Browsing by Author "Zhou, L"

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    Identification of the hydrogen utilization pathway for the electrocatalytic hydrogenation of phenol
    (Springer Nature, 2021-08-19) Zhou, L; Zhu, XR; Su, H; Lin, HZ; Lyu, YH; Zhao, X; Chen, C; Zhang, N; Xie, C; Li, YY; Lu, Y; Zheng, JY; Johannessen, B; Jiang, SP; Liu, QH; Li, Y; Zou, Y; Wang, SG
    Electrochemical hydrogenation (ECH) of biomass-derived platform molecules is a burgeoning route for the sustainable utilization of hydrogen. However, the noble-metal-catalyzed ECH of phenolic compounds suffers from intense competition with hydrogen evolution reaction. We prepared PtRh bimetallic nanoparticles dispersed on highly ordered mesoporous carbon nanospheres, which improves the utilization efficiency of adsorbed hydrogen (Had) to ECH in H–UPD region (>0 V vs. RHE). Further analysis reveals (i) the strong overlapping between the d-orbitals of Pt and Rh enhances specific adsorption of phenol; (ii)incorporation of Rh devotes an electronic effect on weakening the alloy–Had interaction to increase the FE of ECH. DFT calculations confirm the selectivity difference and the ECH parallel pathways: cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone are formed via hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of the intermediate *C6H10OH. These findings deepen our fundamental understanding of the ECH process, and cast new light on exploration of highly efficient electrocatalysts for biomass upgrading. © 2019 Springer Nature
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    Non-glandular trichomes of sunflower are important in the absorption and translocation of foliar-applied Zn
    (Oxford University Press, 2021-06-22) Li, C; Wu, J; Blamey, FPC; Wang, LL; Zhou, L; Paterson, DJ; van der Ent, A; Fernández, V; Lombi, E; Wang, Y; Kopittke, PM
    Trichomes are potentially important for absorption of foliar fertilizers. A study has shown that the non-glandular trichromes (NGTs) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) accumulated high concentrations of foliar-applied zinc (Zn); however, the mechanisms of Zn accumulation in the NGTs and the fate of this Zn are unclear. Here we investigated how foliar-applied Zn accumulates in the NGTs and the subsequent translocation of this Zn. Time-resolved synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence microscopy and transcriptional analyses were used to probe the movement of Zn in the NGTs, with the cuticle composition of the NGTs examined using confocal Raman microscopy. The accumulation of Zn in the NGTs is both an initial preferential absorption process and a subsequent translocation process. This preferred absorption is likely because the NGT base has a higher hydrophilicity, whilst the subsequent translocation is due to the presence of plasmodesmata, Zn-chelating ligands, and Zn transporters in the NGTs. Furthermore, the Zn sequestered in the NGTs was eventually translocated out of the trichome once the leaf Zn concentration had decreased, suggesting that the NGTs are also important in maintaining leaf Zn homeostasis. This study demonstrates for the first time that trichomes have a key structural and functional role in the absorption and translocation of foliar-applied Zn. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.