Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fujun Lan, Huiling Zhang, Chaoyue Zhao, Yu Shu, Qingxin Guan, Wei Li
Summary: In this study, N-doped carbon-coated mesoporous silica spheres encapsulated ultra-dispersed copper cluster catalysts were prepared using an air-assisted low-temperature carbonization strategy. The catalysts exhibited excellent performance and stability in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid and showed high hydrogenation activities for various organic compounds.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu Chen, Zhongzheng Yu, Kai Zheng, Yaguang Ren, Meng Wang, Qiang Wu, Feifan Zhou, Chengbo Liu, Liwei Liu, Jun Song, Junle Qu
Summary: Metallic and semimetallic mesoporous frameworks have unique properties and wide applications. However, semimetallic mesoporous structures are difficult to obtain using traditional methods. In this study, monodisperse mesoporous antimony nanospheres were successfully synthesized using a selective etching route, with tunable pore sizes. The antimony nanospheres showed wide absorption in the visible to second near-infrared (NIR-II) region, with promising NIR-II photothermal performance and photoacoustic signal. These multifunctional nanospheres could be used for synergistic photothermal/chemo therapy guided by NIR-II photoacoustic imaging.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rocio A. Gonzalez Ochea, Ezequiel R. Encina
Summary: The study investigates the light-harvesting properties of hybrid nanostructures composed of plasmonic metals and semiconductor oxides through simulations. The results show that the absorbed photon flux is influenced by the type and size of the plasmonic metal, as well as the shell thickness. Additionally, a correlation is found between the photon flux and a predictor variable K.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fujun Lan, Yu Shu, Huiling Zhang, Dexiang Zhang, Qingxin Guan, Wei Li
Summary: This study presents a confined Cu cluster catalyst by uniformly encapsulating ultrafine Cu nanoclusters in aminofunctionalized nanosized mesoporous silica spheres (NMSSs-NH2), which exhibits excellent hydrogenation performance for biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) and demonstrates the potential of inexpensive Cu cluster-based catalysts for the production of high-value chemicals from renewable biomass.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Can Wang, Xunlong Yuan, Huiyun Tan, Shuofeng Jian, Ziting Ma, Junjie Zhao, Xuewen Wang, Dapeng Chen, Yifan Dong
Summary: LiFePO4 as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries shows great potential with high theoretical capacity and safety features. However, its future development is limited by low conductivity and diffusion rate. By utilizing a three-dimensional carbon-coated structure, LiFePO4 can achieve higher capacity, enhanced conductivity, and faster electron transport channels without the need for additional carbon sources during synthesis.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jianing Zhang, Shan Li, Jie Liu, Xuebing Ma
Summary: This study presents a universal strategy for the direct covalent immobilization of structurally different chiral organocatalysts upon hollow mesoporous organic polystyrene nanospheres (HMOPNs) via a one-pot tandem reaction. These supported chiral organocatalysts show excellent catalytic performances in the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceuticals, with high yields (76-96%) and excellent enantioselectivities (93-99% ee). This one-pot immobilization strategy provides a universal way for the low-cost production of chiral molecules.
APPLIED CATALYSIS A-GENERAL
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chuanyong Fan, Xiyu Wang, Yuwen Wang, Ziyue Xi, Yuxin Wang, Shuang Zhu, Miao Wang, Lu Xu
Summary: In this study, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) coated with polydopamine (PDA) and a D-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS)-modified hybrid lipid membrane (HMSNs-PDA@liposome-TPGS) were synthesized for drug delivery. The nanocarrier showed enhanced therapeutic anticancer effect through pH/NIR-laser-triggered drug release and had improved blood circulation time and hemocompatibility.
Article
Polymer Science
Die Li, Mei Hong, Yan Wang, Chunyang Bao, Xiaoling Xu, Jing Chen, Bin Peng, Jingyu Zhang, Bingyu Wang, Qiang Zhang
Summary: In this study, boron-doped hollow carbon nanospheres were successfully synthesized, and an in-situ heteroatom-doped method was proposed to prepare hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres with excellent properties.
JOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pengkun Wei, Zewei Hao, Yang Yang, Lu Liu
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting is a crucial strategy for energy storage and conversion, with oxygen evolution reaction (OER) being a vital factor in controlling efficiency. The Ni0.85Se/C catalyst synthesized through a solvothermal approach shows better electrochemical performance and durability compared to unsupported Ni0.85Se and RuO2.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhimin Li, Yan Yan, Minjie Liu, Zehua Qu, Yongcheng Yue, Tong Mao, Shuang Zhao, Mingkai Liu, Zhiqun Lin
Summary: This study reports a method for constructing Fe single-atom catalysts (SACs) with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) asymmetric coordination using mesoporous carbon nanospheres (MCNs) with spoke-like nanochannels. The introduction of phosphorus atoms promotes the symmetry-breaking of common four nitrogen-coordinated iron sites, resulting in the formation of Fe-N3P-MCN catalysts with an asymmetric electronic configuration and superior catalytic capability. The Fe-N3P-MCN catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity for the ring-opening reaction of epoxide (97% yield) compared to Fe-N3P on nonporous carbon surface (91%) and Fe-N4 SACs on the same MCN support (89%). Density functional theory calculations reveal that Fe-N3P SACs lower the activation barrier for the C-O bond cleavage and the C-N bond formation, thus accelerating the ring-opening of epoxide. This study provides fundamental and practical insights into developing advanced catalysts in a simple and controllable manner for multistep organic reactions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Daiyu Song, Jingyu Liu, Chaoyue Zhang, Yihang Guo
Summary: Chemically immobilized Brønsted acidic ionic liquids have been successfully prepared and exhibited high ethanolysis and hydrolysis activity and selectivity. The particle size and pore morphology significantly influence the selectivity and yield of products, with the catalyst possessing the smallest particle size and wormhole-like interconnected mesostructure showing the highest yield under optimal conditions. The catalyst also displays good reusability in ethanolysis reactions due to the chemical bonding within the hydrophobic silica framework.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qingqing Zhang, Miao Ren, Yunqing Liu, Chaoyue Zhang, Yihang Guo, Daiyu Song
Summary: A series of functionalized hollow organosilica nanospheres with Bronsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs) were synthesized and exhibited excellent catalytic performance in the conversion of fructose. The catalysts showed adjustable acidity and morphological characteristics, leading to high yields and selectivity in fructose conversion. Moreover, the catalysts could be reused multiple times without leaching.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tianwen Wu, Yiran Wang, Hongbin Zhao, Junping Dong, Jiaqiang Xu
Summary: Template-assisted synthesis strategy is an effective approach to prepare high performance oxygen reduction catalyst. The Si-Fe-N/C catalyst shows excellent electrocatalytic performance and stability.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Maryam Dookheh, Alireza Najafi Chermahini
Summary: In this paper, biomass-derived butyl levulinate was synthesized from starch using the Al-modified mesoporous KIT-5 silica catalyst. The acidity of KIT-5 was improved by wetness impregnation and in situ incorporation of aluminum. Under the optimized conditions (230°C, 10 h, 30 mg catalyst, and 70 mg starch), a yield of 31% n-butyl levulinate and a conversion of 74% starch were achieved.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xiaowei Zhu, Yijiang Li, Tianchen Wei, Yichen Li, Tieling Xing, Matthew D. Shawkey, Guoqiang Chen
Summary: Photonic structures constructed from colloidal nanospheres offer an attractive prospect for eco-friendly structural coloration. A non-iridescent structural color coating with high color saturation and mechanical stability has been developed by assembling PS@TA-Fe(iii) core-shell nanospheres. The preparation approach for this coating is simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly, showing promising applications in textile coloration and smart displays.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2022)