Abstract
Artificial photosynthesis, light-driving CO
2
conversion into hydrocarbon fuels, is a promising strategy to synchronously overcome global warming and energy-supply issues. The quaternary ...AgInP
2
S
6
atomic layer with the thickness of ~ 0.70 nm were successfully synthesized through facile ultrasonic exfoliation of the corresponding bulk crystal. The sulfur defect engineering on this atomic layer through a H
2
O
2
etching treatment can excitingly change the CO
2
photoreduction reaction pathway to steer dominant generation of ethene with the yield-based selectivity reaching ~73% and the electron-based selectivity as high as ~89%. Both DFT calculation and
in-situ
FTIR spectra demonstrate that as the introduction of S vacancies in AgInP
2
S
6
causes the charge accumulation on the Ag atoms near the S vacancies, the exposed Ag sites can thus effectively capture the forming *CO molecules. It makes the catalyst surface enrich with key reaction intermediates to lower the C-C binding coupling barrier, which facilitates the production of ethene.
Over the past few decades, the design and development of advanced catalysts for efficient energy conversion technologies have undergone extensive study. Black phosphorus (BP) is considered to be one ...of the most promising catalysts, exhibiting remarkable performance and drawing significant attention, because of its extraordinary physicochemical properties: a unique layered structure, anisotropic structure, tunable direct bandgap, and ultrahigh charge mobility. In this review, the fundamentals of bulk BP, single‐ and few‐layer phosphorene, and BP quantum dots are briefly introduced, along with their crystal structure, optical and electrical properties, stability, and synthetic methods. Furthermore, recent progress toward diverse BP‐based materials for photo‐ and electrocatalysis for renewable energy is summarized, specifically focusing on water splitting, CO2 conversion, and nitrogen fixation. Finally, the challenges ahead for these BP‐based catalysts are also emphasized, alongside and perspectives on their further development as part of the this fast‐flourishing renewable energy field.
This review summarizes the fundamentals of black phosphorus‐based structures including basic properties, synthesis, and stability, specifically focusing on the application for photo‐ and electrocatalysis‐driven energy conversion.
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has gradually proved to be a powerful tool with wide applications in various fields. Here, a simple and rapid SERS method was developed for the ...determination of ketamine in urine based on silver aggregates as a SERS substrate. Ketamine in urine were demonstrated by the SERS technique with silver sol aggregated by a 0.5 M NaBr solution. The limit of detection for ketamine in urine could be obtained as low as 7.5 ppm, and a linear relationship for ketamine in urine between the Raman intensity and the concentrations was achieved in the range from 7.5 to 150 ppm (R2 = 0.977). Additionally, the recovery of this method ranged from 95.7 to 104.9%, which laid a favorable foundation for the rapid and reliable quantitative detection of ketamine in urine. Therefore, this SERS approach with high sensitivity and simplicity has a great prospect for the real-world application of ketamine in urine.
A visible-light responsive photocatalyst was fabricated by anchoring NiTi-layered double hydroxide (NiTi-LDH) nanosheets to the surface of reduced graphene oxide sheets (RGO) via an in situ growth ...method; the resulting NiTi-LDH/RGO composite displays excellent photocatalytic activity toward water splitting into oxygen with a rate of 1.968 mmol g–1 h–1 and a quantum efficiency as high as 61.2% at 500 nm, which is among the most effective visible-light photocatalysts. XRD patterns and SEM images indicate that the NiTi-LDH nanosheets (diameter: 100–200 nm) are highly dispersed on the surface of RGO. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy exhibits that the introduction of RGO enhances the visible-light absorption range of photocatalysts, which is further verified by the largely decreased band gap (∼1.78 eV) studied by cyclic voltammetry measurements. Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) measurements indicate a more efficient separation of electron–hole pairs; electron spin resonance (ESR) and Raman scattering spectroscopy confirm the electrons transfer from NiTi-LDH nanosheets to RGO, accounting for the largely enhanced carrier mobility and the resulting photocatalytic activity in comparison with pristine NiTi-LDH material. Therefore, this work demonstrates a facile approach for the fabrication of visible-light responsive NiTi-LDH/RGO composite photocatalysts, which can be used as a promising candidate in solar energy conversion and environmental science.
Estazolam (EST) is a common sedative-hypnotic drug with a risk of abuse. Therefore, rapid on-site detection of EST is necessary to control the abuse of EST. In this paper, a fast, simple, and ...sensitive method is demonstrated for the detection of EST in both water and beverages, using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) techniques. Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) assembled on the filter paper as a SERS substrate exhibit good applicability and practicality. At the same time, density functional theory (DFT) is used to assign the vibration mode of the EST molecules, which can be used as a guide for subsequent experiments. The lowest detectable concentration of EST in aqueous solution can be as low as 5 mg/L, and signal uniformity is excellent (RSD687 = 5.56%, RSD1000 = 4.35%). In addition, EST components artificially added to orange juice and pomegranate juice can be effectively detected by simple pretreatment with a minimum detection concentration as low as 10 mg/L. Therefore, this study found that the use of Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles paper-based SERS substrate provides a quick and easy method for the detection of illegally added drugs in beverages.
In this investigation, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology was performed to detect bucinnazine hydrochloride (BH) injection in water and urine. The theoretical Raman spectrum of BH ...with characteristic peaks was calculated and identified by density functional theory (DFT). Employing an improved silver sol as a SERS active substrate, the SERS spectra of a BH solution with different concentrations were acquired with a 0.5 mol/L KI solution as an aggregation agent. It was determined that the limit of detection (LOD) was low, to 0.01 μg/mL. A good linear relationship of BH between the Raman intensity and the concentrations was obtained in water at a concentration range from 0.5 to 6 μg/mL (R2 = 0.9914), which laid a favorable foundation for quantitative analysis. In addition, the recovery rate of spiked samples from 95.13 to 120.54% were calculated. Finally, the detection of BH injection in artificial urine was completed and the detection limit could reach 0.5 μg/mL, which met the requirements of a rapid on-site detection of drugs in urine. As a result, it indicates that the inspection of BH by the SERS method is with simplicity and high sensitivity, having a great potential for real-time detection.
Today’s chemical industry is a pillar of our modern society, but it heavily relies on the consumption of non-renewable fossil fuels. The reaction conditions required to drive most of the chemical ...processes require high energy input, resulting in the consumption of significant amounts of dwindling reserves of fossil fuels. Therefore, more sustainable pathways are much sought after to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and ameliorate the effects of climate change. Inspired by photosynthesis and its ability to convert CO2 and H2O to hydrocarbons, this Perspective focuses on recent advances in catalytic small-molecule activation and conversion. It will consider reactions of C-H (CH4, benzene), C=O (CO and CO2), N≡N bonds, and other fine chemicals syntheses (e.g., C-C and S-S bond coupling), driven by either solar or thermal energy. The paper also discusses the future opportunities and challenges by highlighting some strategies for the development of efficient solar or thermal catalysis processes.
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Thermal catalytic technologies currently available for today’s chemical industry (e.g., Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis) require high temperatures (>400°C) and pressures (many atmospheres) to achieve viable N2 conversions. Various green alternative technologies are now being pursued for N2 and other small-molecule (such as CH4 and CO2) activation and conversion. Solar-driven catalysis is particularly attractive because of the abundance of solar energy on Earth as well as its high selectivity under mild reaction conditions, potentially providing an alternative green and sustainable route for energy conversion and/or storage. This Perspective focuses on the recent advances in small molecules (CH4, benzene, CO, CO2, and N2) and fine chemical synthesis by either solar or thermal catalysis and presents a critical assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of solar-driven catalysis, as compared with the traditional thermal catalysis, in terms of catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability. A classification of various mechanisms between solar-driven and thermal catalysis will be clearly summarized to provide a systematic understanding on the chemical bonding activation and reaction and resulting in a new vista for future research on catalytic energy conversion/storage.
Inspired by photosynthesis and its ability to convert CO2 to hydrocarbons, this Perspective focuses on the recent advances in catalytic small-molecule activation and conversion by photo(electro), photovoltaic, or photothermal catalysts and thermal catalysts. It will consider some industrial-scaled reactions of C-H (CH4, benzene), C=O (CO and CO2), and N≡N bonds, as well as other fine chemical syntheses (e.g., C-C/S-S bond coupling), which have been shown to be successfully driven by thermal energy or solar energy on the laboratory scale.
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Dr. Wa Gao obtained her PhD degree in June 2016 from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, where she mainly worked on the rational design of layered double-hydroxide materials in ...the transformation of synthesis gas under the supervision of Prof. Xue Duan. Later, she joined Prof. Ding Ma’s group as a postdoctoral fellow at Peking University. Her current research focuses on designing high-performance catalysts for activation and selective conversion of C1 molecules (CO, CO2, CH4, and CH3OH) and discovering new sustainable and green solutions for deriving these processes.
Dr. Wa Gao obtained her PhD degree in June 2016 from Beijing University of Chemical Technology, where she mainly worked on the rational design of layered double-hydroxide materials in the transformation of synthesis gas under the supervision of Prof. Xue Duan. Later, she joined Prof. Ding Ma’s group as a postdoctoral fellow at Peking University. Her current research focuses on designing high-performance catalysts for activation and selective conversion of C1 molecules (CO, CO2, CH4, and CH3OH) and discovering new sustainable and green solutions for deriving these processes.
TRIM37 has been reported to be associated with the tumorigenesis of cancers. However, the role of TRIM37 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) remains unclear. This study aimed to ...characterize the effect of TRIM37 on T-ALL.
TRIM37 expression in T-ALL patients and T-ALL cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Knockdown or overexpression of TRIM37 was conducted by transferring small-interfering TRIM37 or lentivirus-mediated transducing into T-ALL cells. CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry assay were conducted to analyze the proliferation and apoptosis of T-ALL cells. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments were conducted to investigate the relationship between TRIM37 and PTEN and the ubiquitination of PTEN.
Our results suggested that TRIM37 expression was upregulated in the blood of T-ALL patients and T-ALL cell lines. Knockdown of TRIM37 noticeably inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of T-ALL cells. Ectopic expression of TRIM37 promoted the proliferation and suppressed the apoptosis rate of MOLT-4 cells and enhanced the phosphorylation of AKT. Moreover, TRIM37 interacted with PTEN and accelerated the degradation of PTEN
TRIM37-mediated ubiquitination in T-ALL cells. Moreover, TRIM37 reduced the sensitivity of T-ALL cells to bortezomib treatment. Additionally, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was involved in the function of TRIM37 in T-ALL. TRIM37 contributed to the proliferation of T-ALL cells and reduced the susceptibility of T-ALL cells to bortezomib treatment through ubiquitination of PTEN and activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Our study suggested that TRIM37 could be considered as a therapeutic target for T-ALL.
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