Recent progress in two-dimensional metallenes and their potential application as electrocatalyst

In this article,we looked at metallenes,a novel class of two-dimensional(2D)metals that are attracting interest in the energy and catalysis sectors.Catalysis is one area where their exceptional physicochemical and electrical characteristics might be useful.Metallenes are unique because they include several metal atoms that are not in a coordinated bond.This makes them more active and improves their atomic uti-lization,which in turn increases their catalytic potential.This article delves into the potential of two-dimensional metals as electrocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction,fuel oxidation,oxygen evolution,and oxygen reduction reactions in the context of sustainable energy conversion.Owing to the exception-ally high surface-to-volume ratio,large surface area as well as their optimized atomic use efficiency,2D materials defined by atomic layers are crucial for surface-related sustainable energy applications.Due to its exceptional properties,such as high conductivity and the ability to enhance the exposure of active metal sites,2D metallenes have recently attracted a lot of interest for use in catalysis,electronics,and energy-related applications.With their highly mobility,adjustable surface states,and electrical struc-tures that can be fine-tuned,2D metallenes are promising nanostructure materials for use in energy con-version with the sustainable applications.

Measurement of very low-molecular weight metabolites by traveling wave ion mobility and its use in human urine samples

The collision cross-sections(CCS)measurement using ion mobility spectrometry(IMS)in combination with mass spectrometry(MS)offers a great opportunity to increase confidence in metabolite identification.However,owing to the lack of sensitivity and resolution,IMS has an analytical challenge in studying the CCS values of very low-molecular-weight metabolites(VLMs250 Da).Here,we describe an analytical method using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)coupled to a traveling wave ion mobility-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer optimized for the measurement of VLMs in human urine samples.The experimental CCS values,along with mass spectral properties,were reported for the 174 metabolites.The experimental data included the mass-to-charge ratio(m/z),retention time(RT),tandem MS(MS/MS)spectra,and CCS values.Among the studied metabolites,263 traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry(TWIMS)-derived CCS values(TWCCSN2)were reported for the first time,and more than 70%of these were CCS values of VLMs.The TWCCSN2 values were highly repeatable,with inter-day variations of<1%relative standard deviation(RSD).The developed method revealed excellent TWCCSN2 accuracy with a CCS difference(DCCS)within±2%of the reported drift tube IMS(DTIMS)and TWIMS CCS values.The complexity of the urine matrix did not affect the precision of the method,as evidenced by DCCS within±1.92%.According to the Metabolomics Standards Initiative,55 urinary metabolites were identified with a confidence level of 1.Among these 55 metabolites,53(96%)were VLMs.The larger number of confirmed compounds found in this study was a result of the addition of TWCCSN2 values,which clearly increased metabolite identification confidence.

Enhanced organic solar cell performance: Multiple surface plasmon resonance and incorporation of silver nanodisks into a grating‐structure electrode

In this study, plasmonic nanostructures were examined to enhance the light harvesting of organic thin-film solar cells (OSCs) by multiple surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena originating from the grating-coupled configuration with a Blu-ray Disc recordable (BD-R)-imprinted aluminum (Al) grating structure and the incorporation of a series of silver nanodisks (Ag NDs). The devices with such a configuration maximize the light utilization inside OSCs via light absorption, light scattering, and trapping via multiple surface plasmon resonances. Different types and sizes of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), i.e., gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), Ag nanospheres (Ag NSs), and Ag NDs, were used, which were blended separately in a PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer (HTL). The device structure comprised of grating- imprinted-Al/P3HT:PCBM/Ag ND:PEDOT:PSS/ITO. Results obtained from the J–V curves revealed that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of grating-structured Al/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/ITO is 3.16%;this value is ~6% higher than that of a flat substrate. On the other hand, devices with flat Al and incorporated Au NPs, Ag NSs, or Ag NDs in the HTL exhibited PCEs ranging from 3.15% to 3.37%. Furthermore, OSCs with an Al grating substrate were developed by the incorporation of the Ag ND series into the PEDOT:PSS layer. Compared with that of a reference device, the PCEs of the devices increased to 3.32%–3.59%(11%–20% improvement), indicating that the light absorption enhancement at the active layer corresponds to the grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance and localized surface plasmon resonance excitations with strong near-field distributions penetrating into the active layer leading to higher efficiencies and subsequent better current generation.

Biodegradation of acrylamide by Enterobacter aerogenes isolated from wastewater in Thailand

A widespread use of acrylamide, probably a neurotoxicant and carcinogen, in various industrial processes has led to environmental contamination. Fortunately, some microorganisms are able to derive energy from acrylamide. In the present work, we reported the isolation and characterization of a novel acrylamide-degrading bacterium from domestic wastewater in Chonburi, Thailand. The strain grew well in the presence of acrylamide as 0.5% （W/V）, at pH 6.0 to 9,0 and 25℃. Identification based on biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence identified the strain as Enterobacter aerogenes. Degradation of acrylamide to acrylic acid started in the late logarithmic growth phase as a biomass-dependent pattern. Specificity of cell-free supernatant towards amides completely degraded butyramide and urea and 86% of lactamide. Moderate degradation took place in other amides with that by formanaide 〉 benzamide 〉 acetamide 〉 cyanoacetamide 〉 propionamide. No degradation was detected in the reactions of N,N-methylene bisacrylamide, sodium azide, thioacetamide, and iodoacetamide. These results highlighted the potential of this bacterium in the cleanup of acrylamide/amide in the environment.

泰国东北部产蘑菇Phellinus中总酚类化合物的DPPH自由基清除活性(英文)

AIM:To investigate the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content from the crude extracts and crude fractions of ten species of Phellinus mushrooms collected from northeast Thailand.METHODS:The samples were tested for their radical scavenging activity toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-pricylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (DPPH method) and total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu method).RESULTS:Some of the investigated extracts exhibited potent radical scavenging activity with the IC 50 ranging from (7.30±0.34) to (19.80±0.13) μg·mL-1.IC 50 were in the range of the standard antioxidant used;quercetin,ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).The strongest scavenging activity as comparable to quercetin was found in the crude 80% EtOH extract of P.torulosus.The crude EtOAc fraction of P.pini showed the highest total phenolic content with a value of 87.76±1.00 equivalent gallic acid (EGA) while the samples with potent antioxidant activity were also determined to have high amount of total phenolics (78.34±0.27 to 51.01±0.38) EGA.CONCLUSION:These results indicated that crude extracts from Phellinus mushrooms have a potential to be natural antioxidant source.

Emissions of particulate matter and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from agricultural diesel engine fueled with degummed,deacidified mixed crude palm oil blends

Mixed crude palm oil （MCPO）, the mixture of palm fiber oil and palm kernel oil, has become of great interest as a renewable energy source. It can be easily extracted from whole dried palm fruits. In the present work, the degummed, deacidified MCPO was blended in petroleum diesel at portions of 30% and 40% by volume and then tested in agricultural diesel engines for long term usage. The particulates from the exhaust of the engines were collected every 500 hr using a four-stage cascade air sampler. The 50% cut-off aerodynamic diameters for the first three stages were 10, 2.5 and 1μm, while the last stage collected all particles smaller than 1 μm. Sixteen particle bounded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） were analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that the size distribution of particulate matter was in the accmnulation mode and the pattern of total PAHs associated with fine-particles （〈 1 μm） showed a dominance of larger molecular weight PAHs （4--6 aromatic rings）, especially pyrene. The mass median diameter, PM and total PAH concentrations decreased when increasing the palm oil content, but increased when the running hours of the engine were increased. In addition, Commercial petroleum diesel （PB0） gave the highest value of carcinogenic potency equivalent （BaPeq） for all particle size ranges. As the palm oil was increased, the; BaPeq decreased gradually. Therefore the degununed-deacidified MCPO blends are recommended for diesel substitute.

Two Indole Derivatives and Phenolic Compound Isolated from Mushroom Phellinus linteus

AIM:To investigate the constituents from the dichloromethane fraction of the mushroom Phellinus lintues.METHODS:Silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography were used for the isolation and purification.The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on NMR spectroscopic analyses and mass spectrometric data.RESULTS:Two indole derivatives,7-methoxyindole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester(1)and 1-methylindole-3-carboxaldehyde(2),and a phenolic compound,(E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one(3)were isolated.CONCLUSION:Compounds 1 and 2 were isolated for the first time from P.linteus.