Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiaohong Wang, Xuemei Zhang, Li Xue, Qingqing Wang, Fengzhi You, Lunzhi Dai, Jiagang Wu, Soren Kramer, Zhong Lian
Summary: In this study, a general method for the synthesis of aryl fluorides from aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates using a piezoelectric material as redox catalyst under ball milling conditions in the presence of Selectfluor was described. This approach effectively addresses the limitations of the Balz-Schiemann reaction while the piezoelectric material can be recycled multiple times.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rundong Ding, Qing Liu, Lifei Zheng
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 were synthesized and their piezoelectric properties were characterized. It was found that under mechanical agitation, UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 acted as electron donors to reduce aryl diazonium salts, generating aryl radical species, which further reacted with bis(pinacolato)diborane or heteroarenes to produce desired products. The reactions mediated by UiO-66-NH2, which had better piezoelectric property, showed higher efficiency than those promoted by UiO-66. The convenient regeneration of spent catalysts without loss of activity was achieved due to the repairability of metal-organic frameworks. Mechanistic studies revealed the involvement of a radical pathway in these transformations.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gefei Wang, Jiajia Jia, Yu He, Diandian Wei, Mingyu Song, Lei Zhang, Ganzhong Li, Heng Li, Bingxin Yuan
Summary: The agitation of BaTiO(3) through ball milling converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, reducing molecular oxygen via a single electron transfer pathway similar to photocatalytic reactions. This mechanoredox strategy offers a greener approach to organic transformations, eliminating waste and providing potential for large-scale chemical manufacturing.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Renlu Yuan, Yue Dong, Ruoyang Hou, Lei Shang, Jiapeng Zhang, Su Zhang, Xiaohong Chen, Huaihe Song
Summary: Mechanical ball-milling can convert the porous and disordered carbon lattice of activated carbon to graphitic structure and introduce oxygen in the bulk phase. This process leads to a decrease in surface area, an increase in compaction density, larger carbon blocks with higher oxygen content. The capacitive energy storage performance of the ball-milled activated carbon is significantly improved in aqueous electrolyte.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ian Priestley, Claudio Battilocchio, Andrei V. Iosub, Fabien Barreteau, Gavin W. Bluck, Kenneth B. Ling, Katharine Ingram, Maria Ciaccia, Jamie A. Leitch, Duncan L. Browne
Summary: Chemical reactions in a ball mill and without a bulk reaction solvent have different safety profiles compared to stirred solution reactions. We present and describe steps for researchers to consider the hazards and measures to minimize risks to themselves and their colleagues.
ORGANIC PROCESS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tamae Seo, Koji Kubota, Hajime Ito
Summary: The combination of a nickel(II) catalyst and a mechanoredox catalyst under ball-milling conditions promotes mechanical-force-driven C-N cross-coupling reactions. This nickel(II)/mechanoredox cocatalyst system enables a highly efficient aryl-amination reaction with a broad substrate scope, inexpensive catalysts, short reaction times, and minimal solvents. It also offers advantages for excitation-energy-accepting molecules and poorly soluble polyaromatic substrates that are incompatible with solution-based nickel(II)/photoredox cocatalysts.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Josny Joy, Anand Krishnamoorthy, Ashish Tanna, Vishal Kamathe, Rupali Nagar, Sesha Srinivasan
Summary: This research paper focuses on the use of ball milled nanocomposite materials for energy storage applications. The review discusses the latest developments in synthesizing nanocomposites using a top-down approach and the related aspects of interfacial interactions. The use of milled nanocomposites in different structural applications is highlighted, as well as the effect of various parameters on their processability. The latter part of the review also discusses important advancements in the energy sector.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Honggui Lv, Xinyue Xu, Jing Li, Xiaobo Huang, Guoyong Fang, Lifei Zheng
Summary: The paper presents the divergent syntheses of alpha-arylacylamides and oxindoles via mechanoredox chemistry. A Cu-II precatalyst and piezoelectric materials are used in the system, with highly polarized BaTiO3 or PbTiO3 acting as electron donors for the recycling of Cu-II and Cu-I. Control experiments and density functional theory calculations support the proposed mechanistic rationale for the cascade reactions.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian Schumacher, Lieselotte Fritz, Lena M. M. Hanek, Vitali Sidorin, Daniel Bruex, Carsten Bolm
Summary: This study presents the development of a mechanochemical protocol for a charge-accelerated aza-Claisen rearrangement, which avoids the use of transition metals, ligands, or pyrophoric Lewis acids. The desired tertiary amides were prepared in yields ranging from 17% to 84% by using (heterocyclic) tertiary allylamines and acyl chlorides. Furthermore, the same protocol was applied for a Bellus-Claisen-type rearrangement resulting in the synthesis of a 9-membered lactam without further optimization.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gerard Gandon-Ros, Ignacio Aracil, Maria Francisca Gomez-Rico, Juan A. Conesa
Summary: Effective management of waste printed circuit board (WCB) recycling brings significant advantages in terms of economy, society, and environment. Utilizing non-metallic parts of WCBs, which are known for their toxicological risks, can mitigate adverse socio-environmental impacts. Mechanochemical treatment and additives can achieve debromination of WCBs containing brominated flame retardant.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Andrew C. Jones, William I. Nicholson, Jamie A. Leitch, Duncan L. Browne
Summary: The nickel-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of aryl halides and alkyl halides enabled by ball-milling is efficient and green, achieving reductive C-C bond formation under a mechanochemical manifold. The mechanical action provided by ball milling allows for the use of a variety of zinc sources to turnover the nickel catalytic cycle, resulting in the synthesis of 28 cross-electrophile coupled products.
Article
Automation & Control Systems
Katja Klauer-Dobrowolski, Matthias Eifler, Benjamin Kirsch, Joerg Seewig, Jan C. Aurich
Summary: Micro-milling is utilized for precise micro-structuring of component surfaces, especially for complex or free-form structures. This study focuses on the wear behavior of ball-end micro-milling tools during the manufacturing of areal material measures used for calibration purposes. The high surface quality requirements of the material measures necessitate the avoidance of worn tools that could directly impact the resulting topography. A comprehensive experimental investigation was conducted to determine tool life dependent wear and identify critical wear.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jasna Alic, Tomislav Stolar, Zoran Stefanic, Krunoslav Uzarevic, Marina Sekutor
Summary: Diamondoids have shown promise as carbon-based nanomaterial building blocks due to their unique properties and potential for selective functionalization. Through mechanochemical synthesis, diamondoid ethers with different subunits were efficiently prepared, demonstrating the sustainability benefits of this approach compared to conventional methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments confirmed the molecular structures of the target products and provided insights into their solid-state interactions.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Ziye Ren, Chengqiang Ding, Ran Ding, Junce Wang, Zhengheng Li, Rui Tan, Xin Wang, Zhao Wang, Zhengbiao Zhang
Summary: The development of mechanochemical tools for polymerization has been a focus of research recently. This study demonstrates a more efficient mechanochemical initiation and reversible deactivation process for polymerization compared to sonochemical activation. The mechanochemical activation of the C-I bond was verified using theoretical calculations. The influence of catalyst, initiator, and solvent on the mechano-RDRP mechanism was examined, showing good controllability over molecular weight and potential for one-pot chain extension. This work expands the field of mechanically controlled polymerization and has promising applications in adaptive materials.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cristina Blazquez-Barbadillo, Juan Francisco Gonzalez, Andrea Porcheddu, David Virieux, Jose Carlos Menendez, Evelina Colacino
Summary: This study investigated the solvent-free preparation of unsymmetrical N-aryl-5,6-unsubstituted-1,4-dihydropyridines (DHPs) using ball-milling. The results showed that the physical state of reactants and intermediates influenced the choice of catalyst and work-up method for recovering the final products.
GREEN CHEMISTRY LETTERS AND REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haiyang Zhang, Lili Li, Shaozhe Cheng, Cheng Li, Fangzhou Liu, Peizhong Wang, Lianjun Sun, Junbo Huang, Wen Zhang, Xuezhi Zhang
Summary: Co-coagulation flotation (CCF) is a novel flotation technology that is more efficient in algal removal compared to traditional mechanical coagulation flotation (MCF). This study compared the algal removal performance of continuous CCF and MCF using water samples from Lake Dianchi with severe Microcystis aeruginosa blooms. The results showed that CCF saved more than 50% of the coagulant/flocculant dosage compared to MCF while achieving a removal efficiency of over 95%. The flocs formed in CCF were larger, more spherical, and had a higher fractal dimension compared to those in MCF.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jianan Gao, Qingquan Ma, Joshua Young, John C. Crittenden, Wen Zhang
Summary: Electrochemical upcycling of nitrate into ammonia at ambient conditions offers a sustainable synthesis pathway by effectively desorbing gaseous products from electrode surfaces using hydrophobic PTFE nanoparticles blended within a CuO catalyst layer. This strategy significantly increases the NH3 partial current density and has the potential to inspire future electrochemical gas-evolving electrode design.
ADVANCED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Qingquan Ma, Jianan Gao, Botamina Moussa, Joshua Young, Mengqiang Zhao, Wen Zhang
Summary: MXenes exhibit excellent conductivity, tunable surface chemistry,and high surface area. This study examines three types of MXenes with oxygen, fluorine, and chlorine as respective terminal atoms and evaluates their electrosorption, desorption, and oxidative properties. The experimental results reveal that O-terminated MXene achieves a significantly higher adsorption capacity and an oxidation rate constant for PFOA compared to those with F and Cl terminations.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ali Alinezhad, Heng Shao, Katerina Litvanova, Runze Sun, Alena Kubatova, Wen Zhang, Yang Li, Feng Xiao
Summary: This study investigates the thermal decomposition mechanisms of perfluoroalkyl ether carboxylic acids (PFECAs) and short-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) that have been used as replacements for phased-out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Experimental and computational results show that the thermal decomposition mechanisms involve C-C bond cleavage and radical recombination. Additionally, novel thermal decomposition products of studied PFAS were detected. This study provides important insights into the thermal decomposition mechanisms of PFECAs and short-chain PFCAs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Qingquan Ma, Joshua Young, Jianan Gao, Yi Tao, Wen Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the dissolution behavior of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with different shapes (nanocube, nanorod, and octahedron). The hydrophobicity and electrochemical activity of the Ag NPs were examined using atomic force microscopy coupled with scanning electrochemical microscopy. The results showed that octahedron Ag NPs dissolved faster than the other two shapes, and the (111) surface facet had stronger affinity towards water molecules. Coating the (100) facet with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) or PVP was critical for stabilizing and preventing dissolution.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yihan Zhang, Zimu Song, Kosuke Sugita, Shan Xue, Wen Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the release of heavy metals from polluted soil under the flow of pore water containing nanobubbles, simulating natural ebullition. The results showed that nanobubbles in the pore water flow were significantly more effective in releasing lead compared to DI water, with CO2 nanobubbles being the most effective and H-2 nanobubbles being the least effective. The findings could provide new insights into soil pollutant release under ebullition and soil remediation using water wash containing nanobubbles.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Luz Estefanny Quispe Cardenas, Parker John Deptula, Cynthia Soraya Huerta, Chonglin Zhu, Yinyin Ye, Siwen Wang, Yang Yang
Summary: This study discovered the multifunctionality of electro-Fenton (EF) and induced EF (I-EF) processes in removing organics, pathogens, and phosphate without halogenated byproduct formation. The EF and I-EF processes used sacrificial anodes or induced electrodes to activate H2O2 produced from a gas diffusion cathode. Reactive chlorine species were eliminated by H2O2, preventing the formation of halogenated byproducts. The EF process showed high removal efficiencies for COD, carbamazepine, and phosphate, while also demonstrating broad-spectrum disinfection activities.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Fangzhou Liu, Qingquan Ma, Makid Maskawat Marjub, Ashley Kate Suthammanont, Shaobin Sun, Hong Yao, Yi Tao, Wen Zhang
Summary: As the global spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases continues, it is increasingly important to remove airborne pathogens from confined spaces such as buildings, transportation carriers, and stations to curb transmission and reduce human infection rates. This review examines current state-of-the-art air purification processes and technologies, including ozone oxidation, UV disinfection, and photocatalysis, which can be used in combination with adsorption or filtration-based systems to enhance disinfection. The aim is to provide an overview of various reactive air purification technologies and discuss their principles, applications, and limitations to guide further development of new processes to address emerging airborne contaminant issues.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dajiang Yan, Shan Xue, Zhibin Zhang, Guodong Xu, Yanhao Zhang, Jianan Gao, Wen Zhang
Summary: This study found that diluted air nanobubbles in water can enhance the uptake of cadmium by the aquatic plant Alternanthera philoxeroides, as well as promote plant growth and increase photosynthetic pigments. The introduction of air nanobubbles also boosts the activity of antioxidant enzymes and crucial antioxidants, providing a potential explanation for the improvement in cadmium detoxification and overall plant growth rates. Furthermore, the presence of nanobubbles alters the composition of dissolved organic matter in the rhizosphere, affecting complexation processes and the uptake of cadmium. This study demonstrates the potential of using air nanobubbles in water systems to enhance phytoremediation processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fangzhou Liu, Bruce Rittmann, Saachi Kuthari, Wen Zhang
Summary: This study incorporated microwave-enabled catalysis into membrane filtration and evaluated viral removal using a model bacteriophage (MS2) as a surrogate. The findings showed that microwave irradiation effectively penetrated the PTFE membrane module and enabled surface oxidation reactions on the membrane-coated catalysts, resulting in strong germicidal effects. A log removal of 2.6 was achieved for MS2 within a contact time as low as 20 s using 125-W microwave irradiation. This research provides new insights to the antiviral mechanisms of this microwave-enabled catalytic membrane filtration.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Education & Educational Research
Xiaowei Kang, Wen Zhang
Summary: Forum-based online teaching effectively improves students' learning engagement and motivation, while reducing procrastination and plagiarism. While some students are resistant to this method, most believe that their academic skills can be improved through this approach.
INTERACTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
