Formation Reaction Research Articles

Recent advances in modifications, biotechnology, and biomedical applications of chitosan-based materials: A review.

Chitosan, a natural polysaccharide with recognized biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and cost-effectiveness, is primarily sourced from crustacean exoskeletons. Its inherent limitations such as poor water solubility, low thermal stability, and inadequate mechanical strength have hindered its widespread application. However, through modifications, chitosan can exhibit enhanced properties such as water solubility, antibacterial and antioxidant activities, adsorption capacity, and film-forming ability, opening up avenues for diverse applications. Despite these advancements, realizing the full potential of modified chitosan remains a challenge across various fields. The purpose of this review article is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the chemical modification techniques of chitosan and their applications in biotechnology and biomedical fields. It aims to overcome the inherent limitations of chitosan, such as low water solubility, poor thermal stability, and inadequate mechanical strength, thereby expanding its application potential across various domains. This review is structured into two main sections. The first part delves into the latest chemical modification techniques for chitosan derivatives, encompassing quaternization, Schiff base formation, acylation, carboxylation, and alkylation reactions. The second part provides an overview of the applications of chitosan and its derivatives in biotechnology and biomedicine, spanning areas such as wastewater treatment, the textile and food industries, agriculture, antibacterial and antiviral activities, drug delivery systems, wound dressings, dental materials, and tissue engineering. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges associated with these modifications and offers insights into potential future developments in chitosan-based materials. This review is anticipated to offer theoretical insights and practical guidance to scientists engaged in biotechnology and biomedical research.

ОЦЕНКА ИММУННОГО СТАТУСА МОЛОДНЯКА СВИНЕЙ ПРИ МИКОПЛАЗМЕННОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ

Pig farming still suffers significant economic losses due to infection of animals with mycoplasmas. The pathogenic effect of these bacteria on the body of pigs is especially pronounced in young animals. The purpose of research is to study the nature of the impact of mycoplasma infection on the immune status of piglets. To assess the epizootological state of the complex regarding mycoplasmosis, random blood tests were carried out from all technological groups of pigs using the RNG reaction and determining the percentage of infection. Morbidity was determined by the number of animals identified with clinical signs of the disease among those infected, and mortality was determined by the number of dead animals among those infected with mycoplasmosis. Blood protein fractions were determined in piglets using an ERBA-XL100 biochemical analyzer. Determination of T-lymphocytes was done by the method of spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (E-ROCK). Determination of B cells was carried out in the complementary rosette formation reaction (EAC-ROCK). It was established that the infection of pigs with mycoplasmosis in different groups at the complex ranged from 24.2–65.7 %, while the highest percentage of morbidity (26.8 %) and mortality (18.6 %) of individuals was observed among piglets in growing. The negative impact of mycoplasma infection on the immune status of young pigs was manifested by a decrease in total protein (by 13.5 %) and gamma globulin fraction (by 17.8 %) in the blood serum of sick piglets compared to healthy ones. The impact of pathogenic mycoplasmas on the cellular link of the immune-competent system of the body of sick piglets was manifested by a decrease in their T-lymphocytes by 11 %, and B-lymphocytes by 21.4 % compared to healthy animals.

Preparation of multi-layer compound microcapsules and their application in self-healing of concrete cracks

Concrete is widely used in building construction, civil engineering, roads, bridges, etc., but concrete cracking remains a major issue in the engineering industry. To develop an effective and feasible concrete repair technology, this study combined microbial and microencapsulation technologies to prepare a multi-layer compound microcapsule using the piercing method. The formulation and drying method of microcapsules were optimized by taking their embedding rate and mechanical properties as evaluation criteria. The calcium transcrystallization process of microcapsules and the crystal form of products were characterized and compared with the calcium transcrystallization process in free cells. Finally, the effects of microcapsule incorporation on mechanical properties, impermeability, and self-healing performance of concrete specimens were then tested. The results showed that the air-dried multi-layer compound microcapsules, formulated with 1.0% wet cells of Bacillus cereus, 1.5% calcium chloride, 3.0% sodium alginate, 5.0% nutrients, 6.0% glycerol, 0.6% chitosan, and 2.0% urea, achieved an embedding rate of 95.3%, a rupture force of 60.0 N and a hardness of 150.8 N. These microcapsules can transform from a solid state to a flowing colloidal state when the microorganisms inside undergo a calcium formation reaction. Both the microcapsules and free cells produced stable calcite crystal forms of calcium carbonate through the calcium conversion reaction, with the microcapsules producing more uniform-sized particles, which are more conducive to accumulation in cracks, thereby enhancing the stability of repair. When microcapsules were incorporated into the concrete specimen at a content of 0.45%, the flexural strength of the specimen increased by 17.3%, and the compressive strength increased by 12.3%. In the water impermeability test, specimens with microcapsules demonstrated better impermeability compensation for the cement concrete than those with free cells. The self-healing effect of cracks proved that multi-layer compound microcapsules could completely repair cracks up to 0.7 mm wide, and a repair rate of 95% for 0.8 mm wide cracks. In this study, a multi-layer compound microcapsule was developed to protect microorganisms in concrete and provide nutrients required for their growth, which provided a new idea for microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation in concrete crack repair.

Imidazole Cationic-Bridged Pillar[5]arene Polymer as a Recycle Adsorbent for Iodine Capture.

Developing efficient and recyclable iodine adsorbents is crucial for addressing radioactive iodine pollution. An imidazole cation-bridged pillar[5]arene polymer (P5-P5I) was synthesized via a salt formation reaction. P5-P5I exhibited a high iodine vapor capture capacity of 2130.0 mg/g and a maximum adsorption capacity of 1935.3 and 942.4 mg/g for I2 and I3- in solution, respectively. The adsorption kinetics of I2 and I3- on P5-P5I in aqueous solution followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, reaching adsorption equilibrium within a few minutes. P5-P5I demonstrated the ability to selectively capture I2 and I3- in the presence of competing anions (10-1000-fold), removing over 97.1% of iodine from various environments. Meanwhile, under extreme conditions (strong acids, strong bases, and high temperature), P5-P5I still has a superior adsorption performance and cycling ability for I2 and I3-. Molecular modeling revealed that P5-P5I could synergistically enhance iodine capture through multiple weak interactions, including host-guest, C-H···I hydrogen bond, and electrostatic interactions. This study indicates that P5-P5I has promising applications for rapid and efficient iodine uptake from vapor and various aqueous media.

Catalytic Asymmetric Addition and Substitution Reactions with Grignard Reagents: Do We Know It All?

Catalysis has been a cornerstone in organic synthesis, enabling a variety of highly efficient and selective C–C bond formation reactions, in particular enantioselective addition and substitution of Grignard reagents. Throughout time, we have gained significant understanding into how various factors, such as the influence of the metal source, the nature of the ligands, the substrates or temperature, affect these processes. Recent advances in computational chemistry have further enriched our understanding of this chemistry by elucidating the potential reaction mechanism and providing insight into the rate and enantio‐determining steps in these catalytic transformations. However, challenges persist, and aspects such as ligand optimisation, full mechanistic understanding and scalability remain underexplored. Computational methods, however, present a remarkable potential to surmount these enduring challenges.

Bistable Functions and Signaling Motifs in Systems Chemistry: Taking the Next Step Toward Synthetic Cells.

ConspectusA key challenge in modern chemistry research is to mimic life-like functions using simple molecular networks and the integration of such networks into the first functional artificial cell. Central to this endeavor is the development of signaling elements that can regulate the cell function in time and space by producing entities of code with specific information to induce downstream activity. Such artificial signaling motifs can emerge in nonequilibrium systems, exhibiting complex dynamic behavior like bistability, multistability, oscillations, and chaos. However, the de novo, bottom-up design of such systems remains challenging, primarily because the kinetic characteristics and energy aspects yielding bifurcation have not yet been globally defined. We herein review our recent work that focuses on the design and functional analysis of peptide-based networks, propelled by replication reactions and exhibiting bistable behavior. Furthermore, we rationalize and discuss their exploitation and implementation as variable signaling motifs in homogeneous and heterogeneous environments.The bistable reactions constitute reversible second-order autocatalysis as positive feedback to generate two distinct product distributions at steady state (SS), the low-SS and high-SS. Quantitative analyses reveal that a phase transition from simple reversible equilibration dynamics into bistability takes place when the system is continuously fueled, using a reducing agent, to keep it far from equilibrium. In addition, an extensive set of experimental, theoretical, and simulation studies highlight a defined parameter space where bistability operates.Analogous to the arrangement of protein-based bistable motifs in intracellular signaling pathways, sequential concatenation of the synthetic bistable networks is used for signal processing in homogeneous media. The cascaded network output signals are switched and erased or transduced by manipulating the order of addition of the components, allowing it to reach "on demand" either the low-SS or high-SS. The pre-encoded bistable networks are also useful as a programming tool for the downstream regulation of nanoscale materials properties, bridging together the Systems Chemistry and Nanotechnology fields. In such heterogeneous cascade pathways, the outputs of the bistable network serve as input signals for consecutive nanoparticle formation reaction and growth processes, which-depending on the applied conditions-regulate various features of (Au) nanoparticle shape and assembly.Our work enables the design and production of various signaling apparatus that feature higher complexity than previously observed in chemical networks. Future studies, briefly discussed at the end of the Account, will be directed at the design and analysis of more elaborate functionality, such as bistability under flow conditions, multistability, and oscillations. We propose that a profound understanding of the design principles facilitating the replication-based bistability and related functions bear implications for exploring the origin of protein functionality prior to the highly evolved replication-translation-transcription machinery. The integration of our peptide-based signaling motifs within future synthetic cells seems to be a straightforward development of the two alternating states as memory and switch elements for controlling cell growth and division and even communication among different cells. We furthermore suggest that such systems can be introduced into living cells for various biotechnology applications, such as switches for cell temporal and spatial manipulations.

Lithium Tracer Diffusion in LixCoO2 and LixNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (x = 1, 0.9, 0.65)-Sintered Bulk Cathode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The knowledge of Li diffusivities in electrode materials of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for a fundamental understanding of charging/discharging times, maximum capacities, stress formation and possible side reactions. The literature indicates that Li diffusion in the cathode material Li(Ni,Mn,Co)O2 strongly increases during electrochemical delithiation. Such an increased Li diffusivity will be advantageous for performance if it is present already in the initial state after synthesis. In order to understand the influence of a varying initial Li content on Li diffusion, we performed Li tracer diffusion experiments on LixCoO2 (LCO) and LixNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC, x = 1, 0.9, 0.65) cathode materials. The measurements were performed on polycrystalline sintered bulk materials, free of additives and binders, in order to study the intrinsic properties. The variation of Li content was achieved using reactive solid-state synthesis using pressed Li2CO3, NiO, Co3O4 and/or MnO2 powders and high temperature sintering at 800 °C. XRD analyses showed that the resultant bulk samples exhibit the layered LCO or NMC phases with a low amount of cation intermixing. Moreover, the presence of additional NiO and Co3O4 phases was detected in NMC with a pronounced nominal Li deficiency of x = 0.65. As a tracer source, a 6Li tracer layer with the same chemical composition was deposited using ion beam sputtering. Secondary ion mass spectrometry in depth profile mode was used for isotopic analysis. The diffusivities followed the Arrhenius law with an activation enthalpy of about 0.8 eV and were nearly identical within error for all samples investigated in the temperature range up to 500 °C. For a diffusion mechanism based on structural Li vacancies, the results indicated that varying the Li content does not result in a change in the vacancy concentration. Consequently, the design and use of a cathode initially made of a Li-deficient material will not improve the kinetics of battery performance. The possible reasons for this unexpected result are discussed.

Dissociation of hydrogen and formation of water at the (010) and (111) surfaces of orthorhombic FeNbO4.

The orthorhombic structure of FeNbO4, where the Fe and Nb cations are distributed randomly over the octahedral 4c sites, has shown excellent promise as an anode material in solid oxide fuel cells. We haveused DFT+U-D2 calculationsto explore the adsorption and dissociation of H2 molecules and the formation reaction of water at the (010) and (111) surfaces.Simulations of the surface properties confirmed that the bandgaps are significantly reduced compared to the bulk material. We found that the hydrogen molecule prefers to dissociate at the O bridge sites of the (010) and (111) surfaces, especially where these are coordinated to Fe cations, thereby forming two hydroxyl groups. We have investigated the water formation reaction and found that the energy barriers for migration of the H ions are generally lower for the Fe/Nb-O sites than for the O-O site. Overall, our simulations predict that after dissociation, the H atoms tend to remain stable in the form of Olayer-H groups, whereas a larger barrier needs to be overcome to achieve the formation of water. Future work will focus on potential surface modifications to reduce further the barrier of migration of the dissociated H ions, especially from the oxygen bridge sites.

An ultrasensitive colorimetric/fluorescent/photothermal sensing platform for the detection of D-amino acids based on carbon dots nanozymes with enhanced peroxidase-like activity.

Based on the enhanced peroxidase-like activity of carbon dots nanozymes (CDszymes), with a specific oxidation reaction of D-amino acid oxidase catalysingthe formation of H2O2 from D-amino acid, an ultrasensitive sensing platform, was constructed for the quantitative detection of D-amino acids in saliva. With the increase of D-amino acids concentration, the blue color of catalytic product gradually deepend, the fluorescence CDszymes gradually quenched, and the temperature gradually increased. Using D-alanine as D-amino acid models, the detection limits of D-alanine in colorimetric/photothermal/fluorescent mode were 0.3μM, 1.8μM, and 0.04μM, respectively. The proposed detection platform exhibits promising application potential in clinical diagnostics. The exceptional sensing performance can be attributed to the utilization of CDszymes with outstanding POD activity. Revolving around the blind synthesis of CDszymes exhibiting high-efficiency POD activity, this study delved into the underlying mechanism governing the regulation of the POD activity of CDszymes by precursor functional groups. This work investigates the valence band theory to enhance the peroxidase-like of CDszymes, thereby offering a rational approach for designing CDszymes.

Cu(I)‐Anchored Amine‐Rich Covalent‐Organic Polymer for Sustainable Utilization of CO2 in the Synthesis of Valuable Chemicals and C‐C Bond Formation Reactions

Selective chemical fixation of CO2 represents a promising approach to mitigate escalating atmospheric CO2 concentration and synthesizing essential commodity chemicals to boost the circular economy. The cycloaddition of CO2 for producing α‐alkylidene cyclic carbonates is an attractive research topic as it uses cheap CO2 as C1 feedstock in a 100% atom economy reaction. Hence, we designed an amine‐functionalized, nitrogen‐rich COF (SNW‐1@NH2) to strongly graft Cu(I) ions within its pores. The synergistic effect of both SNW‐1@NH2 and Cu(I) ion boosted the catalytic activity towards precious metal‐free CO2 cycloaddition with propargylic alcohol to produce α‐alkylidene cyclic carbonate at room temperature. Furthermore, broad substrate scope and high recyclability of the catalyst with retention of catalytic activity and structural integrity were observed. Contrarily, SNW‐1@NH2 was further employed for catalytic Knoevenagel condensation reaction between benzaldehyde and cyanoacetamide. SNW‐1@NH2 COF yielded desired products in Knoevenagel condensation with broad substrate scope and high recyclability without affecting its structural integrity and functionality. Additionally, deep mechanistic investigations were executed to describe plausible catalytic pathways for both catalysis reactions. We hope that this investigation towards developing nitrogen‐rich porous soft materials and expanding its applicability can offer alternative solutions to multiple severe environmental concerns.

Insights into the role of electrolyte additives for stable Zn anodes

Aqueous zinc-based batteries (ZIBs), characterized by their low cost, inherent safety, and environmental sustainability, represent a promising alternative for energy storage solutions in sustainable systems. Significant advancements have been made in developing high-performance cathode materials for aqueous ZIBs, which exhibit enhanced lifespan and energy density. However, challenges associated with zinc anodes, such as dendrite formation and side reactions, impede the practical application of ZIBs. This manuscript discusses the role of electrolyte additives in the Zn electrodeposition process and comprehensively describes strategies to enhance the anode stability through additive incorporation. It specifically focuses on the underlying mechanisms that regulate the solvation structure and the electrical double layer. Finally, the manuscript concludes with future perspectives on advancing Zn anode technology, aiming to provide guidelines for developing more robust Zn-based energy storage systems.

Tribo-Electrochemical Mechanism of Material Removal Examined for Chemical Mechanical Planarization of Stainless-Steel Using Citrate Buffer as a Complexing Agent.

Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) is a technique used to efficiently prepare defect-free, flat surfaces of stainless steel (SS) foils and sheets that are implemented in various modern devices. CMP uses (electro)chemical reactions to structurally weaken the surface layers of a workpiece for easy removal by low-pressure mechanical abrasion. Using a model CMP system of 316/316L stainless steel (SS) in an acidic (pH = 3.63) slurry with alumina abrasives, citrate buffer (CB), and H2O2, we examine the tribo-electrochemical mechanisms of SS CMP that dictate the designs of functionally efficient and cost-effective CMP slurries. The use of CB as a pH-controlled complexing agent prevents defect-causing dissolution of SS and eliminates the need for using separate (often toxic) corrosion inhibitors in the slurry. A material removal rate of 8.6 nm min-1 is obtained at a moderate down pressure of 0.014 MPa with a platen rotation speed of 95 RPM. Electrochemical techniques are strategically combined with mechanical abrasion of SS test samples to probe complex CMP mechanisms that are not readily accessible with electrochemical experiments alone. Corrosion-like reactions of salt-film formation at the SS surface act to enable the CMP process, where corrosion-induced wear plays a major role in material removal.

Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Use in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Reports from a Romanian Center.

Background/Objectives: The introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) agents, particularly infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA), has significantly expanded the therapeutic arsenal for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While these biologics have demonstrated substantial efficacy, they are associated with a spectrum of potential adverse events (AEs). This study aims to evaluate and document these AEs to facilitate optimal patient selection and monitoring strategies of patients undergoing these therapies. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study examined pediatric IBD patients receiving anti-TNF-α therapy at the "Grigore Alexandrescu" Emergency Hospital for Children in Bucharest, Romania, from January 2015 to October 2024. AEs were categorized into non-infectious complications (acute infusion reactions, anti-drug antibody formation), dermatological effects (erythema nodosum, vasculitis), neurological effects (Guillain-Barré syndrome), and infections. AEs were analyzed in relation to the specific anti-TNF-α agent administered and comprehensively characterized. Results: Of 40 patients enrolled, 22 (55%) had Crohn's disease (CD). The median (IQR) age at diagnosis was 14.8 years [10.8-15.9]. IFX was used in 34 (85%) patients while 6 (15%) patients received either ADA or IFX/ADA sequential therapy. Twenty-seven AEs were documented in 19 (47.5%) patients, the most prevalent being antidrug antibody formation (44.4%), infections (22.2%), and acute infusion reactions (22.2%). All ADA-exposed patients experienced at least one AE, compared to 41.2% (n = 14) patients treated with IFX, p = 0.01. Conclusions: AEs were observed in approximately half of the study cohort, with anti-drug antibody formation emerging as the most frequent complication. ADA therapy was associated with a significantly higher rate of AEs compared to IFX. These findings underscore the critical importance of vigilant monitoring for patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy in pediatric IBD management.

Investigating the Role of Aniline Structure in Improving Proton Exchange Membranes for High Conductivity.

Polybenzothiazole exhibits high proton conductivity; however, its rigid backbone limits its applicability, necessitating processes such as modification or doping. The aniline structure can participate in various reactions, including nucleophilic or electrophilic substitution reactions, salt formation, and acylation reactions. In this experiment, an aniline structure is integrated into the main chain of sulfonated polybenzothiazole to investigate the potential of aniline for enhancing proton exchange membranes. The incorporation of the aniline structure is confirmed through infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. A comparison of different proportions of aniline revealed that 12.5% aniline increased the tensile modulus to 274.40MPa and the elongation at break to 6.26%. Furthermore, the water absorption rate reached 65.73%, while the expansion rate remained at 25%. The aniline structure exhibits inherent basicity and utilizes phosphoric acid adsorption to enhance proton conductivity. After aniline adsorbs phosphoric acid, the proton conductivity peaks at 0.157 Scm-1. Additionally, the introduction of amino groups provides further modification potential to the main chain of polybenzothiazole.

Recent Advances in Di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP)-Promoted C-C Bond Formation Reactions

Recent Advances in Di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP)-Promoted C-C Bond Formation Reactions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Molten Fluoride Electrolysis Composed of Raw and Magnet Recycling Derived Oxides: A Comparative Study.

In situ measurements of the chemical identity and quantity of anode gases during electrochemical measurements and rare earth (RE) electrolysis from fluoride-based molten salts composed of different kinds of rare earth oxides (REOs) were performed using FTIR spectrometry. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was carried out to characterize oxidation processes and determine the anodic effect from NdF3 + PrF3 + LiF + REO melt. RE complex formation and subsequent reactions on the GC anode surface were discussed to understand the formation pathways of CO/CO2 and perfluorocarbon gases (PFC), mainly CF4 and C2F6. The LSV shows that increasing the REO content from 1 wt.% up to 4 wt.% in the system, leads to a positive shift in the critical potential for a full anode effect, recorded around 4.50 V vs. W with 4 wt.% REO. The FTIR results from on-line off-gas analysis during LSV measurements indicate that the anode gas products were composed mainly of CO and CO2, whereas CF4 can be detected before the full anode effect and C2F6 at and after this phenomenon. Compositions of off-gases from electrolysis performed using different kinds of REOs were compared. The main off-gas component was found to be CO in RE electrolysis with REOs as raw materials, while in electrolysis with magnet recycling derived oxides (MRDOs), CO2 content was slightly higher compared to CO. PFC emissions during RE electrolysis were generally similar: CF4 was detected periodically, but in negligible concentrations, while C2F6 was not detected.

POTENCIAL DE FORMAÇÃO DE OZÔNIO NA HOMOLOGAÇÃO VEICULAR NO BAIRRO DE BANGU, RIO DE JANEIRO

OZONE FORMING POTENTIAL FOR VEHICULAR HOMOLOGATION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF BANGU, RIO DE JANEIRO. To control vehicle emissions, the new homologation process must be reported according to the California Maximum Incremental Reactivity (MIR) scale’s procedure to calculate the ozone forming potential (OFP) of each new vehicle. This work calculates an MIR scale suitable for the Brazilian reality. Meteorological and hourly pollutant data from the Bangu Automatic Air Quality Station was inventoried and processed from March to September 2020 to adjust OZIPR Lagrangean model and obtain the MIR scale by making small increments in the concentrations of each volatile organic compounds (VOC) and calculate the ozone increase/decrease. It was found that the VOC that had the greatest impact on ozone formation was 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, with 2.06 ppb O3 ppbC–1 VOC. The OFP was calculated based on the VOC emissions of a vehicle and it was found a value of 9.421 mg O3 km–1, a much lower value when compared using the California MIR scale of 136.608 mg O3 km–1. It is concluded that meteorological conditions and VOC speciation data in the air mixture in the studied region directly affect the photochemical reactions of ozone formation.

Ultralight flexible 3D nickel micromesh decorated with NiCoP for high stability alkaline zinc batteries.

Rechargeable alkaline zinc batteries are emerging as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems, owing to their affordability, eco-friendliness and high energy density. However, their widespread application is hindered by stability challenges, particularly in alkaline environments, due to cathode corrosion and deformation, as well as dendrite formation and unwanted side reactions at the Zn anode. To address these issues, we successfully developed a 3D nickel micromesh-supported NiCoP (3D NM@NiCoP) electrode. This unique structure integrates an ultrathin (4 μm), flexible and conductive nickel micromesh (NM) with a high-capacity bimetallic phosphide, NiCoP, fabricated through a combination of photolithography, chemical etching, and electro-deposition processes. The resulting electrode achieves an impressive capacitance of 26.1 μA h cm-2 at a current density of 4 mA cm-2 in a 2 M KOH electrolyte. When assembled with a superhydrophilic Zn@Al2O3@TiO2 anode, the device (3D NM@NiCoP//Zn@Al2O3@TiO2) exhibits outstanding stability, retaining 91% of its initial capacity after 11 000 cycles at 3 mA cm-2 in a 2 M KOH electrolyte. This novel configuration, with potential for scalable fabrication, provides valuable insights into the development of high-capacity and durable electrodes for alkaline zinc batteries.

Removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions by activated carbon and its composite with P2W17O61: A spectroscopic study to reveal adsorption mechanism.

Molecular scale information is needed to understand ions coordination to mineral surfaces and consequently to accelerate the design of improved adsorbents. The present work reports on the use of two-dimensional correlation Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (2D-COS-FTIR) and hetero 2D-COS-FTIR- X-ray diffraction (XRD) to probe the mechanism of Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions by activated carbon (AC) and its composite with P2W17O61 (AC-composite). The adsorption data at an initial Cr(VI) concentration of 320mgL-1 (320ppm) revealed maximum adsorption capacities of 65mgg-1 for AC and 73mgg-1 for AC-composite, corresponding to removal percentages of 83% and 94%, respectively. The adsorption mechanism of Cr(VI) onto AC involved electrostatic attraction of charged ions, reduction of Cr(VI), orientation of O-H groups, complex formation and ion exchange reaction. On the other hand, ion exchange reactions were not observed in the case of AC-composite, but increasing reduction and complex formation due to the presence of W were more pronounced. Moreover, a monosubstituted compound; i.e. K6P2CrW17 O61·nH2O, having chromium in its maximum oxidation state (Cr(VI)) was formed. These resulted in an improved adsorption capacity of AC-composite towards Cr(VI) in comparison to AC, and could explain the differences in adsorption thermodynamics and capacity of the two studied adsorbents. High value information could be extracted from both FTIR spectroscopy and XRD patterns when combined with available 2D-COS routines and subsequently powerful tools to investigate the mechanisms of adsorption are obtained.

Cesium Carbonate (Cs2CO3) in Organic Synthesis: A Sexennial Update (2018 to Date)

: Cesium carbonate is an alkali carbonate salt that has numerous applications and has been proven to be a mild inorganic base in organic synthesis. It has garnered significant attention due to its practicality in C-H functionalization and heteroatom-heteroatom bond formation reactions, in addition to its application in conventional synthetic transformations. In this six-year update, we have examined the most important applications of Cs2CO3 in organic synthesis from 2018 to the present, including the scope of the reaction and providing detailed explanations of the underlying mechanisms.