Recently, considerable attention has been paid to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) which are based on Co(2+)/Co(3+) redox shuttles, because of their unparalleled merits including higher redox potential, reduced corrosiveness towards metallic conductors, low costs and high power conversion efficiencies (PCE) (13%). The counter electrode (CE) is an essential component in DSSCs, and plays a crucial role in catalyzing Co(3+) ion reduction in Co-based DSSCs. In this mini-review, we review recent developments in CE materials for Co-mediated DSSCs including: noble metal platinum (Pt), carbon materials, transition metal compounds (TMCs), polymers, and their corresponding hybrids, highlighting important contributions worldwide that promise low cost, efficient, and robust Co-mediated DSSC systems. Additionally, the crucial challenges associated with employing these low-cost CE catalysts for Co-based redox couples in DSSCs are stressed.
Bacterial biofilms are the root cause of persistent and chronic phytopathogenic bacterial infections. Therefore, developing novel agrochemicals that target the biofilm of phytopathogenic bacteria has been regarded as an innovative tactic to suppress their invasive infection or decrease bacterial drug resistance. In this study, a series of natural pterostilbene (PTE) derivatives were designed, and their antibacterial potency and antibiofilm ability were assessed. Notably, compound C 1 displayed excellent antibacterial potency in vitro, affording an EC 50 value of 0.88 μg mL −1 against Xoo (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae). C 1 could significantly reduce biofilm formation and extracellular polysaccharides (EPS). Furthermore, C 1 also possessed remarkable inhibitory activity against bacterial extracellular enzymes, pathogenicity, and other virulence factors. Subsequently, pathogenicity experiments were further conducted to verify the above primary outcomes. More importantly, C 1 with pesticide additives displayed excellent control efficiency. Given these promising profiles, these pterostilbene derivatives can serve as novel antibiofilm agents to suppress plant pathogenic bacteria.
Emerging pesticide-resistant phytopathogenic bacteria have become a stumbling block in the development and use of pesticides. Quorum sensing (QS) blockers, which interfere with bacterial virulence gene expression, are a compelling way to manage plant bacterial disease without resistance. Herein, a series of isopropanolamine-decorated coumarin derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their potency in interfering with QS was investigated. Notably, compound A 5 exhibited a better bioactivity with median effective concentration (EC 50 ) values of 6.75 mg L −1 against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) than bismerthiazol (EC 50 = 21.9 mg L −1 ). Further biochemical studies revealed that compound A 5 disturbed biofilm formation and suppressed bacterial virulence factors and so forth. Moreover, compound A 5 decreased the expression of QS-related genes. Interestingly, compound A 5 had the acceptable control effect (53.2%) toward Xoo in vivo. Overall, this study identifies a novel lead compound for the development of bactericide candidates to control plant bacterial diseases by interfering with QS.
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