Latest ArticlesThe geometrically multiplied development of 2D MXenes has already promoted the prosperity of various fields of scientific researches especially but not limited in energy storage and conversion. Notably, cation intercalation can improve the interlayer spacing of MXenes resulting in tunable physical and chemical properties. Moreover, the synchrotron radiation X-ray characterizations have also shown high potential on exploring the property and structure of cation intercalated MXenes. This review is mainly focused on the recent achievements of cation intercalated MXenes through different methods on energy storage systems. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopic characterizations are emphasized to probe the local coordination and electronic structure in intercalated MXenes. The outlook of cation intercalation on MXenes and their applications are also discussed.
In this study, two-dimensional V2CTx MXene has been prepared by selectively etching Al layers from V2AlC MAX phase by NaF+HCl etching at 90 ℃ for 72 h and its performance as supercapacitor (SC) electrode were tested using simulating seawater as electrolyte. V2CTx MXene-based electrodes shows a good capacitance of 181.1 F/g, which is in accordance with the volumetric specific capacitance of 317.8 F/cm3, and with 89.1% capacitance retention even after 5000 cycle. Compared with other MXenes, V2CTx have better electrochemical performance as SC electrode. This work provides an innovative strategy to apply V2CTx MXene as SC electrode in safety and effective seawater electrolyte.
Indoor photovoltaics have attracted increasing attentions owing to their great potential in supplying energy for low power devices under indoor light in our daily life. The third generation thin-film solar cells, including dye-sensitized solar cells, perovskite solar cells and organic solar cells, have made rapid progress from the aspect of materials design to photovoltaic performance. This review provides an overview on the recent advances in the development of indoor photovoltaic technologies based on the third generation solar cells. The design principles of advanced thin-film indoor photovoltaics were also summarized according to the characteristics of indoor light and the advantages of the third generation solar cells. Finally, after summarizing the current research progress, the perspective on this topic is provided.
The temperature-dependent structural changes in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoride ([Bmim]FeCl4) magnetic ionic liquid (MIL) were investigated by using in-situ X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) combined with Raman spectroscopy and DFTcalculations. XAFS results revealed that the coordination number and bond length of Fe-Cl in the anion of[Bmim]FeCl4 MIL decreased with increments in temperature. These results directly reflected the dissociation of tetrahedral structure[FeCl4]-, and the formation of bridge-chain[Fe2Cl5]+, and[FeCl2]+ species in the anion of[Bmim]FeCl4 MIL. These behaviors indicated that[FeCl4]- dissociation was endothermic, and was promoted by increased temperature. The results obtained through XAFS were in agreement with those obtained through Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations.
The 1, 2-dibromoethane-and KI-mediated α-acyloxylation of ketones is reported in moderate to good yield without the use of transition metals and strong oxidants. Various acids are well tolerated with wide functional group compatibility. An 1, 2-dibromoethane-and KI-catalysed reaction mechanism is proposed based on the results of control experiments.
Developing large scale deposition techniques to fabricate thin porous films with suitable opto-electronic properties for water catalysis is a necessity to mitigate climate change and have a sustainable environment. In this review, flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) technique, a rapid and scalable methodology to synthesize nanostructured transitional metal oxide films with designed functionalities, is firstly introduced. Furthermore, applications in electrochemical (EC) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting for the production of hydrogen fuel is also presented. The high combustion temperature and the aggregation of flame aerosol ensure that the FSP-made films possess high crystallinity, tunable porosity and high surface areas, making this method suitable either as catalysts for EC water splitting or as efficient semiconductor materials for PEC water splitting. Finally, a perspective on the next generation FSP engineered films with potential applications in energy storage and conversion is described.
Here we described the design and synthesis of a discrete 3D amphiphilic metallacage 4, in which the tetragonal prismatic frameworks act as the hydrophobic cores and the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains as the hydrophilic tails. The structure of 4 was characterized by 1H NMR, 31P NMR and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS). Notably, 4 with its long PEG tails was subsequently ordered into micelles at a low concentration (1.20 ×10-6 mol/L) in water. As the concentration and cultivation time increased, the micelles can further self-assembly into nanofibers and nanoribbons. Considering the dynamic property of the coordination bond, these structures show reversible transformation under external stimuli.
Two series of sulfur-containing diarylbenzopyrimidines are designed by the fragment combination of a thioacetamide with our previous disclosed DABP 3 and further oxidation. The best compound 6e with a sulfonyl scaffold displayed EC50 values of 0.0356 μmol/L against WT and 0.0228 μmol/L against HIV K103N mutant strain. More pronounced, it had a lower cytotoxicity (CC50=99.6 μmol/L), higher selectivity index (SIWT=2799, SIK103N=4375) and better calculated logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (cLogP) than the lead compound 3. Molecular docking and dynamics provided the binding modes of these compounds with reverse transcriptase, explaining their activity. Collectively, the new compounds could be candidates for anti-HIV drug discovery.
This research reports a novel heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst which could freely move through the model sediments and easily seize the pollutants in addition to efficiently catalyze H2O2, well suitable for soil and groundwater remediation. Herein, submicron γ-Fe2O3/C spheres were synthesized through a facile one-step aerosol-based process. In a series of column tests, these spheres exhibit better transport ability due to their optimal size, conforming to the prediction by the Tufenkji-Elimelech filtration theory. Meanwhile, γ-Fe2O3/C spheres could act as a strong adsorbent for organic pollutants owing to the presence of carbon, thereby providing a driving force to gather contaminants into their vicinity and facilitating the reaction. In addition, immobilization of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles into carbon spheres protects iron oxides from aggregation, and thus retains the number of active sites for catalytic decomposition of H2O2. Hence, the system containing the as-prepared γ-Fe2O3/C spheres and H2O2 shows the high removal efficiency and degradation efficiency in the remediation of recalcitrant organic contaminants such as methylene blue and sulfamethoxazole.
It is of a great challenge to develop semiconductor photocatalysts with potential possibilities to simultaneously enhance photocatalytic efficiency and inhibit generation of toxic intermediates. In this study, we developed a facile method to induce the La doping and cationic vacancie (VZn) on ZnO for the highly efficient complete NO oxidation. The photocatalytic NO removal efficiency increases from 36.2% to 53.6%. Most importantly, a significant suppressed NO2 production also has been realized. According to the DFTcalculations, ESR spectra and in situ FTIR spectra, the introduction of La3+ induce the redistribution of charge carriers in La-ZnO, which promote the production of·O2- and lead to the formation of VZn for the formation of·OH, contributing to the complete oxidation of NO to nitrate. Besides, the conversion pathway of photocatalytic NO oxidation has been elaborated. This work paves a new way to simultaneously realize the photocatalytic pollutants removal and the inhibition of toxic intermediates generation for efficient and safe air purification.
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