Summary

Physics advocates research on unifying chemical bonds and recognized parallels on a different (and non-reductive) level, as per the concept of the Great Unification of Forces in Nature. From this perspective, a Physicochemical Grand Unification of Forces would be a worthy project for humankind in order to increase our undertanding of existence and to improve our lives. This entry collection aims to present an account of chemical bonds and interactions in nano- to maco-environments.

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Topic Review
GD-AZO Composites
Graphene represents a new generation of materials which exhibit unique physicochemical properties such as high electron mobility, tunable optics, a large surface to volume ratio, and robust mechanical strength. These properties make graphene an ideal candidate for various optoelectronic, photonics, and sensing applications. . In recent years, numerous efforts have been focused on azobenzene polymers (AZO-polymers) as photochromic molecular switches and thermal sensors because of their light induced conformations and surface-relief structures.  However, these polymers often exhibit drawbacks like low photon storage lifetime, energy density and aggregation. These issues can be alleviated by incorporating graphene derivatives (GDs) into AZO-polymers to form orderly arranged molecules like GD-AZO composites.  
  • 710
  • 11 Oct 2021
Topic Review
C,C- and C,N-Chelated Organocopper Compounds
Copper-catalyzed and organocopper-involved reactions are of great significance in organic synthesis. To have a deep understanding of the reaction mechanisms, the structural characterizations of organocopper intermediates become indispensable. Meanwhile, the structure-function relationship of organocopper compounds could advance the rational design and development of new Cu-based reactions and organocopper reagents. Compared to the mono-carbonic ligand, the C,N- and C,C-bidentate ligands better stabilize unstable organocopper compounds. Bidentate ligands can chelate to the same copper atom via η2-mode, forming a mono-cupra-cyclic compounds with at least one acute C-Cu-C angle. When the bidentate ligands bind to two copper atoms via η1-mode at each coordinating site, the bimetallic macrocyclic compounds will form nearly linear C-Cu-C angles. The anionic coordinating sites of the bidentate ligand can also bridge two metals via μ2-mode, forming organocopper aggregates with Cu-Cu interactions and organocuprates with contact ion pair structures. The reaction chemistry of some selected organocopper compounds is highlighted, showing their unique structure–reactivity relationships.
  • 855
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Xanthone Glucosides
Xanthones are secondary metabolites found in plants, fungi, lichens, and bacteria froma variety of families and genera, with the majority found in the Gentianaceae, Polygalaceae, and Clusiaceae. They have a diverse range of bioactivities, including anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, antimalarial, anti-tuberculosis, and cytotoxic properties. Xanthone glucosides are a significant branch of xanthones. After glycosylation, xanthones may have improved characteristics (such as solubility and pharmacological activity). Currently, no critical review of xanthone glucosides has been published.
  • 891
  • 25 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Valence-shell Electron-pair Repulsion Model
There are the following main assumptions of the Valence-shell Electron-pair Repulsion (VSEPR) model. - The arrangement of covalent bonds of the atom centre analyzed depends on the number of electron pairs in its valence shell: bonds and nonbonding pairs as lone electron pairs. - The arrangement of valence electron pairs around the centre considered is to maximize their distances apart. - The non-valence electrons - inner electrons with nucleus (i.e. the core) possess the spherical symmetry (or at least it is in force for the main groups elements). It is worth to note that the intra- and intermolecular interactions influence on electronic and molecular structures in accordance with this VSEPR model.
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Electrophoretic Deposition for Biomedical Applications
Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a powerful technique to assemble metals, polymer, ceramics, and composite materials into 2D, 3D, and intricately shaped implants. Polymers, proteins, and peptides can be deposited via EPD at room temperature without affecting their chemical structures. Furthermore, EPD is being used to deposit multifunctional coatings (i.e., bioactive, antibacterial, and biocompatible coatings).
  • 1.5K
  • 20 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Nuclear Resonance Vibrational Spectroscopy
Nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS) is a synchrotron radiation (SR)-based nuclear inelastic scattering spectroscopy that measures the phonons (i.e., vibrational modes) associated with the nuclear transition. It has distinct advantages over traditional vibration spectroscopy and has wide applications in physics, chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, materials sciences, and geology, as well as many other research areas.
  • 1.0K
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Nanocarbon-Iridium Oxide Nanostructured Hybrids
Nanostructuring nanocarbons with IrOx yields to material coatings with large charge capacities for neural electrostimulation, and large reproducibility in time, that carbons do not exhibit.
  • 636
  • 21 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Supramolecular Liquid Crystals
liquid crystal (LC) state, specific orientations and alignments of LC molecules produce outstanding anisotropy in structure and properties, followed by diverse optoelectronic functions.
  • 1.4K
  • 09 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Prebiotic Synthesis of Ribose
Prebiotic reactions describe how biomolecules such as ribose, was synthesized and protected from degradation, nucleobases generated from HCN oligomers and other derivatives including prebiotic RNA (preRNA) were formed at the given circumstances. Prebiotic conditions remained a subject of debate, but a reasonable aspect to consider is that tetrahedral structure shaping biomolecules consisted almost exclusively of elements belonging to the CHNOPS group in the periodic table, where capital letters correspond to the elements of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. Intermediary steps in the formose reaction network contain aldol condensation, aldose-ketose isomerizations, producing C3 - C6 carbohydrates including pentoses. The generation of genetic material could have developed from the formose reaction to ribose and further to non-genetic prebiotic  RNA (preRNA) [1-9]. Consecutive reactions of this pathway are not known. Those known abiotic chemical reactions were selected that could have resulted in preRNA and genetic RNA (genRNA).  Processes generating primitive life on Earth consisted of three successive stages: i) abiotic reactions generating organic molecules, ii) formation of molecular aggregates showing primitive metabolism, iii) development of primitive cells and organisms resembling those that exist today. Only cellular life is known that adapted in every aspect to conditions that exist only on Earth. Here only the 1st stage, the abiotic phase is dealt with. Prebiotic conditions remained subjects of debate ranging from a strong reductive to a strong oxidative climate. Our theory is based on a mildly reductive atmosphere that could have existed at the beginning of life some 4.3 -4.5 billion years ago, much before the Great Oxidation Event that took place much later 2.3 - 2.5 billion years ago. During the abiotic synthesis of organic molecules, ribose was selected as the precursor to life. .
  • 1.1K
  • 15 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Metal Ion Detection by Glutathione
Low cost, sensitive, selective, and rapid methods for heavy metal ion (HMI) detection are of growing demand, and HMI biosensors have great potential in meeting this need due to their timeliness, cost-effectiveness and convenience in operation. The most widely reported peptide probe for HMI detection is glutathione (GSH), especially in case of lead ion (Pb2+) detection. GSH is highly stable, cost-effective, and easy to immobilize on a sensor. 
  • 1.1K
  • 10 Jun 2021
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