Monolayer InP3 as a reversible anode material for ultrafast charging lithium- and sodium-ion batteries.

The first series of niobium-tungsten-lanthanide (Nb-W-Ln) heterometallic polyoxometalates {Ln W O (H O) (Nb O ) } (Ln=Y, La, Sm, Eu, Yb) have been obtained, which are comprised of giant cluster-in-cluster-like ({Ln W }-in-{Nb }) structures built from 12 hexaniobate {Nb O } clusters gathered together by a rare 24-nuclearity sodalite-type heterometal-oxide cage {Ln W O (H O) }. The Nb-W-Ln clusters present the largest multi-metal polyoxoniobates and a series of rare high-nuclearity 4d-5d-4f multicomponent clusters. Furthermore, the giant Nb-W-Ln clusters may be isolated as discrete inorganic alkali salts and can be used as building blocks to form high-dimensional inorganic-organic hybrid frameworks.

A series containing the highest nuclearity polyoxoniobate (PONb) nanoclusters, ranging from dimers to tetramers, has been obtained. They include one 114-nuclear {Li ⊂Nb O }, one 81-nuclear {Li K⊂Nb O }, and one 52-nuclear {H Nb O }. The Nb nuclearity of these PONbs is remarkably larger than those of all known high-nuclearity PONbs (≤32). Furthermore, the introduction of 3d Cu ions can lead to the generation of extended inorganic-organic hybrid frameworks built from novel, high-nuclearity, nanoscale heterometallic PONb building blocks {H Cu Nb O } or {H Cu (en)Nb O }. These building blocks also contain the largest number of Nb centers of any heterometallic PONbs reported to date. The synthesis of new-type PONbs has long been a challenging subject in PONb chemistry.

A protein-sized (ca. 4.2×4.2×3.6 nm ) non-biologically derived molecule {Nb O (OH) (CO ) } (Nb ) containing up to 288 niobium atoms has been obtained, which is by far the largest and the highest nuclearity polyoxoniobate (PONb). Particularly, in terms of metal nuclearity number, Nb is the second largest cluster so far reported in classic polyoxometalate chemistry (V, Mo, W, Nb, and Ta). Nb can be described as a giant windmill-like cluster aggregate of six nanoscale high-nuclearity PONb units {Nb O (OH) (CO ) } (Nb ) joined together by six additional Nb ions. Interestingly, the 47-nuclearity Nb units generated in situ can be isolated and bridged by copper complexes to form an inorganic-organic hybrid three-dimensional PONb framework, which exhibits effective catalytic activity for hydrolyzing nerve agent simulant of dimethyl methylphosphonate. The unique Nb cluster also provides a new type of topology to very limited family of Nb-O clusters.

Sesamol is a strong antioxidant phenolic compound found in sesame seed. It possesses the ability to scavenge intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to inhibit malic enzyme activity and NADPH supply, resulting possibly in cell proliferation and alteration in the fatty acid composition. In the present study, the effect of sesamol on the growth and accumulation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was investigated in the marine microalga Crypthecodinium cohnii, a prolific producer of DHA. C. cohnii showed a great decrease in the intracellular ROS level with the addition of sesamol. In contrast, the biomass concentration, DHA content (% of total fatty acids), and DHA productivity were significantly increased by 44.20, 11.25, and 20.00%, respectively (P < 0.01). Taken together, this work represents the first report of employing sesamol for enhanced production of DHA by C. cohnii, providing valuable insights into this alga for future biotechnological applications.