Supramolecular assembly of 1,3-diaminopropane and its unusual conversion by macrocyclic nickel(II) complex

The reaction of macrocyclic nickel(II) complex [NiL](ClO₄)₂ (1) with 1,3-diaminopropane affords a novel complex with the formula [NiL(a.a.)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2), where L = 3,10-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane, a.a. = H₃N⁺(CH₂)₄COO⁻(5-aminovaleric acid ion), which reveals that the organic ligand 1,3-diaminopropane is converted during the process of the reaction.     

pH冲击对磁性微氧活性污泥理化特性的影响

研究了pH冲击对处理低负荷葡萄糖废水的磁性微氧活性污泥理化特性的影响。在pH=6.0和9.0的条件下对添加磁粉和无磁粉反应器微氧活性污泥进行15d的冲击,而后调整pH=7.5进行5d的恢复实验。对pH冲击下污泥理化指标SVI(污泥指数)、MLSS(污泥浓度)以及絮凝性能的变化情况进行考察,结果表明有磁粉反应器的各项指标均优于无磁粉反应器。经过5d的恢复实验,添加磁粉反应器污泥的理化指标均能恢复到接近初始值,而无磁粉反应器性能难以恢复到接近初始值。     

Efficiency of acetic acid and formic acid as a catalyst in catalytical and mechanocatalytical pretreatment of barley straw

In this study, the potential of organic acids (formic acid, acetic acid) in a catalytical and mechanocatalytic conversion of lignocellulosic barley straw to valuable sugars is explored using sulfuric acid as a reference. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis has been carried out with acid-impregnated samples as well as unmodified barley straw. In the mechanocatalytical approach, pretreatment consists of impregnation with the acid catalyst and mechanical treatment by ball milling following chemical hydrolysis. Straw samples and residues were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) whereas hydrolysate analysis was based on total reducing sugar (TRS) determination following the DNS method and capillary electrophoresis (CE) analysis. The results indicated that acetic acid and formic acid are rather mild acids yielding low TRS levels compared to the reference acid. Mechanocatalytical pretreatment slightly increased TRS yields, but not significantly. Strikingly, sulfuric acid showed an efficient conversion efficiency yielding almost 45% of TRS. Furthermore, this study provided evidence for the acetylation of straw components when acetic acid was used as catalyst. Alkali hydrolysis induced the de-esterification, but revealed no significant increase of TRS yields.     

Recent advances using gold nanoparticles as a promising multimodal tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have arisen a lot of interest in the clinical realms of nanomedicine. Despite the large advances made in cancer research using AuNPs, their use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is still in its infancy. Herein, it is discussed the properties, functionalization, and emerging use of AuNPs as a multifunctional and multimodal platform for drug delivery, phototherapy, diagnostic and cell imaging purposes. Moreover, the recent reports related to the ability of AuNPs to enhance stem cell differentiation for bone tissue engineering, to enhance the mechanical and adhesive properties of scaffolds and surface topography to guide cell behaviors are addressed.     

Response of structure and mechanical properties of high entropy pyrochlore to heavy ion irradiation

Material with superior damage tolerance, chemical durability, and structure stability is of increasing interest in high-level radioactive waste management and structural components for advanced nuclear systems. In this paper, high-entropy (La_0.2Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Sm_0.2Gd_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇ with pyrochlore-type structure was synthesized through conventional solid-state method. The as-synthesized high-entropy oxide maintained crystalline after being irradiated by using Au³⁺ with 9.0 MeV energy at the fluence of 4.5 × 10¹⁵ ions·cm^-2, indicating its high tolerance to heavy-ion irradiation. The irradiation-induced order-disorder transition from pyrochlore structure to defective fluorite structure occurred in high-entropy (La_0.2Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Sm_0.2Gd_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇. After irradiation, no irradiation-induced segregation was observed at grain boundary. Moreover, the mechanical properties of high-entropy pyrochlore were improved. The heavy-ion irradiation resistance mechanisms of high-entropy pyrochlore were discussed in detail. Our work identified high-entropy (La_0.2Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Sm_0.2Gd_0.2)₂Zr₂O₇ can be a promising candidate for immobilization of high-level radioactive waste as well as advanced nuclear reactor system from the perspective of irradiation resistance.     

Cathode materials in non-aqueous aluminum-ion batteries: Progress and challenges

Aluminum-ion batteries (AIBs) are considered as alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their low cost, good safety and high capacity. Based on aqueous and non-aqueous AIBs, this review focuses on the research progress of the latter cathode materials. Firstly, we fully explain the aluminum storage mechanism of different types of materials. Next, according to relative statistical data, the research trend of different cathode materials (transition metal chalcogenides, transition metal oxides and carbon-based materials) in non-aqueous AIBs is summarized, and related electrochemical performance are analyzed and compared in detail. In addition, as for the research of non-aqueous AIBs cathode materials, the existing problems and expected solutions are discussed, as well as the proposed future research directions.     

UNITANK与A~2/O工艺处理低碳源污水的对比研究

通过UNITANK工艺与倒置A2/O工艺对低碳源城市生活污水的中试处理效果、UNITANK工艺与改良型A2/O工艺在南方地区的实际生产运行效果的对比研究表明,UNITANK工艺和A2/O工艺对南方地区低碳源城市生活污水均具有较好的处理效果,出水水质均可达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918—2002)的一级A标准。综合考虑,虽然UNITANK工艺的处理效果略逊于A2/O工艺,但其运行维护费用更低、控制更加灵活、运行管理更为简单。因此,新建污水处理厂可优先选择UNITANK工艺。     

Hollow tremella-like graphene sphere/SnO2 composite for high performance Li-ion battery anodes

A hollow tremella-like graphene sphere/tin dioxide (HTGS/SnO₂) composite was successfully prepared by simple emulsification and impregnation followed by calcination. In this material, tin dioxide adheres to the folds on the surface of the hollow tremella-like graphene spheres. Hollow tremella-like graphene spheres as the matrix of SnO₂ not only provide a space of volumetric expansion for the tin oxide particles, relieve the internal stress of the tin dioxide, but also effectively avoid aggregation of the tin dioxide and increase the electrical conductivity. As an anode electrode material for batteries, the initial discharge/charge capacities of HTGS/SnO₂ are 1762.4 mAh g^-1 and 1169.4 mAh g^-1, and the Coulomb efficiency is 96.9%. After 50 cycles, capacity remains 80.4% of reversible capacity. The excellent electrochemical stability is attributed to the extraordinary structure of HTGS/SnO₂. The hollow structure of graphene sphere allows simultaneous insertion of lithium ions from the inner and outer surfaces. Meanwhile, the tin dioxide particles are uniformly dispersed by the wrinkles on the surface of the graphene, thereby enlarging the space for the volume expansion of tin dioxide in order to avoid contact with the electrolyte.     

Chemical conversion during transient liquid-phase hot pressing of TaSi2–TaC–SiC SHS-powder

This article presents a study on the manufacturing of three-phase TaSi₂–TaC–SiC ceramics through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and their subsequent chemical conversion to TaC–SiC carbide composites during transient liquid-phase hot pressing (HP). The effect of carbon black doping, ranging from 0% to 7%, on the degree of chemical conversion, structure, mechanical, and thermophysical properties of the ceramics was investigated. Our results showed that the proportionate increase of carbide content and decrease of TaSi₂ content in hot-pressed samples was achieved through carbon black doping. The increase of TaSi₂ content during hot pressing led to an increase in porosity from 4.3% to 23.8%, while the density decreased from 6.3 to 4.6 g/cm³. Superior mechanical properties were obtained when SHS-powder was doped with 1.5% carbon black (HV = 15.2 GPa, K_IC = 4.8 MPa × m^1/2, and σ_bend = 331 MPa). The structure of the ceramics was characterized by a TaSi₂–SiC matrix and highly dispersed TaC grains predominantly residing inside TaSi₂, with the TaC–TaSi₂ and TaSi₂–SiC interface being incoherent, as demonstrated through TEM studies. Complete conversion of TaSi₂ to TaC and SiC was achieved through 7% carbon black doping, resulting in the hot-pressed sample consisting solely of carbide grains. Two-stage hot pressing was employed to enhance the relative density of the two-phase TaC–SiC sample, resulting in ceramics characterized by HV up to 22.3 GPa, K_IC up to 6.1 MPa × m^1/2, σ_bend up to 256 MPa, and λ up to 36 W/(m × K).