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Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
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    A Highly Active Cobalt Catalyst for the General and Selective Hydrogenation of Aromatic Heterocycles
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2023) Bauer, Christof; Müller, Felix; Keskin, Sercan; Zobel, Mirijam; Kempe, Rhett
    Nanostructured earth abundant metal catalysts that mediate important chemical reactions with high efficiency and selectivity are of great interest. This study introduces a synthesis protocol for nanostructured earth abundant metal catalysts. Three components, an inexpensive metal precursor, an easy to synthesize N/C precursor, and a porous support material undergo pyrolysis to give the catalyst material in a simple, single synthesis step. By applying this catalyst synthesis, a highly active cobalt catalyst for the general and selective hydrogenation of aromatic heterocycles could be generated. The reaction is important with regard to organic synthesis and hydrogen storage. The mild reaction conditions observed for quinolines permit the selective hydrogenation of numerous classes of N-, O- and S-heterocyclic compounds such as: quinoxalines, pyridines, pyrroles, indoles, isoquinoline, aciridine amine, phenanthroline, benzofuranes, and benzothiophenes.
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    3D Printed Tubular Scaffolds with Massively Tailorable Mechanical Behavior
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2022) Pickering, Edmund; Paxton, Naomi C.; Bo, Arixin; O’Connell, Bridget; King, Mitchell; Woodruff, Maria A.
    Melt electrowriting (MEW) is a promising additive manufacturing technique for tissue scaffold biofabrication. Successful application of MEW scaffolds requires strictly controlled mechanical behavior. This requires scaffold geometry be optimized to match native tissue properties while simultaneously supporting cell attachment and proliferation. The objective of this work is to investigate how geometric properties can be exploited to massively tailor the mechanical behavior of tubular crosshatch scaffolds. An experimentally validated finite element (FE) model is developed and 441 scaffold geometries are investigated under tension, compression, bending, and radial loading. A range of pore areas (4–150 mm2) and pore angles (11°–134°) are investigated. It is found that scaffold mechanical behavior is massively tunable through the control of these simple geometric parameters. Across the ranges investigated, scaffold stiffness varies by a factor of 294× for tension, 204× for compression, 231× for bending, and 124× for radial loading. Further, it is discussed how these geometric parameters can be simultaneously tuned for different biomimetic material applications. This work provides critical insights into scaffold design to achieve biomimetic mechanical behavior and provides an important tool in the development of biomimetic tissue engineered constructs.
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    Silicon-Nanotube-Mediated Intracellular Delivery Enables Ex Vivo Gene Editing
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2020) Chen, Yaping; Aslanoglou, Stella; Murayama, Takahide; Gervinskas, Gediminas; Fitzgerald, Laura I.; Sriram, Sharath; Tian, Jie; Johnston, Angus P.R.; Morikawa, Yasuhiro; Suu, Koukou; Elnathan, Roey; Voelcker, Nicolas H.
    Engineered nano–bio cellular interfaces driven by vertical nanostructured materials are set to spur transformative progress in modulating cellular processes and interrogations. In particular, the intracellular delivery—a core concept in fundamental and translational biomedical research—holds great promise for developing novel cell therapies based on gene modification. This study demonstrates the development of a mechanotransfection platform comprising vertically aligned silicon nanotube (VA-SiNT) arrays for ex vivo gene editing. The internal hollow structure of SiNTs allows effective loading of various biomolecule cargoes; and SiNTs mediate delivery of those cargoes into GPE86 mouse embryonic fibroblasts without compromising their viability. Focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) and confocal microscopy results demonstrate localized membrane invaginations and accumulation of caveolin-1 at the cell–NT interface, suggesting the presence of endocytic pits. Small-molecule inhibition of endocytosis suggests that active endocytic process plays a role in the intracellular delivery of cargo from SiNTs. SiNT-mediated siRNA intracellular delivery shows the capacity to reduce expression levels of F-actin binding protein (Triobp) and alter the cellular morphology of GPE86. Finally, the successful delivery of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) to specifically target mouse Hprt gene is achieved. This NT-enhanced molecular delivery platform has strong potential to support gene editing technologies. © 2020 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
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    Towards hybrid one-pot/one-electrode Pd-NPs-based nanoreactors for modular biocatalysis
    (Amsterdam [u.a.] : Elsevier, 2021) Koch, M.; Apushkinskaya, N.; Zolotukhina, E.V.; Silina, Y.E.
    Here, fundamental aspects affecting template-assisted engineering of oxidase-associated peroxide oxidation co-catalysis of the modeled microanalytical system based on the hybrid palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) with tailored functional properties were studied. By an accurate tuning and validation of the experimental setup, a modular Pd-NPs-doped one-pot/one-electrode amperometric nanobiosensor for advanced multiplex analyte detection was constructed. The specific operational conditions (electrochemical read-out mode, pH, regeneration procedure) of the modular one-pot/one-electrode nanobiosensor allowed a reliable sensing of L-lactate (with linear dynamic range, LDR = 500 µM – 2 mM, R2 = 0.977), D-glucose (with LDR = 200 µM – 50 mM, R2 = 0.987), hydrogen peroxide (with LDR = 20 µM – 100 mM, R2 = 0.998) and glutaraldehyde (with LDR = 1 – 100 mM, R2 = 0.971). In addition, mechanistic aspects influencing the performance of Pd-NPs-doped one-pot/one-electrode for multiplex analyte sensing were studied in detail. The designed one-pot/one-electrode amperometric nanobiosensor showed a thin layer electrochemical behavior that greatly enhanced electron transfer between the functional hybrid layer and the electrode. Finally, a specific regeneration procedure of the hybrid one-pot/one-electrode and algorithm towards its usage for modular biocatalysis were developed. The reported strategy can readily be considered as a guideline towards the fabrication of commercialized nanobiosensors with tailored properties for advanced modular biocatalysis.
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    Nanoscale Faceting and Ligand Shell Structure Dominate the Self-Assembly of Nonpolar Nanoparticles into Superlattices
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2022) Bo, Arixin; Liu, Yawei; Kuttich, Björn; Kraus, Tobias; Widmer-Cooper, Asaph; de Jonge, Niels
    Self-assembly of nanoscale structures at liquid–solid interfaces occurs in a broad range of industrial processes and is found in various phenomena in nature. Conventional theory assumes spherical particles and homogeneous surfaces, but that model is oversimplified, and nanoscale in situ observations are needed for a more complete understanding. Liquid-phase scanning transmission electron microscopy (LP-STEM) is used to examine the interactions that direct the self-assembly of superlattices formed by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in nonpolar liquids. Varying the molecular coating of the substrate modulates short-range attraction and leads to switching between a range of different geometric structures, including hexagonal close-packed (hcp), simple hexagonal (sh), dodecahedral quasi-crystal (dqc), and body-centered cubic (bcc) lattices, as well as random distributions. Langevin dynamics simulations explain the experimental results in terms of the interplay between nanoparticle faceting, ligand shell structure, and substrate–NP interactions.
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    On the viscous dissipation caused by randomly rough indenters in smooth sliding motion
    (Amsterdam : Elsevier, 2021) Sukhomlinov, Sergey; Müser, Martin H.
    The viscous dissipation between rigid, randomly rough indenters and linearly elastic counter bodies sliding past them is investigated using Green’s function molecular dynamics. The study encompasses a variety of models differing in the height spectra properties of the rigid indenter, in the viscoelasticity of the elastomer, and in their interaction. All systems reveal the expected damping linear in sliding velocity at small and a pronounced maximum at intermediate . Persson’s theory of rubber friction, which is adopted to the studied model systems, reflects all observed trends. However, close quantitative agreement is only found up to intermediate sliding velocities. Relative errors in the friction force become significant once the contact area is substantially reduced by sliding.
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    Synthesis of 3,4-Dihydro-2H-Pyrroles from Ketones, Aldehydes, and Nitro Alkanes via Hydrogenative Cyclization
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2022) Klausfelder, Barbara; Blach, Patricia; de Jonge, Niels; Kempe, Rhett
    Syntheses of N-heterocyclic compounds that permit a flexible introduction of various substitution patterns by using inexpensive and diversely available starting materials are highly desirable. Easy to handle and reusable catalysts based on earth-abundant metals are especially attractive for these syntheses. We report here on the synthesis of 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrroles via the hydrogenation and cyclization of nitro ketones. The latter are easily accessible from three components: a ketone, an aldehyde and a nitroalkane. Our reaction has a broad scope and 23 of the 33 products synthesized are compounds which have not yet been reported. The key to the general hydrogenation/cyclization reaction is a highly active, selective and reusable nickel catalyst, which was identified from a library of 24 earth-abundant metal catalysts.
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    Hybrid Dielectric Films of Inkjet-Printable Core-Shell Nanoparticles
    (Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2021) Buchheit, Roman; Kuttich, Björn; González-García, Lola; Kraus, Tobias
    A new type of hybrid core-shell nanoparticle dielectric that is suitable for inkjet printing is introduced. Gold cores (dcore  ≈ 4.5 nm diameter) are covalently grafted with thiol-terminated polystyrene (Mn  = 11000 Da and Mn  = 5000 Da) and used as inks to spin-coat and inkjet-print dielectric films. The dielectric layers have metal volume fractions of 5 to 21 vol% with either random or face-centered-cubic structures depending on the polymer length and grafting density. Films with 21 vol% metal have dielectric constants of 50@1 Hz. Structural and electrical characterization using transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, and impedance spectroscopy indicates that classical random capacitor-resistor network models partially describe this hybrid material but fail at high metal fractions, where the covalently attached shell prevents percolation and ensures high dielectric constants without the risk of dielectric breakdown. A comparison of disordered to ordered films indicates that the network structure affects dielectric properties less than the metal content. The applicability of the new dielectric material is demonstrated by formulating inkjet inks and printing devices. An inkjet-printed capacitor with an area of 0.79 mm2 and a 17 nm thick dielectric had a capacitance of 2.2±0.1 nF@1 kHz .
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    Selective Pb2+ removal and electrochemical regeneration of fresh and recycled FeOOH
    ([Erscheinungsort nicht ermittelbar] : Tsinghua Press, 2023) Wang, Lei; Deligniere, Lexane; Husmann, Samantha; Leiner, Regina; Bahr, Carsten; Zhang, Shengjie; Dun, Chaochao; Montemore, Matthew M.; Gallei, Markus; Urban, Jeffrey J.; Kim, Choonsoo; Presser, Volker
    Heavy metal pollution is a key environmental problem. Selectively extracting heavy metals could accomplish water purification and resource recycling simultaneously. Adsorption is a promising approach with a facile process, adaptability for the broad concentration of feed water, and high selectivity. However, the adsorption method faces challenges in synthesizing high-performance sorbents and regenerating adsorbents effectively. FeOOH is an environmentally friendly sorbent with low-cost production on a large scale. Nevertheless, the selectivity behavior and regeneration of FeOOH are seldom studied. Therefore, we investigated the selectivity of FeOOH in a mixed solution of Co2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+ and proposed to enhance the capacity of FeOOH and regenerate it by using external charges. Without charge, the FeOOH electrode shows a Pb2+ uptake capacity of 20 mg/g. After applying a voltage of −0.2/+0.8 V, the uptake capacity increases to a maximum of 42 mg/g and the desorption ratio is 70%–80%. In 35 cycles, FeOOH shows a superior selectivity towards Pb2+ compared with Co2+ and Ni2+, with a purity of 97% ± 3% in the extracts. The high selectivity is attributed to the lower activation energy for Pb2+ sorption. The capacity retentions at the 5th and the 35th cycles are ca. 80% and ca. 50%, respectively, comparable to the chemical regeneration method. With industrially exhausted granular ferric hydroxide as the electrode material, the system exhibits a Pb2+ uptake capacity of 37.4 mg/g with high selectivity. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of regenerating FeOOH by charge and provides a new approach for recycling and upcycling FeOOH sorbent. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
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    Mixed Cu-Fe Sulfides Derived from Polydopamine-Coated Prussian Blue Analogue as a Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode
    (Washington, DC : ACS Publications, 2022) Bornamehr, Behnoosh; Presser, Volker; Husmann, Samantha
    Batteries employing transition-metal sulfides enable high-charge storage capacities, but polysulfide shuttling and volume expansion cause structural disintegration and early capacity fading. The design of heterostructures combining metal sulfides and carbon with an optimized morphology can effectively address these issues. Our work introduces dopamine-coated copper Prussian blue (CuPB) analogue as a template to prepare nanostructured mixed copper-iron sulfide electrodes. The material was prepared by coprecipitation of CuPB with in situ dopamine polymerization, followed by thermal sulfidation. Dopamine controls the particle size and favors K-rich CuPB due to its polymerization mechanism. While the presence of the coating prevents particle agglomeration during thermal sulfidation, its thickness demonstrates a key effect on the electrochemical performance of the derived sulfides. After a two-step activation process during cycling, the C-coated KCuFeS2electrodes showed capacities up to 800 mAh/g at 10 mA/g with nearly 100% capacity recovery after rate handling and a capacity of 380 mAh/g at 250 mA/g after 500 cycles.