Functionalization of electronic, spin and optical properties of GeSe monolayer by substitutional doping: a first-principles study

Substitutional doping has traditionally been used to modulate the existing properties of semiconductors and introduce new exciting properties, especially in two-dimensional materials. In this work, we have investigated the impact of substitutional doping (using group III, IV, V, and VI dopants) on the structural, electronic, spin, and optical properties of GeSe monolayer by using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Our calculated binding energies, formation energies and phonon dispersion curves of the doped systems support their stability and hence the feasibility of physical realization. Our results further suggest that switching between metallic and semiconducting states of GeSe monolayer can be controlled by dopant atoms with a different number of valence electrons. The band gap of the semiconducting structures can be tuned within a range of 0.2864 eV to 1.17 eV by substituting with different dopants. In addition, most of the doped structures maintain the low effective mass, 0.20m0to 0.59m0for electron and 0.21m0to 0.52m0for hole, which ensures the enhanced transport properties of GeSe based electronic devices. Moreover, when Ge is substituted with group V dopants, a magnetic moment is introduced in an otherwise non-magnetic GeSe monolayer. The optical absorption coefficient of the doped structures can be significantly improved (>2×) in the visible and infrared regions. These intriguing results would encourage the applications of doped GeSe monolayer in next-generation electronic, optoelectronic and spintronic devices.

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles: A Fine Characterization to Unveil Their Thermodynamic Stability

Among the plethora of available metal(loid) nanomaterials (NMs), those containing selenium are interesting from an applicative perspective, due to their high biocompatibility. Microorganisms capable of coping with toxic Se-oxyanions generate mostly Se nanoparticles (SeNPs), representing an ideal and green alternative over the chemogenic synthesis to obtain thermodynamically stable NMs. However, their structural characterization, in terms of biomolecules and interactions stabilizing the biogenic colloidal solution, is still a black hole that impairs the exploitation of biogenic SeNP full potential. Here, spherical and thermodynamically stable SeNPs were produced by a metal(loid) tolerant Micrococcus sp. Structural characterization obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that these SeNPs were surrounded by an organic material that contributed the most to their electrosteric stabilization, as indicated by Zeta (ζ) potential measurements. Proteins were strongly adsorbed on the SeNP surface, while lipids, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids more loosely interacted with SeNMs as highlighted by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and overall supported by multivariate statistical analysis. Nevertheless, all these contributors were fundamental to maintain SeNPs stable, as, upon washing, the NM-containing extract showed the arising of aggregated SeNPs alongside Se nanorods (SeNRs). Besides, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation unveiled how thiol-containing molecules appeared to play a role in SeO₃²⁻ bioreduction, stress oxidative response, and SeNP stabilization.

Computational structural, electronic and optical properties of the palmitic acid in its C form

In this work, we report a theoretical study of the structural, electronic, and optical properties of palmitic acid crystal in its C form under DFT calculations level. Palmitic acid is a fatty acid that constitutes the large majority of vegetable oils with recognized potential applications in medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics technology, foods, and fuel. As a main result, we have found that the electronic bandstructure reveals an indirect gap given by 3.713 eV (E→B andE→Γ), as a main bandgap, while the secondary bandgaps found were 4.175 eV (γ₁→Γ) and 4.172 eV (γ₂→B). It behaves like a wide bandgap semiconductor, which points to potential applications in optoelectronic devices.

In a search for potential drug candidates for combating COVID-19: computational study revealed salvianolic acid B as a potential therapeutic targeting 3CLpro and spike proteins

The global prevalence of COVID-19 disease and the overwhelming increase in death toll urge scientists to discover new effective drugs. Although the drug discovery process is a challenging and time-consuming, fortunately, the plant kingdom was found to have many active therapeutics possessing broad-spectrum antiviral activity including those candidates active against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (SARS-CoV). Herein, nine traditional Chinese medicinal plant constituents from different origins (Glycyrrhizin 1, Lycorine 2, Puerarin 3, Daidzein 4, Daidzin 5, Salvianolic acid B 6, Dihydrotanshinone I 7, Tanshinone I 8, Tanshinone IIa 9) previously reported to exhibit antiviral activity against SARS-CoV were virtually screened in silico (molecular docking) as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 target proteins. The tested medicinal plant compounds were in silico screened for their activity against two key SARS-CoV-2 target proteins; 3CLpro, and Spike binding-domain proteins. Among the tested medicinal plant compounds, Salvianolic acid B 6 (Sal-B) showed promising binding affinities against the two specified SARS-CoV-2 target proteins compared to the reference standards used. Hence molecular dynamics simulations followed by calculating the free-binding energy were carried out for Sal-B providing information on its affinity, stability, and thermodynamic behavior within the two SARS-CoV-2 target proteins as well as key ligand-protein binding aspects. Besides, the quantum mechanical calculations showed that Sal-B can adopt different conformations due to the existence of various rotatable bonds. Therefore, the enhanced antiviral activity of Sal-B among other studied compounds can be also attributed to the structural flexibility of Sal-B. Our study gives an explanation of the structure activity relationship required for targeting SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and Spike proteins and also facilitates the future design and synthesis of new potential drugs exhibiting better affinity and specificity. Besides, an ADME study was carried out on screened compounds and reference controls revealing their pharmacokinetics properties.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A computational investigation of the selectivity and mechanism of the Lewis acid catalyzed oxa-Diels-Alder cycloaddition of substituted diene with benzaldehyde

The selectivity and the mechanism of the uncatalyzed and AlCl₃ catalyzed hetero-Diels-Alder reaction (HDR) between ([E]-4-methylpenta-2,4-dienyloxy)(tert-butyl)dimethylsilane 1 and benzaldehyde 2 have been studied using density functional theory at the MPWB1K/6-31G(d) level of theory. The uncatalyzed HDR between diene 1 and alkene 2 is characterized by a polar character and proceeds via an asynchronous one-step mechanism for the meta paths and synchronous for the ortho ones. In the presence of AlCl₃ catalyst, the mechanism changes to be stepwise, while the first step is the rate-determining step. The activation energies widely decrease, and the polar character increases dramatically. A large analysis of the mechanism is performed using the activation strain model/energy decomposition analysis (ASM/EDA) model, the natural bond orbital (NBO) and state specific dual descriptors (SSDDs). The obtained results indicate that the combined interaction energy associated with the distortion of the reactants in these HDR are at the origin of the observed kinetics. NBO analyses were applied to estimate the Lewis-acid catalyst donor-acceptor interaction with the molecular system. The SSDD analysis shed light into the orientation effects on the reaction kinetics by providing important information about charge transfer interactions during the chemical reaction. It indicates that the more favorable HDR pathway have the lowest excitation energies, facilitating the interaction between diene 1 and benzaldehyde 2 moieties. Non-covalent interaction (NCI) and QTAIM analyses of the meta-endo structure indicate that the presence of several weak NCIs formed at this approach is at the origin of the meta-endo selectivity.

How a crosslinker agent interacts with the β-glucosidase enzyme surface in an aqueous solution: Insight from quantum mechanics calculations and molecular dynamics simulations

In this study, surficial interactions of glutaraldehyde (GA) as an important crosslinker agent with the β-glucosidase (BGL) enzyme surface were investigated by theoretical methods. Since the inherent constraints of experimental methods limit their application to find the molecular perspective of these significant interactions in enzyme immobilization, theoretical methods were used as a complementary tool to understand this concept. The Minnesota density functional calculations showed that the chair conformations of the oxane-2,6-diol form of the GA were more stable than its free aldehyde form. MD simulations of propylamine-GA molecules, as a representative of attached-GA, in aqueous solutions of different concentrations were done to determine the molecular basis of surficial interactions with the BGL surface. The root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) demonstrated that the maximum flexibility of the BGL enzyme belonged to 460-480 residues in all solutions. Based on the spatial distribution function (SDF) analysis, the active site entrance was the most favored region to accumulate solute molecules. Radial distribution function (RDF) results showed that all forms of propylamine-GA molecules interacted from their head side with the lysine residues of BGL, which Lys247, Lys376, and Lys384 were found to be the most interactive lysine residues. Also, hydrogen bond (HB) analysis from two viewpoints confirmed HB formation possibility between propylamine-GA molecules and these lysine residues. These results explained which regions of the BGL have the maximum possibility to interact and link to GA and help us in understanding the process of enzyme immobilization.

Improving and Understanding the Hydrogen Evolving Activity of a Cobalt Dithiolene Metal-Organic Framework

Despite the promising previous reports on the development of electrocatalytic dithiolene-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), these materials often display poor reproducibility of the HER performance because of their poor bulk properties upon integration with electrode materials. We demonstrate here an in-depth investigation of the electrocatalytic HER activity of a cobalt 2,3,6,7,10,11-triphenylenehexathiolate (CoTHT) MOF. To enhance the durability and charge transport properties of the constructed CoTHT/electrode architecture, CoTHT is deposited as an ink composite (1) composed of Nafion and carbon black. We leverage here the well-established use of catalyst inks in the literature to increase adhesion of the catalyst to the electrode surface and to improve the overall electrical conductivity of the integrated catalyst/electrode. The utilization of the composite 1 leads to a significant improvement in the overpotential (η) to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm² (η = 143 mV) compared to prior reports, resulting in the most active MOF-based electrocatalyst for the HER that contains only earth-abundant elements. Extensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations were applied to understand the structure of CoTHT and the mechanistic pathways of the HER. The computational results suggest that an AB stacking geometry is energetically favorable, where one layer is slipped by 1.6 Å relative to the neighboring one along the a and b vectors. Additionally, the DFT calculations indicate that the catalytic cycle likely involves a Volmer discharge step to generate a cobalt hydride, followed by a Heyrovsky step to form a cobalt-H₂ intermediate, and finally the dissociation of H₂.

Formation of Nanoscale [Ge4 O16 Al48 (OH)108 (H2 O)24 ]20+ from Condensation of ϵ-GeAl12 8+ Keggin Polycations*

Keggin-type polyaluminum cations belong to a unique class of compounds with their large positive charge, hydroxo bridges, and divergent isomerization/oligomerization. Previous reports indicated that oligomerization of this species can only occur through one isomer (δ), but herein we report the isolation of largest Keggin-type cluster that occurs through self-condensation of four ϵ-isomers ϵ-GeAl₁₂ ⁸⁺ to form [Ge₄ O₁₆ Al₄₈ (OH)₁₀₈ (H₂ O)₂₄ ]²⁰⁺ cluster (Ge₄ Al₄₈ ). The cluster was crystallized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and the elemental composition was confirmed by ICP-MS and SEM-EDS. Additional dynamic light scattering experiments confirms the presence of the Ge₄ Al₄₈ in thermally aged solutions. DFT calculations reveal that a single atom Ge substitution in tetrahedral site of ϵ-isomer is the key for the formation of Ge₄ Al₄₈ because it activates deprotonation at key surface sites that control the self-condensation process.

DFT investigation of solvent, substituent, and catalysis effects on the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction

In this study, we report on a DFT investigation of two intramolecular Diels-Alder furan reactions. Optimizations of the studied structures, TS and IRC calculations, were carried out at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. We have studied the effect of substituent, solvent and Lewis acid catalyst on cyclization-retrocyclization equilibria, activation energies, and stability of the desired products. The analysis of orbital coefficients, IRC curves, and Wiberg indices have proved that both reactions are under orbital control. We have found that for the reaction I (2↔4 + 5), where R = H, the exo attack is favored by hydrogen bond interaction, while for R = t-Bu, the steric hindrance leads to the endo attack. For the reaction II (3 → 6 + 7), the t-Bu-substituted products are the most stable ones. At another level, we have found that it is recommended to use polar organic solvents as DMSO with Lewis acid catalyst BF₃. The latest leads to accelerate the reaction II with stabilization of the desired products.

A static and dynamic NMR study of 10-hydrazino-BODIPY

10-Hydrazino-BODIPY, BoNHNH₂ , presents slow rotation about the C10-NH bond that results in anisochronous ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR signals. The assignment of the different signals has been made using traditional two-dimensional methods as well as spin-spin coupling constants and confirmed by DFT calculations (B3LYP) using the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The rotational barrier has been determined in three pairs of proton signals and compared with the calculated barrier.

Small Figure-Eight Luminophores: Double-Twisted Tethered Cyclic Binaphthyls Boost Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Double-twisted cyclic binaphthyls, in which two naphthalenes are tethered by -O(CH₂ )_n O- linkage (n=1-3), have been synthesized. X-ray analyses and DFT calculations revealed a tightly constrained stereogenic figure-eight geometry. Tethering of two naphthalenes by short linkage forces a small dihedral angle, and the cyclic binaphthyls with short tether (n=1, 2) exhibit remarkable boosting of the g_lum value (1.0-1.6×10^-2 ) in circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) and unusual g_lum /g_abs ratios (0.93-1.3). These experimental high |g_lum | values are in accord with the results of excited state TD-DFT calculations, which show transannular interactions and that consequent extensive delocalization occurs throughout the figure-eight π-core. As a result, the present figure-eight luminophore promote the elongation of the magnetic transition dipole moment that results in significant increases in g_lum values.

Photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen and caffeine using magnetite-hematite combined nanoparticles: kinetics and mechanisms

The increased use of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) has contributed to the contamination of water systems and put pressure on the development of new techniques to deal with this problem. Acetaminophen (paracetamol), a common analgesic and antipyretic drug, and caffeine, a known central nervous system stimulant, are being used frequently by many people and found in large amounts in wastewater systems. In this work, their removal, by photocatalytic degradation, was promoted using magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) based on iron oxides. Besides being obtained from cheap and plentiful source, the magnetic properties of these NPs provide an easy way to separate them from the solution when the reaction is complete. Three types of hematite-based NPs, one pure (1) and two of them composed by a magnetite core partially (2) or completely (3) covered by a hematite shell, were synthesized and characterized. Sample 2 was the best photocatalyst for both pollutants' photo-assisted degradation. Under UV-vis irradiation and using a 0.13 g catalyst/L solution, the total acetaminophen and caffeine degradation (20 ppm/150 mL) was achieved in 45 min and 60 min, respectively. The identification of some of the intermediate products was carried out by liquid chromatography in combination with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A complementary Density Functional Theory (DFT) study revealed the relative stability of several species formed during the acetaminophen and caffeine degradation processes and gave some insight about the most favorable degradation pathways.

Reduced Fracture Strength of 2D Materials Induced by Interlayer Friction

The potential applications of 2D layered materials (2DLMs) as the functional membranes in flexible electronics and nano-electromechanical systems emphasize the role of the mechanical properties of these materials. Interlayer interactions play critical roles in affecting the mechanical properties of 2DLMs, and nevertheless the understanding of their relationship remains incomplete. In the present work, it is reported that the fracture strength of few-layer (FL) WS₂ can be weakened by the interlayer friction among individual layers with the assistance of finite element simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The reduced fracture strength can be also observed in FL WSe₂ but with a lesser extent, which is attributed to the difference in the interlayer sliding energies of WS₂ and WSe₂ as confirmed by DFT calculations. Moreover, the tip-membrane friction can give rise to the underestimation of the Young's modulus except for the membrane nonlinearity. These results give deep insights into the influence of interfacial interactions on the mechanical properties of 2DLMs, and suggest that importance should be also attached to the interlayer interactions during the design of nanodevices with 2DLMs as the functional materials.

Are thymol, rosefuran, terpinolene and umbelliferone good scavengers of peroxyl radicals?

DFT-based computational calculations have been used to investigate the hydroperoxyl radical scavenging activity of four essential oil constituents namely thymol (Thy), rosefuran (Ros), terpinolene (Ter), and umbelliferone (Umb). Different reaction mechanisms including formal hydrogen transfer (FHT), radical adduct formation (RAF), sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET), and sequential electron transfer proton transfer (SETPT) have been examined in the gas phase and physiological environments. It was found that the HOO radical scavenging activity of these compounds is strongly influenced by the environment, which becomes more important in water than pentyl ethanoate. According to the overall reaction rate constants, the phenolic compounds Thy and Umb are predicted to exhibit excellent activity in aqueous solution. Umb with an overall rate constant of 1.44 × 10⁸M^-1s^-1 at physiological pH is among the best HOO radical scavengers in water with activity comparable to that of caffeic acid, higher than those of ascorbic acid, guaiacol and eugenol, and much higher than that of Trolox.

Novel Red Light-Absorbing Organic Dyes Based on Indolo[3,2-b]carbazole as the Donor Applied in Co-Sensitizer-Free Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Three novel organic dyes (D6, D7 and D8), based on indolo[3,2-b]carbazole as the donor and different types of electron-withdrawing groups as the acceptors, were synthesized and successfully applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Their molecular structures were fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopy. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis, UV–Vis absorption characterization and tests of the solar cells were used to investigate the photophysical/electrochemical properties as well as DSSCs’ performances based on the dyes. Dye D8 showed the broadest light-response range (300–770 nm) in the incident monochromatic photo-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) curve, due to its narrow bandgap (1.95 eV). However, dye D6 exhibited the best device performance among the three dyes, with power conversion efficiency of 5.41%, J_sc of 12.55 mA cm⁻², V_oc of 745 mV and fill factor (FF) of 0.59. We also found that dye aggregation was efficiently suppressed by the introduction of alkylated indolo[3,2-b]carbazole, and, hence, better power conversion efficiencies were observed for all the three dyes, compared to the devices of co-sensitization with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). It was unnecessary to add adsorbents to suppress the dye aggregation.

Reasonably Introduced ZnIn2S4@C to Mediate Polysulfide Redox for Long-Life Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

In consideration of the inferior rate performance and low sulfur utilization of lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs), an effective strategy via combining polar materials with the conductive carbon sulfur host is widely applied. Herein, metal organic framework-derived in situ-developed ZnIn₂S₄@C is innovatively synthesized to mediate lithium polysulfide (LPS) conversion based on high electron conductivity and strong chemical interactions for advanced LSBs. Polar ZnIn₂S₄ possesses strong chemisorption in keeping with the DFT calculation results and catalytic for LPSs, ensuring a high sulfur utilization. Meanwhile, the hollow non-polar carbon frame possessing hierarchical pores not only provides internal space to contain active species but also accommodates efficient electronic transferring and diffusion of lithium ions in the process of cycling. The above advantages make the electrode possess promising stability and good rate performances, achieving long-term and high-rate cycling. Thus, under a sulfur loading of 1.5 mg cm^-2, after 500 cycles, at 2 and 5 C, the as-prepared ZnIn₂S₄@C@S delivers reversible capacities of 734 mA h g^-1 (75.7% of the initial capacity with a dropping rate of 0.015% per cycle) and 504 mA h g^-1 (68.5% of the primal capacity with a dropping rate of 0.029% per cycle), respectively. Even at a high sulfur loading of 5.0 mg cm^-2, at 5 C, 65.6% of the initial capacity can be maintained with a low fading rate of 0.430% per cycle after 500 loops with a high Coulombic efficiency of around 99.8%.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Bisphenols Detection: Toward a Better Understanding of the Analyte-Nanosystem Interactions

Silver nanoparticles functionalized with thiolated β-cyclodextrin (CD-SH) were employed for the detection of bisphenols (BPs) A, B, and S by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The functionalization of Ag nanoparticles with CD-SH leads to an improvement of the sensitivity of the implemented SERS nanosensor. Using a multivariate analysis of the SERS data, the limit of detection of these compounds was estimated at about 10⁻⁷ M, in the range of the tens of ppb. Structural analysis of the CD-SH/BP complex was performed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Theoretical results allowed the assignment of key structural vibrational bands related to ring breathing motions and the inter-ring vibrations and pointed out an external interaction due to four hydrogen bonds between the hydroxyl groups of BP and CD located at the external top of the CD cone. DFT calculations allowed also checking the interaction energies of the different molecular species on the Ag surface and testing the effect of the presence of CD-SH on the BPs’ affinity. These findings were in agreement with the experimental evidences that there is not an actual inclusion of BP inside the CD cavity. The SERS sensor and the analysis procedure of data based on partial least square regression proposed here were tested in a real sample consisting of the detection of BPs in milk extracts to validate the detection performance of the SERS sensor.

Adsorption Geometry of Alizarin on Silver Nanoparticles: A Computational and Spectroscopic Study

The knowledge of the adsorption geometry of an analyte on a metal substrate employed in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is important information for the correct interpretation of experimental data. The adsorption geometry of alizarin on silver nanoparticles was studied through ab initio calculations in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) by modeling alizarin taking into account all the different charged species present in solution as a function of pH. The calculations allowed a faithful reproduction of the measured SERS spectra and to elucidate the adsorption geometry of this dye on the silver substrate.

Pd-Catalyzed C(sp2 )-H Alkoxycarbonylation of Phenethyl- and Benzylamines with Chloroformates as CO Surrogates

The site-selective functionalization of C-H bonds within a complex molecule remains a challenging task of capital synthetic importance. Herein, an unprecedented Pd-catalyzed C(sp² )-H alkoxycarbonylation of phenylalanine derivatives and other amines featuring picolinamide as the directing group (DG) is reported. This oxidative coupling is distinguished by its scalability, operational simplicity, and avoids the use of toxic carbon monoxide as the C₁ source. Remarkably, the easy cleavage of the DG enables the efficient assembly of isoindolinone compounds. Density Functional Theory calculations support a Pd^II /Pd^IV catalytic cycle.

The composite microbeads of alginate, carrageenan, gelatin, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid): Synthesis, characterization and Density Functional Theory calculations

Binary (AC, AG), ternary (ACG, ACP, AGP), quaternary (ACGP) composite beads of alginate (A), carrageenan (C), gelatin (G), and poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (P) were prepared. The dried beads had a 700 μm average diameter. The microspheres with and without P were characterized by FT-IR, TGA/DTA, SEM, and PZC analysis. The results proved that the features of the composites were completely different from their bare components. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level to enlighten the elementary physical and chemical properties of A, C, P, and G compounds. The vibrational modes obtained by calculations were compared with those observed in the FT-IR spectra. The Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) analyses showed that the component G was the softer and had smaller energy gap than the other components and vice versa for component P. NBO (Natural Bond Orbital) analyses implied that the n → П* (resonance) interactions for components A, G, and P contributed to the lowering of the molecular stabilization, whereas that the n → σ* (anomeric) interactions were responsible for decreasing of the stabilization of the component. From the obtained results, these kinds of components can be hoped the promising materials for usage in the many scientific fields, especially in medicine and in drug design.

Mechanistic understanding of highly selective adsorption of bisphenols on microporous-dominated nitrogen-doped framework carbon

Producing a desirable adsorbent for removing endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) from aqueous solutions remains a major challenge. In this work, microporous-dominated nitrogen-doped framework carbons (MNFCs, s means the calcination temperature) with high specific surface area, ultra-microporous structure, and high nitrogen-doping can be obtained by a direct calcination of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid tetrasodium (EDTA-4Na) without aid of any catalyst and nitrogen source. MNFCs were applied adsorbents to remove bisphenols from aqueous solution. Batch experiments showed MNFC-750 had a large adsorption capacity for bisphenols from aqueous solutions (409 mg/g for bisphenol A, 364 mg/g for bisphenol F, and 521 mg/g for bisphenol S) along with short equilibrium time (30 min), and good stability and reusability. Using multiple characterizations and comparative experiments along with theoretical calculations, we discovered that: (1) nitrogen-doping can significantly boost the adsorption capacity; (2) adsorption sites are mainly the pyridinic-N instead of pyrrolic-N and graphitic-N; and (3) the adsorption mechanisms were mainly driven by Lewis acid-base interaction, hydrophobic interaction, π-π interaction and hydrogen bond interaction. These findings indicate that MNFCs present a promising potential for practical applications and shed light on the rational design of nitrogen doped carbon-based adsorbents for efficient pollutant removal.

[2π + 2π] Photocycloaddition of Enones to Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Creates Fluorescent Quantum Defects

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been widely applied in biomedical fields such as drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and tissue engineering. Understanding their reactivity with biomolecules is important for these applications. We describe here a photoinduced cycloaddition reaction between enones and SWCNTs. By creating covalent and tunable sp³ defects in the sp² carbon lattice of SWCNTs through [2π + 2π] photocycloaddition, a bright red-shifted photoluminescence was gradually generated. The photocycloaddition functionalization was demonstrated with various organic molecules bearing an enone functional group, including biologically important oxygenated lipid metabolites. The mechanism of this reaction was studied empirically and using computational methods. Density functional theory calculations were employed to elucidate the identity of the reaction product and understand the origin of different substrate reactivities. The results of this study can enable engineering of the optical and electronic properties of semiconducting SWCNTs and provide understanding into their interactions with the lipid biocorona.

Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Hierarchical MnO/Co with Oxygen Vacancies toward Elevated-Temperature Li-Ion Battery

Transition metal oxides for high-temperature lithium-ion batteries have captivated orchestrated efforts for next-generation high-energy-density anodes. However, due to inherent low tap density, poor conductivity, and structural instability, their poor cyclability capacity and rate performance at elevated temperatures hinder further implementation. Oxygen vacancies (O_v) engineered by manipulating the active sites and electrical conductivity is a promising method for superior lithium storage. Herein, hierarchical MnO/Co nanoparticle-embedded N-doped carbon nanotube (CNT)-assembled carbonaceous micropolyhedrons (O_v-MnO/Co NCPs) are constructed by a "4S" self-assembly, self-template, self-adaptive, and self-catalytic metal-organic framework template method with in situ oxygen vacancies introduced. Impressively, the internal nanoparticles with metallic Co and the external N-doped carbonaceous matrix entangled by fluffy self-generated CNTs synchronously constructed hierarchical micro/nano-secondary hybrids, facilitating highly compacted density, staggered conductive network, multidirectional diffusion pathways, and accelerated electrochemical kinetics. Experimental and density functional theory investigations systematically manifested that the O_v alongside the local built-in electric field within the crystal lattice induced the boosted electrical conductivity, additional active sites, and alleviated structural expansion, further achieving the exceptional diffusivity coefficient and pseudocapacitive capacity. Benefiting from the integrated structural and compositional optimization, the O_v-MnO/Co NCPs achieved distinguished "3C" performance with superior ultralong cyclability (a volumetric capacity of 1713.5 mAh cm^-3 at 1 A g^-1 up to 1000 cycles), good rate capacity (a well-maintained capacity of 670.2 mAh g^-1 even at 10 A g^-1), and considerable high-temperature capability at 60 °C.

Impact of Organic Templates on the Selective Formation of Zeolite Oligomers

Zeolites are essential materials to industry due to their adsorption and catalytic properties. The best current approach to prepare a targeted zeolite still relies on trial and error's synthetic procedures since a rational understanding of the impact of synthesis variables on the final structures is still missing. To discern the role of a variety of organic templates, we perform simulations of the early stages of condensation of silica oligomers by combining DFT, Brønsted-Evans-Polanyi relationships and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. We investigate an extended reaction path mechanism including 258 equilibrium reactions and 242 chemical species up to silica octamers, comparing the computed concentrations of Si oligomers with ²⁹ SI NMR experimental data. The effect of the templating agent is linked to the modification of the intramolecular H-bond network in the growing oligomer, which produces higher concentration of 4-membered ring intermediates, precursors of the key double-four ring building blocks present on more than 39 known zeolite topologies.

Direct Metal-Free Transformation of Alkynes to Nitriles: Computational Evidence for the Precise Reaction Mechanism

Density functional theory calculations elucidated the precise reaction mechanism for the conversion of diphenylacetylenes into benzonitriles involving the cleavage of the triple C≡C bond, with N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) as an oxidant and trimethylsilyl azide (TMSN3) as a nitrogen donor. The reaction requires six steps with the activation barrier ΔG‡ = 33.5 kcal mol-1 and a highly exergonic reaction free-energy ΔGR = -191.9 kcal mol-1 in MeCN. Reaction profiles agree with several experimental observations, offering evidence for the formation of molecular I2, interpreting the necessity to increase the temperature to finalize the reaction, and revealing thermodynamic aspects allowing higher yields for alkynes with para-electron-donating groups. In addition, the proposed mechanism indicates usefulness of this concept for both internal and terminal alkynes, eliminates the option to replace NIS by its Cl- or Br-analogues, and strongly promotes NaN3 as an alternative to TMSN3. Lastly, our results advise increasing the solvent polarity as another route to advance this metal-free strategy towards more efficient processes.