Efficient evolution of hydrogen through electrocatalysis at low overpotentials holds tremendous promise for clean energy. Hydrogen evolution can be easily achieved by electrolysis at large potentials that can be lowered with expensive platinum-based catalysts. Replacement of Pt with inexpensive, earth-abundant electrocatalysts would be significantly beneficial for clean and efficient hydrogen e...

We found that twinned gold nanoparticles (T-AuNPs) are generated at a high probability by CO treatment of TiO2-supported Au(iii) at room temperature. Because of the formation of T-AuNPs, the Au/TiO2 prepared by the CO treatment showed higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation than Au/TiO2 prepared by conventional H2 treatment.

We describe a solid polyphenylene support that serves as an excellent platform for metal-catalyzed reactions that are normally carried out under homogeneous conditions. The catalyst is synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling which directly results in formation of palladium nanoparticles confined to a porous polyphenylene network. The composite solid is in turn highly active for furth...

PtAu nanoparticles (NPs) were shown to strongly enhance the kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in rechargeable Li-O(2) cells. Li-O(2) cells with PtAu/C were found to exhibit the highest round-trip efficiency reported to date. During ORR via xLi(+) + O(2) + xe(-) --> Li(x)O(2), the discharge voltage with PtAu/C was considerably higher than that of...

CO(2)-switchable gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared by functionalizing AuNPs with CO(2)-switchable polymers. Their dispersion-re-dispersion in and separation from aqueous solution can be easily and reproducibly adjusted by CO(2) bubbling through and removal from the solution, enabling unique CO(2) controllable, efficient in situ recycling of NPs. As compared to non-functionalized AuNPs, t...

Ordered gold (Au) mono- and bilayer structures have been synthesized on a highly reduced titania surface. The Au bilayer exhibits a significantly higher catalytic activity for carbon monoxide oxidation than does the Au monolayer structure. This is the first report of Au completely wetting an oxide surface and demonstrates that ultrathin Au films on an oxide surface have exceptionally high catal...

Conjugates of enzymes and poly(2-methyloxazoline) were used as organosoluble amphiphilic polymer nanocontainers for dissolving osmate, thereby converting the enzymes into organosoluble artificial metalloenzymes. These were shown to catalyze the dihydroxylation of different alkenes with high enantioselectivity. The highest selectivities, found for osmate complexed with laccase polymer-enzyme con...

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthase was engineered for biocatalytic production of SAM and long-chain analogues by rational re-design. Substitution of two conserved isoleucine residues extended the substrate spectrum of the enzyme to artificial S-alkylhomocysteines. The variants proved to be beneficial in preparative synthesis of SAM (and analogues) due to a much reduced product inhibition.

Growth rate, soluble-protein content, oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion, and digestive-enzyme activity were studied in Litopenaeus setiferus early postlarvae under four feeding regimens that included combinations of freshly hatched Artemia nauplii, microparticulate commercial diet, and algae. Growth and of postlarvae fed a mixed diet were significantly higher. Artificial diet used alone cau...

The front cover picture illustrates whole cells-based cascade reactions to produce (R)- and (S)-2-phenylglycinols from simple chemicals. Artificial enzyme cascades were developed for the one-pot green syntheses of bio-based L-phenylalanine. Natural L-phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway was coupled with artificial directly convert renewable feedstocks such as glucose glycerol (S)-2-phenylglycinol...