B−B Bond Nucleophilicity in a Tetraaryl μ-Hydridodiborane(4) Anion

The tetraaryl μ-hydridodiborane(4) anion [ 2 H]⁻ possesses nucleophilic B−B and B−H bonds. Treatment of K[ 2 H] with the electrophilic 9-H-9-borafluorene (HBFlu) furnishes the B₃ cluster K[ 3 ], with a triangular boron core linked through two BHB two-electron, three-center bonds and one electron-precise B−B bond, reminiscent of the prominent [B₃H₈]⁻ anion. Upon heating or prolonged stirring at room temperature, K[ 3 ] rearranges to a slightly more stable isomer K[ 3 a ]. The reaction of M[ 2 H] (M⁺=Li⁺, K⁺) with MeI or Me₃SiCl leads to equimolar amounts of 9-R-9-borafluorene and HBFlu (R=Me or Me₃Si). Thus, [ 2 H]⁻ behaves as a masked [:BFlu]⁻ nucleophile. The HBFlu by-product was used in situ to establish a tandem substitution-hydroboration reaction: a 1:1 mixture of M[ 2 H] and allyl bromide gave the 1,3-propylene-linked ditopic 9-borafluorene 5 as sole product. M[ 2 H] also participates in unprecedented [4+1] cycloadditions with dienes to furnish dialkyl diaryl spiroborates, M[R₂BFlu].     

Elucidating the Mechanism of Simultaneous Activation of CH4 and CO2 Mediated by Single Group 10 Metal Anions in Gas Phase

Quantum chemistry calculations predict that besides the reported single metal anion Pt⁻, Ni⁻ can also mediate the co-conversion of CO₂ and CH₄ to form [CH₃−M(CO₂)−H]^– complex, followed by transformation to C−C coupling product [H₃CCOO−M−H]⁻ ( A ), hydrogenation products [H₃C−M−OCOH]⁻ ( B ) and [H₃C−M−COOH]⁻. For Pd⁻, a fourth product channel leading to PdCO₂⁻…CH₄ becomes more competitive. For Ni⁻, the feed order must be CO₂ first, as the weaker donor-acceptor interaction between Ni⁻ and CH₄ increases the C−H activation barrier, which is reduced by [Ni−CO₂]⁻. For Ni⁻/Pt⁻, the highly exothermic products A and B are similarly stable with submerged barrier that favors B . The smaller barrier difference between A and B for Ni⁻ suggests the C−C coupling product is more competitive in the presence of Ni⁻ than Pt⁻. The charge redistribution from M⁻ is the driving force for product B channel. This study adds our understanding of single atomic anions to activate CH₄ and CO₂ simultaneously.     

Dirac—Fock one-centre calculations. VI. The tetrahedral and octahedral model systems CeH4, ThH4, CrH6, MoH6, WH6, UH6 and (106)H6

Relativistic and non-relativistic Hartree—Fock calculations are reported for the tetrahedral model systems CeH₄ and ThH₄ and the octahedral model systems CrH₆, MoH₆, WH₆, UH₆ and (106)H₆. The effects of relativity on bond strengths and lengths are obtained from fits to a Morse potential. The calculated CrH, MoH and WH bond lengths are comparable to those measured in the organometallic systems. Their relativistic contractions are 0.36, 0.8 and 2.8%, respectively. For the MH_n systems (M = Ti, Zr, Hf, Th, Cr, Mo, W), the calculated MH bond lengths differ in the average from the experimental MX by 16, 39, ?3, 42, 55 and 75 pm for X = Hb(BH₄), C(σ), F, Cl, Br and I, respectively, suggesting a “hydridic” hydrogen covalent radius of 58 pm. A comparison of the bond lengths for CeH₄ and HfH₄ yields the value of 19 pm for the lanthanoid contraction. A corresponding non-relativistic calculation gives 16 pm. Thus the lanthanoid contraction is predominantly a non-relativistic shell-structure effect. A similar comparison of ThH₄ and (104)H₄ or of UH₆ and (106)H₆ predicts an actinoid contraction of 30 pm for compounds of the present type. The fact that WH bonds are stronger than MoH bonds is probably due to relativistic effects. Strong s-p-d hybridization is found for CeH₄ and ThH₄ with only weak f AO contributions. For UH₆ the f AO participation is four times larger and has a double-humped radial distribution suggesting “true” 5f participation in bonding. Adding the 5f:s shortens the bond length by 8 and 22 pm for ThH₄ and UH₆, respectively, also indicating s-p-d-f hybridization for uranium. The 7p radius for Th is larger than the 6d radius and the norm N(7p), of the t₂ MO increases with increasing bond length R. Therefore this t₂ MO causes a potential V(R), that is more attractive than in the case without 7p functions, even at R of the order of 500 pm. Possible connection with hydrogenation catalysis by elements like Th and Ti is discussed.     

A three‐dimensional framework of bis­[tris­(ethyl­enediamine)zinc] tetra­iodo­cadmate diiodide assisted by N—H⋯I hydrogen bonds

The title salt, [Zn(C₂N₂H₈)₃]₂[CdI₄]I₂, conventionally abbreviated [Zn(en)₃]₂[CdI₄]I₂, where en is ethyl­enediamine, contains discrete [Zn(en)₃]²⁺ cations and [CdI₄]²⁻ anions with distorted octa­hedral and nearly tetra­hedral geometries, respectively, as well as uncoordinated I⁻ ions. The cation and the free I⁻ anion lie on twofold rotation axes and the [CdI₄]²⁻ anion lies on a axis in the space group I2d. The structure exhibits numerous weak inter‐ionic hydrogen bonds of two types, viz. N—H⋯I⁻(free ion) and N—H⋯I([CdI₄]²⁻), which support the resulting three‐dimensional framework.     

Hydrogen bonding in two ammonium salts of 5‐sulfosalicylic acid: ammonium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate monohydrate and triammonium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate 3‐carboxylato‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate

The structures of two ammonium salts of 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid (5‐sulfosalicylic acid, 5‐SSA) have been determined at 200 K. In the 1:1 hydrated salt, ammonium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate monohydrate, NH₄⁺·C₇H₅O₆S⁻·H₂O, (I), the 5‐SSA⁻ monoanions give two types of head‐to‐tail laterally linked cyclic hydrogen‐bonding associations, both with graph‐set R₄⁴(20). The first involves both carboxylic acid O—H...O_water and water O—H...O_sulfonate hydrogen bonds at one end, and ammonium N—H...O_sulfonate and N—H...O_carboxy hydrogen bonds at the other. The second association is centrosymmetric, with end linkages through water O—H...O_sulfonate hydrogen bonds. These conjoined units form stacks down c and are extended into a three‐dimensional framework structure through N—H...O and water O—H...O hydrogen bonds to sulfonate O‐atom acceptors. Anhydrous triammonium 3‐carboxy‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate 3‐carboxylato‐4‐hydroxybenzenesulfonate, 3NH₄⁺·C₇H₄O₆S²⁻·C₇H₅O₆S⁻, (II), is unusual, having both dianionic 5‐SSA²⁻ and monoanionic 5‐SSA⁻ species. These are linked by a carboxylic acid O—H...O hydrogen bond and, together with the three ammonium cations (two on general sites and the third comprising two independent half‐cations lying on crystallographic twofold rotation axes), give a pseudo‐centrosymmetric asymmetric unit. Cation–anion hydrogen bonding within this layered unit involves a cyclic R₃³(8) association which, together with extensive peripheral N—H...O hydrogen bonding involving both sulfonate and carboxy/carboxylate acceptors, gives a three‐dimensional framework structure. This work further demonstrates the utility of the 5‐SSA⁻ monoanion for the generation of stable hydrogen‐bonded crystalline materials, and provides the structure of a dianionic 5‐SSA²⁻ species of which there are only a few examples in the crystallographic literature.     

Bismuth–Boron Multiple Bonding in BiB2O− and Bi2B−

Despite its electron deficiency, boron is versatile in forming multiple bonds. Transition‐metal–boron double bonding is known, but boron–metal triple bonds have been elusive. Two bismuth boron cluster anions, BiB₂O⁻ and Bi₂B⁻, containing triple and double B−Bi bonds are presented. The BiB₂O⁻ and Bi₂B⁻ clusters are produced by laser vaporization of a mixed B/Bi target and characterized by photoelectron spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Well‐resolved photoelectron spectra are obtained and interpreted with the help of ab initio calculations, which show that both species are linear. Chemical bonding analyses reveal that Bi forms triple and double bonds with boron in BiB₂O⁻ ([Bi≡B−B≡O]⁻) and Bi₂B⁻ ([Bi=B=Bi]⁻), respectively. The Bi−B double and triple bond strengths are calculated to be 3.21 and 4.70 eV, respectively. This is the first experimental observation of Bi−B double and triple bonds, opening the door to design main‐group metal–boron complexes with multiple bonding.     

A 2D cadmium metal–organic framework: Synthesis,structure and luminescence sensing for chromate,permanganate, cupric,silver and ferric

A multi-responsive Cd metal–organic framework {[Cd (ttpe)(H₂O)(ip)]•4H₂O•DMAC}_n ( 1•4H ₂ O•DMAC ) was synthesized using hydrothermal method (ttpe = 1,1,2,2-tetra(4-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenyl)ethylene, ip = isophthalate, DMAC = N,N-dimethylacetamide), and characterized. 1 exhibits a 2D (4,4) network. The luminescent sensing experimrnts showed that 1•4H ₂ O•DMAC as a new MOF luminescent sensor can detect Cr₂O₇²⁻, CrO₄²⁻, MnO₄⁻, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺ and Fe³⁺ in aqueous solution with simultaneously high efficiency and high sensitivity. The quenching constants K_sv for Cr₂O₇²⁻, CrO₄²⁻, MnO₄⁻, Cu²⁺, Ag⁺ and Fe³⁺ are 4.231 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, 2.471 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, 6.459 × 10³ M⁻¹, 7.617 × 10³ M⁻¹, 1.563 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 3.574 × 10⁴ M⁻¹, respectively. The detection limits are 0.094 μM for Cr₂O₇²⁻, 0.108 μM for CrO₄^{2 −} , 0.346 μM for MnO₄⁻, 0.302 μM for Cu²⁺, 0.221 μM for Ag ⁺ , and 0.100 μM for Fe³⁺. 1•4H ₂ O•DMAC exhibits high photocatalytic efficiency for degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation.     

N,N′‐Dimethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate) and N,N′‐diethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate): new examples of anion–π triads

Crystallization of N,N′‐dimethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate), C₆H₁₀N₂²⁺·2BF₄⁻, (I), and N,N′‐diethylpyrazinediium bis(tetrafluoroborate), C₈H₁₄N₂²⁺·2BF₄⁻, (II), from dried acetonitrile under argon protection has permitted their single‐crystal studies. In both crystal structures, the pyrazinediium dications are located about an inversion center (located at the ring center) and each pyrazinediium aromatic ring is π‐bonded to two centrosymmetrically related BF₄⁻ anions. Strong anion–π interactions, as well as weak C—H...F hydrogen bonds, between BF₄⁻ and pyrazinediium ions are present in both salts.     

Pseudosymmetry in ammonium [(carboxymethyl)sulfanyl]acetate

The structure of the title compound, NH₄⁺·C₄H₅O₄S⁻, is composed of mono­carboxyl­ate anions of [(carboxymethyl)sulfanyl]acetic acid linked into infinite chains via strong O—H⋯O⁻ hydrogen bonds. The three‐dimensional structure is completed by the ammonium cations, which interlink neighbouring chains via N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Solution and refinement in the true space group Pn led to an unambiguous position for the single carboxyl H atom. In the higher symmetry space group P2/n, the carboxylate anion would be located on a twofold axis.     

Poly[bis(4‐chloropyridinium) tetra‐μ2‐chlorido‐tetrachloridotrimercurate(II)]

The structure of the title compound, {(C₅H₅ClN)₂[Hg₃Cl₈]}_n, consists of 4‐chloropyridinium cations and one‐dimensional [Hg₃Cl₈]²⁻ anion chains. There are two coordination environments for Hg^II in the inorganic chain. The first is a distorted tetrahedral geometry made up of an HgCl₂ unit with two Cl⁻ anion bridges, while the second is an octahedral coordination geometry consisting of an HgCl₂ unit and four chloride‐anion bridges. This gives rise to a novel three‐layer centrosymmetric polymer. Finally, the three‐dimensional network comes about through the many C—H...Cl and N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds that link the organic and inorganic layers.     

Borane‐Stabilized Isomeric Dimers of the Phosphaethynolate Anion

The reactions of the phosphaethynolate anion ([PCO]⁻) with a range of boranes were explored. BPh₃ and [PCO]⁻ form a dimeric anion featuring P−B bonds and is prone to dissociation at room temperature. The more Lewis acidic borane B(C₆F₅)₃ yields a less symmetric dimer of [PCO]⁻ with P−B and P−O bonds. Less sterically demanding HB(C₆F₅)₂ and H₂B(C₆F₅) boranes form a third isomer with [PCO]⁻ featuring both boranes bound to the same phosphorus atom. Despite the unexpected thermodynamic preference for P‐coordination, computational data illustrate that electronic and steric features impact the binding modes of the resulting dianionic dimers.     

Metal-Oxo Electronic Tuning via In Situ CO Decoration for Promoting Methane Conversion to Oxygenates over Single-Atom Catalysts

Direct methane conversion (DMC) to oxygenates at low temperature is of great value but remains challenging due to the high energy barrier for C−H bond activation. Here, we report that in situ decoration of Pd₁-ZSM-5 single atom catalyst (SAC) by CO molecules significantly promoted the DMC reaction, giving the highest turnover frequency of 207 h⁻¹ ever reported at room temperature and ~100 % oxygenates selectivity with H₂O₂ as oxidant. Combined characterizations and DFT calculations illustrate that the C-atom of CO prefers to coordinate with Pd₁, which donates electrons to the Pd₁−O active center (L−Pd₁−O, L=CO) generated by H₂O₂ oxidation. The correspondingly improved electron density over Pd−O pair renders a favorable heterolytic dissociation of C−H bond with low energy barrier of 0.48 eV. Applying CO decoration strategy to M₁-ZSM-5 (M=Pd, Rh, Ru, Fe) enables improvement of oxygenates productivity by 3.2–11.3 times, highlighting the generalizability of this method in tuning metal-oxo electronic structure of SACs for efficient DMC process.     

Infrared Spectra of the HAnX and H2AnX2 Molecules (An=Th and U,X=Cl and Br) in Argon Matrices Supported by Electronic Structure Calculations

Uranium and thorium hydrides are known as functional groups for ligand stabilized complexes and as isolated molecules under matrix isolation conditions. Here, the new molecular products of the reactions of laser-ablated U and Th atoms with HCl and with HBr, namely HUCl, HUBr and HThCl, HThBr, based on their mid and far infrared spectra in solid argon, are reported. The assignment of these species is based on the close agreement between observed and calculated vibrational frequencies. The H−U and U−³⁵Cl stretching modes of HUCl were observed at 1404.6 and 323.8 cm⁻¹, respectively. Using DCl instead to form DUCl gives absorption bands at 1003.1 and 314.7 cm⁻¹. The corresponding bands of HThCl are 1483.8 (H−Th) and 1058.0 (D −Th), as well as 340.3 and 335.8 cm⁻¹ (Th−³⁵Cl), respectively. HUBr is observed at 1410.6 cm⁻¹ and the BP86 computed shift from HUCl is 6.2 cm⁻¹ in excellent agreement. The U−H stretching frequency increases from 1383.1 (HUF), 1404.6 (HUCl), 1410.6 (HUBr) to 1423.6 cm⁻¹ (UH) as less electronic charge is removed from the U−H bond by the less electronegative substituent. These U−H stretching frequencies follow the Mayer bond orders calculated for the three HUX molecules. A similar trend is found for the Th counterparts. Additional absorptions are assigned to the H₂AnX₂ molecules (An=U, Th, X=Cl, Br) formed by the exothermic reaction of a second HX molecule with the above primary products.     

CO Oxidation by Group 3 Metal Monoxide Cations Supported on [Fe(CO)4]2−

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of mass‐selected heteronuclear cluster anions in the form of OMFe(CO)₅⁻ (M=Sc, Y, La) indicates that all these anions involve an 18‐electron [Fe(CO)₄]²⁻ building block that is bonded with the M center through two bridged carbonyl ligands. The OLaFe(CO)₅⁻ anion is determined to be a CO‐tagged complex involving a [Fe(CO)₄]²⁻[LaO]⁺ anion core. In contrast, the OYFe(CO)₅⁻ anion is characterized to have a [Fe(CO)₄]²⁻[Y(η²‐CO₂)]⁺ structure involving a side‐on bonded CO₂ ligand. The CO‐tagged complex and the [Fe(CO)₄]²⁻[Sc(η²‐CO₂)]⁺ isomer co‐exist for the OScFe(CO)₅⁻ anion. These observations indicate that both the ScO⁺ and YO⁺ cations supported on [Fe(CO)₄]²⁻ are able to oxidize CO to CO₂. Theoretical analyses show that [Fe(CO)₄]²⁻ coordination significantly weakens the MO⁺ bond and decreases the energy gap of the interacting valence orbitals between MO⁺ and CO, leading to the CO oxidation reactions being both thermodynamically exothermic and kinetically facile.     

Stabilization of Guanidinate Anions [CN3]5− in Calcite-Type SbCN3

The stabilization of nitrogen-rich phases presents a significant chemical challenge due to the inherent stability of the dinitrogen molecule. This stabilization can be achieved by utilizing strong covalent bonds in complex anions with carbon, such as cyanide CN⁻ and NCN²⁻ carbodiimide, while more nitrogen-rich carbonitrides are hitherto unknown. Following a rational chemical design approach, we synthesized antimony guanidinate SbCN₃ at pressures of 32–38 GPa using various synthetic routes in laser-heated diamond anvil cells. SbCN₃, which is isostructural to calcite CaCO₃, can be recovered under ambient conditions. Its structure contains the previously elusive guanidinate anion [CN₃]⁵⁻, marking a fundamental milestone in carbonitride chemistry. The crystal structure of SbCN₃ was solved and refined from synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and was fully corroborated by theoretical calculations, which also predict that SbCN₃ has a direct band gap with the value of 2.20 eV. This study opens a straightforward route to the entire new family of inorganic nitridocarbonates.     

An optically resolved crystal of thiomalate: (S)‐1‐phenylethanaminium (R)‐thiomalate

The asymmetric unit of the optically resolved title salt, C₈H₁₂N⁺·C₄H₅O₄S⁻, contains a 1‐phenylethanaminium monocation and a thiomalate (3‐carboxy‐2‐sulfanylpropanoate) monoanion. The absolute configurations of the cation and the anion are determined to be S and R, respectively. In the crystal, cation–anion N—H...O hydrogen bonds, together with anion–anion O—H...O and S—H...O hydrogen bonds, construct a two‐dimensional supramolecular sheet parallel to the ab plane. The two‐dimensional sheet is linked with the upper and lower sheets through C—H...π interactions to stack along the c axis.     

Thieno[3,4‐c]Pyrrole‐4,6‐Dione and Dithiophene‐Based Conjugated Polymer for Organic Field Effect Transistors: High Mobility Induced by Synergic Effect of H‐Bond and Vinyl Linkage

Here, a conjugated polymer VTTPD based on thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione (TPD) and dithiophene with vinyl as linker is synthesized and characterized. Electrochemical and optical studies indicate the LUMO and HOMO energies of the polymer are −3.70 and −5.39 eV. Theoretical calculation with density functional theory suggests that H‐bonds are formed between the TPD carbonyl (O) and its neighboring vinyl (H) which benefit the planarity and π‐conjugation of the polymer backbone. Bottom contact bottom gate organic field effect transistor devices based on VTTPD are fabricated and examined in air. After annealing at 160 °C, the devices exhibit excellent performance of μ_h = 0.4 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, I_on/off = 10⁶, Vth within −10 V to −5 V. Thin film morphologies before and after the annealing process are also investigated with XRD and AFM.

     

Products of the interaction of (1‐diaminomethylene)thiourea with hydrofluoric acid

The salts 1‐(diaminomethylene)thiouron‐1‐ium hydrogen difluoride, C₂H₇N₄S⁺·HF₂⁻, (I), and bis[1‐(diaminomethylene)thiouron‐1‐ium] hexafluoridosilicate, 2C₂H₇N₄S⁺·SiF₆²⁻, (II), have both been obtained from the reaction of (1‐diaminomethylene)thiourea (HATU) with hydrofluoric acid. Both compounds contain extensive networks of N—H...F hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen difluoride salt contains four independent asymmetric [HF₂]⁻ anions. In the hexafluoridosilicate salt, the centrosymmetric [SiF₆]²⁻ anion is distorted, although this distortion is not clearly correlated with the N—H...F hydrogen‐bonding network.     

Complexation of Anions Including Nucleotide Anions by Open‐Chain Host Compounds with Amide,Urea, and Aryl Functions

A systematical evaluation of association constants between halide, phosphate, and carboxylate anions with N‐methylformamide ( 1 ) and the related bidentate receptors 2 – 6 (derived from, e.g., phthalic acid or ethylenediamine) in CDCl₃ as solvent yielded increments of complexation free‐energy ΔΔG for each single H‐bond, which varied like, e.g., 5.1 kJ/mol (for Cl⁻), 4.0 kJ/mol (for Br⁻), 4.0 kJ/mol (for I⁻) (with values taken from Tables 1 and 2), in line with expected H‐bond strength. The observed complexation induced NH‐NMR shift (CIS) values also showed a regular change, in the case of 1 , e.g., from 5.0 to 2.8 to 2.1 ppm (Table 1), with about half of these values with the bidentate ligands (Tables 2 and 3). Tridentate hosts led to a substantial binding increase, if strain‐free convergence of all NH donor functions towards the anion was possible. The tris[urea] ligand 10 yielded, even in the polar solvent DMSO, with Cl⁻ a ΔG of −21.5 kJ/mol and with Br⁻ of −10⋅5 kJ/mol, whereas with I⁻, no association was detectable. The results demonstrated that small, inexpensive, and conformationally mobile host compounds can exhibit high affinities as well as descrimination with anions, as much as more preorganized receptors do which require multistep synthesis. The corresponding adamantyl derivative 13 allowed measurements also in CDCl₃, with K=4.3⋅10⁴ M ⁻¹ for chloride (Table 7). Complexes with nucleotide anions were again particularly strong with the tridentate urea‐based ligands, the latter being optimal ligands for chloride complexation. For the association of 10 with AMP²⁻ and GMP²⁻in (D₆)DMSO, the association constants were 3⋅10⁴ M ⁻¹ (Table 8) and almost the same as with Cl⁻. In the case of the urea derivatives 17 , 18 , and 21 , containing only one phenyl or pyrenyl substituent, however, the ΔG values decreased in the order A>C>T>G (e.g. −13.6, −11.6, −7.6, −10.5 kJ/mol in the case of 17 , resp.; Table 8). In H₂O, the pyrenyl‐substituted urea derivatives allow measurements with fluorescence, and, unexpectedly, show only smaller nucleobase discrimination, with constants around 3⋅10³ M ⁻¹.     

Durable Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia over Defective Pseudobrookite Fe2TiO5 Nanofibers with Abundant Oxygen Vacancies

We propose the pseudobrookite Fe₂TiO₅ nanofiber with abundant oxygen vacancies as a new electrocatalyst to ambiently reduce nitrate to ammonia. Such catalyst achieves a large NH₃ yield of 0.73 mmol h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_cat. and a high Faradaic Efficiency (FE) of 87.6 % in phosphate buffer saline solution with 0.1 M NaNO₃, which is lifted to 1.36 mmol h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_cat. and 96.06 % at −0.9 V vs. RHE for nitrite conversion to ammonia in 0.1 M NaNO₂. It also shows excellent electrochemical durability and structural stability. Theoretical calculation reveals the enhanced conductivity of this catalyst and an extremely low free energy of −0.28 eV for nitrate adsorption at the presence of vacant oxygen.