Metal-support interaction is of great significance for catalysis as it can induce charge transfer between metal and support, tame electronic structure of supported metals, impact adsorption energy of ...reaction intermediates, and eventually change the catalytic performance. Here, we report the metal size-dependent charge transfer reversal, that is, electrons transfer from platinum single atoms to sulfur-doped carbons and the carbon supports conversely donate electrons to Pt when their size is expanded to ~1.5 nm cluster. The electron-enriched Pt nanoclusters are far more active than electron-deficient Pt single atoms for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction, exhibiting only 11 mV overpotential at 10 mA cm
and a high mass activity of 26.1 A mg
at 20 mV, which is 38 times greater than that of commercial Pt/C. Our work manifests that the manipulation of metal size-dependent charge transfer between metal and support opens new avenues for developing high-active catalysts.
Crystal-phase engineering offers opportunities for the rational design and synthesis of noble metal nanomaterials with unusual crystal phases that normally do not exist in bulk materials. However, it ...remains a challenge to use these materials as seeds to construct heterometallic nanostructures with desired crystal phases and morphologies for promising applications such as catalysis. Here, we report a strategy for the synthesis of binary and ternary hybrid noble metal nanostructures. Our synthesized crystal-phase heterostructured 4H/fcc Au nanowires enable the epitaxial growth of Ru nanorods on the 4H phase and fcc-twin boundary in Au nanowires, resulting in hybrid Au-Ru nanowires. Moreover, the method can be extended to the epitaxial growth of Rh, Ru-Rh and Ru-Pt nanorods on the 4H/fcc Au nanowires to form unique hybrid nanowires. Importantly, the Au-Ru hybrid nanowires with tunable compositions exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance towards the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media.
Organic heterostructures (OHSs) integrating the intrinsic heterostructure characters as well as the organic semiconductor properties have attracted intensive attention in material chemistry. However, ...the precise bottom-up synthesis of OHSs is still challenging owing to the general occurrence of homogeneous-nucleation and the difficult manipulation of noncovalent interactions. Herein, we present the rational synthesis of the longitudinally/horizontally-epitaxial growth of one-dimensional OHSs including triblock and core/shell nanowires with quantitatively-manipulated microstructure via a hierarchical self-assembly method by regulating the noncovalent interactions: hydrogen bond (-15.66 kcal mol
) > halogen bond (-4.90 kcal mol
) > π-π interaction (-0.09 kcal mol
). In the facet-selective epitaxial growth strategy, the lattice-matching and the surface-interface energy balance respectively facilitate the realization of triblock and core/shell heterostructures. This hierarchical self-assembly approach opens up avenues to the fine synthesis of OHSs. We foresee application possibilities in integrated optoelectronics, such as the nanoscale multiple input/out optical logic gate with high-fidelity signal.
Phase control plays an important role in the precise synthesis of inorganic materials, as the phase structure has a profound influence on properties such as conductivity and chemical stability. ...Phase-controlled preparation has been challenging for the metallic-phase group-VI transition metal dichalcogenides (the transition metals are Mo and W, and the chalcogens are S, Se and Te), which show better performance in electrocatalysis than their semiconducting counterparts. Here, we report the large-scale preparation of micrometre-sized metallic-phase 1T′-MoX2 (X = S, Se)-layered bulk crystals in high purity. We reveal that 1T′-MoS2 crystals feature a distorted octahedral coordination structure and are convertible to 2H-MoS2 following thermal annealing or laser irradiation. Electrochemical measurements show that the basal plane of 1T′-MoS2 is much more active than that of 2H-MoS2 for the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction in an acidic medium.
Abstract
Supported metal nanoclusters consisting of several dozen atoms are highly attractive for heterogeneous catalysis with unique catalytic properties. However, the metal nanocluster catalysts ...face the challenges of thermal sintering and consequent deactivation owing to the loss of metal surface areas particularly in the applications of high-temperature reactions. Here, we report that sulfur—a documented poison reagent for metal catalysts—when doped in a carbon matrix can stabilize ~1 nanometer metal nanoclusters (Pt, Ru, Rh, Os, and Ir) at high temperatures up to 700 °C. We find that the enhanced adhesion strength between metal nanoclusters and the sulfur-doped carbon support, which arises from the interfacial metal-sulfur bonding, greatly retards both metal atom diffusion and nanocluster migration. In catalyzing propane dehydrogenation at 550 °C, the sulfur-doped carbon supported Pt nanocluster catalyst with interfacial electronic effects exhibits higher selectivity to propene as well as more stable durability than sulfur-free carbon supported catalysts.
Microglia dynamically survey the brain parenchyma. Microglial processes interact with neuronal elements; however, what role neuronal network activity plays in regulating microglial dynamics is not ...entirely clear. Most studies of microglial dynamics use either slice preparations or in vivo imaging in anesthetized mice. Here we demonstrate that microglia in awake mice have a relatively reduced process area and surveillance territory and that reduced neuronal activity under general anesthesia increases microglial process velocity, extension and territory surveillance. Similarly, reductions in local neuronal activity through sensory deprivation or optogenetic inhibition increase microglial process surveillance. Using pharmacological and chemogenetic approaches, we demonstrate that reduced norepinephrine signaling is necessary for these increases in microglial process surveillance. These findings indicate that under basal physiological conditions, noradrenergic tone in awake mice suppresses microglial process surveillance. Our results emphasize the importance of awake imaging for studying microglia-neuron interactions and demonstrate how neuronal activity influences microglial process dynamics.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The development of high‐efficiency bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER) is critical for rechargeable metal–air batteries, a typical electrochemical ...energy storage and conversion technology. This work reports a general approach for the synthesis of Pd@PdO–Co3O4 nanocubes using the zeolite‐type metal–organic framework (MOF) as a template. The as‐synthesized materials exhibit a high electrocatalytic activity toward OER and ORR, which is comparable to those of commercial RuO2 and Pt/C electrocatalysts, while its cycle performance and stability are much higher than those of commercial RuO2 and Pt/C electrocatalysts. Various physicochemical characterizations and density functional theory calculations indicate that the favorable electrochemical performance of the Pd@PdO–Co3O4 nanocubes is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between PdO and the robust hollow structure composed of interconnected crystalline Co3O4 nanocubes. This work establishes an efficient approach for the controlled design and synthesis of MOF‐templated hybrid nanomaterials, and provides a great potential for developing high‐performance electrocatalysts in energy storage and conversion.
This work reports a general approach to synthesize Pd@PdO‐Co3O4 nanocubes using the zeolite‐type metal–organic framework (MOF) as a template. The as‐synthesized material exhibits a high electrocatalytic activity toward Oxygen evolution and reduction reactions (OER and ORR). Synergistic effects between PdO and the robust hollow structure crystalline Co3O4 nanocubes are the main contributions to the catalyst's excellent performance.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Postsynthetic ion exchange of Co2(μ-Cl)2(btta) (MAF-X27-Cl, H2bbta =1H,5H-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d′)bistriazole) possessing open metal sites on its pore surface yields a material Co2(μ-OH)2(bbta) ...(MAF-X27-OH) functionalized by both open metal sites and hydroxide ligands, giving drastically improved electrocatalytic activities for the oxygen evolution reaction (an overpotential of 292 mV at 10.0 mA cm–2 in 1.0 M KOH solution). Isotope tracing experiments further confirm that the hydroxide ligands are involved in the OER process to provide a low-energy intraframework coupling pathway.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The pandemics induced by emerging SARS‐CoV‐2 variants and monkeypox virus infection have triggered the urgent need for broad‐spectrum vaccines. Except for “super” antigen designs, pattern recognition ...receptor (PRR) agonist‐based adjuvants might blaze a new trail, through enhancing the immune response of conserved antigen epitopes shared among variants for cross‐protection. Ideal adjuvants with proper adjustments could be conveniently applied to different antigens and antigen types in response to new pandemics. However, general strategies for modulating PRR agonist‐based adjuvant properties to tailor the optimal immunity remain to be further explored. Here, an adjuvant platform STINGsome is described, composed of a STING agonist and pH‐switchable IP9 liposomes, to simulate viral infection via STING activation and necroptosis. STINGsomes function as an efficient adjuvant to elicit broad and potent immune responses against multiple SARS‐CoV‐2 VOCs (Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4/5) and a monkeypox virus. More importantly, the adjuvant properties of STINGsomes can be tuned by simply adjusting the IP9 percentage, owing to distinct kinetics from local release to lymph node stimulation. Thus, this study provides a relatively simple strategy to adapt an adjuvant platform to different pathogenic antigens, ultimately achieving optimal protective responses.
Viral infection triggers multiple host defense pathways such as STING and inflammatory cell death to generate inflammation. A biomimetic adjuvant STINGsome, composed of CDNs and IP9 liposomes, is constructed to simulate viral infection via STING activation and necroptosis. STINGsomes elicited broad and potent immune responses against SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron subvariants and monkeypox virus, which can be tuned by adjusting IP9 percentage.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Exploration of low‐cost and earth‐abundant photocatalysts for highly efficient solar photocatalytic water splitting is of great importance. Although transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) showed ...outstanding performance as co‐catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), designing TMD‐hybridized photocatalysts with abundant active sites for the HER still remains challenge. Here, a facile one‐pot wet‐chemical method is developed to prepare MS2–CdS (M=W or Mo) nanohybrids. Surprisedly, in the obtained nanohybrids, single‐layer MS2 nanosheets with lateral size of 4–10 nm selectively grow on the Cd‐rich (0001) surface of wurtzite CdS nanocrystals. These MS2–CdS nanohybrids possess a large number of edge sites in the MS2 layers, which are active sites for the HER. The photocatalytic performances of WS2–CdS and MoS2–CdS nanohybrids towards the HER under visible light irradiation (>420 nm) are about 16 and 12 times that of pure CdS, respectively. Importantly, the MS2–CdS nanohybrids showed enhanced stability after a long‐time test (16 h), and 70 % of catalytic activity still remained.
A single layer makes the difference: MS2–CdS (M=W or Mo) nanohybrids with single‐layer MS2 nanosheets selectively grown on the Cd‐rich (0001) surface of wurtzite CdS nanocrystals (see picture) are synthesized by a facile one‐pot wet‐chemical method. The MS2–CdS nanohybrids showed excellent photocatalytic activity towards the hydrogen evolution reaction and good stability.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK