Southwest University

About: Southwest University is a education organization based out in Chongqing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Gene & Population. The organization has 29772 authors who have published 27755 publications receiving 409441 citations. The organization is also known as: Southwest University in Chongqing & SWU.

Technologies and perspectives for achieving carbon neutrality

Abstract: Global development has been heavily reliant on the overexploitation of natural resources since the Industrial Revolution. With the extensive use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and other forms of land-use change, anthropogenic activities have contributed to the ever-increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, causing global climate change. In response to the worsening global climate change, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is the most pressing task on the planet. To this end, it is of utmost importance and a significant challenge to reform the current production systems to reduce GHG emissions and promote the capture of CO2 from the atmosphere. Herein, we review innovative technologies that offer solutions achieving carbon (C) neutrality and sustainable development, including those for renewable energy production, food system transformation, waste valorization, C sink conservation, and C-negative manufacturing. The wealth of knowledge disseminated in this review could inspire the global community and drive the further development of innovative technologies to mitigate climate change and sustainably support human activities.

EFMCDM: Evidential Fuzzy Multicriteria Decision Making Based on Belief Entropy

Abstract: Multicriteria decision making (MCDM) has become one of the most frequently applied decision making methodologies in various fields. However, uncertainty is inevitably involved in the process of MCDM due to the subjectivity of humans. To address this issue, a novel evidential fuzzy MCDM method, called EFMCDM, is proposed by integrating Dempster–Shafer theory with belief entropy. In particular, each criterion can be modeled as evidence, and all the alternatives compose the frame of discernment in the framework of Dempster–Shafer theory. To generate more appropriate basic probability assignments (BPAs) of the criteria, the EFMCDM method considers both the subjective and objective weighting of the criteria that are leveraged in MCDM problems. Thereafter, the classic Dempster's rule of combination is leveraged to fuse the multiple pieces of evidence into composite evidence. On this basis, the alternatives are ranked to determine the optimal alternative. In addition, the EFMCDM method can quantitatively model uncertainty and help to decrease the uncertainty caused by subjective human cognition to improve decision making. Finally, the rationality, effectiveness, and robustness of the EFMCDM method are demonstrated through experimental evaluations.

Size-controllable Fe-N/C single-atom nanozyme with exceptional oxidase-like activity for sensitive detection of alkaline phosphatase

Abstract: Nanozymes become currently a frontier of chemical research. However, exploiting a novel nanozyme with high activity, good stability and reproducibility is challenging. Here, size-controllable Fe-N/C nanozymes containing exclusive single Fe atoms coordinated Fe-Nx sites were succesfully prepared through a facile pyrolysis of size controllable Fe-Zn ZIFs precursors. The Fe-N/C nanozymes exhibit exceptional high oxidase-mimicking activity able to catalyze oxidation of colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by dissolved oxygen to generate blue product. Their catalytic activities can be regulated by modulating the molar ratios of methanol to metal salts (e.g., Fe and Zn) through which the size controllable Fe-Zn ZIFs precursors are obtained. Upon introduction of ascorbic acid (AA) into Fe-N/C/TMB system, complete inhibition of TMB oxidation was observed, resulting in significant decline in absorbance with a clear color change. In the presence of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AAP) is hydrolyzed to produce AA. When coupled with AAP, a novel colorimetric biosensor platform was fabricated for ALP activity screening in the range of 0.05 U/L-100 U/L (four orders of magnitude) with an ultra-low limit of detection of 0.02 U/L. The work provides a promising strategy to rationally design the transition metal-N/C single-atom nanozyme with high oxidase-like activity.

Polyol Synthesis of Ultrathin Pd Nanowires via Attachment-Based Growth and Their Enhanced Activity towards Formic Acid Oxidation

Abstract: Palladium wavy nanowires with an ultrathin diameter of 2 nm are synthesized using the polyol method without the involvement of any template. The success of this synthesis relies on the use of a suitable precursor that could be reduced instantaneously to generate a large number of small Pd nanoparticles. Due to a quick depletion of precursor, the small nanoparticles were unable to grow in size through atomic addition. In the case of low surface charges and high surface energies, these small nanoparticles were forced to coalesce into ultrathin nanowires with a wavy morphology via an attachment mechanism. Thanks to the unique structure and involvement of twin defects, the as-obtained Pd ultrathin nanowires show a catalytic current density of 2.5 times higher than the conventional Pd/C catalyst towards formic acid oxidation. This work not only offers a powerful route to the synthesis of nanowires through attachment-based growth but also opens the door to the rational design and fabrication of novel metal nanostructures with enhanced properties.