Heavy water (D2O) has found extensive application as a moderator in nuclear reactors. Additionally, it serves substitute for regular (H2O) biological or spectroscopic experiments, providing deuterium source and addressing challenges related to solvent opacity contrast. This is particularly relevant experiments involving neutron scattering, infrared absorption, magnetic resonance. However, replacing H2O with D2O not always straightforward harmless substitution can instead have unintended...

Here, we describe the surprising reactivity between surface-attached (a) 0.9, 1.6, and 4.1 nm diameter weakly stabilized Au nanoparticles (NPs) aqueous 1.0 × 10–4 M Ag+ solution, (b) 1.6 NPs 10–5 PtCl42–, which are considered to be antigalvanic replacement (AGR) reactions because they not thermodynamically favorable for bulk-sized under these conditions. Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (STEM-EDS) mapping...

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a well-known metal chelator and an attractive ligand for covalently modifying adsorbents bioremediation. Cellulose, naturally occurring biopolymer, has immense potential as inexpensive, earth abundant, biocompatible scaffold EDTA-facilitated environmental remediation; however, pretreatment of the material required to achieve sufficient degrees chemical modification. In this study, Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) used prepare commercial cotton Aida cloth...

Abstract Understanding and improving charge transfer pathways between extracted Photosystem I (PSI) protein complexes electrodes is necessary for the development of low‐cost PSI‐based devices energy conversion. We incorporated PSI multilayers within porous indium tin oxide (ITO) observed a greater mediated photocurrent in comparison to on planar ITO. First, electron (MET) pathway presence 2,6‐dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) ascorbate (AscH) was studied via photochronoamperometry ITO...

Herein, we disclose the first utilization of mesoporous natural fiber welded (NFW) cellulose to sequester titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) from aqueous colloids, resulting in "excellent" UV-protective textiles. Because NFW possesses a high surface area (≥200 m2 g–1) and nanometer sized pores (ca. 2–20 nm), it can be used as scaffold for wide variety materials on same scale. In this study, encapsulates commercially available, 5 nm TiO2NPs colloidal suspension, promoting rapid 60 s)...

Using a novel hydrothermal synthesis, nitrogen-doped carbon dots were synthesized and shown to exhibit tunable optical electrochemical properties.

Local dynamic heterogeneity in ILs is marked by separation ion dynamics at nearest neighbor and next-nearest distances. The temperature chemical structure dependent drives polarization across mesoscale aggregates.

One challenge in capitalizing on the affordability, sustainability, and accessibility of biohybrid solar energy conversion, including devices based Photosystem I (PSI), is identification metal‐free electrode materials to replace inorganic substrates commonly found cell development. Herein, commercially available Toray carbon paper (CP) investigated as a high surface area, for development photoactive bioelectrodes consisting PSI poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate...

Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are presented within mesoporous natural fiber welded (NFW) cellulose and demonstrated as robust catalysts to reduce 4‐nitrophenol using sodium borohydride. Growing AgNPs this way enables their retention a nonderivatized, mesoporous, all‐cellulose NFW composite. At an AgNP loading of 1.0 wt%, no leaching is observed during rinsing with polar nonpolar solvents or any 12 catalyst cycles the cloth easily retrievable reusable. Comparatively, wt% on non‐NFW...

Seemingly nonporous biopolymer composites prepared by natural fiber welding (NFW) possess latent pores that can be exfoliated conscientious solvation. We present a seminal demonstration of this concept for cellulose and explore the impact on manufacture commercialization NFW products.

Mesoporous cellulose can be generated by treating the biopolymer material with ionic liquid and then rinsing it a nonpolar solvent gradient. However, upon re-exposure to plasticizing polar solvents, mesoporous matrix readily collapses. In this study, cotton was covalently modified adipoyl dichloride improve resiliency of structure re-exposure. The adipoyl-functionalized retained surface areas ca. 150 m2 g–1 after rapid (<1 min) series solvents (water–ethanol–acetone), feat that could not...

Natural Fiber Welding (NFW) is a process that can be used for the non-derivative dissolution, restructuring, and recycling of biopolymer fibers. NFW leverages unique solvating power ionic liquids to mobilize reconfigure outermost polymer strands adjacent fibers, “welding” them into new singular matrix while maintaining majority their native structure. Recently, our group developed modification fiber welding drastically impacts surface area welded matrix. Ionic liquid removal using polar...

Natural fiber welding (NFW) is a process by which ionic liquids (ILs) are used to partially solvate and restructure biopolymer fibers. During NFW, the fibers of adjacent cloth threads intermingled, resulting in highly nanoporous matrix surrounding non-welded structurally robust native thread core. Recent developments this technique have led creation all-biopolymer xerogel composites with pores an ideal size regime (&lt;20 nm) for growing entrapping nanoscale materials, such as metal...

Boronium ionic liquids (BILs) are an emergent class of zwitterionic materials that have great potential as electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage. Their high stability, afforded by charge delocalization across the cation, and thermal stability make them attractive supercapacitors. In this work, a series novel polymerizable BIL (polyBIL) cations were paired with bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide, [TFSI] - , creating stable ILs low melting points. These BILs applied to symmetric double...

Natural fiber welding (NFW) has been widely used for the controlled partial dissolution of biopolymer textiles in ionic liquids (ILs) to regenerate surface morphologies with enhanced physical properties. Our group recently demonstrated that solvation cellulose by IL results generation a latent nanoporous domain via an open-close cycling mechanism (i.e., porous structure can be expressed or collapsed through solvent treatment). Surface thermodynamics profoundly impact molecular interactions...

Natural fiber-welded (NFW) biopolymer composites are rapidly garnering industrial and commercial attention in the textile sector, a recent disclosure demonstrating production of mesoporous NFW materials suggests bright future as sorbents, filters, nanoparticle scaffolds. A significant roadblock mass for research development is their lengthy preparation time: 24 h water rinses to remove ionic liquid (IL) serving welding medium then 72 solvent exchanges (polar nonpolar), followed by oven...

This work investigates a set of novel polymerizable boronium ionic liquids (BILs) that were synthesized and characterized as candidates for solid or pseudo-solid electrolytes in energy storage applications. The target cation structures, [(1-v-imid)N 111 BH 2 ] + [(1-a-pyrr)N , derivatized structures high performance BILs from past studies to focus on forms N-heterocyclic trimethylamine moieties. Ultimately with the bis(trifluoromethansulfonyl)imide (TFSI - ) anion prepared using nuclear...

Boronium (+3) cations, L4B3+, are rare and scarcely studied. But, thanks to their rigid tetrahedral shape high cationic charge they may be promising tectons for creating hybrid organic-inorganic solids, especially since a single cation can serve as nucleating center around which three anions assembled. However, the few boronium cations have been reported generally water-sensitive, factor is potential impediment former endeavor (as case with many perovskite photovoltaics). Herein we report...

Abstract This work investigates two polymerizable boronium ionic liquids (BILs) that were identified as candidates for solid or pseudo-solid electrolytes in energy storage applications. The cation structures, [(1-v-imid)N111BH2]+ and [(1-a-pyrr)N111BH2]+, chosen to bolster high performing BILs from past studies with functionality capable of producing state electrolytes. second ([(1-a-pyrr)N111BH2]+) has not yet been reported the literature. Ultimately, polyBILs...

In this work, a series of novel boronium-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [TFSI-] ionic liquids (IL) are introduced and investigated. The boronium cations were designed with specific structural motifs that delivered improved electrochemical physical properties, as evaluated through cyclic voltammetry, broadband dielectric spectroscopy, densitometry, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry. Boronium cations, which appended N-alkylpyrrolidinium substituents, exhibited...

Although modern photovoltaics have reached internal quantum efficiencies greater than 50%, it has come at the expense of requiring extensive synthetic conditions and materials harmful to environment. As an alternative, our group turned a class bioinspired using Photosystem I (PSI), robust membrane protein complex found in plants, generate photocurrent when interfaced with semiconductive materials. functional PSI devices been made variety (silicon wafers, nanoporous gold, graphene) they often...

Abstract Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Dr. David E. Cliffel from Vanderbilt University (USA). The Cover Picture shows a Photosystem I (PSI) protein complex converting sunlight into chemical energy through an electron transfer reaction with dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP). PSI entrapped within macroporous indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode which leverages its high surface area to produce electrical reacted DCPIP. Read full text Article at 10.1002/celc.201901628