Interfacing perovskite strontium molybdate to molybdenum disulfide nanoplatelts for boosting HER from water

Due to low hydrogen adsorption free energy at the edges of 2D-MoS₂ layered sheets, nanostructured MoS₂ materials recently are assigned to prospective electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water. However, the efficiency and stability of HER onto the MoS₂ designed on the conductive substrates are poor. To significantly increase the number of active sites and achieve a long-time working stability, the design of hybrid-type electrodes is crucial. Here, we report the synthesis of a new hybrid material composed of molybdenum disulfide and molybdenum oxides heterostructured with strontium molybdate. For this, a facile one-pot hydrothermal process was developed directly onto the TiO₂ nanotube carpet substrate. The interfacing of strontium molybdate at the electrode substrate verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Time of flight secondary ions mass spectrometry (ToF SIMS) techniques. Considerable higher catalytic activity at the surface of this hybrid film, with the onset potential of 190 mV vs RHE and a Tafel slope of 66 mV dec^?1 attaining ~80 mA cm^?2 at 0.35 V overvoltage was ascertained. Exciting HER stability in comparison with the pure synthetic MoS₂ was verified by a prolonged potential cycling from 0.05 to ?0.35 V versus RHE potential and 45 h continuous HER processing at a constant current density.     

Substrate Flexibility of the Flavin-Dependent Dihydropyrrole Oxidases PigB and HapB Involved in Antibiotic Prodigiosin Biosynthesis

In the biosynthesis of the tripyrrolic pigment prodigiosin, PigB is a predicted flavin-dependent oxidase responsible for the formation of 2-methyl-3-amylpyrrole (MAP) from a dihydropyrrole. To prove which dihydropyrrole is the true intermediate, both possibilities, 5-methyl-4-pentyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole ( 5 a , resulting from transamination of the aldehyde of 3-acetyloctanal) and 2-methyl-3-pentyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole ( 6 , resulting from transamination of the ketone), were synthesised. Only 5 a restored pigment production in a strain of Serratia sp. ATCC 39006 blocked earlier in MAP biosynthesis. PigB is membrane-associated and inactive when its transmembrane domain was deleted, but HapB, its homologue in Hahella chejuensis, lacks the transmembrane domain and is active in solution. Two colourimetric assays for PigB and HapB were developed, and the HapB-catalysed reaction was kinetically characterised. Ten analogues of 5 a were synthesised, varying in the C2 and C3 side chains, and tested as substrates of HapB in vitro and for restoration of pigment production in Serratia ΔpigD in vivo. All lengths of side chain tested at C3 were accepted, but only short side chains at C2 were accepted. The knowledge that 5 a is an intermediate in prodigiosin biosynthesis and the ease of synthesis of analogues of 5 a makes a range of prodigiosin analogues readily available by mutasynthesis.     

Effect of fuel type on structural and physicochemical properties of solution combustion synthesized CoCr2O4 ceramic pigment nanoparticles

Due to importance and wide applications, CoCr₂O₄ ceramic pigment nanoparticles were synthesized via low-temperature solution combustion route by different fuels including ethylenediamine/oxalic acid, ethylenediamine/citric acid, oxalic acid/citric acid and ethylenediamine/oxalic acid/citric acid. Physicochemical properties of the synthesized samples were determined by different techniques such as fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and color/optical properties were evaluated based on CIELAB system by spectrophotometer. Moreover, thermodynamic considerations of combustion reactions for CoCr₂O₄ nanopigments formation in terms of calculated adiabatic flame temperature and enthalpy of combustion reaction were studied. The Comparison of results and data showed that cobalt chromite pigment nanoparticles synthesized by using ethylenediamine/citric acid and ethylenediamine/oxalic acid/citric acid fuels exhibited higher purity, smaller crystallite size and lower degree agglomeration.     

The rapid synthesis of nanostructured orthorhombic KNbO3 particles by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and their characterization

We studied the molar ratio effects of niobium and potassium precursors on the structure and morphology of potassium niobate powders prepared via microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis (MaHS). KNbO₃ nanostructures in the form of nanotowers and nanocubes were obtained at reduced synthesis times (30–240 min). The products were characterized via XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM; band gap calculations used diffuse reflectance data. The results indicate that KNbO₃ nanostructures were obtained with crystallite sizes ranging from 33 to 52 nm. An orthorhombic crystalline structure was formed from the increase of KOH at a molar ratio Nb₂O₅:KOH (1:8 to 1:16 M). The band-gap of 3.1–3.3 eV has potential use in photodegradation applications.     

2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline: A key aroma component of aromatic rice and other food products

2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline is an aroma compound that gives aromatic rice its characteristic flavor. This compound either is present naturally in various food sources or is generated during certain processing methods, as reported in a number of studies. This review focuses on several sources of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, including aromatic rice, and the factors, including chemical and genetic parameters, affecting the formation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. Extensive work has been conducted on the agricultural parameters, postharvest processing, storage, and cooking methods, influencing the concentrations of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline in different food commodities. This article is an attempt to emphasize the importance of this compound in the food industry as a major aroma compound.     

H3PW12O40/酸改性硅藻土催化剂的制备、表征及催化合成乙酸正丁酯

以硫酸改性后的硅藻土为载体，Keggin结构磷钨酸为活性组分，通过浸渍法制备出负载型催化剂H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/改性硅藻土，并对催化剂进行傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、X射线能谱（EDS）和N₂-程序升温脱附（N₂-TPD）表征。结果表明：酸改性后硅藻土的微孔增大增多，比表面积增大。H₃PW₁₂O₄₀均匀分布在改性硅藻土载体上，负载后磷钨酸仍保持Keggin结构。以H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/改性硅藻土为催化剂催化乙酸和正丁醇液相合成乙酸正丁酯，通过正交试验探索优化工艺条件。在较优工艺条件下，即w(40%H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/改性硅藻土)=1.1%（基于反应物质量），n(酸)∶n(醇)=1∶3，125℃反应2.0h，酯化率高达98.1%。催化剂重复催化使用5次，酯化率仍可达86.1%。H₃PW₁₂O₄₀/改性硅藻土可作为催化合成乙酸正丁酯的高效催化剂，具有活性高、用量少、价格低廉、制备简单、后处理简便、无废液排放等优点。     

Microemulsion synthesis of ms/tz-BiVO4 composites: The effect of pH on crystal structure and photocatalytic performance

In this work, BiVO₄ composites, containing the tetragonal zircon phase (tz-BiVO₄), and monoclinic scheelite phase (ms-BiVO₄), were synthesized using the microemulsion method. The effect of pH on phase composition and photocatalytic activity were investigated. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a ms/tz-BiVO₄ composite forms at pH = 1.0 and pure ms-BiVO₄ is obtained in the pH range 4.0–10.0. The three primary steps in preparing BiVO₄ were monitored by optical microscopy and the role played by the microemulsion on the phase composition of BiVO₄ is explained. Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to characterize the physical and chemical properties of BiVO₄ composites. The composite formed at pH = 1 exhibited the lowest hole-electron (h⁺-e^-) recombination rate, resulting in the highest photocatalytic activity towards microcystin-LR (MC-LR), with near 100% removal of MC-LR in 5 h. ESR and trapping experiments indicated that MC-LR degradation was mediated primarily by hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (O₂^•−) and photogenerated holes (h⁺).     

Highly durable phosphonated graphene oxide doped polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite membranes

The polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) drew great attention over time amongst the hydrocarbon polymer membranes because of its high C–F chemical bond strength. In this work is to increase the proton conductivity of the PVDF polymer by doping phosphonated graphene oxide to its structure and investigate the improvement of the membrane. Different amounts of phosphonated graphene oxide additive (0.5%, 1% and 1.5% w/w) were doped to PVDF polymer on the purpose of synthesizing proton exchange composite membranes. Characterization tests, i.e, water uptake, swelling properties, ion exchange capacity, and proton conductivity of the synthesized membranes were investigated. The electrochemical impedance analysis results of synthesized membranes vary between 0.0224 S cm^-1 for 0.5% graphene oxide doped PVDF (PVDF/0.5PGO) and 0.0867 S cm^-1 for PVDF/1.5GO membrane. The power density values of PVDF/1.5PGO and PVDF/0.5GO are 48 mW cm⁻² and 28 mW cm⁻² at 0.6 V and 100% relative humidity at 80 °C. The experimental results demonstrate the importance of phosphonated graphene oxide doping into the PVDF composite membrane.