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Diffusion dynamics of charged nanoparticles on the lipid membrane is of essential importance to cellular functioning. Yet a fundamental insight into electrostatics-mediated diffusion dynamics of charged nanoparticles on the membrane is lacking and remains to be an urgent issue. Here we present the computational investigation to uncover the pivotal role of electrostatics in the diffusion dynamics of charged nanoparticles on the lipid membrane. Our results demonstrate diffusive behaviors and directional transport of a charged nanoparticle, significantly depending on the sign and spatial distribution of charges on its surface. In contrast to the Fickian diffusion of neutral nanoparticles, randomly charged nanoparticles undergo superdiffusive transport with directionality. However, the dynamics of uniformly charged nanoparticles favors Fickian diffusion that is significantly enhanced. Such observations can be explained in term of electrostatics-induced surface reconstruction and fluctuation of lipid membrane. We finally present an analytical model connecting surface reconstruction and local deformation of the membrane. Our findings bear wide implications for the understanding and control of the transport of charged nanoparticles on the cell membrane.

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Ethanol is an important bulk chemical with diverse applications. Biomass‐derived ethanol is traditionally produced by fermentation. Direct cellulose conversion to ethanol by chemocatalysis is particularly promising but remains a great challenge. Herein, a one‐pot hydrogenolysis of cellulose into ethanol was developed by using graphene‐layers‐encapsulated nickel (Ni@C) catalysts with the aid of H3PO4 in water. The cellulose was hydrolyzed into glucose, which was activated by forming cyclic di‐ester bonds between the OH groups of H3PO4 and glucose, promoting ethanol formation under the synergistic hydrogenation of Ni@C. A 69.1 % yield of ethanol (carbon mole basis) was obtained, which is comparable to the theoretical value achieved by glucose fermentation. An ethanol concentration of up to 8.9 wt % was obtained at an increased cellulose concentration. This work demonstrates a chemocatalytic approach for the high‐yield production of ethanol from renewable cellulosic biomass at high concentration.

Biomass, a renewable, sustainable and carbon dioxide neutral resource, has received widespread attention in the energy market as an alternative to fossil fuels. Thermal-chemical conversion of biomass to produce biofuels is a promising technology with many commercial applications. This paper reviewed the state-of-the-art research and development of thermal-chemical conversion of biomass in China with a special focus on gasification, pyrolysis, and catalytic transformation technologies. The advantages and disadvantages, potential of future applications, and challenges related to these technologies are discussed. Conclusively, these transformation technologies for the second-generation biofuels with using non-edible lignocellulosic biomass as feedstocks show prosperous perspective for commercial applications in near future.

The BN and BCNO phosphors were prepared at 750°C using different methods and their structure and luminescent properties were investigated. All the prepared samples were turbostratic boron nitride structure. The SEM and high‐resolution TEM images show that the BCNO phosphors are polycrystalline in nature and include some nanocrystals. The carbon and oxygen impurities have great effects on the excitation, emission, and absorption spectra of BN and BCNO phosphors. The first‐principle calculations results indicate that the carbon and oxygen impurities will produce energy levels in the band gap, which can affect the spectra properties of BCNO phosphors. The spectra properties of BN and BCNO phosphors can be well explained by a simplified energy level diagram.

In aqueous phosphoric acid, cellulose was efficiently converted into hexanes using a Ru/C catalyst combined with layered compounds or silica-alumina materials. In this process, the direct production of hexanes from cellulose can be improved by suppressing the formation of isosorbide, which makes it difficult to yield hexanes by further hydrodeoxygenation. As the co-catalyst, layered compounds showed a significant inhibition effect on the formation of isosorbide from sorbitol due to the steric restrictions of sorbitol dehydration within the interlayers of layered compounds. Typically, layered LiNbMoO 6 played a great role in promoting the production of hexanes directly from cellulose and a promising yield (72% carbon mol) of hexanes was obtained. In addition, the protonic acid, H 3 PO 4 , offered efficient catalysis for the hydrolysis of cellulose and the dehydration of the sorbitol hydroxyl moiety.Scheme 1 Direct catalytic conversion of cellulose into hexanes over Ru/C combined with LiNbMoO 6 in aqueous phosphoric acid. Scheme 2The efficient conversion of cellulose to hexanes over LiNbMoO 6 and Ru/C in aqueous phosphoric acid.This journal is