1
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Sano M, Kamei K, Yatsuhashi T, Sakota K. Localization and Orientation of Dye Molecules at the Surface of a Levitated Microdroplet in Air Revealed by Whispering Gallery Mode Resonances. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:8133-8141. [PMID: 39087939 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Microdroplets offer unique environments that accelerate chemical reactions; however, the mechanisms behind these processes remain debated. The localization and orientation of solute molecules near the droplet surface have been proposed as factors for this acceleration. Since significant reaction acceleration has been observed for electrospray- and sonic-spray-generated aerosol droplets, the analysis of microdroplets in air has become essential. Here, we utilized whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances to investigate the localization and orientation of dissolved rhodamine B (RhB) in a levitated microdroplet (∼3 μm in diameter) in air. Fluorescence enhancement upon resonance with the WGMs revealed the localization and orientation of RhB near the droplet surface. Numerical modeling using Mie theory quantified the RhB orientation at 68° to the surface normal, with a small fraction randomly oriented inside the droplet. Additionally, low RhB concentrations increased surface localization. These results support the significance of surface reactions in the acceleration of microdroplet reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoya Sano
- Division of Molecular Material Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, 3-3-138, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | - Kota Kamei
- Division of Molecular Material Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, 3-3-138, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yatsuhashi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-3-138, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakota
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka Metropolitan University, 3-3-138, Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan
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2
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Martins-Costa MTC, Ruiz-López MF. The Structure of Carbon Dioxide at the Air-Water Interface and its Chemical Implications. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400825. [PMID: 38838064 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
The efficient reduction of CO2 into valuable products is a challenging task in an international context marked by the climate change crisis and the need to move away from fossil fuels. Recently, the use of water microdroplets has emerged as an interesting reaction media where many redox processes which do not occur in conventional solutions take place spontaneously. Indeed, several experimental studies in microdroplets have already been devoted to study the reduction of CO2 with promising results. The increased reactivity in microdroplets is thought to be linked to unique electrostatic solvation effects at the air-water interface. In the present work, we report a theoretical investigation on this issue for CO2 using first-principles molecular dynamics simulations. We show that CO2 is stabilized at the interface, where it can accumulate, and that compared to bulk water solution, its electron capture ability is larger. Our results suggest that reduction of CO2 might be easier in interface-rich systems such as water microdroplets, which is in line with early experimental data and indicate directions for future laboratory studies. The effect of other relevant factors which could play a role in CO2 reduction potential is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilia T C Martins-Costa
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques, UMR CNRS 7019, University of Lorraine, CNRS, BP 70239, 54506, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Manuel F Ruiz-López
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques, UMR CNRS 7019, University of Lorraine, CNRS, BP 70239, 54506, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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3
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Xia Y, Xu J, Li J, Chen B, Dai Y, Zare RN. Visualization of the Charging of Water Droplets Sprayed into Air. J Phys Chem A 2024; 128:5684-5690. [PMID: 38968601 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c02981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Water droplets are spraying into air using air as a nebulizing gas, and the droplets pass between two parallel metal plates with opposite charges. A high-speed camera records droplet trajectories in the uniform electric field, providing visual evidence for the Lenard effect, that is, smaller droplets are negatively charged whereas larger droplets are positively charged. By analyzing the velocities of the droplets between the metal plates, the charges on the droplets can be estimated. Some key observations include: (1) localized electric fields with intensities on the order of 109 V/m are generated, and charges are expected to jump (micro-lightening) between a positively charged larger droplet and the negatively charged smaller droplet as they separate; (2) the strength of the electric field is sufficiently powerful to ionize gases surrounding the droplets; and (3) observations in an open-air mass spectrometer reveal the presence of ions such as N2+, O2+, NO+, and NO2+. These findings provide new insight into the origins of some atmospheric ions and have implications for understanding ionization processes in the atmosphere and chemical transformations in water droplets, advancing knowledge in the field of aerosol science and water microdroplet chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, P. R. China
| | - Jinheng Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Juan Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, P. R. China
| | - Bolei Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, P. R. China
| | - Yifan Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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4
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Nandy A, Mondal S, Koner D, Banerjee S. Heavy Water Microdroplet Surface Enriches the Lighter Isotopologue Impurities. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:19050-19058. [PMID: 38958201 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Water microdroplets promote unusual chemical reactions at the air-water interface. However, the interfacial structure of water microdroplets and its potential influence on chemical processes are still enigmatic. Here, we present evidence of in-droplet fractionation of water isotopologues. Employing a sonic spray, we atomized the heavy water (D2O, 99.9 atom % D) solution of three classes of organic compounds (basic, acidic, and neutral). The analytes were predominantly desorbed from the resulting droplet surface in protonated form rather than deuterated form, as detected by mass spectrometry. This result remained unaltered upon adding formic acid-d2 (DCOOD) to the droplet. Monitoring Dakin oxidation of benzaldehyde at the surface of binary microdroplets composed of 1:1 (v/v) D2O/H218O revealed the preferred formation of phenolate-16O over phenolate-18O. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric analysis of the vapor composition in the sprayed aerosol revealed the preferential evaporation of lighter water isotopologue impurities from the surface of heavy water microdroplets. These results indicate the enrichment of lighter water isotopologue impurities (HOD/H2O) on the surface of heavy water microdroplets, implying possible future developments for water isotopologue fractionation using microdroplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Nandy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | - Supratim Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | - Debasish Koner
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Kandi 502284, India
| | - Shibdas Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
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5
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Kumar A, Avadhani VS, Nandy A, Mondal S, Pathak B, Pavuluri VKN, Avulapati MM, Banerjee S. Water Microdroplets in Air: A Hitherto Unnoticed Natural Source of Nitrogen Oxides. Anal Chem 2024; 96:10515-10523. [PMID: 38829716 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Water microdroplets are widespread in the atmosphere. We report a striking observation that micron-sized water droplets obtained from zero-volt spray sources (sonic spray, humidifier, spray bottle, steamer, etc.) spontaneously generate nitrogen oxides. The mechanistic investigation through the development of custom-designed sampling sources combined with mass spectrometry and isotope labeling experiments confirmed that air nitrogen reacts with the water at the air-water interface, fixing molecular nitrogen to its oxides (NO, NO2, and N2O) and acids (HNO2 and HNO3) at trace levels without any catalyst. These reactions are attributed to the consequence of an experimentally detected feeble corona discharge (breakdown of air) at the air-water interface, likely driven by the high intrinsic electric field at the surface of water microdroplets. The extent of this corona discharge effect varies depending on the pH, salinity/impurity, size, speed, and lifetime of microdroplets in the air. Thus, this study discloses that the air-water interface of microdroplets breaks the strong chemical bond of nitrogen (N2), producing nitrogen oxides in the environment, while lightning strikes and microbial processes in soil are considered their dominant natural sources. As nitrogen oxides are toxic air pollutants, their spontaneous formation at the air-water interface should have important implications in atmospheric reactions, requiring further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anubhav Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | - Veena Shankar Avadhani
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | - Abhijit Nandy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | - Supratim Mondal
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | - Barsha Pathak
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
| | | | - Madan Mohan Avulapati
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Tirupati 517619, India
| | - Shibdas Banerjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati, Tirupati 517507, India
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Fan J, Liang L, Zhou X, Ouyang Z. Accelerating protein aggregation and amyloid fibrillation for rapid inhibitor screening. Chem Sci 2024; 15:6853-6859. [PMID: 38725489 PMCID: PMC11077537 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00437j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The accumulation and deposition of amyloid fibrils, also known as amyloidosis, in tissues and organs of patients has been found to be linked to numerous devastating neurodegenerative diseases. The aggregation of proteins to form amyloid fibrils, however, is a slow pathogenic process, and is a major issue for the evaluation of the effectiveness of inhibitors in new drug discovery and screening. Here, we used microdroplet reaction technology to accelerate the amyloid fibrillation process, monitored the process to shed light on the fundamental mechanism of amyloid self-assembly, and demonstrated the value of the technology in the rapid screening of potential inhibitor drugs. Proteins in microdroplets accelerated to form fibrils in milliseconds, enabling an entire cycle of inhibitor screening for Aβ40 within 3 minutes. The technology would be of broad interest to drug discovery and therapeutic design to develop treatments for diseases associated with protein aggregation and fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjin Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Liwen Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
| | - Zheng Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University Beijing 100084 China
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7
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Qiu L, Cooks RG. Spontaneous Oxidation in Aqueous Microdroplets: Water Radical Cation as Primary Oxidizing Agent. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202400118. [PMID: 38302696 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202400118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Exploration of the unique chemical properties of interfaces can unlock new understanding. A striking example is the finding of accelerated reactions, particularly spontaneous oxidation reactions, that occur without assistance of catalysts or external oxidants at the air interface of both aqueous and organic solutions (provided they contain some water). This finding opened a new area of interfacial chemistry but also caused heated debate regarding the primary chemical species responsible for the observed oxidation. An overview of the literature covering oxidation in microdroplets with air interfaces is provided, together with a critical examination of previous findings and hypotheses. The water radical cation/radical anion pair, formed spontaneously and responsible for the electric field at or near the droplet/air interface, is suggested to constitute the primary redox species. Mechanisms of accelerated microdroplet reactions are critically discussed and it is shown that hydroxyl radical/hydrogen peroxide formation in microdroplets does not require that these species be the primary oxidant. Instead, we suggest that hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide are the products of water radical cation decay in water. The importance of microdroplet chemistry in the prebiotic environment is sketched briefly and the role of partial solvation in reaction acceleration is noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqi Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, U.S
| | - R Graham Cooks
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, U.S
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8
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Chen X, Xia Y, Wu Y, Xu Y, Jia X, Zare RN, Wang F. Sprayed Oil-Water Microdroplets as a Hydrogen Source. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:10868-10874. [PMID: 38573037 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c01455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Liquid water provides the largest hydrogen reservoir on the earth's surface. Direct utilization of water as a source of hydrogen atoms and molecules is fundamental to the evolution of the ecosystem and industry. However, liquid water is an unfavorable electron donor for forming these hydrogen species owing to its redox inertness. We report oil-mediated electron extraction from water microdroplets, which is easily achieved by ultrasonically spraying an oil-water emulsion. Based on charge measurement and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, contact electrification between oil and a water microdroplet is demonstrated to be the origin of electron extraction from water molecules. This contact electrification results in enhanced charge separation and subsequent mutual neutralization, which enables a ∼13-fold increase of charge carriers in comparison with an ultrapure water spray, leading to a ∼16-fold increase of spray-sourced hydrogen that can hydrogenate CO2 to selectively produce CO. These findings emphasize the potential of charge separation enabled by spraying an emulsion of liquid water and a hydrophobic liquid in driving hydrogenation reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuke Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yu Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Yingfeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, P. R. China
| | - Yunpeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Xiuquan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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9
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Chen H, Wang R, Chiba T, Foreman K, Bowen K, Zhang X. Designer "Quasi-Benzyne": The Spontaneous Reduction of Ortho-Diiodotetrafluorobenzene on Water Microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:10979-10983. [PMID: 38586980 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
It has been widely shown that water microdroplets have a plethora of unique properties that are highly distinct from those of bulk water, among which an especially intriguing one is the strong reducing power as a result of the electrons spontaneously generated at the air-water interface. In this study, we take advantage of the reducing power of water microdroplets to reduce ortho-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (o-C6F4I2) into a C6F4I2•- radical anion. Photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory computations reveal that the excess electron in C6F4I2•- occupies the I-C1-C2-I linkage, which elongates the C-I bonds but surprisingly shortens the C1-C2 bond, making the bond order higher than a double bond, similar to the benzyne molecule, so we named it "quasi-benzyne". The C6F4I2•- anion was further successfully utilized in a Diels-Alder reaction, a typical reaction for benzyne. This study provides a good example of strategically utilizing the spontaneous properties of water microdroplets and generating an especially exotic anion, and we anticipate that microdroplet chemistry can be an avenue rich in opportunities for new catalyst-free organic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Chen
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin300192, China
| | - Ruijing Wang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin300192, China
| | - Tatsuya Chiba
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Kathryn Foreman
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Kit Bowen
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin300192, China
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10
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Zhang J, Hu H, Wang J, Lu K, Zhou Y, Zhao L, Peng J. Gold nanoclusters-based fluorescence sensor array for herbicides qualitative and quantitative analysis. Anal Chim Acta 2024; 1298:342380. [PMID: 38462337 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Herbicides have been extensively used around the world, which poses a potential hazard to humans and wildlife. Accurate detection of herbicides is crucial for the environment and human health. Herein, a simple and sensitive fluorescence sensor array was constructed for discrimination and identification of herbicides. Fluorescent gold nanoclusters modified with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid or reduced glutathione were prepared, respectively. Metal ions quenched the fluorescence of nanoclusters through coordination and leading to the aggregation of gold nanoclusters. The addition of auxin herbicides (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, decamba, picloram, quinclorac) restored the fluorescence of nanoclusters with different degrees. The mechanism study showed auxin herbicides can bind with metal ions and re-disperse the gold nanoclusters from the aggregation state. The "on-off-on" fluorescent sensor array was constructed basic on above detection mechanism. Combined with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) methods, auxin herbicides are well separated on 2D/3D PCA score plots and HCA dendrogram in the range of 40-500 μm. In addition, the fluorescence sensor array performed successful in detecting real samples and blind samples. The developed sensor system shows a promising in practical detection of herbicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Huihui Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Keqiang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China
| | - Yunyun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China.
| | - Lingzhi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China.
| | - Juanjuan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211198, China.
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11
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Zhang R, Zhang Z, Chen X, Jiang J, Hua L, Jia X, Bao R, Wang F. Pyrogenic Carbon Degradation by Galvanic Coupling with Sprayed Seawater Microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8528-8535. [PMID: 38497738 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Surface waves are known for their mechanical role in coastal processes that influence the weather and climate. However, their chemical impact, particularly on the transformation of pyrogenic carbon, is poorly understood. Pyrogenic carbon is generally assumed to show negligible postformational alteration of its stable carbon isotope composition. Here we present an electrochemical interaction of pyrogenic carbon with the sprayed seawater microdroplets resulting from wave breaking, driven by the galvanic coupling between the microdroplet water-carbon interfaces and the microdroplet water-vapor interfaces. This enables refractory pyrogenic carbon to rapidly degrade via the oxygenation and mineralization reaction, which makes it ∼2.6‰ enriched in 13C, far exceeding the generally assumed postformation alteration values (<0.5‰) of pyrogenic carbon. The unique chemical dynamics of seawater microdroplets provide new insights into the discrepancy in carbon isotope signatures between riverine and marine black carbon, emphasizing the potential of coastal oceans for carbon sequestration in the global carbon cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruolan Zhang
- Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Zhenyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Xuke Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jichun Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Lei Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Xiuquan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Rui Bao
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Lab of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, P. R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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12
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Gong K, Meng Y, Zare RN, Xie J. Molecular Mechanism for Converting Carbon Dioxide Surrounding Water Microdroplets Containing 1,2,3-Triazole to Formic Acid. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8576-8584. [PMID: 38488449 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Spraying water microdroplets containing 1,2,3-triazole (Tz) has been found to effectively convert gas-phase carbon dioxide (CO2), but not predissolved CO2, into formic acid (FA). Herein, we elucidate the reaction mechanism at the molecular level through quantum chemistry calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Computations suggest a multistep reaction mechanism that initiates from the adsorption of CO2 by Tz to form a CO2-Tz complex (named reactant complex (RC)). Then, the RC either is reduced by electrons that were generated at the air-liquid interface of the water microdroplet and then undergoes intramolecular proton transfer (PT) or switches the reduction and PT steps to form a [HCO2-(Tz-H)]- complex (named PC-). Subsequently, PC- undergoes reduction and the C-N bond dissociates to generate COOH- and [Tz-H]- (m/z = 69). COOH- easily converts to HCOOH and is captured at m/z = 45 in mass spectroscopy. Notably, the intramolecular PT step can be significantly lowered by the oriented electric field at the interface and a water-bridge mechanism. The mechanism is further confirmed by testing multiple azoles. The AIMD simulations reveal a novel proton transfer mechanism where water serves as a transporter and is shown to play an important role dynamically. Moreover, the transient •COOH captured by the experiment is proposed to be partly formed by the reaction with H•, pointing again to the importance of the air-water interface. This work provides valuable insight into the important mechanistic, kinetic, and dynamic features of converting gas-phase CO2 to valuable products by azoles or amines dissolved in water microdroplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Gong
- Key Laboratory of Cluster Science of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yifan Meng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jing Xie
- Key Laboratory of Cluster Science of Ministry of Education, Beijing Key Laboratory of Photoelectronic/Electrophotonic Conversion Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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13
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Galembeck F, Santos LP, Burgo TAL, Galembeck A. The emerging chemistry of self-electrified water interfaces. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2578-2602. [PMID: 38305696 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00763d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Water is known for dissipating electrostatic charges, but it is also a universal agent of matter electrification, creating charged domains in any material contacting or containing it. This new role of water was discovered during the current century. It is proven in a fast-growing number of publications reporting direct experimental measurements of excess charge and electric potential. It is indirectly verified by its success in explaining surprising phenomena in chemical synthesis, electric power generation, metastability, and phase transition kinetics. Additionally, electrification by water is opening the way for developing green technologies that are fully compatible with the environment and have great potential to contribute to sustainability. Electrification by water shows that polyphasic matter is a charge mosaic, converging with the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars effect, which was discovered one century ago but is still often ignored. Electrified sites in a real system are niches showing various local electrochemical potentials for the charged species. Thus, the electrified mosaics display variable chemical reactivity and mass transfer patterns. Water contributes to interfacial electrification from its singular structural, electric, mixing, adsorption, and absorption properties. A long list of previously unexpected consequences of interfacial electrification includes: "on-water" reactions of chemicals dispersed in water that defy current chemical wisdom; reactions in electrified water microdroplets that do not occur in bulk water, transforming the droplets in microreactors; and lowered surface tension of water, modifying wetting, spreading, adhesion, cohesion, and other properties of matter. Asymmetric capacitors charged by moisture and water are now promising alternative equipment for simultaneously producing electric power and green hydrogen, requiring only ambient thermal energy. Changing surface tension by interfacial electrification also modifies phase-change kinetics, eliminating metastability that is the root of catastrophic electric discharges and destructive explosions. It also changes crystal habits, producing needles and dendrites that shorten battery life. These recent findings derive from a single factor, water's ability to electrify matter, touching on the most relevant aspects of chemistry. They create tremendous scientific opportunities to understand the matter better, and a new chemistry based on electrified interfaces is now emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Galembeck
- Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Campinas, Institute of Chemistry, 13083-872, Campinas, Brazil.
- Galembetech Consultores e Tecnologia, 13080-661, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Leandra P Santos
- Galembetech Consultores e Tecnologia, 13080-661, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Thiago A L Burgo
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), 15054-000, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Andre Galembeck
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Federal University of Pernambuco, 50740-560, Recife, Brazil
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14
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Meng Y, Zare RN, Gnanamani E. Superfast Formation of C(sp 2 )-N, C(sp 2 )-P, and C(sp 2 )-S Vinylic Bonds in Water Microdroplets. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202316131. [PMID: 38116872 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202316131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
We report examples of C(sp2 )-N, C(sp2 )-S, and C(sp2 )-P bond-forming transformations in water microdroplets at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using N2 as a nebulizing gas. When an aqueous solution of vinylic acid and amine is electrosprayed (+3 kV), the corresponding C(sp2 )-N product is formed in a single step, which was characterized using mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2 ). The scope of this reaction was extended to other amines and other unsaturated acids, including acrylic (CH2 =CHCOOH) and crotonic (CH3 CH=CHCOOH) acids. We also found that thiols and phosphines are viable nucleophiles, and the corresponding C(sp2 )-S and C(sp2 )-P products are observed in positive ion mode using MS and MS2 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Meng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elumalai Gnanamani
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, 247667, India
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15
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Dong J, Chen J, Wang W, Wei Z, Tian ZQ, Fan FR. Charged Microdroplets as Microelectrochemical Cells for CO 2 Reduction and C-C Coupling. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:2227-2236. [PMID: 38224553 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c12586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Charged microdroplets offer novel electrochemical environments, distinct from traditional solid-liquid or solid-liquid-gas interfaces, due to the intense electric fields at liquid-gas interfaces. In this study, we propose that charged microdroplets serve as microelectrochemical cells (MECs), enabling unique electrochemical reactions at the gas-liquid interface. Using electrospray-generated microdroplets, we achieved multielectron CO2 reduction and C-C coupling to synthesize ethanol using molecular catalysts. These catalysts effectively harness and relay electrons, enhancing the longevity of solvated electrons and enabling multielectron reactions. Importantly, we revealed the intrinsic relationship between the size and charge density of a MEC and its reaction selectivity. Employing in situ mass spectrometry, we identified reaction intermediates (molecular catalyst adducts with HCOO) and oxidation products, elucidating the CO2 reduction mechanism and the comprehensive reaction procedure. Our research underscores the promising role of charged microdroplets in pioneering new electrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Jianxiong Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhenwei Wei
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zhong-Qun Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Feng Ru Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, iChEM, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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16
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Li J, Xia Y, Song X, Chen B, Zare RN. Continuous ammonia synthesis from water and nitrogen via contact electrification. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318408121. [PMID: 38232282 PMCID: PMC10823170 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318408121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
We synthesized ammonia (NH3) by bubbling nitrogen (N2) gas into bulk liquid water (200 mL) containing 50 mg polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particles (~5 µm in diameter) suspended with the help of a surfactant (Tween 20, ~0.05 vol.%) at room temperature (25 °C). Electron spin resonance spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that water acts as the proton donor for the reduction of N2. Moreover, isotopic labeling of the N2 gas shows that it is the source of nitrogen in the ammonia. We propose a mechanism for ammonia generation based on the activation of N2 caused by electron transfer and reduction processes driven by contact electrification. We optimized the pH of the PTFE suspension at 6.5 to 7.0 and employed ultrasonic mixing. We found an ammonia production rate of ~420 μmol L-1 h-1 per gram of PTFE particles for the conditions described above. This rate did not change more than 10% over an 8-h period of sustained reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Health and Environment, Jianghan University, Wuhan430056, China
| | - Yu Xia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Health and Environment, Jianghan University, Wuhan430056, China
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Xiaowei Song
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Bolei Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Health and Environment, Jianghan University, Wuhan430056, China
| | - Richard N. Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
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17
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Qiu L, Cooks RG. Oxazolone mediated peptide chain extension and homochirality in aqueous microdroplets. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309360120. [PMID: 38165938 PMCID: PMC10786291 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309360120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptide formation from amino acids is thermodynamically unfavorable but a recent study provided evidence that the reaction occurs at the air/solution interfaces of aqueous microdroplets. Here, we show that i) the suggested amino acid complex in microdroplets undergoes dehydration to form oxazolone; ii) addition of water to oxazolone forms the dipeptide; and iii) reaction of oxazolone with other amino acids forms tripeptides. Furthermore, the chirality of the reacting amino acids is preserved in the oxazolone product, and strong chiral selectivity is observed when converting the oxazolone to tripeptide. This last fact ensures that optically impure amino acids will undergo chain extension to generate pure homochiral peptides. Peptide formation in bulk by wet-dry cycling shares a common pathway with the microdroplet reaction, both involving the oxazolone intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqi Qiu
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
| | - R. Graham Cooks
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN47907
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18
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Zheng B, Wu Y, Xue L, Sun J, Liu J, Cheng H. Is Reaction Acceleration of Microdroplet Chemistry Favorable to Controlling the Enantioselectivity? J Org Chem 2023; 88:16186-16195. [PMID: 37948325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c01660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Microdroplet chemistry has been proven to amazingly accelerate many chemical and biological reactions in the past 2 decades. Current microdroplet accelerated reactions are predominantly symmetric synthetic but minorly asymmetric synthetic reactions, where stereoselectivity is scarcely concerned. This study selected unimolecular and bimolecular reactions, multicomponent Passerini reactions, and enzymatic ketone reduction as the model reactions to illustrate whether reaction acceleration of microdroplet chemistry is favorable to retaining a chiral center and controlling the enantioselectivity or not. The results illustrated that microdroplet chemistry did not disrupt pre-existing stereogenic centers in chiral starting materials during reactions but did harm to stereospecificity in asymmetric catalysis by chiral catalysts and chiral organic ligands with the exclusion of enzymatic reactions. Our preliminary study reminds us of more cautions to the product enantioselectivity when conducting asymmetric catalysis in microdroplets. We also hope this study may promote more valuable further research on the stereoselectivity of microdroplet chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Zheng
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yikang Wu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Luyun Xue
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jiannan Sun
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Jinhua Liu
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Heyong Cheng
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, 2318 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 311121, China
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19
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Song X, Basheer C, Xia Y, Li J, Abdulazeez I, Al-Saadi AA, Mofidfar M, Suliman MA, Zare RN. One-step Formation of Urea from Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Using Water Microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:25910-25916. [PMID: 37966066 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Water (H2O) microdroplets are sprayed onto a graphite mesh covered with a CuBi2O4 coating using a 1:1 mixture of N2 and CO2 as the nebulizing gas. The resulting microdroplets contain urea [CO(NH2)2] as detected by both mass spectrometry and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. This gas-liquid-solid heterogeneous catalytic system synthesizes urea in one step on the 0.1 ms time scale. The conversion rate reaches 2.7 mmol g-1 h-1 at 25 °C and 12.3 mmol g-1 h-1 at 65 °C, with no external voltage applied. Water microdroplets serve as the hydrogen source and the electron transfer medium for N2 and CO2 in contact with CuBi2O4. Water-gas and water-solid contact electrification are speculated to drive the reaction process. This strategy couples N2 fixation and CO2 utilization in an ecofriendly process to produce urea, converting a greenhouse gas into a value-added product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Song
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Chanbasha Basheer
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yu Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Juan Li
- School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ismail Abdulazeez
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A Al-Saadi
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Mofidfar
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Mohammed Altahir Suliman
- Chemistry Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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20
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Zhang R, Gao Y, Chen L, Li D, Ge G. Tunable Gas-Gas Reactions through Nanobubble Pathway. Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202300429. [PMID: 37534533 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Combustible gas-gas reactions usually do not occur spontaneously upon mixing without ignition or other triggers to lower the activation energy barrier. Nanobubbles, however, could provide such a possibility in solution under ambient conditions due to high inner pressure and catalytic radicals within their boundary layers. Herein, a tunable gas-gas reaction strategy via bulk nanobubble pathway is developed by tuning the interface charge of one type of bulk nanobubble and promoting its fusion and reaction with another, where the reaction-accompanied size and number concentration change of the bulk nanobubbles and the corresponding thermal effect clearly confirm the occurrence of the nanobubble-based H2 /O2 combustion. In addition, abundant radicals can be detected during the reaction, which is considered to be critical to ignite the gas reaction during the fusion of nanobubbles in water at room temperature. Therefore, the nanobubble-based gas-gas reactions provide a safe and efficient pathway to produce energy and synthesize new matter inaccessible under mild or ambient conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiyi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ya Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Lan Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Dexing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Guanglu Ge
- CAS Key Laboratory of Standardization and Measurement for Nanotechnology, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
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21
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Ju Y, Zhang H, Jiang Y, Wang W, Kan G, Yu K, Wang X, Liu J, Jiang J. Aqueous microdroplets promote C-C bond formation and sequences in the reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1892-1902. [PMID: 37679455 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02193-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The reverse tricarboxylic acid cycle (rTCA) is a central anabolic network that uses carbon dioxide (CO2) and may have provided complex carbon substrates for life before the advent of RNA or enzymes. However, non-enzymatic promotion of the rTCA cycle, in particular carbon fixation, remains challenging, even with primordial metal catalysis. Here, we report that the fixation of CO2 by reductive carboxylation of succinate and α-ketoglutarate was achieved in aqueous microdroplets under ambient conditions without the use of catalysts. Under identical conditions, the aqueous microdroplets also facilitated the sequences in the rTCA cycle, including reduction, hydration, dehydration and retro-aldol cleavage and linked with the glyoxylate cycle. These reactions of the rTCA cycle were compatible with the aqueous microdroplets, as demonstrated with two-reaction and four-reaction sequences. A higher selectivity giving higher product yields was also observed. Our results suggest that the microdroplets provide an energetically favourable microenvironment and facilitate a non-enzymatic version of the rTCA cycle in prebiotic carbon anabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ju
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China.
| | - Yanxiao Jiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
| | - Guangfeng Kan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
| | - Kai Yu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
| | - Jilin Liu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, PR China.
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, PR China.
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22
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Wang T, Li Z, Gao H, Hu J, Chen HY, Xu JJ. Ultrafast C-C and C-N bond formation reactions in water microdroplets facilitated by the spontaneous generation of carbocations. Chem Sci 2023; 14:11515-11520. [PMID: 37886101 PMCID: PMC10599473 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc03870j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbocations are important electrophilic intermediates in organic chemistry, but their formation typically requires harsh conditions such as extremely low pH, elevated temperature, strong oxidants and/or expensive noble-metal catalysts. Herein, we report the spontaneous generation of highly reactive carbocations in water microdroplets by simply spraying a diarylmethanol aqueous solution. The formation of transient carbocations as well as their ultrafast in-droplet transformations through carbocation-involved C-C and C-N bond formation reactions are directly characterized by mass spectrometry. The intriguing formation and stabilization of carbocations are attributed to the super acidity of the positively charged water microdroplets as well as the high electric fields at the water-air interfaces. Without the utilization of external acids as catalysts, we believe that these microdroplet reactions would pose a new and sustainable way for the construction of aryl-substituted compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Zheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Hang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Jun Hu
- School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University Wuxi 214122 China
| | - Hong-Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
| | - Jing-Juan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University Nanjing 210023 P. R. China
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23
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Guo Y, Li K, Perrier S, An T, Donaldson DJ, George C. Spontaneous Iodide Activation at the Air-Water Interface of Aqueous Droplets. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15580-15587. [PMID: 37804225 PMCID: PMC10586319 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
We present experimental evidence that atomic and molecular iodine, I and I2, are produced spontaneously in the dark at the air-water interface of iodide-containing droplets without any added catalysts, oxidants, or irradiation. Specifically, we observe I3- formation within droplets, and I2 emission into the gas phase from NaI-containing droplets over a range of droplet sizes. The formation of both products is enhanced in the presence of electron scavengers, either in the gas phase or in solution, and it clearly follows a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, suggesting an interfacial process. These observations are consistent with iodide oxidation at the interface, possibly initiated by the strong intrinsic electric field present there, followed by well-known solution-phase reactions of the iodine atom. This interfacial chemistry could be important in many contexts, including atmospheric aerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Guo
- Guangdong
Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control,
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure
and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute
of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Université
Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, Villeurbanne F-69626, France
| | - Kangwei Li
- Université
Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, Villeurbanne F-69626, France
- Department
of Environmental Sciences, University of
Basel, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Sebastien Perrier
- Université
Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, Villeurbanne F-69626, France
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong
Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control,
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure
and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute
of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - D. James Donaldson
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Christian George
- Université
Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, Villeurbanne F-69626, France
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24
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Chen X, Xia Y, Zhang Z, Hua L, Jia X, Wang F, Zare RN. Hydrocarbon Degradation by Contact with Anoxic Water Microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21538-21545. [PMID: 37725034 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Oils are hydrophobic, but their degradation is frequently found to be accelerated in the presence of water microdroplets. The direct chemical consequences of water-oil contact have long been overlooked. We show that aqueous microdroplets in emulsified water-hexadecane (C16H34) mixtures can spontaneously produce CO2, •H, H2, and short-chain hydrocarbons (mainly C1 and C2) as detected by gas chromatography, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. This reaction results from contact electrification at the water-oil microdroplet interface, in which reactive oxygen species are produced, such as hydrated hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide. We also find that the H2 originates from the water microdroplet and not the hydrocarbon it contacts. These observations highlight the potential of interfacial contact electrification to produce new chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuke Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yu Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 ,United States
| | - Zhenyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Lei Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Xiuquan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, P. R. China
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 ,United States
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25
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Basuri P, Volmer DA. Detecting Early-Stage Intermediates of Free-Radical Oxidative Degradation in Charged Aqueous Microdroplets. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:7612-7617. [PMID: 37648376 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c04143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
We report the detection of early-stage intermediates of spontaneous free-radical oxidation of organic pollutants such as aliphatic amino alcohols and diamines in charged aqueous microdroplets in the ambient atmosphere. We propose that the intrinsic formation of reactive oxygen species at the air-water interface is responsible for the radical oxidation of the sp3 carbon. We suggest that our work will aid the understanding of the degradation mechanisms of organic molecules in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallab Basuri
- Institute of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dietrich A Volmer
- Institute of Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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26
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Gao Y, Xia B. Microdroplet accelerated reaction for high-efficiency carbon disulfide conversion. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:10773-10776. [PMID: 37593766 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03503d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Carbon disulfide (CS2) negatively impacts male sexual function and sperm quality. We propose an efficient method to convert CS2 into dithiocarbamic acid using electrospray ionization, achieving up to 96.7% conversion. Protonated CS2 intermediates (SCSH+) contribute to capturing CO2 in amine reactions. Moreover, the reaction efficiently converts CS2 from ethanol solution using microbubble bursting. This study lays the groundwork for accurate CS2 detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Gao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, P.R. China.
| | - Bing Xia
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, P.R. China.
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27
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Meng Y, Zare RN, Gnanamani E. One-Step, Catalyst-Free Formation of Phenol from Benzoic Acid Using Water Microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:19202-19206. [PMID: 37624585 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Benzoic acid dissolved in water is electrosprayed (-4 kV) by using nitrogen gas at a pressure of 120 psi to form ∼10 μm diameter microdroplets. Analysis with mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2) of the resulting microdroplets shows the direct formation of phenol via decarboxylation without any catalyst or added reagents. This process represents an ecofriendly, environmentally benign method for producing phenol and related aromatic alcohols from their corresponding aromatic acids. The mechanism of this transformation was unambiguously characterized using mass spectrometry, radical trapping, and 18O labeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Meng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Elumalai Gnanamani
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
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28
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Ju Y, He Y, Kan G, Yu K, Jiang J, Wang X, Zhang H. Reaction acceleration in microdroplet mass spectrometry: Inlet capillary and solvent composition effects. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2023; 37 Suppl 1:e9498. [PMID: 36852554 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Microdroplet chemistry has attracted tremendous interest in recent years. We have previously reported that microdroplet mass spectrometry (MS) achieves reaction acceleration. Here we systematically investigated the effect of capillary heating of MS inlet and solvent polarity of microdroplets on the conversion ratios of dehydration and phosphorylation reactions. METHODS The micron-sized droplets generated by high-speed gas encapsulated the compounds. The conversion ratios of dehydration and phosphorylation reactions were investigated at different capillary temperatures of MS inlet between 30°C and 300°C. Subsequently, the effects of solvent polarity of different microdroplets (acetonitrile, acetonitrile/water [v/v: 9:1], and water) on microdroplet reactions were investigated. RESULTS The microdroplets could be used as reaction vessels for rapid dehydration and phosphorylation reactions. Microdroplet MS is characterized by the completion of the reaction in microseconds. The increase in capillary temperature increased the conversion ratio of dehydration reactions but had little effect on phosphorylation reactions. The stability of compounds supports this phenomenon. In addition, the increase in solvent polarity in microdroplets promoted the dehydration reaction but inhibited the nucleophilic substitution reaction (phosphorylation reaction). CONCLUSIONS Microdroplet MS achieved an acceleration of the reaction, which was attributed to capillary temperature, microdroplet solvents, and the stability of reaction products. This finding suggested that the inlet capillary and solvent system should be considered in the study and interpretation of microdroplet MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ju
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yuwei He
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Guangfeng Kan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Kai Yu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong, 264209, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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29
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Zhang X, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Xu J, Mi D. Evidence for the co-existence of isomers of water dimer radical cations and their inter-conversion in a linear ion trap. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17763. [PMID: 37456026 PMCID: PMC10338966 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Water dimer radical cations are regarded as key intermediates in many aqueous reactions and biochemical processes. However, the structure of the water dimer radical cations, and particularly the inter-conversion between their isomers, remain difficult to investigate experimentally due to their short lifetime and low abundance under ambient conditions. Furthermore, the isomers cannot be distinguished in a full mass spectra. In this study, we report the experimental evidence for the hemi-bonded and proton-transferred isomers of gas-phase water dimer radical cations, and the inter-conversion process between them in a linear ion trap at low pressure and near room temperature. Multiple collisions of isolated water dimer radical cations with He inside the ion trap were systematically investigated; first, under different trapping times (i.e., reaction times) ranging from 0.03 to 800 ms, and then at a very low collision energies ranging from 0.1% to 10% normalized collision energy. The proton-transferred isomers were dominant at shorter trapping times (≤250 ms), while the hemi-bonded isomers were dominant at longer trapping times (250-800 ms). Moreover, the difference in symmetry of the shapes of the H2O•+ signal profiles and the H3O+ signal profiles implied the existence of two kinds of isomers and there were small potential differences between them. Our results also suggested that by tuning the experimental parameters the hemi-bonded isomers would become dominant, which could allow the study of novel chemical reactions involving the hemi-bonded two-center-three-electron (2c-3e) structure in a linear ion trap.
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30
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Jin S, Chen H, Yuan X, Xing D, Wang R, Zhao L, Zhang D, Gong C, Zhu C, Gao X, Chen Y, Zhang X. The Spontaneous Electron-Mediated Redox Processes on Sprayed Water Microdroplets. JACS AU 2023; 3:1563-1571. [PMID: 37388681 PMCID: PMC10301804 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Water is considered as an inert environment for the dispersion of many chemical systems. However, by simply spraying bulk water into microsized droplets, the water microdroplets have been shown to possess a large plethora of unique properties, including the ability to accelerate chemical reactions by several orders of magnitude compared to the same reactions in bulk water, and/or to trigger spontaneous reactions that cannot occur in bulk water. A high electric field (∼109 V/m) at the air-water interface of microdroplets has been postulated to be the probable cause of the unique chemistries. This high field can even oxidize electrons out of hydroxide ions or other closed-shell molecules dissolved in water, forming radicals and electrons. Subsequently, the electrons can trigger further reduction processes. In this Perspective, by showing a large number of such electron-mediated redox reactions, and by studying the kinetics of these reactions, we opine that the redox reactions on sprayed water microdroplets are essentially processes using electrons as the charge carriers. The potential impacts of the redox capability of microdroplets are also discussed in a larger context of synthetic chemistry and atmospheric chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuihui Jin
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Huan Chen
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Xu Yuan
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Dong Xing
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Ruijing Wang
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Lingling Zhao
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Chu Gong
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Chenghui Zhu
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Xufeng Gao
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Yeye Chen
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College
of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry
(Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre,
Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers
Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai
University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Haihe
Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin, 300192, China
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
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31
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Zheng J, Qi J, Song S, Yuan K, Zhang L, Zhao H, Lü J, Zhu B, Zhang Y, Hu J. An antioxidation strategy based on ultra-small nanobubbles without exogenous antioxidants. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8455. [PMID: 37231048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35766-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antioxidation is in demand in living systems, as the excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) in organisms lead to a variety of diseases. The conventional antioxidation strategies are mostly based on the introduction of exogenous antioxidants. However, antioxidants usually have shortcomings of poor stability, non-sustainability, and potential toxicity. Here, we proposed a novel antioxidation strategy based on ultra-small nanobubbles (NBs), in which the gas-liquid interface was employed to enrich and scavenge ROS. It was found that the ultra-small NBs (~ 10 nm) exhibited a strong inhibition on oxidization of extensive substrates by hydroxyl radicals, while the normal NBs (~ 100 nm) worked only for some substrates. Since the gas-water interface of the ultra-small NBs is non-expendable, its antioxidation would be sustainable and its effect be cumulative, which is different to that using reactive nanobubbles to eliminate free radicals as the gases are consumptive and the reaction is unsustainable. Therefore, our antioxidation strategy based on ultra-small NB would provide a new solution for antioxidation in bioscience as well as other fields such as materials, chemical industry, food industry, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zheng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Juncheng Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Sanzhao Song
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kaiwei Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lijuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hongwei Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Junhong Lü
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Beien Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Jun Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Interfacial Physics and Technology, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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32
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Li K, Guo Y, Nizkorodov S, Rudich Y, Angelaki M, Wang X, An T, Perrier S, George C. Spontaneous dark formation of OH radicals at the interface of aqueous atmospheric droplets. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2220228120. [PMID: 37011187 PMCID: PMC10104570 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220228120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydroxyl radical (OH) is a key oxidant that triggers atmospheric oxidation chemistry in both gas and aqueous phases. The current understanding of its aqueous sources is mainly based on known bulk (photo)chemical processes, uptake from gaseous OH, or related to interfacial O3 and NO3 radical-driven chemistry. Here, we present experimental evidence that OH radicals are spontaneously produced at the air-water interface of aqueous droplets in the dark and the absence of known precursors, possibly due to the strong electric field that forms at such interfaces. The measured OH production rates in atmospherically relevant droplets are comparable to or significantly higher than those from known aqueous bulk sources, especially in the dark. As aqueous droplets are ubiquitous in the troposphere, this interfacial source of OH radicals should significantly impact atmospheric multiphase oxidation chemistry, with substantial implications on air quality, climate, and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangwei Li
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, VilleurbanneF-69626, France
| | - Yunlong Guo
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, VilleurbanneF-69626, France
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou510006, China
| | | | - Yinon Rudich
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot76100, Israel
| | - Maria Angelaki
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, VilleurbanneF-69626, France
| | - Xinke Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA92697
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou510006, China
| | - Sebastien Perrier
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, VilleurbanneF-69626, France
| | - Christian George
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IRCELYON, VilleurbanneF-69626, France
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33
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Wang J, Huang D, Chen F, Chen J, Jiang H, Zhu Y, Chen C, Zhao J. Rapid Redox Cycling of Fe(II)/Fe(III) in Microdroplets during Iron-Citric Acid Photochemistry. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4434-4442. [PMID: 36883325 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fe(III) and carboxylic acids are common compositions in atmospheric microdroplet systems like clouds, fogs, and aerosols. Although photochemical processes of Fe(III)-carboxylate complexes have been extensively studied in bulk aqueous solution, relevant information on the dynamic microdroplet system, which may be largely different from the bulk phase, is rare. With the help of the custom-made ultrasonic-based dynamic microdroplet photochemical system, this study examines the photochemical process of Fe(III)-citric acid complexes in microdroplets for the first time. We find that when the degradation extent of citric acid is similar between the microdroplet system and the bulk solution, the significantly lower Fe(II) ratio is present in microdroplet samples due to the rapider reoxidation of photogenerated Fe(II). However, by replacing citric acid with benzoic acid, no much difference in the Fe(II) ratio between microdroplets and bulk solution is observed, which indicates distinct reoxidation pathways of Fe(II). Moreover, the presence of •OH scavenger, namely, methanol, greatly accelerates the reoxidation of photogenerated Fe(II) in both citric acid and benzoic acid situations. Further experiments reveal that the high availability of O2 and the citric acid- or methanol-derived carbon-centered radicals are responsible for the rapider reoxidation of Fe(II) in iron-citric acid microdroplets by prolonging the length of HO2•- and H2O2-involved radical reaction chains. The results in this study may provide a new understanding about iron-citric acid photochemistry in atmospheric liquid particles, which can further influence the photoactivity of particles and the formation of secondary organic aerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhao Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Di Huang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Fengxia Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jianhua Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Hongyu Jiang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yifan Zhu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Chuncheng Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jincai Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Photochemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
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34
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Jin S, Wang R, Chen H, Yuan X, Zhang X. Spontaneous and Simultaneous Oxidation and Reduction of o-Quinones in Water Microdroplets. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:2805-2809. [PMID: 36939334 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.3c00865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Microdroplet chemistry has been an emerging new field for its large plethora of unique properties, among which an especially intriguing one is the strong oxidizing and reducing powers. The hydroxide ion in water microdroplets is considered to split into a hydroxyl radical and an electron at the air-water interface, and the former is responsible for the oxidizing capability while the latter is responsible for the reducing power, making a unity of opposites. However, to date there are only two examples showing that oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously to the same substrates, which might be a result of the redox properties of the substrate per se. In this study, we carefully chose a group of ο-quinone compounds as the substrates in water microdroplets and discovered that they can be both oxidized by the hydroxyl radical and reduced by the electron. These results keep pushing the limit of the unique redox properties of microdroplet chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuihui Jin
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Ruijing Wang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Huan Chen
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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35
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Ju Y, Zhang H, Wang X, Liu Y, Yang Y, Kan G, Yu K, Jiang J. Abiotic synthesis with plausible emergence for primitive phospholipid in aqueous microdroplets. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 634:535-542. [PMID: 36549202 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Phospholipids are the protective layer of modern cells, but it is challenging for the formation of phospholipids that require a simple abiotic synthesis before the advent of primitive cells. Here, we reported the abiotic synthesis for lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) with prebiotically plausible reactants in aqueous microdroplets under ambient conditions. The LPAs formation is carried out by fusing two microdroplets streams: one contains glycerol and pyrophosphate in water and the other one contains fatty acids in acetonitrile. Compared with the bulk solution, LPAs were generated in microdroplets without the addition of catalyst and heating. Conditions of reactant concentrations and microdroplet size varied and suggested that LPAs formation occurred near or at the microdroplet surface. The LPAs formation also showed chemoselective toward on chain-length of fatty acids. Finally, the formation of LPAs underwent two-step reactions with glycerol phosphorylation eliminating one water molecule followed by esterification with fatty acids. These results also implicated that pyrophosphate functioned as both catalysts and precursors in prebiotic LPAs synthesis. The approach using fusion aqueous microdroplets has desirable features in studying the substance exchange and interaction in atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Ju
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China.
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Yaqi Liu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Yali Yang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Guangfeng Kan
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China
| | - Kai Yu
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China
| | - Jie Jiang
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology at Weihai, Weihai, Shandong 264209, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China; School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150090, PR China.
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36
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Yuan X, Zhang D, Liang C, Zhang X. Spontaneous Reduction of Transition Metal Ions by One Electron in Water Microdroplets and the Atmospheric Implications. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:2800-2805. [PMID: 36705987 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Freshman chemistry teaches that Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions are stable in water solutions, but their reduced forms, Fe2+ and Cu+, cannot exist in water as the major oxidation state due to the fast oxidation by O2 and/or disproportionation. Contrary to these well-known facts, significant fractions of dissolved Fe and Cu species exist in their reduced oxidation states in atmospheric water such as deliquesced aerosols, clouds, and fog droplets. Current knowledge attributes these phenomena to the stabilization of the lower oxidation states by the complexation of ligands and the various photochemical or thermal pathways that can reduce the higher oxidation states. In this study, by spraying the water solutions of transition metal ions into microdroplets, we show the results of the spontaneous reduction of ligated Fe(III) and Cu(II) species into Fe(II) and Cu(I) species, presenting a previously unknown source of reduced transition metal ions in atmospheric water. It is the spontaneously generated electrons in water microdroplets that are responsible for the reduction. Control experiments in the atmosphere and in a glove box filled with precisely controlled gaseous contents reveal that O2, CO2, and NO2 are the major competitors for the electrons, forming O2-, HCO2-, and NO2-, respectively. Taking these findings together, we opine that microdroplet chemistry might play significant but previously underestimated roles in atmospheric redox chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chiyu Liang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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37
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Chen H, Wang R, Xu J, Yuan X, Zhang D, Zhu Z, Marshall M, Bowen K, Zhang X. Spontaneous Reduction by One Electron on Water Microdroplets Facilitates Direct Carboxylation with CO 2. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:2647-2652. [PMID: 36668682 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in microdroplet chemistry have shown that chemical reactions in water microdroplets can be accelerated by several orders of magnitude compared to the same reactions in bulk water. Among the large plethora of unique properties of microdroplets, an especially intriguing one is the strong reducing power that can be sometimes as high as alkali metals as a result of the spontaneously generated electrons. In this study, we design a catalyst-free strategy that takes advantage of the reducing ability of water microdroplets to reduce a certain molecule, and the reduced form of that molecule can convert CO2 into value-added products. By spraying the water solution of C6F5I into microdroplets, an exotic and fragile radical anion, C6F5I•-, is observed, where the excess electron counter-intuitively locates on the σ* antibonding orbital of the C-I bond as evidenced by anion photoelectron spectroscopy. This electron weakens the C-I bond and causes the formation of C6F5-, and the latter attacks the carbon atom on CO2, forming the pentafluorobenzoate product, C6F5CO2-. This study provides a good example of strategically making use of the spontaneous properties of water microdroplets, and we anticipate that microdroplet chemistry will be a green avenue rich in new opportunities in CO2 utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Chen
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Ruijing Wang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Jinheng Xu
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China.,Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Zhaoguo Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Mary Marshall
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Kit Bowen
- Department of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Centre, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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38
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Meng Y, Gnanamani E, Zare RN. Catalyst-Free Decarboxylative Amination of Carboxylic Acids in Water Microdroplets. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:32-36. [PMID: 36566437 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that hydroxyl radicals can be formed at the water-gas surface of water microdroplets. We report the use of in situ generated hydroxyl radicals to carry out an organic transformation in one step, namely, the formation of anilines from aryl acids as well as both ammonia and primary/secondary amines via decarboxylation. Benzoic acids and amines are dissolved in water, and the solution is sprayed to form microdroplets whose chemical contents are analyzed mass spectrometrically. All intermediates and products are determined using mass spectrometry (MS) as well as in some cases tandem mass spectrometry (MS2). These results support the following reaction mechanism: NR2OH, formed via reaction of the amine with •OH, reacts with benzoic acid to form an isocyanate via a Lossen rearrangement. Hydrolysis followed by liberation of CO2 then delivers the aniline product. Notably, the scope of this transformation includes a variety of amines and aromatic acids and enables their conversion into aniline and N-substituted anilines, all in a single step. Additionally, this reaction occurs at room temperature and does not require metal catalysts or organic solvents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Meng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Elumalai Gnanamani
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee 247667, India
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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39
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Chu F, Zhao G, Li W, Wei W, Chen W, Ma Z, Gao Z, Shuaibu NS, Luo J, Yu B, Feng H, Pan Y, Wang X. Catalyst-Free Oxidation Reactions in a Microwave Plasma Torch-Based Ion/Molecular Reactor: An Approach for Predicting the Atmospheric Oxidation of Pollutants. Anal Chem 2022; 95:2004-2010. [PMID: 36562720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The atmospheric oxidation of chemicals has produced many new unpredicted pollutants. A microwave plasma torch-based ion/molecular reactor (MPTIR) interfacing an online mass spectrometer has been developed for creating and monitoring rapid oxidation reactions. Oxygen in the air is activated by the plasma into highly reactive oxygen radicals, thereby achieving oxidation of thioethers, alcohols, and various environmental pollutants on a millisecond scale without the addition of external oxidants or catalysts (6 orders of magnitude faster than bulk). The direct and real-time oxidation products of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and p-phenylenediamines from the MPTIR match those of the long-term multistep environmental oxidative process. Meanwhile, two unreported environmental compounds were identified with an MPTIR and measured in the actual water samples, which demonstrates the considerable significance of the proposed device for both predicting the environmental pollutants (non-target screening) and studying the mechanism of atmospheric oxidative processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjian Chu
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Gaosheng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, Institute of Cyber-Systems and Control, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Wangyu Li
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Zihan Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Zhan Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Nazifi Sani Shuaibu
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Jikui Luo
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Bingwen Yu
- Research Center for Analytical Instruments and Intelligent Systems, Huzhou Institute of Zhejiang University, Huzhou313002, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Hongru Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Yuanjiang Pan
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Xiaozhi Wang
- Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou310027, Zhejiang, P. R. China
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40
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Gao Y, He Q, Guo C, Chen W, Pan Y. Carbon Dioxide Microbubble Bursting Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2022; 94:17360-17364. [PMID: 36473082 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aerosols generated by bubble bursting have been proved to promote the extraction of analytes and have ultrahigh electric fields at their water-air interfaces. This study presented a simple and efficient ionization method, carbon dioxide microbubble bursting ionization (CDMBI), without the presence of an exogenous electric field (namely, zero voltage), by simulating the interfacial chemistries of sea spray aerosols. In CDMBI, microbubbles are generated in situ by continuous input of carbon dioxide into an aqueous solution containing low-concentration analytes. The microbubbles extract low- and high-polarity analytes as they pass through the aqueous solution. Upon reaching the water-air interface, these microbubbles burst to produce charged aerosol microdroplets with an average diameter of 260 μm (8.1-10.4 nL in volume), which are immediately transferred to a mass spectrometer for the detection and identification of extracted analytes. The above analytical process occurs every 4.2 s with a stable total ion chromatogram (relative standard deviation: 9.4%) recorded. CDMBI mass spectrometry (CDMBI-MS) can detect surface-active organic compounds in aerosol microdroplets, such as perfluorooctanoic acid, free fatty acids epoxidized by bubble bursting, sterols, and lecithins in soybean and egg, with the limit of detection reaching the level of fg/mL. In addition, coupling CDMBI-MS with an exogenous voltage yields relatively weak gains in ionization efficiency and sensitivity of analysis. The results suggested that CDMBI can simultaneously accomplish both bubbling extraction and microbubble bursting ionization. The mechanism of CDMBI involves bubbling extraction, proton transfer, inlet ionization, and electrospray-like ionization. Overall, CDMBI-MS can work in both positive and negative ion modes without necessarily needing an exogenous high electric field for ionization and quickly detect trace surface-active analytes in aqueous solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanji Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310027, P. R. China.,College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, Sichuan610068, P. R. China
| | - Quan He
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310027, P. R. China
| | - Cheng Guo
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310009, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310027, P. R. China
| | - Yuanjiang Pan
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang310027, P. R. China
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41
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Ghosh J, Mendoza J, Cooks RG. Accelerated and Concerted Aza-Michael Addition and SuFEx Reaction in Microdroplets in Unitary and High-Throughput Formats. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202214090. [PMID: 36253886 PMCID: PMC10099520 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202214090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The sulfur fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction is significant in drug discovery, materials science, and chemical biology. Conventionally, it involves installation of SO2 F followed by fluoride exchange by a catalyst. We report catalyst-free Aza-Michael addition to install SO2 F and then SuFEx reaction with amines, both occurring in concert, in microdroplets under ambient conditions. The microdroplet reaction is accelerated by a factor of ∼104 relative to the corresponding bulk reaction. We suggest that the superacidic microdroplet surface assists SuFEx reaction by protonating fluorine to create a good leaving group. The reaction scope was established by performing individual reactions in microdroplets of 18 amines in four solvents and confirmed using high-throughput desorption electrospray ionization experiments. The study demonstrates the value of microdroplet-assisted accelerated reactions in combination with high-throughput experimentation for characterization of reaction scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotirmoy Ghosh
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Joshua Mendoza
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - R Graham Cooks
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
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42
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Gong C, Yuan X, Xing D, Zhang D, Martins-Costa MTC, Anglada JM, Ruiz-López MF, Francisco JS, Zhang X. Fast Sulfate Formation Initiated by the Spin-Forbidden Excitation of SO 2 at the Air–Water Interface. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22302-22308. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chu Gong
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Dong Xing
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Marilia T. C. Martins-Costa
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques, UMR CNRS 7019, University of Lorraine, CNRS, BP 70239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Josep M. Anglada
- Departament de Química Biològica (IQAC), CSIC, c/Jordi Girona 18, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel F. Ruiz-López
- Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie Théoriques, UMR CNRS 7019, University of Lorraine, CNRS, BP 70239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France
| | - Joseph S. Francisco
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science and Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6316, United States
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China
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43
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Qiu L, Cooks RG. Simultaneous and Spontaneous Oxidation and Reduction in Microdroplets by the Water Radical Cation/Anion Pair. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202210765. [PMID: 35994573 PMCID: PMC9825976 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202210765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Microdroplets show unique chemistry, especially in their intrinsic redox properties, and to this we here add a case of simultaneous and spontaneous oxidation and reduction. We report the concurrent conversions of several phosphonates to phosphonic acids by reduction (R-P → H-P) and to pentavalent phosphoric acids by oxidation. The experimental results suggest that the active reagent is the water radical cation/anion pair. The water radical cation is observed directly as the ionized water dimer while the water radical anion is only seen indirectly though the spontaneous reduction of carbon dioxide to formate. The coexistence of oxidative and reductive species in turn supports the proposal of a double-layer structure at the microdroplet surface, where the water radical cation and radical anion are separated and accumulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqi Qiu
- Department of ChemistryPurdue University560 Oval. Dr.West LafayetteIN 47907USA
| | - R. Graham Cooks
- Department of ChemistryPurdue University560 Oval. Dr.West LafayetteIN 47907USA
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44
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Chamberlayne CF, Zare RN. Simple Estimate of the Potential Drop across an Amphiprotic Liquid-Liquid Interface. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8112-8118. [PMID: 36194396 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Two immiscible liquids in contact with each other can have different internal electrostatic potentials. An associated electric double layer (EDL) therefore exists within each liquid. For amphiprotic liquids, the exchange of protons between the two liquids gives rise to two EDLs, a positively charged EDL in one of the liquids and negatively charged EDL in the other. Using the pKa and pKb of one liquid dissolved in the other and the pH equivalent within each amphiprotic liquid, we can estimate the potential drop, Δφ, between the interior of the two liquids, also known as the Galvani potential or liquid-liquid junction potential. This estimation is independent of surface charge and ionic strength. By using the ionic strength to find the thickness of the EDL, we also estimate the average electric field strength across the interface. For the special case of water (H2O) in contact with an immiscible alcohol (ROH), the potential drop across the interface from the water to the alcohol is Δφ = 2.303VT (pKb + pH - pKw - pH2OR), where VT is the thermal voltage at a given temperature T.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California94305, United States
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45
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Li K, Wang L, Liu J, Gong K, Wang W, Ge Q, Liu Y, Zhang L. A protocol to study microdroplet photoreaction at an individual droplet level using in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101704. [PMID: 36129823 PMCID: PMC9494287 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Photochemical synthesis and photocatalysis in droplet microreactors represent promising approaches to relieve the global energy and environmental crises. Here, we describe a protocol for studying microdroplet photoreaction at an individual droplet level based on in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy. We provide details of superhydrophobic substrate preparation, microdroplets generation, photoreactions performing, and data analyses. In addition, we show the operational details of preliminary scale-up tests of microdroplet photoreaction for practical application. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Li et al. (2022).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejian Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.
| | - Longqian Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Kedong Gong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiuyue Ge
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Liwu Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China.
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46
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Song X, Meng Y, Zare RN. Spraying Water Microdroplets Containing 1,2,3-Triazole Converts Carbon Dioxide into Formic Acid. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:16744-16748. [PMID: 36075012 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We report the use of 1,2,3-triazole (Tz)-containing water microdroplets for gas-phase carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction at room temperature. Using a coaxial sonic spraying setup, the CO2 can be efficiently captured by Tz and converted to formic acid (HCOOH; FA) at the gas-liquid interface (GLI). A mass spectrometer operated in negative ion mode monitors the capture of CO2 to form the bicarbonate anion (HCO3-) and conversion to form the formate anion (HCOO-). Varied FA species were successfully identified by MS/MS experiments including the formate monomer ([FA - H]-, m/z 45), the dimer ([2FA - H]-, m/z 91; [2FA + Na - 2H]-, m/z 113), the trimer ([3FA - H]-, m/z 137), and some other adducts (such as [FA - H + H2CO3]-, m/z 107; [2FA + Na - 2H + Tz]-, m/z 182). The reaction conditions were systematically optimized to make the maximum conversion yield reach over 80% with an FA concentration of approximately 71 ± 3.1 μM. The mechanism for the reaction is speculated to be that Tz donates the proton and the hydroxide (OH-) at the GLI, resulting in a stepwise yield of electrons to reduce gas-phase CO2 to FA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Song
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 United States
| | - Yifan Meng
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 United States
| | - Richard N Zare
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305 United States
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47
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Gao XF, Cheng JC, Ye CL, Xiao S, Qiu ZM, Zhang X. Water promoted 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl detachment from amino acids in charged microdroplets. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:7001-7005. [PMID: 36000329 DOI: 10.1039/d2ob01438f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Aqueous microdroplets exhibit unique properties and can trigger reactions that do not occur in bulk solution. Herein, we have demonstrated that water, in microdroplets, can reduce the energy barrier for the lone H transfer of 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl and promote its detachment from the amino group. This strategy works on various amino acids and opens opportunities of aqueous microdroplets in triggering organic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Fei Gao
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China.
| | - Jin-Cai Cheng
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China.
| | - Chun-Lian Ye
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China.
| | - Shan Xiao
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China.
| | - Zai-Ming Qiu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China.
| | - Xinglei Zhang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory for Mass Spectrometry and Instrumentation, East China University of Technology, Nanchang 330013, China.
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48
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Qiu L, Cooks RG. Simultaneous and Spontaneous Oxidation and Reduction in Microdroplets by the Water Radical Cation/Anion Pair. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202210765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lingqi Qiu
- Purdue University Chemistry UNITED STATES
| | - R Graham Cooks
- Purdue University Chemistry 560 Oval Drive 47907 West Lafayette UNITED STATES
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49
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Xing D, Meng Y, Yuan X, Jin S, Song X, Zare RN, Zhang X. Capture of Hydroxyl Radicals by Hydronium Cations in Water Microdroplets. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202207587. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202207587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Xing
- College of Chemistry Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST) Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations Tianjin 300192 China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Yifan Meng
- Department of Chemistry Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST) Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations Tianjin 300192 China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Shuihui Jin
- College of Chemistry Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST) Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations Tianjin 300192 China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Beijing 100190 China
| | - Xiaowei Song
- Department of Chemistry Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Richard N. Zare
- Department of Chemistry Stanford University Stanford CA 94305 USA
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST) Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China
- Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations Tianjin 300192 China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Beijing 100190 China
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50
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Zhang D, Yuan X, Gong C, Zhang X. High Electric Field on Water Microdroplets Catalyzes Spontaneous and Ultrafast Oxidative C-H/N-H Cross-Coupling. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:16184-16190. [PMID: 35960958 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative C-H/N-H cross-coupling has emerged as an atom-economical method for the construction of C-N bonds. Conventional oxidative C-H/N-H coupling requires at least one of the following: high temperatures, strong oxidizers, transition metal catalysts, organic solvents, light, and electrochemical cells. In this study, by merely spraying the water solutions of the substrates into microdroplets at room temperature, we show a series of oxidative C-H/N-H coupling products that are strikingly produced in a spontaneous and ultrafast manner. The reactions are accelerated by six orders of magnitude compared to the same reactions in the bulk. It has been previously proposed by fluorescence microscopy and theory that the spontaneously generated electric field at the microdroplets peripheries can be in the ∼109 V/m range. Based on mass spectrometric analysis of key radical intermediates, we opine that the ultrahigh electric field catalytically oxidizes the substrates by removing an electron, which further promotes C/N coupling. Taken together, we anticipate that microdroplet chemistry will be an avenue rich in green opportunities of constructing C-heteroatom bonds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCAST), Shenzhen Research Institute, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xu Yuan
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCAST), Shenzhen Research Institute, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Chu Gong
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCAST), Shenzhen Research Institute, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xinxing Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (ReCAST), Shenzhen Research Institute, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China.,Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China.,Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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