The mosaic structure design to improve the anchoring strength of SiOx@C@Graphite anode

Silicon oxide (SiO_x)-based anodes have aroused great interest as the most promising alternative anode in the practical application of high-performance lithium-ion batteries. However, the electrochemical performance is inhibited because of the large volume change, and the electrode structure deteriorates during the cycling process, which hinders their practical application. In this article, a novel fabrication method for the synthesis of high-performance SiO_x@C@Graphite composites is presented. SiO_x particles are anchored on the graphite surface by chemical vapor deposition and compression molding. This structure makes up the shortcomings of poor electrical conductivity and poor bonding strength between SiO_x and graphite particles. It is beneficial to form a stable solid electrolyte interface and helps to maintain the structural integrity of electrode materials. As a result, the synthetic SiO_x@C@Graphite anode shows a high reversible capacity (2698.8 mA h), excellent cycle stability (about 76.9% capacity retention for 500 cycles) and a superior rate ability. Our research hopes to provide a new idea for improving the bonding strength of the surface coating.     

Prediction of African Swine Fever Virus Inhibitors by Molecular Docking-Driven Machine Learning Models

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a highly contagious and severe hemorrhagic viral disease with high mortality in domestic pigs of all ages. Although the virus is harmless to humans, the ongoing ASFV epidemic could have severe economic consequences for global food security. Recent studies have found a few antiviral agents that can inhibit ASFV infections. However, currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new drugs to treat ASFV. Based on the structural information data on the targets of ASFV, we used molecular docking and machine learning models to identify novel antiviral agents. We confirmed that compounds with high affinity present in the region of interest belonged to subsets in the chemical space using principal component analysis and k-means clustering in molecular docking studies of FDA-approved drugs. These methods predicted pentagastrin as a potential antiviral drug against ASFVs. Finally, it was also observed that the compound had an inhibitory effect on AsfvPolX activity. Results from the present study suggest that molecular docking and machine learning models can play an important role in identifying potential antiviral drugs against ASFVs.     

Electrodeposition of Se on carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles by cyclic voltammetry

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is a powerful and popular electrochemical technique widely used to study the surface structure of materials through the electrochemical behaviors. Herein CV is utilized to study the electrochemical deposition of selenium (Se) on carbon black-supported Pt nanostructures. We synthesized carbon-loaded platinum nanoparticles (Pt/C) by microwave method and studied the electrochemical behavior of selenium on them. Through the experiment of changing the reverse potential, the corresponding relationship between the Se deposition peak and stripping peak was clarified and the deposition and stripping process of Se was proposed. Meanwhile, we synthesized cubic and octahedral nanocrystals of Pt, and used CV to study the Se deposition on these nanosctructures supported by carbon. It was found that the relative intensity of UPD peaks on Pt is different, as Pt_cube@C is dominated by (100) and Pt_oct@C electrode is dominated by (111) while Pt@C falls in between.

     

Phase‐Junction Electrocatalysts towards Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Alkaline Media

To ensure sustainable hydrogen production by water electrolysis, robust, earth‐abundant, and high‐efficient electrocatalysts are required. Constructing a hybrid system could lead to further improvement in electrocatalytic activity. Interface engineering in composite catalysts is thus critical to determine the performance, and the phase‐junction interface should improve the catalytic activity. Here, we show that nickel diphosphide phase junction (c‐NiP₂/m‐NiP₂) is an effective electrocatalyst for hydrogen production in alkaline media. The overpotential (at 10 mA cm^?2) for NiP₂‐650 (c/m) in alkaline media could be significantly reduced by 26 % and 96 % compared with c‐NiP₂ and m‐NiP₂, respectively. The enhancement of catalytic activity should be attributed to the strong water dissociation ability and the rearrangement of electrons around the phase junction, which markedly improved the Volmer step and benefited the reduction process of adsorbed protons.     

Computational Screening of 3 d Transition Metal Atoms Anchored on Defective Graphene for Efficient Electrocatalytic N2 Fixation

The synthesis of ammonia (NH₃) through the electrochemical reduction of molecular nitrogen (N₂) is a promising strategy for significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional industrial processes. Herein, we report the design of a series of monovacancy and divacancy defective graphenes decorated with single 3d transition metal atoms (TM@MVG and TM@DVG; TM=Sc−Zn) as electrocatalysts for the nitrogen-reduction reaction (NRR) aided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. By comparing energies for N₂ adsorption as well as the free energies associated with *N₂ activation and *N₂H formation, we successfully identified V@MVG, with the lowest potential of −0.63 V, to be an effective catalytic substrate for the NRR in an enzymatic mechanism. Electronic properties, including Bader charges, charge density differences, partial densities of states, and crystal orbital Hamilton populations, are further analyzed in detail. We believe that these results help to explain recent observations in this field and provide guidance for the exploration of efficient electrocatalysts for the NRR.     

一步硫/磷热处理制备空心Co9S8/CoP/C纳米复合材料及其储钠性能研究

低成本、高性能的钠离子电池有望成为代替锂离子电池的下一代核心器件.但是开发出高比容量、高倍率的钠离子电池负极材料依然是瓶颈.本文通过水热/溶剂热法制备了Co基前驱体,然后将其一步硫/磷热处理制得具有空心多孔结构的h-Co₉S₈/CoP/C纳米复合材料.通过X-射线粉末衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)和X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)等表征以确定纳米复合物的物相以及形貌特征.当h-Co₉S₈/CoP/C作为钠离子电池负极材料时,该电极材料展示了高的比容量(561 mAh g^-1@0.1 Ag^-1)、较好的循环性能(可逆比容量200 mAh g^-1@2 Ag^-1)和倍率性能.h-Co₉S₈/CoP/C之所以显示出良好的储钠性能,主要得益于其空心多孔结构不仅提供更多的空间缓解钠在反复嵌入和脱出过程造成的体积膨胀效应,而且可以缩短离子/电荷扩散途径以加快反应动力学,此外,Co₉S₈、CoP和C独特的电子结构优势得以共同发挥.     

Chrysin Derivative CM1 and Exhibited Anti-Inflammatory Action by Upregulating Toll-Interacting Protein Expression in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells

Although our previous study revealed that gamma-irradiated chrysin enhanced anti-inflammatory activity compared to intact chrysin, it remains unclear whether the chrysin derivative, CM1, produced by gamma irradiation, negatively regulates toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis for the downregulation of TLR4 signal transduction by CM1 in macrophages. We initially determined the appropriate concentration of CM1 and found no cellular toxicity below 2 μg/mL. Upon stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), CM1 modulated LPS-stimulated inflammatory action by suppressing the release of proinflammatory mediators (cytokines TNF-α and IL-6) and nitric oxide (NO) and downregulated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. Furthermore, CM1 markedly elevated the expression of the TLR negative regulator toll-interacting protein (Tollip) in dose- and time-dependent manners. LPS-induced expression of cell surface molecules (CD80, CD86, and MHC class I/II), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), COX-2, and iNOS-mediated NO were inhibited by CM1; these effects were prevented by the knockdown of Tollip expression. Additionally, CM1 did not affect the downregulation of LPS-induced expression of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling in Tollip-downregulated cells. These findings provide insight into effective therapeutic intervention of inflammatory disease by increasing the understanding of the negative regulation of TLR signaling induced by CM1.     

Comparative Analysis of Chemical Constituents in Different Parts of Lotus by UPLC and QToF-MS

Six parts of lotus (seeds, leaves, plumule, stamens, receptacles and rhizome nodes) are herbal medicines that are listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Their indications and functions have been confirmed by a long history of clinical practice. To fully understand the material basis of clinical applications, UPLC-QToF-MS combined with the UNIFI platform and multivariate statistical analysis was used in this study. As a result, a total of 171 compounds were detected and characterized from the six parts, and 23 robust biomarkers were discovered. The method can be used as a standard protocol for the direct identification and prediction of the six parts of lotus. Meanwhile, these discoveries are valuable for improving the quality control method of herbal medicines. Most importantly, this was the first time that alkaloids were detected in the stamen, and terpenoids were detected in the cored seed. The stamen is a noteworthy part because it contains the greatest diversity of flavonoids and terpenoids, but research on the stamen is rather limited.     

Solvothermal Synthesis of Multiple Dihydropyrimidinones at a Time as Inhibitors of Eg5

Solvothermal synthesis of multiple dihydropyrimidinones at a time has been developed in inexpensive and green bio-based solvent lactic acid without any additional catalysts or additives. By this method, thirty new dihydropyrimidinone derivatives were synthesized in two batches and characterized. All of the compounds were screened by Eg5 motor protein ATPase assay, and the positive compounds were tested against the Caco-2 cell line, HeLa cell line, L929 cell line and T24 cell line in vitro. Among them, compound C9 exhibited the best inhibitory activity against motor protein ATPase with an IC₅₀ value of 30.25 μM and significant cytotoxic activity in the micromolar range against the cells above. The Lineweaver–Burk plot revealed that compound C9 was a mixed-type Eg5 inhibitor. A molecular modeling study using the Discovery Studio program was performed, where compound C9 exhibited good binding interaction with Eg5 motor protein ATPase, and this was consistent with the attained experimental results.