Two-Dimensional C/TiO₂ Heterogeneous Hybrid for Noble-Metal-Free Hydrogen Evolution

Developing catalysts to improve excitonic charge-carrier transfer and separation properties is critical for solar energy conversion through photochemical catalysis. Layer staking of two-dimensional (2-D) materials has opened up opportunities to engineer heteromaterials for strong interlayer excitonic transition. However, scalable fabrication of heteromaterials with seamless and clean interfaces remains challenging. Here, we report an in situ growth strategy for synthesizing a 2-D C/TiO₂ heterogeneous hybrid. Layered structure of TiO₂ and chemically bonded Ti–C between graphitic carbon and TiO₂ generate synergetic effects, promoting interfacial charge transfer and separation, leading to more electrons participating in photoreduction for hydrogen evolution. The Ti–C bond as reactive sites, such as platinum behavior, makes it an interesting potential substitue for noble metals in hydrogen evolution. In the absence of noble metals, the C/TiO₂ hybrid exhibits a significant enhancement of hydrogen evolution from water splitting using solar light, ∼3.046 mmol h^–1 g^–1. The facile and scalable fabrication of 2-D heterogeneous hybrid with enhanced interfacial charge transfer and separation provides perspectives for the creation of 2-D heteromaterials in optoelectronics and solar-light-harvesting applications

Biosynthesis of Mupirocin by <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i> NCIMB 10586 Involves Parallel Pathways

Mupirocin, a clinically important antibiotic produced via a <i>trans</i>-AT Type I polyketide synthase (PKS) in <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i>, consists of a mixture of mainly pseudomonic acids A, B, and C. Detailed metabolic profiling of mutant strains produced by systematic inactivation of PKS and tailoring genes, along with re-feeding of isolated metabolites to mutant stains, has allowed the isolation of a large number of novel metabolites, identification of the 10,11-epoxidase, and full characterization of the mupirocin biosynthetic pathway, which proceeds via major (10,11-epoxide) and minor (10,11-alkene) parallel pathways