Soluble,saturated‐red‐light‐emitting poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) containing triphenylamine units and cyano groups

A conjugated poly(p‐CN‐phenylenevinylene) (PCNPV) containing both electron‐donating triphenylamine units and electron‐withdrawing cyano groups was prepared via Knoevenagel condensation in a good yield. Gel permeation chromatography suggested that the soluble polymer had a very high weight‐average molecular weight of 309,000. A bright and saturated red emission was observed under UV excitation in solution and film. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the polymer presented quasi‐reversible oxidation with a relatively low potential because of the triphenylamine unit. A single‐layer indium tin oxide/PCNPV/Mg–Ag device emitted a bright red light (633 nm). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3947–3953, 2004     

The effect of lanthanide on the degradation of RB in nanocrystalline Ln/TiO2 aqueous solution

A series of Nd³⁺, Pr³⁺, Er³⁺, and Dy³⁺ (0.25–5 at.%) homogeneously doped nanocrystalline titanium dioxides (Ln/TiO₂) were prepared by an easy sol–gel technique, and the roles of lanthanide doping on the photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine B (RB) in aqueous solution were studied. Both the concentration of the lanthanide dopant and calcination temperature showed significant effect to the photodegradation of RB. The photocatalytic activity of pure titania was drastically decreased when calcination temperature was at 700 °C, while the high photocatalytic activity was still maintained for lanthanide-doped samples. HPLC-MS method was used to study the degradation process, and it is demonstrated that the degradation of RB catalyzed by Ln/TiO₂ was principally go through with a stepwise de-ethylation photochemical process.     

Copper‐Bismuth Bimetallic Microspheres for Selective Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Formate

Electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction holds great promise for reducing the atmospheric CO₂ level and alleviating the energy crisis. High‐performance electrocatalysts are often required in order to lower the high overpotential and expedite the sluggish reaction kinetics of CO₂ electroreduction. Copper is a promising candidate metal. However, it usually suffers from the issues of poor stability and low product selectivity. In this work, bimetallic Cu‐Bi is obtained by reducing the microspherical copper bismuthate (CuBi₂O₄) for selectively catalyzing the CO₂ reduction to formate (HCOO^–). The bimetallic Cu‐Bi electrocatalyst exhibits high activity and selectivity with the Faradic efficiency over 90% in a wide potential window. A maximum Faradaic efficiency of ~95% is obtained at –0.93 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Furthermore, the catalyst shows high stability over 6 h with Faradaic efficiency of ~95%. This study provides an important clue in designing new functional materials for CO₂ electroreduction with high activity and selectivity.     

SET8 suppression mediates high glucose-induced vascular endothelial inflammation via the upregulation of PTEN

Hyperglycemia-mediated endothelial inflammation participates in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in subjects with diabetes. Previous studies reported that phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and SET8 participate in high glucose-mediated endothelial inflammation. In this study, we hypothesize that SET8 regulates PTEN expression, thus contributing to high glucose-mediated vascular endothelial inflammation. Our data indicated that plasma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and endothelial selectin (e-selectin) were increased in patients with diabetes and diabetic rats. PTEN expression was augmented in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with diabetes and in the aortic tissues of diabetic rats. Our in vitro study indicated that high glucose increased monocyte/endothelial adhesion, endothelial adhesion molecule expression and p65 phosphorylation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, high glucose led to endothelial inflammation via upregulation of PTEN. Furthermore, high glucose inhibited SET8 expression and histone H4 lysine 20 methylation (H4K20me1), a downstream target of SET8. SET8 overexpression reversed the effects of high-glucose treatment. shSET8-mediated endothelial inflammation was counteracted by siPTEN. Furthermore, SET8 was found to interact with FOXO1. siFOXO1 attenuated high glucose-mediated endothelial inflammation. FOXO1 overexpression-mediated endothelial inflammation was counteracted by siPTEN. H4K20me1 and FOXO1 were enriched in the PTEN promoter region. shSET8 increased PTEN promoter activity and augmented the positive effect of FOXO1 overexpression on PTEN promoter activity. Our in vivo study indicated that SET8 was downregulated and FOXO1 was upregulated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with diabetes and the aortic tissues of diabetic rats. In conclusion, SET8 interacted with FOXO1 to modulate PTEN expression in vascular endothelial cells, thus contributing to hyperglycemia-mediated endothelial inflammation.Subject terms: Diabetes complications, Vascular diseases     

Eu3+-site occupation in CaTiO3 perovskite material at low temperature

In order to clarify the site occupancy of rare-earth ions in rare-earth doped perovskite materials, the un-doped pure CaTiO₃ and Eu³⁺-doped CaTiO₃ samples with a series of Ca/Ti ratio were synthesized via high-temperature solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) powder patterns confirm that the crystal structure keeps invariant at various Ca/Ti ratios. Measurement results of unit-cell parameters and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicate that Eu³⁺ ions enter into the Ca²⁺ site. The high-resolution photoluminescence spectra of Eu³⁺ ions at 20 K in all samples did not witness a significant change under the excitation at different wavelength, implying that Eu³⁺ ions occupy only one type of site. Considering the small spectral splitting range of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition and the large intensity ratio of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂/⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁, it can be concluded that Eu³⁺ occupies Ca²⁺ site with larger coordinate numbers rather than Ti⁴⁺ site.     

流化催化裂化再生过程NO_x控制技术研究进展

根据流化催化裂化(FCC)再生过程中NOx的生成机理和特点,FCC再生过程中NOx控制技术主要包括FCC原料预处理与改变工艺参数、脱NOx添加剂和FCC再生烟气脱硝3种。本文综合分析了FCC再生过程NOx控制技术原理、工艺流程及特点,在现有技术的基础上,以"以废治污"为指导思想,提出了利用粉煤灰制备脱硝催化剂,构建了原位催化还原与烟气返回耦合降低FCC再生过程NOx排放新工艺,开辟了粉煤灰资源化利用新途径,为开发FCC再生过程中NOx污染控制技术提供科学理论指导。     

Copper-mediated cyanation reactions

Aryl nitriles can be efficiently synthesized through transition-metal-mediated cyanation of aryl halides, arenes, aryl boronic acids, and so on. Among those most commonly used transition-metals, copper catalysts are surely much more inexpensive and easier to handle, compared to any other metal catalysts. Considering the high-efficiency of copper catalysts in the activation of C–X, C–H, and C–B bond as well as in the formation of C–CN bond, this Letter summarizes various copper-mediated cyanations based on the different kinds of cyanide reagents, such as metal cyanides, potassium hexacyanoferrate(II), acetone cyanohydrins, DDQ, AIBN, benzyl cyanide, malononitrile, nitromethane, and DMF. Our group’s recent contributions to this area are also demonstrated.