ZIF-Induced d-Band Modification in a Bimetallic Nanocatalyst: Achieving Over 44 % Efficiency in the Ambient Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a sustainable solution towards ammonia production but suffers poor reaction performance owing to preferential catalyst–H formation and the consequential hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Now, the Pt/Au electrocatalyst d-band structure is electronically modified using zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) to achieve a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of >44 % with high ammonia yield rate of >161 μg mg_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ under ambient conditions. The strategy lowers electrocatalyst d-band position to weaken H adsorption and concurrently creates electron-deficient sites to kinetically drive NRR by promoting catalyst–N₂ interaction. The ZIF coating on the electrocatalyst doubles as a hydrophobic layer to suppress HER, further improving FE by >44-fold compared to without ZIF (ca. 1 %). The Pt/Au-N_ZIF interaction is key to enable strong N₂ adsorption over H atom.     

Anisotropic Protein Organofibers Encoded With Extraordinary Mechanical Behavior for Cellular Mechanobiology Applications

Hydrogels enable a variety of applications due to their dynamic networks, structural flexibility, and tailorable functionality. However, their mechanical performances are limited, specifically in the context of cellular mechanobiology. It is also difficult to fabricate robust gel networks with a long-term durability. Thus, a new generation of soft materials showing outstanding mechanical behavior for mechanobiology applications is highly desirable. We combined synthetic biology and supramolecular assembly to prepare elastin-like protein (ELP) organogel fibers with extraordinary mechanical properties. The mechanical performance and stability of the assembled anisotropic proteins are superior to other organo-/hydrogel systems. Bone-derived mesenchymal cells were introduced into the organofiber system for stem-cell lineage differentiation. This approach demonstrates the feasibility of mechanically strong and anisotropic organonetworks for mechanobiology applications and holds great potential for tissue-regeneration translations.     

Ni,Ru掺杂CePO4纳米材料的合成与仿酶性质

通过水热方法合成了具有高比表面积的Ni, Ru掺杂CePO₄纳米粒子(NiRu-CePO₄). 结合纳米粒子的X射线衍射(XRD)、 扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、 透射电子显微镜(TEM)和X射线能谱(EDX)的表征结果发现, NiRu-CePO₄符合六方相磷酸铈, 纳米粒子长轴尺寸约为20 nm, Ni和Ru均匀分布于纳米CePO₄中; 样品的BET表面积高达178.4 m²/g, ζ电势为-18.2 mV. 以3,3',5,5'-四甲基联苯胺(TMB)作为电子供体和显色剂, 通过分光光度法监测652 nm处的吸光度值对产物浓度进行分析, 结果表明, NiRu-CePO₄催化剂在宽泛的pH范围内表现出类过氧化物酶和类氧化酶活性. 对催化后的催化剂进行表征, 发现样品形貌、 元素分散性和表面Ce的价态均未显著变化, 表明NiRu-CePO₄具有较高的稳定性.     

Host-Guest Chemistry of Truncated Tetrahedral Imine Cages with Ammonium Ions

Three shape-persistent [4+4] imine cages with truncated tetrahedral geometry with different window sizes were studied as hosts for the encapsulation of tetra-n-alkylammonium salts of various bulkiness. In various solvents the cages behave differently. For instance, in dichloromethane the cage with smallest window size takes up NEt₄⁺ but not NMe₄ ^{+ ,} which is in contrast to the two cages with larger windows hosting both ions. To find out the reason for this, kinetic experiments were carried out to determine the velocity of uptake but also to deduce the activation barriers for these processes. To support the experimental results, calculations for the guest uptakes have been performed by molecular mechanics’ simulations. Finally, the complexation of pharmaceutical interested compounds, such as acetylcholine, muscarine or denatonium have been determined by NMR experiments.     

Flame retardancy and smoke suppression of silicone foams with microcapsulated aluminum hypophosphite and zinc borate

The flame‐retardant microcapsules were successfully fabricated with an aluminum hypophosphite (AHP) core. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to verify that AHP was encapsulated in the microcapsules, and thermogravimetry analysis showed that microencapsulated AHP (MAHP) possessed higher thermal stability than that of AHP. Then, a flame‐retardant and smoke suppression system for silicone foams (SiFs) was obtained through a synergistic effect of MAHP and zinc borate (2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O). The mechanical properties, flame retardance, and smoke suppression of SiFs with MAHP and zinc borate were tested using the tensile test, limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, UL‐94 test, and cone calorimeter test. The mechanical properties indicated that the tensile strength and elongation at break of SiFs could evidently improve with the incorporation of MAHP. Compared with pure SiF, SiF8 with 4.5‐wt% MAHP and 1.5‐wt% zinc borate could achieve an LOI value of 30.7 vol% and an UL‐94 V‐0 rating, the time to ignition amplified almost six times, the peak heat release rate and total heat release were 51.10% and 46.00% less than that of pure SiF, respectively, the fire performance index increased nearly 13 times, and the fire growth index value was only 13.18% of pure SiF. Moreover, the partial substitution of zinc borate imparted a substantial improvement in both flame retardancy and smoke suppression. Especially, the peak smoke production rate and total smoke production of SiF8 were merely 38.46% and 38.84% of pure SiF.     

Bioinspired and Mechanically Strong Fibers Based on Engineered Non‐Spider Chimeric Proteins

Silk‐protein‐based fibers have attracted considerable interest due to their low weight and extraordinary mechanical properties. Most studies on fibrous proteins focus on the recombinant spidroins, but these fibers exhibit moderate mechanical performance. Thus, the development of alternative structural proteins for the construction of robust fibers is an attractive goal. Herein, we report a class of biological fibers produced using a designed chimeric protein, which consists of the sequences of a cationic elastin‐like polypeptide and a squid ring teeth protein. Remarkably, the chimeric protein fibers exhibit a breaking strength up to about 630 MPa and a corresponding toughness as high as about 130 MJ m^?3, making them superior to many recombinant spider silks and even comparable to some native counterparts. Therefore, this strategy is a novel concept for exploring bioinspired ultrastrong protein materials through the development of new types of structural chimeric proteins.     

On the Role of Symmetry in Vibrational Strong Coupling: The Case of Charge‐Transfer Complexation

It is well known that symmetry plays a key role in chemical reactivity. Here we explore its role in vibrational strong coupling (VSC) for a charge‐transfer (CT) complexation reaction. By studying the trimethylated‐benzene–I₂ CT complex, we find that VSC induces large changes in the equilibrium constant K_DA of the CT complex, reflecting modifications in the ΔG° value of the reaction. Furthermore, by tuning the microfluidic cavity modes to the different IR vibrations of the trimethylated benzene, ΔG° either increases or decreases depending only on the symmetry of the normal mode that is coupled. This result reveals the critical role of symmetry in VSC and, in turn, provides an explanation for why the magnitude of chemical changes induced by VSC are much greater than the Rabi splitting, that is, the energy perturbation caused by VSC. These findings further confirm that VSC is powerful and versatile tool for the molecular sciences.     

Sandwich‐like Catalyst–Carbon–Catalyst Trilayer Structure as a Compact 2D Host for Highly Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Herein, we propose the construction of a sandwich‐structured host filled with continuous 2D catalysis–conduction interfaces. This MoN‐C‐MoN trilayer architecture causes the strong conformal adsorption of S/Li₂S_x and its high‐efficiency conversion on the two‐sided nitride polar surfaces, which are supplied with high‐flux electron transfer from the buried carbon interlayer. The 3D self‐assembly of these 2D sandwich structures further reinforces the interconnection of conductive and catalytic networks. The maximized exposure of adsorptive/catalytic planes endows the MoN‐C@S electrode with excellent cycling stability and high rate performance even under high S loading and low host surface area. The high conductivity of this trilayer texture does not compromise the capacity retention after the S content is increased. Such a job‐synergistic mode between catalytic and conductive functions guarantees the homogeneous deposition of S/Li₂S_x, and avoids thick and devitalized accumulation (electrode passivation) even after high‐rate and long‐term cycling.     

A Single‐Atom Manipulation Approach for Synthesis of Atomically Mixed Nanoalloys as Efficient Catalysts

Synthesis of well‐defined atomically mixed alloy nanoparticles on desired substrates is an ultimate goal for their practical application. Herein we report a general approach for preparing atomically mixed AuPt, AuPd, PtPd, AuPtPd NAs(nanoalloys) through single‐atom level manipulation. By utilizing the ubiquitous tendency of aggregation of single atoms into nanoparticles at elevated temperatures, we have synthesized nanoalloys on a solid solvent with CeO₂ as a carrier and transition‐metal single atoms as an intermediate state. The supported nanoalloys/CeO₂ with ultra‐low noble metal content (containing 0.2 wt % Au and 0.2 wt % Pt) exhibit enhanced catalytic performance towards complete CO oxidation at room temperature and remarkable thermostability. This work provides a general strategy for facile and rapid synthesis of well‐defined atomically mixed nanoalloys that can be applied for a range of emerging techniques.     

Chemical constituents isolated from stems of Schisandra chinensis and their antifeedant activity against Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

One new sesquiterpene (α-iso-cubebenol acetate, 8), together with 9 known compounds (1-7, 9, 10) were isolated from the stems of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Based on the results of MS, NMR spectra and comparing with literature data, the six dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans were identified as schizandrin A to C (1-3), schizandrin (4), schisantherin A (5) and gomisin J (6), the two sesquiterpenes were identified as α-iso-cubebenol (7) and α-iso-cubebenol acetate (8), while the two triterpenic acids were identified as ganwuweizic acid (9) and kadsuric acid (10). The antifeedant activity of the 10 compounds against Tribolium castaneum adults was tested. Gomisin J (6) exhibited activity at 1500?ppm concentration with 40.3% antifeeding index percentages. As for the dibenzocyclooctene lignans (compounds 1–3, 6), the number of methylenedioxies and the position of hydroxyl groups were the main factors to affect their antifeedant activities.