The Coordination Chemistry of f-Block Elements in Molten Salts

The coordination chemistry of f-block elements (lanthanide and actinide) in molten salts has become a resounding topic in view of its great importance to the research and development (R&D) of molten salt reactors and pyroprocessing. In this Review article, a general overview of the coordination chemistry of f-block elements in molten salts is provided including past achievements and recent advances. Particular emphases are placed on the oxidation state, speciation, and solution structure of f-block metal ions in molten salts, as well as their relationships with the salt composition. Furthermore, this review briefly discusses the spectroscopic and theoretical methods that complement each other in revealing the coordination properties.     

Developing the Low-Temperature Oxidation Mechanism of Cyclopentane: An Experimental and Theoretical Study

At present, the reactivity of cyclic alkanes is estimated by comparison with acyclic hydrocarbons. Due to the difference in the structure of cycloalkanes and acycloalkanes, the thermodynamic data obtained by analogy are not applicable. In this study, a molecular beam sampling vacuum ultraviolet photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MB-VUV-PI-TOFMS) was applied to study the low-temperature oxidation of cyclopentane (CPT) at a total pressure range from 1–3 atm and low-temperature range between 500 and 800 K. Low-temperature reaction products including cyclic olefins, cyclic ethers, and highly oxygenated intermediates (e. g., ketohydroperoxide KHP, keto-dihydroperoxide KDHP, olefinic hydroperoxides OHP and ketone structure products) were observed. Further investigation of the oxidation of CPT – electronic structure calculations – were carried out at the UCCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31+ G(d,p) level to explore the reactivity of O₂ molecules adding sequentially to cyclopentyl radicals. Experimental and theoretical observations showed that the dominant product channel in the reaction of CPT radicals with O₂ is HO₂ elimination yielding cyclopentene. The pathways of second and third O₂ addition – the dissociation of hydroperoxide – were further confirmed. The results of this study will develop the low-temperature oxidation mechanism of CPT, which can be used for future research on accurately simulating the combustion process of CPT.     

A Novel Ternary Composite of Polyurethane/Polyaniline/Nanosilica with Antistatic Property and Excellent Mechanical Strength: Preparation and Mechanism

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science - Antistatic and strength properties are of vital importance for polyurethane rubber used in moving parts of many industrial instruments. Herein, polyurethane was...     

Improved production of levoglucosan and levoglucosenone from acid-impregnated cellulose via fast pyrolysis

Cellulose - In this research, the production of levoglucosan (LG) and levoglucosenone (LGO) was improved from acid-impregnated cellulose via fast pyrolysis. Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis...     

Scalable Quantum Controlled Gates on Single-Photon Polarization Qubits Assisted by Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers Inside Single-Sided Optical Cavities

International Journal of Theoretical Physics - Quantum logic gates are the foundation of circuit-based quantum computation and quantum simulation. Multi-qubit quantum controlled gates are of vital...     

A New Quassinoid from Brucea javanica

Chemistry of Natural Compounds - A new quassinoid, dehydrobruceantinol B (1), was isolated from the seeds of Brucea javanica, together with two known compounds, bruceantinol (2) and bruceine A (3)....     

CCSD(T) study on the structures and chemical bonds of AnO molecules (An = Bk–Lr)

The molecular geometries and dissociation energies of AnO (An = Bk–Lr) molecules were first obtained at thecoupled-cluster single-, double-, and perturbative triple-excitations [CCSD(T)] level of theory. Four hybrid functionals,B3LYP, M06-2X, TPSSh, and PBE0, were also employed in the calculations for the sake of comparison. In comparison ofthe CCSD(T) results, B3LYP, TPSSh, and PBE0 functionals can obtain more appropriate results than M06-2X and MP2.The analyses on molecular orbitals show that the 7s, 6d, and 5f atomic orbitals of actinide (An) atoms participate in thebonding of An–O bonds. The partial covalent nature between An and O atoms is revealed by QTAIM analyses.     

Sandwich-like Catalyst–Carbon–Catalyst Trilayer Structure as a Compact 2D Host for Highly Stable Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Herein, we propose the construction of a sandwich-structured host filled with continuous 2D catalysis–conduction interfaces. This MoN-C-MoN trilayer architecture causes the strong conformal adsorption of S/Li₂S_x and its high-efficiency conversion on the two-sided nitride polar surfaces, which are supplied with high-flux electron transfer from the buried carbon interlayer. The 3D self-assembly of these 2D sandwich structures further reinforces the interconnection of conductive and catalytic networks. The maximized exposure of adsorptive/catalytic planes endows the MoN-C@S electrode with excellent cycling stability and high rate performance even under high S loading and low host surface area. The high conductivity of this trilayer texture does not compromise the capacity retention after the S content is increased. Such a job-synergistic mode between catalytic and conductive functions guarantees the homogeneous deposition of S/Li₂S_x, and avoids thick and devitalized accumulation (electrode passivation) even after high-rate and long-term cycling.     

桉树杂交种与其亲本的近红外光谱判别

研究桉树控制授粉后目标性状的基因作用方式是探索其基因重组规律的重要内容。常规的数量统计分析精度往往不高,而DNA分析的专业要求高,且费时费力。该研究利用近红外光谱(NIRs)研究不同基因型桉树杂交种、亲本及杂交种与亲本间近红外光谱信息的关系,探索NIRs用于桉树杂交种与其亲本判别的可行性和准确性。以控制授粉的桉树亲本及其杂交F1代材料为对象,每种基因型从各自田间试验分别选取10个单株,采集树冠中上部新鲜健康叶片。用手持式近红外仪Phazir Rx(1624)采集桉树杂交种与其亲本叶片的NIRs信息。每单株选10片完全生理成熟的健康叶片,避开叶脉扫描其正面光谱5次,以50条NIRs信息的均值代表单个叶片的NIRs信息,最终每个基因型获得10条NIRs信息。对原始NIRs采用二阶多项式S.G一阶导数预处理。预处理后的NIRs用于多元统计分析,首先对桉树杂交亲本和子代样本进行主成分分析(PCA),直观展示不同基因型的分类情况。然后运用簇类独立软模式(SIMCA)和偏最小二乘判别分析(PLS-DA)两种有监督的判别模式验证NIRs用于桉树杂交种与其亲本树种的分类判别效果。PCA结果显示,不同的亲本间、杂交种间及杂交种与亲本间样本的主因子得分可以清晰地将各基因型分开。SIMCA模式判别分析中,桉树杂交种样本到亲本PCA模型的样本距离显示,待判别样本能够形成单独的聚类,且能直观反映两者的遗传相似。PLS-DA判别结果显示,桉树杂交亲本的PLS模型能通过预测其杂交子代的响应变量将其与亲本准确分开。结果表明,桉树叶片的NIRs信息可以准确地反映桉树杂交子代遗传信息的传递规律,NIRs判别模型可以准确地将各种基因型予以区分。因此,NIRs信息不仅可用于桉树杂交种和纯种的定性判别,还可以分析桉树基因重组过程中加性遗传效应的大小,从而为桉树遗传基础分析及其育种改良研究提供理论支撑。     

Unsymmetrical Pyrene‐Fused Phthalocyanine Derivatives: Synthesis,Structure, and Properties

Novel pyrene‐fused unsymmetrical phthalocyanine derivatives 2,3,9,10,16,17‐hexakis(2,6‐dimethylphenoxy)‐22,25‐diaza(2,7‐di‐tert‐butylpyrene)[4,5]phthalocyaninato zinc complex Zn[Pc(Pz‐pyrene)(OC₈H₉)₆] ( 1 ) and 2,3,9,10‐tra(2,6‐dimethylphenoxy)‐15,18,22,25‐traza(2,7‐di‐tert‐butylpyrene)[4,5]phthalocyaninato zinc compound Zn[Pc(Pz‐pyrene)₂(OC₈H₉)₄] ( 2 ) were isolated for the first time. These unsymmetrical pyrene‐fused phthalocyanine derivatives have been characterized by a wide range of spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. In particular, the pyrene‐fused phthalocyanine structure was unambiguously revealed on the basis of single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis of 1 , representing the first structurally characterized phthalocyanine derivative fused with an aromatic moiety larger than benzene.