02
07 2020
A research team led by Prof. CUI Guanglei, from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a new class of aqueous electrolytes, called hydrated eutectic electrolytes, to ensure better performance of aqueous Zn batteries. The study was published in Joule on July 1. Zinc (Zn) batteries have attracted more and more attention due to large volumetric capacity, abundance of Zn, and environmental friendliness. When the aqueous electrolytes are considered, Zn batteries provide a promising solution to safety hazards...
01
07 2020
Recently, Prof. WANG Guanghui from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with Prof. LIU Jian from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of CAS, reported a general strategy to synthesize a pair of hollow carbon sphere (HCS) nanoreactors with pre-synthesized PdCu nanoparticles encapsulated inside of HCS (PdCu@HCS) and supported outside of HCS (PdCu/HCS), respectively, while keeping other structural features the same. Based on the two comparative nanoreactors, void-confinement effects in liquid-phase hydrogenation are investigated in a two-chamber reactor. Hollow nanoreactors have attracted great interest in catalysis research due to their unique catalytic properties, especially the void-confinement effects. During the past decades, many studies have been devoted to unraveling the void-confinement e...
25
06 2020
Bacteria cells are so small that it has been very difficult until now to analyze the genetic code and metabolic activity of just one cell. Instead, large groups of bacteria have to be analyzed at the same time. But a new screening technique using optical tweezers and taking advantage of the properties of gravity is letting researchers analyze bacteria cells one by one. The new findings have been published in the journal SMALL by Wiley-VCH on June 9. Bacteria cells are so small that it has been very difficult until now to analyze the genetic code and metabolic activity of just one cell. Instead, large groups of bacteria have to be analyzed at the same time. But a new screening technique using ...
03
06 2020
Recently, a research team led by Prof. YANG Yong from Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has developed a simple, economical and efficient high-temperature pyrolysis synthetic method.
Using environmentally friendly biochar and inexpensive Cu (NO3)2 as the raw materials without post-treatment process, scientists have synthesized the atomic dispersed Cu-N-C catalyst. The atomic dispersion of coordinatively unsaturated Cu-N2 sites is on biomass-derived hierarchically N-doped porous carbon with high specific surface area. The loading content of N and Cu in the catalyst (labeled as Cu1/NC-800) was 5.44 and 1.28 wt % respectively.
Non-noble metal nitrogen doped carbon material (M-N-C) catalysts are considered as potential alternatives for precious metals, due to their abundance, biocompatibility, environmental benign and high catalytic performance.
However, the current ...
02
06 2020
Cells are a little easier to understand, thanks to improved technology developed by a team of researchers based in China. Using a method called Raman-Activated Cell Ejection and Sequencing (RACE-Seq), the scientists were able to greatly improve the success of identifying and sequencing individual cells from our environments to understand the cells’ functions. They published their results recently in Analytical Chemistry. Cells are a little easier to understand, thanks to improved technology developed by a team of researchers based in China. Using a method called Raman-Activated Cell Ejection and Sequencing (RACE-Seq), the scientists were able to greatly improve th...
19
05 2020
Acetylacetone is not a naturally occurring metabolite, however, it can be catabolized by Acinetobacter johnsonii as a carbon source. Inspired by the biodegradation pathway, the QIBEBT researchers established a biosynthetic pathway of acetylacetone from fermentable sugars. And the acetylacetone was successfully produced by engineered Escherichia coli by key enzyme screening and cultivation condition regulation. Acetylacetone is widely used as fuel additive and dyeing intermediate. It is also applied in the fields of metal extraction, metal plating, and resin modification. Traditionally, acetylacetone is manufactured through chemical routes using acetone ...
