Montmorillonite modified by CNx supported Pt for methanol oxidation

A composite support based on nature clay, i.e. montmorillonite (MMT), shows great promise as support materials for Pt electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction in fuel cell anodes. The reported composite support (CNx-MMT) was prepared via carbonizing MMT which was covered by N-contented polymer. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results showed that Pt nanoparticles can be well-dispersed on the composite support with highly dispersed tiny crystal Pt nanoparticles. Cyclic voltammetry measurements showed that the Pt/CNx-MMT has the enhanced electrocatalytic activity in methanol oxidation reaction. The developed Pt catalyst supported on new composite support is catalytically more active for methanol electrooxidation than Pt supported on the conventional carbon support and shows good stability, offering promising potential for application of MMT as support for fuel cell electrocatalysis.Web of Scienc

Draft genome sequence of the mulberry tree Morus notabilis

Human utilization of the mulberry–silkworm interaction started at least 5,000 years ago and greatly influenced world history through the Silk Road. Complementing the silkworm genome sequence, here we describe the genome of a mulberry species Morus notabilis. In the 330-Mb genome assembly, we identify 128 Mb of repetitive sequences and 29,338 genes, 60.8% of which are supported by transcriptome sequencing. Mulberry gene sequences appear to evolve ~3 times faster than other Rosales, perhaps facilitating the species’ spread worldwide. The mulberry tree is among a few eudicots but several Rosales that have not preserved genome duplications in more than 100 million years; however, a neopolyploid series found in the mulberry tree and several others suggest that new duplications may confer benefits. Five predicted mulberry miRNAs are found in the haemolymph and silk glands of the silkworm, suggesting interactions at molecular levels in the plant–herbivore relationship. The identification and analyses of mulberry genes involved in diversifying selection, resistance and protease inhibitor expressed in the laticifers will accelerate the improvement of mulberry plants

Biological implications of organic carbon and nitrogen in the Xiamen enclosures

In IDL-1113

Achieving superlubricity and high adhesion strength of hydrogenated amorphous carbon film with Al/Cr/Si-doping

Excellent tribological properties of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films make it an important candidate for friction reduction in industry. However, the great challenge of achieving both high adhesion strength and super-low friction limits its wide applications. In this work, a novel Al, Cr and Si co-doped hydrogenated amorphous carbon (AlCrSi/a-C:H) film was prepared by high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) method. The AlCrSi/a-C:H film showed favorable mechanical performance and high adhesion (similar to 80 N), which was attributed to the controlled elements doping and special transition layers produced by HiPIMS method. Meanwhile, superlubricity was obtained with coefficient of friction 0.0014. Detailed characterizations suggested that doping elements played significant roles in tribo-chemical reactions during friction. On one hand, doping elements can promote shear-induced graphitization and formation of graphite-like layers at the friction interface. On the other hand, the preferential oxidation of doping elements can protect the formed graphite-like layers from oxidation and the formed oxides nanoparticles can also be wrapped by carbon layers to prevent abrasive wear. It was the synergistic effects of graphitization and oxidation actions that led to superlubricity state of the film. The proposed AlCrSi/a-C:H film architecture with strong adhesion and superlubricity properties provides design criteria of superlubricious films for industrial applications

Biogeochemical behaviours of heavy metals in marine enclosed ecosystems

In IDL-1113

Synthesis of mixed methane-ethylene hydrate with ice powder

The study of gas hydrate researched by the ice powder method is helpful for us to understand the storage, separation, transportation and transformation of gas on the solid surface. In this work, the change regulation has been studied that temperature, pressure, hydrate saturation, and conversion rate in the formation process of methane-ethylene mixed hydrate, which exploring the internal action mode of the methane-ethylene mixed hydrate. The experimental results show that under the condition of −4.0 °C and 4 MPa, the conversion rates of methane, methane-ethylene (with mole ratios 2, 1, and 0.5), and ethylene hydrate are 5.30%, 11.95%, 16.57%, 19.93%, and 26.84%, respectively. And more, the conversion efficiencies of hydrate are 0.36, 0.81, 0.96, 1.58, and 6.58, respectively. The above data show that with the increase of ethylene content, the formation of hydrate is easier, which proves that ethylene can promote the formation efficiency of methane hydrate. These results have reference value for understanding the formation of natural gas hydrates, so as to promote the development and application of gas hydrate

Unraveling the connection between vegetation greening and terrestrial water storage decline in the arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China

Study Region: Arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China (NWC) Study Focus: Water scarcity poses a significant challenge to the development of NWC. Although the climate is getting warmer and wetter in NWC, there is a clear intensification in the trend of regional hydrological aridification. However, the connection between these factors continues to remain elusive to our comprehension. This study investigated the impacts of vegetation changes on terrestrial water storage (TWS) and explored their underlying causes using the Lund-Potsdam-Jena (LPJ) Dynamic Global Vegetation Model based on long-term hydrometeorological data, TWS anomaly data, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data. New Hydrological Insights for the Region: This study unveils a significant upsurge in NDVI and actual evaporation (E) within NWC during 1982–2019, with distinct prominence observed in cultivated regions. This heightened E emerges as a central driver behind the reduction in surface soil water, root zone soil water, and the continuous decline of TWS across the NWC. The research discerns the amplified E, influenced by both climatic and human activities, as a key contributor to the diminution of TWS within the region. Notably, the contribution of cultivated land E exhibits consistent expansion, while grassland E remains pivotal in TWS reduction. Transpiration (Et) and bare-soil evaporation (Eb) surface as the predominant elements of terrestrial E. The degradation of grasslands leads to intensified Eb, thereby further augmenting E