分子的解离特性表现为:沿两甲基中C原子连线方向施加强度超过0.047 a. u.的电场时,位于电场增加方向的甲基与苯环之间起连接作用的C-C键断裂.以上计算结果可为利用电场降解间二甲苯提供重要理论参考.