[en] This study explores the relationships between metropolis energy consumption and environmental utility changes by a proposed Environmental Utility of Energy Consumption (EUEC) model. Based on the dynamic equilibrium of input–output economics theory, it considers three simulation scenarios: fixed-technology, technological-innovation, and green-building effect. It is applied to analyse Hong Kong in 1980–2007. Continual increase in energy consumption with rapid economic growth degraded environmental utility. First, energy consumption at fixed-technology was determined by economic outcome. In 1990, it reached a critical balanced state when energy consumption was 22×10⁹ kWh. Before 1990 (x₁<22×10⁹ kWh), rise in energy consumption improved both economic development and environmental utility. After 1990 (x₁>22×10⁹ kWh), expansion of energy consumption facilitated socio-economic development but suppressed environmental benefits. Second, technological-innovation strongly influenced energy demand and improved environmental benefits. The balanced state remained in 1999 when energy consumption reached 32.33×10⁹ kWh. Technological-innovation dampened energy consumption by 12.99%, exceeding the fixed-technology condition. Finally, green buildings reduced energy consumption by an average of 17.5% in 1990–2007. They contributed significantly to energy saving, and buffered temperature fluctuations between external and internal environment. The case investigations verified the efficiency of the EUEC model, which can effectively evaluate the interplay of energy consumption and environmental quality. - Highlights: ► We explore relationships between metropolis energy consumption and environmental utility. ► An Environmental Utility of Energy Consumption (EUEC) model is proposed. ► Technological innovation mitigates energy consumption impacts on environmental quality. ► Technological innovation decreases demand of energy consumption more than fixed technology scenario. ► Greenery buildings offer notable energy savings through vegetation shading and passive cooling.

[en] Highlights: • A stable carbazole-bearing porous organic polymer was successfully prepared to fabricate an electrochemical aptasensor. • The biosensor shows a low limit of detection of 0.32 pg·mL⁻¹ for detecting penicillin. • The electrochemical aptasensor can detect penicillin in various real samples. A carbazole-bearing porous organic polymer (POP) was successfully prepared by an efficient Friedel − Crafts coupling reaction of 2,4,6-tri(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-1,3,5-triazine and 2,4,6-tris(bromomethyl)mesitylene. The as-synthesized POP can load aptamers to fabricate an electrochemical aptasensor because of its high surface area, outstanding stability, and extended π-conjugation structure, which can rapidly monitor penicillin (PCL) with excellent sensitivity, high selectivity, fine reproducibility, and good stability. More importantly, the POP-based aptasensor can precisely detect trace PCL in various real samples.

[en] We report here the first example of sequential post-synthetic structural transformations via pseudohalide anion exchanges. Assembly of a rigid angular ligand 3-phenyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-4-(4-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (L²⁴⁰) with CuBr₂ results in a 1D crystalline material {[Cu(L²⁴⁰)(Br)₂](DMF)(H₂O)}_n (1). Immersing the green microcrystalline sample of 1 into an aqua solution of NaN(CN)₂ (Na(dca)), the partly exchanged blue species {[Cu(L²⁴⁰)(dca)Br](H₂O)}_n (2) is obtained after ca. a week. Then, the fully exchanged green [Cu(L²⁴⁰)(dca)₂]_n (3) occurs after about ten days and 2 gradually disappears. Further immersing 1 or 3 into the solution of NaN₃, a new deep green material defined as [Cu(L²⁴⁰)(N₃)₂]₂ (4) can be obtained. These structural transformations can be ascribed to the solvent-mediated structural transformation, accompanied the change of crystallinity, shape, size, and color. Notably, 2–4 cannot be synthesized by direct assembly of L²⁴⁰ and Cu salts with those pseudohalide (dca^– or N₃^–).

[en] Highlights: • A ferriporphyrin-based porous organic framework was prepared successfully. • The aptasensor can detect ultra-trace oxytetracycline even in real samples. • The biosensor exhibits outstanding selectivity, high stability and available reproducibility. A ferriporphyrin-based porous organic framework (Fe-PPOF) was successfully synthesized via the Sonogashira coupling reaction. By reason of high surface area, extended π-conjugation skeleton and excellent stability, Fe-PPOF can efficiently immobilize aptamers to fabricate an electrochemical aptasensor for detecting ultra-trace oxytetracycline (OTC) with the low limitation of detection of 2.05 fg·mL⁻¹. Meanwhile, this biosensor exhibits high selectivity, good stability and available reproducibility. More importantly, the Fe-PPOF-based electrochemical aptasensor can quantitatively detect OTC in real samples.

[en] Highlights: • A porous Cd-organic framework is synthesized successfully. • This MOF can selective adsorption of CO₂ over CH₄ and catalyze the CO₂ cycloaddition reaction. • It exhibits different sorption abilities of benzene, toluene, m, o, p-xylene. With the rapid development of population and industry all over the world, extensive use of fossil fuels leads to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions with a series of thorny problems. In addition, benzene, toluene, m, o, p-xylene are commonly used organic solvents. The separation and purification is an important change in modern industrials. In this work, a two-dimensional (2D) porous metal-organic framework (MOF), [Cd₂(DCBA)·(H₂O)₃]·2DEF, H₄DCBA​=​4″,6′-diamino-5′,5″-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-[1,1’:3′,1’’:3″,1‴-quaterphenyl]-4,4‴-dicarboxylic acid, DEF​=​N,N-diethylformamide), is successfully prepared by the solvothermal method. The as-synthesized sample has a rare occurrence of 5-connected mononuclear [CdO₂(CO₂)₂N] secondary building unit (SBU), which performs commendable selectivity for CO₂ over CH₄ at 273 and 298​K under 1​atm. In addition, the porous structure, preferable CO₂ adsorbability and open Cd(II) site can provide a platform to catalyze the CO₂ cycloaddition reaction with good recyclability. Meanwhile, this MOF exhibits different sorption abilities of benzene, toluene, m, o, p-xylene.

[en] Highlights: • An azobenzene-containing porous organic framework is synthesized successfully. • The azobenzene-containing POF material has high surface area and excellent stability. • It exhibits a reversible stimuli-responsive CO₂ adsorption property triggered by UV irradiation and heat treatment. An azobenzene-containing porous organic framework (POF) was rationally designed and synthesized via Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling reaction. By virtue of high porous skeleton and azobenzene as light responsive group, this task-specific POF exhibits the reversible stimuli-responsive adsorption property triggered by UV irradiation and heat treatment. The initial Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area of this porous material is 571​m²​g⁻¹, while the BET surface area after UV irradiation decreases to 550​m²​g⁻¹ along with the reduction of micropores around 0.5​nm and 1.3​nm during the trans to cis isomerization process. Furthermore, CO₂ sorption isotherms show a slight decrease, which is caused by the trans to cis conversion of azobenzene side group. It is worth mentioning that CO₂ uptakes of POFs are almost constant for three cycles via alternating external stimuli to confirm the excellently reversible switchability of trans-to-cis isomerization.

[en] The aim of our study is to quantify the relationship between ecosystem and climate variables in southwest China. We further examined spatiotemporal distribution patterns of daily reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) and ecosystem types through integrated approaches, including spatiotemporal interpolation, Penman–Monteith, Mann–Kendall test, statistical correlation analysis and transition matrix based on those datasets including observation climate data, satellite remote sensing images (MODIS and Landsat) and observed ecosystem data. The following results are achieved. First, changes of ET₀ were greatly influenced by the combined effects of precipitation (with a decrease rate of −13 mm/10 years) and temperature (with a decrease rate of + 0.17 ℃/10 years). The annual average ET₀ increased by + 2.1 mm/10 years, and the increased ET₀ are more than 25% of the total area. Second, evapotranspiration was regarded as a sensitive indicator of climate and ecosystem feedbacks, and these ecosystem types have a great transformation, including forest, agriculture, and grass. Forest and grass were distributed primarily in the southern and eastern mountain areas, grass was in high mountains area while agriculture was prevalent in basin areas respond to climate changes. The area of forest converted to grass was 3670 km², which was greater than transition from grass to forest (1720 km²). Correlation coefficients of evapotranspiration and NDVI were positive in forest and negative in agriculture. Third, the effects of these changes on climate vegetation and ecosystem process feedbacks on the quickly warming southwest China are potentially significant. Although the variation in ecosystem types was combined effects caused by climate variation and human activities, an effective ecological restoration program “Grain for Green” has improved the environmental conditions in southwest China.