New Journal of Chemistry最新文献

Retraction of ‘Synthesis, characterization and in vitro anticancer analysis of PEG-capped Mn-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles against hepatocellular carcinoma cells’ by G. Vijayakumar et al., New J. Chem., 2023, 47, 3112–3124, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NJ05795F.

The development of affordable and sustainable semiconductor materials is vital for meeting future technological demands. Over the past few years, halide perovskites have proven to be potential semiconductor materials. So far, lead halide perovskites have demonstrated remarkable performance in various applications, including solar cells, LEDs, and photocatalytic reactions. However, water instability and toxicity are substantial concerns when considering Pb²⁺ based perovskites on a commercial scale. Nowadays, bismuth (Bi³⁺)-based perovskite materials are considered a promising alternative to Pb²⁺. This study explores the impact of doping on the optoelectronic properties of inorganic and hybrid bismuth bromide-based perovskites. In this work, a specific amount of KBr is incorporated into the perovskite material, and its effects are analyzed. We found that KBr incorporation induces structural distortion in the perovskite lattice, which affects the bandgap. Additionally, KBr increases the grain size and aids in passivating defect states in the material. As a result, the photocurrent response, and device performance of the KBr-incorporated Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ perovskite are improved.

The void-free blind microvia copper electroplating process is a key technology in HDI PCB manufacturing. This work systematically studied the influence of the Acid Blue 1 (AB1) leveler on blind microvia filling. AB1 exhibits excellent suppression during electroplating, with its effect strengthening as the AB1 concentration increases. Chronopotentiometry was used to study the interaction among AB1, SPS, and PEG. There is a synergistic suppressing interaction between the new leveler AB1 and suppressor PEG, while there is competition between AB1 and accelerator SPS. During electrodeposition, AB1 can adsorb on the copper substrate to reduce active sites and suppress copper electrodeposition, based on theoretical studies and in situ infrared spectroscopy. At the optimized electroplating process, void-free microvia filling is achieved with 20 mg L⁻¹ AB1 and successive electroplating confirms the stability of AB1. Based on diffusion differences among additives and the competition between AB1 and SPS, a gradient competitive adsorption superfilling mechanism was proposed to illustrate the filling process of the AB1–SPS–PEG system. AB1 is beneficial to improving flatness and lowering surface roughness of the copper layer, which is conducive to reducing signal losses during high-frequency transmission. Additionally, AB1 can modulate the preferential formation of Cu(111) and Cu(200) and facilitate grain refinement.

A novel, green, and efficient red-light-induced oxidation and functionalization of tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives (THIQs) has been developed using crude chlorophyll as a photocatalyst extracted from spinach. This green and mild photocatalytic method shows potential for application in medicinal chemistry, enabling not only efficient oxidation at the benzyl position of THIQs, but also rapid diversification of pharmacophoric scaffolds through cross-coupling with a range of nucleophilic reagents, achieving phosphorylation, cyanation, nitro-methylation, and allylation. The synthesis of 40 compounds led to the discovery of compound 4i, which exhibits neuroprotective effects validated in vitro using the neuronal OGD/R model. Further mechanistic investigation suggests that the reaction may involve superoxide anion radicals resulting from photoinduced electron transfer processes.

The development of cost-effective and straightforward methodologies for the fabrication of high-performance electrode materials represents a crucial advancement in the application and evolution of supercapacitors (SCs). Hierarchical porous carbon materials have been considered a type of promising material for SCs owing to their high specific surface area and excellent electronic conductivity. Herein, the synthesis of structurally controllable porous carbons from pomelo peel through carbonization, the template method and activation treatment is reported. In this work, an impedance model was used to evaluate the charge storage capacity and ion transmission rate of porous electrodes of SCs. Biochar materials were prepared using CaCO₃ and KOH as the template and activator, respectively, and the effects of different template and activator contents on the specific surface area, pore volume, morphology and electrochemical properties of the prepared biochar materials were investigated. The as-prepared biochar, designated as 800-PAC-750-1:1, possessed a hierarchically porous framework with a relatively high specific surface area of 2384 m² g⁻¹ and a specific capacitance of 240.3 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹. The 800-PAC-750-1:1 electrode also exhibited excellent cycling stability with 87.5% capacitance retention after 10 000 cycles.

N–N atropisomers are commonly found in natural products and pharmaceuticals. Herein, we report a copper-bisoxazoline-catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction that enables the first enantioselective synthesis of N,N′-carbazole-pyrrole rings. This method demonstrates practical advantages with mild reaction conditions, an atom-economic process, high enantioselectivity and very broad substrate scope. Additionally, its scalability and versatility are showcased through gram-scale synthesis and diverse transformation applications.

Slight modification of nitrogen-containing heterocycles to obtain structurally novel compounds is important in the search for valuable biological molecules. In this study, we established a simple and practical method for the synthesis of diverse N-oxides of C3-acylated quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones. Under Cu(I)/TBHP conditions, the simultaneous construction of C–C and N–O bonds to obtain quinoxalin-2(1H)-one oxides via C–H activation and radical relay reaction was disclosed for the first time.

Metal–air batteries have garnered significant research interest due to their superior energy density compared to advanced lithium-ion batteries. Specifically, vanadium diboride (VB₂)–air batteries stand out because of the high theoretical specific capacity of the VB₂ material, which facilitates 11 electron transfers per molecule during oxidation when air acts as the anode in these batteries. This remarkable theoretical specific capacity (4060 mA h g⁻¹) and its potential applications in energy storage and new energy vehicles have spurred considerable enthusiasm. Nevertheless, numerous scientific challenges remain, which must be resolved prior to their commercial viability. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in vanadium diboride materials for metal–air batteries, focusing on key components such as air cathodes, metal anodes, and electrolytes. It highlights several strategies that significantly enhance the stability and efficiency of VB₂–air batteries. These include the development of highly efficient air cathodes incorporating robust and stable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts, as well as the surface modification of anode materials. For instance, surface treatments using ZrO₂ and polydopamine (PDA) have been shown to effectively improve the stability and discharge efficiency of VB₂–air batteries. Additionally, the paper discusses the primary challenges impeding further improvements in the performance and longevity of VB₂–air batteries. It concludes by proposing potential research directions to address these challenges, offering insights into the development of next-generation VB₂-based energy storage systems.

Single pyrrolic N-doped carbon materials were successfully synthesized using a carbazole and carboxylated carbon nanotube (O-CNT) composite as the precursor via a two-step pyrolysis method and they exhibited excellent 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2-e ORR) catalytic activity and selectivity in a neutral medium.

Recently, antibiotic-dependent strategies and photothermal therapy (PTT) have emerged as effective therapeutic approaches for treating bacterial infections. Currently, photothermal agents (PTAs) with bactericidal activities or antibiotics with photothermal effects are recognized as the most appropriate candidates for sterilization because of their enhanced bactericidal effects. In this study, we developed a novel strategy to fabricate photothermal silver nanoparticles (MP@AgNPs) via a green method using Mentha pulegium (MP) extract under UV radiation. By evaluating the biosynthesis parameters, small-sized MP@AgNPs mixed with small amounts of aggregates were obtained to enhance the absorption at NIR. This endowed MP@AgNPs with both PTA and antibiotic characteristics, which was confirmed by in vitro experiments. Apart from the outstanding antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MP@AgNPs also exhibited multiple free radical scavenging activities. Benefiting from the superior photothermal effect, antioxidation activity and innate antimicrobial ability, MP@AgNPs embedded into the gelatin hydrogel network were used for treating MRSA-infected wounds. With the assistance of an 808 nm laser irradiation, MP@AgNPs significantly promoted the healing of infected skin injuries by killing the bacteria, eliminating inflammation cells and promoting collagen deposition. Thus, MP@AgNPs with photothermal and bactericidal functions offer great potential for the treatment of MRSA-infected wounds.