Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Plant Growth Regulatory Activity of 1-(3-Amino-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethyl-butan-2-one

The title compound 1-（3-amino-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl）-3,3-dimethyl-butan-2-one（3） was synthesized by Hofmann-alkylation reaction of 1-chloro-3,3-dimethyl-butan-2-one（1） and ~1H-[1,2,4]triazol-3-ylamine（2） with equal amount of K_2CO_3 as acid acceptor. The structure of compound 3 was characterized by ~1H NMR, 13 C NMR, HRMS and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n with a = 5.7227（8）, b = 27.924（4）, c = 6.2282（7） ？, β = 101.892（11）°, V = 973.9（2） ？~3, Z = 4, T = 180.00（10） K, μ（MoKα） = 0.087 mm^（-1）, Dc = 1.243 g/cm^3, 3832 reflections measured（3.648≤θ≤26.022°）, 1916 unique reflections（Rint = 0.0359, Rsigma = 0.0572） used in all calculations. The final R = 0.0557（I 〉 2σ（I）） and w R = 0.1276（all data）. Bioassay showed that 3 displayed excellent activity as plant growth regulator with inducing lateral root formation and enhancing primary root elongation at 0.27 mmol/L（50 ppm） in soybeen（He Feng-50）. Good water solubility was found with 50 mg in 1 m L of water. Therefore, application of 3 in agriculture is more environmentally friendly due to cosolvent-free condition, and results in improved abiotic-stress tolerance by affecting the root growth. And furthermore, it can be used as a precursor to investigate the function of regulating plant root growth.

Charge-transfer-regulated bimetal ferrocene-based organic frameworks for promoting electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

The ferrocene(Fc)-based metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)are regarded as compelling platforms for the construction of efficient and robust oxygen evolution reaction(OER)electrocatalysts due to their superior conductivity and flexible electronic structure.Herein,density functional theory simulations were addressed to predict the electronic structure regulations of CoFc-MOF by nickel doping,which demonstrated that the well-proposed CoNiFc-MOFs delivered a small energy barrier,promoted conductivity,and well-regulated d-band center.Inspired by these,a series of sea-urchin-like CoNiFc-MOFs were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method.Moreover,the synchrotron X-ray and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements manifested that the introduction of nickel could tailor the electronic structure of the catalyst and induce the directional transfer of electrons,thus optimizing the rate-determining step of^(*)O→^(*)OOH during the OER process and yielding decent overpotentials of 209 and 252 mV at 10 and 200 mA cm^(−2),respectively,with a small Tafel slope of 39 mV dec^(−1).This work presents a new paradigm for developing highly efficient and durable MOF-based electrocatalysts for OER.

Regulating electronic structure of CoN_(4)with axial Co-S for promoting oxygen reduction and Zn-air battery performance

Regulating the coordination environment of transition-metal based materials in the axial direction with heteroatoms has shown great potential in boosting the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).The coordination configuration and the regulation method are pivotal and elusive.Here,we report a combined strategy of matrix-activization and controlled-induction to modify the CoN_(4)site by axial coordination of Co-S(Co1N_(4)-S_(1)),which was validated by the aberration-corrected electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis.The optimal Co1N_(4)-S_(1)exhibits an excellent alkaline ORR activity,according to the half-wave potential(0.897 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)),Tafel slope(24.67 mV/dec),and kinetic current density.Moreover,the Co1N_(4)-S_(1)based Zn-air battery displays a high power density of 187.55 mW/cm^(2)and an outstanding charge-discharge cycling stability for 160 h,demonstrating the promising application potential.Theoretical calculations indicate that the better regulation of CoN_(4)on electronic structure and thus the highly efficient ORR performance can be achieved by axial Co-S.

In situ confined vertical growth of Co_(2.5)Ni_(0.5)Si_(2)O_(5)(OH)_(4)nanoarrays on rGO for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction

Rational design of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)catalysts at low cost would greatly benefit the economy.Taking advantage of earth-abundant elements Si,Co and Ni,we produce a unique-structure where cobalt-nickel silicate hydroxide[Co_(2.5)Ni_(0.5)Si_(2)O_(5)(OH)_(4)]is vertically grown on a reduced graphene oxide(rGO)support(CNS@rGO).This is developed as a low-cost and prospective OER catalyst.Compared to cobalt or nickel silicate hydroxide@rGO(CS@rGO and NS@rGO,respectively)nanoarrays,the bimetal CNS@rGO nanoarray exhibits impressive OER performance with an overpotential of 307 mV@10 mA cm^(-2).This value is higher than that of CS@rGO and NS@rGO.The CNS@rGO nanoarray has an overpotential of 446 mV@100 mA cm^(-2),about 1.4 times that of the commercial RuO_(2)electrocatalyst.The achieved OER activity is superior to the state-of-the-art metal oxides/hydroxides and their derivatives.The vertically grown nanostructure and optimized metal-support electronic interactions play an indispensable role for OER performance improvement,including a fast electron transfer pathway,short proton/electron diffusion distance,more active metal centers,as well as optimized dualatomic electron density.Taking advantage of interlay chemical regulation and the in-situ growth method,the advanced-structural CNS@rGO nanoarrays provide a new horizon to the rational and flexible design of efficient and promising OER electrocatalysts.

Electronic modulation of two-dimensional bismuth-based nanosheets for electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction to formate: A review

Electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(eCO_(2) RR)has significant relevance to settle the global energy crisis and abnormal climate problem via mitigating the excess emission of waste CO_(2) and producing high-value-added chemicals.Currently,eCO_(2) RR to formic acid or formate is one of the most technologically and economically viable approaches to realize high-efficiency CO_(2) utilization,and the development of efficient electrocatalysts is very urgent to achieve efficient and stable catalytic performance.In this review,the recent advances for two-dimensional bismuth-based nanosheets(2D Bi-based NSs)electrocatalysts are concluded from both theoretical and experimental perspectives.Firstly,the preparation strategies of 2D Bi-based NSs in aspects to precisely control the thickness and uniformity are summarized.In addition,the electronic regulation strategies of 2D Bi-based NSs are highlighted to gain insight into the effects of the structure-property relationship on facilitating CO_(2) activation,improving product selectivity,and optimizing carrier transport dynamics.Finally,the considerable challenges and opportunities of 2D Bi-based NSs are discussed to lighten new directions for future research of eCO_(2) RR.

Electronic structure regulation and built-in electric field synergistically strengthen photocatalytic nitrogen fixation performance on Ti-BiOBr/TiO_(2)heterostructure

At present,industrial synthetic ammonia was still obtained through the Hubble-Bosch process,with large energy consumption.It is a research hotspot to realize green synthetic ammonia by using solar energy.The difficulty of photocatalytic ammonia synthesis was that the photo-excited electrons have not enough energy to active N≡N.In this study,Ti was doped into BiOBr by one-step hydrothermal method,which was oxidized into TiO_(2)when the doping amount reaches the maximum,in situ forming Ti_(0.31)B_(0.69)OB/TiO_(2)composites.Benefiting from the synergistic effect of Ti doping and S-scheme heterojunction,the synthetic ammonia efficiency of Ti_(0.31)B_(0.69)OB/TiO_(2)-11.96 reached 1.643 mmol·g_(cat)^(-1)at mild conditions and without hole scavenger for up to 7 h,the efficiency of synthetic ammonia is 115 times,10.5 times and 3.3 times of that of BiOBr,Ti_(0.31)B_(0.69)OB and TiO_(2),respectively.Specifically,DFT calculation confirms that Ti doping accurately refine the electronic structure of BiOBr,facilitate nitrogen adsorption activation and reduce hydrogenation reaction energy barrier,thus accelerating the reaction kinetics of photocatalytic nitrogen reduction(NRR),Meanwhile,constructing S-scheme heterojunction boosts the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs,improving the reduction ability of electrons in the conduction band of TiO_(2)and the oxidation ability of holes in the valence band of Ti_(0.31)B_(0.69)OB.

Atomically Dispersed Catalysts:Precise Synthesis,Structural Regulation,and Structure-Activity Relationship

Atomically dispersed catalysts(ADCs)have been diffusely researched for the development of advanced catalytic processes owing to their welldefined structure,high atomic utilization,and outstanding activity.Precisely decoding the intrinsic structures and coordination microenvironments of ADCs still confronts significant challenges.Overcoming these challenges is important for profound understanding of the structure-activity relationships and directing the future design of ADCs.Herein,this minireview summarizes recent progress and advanced characterization techniques for the engineering of ADCs,including single-atom catalysts,dualatom catalysts,and atomic cluster catalysts with regard to precise synthesis,structural regulation,and the structure-performance relationship.The catalytic merits and regulation strategies of recent breakthroughs in energy conversion,enzyme mimicry,and organic synthesis are thoroughly discussed to disclose the catalytic mechanism-guided ADCs design.Finally,a comprehensive summary of the future challenges and potential prospects is presented to stimulate more design and application possibilities for ADCs.We believe that this comprehensive minireview will open up novel pathways for the widespread utilization of ADCs in diverse catalytic processes.

The recent progress of pitch-based carbon anodes in sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have attracted significant attentions as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy storage applications.Here carbon materials are considered as the most competitive anodes for SIBs based on their low-cost,abundant availability and excellent structural stability.Pitch,with high carbon content and low cost,is an ideal raw precursor to prepare carbon materials for large-scale applications.Nevertheless,the microstructures of pitch-based carbon are highly ordered with smaller interlayer distances,which are unfavorable for Na ion storage.Many efforts have been made to improve the sodium storage performance of pitch-based carbon materials.This review summarizes the recent progress about the application of pitch-based carbons for SIBs anodes in the context of carbon’s morphology and structure regulation strategies,including morphology adjustment,heteroatoms doping,fabricating heterostructures,and the increase of the degree of disorder.Besides,the advantages,present challenges,and possible solutions to current issues in pitch-based carbon anode are discussed,with the highlight of future research directions.This review will provide a deep insight into the development of low-cost and high-performance pitch-based carbon anode for SIBs.

Recent Progress and Prospects of Layered Cathode Materials for Potassium-ion Batteries

Layered materials with two-dimensional ion diffusion channels and fast kinetics are attractive as cathode materials for secondary batteries.However,one main challenge in potassium-ion batteries is the large ion size of K^(+),along with the strong K^(+)-K^(+)electrostatic repulsion.This strong interaction results in initial K deficiency,greater voltage slope,and lower specific capacity between set voltage ranges for layered transition metal oxides.In this review,a comprehensive review of the latest advancements in layered cathode materials for potassium-ion batteries is presented.Except for layered transition metal oxides,some polyanionic compounds,chalcogenides,and organic materials with the layered structure are introduced separately.Furthermore,summary and personal perspectives on future optimization and structural design of layered cathode materials are constructively discussed.We strongly appeal to the further exploration of layered polyanionic compounds and have demonstrated a series of novel layered structures including layered K_(3)V_(2)(PO_(4))_(3).

Research progress of precise structural regulation of single atom catalyst for accelerating electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction

The development and utilization of renewable clean energy can effectively solve the two major problems of energy and environment. As an efficient power generation device that converts hydrogen energy into electric energy, fuel cell has attracted more and more attention. For fuel cells, the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) at the cathode is the core reaction, and the design and development of high-performance ORR catalysts remain quite challenging. Since the microenvironment of the active center of single atom catalysts(SACs) has an important influence on its catalytic performance, it has been a research focus to improve the ORR activity and stability of electrocatalysts by adjusting the structure of the active center through reasonable structural regulation methods. In this review, we reviewed the preparation and structure–activity relationship of SACs for ORR. Then, the structural precision regulation methods for improving the activity and stability of ORR electrocatalysts are discussed. And the advanced in-situ characterization techniques for revealing the changes of active sites in the electrocatalytic ORR process are summarized. Finally, the challenges and future design directions of SACs for ORR are discussed. This work will provide important reference value for the design and synthesis of SACs with high activity and stability for ORR.

Modulate the electronic structure of Cu_(7)S_(4)nanosheet on TiO_(2)for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

TiO_(2)is a promising photocatalyst due to its high thermodynamic stability and non-toxicity.However,its applications have been still limited because of the high recombination rate of electron-hole pairs.Herein,we show that by combining heterojunction construction and electronic structure regulation,the electron-hole pairs in TiO_(2)can be effectively separated for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.The optimized Cu_(7)S_(4)nanosheet decorated TiO_(2)achieves much enhanced H_(2)evolution rate(11.5 mmol·g−1·h−1),which is 13.8 and 4.2 times of that of TiO_(2)and Cu_(7)S_(4)/TiO_(2),respectively.The results of photoluminescence spectroscopy,transient photocurrent spectra,ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra,and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy collectively demonstrate that the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Air-Cu_(7)S_(4)/TiO_(2)is attributed to the effective separation of charge carriers and widened photoresponse range.The electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate that the increase of Cu2+in the Cu_(7)S_(4)nanosheet after calcination can promote the charge transfer.This work provides an effective method to improve the electron migration rate and charge separation of TiO_(2),which holds great significance for being extended to other material systems and beyond.

Construction of N-doped carbon frames anchored with Co single atoms and Co nanoparticles as robust electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution in the entire pH range

The development of low-cost, efficient, and high atomic economy electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) in the entire p H range for sustainable hydrogen production is of great importance but still challenging. Herein, we synthesize a highly dispersed N-doped carbon frames(NCFs) anchored with Co single atoms(SAs) and Co nanoparticles(NPs) catalyst by a doping-adsorption-pyrolysis strategy for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The Co SAs-Co NPs/NCFs catalyst exhibits an excellent HER activity with small overpotential, low Tafel slope, high turnover frequency as well as remarkable stability. It also exhibits a superior HER performance in the entire p H range. Combining with experimental and theoretical calculation, we find that Co SAs with Co-N_(3) coordination structure and Co NPs have a strong interaction for promoting synergistic HER electrocatalytic process. The H_(2)O molecule is easily activated and dissociated on Co NPs, while the generated H^(*) is easily adsorbed on Co SAs for HER, which makes the Co SAs-Co NPs/NCFs catalyst exhibit more suitable H adsorption strength and more conducive to the activation and dissociation of H_(2)O molecules. This work not only proposes a novel idea for constructing coupling catalyst with atomic-level precision, but also provides strong reference for the development of high-efficiency HER electrocatalysts for practical application.

Single-cluster electronics using metallic clusters:Fabrications,regulations,and applications

Metallic clusters,ranging from 1 to 2 nm in size,have emerged as promising candidates for creating nanoelectronic devices at the single-cluster level.With the intermediate quantum properties between metals and semiconductors,these metallic clusters offer an alternative pathway to silicon-based electronics and organic molecules for miniaturized electronics with dimensions below 5 nm.Significant progress has been made in studies of single-cluster electronic devices.However,a clear guide for selecting,synthesizing,and fabricating functional single-cluster electronic devices is still required.This review article provides a comprehensive overview of single-cluster electronic devices,including the mechanisms of electron transport,the fabrication of devices,and the regulations of electron transport properties.Furthermore,we discuss the challenges and future directions for single-cluster electronic devices and their potential applications.

Multiscale control of MnO_(2) growth via[WO_(6)]-perturbed[MnO_(6)]assembly toward a favorable balance between capacitance and rate performance

Although pseudocapacitive manganese dioxide(MnO_(2))integrates the high-power merit of carbonaceous materials with the high-energy merit of battery-type materials,it still has a long way to go in achieving a more satisfactory balance of higher energy and power density,and in decoupling the relationship of structural characteristics with energy storage performance.To realize such goals,a bottom-up[WO_(6)]-perturbed[MnO_(6)]assembly strategy has been developed here due to their similar structure,yet mismatched lattice parameters.This facile protocol is capable of finely controlling the morphology and crystal structure of MnO_(2)by adjusting its internal[WO_(6)]concentration.Therefore,the as-prepared W_xMnO_(2)is treated as an ideal platform to scrutinize the correlations of the structure with the energy storage performance.The operando Raman spectra and finite element analysis have fully demonstrated the superiority of the locally ordered defects-enriched structure of W_(0.02)-MnO_(2),which could reach a favorable balance between the ion diffusion equilibrium time and the number of active sites.As a result,the W_(0.02)-MnO_(2)is able to deliver a high capacitance of 292 F·g^(-1)at a current density of 1 A·g^(-1)and a remarkable rate performance with a 60%capacity retention at a current density of 50 A·g^(-1).The further unveiled structure-performance relationship provides a guideline for the design of better pseudocapacitive energy storage devices.

Porous S-doped carbon nitride foam with accelerated charge dynamics for synchronous photocatalytic hydrogen production and highly selective oxidation of amines

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution coupled with organic oxidation holds great promise for converting solar energy into high-valueadded chemicals,but it is hampered by sluggish charge dynamics and limited redox potential.Herein,a porous S-doped carbon nitride(S-C_(3)N_(4−y))foam assembled from ultrathin nanosheets with rich nitrogen vacancies was synthesized using a molecular selfassembly strategy.The S dopants and N vacancies synergistically adjusted the band structure,facilitating light absorption and enhancing the oxidation ability.Moreover,the ultrathin nanosheets and porous structure provided more exposed active sites and facilitated mass and charge transfer.Consequently,S-C_(3)N_(4−y) foam exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activities for synchronous hydrogen evolution(4960μmol/(h·g))and benzylamine oxidation to N-benzylidenebenzylamine(4885μmol/(h·g))with high selectivity of>99%,which were approximately 17.6 and 72.9 times higher than those of bulk CN,respectively.The photocatalytic coupling pairing reaction promotes the water splitting by consuming H2O2,thereby improving the hydrogen evolution efficiency and achieving the production of high value-added imines.This study provides an effective route for regulating the morphology and band structure of carbon nitride for synthesizing highly valuable chemicals.

High-performance Bi_(2)S_(3)/ZnO photoanode enabled by interfacial engineering with oxyanion for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

In the present contribution,we demonstrate that the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction(OER)over the bismuth sulfide(Bi_(2)S_(3))photoanode,which severely restricts its photoelectrochemical activity,is markedly accelerated by employing a sulfatecontaining electrolyte.First-principle calculation points to the spontaneous adsorption of sulfate(SO_(4)^(2−))on Bi_(2)S_(3)and its capacity of stabilizing the OER intermediates through hydrogen bonding,which is further reinforced by increasing the local density of states near the Fermi level of Bi_(2)S_(3).Meanwhile,the electron transfer is also promoted to synergistically render the ratedetermining step(from O*to OOH*)of OER over Bi_(2)S_(3)kinetically facile.Last but not least,benefitting from such enhanced OER activity and efficient charge separation resulted from depositing Bi_(2)S_(3)on the zinc oxide nanorods(ZnO NRs),forming a core–shell heterojunction,its photocurrent density achieves 8.61 mA·cm^(−2)at 1.23 VRHE,far surpassing those reported for additional Bi_(2)S_(3)-based and several state-of-the-art photoanodes in the literature and further exceeding their theoretical limit.The great promise of the Bi_(2)S_(3)/ZnO NRs is in view of such outperformance,the superior Faradaic yield of oxygen of more than~80%and the outstanding half-cell applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of~1%well corroborated.

Structural Regulations of Layered Borates:From Centric Layers to Chiral Porous Layers

Three pentaborates were made by precise structural regulations under hydrothermal conditions,namely,K_(2)Cs-[B_(5)O_(8)(OH)]·0.5CO_(3)(1),KNa_(4)Cs[B_(5)O_(8)(OH)]_(2)·2OH(2),and NaBa[B_(5)O_(8.5)(OH)](3).Compound 1 features the typical 2D layers constructed from the four-connected B_(5)O_(10)(OH)clusters.By adjustment of the reactants and pH values of the systems to remove interlayered CO_(3)^(2−)groups,the centric layers in 1 were transformed to the chiral layers of 2.By further adjusting cationic templates based on host−guest charge matching,the B_(5)O_(10)(OH)cluster unit was transformed to B_(5)O_(11)(OH),which built the chiral porous layers of 3.The chiral compounds 2 and 3 exhibit moderate second harmonic generation(SHG)responses of 1.1 and 1.7 times that of KDP(KH_(2)PO_(4)).The structural regulations actualize the evolutions on both structural symmetries and dimensions.

Liquid metal assisted regulation of macro-/micro-structures and mechanical properties of nanoporous copper

Nanoporous metals have received significant attention as a new class of structural and functional materials.However,the macroscopic brittle fracture under the tensile test is an impediment to their practical applications.Thus,it is of central importance to develop nanoporous materials with low cost and high tensile ductility.Herein,a nanoporous Cu film supported on a pure Cu substrate(NPC@Cu)was fabricated by utilizing a liquid Ga assisted alloying-dealloying strategy,and the thickness of NPC film can be precisely regulated by changing the mass loading of liquid Ga.In-situ X-ray diffraction was performed to further explore the alloying/dealloying mechanisms.The NPC@Cu films show good tensile mechanical properties with a minimum elongation of 13.5%,which can be attributed to the good interface bonding and certain modulus matching between the nanoporous Cu layer and the Cu substrate.Our findings demonstrate that the design of film-substrate structure provides a feasible strategy for enhancing the mechanical properties of nanoporous metals.

Structure and regulation of the chromatin remodeller ISWI

Subject Code:C05With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Dr.Chen Zhucheng(陈柱成)at the School of Life Science,Tsinghua University,Beijing,recently reported their work,titled'Structure and regulation of the chromatin remodeller ISWI',in Nature(2016,540:466—469).Chromatin is the life blueprint of eukaryotes.Chromatin remodellers utilize the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move,destabilize,eject,or restructure nucleosomes,building and rebuilding the blueprint

Tuned single atom coordination structures mediated by polarization force and sulfur anions for photovoltaics

Impeding high temperature sintering is challengeable for synthesis of carbon-supported single-atom catalysts (C-SACs), which requires high-cost precursor and strictly-controlled procedures. Herein, by virtue of the ultrastrong polarity of salt melts, sintering of metal atoms is effectively suppressed. Meanwhile, doping with inorganic sulfur anions not only produces sufficient anchoring sites to achieve high loading of atomically dispersed Co up to 13.85 wt.%, but also enables their electronic and geometric structures to be well tuned. When served as a cathode catalyst in dye-sensitized solar cells, the C-SAC with Co-N4-S2 moieties exhibits high activity towards the iodide reduction reaction (IRR), achieving a higher power conversion efficiency than that of conventional Pt counterpart. Density function theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the superior IRR activity was ascribed to the unique structure of Co-N4-S2 moieties with lower reaction barriers and moderate binding energy of iodine on the Co center, which was beneficial to I2 dissociation.