This study describes a novel sustainable concept for the scalable direct fabrication and functionalization of nanocellulose from wood pulp with reduced energy consumption. A central concept is the use of metal-free small organic molecules as mediators and catalysts for the production and subsequent versatile surface engineering of the cellulosic nanomaterials via organocatalysis and click chemistry. Here, organoclick chemistry enables the selective functionalization of nanocelluloses with different organic molecules as well as the binding of palladium ions or nanoparticles. The nanocellulosic material is also shown to function as a sustainable support for heterogeneous catalysis in modern organic synthesis (e.g., Suzuki cross-coupling transformations in water). The reported strategy not only addresses obstacles and challenges for the future utilization of nanocellulose (e.g., low moisture resistance, the need for green chemistry, and energy-intensive production) but also enables new applications for nanocellulosic materials in different areas.
A new eco-friendly approach for the preparation of sustainable heterogeneous palladium catalysts from rice husk-derived biogenic silica (RHP-Si and RHU-Si). The designed heterogeneously supported palladium species (RHP-Si-NH2-Pd and RHU-Si-NH2-Pd) were fully characterized and successfully employed as catalysts for various chemical transformations (C–C bond-forming reactions, aerobic oxidations and carbocyclizations). Suzuki-Miyaura transformations were highly efficient in a green solvent system (H2O:EtOH (1:1) with excellent recyclability, providing the cross-coupling products with a wide range of functionalities in high isolated yields (up to 99%). Palladium species (Pd(0)-nanoparticles or Pd(II)) were also efficient catalysts in the green aerobic oxidation of an allylic alcohol and a co-catalytic stereoselective cascade carbocyclization transformation. In the latter case, a quaternary stereocenter was formed with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 27:1 dr).
The engineering of multifunctional biomaterials using a facile sustainable methodology that follows the principles of green chemistry is still largely unexplored but would be very beneficial to the world. Here, the employment of catalytic reactions in combination with biomass-derived starting materials in the design of biomaterials would promote the development of eco-friendly technologies and sustainable materials. Herein, we disclose the combination of two catalytic cycles (combined catalysis) comprising oxidative decarboxylation and quinone-catechol redox catalysis for engineering lignin-based multifunctional antimicrobial hydrogels. The bioinspired design mimics the catechol chemistry employed by marine mussels in nature. The resultant multifunctional sustainable hydrogels (1) are robust and elastic, (2) have strong antimicrobial activity, (3) are adhesive to skin tissue and various other surfaces, and (4) are able to self-mend. A systematic characterization was carried out to fully elucidate and understand the facile and efficient catalytic strategy and the subsequent multifunctional materials. Electron paramagnetic resonance analysis confirmed the long-lasting quinone-catechol redox environment within the hydrogel system. Initial in vitro biocompatibility studies demonstrated the low toxicity of the hydrogels. This proof-of-concept strategy could be developed into an important technological platform for the eco-friendly, bioinspired design of other multifunctional hydrogels and their use in various biomedical and flexible electronic applications.
Fe65Co35 thin films have been deposited on SiO2 substrates using sputtering technique with different choices of seed layer; Ru, Ni82.5Fe17.5, Rh, Y and Zr. Best soft magnetic properties were observed with seed layers of Ru, Ni82.5Fe17.5 and Rh. Adding these seed layers, the coercivity of the Fe65Co35 films decreased to values of around 1.5 mT, which can be compared to the value of 12.5 mT obtained for films deposited without seed layer. Further investigations were performed on samples with these three seed layers in terms of dynamic magnetic properties, both on as prepared and annealed samples, using constant frequency cavity and broadband ferromagnetic resonance measurements. Damping parameters of around 8.0 x 10(-3) and 4.5 x 10(-3) were obtained from in-plane and out-of-plane measurements, respectively, for the as prepared samples, values that were reduced to about 6.5 x 10(-3) and 4.0 x 10(-3) for annealed samples.
Electron magnetic circular dichroism (EMCD) is a powerful technique for estimating element-specific magnetic moments of materials on nanoscale with the potential to reach atomic resolution in transmission electron microscopes. However, the fundamentally weak EMCD signal strength complicates quantification of magnetic moments, as this requires very high precision, especially in the denominator of the sum rules. Here, we employ a statistical resampling technique known as bootstrapping to an experimental EMCD dataset to produce an empirical estimate of the noise-dependent error distribution resulting from application of EMCD sum rules to bcc iron in a 3-beam orientation. We observe clear experimental evidence that noisy EMCD signals preferentially bias the estimation of magnetic moments, further supporting this with error distributions produced by Monte-Carlo simulations. Finally, we propose guidelines for the recognition and minimization of this bias in the estimation of magnetic moments.
The need to acquire multiple angle-resolved electron energy loss spectra (EELS) is one of the several critical challenges associated with electron magnetic circular dichroism (EMCD) experiments. If the experiments are performed by scanning a nanometer to atomic-sized electron probe on a specific region of a sample, the precision of the local magnetic information extracted from such data highly depends on the accuracy of the spatial registration between multiple scans. For an EMCD experiment in a 3-beam orientation, this means that the same specimen area must be scanned four times while keeping all the experimental conditions same. This is a non-trivial task as there is a high chance of morphological and chemical modification as well as non-systematic local orientation variations of the crystal between the different scans due to beam damage, contamination and spatial drift. In this work, we employ a custom-made quadruple aperture to acquire the four EELS spectra needed for the EMCD analysis in a single electron beam scan, thus removing the above-mentioned complexities. We demonstrate a quantitative EMCD result for a beam convergence angle corresponding to sub-nm probe size and compare the EMCD results for different detector geometries.
The mild and simple direct organocatalytic esterification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and nanocellulose-based materials (e.g. foams and films) with thioglycolic acid (TGA) is disclosed. The transformation gives the corresponding thiol group (-SH) functionalized crystalline nanocellulose (CNC-SH) using simple, naturally occurring, and non-toxic organic acids (e.g. tartaric acid) as catalysts. We also discovered that the direct esterification of cellulose with TGA is autocatalytic (i.e. the TGA is catalyzing its own esterification). The introduction of the -SH functionality at the nanocellulose surface opens up for further selective applications. This was demonstrated by attaching organic catalysts and fluorescent molecules, which are useful as sensors, to the CNC-SH surface by thiol-ene click chemistry. Another application is to use the CNC-SH-based foam as a heterogeneous biomimetic reducing agent, which is stable during multiple recycles, for the copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (“click” reaction).
Hard carbons are the most promising negative active materials for sodium ion storage. In this work, a simple synthesis approach is proposed to produce hard carbon microspheres (CMSs) (with a mean diameter of similar to 1.3 mm) from resorcinol-formaldehyde precursors produced via acid-catalyzed polycondensation reaction. Samples prepared at 1200, 1400, and 1500 degrees C showed different electrochemical behavior in terms of reversible capacity, initial coulombic efficiency (iCE), and the mechanism of sodium ion storage. The specific capacity contributions from the flat voltage profile (<0.1 V) and the sloping voltage region (0.1-1 V) showed strong correlation to the local structure (and carbonization temperature) determined by the interlayer spacing (d(002)) and the Raman ID/IG ratio of the hard carbons (HCs) and the rate of cycling. Electrochemical tests indicated that the HC synthesized at 1500 degrees C performed best with an iCE of 85-89% and a reversible capacity of 300-340 mAh g(-1) at 10 mA g(-1), with the majority of charge stored below 0.1 V. The d002 and the ID/IG ratio for the sample were similar to 3.7 A and similar to 1.27, respectively, parameters indicative of the ideal local structure in HCs required for optimum performance in sodiumion cells. In addition, galvanostatic tests on three-electrode half-cells cells revealed that sodium metal plating occurred as cycling rates were increased beyond 80 mA g(-1) leading to considerably high capacity and poor coulombic efficiency, a point that must be considered in full-cell batteries. Pairing the hard CMS electrodes with Prussian white positive electrode, a proof-of-concept cell could provide a specific capacity of almost 100 mAh g(-1) maintained for more than 50 cycles with a nominal voltage of 3 V.
Biomass is a sustainable precursor of hard carbons destined for use in sodium-ion batteries. This study explores the synthesis of hard carbon nanosheets (HCNS) from oxidized cork and impact of synthesis temperature on the hard carbon characteristics. An increase in the carbonization temperature from 1000 to 1500 °C generally leads to lower BET specific surface areas (~55 to 20 m2 g−1) and d002 interlayer spacing (~ 4.0 to 3.7 Å). The effect of synthesis temperature is reflected in the initial coulombic efficiency (iCE) which increases from 72% at 1000 °C to 88% at 1500 °C, as a result of the decrease in surface area, and structural defects in the hard carbon as verified using Raman scattering. The impact of cycling temperature (~25, 30 and 55 °C) on the rate capability and long-term cycling is investigated using high precision coulometry cycler. For a galvanostatic test at 20 mA g−1 and ~ 25 °C, a reversible capacity of 276 mAh g−1 is observed with an iCE of ~88%. Increasing cycling temperature enhances the rate performance, but slightly lowers the iCE (~86% at 30 °C and ~ 81% at 55 °C). At 20 mA g−1, the reversible capacities obtained at 30 °C and 55 °C are on average ~ 260 and ~ 270 mAh g−1, respectively. For constant-current constant-voltage (CCCV) tests conducted at 30 °C, reversible capacities ranging from 252 to 268, 247–252, and 237–242 mAh g−1 can be obtained at 10, 100, and 1000 mA g−1, respectively. The respective capacities obtained at 55 °C are about 272–290, 260–279, and 234–265 mAh g−1 at 10, 100 and 1000 mA g−1. The applicability of the HCNS electrodes is eventually evaluated in full-cells with Prussian white cathodes, for which a discharge capacity of 152 mAh g−1 is obtained with an iCE of ~90%.
In this article, we report a novel 3D composite cathode fabricated from LiFePO4 nanoparticles deposited conformally on emulsion-templated carbon foam by a sot-gel method. The carbon foam is synthesized via a facile and scalable method which involves the carbonization of a high internal phase emulsion (polyHIPE) polymer template. Various techniques (XRD, SEM, TEM and electrochemical methods) are used to fully characterize the porous electrode and confirm the distribution and morphology of the cathode active material. The major benefits of the carbon foam used in our work are closely connected with its high surface area and the plenty of space suitable for sequential coating with battery components. After coating with a cathode material (LiFePO4 nanoparticles), the 3D electrode presents a hierarchically structured electrode in which a porous layer of the cathode material is deposited on the rigid and bicontinuous carbon foam. The composite electrodes exhibit impressive cyclability and rate performance at different current densities affirming their importance as viable power sources in miniature devices. Footprint area capacities of 1.72 mA h cm(-2) at 0.1 mA cm(-2) (lowest rate) and 1.1 mA h cm(-2) at 6 mA cm(-2) (highest rate) are obtained when the cells are cycled in the range 2.8 to 4.0 V vs. lithium.
Effective utilization of active materials in microbatteries can be enhanced by rational design of the electrodes. There is an increasing trend of using 3D electrodes that are coated in nanosized active materials to boost both energy and power densities. This article focuses on the fabrication of 3D electrodes based on monolithic carbon foams coated in over-stoichiometric NbO2 nanoparticles. The electrodes exhibit remarkable energy and power densities at various current densities when tested in lithium microbatteries. An areal capacity of around 0.7mAhcm(-2) and energy density up to 45mWhcm(-3) have been achieved. More than half of the areal capacity can be accessed at a current density of about 11mAcm(-2), with the corresponding energy and power densities being 21mWhcm(-3) and 1349mWcm(-3). These values are comparable to those of microsupercapacitors containing carbon and MnO2 nanomaterials. Furthermore, the electrochemical reversibility improves progressively upon cycling along with substantial increase in the charge transfer kinetics of the electrode. Based on impedance analyses almost a fourfold decrease in the charge transfer resistance has been observed over 25 cycles. Such enhancement of the electronic properties of NbO2 can account for the high electrochemical rate performance of the 3D electrodes.
Hierarchically porous carbon foams with specific surface areas exceeding 600 m(2) g(-1) can be derived from polystyrene foams that are synthesized via water-in-oil emulsion templating. However, most styrene-based polymers lack strong crosslinks and are degraded to volatile products when heated above 400 degrees C. A common strategy employed to avert depolymerization is to introduce potential crosslinking sites such as sulfonic acids by sulfonating the polymers. This article unravels the thermal and chemical processes leading up to the conversion of sulfonated high internal phase emulsion polystyrenes (polyHIPEs) to sulfur containing carbon foams. During pyrolysis, the sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H) are transformed to sulfone (-C-SO2-C-) and then to thioether (-C-S-C-) crosslinks. These chemical transformations have been monitored using spectroscopic techniques: in situ IR, Raman, X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy. Based on thermal analyses, the formation of thioether links is associated with increased thermal stability and thus a substantial decrease in volatilization of the polymers.
Three-dimensional (3D) carbon electrodes with suitable microstructural features and stable electrochemical performance are required for practical applications in 3D lithium (Li)-ion batteries. Herein, the optimization of the microstructures and electrochemical performances of carbon electrodes derived from emulsion-templated polymer foams are dealt with. Exploiting the rheological properties of the emulsion precursors, carbon foams with variable void sizes and specific surface areas are obtained. Carbon foams with an average void size of around 3.8 mu m are produced, and improvements are observed both in the coulombic efficiency and the cyclability of the carbon foam electrodes synthesized at 2200 degrees C. A stable areal capacity of up to 1.22 mAh cm(-2) (108 mAh g(-1)) is achieved at a current density of 50 mu A cm(-2). In addition, the areal capacity remains almost unaltered, i.e., 1.03 mAh cm(-2) (91 mAh g(-1)), although the cycling current density increases to 500 mu A cm(-2) indicating that the materials are promising for power demanding applications.
We report on a dip-coating method to prepare catalyst particles (mixture of iron and cobalt) with a controlled diameter distribution on silicon wafer substrates by changing the solution's concentration and withdrawal velocity. The size and distribution of the prepared catalyst particles were analyzed by atomic force microscopy. Carbon nanotubes were grown by chemical vapor deposition on the substrates with the prepared catalyst particles. By decreasing the catalyst particle size to below 10 nm, the growth of carbon nanotubes can be tuned from few-walled carbon nanotubes, with homogeneous diameter, to highly pure single-walled carbon nanotubes. Analysis of the Raman radial breathing modes, using three different Raman excitation wavelengths (488, 633, and 785 nm), showed a relatively broad diameter distribution (0.8-1.4 nm) of single-walled carbon nanotubes with different chiralities. However, by changing the composition of the catalyst particles while maintaining the growth parameters, the chiralities of single-walled carbon nanotubes were reduced to mainly four different types, (12, 1), (12, 0), (8, 5), and (7, 5), accounting for about 70% of all nanotubes.
C-60 nanorods with hexagonal cross sections are grown using a static liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method in a system of C-60/m-dichlorobenzene solution and ethanol. Adding water to the ethanol phase leads instead to C-60 tubes where both length and diameter of the C-60 tubes can be controlled by the water content in the ethanol. Based on our observations we find that the diameter of the rods/tubes strongly depends on the nucleation step. We propose a liquid-liquid interface growth model of C-60 rods and tubes based on the diffusion rate of the good C-60 containing solvent into the poor solvent as well as on the size of the crystal seeds formed at the interface between the two solvents. The grown rods and tubes exhibit a hexagonal solvate crystal structure with m-dichlorobenzene solvent molecules incorporated into the crystal structure, independent of the water content. An annealing step at 200 degrees C at a pressure <1 kPa transforms the grown structures into a solvent-free face centered cubic structure. Both the hexagonal and the face centered cubic structures are very stable and neither morphology nor structure shows any signs of degradation after three months of storage.
The mixed-valence manganese (Mn3+/Mn4+) solid solution, SrMn1-xSbxO3, was prepared for the first time. Two ranges of solid solutions were found: (1) SrMn1-xSbxO3 (0.025 x 0.09) with monoclinically distorted 6H-SrMnO3 polytype (sp. gr. C/2c) and (2) SrMn1-xSbxO3 (0.17 x 0.50) with a tetragonal unit cell (sp. gr. I4/mcm). Crystal structure refinement using X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data showed that the structure of the monoclinic solid solution consists of corner-sharing octahedra around sites occupied by manganese and antimony ions and face-sharing octahedra around sites occupied by manganese ions only, while the tetragonal solid solution has a random distribution of B-site cations. The presence of long-range antiferromagnetic order with a Neel temperature of about 148 K for SrMn0.80Sb0.20O3 and about 280 K for SrMn0.925Sb0.075O3 was found from the results of DC and AC susceptibility and neutron diffraction experiments at 5 K and 80 K.
AgFeO2 nanoparticles synthesized via precipitation at room temperature are investigated in Li- and Na-ion cells through electrode coatings with an alginate binder. The electrochemical reactions of AgFeO2 with Li+ and Na+ ions, as well as its role as alternative negative electrode in these cell systems are carefully evaluated. Initial Li uptake causes irreversible amorphization of the AgFeO2 structure with concomitant formation of Ag-0 nano particles. Further Li incorporation results in conversion into Fe nanoparticles and Li2O, together with Li-alloying of these Ag-0 clusters. Similar mechanisms are also found upon Na uptake, although such processes are hindered by overpotentials, the capacity and reversibility of the reactions with Na+ ions being not comparable with those of their Li+ counterparts. The behaviour of AgFeO2 at low potentials vs. Li+ /Li displays a synergic pseudo-capacitive charge storage overlapping Li-Ag alloying/de-alloying. This feature is exploited in full cells having deeply lithiated AgFeO2 and LiFePO4 as negative and positive electrodes, respectively. These environmentally friendly iron-based full cells exhibit attractive cycle performances with approximate to 80% capacity retention after 1000 cycles without any electrolyte additive, average round trip efficiency of approximate to 89% and operational voltage of 3.0 V combined with built-in pseudo-capacitive characteristics that enable high cycling rates up to approximate to 25C.
The study of electrochemical behavior of organic-inorganic nanocomposite materials remains a major challenge for application in energy storage devices. Here, new composite materials of chitosan and NiO nanoparticles have been fabricated. The NiO nanoparticles are well characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The electrical properties of the films are studied by impedance spectroscopy at different temperatures; and thereby permittivity, electric modulus and conductivity data are obtained. By studying the variations in permittivity and electric modulus spectra with respect to applied frequency signal and temperature, the ionic conductivity of the material is investigated. The Correlated Barrier Hopping model is employed to understand the conduction mechanism. An admirable conductivity of 1.4 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) is obtained for a nanocomposite with 4 wt% NiO content. The activation energies of the composite films decrease with increase in NiO content, from 16.5 to 4.8 kJ mol(-1).
Herein, we report on the utilization of a heterogeneous catalyst, consisting of Pd nanoparticles supported on a siliceous mesocellular foam (Pd-0-AmP-MCF), for the synthesis of heterocycles. Reaction of o-iodophenols and protected o-iodoanilines with acetylenes in the presence of a Pd nanocatalyst produced 2-substituted benzofurans and indoles, respectively. In general, the catalytic protocol afforded the desired products in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions without the addition of ligands. Moreover, the structure of the reported Pd nanocatalyst was further elucidated with extended X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy, and it was proven that the catalyst could be recycled multiple times without significant loss of activity.
The microstructural evolution of precursors of ZSM-5 zeolite crystallized from a heterogeneous system using fumed silica, sodium aluminate and tetrapropylammonium ions as reagents is investigated. Entities previously described by Ren et al. (Chem. Mater. 2012, 24, 10, 1726-1737) as condensed aggregates, were extensively studied using scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. It was observed that the condensed aggregates first comprise a core of nanocrystals that is enveloped by a shell of amorphous gel phase. During crystallization, the amorphous shell surrounding the core is converted into ZSM-5 crystals that grow to a film surrounding the core. The crystals in the film grow competitively with nutrients provided by the liquid phase from the surroundings, while the nanocrystals in the core show little or no signs of growth.
The Zn/MnO2 battery is safe, low cost and comes with a high energy density comparable to Li-ion batteries. However, irreversible spinel phases formed at the MnO2 electrode limits its cyclability. A viable solution to overcome this inactive phase is to use an aqueous ZnSO4-based electrolyte, where pH is mildly acidic leading to a different reaction mechanism. Most importantly, the addition of MnSO4 achieves excellent cyclability. How accessible Mn2+ ions in the electrolyte enhances the reversibility is presented. With added Mn2+, the capacity retention is significantly improved over 100 cycles. Zn2+ insertion plays an important role on the reversibility and a hydrated layered Zn-buserite structure formed during charge is reported. Furthermore, Zn4SO4(OH)(6) center dot 5H(2)O precipitates during discharge but is not involved in the electrochemical reaction. This precipitate both buffers the pH and partly insulates the surface. Described in operando study show how the phase transformations and the failure mechanisms depend on the presence of Mn2+-ions in the electrolyte. These results give insight necessary to improve this battery further to make it a worthy contender to the Li-ion battery in large scale energy storage solutions.
A sustainable strategy for the neat production and surface functionalization of nanocellulose from wood pulp is disclosed. It is based on the combination of organocatalysis and click chemistry (organoclick chemistry) and starts with nanocellulose production by organic acid catalyzed hydrolysis and esterification of the pulp under neat conditions followed by homogenization. This nanocellulose fabrication route is scalable, reduces energy consumption and the organic acid can be efficiently recycled. Next, the surface is catalytically engineered by organoclick chemistry, which allows for selective and versatile attachment of different organic molecules (e.g. fluorescent probes, catalyst and pharmaceuticals). It also enables binding of metal ions and nanoparticles. This was exemplified by the fabrication of a heterogeneous nanocellulose palladium nanoparticle catalyst, which is used for Suzuki cross-coupling transformations in water. The disclosed surface functionalization methodology is broad in scope and applicable to different nanocelluloses and cellulose based materials as well.
Herein, we describe efficient nanogold-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions of alkynoic acids and allenynamides to enol lactones and dihydropyrroles, respectively (the latter via an Alder-ene reaction). The gold nanoparticles were immobilized on thiol-functionalized microcrystalline cellulose and characterized by electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and by XPS. The thiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-0) were obtained in the size range 1.5-6 nm at the cellulose surface. The robust and sustainable cellulose-supported gold nanocatalyst can be recycled for multiple cycles without losing activity.
Herein is described a versatile and broad synergistic strategy for expansion of chemical space and the synthesis of valuable molecules (e.g. carbocycles and heterocycles), with up to three quaternary stereocenters, in a highly enantioselective fashion from simple alcohols (31examples, 95:5 to >99.5:0.5 e.r.) using integrated heterogeneous metal/chiral amine multiple relay catalysis and air/O-2 as the terminal oxidant. A novel highly 1,4-selective heterogeneous metal/amine co-catalyzed hydrogenation of enals was also added to the relay catalysis sequences.
The assembly of cellulose-based artificial plant cell wall (APCW) structures that contain different types of catalysts is a powerful strategy for the development of cascade reactions. Here we disclose an APCW catalytic system containing a lipase enzyme and nanopalladium particles that transform a racemic amine into the corresponding enantiomerically pure amide in high yield via a dynamic kinetic resolution.
A novel and sustainable tandem-catalysis system for asymmetric synthesis is disclosed, which is fabricated by bio-inspired self-assembly of artificial arthropod exoskeletons (AAEs) or artificial fungi cell walls (AFCWs) containing two different types of catalysts (enzyme and metal nanoparticles). The heterogeneous integrated enzyme/metal nanoparticle AAE/AFCW systems, which contain chitosan as the main structural component, co-catalyze dynamic kinetic resolution of primary amines via a tandem racemization/enantioselective amidation reaction process to give the corresponding amides in high yields and excellent ee. The heterogeneous AAE/AFCW systems display successful heterogeneous synergistic catalysis at the surfaces since they can catalyze multiple reaction cycles without metal leaching. The use of natural-based and biocompatible structural components makes the AAE/AFCW systems fully biodegradable and renewable, thus fulfilling important green chemistry requirements.
When electrocatalysts are prepared, modification of the morphology is a common strategy to enhance their electrocatalytic performance. In this work, we have examined and characterized nanorods (3D) and nanosheets (2D) of nickel molybdate hydrates, which previously have been treated as the same material with just a variation in morphology. We thoroughly investigated the materials and report that they contain fundamentally different compounds with different crystal structures, chemical compositions, and chemical stabilities. The 3D nanorod structure exhibits the chemical formula NiMoO4<middle dot>0.6H(2)O and crystallizes in a triclinic system, whereas the 2D nanosheet structures can be rationalized with Ni3MoO5-0.5x(OH)(x)<middle dot>(2.3 - 0.5x)H2O, with a mixed valence of both Ni and Mo, which enables a layered crystal structure. The difference in structure and composition is supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ion beam analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The previously proposed crystal structure for the nickel molybdate hydrate nanorods from the literature needs to be reconsidered and is here refined by ab initio molecular dynamics on a quantum mechanical level using density functional theory calculations to reproduce the experimental findings. Because the material is frequently studied as an electrocatalyst or catalyst precursor and both structures can appear in the same synthesis, a clear distinction between the two compounds is necessary to assess the underlying structure-to-function relationship and targeted electrocatalytic properties.
The photophysical properties of Cu-deficient Cu01.2In1Sx quantum dots synthesized through a facile aqueous-based procedure have been investigated. Transient absorption experiments were carried out probing in the UV-vis, near-IR, and mid-IR regions, with the aim to (i) study the photophysical properties of the quantum dots and (ii) monitor kinetics of electron transfer to a molecular catalyst. When pumping subbandgap transitions, negative (bleach) signals were observed that were spectrally and kinetically distinct from those observed with bandgap pump wavelengths. Herein, these distinct contributions are suggested to result from the overlapping bleaching of state filling electrons and trapped holes. Such an interpretation highlights the importance of considering the hole-contributions to the bleach for the proper determination of carrier kinetics in similar systems. A model complex of the [Fe-2]-hydrogenase active site was introduced to explore the potential of the quantum dots as photosensitizers for molecular catalysts. The quantum dot photoluminescence was quenched upon catalyst addition, and direct evidence of the singly reduced catalyst was found by transient absorption in the UV-vis and mid-IR. The catalyst accepted reducing equivalents on a subpicosecond time scale upon photoexcitation of the quantum dots, despite no covalent linking chemistry being applied. This implies that charge transfer is not limited by diffusion rates, thus confirming the presence of spontaneous quantum dot and catalyst self-assembly.
Surpassing nature: A hybrid catalyst in which Candida antarctica lipase B and a nanopalladium species are co-immobilized into the compartments of mesoporous silica is presented. The metal nanoparticles and the enzyme are in close proximity to one another in the cavities of the support. The catalyst mimics a metalloenzyme and was used for dynamic kinetic resolution of a primary amine in high yield and excellent enantioselectivity.
Fe is considered as a promising alternative for OER catalysts owing to its high natural abundance and low cost. Due to the low conductivity and sluggish catalytic kinetics, the catalytic efficiency of Fe-rich catalysts is far from less abundant Ni, Co-rich alternatives and has been hardly improved without the involvement of Ni or Co. The lower activity of Fe-rich catalysts renders the real active center of state-of-the-art NiFe, CoFe catalyst in long-term scientific debate, despite of detection of Fe-based active intermediates in these catalysts during catalytic process. In the present work, we fabricated a series of sub-5 nm Fe1-yCryOx nanocatalysts via a simple solvothermal method, achieving systematically promoted high-valent Fe(VI) species generation by structural and electronic modulation, displaying highly active OER performance without involvement of Ni or Co. Detailed investigation revealed that the high OER activity is related to the ultrasmall nanoparticle size that promotes abundant edge- and corner-site exposure at catalyst surface, which involves in OER as highly reactive site; and the incorporated Cr ions that remarkably accelerate the charge transfer kinetics, providing an effective conduit as well as suitable host for high-valent active intermediate. This work reveals the structural prerequisites for efficient Fe-rich OER catalyst fabrication, inspiring deeper understanding of the structure-activity relationship as well as OER mechanism of Fe-based catalysts.
Amorphous order: Amorphous calcium carbonates (ACC) have an intrinsic structure relating to the crystalline polymorphs of calcite and vaterite. The proto-crystalline structures of calcite and vaterite (pc-ACC and pv-ACC) are analyzed by NMR (see picture), IR, and EXAFS spectroscopy, which shows that the structuring of ACC relates to the underlying pH-dependent equilibria.
Ammonia production consumes-2% of the annual worldwide energy supply, therefore strategic alternatives for the energy-intensive ammonia synthesis through the Haber-Bosch process are of great importance to reduce our carbon footprint. Inspired by MoFe-nitrogenase and the energy-efficient and industrially feasible electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia, we herein establish a catalytic electrode for artificial nitrogen fixation, featuring a carbon fiber cloth fully grafted by boron-doped molybdenum disulfide (B-MoS2/CFC) nanosheets. An excellent ammonia production rate of 44.09 mu g h(-1) cm(-2) is obtained at-0.2 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), whilst maintaining one of the best reported Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 21.72% in acidic aqueous electrolyte (0.1 M HCl). Further applying a more negative potential of-0.25 V renders the best ammonia production rate of 50.51 mu g h(-1) cm(-2). A strong-weak electron polarization (SWEP) pair from the different electron accepting and back-donating capacities of boron and molybdenum (2p shell for boron and 5d shell for molybdenum) is proposed to facilitate greatly the adsorption of non-polar dinitrogen gas via N equivalent to N bond polarization and the first protonation with large driving force. In addition, for the first time a visible light driven photo-electrochemical (PEC) cell for overall production of ammonia, hydrogen and oxygen from water + nitrogen, is demonstrated by coupling a bismuth vanadate BiVO4 photo-anode with the B-MoS2/CFC catalytic cathode.
Herein, we report on the use a biohybrid catalyst consisting of palladium nanoparticles immobilized on cross-linked enzyme aggregates of lipase B of Candida antarctica (CalB CLEA) for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of benzylic amines. A set of amines were demonstrated to undergo an efficient DKR and the recyclability of the catalysts was studied. Extensive efforts to further elucidate the structure of the catalyst are presented.
Artificial photosynthesis is an attractive strategy for converting solar energy into fuel. In this context, development of catalysts for oxidation of water to molecular oxygen remains a critical bottleneck. Herein, we describe the preparation of a well-defined nanostructured RuO2 catalyst, which is able to carry out the oxidation of water both chemically and photochemically. The developed heterogeneous RuO2 nanocatalyst was found to be highly active, exceeding the performance of most known heterogeneous water oxidation catalysts when driven by chemical or photogenerated oxidants.
We present an unusual, yet facile, strategy towards formation of physically mixed Ni-Fe(OxHy) oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. We use in situ X-ray absorption and UV-vis spectroscopy, and high-resolution imaging to demonstrate that physical contact between two inferior Ni(OH)(2) and Fe(OOH) catalysts self-assemble into atomically intermixed Ni-Fe catalysts with unexpectedly high activity.
The zinc/copper hexacyanoferrate (Zn/CuHCF) cell has gained attention as an aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion battery (ZIB) owing to its open framework, excellent rate capability, and high safety. However, both the Zn anode and the CuHCF cathode show unavoidable signs of aging during cycling, though the underlying mechanisms have remained somewhat ambiguous. Here, we present an in-depth study of the CuHCF cathode by employing various X-ray spectroscopic techniques. This allows us to distinguish between structure-related aging effects and charge compensation processes associated with electroactive metal centers upon Zn2+ ion insertion/deinsertion. By combining high-angle annular dark-field-scanning electron transmission microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental analysis, we reconstruct the picture of both the bulk and the surface. First, we identify a set of previously debated X-ray diffraction peaks appearing at early stages of cycling (below 200 cycles) in CuHCF. Our data suggest that these peaks are unrelated to hypothetical ZnxCu1–xHCF phases or to oxidic phases, but are caused by partial intercalation of ZnSO4 into graphitic carbon. We further conclude that Cu is the unstable species during aging, whose dissolution is significant at the surface of the CuHCF particles. This triggers Zn2+ ions to enter newly formed Cu vacancies, in addition to native Fe vacancies already present in the bulk, which causes a reduction of nearby metal sites. This is distinct from the charge compensation process where both the Cu2+/Cu+ and Fe3+/Fe2+ redox couples participate throughout the bulk. By tracking the K-edge fluorescence using operando XAS coupled with cyclic voltammetry, we successfully link the aging effect to the activation of the Fe3+/Fe2+ redox couple as a consequence of Cu dissolution. This explains the progressive increase in the voltage of the charge/discharge plateaus upon repeated cycling. We also find that SO42– anions reversibly insert into CuHCF during charge. Our work clarifies several intriguing structural and redox-mediated aging mechanisms in the CuHCF cathode and pinpoints parameters that correlate with the performance, which will hold importance for the development of future Prussian blue analogue-type cathodes for aqueous rechargeable ZIBs.
This is a report of microbial formation of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and nanofibers at normal pressure and temperature. Our results demonstrate a single cell organism's ability to form complicated material of high industrial interest. The microorganism, Gallionella, is classified as autotrophic and dysoxic. It uses CO2 for its carbon source and grows in environments with low concentrations of free oxygen. The organisms were taken from a deep bedrock tunnel where water leaking from cracks in the rock formed a precipitate of iron as a bacterial slime on the rock wall. Detailed investigations of the samples by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed several types of MWCNT. The stalk single MWCNT was observed with a diameter of about 10nm and with an inner diameter of 1.35nm. The wall of the nanotube is built by graphite layers. The 10 to 20 sheets are used to form the tubes. The measured spacing between the lines is 0.34nm, which is an average value of interlayer spacing, close to the graphitic distance (0.335nm). HRTEM images reveal a two-dimensional lattice with a spacing of 0.24nm, indicating the presence of graphene.
The applications of silicon carbide (SiC) include lightweight materials with thermal shock resistance. In this study, core-shell C-SiC particles were synthesized by compacting and rapidly heating a hydrochar from glucose by using strong pulsed currents and infiltration of silicon vapor. Hollow particles of SiC formed on removing the carbon template. In contrast to related studies, we detected not only the pure 3C polytype (-SiC) but also significant amounts of the 2H or the 6H polytypes (-SiC) in the SiC.
We present the synthesis of palladium nanocrystals self-assembled on helical carbon nanofibers functionalized with benzyl mercaptan (Pd-S-HCNFs) and their electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of formic acid, methanol and ethanol. Helical carbon nanofibers (HCNFs) were first functionalized with benzyl mercaptan based on the pi-pi interactions between phenyl rings and the graphitic surface of HCNFs. Palladium nano crystals (PdNC) were fixed on the surface of functionalized HCNF by Pd-S bonds in a simple self-assembly method. The as-prepared materials were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and fuel cell tests. CV characterization of the as-prepared materials shows a very high electrocatalytic activity for oxidation of formic acid, ethanol and methanol in strong alkaline electrolyte. In comparison to commercial catalyst Vulcan XC-72 decorated with Pd nanoparticles, the proposed Pd-S-HCNFs nano composite material shows oxidation currents for formic acid, ethanol and methanol at the Pd-S-HCNF-modified electrode that are higher than that at the Pd/XC-72 modified electrode with a factor of 2.0, 1.5, and 2.3, respectively. In a formic acid fuel cell the Pd-S-HCNF modified electrode yields equal power density as commercial Pd/XC-72 catalyst. Our results show that Pd-decorated helical carbon nanofibers with diameters around 40-60 nm have very high potential as active material in fuel cells, electrocatalysts and sensors.
Amorphous palladium nanoparticles functionalized helical carbon nanofibers (ApPd-HCNFs) were synthesized using a phase-transfer method. Palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NP) were first prepared using n-dodecyl sulfide as reducing agent and stabilizing ligands in ethanol. The Pd-NPs were then modified with benzyl mercaptan and transferred into a toluene solution with HCNFs which were decorated with amorphous palladium. The materials were characterized with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry showing that amorphous palladium nanoparticles were uniformly anchored at the HCNFs surface and that the ApPd-HCNFs exhibit high electrocatalytic activity towards hydrazine oxidation.
Herein, we report on the facile synthesis of a heterogeneous copper nanocatalyst and its combination with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyl compounds. This low cost copper nanocatalyst was found to exhibit excellent recyclability, making it a highly attractive catalytic system from an economical and environmental point of view. Extensive characterization of the catalyst by a number of techniques revealed that it was comprised of well-dispersed Cu(I/II) nanoparticles with an average size of around 6nm.
We report on a novel sensing platform for H2O2 and glucose based on immobilization of palladium-helical carbon nanofiber (Pd-HCNF) hybrid nanostnictures and glucose oxidase (GOx) with Nafion on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). HCNFs were synthesized by a chemical vapor deposition process on a C-60-supported Pd catalyst. Pd-HCNF nanocomposites were prepared by a one-step reduction free method in dimethylformamide (DMF). The prepared materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy. The Nafion/Pd-HCNF/GCE sensor exhibits excellent electrocatalytic sensitivity toward H2O2 (315 mA M-1 cm(-2)) as probed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. We show that Pd-HCNF-modified electrodes significantly reduce the overpotential and enhance the electron transfer rate. A linear range from 5.0 mu M to 2.1 mM with a detection limit of 3.0 mu M (based on the S/N = 3) and good reproducibility were obtained. Furthermore, a sensing platform for glucose was prepared by immobilizing the Pd-HCNFs and glucose oxidase (GOx) with Nafion on a glassy carbon electrode. The resulting biosensor exhibits a good response to glucose with a wide linear range (0.06-6.0 mM) with a detection limit of 0.03 mM and a sensitivity of 13 mA M-1 cm(-2). We show that small size and homogeneous distribution of the Pd nanoparticles in combination with good conductivity and large surface area of the HCNFs lead to a H2O2 and glucose sensing platform that performs in the top range of the herein reported sensor platforms.
Dual-ion batteries (DIBs) generally operate beyond 4.7 V vs Li+/Li-0 and rely on the intercalation of both cations and anions in graphite electrodes. Major challenges facing the development of DIBs are linked to electrolyte decomposition at the cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI), graphite exfoliation, and corrosion of Al current collectors. In this work, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is employed to gain a broad understanding of the nature and dynamics of the CEI built on anion-intercalated graphite cycled both in highly concentrated electrolytes (HCEs) of common lithium salts (LiPF6, LiFSI, and LiTFSI) in carbonate solvents and in a typical ionic liquid. Though AI metal current collectors were adequately stable in all HCEs, the Coulombic efficiency was substantially higher for HCEs based on LiFSI and LiTFSI salts. Specific capacities ranging from 80 to 100 mAh g(-1) were achieved with a Coulombic efficiency above 90% over extended cycling, but cells with LiPF6-based electrolytes were characterized by <70% Coulombic efficiency and specific capacities of merely ca. 60 mAh g(-1). The poor performance in LiPF6-containing electrolytes is indicative of the continual buildup of decomposition products at the interface due to oxidation, forming a thick interfacial layer rich in LixPFy, POxFy, LixPOyFz, and organic carbonates as evidenced by XPS. In contrast, insights from XPS analyses suggested that anion intercalation and deintercalation processes in the range from 3 to 5.1 V give rise to scant or extremely thin surface layers on graphite electrodes cycled in LiFSI- and LiTFSI-containing HCEs, even allowing for probing anions intercalated in the near-surface bulk. In addition, ex situ Raman, SEM and TEM characterizations revealed the presence of a thick coating on graphite particles cycled in LiPF6-based electrolytes regardless of salt concentration, while hardly any surface film was observed in the case of concentrated LiFSI and LiTFSI electrolytes.
Aim: To examine the multimodal contrasting ability of gold-dotted magnetic nanoparticles (Au*MNPs) for magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging.
Materials & methods: Au*MNPs were prepared by adapting an impregnation method, without using surface capping reagents and characterized (transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) with theirin vitrocytotoxicity assessed, followed by imaging assessments.
Results: The contrast-enhancing ability of Au*MNPs was shown to be concentration-dependent across MR, CT and IVUS imaging. The Au content of the Au*MNP led to evident increases of the IVUS signal.
Conclusion: We demonstrated that Au*MNPs showed concentration-dependent contrast-enhancing ability in MRI and CT imaging, and for the first-time in IVUS imaging due to the Au content. These Au*MNPs are promising toward solidifying tri-modal imaging-based theragnostics.
Antiphase boundaries (APBs) normally form as a consequence of the initial growth conditions in all spinel ferrite thin films. These boundaries result from the intrinsic nucleation and growth mechanism, and are observed as regions where the periodicity of the crystalline lattice is disrupted. The presence of APBs in epitaxial films of the inverse spinel Fe3O4 alters their electronic and magnetic properties due to strong antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions across these boundaries. We explore the effect of using in-plane in situ electric-field-assisted growth on the formation of APBs in heteroepitaxial Fe3O4(100)/MgO(100) thin films. The electric-field-assisted growth is found to reduce the AF interactions across APBs and, as a consequence, APB-free thin-film-like properties are obtained, which have been probed by electronic, magnetic, and structural characterization. The electric field plays a critical role in controlling the density of APBs during the nucleation process by providing an electrostatic force acting on adatoms and therefore changing their kinetics. This innovative technique can be employed to grow epitaxial spinel thin films with controlled AF interactions across APBs.
Activated carbons (ACs) are actively researched as electrode materials for supercapacitors and there is a significant interest to produce ACs from sustainable and low cost precursors. In this study, various ACs were prepared from hydrothermally carbonized sugars by KOH activation. Both the hydrothermal carbonization and activation processes were optimized to tailor the properties (e.g. textural properties, chemical composition, N-doping, electrical conductivity) of the ACs. For instance, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface areas (S-BET) were tuned in the range of 800-3000 m(2) g(-1) with associated variation in the extent of microporosity and pore size distributions (PSDs). The ACs were evaluated electrochemically as materials for supercapacitor electrodes in a symmetrical two-electrode cell using an aqueous electrolyte. The relationship between the electrochemical, textural, electrical, and physicochemical properties were analyzed systematically to understand the key factors determining the electrochemical performance. A high specific capacitance (C-m) of similar to 260 F g(-1) was achieved at a moderately high S-BET of similar to 1300 m(2) g(-1), which was equivalent to a C-m/S-BET of 20 mu F cm(-2), for an optimal AC prepared from hydrothermally carbonized glucose. The very high surface-specific capacitance highlights that the specific surface area is certainly not the sole limiting parameter for effective electrode materials.
A highly selective and efficient oxidative carbocyclization/borylation of enallenols catalyzed by palladium immobilized on amino-functionalized siliceous mesocellular foam (Pd-AmP-MCF) was developed for diastereoselective cyclobutenol synthesis. The heterogeneous palladium catalyst can be recovered and recycled without any observed loss of activity or selectivity. The high diastereoselectivity of the reaction is proposed to originate from a directing effect of the enallenol hydroxyl group. Optically pure cyclobutenol synthesis was achieved by the heterogeneous strategy by using chiral enallenol obtained from kinetic resolution.
Li-containing alloys and metallic deposits offer substantial Li+ storage capacities as alternative anodes to commercial graphite. However, the thermodynamically in sequence, yet kinetically competitive mechanism between Li solubility in the solid solution and intermediate alloy-induced Li deposition remains debated, particularly across the multiple scales. The elucidation of the mechanism is rather challenging due to the dynamic alloy evolution upon the non-equilibrium, transient lithiation processes under coupled physical fields. Here, influential factors governing Li solubility in the Li-Zn alloy are comprehensively investigated as a demonstrative model, spanning from the bulk electrolyte solution to the ion diffusion within the electrode. Through real-time phase tracking and spatial distribution analysis of intermediate alloy/Li metallic species at varied temperatures, current densities and particle sizes, the driving force of Li solubility and metallic plating along the Li migration pathway are probed in-depth. This study investigates the correlation between kinetics (pronounced concentration polarization, miscibility gap in lattice grains) and rate-limiting interfacial charge transfer thermodynamics in dedicating the Li diffusion into the solid solution. Additionally, the lithiophilic alloy sites with the balanced diffusion barrier and Li adsorption energy are explored to favor the homogeneous metal plating, which provides new insights for the rational innovation of high-capacity alloy/metallic anodes.