A novel method to prepare polymer-ionic liquid gel under high pressure and its electrochemical properties

Sol–gel transition behavior of ionic liquid gel based on poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate [EMIM][EtSO₄] has been investigated under the pressure up to 250 MPa. The Temperature versus Pressure phase diagram of PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gel is constructed, and it indicates that the melting point is an increasing function of pressure. Based on the phase diagram, the PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gels are prepared by cooling under the pressure of 300 MPa and atmospheric pressure, respectively. From the differential scanning calorimetry result of the recovered samples, it is found that PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gel prepared under high pressure has a higher crystallinity and smaller crystal size polymer network, comparing with under atmospheric pressure. The cyclic voltammograms and impedance spectra tests indicate that the PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gel prepared under high pressure exhibit higher ionic conductivity comparing with atmospheric pressure. It could be speculated these excellent properties might be attributed to the loose gel structure and high ionic density induced by high pressure.     

Effect of ethyl cellulose microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate on flame retardancy,mechanical and thermal properties of flame retardant poly(butylene succinate) composites

Ethyl cellulose, a widely used bio-degradable shell material, microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (MAPP) was added to the bio-degradable poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) to improve its flame retardancy, compatibility, and thermal stability. The MAPP was well characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle, and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The SEM results indicate the improved dispersion of MAPP into PBS matrix and the formation of the strong interfacial adhesion between MAPP and PBS than APP. With the incorporation of MAPP and char-forming agent into PBS, the limiting oxygen index of the composite was increased to 35.5 %, and the sample can pass the UL-94 V-0 rating, while the un-microencapsulated counterpart cannot reach the rating. The cone calorimeter test showed that the peak heat release rate was decreased by 46.7 % and the burning time was also prolonged compared to the pure PBS. The increased melt flow index and rheology test indicated the increase of viscosity and the improvement of anti-dripping properties. Moreover, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of MAPP composite were also obviously enhanced after the microencapsulation by mechanical, dynamical mechanical thermal analysis, and TG analysis.     

On the Reaction Mechanism of the Complete Intermolecular O2 Transfer between Mononuclear Nickel and Manganese Complexes with Macrocyclic Ligands

The recently described intermolecular O₂ transfer between the side‐on Ni‐O₂ complex [(12‐TMC)Ni‐O₂]⁺ and the manganese complex [(14‐TMC)Mn]²⁺, where 12‐TMC and 14‐TMC are 12‐ and 14‐membered macrocyclic ligands, 12‐TMC=1,4,7,10‐tetramethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane and 14‐TMC=1,4,8,11‐tetramethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane, is studied by means of DFT methods. B3LYP calculations including long‐range corrections and solvent effects are performed to elucidate the mechanism. The potential energy surfaces (PESs) compatible with different electronic states of the reactants have been analyzed. The calculations confirm a two‐step reaction, with a first rate‐determining bimolecular step and predict the exothermic character of the global process. The relative stability of the products and the reverse barrier are in line with the fact that no reverse reaction is experimentally observed. An intermediate with a μ‐η¹:η¹‐O₂ coordination and two transition states are identified on the triplet PES, slightly below the corresponding stationary points of the quintet PES, suggesting an intersystem crossing before the first transition state. The calculated activation parameters and the relative energies of the two transition sates and the products are in very good agreement with the experimental data. The calculations suggest that a superoxide anion is transferred during the reaction.     

Complex Polypropionates from a South China Sea Photosynthetic Mollusk: Isolation and Biomimetic Synthesis Highlighting Novel Rearrangements

Placobranchus ocellatus is well known to produce diverse and complex γ‐pyrone polypropionates. In this study, the chemical investigation of P. ocellatus from the South China Sea led to the discovery and identification of ocellatusones A–D, a series of racemic non‐γ‐pyrone polyketides with novel skeletons, characterized by a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ( 1 , 2 ), a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ( 3 ) or a mesitylene‐substituted dimethylfuran‐3(2H)‐one core ( 4 ). Extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical computation, chemical synthesis, and/or X‐ray diffraction analysis were used to determine the structure and absolute configuration of the new compounds, including each enantiomer of racemic compounds 1 – 4 after chiral HPLC resolution. An array of new and diversity‐generating rearrangements is proposed to explain the biosynthesis of these unusual compounds based on careful structural analysis and comparison with six known co‐occurring γ‐pyrones ( 5 – 10 ). Furthermore, the successful biomimetic semisynthesis of ocellatusone A ( 1 ) confirmed the proposed rearrangement through an unprecedented acid induced cascade reaction.     

Coordination of Actinide Single Ions to Deformed Graphdiyne: Strategy on Essential Separation Processes in Nuclear Fuel Cycle

The coordination of actinides and lanthanides, as well as strontium and cesium with graphdiyne (GDY) was studied experimentally and theoretically. On the basis of experimental results and/or theoretical calculations, it was suggested that Th⁴⁺, Pu⁴⁺, Am³⁺, Cm³⁺, and Cs⁺ exist in single‐ion states on the special triangular structure of GDY with various coordination patterns, wherein GDY itself is deformed in different ways. Both experiment and theoretical calculations strongly indicate that UO₂²⁺, La³⁺, Eu³⁺, Tm³⁺ and Sr²⁺ are not adsorbed by GDY at all. The distinguished adsorption behaviors of GDY afford an important strategy for highly selective separation of actinides and lanthanides, Th⁴⁺ and UO₂²⁺, and Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺, in the nuclear fuel cycle. Also, the present work sheds light on an approach to explore the unique functions and physicochemical properties of actinides in single‐ion states.     

Effects of vanadium oxide coating on the performance of LiFePO4/C cathode for lithium-ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - LiFePO4 cathode material is considered as prospective materials for lithium-ion batteries and attracted great interest because of excellent cyclic...     

Aggregation behavior and non-covalent functionalization of borofullerenes B28, B38, and B40: A density functional theory investigation

Fullerene-like boron clusters (borofullerenes) are rising stars in the field of cluster chemistry. In this work, density functional theory calculations revealed that the recently reported small borofullerenes B_n (n = 28, 38, and 40) are all highly reactive and tend to form dimers and even trimers spontaneously. In addition, the non-covalent modification of these borofullerenes by various cycloparaphenylene nanorings can form stable host-guest systems with substantial intermolecular charge transfer at both ground and excited states. Our results demonstrate that the borofullerenes are versatile platform for exohedral functionalization, and are very promising candidates for the design of novel nanomaterials with desirable properties.     

Dual Amperometric Immunosensor for Improving Cancer Metastasis Detection by the Simultaneous Determination of Extracellular and Soluble Circulating Fraction of Emerging Metastatic Biomarkers

This paper reports the development of a dual immunosensor using magnetic microcarriers (MBs) and amperometric transduction at dual screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPdCEs) for the simultaneous determination of two biomarkers: interleukin‐13 receptor α2 (IL‐13Rα2) and E‐cadherin (E‐CDH), with both extracellular and soluble fraction; oncogenic and tumor suppressor markers, respectively, of great relevance in metastatic processes. The implemented methodology involved the formation of sandwich‐type immunocomplexes using specific capture antibodies immobilized onto carboxylic acid magnetic microbeads (HOOC‐MBs), and biotinylated detector antibodies labeled with streptavidin?horseradish peroxidase conjugates (Strep‐HRP). The amperometric detection was performed by addition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) as the redox mediator. The dual immunosensing platform provided linear calibration ranges suitable for the determination of both biomarkers in liquid and solid clinical specimens as well as excellent selectivity against other cancer biomarkers. This simple handling dual bioplatform was applied to the determination of the soluble and extracellular fraction of the target biomarkers in serum and paraffined‐embedded tissues from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients diagnosed at different tumor grade. The obtained results reveal great potential of this configuration to improve the reliability in diagnosing metastatic CRC.     

Recent advances in the application of nanomaterials in enzymatic glucose sensors

Due to the critical role of glucose level in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, as well as the increasing number of diabetics, there is an overwhelming demand for developing glucose sensors. It is well acknowledged that these sensors, especially those based on glucose oxidase, have played an important role in blood glucose detection. Inspired by the attractive properties, nanomaterials, especially nanostructured carbon and metal/metal oxides, have been extensively explored to develop enzymatic glucose sensors with high sensitivity, fast response time, and satisfied stability. In this review, a brief history of glucose biosensors is firstly presented. Furthermore, we discuss the currently available fabrication possesses in the field of enzymatic glucose biosensors based on nanomaterials, focusing on the carbon-based, metal-based, and metal oxides-based nanocomposites. What is more, we discuss the challenges and attempt to give an outlook on the possible further developments.