Latest ArticlesCultural relics have their unique artistic, cultural and historical value, and the protection of important cultural relics is conducive to the inheritance of historical culture. As a kind of cementing agent and binder commonly seen in cultural relics protection, epoxy resin is widely used in the bonding and consolidation of various materials in cultural relics, which has important practical application value. In this review, a systematic classification of commonly used epoxy resins, including their molecular structures, synthesis reactions and properties are provided, the problems and solutions of epoxy resin in cultural relics protection are summarized. The solutions are classified into three aspects: functional epoxy resin, blending modification, and other modification. Representative application examples of epoxy resin are listed in the field of cultural relics protection, and the development direction of epoxy resin in cultural relics protection in the future is proposed, which provides useful guidance for the modification of epoxy resin and its application in cultural relics protection in the future.
Numerous supramolecular macrocycles have been utilized for developing catalysts by exploiting their specific molecular recognition and ability to form inclusion complexes through noncovalent interactions. The cyclic structure and modified functional groups of these macrocycles can influence substrate and transition state stability, as well as reaction selectivity. The inner cavities of these macrocycles are particularly beneficial, as they enable substrates to adopt preorganized arrangements and serve as versatile platforms for highly efficient supramolecular catalytic systems. This minireview provides an overview of recent advancements in supramolecular catalysis using various macrocycles, such as crown ethers, cyclodextrins, calixarenes, pillararenes, cucurbiturils, and other novel macrocycles.
Palladium-exchanged chabazite (Pd-CHA) zeolites as passive NOx adsorbers (PNAs) enable efficient purification of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in cold-start diesel exhausts. Their commercial application, however, is limited by the lack of facile preparation method. Here, high-performance CHA-type Pd-SAPO-34 zeolite was synthesized by a modified solid-state ion exchange (SSIE) method using PdO as Pd precursor, and demonstrated superior PNA performance as compared to Pd-SAPO-34 prepared by conventional wet-chemistry strategies. Structural characterization using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction revealed that the SSIE method avoided water-induced damage to the zeolite framework during Pd loading. Mechanistic investigations on the SSIE process by in situ infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy disclosed that, while PdO precursor was mainly converted to Pd2+ cations coordinated to the zeolite framework by consuming the -OH groups of the zeolite, a portion of PdO could also undergo thermal decomposition to form highly dispersed Pd0 clusters in the pore channels. This simplified and scalable SSIE method paves a new way for the cost-effective synthesis of defect-free high-performance Pd-SAPO-34 zeolites as PNA catalysts.
The surface tension of troposphere aerosols can significantly influence their atmospheric processes and key properties, particularly on the morphology, the phase transition, the activation as cloud condensation nuclei, and the gas-particle partitioning. However, directly measuring the surface tension of single ambient aerosol is quite challenging, due to the limitations of their picolitre volumes and thermal motion. Here, we developed a dual laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (DLT-RS) system to directly sense the surface tension of single airborne microdroplets (PM10 particles). A pair of aerosol droplets were trapped and driven to coalesce by the laser tweezers. Meanwhile, the backscattering light intensity and bright-field images during the coalescence process were recorded to characterize the aerosol surface tension. A remarkable advantage of directly sensing aerosol surface tension is that the solutes in aerosols are often supersaturated, which is common in atmospheric aerosols but almost unavailable in bulk solutions. We experimentally measured the surface tension of aerosols composed of nitrates or oxalic acid/nitrate mixture. Besides, the variation of surface tension during aerosol aging process was also explored, which brings possible implications on the surface evolution of actual ambient aerosol during their atmospheric lifetime.
Aging is a natural physiological process with various challenges, related to the loss of homeostasis within the organism, which is not a disease, but a significantly strong risk factor for multiple diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, some age-related cancers, macular degeneration, osteoarthritis, neurodegeneration, and many others. In the body, the main manifestation of aging is cellular aging, which exists within tissues and has a local or global impact on tissue function. However, the lack of effective aging detection tools has always been an issue that cannot be ignored in the field of aging research. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a non-invasive tool for in vivo detection of aging. Here, we show that the photoacoustic probe (LGAL), which has peak excitation and emission wavelengths in the near-infrared optical window, binds in vivo and at high contrast to the hallmark of aging, and allows for the microscopic imaging of aging through the intact mice. Firstly, this tool LGAL has been successfully applied to detect senescence in cells, displaying stronger photoacoustic signals than normal cells. Then, by using the photoacoustic probe, the blood vessels and tissues inside the mice can be visualized. Young and elderly mice exhibit varying intensities of photoacoustic signals, marking the first time a probe has been used to explore the aging of blood vessels and tissues inside the mice. Finally, we monitored the changes in the degree of aging during tumor treatment under photoacoustic (PA) imaging for the first time. As the treatment time increased, the degree of aging of the tumor gradually deepened. We expect the powerful tool could be a noninvasive and powerful tool for the study of aging biology.
Schiff base metal complexes are of great importance in pharmaceutical science owing to their unique chemical properties, which enable them to exhibit diverse biological activities such as anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. Furthermore, Schiff base metal complexes can serve as reagents and catalysts in chemical reactions. This review aims to provide an overview of our recently published studies on Cu(Ⅱ) and Pd(Ⅱ) complexes derived from proline Schiff base ligands. We also discuss the potential applications of these metal complexes in the fields of antibacterial and chiral resolution.
The photovoltaic properties of double-cable conjugated polymers are significantly influenced by the length of the alkyl linkers that connect donor backbones and acceptor side units. In this study, a series of 2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-ylidene)malononitrile (IC)-based double-cable polymers with alkyl linkers ranging from C8H16 to C16H32 (Px, x = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) were synthesized for single-component organic solar cells (SCOSCs). Among these, the linker length x = 12 (P12) is found to optimize the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in SCOSCs. Specifically, PCEs increase from P8 to P12 and then decline from P12 to P16. Detailed investigations of optical absorption, charge transport, and morphology provide insights into the underlying factors contributing to these PCE variations. The findings indicate that the exceptional photovoltaic properties observed in P12 can be attributed to three key factors: A delicate balance between enhanced charge separation facilitated by the increased spacer length and reduced crystallinity resulting from longer spacers, higher charge mobilities, and well-balanced hole/electron transport characteristics. This study highlights the critical role of linker length in determining the photovoltaic properties of double-cable conjugated polymer-based SCOSCs and offers valuable guidance for the design of novel double-cable conjugated polymers.
Indole-derived radical cations, open-shell reactive species, display distinctive dual reactivity due to the carbon-centered radical and more electrophilic carbocation, which frequently appear in a variety of single electron oxidation reactions for synthesizing structurally diverse functionalized indoles and indolines. Electrocatalysis is considered as a synthetically attractive and environmentally friendly alternative for driving the single electron oxidation of indoles. Remarkable achievements in electrocatalytic indole-derived radical cation-mediated indole functionalization have been realized so far. This review comprehensively summarizes the recent progresses in the applications of electrocatalytic indole radical cations, including C(sp2)–H functionalization, dearomative 2,3-difunctionalization, and ring-opening reaction, emphasizing the vital single electron oxidation steps of indoles, the substrates scope and limitations, and the reaction mechanisms.
RNA modifications have been involved in numerous biological processes, and aberrations of these modifications are tightly associated with various diseases including cancer. Herein, we developed graphene-based solid-phase extraction and robust ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with stable isotope-dilution for simultaneous enrichment and accurate determination of 17 modified nucleosides in human urine. We found graphene could effectively adsorb various modified nucleosides in human urine samples. With this method, we identified and quantified these modified nucleosides in urine samples collected from lung cancer patients and healthy controls. We revealed that the levels of 12 modified nucleosides were all diminished in urine from lung cancer patients, compared with healthy controls. It is worth noting that we demonstrated, for the first time, the presence of 5,2′-O-dimethyluridine (m5Um) in human urine. Together, we established a robust analytical method for simultaneous determinations of 17 modified nucleosides in human urine, and our results revealed a close correlation between the concentrations of urinary modified nucleosides and the occurrence of lung cancer, implying the potential applications of these modified nucleosides as noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of lung cancer. Moreover, this study will stimulate future investigations on the regulatory roles of RNA modifications in the initiation and progression of lung cancer.
High-temperature proton exchange membranes (HT-PEMs) possess excellent thermal and outstanding electrochemical stability, providing an avenue to realize high-temperature proton exchange membranes fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) with both superior power density and long-term durability. Unfortunately, polybenzimidazole (PBI), a typical material for conventional HT-PEMs, fails to compromise the high nonaqueous proton conductivity and high mechanical properties, thus hindering their practical applications. Achieving efficient nonaqueous proton conduction is crucial for HT-PEMFC, and many insightful research works have been done in this area. However, there still lacks a report that integrates the host-guest interactions of phosphoric acid doping and the structural stability of polymers to systematically illustrate modification strategies. Here, we summarize recent advancements in enhancing the nonaqueous proton conduction of HT-PEMs. Various polymer structure modification strategies, including main chain and side group modification, cross-linking, blocking, and branching, are reviewed. Composite approaches of polymer, including compounding with organic porous polymers, filling the inorganic components and modifying with ionic liquids, etc., are also covered in this work. These strategies endow the HT-PEMs with more free volume, nanophase-separated structure, and multi-stage proton transfer channels, which can facilitate the proton transportation and improve their performance. Finally, current challenges and future directions for further enhancements are also outlined.
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