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A novel educational tool helps teach intestinal absorption in physiology--We have designed an interesting educational tool to help sophomores learn intestinal absorption in physiology course. In the study group (2019), 51 sophomores from biomedical engineering were encouraged to learn the intestinal absorption knowledge through reading materials and group discussion. Then, using the form of flipped class, they stepped on the podium and simulated and explained the absorption processes with designed paper props as educational tool. In contrast, the control group (2018), 52 sophomores from the same specialty had taken the same professional courses before. The result of theoretical test showed the average score in the study group was higher than that in the control group. The questionnaire analysis showed the positive role of the education tool in their learning efficacy. To sum up, using our tool has achieved better teaching effects than the traditional lecture.

Due to the urgent demand for nitrate wastewater treatment, the quest for an efficient and environmentally friendly treatment method has emerged as a new research focus. The utilization of single‐atom catalysts (SACs) in electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) for ammonia production is presently recognized as an effective strategy to address pollution issues and obtain high value‐added products. In this review, we summarized the recent research advancements in NO3RR based on SACs. This review includes a comprehensive analysis of the identification and structural determination techniques for SACs, as well as the mechanism of NO3RR over SACs. Furthermore, this review investigates the impact of regulating single atom structures on NO3RR, providing valuable insights for enhancing reaction efficiency. It explores the application of in‐situ technology in real‐time monitoring and control of NO3RR. Finally, perspectives and challenges regarding the application of SACs in NO3RR are presented. Overall, this extensive review offers valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals in the field of nitrate reduction and environmental catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt single atom catalysts (SACs) have exhibited promising performance in both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), positioning them as potential dual‐functional catalysts for Zn‐air battery. However, the long‐standing challenge lies in achieving satisfactory dual‐functionality and stability of these SACs. In this study, to optimize the 4e‒ ORR performance, boron (B) atoms are employed with low electronegativity to regulate the structure of the Co–N–C catalytic center. This resulted in the formation of an asymmetrically coordinated Co metal center catalyst (Co‐N3B). Compared to the Co‐N4, Co‐N3B exhibited lower free energy for ORR and stronger adsorption energy toward *O species, effectively suppressing the 2e‒ ORR pathway at the cobalt site and preventing catalyst corrosion induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in ORR reactions, thereby enhancing catalyst stability. In situ attenuated total reflectance surface‐enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR‐SEIRAS) further validated excellent interaction between Co active centers and O intermediates. Furthermore, the self‐made rechargeable zinc‐air battery demonstrated remarkable discharge peak power density (≈253 mW cm‒2), energy density (≈819 mAh g‒1), and cyclic stability exceeding 110 h. This study provides new insights into constructing catalysts with atomic‐level precision and offers strong references for practical applications in energy storage and convension electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) provides a renewable approach to transform CO2 to produce chemicals and fuels. Unfortunately, it faces the challenges of sluggish CO2 activation and slow water dissociation. This study reports the modification of Bi‐based electrocatalyst by S, which leads to a remarkable enhancement in activity and selectivity during electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate. Based on comprehensive in situ examinations and kinetic evaluations, it is observed that the presence of S species over Bi catalyst can significantly enhance its interaction with K+(H2O)n, facilitating fast dissociation of water molecules to generate protons. Further in situ attenuated total reflectance surface‐enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR‐SEIRAS) and in situ Raman spectroscopy measurements reveal that S modification is able to decrease the oxidation state of Bi active site, which can effectively enhance CO2 activation and facilitate HCOO* intermediate formation while suppressing competing hydrogen evolution reaction. Consequently, the S‐modified Bi catalyst achieves impressive electrochemical CO2RR performance, reaching a formate Faradaic efficiency (FEformate) of 91.2% at a formate partial current density of ≈135 mA cm−2 and a potential of −0.8 V versus RHE in an alkaline electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) to produce methanol (CH 3 OH) is an attractive yet challenging approach due to a lack of selective electrocatalysts. An immobilized cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) molecular catalyst has emerged as a promising electrocatalyst for CH 3 OH synthesis, demonstrating decent activity and selectivity through a CO 2 -CO-CH 3 OH cascade reaction. However, CoPc's performance is limited by its weak binding strength toward the CO intermediate. Recent advancements in molecular modification aimed at enhancing CO intermediate binding have shown great promise in improving CO 2 -to-CH 3 OH performance. In this Perspective, we discuss the competitive binding mechanism between CO 2 and CO that hinders CH 3 OH formation and summarize effective molecular modification strategies that can enhance both the binding of the CO intermediate and the conversion of the CO 2 -to-CH 3 OH activity. Finally, we offer future perspectives on optimization strategies to inspire further research efforts to fully unlock the potential for methanol synthesis via the CO 2 RR using molecular catalysts.

Single atom catalysts (SACs) show exceptional molecular adsorption and electron transfer capabilities owing to their remarkable atomic efficiency and tunable electronic structure, thereby providing promising solutions for diverse important processes including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, thermal catalysis, etc. Consequently, SACs hold great potential in the detection and degradation of pollutants present in contaminated gases. Over the past few years, SACs have made remarkable achievements in the field of contaminated gas detection and purification. In this review, we first provide a concise introduction to the significance and urgency of gas detection and pollutant purification, followed by a comprehensive overview of the structural feature identification methods for SACs. Subsequently, we systematically summarize the three key properties of SACs for detecting contaminated gases and discuss the research progress made in utilizing SACs to purify polluted gases. Finally, we analyze the enhancement mechanism and advantages of SACs in polluted gas detection and purification, and propose strategies to address challenges and expedite the development of SACs in polluted gas detection and purification., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

In shale gas mining areas, indigenous microorganisms degrade organic pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water (H 2 O) through aerobic metabolism. A large quantity of CO 2 emissions will exacerbate the "Greenhouse effect". Based on the clean sieved soil and oil-based drilling fluid in the shale gas mining area, this experiment set three concentration gradients (3523 ± 159 mg/kg, 8715 ± 820 mg/kg and 22,031 ± 1533 mg/kg) to treat the soil, and each group was disposed for the same amount of time (63 days). By analyzing the dynamic changes of microbial diversity and the abundance of key functional genes for carbon fixation, the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons on carbon fixation potential was discovered, and the natural attenuation law of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil was explored. It provided the scientific research basis of ecology for the carbon cycle, carbon allocation, and carbon fixation in microbial remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil. The results obtained indicated the following: i) The removal rate of petroleum hydrocarbons under high-concentration pollution (45.33 ± 3.90%) was significantly lower than low and medium-concentration pollution. The TPH concentration removal rate of each group was the largest in the early stage of culture (1-5d), and there was no significant correlation between the TPH content and the community composition (R 2  = 0.0736, P > 0.05). ii) Composition and function of Carbon Fixation associated microbiota were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing and PICRUSt (phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states) analysis. The main carbon fixation pathway in this study is the reductive citric acid cycle, because there was no shortage of enzymes that can affect subsequent reactions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tubule-like structured metal oxides, combined with macroscale pores onto their surfaces, can fast facilitate gas-accessible diffusion into the sensing channels, thus leading a promoted utilization ratio of sensing layers. However, it generally remains a challenge for developing a reliable approach to prepare them. Herein, this contribution describes a density gradient strategy for obtaining broken In 2 O 3 microtubes from the In 2 O 3 products prepared using a chemical conversion method. These In 2 O 3 microtubes hold a diameter about 1.5 μm with many broken regions and massive ultrafine nanopores onto their surfaces. When employed as a sensing element for detection of triethylamine (TEA) vapor, these broken In 2 O 3 microtubes exhibited a significant response toward TEA at 1-100 ppm and the lowest detected concentration can reach 0.1 ppm. In addition, an excellent selectivity of the sensor to TEA was also displayed, though upon exposure of other interfering vapors, including ammonia, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, toluene, and hydrogen. Such promoted sensing performances toward TEA were ascribed to the broken configuration (superior gas permeability and high utilization ratio), one-dimensional configuration with less agglomerations, and low bond energy for C-N in a TEA molecule.