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1. Zinc cyanide

   Shi, Shicheng; Szostak, Michal (January 2018, Eros)

   First update on zinc cyanide for all chemists planning or working on organic syntheses is presented. 

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2. Catalyzing zinc-ion intercalation in hydrated vanadates for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0TA01468K  

   Liu, Chaofeng; Tian, Meng; Wang, Mingshan; Zheng, Jiqi; Wang, Shuhua; Yan, Mengyu; Wang, Zhaojie; Yin, Zhengmao; Yang, Jihui; Cao, Guozhong (April 2020, Journal of Materials Chemistry A)

   Hydrated vanadium pentoxide (VOH) can deliver a gravimetric capacity as high as 400 mA h g −1 owing to the variable valence states of the V cation from 5+ to 3+ in an aqueous zinc ion battery. The incorporation of divalent transition metal cations has been demonstrated to overcome the structural instability, sluggish kinetics, fast capacity degradation, and serious polarization. The current study reveals that the catalytic effects of transition metal cations are probably the key to the significantly improved electrochemical properties and battery performance because of the higher covalent character of 55% in the Cu–O bond in comparison with 32% in the Mg–O bond in the respective samples. Cu( ii ) pre-inserted VOH (CuVOH) possesses a significantly enhanced intercalation storage capacity, an increased discharge voltage, great transport properties, and reduced polarization, while both VOH and Mg( ii ) pre-inserted VOH (MgVOH) demonstrate similar electrochemical properties and performances, indicating that the incorporation of Mg cations has little or no impact. For example, CuVOH has a redox voltage gap of 0.02 V, much smaller than 0.25 V for VOH and 0.27 V for MgVOH. CuVOH shows an enhanced exchange current density of 0.23 A g −1 , compared to 0.20 A g −1 for VOH and 0.19 A g −1 for MgVOH. CuVOH delivers a zinc ion storage capacity of 379 mA h g −1 , higher than 349 mA h g −1 for MgVOH and 337 mA h g −1 for VOH at 0.5 A g −1 . CuVOH shows an energy efficiency of 72%, superior to 53% for VOH and 55% for MgVOH. All of the results suggest that pre-inserted Cu( ii ) cations played a critical role in catalyzing the zinc ion intercalation reaction, while the Mg( ii ) cations did not exert a detectable catalytic effect. 

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3. Cadmium Exchange with Zinc in the Non-Classical Zinc Finger Protein Tristetraprolin

   https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03808  

   Brandis, Joel E.; Zalesak, Stephanie M.; Kane, Maureen A.; Michel, Sarah L. (June 2021, Inorganic Chemistry)

   null (Ed.)
4. Zinc localization and speciation in rice grain under variable soil zinc deficiency

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06140-1  

   Shen, Yating; Wiita, Elizabeth; Nghiem, Athena A.; Liu, Jingyu; Haque, Ezazul; Austin, Rachel N.; Seng, Chheng Y.; Phan, Kongkea; Zheng, Yan; Bostick, Benjamin C. (October 2023, Plant and Soil)

   Background and Aims Rice accounts for around 20% of the calories consumed by humans. Essential nutrients like zinc (Zn) are crucial for rice growth and for populations relying on rice as a staple food. No well-established study method exists. As a result, we a lack a clear picture of the chemical forms of zinc in rice grain. Furthermore, we do not understand the effects of widespread and variable zinc deficiency in soils on the Zn speciation, and to a lesser extent, its concentration, in grain. Methods The composition and Zn speciation of Cambodian rice grain is analyzed using synchrotron-based microprobe X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF) and extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). We developed a method to quantify Zn species in different complexes based on the coordination numbers of Zn to oxygen and sulfur at characteristic bond lengths. Results Zn levels in brown rice grain ranged between 15-30 mg kg-1 and were not correlated to Zn availability in soils. 72%-90% of Zn in rice grains is present as Zn-phytate, generally not bioavailable, while smaller quantities of Zn are bound as labile nicotianamine complexes, Zn minerals like ZnCO3¬ or thiols. Conclusion Zn speciation in rice grain is affected by Zn deficiency more than previously recognized. A majority of Zn was bound in phytate complexes in rice grain. Zinc phytate complexes were found in higher concentrations and also in higher proportions, in Zn-deficient soils, consistent with increased phytate production under Zn deficiency. Phytates are generally not bioavailable to humans, so low soil Zn fertility may not only impact grain yields, but also decrease the fraction of grain Zn bioavailable to human consumers. The potential impact of abundant Zn-phytate in environments deficient in Zn on human bioavailability and Zn deficiency requires additional research. 

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5. Cold sintering zinc oxide with a crystalline zinc acetate dihydrate mass transport phase

   https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05100-9  

   Floyd, Richard D.; Lowum, Sarah; Maria, Jon-Paul (November 2020, Journal of Materials Science)

   null (Ed.)