Hierarchical Hollow-Nanocube Ni−Co Skeleton@MoO3/MoS2 Hybrids for Improved-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Improving the performance of anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a hotly debated topic. Herein, hollow Ni−Co skeleton@MoS₂/MoO₃ nanocubes (NCM-NCs), with an average size of about 193 nm, have been synthesized through a facile hydrothermal reaction. Specifically, MoO₃/MoS₂ composites are grown on Ni−Co skeletons derived from nickel–cobalt Prussian blue analogue nanocubes (Ni−Co PBAs). The Ni−Co PBAs were synthesized through a precipitation method and utilized as self-templates that provided a larger specific surface area for the adhesion of MoO₃/MoS₂ composites. According to Raman spectroscopy results, as-obtained defect-rich MoS₂ is confirmed to be a metallic 1T-phase MoS₂. Furthermore, the average particle size of Ni−Co PBAs (≈43 nm) is only about one-tenth of the previously reported particle size (≈400 nm). If assessed as anodes of LIBs, the hollow NCM-NC hybrids deliver an excellent rate performance and superior cycling performance (with an initial discharge capacity of 1526.3 mAh g⁻¹ and up to 1720.6 mAh g⁻¹ after 317 cycles under a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹). Meanwhile, ultralong cycling life is retained, even at high current densities (776.6 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹ after 700 cycles and 584.8 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 A g⁻¹ after 800 cycles). Moreover, at a rate of 1 A g⁻¹, the average specific capacity is maintained at 661 mAh g⁻¹. Thus, the hierarchical hollow NCM-NC hybrids with excellent electrochemical performance are a promising anode material for LIBs.     

Hierarchical Mn3O4 Anchored on 3D Graphene Aerogels via C−O−Mn Linkage with Superior Electrochemical Performance for Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitor

Flexible asymmetric supercapacitors are more appealing in flexible electronics because of high power density, wide cell voltage, and higher energy density than symmetric supercapacitors in aqueous electrolyte. In virtues of excellent conductivity, rich porous structure and interconnected honeycomb structure, three dimensional graphene aerogels show great potential as electrode in asymmetric supercapacitors. However, graphene aerogels are rarely used in flexible asymmetric supercapacitors because of easily re-stacking of graphene sheets, resulting in low electrochemical activity. Herein, flower-like hierarchical Mn₃O₄ and carbon nanohorns are incorporated into three dimensional graphene aerogels to restrain the stack of graphene sheets, and are applied as the positive and negative electrode for asymmetric supercapacitors devices, respectively. Besides, a strong chemical coupling between Mn₃O₄ and graphene via the C-O-Mn linkage is constructed and can provide a good electron-transport pathway during cycles. Consequently, the asymmetric supercapacitor device shows high rate cycle stability (87.8 % after 5000 cycles) and achieves a high energy density of 17.4 μWh cm⁻² with power density of 14.1 mW cm⁻² (156.7 mW cm⁻³) at 1.4 V.     

Metal-Free,Visible-Light-Induced Selective C−C Bond Cleavage of Cycloalkanones with Molecular Oxygen

A metal-free, visible-light-induced oxidative C−C bond cleavage of cycloketones with molecular oxygen is described. Cooperative Brønsted-acid catalysis and photocatalysis enabled selective C−C bond cleavage of cycloketones to generate an array of γ-, δ- and ϵ-keto esters under very mild conditions. Mechanistic studies indicate that singlet molecular oxygen (¹O₂) is responsible for this transformation.     

Differences of thermal decomposition behaviors and combustion properties between CL-20-based propellants and HMX-based solid propellants

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Differences of thermal decomposition characteristics and combustion properties between CL-20-based propellants and HMX-based propellants were...     

Simultaneous Ultrasound and Heat Enhance Functional Properties of Glycosylated Lactoferrin

Protein-polysaccharide covalent complexes exhibit better physicochemical and functional properties than single protein or polysaccharide. To promote the formation of the covalent complex from lactoferrin (LF) and beet pectin (BP), we enhanced the Maillard reaction between LF and BP by using an ultrasound-assisted treatment and studied the structure and functional properties of the resulting product. The reaction conditions were optimized by an orthogonal experimental design, and the highest grafting degree of 55.36% was obtained by ultrasonic treatment at 300 W for 20 min and at LF concentration of 20 g/L and BP concentration of 9 g/L. The formation of LF-BP conjugates was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Ultrasound-assisted treatment can increase the surface hydrophobicity, browning index, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) free radicals scavenging activity of LF due to the changes in the spatial configuration and formation of Maillard reaction products. The thermal stability, antioxidant activity and emulsifying property of LF were significantly improved after combining with BP. These findings reveal the potential application of modified proteins by ultrasonic and heat treatment.     

In Vitro Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Ag3PW12O40 Composites against Candida Species

Fungal infections pose a serious threat to human health. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are metal–oxygen clusters with potential application in the control of microbial infections. Herein, the Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ composites have been synthesized and verified by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The antifungal activities of Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ were screened in 19 Candida species strains through the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by the microdilution checkerboard technique. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC₅₀) values of Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ are 2~32 μg/mL to the Candida species. The MIC₈₀ value of Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ to resistant clinical isolates C. albicans HL963 is 8 μg/mL, which is lower than the positive control, fluconazole (FLC). The mechanism against C. albicans HL963 results show that Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ can decrease the ergosterol content. The expressions of ERG1, ERG7, and ERG11, which impact on the synthesis of ergosterol, are all prominently upregulated by Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀. It indicates that Ag₃PW₁₂O₄₀ is a candidate in the development of new antifungal agents.     

Rational design of perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionic sieve modified separator for high-performance Li-S battery

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Practical application of Li-S battery is limited by the fast capacity decay and low coulombic efficiency caused by the shuttling phenomenon. Modification...     

Exceptional Cycles in the Bounded Derived Categories of Quivers

An exceptional n-cycle in a Hom-finite triangulated category with Serre functor has been recently introduced by Broomhead,Pauksztello and Ploog.When n=1,it is a spherical object.We explicitly determine all the exceptional cycles in the bounded derived category D^b(kQ)of a finite quiver Q without oriented cycles.In particular,if Q is an Euclidean quiver,then the length type of exceptional cycles in D^b(kQ)is exactly the tubular type of Q;if Q is a Dynkin quiver of type E_m(m=6,7,8),or Q is a wild quiver,then there are no exceptional cycles in D^b(kQ);and if Q is a Dynkin quiver of type An or D_n,then the length of an exceptional cycle in D^b(kQ)is either h or h/2,where h is the Coxeter number of Q.     

q-Analogues of two “divergent” Ramanujan-type supercongruences

The Ramanujan Journal - Guillera and Zudilin proved three “divergent” Ramanujan-type supercongruences by means of the Wilf–Zeilberger algorithmic technique. In this paper we prove...     

Pairwise distance-based heteroscedasticity test for regressions

Science China Mathematics - In this study, we propose nonparametric testing for heteroscedasticity in nonlinear regression models based on pairwise distances between points in a sample. The test...