A novel type of aromatic poly( ether ether ketone) s with carboxyl groups were prepared by polycondensation of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoic acid with difluoro-monomers. Their mo- lecular structures were deter...A novel type of aromatic poly( ether ether ketone) s with carboxyl groups were prepared by polycondensation of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoic acid with difluoro-monomers. Their mo- lecular structures were determined by ^1H-NMR and IR, respectively. Their molecular weights were measured by gel permeation chromatography ( GPC ), which showed that all the polymers had high molecule weights ( 〉 42 000). Due to the long side chains of polymers, all the polymers had good solubility (soluble in NMP, DMAc, THF, etc. ). The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) detected their excellent glass transition temperatures ( Tg ) up to 195 ℃. The Tg increased with the content of carboxylic units in the polymer chains, because the interactions of H bonds increased with increasing content of carboxylic. The polymers could form transparent and flexible films, which make them a candidate for membrane materials.展开更多
Aqueous zinc metal batteries are regarded as the most promising energy storage system due to their advantages of high safety,low cost,and high theoretical capacity.However,the growth of dendrites and the occurrence of...Aqueous zinc metal batteries are regarded as the most promising energy storage system due to their advantages of high safety,low cost,and high theoretical capacity.However,the growth of dendrites and the occurrence of side reactions hinder the development of zinc metal batteries.Despite previous attempts to design advanced hydrogel electrolytes,achieving high mechanical performance and ionic conductivity of hydrogel electrolytes has remained challenging.In this work,a hydrogel electrolyte with an ionic crosslinked network is prepared by carboxylic bacterial cellulose fiber and imidazole-type ionic liquid,following by a covalent network of polyacrylamide.The hydrogel electrolyte possesses a superior ionic conductivity of 43.76 mS cm^(−1),leading to a Zn^(2+)migration number of 0.45,and high mechanical performance with an elastic modulus of 3.48 GPa and an elongation at breaking of 38.36%.More importantly,under the anion-coordination effect of the carboxyl group in bacterial cellulose and[BF4]−in imidazole-type ionic liquid,the solvation sheath of hydrated Zn^(2+)ions and the nucleation overpotential of Zn plating are regulated.The results of cycled testing show that the growth of zinc dendrites is effectively inhibited and the generation of irreversible by-products is reduced.With the carboxylic bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel electrolyte,the Zn||Zn symmetric batteries offer good cyclability as well as Zn||Ti batteries.展开更多
Achieving high fouling resistance and permeability using membrane separation technology in water treatment processes remains a challenge.In this work,a novel mixed-matrix membrane(MMM)(poly(arylene ether ketone)[PAEK]...Achieving high fouling resistance and permeability using membrane separation technology in water treatment processes remains a challenge.In this work,a novel mixed-matrix membrane(MMM)(poly(arylene ether ketone)[PAEK]-containing carboxyl groups[PAEK-COOH]/UiO-66-NH_(2)@graphene oxide[GO])with superb fouling resistance and high permeability was prepared by the nonsolvent-induced phase separation method,by in-situ growth of UiO-66-NH_(2) on the GO layer,and by preparing hydrophilic PAEK-COOH.On the basis of the structure and performance analysis of the MMM,the maximum water flux reached 591.25 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1) for PAEK-COOH/UiO-66-NH_(2)@GO,whereas the retention rate for bovine serum albumin increased from 85.40%to 94.87%.As the loading gradually increased,the hydrophilicity of the MMMs increased,significantly enhancing their fouling resistance.The strongest anti-fouling ability observed was 94.74%,which was 2.02 times greater than that of the pure membrane.At the same time,the MMMs contained internal amide and hydrogen bonds during the preparation process,forming a cross-linked structure,which further enhanced the mechanical strength and chemical stability.In summary,the MMMs with high retention rate,strong permeability,and anti-fouling ability were successfully prepared.展开更多
Complex [Sr2(pdc)2(H2O)7]·H2O (1, H2pdc = 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and FT-IR. Structural determination reveals that t...Complex [Sr2(pdc)2(H2O)7]·H2O (1, H2pdc = 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and FT-IR. Structural determination reveals that there are two crystallographically independent strontium ions in 1. The coordination geometry of Sr(1) is a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped tetragonal antiprism, while Sr(2) is a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped tetragonal prism. The ligand pdc2- takes two different connecting modes and links St(If) centers to generate a 2D layer structure. The 2D layers are linked through O-H...O and O-H...N hydrogen bonds to form a 3D framework structure. Thermal stability and luminescent properties of complex 1 are investigated. 1 belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P21/n with a = 10.7182(10), b = 7.0377(6), c = 29.225(3) A, β = 95.7170(10)°, Z = 4, V = 2193.5(3) A3, Mr = 651.56, Dc = 1.973 g/cm3, F(000) = 1296,μ = 4.951 mm-1, the final R = 0.0318 and wR = 0.0726 for 3938 observed reflections with I 〉 2σ(/).展开更多
The title complex [Sm2(bdc)3(phen)2]n (1, H2bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthrolin), a new samarium(III) complex based on ligand H2bdc and 1,10-phen- anthrolin, has been hydrothermally s...The title complex [Sm2(bdc)3(phen)2]n (1, H2bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthrolin), a new samarium(III) complex based on ligand H2bdc and 1,10-phen- anthrolin, has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure reveals that the Sm(1) centre adopts an eight-coordinated distorted square anti-prism coordination geometry, while the Sm(2) centre adopts a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped square prism coordination geometry. The ligand bdc2- takes two different connecting modes and links the Sm(llI) centers to give rise to a 2D network structure. Further, 2D layers of 1 are connected together to form a 3D structure through C-H-O hydrogen bonding interactions. The luminescent property and thermal stability of complex 1 are studied. 1 belongs to the triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 10.7367(5), b = 14.3750(7), c = 13.7505(3)A, a = 92.8840(10), β = 104.4010(10), ), = 98.1400(10)°, Z= 2, V= 2143.44(18) A3, Mr = 1153.44, Dc = 1.787 g/cm3, F(000) = 1128,μ= 2.784 mm-1, the final R = 0.0279 and wR = 0.0720 for 8226 observed reflections with 1 〉 2σ(I).展开更多
At 225℃. caprolactone has been polymerized in the presence of succinic acid under dry nitrogen atmosphere. Characterizations of the polymer through IR and molecular weight measurements by 1H-NMR and end group titrati...At 225℃. caprolactone has been polymerized in the presence of succinic acid under dry nitrogen atmosphere. Characterizations of the polymer through IR and molecular weight measurements by 1H-NMR and end group titration have shown that the polycaprolactone obtained is of two carboxyl end groups. The molecular weight of it increases with decreasing of the acid content in the reaction mixture under the same polymerization conditions. With a certain ratio of acid to caprolactone. the maximum of molecular weight of the polymer will be reached at the reaction time of 3h.展开更多
A deep understanding of the electricity generation mechanism from the interaction between water molecules and carbon material surfaces is attractive for next-generation water-based energy conversion and storage system...A deep understanding of the electricity generation mechanism from the interaction between water molecules and carbon material surfaces is attractive for next-generation water-based energy conversion and storage systems.Herein,an asymmetric generator was assembled based on functionalized carbon nanotubes films to investigate the relative contribution from various oxygen functional groups on carbon surface to the water-electrical performance.Experiments and calculations demonstrate that the electricity mainly originates from the water molecule adsorption by carboxyl groups and dissociation of functional groups on carbon surface,which leads to the formation of electrical double layers at interfaces.This device allows the electricity generation with a variety of water sources,such as deionized water,tap water,as well as seawater.In particular,the generator based on carboxyl carbon nanotubes can induce a voltage of over 200 mV spontaneously in natural seawater with the power density of about 0.11 mW·g^(−1).High voltages can be achieved easily through the series-connection strategy to power electronic products such as a liquid crystal display.This work reveals the dominant role of carboxyl groups in carbon-based water–electricity conversion and is expected to offer inspiration for the preparation of carbon materials with high electrical performance.展开更多
Easy hydrolysis in alkaline environments limits the use of polyimide fibers in environmental protection. The hydrolysis resistance levels of polyimide fibers can be improved by crosslinking of the macromolecular chain...Easy hydrolysis in alkaline environments limits the use of polyimide fibers in environmental protection. The hydrolysis resistance levels of polyimide fibers can be improved by crosslinking of the macromolecular chains. In this work, crosslinked polyimide fibers(CPI fibers) were produced by intrinsic carboxyl decarboxylation for the first time. The thermal stability of the polyimide fibers containing the intrinsic carboxyl groups(PIC fibers) was studied, and the temperature of the decarboxylation-crosslinking reaction was determined to be 450 ℃. The PIC fibers were hotdrawn to initiate thermal crosslinking of the carboxyl groups and molecular chain orientation at high temperature. The CPI fibers had high tensile strengths(0.72-1.46 GPa) and compressive strengths(401-604 MPa). The oriented macromolecules and chemically crosslinked structure improved the tightness of the molecular chains and endowed the CPI fibers with excellent hydrolytic resistance. The CPI-50 fiber did not dissolve in a 0.5 wt% NaOH solution during heating at 90 ℃ for 10 h, and the tensile strength retention reached 87% when treated in 0.5 wt% NaOH solutions at 90 ℃ for 1 h, providing a guarantee for its application in alkaline corrosive environments.展开更多
The bio-mimic reactions of N-phosphoryl amino acids are very important in the study of many biochemical processes. The difference of reactivity between a-COOH and b-COOH in phosphoryl aspartic acid was studied by the...The bio-mimic reactions of N-phosphoryl amino acids are very important in the study of many biochemical processes. The difference of reactivity between a-COOH and b-COOH in phosphoryl aspartic acid was studied by theoretical study (Hartree-Fock and Density Functional methods) in this paper. The intermediates II containing five-membered ring were more stable than III with six-membered ring. While for intermediates III, the isomers with six-membered ring in apical-equatorial spanning arrangement were more stable than those with di-equatorial spanning arrangement. At B3LYP/6-31G** level, it was shown that transition states IV and V involving a-COOH or b-COOH group had energy barriers of DE = 58.67 kJmol-1 and 103.94 kJmol-1, respectively. These results were in agreement with the experimental data. So the a-COOH group was involved in form of the intramolecular penta-coordinate phosphoric-carboxylic mixed anhydride intermediates, but not b-COOH group.展开更多
Sorption of humic acid (HA) on mineral surfaces has a profound interest regarding the fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and carbon sequestration in soils. The objective of our study is to determine t...Sorption of humic acid (HA) on mineral surfaces has a profound interest regarding the fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and carbon sequestration in soils. The objective of our study is to determine the fractionation behavior of HA upon sorption on mineral surfaces with varying surface properties. HA was coated sequentially on kaolinite (1:1 clay), montmorillonite (2:1 clay), and goethite (iron oxide) for four times. The unadsorbed HA fractions were characterized by elemental analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), and solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The mineral-HA complexes were characterized by DRIFT. Polarity index [(N+O)/C] revealed higher polarity of the unadsorbed HA fractions after coating on kaolinite, reflecting that relatively higher polarity fractions of HA remain unadsorbed. Sorption of aiiphatic alcohol fraction along with carbohydrate was prominent on kaolinite surface. DRIFT results of the unadsorbed HA fractions indicated more sorption of aiiphatic moieties on both kaolinite and montmorillonite. DRIFT results of the unadsorbed HA fractions after sorption on kaolinite and goethite showed the sorption of the proteinaceons fractions of HA. The HA fractions obtained after coating on goethite showed significant sorption of carboxylic moieties. The results mentioned above comply reasonably well with the DRIFT spectra of the minerai-HA complexes. ^13C NMR results showed higher sorption of anomeric C on kaolinite surface. Higher sorption of paraffinic fraction waS observed on montmorillonite. NMR data inferred the sorption of carboxylic moieties on goethite surface. Overall, this study showed that aliphatic moieties of HA preferentially sorbed on kaolinite and montmorillonite, while carboxylic functional groups play a significant role in sorption of HA on goethite. The sorbed fractions of HA may modify the mineral surface properties, and thus, the interaction with organic contaminants.展开更多
Commercially available coal-based activated carbon was treated by nitric acid with different concentrations and the resultant samples were used as catalysts for the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol in acetoni...Commercially available coal-based activated carbon was treated by nitric acid with different concentrations and the resultant samples were used as catalysts for the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol in acetonitrile. Boehm titration, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method were used to characterize the samples. The number of carboxyl groups on the surface was found to be the main factor affecting the catalytic activity. An optimum catalytic performance with a yield of 15.7% and a selectivity of 87.2% to phenol was obtained.展开更多
For certain industrial applications, the mechanical properties of PET fiber can be deteriorated from hydrolysis because the terminal carboxylic groups promote the degradation of macromolecules under high moisture and ...For certain industrial applications, the mechanical properties of PET fiber can be deteriorated from hydrolysis because the terminal carboxylic groups promote the degradation of macromolecules under high moisture and high temperature. It limits the wide applications of PET fiber in some special cases. In this paper, three additives are selected to improve the hydrolytic stability through the reaction of bi-functional groups on additive molecules with carboxyl groups on PET molecules. The additives can serve not only as hydrolysis stabilizers, but also as agents to increase the molecular weight and consequently to improve PET fiber mechanical properties. PET pellets were blended with additive before spinning, and melt spun into fiber. The fibers were then hydrolyzed in an autoclave by saturated vapor at 140℃ for a period of time. Measurements of intrinsic viscosity, terminal carboxylic group value and strength of polyester fibers were carried out to study the effects of hydrolysis resistance. Results show that 2,2′-bis(2-oxazoline) has best hydrolysis-resistibility and the chain-extension effect at the same time.展开更多
An alkaline earth metal-organic framework [Ba(Hsip)(H2O)4]n (1, NaH2sip = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid sodium) has been constructed, and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In complex 1, each Ba(II) ...An alkaline earth metal-organic framework [Ba(Hsip)(H2O)4]n (1, NaH2sip = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid sodium) has been constructed, and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In complex 1, each Ba(II) atom coordinates to one ligand Hsip3- and four water molecules with a distorted nine-coordinated monocapped tetragonal antiprism geometry. Each Hsip2- anion acts as a μ3-bridging ligand, in which two carboxylate groups adopt the same bidentate chelating coordinating model and the sulfonate group takes a monodentate coordinating model, resulting in a wave-like two-dimensional network with a (6, 3) topological structure. The two-dimensional networks are further linked by O–H···O to form a three-dimensional structure. Luminescent property and thermal stability of complex 1 are investigated. 1 belongs to the orthorhombic system, space group Pna21 with a = 7.3333(2), b = 16.7044(3), c = 10.4817(2), Z = 4, V = 1283.99(5)3, Mr = 453.58, Dc = 2.346 g/cm3, F(000) = 880, μ = 3.314 mm–1, the final R = 0.0261 and wR = 0.0592 for 2425 observed reflections with I 2σ(I).展开更多
Cellulose nanofibrils(CNFs)are promising sustainable materials that can be applied to nanocomposites,as well as medical and life-sciences devices.However,methods for the preparation of these important materials are en...Cellulose nanofibrils(CNFs)are promising sustainable materials that can be applied to nanocomposites,as well as medical and life-sciences devices.However,methods for the preparation of these important materials are energy intensive because heating and mechanical disintegration are required to produce cellulose fibers below 100 nm in size.In this study,CNFs were prepared through the multi-site regioselective oxidation of cellulose with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl(TEMPO)and periodate at room temperature(20–25°C),without any mechanical-disintegration treatment.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)revealed that the CNFs had the average widths of 14.1,55.4,and 81.9 nm for three different treatments.Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that carboxyl groups were created on the surfaces of the microfibrils,while X-ray diffraction studies showed that the cellulose I structure was maintained after oxidation,and that the cellulose nanofibril crystallinity index exceeded 70%.These results demonstrate that CNFs can be prepared by multi-site regioselective oxidation at room temperature in the absence of mechanical disintegration.In addition,a model was developed to calculate the total content of carboxylate and aldehyde groups of CNFs prepared by the TEMPO mediate oxidation,the periodate oxidation,and the multi-site regioselective oxidation methods based on the particle width determined by TEM.The calculated values of the model were in good agreement with the total content(experimental value)of carboxylate and aldehyde groups of CNFs prepared by the TEMPO-mediated oxidation and the multi-site regioselective oxidation methods.However,the model was not valid for CNFs prepared by the periodate oxidation method.展开更多
Limonoid bitterness is a serious problem in the citrus industry worldwide. Limonoid glucosyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of bitter limonoid into non-bitter limonoid glucoside while retaining ...Limonoid bitterness is a serious problem in the citrus industry worldwide. Limonoid glucosyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of bitter limonoid into non-bitter limonoid glucoside while retaining the health benefit of limonoids in the juice. The immobilization of this enzyme in a column can solve the juice bitterness problem. More information about the catalytic residues of the enzyme is needed in this immobilization process. Glutamate/aspartate,histidine,lysine,tryptophan,serine,and cysteine residues were chemi-cally modified to investigate their roles in the catalytic function of limonoid glucosyltransferase. Inactivation of the enzyme following modi-fication of carboxyl and imidazole moieties was a consequence of a loss in substrate binding and catalysis in the glucosyltransfer reaction. The modification of a single histidine residue completely destroyed the ability of limonoid glucosyltransferase to transfer the D-glucopyranosyl unit. Tryptophan seemed to have some role in maintaining the active conformation of the catalytic site. Lysine also seemed to have some direct or indirect role in this catalysis but the modification of serine and cysteine did not have any effect on catalysis. Therefore,we conclude that the carboxyl and imidazole groups containing amino acids are responsible for the catalytic action of the enzyme.展开更多
The chemical modification of human plasminogen(HPg) was studied with 1-ethyl-3-(3- dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide(EDC), N -acetylimidazole(NAI), 1,2-cyclohexanedione(CHD), chloramine T(Ch-T) and N -bro...The chemical modification of human plasminogen(HPg) was studied with 1-ethyl-3-(3- dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide(EDC), N -acetylimidazole(NAI), 1,2-cyclohexanedione(CHD), chloramine T(Ch-T) and N -bromosuccinimide(NBS) as modifying reagents at its carboxyl group, tyrosine, arginine, methionine and tryptophan residues, respectively. The results indicate that tyrosine and arginine residues are not essential for HPg activity, while carboxyl groups, methionine and tryptophan residues are important for the activity of HPg. The Keech and Farrant′s kinetic analysis reveals that one tryptophan residue, one methionine residue and two carboxyl groups are essential for HPg activity.展开更多
Compounds [Zn(2,2'-bipy)(L)Cl]2 1 and [Zn(phen)(L2)]2 2 (2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, HL = 3-methylbenzoic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. 1: monocl...Compounds [Zn(2,2'-bipy)(L)Cl]2 1 and [Zn(phen)(L2)]2 2 (2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, HL = 3-methylbenzoic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. 1: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 20.240(4), b = 9.2960(19), c = 17.904(4)A, β = 92.63(3)°, V = 3365.1(12) A^3, C36H30Cl2N4O4Zn2, Mr = 784.32, Z = 4, Dc = 1.548 g/cm^3, μ = 1.631 mm^-1, F(000) = 1600, the final R = 0.0367 and wR = 0.1289 for 3867 observed reflections (I 〉 2σ(I)). 2: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 23.035(5), b = 9.0395(18), c = 23.799(5) A, β = 98.55(3)°, V = 4900.6(17)A^3, C56H44N4O8Zn2, Mr = 1031.73, Z = 4, Dc = 1.398 g/cm^3, μ = 1.039 mm^-1, F(000) = 2128, the final R = 0.0540 and wR = 0.1287 for 5002 observed reflections (I 〉 2σ(I)). The two compounds have the same space group and similar isolated dinuclear structure, but different space packing structures are formed by different weak intermolecular interactions. Mo- reover, IR and luminescence spectra are also employed to study the crystal structures and pro- perties of these two compounds.展开更多
Artificial ion channels that enable high-efficiency ion transport have important implications in nanofluidics and biomedical applications such as drug delivery.Herein,we show a simulation-based chemical design of a bi...Artificial ion channels that enable high-efficiency ion transport have important implications in nanofluidics and biomedical applications such as drug delivery.Herein,we show a simulation-based chemical design of a biomimetic sodium channel that possesses permeation rate and selectivity potentially higher than those of the state-of-the-art natural vertebrate voltage-gated sodium channels.Importantly,our theoretical findings have undergone empirical testing,aligning well with the Arrhenius law as derived from a diverse range of experimental results.The high-efficiency ion transport is achieved by anchoring the carboxylate functional groups within the channel filter.A key chemical guiding principle underlying the ion channel design is that the free-energy barrier for the Na^(+)passage across the channel should be comparable to typical thermal energy at room temperature.With the implementation of the chemical design,we found that the relatively low free-energy barrier can be attributed to the compensation effect of the carboxylate groups to the partially lost oxygen shell of the ion within the ion channel,as well as to the consonant vibration of the ions inside and outside the channel.This mechanistic understanding brings new insight,at the molecular level,into the high-efficiency ion transport across the designed membrane channels.The proof of principle achieved from the simulations will stimulate future experimental confirmation and potential applications of the high-performance artificial channels in nanofluidics and in bioinspired iontronics.展开更多
In this study,TiO_(2)functionalized with organic groups were prepared to study the effect of carboxyl and amino groups on the adsorption behavior of TiO_(2)for the removal of acid red G(ARG)as an anionic dye from aque...In this study,TiO_(2)functionalized with organic groups were prepared to study the effect of carboxyl and amino groups on the adsorption behavior of TiO_(2)for the removal of acid red G(ARG)as an anionic dye from aqueous solution.TiO_(2)was successfully modified with carboxyl and amino groups by using the hydrolysis method with oxalic acid(OAD,with two carboxyl groups),ethylenediamine(EDA,with two amino groups)and DL-alanine(DLA,with one carboxyl group and one amino group)at low temperature(65℃)and labeled as OAD-TiO_(2),EDA-TiO_(2)and DLA-TiO_(2),respectively.The ARG uptake by the functionalized TiO_(2)samples was largely dependent on the functional groups.The interaction between ARG and the functional organic groups on the TiO_(2)samples plays an important role in the adsorption process,which leads to the excellent adsorption performance(higher capacity and faster adsorption rate)of the functionalized TiO_(2)samples than that of P25(commercial TiO_(2)without modification).Furthermore,there is no obvious loss of the adsorption capacity for the functionalized TiO_(2)even after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles,which indicated the good reusability of the modified TiO_(2)samples for anionic dye removal from aqueous solution.展开更多
Ozone treatment is a common way to functionalize commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with various oxygen functionalities like carboxyl, phenol and lactone groups, in order to enhance their textural prope...Ozone treatment is a common way to functionalize commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with various oxygen functionalities like carboxyl, phenol and lactone groups, in order to enhance their textural properties and chemical activity. In order to detail the effect of each functional group, we correlated the activity with the surface density of each group, and found that the carboxyl groups play a pivotal role in two important catalytic reactions, namely the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and agar conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). During the processes, the hydrophilic surface provides a strong affinity for reaction substrates while the improved porosity allows the efficient diffusion of reactants and products. Furthermore, the activity of functionalized CNTs for agar conversion remained almost unchanged during nine cycles of reaction. This work highlights a strategy for improving the activity of CNTs for electrochemical ORR and agar conversion reactions, as well a promising application of carboxyl-rich CNTs as a solid acid catalyst to produce high-purity HMF--an important chemical intermediate.展开更多
基金Supported by Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials(SKLSSM201114)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51103010)
文摘A novel type of aromatic poly( ether ether ketone) s with carboxyl groups were prepared by polycondensation of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentanoic acid with difluoro-monomers. Their mo- lecular structures were determined by ^1H-NMR and IR, respectively. Their molecular weights were measured by gel permeation chromatography ( GPC ), which showed that all the polymers had high molecule weights ( 〉 42 000). Due to the long side chains of polymers, all the polymers had good solubility (soluble in NMP, DMAc, THF, etc. ). The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) detected their excellent glass transition temperatures ( Tg ) up to 195 ℃. The Tg increased with the content of carboxylic units in the polymer chains, because the interactions of H bonds increased with increasing content of carboxylic. The polymers could form transparent and flexible films, which make them a candidate for membrane materials.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(51903113,51763014,and 52073133)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022T150282,2019M663858)Program for Hongliu Excellent and Distinguished Young Scholars at Lanzhou University of Technology.
文摘Aqueous zinc metal batteries are regarded as the most promising energy storage system due to their advantages of high safety,low cost,and high theoretical capacity.However,the growth of dendrites and the occurrence of side reactions hinder the development of zinc metal batteries.Despite previous attempts to design advanced hydrogel electrolytes,achieving high mechanical performance and ionic conductivity of hydrogel electrolytes has remained challenging.In this work,a hydrogel electrolyte with an ionic crosslinked network is prepared by carboxylic bacterial cellulose fiber and imidazole-type ionic liquid,following by a covalent network of polyacrylamide.The hydrogel electrolyte possesses a superior ionic conductivity of 43.76 mS cm^(−1),leading to a Zn^(2+)migration number of 0.45,and high mechanical performance with an elastic modulus of 3.48 GPa and an elongation at breaking of 38.36%.More importantly,under the anion-coordination effect of the carboxyl group in bacterial cellulose and[BF4]−in imidazole-type ionic liquid,the solvation sheath of hydrated Zn^(2+)ions and the nucleation overpotential of Zn plating are regulated.The results of cycled testing show that the growth of zinc dendrites is effectively inhibited and the generation of irreversible by-products is reduced.With the carboxylic bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel electrolyte,the Zn||Zn symmetric batteries offer good cyclability as well as Zn||Ti batteries.
基金support of this work by National Natural Science Foundation of China(22075031,51673030,51603017 and 51803011)Jilin Provincial Science&Technology Department(20220201105GX)Chang Bai Mountain Scholars Program of Jilin Province.
文摘Achieving high fouling resistance and permeability using membrane separation technology in water treatment processes remains a challenge.In this work,a novel mixed-matrix membrane(MMM)(poly(arylene ether ketone)[PAEK]-containing carboxyl groups[PAEK-COOH]/UiO-66-NH_(2)@graphene oxide[GO])with superb fouling resistance and high permeability was prepared by the nonsolvent-induced phase separation method,by in-situ growth of UiO-66-NH_(2) on the GO layer,and by preparing hydrophilic PAEK-COOH.On the basis of the structure and performance analysis of the MMM,the maximum water flux reached 591.25 L·m^(-2)·h^(-1) for PAEK-COOH/UiO-66-NH_(2)@GO,whereas the retention rate for bovine serum albumin increased from 85.40%to 94.87%.As the loading gradually increased,the hydrophilicity of the MMMs increased,significantly enhancing their fouling resistance.The strongest anti-fouling ability observed was 94.74%,which was 2.02 times greater than that of the pure membrane.At the same time,the MMMs contained internal amide and hydrogen bonds during the preparation process,forming a cross-linked structure,which further enhanced the mechanical strength and chemical stability.In summary,the MMMs with high retention rate,strong permeability,and anti-fouling ability were successfully prepared.
基金supported by the University Science Foundation of Anhui Province(No.KJ2011Z271)Anhui Province Natural Science Foundation(No.1208085MB31)the Applied Chemistry Key Constructing Subject of Anhui Province(No.200802187C)
文摘Complex [Sr2(pdc)2(H2O)7]·H2O (1, H2pdc = 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and FT-IR. Structural determination reveals that there are two crystallographically independent strontium ions in 1. The coordination geometry of Sr(1) is a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped tetragonal antiprism, while Sr(2) is a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped tetragonal prism. The ligand pdc2- takes two different connecting modes and links St(If) centers to generate a 2D layer structure. The 2D layers are linked through O-H...O and O-H...N hydrogen bonds to form a 3D framework structure. Thermal stability and luminescent properties of complex 1 are investigated. 1 belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P21/n with a = 10.7182(10), b = 7.0377(6), c = 29.225(3) A, β = 95.7170(10)°, Z = 4, V = 2193.5(3) A3, Mr = 651.56, Dc = 1.973 g/cm3, F(000) = 1296,μ = 4.951 mm-1, the final R = 0.0318 and wR = 0.0726 for 3938 observed reflections with I 〉 2σ(/).
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province(1208085MB31)NNSFC(21271106)+1 种基金the Applied Chemistry Key Constructing Subject of Anhui Province(200802187C)Student Research Project of Chuzhou University(2012XS18,2012XS19)
文摘The title complex [Sm2(bdc)3(phen)2]n (1, H2bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthrolin), a new samarium(III) complex based on ligand H2bdc and 1,10-phen- anthrolin, has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure reveals that the Sm(1) centre adopts an eight-coordinated distorted square anti-prism coordination geometry, while the Sm(2) centre adopts a nine-coordinated distorted monocapped square prism coordination geometry. The ligand bdc2- takes two different connecting modes and links the Sm(llI) centers to give rise to a 2D network structure. Further, 2D layers of 1 are connected together to form a 3D structure through C-H-O hydrogen bonding interactions. The luminescent property and thermal stability of complex 1 are studied. 1 belongs to the triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 10.7367(5), b = 14.3750(7), c = 13.7505(3)A, a = 92.8840(10), β = 104.4010(10), ), = 98.1400(10)°, Z= 2, V= 2143.44(18) A3, Mr = 1153.44, Dc = 1.787 g/cm3, F(000) = 1128,μ= 2.784 mm-1, the final R = 0.0279 and wR = 0.0720 for 8226 observed reflections with 1 〉 2σ(I).
文摘At 225℃. caprolactone has been polymerized in the presence of succinic acid under dry nitrogen atmosphere. Characterizations of the polymer through IR and molecular weight measurements by 1H-NMR and end group titration have shown that the polycaprolactone obtained is of two carboxyl end groups. The molecular weight of it increases with decreasing of the acid content in the reaction mixture under the same polymerization conditions. With a certain ratio of acid to caprolactone. the maximum of molecular weight of the polymer will be reached at the reaction time of 3h.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52172038 and 22179017).
文摘A deep understanding of the electricity generation mechanism from the interaction between water molecules and carbon material surfaces is attractive for next-generation water-based energy conversion and storage systems.Herein,an asymmetric generator was assembled based on functionalized carbon nanotubes films to investigate the relative contribution from various oxygen functional groups on carbon surface to the water-electrical performance.Experiments and calculations demonstrate that the electricity mainly originates from the water molecule adsorption by carboxyl groups and dissociation of functional groups on carbon surface,which leads to the formation of electrical double layers at interfaces.This device allows the electricity generation with a variety of water sources,such as deionized water,tap water,as well as seawater.In particular,the generator based on carboxyl carbon nanotubes can induce a voltage of over 200 mV spontaneously in natural seawater with the power density of about 0.11 mW·g^(−1).High voltages can be achieved easily through the series-connection strategy to power electronic products such as a liquid crystal display.This work reveals the dominant role of carboxyl groups in carbon-based water–electricity conversion and is expected to offer inspiration for the preparation of carbon materials with high electrical performance.
基金financially supported by the Scientific Research Innovation Plan of Shanghai Education Commission (No. 2019-01-07-00-03-E00001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. U21A2087 and 21975040)the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (No. 21ZR1400200)。
文摘Easy hydrolysis in alkaline environments limits the use of polyimide fibers in environmental protection. The hydrolysis resistance levels of polyimide fibers can be improved by crosslinking of the macromolecular chains. In this work, crosslinked polyimide fibers(CPI fibers) were produced by intrinsic carboxyl decarboxylation for the first time. The thermal stability of the polyimide fibers containing the intrinsic carboxyl groups(PIC fibers) was studied, and the temperature of the decarboxylation-crosslinking reaction was determined to be 450 ℃. The PIC fibers were hotdrawn to initiate thermal crosslinking of the carboxyl groups and molecular chain orientation at high temperature. The CPI fibers had high tensile strengths(0.72-1.46 GPa) and compressive strengths(401-604 MPa). The oriented macromolecules and chemically crosslinked structure improved the tightness of the molecular chains and endowed the CPI fibers with excellent hydrolytic resistance. The CPI-50 fiber did not dissolve in a 0.5 wt% NaOH solution during heating at 90 ℃ for 10 h, and the tensile strength retention reached 87% when treated in 0.5 wt% NaOH solutions at 90 ℃ for 1 h, providing a guarantee for its application in alkaline corrosive environments.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 29802006) the Teaching and Research Award Program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Higher Education Institutions of MOE P.R.C. and Tsinghua University.
文摘The bio-mimic reactions of N-phosphoryl amino acids are very important in the study of many biochemical processes. The difference of reactivity between a-COOH and b-COOH in phosphoryl aspartic acid was studied by theoretical study (Hartree-Fock and Density Functional methods) in this paper. The intermediates II containing five-membered ring were more stable than III with six-membered ring. While for intermediates III, the isomers with six-membered ring in apical-equatorial spanning arrangement were more stable than those with di-equatorial spanning arrangement. At B3LYP/6-31G** level, it was shown that transition states IV and V involving a-COOH or b-COOH group had energy barriers of DE = 58.67 kJmol-1 and 103.94 kJmol-1, respectively. These results were in agreement with the experimental data. So the a-COOH group was involved in form of the intramolecular penta-coordinate phosphoric-carboxylic mixed anhydride intermediates, but not b-COOH group.
基金supported by the Federal Hatch Program, USA (No.MAS 8532)the Cheung Kong Scholar Program, Ministry ofEducation of Chinathe CSREES, USDA National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, USA (No.2005-35107-15278).
文摘Sorption of humic acid (HA) on mineral surfaces has a profound interest regarding the fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and carbon sequestration in soils. The objective of our study is to determine the fractionation behavior of HA upon sorption on mineral surfaces with varying surface properties. HA was coated sequentially on kaolinite (1:1 clay), montmorillonite (2:1 clay), and goethite (iron oxide) for four times. The unadsorbed HA fractions were characterized by elemental analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFT), and solid state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The mineral-HA complexes were characterized by DRIFT. Polarity index [(N+O)/C] revealed higher polarity of the unadsorbed HA fractions after coating on kaolinite, reflecting that relatively higher polarity fractions of HA remain unadsorbed. Sorption of aiiphatic alcohol fraction along with carbohydrate was prominent on kaolinite surface. DRIFT results of the unadsorbed HA fractions indicated more sorption of aiiphatic moieties on both kaolinite and montmorillonite. DRIFT results of the unadsorbed HA fractions after sorption on kaolinite and goethite showed the sorption of the proteinaceons fractions of HA. The HA fractions obtained after coating on goethite showed significant sorption of carboxylic moieties. The results mentioned above comply reasonably well with the DRIFT spectra of the minerai-HA complexes. ^13C NMR results showed higher sorption of anomeric C on kaolinite surface. Higher sorption of paraffinic fraction waS observed on montmorillonite. NMR data inferred the sorption of carboxylic moieties on goethite surface. Overall, this study showed that aliphatic moieties of HA preferentially sorbed on kaolinite and montmorillonite, while carboxylic functional groups play a significant role in sorption of HA on goethite. The sorbed fractions of HA may modify the mineral surface properties, and thus, the interaction with organic contaminants.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.20502017, No.20872102, and No.21021001), the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (No.IRT0846), and the characterization of the catalyst from Analytic and Testing Center of Sichuan University are greatly appreciated.
文摘Commercially available coal-based activated carbon was treated by nitric acid with different concentrations and the resultant samples were used as catalysts for the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol in acetonitrile. Boehm titration, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalyzer, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method were used to characterize the samples. The number of carboxyl groups on the surface was found to be the main factor affecting the catalytic activity. An optimum catalytic performance with a yield of 15.7% and a selectivity of 87.2% to phenol was obtained.
文摘For certain industrial applications, the mechanical properties of PET fiber can be deteriorated from hydrolysis because the terminal carboxylic groups promote the degradation of macromolecules under high moisture and high temperature. It limits the wide applications of PET fiber in some special cases. In this paper, three additives are selected to improve the hydrolytic stability through the reaction of bi-functional groups on additive molecules with carboxyl groups on PET molecules. The additives can serve not only as hydrolysis stabilizers, but also as agents to increase the molecular weight and consequently to improve PET fiber mechanical properties. PET pellets were blended with additive before spinning, and melt spun into fiber. The fibers were then hydrolyzed in an autoclave by saturated vapor at 140℃ for a period of time. Measurements of intrinsic viscosity, terminal carboxylic group value and strength of polyester fibers were carried out to study the effects of hydrolysis resistance. Results show that 2,2′-bis(2-oxazoline) has best hydrolysis-resistibility and the chain-extension effect at the same time.
基金supported by the University Science Foundation of Anhui Province (No. KJ2011Z271)the Applied Chemistry Key Constructing Subject of Anhui Province (No. 200802187C)
文摘An alkaline earth metal-organic framework [Ba(Hsip)(H2O)4]n (1, NaH2sip = 5-sulfoisophthalic acid sodium) has been constructed, and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In complex 1, each Ba(II) atom coordinates to one ligand Hsip3- and four water molecules with a distorted nine-coordinated monocapped tetragonal antiprism geometry. Each Hsip2- anion acts as a μ3-bridging ligand, in which two carboxylate groups adopt the same bidentate chelating coordinating model and the sulfonate group takes a monodentate coordinating model, resulting in a wave-like two-dimensional network with a (6, 3) topological structure. The two-dimensional networks are further linked by O–H···O to form a three-dimensional structure. Luminescent property and thermal stability of complex 1 are investigated. 1 belongs to the orthorhombic system, space group Pna21 with a = 7.3333(2), b = 16.7044(3), c = 10.4817(2), Z = 4, V = 1283.99(5)3, Mr = 453.58, Dc = 2.346 g/cm3, F(000) = 880, μ = 3.314 mm–1, the final R = 0.0261 and wR = 0.0592 for 2425 observed reflections with I 2σ(I).
基金This research was funded by The Talents Project for Harbin Science and Technology Innovation,grant number 2016RAXXJ006China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,grant number 2017M611341.
文摘Cellulose nanofibrils(CNFs)are promising sustainable materials that can be applied to nanocomposites,as well as medical and life-sciences devices.However,methods for the preparation of these important materials are energy intensive because heating and mechanical disintegration are required to produce cellulose fibers below 100 nm in size.In this study,CNFs were prepared through the multi-site regioselective oxidation of cellulose with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl(TEMPO)and periodate at room temperature(20–25°C),without any mechanical-disintegration treatment.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)revealed that the CNFs had the average widths of 14.1,55.4,and 81.9 nm for three different treatments.Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that carboxyl groups were created on the surfaces of the microfibrils,while X-ray diffraction studies showed that the cellulose I structure was maintained after oxidation,and that the cellulose nanofibril crystallinity index exceeded 70%.These results demonstrate that CNFs can be prepared by multi-site regioselective oxidation at room temperature in the absence of mechanical disintegration.In addition,a model was developed to calculate the total content of carboxylate and aldehyde groups of CNFs prepared by the TEMPO mediate oxidation,the periodate oxidation,and the multi-site regioselective oxidation methods based on the particle width determined by TEM.The calculated values of the model were in good agreement with the total content(experimental value)of carboxylate and aldehyde groups of CNFs prepared by the TEMPO-mediated oxidation and the multi-site regioselective oxidation methods.However,the model was not valid for CNFs prepared by the periodate oxidation method.
基金Supported by Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology of Japan
文摘Limonoid bitterness is a serious problem in the citrus industry worldwide. Limonoid glucosyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of bitter limonoid into non-bitter limonoid glucoside while retaining the health benefit of limonoids in the juice. The immobilization of this enzyme in a column can solve the juice bitterness problem. More information about the catalytic residues of the enzyme is needed in this immobilization process. Glutamate/aspartate,histidine,lysine,tryptophan,serine,and cysteine residues were chemi-cally modified to investigate their roles in the catalytic function of limonoid glucosyltransferase. Inactivation of the enzyme following modi-fication of carboxyl and imidazole moieties was a consequence of a loss in substrate binding and catalysis in the glucosyltransfer reaction. The modification of a single histidine residue completely destroyed the ability of limonoid glucosyltransferase to transfer the D-glucopyranosyl unit. Tryptophan seemed to have some role in maintaining the active conformation of the catalytic site. Lysine also seemed to have some direct or indirect role in this catalysis but the modification of serine and cysteine did not have any effect on catalysis. Therefore,we conclude that the carboxyl and imidazole groups containing amino acids are responsible for the catalytic action of the enzyme.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province( No.0 30 912 )
文摘The chemical modification of human plasminogen(HPg) was studied with 1-ethyl-3-(3- dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide(EDC), N -acetylimidazole(NAI), 1,2-cyclohexanedione(CHD), chloramine T(Ch-T) and N -bromosuccinimide(NBS) as modifying reagents at its carboxyl group, tyrosine, arginine, methionine and tryptophan residues, respectively. The results indicate that tyrosine and arginine residues are not essential for HPg activity, while carboxyl groups, methionine and tryptophan residues are important for the activity of HPg. The Keech and Farrant′s kinetic analysis reveals that one tryptophan residue, one methionine residue and two carboxyl groups are essential for HPg activity.
基金supported by the State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, National Natural Science Foundation of China (20873021)the Young Talent Programmed of Fujian Province (No. 2006F3072)New Century Excellent Talent Supported Plan of Fujian Province (SXSJRC2007-21)
文摘Compounds [Zn(2,2'-bipy)(L)Cl]2 1 and [Zn(phen)(L2)]2 2 (2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, HL = 3-methylbenzoic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. 1: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 20.240(4), b = 9.2960(19), c = 17.904(4)A, β = 92.63(3)°, V = 3365.1(12) A^3, C36H30Cl2N4O4Zn2, Mr = 784.32, Z = 4, Dc = 1.548 g/cm^3, μ = 1.631 mm^-1, F(000) = 1600, the final R = 0.0367 and wR = 0.1289 for 3867 observed reflections (I 〉 2σ(I)). 2: monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 23.035(5), b = 9.0395(18), c = 23.799(5) A, β = 98.55(3)°, V = 4900.6(17)A^3, C56H44N4O8Zn2, Mr = 1031.73, Z = 4, Dc = 1.398 g/cm^3, μ = 1.039 mm^-1, F(000) = 2128, the final R = 0.0540 and wR = 0.1287 for 5002 observed reflections (I 〉 2σ(I)). The two compounds have the same space group and similar isolated dinuclear structure, but different space packing structures are formed by different weak intermolecular interactions. Mo- reover, IR and luminescence spectra are also employed to study the crystal structures and pro- perties of these two compounds.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12374214,12022508,12074394,T2241002,12204547,and 12225511)National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2021YFA1200404)+1 种基金National Defense Technology Innovation Special Zone and sponsored by Shanghai Rising-Star Program(No.23QA1404200)support by Hong Kong Global STEM Professorship Scheme and and a GRF grant(11204123)from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong.
文摘Artificial ion channels that enable high-efficiency ion transport have important implications in nanofluidics and biomedical applications such as drug delivery.Herein,we show a simulation-based chemical design of a biomimetic sodium channel that possesses permeation rate and selectivity potentially higher than those of the state-of-the-art natural vertebrate voltage-gated sodium channels.Importantly,our theoretical findings have undergone empirical testing,aligning well with the Arrhenius law as derived from a diverse range of experimental results.The high-efficiency ion transport is achieved by anchoring the carboxylate functional groups within the channel filter.A key chemical guiding principle underlying the ion channel design is that the free-energy barrier for the Na^(+)passage across the channel should be comparable to typical thermal energy at room temperature.With the implementation of the chemical design,we found that the relatively low free-energy barrier can be attributed to the compensation effect of the carboxylate groups to the partially lost oxygen shell of the ion within the ion channel,as well as to the consonant vibration of the ions inside and outside the channel.This mechanistic understanding brings new insight,at the molecular level,into the high-efficiency ion transport across the designed membrane channels.The proof of principle achieved from the simulations will stimulate future experimental confirmation and potential applications of the high-performance artificial channels in nanofluidics and in bioinspired iontronics.
基金the Shaanxi Key research and development projects,China(Grant No.2017SF-386)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China and the Key Industrial Project in Xianyang City,Shaanxi,China(Grant No.2018k02-10).
文摘In this study,TiO_(2)functionalized with organic groups were prepared to study the effect of carboxyl and amino groups on the adsorption behavior of TiO_(2)for the removal of acid red G(ARG)as an anionic dye from aqueous solution.TiO_(2)was successfully modified with carboxyl and amino groups by using the hydrolysis method with oxalic acid(OAD,with two carboxyl groups),ethylenediamine(EDA,with two amino groups)and DL-alanine(DLA,with one carboxyl group and one amino group)at low temperature(65℃)and labeled as OAD-TiO_(2),EDA-TiO_(2)and DLA-TiO_(2),respectively.The ARG uptake by the functionalized TiO_(2)samples was largely dependent on the functional groups.The interaction between ARG and the functional organic groups on the TiO_(2)samples plays an important role in the adsorption process,which leads to the excellent adsorption performance(higher capacity and faster adsorption rate)of the functionalized TiO_(2)samples than that of P25(commercial TiO_(2)without modification).Furthermore,there is no obvious loss of the adsorption capacity for the functionalized TiO_(2)even after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles,which indicated the good reusability of the modified TiO_(2)samples for anionic dye removal from aqueous solution.
文摘Ozone treatment is a common way to functionalize commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with various oxygen functionalities like carboxyl, phenol and lactone groups, in order to enhance their textural properties and chemical activity. In order to detail the effect of each functional group, we correlated the activity with the surface density of each group, and found that the carboxyl groups play a pivotal role in two important catalytic reactions, namely the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and agar conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). During the processes, the hydrophilic surface provides a strong affinity for reaction substrates while the improved porosity allows the efficient diffusion of reactants and products. Furthermore, the activity of functionalized CNTs for agar conversion remained almost unchanged during nine cycles of reaction. This work highlights a strategy for improving the activity of CNTs for electrochemical ORR and agar conversion reactions, as well a promising application of carboxyl-rich CNTs as a solid acid catalyst to produce high-purity HMF--an important chemical intermediate.