Radical Compatibility with Nonaqueous Electrolytes and Its Impact on an All‐Organic Redox Flow Battery

Nonaqueous redox flow batteries hold the promise of achieving higher energy density because of the broader voltage window than aqueous systems, but their current performance is limited by low redox material concentration, cell efficiency, cycling stability, and current density. We report a new nonaqueous all‐organic flow battery based on high concentrations of redox materials, which shows significant, comprehensive improvement in flow battery performance. A mechanistic electron spin resonance study reveals that the choice of supporting electrolytes greatly affects the chemical stability of the charged radical species especially the negative side radical anion, which dominates the cycling stability of these flow cells. This finding not only increases our fundamental understanding of performance degradation in flow batteries using radical‐based redox species, but also offers insights toward rational electrolyte optimization for improving the cycling stability of these flow batteries.     

Selective 1,2-dihalogenation and oxy-1,1-dihalogenation of alkynes by N-halosuccinimides

1,2-Dihalogenation and oxy-1,1-dihalogenation of alkynes by N-halosuccinimides can be selectively realized through using different reaction conditions. α,β-Dihalo alkenes were obtained exclusively using THF as solvent without using any catalyst, while α,α-dihalo ketones were synthesized using a mixed solvent of THF and H₂O in the presence of FeCl₃·6H₂O. Terminal aromatic alkynes are smoothly transformed into α,α-dihalo ketones on water without a catalyst.     

超高效液相色谱-电喷雾三重四极杆质谱法测定中药中马兜铃酸A和B的含量

利用超高效液相色谱-电喷雾三重四极杆质谱仪建立了中药中马兜铃酸A和B的定性定量分析方法。选取柴胡、生甘草、桔梗、龙胆泻肝丸、消胖丸、减肥茶等14种代表性样品,用甲醇-水(70:30, v/v)溶液加热回流提取,经Oasis MAX固相萃取柱富集净化后,在Eclipse RP HD C18反相柱(150 mm×2.1 mm, 1.8 μm)上进行分离;流动相为5 mmol/L乙酸铵水溶液(pH 7.5)-乙腈(75:25, v/v)。采用电喷雾离子源正离子模式(ESI+)和多反应监测模式(MRM)进行质谱分析。马兜铃酸A和B的线性范围分别为0.5～200 μg/L和1～200 μg/L,相关系数(r2)均大于0.995;检出限(LODs)分别为5 μg/kg和7.5 μg/kg;定量限(LOQs)分别为12.5 μg/kg和25 μg/kg。在100 μg/kg和500 μg/kg添加水平下,马兜铃酸A和B的回收率(n=6)范围分别为60.3%～96.4%和61.3%～94.7%,相对标准偏差均不大于10.2%。该方法灵敏度高,重复性好,操作简便,适用于中药材、饮片及中成药中马兜铃酸A和B的痕量检测。     

Effect of Structural Parameters of TiO2 Nanotube Arrays upon Their Photocatalytic/Photoelectrocatalytic Performance

The effect of structural parameters of TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TNAs) upon their photocatalytic/photoelectro‐catalytic performance is studied by comparing the morphological characteristics and physicochemical properties with different tube lengths prepared from three kinds of electrolytes. The results show that the UV‐Vis absorption edge of TNAs red‐shifted with the increment of tube length and the short TNAs possess higher bandgap energy. The variation tendency of electrochemical window of TNAs is DMSO (5.5 V)>Cit (3.2 V)>HF (1.8 V). The long TNAs possess higher photocatalytic (PC) reactivity suggesting the surface roughness factor is the main determinant of PC efficiency, although, there is obvious recombination effects for the long TNAs. Evidenced by the positive correlation between tube length and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) efficiency for TNAs from the same electrolyte, the enhancement of the tube length could lead to better PEC reactivity, but when the tube length is over a certain value, the PEC degradation rate no longer increases but decreases. The long TNAs with large surface roughness factor prepared from Cit and DMSO electrolytes exhibit comparative or even lower PEC performance compared with the short TNAs prepared from HF electrolyte, indicating that the PEC performance of TNAs was dominated by charge separation and photoelectron transfer properties rather than surface roughness coefficient and the tube length.     

Analysis of residues of 81 pesticides on ginkgo leaves using QuEChERS sample preparation and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Pesticide residues on Ginkgo leaves are a safety concern. A fast and reliable method was developed for the analysis of 81 pesticides on Ginkgo leaves, which are pharmaceutically valuable. The method consists of a modified Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe sample preparation method and GC/MS detection. Five sorbents (graphitized carbon black, primary secondary amine, amino, alumina, and Florisil) and two solvents (toluene and hexane) were optimized for the cleanup procedure. The LOD and LOQ ranged from 0.05 to 17.6 and 0.16 to 58.8 microg/kg, respectively. A majority of the pesticides (86-94%) gave satisfactory recoveries (70-110%), and 1-6% of the substances gave recoveries higher than 110% of the spiked concentration (n = 5) at 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg. Less than 5% of the substances showed recoveries lower than 70%. The method was proven to be repeatable with RSDs lower than 20%.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Liquid�CLiquid Microextraction Combined with Low Solvent Consumption for Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Seawater by GC�CMS

Ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid?Cliquid microextraction (USA-DLLME) with low solvent consumption was demonstrated for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC?CMS) determination of 16 typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seawater samples. Factors affecting the extraction process, such as extraction and dispersive solvent, phase ratio, temperature, extraction and centrifugation time, were investigated thoroughly and optimized. The linear range was 20?C2,000 ng L^?1 except for acenaphthylene (Acy) at 10?C2,000 ng L^?1 and phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Flu) and pyrene (Py) all at 5?C2,000 ng L^?1. Enrichment factors (EFs) ranging from 722 to 8,133 were obtained, achieving limits of detection at 1.0?C10.0 ng L^?1. The method attained good precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) from 3.4 to 14.2% for spiked 50 ng L^?1 individual PAHs standards. Method recoveries were in the range 87?C124% and 70?C127% for spiked samples from simulated seawater and beach seawater, respectively. The proposed USA-DLLME helped to obtain about 1.1?C10 times higher EFs in a minimum amount of solvent and in less time than traditional DLLME.     

Ion-exchange synthesis of a micro/mesoporous Zn2GeO4 photocatalyst at room temperature for photoreduction of CO2

Micro/mesoporous Zn(2)GeO(4) with crystalline pore-walls was successfully synthesized via a simple ion exchange method at room temperature. This structure showed enhanced activity in photoreduction of CO(2) in comparison with Zn(2)GeO(4) prepared by a solid state reaction.     

Visible light photoactivity from a bonding assembly of titanium oxide nanocrystals

TiO(2) nanocrystals are assembled together by interfacial Ti-Ti electronic bonding. Such nanocrystal assemblies have a narrower band gap, greatly enhanced visible light absorption, and solar photocatalysis compared with individual nanocrystals.     

Berberine and itraconazole are not synergistic in vitro against Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from clinical patients

The incidence of Aspergillus fumigatus infections has become more frequent as a consequence of widespread immunosuppression. At present, the number of available antifungal agents in the clinic is limited, and most of them, such as itraconazole (ICZ), are toxic and show resistance. Berberine (BER) is a plant alkaloid used in the clinic mainly for alimentary infections. We have used BER and ICZ to measure in vitro resistance in A. fumigatus isolated from clinical patients. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranges of BER and ICZ were 4-256 and 0.031-0.250 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, against A. fumigatus IFM 40808 strain, the MIC?? values of BER and ICZ were 8 and 0.125 μg/mL. Using this strain, we compared the giant colonies with or without BER, and concluded that BER could restrain A. fumigatus mycelial growth and conidial pigment production. Combinations of the two drugs were also tested by the checkerboard assay to identify any functional interactions between them. Thirty-two out of 42 isolates had FICI values > 4.0, indicating that two drugs were mutually antagonistic. In conclusion, it is not advised that BER and ICZ be used in the clinic at the same time. Our results indicated that BER may inhibit A. fumigatus through the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, like ICZ.