Sulfur-Modified Oxygen Vacancies in Iron–Cobalt Oxide Nanosheets: Enabling Extremely High Activity of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction to Achieve the Industrial Water Splitting Benchmark

The oxygen vacancies of defective iron–cobalt oxide (FeCoO_x-Vo) nanosheets are modified by the homogeneously distributed sulfur (S) atoms. S atoms can not only effectively stabilize oxygen vacancies (Vo), but also form the Co−S coordination with Co active site in the Vo, which can modulate the electronic structure of the active site, enabling FeCoO_x-Vo-S to exhibit much superior OER activity. FeCoO_x-Vo-S exhibits a mass activity of 2440.0 A g⁻¹ at 1.5 V vs. RHE in 1.0 m KOH, 25.4 times higher than that of RuO₂. The Tafel slope is as low as 21.0 mV dec⁻¹, indicative of its excellent charge transfer rate. When FeCoO_x-Vo-S (anode catalyst) is paired with the defective CoP₃/Ni₂P (cathode catalyst) for overall water splitting, current densities of as high as 249.0 mA cm⁻² and 406.0 mA cm⁻² at a cell voltage of 2.0 V and 2.3 V, respectively, can be achieved.     

Independent Generation and Time-Resolved Detection of 2′-Deoxyguanosin-N2-yl Radicals

Guanine radicals are important reactive intermediates in DNA damage. Hydroxyl radical (HO^.) has long been believed to react with 2′-deoxyguanosine (dG) generating 2′-deoxyguanosin-N1-yl radical (dG(N1-H)^.) via addition to the nucleobase π-system and subsequent dehydration. This basic tenet was challenged by an alternative mechanism, in which the major reaction of HO^. with dG was proposed to involve hydrogen atom abstraction from the N2-amine. The 2′-deoxyguanosin-N2-yl radical (dG(N2-H)^.) formed was proposed to rapidly tautomerize to dG(N1-H)^.. We report the first independent generation of dG(N2-H)^. in high yield via photolysis of 1 . dG(N2-H)^. is directly observed upon nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP) of 1 . The absorption spectrum of dG(N2-H)^. is corroborated by DFT studies, and anti- and syn-dG(N2-H)^. are resolved for the first time. The LFP experiments showed no evidence for tautomerization of dG(N2-H)^. to dG(N1-H)^. within hundreds of microseconds. This observation suggests that the generation of dG(N1-H)^. via dG(N2-H)^. following hydrogen atom abstraction from dG is unlikely to be a major pathway when HO^. reacts with dG.     

ZIF-Induced d-Band Modification in a Bimetallic Nanocatalyst: Achieving Over 44 % Efficiency in the Ambient Nitrogen Reduction Reaction

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a sustainable solution towards ammonia production but suffers poor reaction performance owing to preferential catalyst–H formation and the consequential hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Now, the Pt/Au electrocatalyst d-band structure is electronically modified using zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) to achieve a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of >44 % with high ammonia yield rate of >161 μg mg_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ under ambient conditions. The strategy lowers electrocatalyst d-band position to weaken H adsorption and concurrently creates electron-deficient sites to kinetically drive NRR by promoting catalyst–N₂ interaction. The ZIF coating on the electrocatalyst doubles as a hydrophobic layer to suppress HER, further improving FE by >44-fold compared to without ZIF (ca. 1 %). The Pt/Au-N_ZIF interaction is key to enable strong N₂ adsorption over H atom.     

Metal–Sulfur Linkages Achieved by Organic Tethering of Ruthenium Nanocrystals for Enhanced Electrochemical Nitrogen Reduction

Inspired by the metal–sulfur (M-S) linkages in the nitrogenase enzyme, here we show a surface modification strategy to modulate the electronic structure and improve the N₂ availability on a catalytic surface, which suppresses the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and improves the rate of NH₃ production. Ruthenium nanocrystals anchored on reduced graphene oxide (Ru/rGO) are modified with different aliphatic thiols to achieve M-S linkages. A high faradaic efficiency (11 %) with an improved NH₃ yield (50 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹) is achieved at −0.1 V vs. RHE in acidic conditions by using dodecanethiol. DFT calculations reveal intermediate N₂ adsorption and desorption of the product is achieved by electronic structure modification along with the suppression of the HER by surface modification. The modified catalyst shows excellent stability and recyclability for NH₃ production, as confirmed by rigorous control experiments including ¹⁵N isotope labeling experiments.     

Impact of titanate coupling agent on properties of high density polyethylene composite filled with coal gangue

In this study, surface modification of coal gangue (CG) was performed with titanate coupling agent 201 (isopropyl tri(dioctylpyrophosphate) titanate), and the effects of surface modifier on mechanical properties and thermal stability of high-density polyethylene filled with CG (HDPE/CG) and high-density polyethylene filled with modified CG (HDPE/mCG) composites were investigated. The coupling agent was successfully grafted on CG surface through chemical reaction according to the analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the coupling agent can effectively enhance the hydrophobicity of surface that was verified by water contact angle beyond 90° of modified CG sample. With the introduction of coupling agent, some enhancements of tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength were observed in HDPE/mCG compared with HDPE/CG, due to the improved compatibility between mCG fillers and matrix. The increased storage modulus and decreased loss factor of HDPE/mCG composite further confirm the stronger interface adhesion after modification. Moreover, it is found that titanate coupling agent 201 can improve the thermal stability of HDPE/mCG composite to some extent.     

The effect of short glass fibers on the process behavior of polyamide 12 during selective laser beam melting

In additive manufacturing, polymer composites are used for setting tailored properties. Short glass fibers can be used as fillers for polyamide 12 for enhancing stiffness or tensile strength as well as for reducing shrinkage. In this paper, the effects of short glass fibers on polyamide 12 concerning powder properties, process behavior and part properties in laser beam melting of polymers (SLS) are investigated. It could be shown that by increasing the short glass fiber content powder properties as well as part properties are immensely affected. By adding glass fibers, powder properties, like flowability and diffuse reflection decrease. The isothermal crystallization changes resulting in a narrower processing window. Concerning mechanical properties, short glass fibers allow for a higher stiffness until a critical limit of filler concentration within this study is reached, after which the tensile strength decreases. The elongation of break decreases by rising the filler content.     

Ag-Y/MIL-101吸附剂的制备及其吸附脱硫性能

通过银、钇双金属改性制备了Ag-Y/MIL-101吸附剂,并对Ag-Y/MIL-101进行了X射线衍射(XRD)、电镜(SEMEDS)、比表面积(BET)和热重(TG-DTG)表征。考察了Ag-Y/M IL-101金属负载顺序、金属负载浓度、金属溶液用量、负载时间对脱硫性能的影响,优化了吸附脱硫条件。结果表明,金属改性得到的Ag-Y/MIL-101保持了MIL-101的晶格结构。与M IL-101相比,Ag-Y/MIL-101的比表面积和孔容均有所下降。适宜Ag-Y/MIL-101的制备条件为:先负载银后负载钇,银离子和钇离子的负载浓度均为30 mmol/L,金属溶液用量均为1 mL,负载时间为8 h。适宜Ag-Y/MIL-101的吸附脱硫条件为:吸附剂用量0.05 g,模拟油为10 mL,吸附温度为60℃,吸附时间为8 h。在此条件下,Ag-Y/MIL-101对噻吩的吸附量达到21.7 mg/g。Ag能显著提高MIL-101的吸附硫容,Y能显著提高MIL-101的吸附选择性,因此,Ag-Y/MIL-101吸附剂中Ag和Y的协同作用使其拥有比MIL-101更高的硫容和噻吩脱硫选择性。     

面向脑机接口的犹他神经电极技术

A human brain is composed of a large number of interconnected neurons forming a neural network. To study the functional mechanism of the neural network, it is necessary to record the activity of individual neurons over a large area simultaneously. Brain-computer interface (BCI) refers to the connection established between the human/animal brain and computers/other electronic devices, which enables direct interaction between the brain and external devices. It plays an important role in understanding, protecting, and simulating the brain, especially in helping patients with neurological disorders to restore their impaired motor and sensory functions. Neural electrodes are electrophysiological devices that form the core of BCI, which convert neuronal electrical signals (carried by ions) into general electrical signals (carried by electrons). They can record or interfere with the state of neural activity. The Utah Electrode Array (UEA) designed by the University of Utah is a mainstream neural electrode fabricated by bulk micromachining. Its unique three-dimensional needle-like structure enables each electrode to obtain high spatiotemporal resolution and good insulation between each other. After implantation, the tip of each electrode affects only a small group of neurons around it even allowing to record the action potential of a single neuron. The availability of a large number of electrodes, high quality of signals, and long service life has made UEA the first choice for collecting neuronal signals. Moreover, UEA is the only implantable neural electrode that can record signals in the human cerebral cortex. This article mainly serves as an introduction to the construction, manufacturing process, and functioning of UEA, with a focus on the research progress in fabricating high-density electrode arrays, wireless neural interfaces, and optrode arrays using silicon, glass, and metal as that material of construction. We also discuss the surface modification techniques that can be used to reduce the electrode impedance, minimize the rejection by brain tissue, and improve the corrosion resistance of the electrode. In addition, we summarize the clinical applications where patients can control external devices and get sensory feedback by implanting UEA. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges faced by existing electrodes such as the difficulty in increasing electrode density, poor response of integrated wireless neural interface, and the problems of biocompatibility. To achieve stability and durability of the electrode, advancements in both material science and manufacturing technology are required. We hope that this review can broaden the scope of ideas for the development of UEA. The realization of a fully implantable neural microsystem can contribute to an improved understanding of the functional mechanisms of the neural network and treatment of neurological diseases.     

硝酸根接枝诱导组装金红石相TiO2纳米束以增强光催化产氢（英文）

化石燃料的快速消耗加速了全球能源危机和环境污染等问题.光催化产氢直接利用清洁和可持续的太阳能实现向化学燃料的转化,因而成为一种有前景的技术.众多半导体光催化剂中,二氧化钛因其高光催化活性、稳定的化学性质、低成本和无毒等优势而被广泛用作分解水产氢的光催化剂.最近,金红石相TiO2纳米晶体在某些情况下被证明具有光催化的潜力,然而其光生电子-空穴对的快速复合显著抑制了光催化效率.表面修饰、构建异质结和负载助催化剂等策略被用来提高光生载流子的分离效率以减少复合损失,从而提升光催化活性.由于光催化反应通常发生在光催化剂的表面活性位点上,因此通过改善表面性质改变电荷转移途径对光催化活性具有重要影响.磷酸、硫酸、硼酸和盐酸等无机酸的修饰可以改变光催化剂的表面基团,分别通过促进表面羟基的形成和氧气的吸附以及改变表面电荷性质更有效地捕获空穴,实现光生电子和空穴的分离,有助于光催化降解有机污染物.然而,这种影响机制显然不适用于光催化产氢体系,目前对无机酸修饰用于分解水产氢的研究鲜有报道.因此,通过酸改性策略制备高效产氢的光催化剂仍然是一个相当大的挑战.本文利用硝酸诱导策略合成纺锤状金红石相二氧化钛纳米束(R-TiO2).首先,制备层状质子化钛酸盐(LPT)作为TiO2的前体,随后,加入浓硝酸以诱导向金红石相TiO2的转变,并组装形成纺锤状纳米束.对照实验显示,硝酸的酸化可以诱导LPT向金红石相TiO2的转变,而相同条件下浓硝酸后处理不会引起晶相的转变.纺锤形纳米束的形成源于,硝酸诱导R-TiO2沿(110)方向生长并彼此粘附,硝酸诱导组装过程成功在TiO2表面修饰上硝酸根,同时扩大了光吸收范围,有效减少了电荷复合损失.光催化产氢测试证明了R-TiO2光催化剂具有高效的产氢性能,产氢速率为402.4μmol h-1,是Degussa P25的3.1倍,并且显著高于未经浓硝酸处理的锐钛矿(52.0μmol h^-1)或金红石相(110.8μmol h^-1)光催化剂.为了说明表面硝酸根的影响,分别从晶体和化学结构、形态以及表面电荷性质方面比较了光催化反应前后的变化,结果表明,R-TiO2增强的光催化效率可归因于硝酸根基团的负场效应,有利于在表面上捕获带正电的质子以促进载流子分离,提高光催化产氢的效率.总之,本工作不仅对于发展表面修饰策略制备高效产氢光催化剂的研究具有重要意义,而且提出了一种不同于文献报道的无机酸影响机制.     

An overview of synthetic modification of nitrile group in polymers and applications

The physicochemical properties of polymers are mainly dependent on the nature of polymer backbone and/or pendant groups linked to the main chain. Therefore, synthetic modification of these functional groups via post functionalization is an important approach for obtaining novel polymeric systems with improved properties and targeted applications. In this context, the synthetic modifications of nitrile group in polymers into various useful functionalities have received considerable attention and several interesting applications of the resulting polymers have been identified. The majority of the studies are based on Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and some isolated examples of nitrile functionalization in copolymers such as Poly (Styrene-co-Acrylonitrile) (SAN), Poly (Acrylonitrile-co-Butadiene-co-Styrene (ABS) and Nitrile Rubber (NBR) are available. These synthetic modifications are mainly accomplished by the reactions such as Nucleophilic addition, cycloaddition, reduction, and hydrolysis using various reagents. These studies describing the post-polymerization modifications of nitrile group in polymers reported during the last three decades are covered in this review.