Structural properties of ultra-small thorium and uranium dioxide nanoparticles embedded in a covalent organic framework

We report the structural properties of ultra-small ThO₂ and UO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), which were synthesized without strong binding surface ligands by employing a covalent organic framework (COF-5) as an inert template. The resultant NPs were used to observe how structural properties are affected by decreasing grain size within bulk actinide oxides, which has implications for understanding the behavior of nuclear fuel materials. Through a comprehensive characterization strategy, we gain insight regarding how structure at the NP surface differs from the interior. Characterization using electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering indicates that growth of the ThO₂ and UO₂ NPs was confined by the pores of the COF template, resulting in sub-3 nm particles. X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy results indicate that the NPs are best described as ThO₂ and UO₂ materials with unpassivated surfaces. The surface layers of these particles compensate for high surface energy by exhibiting a broader distribution of Th–O and U–O bond distances despite retaining average bond lengths that are characteristic of bulk ThO₂ and UO₂. The combined synthesis and physical characterization efforts provide a detailed picture of actinide oxide structure at the nanoscale, which remains highly underexplored compared to transition metal counterparts.

ThO₂ and UO₂ nanoparticles synthesized using a COF-5 template exhibit unpassivated surfaces and provide insight into nanoscale properties of actinides.     

Isochronicity Problem of Higher-Order Singular Point for Polynomial Differential Systems

Due to the difficulty, the isochronicity problems with respect to higher-order singular point (or degenerate singular point) of polynomial differential systems are far from being solved. The calculation of period constants is an effective way to find necessary conditions for isochronicity. In this paper, by means of a homeomorphic transformation, higher-order singular point is transferred into the origin. At the same time, a new recursive algorithm to compute period constants at the origin of the transformed system is deduced which is easy to realize with the computer algebraic system such as MATHEMATICA or MAPLE. Finally, to illustrate the effectiveness of our algorithm, the pseudo-isochronous center conditions of higher-order singular point for a class of septic system are investigated. Our work is new in terms of research about the isochronicity problem of higher-order singular point and consists of the existing results related to the origin as a special case when it is an elementary singular point.     

Zn-Zr-Al oxides derived from hydrotalcite precursors for ethanol conversion to diethyl carbonate

Ethanol conversion to high-value-added products has attracted considerable attention in both academic research and industrial fields. In this study, we synthesized a series of tunable acid–base bifunctional Zn-Zr-Al metal oxides (represented as Zn₂Zr_xAl-MMO) in light of the structural topotactic transformation of Zn₂Zr_xAl-hydrotalcite precursors (Zn₂Zr_xAl-LDH). The resulting Zn₂Zr_xAl-MMO catalysts were employed in the conversion of ethanol to diethyl carbonate. The Zr⁴⁺ ion content of the LDH precursor plays a key role in modulating the acid-base properties and determining catalytic performance: the Zn₂Zr_0.1Al-MMO sample exhibits the optimal catalytic behavior with a diethyl carbonate (DEC) yield of 42.1%, which is the highest reported for metal oxide catalysts. Structure-property correlation investigations revealed that the synergic catalysis between medium-strong basic sites and weak acid sites plays a predominant role in the catalytic behavior. Furthermore, in situ Fourier transform infrared measurements showed that the weak acidic site promotes activation adsorption of the reactant (urea) and the intermediate product (ethyl carbamate), while the medium-strong basic site accelerates ethanol activation. Moreover, the Zn₂Zr_0.1Al-MMO catalyst has the advantages of cost effectiveness, good stability, and reusability. Therefore, the acid-base bifunctional catalysts developed in this work can be employed as promising candidates in acid-base catalytic reactions such as ethanol conversion.     

Photoinduced Miyaura Borylation by a Rare‐Earth‐Metal Photoreductant: The Hexachlorocerate(III) Anion

The first photoinduced carbon(sp²)–heteroatom bond forming reaction by a rare‐earth‐metal photoreductant, a Miyaura borylation, has been achieved. This simple, scalable, and novel borylation method that makes use of the hexachlorocerate(III) anion ([Ce^IIICl₆]^3?, derived from CeCl₃) has a broad substrate scope and functional‐group tolerance and can be conducted at room temperature. Combined with Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling, the method is applicable to the synthesis of various biaryl products, including through the use of aryl chloride substrates.     

Targeted Synthesis of Isomeric Naphthalene-Based 2D Kagome Covalent Organic Frameworks

Targeted synthesis of kagome ( kgm ) topologic 2D covalent organic frameworks remains challenging, presumably due to the severe dependence on building units and synthetic conditions. Herein, two isomeric “two-in-one” monomers with different lengths of substituted arms based on naphthalene core (p-Naph and m-Naph) are elaborately designed and utilized for the defined synthesis of isomeric kgm Naph-COFs. The two isomeric frameworks exhibit splendid crystallinity and showcase the same chemical composition and topologic structure with, however, different pore channels. Interestingly, C₆₀ is able to uniformly be encapsulated into the triangle channels of m-Naph-COF via in situ incorporation method, while not the isomeric p-Naph-COF, likely due to the different pore structures of the two isomeric COFs. The resulting stable C₆₀@m-Naph-COF composite exhibits much higher photoconductivity than the m-Naph-COF owing to charge transfer between the conjugated skeletons and C₆₀ guests.     

光纤法布里-珀罗传感器串连复用的傅里叶变换解调方法初探

光纤法布里—珀罗传感器复用、特别是串连复用的解调十分困难。为解决这个问题,从光纤法布里—珀罗应变传感器的基本原理出发、在仅有两只传感器复用的基本条件下,深人分析了复用系统组合输出光强信号及其分布特性;研究了对其进行傅里叶变换的解调原理及具体实现方法,分析了因复用信号不满足傅里叶变换条件而在变换域产生的畸变,进行了计算机仿真解调。在此基础上,搭建了两只传感器的串连复用实验系统,并用此方法实现了两只复用传感器的解调,且传感器之间的相互影响小于5％。理论与实验表明,虽然传感器的复用信号不满足傅里叶变换的标准条件,且仿真与实验存在一定差异,但所提出的傅里叶变换方法,基本可用于光纤法布里—珀罗传感器的串连复用解调。     

伴有边界摄动二阶非线性系统的奇摄动

讨论了伴有边界摄动的含积分算子的二阶非线性微分方程组边值问题的奇摄动.在适当的假设条件下,通过对角化技巧,证明了解的存在,并估计了余项.     

Expanding the Chemical Space of Tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) through a Cyano-Diels-Alder Reaction: Synthesis,Structure, and Physicochemical Properties of an Anthryl-fused-TCBD Derivative

Tetracyanobuta-1,3-diene (TCBD) is a powerful and versatile electron-acceptor moiety widely used for the preparation of electroactive conjugates. While many reports addressing its electron-accepting capability have appeared in the literature, significantly scarcer are those dealing with its chemical modification, a relevant topic which allows to broaden the chemical space of this interesting functional unit. Here, we report on the first example of a high-yielding cyano-Diels-Alder (CDA) reaction between TCBD, that is, where a nitrile group acts as a dienophile, and an anthryl moiety, that is, acting as a diene. The resulting anthryl-fused-TCBD derivative, which structure was unambiguously identified by X-ray diffraction, shows high thermal stability, remarkable electron-accepting capability, and interesting electronic ground- and excited-state features, as characterized by a thorough theoretical, electrochemical, and photophysical investigation. Moreover, a detailed kinetic analysis of the intramolecular CDA reaction transforming the anthryl-TCBD-based reactant into the anthryl-fused-TCBD product was carried out at different temperatures.