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We incorporate Se into the 3D halide perovskite framework using the zwitterionic ligand: SeCYS (+NH3(CH2)2Se-), which occupies both the X- and A+ sites in the prototypical ABX3 perovskite. The new organoselenide-halide perovskites: (SeCYS)PbX2 (X=Cl, Br) expand upon the recently discovered organosulfide-halide perovskites. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and pair distribution function analysis reveal the average structures of the organoselenide-halide perovskites, whereas the local lead coordination environments and their distributions were probed through solid-state 77Se and 207Pb NMR, complemented by theoretical simulations. Density functional theory calculations illustrate that the band structures of (SeCYS)PbX2 largely resemble those of their S analogs, with similar band dispersion patterns, yet with a considerable band gap decrease. Optical absorbance measurements indeed show band gaps of 2.07 and 1.86 eV for (SeCYS)PbX2 with X=Cl and Br, respectively. We further demonstrate routes to alloying the halides (Cl, Br) and chalcogenides (S, Se) continuously tuning the band gap from 1.86 to 2.31 eV-straddling the ideal range for tandem solar cells or visible-light photocatalysis. The comprehensive description of the average and local structures, and how they can fine-tune the band gap and potential trap states, respectively, establishes the foundation for understanding this new perovskite family, which combines solid-state and organo-main-group chemistry.

Molecular‐recognition events are highly relevant in biology and chemistry. In the present study, we investigated such processes in the solid state under mechanochemical conditions using the formation of racemic phases upon reacting enantiopure entities as example. As test systems, α‐(trifluoromethyl)lactic acid (TFLA) and the amino acids serine and alanine were used. The effects of ball‐milling and resonant acoustic mixing (RAM) on the formation of racemic phases were probed by using solid‐state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In a mixer mill, a highly efficient and fast racemic phase formation occurred for both TFLA and the two amino acids. RAM led to the racemic phase for TFLA also, and this process was facilitated upon employing pre‐milled enantiopure entities. In contrast, under comparable conditions RAM did not result in the formation of racemic phases for serine and alanine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Glutathione (GSH) and its oxidized dimer (GSSG) play an important role in living systems as an antioxidant, balancing the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The central thiol (‐S‐S‐) bond in GSSG can undergo free rotation, providing multiple conformations with respect to the S‐S bridge. The six titratable sites of GSSG, which are influenced by pH variations, affect these conformations in solution, whereas in solids, additionally crystal packing effects come into play. In view of differing reports about the structure of GSSG in literature, we have here conducted an extensive reexamination of its conformations using NMR, and contrasting results have been obtained for solution and solid state. In solution, the existence of more than one antiparallel orientation of the monomer unit with different hydrogen bonding schemes has been indicated by NOE and amide temperature coefficient results. On the other hand, in the solid‐state, a 1H‐1H double‐quantum (DQ) to 13C single‐quantum (SQ) correlation study has confirmed a parallel orientation, consistent with the reported X‐ray crystal structure. Experimentally assigned solid‐state NMR resonances have been validated using GIPAW calculations incorporated in the Quantum ESPRESSO package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, combined with dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), quantum chemical DFT calculations, and gas‐phase NMR spectroscopy investigating the structure and reactivity of heterogeneous catalysts are reviewed. The investigated catalysts range from classical mononuclear catalysts, like immobilized derivates of Wilkinson's catalysts over binuclear catalysts such as the dirhodium paddlewheel catalyst to catalytic nanoparticles, employing various support materials, such as mesoporous silica gels, coordination polymers, and biomaterials such as cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chalcogen bonds (ChB) are moderately strong, directional, and specific non‐covalent interactions that have garnered substantial interest over the last decades. Specifically, the presence of two σ‐holes offers great potential for crystal engineering, catalysis, biochemistry, and molecular sensing. However, ChB applications are currently hampered by a lack of methods to characterize and control chalcogen bonds. Here, we report on the influence of various substituents (halogens, cyano, and methyl groups) on the observed self‐complementary ChB networks of 2,1,3‐benzoselenadiazoles. From molecular electrostatic potential calculations, we show that the electrostatic surface potentials (ESP) of the σ‐holes on selenium are largely influenced by the electron‐withdrawing character of these substituents. Structural analyses via X‐ray diffraction reveal a variety of ChB geometries and binding modes that are rationalized via the computed ESP maps, although the structure of 5,6‐dimethyl‐2,1,3‐benzoselenadiazole also demonstrates the influence of steric interactions. 77Se solid‐state magic‐angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, in particular the analysis of the selenium chemical shift tensors, is found to be an effective probe able to characterize both structural and electrostatic features of these self‐complementary ChB systems. We find a positive correlation between the value of the ESP maxima at the σ‐holes and the experimentally measured 77Se isotropic chemical shift, while the skew of the chemical shift tensor is established as a metric which is reflective of the ChB binding motif. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyanion rotations are often linked to cation diffusion, but the study of multiple polyanion systems is scarce due to the complexities in experimentally determining their dynamic interactions. This work focuses on BH4‐based argyrodites, synthesized to achieve a high conductivity of 11 mS cm−1. Advanced tools, including high‐resolution X‐ray diffraction, neutron pair distribution function analysis, and mutinuclear magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and relaxometry, along with theoretical calculations, are employed to unravel the dynamic intricacies among the dual polyanion lattice and active charge carriers. The findings reveal that the anion sublattice of Li5.07PS4.07(BH4)1.93 affords an even temporal distribution of Li among PS43− and BH4−, suggesting minimal trapping of the charge carriers. Moreover, the NMR relaxometry unveils rapid BH4− rotation on the order of ∼GHz, affecting the slower rotation of neighboring PS43− at ∼100 MHz. The PS43− rotation synchronizes with Li+ motion and drives superionic transport. Thus, the PS43− and BH4− polyanions act as two‐staged dual motors, facilitating rapid Li+ diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state cross‐polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) 13C NMR is employed to examine the morphological factors that contribute to the enhanced hole mobility observed in poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) by the introduction of electrically inert poly(styrene) (PSt). Chain mobilities of crystalline and amorphous phases in the P3HT domain are evaluated utilizing T1C (13C spin‐lattice relaxation time in the laboratory frame). The crystallinity of P3HT component is estimated based on the spectral editing method through T1ρH (1H spin‐lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame) filtered CPMAS. Moreover, the miscibility of P3HT crystalline and P3HT amorphous domains is estimated. These results suggest the formation of the rigid amorphous (short‐range ordered amorphous) in a block copolymer (P3HT‐block‐PSt). An increase in the proportion of the crystallite and proximate presence of each crystallite in a blend sample of P3HT with PSt (P3HT‐blend‐PSt) are also indicated. Enhanced mobility is attributed to the larger portion of rigid amorphous domain for P3HT‐block‐PSt, and to higher crystalline content for P3HT‐blend‐PSt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid plaques are a major pathological hallmark involved in Alzheimer's disease and consist of deposits of the amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ). The aggregation process of Aβ is highly complex, which leads to polymorphous aggregates with different structures. In addition to aberrant aggregation, Aβ oligomers can undergo liquid‐liquid phase separation (LLPS) and form dynamic condensates. It has been hypothesized that these amyloid liquid droplets affect and modulate amyloid fibril formation. In this review, we briefly introduce the relationship between stress granules and amyloid protein aggregation that is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Then we highlight the regulatory role of LLPS in Aβ aggregation and discuss the potential relationship between Aβ phase transition and aggregation. Furthermore, we summarize the current structures of Aβ oligomers and amyloid fibrils, which have been determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM). The structural variations of Aβ aggregates provide an explanation for the different levels of toxicity, shed light on the aggregation mechanism and may pave the way towards structure‐based drug design for both clinical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer electrolyte membranes with superior lithium‐ion (Li+) conductivity and sufficient electrochemical stability are desired for all‐solid‐state lithium‐ion batteries (ASS‐LIBs). This paper reports novel polymer composite membranes consisting of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers (Nfs) containing lithium salts. It is first revealed that the lithium salt addition increases polar surface groups on the PAN nanofibers. Subsequently, the lithium salts‐containing PAN nanofiber (PAN/Li Nf) composite membrane affects the matrix poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/lithium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonylimide) (LiTFSI) electrolyte to increase the numbers of Li+ with high mobility. Consequently, the PAN/Li Nf composite membrane shows relatively good ion conductivity (σ = 9.0 × 10−5 S cm−1) and a considerably large Li+ transference number (tLi+ = 0.41) at 60 °C, compared to the PEO/LiTFSI membrane without nanofibers. The 6Li solid‐state NMR study supports that the PAN/Li Nf bearing abundant polar nitrile groups at their surface enhances Li+ diffusion in the PEO‐based electrolyte membranes. The galvanostatic constant current cycling tests reveal that the PAN/Li Nf composite membrane possesses good electrochemical and mechanical stabilities. The ASS‐LIB consisting of the PAN/Li Nf composite membrane shows significantly improved charge and discharge cycling performances, promising future all‐solid‐state batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na5YSi4O12 (NYSO) is demonstrated as a promising electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and low activation energy for practical use in solid Na-ion batteries. Solid-state NMR was employed to identify the six types of coordination of Na+ ions and migration pathway, which is vital to master working mechanism and enhance performance. The assignment of each sodium site is clearly determined from high-quality 23Na NMR spectra by the aid of Density Functional Theory calculation. Well-resolved 23Na exchangespectroscopy and electrochemical tracer exchange spectra provide the first experimental evidence to show the existence of ionic exchange between sodium at Na5 and Na6 sites, revealing that Na transport route is possibly along three-dimensional chain of open channel-Na4-open channel. Variable-temperature NMR relaxometry is developed to evaluate Na jump rates and self-diffusion coefficient to probe the sodium-ion dynamics in NYSO. Furthermore, NYSO works well as a dual ion conductor in Na and Li metal batteries with Na3V2(PO4)3 and LiFePO4 as cathodes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na5YSi4O12 (NYSO) is demonstrated as a promising electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and low activation energy for practical use in solid Na-ion batteries. Solid-state NMR was employed to identify the six types of coordination of Na+ ions and migration pathway, which is vital to master working mechanism and enhance performance. The assignment of each sodium site is clearly determined from high-quality 23Na NMR spectra by the aid of Density Functional Theory calculation. Well-resolved 23Na exchangespectroscopy and electrochemical tracer exchange spectra provide the first experimental evidence to show the existence of ionic exchange between sodium at Na5 and Na6 sites, revealing that Na transport route is possibly along three-dimensional chain of open channel-Na4-open channel. Variable-temperature NMR relaxometry is developed to evaluate Na jump rates and self-diffusion coefficient to probe the sodium-ion dynamics in NYSO. Furthermore, NYSO works well as a dual ion conductor in Na and Li metal batteries with Na3V2(PO4)3 and LiFePO4 as cathodes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigment Red 48:2 is an industrially important hydrazone pigment, used for the colouration of plastics and printing inks. The crystal structure of the commercial phase was solved and refined from X-ray powder diffraction data. The phase (P.R.48:2, α-phase) was found to be a monohydrate with a chemical composition of Ca[C18H11ClN2O6S]·H2O. Its tautomeric state was investigated by multinuclear solid-state NMR. The 15N CPMAS unambiguously revealed the compound to adopt the hydrazone tautomeric form in the solid state. In an unrestrained Rietveld refinement, the crystal structure did not significantly change. The crystal structure was confirmed by dispersion-corrected DFT optimisation, which also included the calculation of solid-state NMR chemical shifts. Heating the monohydrate to about 200 °C results in an anhydrate (P.R.48:2, β-phase), which has not been described before. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray powder diffraction, and confirmed by DFT-D, too. Solid-state NMR spectra confirmed that the crystal structure of P.R.48:2 remains mostly unchanged upon dehydration and that also the hydrazone tautomeric form is maintained. Both crystal structures are similar and present a double-layer structure. The non-polar layer contains the phenyl and naphthalene moieties, whereas the polar/ionic layer comprehends the calcium ions, carboxylate, sulfonate, carbonyl groups and water molecules. The calcium ions have a coordination number of 8 and 7 in the monohydrate and anhydrate phases, respectively. For the corresponding Mn salt (Pigment Red 48:4), at least two phases were found, but the quality of the powder patterns did not allow determining their crystal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulated body fluid (SBF) and artificial saliva (AS) are used in biomedical and dental research to mimic the physiological conditions of the human body. In this study, the biomimetic precipitation of double-doped amorphous calcium phosphate in SBF and AS are compared by thermodynamic modelling of chemical equilibrium in the SBF/AS-CaCl2-MgCl2-ZnCl2-K2HPO4-H2O and SBF/AS-CaCl2-MgCl2-ZnCl2-K2HPO4-Glycine/Valine-H2O systems. The saturation indices (SIs) of possible precipitate solid phases at pH 6.5, close to pH of AS, pH 7.5, close to pH of SBF, and pH 8.5, chosen by us based on our previous experimental data, were calculated. The results show possible precipitation of the same salts with almost equal SIs in the two biomimetic environments at the studied pHs. A decrease in the saturation indices of magnesium and zinc phosphates in the presence of glycine is a prerequisite for reducing their concentrations in the precipitates. Experimental studies confirmed the thermodynamic predictions. Only X-ray amorphous calcium phosphate with incorporated Mg (5.86–8.85 mol%) and Zn (0.71–2.84 mol%) was obtained in the experimental studies, irrespective of biomimetic media and synthesis route. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis showed that the synthesis route affects the degree of structural disorder of the precipitates. The lowest concentration of dopant ions was obtained in the presence of glycine. Further, the behaviour of the selected amorphous phase in artificial saliva was studied. The dynamic of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+ ions between the solid and liquid phases was monitored. Both direct excitation 31P NMR spectra and 1H-31P CP-MAS spectra proved the increase in the nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite phase upon increasing the incubation time in AS, which is more pronounced in samples with lower additives. The effect of the initial concentration of doped ions on the solid phase transformation was assessed by solid-state NMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing is essential for the stability of biological drug substances and products, particularly in frozen solution formulations and during the primary drying of lyophilized preparations. However, the unfrozen segment within the frozen matrix can alter solute concentration, ionic strength, and stabilizer crystallization, posing risks of increased biophysical instability and faster chemical degradation. While quantifying the unfrozen water content is important for designing stable biopharmaceuticals, there is a lack of analytical techniques for in situ quantitative measurements. In this study, we introduce a 1H magic angle spinning NMR technique to identify the freezing point (T ice) and quantify mobile water content in frozen biologics, applying this method to analyze the freezing of a commercial high-concentration drug product, Dupixent®. Our results demonstrate that water freezing is influenced by buffer salt properties and formulation composition, including the presence of sugar cryoprotectants and protein concentration. Additionally, the 1H chemical shift can probe pH in the unfrozen phase, potentially predicting the microenvironmental acidity in the frozen state. Our proposed methodology provides fresh insights into the analysis of freeze-concentrated solutions, enhancing our understanding of the stability of frozen and lyophilized biopharmaceuticals. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of polyolefins for multiple life cycles is becoming a legislative requirement in the South African plastics industry. This study shows that this cannot be a blanket requirement for all polyolefins. While HDPE displays good resistance to weathering, the decrease in molecular weight limits the maximum number of life cycles before which the resultant product has lost all integrity. Impact polypropylenes fare much worse during weathering and more than 50% of impact properties are lost within the first 12 months of exposure. The blending of virgin material into degraded material can recover some properties of HDPE but not in the case of impact polypropylenes. The same legislation can therefore not be applied to all plastics and specific targets should depend on polymer composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between proteins and osmolytes are ubiquitous within cells, assisting in response to environmental stresses. However, our understanding of protein–osmolyte interactions underlying desiccation tolerance is limited. Here, we employ solid‐state NMR (ssNMR) to derive information about protein conformation and site‐specific interactions between the model protein, SH3, and the osmolyte trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO). The data show that SH3–TMAO interactions maintain key structured regions during desiccation and facilitate reversion to the protein's native state once desiccation stress is even slightly relieved. We identify 10 types of residues at 28 sites involved in the SH3–TMAO interactions. These sites comprise hydrophobic, positively charged, and aromatic amino acids located in SH3's hydrophobic core and surface clusters. TMAO locks both the hydrophobic core and surface clusters through its zwitterionic and trimethyl ends. This double locking is responsible for desiccation tolerance and differs from ideas based on exclusion, vitrification, and water replacement. ssNMR is a powerful tool for deepening our understanding of extremely weak protein−osmolyte interactions and providing insight into the evolutionary mechanism of environmental tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silkworms and spiders are capable of generating fibers that are both highly durable and elastic in a short span of time, using a silk solution stored within their bodies at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. The dragline silk fiber, which is essentially a spider's lifeline, surpasses the strength of a steel wire of equivalent thickness. Regrettably, humans have yet to replicate this process to produce fibers with similar high strength and elasticity in an eco-friendly manner. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to thoroughly comprehend the extraordinary structure and fibrillation mechanism of silk, and leverage this understanding in the manufacturing of high-strength, high-elasticity fibers. This review will delve into the recent progress in comprehending the structure of silks derived from silkworms and spiders, emphasizing the distinctive attributes of solidstate NMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodopsin is a seven-helical transmembrane protein with a retinal chromophore covalently bound to a conserved lysine in helix G via a retinal protonated Schiff base (RPSB). Microbial rhodopsins absorb light through chromophore and play a fundamental role in optogenetics. Numerous microbial rhodopsins have been discovered, contributing to diverse functions and colors. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been instrumental in elucidating the conformation of chromophores and the three-dimensional structure of microbial rhodopsins. This review focuses on the 15N chemical shift values of RPSB and summarizes recent progress in the field. We displayed the correlation between the 15N isotropic chemical shift values of RPSB and the maximum absorption wavelength of rhodopsin using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest light-harvesting antenna in nature, the chlorosome, is a heterogeneous helical BChl self-assembly that has evolved in green bacteria to harvest light for performing photosynthesis in low-light environments. Guided by NMR chemical shifts and distance constraints for Chlorobaculum tepidum wild-type chlorosomes, the two contrasting packing modes for syn-anti parallel stacks of BChl c to form polar 2D arrays, with dipole moments adding up, are explored. Layered assemblies were optimized using local orbital density functional and plane wave pseudopotential methods. The packing mode with the lowest energy contains syn-anti and anti-syn H-bonding between stacks. It can accommodate R and S epimers, and side chain variability. For this packing, a match with the available EM data on the subunit axial repeat and optical data is obtained with multiple concentric cylinders for a rolling vector with the stacks running at an angle of 21° to the cylinder axis and with the BChl dipole moments running at an angle ß ∼ 55° to the tube axis, in accordance with optical data. A packing mode involving alternating syn and anti parallel stacks that is at variance with EM appears higher in energy. A weak cross-peak at -6 ppm in the MAS NMR with 50 kHz spinning, assigned to C-181, matches the shift of antiparallel dimers, which possibly reflects a minor impurity-type fraction in the self-assembled BChl c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study conducts a comprehensive analysis and comparison of Bombyx mori cuticles across different developmental stages, ranging from larval to adult, utilizing advanced solid-state NMR techniques. The primary objective is to elucidate the underlying reasons for the contrasting hardness of adult cuticles and softness of larval cuticles. Notably, PXRD analysis reveals a prominent broad peak at 19.34°, indicating the predominantly amorphous nature of both larval and adult cuticles. Analysis of 13C CP-MAS SSNMR spectra highlights an elevated proportion of phenoxy carbon in adult cuticles (6.77%) compared to larval cuticles (1.24%). Furthermore, a distinctive resonance line at 144 ppm is exclusively observed in adult cuticles, due to catechols, suggesting potential biochemical pathway variations during development. Significant variations in the primary components of 13C chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) tensors for aliphatic carbons of amino acids, catechols, and lipids between adult and larval cuticles indicate alterations in electronic environments. Additionally, the shorter spin–lattice relaxation time of carbon nuclei in larval cuticles compared to adult cuticles implies slower motional dynamics with enhanced degree of sclerotization in adults. By investigating the internal structure and dynamics of cuticles, this research not only contributes to biomimetic material development but also enhances our understanding of structural changes across different developmental stages of B. mori.

The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein forms a five-helix bundle in lipid bilayers whose cation-conducting activity is associated with the inflammatory response and respiratory distress symptoms of COVID-19. E channel activity is inhibited by the drug 5-(N,N-hexamethylene) amiloride (HMA). However, the binding site of HMA in E has not been determined. Here we use solid-state NMR to measure distances between HMA and the E transmembrane domain (ETM) in lipid bilayers. 13 C, 15 N-labeled HMA is combined with fluorinated or 13 C-labeled ETM. Conversely, fluorinated HMA is combined with 13 C, 15 N-labeled ETM. These orthogonal isotopic labeling patterns allow us to conduct dipolar recoupling NMR experiments to determine the HMA binding stoichiometry to ETM as well as HMA-protein distances. We find that HMA binds ETM with a stoichiometry of one drug per pentamer. Unexpectedly, the bound HMA is not centrally located within the channel pore, but lies on the lipid-facing surface in the middle of the TM domain. This result suggests that HMA may inhibit the E channel activity by interfering with the gating function of an aromatic network. These distance data are obtained under much lower drug concentrations than in previous chemical shift perturbation data, which showed the largest perturbation for N-terminal residues. This difference suggests that HMA has higher affinity for the protein-lipid interface than the channel pore. These results give insight into the inhibition mechanism of HMA for SARS-CoV-2 E.

This study presents the development of a synthesis route for sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N–A–S–H) gels with various Si/Al ratios carried out at ambient temperature. The synthesis is based on a simple "sol–gel" method, where commercial reactants are used to provide highly reactive Si and Al sources. Comprehensive characterization, including scanning electron microscope‐energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS), gas pycnometry, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (27Al, 23Na, 29Si, and 1H), is employed to verify the morphology, density, chemical composition, long‐range order, and local structure of the gels. Our results show that the synthesized gels are pure, amorphous, and homogeneous with Si/Al final ratio ranging from 1.22 to 2.23. Structural analysis of the gels indicates the synthesis of compounds with high degree of geopolymerization, which are representative of N–A–S–H gel formed in sodium‐based geopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of transient hybrid nanoscale metal species from homogeneous molecular precatalysts has been demonstrated by in situ NMR studies of catalytic reactions involving transition metals with N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands (M/NHC). These hybrid structures provide benefits of both molecular complexes and nanoparticles, enhancing the activity, selectivity, flexibility, and regulation of active species. However, they are challenging to identify experimentally due to the unsuitability of standard methods used for homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysis. Utilizing a sophisticated solid‐state NMR technique, we provide evidence for the formation of NHC‐ligated catalytically active Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) from Pd/NHC complexes during catalysis. The coordination of NHCs via C(NHC)−Pd bonding to the metal surface was first confirmed by observing the Knight shift in the 13C NMR spectrum of the frozen reaction mixture. Computational modeling revealed that as little as few NHC ligands are sufficient for complete ligation of the surface of the formed PdNPs. Catalytic experiments combined with in situ NMR studies confirmed the significant effect of surface covalently bound NHC ligands on the catalytic properties of the PdNPs formed by decomposition of the Pd/NHC complexes. This observation shows the crucial influence of NHC ligands on the activity and stability of nanoparticulate catalytic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations on binary lead‐bearing glass systems have shown that Pb2+ functions as a charge compensator at low concentrations and can participate in network formation at higher loadings. We use multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the mechanism underlying this dual‐role nature of Pb2+ in ternary lead‐borate glasses containing aluminum or gallium. 207Pb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra—in conjunction with charge‐balance calculations, bond‐valence principles, and precedents from crystalline lead‐borates—are interpreted in terms of high‐ and low‐coordinate Pb2+ species, representing charge‐compensating "network modifier" sites and covalently‐bound "network forming" sites, respectively. Both high‐field 27Al and 71Ga magic‐angle spinning NMR spectra indicate the presence of substantial fractions of four, five, and six‐fold coordinated Al/Ga, reinforcing the isostructural nature of these elements. However, systematic differences in the boron speciation in Al‐ and Ga‐bearing glasses reveal that their size difference has a measurable effect on the short‐range structure in these glasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrilotris(methylenephenylphosphinic) acid (NTPAH3) was silylated using hexamethyldisilazane to produce the tris(trimethylsilyl) derivative NTPA(SiMe3)3. From the latter, upon alcoholysis in chloroform, NTPAH3 could be recovered. Thus, a new modification of that phosphinic acid formed. Meanwhile, NTPAH3 synthesized in aqueous hydrochloric acid crystallized in the space group P3c1 with the formation of O-H⋅⋅⋅O H-bonded networks (NTPAH3P), in chloroform crystals in the space group R3c formed (NTPAH3M), the constituents of which are individual molecules with exclusively intramolecular O-H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds. Both solids, NTPAH3P and NTPAH3M, were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, multi-nuclear (1H, 13C, 31P) solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and IR spectroscopy as well as quantum chemical calculations (both of their individual constituents as isolated molecules as well as in the periodic crystal environment). In spite of the different stabilities of their constituting molecular conformers, the different crystal packing interactions rendered the modifications of NTPAH3P and NTPAH3M similarly stable. In both solids, the protons of the acid are engaged in cyclic (O=P–O–H)3 H-bond trimers. Thus, the trialkylamine N atom of this compound is not protonated. IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy of these solids indicated stronger H-bonds in the (O=P–O–H)3 H-bond trimers of NTPAH3M over those in NTPAH3P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct determination of the equilibrium adsorption and spectroscopic observation of adsorbent‐adsorbate interaction is crucial to evaluate the olefin/paraffin separation performance of porous adsorbents. However, the experimental characterization of competitive adsorption of various adsorbates at atomic‐molecular level in the purification of multicomponent gas mixtures is challenging and rarely conducted. Herein, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy is employed to examine the effect of co‐adsorbed guest adsorbates on the separation of ethylene/ethane mixtures on Mg‐MOF‐74, Zn‐MOF‐74 and UTSA‐74. 1H MAS NMR facilitates the determination of equilibrium uptake and adsorption selectivity of ethylene/ethane in ternary mixtures. The co‐adsorption of H2O and CO2 significantly leads to the degradation of ethylene uptake and ethylene/ethane selectivity. The detailed host‐guest and guest‐guest interactions are unraveled by 2D 1H−1H spin diffusion homo‐nuclear correlation and static 25Mg NMR experiments. The experimental results verify H2O coordinated on open metal sites can supply a new adsorption site for ethylene and ethane. The effects of guest adsorbates on the adsorption capacity and adsorption selectivity of ethylene/ethane mixtures are in the following order: H2O>CO2>O2. This work provides a direct approach for exploring the equilibrium adsorption and detailed separation mechanism of multicomponent gas mixtures using MOFs adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to identify the structures of active sites to understand how catalysts function and to use that understanding to develop better catalytic materials. ZSM-5 zeolites with dominant Al(IV)-2 sites have been developed in this work. 1H-27Al 2D HMQC and 2D 1H TQ(DQ)-SQ NMR experiments have been performed to investigate the structural properties of this acidic site. The Al(IV)-2 sites have Brønsted and Lewis acid characteristics. The catalytic performance of Al(IV)-2 sites has been tested by n-dodecane cracking reactions. The catalytic results show that the Brønsted acidic strength of the Al(IV)-2 sites is comparable to that of the Al(IV)-1 sites, but the Al(IV)-2 sites' Lewis acid characteristics provide extra catalytic activity. We have gained valuable insights into the characteristics of Al(IV)-2 acid sites within these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solvent effects in catalytic reactions have received widespread attention as they can promote reaction rates and product selectivities by orders of magnitude. It is well accepted that the stable five‐membered cyclic intermediates formed between the solvent molecules and Ti species are crucial to the alkene epoxidation in a heterogeneous Ti(IV)−H2O2 system. However, the direct spectroscopic evidence of these intermediates is still missing and the corresponding reaction pathway for the alkene epoxidation remains unclear. By combining in situ 13C MAS NMR, two‐dimensional (2D) 1H−13C heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, the five‐membered ring structures, where the protic solvents (ROH), and aprotic solvent (acetone), coordinate and stabilize the active Ti species, are identified for the first time over Ti‐Beta/H2O2 system. Moreover, the role of these cyclic intermediates in the alkene epoxidation/hydration conversion is clarified. These results provide new insights into the solvent effect in liquid‐phase epoxidation/hydration reactions over Ti(IV)−H2O2 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and quantum chemical density functional theory (DFT) calculations are widely used to characterize vanadium centers in biological and pharmaceutically relevant compounds. Several techniques have been recently developed to improve the accuracy of predicted NMR parameters obtained from DFT. Fragment‐based and planewave‐corrected methods employing hybrid density functionals are particularly effective tools for solid‐state applications. A recent benchmark study involving molecular crystal compounds found that fragment‐based NMR calculations using hybrid density functionals improve the accuracy of predicted 51V chemical shieldings by 20% relative to traditional planewave methods. This work extends the previous study, including a careful analysis of 51V chemical shift anisotropy, electric field gradient calculations, and a more extensive test set. The accuracy of planewave‐corrected techniques and recently developed fragment‐based methods using electrostatic embedding based on the polarized continuum model (PCM) are found to be highly competitive with previous methods. Planewave‐corrected methods achieve a 34% improvement in the errors of predicted 51V chemical shieldings relative to planewave. Additionally, planewave‐corrected and fragment‐based calculations were performed using PCM embedding, improving the accuracy of predicted 51V chemical shielding (CS) tensor principal values by 30% and Cq values by 15% relative to traditional planewave methods. The performance of these methods is further examined using a redox‐active oxovandium complex and a common 51V NMR reference compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-linked glycosylation is an essential and highly conserved co- and post-translational protein modification in all domains of life. In humans, genetic defects in N-linked glycosylation pathways result in metabolic diseases collectively called Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation. In this modification reaction, a mannose rich oligosaccharide is transferred from a lipid-linked donor substrate to a specific asparagine side-chain within the -N-X-T/S- sequence (where X ≠ Proline) of the nascent protein. Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST), a multi-subunit membrane embedded enzyme catalyzes this glycosylation reaction in eukaryotes. In yeast, Ost4 is the smallest of nine subunits and bridges the interaction of the catalytic subunit, Stt3, with Ost3 (or its homolog, Ost6). Mutations of any C-terminal hydrophobic residues in Ost4 to a charged residue destabilizes the enzyme and negatively impacts its function. Specifically, the V23D mutation results in a temperature-sensitive phenotype in yeast. Here, we report the reconstitution of both purified recombinant Ost4 and Ost4V23D each in a POPC/POPE lipid bilayer and their resonance assignments using heteronuclear 2D and 3D solid-state NMR with magic-angle spinning. The chemical shifts of Ost4 changed significantly upon the V23D mutation, suggesting a dramatic change in its chemical environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a lyophilized protein/disaccharide system, the ability of the disaccharide to form a homogeneous mixture with the protein and to slow the protein mobility dictates the stabilization potential of the formulation. Human serum albumin was lyophilized with sucrose or trehalose in histidine, phosphate, or citrate buffer. 1H T1 relaxation times were measured by solid-state NMR spectroscopy and were used to assess the homogeneity and mobility of the samples after zero, six, and twelve months at different temperatures. The mobility of the samples decreased after 6 and 12 months storage at elevated temperatures, consistent with structural relaxation of the amorphous disaccharide matrix. Formulations with sucrose had lower mobility and greater stability than formulations with trehalose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of novel polymorphic ionic cocrystals of 3,4‐dicyanotelluradiazole and tetraphenylphosphonium bromide are synthesized and are characterized by single‐crystal XRD. Strong and directional non‐covalent chalcogen bonds (ChB) between Te and Br are analyzed via solid‐state NMR to reveal large and anisotropic J(125Te,79/81Br) coupling tensors, providing unequivocal evidence for non‐Fermi contact contributions across ChBs. Along with large 79/81Br quadrupolar couplings for the Br− anions, these data provide new tools to characterize chalcogen bonds and to differentiate between ChB polymorphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm formation protects bacteria from antibiotic treatment and host immune responses, making biofilm infections difficult to treat. Within biofilms, bacterial cells are entangled in a self‐produced extracellular matrix that typically includes exopolysaccharides. Molecular‐level descriptions of biofilm matrix components, especially exopolysaccharides, have been challenging to attain due to their complex nature and lack of solubility and crystallinity. Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has emerged as a key tool to determine the structure of biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides without degradative sample preparation. In this review, we discuss challenges of studying biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides and opportunities to develop solid‐state NMR approaches to study these generally intractable materials. We specifically highlight investigations of the exopolysaccharide called Pel made by the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We provide a roadmap for determining exopolysaccharide structure and discuss future opportunities to study such systems using solid‐state NMR. The strategies discussed for elucidating biofilm exopolysaccharide structure should be broadly applicable to studying the structures of other glycans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A versatile strategy for synthesizing tailored peptide based biradicals is presented. By labeling the protected amino acid hydroxyproline with PROXYL via the OH functionality and using this building block in solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), the obtained peptides become polarization agents for DNP enhanced solid-state NMR in biotolerant media. To analyze the effect of the radical position on the enhancement factor, three different biradicals are synthesized. The PROXYL spin-label is inserted in a collagen inspired artificial peptide sequence by binding through the OH group of the hydroxyproline moieties at specific position in the chain. This labeling strategy is universally applicable for any hydroxyproline position in a peptide sequence since solid-phase peptide synthesis is used to insert the building block. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses show the successful introduction of the spin label in the peptide chain and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirms its activity. Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhanced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments performed on frozen aqueous glycerol-d8 solutions containing these peptide radicals show significantly higher enhancement factors of up to 45 in 1H→13C cross polarization magic angle spinning (CP MAS) experiments compared to an analogous mono-radical peptide including this building block (ε ≈ 14). Compared to commercial biradicals such as AMUPol for which enhancement factors > 100 have been obtained in the past and which have been optimized in their structure, the obtained enhancement up to 45 for our biradicals presents a significant progress in radical design.

Layered rare earth hydroxides (LREHs) are a new family of ion-exchangeable layered metal hydroxides, which have extensive applications in various fields due to the unique properties of rare earth cations in the layered structure and the anion exchange capacity. The transformation of layered metal hydroxides to new layered phases that can be restored through the memory effect is critical for their chemistry and applications. However, the structure details of these new phases such as the coordination environments of rare earth cations/counterions and their evolution as a function of calcination temperature remain unclear to date. Herein, a comprehensive 89Y/35Cl solid-state NMR (ssNMR) and theoretical modeling approach was used to reveal the structural evolution of a representative LREH, namely LYH-Cl, upon calcination. We first identified partial decomposition products of Y3O(OH)5Cl2 and Y(OH)3 during the dehydration stage, then uncovered the preferential removal of hydroxide ions on yttrium sites coordinated with chlorine during the dehydroxylation stage, and finally determined the preferential removal of chlorine exposed to the surface of layers during the dechlorination stage. The coordination environments of Y3+ and Cl− undergo significant changes upon calcination, revealed by ssNMR experiments. These findings thus help us to overcome the obstacles impeding the rational design and synthesis of LREH-based functional materials via memory effect, underscoring the vast potential of ssNMR in deepening the understanding of layered metal hydroxides and related materials.

Abstract The recycling of polyolefins for multiple life cycles is becoming a legislative requirement in the South African plastics industry. This study shows that this cannot be a blanket requirement for all polyolefins. While HDPE displays good resistance to weathering, the decrease in molecular weight limits the maximum number of life cycles before which the resultant product has lost all integrity. Impact polypropylenes fare much worse during weathering and more than 50% of impact properties are lost within the first 12 months of exposure. The blending of virgin material into degraded material can recover some properties of HDPE but not in the case of impact polypropylenes. The same legislation can therefore not be applied to all plastics and specific targets should depend on polymer composition.

In recent years, several research units have introduced solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers. So far, solid-state NMR spectrometers have not been domestically manufactured and the equipment is completely dependent on imports. Therefore, both the instruments and sample preparation systems are expensive. The sample loading rotor is the crucial consumable in the magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR experiment. However, the extremely tough requirement on dimensional precision poses a great challenge in the machining of rotors. By analyzing the characteristics and practical applications of the imported 3.2 mm rotor and its sample preparation tools, we optimized the connection between the rotor parts, improved the sealing of rotor, and developed the MAS rotor and its sample preparation tools independently. The test results show that the self-made MAS rotor can run normally at 12 kHz, which meets the requirements of conventional solid-state NMR experiments. The sample preparation toolbox has advantages of simplicity and safety.

Two-dimensional MXene materials with the composition Ti3C2Tx, where T represents a surface termination species, have become popular for many applications due to their large surface areas, unique mechanical and electrochemical properties, and the ability to create thin single-layer systems. The high surface area and hydrophilicity of this material render it a viable option as a molecular adsorber in aqueous solutions. In recent studies, using a simplified synthesis method called minimally intensive layer delamination, we have shown how the surface functionalization (T) affects the material's ability to adsorb urea. Here, we present a new approach to enhancing urea adsorption by functionalizing the surface with amino acid and "amino acid-like" moieties such as glutamic acid, lysine, and l-dopa. The differences between these functionalized MXenes are probed using PXRD, XPS, and FTIR/Raman and solid-state 13C MAS NMR spectroscopy, which appear to emanate from distinct steric bonding configurations between each amino acid and the MXene surface, thus facilitating a variety of organic–urea interactions in these regions. In particular, solid-state 13C MAS NMR offers a detailed picture of each amino acid's bonding configuration based on peak shifting/broadening due to paramagnetic interactions with the Ti3+ positions within the MXene surface. Furthermore, corresponding solid-state 7Li MAS NMR measurements verified that the surface functionalization does, in fact, deintercalate Li+ ions, not only from Cu functionalization derivatives but also for particular organic-functionalized systems. It was found that glutamic acid-functionalized MXene has a maximum urea adsorption capability of 23.5 mg/g in aqueous media. This adsorption capacity was found to be superior compared to that of pristine MXene used in previous studies for urea adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) measurements of intact cell walls and cellular samples often generate spectra that are difficult to interpret due to the presence of many coexisting glycans and the structural polymorphism observed in native conditions. To overcome this analytical challenge, we present a statistical approach for analyzing carbohydrate signals using high‐resolution ssNMR data indexed in a carbohydrate database. We generate simulated spectra to demonstrate the chemical shift dispersion and compare this with experimental data to facilitate the identification of important fungal and plant polysaccharides, such as chitin and glucans in fungi and cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectic polymers in plants. We also demonstrate that chemically distinct carbohydrates from different organisms may produce almost identical signals, highlighting the need for high‐resolution spectra and validation of resonance assignments. Our study provides a means to differentiate the characteristic signals of major carbohydrates and allows us to summarize currently undetected polysaccharides in plants and fungi, which may inspire future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study displays a comprehensive investigation into the micro- and macrostructures of gluten and its responses to temperature-induced changes, employing various analytical techniques. The integration of time domain-nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR), and multiphoton laser microscopy (MLM) measurements facilitates the multidimensional examination of gluten's phase distribution and structure across various scales. Notably, TD-NMR helps to refine prior T2 assignments for hydrated gluten through dynamic T2 measurements at sub-zero temperatures. The innovative application of TD-NMR uncovers insights into freezable water quantities and their changes under varying temperature conditions. Through real-time analyses utilizing not only TD-NMR but also MLM techniques, along with SE-HPLC measurements, the study highlights increased lacunarities in the gluten structure, particularly between 60 and 85 °C. These structural changes are attributed to heating effects that unfold and denature proteins and culminate in aggregation and crosslinking phenomena, leading to the release of water into macropores, hence changes in the water distribution in the gluten matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Ionic liquids (ILs) have great potential to facilitate transdermal and topical drug delivery. Here, we investigated the mechanism of action of amphiphilic ILs 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium bromide (C 8 MIM) and 3-dodecyl-1-methylimidazolium bromide (C 12 MIM) in skin barrier lipid models in comparison to their complex effects in human skin. C 8 MIM incorporated in a skin lipid model was a better permeation enhancer than C 12 MIM for water and model drugs, theophylline and diclofenac. Solid state 2H NMR and X-ray diffraction indicated that both ILs prefer the cholesterol-rich regions in skin lipids without significantly perturbing their lamellar arrangement and that C 8 MIM induces the formation of an isotropic lipid phase to a greater extent compared to C 12 MIM. C 12 MIM applied topically to the lipid model or human skin as a pretreatment was more potent than C 8 MIM. When co-applied with the drugs to human skin, aqueous C 12 MIM was more potent than C 8 MIM in enhancing theophylline permeation, but neither IL affected (even decreased) diclofenac permeation. Thus, the IL's ability to permeabilize skin lipid barrier is strongly modulated by its ability to reach the site of action and its interactions with drug and solvent. Such an interplay is far from trivial and requires detailed investigation to realize the full potential of ILs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The envelope (E) proteins of coronaviruses (CoVs) form cation‐conducting channels that are associated with the pathogenicity of these viruses. To date, high‐resolution structural information about these viroporins is limited to the SARS‐CoV E protein. To broaden our structural knowledge of other members of this family of viroporins, we now investigate the conformation of the E protein of the human coronavirus (hCoV), NL63. Using two‐ and three‐dimensional magic‐angle‐spinning NMR, we have measured 13C and 15N chemical shifts of the transmembrane domain of E (ETM), which yielded backbone (ϕ, ψ) torsion angles. We further measured the water accessibility of NL63 ETM at neutral pH versus acidic pH in the presence of Ca2+ ions. These data show that NL63 ETM adopts a regular α‐helical conformation that is unaffected by pH and the N‐terminal ectodomain. Interestingly, the water accessibility of NL63 ETM increases only modestly at acidic pH in the presence of Ca2+ compared to neutral pH, in contrast to SARS ETM, which becomes much more hydrated at acidic pH. This difference suggests a structural basis for the weaker channel conductance of α‐CoV compared to β‐CoV E proteins. The weaker E channel activity may in turn contribute to the reduced virulence of hCoV‐NL63 compared to SARS‐CoV viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐containing chalcogenide materials are emerging as a class of solid electrolytes for application in inexpensive all‐solid‐state sodium‐ion batteries due to their high ionic conductivity, abundance, and degree of synthetic and structural variability. Members of the solid solution Na3PS4−xSex, which are promising solid electrolytes for sodium‐ion batteries, are prepared by reaction at high temperature. With increasing substitution of S by Se, the structure transforms from tetragonal (space group P4¯$\bar{4}$21c for x = 0, 1) to cubic (space group I4¯$\bar{4}$3m for x = 2, 3, 4). Within the solid solution, the S and Se atoms are completely disordered in the environments around the P atoms, in accordance with a binomial distribution, as inferred by the 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. In 23Na NMR experiments conducted at different magnetic fields and temperatures, quadrupolar lineshapes are observed that are influenced by sodium ion dynamics; the activation energies decrease from 0.21 to 0.15 eV on progressing from the S‐ to the Se‐rich members. A dynamic model is proposed to account for the changes in the 23Na quadrupolar lineshapes by switching the orientations of the electric field gradient and chemical shift anisotropy tensors when Na+ ions hop to the four nearest Na sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β‐Keto‐enamine‐linked 2D covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as highly robust materials, showing significant potential for practical applications. However, the exclusive reliance on 1,3,5‐triformylphloroglucinol (Tp aldehyde) in the design of such COFs often results in the production of non‐porous amorphous polymers when combined with certain amine building blocks. Attempts to adjust the crystallinity and porosity by a modulator approach are inefficient because Tp aldehyde readily forms stable β‐keto‐enamine‐linked monomers/oligomers with various aromatic amines through an irreversible keto‐enol tautomerization process. Our research employed a unique protection‐deprotection strategy to enhance the crystallinity and porosity of β‐keto‐enamine‐linked squaramide‐based 2D COFs. Advanced solid‐state NMR studies, including 1D 13C CPMAS, 1H fast MAS, 15N CPMAS, 2D 13C−1H correlation, 1H−1H DQ‐SQ, and 14N−1H HMQC NMR were used to establish the atomic‐level connectivity within the resultant COFs. The TpOMe‐Sqm COFs synthesized utilizing this strategy have a surface area of 487 m2 g−1, significantly higher than similar COFs synthesized using Tp aldehyde. Furthermore, detailed time‐dependent PXRD, solid‐state 13C CPMAS NMR, and theoretical DFT studies shed more light on the crystallization and linkage conversion processes in these 2D COFs. Ultimately, we applied this protection‐deprotection method to construct novel keto‐enamine‐linked highly porous organic polymers with a surface area of 1018 m2 g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered materials such as bismuth oxyhalides (especially BiOBr and BiOI) are the focus of research attention as photocatalysts due to their visible light activity, unique electronic structure, excellent chemical and physical stability, and internal electric field effect. We report the solvothermal synthesis of BiOX solid solutions with continuously tunable optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra. We employed solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) characterization to probe the local environment around Bi atoms. We determined that the synthesized BiOX solid solutions exhibit good agreement with Vegard's law through refinement of the lattice parameters using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and complementary atomic-level 209Bi SSNMR spectroscopy. The solid solution strategy makes it possible to modulate the light absorption of BiOX and tune the redox potentials corresponding to the electronic band edges to drive chemical reactions. The BiOX solid solutions demonstrated superior performance in sunlight-driven photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting. The best performing solid solution generated a photocurrent density of 1.5 mA cm–2 and a H2 evolution rate of 16.32 μmol g–1 h–1 for photoelectrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic hydrogen generation, respectively, and the enhanced performance is attributed to a higher specific surface area, a shorter carrier transit distance, and a higher electron density. The approximate order of magnitude performance improvement compared to pristine BiOBr and BiOI photoanodes was primarily due to optimal light harvesting combined with adequate thermodynamic driving force to drive water oxidation and proton reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, we report on the TEMPO-mediated oxidation of pulp fibers used in the general context of papermaking and for the future design of tailor-made paper in advanced applications. We focus in our studies on properties of TEMPO-oxidized pulp fibers to explain the characteristics of the paper made thereof. 13C solid-state NMR analysis reveals that in particular amorphous regions of the fibers are being chemically oxidized, while at the same time the crystalline regions of the fibers are not significantly affected. Investigation of the fiber morphology before and after oxidation shows that the fiber length is not changed, yet the fibers do exhibit an increase in width if in contact with water, which is attributed to an increase in fiber swelling. In addition, fibrillation decreases due to the oxidative removal of loosely bound fines and fibrils, rendering the surface of the resulting oxidized fibers much smoother in comparison to the original fibers. Finally, we observe that both, dry and wet tensile strengths are also higher for paper made of oxidized fibers, most likely due to cross linkable aldehyde groups formed during oxidation (i.e. hemiacetal bond formation in the sheet during thermal drying). Our results of the oxidation of paper fibers thus offer a systematic study helpful for the design of tailor-made paper useful in several applications where a fiber-modification with fiber-immobilized functional motifs is crucial, such as for example in paper-based microfluidic sensors (µPADs) or lab-on a chip-devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungal cell wall plays a critical role in regulating cellular integrity and communication, and serves as a frontline defense against stress. It is also a prime target for the development of antifungal agents. The cell wall is comprised of diverse polysaccharides and proteins and poses a challenging target for high-resolution structural characterization. Recently, the solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) analysis of intact Aspergillus fumigatus cells has provided atomic-level insights into the structural polymorphism and functional assembly principles of carbohydrate components within the cell wall. This physical perspective, alongside structural information from biochemical assays, offers a renewed understanding of the cell wall as a highly complex and dynamic organelle. Here, we summarize key conceptual advancements in the structural elucidation of A. fumigatus mycelial and conidial cell walls and their responses to stressors. We also highlight underexplored areas and discuss the opportunities facilitated by technical advancements in ssNMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) are membrane proteins converting photonic excitations into electric gradients. The heliobacterial RCs (HbRCs) are assumed to be the precursors of all known RCs, making them a compelling subject for investigating structural and functional relationships. A comprehensive picture of the electronic structure of the HbRCs is still missing. In this work, the combination of selective isotope labelling of 13C and 15N nuclei and the utilization of photo-CIDNP MAS NMR (photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) allows for highly enhanced signals from the radical-pair-forming cofactors. The remarkable magnetic-field dependence of the solid-state photo-CIDNP effect allows for observation of positive signals of the electron donor cofactor at 4.7 T, which is interpreted in terms of a dominant contribution of the differential relaxation (DR) mechanism. Conversely, at 9.4 T, the emissive signals mainly originate from the electron acceptor, due to the strong activation of the three-spin mixing (TSM) mechanism. Consequently, we have utilized two-dimensional homonuclear photo-CIDNP MAS NMR at both 4.7 T and 9.4 T. These findings from experimental investigations are corroborated by calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). This allows us to present a comprehensive investigation of the electronic structure of the cofactors involved in electron transfer (ET). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]