Nanoscale zerovalent iron synthesized using borohydride (B-NZVI) has been widely applied in environmental remediation in recent decades. However, the contribution of boron in enhancing the inherent reactivity of B-NZVI and its effectiveness in removing hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] have not been well recognized and quantified. To the best of our knowledge, herein, a core-shell structure of B-NZVI featuring an Fe-B alloy shell beneath the iron oxide shell is demonstrated for the first time. Alloyed boron can reduce H+, contributing to more than 35.6% of H2 generation during acid digestion of B-NZVIs. In addition, alloyed B provides electrons for Fe3+ reduction during Cr(VI) removal, preventing in situ passivation of the reactive particle surface. Meanwhile, the amorphous oxide shell of B-NZVI exhibits an increased defect density, promoting the release of Fe2+ outside the shell to reduce Cr(VI), forming layer-structured precipitates and intense Fe-O bonds. Consequently, the surface-area-normalized capacity and surface reaction rate of B-NZVI are 6.5 and 6.9 times higher than those of crystalline NZVI, respectively. This study reveals the importance of alloyed B in Cr(VI) removal using B-NZVI and presents a comprehensive approach for investigating electron pathways and mechanisms involved in B-NZVIs for contaminant removal.

The functional analysis of epitranscriptomic modifications in RNA is constrained by a lack of methods that accurately capture their locations and levels. We previously demonstrated that the RNA modification N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) can be mapped at base resolution through sodium borohydride reduction to tetrahydroacetylcytidine (tetrahydro-ac4C), followed by cDNA synthesis to misincorporate adenosine opposite reduced ac4C sites, culminating in C:T mismatches at acetylated cytidines (RedaC:T). However, this process is relatively inefficient, resulting in <20% C:T mismatches at a fully modified ac4C site in 18S rRNA. Considering that ac4C locations in other substrates including mRNA are unlikely to reach full penetrance, this method is not ideal for comprehensive mapping. Here, we introduce \"RetraC:T\" (reduction to tetrahydro-ac4C and reverse transcription with amino-dATP to induce C:T mismatches) as a method with enhanced ability to detect ac4C in cellular RNA. In brief, RNA is reduced through NaBH4 or the closely related reagent sodium cyanoborohydride (NaCNBH3) followed by cDNA synthesis in the presence of a modified DNA nucleotide, 2-amino-dATP, that preferentially binds to tetrahydro-ac4C. Incorporation of the modified dNTP substantially improved C:T mismatch rates, reaching stoichiometric detection of ac4C in 18S rRNA. Importantly, 2-amino-dATP did not result in truncated cDNA products nor increase mismatches at other locations. Thus, modified dNTPs are introduced as a new addition to the toolbox for detecting ac4C at base resolution.

Nanostructured metal hydrides with unique morphology and improved hydrogen storage properties have attracted intense interests. However, the study of the growth process of highly active borohydrides remains challenging. Herein, for the first time the synthesis of LiBH4 nanorods through a hydrogen-assisted one-pot solvothermal reaction is reported. Reaction of n-butyl lithium with triethylamine borane in n-hexane under 50 bar of H2 at 40-100 °C gives rise to the formation of the [100]-oriented LiBH4 nanorods with 500-800 nm in diameter, whose growth is driven by orientated attachment and ligand adsorption. The unique morphology enables the LiBH4 nanorods to release hydrogen from ≈184 °C, 94 °C lower than the commercial sample (≈278 °C). Hydrogen release amounts to 13 wt% within 40 min at 450 °C with a stable cyclability, remarkably superior to the commercial LiBH4 (≈9.1 wt%). More importantly, up to 180 °C reduction in the onset temperature of hydrogenation is successfully attained by the nanorod sample with respect to the commercial counterpart. The LiBH4 nanorods show no foaming during dehydrogenation, which improves the hydrogen cycling performance. The new approach will shed light on the preparation of nanostructured metal borohydrides as advanced functional materials.

In the contemporary context, executing light-oxidant- and reductant-driven reactions in solution-phase processes remains challenging mainly due to the lack of general tools for understanding the reactive potential of nano-functional catalysts. In this study, dual-active nanometals (Au and Cu doped with Au) capped within soy lecithin (SL), were developed and characterized, combining flexibility with the catalytic advantages and stability of liquid-phase catalysts. The as-synthesized SL-Au (LG) and SL-Au-Cu (LGC) catalysts were efficiently degraded rhodamine B (RB, 100%) in the presence of H2O2 under light irradiation (350 W lamp) at wide pH range (3-7) within 4.5 h and p-nitrophenol (p-NP, >90% degradation at pH 7) in the presence of NaBH4 under normal stirring with slower kinetics (∼72 h). RB degradation followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a higher r2, and p-NP degradation followed first-order kinetics. The active sites embedded within the structural order of SL arrangement displayed elevated catalytic activity, which was further enhanced by the movement of intermediate/excited states and charged elements within the metal suspended in the phospholipid (LG and LGC). The self-regulating tunability of the physicochemical characteristics of these catalysts provides a convenient and generalizable platform for the transformation of modern dual-active (redox) catalysts into dynamic homogeneous equivalents.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the form of nanospheres from a few nm to 100 nm in diameter were synthesized in a controlled manner using a combination of two reducing agents: sodium borohydride (SBH) and trisodium citrate (TSC). The influence of the size of AgNPs on antibacterial activity was investigated with different concentrations of AgNPs on two types of bacteria:Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) andStaphylococcus aureusresistant (SA) while the positive control wasAmpicillin (Amp)50μg/ml and the negative control was water. AgNPs were investigated for morphology, size and size distribution using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The optical properties of the AgNPs were investigated by recording their UV-vis absorption spectra. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs was determined using the disc diffusion method. The results showed that the antibacterial ability of AgNPs depends on both concentration and particle size. With a particle concentration of 50μg ml-1, the antibacterial ability is the best. The smaller the particle size, the higher the antibacterial ability. The simultaneous use of two reducing agents TSC and SBH is the novelty of the article to synthesize AgNPs particles that are uniform in shape and size while controlling the particle size. On that basis, their antibacterial performance is increased.

Environmental monitoring of pesticide residues in crops is essential for both food safety and environmental protection. Traditional methodologies face challenges due to the interference of endogenous compounds in peel and pulp tissues, often being invasive, labor-intensive, and inadequate for real-time observation of hazardous substance distribution. In this study, dynamic borohydride-reduced nanoparticles were employed as enhanced substrates. For the first time, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) imaging was harnessed to enable whole-process visual detection of pesticide residues. The developed method is both stable and sensitive, boasting a detection lower limit below 1 pg/mL, coupled with robust quantitative analytical capabilities. This technique was successfully employed to detect residue signals across various crops and fruit juices. Furthermore, SERS imaging was utilized to map the distribution of pesticide residues from the exterior to the interior of fruits and vegetables. Vertex component analysis further refined the process by mitigating interference from plant autofluorescence. Collectively, this innovative strategy facilitates comprehensive pesticide residue monitoring, offering a potent tool for controlling hazardous substances in crops. Its potential applications extend beyond food safety, holding significant promise for sustainable agricultural production and enhanced environmental safeguarding.

A creatively designed novel two-step enhancement technique is presented in which B vitamin molecules are dynamically adsorbed onto the surface of silver nanoparticles by sodium borohydride, followed by local plasmon resonance in the presence of cations (calcium ions), ultimately achieving synergistic chemical and physical enhancement on the same molecule and constructing a \"surface hot spots\" two-step enhancement platform for vitamin detection. The Raman signal of the promoted vitamin molecule is enhanced by nine orders of magnitude. In a subsequent study it was observed that the vitamin B2 molecules were in a near-vertical image on the surface of the silver nanoparticles, which may also contribute to the Raman signal enhancement. Combined with deep learning techniques, the method has been successfully applied to the detection of B vitamins in body fluids. As an accurate, rapid, reproducible, non-invasive, and versatile assay platform, it holds great promise for the intelligent identification of trace B molecules in food, pharmaceuticals, and the human body.

Tetramethylphosphonium borohydride was synthesized via an ion metathesis reaction in a weakly-coordinating aprotic environment. [(CH3)4P]BH4, in contrast to related [(CH3)4N]+ compounds which tend to crystallize in a tetragonal system, adopts the distorted wurtzite structure (P63mc), resembling some salts containing analogous ions of As and Sb. [(CH3)4P]BH4 decomposes thermally in several endo- and exothermic steps above ca. 240 °C. This renders it more stable than [(CH3)4N]BH4, with a lowered temperature of decomposition onset by ca. 20 °C and solely exothermic processes observed. Raman spectra measured at the 0-10 GPa range indicate that a polymorphic transition occurs within 0.53-1.86 GPa, which is further confirmed by the periodic DFT calculations. The latter suggests a phase transition around 0.8 GPa to a high-pressure phase of [(CH3)4N]BH4. The P63mc phase seems to be destabilized under high pressure by relatively closer dihydrogen interactions, including the C-H…H-C contacts.

We describe a unique catalytic system with an efficient coupling of Ti- and Cr-catalysis in a reaction network that allows the use of [BH4 ]- as stoichiometric hydrogen atom and electron donor in catalytic radical chemistry. The key feature is a relay hydrogen atom transfer from [BH4 ]- to Cr generating the active catalysts under mild conditions. This enables epoxide reductions, regiodivergent epoxide opening and radical cyclizations that are not possible with cooperative catalysis with radicals or by epoxide reductions via Meinwald rearrangement and ensuing carbonyl reduction. No typical SN 2-type reactivity of [BH4 ]- salts is observed.

Garnet-type oxide Li6.4 La3 Zr1.4 Ta0.6 O12 (LLZTO) features superior ionic conductivity and good stability toward lithium (Li) metal, but requires high-temperature sintering (≈1200 °C) that induces high fabrication cost, poor mechanical processability, and high interface resistance. Here, a novel high-performance tricomponent composite solid electrolyte (CSE) comprising LLZTO-4LiBH4 /xLi3 BN2 H8 is reported, which is prepared by ball milling the LLZTO-4LiBH4  mixture followed by hand milling with Li3 BN2 H8 . Green pellets fabricated by heating the cold-pressed CSE powders at 120 °C offer ultrafast room-temperature ionic conductivity (≈1.73 × 10-3  S cm-1  at 30 °C) and ultrahigh Li-ion transference number (≈0.9999), which enable the Li|Li symmetrical cells to cycle over 1600 h at 30 °C with only 30 mV of overpotential. Moreover, the Li|CSE|TiS2  full cells deliver 201 mAh g-1  of capacity with long cyclability. These outstanding performances are due to the low open porosity in the electrolyte pellets as well as the high intrinsic ionic conductivity and easy deformability of Li3 BN2 H8 .