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2020 Volume 83 Issue 4
2020, 83(4): 289-295
Abstract:
Americium mainly exists as trivalent Am(Ⅲ) in aqueous solutions. Due to the similarity in ionic radius and chemical properties of Am(Ⅲ) and trivalent lanthanides (Ln(Ⅲ)), the separation of Am(Ⅲ) from Ln(Ⅲ) is regarded as one of the most challenging tasks in nuclear fuel cycles. Am(Ⅲ) can be oxidized to higher oxidation states such as AmO2+ and AmO22+ through different oxidation methods and then it could be separated from Ln(Ⅲ) by using well-developed solvent extraction or precipitation methods, providing a new route for the separation of Am from Ln. In this paper, the progress on the oxidation separation of Am(Ⅲ) in nuclear fuel cycles have been reviewed, the oxidation principles and relevant mechanisms were described, the advantages and disadvantages of various methods were compared, and the future trends for the oxidation separation of Am(Ⅲ) were also discussed. It hopes to provide a guidance for developing novel techniques for the separation of actinides and lanthanides.
Americium mainly exists as trivalent Am(Ⅲ) in aqueous solutions. Due to the similarity in ionic radius and chemical properties of Am(Ⅲ) and trivalent lanthanides (Ln(Ⅲ)), the separation of Am(Ⅲ) from Ln(Ⅲ) is regarded as one of the most challenging tasks in nuclear fuel cycles. Am(Ⅲ) can be oxidized to higher oxidation states such as AmO2+ and AmO22+ through different oxidation methods and then it could be separated from Ln(Ⅲ) by using well-developed solvent extraction or precipitation methods, providing a new route for the separation of Am from Ln. In this paper, the progress on the oxidation separation of Am(Ⅲ) in nuclear fuel cycles have been reviewed, the oxidation principles and relevant mechanisms were described, the advantages and disadvantages of various methods were compared, and the future trends for the oxidation separation of Am(Ⅲ) were also discussed. It hopes to provide a guidance for developing novel techniques for the separation of actinides and lanthanides.
2020, 83(4): 296-307
Abstract:
Carbon monoxide is an important feedstock in the development of a sustainable chemical economy. We hope to produce high value-added chemicals catalytically from carbon monoxide to reduce the ties to fossil fuels, such as petroleum. Studies on the reactions of homogeneous complexes and carbon monoxide could help us understand the principle of the transformation and utilization of carbon monoxide, and develop new catalysts to exploit carbon monoxide resource. In this review, the reactions of various kinds of complexes and carbon monoxide were discussed based on the reactive site of complexes to make us learn the fundamental principle of reactivities of carbon monoxide at the molecular level. The hard issues were also summarized in the hope of more researchers might be engaging in this fields to achieve the production of more chemicals using carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is an important feedstock in the development of a sustainable chemical economy. We hope to produce high value-added chemicals catalytically from carbon monoxide to reduce the ties to fossil fuels, such as petroleum. Studies on the reactions of homogeneous complexes and carbon monoxide could help us understand the principle of the transformation and utilization of carbon monoxide, and develop new catalysts to exploit carbon monoxide resource. In this review, the reactions of various kinds of complexes and carbon monoxide were discussed based on the reactive site of complexes to make us learn the fundamental principle of reactivities of carbon monoxide at the molecular level. The hard issues were also summarized in the hope of more researchers might be engaging in this fields to achieve the production of more chemicals using carbon monoxide.
2020, 83(4): 308-317
Abstract:
Since the successful development of cisplatin as a clinical anticancer drug in 1978, the development of metal complexes as small molecule anticancer drugs has become a research hotspot. Because of the formation of stable covalent bonds between N-heterocyclic carbene and various transition metal centers, metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have the potential to be developed into drugs. Recently, metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have been found to have good anticancer activities, which have stimulated the research enthusiasm of the majority of inorganic medicinal chemistry researchers. Based on our previous study of metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as antitumor agents, in this review, the antitumor activities and mechanisms of silver, gold, rhodium and platinum N-heterocyclic carbene complexes are summarized. We hope this review could provide a reference for the design and synthesis of metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as antitumor agents.
Since the successful development of cisplatin as a clinical anticancer drug in 1978, the development of metal complexes as small molecule anticancer drugs has become a research hotspot. Because of the formation of stable covalent bonds between N-heterocyclic carbene and various transition metal centers, metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have the potential to be developed into drugs. Recently, metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes have been found to have good anticancer activities, which have stimulated the research enthusiasm of the majority of inorganic medicinal chemistry researchers. Based on our previous study of metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as antitumor agents, in this review, the antitumor activities and mechanisms of silver, gold, rhodium and platinum N-heterocyclic carbene complexes are summarized. We hope this review could provide a reference for the design and synthesis of metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as antitumor agents.
2020, 83(4): 318-324
Abstract:
Terpenes, isolated from plants and animals, have been widely found in nature. They can be divided into cyclic-, linear-, and polycyclic terpenes according to the number of isoprene units and skeleton rings in their molecular structures. Among them, natural triterpenes are one of the ideal building blocks in the fabrication of functional molecules and show great potentials in the areas of supramolecular chemistry, smart materials, interface chemistry, and drug delivery, due to their advantages in structure and performance like rigid chiral backbone, multiple reactive sites, unique self-assembly ability, good biocompatibility and bioactivity. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and glycyrrhizic acid (GL), two of the classic pentacyclic triterpenes, have attracted considerable attention in the synthesis of organic functional molecules in the past decade. In this paper, we focus on the recent progress of glycyrrhetinic acid/glycyrrhizic acid-derived small molecules and polymers, including design, synthesis, and applications in hydrogels, organogels, hybrid gels, chiral materials, thermo-and self-healable materials, agricultural Pickering-emulsions and polypseudorotaxanes.
Terpenes, isolated from plants and animals, have been widely found in nature. They can be divided into cyclic-, linear-, and polycyclic terpenes according to the number of isoprene units and skeleton rings in their molecular structures. Among them, natural triterpenes are one of the ideal building blocks in the fabrication of functional molecules and show great potentials in the areas of supramolecular chemistry, smart materials, interface chemistry, and drug delivery, due to their advantages in structure and performance like rigid chiral backbone, multiple reactive sites, unique self-assembly ability, good biocompatibility and bioactivity. Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and glycyrrhizic acid (GL), two of the classic pentacyclic triterpenes, have attracted considerable attention in the synthesis of organic functional molecules in the past decade. In this paper, we focus on the recent progress of glycyrrhetinic acid/glycyrrhizic acid-derived small molecules and polymers, including design, synthesis, and applications in hydrogels, organogels, hybrid gels, chiral materials, thermo-and self-healable materials, agricultural Pickering-emulsions and polypseudorotaxanes.
2020, 83(4): 325-333
Abstract:
Monitoring of human health and chronic diseases has become a world-leading subject in the scientific fields including materials science, information technology, electronic technology, and analytical chemistry. Wearable devices for real-time monitoring of human activity and heart rate, blood pressure, EEG, and electrocardiograms by continuously acquiring physical signals such as temperature, pressure, and stress have been commercialized. Wearable chemical sensors still face many problems, such as the flexibility, sensitivity, accuracy of the sensor, and the fit to human skin. Aiming at these problems, this paper takes printing technology as the starting point, summarizes the application of various flexible substrates in the field of electrochemical sensors/biosensors, and proposes the development direction of wearable sensors.
Monitoring of human health and chronic diseases has become a world-leading subject in the scientific fields including materials science, information technology, electronic technology, and analytical chemistry. Wearable devices for real-time monitoring of human activity and heart rate, blood pressure, EEG, and electrocardiograms by continuously acquiring physical signals such as temperature, pressure, and stress have been commercialized. Wearable chemical sensors still face many problems, such as the flexibility, sensitivity, accuracy of the sensor, and the fit to human skin. Aiming at these problems, this paper takes printing technology as the starting point, summarizes the application of various flexible substrates in the field of electrochemical sensors/biosensors, and proposes the development direction of wearable sensors.
2020, 83(4): 334-342
Abstract:
Studies on noncovalent interactions of noble gas compounds have emerged just recently, which is an important development and extension of noncovalent interaction realm. Some significant results have been achieved so far in this field, such as the appearance of several new concepts:σ-hole, π-hole and aerogen-π interaction types, which were reviewed extensively herein. Studies on these newly proposed noncovalent interactions not only help researchers to get deeper insights into the noncovalent properties of noble gas compounds, such as crystallization, hygroscopicity, etc., but also provide effective ways of regulating these oxidation and denotation abilities, etc.
Studies on noncovalent interactions of noble gas compounds have emerged just recently, which is an important development and extension of noncovalent interaction realm. Some significant results have been achieved so far in this field, such as the appearance of several new concepts:σ-hole, π-hole and aerogen-π interaction types, which were reviewed extensively herein. Studies on these newly proposed noncovalent interactions not only help researchers to get deeper insights into the noncovalent properties of noble gas compounds, such as crystallization, hygroscopicity, etc., but also provide effective ways of regulating these oxidation and denotation abilities, etc.
2020, 83(4): 343-348
Abstract:
Poly(α-amino acid)s (PαAAs), or synthetic polypeptides, are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers with unique secondary structures (e.g. α-helix, β-sheet, and random coil) resembling natural proteins. The secondary structures and their stimuli-responsive transitions endow PαAAs a wide range of applications for both material sciences and biomedicine. In this review, we give a brief summary of our recent progresses in the secondary structure effect of PαAAs with special focuses placed on antifouling surfaces, regulation of cellular uptake, and protein modification, the future development direction of the secondary structure of PαAAs was briefly predicted.
Poly(α-amino acid)s (PαAAs), or synthetic polypeptides, are biodegradable and biocompatible polymers with unique secondary structures (e.g. α-helix, β-sheet, and random coil) resembling natural proteins. The secondary structures and their stimuli-responsive transitions endow PαAAs a wide range of applications for both material sciences and biomedicine. In this review, we give a brief summary of our recent progresses in the secondary structure effect of PαAAs with special focuses placed on antifouling surfaces, regulation of cellular uptake, and protein modification, the future development direction of the secondary structure of PαAAs was briefly predicted.
2020, 83(4): 349-355
Abstract:
With human's growing need for reusable energy, advanced characterization methods become more and more essential in the fields of battery materials research. With the X-ray imaging techniques, we are able to acquire the structure, morphology and strain information of energy materials from 2D and 3D angles at the time-resolution level. In addition, in-situ experiments can be designed with the high-penetration X-rays and the high-brilliance synchrotron sources to track the qualitative and quantitative changes of the samples during charging/discharging. In this paper, the synchrotron-based X-ray imaging technologies and the associated applications are reviewed. The application of several major X-ray imaging technologies, including X-ray projection imaging, transmission X-ray microscopy imaging, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy imaging, X-ray fluorescence microscopy imaging, and coherent diffraction imaging, in the field of battery materials research are introduced, and the future application and development direction of X-ray imaging are prospected.
With human's growing need for reusable energy, advanced characterization methods become more and more essential in the fields of battery materials research. With the X-ray imaging techniques, we are able to acquire the structure, morphology and strain information of energy materials from 2D and 3D angles at the time-resolution level. In addition, in-situ experiments can be designed with the high-penetration X-rays and the high-brilliance synchrotron sources to track the qualitative and quantitative changes of the samples during charging/discharging. In this paper, the synchrotron-based X-ray imaging technologies and the associated applications are reviewed. The application of several major X-ray imaging technologies, including X-ray projection imaging, transmission X-ray microscopy imaging, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy imaging, X-ray fluorescence microscopy imaging, and coherent diffraction imaging, in the field of battery materials research are introduced, and the future application and development direction of X-ray imaging are prospected.
2020, 83(4): 356-359
Abstract:
In this paper, our theoretical studies on the structures of fullerenols (including endohedral metallofullerenols) are reviewed. The traditional Clar model was innovated to predict chemical stabilities for sp2-carbon molecules containing heteroatoms, functional groups, and metals. Based on these results, the rule of chemical stability for fullerenols was developed. Using this stability rule, the distributions of functional groups of chemically stable fullerenols were predicted. By the combination of calculations and experiments, the species of functional groups of fullerenols were further characterized, and the precision structural models for fullerenols were established. A computer program was further written to automatically screen fullerenol structures with high chemical stabilities. The results will also help predict structures for the multi-addition derivatives of other sp2 carbon materials.
In this paper, our theoretical studies on the structures of fullerenols (including endohedral metallofullerenols) are reviewed. The traditional Clar model was innovated to predict chemical stabilities for sp2-carbon molecules containing heteroatoms, functional groups, and metals. Based on these results, the rule of chemical stability for fullerenols was developed. Using this stability rule, the distributions of functional groups of chemically stable fullerenols were predicted. By the combination of calculations and experiments, the species of functional groups of fullerenols were further characterized, and the precision structural models for fullerenols were established. A computer program was further written to automatically screen fullerenol structures with high chemical stabilities. The results will also help predict structures for the multi-addition derivatives of other sp2 carbon materials.
2020, 83(4): 360-368
Abstract:
In this study, carbon dots were synthesized by branched polyethyleneimine and ethanol, and the cationic carbon dots were further grafted with fluoroalkane chains to obtain fluorinated carbon dots. They exhibited high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and relative low cytotoxicity on mammalian cells. The structure-activity relationship of fluorinated carbon dots showed that fluorination is critical for the high antibacterial activity of carbon dots, and the replacement of fluoroalkane chains with alkane containing the same number of carbon atom significantly reduces the antibacterial activity. This study can provide new insights into the rational design of nanomaterials for antibacterial applications.
In this study, carbon dots were synthesized by branched polyethyleneimine and ethanol, and the cationic carbon dots were further grafted with fluoroalkane chains to obtain fluorinated carbon dots. They exhibited high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and relative low cytotoxicity on mammalian cells. The structure-activity relationship of fluorinated carbon dots showed that fluorination is critical for the high antibacterial activity of carbon dots, and the replacement of fluoroalkane chains with alkane containing the same number of carbon atom significantly reduces the antibacterial activity. This study can provide new insights into the rational design of nanomaterials for antibacterial applications.
2020, 83(4): 369-376
Abstract:
An initial slow phase which is nominated as induction period usually occurs in many chemical reactions such as some radical reactions, exothermic reactions and catalytic reactions. In contrast, a special phase during which the reaction rate is zero and after which the reaction starts spontaneously, has rarely been observed in a few catalytic reactions. The formation of these two kinds of periods is related to the mechanism of the reaction especially to the catalyst activation or deactivation. However, the two periods have been confused and their obvious distinctions have been neglected in the past. In this perspective, typical kinetic features of induction period and dormant period are demonstrated with selected catalytic reactions, and the differences between them are discussed. In-depth understanding of the pre-catalytic cycle and detailed mechanism of organic reactions are expected if more attentions would be paid to these hidden processes in front of the steady state catalytic cycle.
An initial slow phase which is nominated as induction period usually occurs in many chemical reactions such as some radical reactions, exothermic reactions and catalytic reactions. In contrast, a special phase during which the reaction rate is zero and after which the reaction starts spontaneously, has rarely been observed in a few catalytic reactions. The formation of these two kinds of periods is related to the mechanism of the reaction especially to the catalyst activation or deactivation. However, the two periods have been confused and their obvious distinctions have been neglected in the past. In this perspective, typical kinetic features of induction period and dormant period are demonstrated with selected catalytic reactions, and the differences between them are discussed. In-depth understanding of the pre-catalytic cycle and detailed mechanism of organic reactions are expected if more attentions would be paid to these hidden processes in front of the steady state catalytic cycle.
2020, 83(4): 377-383
Abstract:
2019 is the international year of the periodic table of chemical elements in honor of Mendeleyev's discovery 150 years ago. The authors systematically reviewed the history of atomic weight measurement, including the concept of atomic weight, the development of atomic weight measurement, China's contribution to the atomic weight measurement, and the appearance of new expression of atomic weight.
2019 is the international year of the periodic table of chemical elements in honor of Mendeleyev's discovery 150 years ago. The authors systematically reviewed the history of atomic weight measurement, including the concept of atomic weight, the development of atomic weight measurement, China's contribution to the atomic weight measurement, and the appearance of new expression of atomic weight.
