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.     

Degradation of Structurally Defined Graphene Nanoribbons by Myeloperoxidase and the Photo-Fenton Reaction

As an emerging member of the graphene family, structurally defined graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) have shown promising applications in various fields. The evaluation of the degradability of GNRs is particularly important for assessing the persistence level and risk of these materials in living organisms and the environment. However, there is a void in the study of the degradation of GNRs. Here, we report the degradation behavior of GNRs in the presence of human myeloperoxidase (hMPO) or treated with the photo-Fenton (PF) reaction. With the assistance of potassium hydroxide or imidazole, which facilitates the dispersion of GNRs in the aqueous solution, GNRs underwent only partial degradation after 25-hour incubation with hMPO, while, the PF reaction degraded GNRs almost completely after 120 hours. These results indicate that structurally precise GNRs can be efficiently degraded under suitable conditions, providing more opportunities for future applications in different fields.     

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.     

A Universal Graphene Quantum Dot Tethering Design Strategy to Synthesize Single-Atom Catalysts

A general graphene quantum dot-tethering design strategy to synthesize single-atom catalysts (SACs) is presented. The strategy is applicable to different metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and supports (0D carbon nanosphere, 1D carbon nanotube, 2D graphene nanosheet, and 3D graphite foam) with the metal loading of 3.0–4.5 wt %. The direct transmission electron microscopy imaging and X-ray absorption spectra analyses confirm the atomic dispersed metal in carbon supports. Our study reveals that the abundant oxygenated groups for complexing metal ions and the rich defective sites for incorporating nitrogen are essential to realize the synthesis of SACs. Furthermore, the carbon nanotube supported Ni SACs exhibits high electrocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction with nearly 100 % CO selectivity. This universal strategy is expected to open up new research avenues to produce SACs for diverse electrocatalytic applications.     

Facile Synthesis of Sub-Nanometric Copper Clusters by Double Confinement Enables Selective Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methane

Previous density-functional theory (DFT) calculations show that sub-nanometric Cu clusters (i.e., 13 atoms) favorably generate CH₄ from the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR), but experimental evidence is lacking. Herein, a facile impregnation-calcination route towards Cu clusters, having a diameter of about 1.0 nm with about 10 atoms, was developed by double confinement of carbon defects and micropores. These Cu clusters enable high selectivity for the CO₂RR with a maximum Faraday efficiency of 81.7 % for CH₄. Calculations and experimental results show that the Cu clusters enhance the adsorption of *H and *CO intermediates, thus promoting generation of CH₄ rather than H₂ and CO. The strong interactions between the Cu clusters and defective carbon optimize the electronic structure of the Cu clusters for selectivity and stability towards generation of CH₄. Provided here is the first experimental evidence that sub-nanometric Cu clusters facilitate the production of CH₄ from the CO₂RR.     

The [(NHC)B(H)C6F5]+ Cations and Their [B](H)−CO Borane Carbonyls

Hydride abstraction from the heterocyclic carbene borane adducts (NHC)BH₂C₆F₅ (NHC: IMes or IMe₄) gave the B−H containing [(NHC)B(H)C₆F₅]⁺ borenium cations. They added carbon monoxide to give the respective [(NHC)B(H)(C₆F₅)CO]⁺ boron carbonyl cations. Carbon nucleophiles add to the boron carbonyl to give [B](H) acyls. Hydride reduced the [B]CO cation to hydroxymethylborane derivatives.     

Single-Carbon-Fiber-Powered Microsensor for In Vivo Neurochemical Sensing with High Neuronal Compatibility

The development of new principles and techniques with high neuronal compatibility for quantitatively monitoring the dynamics of neurochemicals is essential for deciphering brain chemistry and function but remains a great challenge. We herein report a neuron-compatible method for in vivo neurochemical sensing by powering a single carbon fiber through spontaneous bipolar electrochemistry as a new sensing platform. By using ascorbic acid as a model target to prove the concept, we found that the single-carbon-fiber-powered microsensor exhibited a good response, high stability and, more importantly, excellent neuronal compatibility. The microsensor was also highly compatible with electrophysiological recording, thus enabling the synchronous recording of both chemical and electrical signals. The sensing principle could be developed for in vivo monitoring of various neurochemicals in the future by rationally designing and tuning the electrochemical reactions at the two poles of the carbon fiber.     

La0.7Sr0.3CoO3-δ钙钛矿催化剂表征及其催化氧化碳黑性能研究

为了研究La_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)CoO_(3-δ)钙钛矿催化剂对碳黑的催化氧化过程,本研究通过研究催化剂和碳黑的两种不同接触方式,即紧密接触与松散接触,讨论了其对碳黑催化氧化过程的影响。结果表明,与松散接触和无催化剂接触条件相比,紧密接触条件下碳黑的tig(起燃温度)分别下降了89.5和157.4℃,同时随着催化剂/碳黑的比例增加,碳黑氧化的tig、tm(最大转化温度)、tf(燃净温度)均向低温区域移动,表明该催化剂对碳黑有着良好的催化氧化性能。     

ZnCl2、KOH和HNO3改性MWCNT对苯酚的吸附行为研究

通过扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪、N₂吸附分析仪及Boehm滴定法获得ZnCl₂、KOH和HNO₃化学处理对高纯多壁碳纳米管的结构和表面含氧官能团的影响,通过批处理实验考察吸附条件（吸附时间、初始浓度、温度）对处理前后的碳纳米管吸附苯酚行为的影响,并采用准一级、准二级、Evolich动力学模型和热力学方程拟合其吸附数据,分析其动力学行为、热力学行为和吸附机理。结果表明,虽然ZnCl₂、KOH和HNO₃化学处理法均未对碳纳米管BET比表面积产生显著影响,但会影响其表面化学性质（即,对于ZnCl₂和KOH化学处理降低表面羧基、内酯基含量和增大碱性官能团量,而对于HNO₃化学处理可以增大表面羧基、内酯基含量,而碱性官能团略有增加）;改性处理影响碳纳米管去除苯酚效率：由于ZnCl₂和KOH改性处理降低碳纳米管表面羧基量,故其提高了苯酚去除率,而HNO₃处理则略减小碳纳米管的苯酚去除率,可能是由于碳纳米管结构和表面化学性质共同影响所致;碳纳米管的苯酚去除率均随苯酚溶液初始浓度的增大而减小;高温不利于吸附;热力学研究发现碳纳米管吸附苯酚过程是自发的和放热的,属于物理吸附;动力学研究表明,吸附过程符合准二级动力学方程。通过ZnCl₂和KOH化学处理,可以显著提高碳纳米管对苯酚的吸附性能。     

Facile Synthesis of MOF-derived Mn3O4@N-doped Carbon with Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Integration of MnO_x into the carbon matrix proves a viable strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of MnO_x materials. Mn₃O₄ nanoparticle-decorated N-doped carbon composites (Mn₃O₄@N-doped carbon) were facilely prepared from a non-porous eight-fold interpenetrated Zn^II-based MOF, which involves first synthesis of bimetallic Mn/Zn-MOF in one-pot reaction followed by direct pyrolysis at 1000 °C. In 0.1 m KOH solution, the optimal Mn₃O₄@N-doped carbon exhibits decent oxygen reduction activity with the onset potential (E_onset) of 0.94 V (vs. RHE) and half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.81 V (vs. RHE), excellent methanol tolerance as well as good durability.