The Mutual Conversion of CO2 and CO in Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD)

Non-equilibrium plasma, which was engendered by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) was used to analyze the mutual conversion between CO₂ and CO. The results showed that the conversion ratio of CO increased monotonously with the increasing voltage. But CO₂ was not so. Its conversion ratio reached maximum when the voltage was 3600 V in Ar system. It also showed that the existence of water molecules was more advanageous for the conversion of CO to CO₂ in Air system than in oxygen system, and the conversion ratio could reach 75.8% when the relative humidity was 100%. We also discussed the energy yield and energy efficiency, and the result was that high voltage and high concentration of reactant was disadvantageous for energy utilization.     

Light- and temperature-assisted spin state annealing: accessing the hidden multistability

Among responsive multistable materials, spin crossover (SCO) systems are of particular interest for stabilizing multiple spin states with various stimulus inputs and physical outputs. Here, in a 2D Hofmann-type coordination polymer, [Fe(isoq)₂{Au(CN)₂}₂] (isoq = isoquinoline), a medium-temperature annealing process is introduced after light/temperature stimulation, which accesses the hidden multistability of the spin state. With the combined effort of magnetic, crystallographic and Mössbauer spectral investigation, these distinct spin states are identified and the light- and temperature-assisted transition pathways are clarified. Such excitation-relaxation and trapping-relaxation joint mechanisms, as ingenious interplays between the kinetic and thermodynamic effects, uncover hidden possibilities for the discovery of multistable materials and the development of multistate intelligent devices.

Two new two-stage manipulation protocols, namely light- and temperature-assisted spin state annealing (LASSA/TASSA), are applied to a spin crossover coordination polymer, [Fe(isoq)₂{Au(CN)₂}₂], revealing the hidden multistability of spin states.     

Copper-exchanged LTA zeolite membranes with enhanced water flux for ethanol dehydration

Phase-pure and well-intergrown Cu-LTA membranes are developed through copper ions exchange of sodium ions in Na-LTA framework. For pervaporation of 90.0 wt% ethanol/10.0 wt% water mixtures, the Cu-LTA membrane shows much higher water flux than Na-LTA membranes due to the enhancement of the pore size after ions exchange.     

Room-temperature ferroelectric and ferroelastic orders coexisting in a new tetrafluoroborate-based perovskite

The coexistence of multiferroic orders has attracted increasing attention for its potential applications in multiple-state memory, switches, and computing, but it is still challenging to design single-phase crystalline materials hosting multiferroic orders at above room temperature. By utilizing versatile ABX₃-type perovskites as a structural model, we judiciously introduced a polar organic cation with easily changeable conformations into a tetrafluoroborate-based perovskite system, and successfully obtained an unprecedented molecular perovskite, (homopiperazine-1,4-diium)[K(BF₄)₃], hosting both ferroelectricity and ferroelasticity at above room temperature. By using the combined techniques of variable-temperature single-crystal X-ray structural analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, and dielectric, second harmonic generation, and piezoresponse force microscopy measurements, we demonstrated the domain structures for ferroelectric and ferroelastic orders, and furthermore disclosed how the delicate interplay between stepwise changed dynamics of organic cations and cooperative deformation of the inorganic framework induces ferroelectric and ferroelastic phase transitions at 311 K and 455 K, respectively. This instance, together with the underlying mechanism of ferroic transitions, provides important clues for designing advanced multiferroic materials based on organic–inorganic hybrid crystals.

An unprecedented tetrafluoroborate-based perovskite reveals the coexistence of ferroelastic and ferroelectric transitions arising from delicate interplay between stepwise frozen organic cations and cooperative deformation of the framework.     

A new insight into the adsorption of bovine serum albumin onto porous polyethylene membrane by zeta potential measurements, FTIR analyses, and AFM observations

The mode of adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on porous polyethylene (PE) membrane was studied as a function of time and concentration, which may contribute to the surface coverage. An improved physical model for adsorption is initiated based on the results of the adsorptional and desorptional measurements, FTIR analysis, and AFM observations as well as streaming potential measurements. The results obtained indicate that the adsorptional mode depend on both time and concentration. It is shown that a critical concentration (about 1000 ppm here) exists in the adsorptional process. Below this concentration, the adsorption seems to be conducted in a normal side-on way but time elapse gives rise to greater conformational change than concentration increase; above this concentration, the aggregation of protein molecular plays a decisive role and the adsorption is in an aggregation way, which is similar to end-on, but a relative large gap between the adsorbed molecules exists due to aggregation. This conclusion is general and can be expected to apply in other globular protein-hydrophobic porous surface systems.     

固载Ru基催化剂上二氧化碳加氢合成甲酸Ⅱ反应条件对催化剂性能的影响

The synthesis of formic acid from carbon dioxide and hydrogen using a silica immobilized ruthenium catalyst as precursor has been studied in different reaction conditions. The results revealed that the TOF （turn over frequency） of HCOOH achieved 1481.5 h^-1 on immobilized ruthenium catalyst near the critical pressure point of CO2 with H2 pressure of 4.0 MPa, reaction temperature of 80℃ and PPh3/Ru molar ratio of 6：1. The reaction activity of immobilized catalyst was higher than that of homogeneous catalyst, and the immobilized catalyst also offered the practical advantages such as easy separation and reuse.     

Synthetic alpha-mannosyl ceramide as a potent stimulant for an NKT cell repertoire bearing the invariant Valpha19-Jalpha26 TCR alpha chain

A NKT cell repertoire is characterized by the expression of the Valpha19-Jalpha26 invariant TCR alpha chain (Valpha19 NKT cell). This repertoire, as well as a well-established Valpha14-Jalpha281 invariant TCR alpha(+) NKT cell subset (Valpha14 NKT cell), has been suggested to have important roles in the regulation of the immune system and, thus, is a major therapeutic target. Here, we attempted to find specific antigens for Valpha19 NKT cells. Valpha19 as well as Valpha14 NKT cells exhibited reactivity to alpha-galactosyl ceramide (alpha-GalCer). Thus, a series of monoglycosyl ceramides with an axially oriented glycosidic linkage between the sugar and ceramide moiety were synthesized and their antigenicity to Valpha19 NKT cells was determined by measuring their immune responses in culture with glycolipids. Comprehensive examinations revealed substantial antigenic activity for Valpha19 NKT cells by alpha-mannosyl ceramide.     

Structural and magnetic properties of the Kagomé antiferromagnet YbBaCo4O7

The mixed-valent compound YbBaCo₄O₇ is built up of Kagomé sheets of CoO₄ tetrahedra, linked in the third dimension by a triangular layer of CoO₄ tetrahedra in an analogous fashion to that found in the known geometrically frustrated magnets such as pyrochlores and SrCr_9xGa_12−9xO₁₉ (SCGO). We have undertaken a study of the structural and magnetic properties of this compound using combined high-resolution powder neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. YbBaCo₄O₇ undergoes a first-order trigonal→orthorhombic phase transition at 175 K. We show that this transition occurs as a response to a markedly underbonded Ba²⁺ site in the high-temperature phase and does not appear to involve charge ordering of Co²⁺/Co³⁺ ions in the tetrahedra. The symmetry lowering relieves the geometric frustration of the structure, and a long-range-ordered 3-D antiferromagnetic state develops below 80 K.     

Interesting fluorescence properties of C60-centered dendritic adduct with twelve symmetrically attached pyrenes

A C60-centered dendritic adduct with 12 symmetrically attached pyrene species was synthesized and found to have relatively simple fluorescence emission kinetics, in particular, the mono-exponential decay of the significant pyrene excimer emission.     

Hybrid polymerization of iso-butyl vinyl ether

The radiation-induced hybrid polymerization in the presence of the N-alkoxypyridinium salt having relatively stable nonnucleophilic anion (PF₆⁻) has been investigated in the paper. Based on the analysis of experimental data and the GPC spectrum, the onium salts not only oxidize -alkoxyalkyl radicals, produced from IBVE in dichloromethane by irradiation, to the corresponding cations, but also give nonnucleophilic anions PF₆⁻ for the polymerization system. The experimental results clearly demonstrate that free radical and cationic polymerization mechanisms occurred simultaneously in IBVE/EMP⁺PF₆⁻/CH₂Cl₂ systems on irradiation with γ-ray.