Preparation and characterization of ZrCO/C composite aerogels

Zr-containing organic aerogels were synthesized by ligand substitution reaction of polyzirconoxone and 2, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, followed by polymerization with formaldehyde, and then supercritical drying using CO₂. After carbonization and carbothermal reduction under an argon atmosphere, ZrCO/C composite aerogels with controllable zirconium content (47.8–78.6 wt%) were obtained. The carbothermal reduction was substantially completed at 1,500 °C, and the obtained ZrCO/C composite aerogels exhibit low oxygen contents (9.4–6.7 wt%) and high surface areas (589–147 m²/g). Pore morphologies of the ZrCO/C composite aerogels were investigated in detail by nitrogen sorption measurements, scanning electron microscopy and its associated energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis measurements. The results show that the aerogels are composed of carbon framework and Zr-conglomerations, and the surface area of aerogel is severely affected by its zirconium content. The presence of reductive ZrC crystals can greatly enhance the oxidation resistance ability of amorphous carbon framework and prevent collapse.     

EXAFS and DFT studies of microscopic structure with different density upon Zn(II) adsorption on anatase TiO2

Microscopic structures of Zn(II) adsorbed on anatase TiO₂ surface with different densities were studied using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Quantitative analysis of the EXAFS spectra showed that microscopic structures of Zn(II) were fourfold coordinated complexes, and different microscopic structures were present of the solid surface. Three modes of corner–corner/sharing-corner/sharing-edge adsorptions on anatase (101) face cluster were calculated by the DFT method. The results from DFT method were consistent with the EXAFS fittings. The optimized Zn–O average distance of the Zn–O tetrahedron was determined as about 2.00 Å. The Zn–Ti distance was 3.69 Å for the corner–corner adsorption, 3.35 Å for the sharing-corner adsorption, and 3.02 Å for the sharing-edge adsorption. According to the adsorption energies calculated by the DFT method, the microscopic structure of corner–corner adsorption was less stable than those of the other adsorption modes. With the increasing adsorption density, the corner–corner adsorption mode would be enhanced more intensively than the other adsorption modes.     

Cucurbit[7]uril promoting PdCl2-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of benzyl halides and arylboronic acids in aqueous media

The research provides a novel approach for producing diarylmethane derivatives using CB[7]–NaCl–PdCl₂ catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of benzyl chloride derivatives and arylboronic acids in ethanol aqueous solution.     

Synthesis and application of moisture-stable methallylsilanated phosphorylcholine as a surface modifier

New methallylsilanated phosphorylcholine (MASPCs) were synthesized via a copper-catalyzed ‘click’ reaction and demonstrated excellent moisture stability. Hydroxylated silicon compounds, silanol, and silica were grafted or modified by MASPCs in the presence of triflic acid (TfOH) and they possessed a good grafting efficiency and high loading rate.     

Magnetic interactions in the geometrically frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuFeO2

The spin-wave excitations of the geometrically frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuFeO2 have been measured using high resolution inelastic neutron scattering. Antiferromagnetic interactions up to third nearest neighbors in the ab plane (J1, J2, J3, with J{2}/J{1} approximately 0.44 and J{3}/J{1} approximately 0.57), as well as out-of-plane coupling (J{z}, with J{z}/J{1} approximately 0.29) are required to describe the spin-wave dispersion relations, indicating a three-dimensional character of the magnetic interactions. Two energy dips in the spin-wave dispersion occur at the incommensurate wave vectors associated with multiferroic phase and can be interpreted as dynamic precursors to the magnetoelectric behavior in this system.     

Two-photon fluorescence measurements of reversible photodegradation in a dye-doped polymer

We report on the dynamics of photodegradation and subsequent recovery of two-photon fluorescence in a dye-doped polymer. The energy dependence suggests that photodegradation is a linear process, while recovery is entropic. Such recovery could be useful to high-intensity devices such as two-photon absorbers, which can be used in many applications.     

Electrospinning synthesis and photocatalytic property of CaFe2O4/MgFe2O4 heterostructure for degradation of tetracycline

CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ nanowires with heterostructure had been successfully synthesized by electrospinning method. The obtained samples were systematically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV‐Vis DR) and Environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The novel CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ nanowires exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity for degrading of tetracycline (TC) under visible light. Compared with bare CaFe₂O₄ or MgFe₂O₄ samples, the prepared CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ (Ca:Mg:Fe = 3:2:10) composited nanowires show the best photocatalytic performance with a degradation efficiency of 40% after 150 min reaction time. This enhancement is attributed to the heterostructure of CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ nanowires, which effectively repress the recombination of photo‐generated electrons and holes. Based on heterostructure and energy band positions, the enhancement of mechanism under visible‐light enhances the photocatalytic activity.     

Asymmetric Coupling of Carbon-Centered Radicals Adjacent to Nitrogen: Copper-Catalyzed Cyanation and Etherification of Enamides

The first copper-catalyzed asymmetric cyanation and etherification reactions of enamides have been established, where a carbon-centered radical adjacent to a nitrogen atom (CRAN) is enantioselectively trapped by a chiral copper(II) species. Moreover, the asymmetric cyanation of vinyl esters was disclosed as well. These reactions feature very mild reaction conditions and high functional group tolerance, and give a series of chiral α-cyano amides, α-cyano esters and α-hemiaminals in good yields with excellent enantioselectivity. The chiral α-cyano amides can be easily converted into enantioenriched 1,2-diamines and amino acids.