The reductive amination of furfural to furfurylamine is an important and still challenging topic in the field of biomass conversion. In this work, we prepared a series of Ni/Al2O3-LaO x catalysts by co-precipitation method, the role of La played in promoting the catalytic performances of reductive amination furfural was discussed based on the changes in the electronic state of Ni species, acidity, and Ni particle size. The catalytic activity and the selectivity of furfurylamine are highly dependent on the surface properties and the structure of the catalyst. The addition of La promoted the amount of strong acidic sites and the H2 dissociation and spillover on the surface, thus inducing the improvement of the catalytic activity and furfurylamine selectivity. The Ni/Al2O3-0.5LaO x catalyst with suitable acid sites gave a high yield of furfurylamine (94.9%) under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalyst could be recycled five times without significant loss in activity. The Ni/Al2O3-LaO x catalyst is of great promise in the production of amines via reductive amination reaction.
The interface between Au and support has attracted extensive interest because of its unique catalytic ability for hydrogen activation in catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis reactions. Herein, we create the Au-CoO-OV interface in the 1.0%Au/Co3O4-Rod-250 catalyst, which could dissociate H2 via the heterolytic way to yield rich hydride species and achieve excellent catalytic performance in the hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF). The XRD and HRTEM analyses show that Au nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed on CoO-OV surface and in situ DRIFTS spectra show the enhancement of heterolytic dissociation of hydrogen (signals of Au—D and O—D vibration) compared with bare CoO (Co3O4-Rod-250). This work provides insights for fabricating highly active Au-support catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis reactions.
Hydrogels have been extensively studied for applications in various fields, such as tissue engineering and soft robotics, as determined by their mechanical properties. The mechanical design of hydrogels typically focuses on the modulus, toughness, and deformability. These characteristics play important roles and make great achievements for hydrogel use. In recent years, a growing body of research has concentrated on the fatigue property of hydrogels, which determines their resistance to crack propagation in the networks during cyclic mechanical loads for applications. However, knowledge of hydrogel fatigue behavior remains notably deficient. Here, we present a brief overview of the fatigue behavior of hydrogels, encompassing the general experimental methods to measure the fatigue property and fundamental theoretical calculation models. Then, we highlight multiple strategies to enhance the fatigue resistance of hydrogels. Finally, we present our perspectives on fatigue-resistant hydrogels, outstanding challenges and potential directions for future research.
Zeolite-confined Fe-site catalysts (ZFCs) have emerged as superior materials for sustainably producing high-value chemicals through CO2 hydrogenation, owing to their adaptable framework, customizable composition, and thermal robustness. They excel in activating, adsorbing, and converting CO2 with remarkable efficiency and consistency in performance. This has sparked a surge in research interest in recent years. The review delves into the latest advancements in CO2 catalytic hydrogenation to olefins, alcohols, aromatics, and other liquid hydrocarbons, examining the synthesis, modification tactics, and the correlation between structure and performance across various ZFCs. Additionally, it underscores the pivotal factors affecting performance and sheds light on the mechanisms behind selectivity control in the CO2 hydrogenation process facilitated by ZFCs. To conclude, it presents pressing challenges and strategic recommendations to inspire the development of high-performance, durable ZFCs for CO2 hydrogenation applications.
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda), represents the most resistant insect species and poses serious threat to grain yield. Chlorantraniliprole (CHL), which targets the ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in insects, has demonstrated the efficacy in controlling S. frugiperda. Nevertheless, this has led to emerging resistance in several countries. To counter this resistance, a viable approach involves the development of novel compounds that bind against RyRs via distinct binding sites or modes. In this study, a series of 22 novel anthranilic diamide derivatives was designed and synthesized, and their insecticidal activities were evaluated. Most of these derivatives showed moderate to good insecticidal activity against S. frugiperda and Mythimna separata. Time-lapse fluorescence measurements of endoplasmic reticulum luminal calcium revealed that most derivatives elicited cellular responses similar as CHL when assessed on HEK293 cells expressing S. frugiperda ryanodine receptors (SfRyRs). The mode of action of compound 13a was studied and verified on the isolated neurons by calcium imaging technique. Finally, molecular docking analysis was employed to predict the binding mechanism of compound 13a against SfRyRs. Overall, these novel diamide derivatives hold promise as a valuable resource for guiding the future design of insecticidal compounds targeting RyRs.
A composite material comprising a carbon layer and spherical carbon/carbon cloth (C-SC/CC) was fabricated using a hydrothermal-pyrolysis method, employing carbon cloth as the substrate and glucose as the carbon source. The C-SC/CC electrode was evaluated as an electrocatalytic electrode for hydrogen production by electrolysis of Bunsen reaction products. The electrode prepared with 4 g of glucose and annealed at 800 °C showed excellent electrocatalytic activity. It requires only a potential of 185 mV (vs. SCE) to achieve a current density of 10 mA/cm2. Furthermore, the electrode demonstrated good stability with a 6% loss in current density after 1000 cycles of scanning from 0.2 V to 1.2 V. These results indicate the potential of the SC/CC electrode as an efficient and durable electrocatalyst for the electrolysis of H2SO4 and HI.
In this study, we synthesized an organic material with near-infrared emission capabilities: 4-(2-(4-(9-(4-(diphenylamino) phenyl) naphtho[2,3-c] [1,2,5] thiadiazol-4-yl) phenyl)-1H-phenol-1-ylidene) malononitrile (TPA). Furthermore, TPA-PEG2000 fluorescent nanoparticles were prepared via coating the shells with PEG2000. TPA-PEG2000 exhibited strong near-infrared emission near 700 nm, with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 15.09%, indicating a high emission efficiency. Molecular biology experiments have confirmed its low toxicity and excellent biocompatibility. Increased cholesterol and phospholipid levels in liver cancer cell membranes with low sensitivity or high drug resistance lead to increased rigidity, reduced membrane fluidity, reduced endocytic efficiency, and reduced uptake. Therefore, the uptake of TPA-PEG2000 nanoparticles into cells and the near-infrared fluorescence intensity can be used to evaluate the sensitivity of systemic liver cancer treatment in a simple and efficient manner.