Tumor Microenvironment Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence Imaging and Synergistic Cancer Therapy by Carbon-Dot–Cu2+ Nanoassemblies

A method is developed to fabricate tumor microenvironment (TME) stimuli-responsive nanoplatform for fluorescence (FL) imaging and synergistic cancer therapy via assembling photosensitizer (chlorine e6, Ce6) modified carbon dots (CDs-Ce6) and Cu²⁺. The as-obtained nanoassemblies (named Cu/CC nanoparticles, NPs) exhibit quenched FL and photosensitization due to the aggregation of CDs-Ce6. Their FL imaging and photodynamic therapy (PDT) functions are recovered efficiently once they entering tumor sites by the stimulation of TME. Introducing of Cu²⁺ not only provides extra chemodynamic therapy (CDT) function through reaction with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), but also depletes GSH in tumors by a redox reaction, thus amplifying the intracellular oxidative stress and enhancing the efficacy of reactive oxygen species (ROS) based therapy. Cu/CC NPs can act as a FL imaging guided trimodal synergistic cancer treatment agent by photothermal therapy (PTT), PDT, and thermally amplified CDT.     

Axial Modification of Cobalt Complexes on Heterogeneous Surface with Enhanced Electron Transfer for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Efficient electron communication between molecular catalyst and support is critical for heterogeneous molecular electrocatalysis and yet it is often overlooked during the catalyst design. Taking CO₂ electro-reduction on tetraphenylporphyrin cobalt (PCo) immobilized onto graphene as an example, we demonstrate that adding a relay molecule improves the interfacial electron communication. While the directly immobilized PCo on graphene exhibits relatively poor electron communications, it is found that diphenyl sulfide serves as an axial ligand for PCo and it improves the redox activity of PCo on the graphene surface to facilitate the generation of [PCo]^.- active sites for CO₂ reduction. Thus, the turnover frequencies of the immobilized Co complexes are increased. Systematic structural analysis indicates that the benzene rings of diphenyl sulfide exhibit strong face-to-face stacking with graphene, which is proposed as an efficient medium to facilitate the interfacial electron communication.     

Tuning the Reactivity of a Heterogeneous Catalyst using N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for C−H Activation Reactions

We report the dramatic impact of the addition of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) on the reactivity and selectivity of heterogeneous Ru catalysts in the context of C−H activation reactions. Using a simple and robust method, we prepared a series of new air-stable catalysts starting from commercially available Ru on carbon (Ru/C) and differently substituted NHCs. Associated with C−H deuteration processes, depending on Ru/C-NHC ratios, the chemical outcome can be controlled to a large extent. Indeed, tuning the reactivity of the Ru catalyst with NHC enabled: 1) increased chemoselectivity and the regioselectivity for the deuteration of alcohols in organic media; 2) the synthesis of fragile pharmaceutically relevant deuterated heterocycles (azine, purine) that are otherwise completely reduced using unmodified commercial catalysts; 3) the discovery of a novel reactivity for such heterogeneous Ru catalysts, namely the selective C-1 deuteration of aldehydes.     

Heterogeneous freezing on pyroelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) thin films

Active deicing of technical surfaces, such as for wind turbines and heat exchangers, currently requires the usage of heat or chemicals. Passive coating strategies that postpone the freezing of covering water would be beneficial in order to save costs and energy. One hypothesis is that pyroelectric active materials can achieve this because of the surface charges generated on these materials when they are subject to a temperature change. High-quality poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) thin films with a high crystallinity, prefererd edge-on orientation, low surface roughness, and comprised of the β-analogous ferroelectric phase were deposited by spin-coating. Freezing experiments with a cooling rate of 1 K min⁻¹ were made on P(VDF-TrFE) coatings in order to separate the effect of different parameters such as the poling direction, film thickness, used solvent, deposition process, underlying substrate, and annealing temperature on the achievable supercooling. The topography and the underlying substrate significantly changed the distribution of freezing temperatures of water droplets in contact with these thin films. In contrast, no significant effect of the thickness, morphology, or pyroelectric effect of the as-prepared domain-state on the freezing temperatures was found.     

Synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones in the presence of Fe3O4@nano-cellulose–OPO3H as a bio-based magnetic nanocatalyst

In this research, we have used Fe₃O₄@nano-cellulose–OPO₃H as magnetic bio-based nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones via condensation of 2-aminobenzamide and different aldehydes. The major advantages of the present methodology are good yields, ecofriendly catalyst, and easy workup.     

氮掺杂HTi2NbO7纳米片的制备及其可见光催化性能

首先,采用高温固相法制备层状前驱体CsTi_2NbO_7,再通过与硝酸进行质子交换形成层状HTi_2NbO_7;其次,在四丁基氢氧化铵(TBAOH)中剥离层状HTi_2NbO_7以获得HTi_2NbO_7纳米片;然后与尿素混合并高温焙烧;最后成功地得到了氮掺杂的HTi_2NbO_7纳米片光催化剂。使用粉末X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、紫外-可见漫反射吸收光谱(UV-Vis DRS)以及N_2吸附-脱附测试等方式对所制备样品的晶体结构、形貌、比表面积、孔分布和光吸收能力等进行详细的表征。研究表明,氮掺杂后减小了HTi_2NbO_7的禁带宽度,从而使光响应范围扩展到可见光区域;掺杂的氮原子主要位于Ti_2NbO_7-薄片的间隙位置,并与氢离子化学键合;与N掺杂的层状HTi_2NbO_7相比,N掺杂的HTi_2NbO_7纳米片具有更大的比表面积和更丰富的介孔结构,这是由于钛铌酸纳米片相对松散且不规则的排列。因此,在降解罗丹明B(RhB)溶液时,N掺杂的HTi_2NbO_7纳米片比N掺杂的层状HTi_2NbO_7具有更加优异的可见光催化活性。     

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。     

Selective Oxidation of Ethane to Acetic Acid Catalyzed by a C-Scorpionate Iron(II) Complex: A Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous Comparison

The direct, one-pot oxidation of ethane to acetic acid was, for the first time, performed using a C-scorpionate complex anchored onto a magnetic core-shell support, the Fe₃O₄/TiO₂/[FeCl₂{κ³-HC(pz)₃}] composite. This catalytic system, where the magnetic catalyst is easily recovered and reused, is highly selective to the acetic acid synthesis. The performed green metrics calculations highlight the “greeness” of the new ethane oxidation procedure.     

Highly Selective Production of Ethylene by the Electroreduction of Carbon Monoxide

Conversion of carbon monoxide to high value‐added ethylene with high selectivity by traditional syngas conversion process is challenging because of the limitation of Anderson‐Schulz–Flory distribution. Herein we report a direct electrocatalytic process for highly selective ethylene production from CO reduction with water over Cu catalysts at room temperature and ambient pressure. An unprecedented 52.7 % Faradaic efficiency of ethylene formation is achieved through optimization of cathode structure to facilitate CO diffusion at the surface of the electrode and Cu catalysts to enhance the C?C bond coupling. The highly selective ethylene production is almost without other carbon‐based byproducts (e.g. C₁–C₄ hydrocarbons and CO₂) and avoids the drawbacks of the traditional Fischer–Tropsch process that always delivers undesired products. This study provides a new and promising strategy for highly selective production of ethylene from the abundant industrial CO.     

Direct Imaging of Atomically Dispersed Molybdenum that Enables Location of Aluminum in the Framework of Zeolite ZSM‐5

Integrated differential phase‐contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (iDPC‐STEM) is capable of directly probing guest molecules in zeolites, owing to its sufficient and interpretable image contrast for both heavy and light elements under low‐dose conditions. This unique ability is demonstrated by imaging volatile organic compounds adsorbed in zeolite Silicalite‐1; iDPC‐STEM was then used to investigate molybdenum supported on various zeolites including Silicalite‐1, ZSM‐5, and mordenite. Isolated single‐Mo clusters were observed in the micropores of ZSM‐5, demonstrating the crucial role of framework Al in driving Mo atomically dispersed into the micropores. Importantly, the specific one‐to‐one Mo‐Al interaction makes it possible to locate Al atoms, that is, catalytic active sites, in the ZSM‐5 framework from the images, according to the positions of Mo atoms in the micropores.