Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in the Southern Levant: synthesis, challenges, recent developments and perspectives

Palaeoenvironmental research in the Southern Levant presents a series of challenges, partly due to the unequal distribution of palaeoenvironmental records and potential archives throughout the region. Our knowledge of climatic evolution, during the last approximately 25,000 years, is of crucial importance to understand cultural developments. More local, well-dated, multi-proxy studies are much needed to obtain an accurate picture of environmental change in respect of the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. This contribution reviews the current state of knowledge regarding Late Quaternary palaeoenvironmental changes in the Southern Levant, including some examples of more recent developments in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction in Israel and the Dead Sea area, and introduces the major challenges researchers face in the region. It also presents the first results of a new case study in Jordan, based on an analysis of peaty deposits located in the mountain slopes east of the Dead Sea. Such new studies help refine our knowledge of local environmental changes in the Southern Levant and especially the more arid areas, for which little information is presently available. More material suitable for palaeoenvironmental research, for example extensive tufa and travertine series, still awaits consideration in Jordan, opening up exciting perspectives for future research in the area.     

One-step synthesis of N,P co-doped porous carbon electrocatalyst for highly efficient nitrogen fixation

Heteroatom-doped porous carbon has attracted many researchers'interests owing to their hierarchical porous and more active sites for nitrogen reduction reaction...     

Nanostructured electrodes for lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries: the latest developments, challenges, and perspectives

The urgency for clean and secure energy has stimulated a global resurgence in searching for advanced electrical energy storage systems. For now and the foreseeable future, batteries remain the most promising electrical energy storage systems for many applications, from portable electronics to emerging technologies such as electric vehicles and smart grids, by potentially offering significantly improved performance, energy efficiencies, reliability, and energy security while also permitting a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and emissions. The energy and power storage characteristics of batteries critically impact the commercial viability of these emerging technologies. For example, the realization of electric vehicles hinges on the availability of batteries with significantly improved energy and power density, durability, and reduced cost. Further, the design, performance, portability, and innovation of many portable electronics are limited severely by the size, power, and cycle life of the existing batteries. Creation of nanostructured electrode materials represents one of the most attractive strategies to dramatically enhance battery performance, including capacity, rate capability, cycling life, and safety. This review aims at providing the reader with an understanding of the critical scientific challenges facing the development of advanced batteries, various unique attributes of nanostructures or nano-architectures applicable to lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries, the latest developments in novel synthesis and fabrication procedures, the unique capabilities of some powerful, in situ characterization techniques vital to unraveling the mechanisms of charge and mass transport processes associated with battery performance, and the outlook for future-generation batteries that exploit nanoscale materials for significantly improved performance to meet the ever-increasing demands of emerging technologies.     

A rapid and facile method for hydrothermal synthesis of CdTe nanocrystals under mild conditions

By using a novel procedure, a new kind of water-soluble CdTe nanocrystals (NCs) is synthesized in aqueous solutions at the temperature of 100 degrees C. In this procedure, tripeptide thiol glutathione was used as stabilizing agent, CdTe NCs with controllable photoluminescence wavelength from 500 nm to 680 nm were prepared within two hours. Compared with CdTe NCs prepared with thiohydracrylic acid as stabilizing agent, as-prepared NCs show much narrower photoluminescence FWHM, more symmetrical emission peak and higher photoluminescence quantum yield. The surface structure of as-prepared CdTe NCs is deduced, therefore, there may be some unreported circular structure on the surface. Experimental results show that as-prepared NCs have very good biological compatibility and they are nontoxic. And these CdTe NCs can conjugate with biological molecules for further biological luminescence study. The proposed hydrothermal synthesis procedure has the advantage of simplicity, inexpensiveness, time saving and mild operating conditions.     

Reverse engineering and identification in systems biology: strategies,perspectives and challenges

The interplay of mathematical modelling with experiments is one of the central elements in systems biology. The aim of reverse engineering is to infer, analyse and understand, through this interplay, the functional and regulatory mechanisms of biological systems. Reverse engineering is not exclusive of systems biology and has been studied in different areas, such as inverse problem theory, machine learning, nonlinear physics, (bio)chemical kinetics, control theory and optimization, among others. However, it seems that many of these areas have been relatively closed to outsiders. In this contribution, we aim to compare and highlight the different perspectives and contributions from these fields, with emphasis on two key questions: (i) why are reverse engineering problems so hard to solve, and (ii) what methods are available for the particular problems arising from systems biology?     

Neodymium-doped copper ferrite: auto-combustion synthesis,characterization and photocatalytic properties

Neodymium doped copper ferrite nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by via a sol–gel auto combustion method with the aid of copper (II) nitrate, iron (III) nitrate, neodymium (III) nitrate and starch without adding external surfactant. Moreover, starch plays role as capping agent, reductant agent, and natural template in the synthesis CuFe_2?xNd_xO₄ nanoparticles. The as-synthesized CuFe_2?xNd_xO₄ nanoparticles were characterized by means of several techniques such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The magnetic properties of as-prepared CuFe_2?xNd_xO₄ nanoparticles were also investigated with vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). To evaluate the photocatalyst properties of nanocrystalline CuFe_2?xNd_xO₄, the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) under ultraviolet light irradiation was carried out.     

Facile one-step synthesis of MnO2 nanowires on graphene under mild conditions for application in supercapacitors

Composites of integrated 1-D MnO₂ nanowires and 2-D graphene sheets at nanoscale are successfully prepared under the mild condition of 100 °C. The fabricated materials are extensively characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, and the formation mechanism is investigated. It is of particular note that the graphene sheets in this case play dual roles, both as active reagent to reduce MnO^4? to form 1-D MnO₂ nanowires and as active component of the composites integrated into the 3-D structure. The proof-of-concept demonstration shows that the 3-D composites can be used as active materials for supercapacitors, where the high-surface area 2-D graphene sheets serve as both high-surface area active materials and conductive supports for high-capacity 1-D MnO₂ nanowires.     

Mesoporous zinc-blende ZnS nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and superior photocatalytic properties

This paper describes the development of a novel and simple chemical route to mass production of mesoporous ZnS nanoparticles in high yield. XRD, FESEM, TEM, SAED, EDS and XPS analyses show that spherical nanoparticles are crystalline ZnS in a zinc-blende structure. The resulting nanoparticles have an average diameter of about 30 nm and pore sizes in the range of 3-6?nm. The formation of mesoporous nanostructures could be attributed to higher nucleation rate in the course of preparation that resulted in the quick aggregation of initial crystallites and the formation of pores between them. The as-prepared mesoporous ZnS exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities. This preparation method provides one possible route to the synthesis of other mesoporous structures for exploratory studies on the applications of mesoporous nanocrystals.     

Advances in graphene-related technologies: synthesis, devices and outlook

Graphene has been the subject of many scientific investigations since exfoliation methods facilitated isolation of the two-dimensional material. During this time, new synthesis methods have been developed which have opened technological opportunities previously hindered by synthetic constraints. An update on the recent advances in graphene-based technologies, including synthesis and applications into electrical, mechanical and thermal uses will be covered. A special focus on the patent space and commercial landscape will be given in an effort to identify current trends and future commercialization of graphene-related technologies.     

Metastable monoclinic ZnMoO4: hydrothermal synthesis, optical properties and photocatalytic performance

Metastable monoclinic ZnMoO4 was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal route with variation of reaction temperatures and time at pH value of 5.7. Systematic sample characterizations were carried out, including X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectra, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, and photoluminescence spectra. The results show that all as-prepared ZnMoO4 samples were demonstrated to crystallize in a pure-phase of monoclinic wolframite structure. All samples were formed in plate-like morphology. Six IR active vibrational bands were observed in the wave number range of 400-900 cm(-1). The band gap of as-prepared ZnMoO4 was estimated to be 2.86 eV by Tauc equation. Photoluminescence measurement indicates that as-prepared ZnMoO4 exhibits a broad blue-green emission under excitation wavelength of 280 nm at room temperature. Photocatalytic activity of as-prepared ZnMoO4 was examined by monitoring the degradation of methyl orange dye in an aqueous solution under UV radiation of 365 nm. The as-prepared ZnMoO4 obtained at 180 degrees C for 40 h showed the best photocatalytic activity with completing degradation of MO in irradiation time of 120 min. Consequently, monoclinic ZnMoO4 proved to be an efficient near visible light photocatalyst.     

Review on oxides of antimony nanoparticles: synthesis,properties, and applications

In this article, synthesis methods, properties, and applications of antimony oxide nanoparticles are reviewed. Oxides of antimony exist in three phases, namely antimony trioxide, antimony tetroxide, and antimony pentoxide. Physical and optical properties of these nanoparticles are reviewed and compared with their bulk forms. According to literature works, a total of eight synthesis methods have been used to produce these nanoparticles. The size, distribution, shape, and structure of the nanoparticles which are synthesized by different methods are compiled and compared. It is reported that the properties are strongly dependent on the synthesis methods. Advantages and disadvantages of each synthesis method are discussed and compared. Most literatures report on the optical and physical properties of the nanoparticles. Reports on the electrical properties are scarce. As the applications of these nanoparticles cover a wide range, several challenges must be overcome to use them well. These challenges are also being presented and explained in this article.     

Growth of phthalocyanine doped and undoped nanotubes using mild synthesis conditions for development of novel oxygen reduction catalysts

Precious metal alloys have been the predominant electrocatalyst used for oxygen reduction in fuel cells since the 1960s. Although performance of these catalysts is high, they do have drawbacks. The two main problems with precious metal alloys are catalyst passivation and cost. This is why new novel catalysts are being developed and employed for oxygen reduction. This paper details the low temperature solvothermal synthesis and characterization of carbon nanotubes that have been doped with both iron and cobalt centered phthalocyanine. The synthesis is a novel low-temperature, supercritical solvent synthesis that reduces halocarbons to form a metal chloride byproduct and carbon nanotubes. Perchlorinated phthalocyanine was added to the nanotube synthesis to incorporate the phthalocyanine structure into the graphene sheets of the nanotubes to produce doped nanotubes that have the catalytic oxygen reduction capabilities of the metallo-phthalocyanine and the advantageous material qualities of carbon nanotubes. The cobalt phthalocyanine doped carbon nanotubes showed a half wave oxygen reduction potential of -0.050 ± 0.005 V vs Hg\HgO, in comparison to platinum's half wave oxygen reduction potential of -0.197 ± 0.002 V vs Hg\HgO.     

A review on synthesis of graphene,h-BN and MoS2 for energy storage applications: Recent progress and perspectives

Nano Research - The significance of graphene and its two-dimensional (2D) analogous inorganic layered materials especially as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) for...     

Atomically isolated Pd sites within Pd-S nanocrystals enable trifunctional catalysis for direct,electrocatalytic and photocatalytic syntheses of H2O2

Although high-efficiency production of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)can be realized separately by means of direct,electrochemical,and photocatalytic synthesis,develop...     

The limits of flammability of mixtures of ammonia,hydrogen and methane in mixtures of nitrogen and oxygen at elevated temperatures and pressures

As part of a program investigating the flammability characteristics of ammonia in mixtures with air, nitrogen and ammonia side-products, the flammabili The flammable regions are not as large as those found in a previous study for mixtures of ammonia and hydrogen, but are still remarkably wider than the