We successfully fabricated a highly anisotropic electrical conductive microcoil/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite based on helical Spirulina-templated metallic particles using an electric field-induced alignment method. The optimized AC electric field (2 kV/cm, 1 kHz) could efficiently assemble the lightweight conductive microcoils into continuous long chains and form unique end-to-end physical contacts between adjacent particles in the alignment direction, leading to highly conductive channels. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity in the alignment direction reached up to ∼10 S/m for 1 wt % loading and exhibited almost 7-8 orders of magnitude higher than that in perpendicular directions, which is by far the most remarkable conductive anisotropy for anisotropic conductive composites (ACCs). In addition, the anisotropic composites exhibit excellent current-carrying capability in a functional light emitting diode (LED) circuit. Therefore, due to the superior conductive anisotropy and high conductivity, the composites have promising potential in high reliability electrical interconnections and subminiature integrated circuits.
Lactobacillus plantarum could relieve diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), but the remission mechanism has not been fully explained. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability...
Polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) has caused serious environmental
concerns. Recent studies show that a two-enzyme system in Ideonella sakaiensis is capable of degrading and
upcycling PET. Here, with the molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics/molecular
mechanics approaches, we systemically investigated the Ideonella sakaiensis PETase (IsPETase)-
and Ideonella sakaiensis MHETase (IsMHETase)-catalyzed degradation processes. We reveal that
both of the enzymes involve four elementary steps: (i) Ser-His-Asp-initiated
nucleophilic attack, (ii) C–O bond cleavage, (iii) nucleophilic
attack by water molecules, and (iv) IsPETase/IsMHETase deacylation. Statistical results from 20 independent
conformations highlight that step (i) and (iv) are competitive for
determining the turnover rate of IsPETase while step
(iv) is the rate-determining step for IsMHETase.
With the newly developed strategy, possible features (bonds, angles,
dihedral angles, and charges) that influence the enzymatic catalysis
were screened and identified. Robust relationship between active site
features and activation energies were established. Distortion-interaction,
hydrogen network, and noncovalent interaction analysis highlight the
roles of distortion/interaction energy, hydrogen network, and weak
interactions in the IsPETase- and IsMHETase-catalyzed cascade degradation of PET. These results deepen
our understanding on the origin of the catalytic power of IsPETase and IsMHETase and may enhance
the plastic recycling and sustainability at ambient temperature.
Bimetallic Fe/Mn nanoparticles and N-doped carbon nanotubes in FeMn@NCNT synergistically activate peroxymonosulfate to form SO4˙−, ˙OH, O2˙− and 1O2 for decomposing acetamiprid.
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