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Li Q, Liu QY, Zhao YX, He SG. Conversion of Methane at Room Temperature Mediated by the Ta-Ta σ-Bond. JACS AU 2024; 4:1824-1832. [PMID: 38818048 PMCID: PMC11134373 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Metal-metal bonds constitute an important type of reactive centers for chemical transformation; however, the availability of active metal-metal bonds being capable of converting methane under mild conditions, the holy grail in catalysis, remains a serious challenge. Herein, benefiting from the systematic investigation of 36 metal clusters of tantalum by using mass spectrometric experiments complemented with quantum chemical calculations, the dehydrogenation of methane at room temperature was successfully achieved by 18 cluster species featuring σ-bonding electrons localized in single naked Ta-Ta centers. In sharp contrast, the other 18 remaining clusters, either without naked Ta-Ta σ-bond or with σ-bonding electrons delocalized over multiple Ta-Ta centers only exhibit molecular CH4-adsorption reactivity or inertness. Mechanistic studies revealed that changing cluster geometric configurations and tuning the number of simple inorganic ligands (e.g., oxygen) could flexibly manipulate the presence or absence of such a reactive Ta-Ta σ-bond. The discovery of Ta-Ta σ-type bond being able to exhibit outstanding activity toward methane conversion not only overturns the traditional recognition that only the metal-metal π- or δ-bonds of early transition metals could participate in bond activation but also opens up a new access to design of promising metal catalysts with dual-atom as reactive sites for chemical transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- State
Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species,
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS Research/Education
Centre of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Qing-Yu Liu
- State
Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species,
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS Research/Education
Centre of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Yan-Xia Zhao
- State
Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species,
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS Research/Education
Centre of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Sheng-Gui He
- State
Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species,
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS Research/Education
Centre of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
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2
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Li ZY, Liu QY, He SG. Spectroscopic Characterization of Thermal Methane Activation by Lewis-Acid-Base Pair in a Gas-Phase Metal Nitride Anion Ta 2N 3. Chemphyschem 2024; 25:e202400116. [PMID: 38380870 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202400116] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Activation and transformation of methane is one of the "holy grails" in catalysis. Understanding the nature of active sites and mechanistic details via spectroscopic characterization of the reactive sites and key intermediates is of great challenge but crucial for the development of novel strategies for methane transformation. Herein, by employing photoelectron velocity-map imaging (PEVMI) spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum chemistry calculations, the Lewis acid-base pair (LABP) of [Taδ+-Nδ-] unit in Ta2N3 - acting as an active center to accomplish the heterolytic cleavage of C-H bond in CH4 has been confirmed by direct characterization of the reactant ion Ta2N3 - and the CH4-adduct intermediate Ta2N3CH4 -. Two active vibrational modes for the reactant (Ta2N3 -) and four active vibrational modes for the intermediate (Ta2N3CH4 -) were observed from the vibrationally resolved PEVMI spectra, which unequivocally determined the structure of Ta2N3 - and Ta2N3CH4 -. Upon heating, the LABP intermediate (Ta2N3CH4 -) containing the NH and Ta-CH3 unit can undergo the processes of C-N coupling and dehydrogenation to form the product with an adsorbed HCN molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Yu Li
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institution of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 1, 00190, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS, Research/Education Center of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Qing-Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institution of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 1, 00190, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS, Research/Education Center of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Sheng-Gui He
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institution of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 1, 00190, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS, Research/Education Center of Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing, 100049, (P. R. China)
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3
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Gan W, Geng L, Huang B, Hansen K, Luo Z. Dehydrogenation of diborane on small Nb n+ clusters. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:9586-9592. [PMID: 38465400 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp06135c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The reactivity of Nbn+ (1 ≤ n ≤ 21) clusters with B2H6 is studied by using a self-developed multiple-ion laminar flow tube reactor combined with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (MIFT-TQMS). The Nbn+ clusters were generated by a magnetron sputtering source and reacted with the B2H6 gas under fully thermalized conditions in the downstream flow tube where the reaction time was accurately controlled and adjustable. The complete and partial dehydrogenation products NbnB1-4+ and NbnB1-4H1,2,4+ were detected, indicative of the removal of H2 and likely BHx moieties. Interestingly, these NbnB1-4+ and NbnB1-4H1,2,4+ products are limited to 3 ≤ n ≤ 6, suggesting that the small Nbn+ clusters are relatively more reactive than the larger Nbn>6+ clusters under the same conditions. By varying the B2H6 gas concentrations and the reactant doses introduced into the flow tube, and by changing the reaction time, we performed a detailed analysis of the reaction dynamics in combination with the DFT-calculated thermodynamics. It is demonstrated that the lack of cooperative active sites on the Nb1+ cations accounts for the weakened dehydrogenation efficiency. Nb2+ forms partial dehydrogenation products at a faster rate. In contrast, the Nbn>6+ clusters are subject to more flexible vibrational relaxation which disperse the energy gain of B2H6-adsorption and thus are unable to overcome the energy barriers for subsequent hydrogen atom transfer and H2 release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Gan
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Lijun Geng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Benben Huang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Klavs Hansen
- School of Chemical Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhixun Luo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Science, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
- Center for Joint Quantum Studies and Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300072, China
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4
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Zhang FX, Zhang YH, Wang M, Ma JB. Nitrogen adsorption on Nb 2C 6H 4+ cations: the important role of benzyne ( ortho-C 6H 4). Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:3912-3919. [PMID: 38230689 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp05524h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
N2 adsorption is a prerequisite for activation and transformation. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry experiments show that the Nb2C6H4+ cation, resulting from the gas-phase reaction of Nb2+ with C6H6, is more favorable for N2 adsorption than Nb+ and Nb2+ cations. Density functional theory calculations reveal the effect of the ortho-C6H4 ligand on N2 adsorption. In Nb2C6H4+, interactions between the Nb-4d and C-2p orbitals enable the Nb2+ cation to form coordination bonds with the ortho-C6H4 ligand. Although the ortho-C6H4 ligand in Nb2C6H4+ is not directly involved in the reaction, its presence increases the polarity of the cluster and brings the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) closer to the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of N2, thereby increasing the N2 adsorption energy, which effectively facilitates N2 adsorption and activation. This study provides fundamental insights into the mechanisms of N2 adsorption in "transition metal-organic ligand" systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Xiang Zhang
- 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 102488, P. R. China.
| | - Yi-Heng Zhang
- 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 102488, P. R. China.
| | - Ming Wang
- 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 102488, P. R. China.
| | - Jia-Bi Ma
- 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 102488, P. R. China.
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Wang M, Zhang FX, Chen ZY, Ma JB. Activation and Transformation of Methane on Boron-Doped Cobalt Oxide Cluster Cations CoBO 2. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:1537-1542. [PMID: 38181068 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
The cleavage of inert C-H bonds in methane at room temperature and the subsequent conversion into value-added products are quite challenging. Herein, the reactivity of boron-doped cobalt oxide cluster cations CoBO2+ toward methane under thermal collision conditions was studied by mass spectrometry experiments and quantum-chemical calculations. In this reaction, one H atom and the CH3 unit of methane were transformed separately to generate the product metaboric acid (HBO2) and one CoCH3+ ion, respectively. Theoretical calculations strongly suggest that a catalytic cycle can be completed by the recovery of CoBO2+ through the reaction of CoCH3+ with sodium perborate (NaBO3), and this reaction generates sodium methoxide (CH3ONa) as the other value-added product. This study shows that boron-doped cobalt oxide species are highly reactive to facilitate thermal methane transformation and may open a way to develop more effective approaches for methane (CH4) activation and conversion under mild conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Wang
- 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 102488, China
| | - Feng-Xiang Zhang
- 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 102488, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Chen
- 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 102488, China
| | - Jia-Bi Ma
- 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 102488, China
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6
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Yang Y, Zhao Y, He S. Conversion of CH
4
Catalyzed by Gas Phase Ions Containing Metals. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202200062. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202200062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Yang
- Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou 450001 P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China
| | - Yan‐Xia Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS Research/Education Centre of Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China
| | - Sheng‐Gui He
- State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences and CAS Research/Education Centre of Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing 100190 P. R. China
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7
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Cheng-Cai H, Yang W, Qian Y, Deng-Feng L, Jun L. MXene monolayer Mn 2ZnN 2: a promising robust intrinsic half-metallic nanosheet. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2021; 34:105301. [PMID: 34816799 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ac3cb3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional half-metallic ferromagnets are promising in spintronics. In recent years, the half-metallicity and the magnetic properties of the MXene materials have been the research hotspots of new materials due to their unique crystal characteristics and wide applications. In this paper, the MXene nanosheet Mn2ZnN2was predicted as a kind of robust intrinsic half-metallic nanosheet whose magnetic moment per unit is the integer 6.00μBbased on the first principles calculations. The half-metallic character and the magnetic moment of this nanosheet mainly result from the spin-polarized Mn-ions induced by the crystal field. If the absolute biaxial compression strain is lower than 3.0%, the half-metallicity remains well and the magnetic moment per unit is always 6.00μB, indicating that its half-metallicity and magnetic properties are stable within a certain pressure range. More importantly, the magnetic moment per unit is elevated from 6.00μBto 9.00μBand the half-metallic energy gap increases evidently after an electron is removed from this nanosheet, suggesting that the half-metallicity and magnetic properties of this nanosheet may be improved via tuning its charge state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Cheng-Cai
- College of Science, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 400065, People's Republic of China
| | - Wang Yang
- College of Science, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 400065, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Qian
- College of Science, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 400065, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Deng-Feng
- College of Science, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 400065, People's Republic of China
| | - Liu Jun
- College of Science, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 400065, People's Republic of China
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8
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Wu L, Ge X, Tang SY, Zhou S. Methane Activation by the Heteronuclear Cluster [TiAlO 4] +: Direct Hydrogen Abstraction by a Nonradical Oxygen. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:11730-11735. [PMID: 34851125 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c03464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The gas-phase reactions of [TiAlO4]+ with methane have been explored by using FT-ICR mass spectrometry complemented by quantum chemical calculations. Interestingly, the [TiAlO4]+ ions can activate two methane molecules continuously. Moreover, in contrast to the previous reports on gas-phase methane activation by metal oxide clusters, in which hydrogen-atom transfer and/or proton-coupled electron transfer prevail, a hydride transfer process dominates the [TiAlO4]+/CH4 system. The associated electronic origins have been discussed, and such a terminal metal-oxo active center as addressed in the [TiAlO4]+ cluster has proven to be promising in the construction of efficient catalysts concerning methane conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wu
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Institute of Zhejiang University - Quzhou, 78 Jiuhua Boulevard North, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xin Ge
- School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Lihu Avenue 1800, 214122 Wuxi, P. R. China
| | - Shi-Ya Tang
- SINOPEC Research Institute of Safety Engineering, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Safety and Control for Chemicals, Qingdao 266000, P. R. China
| | - Shaodong Zhou
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Institute of Zhejiang University - Quzhou, 78 Jiuhua Boulevard North, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
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9
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Yan L, Li S, Zhou S. On the origin of reactivity variation upon sequential ligation: the [Re(Cl) x] +/CH 4 ( x = 1-3) couples. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:24319-24327. [PMID: 34673861 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp03468e] [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
The potential of [ReClx]+ (x = 1-3) in activating methane has been explored by using a combination of gas-phase experiments and high-level quantum calculations. When the number of Cl ligands increases, the reactivity towards methane activation varies accordingly. While [ReClx]+ (x = 1-2) are able to dehydrogenate methane by a three-state reactivity scenario, [ReCl3]+ shows inertness towards methane at ambient conditions. Furthermore, the product ion [ClRe(H)CH]+ of the [ReCl]+/CH4 couple could continue to activate methane and liberate molecular dihydrogen but another product ion [Cl2ReCH2]+ is unreactive with methane. Obviously, the nature and the number of ligands make a difference to the reactivity towards methane activation. The associated reaction mechanism and the electron origins for the rather different reactivities are discussed in detail. Finally and more importantly, instructive information concerning the rational design of Re-catalysts for methane conversion is obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Yan
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University - Quzhou, 78 Jiuhua Boulevard North, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shihan Li
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University - Quzhou, 78 Jiuhua Boulevard North, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shaodong Zhou
- College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Engineering Manufacture Technology, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou, P. R. China. .,Institute of Zhejiang University - Quzhou, 78 Jiuhua Boulevard North, 324000 Quzhou, P. R. China
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