A Study in Red: The Overlooked Role of Azo-Moieties in Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts with Strongly Extended Optical Absorption

The unique optical and photoredox properties of heptazine-based polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) materials make them promising semiconductors for driving various productive photocatalytic conversions. However, their typical absorption onset at ca. 430–450 nm is still far from optimum for efficient sunlight harvesting. Despite many reports of successful attempts to extend the light absorption range of PCNs, the determination of the structural features responsible for the red shift of the light absorption edge beyond 450 nm has often been obstructed by the highly disordered structure of PCNs and/or low content of the moieties responsible for changes in optical and electronic properties. In this work, we implement a high-temperature (900 °C) treatment procedure for turning the conventional melamine-derived yellow PCN into a red carbon nitride. This approach preserves the typical PCN structure but incorporates a new functionality that promotes visible light absorption. A detailed characterization of the prepared material reveals that partial heptazine fragmentation accompanied by de-ammonification leads to the formation of azo-groups in the red PCN, a chromophore moiety whose role in shifting the optical absorption edge of PCNs has been overlooked so far. These azo moieties can be activated under visible-light (470 nm) for H₂ evolution even without any additional co-catalyst, but are also responsible for enhanced charge-trapping and radiative recombination, as shown by spectroscopic studies.     

Strategies for 1H-Detected Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Magic-Angle Spinning NMR Spectroscopy

Combining dynamic nuclear polarization with proton detection significantly enhances the sensitivity of magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy. Herein, the feasibility of proton-detected experiments with slow (10 kHz) magic angle spinning was demonstrated. The improvement in sensitivity permits the acquisition of indirectly detected ¹⁴N NMR spectra allowing biomolecular structures to be characterized without recourse to isotope labelling. This provides a new tool for the structural characterization of environmental and medical samples, in which isotope labelling is frequently intractable.     

钴、碳共掺杂氮化碳的制备及其光催化分解水产氢性能

针对氮化碳可见光利用率低和在光催化过程中光生电子与空穴易于复合的缺点,通过钴、碳共掺杂提升其光催化性能。以尿素为前驱体,维生素B12（VB12）为钴源和碳源,将二者的混合物进行一步煅烧,制备钴、碳共掺杂氮化碳（CNCoC）。结果表明,钴、碳共掺杂对氮化碳的微观形貌、骨架结构和官能团都没有造成明显影响;但是增大了产物的比表面积,调节了产物的能带结构,增加了其对可见光的吸收。更重要的是,相比于单一元素碳的掺杂,钴、碳共掺杂具有协同作用,能够更有效地提升光生电子和空穴的分离和传递效率。因此,加入6 mg VB12制备的CNCoC-6的可见光光催化分解水产氢速率达到了56.1 μmol·h^-1,是纯氮化碳（CN）的3.05倍;而碳掺杂氮化碳（CNC-6）的产氢速率仅为CN的2.55倍。     

On The Potential of Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Enhanced Diamonds in Solid‐State and Dissolution 13C NMR Spectroscopy

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a versatile option to improve the sensitivity of NMR and MRI. This versatility has elicited interest for overcoming potential limitations of these techniques, including the achievement of solid‐state polarization enhancement at ambient conditions, and the maximization of ¹³C signal lifetimes for performing in vivo MRI scans. This study explores whether diamond's ¹³C behavior in nano‐ and micro‐particles could be used to achieve these ends. The characteristics of diamond's DNP enhancement were analyzed for different magnetic fields, grain sizes, and sample environments ranging from cryogenic to ambient temperatures, in both solution and solid‐state experiments. It was found that ¹³C NMR signals could be boosted by orders of magnitude in either low‐ or room‐temperature solid‐state DNP experiments by utilizing naturally occurring paramagnetic P₁ substitutional nitrogen defects. We attribute this behavior to the unusually long electronic/nuclear spin‐lattice relaxation times characteristic of diamond, coupled with a time‐independent cross‐effect‐like polarization transfer mechanism facilitated by a matching of the nitrogen‐related hyperfine coupling and the ¹³C Zeeman splitting. The efficiency of this solid‐state polarization process, however, is harder to exploit in dissolution DNP‐enhanced MRI contexts. The prospects for utilizing polarized diamond approaching nanoscale dimensions for both solid and solution applications are briefly discussed.     

Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Nitrogen‐Rich Carbon Nanofibers: Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution without Cocatalysts

An interconnected framework of mesoporous graphitic‐C₃N₄ nanofibers merged with in situ incorporated nitrogen‐rich carbon has been prepared. The unique composition and structure of the nanofibers as well as strong coupling between the components endow them with efficient light‐harvesting properties, improved charged separation, and a multidimensional electron transport path that enhance the performance of hydrogen production. The as‐obtained catalyst exhibits an extremely high hydrogen‐evolution rate of 16885 μmol h^?1 g^?1, and a remarkable apparent quantum efficiency of 14.3 % at 420 nm without any cocatalysts, which is much higher than most reported g‐C₃N₄‐based photocatalysts even in the presence of Pt‐based cocatalysts.     

Implementation and Characterization of Flow Injection in Dissolution Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR Spectroscopy

The use of dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (D ‐DNP) offers substantially increased signals in liquid‐state NMR spectroscopy. A challenge in realizing this potential lies in the transfer of the hyperpolarized sample to the NMR detector without loss of hyperpolarization. Here, the use of a flow injection method using high‐pressure liquid leads to improved performance compared to the more common gas‐driven injection, by suppressing residual fluid motions during the NMR experiment while still achieving a short injection time. Apparent diffusion coefficients are determined from pulsed field gradient echo measurements, and are shown to fall below 1.5 times the value of a static sample within 0.8 s. Due to the single‐scan nature of D ‐DNP, pulsed field gradients are often the only choice for coherence selection or encoding, but their application requires stationary fluid. Sample delivery driven by a high‐pressure liquid will improve the applicability of these types of D‐DNP advanced experiments.     

Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production using Polymeric Carbon Nitride with a Hydrogenase and a Bioinspired Synthetic Ni Catalyst

Solar‐light‐driven H₂ production in water with a [NiFeSe]‐hydrogenase (H₂ase) and a bioinspired synthetic nickel catalyst (NiP) in combination with a heptazine carbon nitride polymer, melon (CN_x), is reported. The semibiological and purely synthetic systems show catalytic activity during solar light irradiation with turnover numbers (TONs) of more than 50 000 mol H₂ (mol H₂ase)^?1 and approximately 155 mol H₂ (mol NiP)^?1 in redox‐mediator‐free aqueous solution at pH 6 and 4.5, respectively. Both systems maintained a reduced photoactivity under UV‐free solar light irradiation (λ>420 nm).     

Motional Dynamics of Halogen‐Bonded Complexes Probed by Low‐Field NMR Relaxometry and Overhauser Dynamic Nuclear Polarization

Halogen bonding is a subject of considerable interest owing to wide‐ranging chemical, materials and biological applications. The motional dynamics of halogen‐bonded complexes play a pivotal role in comprehending the nature of the halogen‐bonding interaction. However, not many attempts appear to have been made to shed light on the dynamical characteristics of halogen‐bonded species. For the first time, we demonstrate here that the combination of low‐field NMR relaxometry and Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization (ODNP) makes it possible to obtain a cogent picture of the motional dynamics of halogen‐bonded species. We discuss here the advantages of this combined approach. Low‐field relaxometry allows us to infer the hydrodynamic radius and rotational correlation time, whereas ODNP probes the molecular translational correlation times (involving the substrate as well as the organic radical) with high sensitivity at low field.     

Carbon Quantum Dot Implanted Graphite Carbon Nitride Nanotubes: Excellent Charge Separation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Graphite carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) is a promising candidate for photocatalytic hydrogen production, but only shows moderate activity owing to sluggish photocarrier transfer and insufficient light absorption. Herein, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) implanted in the surface plane of g‐C₃N₄ nanotubes were synthesized by thermal polymerization of freeze‐dried urea and CQDs precursor. The CQD‐implanted g‐C₃N₄ nanotubes (CCTs) could simultaneously facilitate photoelectron transport and suppress charge recombination through their specially coupled heterogeneous interface. The electronic structure and morphology were optimized in the CCTs, contributing to greater visible light absorption and a weakened barrier of the photocarrier transfer. As a result, the CCTs exhibited efficient photocatalytic performance under light irradiation with a high H₂ production rate of 3538.3 μmol g^?1 h^?1 and a notable quantum yield of 10.94 % at 420 nm.     

Quantitative Structural Constraints for Organic Powders at Natural Isotopic Abundance Using Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

A straightforward method is reported to quantitatively relate structural constraints based on ¹³C–¹³C double‐quantum build‐up curves obtained by dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) solid‐state NMR to the crystal structure of organic powders at natural isotopic abundance. This method relies on the significant gain in NMR sensitivity provided by DNP (approximately 50‐fold, lowering the experimental time from a few years to a few days), and is sensitive to the molecular conformation and crystal packing of the studied powder sample (in this case theophylline). This method allows trial crystal structures to be rapidly and effectively discriminated, and paves the way to three‐dimensional structure elucidation of powders through combination with powder X‐ray diffraction, crystal‐structure prediction, and density functional theory computation of NMR chemical shifts.     

Amorphous and Crystalline 2D Polymeric Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for Photocatalytic Hydrogen/Oxygen Evolution and Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Photocatalytic reactions, including hydrogen/oxygen generation, water splitting and hydrogen peroxide production, are regarded as a renewable and promising method to harvest and use solar energy. The key to achieving this goal is to explore efficient photocatalysts with high productivity. Recently, two‐dimensional (2D) polymeric carbon nitride nanosheets were reported as efficient photocatalysts toward various products because of their outstanding properties, such as high specific surface area, more reactive sites, the quantum effect in thickness and unique electronic properties. This minireview attempts to overview recent advances in the preparation, structure and properties of crystalline and amorphous carbon nitride nanosheets, and their applications in photocatalytic hydrogen/oxygen evolution, water splitting and hydrogen peroxide production. We also thoroughly discuss the effect of defects, dopants and composites on the photocatalytic efficiency of these carbon nitride nanosheets. Finally, we outlook the ongoing opportunities and future challenges for 2D carbon nitride nanosheets in the field of photocatalysis.     

氧掺杂氮化碳纳米片的制备及其光解水制氢性能

以草酸为氧源,二聚氰胺和尿素为原料,采用两步热聚合方式合成氧掺杂氮化碳纳米片催化剂(CNO)。利用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-Vis)、X射线光电子能谱分析(XPS)、荧光光谱(PL)及电化学测试等技术对催化剂进行结构表征分析。在可见光照射下通过分解水制氢反应对CNO的光催化还原性能进行评价。结果表明,草酸中的O元素通过取代氮化碳三嗪环结构中N原子直接键合到sp~2杂化碳上,形成O掺杂CNO。经O掺杂改性后的氮化碳具有良好的层状堆积结构,可见光吸收性明显提高,同时禁带宽度降低。O掺杂的引入加速了光生电子-空穴对的分离和传输,能大幅度提高氮化碳的光催化分解水制氢性能,在可见光照下达88.6μmol·h~(-1),是未掺杂CN的3.91倍。     

Insights into the Reactivity of Gold–Dithiocarbamato Anticancer Agents toward Model Biomolecules by Using Multinuclear NMR Spectroscopy

Some gold(III)–dithiocarbamato derivatives of either single amino acids or oligopeptides have shown promise as potential anticancer agents, but their capability to interact with biologically relevant macromolecules is still poorly understood. We investigated the affinity of the representative complex [Au^IIIBr₂(dtc‐Sar‐OCH₃)] (dtc: dithiocarbamate; Sar: sarcosine (N‐methylglycine)) with selected model molecules for histidine‐, methionine‐, and cysteine‐rich proteins (that is, 1‐methylimidazole, dimethylsulfide, and N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine, respectively). In particular, detailed mono‐ and multinuclear NMR studies, in combination with multiple ¹³C/¹⁵N enrichments, allowed interactions to be followed over time and indicated somewhat unexpected reaction pathways. Whereas dimethylsulfide proved to be unreactive, a sudden multistep redox reaction occurred in the presence of the other potential sulfur donor, N‐acetyl‐L ‐cysteine (confirmed if glutathione was used instead). On the other hand, 1‐methylimidazole underwent an unprecedented acid–base reaction with the gold(III) complex, rather than the expected coordination to the metal center by replacing, for instance, a bromide. Our results are discussed herein and compared with the data available in the literature on related complexes; our findings confirm that the peculiar reactivity of gold(III)–dithiocarbamato complexes can lead to novel reaction pathways and, therefore, to new cytotoxic mechanisms in cancer cells.