Supported Intermetallic PdZn Nanoparticles as Bifunctional Catalysts for the Direct Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether from CO‐Rich Synthesis Gas

The single‐step syngas‐to‐dimethyl ether (STD) process entails economic and technical advantages over the current industrial two‐step process. Pd/ZnO‐based catalysts have recently emerged as interesting alternatives to currently used Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts, but the nature of the active site(s), the reaction mechanism, and the role of Pd and ZnO in the solid catalyst are not well established. Now, Zn‐stabilized Pd colloids with a size of 2 nm served as the key building blocks for the methanol active component in bifunctional Pd/ZnO‐γ‐Al₂O₃ catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by combining high‐pressure operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The enhanced stability, longevity, and high dimethyl ether selectivity observed makes Pd/ZnO‐γ‐Al₂O₃ an effective alternative system for the STD process compared to Cu/ZnO/γ‐Al₂O₃.     

Bioinspired Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Hydrophobic Drug Delivery

A large range of nanoparticles have been developed to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs. However, drug loading is usually less than 10 % or even 1 %. Now, core–shell nanoparticles are fabricated having exceptionally high drug loading up to 65 % (drug weight/the total weight of drug‐loaded nanoparticles) and high encapsulation efficiencies (>99 %) based on modular biomolecule templating. Bifunctional amphiphilic peptides are designed to not only stabilize hydrophobic drug nanoparticles but also induce biosilicification at the nanodrug particle surface thus forming drug‐core silica–shell nanocomposites. This platform technology is highly versatile for encapsulating various hydrophobic cargos. Furthermore, the high drug loading nanoparticles lead to better in vitro cytotoxic effects and in vivo suppression of tumor growth, highlighting the significance of using high drug‐loading nanoparticles.     

Tactile UV‐ and Solar‐Light Multi‐Sensing Rechargeable Batteries with Smart Self‐Conditioned Charge and Discharge

A tactile, UV‐ and solar‐light multi‐sensing smart rechargeable Zn–air battery (SRZAB) with excellent cell performance, self‐conditioned charge/discharge, and reliable environmental responsivity is made by using multi‐scale conjugated block‐copolymer–carbon nanotube–polyurethane foam assemblies as both a self‐standing air electrode and a sensing unit. Multiscale engineering fully exploits the multi‐synergy among components to endow the newly designed metal‐free multi‐sensing air electrode (MSAE) with bifunctional oxygen reduction and evolution activities, pressure sensitivity, and photothermal and photoelectric conversion functions in a single electrode, enabling effective regulation of interface properties, electronic/ionic transport, or redox reactions in SRZAB upon various stimulations and establishing multiple working principles. MSAE‐driven SRZAB can be used as compressible power sources, self‐powered pressure and optical sensors and light‐to‐electrochemical energy systems.     

Activation and Spillover of Hydrogen on Sub‐1 nm Palladium Nanoclusters Confined within Sodalite Zeolite for the Semi‐Hydrogenation of Alkynes

The search for efficient nontoxic catalysts able to perform industrial hydrogenations is a topic of interest, with relevance to many catalytic processes. Herein, we describe a mechanistic phenomenon for the activation and spillover of hydrogen for remarkable selectivity in the semi‐hydrogenation of acetylene over sub‐1 nm Pd nanoclusters confined within sodalite (SOD) zeolite (Pd@SOD). Specifically, hydrogen is dissociated on the Pd nanoclusters to form hydrogen species (i.e., hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl groups) that spill over the SOD surfaces. The design and utilization of the small‐pore zeolite SOD (six‐membered rings with 0.28×0.28 nm channels) is crucial as it only allows H₂ diffusion into the channels to reach the encapsulated Pd nanoclusters and thus avoids over‐hydrogenation to form ethane. Pd@SOD exhibits an ethylene selectivity of over 94.5 %, while that of conventional Pd/SOD is approximately 21.5 %.     

Critical Switching of Cyclization Modes of Polyepoxides in Acidic Aqueous Media and Neutral Water: Synthesis and Revised Structure of a Nerolidol‐Type Sesquiterpenoid

Biomimetic epoxide‐opening cascades of polyepoxides enable the efficient and rapid construction of polyether frameworks. Herein, we show that the epoxide‐opening cascade cyclization that affords tetrahydrofuran products in acidic aqueous media produces tetrahydropyran (THP) in neutral water. THP formation proceeded by simply heating polyepoxides in neutral water and followed a different cyclization mode from those observed so far. The novel cascade cyclization in H₂O was applied to the synthesis of a new nerolidol‐type sesquiterpenoid, resulting in revision of the proposed structure and determination of the absolute configuration.