Large-Scale Synthesis of MOF-Derived Superporous Carbon Aerogels with Extraordinary Adsorption Capacity for Organic Solvents

Carbon aerogels (CAs) with 3D interconnected networks hold promise for application in areas such as pollutant treatment, energy storage, and electrocatalysis. In spite of this, it remains challenging to synthesize high-performance CAs on a large scale in a simple and sustainable manner. We report an eco-friendly method for the scalable synthesis of ultralight and superporous CAs by using cheap and widely available agarose (AG) biomass as the carbon precursor. Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with high porosity is introduced into the AG aerogels to increase the specific surface area and enable heteroatom doping. After pyrolysis under inert atmosphere, the ZIF-8/AG-derived nitrogen-doped CAs show a highly interconnected porous mazelike structure with a low density of 24 mg cm⁻³, a high specific surface area of 516 m² g⁻¹, and a large pore volume of 0.58 cm⁻³ g⁻¹. The resulting CAs exhibit significant potential for application in the adsorption of organic pollutants.     

Crystallization-Induced Reversal from Dark to Bright Excited States for Construction of Solid-Emission-Tunable Squaraines

Squaraines (SQs) with tunable emission in the solid state is of great importance for various demands; however a remaining challenge is emission quenching upon aggregation. Herein, a unique SQ, named as CIEE-SQ, is designed to exhibit strong emission in crystal, undergoing crystallization-induced reverse from dark ¹(n+σ,π*) to bright ¹(π,π*) excited states. Such an excited state of CIEE-SQ can be subtly tuned by molecular conformation changes during the unexpected temperature-triggered single-crystal to single-crystal (SCSC) reversible transformation. Furthermore, co-crystallization between CIEE-SQ and chloroform largely stabilize the ¹(π,π*) state, enhancing the transition dipole moment and decreasing the reorganization energy to boost the fluorescence, which is promising in data encryption and decryption.     

Reversible pH-Responsive Coacervate Formation in Lipid Vesicles Activates Dormant Enzymatic Reactions

In situ, reversible coacervate formation within lipid vesicles represents a key step in the development of responsive synthetic cellular models. Herein, we exploit the pH responsiveness of a polycation above and below its pK_a, to drive liquid–liquid phase separation, to form single coacervate droplets within lipid vesicles. The process is completely reversible as coacervate droplets can be disassembled by increasing the pH above the pK_a. We further show that pH-triggered coacervation in the presence of low concentrations of enzymes activates dormant enzyme reactions by increasing the local concentration within the coacervate droplets and changing the local environment around the enzyme. In conclusion, this work establishes a tunable, pH responsive, enzymatically active multi-compartment synthetic cell. The system is readily transferred into microfluidics, making it a robust model for addressing general questions in biology, such as the role of phase separation and its effect on enzymatic reactions using a bottom-up synthetic biology approach.     

Pathway from N-Alkylglycine to Alkylisonitrile Catalyzed by Iron(II) and 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Oxygenases

N-alkylisonitrile, a precursor to isonitrile-containing lipopeptides, is biosynthesized by decarboxylation-assisted -N≡C group (isonitrile) formation by using N-alkylglycine as the substrate. This reaction is catalyzed by iron(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (Fe/2OG) dependent enzymes. Distinct from typical oxygenation or halogenation reactions catalyzed by this class of enzymes, installation of the isonitrile group represents a novel reaction type for Fe/2OG enzymes that involves a four-electron oxidative process. Reported here is a plausible mechanism of three Fe/2OG enzymes, Sav607, ScoE and SfaA, which catalyze isonitrile formation. The X-ray structures of iron-loaded ScoE in complex with its substrate and the intermediate, along with biochemical and biophysical data reveal that -N≡C bond formation involves two cycles of Fe/2OG enzyme catalysis. The reaction starts with an Fe^IV-oxo-catalyzed hydroxylation. It is likely followed by decarboxylation-assisted desaturation to complete isonitrile installation.     

光电催化二氧化碳还原研究进展

CO_2是最常见的化合物,作为潜在的碳一资源,可用于制备多种高附加值的化学品,如一氧化碳、甲烷、甲醇、甲酸等。传统的热催化转化CO_2方法能耗高,反应条件苛刻。因此,如何在温和条件下高效地将CO_2转化成高附加值的化学品,一直以来是催化领域的研究热点和难点之一。光催化技术反应条件温和、绿色环保。然而,纯光催化反应普遍存在太阳能利用效率有限,光生载流子分离效率低等问题。针对上述问题,在光催化的基础上引入电催化,可以提高载流子的分离效率,在较低的过电位下,实现多电子、质子向CO_2转移,从而提高催化反应效率。总之,光电催化技术可以结合光催化和电催化的优势,提高CO_2催化还原反应效率,为清洁、绿色利用CO_2提供了一种新方法。本文依据光电催化CO_2还原反应基本过程,从光吸收、载流子分离和界面反应等三个角度综述了光电催化反应的基本强化策略,并对未来可能的研究方向进行了展望。     

绿色单体二氧化碳参与的新型聚合反应

二氧化碳（CO₂）是一种丰富、廉价、无毒以及可再生的一碳资源,也是一种可用于聚合的绿色单体.基于CO₂的聚合是近年来的研究热点之一.目前广泛报道的是CO₂和环氧单体的聚合反应,经过几十年的发展已经成功实现工业化生产.最近几年,一些CO₂参与的新型聚合反应被陆续报道,这些工作大都通过两种途径实现从CO₂到高分子材料的转变.第一个途径是先将CO₂转化为可以聚合的单体,例如：内酯、环状碳酸酯和2,5-二呋喃甲酸等,再利用开环或者逐步聚合将单体转化为聚合物;另一个途径是直接以CO₂为单体和其他类型单体共聚得到聚合物.这两种途径对于发展CO₂参与的新型聚合反应,拓展CO₂基聚合物种类都具有重要意义.本综述按照CO₂直接还是间接参与聚合反应分类总结了近年来在CO₂制备高分子材料方面的进展,并对未来发展方向进行了简单阐述.     

Optically Triggered Control of the Charge Carrier Density in Chemically Functionalized Graphene Field Effect Transistors

Field effect transistors (FETs) based on 2D materials are of great interest for applications in ultrathin electronic and sensing devices. Here we demonstrate the possibility to add optical switchability to graphene FETs (GFET) by functionalizing the graphene channel with optically switchable azobenzene molecules. The azobenzene molecules were incorporated to the GFET channel by building a van der Waals heterostructure with a carbon nanomembrane (CNM), which is used as a molecular interposer to attach the azobenzene molecules. Under exposure with 365 nm and 455 nm light, azobenzene molecules transition between cis and trans molecular conformations, respectively, resulting in a switching of the molecular dipole moment. Thus, the effective electric field acting on the GFET channel is tuned by optical stimulation and the carrier density is modulated.     

All-solid-state BiVO4/ZnIn2S4 Z-scheme composite with efficient charge separations for improved visible light photocatalytic organics degradation

Constructing a Z-scheme is a significant approach to improve the separation of photogene rated carriers for effective organic pollutant degradation.Herein,a BiVO4/ZnIn2S4(BZ) Z-scheme composite was successfully synthesized,and applied to photodegrade methyl orange(MO) irradiated by a LED lamp.Anchoring the BiVO4 on the ZnIn2S4 nanoparticles promoted the separation of photogenerated electronholes and broadened the light response range.The detailed characterizations,including surface morphology,elements valence state,and photocurrent performance,demonstrated that the enhanced separation of photogenerated carriers was the pivotal reason for the enhanced photocatalysis reaction.Benefiting from the excellent photocatalytic characteristics,the 5% mass ratio of BZ composite presented the highest MO degradation rate of 0.00997 min^-1,which was 1.9 and 10.3 times greater than the virgin ZnIn2S4 and BiVO4,respectively.Furthermore,the BZ hybrid materials indicated a well photo-stability in the four recycling tests.     

High-refractive index acrylate polymers for applications in nanoimprint lithography

The development of polymeric optical materials with a higher refractive index,transparency in the visible spectrum region and easier processability is increasingly desirable for advanced optical applications such as microlenses,image sensors,and organic light-emitting diodes.Most acrylates have a low refractive index(around 1.50)which does not meet the high perfo rmance requirements of advanced optical materials.In this research,three novel acrylates were synthesized via a facile one-step approach and used to fabricate optical transparent polymers.All of the polymers reveal good optical properties including high transparency(≥90%)in the visible spectrum region and high refractive index values(1.6363)at 550 nm.Moreover,nanostructures of these acrylate polymers with various feature sizes including nanogratings and photonic crystals were successfully fabricated using nanoimprint lithography.These results indicate that these acrylates can be used in a wide range of optical and optoelectronic devices where nanopatterned films with high refractive index and transparency are required.     

硝酰氯的大气化学

硝酰氯(nitryl chloride,ClNO₂)是大气中一种重要的气态污染物,对大气氧化性、一次污染物的降解和二次污染物的生成具有重要影响,并在全球氮循环和氯循环中扮演着不可忽视的角色。本文归纳了ClNO₂的基本物理化学性质及其在大气中的生成和去除机制,并介绍了实验室研究和外场观测中ClNO₂的主要测量方法。在此基础上,本文总结了过去十几年报道的ClNO₂在实际大气中的时空分布特征,通过分析实验室模拟和外场观测的研究结果系统讨论了ClNO₂非均相生成的机制、产率及其影响因素,探讨了ClNO₂对氯自由基、大气氧化性以及臭氧和硝酸盐形成的影响。我们指出,ClNO₂既耦合了气相化学和非均相化学,又耦合了夜间大气化学和日间光化学,在我国大气复合污染中可能起着非常重要的作用。最后,本文提出了ClNO₂大气化学研究中尚待解决的关键科学问题,并简要讨论了该领域的未来发展方向。