Nano-crystalline FeOOH mixed with SWNT matrix as a superior anode material for lithium batteries

Nano-crystalline FeOOH particles(5～10 nm) have been uniformly mixed with electric matrix of single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWNTs)for forming FeOOH/SWNT composite via a facile ultrasonication method. Directly using the FeOOH/SWNT composite(containing 15 wt%SWNTs) as anode material for lithium battery enhances kinetics of the Li+insertion/extraction processes, thereby effectively improving reversible capacity and cycle performance, which delivers a high reversible capacity of 758 mAh g-1under a current density of 400 mA g-1even after 180 cycles, being comparable with previous reports in terms of electrochemical performance for FeOOH anode. The good electrochemical performance should be ascribed to the small particle size and nano-crystalline of FeOOH, as well as the good electronic conductivity of SWNT matrix.     

A Highly Selective and Sensitive Turn-On Fluorescent Chemosensor Based on Rhodamine 6G for Iron(III)

Recently, more and more rhodamine derivatives have been used as fluorophores to construct sensors due to their excellent spectroscopic properties. A rhodamine-based fluorescent and colorimetric Fe³⁺ chemosensor 3’,6’-bis(ethylamino)-2-acetoxyl-2’,7’-dimethyl-spiro[1H-isoindole-1,9’-[9H]xanthen]-3(2H)-one (RAE) was designed and synthesized. Upon the addition of Fe³⁺, the dramatic enhancement of both fluorescence and absorbance intensity, as well as the color change of the solution, could be observed. The detection limit of RAE for Fe³⁺ was around 7.98 ppb. Common coexistent metal ions showed little or no interference in the detection of Fe³⁺. Moreover, the addition of CN⁻ could quench the fluorescence of the acetonitrile solution of RAE and Fe³⁺, indicating the regeneration of the chemosensor RAE. The robust nature of the sensor was shown by the detection of Fe³⁺ even after repeated rounds of quenching. As iron is a ubiquitous metal in cells and plays vital roles in many biological processes, this chemosensor could be developed to have applications in biological studies.     

Effects of post-deposition annealing on chemical composition of SiNx film in SiO2/SiNx/SiO2/Si stacked structure

To systematically evaluate the quality of SiN_x films in multi-stacked structures, we investigated the effects of post-deposition annealing (PDA) on the film properties of SiN_x within the SiO₂/SiN_x/SiO₂/Si stacked structure by performing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscope–electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) analyses. The XPS results showed that PDA induces the oxidation of the SiN_x layer. In particular, new finding is that Si-rich SiN_x in the SiN_x layer is preferentially oxidized by PDA even in multi-stacked structure. The XRR results showed that the SiN_x layer becomes thinner, whereas the interface layer between the SiN_x layer and Si becomes thicker. It is concluded by STEM-EELS and XPS that this interface layer is SiON layer. The density of N–H and Si–H bonding within the stacked structure strongly depends on the PDA temperature. Our study helps elucidate the properties of SiN_x films in stacked structures from various perspectives.     

Optical constants of organic insulators in the UV range extracted from reflection electron energy loss spectra

Reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra were measured for seven insulating organic compounds (DNA, Irganox 1010, Kapton, polyethylene [PE], poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA], polystyrene [PS] and polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]). Optical constants and energy band gaps were extracted from the measured REELS spectra after elimination of multiple electron scattering via a deconvolution and fitting the normalised single scattering energy loss spectra to Drude and Drude–Lindhard model dielectric functions, constrained by the Kramers–Kronig sum and f-sum rules. Satisfactory agreement is found for those optical constants for which literature data exists. For PTFE, the observed features in the optical data correspond to its electronic structure.     

Effects of mussel-inspired co-deposition of 2-hydroxymethyl methacrylate and poly (2-methoxyethyl acrylate) on the hydrophilicity and binding tendency of common hemodialysis membranes: Molecular dynamics simulations and molecular docking studies

Despite advances in the field, hemoincompatibility remains a critical issue for hemodialysis (HD) as interactions between various human blood constituents and the polymeric structure of HD membranes results in complications such as activation of immune system cascades. Adding hydrophilic polymer structures to the membranes is one modification approach that can decrease the extent of protein adsorption. This study conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to understand the interactions between three human serum proteins (fibrinogen [FB], human serum albumin, and transferrin) and common HD membranes in untreated and modified forms. Poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PAES) and cellulose triacetate were used as the common dialyzer polymers, and membrane modifications were performed with 2-hydroxymethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and poly (2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA), using polydopamine-assisted co-deposition. The MD simulations were used as the framework for binding energy simulations, and molecular docking simulations were also performed to conduct molecular-level investigations between the two modifying polymers (HEMA and PMEA) and FB. Each of the three proteins acted differently with the membranes due to their unique nature and surface chemistry. The simulations show PMEA binds less intensively to FB with a higher number of hydrogen bonds, which reflects PMEA's superior performance compared to HEMA. The simulations suggest PAES membranes could be used in modified forms for blood-contact applications as they reflect the lowest binding energy to blood proteins.     

电子能量对沿面介质阻挡放电等离子体化学产物的影响

基于光电倍增管研制了一套无触发信号的双通道光学探测系统, 并组装了测试样机, 实现了对沿面介质阻挡放电(SDBD)等离子体约化电场的测量, 进而通过BOLSIG+软件获得了电子能量. 采用原位紫外吸收光谱和傅里叶变换红外光谱, 研究了SDBD等离子体在不同电压和频率下的化学产物的浓度变化, 并结合空气等离子体化学反应揭示了产物相互作用的微观机理. 结果表明, 电子能量能够改变电子碰撞反应的速率系数, 调控化学反应的源头活性粒子的浓度, 进而影响到化学产物的生成和猝灭.     

可见光驱动丰产金属卟啉类配合物催化的二氧化碳选择性还原反应

随着能源短缺和环境问题日益突出, 寻找清洁和可再生能源来替代化石燃料是本世纪科学家面临的最紧迫的任务之一. 为了实现我国“双碳”战略目标, 利用太阳能将二氧化碳(CO₂)转化为清洁燃料和化学品是实现社会可持续发展的途径之一. 催化剂是CO₂光还原技术的核心组成部分, 其可以吸附气态CO₂分子, 在可见光照射下将CO₂还原为一氧化碳(CO)、 甲酸(HCOOH)、 甲醇(CH₃OH)或甲烷(CH₄)等能源小分子. 目前, 新型CO₂还原光催化体系的开发取得了很好的进展. 本文综合评述了近年来均相及非均相丰产金属卟啉类催化剂在光催化CO₂还原中的研究进展, 并对在金属卟啉均相催化剂作用下, CO₂光还原为CO或CH₄的反应机理分别进行了介绍, 还讨论了金属卟啉基多孔有机聚合物与卟啉有机金属框架在光催化CO₂方面的重要应用. 最后, 对可见光驱动卟啉类金属配合物催化的CO₂还原的发展前景进行了展望.     

RDX分子内振动能量重分配的动力学研究

基于从头算分子动力学(Born-oppenheimer molecular dynamics, BOMD)模拟, 构建了环硝胺六氢-1,3,5-三硝基-1,3,5-三嗪(RDX)单分子不同振动模式之间的耦合矩阵, 并计算了在不同加载能量下从低频振动模式到高频振动模式的最优能量传输路径. 结果表明, RDX单分子中—NNO₂基团更有利于能量局域化, 振动模式v₃和v₄在从低频振动模式到高频振动模式的能量传输过程中扮演着重要角色. 通过对v₃和v₄两个振动模式的进一步分析发现, 加载能量的不同会导致RDX单分子能量传输路径的不同. 当加载能量较低时, RDX单分子倾向于从低频振动模式到中频振动模式再到高频振动模式的能量传输路径; 当加载能量较高时, 能量更倾向于从低频振动模式直接传输到高频振动模式上. 揭示了RDX分子内振动耦合能量转移的微观机制, 为进一步探索RDX将“机械能”转化为“化学能”的微观过程提供了理论基础.     

Trash GGBFS-based geopolymer as a novel sunlight-responsive photocatalyst for dye discolouration

In this study, we report a waste material-ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as a low cost geopolymer, hybridised with ZnO to form a novel and efficient photocatalyst capable of discolouring textile wastewater. GGBFS is a waste material in an iron industry. Methylene blue was used as the probe dye and natural sunlight was used for activation of the photocatalyst. It was observed that under the experimental conditions, ZnGP-40 exhibited twice the discoloration efficiency than conventionally used ZnO or TiO₂. This enhanced performance is majorly attributed to increased surface area of ZnO when strewn in the GGBFS matrix. The photocatalysts were characterized by SEM, TEM, PSA, TGA, BET and UV–Vis/NIR. The effect of photocatalyst loading, speed of agitation and solar insolation has also been studied. Since this study has been performed in direct sunlight, it exhibits a realizable application of solar energy in the treatment of wastewater.     

Co3O4/UiO-66@α-Al2O3陶瓷膜对VOCs废气的分离催化性能

以α-Al₂O₃为支撑层, UiO-66为分离层, Co₃O₄为催化层, 构建了Co₃O₄/UiO-66@α-Al₂O₃陶瓷膜.对其形貌结构进行了表征, 并研究了其对挥发性有机物(VOCs)的分离催化性能. 结果表明, 该陶瓷膜对喷涂行业废气中苯与吡啶两种主要成分体现出良好的分离性, 透过侧的气体中吡啶与苯的摩尔浓度比值可由给料侧的1提高至17; 体系中引入臭氧后, 给料侧苯的浓度明显降低, 其去除率可达到89%. 透过侧的吡啶去除率仅为27%, 得到了较大程度的保留, 剩余的吡啶经收集后可进行单独的深度处理. Co₃O₄/UiO-66@α-Al₂O₃陶瓷膜在对喷涂行业废气中苯成分高效降解的同时, 能够有效解决喷涂行业废气处理过程中氮氧化物的排放问题, 有望成为喷涂行业废气预处理工艺的理想选择.