Inhibition of GLUD1 mediated by LASP1 and SYVN1 contributes to hepatitis B virus X protein-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Glutamate dehydrogenase 1 (GLUD1) is implicated in oncogenesis. However, little is known about the relationship between GLUD1 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we demonstrated that the expression levels of GLUD1 significantly decreased in tumors, which was relevant to the poor prognosis of HCC. Functionally, GLUD1 silencing enhanced the growth and migration of HCC cells. Mechanistically, the upregulation of interleukin-32 through AKT activation contributes to GLUD1 silencing-facilitated hepatocarcinogenesis. The interaction between GLUD1 and AKT, as well as α-ketoglutarate regulated by GLUD1, can suppress AKT activation. In addition, LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1) interacts with GLUD1 and induces GLUD1 degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, which relies on the E3 ubiquitin ligase synoviolin (SYVN1), whose interaction with GLUD1 is enhanced by LASP1. In hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC, the HBV X protein (HBX) can suppress GLUD1 with the participation of LASP1 and SYVN1. Collectively, our data suggest that GLUD1 silencing is significantly associated with HCC development, and LASP1 and SYVN1 mediate the inhibition of GLUD1 in HCC, especially in HBV-related tumors.

Facial growth and development trajectories based on three-dimensional images: geometric morphometrics with a deformation perspective.

Developmental changes of facial shape are commonly investigated through geometric morphometrics. A limitation with this approach is the inability to investigate patterns of morphological changes at local scale. This could be addressed through quantifying the deformation required to deform one shape to another. This study aimed to investigate changes in mean, rate and variance of facial shape at local scale using geometric morphometrics through deformation perspective. A total of 2112 Europeans 3 to 40 years old from the three-dimensional Facial Norms project were included. Shape and rate trajectories from partial least-squares regressions revealed that the developmentally protrusive nasal bridge was due to local expansion in surrounding tissues as opposed to shape changes in nasal bridge per se. Local expansion of the supraorbital region, in particular the medial part in males, resulted in the sloping forehead and deep-situated eyes with development. Facial shape variation increased nonlinearly with age (p < 0.05), with features having larger rate of change becoming more developmentally diversified. In summary, our deformation perspective facilitates unravelling morphogenetic processes underlying shape changes. Our extended analytical scope inspires novel measures worthy of consideration while establishing facial growth charts. The analytical framework in this study is broadly applicable for analysis of shape changes in general.

Hepatitis B virus core protein stabilizes RANGAP1 to upregulate KDM2A and facilitate hepatocarcinogenesis.

PURPOSE: As a vital component of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleocapsid, HBV core protein (HBC) contributes to hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we aimed to assess the effects of RANGAP1 and KDM2A on tumorigenesis induced by HBC. METHODS: Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) combined with mass spectrometry were utilized to identify the proteins with the capacity to interact with HBC. The gene and protein levels of RANGAP1 and KDM2A in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and HBV-positive HCC tissues were evaluated using different cohorts. The roles of RANGAP1 and KDM2A in HCC cells mediated by HBC were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Co-IP and western blot were used to estimate the interaction of HBC with RANGAP1 and KDM2A and assess RANGAP1 stabilization regulated by HBC. RESULTS: We discovered that HBC could interact with RANGAP1 and KDM2A, the levels of which were markedly elevated in HCC tissues. Relying on RANGAP1 and KDM2A, HBC facilitated HCC cell growth and migration. The increased stabilization of RANGAP1 mediated by HBC was relevant to the disruption of the interaction between RANGAP1 and an E3 ligase SYVN1. RANGAP1 interacted with KDM2A, and it further promoted KDM2A stabilization by disturbing the interaction between KDM2A and SYVN1. HBC enhanced the interaction of KDM2A with RANGAP1 and upregulated the expression of KDM2A via RANGAP1 in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate a novel mechanism by which HBC facilitates hepatocarcinogenesis. RANGAP1 and KDM2A could act as potential molecular targets for treating HBV-associated malignancy.

Burden, Trends, and Inequality of Dental Caries in the U.S., 1990-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Over the past 2 decades in the U.S., the reduced burden and narrowed inequality in oral health among children are in stark contrast with the high burden and widening inequality in adult oral health. This study aimed to explore the burden, trends, and inequalities of untreated caries in permanent teeth in the U.S. during 1990-2019. METHODS: Data on burden of untreated caries in permanent teeth were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. A set of advanced analytical methods were applied to provide an in-depth characterization of the epidemiologic profile of dental caries in the U.S. Analyses were conducted during April 2022-October 2022. RESULTS: In 2019, age-standardized incidence and prevalence of untreated caries in permanent teeth were respectively 39,111.7 (95% uncertainty interval=35,073.0-42,964.9) and 21,722.5 (95% uncertainty interval=18,748.7-25,090.3) per 100,000 person-years. Population growth was the primary driver of the increased caries cases, which contributed 31.3% and 31.0% of the increase in the number of incident and prevalent caries cases, respectively, during 1990-2019. The highest caries burden was noted in Arizona, West Virginia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The slope index of inequality remained stable (p=0.076), whereas the relative index of inequality increased significantly (average annual percent change=0.04, p<0.001) in the U.S. The burden of untreated caries in permanent teeth remained significant with a widening cross-state inequality during 1990-2019. CONCLUSIONS: The oral healthcare system in the U.S. needs to prioritize health promotion and prevention with a focus on expanding access, affordability, and equity.

Correction: Magnetoconductance modulations due to interlayer tunneling in radial superlattices.

Correction for 'Magnetoconductance modulations due to interlayer tunneling in radial superlattices' by Yu-Jie Zhong et al., Nanoscale Horiz., 2022, 7, 168-173, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NH00449B.

Bifunctional tetrazole-carboxylate ligand based Zn(ii) complexes: synthesis and their excellent potential anticancer properties.

Transition metal coordination complexes have provided cancer treatment with new insights to overcome the limitations of current chemotherapeutic agents. Utilization of bifunctional tetrazole-carboxylate ligands with Zn(ii) obtained two self-assembled complexes [Zn(HL1)(bipy)3/2(H2O)]·CH3OH·4(H2O) (1) (H3L1 = 1,3,5-tri(2-carboxymethyltetrazol-5-yl) benzene) and [Zn(L2)2(H2O)2]2·2H2O (2) (HL2 = (5-pyridin-3-yl-tetrazol-2-yl)-acetic acid). The X-ray diffraction results showed that the two complexes displayed a two-dimensional (2D) layer structure and a one-dimensional (1D) layer structure. Nanocoprecipitation with DSPE-PEG-2000 resulted in the formation of complex nanoparticles (NPS) with excellent water dispersion. In vitro CCK-8 assay indicated the two NPs exert high cytotoxicity and sensitivity and a low half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) towards HeLa than HepG2 cells. In addition, the cytotoxicity was also confirmed by live/dead co-stained experiments. The presented experimental results showed the 1 and 2 NPs were capable of inhibiting cell proliferation in vitro and may help design coordination complex-based anticancer candidates for cancer cells.

Magnetoconductance modulations due to interlayer tunneling in radial superlattices.

Radial superlattices are nanostructured materials obtained by rolling up thin solid films into spiral-like tubular structures. The formation of these "high-order" superlattices from two-dimensional crystals or ultrathin films is expected to result in a transition of transport characteristics from two-dimensional to one-dimensional. Here, we show that a transport hallmark of radial superlattices is the appearance of magnetoconductance modulations in the presence of externally applied axial magnetic fields. This phenomenon critically relies on electronic interlayer tunneling processes that activate an unconventional Aharonov-Bohm-like effect. Using a combination of density functional theory calculations and low-energy continuum models, we determine the electronic states of a paradigmatic single-material radial superlattice - a two-winding carbon nanoscroll - and indeed show momentum-dependent oscillations of the magnetic states in the axial configuration, which we demonstrate to be entirely due to hopping between the two windings of the spiral-shaped scroll.

A New Synthetic Methodology in the Preparation of Bimetallic Chalcogenide Clusters via Cluster-to-Cluster Transformations.

A decanuclear silver chalcogenide cluster, [Ag10(Se){Se2P(OiPr)2}8] (2) was isolated from a hydride-encapsulated silver diisopropyl diselenophosphates, [Ag7(H){Se2P(OiPr)2}6], under thermal condition. The time-dependent NMR spectroscopy showed that 2 was generated at the first three hours and the hydrido silver cluster was completely consumed after thirty-six hours. This method illustrated as cluster-to-cluster transformations can be applied to prepare selenide-centered decanuclear bimetallic clusters, [CuxAg10-x(Se){Se2P(OiPr)2}8] (x = 0-7, 3), via heating [CuxAg7-x(H){Se2P(OiPr)2}6] (x = 1-6) at 60 °C. Compositions of 3 were accurately confirmed by the ESI mass spectrometry. While the crystal 2 revealed two un-identical [Ag10(Se){Se2P(OiPr)2}8] structures in the asymmetric unit, a co-crystal of [Cu3Ag7(Se){Se2P(OiPr)2}8]0.6[Cu4Ag6(Se){Se2P(OiPr)2}8]0.4 ([3a]0.6[3b]0.4) was eventually characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Even though compositions of 2, [3a]0.6[3b]0.4 and the previous published [Ag10(Se){Se2P(OEt)2}8] (1) are quite similar (10 metals, 1 Se2-, 8 ligands), their metal core arrangements are completely different. These results show that different synthetic methods by using different starting reagents can affect the structure of the resulting products, leading to polymorphism.

Doping effect on the structure and properties of eight-electron silver nanoclusters.

The bimetallic M20 and M21 compounds, {[Cu3Ag17{S2P(OiPr)2}12]0.5 [Cu4Ag16{S2P(OiPr)2}12]0.5} ({[1a]0.5[1b]0.5}) and [Cu4Ag17{S2P(OiPr)2}12](PF6) (2), have been structurally characterized, in which the Cu(I) ions are randomly distributed on the eight outer positions capping the eight-electron [Ag13]5+ core. DFT calculations show that the statistical disorder results from the nearly neutral preference of copper to occupy any of the eight outer positions. Surprisingly, the UV-Vis absorption spectra of the M20 and M21 bimetallic nanoclusters display an almost identical absorption profile as that of their homometallic [Ag20{S2P(OiPr)2}12] and [Ag21{S2P(OiPr)2}12]+ relatives. This is rationalized by TD-DFT calculations, which show that the frontier orbitals of such eight-electron alloys are largely independent from the nature of the capping metal ions. A blue-shifted absorption is observed upon replacing by Au the central Ag atom in 2, forming the trimetallic compound [Cu4AuAg16{S2P(OiPr)2}12](PF6) (3).

Effect of plastic film mulching and film residues on phthalate esters concentrations in soil and plants, and its risk assessment.

The application of plastic film mulching can greatly improve dryland productivity, while the release of toxic phthalate esters (PAEs) from the plastic film has generated concern. This study investigated the effects of mulched plastic film and residual plastic film on the PAE concentrations in the soil-crop system and assessed the risks to people eating crop products. The PAEs concentration in the 0-25 cm soil layer of plastic mulched farmland was 0.45-0.81 mg/kg, while the average PAEs concentration of 0.37-0.73 mg/kg in non-mulched farmland decreased by 19%. The PAEs concentration in mulched soil reached the highest in July, being 0.80-0.84 mg/kg, while in the non-mulched soil, the PAEs also appeared and gradually decreased from May at 0.62-0.74 mg/kg to October, and the PAEs concentrations were almost the same in the mulched and non-mulched soils at the harvest time in October at 0.37-0.44 mg/kg. With the amounts of residual film in farmland increasing from 0 kg/ha to 2700 kg/ha (equivalent to the total amount of residual film after 60 years of continuous plastic film mulching), the PAEs concentrations were no significant changes, being 0.54-0.93 mg/kg. Maize (Zea mays L.) roots could absorb and accumulate PAEs, and the bio-concentration factor (BCF) was 1.6-2.3, and the average PAEs concentrations in stems, leaves, and grains were 79%-80% of those in roots at 0.77-1.47 mg/kg. For the ingestion of maize grains or potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers grown in plastic film mulched farmland or farmland containing residual film of 450-2700 kg/ha, the hazard index (HI) were less than 1, the carcinogenic risks (CRs) were 2.5 × 10-7-2.2 × 10-6, and the estrogenic equivalences were 6.17-17.73 ng E2/kg. This study provides important data for the risk management of PAEs in farmlands.

Global, regional, and national burden of severe periodontitis, 1990-2019: An analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

AIM: Up-to-date epidemiological studies on the global burden of severe periodontitis is scarce. This study aimed to present the latest estimates for prevalence of severe periodontitis from 1990 to 2019, by region, age, and level of socio-demographic development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 were used to investigate burden and trends of prevalence of severe periodontitis and its association with socio-demographic development at global, regional, and national level. Decomposition analysis was performed to explore the contribution of demographic and epidemiological factors to the evolving burden of severe periodontitis. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 1.1 billion (95% uncertainty interval: 0.8-1.4 billion) prevalent cases of severe periodontitis globally. From 1990 to 2019, age-standardized prevalence rate of severe periodontitis increased by 8.44% (6.62%-10.59%) worldwide. Prevalence of severe periodontitis is higher among less developed countries/regions. Global population growth accounted for 67.9% of the increase in the number of prevalent cases of severe periodontitis from 1990 to 2019. CONCLUSIONS: The global burden of severe periodontitis has been substantial and increasing over the past three decades. Upstream policy changes are urgently needed to address the global public health challenge of severe periodontitis.

The global, regional, and national burden of cancer among adolescents and young adults in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Accurate appraisal of burden of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) cancers is crucial to informing resource allocation and policy making. We report on the latest estimates of burden of AYA cancers in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019 in association with socio-demographic index (SDI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 were used to analyse incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to AYA cancers at global, regional, and national levels by sex. Association between AYA cancer burden and SDI were investigated. Burdens of AYA cancers were contextualized in comparison with childhood and older adult cancers. All estimates are reported as counts and age-standardized rates per 100,000 person-years. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 1.2 million incident cases, 0.4 million deaths, and 23.5 million DALYs due to AYA cancers globally. The highest age-standardized incidence rate occurred in Western Europe (75.3 [Females] and 67.4 [Males] per 100,000 person-years). Age-standardized death (23.2 [Females] and 13.9 [Males] per 100,000 person-years) and DALY (1328.3 [Females] and 1059.2 [Males] per 100,000 person-years) rates were highest in Oceania. Increasing SDI was associated with a higher age-standardized incidence rate. An inverted U-shaped association was identified between SDI and death and DALY rates. AYA cancers collectively is the second leading cause of non-communicable diseases-related deaths globally in 2019. DALYs of AYA cancers ranked the second globally and the first in low and low-middle SDI locations when compared with that of childhood and older adult cancers. CONCLUSION: The global burden of AYA cancers is substantial and disproportionally affect populations in limited-resource settings. Capacity building for AYA cancers is essential in promoting equity and population health worldwide.

A Two-Electron Silver Superatom Isolated from Thermally Induced Internal Redox Reaction of A Silver(I) Hydride.

Rational syntheses under controllable reducing conditions in the preparation of superatoms with cluster electron number not exceeding two are challenging. Herein a dithiolate-stabilized two-electron silver nanocluster, Ag10 {S2 P(Oi Pr)2 }8 (1), is isolated via a self-redox reaction of Ag7 (H){S2 P(Oi Pr)2 }6 without adding extra reducing agents. The metal framework of Ag7 , a bicapped trigonal bipyramid, is highly correlated to that of Ag10 , suggesting Ag7 (H){S2 P(Oi Pr)2 }6 acts as both reducing agent and template in cluster growth. 1 is highly fluorescent at ambient temperature and TD-DFT calculations indicate that the emission is of 1Px →1S nature.

Butterfly-like Shape Liquid Crystals Based Fused-Thiophene as Unidimensional Ambipolar Organic Semiconductors with High Mobility.

Mesomorphous butterfly-like shape molecules based on benzodithiophene, benzodithiophene-4,8-dione and cyclopentadithiophen-4-one core moieties were efficiently synthesized by the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling and Scholl oxidative cyclo-dehydrogenation reactions' tandem. Most of the butterfly molecules spontaneously self-organize into columnar hexagonal mesophase. The electron-deficient systems possess strong solvent-gelling ability but are not luminescent, whereas the electron-rich terms do not form gels but strongly emit light between 400 and 600 nm. The charge carrier mobility was also measured by time-of-flight transient photocurrent technique in the mesophases for some of the compounds. They display hole-transport performances with positive charge mobility in the 10-3  cm-2 V-1 s-1 range, consistent with the high degree of ordering and stability of the columnar superstructures. In particular, the mesogen with a benzodithiophen-4,8-dione core shows ambipolar charge carrier transport with both high electron (µe =6.6×10-3  cm-2 V-1 s-1 ) and hole (µh =4.5×10-3  cm-2 V-1 s-1 ) mobility values.

Intercluster exchanges leading to hydride-centered bimetallic clusters: a multi-NMR, X-ray crystallographic, and DFT study.

Encouraged by the successful syntheses of alloy nanoclusters (or nanoparticles) via intercluster (or interparticle) reactions, herein we apply this methodology to prepare a series of bimetallic hydride clusters. Mixing of two clusters, [Ag7(H){E2P(OiPr)2}6] (E = S, 1; Se, 3) and [Cu7(H){E2P(OiPr)2}6] (E = S, 2; Se, 4), yields two series of hydride-centered bimetallic clusters, [CuxAg7-x(H){E2P(OiPr)2}6] (x = 0-7; E = S, 5; Se, 6). Their compositions are fully characterized by positive-mode ESI-MS spectrometry, multi-NMR spectroscopy, and the structures of [Cu6Ag(H){S2P(OiPr)2}6] (5a) and [CuAg6(H){Se2P(OiPr)2}6] (6a) by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The presence of individual compounds in solution is the result of a (dynamic) chemical equilibrium primarily driven by metal exchanges. In fact, the process of inter-cluster exchange of 1 and 2 leading to hydride-centered bimetallic clusters 5 can be monitored by concentration-dependent 31P NMR spectroscopy of which the higher concentration of 1 in the reaction, the closer to its resonance will be the distribution, in accord with Le Chatelier's principle. The dynamic equilibrium is further confirmed by 2D exchange spectroscopy that reveals a stepwise process involving one metal exchange at a time. DFT calculations on a model series of clusters 6 show that silver prefers occupying the inner tetrahedral positions, while copper favors capping positions, in full agreement with the crystal structure of 5a and 6a.

Greater Biofilm Formation and Increased Biodegradation of Polyethylene Film by a Microbial Consortium of Arthrobacter sp. and Streptomyces sp.

The widespread use of polyethylene (PE) mulch films has led to a significant accumulation of plastic waste in agricultural soils. The biodegradation of plastic waste by microorganisms promises to provide a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative for mitigating soil plastic pollution. A large number of microorganisms capable of degrading PE have been reported, but degradation may be further enhanced by the cooperative activity of multiple microbial species. Here, two novel strains of Arthrobacter sp. and Streptomyces sp. were isolated from agricultural soils and shown to grow with PE film as a sole carbon source. Arthrobacter sp. mainly grew in the suspension phase of the culture, and Streptomyces sp. formed substantial biofilms on the surface of the PE film, indicating that these strains were of different metabolic types and occupied different microenvironments with contrasting nutritional access. Individual strains were able to degrade the PE film to some extent in a 90-day inoculation experiment, as indicated by decreased hydrophobicity, increased carbonyl index and CO2 evolution, and the formation of biofilms on the film surface. However, a consortium of both strains had a much greater effect on these degradation properties. Together, these results provide new insights into the mechanisms of PE biodegradation by a microbial consortium composed of different types of microbes with possible metabolic complementarities.

Hydride-encapsulated bimetallic clusters supported by 1,1-dithiolates.

Two mixed-metal hydride clusters, corresponding to x = 3 and 4, were structurally characterized from a set of atomically precise heptanuclear clusters, CuxAg7-x(H){S2P(OiPr)2}6 (x = 1-6). An interstitial hydride lying at the center of a tricapped tetrahedral cage was located and refined anisotropically by using X-ray data, and its presence acertained by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

Trends and Patterns of Disparities in Burden of Lung Cancer in the United States, 1974-2015.

Background: Although lung cancer incidence and mortality have been declining since the 1990s, the extent to which such progress has been made is unequal across population segments. Updated epidemiologic data on trends and patterns of disparities are lacking. Methods: Data on lung cancer cases and deaths during 1974 to 2015 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. Age-standardized lung cancer incidence and mortality and their annual percent changes were calculated by histologic types, demographic variables, and tumor characteristics. Results: Lung cancer incidence decreased since 1990 (1990 to 2007: annual percent change, -0.9 [95% CI, -1.0%, -0.8%]; 2007 to 2015: -2.6 [-2.9%, -2.2%]). Among adults aged between 20 and 39 years, a higher incidence was observed among females during 1995 to 2011, after which a faster decline in female lung cancer incidence (males: -2.5% [-2.8%, -2.2%]; females: -3.1% [-4.7%, -1.5%]) resulted in a lower incidence among females. The white population had a higher incidence than the Black population for small cell carcinoma since 1987. Black females were the only group whose adenocarcinoma incidence plateaued since 2012 (-5.0% [-13.0%, 3.7%]). A higher incidence for squamous cell carcinoma was observed among Black males and females than among white males and females during 1974 to 2015. After circa 2005, octogenarians and older patients constituted the group with the highest lung cancer incidence. Incidence for localized and AJCC/TNM stage I lung cancer among octogenarians and older patients plateaued since 2009, while mortality continued to rise (localized: 1.4% [0.6%, 2.1%]; stage I: 6.7% [4.5%, 9.0%]). Conclusions: Lung cancer disparities prevail across population segments. Our findings inform effective approaches to eliminate lung cancer disparities by targeting at-risk populations.

Targeted inhibition of GATA-6 attenuates airway inflammation and remodeling by regulating caveolin-1 through TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB in murine model of asthma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of GATA-6 on airway inflammation and remodeling and the underlying mechanisms in a murine model of chronic asthma. Female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: phosphate-buffered saline control (PBS), ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma group (OVA), OVA+ siNC and OVA+ siGATA-6. In this mice model, GATA-6 expression level was significantly elevated and the expression in Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) inversely correlated with the abundance of GATA-6 in OVA-induced asthma of mice. Silencing of GATA-6 gene expression upregulated Cav-1 expression. Additionally, downregulation of GATA-6 dramatically decreased OVA-challenged inflammation, infiltration, and mucus production. Moreover, silencing of GATA-6 resulted in decreased levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and inflammatory mediators and reduced inflammatory cell accumulation, as well as inhibiting the expression of important mediators including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, TGF-ß1, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8) and ADAM33, which is related to airway remodeling. Further analysis confirmed that silencing of GATA-6 attenuated OVA-induced airway inflammation and remodeling through the TLR2/MyD88 and NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the downregulation of GATA-6 effectively inhibited airway inflammation and reversed airway remodeling via Cav-1, at least in part through downregulation of TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB, which suggests that GATA-6 represents a promising therapeutic strategy for human allergic asthma.

Complete and Rapid Conversion of Hydrazine Monohydrate to Hydrogen over Supported Ni-Pt Nanoparticles on Mesoporous Ceria for Chemical Hydrogen Storage.

The development of active, selective, and robust catalysts is a key issue in promoting the practical application of hydrazine monohydrate (N2 H4 ⋅H2 O) as a viable hydrogen carrier. Herein, the synthesis of a supported Ni-Pt bimetallic nanocatalyst on mesoporous ceria by a one-pot evaporation-induced self-assembly method is reported. The catalyst exhibits exceptionally high catalytic activity, 100 % selectivity, and satisfactory stability in promoting H2 generation from an alkaline solution of N2 H4 ⋅H2 O at moderate temperatures. For example, the Ni60 Pt40 /CeO2 catalyst enabled complete decomposition of N2 H4 ⋅H2 O to generate H2 at a rate of 293 h(-1) at 30 °C in the presence of 2 M NaOH, which compares favorably with the reported N2 H4 ⋅H2 O decomposition catalysts. Phase/structural analysis by XRD, TEM, and Auger electron spectroscopy was conducted to gain insight into the excellent catalytic performance of the Ni-Pt/CeO2 catalyst.