Porous V2O5-SnO2/CNTs composites as high performance cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) exhibits high theoretical capacities when used as a cathode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), but its application is limited by its structural instability as well as its low lithium and electronic conductivities. A porous composite of V₂O₅-SnO₂/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared by a hydrothermal method and followed by thermal treatment. The small particles of V₂O₅, their porous structure and the coexistence of SnO₂ and CNTs can all facilitate the diffusion rates of the electrons and lithium ions. Electrochemical impedance spectra indicated higher ionic and electric conductivities, as compared to commercial V₂O₅. The V₂O₅-SnO₂/CNTs composite gave a reversible discharge capacity of 198 mAh·g^?1 at the voltage range of 2.05–4.0 V, measured at a current rate of 200 mA·g^?1, while that of the commercial V₂O₅ was only 88 mAh·g^?1, demonstrating that the porous V₂O₅-SnO₂/CNTs composite is a promising candidate for high-performance lithium secondary batteries.     

Direct conversion of fructose-based carbohydrates to 5-ethoxymethylfurfural catalyzed by AlCl3·6H2O/BF3·(Et)2O in ethanol

Direct conversion of fructose-based carbohydrates to 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) catalyzed by Lewis acid in ethanol was investigated. It was found that BF₃·(Et)₂O was favorable for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) etherification to EMF. BF₃·(Et)₂O combination with AlCl₃·6H₂O with the molar ratio of 1 was an effective catalyst system for synthesis of EMF from fructose-based carbohydrates. 55.0%, 45.4% and 23.9% of EMF yields were obtained from fructose, inulin and sucrose under optimized conditions, respectively.     

High sensitivity chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxin A in multi-matrices

In this study, detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in multi-matrices using a highly sensitive and specific microplate chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) has been established. A pair of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was selected from 37 anti-SEA mAbs by pairwise analysis, and the experimental conditions of the CLEIA were optimized. This CLEIA exhibited high performance with a wide dynamic range from 6.4 pg mL⁻¹ to 1600 pg mL⁻¹, and the measured low limit of detection (LOD) was 3.2 pg mL⁻¹. No cross-reactivity was observed when this method was applied to test SEB, SEC1, and SED. It has also been successfully applied for analyzing SEA in a variety of environmental, biological, and clinical matrices, such as sewage, tap water, river water, roast beef, peanut butter, cured ham, 10% nonfat dry milk, milk, orange juice, human urine, and serum. Thus, the highly sensitive and SEA-specific CLEIA should make it attractive for quantifying SEA in public health and diagnosis in near future.     

Self-assembly of coil-rod-coil molecules into bicontinuous cubic and oblique columnar assemblies depending on coil chain length

Coil-rod-coil molecules 1–3, consisting of four biphenyls and a p-terphenyl unit linked together with ether bonds as a rod segment and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 7, 12, 17 as coil segments were synthesized. These molecules contain lateral methyl groups at 2 and 5 positions of the middle benzene ring of p-terphenyl. The self-assembling behavior of molecules 1–3 was investigated by means of DSC, POM and SAXS in the bulk state. Molecule 1 self-organizes into a lamellar structure in the bulk state and transfers into a bicontinuous cubic structure in the liquid crystalline phase. While, molecules 2, 3 containing longer coil chains than 1 self-assemble into the hexagonal perforated lamellar (HPL) structures and the oblique columnar structures in the solid state and liquid crystalline phase, respectively. These results reveal that self-organizing behavior of such molecules is dramatically influenced by the length of the coil chains connected with the rod building block, as well as the lateral methyl groups incorporating in the middle of the rod segment.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Iron Nanowires

The iron nanowires can be fabricated via the process in which sodium borohydride reduces iron salts in external magnetic field. The iron nanowires are found to be covered by passivated layers of iron oxide which prevent the oxidation of iron nanowires. In this process, the boron will include in iron nanowires. The average length and diameter of iron nanowires is around 1.2 micrometers and 60 nanometers, respectively. According to ICP results, the contents of B and Fe are about 1.98 wt% and 87.04 wt%, respectively, in iron nanowires. A wide variety of equipment is used to investigate the morphological, microchemical, and structural characteristics of the newly synthesized iron nanowires ––– e.g., XRD, FE‐SEM, HR‐TEM, VSM and XANES. XANES analysis indicates the boron in iron nanowires exists in the form of B₂O₃. The saturation magnetization and the coercive force of iron nanowires are 157.93 emu/g and 9.74 Oe, respectively. In‐situ images of synthesized iron nanowires during reduction process in magnetic field are observed by NSRRC transmission X‐ray microscope. Thus, this study develop a novel process to produce iron nanowires with large quantitates and can control its length and diameter by various the concentration of precursors for various applications.     

Sensitive Determination of 2‐Methoxyestradiol in Pharmaceutical Preparations and Biological Fluids by KMnO4‐Na2SO3 Chemiluminescence System

A simple and novel flow‐injection chemiluminescence (FI‐CL) method was established for the determination of 2‐Methoxyestradiol (2‐ME) in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids. The method was based on the significant enhancement of the CL from the KMnO₄‐Na₂SO₃ reaction by 2‐ME in acidic medium. Under optimized conditions, the CL intensity was correlated linearly with concentration of 2‐ME in the range of 5.0 × 10^?8‐5.0 × 10^?6 M (r = 0.9995). The detection limit (3σ) of 2‐ME was 7.5 × 10^?9 M and the relative standard deviation was 0.8% at 5.0 × 10^?7 M 2‐ME (n = 8). The proposed method was successfully applied for the flow‐injection CL determination of 2‐ME in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids with the recoveries from 92.4 to 106.8%. The possible CL reaction mechanism was also discussed briefly.     

Prenylated Benzene Metabolites from Melicope pteleifolia

Chemical investigation on the stem and root of Melicope pteleifolia afforded three new prenylated benzene metabolites as racemic mixtures, named pteleifolins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.). Their gross structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D‐NMR experiments. An enantiomer resolution of (±)‐ 1 using chiral HPLC was performed, and the absolute configuration of the enantiomers were determined to be (+)‐(S)‐ 1 and (?)‐(R)‐ 1 by means of circular‐dichroism analysis.     

Nitration of Simple Aromatics with NO2 under Air Atmosphere in the Presence of Novel Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquids

Abstract

Aromatics nitrate with NO₂/air catalyzed by novel Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (ILs) without any volatile chlorinated organic solvent under mild conditions. The ILs employed were caprolactam based, [Caprolactam]X (X^?=pTSO^?, BSO^?, BF₄ ^?, NO₃ ^?), which are of relatively lower cost and lower toxicity than traditional imidazolium‐based ILs. The nitration reactions were carried out at ?15 to ?0°C first, then at room temperature for a longer time with a little excessive NO₂ (ca. 1.4 eqv.) for moderate yield (for toluene). The IL could be reused four times.     

An Alternative Stereoselective Synthesis of Protected Trans-5-Alkyl-4-Hydroxy-2-Pyrrolidinones

A flexible approach to protected trans-5-alkyl-4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinones was described. The key step involved the α-amidoalkylation of benzene-sulfone derived from (S)-malic acid, with organozinc reagents generated in situ from Grignard reagents and anhydrous ZnCl₂-OEt₂.