Fabrication of ZnO/Al2O3 core-shell nanostructures and crystalline Al2O3 nanotube

We have demonstrated the crystalline ZnO-Al₂O₃ core-shell nanowire structure by atomic layer deposition (ALD) at a temperature 100 °C. The core-shell structure could have potential applications in the fabrication of ZnO field effect transistor. After dissolving the ZnO core, shape defined, rigid and robust crystalline Al₂O₃ shelled nanostructures have been fabricated. Nanowire ZnO nanostructures have been replicated by alumina shell. This is one of the most effective techniques for producing core-shell or shell/hollowed nanostructures of any desired objects. The Al₂O₃ shelled nanostructures could have potential applications as space confined nanoreactors, drug delivery, nanofluidic channels and optical transmitting.     

Bioremediation of effluent from a uranium mill tailings repository in South China by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Azolla</Emphasis>–<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anabaena</Emphasis>

Hydroponic experiments were conducted on the removal of uranium, heavy metals and nutrients from the effluent of a uranium mill tailings repository in South China by Azolla–Anabaena. The plant–microbe symbiont was kept in the effluent for 30 days, and it was found that U, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN) and SO₄^2? reduced by 87.6, 99.1, 98.8, 88.2, 91, 78.3, 77.5, 93.4, 98.7 and 76.7%, respectively. Specifically, the concentration of uranium reduced to 0.039 mg L^?1, which is below the limits of contaminants by the Department of Environmental Protection of China. The concentration of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, TP and TN in the effluent reached the quality standard for drinking water. The results showed that Azolla–Anabaena can be used for the bioremediation of the effluent from the uranium mill tailings repository.     

Packing measure functions of subordinators sample paths

X(t) (t∉[0,∞)) is a subordinator with its upper index β less than one, g(u) is the index function ofX(t), andX(t), andX[0,1]={xϕR:X(t)=x} for sometϕ[0,1]{. If φ(s)(sϕ(0,1)) is a measure function andh , then

Gamma-resonance study of nanopowders with different dispersion and quasicrystalline phases in the Al-Cu-Fe system

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used to monitor synthesis of quasicrystals in the Al-Cu-Fe system and study the influence of the size of quasicrystalline particles in powder samples of the Al_63.1Cu_25.6Fe_11.3 alloy on the properties of synthesized materials. Quasicrystalline samples of different dispersion with particle sizes from 0.3 to 15 μm have been studied in the temperature range 80–295 K. It is established that iron atoms in an Al_63.1Cu_25.6Fe_11.3 quasicrystals occupy four types of structural positions, which differ in the atomic composition of the nearest environment. The results of the analysis suggest the dependence of the hyperfine-interaction parameters on the degree of sample dispersion. The components corresponding to iron atoms in both the surface layer and bulk of microparticles are isolated in the Mössbauer spectra. No magnetic hyperfine splitting has been found in the Mössbauer spectra in the entire temperature range. This fact suggests that a localized magnetic moment is absent in iron atoms.     

Magnetic susceptibility of quasicrystalline Al<Subscript>65</Subscript>Cu<Subscript>22</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>13</Subscript> powders

Magnetic properties of quasicrystalline Al₆₅Cu₂₂Fe₁₃ powders synthesized by the solid-phase diffusion method via thermal treatment in vacuum or a hydrogen atmosphere have been studied. The powders synthesized in vacuum are found to contain a ferromagnetic fraction. The formation of iron oxide Fe₃O₄ is shown to be the most probable cause of the existence of this fraction. It is possible to avoid the formation of the ferromagnetic fraction in the powders synthesized or annealed in hydrogen. Removal of the ferromagnetic fraction from the powder by repeated magnetic separation made it possible to obtain a quasicrystalline fraction, for which the behavior of the magnetic susceptibility can be explained by the formation of nanoclusters. Such behavior is a general and integral property of quasicrystalline powders synthesized in both vacuum and hydrogen.     

CuO and Ag2O/CuO catalyzed oxidation of aldehydes to the corresponding carboxylic acids by molecular oxygen

Furfural was oxidized to furoic acid by molecular oxygen under catalysis by 150 nm-sized Ag(2)O/CuO (92%) or simply CuO (86.6%). When 30 nm-size catalyst was used,the main product was a furfural Diels-Alder adduct. Detailed reaction conditions and regeneration of catalysts were investigated. Under optimal conditions, a series of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes were oxidized to the corresponding acids in good yields.     

Template Syntheses of Two Open‐framework Zinc Phosphites

Two new open‐framework zincophosphites, Zn(H₆C₄N₂S)(HPO₃) (TJPU‐4) and [C₆N₂H₁₄]·[Zn₃(HPO₃)₄] (TJPU‐5) have been hydrothermally synthesized by using 2‐mercapto‐1‐methylimidazole [MMI] and 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane [DABCO] as templates. TJPU‐4 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2₁/c with the cell parameters a = 8.787(4) Å, b = 9.732(4) Å, c = 10.515(4) Å, β = 105.316(6)°, V = 867.3(6) ų. The structure of TJPU‐4 is constructed by ZnO₃S tetrahedron and HPO₃ pseudo‐pyramid to generate a layer of 4, 8‐network in bc plane. The organic template locates on the both sides of the 8‐membered rings and bonds to zinc atom through Zn–S bond. TJPU‐5 crystallizes in the triclinic space group with cell parameters a = 9.294 (5) Å, b = 9.976 (5) Å, c = 9.986 (5) Å, α = 85.692 (7)°, β = 82.010 (7)° and γ = 80.184 (7)°, V = 902.1 (8) ų. A novel 4⁴8⁸ cage is found in TJPU‐5. The connections of Zn(1)O₄, Zn(3)O₄ and HPO₃ groups give rise to an infinite corner‐shared four‐ring chain. Using Zn(2)O₄ as four connected bridges, linkages of these chains produce a 3‐D framework with intersecting 8‐ring channels running along [100], [010], [001], [011] and [111] directions.     

Highly Efficient Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Chiral Au13 Clusters Stabilized by Enantiopure Monodentate NHC Ligands

Chiral Au nanoclusters have promising application prospects in chiral sensing, asymmetric catalysis, and chiroptics. However, enantiopure superatomic homogold clusters with crystallographic structures emitting bright circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) remain challenging. In this study, we designed chiral N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), and for the first time enantioselectively synthesized a pair of monovalent cationic superatomic Au₁₃ clusters. This new enantiomeric pair of clusters has a quasi-C₂ symmetric core and exhibited CPL with an unprecedent solution-state quantum yield (QY) of 61 % among those of the atomically precise Au nanoclusters. DFT calculations provided insights into the circular dichroism behavior, and revealed the origin of CPL from superatomic Au clusters. This work opens a new avenue for developing novel homochiral nanoclusters using chiral NHC ligands and provides fundamental understanding of the origin of the chiroptics of metal clusters.     

Assembly of the highest connectivity Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate coordination polymer: the use of organic ligand flexibility

Through tuning the length of flexible bis(triazole) ligands and different metal ion coordination geometries, four Wells-Dawson polyoxoanion-based hybrid compounds, [Cu 6(btp) 3(P 2W 18O 62)].3H 2O ( 1) (btp = 1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-y1)propane), [Cu 6(btb) 3((P 2W 18O 62)].2H 2O ( 2), [Cu 3(btb) 6(P 2W 18O 62)].6H 2O (btb = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-y1)butane) ( 3), and [Cu 3(btx) 5.5((P 2W 18O 62)].4H 2O (btx = 1,6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-y1)hexane) ( 4), were synthesized and structurally characterized. In compound 1, the metal-organic motif exhibits a ladder-like chain, which is further fused by the ennead-dentate [P 2W 18O 62] (6-) anions to construct a 3D structure. In compound 2, the metal-organic motif exhibits an interesting Cu-btb grid layer, and the ennead-dentate polyoxoanions are sandwiched by two Cu-btb layers to construct a 3D structure. Compound 3 exhibits a (4 (2).6 (2).8 (2)) 3D Cu-btb framework with square and hexagonal channels arranged alternately. The hexa-dentate polyoxoanions incorporate only into the hexagonal channels. In compound 4, there exist two sets of (6 (1).10 (2)) 2(6 (1).8 (2).10 (3)) 3D Cu-btx frameworks to generate a 2-fold interpenetrated structure into which the penta-dentate polyoxoanions are inserted to construct a 3D structure. The structural analyses reveal that the length of flexible bis(triazole) ligands and metal ion coordination geometries have a synergic influence on the structures of this series. To our knowledge, they have the highest connectivity for the Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate coordination polymers to date.     

Recent Advances in Catalytic Decomposition of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O on Noble Metal and Metal Oxide Catalysts

Catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide (N₂O) is one of the most efficient methods for the removal of N₂O which is of high greenhouse potential and ozone-depleting property. Recent progress in the decomposition of N₂O has been reviewed with the focus on noble meal and metal oxide catalysts. The influence factors, such as catalyst support, preparation method, alkali metal additives and the reaction conditions (including O₂, H₂O, SO₂, NO and CO₂), on the performance of deN₂O catalysts have been discussed. Finally, future research direction for the catalytic decomposition of N₂O is proposed.