Assembly of ϵ-Keggin Polyoxometalate from Molecular Crystal to Zeolitic Octahedral Metal Oxide

Zeolitic octahedral metal oxides are inorganic crystalline microporous materials with adsorption and redox properties. New ϵ-Keggin nickel molybdate–based zeolitic octahedral metal oxides have been synthesized. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy shows that reduction of Mo^VI-based molybdates forms an ϵ-Keggin polyoxometalate that immediately transfers to the solid phase. Investigation of the formation process indicates that a low Ni concentration, insoluble reducing agent, and long synthesis time are the critical factors for obtaining the zeolite octahedral metal oxides rather than the ϵ-Keggin polyoxometalate molecule. The synthesized zeolitic nickel molybdate with Na⁺ is used as the adsorbent, which effectively separates C₂ hydrocarbon mixtures.     

1,10-Phenanthroline: A versatile ligand to promote copper-catalyzed cascade reactions

Ligand-promoted copper-catalyzed cascade reactions have become a robust tool for the synthesis of cyclic compounds. Although numerous ligands have been developed, this review focuses on the introduction of commercially available 1,10-phenanthroline-promoted copper-catalyzed cascade reactions in recent years. Moreover, based on original articles, this review highlights product yields in the presence and absence of the ligand, and the possible mechanistic role of the ‘copper/1,10-phenanthroline’ catalytic system.     

Light Hydrocarbon Separations Using Porous Organic Framework Materials

Light hydrocarbons (C₁–C₃) are used as basic energy feedstocks and as commodity organic compounds for the production of many industrially necessary chemicals. Due to the nature of the raw materials and production processes, light hydrocarbons are generated as mixtures, but the high-purity single-component products are of vital importance to the petrochemical industry. Consequently, the separation of these C₁–C₃ products is a crucial industrial procedure that comprises a significant share of the total global energy consumption per year. As a complement to traditional separation methods (distillation, partial hydrogenation, etc.), adsorptive separations using porous solids have received widespread attention due to their lower energy costs and higher efficiency. Extensive research has been devoted to the use of porous materials such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as solid adsorbents for these key separations, owing to the high porosity, tunable pore structures, and unsaturated metal sites present in these materials. Recently, porous organic framework (POF) materials composed of organic building blocks linked by covalent bonds have also shown excellent properties in light hydrocarbon adsorption and separation, sparking interest in the use of these materials as adsorbents in separation processes. This Minireview summarizes the recent advances in the use of POFs for light hydrocarbon separations, including the separation of mixtures of methane/ethane, methane/propane, ethylene/ethane, acetylene/ethylene, and propylene/propane, while highlighting the relationships between the structural features of these materials and their separation performances. Finally, the difficulties, challenges, and opportunities associated with leveraging POFs for light hydrocarbon separations are discussed to conclude the review.     

Global Regularity of 3D Nonhomogeneous Incompressible Micropolar Fluids

This paper is concerned with the global well-posedness of strong and classical solutions for the 3D nonhomogeneous incompressible micropolar equations with vacuum. We prove that the problem (1.1)–(1.5) has a unique global strong/classical solution \((\rho,u,w)\), provided \(\mu_{1}\) is sufficiently large, or \(\|\rho_{0}\|_{L^{\infty}}\) or \(\|\rho_{0}^{1/2}u_{0}\| ^{2}_{L^{2}}+\|\rho_{0}^{1/2}w_{0}\|^{2}_{L^{2}}\) is small enough.

     

In situ liquid SIMS analysis of uranium oxide

Trace analysis of nuclear materials in solid particles collected in the environment or particles in liquid slurry generated in nuclear material manufacturing processes can pinpoint elemental, organic, and isotopic signatures of nuclear fuel cycle activities and processes. Such information can support nuclear safeguards programs by increasing our ability to detect undeclared nuclear materials, routine activities for safeguarding at declared facilities, and illicit activities. However, trace radioactive material analysis in liquids and slurries is challenging using bulk approaches. For example, one drawback of sensitive analysis such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is that sample is consumed or destroyed as a result of the technical approach. We developed a vacuum compatible microfluidic interface to enable surface analysis of liquids and solid–liquid interactions using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). In this work, we illustrate the initial results from the analysis of liquid uranium oxide standard solutions using in situ liquid SIMS. Because the liquid SIMS analysis is almost nondestructive, the same sample can then be analyzed by other analytical techniques or saved for future reference. Consequently, multimodal analysis is possible. Our results demonstrate that in situ liquid SIMS can be used as a new approach to analyze radioactive materials in liquid and slurry forms of relevance to diverse applications.     

Influence of saddle-splay deformation on lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals confined between two coaxial cylinders

ABSTRACT

A striking feature of lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals confined in cylinder model exhibit double-twist director configurations. Evidence suggests that saddle-splay deformation is among the most important factors for the distortions of director. Previous researches limit the director to distort at a fixed plane (r-? plane) by using specific boundary conditions such as degenerate planar anchoring condition. In this work, we consider lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals confined between two coaxial cylinders with free-surface boundary conditions and Rapini-Papoular-type anchoring conditions. By using finite-difference iterative method to solve the numerical solution of Euler equation, we find that saddle-splay deformation leads to double-twist director configurations under free-surface boundary conditions, which consist of the result under degenerate planar anchoring conditions. Furthermore, at Rapini-Papoular-type anchoring conditions, saddle-splay deformation has a great influence on the director in the radial direction (r direction) and the director distorts in three-dimensional space. Remarkably, our method provides a more accurate theory basis for the measured values of saddle-splay elastic constant K_24。     

Cooperative effect of Fe and Ti species over Fe–Ti–Ox catalysts on the catalytic hydrolysis performance of hydrogen cyanide

FeO_x, TiO₂, and Fe–Ti–O_x catalysts were synthesized and used in the catalytic hydrolysis of hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Nearly 100% HCN conversion was achieved at 250 °C over the Fe–Ti–O_x catalyst. TiO₂ rutile was detected over TiO₂, but not over Fe–Ti–O_x, which suggested that the interaction between Fe and Ti species could inhibit the TiO₂ phase transition. Furthermore, the interaction between Fe and Ti species over Fe–Ti–O_x could promote the selectivity of NH₃ and CO. The mechanism of hydrolysis of HCN over FeO_x, TiO₂, and Fe–Ti–O_x can be given as follows: HCN + H₂O → methanamide → ammonium formate → formic acid → H₂O + CO.     

Synthesis,characterization, DNA binding,cytotoxicity and molecular docking properties of three novel butterfly-like complexes with nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ligands

Three novel complexes, namely [Nd·L₁·HCOO·(H₂O)₄] ( 1 ), [Pr·L₁·HCOO·(H₂O)₄] ( 2 ) and [In·L₂·Cl·(H₂O)₂] ( 3 ) (L₁ = 1,1-bis(5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methane, L₂ = 1,1-bis(5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)ketone), were synthesized and characterized. The molecular structures of 1 – 3 were confirmed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All three obtained complexes are zero-dimensional and connected to each other by hydrogen bonds. In 1 and 2 the metal is surrounded by nine donors and 3 has seven coordination sites. The interaction of 1 – 3 with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was explored using UV absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra. The intrinsic binding constants of 1 – 3 with CT-DNA are about 1.9 × 10⁴, 1.4 × 10⁴ and 1.1 × 10⁴, respectively. Stern–Volmer quenching plots of 1 – 3 have slopes of 0.1508, 0.134 and 0.1205, respectively. The ability of these complexes to cleave pBR322 plasmid DNA was demonstrated using gel electrophoresis assay. Apoptosis studies of the three novel complexes showed a significant inhibitory effect on HeLa cells. Furthermore, MTT assays were used to evaluate the anticancer activity of the three complexes. The cytotoxicity study indicated that complex 1 possesses a higher inhibitory rate of HeLa cells than the other complexes. Especially, the efficacy of 1 was shown to be the highest for cisplatin at 24 h. A further molecular docking technique was introduced to understand the binding of the complexes toward the target DNA.