Top-down synthesis strategies: Maximum noble-metal atom efficiency in catalytic materials

Entropy-Engineered Middle-In Synthesis of Dual Single-Atom Compounds for Nitrate Reduction Reaction

Despite the immense potential of Dual Single-Atom Compounds (DSACs), the challenges in their synthesis process, including complexity, stability, purity, and scalability, remain primary concerns in current research. Here, we present a general strategy, termed "Entropy-Engineered Middle-In Synthesis of Dual Single-Atom Compounds" (EEMIS-DSAC), which is meticulously crafted to produce a diverse range of DSACs, effectively addressing the aforementioned issues. Our strategy integrates the advantages of both bottom-up and top-down paradigms, proposing an insight into optimizing the catalyst structure. The as-fabricated DSACs exhibited excellent activity and stability in the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR). In a significant advancement, our prototypical CuNi DSACs demonstrated outstanding performance under conditions reminiscent of industrial wastewater. Specifically, under a NO3- concentration of 2000 ppm, it yielded a Faradaic efficiency (FE) for NH3 of 96.97%, coupled with a mass productivity of 131.47 mg h-1 mg-1 and an area productivity of 10.06 mg h-1 cm-2. Impressively, even under a heightened NO3- concentration of 0.5 M, the FE for NH3 peaked at 90.61%, with a mass productivity reaching 1024.50 mg h-1 mg-1 and an area productivity of 78.41 mg h-1 cm-2. This work underpins the potential of the EEMIS-DSAC approach, signaling a frontier for high-performing DSACs.

DNA Origami-Based Letterpress Printing of Gold Nanostructures with Predesigned Morphologies

Creating customizable metallic nanostructures in a simple and controllable manner has been a long-standing goal in nanoscience. In this study, we use DNA origami as a letterpress printing plate and gold nanoparticles as ink to produce predesigned gold nanostructures. The letterpress plate is reusable, enabling the repetitive production of predesigned gold nanostructures. Furthermore, by modifying the DNA origami letterpress plate on magnetic beads, we can simplify the printing processes. We have successfully printed gold nanoparticle dimers, trimers, straight and quadrilateral tetramers, and other nanostructures. Our approach improves the flexibility and stability of metallic nanostructures, simplifying both their design and their operation. It promises universal applicability in the fabrication of metamaterials, biosensors, and surface plasma nanooptics.

Single-atom catalysts based on Fenton-like/peroxymonosulfate system for water purification: design and synthesis principle, performance regulation and catalytic mechanism

Novel single-atom catalysts (SACs) have become the frontier materials in the field of environmental remediation, especially wastewater purification because of their nearly 100% ultra-high atomic utilization and excellent properties. SACs can be used in Fenton-like catalytic reactions to activate various peroxides (such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), ozone (O₃), and persulfate (PSs)) to release active radicals and non-radicals, acting on target pollutants, and realize their decomposition and mineralization. Among them, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in PS systems has gradually become an important oxidant in Fenton-like processes due to its asymmetric molecular structure and characteristics of easy storage and transportation. Focusing on the numerous proposed strategies for the synthesis and performance regulation of Fenton-like SACs, it has been confirmed that the coordination of isolated metal atoms and the support/carrier enhances the structural robustness and chemical stability of these catalysts and optimizes their catalytic activity and kinetics. Moreover, the tunability of the coordination environment and electronic properties of SACs can improve their other catalytic properties, such as cycle stability and selectivity. Thus, to systematically explain the relationship between the active center, catalyst performance and the corresponding potential catalytic mechanism, herein, we focus on the representative scientific work on the preparation strategy, catalytic application and performance regulation of Fenton-like SACs. Specifically, we review the typical Fenton-like SAC reaction processes and catalytic mechanisms for the degradation of refractory organic compounds in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Finally, the future development and challenges of Fenton-like SACs are presented.

Supported Noble-Metal Single Atoms for Heterogeneous Catalysis

Single-atom catalysts (SACs), with atomically distributed active metal sites on supports, serve as a newly advanced material in catalysis, and open broad prospects for a wide variety of catalytic processes owing to their unique catalytic behaviors. To construct SACs with precise structures and high density of accessible single-atom sites, while preventing aggregation to large nanoparticles, various strategies for their chemical synthesis have been recently developed by improving the distribution and chemical bonding of active sites on supports, which results in excellent activity and selectivity in a variety of catalytic reactions. Noble-metal-based SACs are discussed, and their structural properties, chemical synthesis, and catalytic applications are highlighted. The structure-activity relationships and the underlying catalytic mechanisms are addressed, including the influences of surface species and reducibility of supports on the activity and stability, impact of the unique structural and electronic properties of single-atom centers modulated by metal/support interactions on catalytic activity and selectivity, and how the modified catalytic mechanism obtained by inhibiting the multiatoms involves catalytic pathways. Finally, the prospects and challenges for development in this field are highlighted.

A novel immunochromatographic assay using ultramarine blue particles as visible label for quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen

Ultramarine blue particles as a novel visible label has been used to develop immunochromatographic assay (ICA). The ultramarine blue particles, as a sodalite mineral with formula: (Na,Ca)₈[(S,Cl,SO₄,OH)₂(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)], can generate a blue visible signal were used as a label for ICA. Ultramarine blue particles were applied to a sandwich immunoassay to detect hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Ultramarine blue particles were separated from ultramarine blue industrial product by centrifugation. The polyacrylic acid (PAA) was used to modify the carboxyl group on the surface of ultramarine blue particles. The goat anti-HBsAg monoclonal antibody was modified on ultramarine blue particles by EDC/NHS activation of the carboxyl groups. In the presence of HBsAg, the immune ultramarine blue particles were bound on test line zone and forming a blue line on ICA strip which was directly readout by naked eye and quantitatively measured by Image J software. Under optimal conditions, the color depth of test line was linearly correlated with the concentration of HBsAg in concentration range from 1 to 50 ng mL^-1. The calibration equation was y = 385.796 + 97.2298x (R² = 0.9872), with limit of detection (LOD) of 0.37 ng mL ^-1(S/N = 3). The sensitivity of this novel ICA was better than that of ICA based on traditional gold nanoparticles as reporter probe. The ultramarine blue particles offer an alternative type of visible label nanomaterial for the development of ICA.