Two-step pyrolytic engineering to form porous nitrogen-rich carbons with a 3D network structure for Zn-air battery oxygen reduction electrocatalysis

It is of great urgency to design inexpensive and high-performance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts derived from biowastes as substitutes for Pt-based materials in electrochemical energy-conversion devices. Here we propose a strategy to synthesize three-dimensional (3D) porous nitrogen-doped network carbons to catalyze the ORR from two-step pyrolysis engineering of biowaste scale combined with the use of a ZnCl₂ activator and a FeCl₂ promotor. Electrochemical tests show that the synthesized network carbons have exhibited comparable ORR catalytic activity with a half-wave potential (~0.85 V vs. RHE) and outstanding cyclical stability in comparison to the Pt/C catalyst. Beyond that, a high electron transfer number (~3.8) and a low peroxide yield (<7.6%) can be obtained, indicating a four-electron reaction pathway. The maximum power density is ~68 mW cm^?2, but continuous discharge curves (at a constant potential of ~1.30 V) for 12 h are not obviously declined in Zn-air battery tests using synthesized network carbons as the cathodic catalyst. The formation of 3D porous structures with high BET surface area can effectively expose the surface catalytic sites and promote mass transportation to boost the ORR activity. This work may open a new idea to prepare porous carbon-based catalysts for some important reactions in new energy devices.     

Silver-plated polyamide fabrics with high electromagnetic shielding effectiveness performance prepared by in situ reduction of polydopamine and chemical silvering

In this article, the silver-plated polyamide fabrics (SPPAFs) with high electroconductibility and shielding effectiveness were fabricated by using in situ reduction of polydopamine and chemical silvering. The effects of SPPAFs dopamine (C₈H₁₁O₂N) and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) concentration on surface resistivity and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness were studied. The results showed that the surface resistivity of SPPAFs can reach a minimum value of 0.06 ± 0.014 Ω cm⁻¹, when C₈H₁₁O₂N concentration is 4 g L⁻¹ and the AgNO₃ concentration is 120 g L⁻¹. The shielding effectiveness of SPPAFs in the wide frequency range of 10–3000 MHz increases with the increase in the concentration of AgNO₃, and increases first and stabilizes afterward with increasing C₈H₁₁O₂N concentration. When the concentration of C₈H₁₁O₂N and AgNO₃ is 3 and 120 g L⁻¹, respectively, mean shielding effectiveness values in the low-, medium-, and high-frequency bands are 71.3, 73.8, and 76.1 dB, respectively. Moreover, the mean shielding effectiveness values is 83.79 dB in the frequency range of 1.2–2.3 GHz. The dominant shielding mechanism of SPPAFs is the reflected electromagnetic waves and the absorption shielding effectiveness is less than 2 dB. The average electromagnetic shielding values of SPPAFs are above 67 dB after 16 weeks of storage, when C₈H₁₁O₂N concentration is 4 g L⁻¹ and the AgNO₃ concentration is 80 and 100 g L⁻¹. The prepared SPPAFs show promising applications in military textiles and smart wearable clothing. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48227.     

Effect of hyperbranched poly(citric polyethylene glycol) with various polyethylene glycol chain lengths on starch plasticization and retrogradation

A series of hyperbranched poly(citric polyethylene glycol) (PCPEG) materials with varied polyethylene glycol (PEG) chain lengths as plasticizers were mixed with maize starch (MS) via cooking and film‐forming. The structure, pasting property, plasticization, aging property, moisture absorption and compatibility of plasticized starches were studied by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, rapid viscosity analysis, tension testing, moisture absorption measurements and scanning electron microscopy. Compared with PEG and citric acid, PCPEG was more effective in promoting starch chain movement and inhibiting the retrogradation of starch film. Also, PCPEG/MS had smaller moisture content. The longer the plasticizer chain, the better were the aging resistance and moisture resistance of starch. But with an increase of PEG chain length, mechanical properties of PCPEG/MS deteriorated and the compatibility between PCPEG and MS decreased. The hyperbranched derivative of PEG with longer chain exhibited improved plasticization and compatibility with starch. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

125I粒子条联合胆道支架植入治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸22例疗效分析

【摘要】　 　目的 研究和探讨125I粒子条联合胆道支架植入治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸的临床疗效。方法 2011年6月—2013年9月收治恶性梗阻性黄疸患者40例。行胆道支架植入术治疗患者18例，为对照组；采用125I粒子条联合胆道支架植入患者22例，为观察组。两组均采用经皮肝穿刺胆道引流（PTCD）并胆道支架植入。结果 观察组与对照组的平均胆道开通时间分别为（8.7 ± 0.7）和（6.2 ± 0.4）个月，两组比较差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。观察组与对照组术后平均生存时间分别为（11.4 ± 0.8）和（8.7 ± 0.5）个月，生存时间的差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。术后近期疗效及并发症两组之间的比较无明显差异（P > 0.05），但是远期疗效有显著差异（P < 0.05）。结论 与对照组相比，观察组的术后生存时间及胆道开通时间明显延长，对于125I粒子条联合支架治疗恶性梗阻性黄疸值得进一步临床研究。
     

The effect of charge on the dihydrogen storage capacity of Sc2–C6H6

The effect of charge on the dihydrogen storage capacity of Sc₂–C₆H₆ has been investigated at B3LYP-D3/6-311G(d,p) level. The neutral system Sc₂–C₆H₆ can store 8H₂ with gravimetric density of 8.76 wt %, and one H₂ dissociates and bonds atomically on the scandium atom. The adsorption of 8H₂ on Sc₂–C₆H₆ is energetically favorable below 155 K. The atom-centered density matrix propagation (ADMP) molecular dynamics simulations show that Sc₂–C₆H₆ can adsorb 3H₂ within 1000 fs at 300K. Compared with Sc₂–C₆H₆, the charged systems can adsorb more hydrogen molecules with higher gravimetric density, and all the H₂ are adsorbed in the molecular form. The gravimetric densities of Sc₂–C₆H₆⁺ and Sc₂–C₆H₆²⁺ are 9.75 and 10.71 wt%. Moreover, the maximum adsorption of charged systems are favorable in wider temperature range. Most importantly, the ADMP-MD simulations indicate that Sc₂–C₆H₆²⁺ can adsorb 6 hydrogen molecules within 1000 fs at 300K. It can be found that the gravimetric density (6.72 wt%) of Sc₂–C₆H₆²⁺ still exceeds the target of US Department of Energy (DOE) under ambient conditions.     

Real-time molecular characterization of air pollutants in a Hong Kong residence: Implication of indoor source emissions and heterogeneous chemistry

Due to the high health risks associated with indoor air pollutants and long-term exposure, indoor air quality has received increasing attention. In this study, we put emphasis on the molecular composition, source emissions, and chemical aging of air pollutants in a residence with designed activities mimicking ordinary Hong Kong homes. More than 150 air pollutants were detected at molecular level, 87 of which were quantified at a time resolution of not less than 1 hour. The indoor-to-outdoor ratios were higher than 1 for most of the primary air pollutants, due to emissions of indoor activities and indoor backgrounds (especially for aldehydes). In contrast, many secondary air pollutants exhibited higher concentrations in outdoor air. Painting ranked first in aldehyde emissions, which also caused great enhancement of aromatics. Incense burning had the highest emissions of particle-phase organics, with vanillic acid and syringic acid as markers. The other noteworthy fingerprints enabled by online measurements included linoleic acid, cholesterol, and oleic acid for cooking, 2,5-dimethylfuran, stigmasterol, iso-/anteiso-alkanes, and fructose isomers for smoking, C₂₈-C₃₄ even n-alkanes for candle burning, and monoterpenes for the use of air freshener, cleaning agents, and camphor oil. We showed clear evidence of chemical aging of cooking emissions, giving a hint of indoor heterogeneous chemistry. This study highlights the value of organic molecules measured at high time resolutions in enhancing our knowledge on indoor air quality.     

Indoor solid fuel use for heating and cooking with blood pressure and hypertension: A cross-sectional study among middle-aged and older adults in China

A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the impact of solid fuel use for heating and cooking on blood pressure (BP) and hypertension, using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The primary fuels used for indoor heating and cooking were collected by questionnaires, respectively. Hypertension was defined based on self-report of physician's diagnosis, and/or measured BP, and/or anti-hypertensive medication use. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to assess the associations. Among 10 450 eligible participants, 68.2% and 57.2% used indoor solid fuel for heating and cooking, respectively. Compared with none/clean fuel users, solid fuel for heating was associated with elevated BP (adjusted β: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.04–3.01 for systolic BP; adjusted β: 1.36, 95% CI: 0.78–1.94 for diastolic BP) and increased risk of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03–1.29). The impact of indoor solid fuel for heating on BP was more evident in rural and north residents, and hypertensive patients. We did not detect any significant associations between solid fuel use for cooking and BP/hypertension. Indoor solid fuel use is prevalent in China, especially in the rural areas. Its negative impact on BP suggested that modernization of household fuel use may help to reduce the burden of hypertension in China.