Significant Improvements in CO2 Capture by Pyridine‐Containing Anion‐Functionalized Ionic Liquids through Multiple‐Site Cooperative Interactions

A strategy for improving CO₂ capture by new anion‐functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) making use of multiple site cooperative interactions is reported. An extremely high capacity of up to 1.60 mol CO₂ per mol IL and excellent reversibility were achieved by introducing a nitrogen‐based interacting site on the phenolate and imidazolate anion. Quantum‐chemical calculations, spectroscopic investigations, and calorimetric data demonstrated that multiple‐site cooperative interactions between two kinds of interacting sites in the anion and CO₂ resulted in superior CO₂ capacities, which originated from the π‐electron delocalization in the pyridine ring.     

Multi‐Molar Absorption of CO2 by the Activation of Carboxylate Groups in Amino Acid Ionic Liquids

A new strategy for multi‐molar absorption of CO₂ is reported based on activating a carboxylate group in amino acid ionic liquids. It was illustrated that introducing an electron‐withdrawing site to amino acid anions could reduce the negative inductive effect of the amino group while simultaneously activating the carboxylate group to interact with CO₂ very efficiently. An extremely high absorption capacity of CO₂ (up to 1.69 mol mol^?1) in aminopolycarboxylate‐based amino acid ionic liquids was thus achieved. The evidence of spectroscopic investigations and quantum‐chemical calculations confirmed the interactions between two kinds of sites in the anion and CO₂ that resulted in superior CO₂ capacities.     

Highly Rechargeable Lithium‐CO2 Batteries with a Boron‐ and Nitrogen‐Codoped Holey‐Graphene Cathode

Metal‐air batteries, especially Li‐air batteries, have attracted significant research attention in the past decade. However, the electrochemical reactions between CO₂ (0.04 % in ambient air) with Li anode may lead to the irreversible formation of insulating Li₂CO₃, making the battery less rechargeable. To make the Li‐CO₂ batteries usable under ambient conditions, it is critical to develop highly efficient catalysts for the CO₂ reduction and evolution reactions and investigate the electrochemical behavior of Li‐CO₂ batteries. Here, we demonstrate a rechargeable Li‐CO₂ battery with a high reversibility by using B,N‐codoped holey graphene as a highly efficient catalyst for CO₂ reduction and evolution reactions. Benefiting from the unique porous holey nanostructure and high catalytic activity of the cathode, the as‐prepared Li‐CO₂ batteries exhibit high reversibility, low polarization, excellent rate performance, and superior long‐term cycling stability over 200 cycles at a high current density of 1.0 A g⁻¹. Our results open up new possibilities for the development of long‐term Li‐air batteries reusable under ambient conditions, and the utilization and storage of CO₂.     

Computer‐Assisted Design of Imidazolate‐Based Ionic Liquids for Improving Sulfur Dioxide Capture,Carbon Dioxide Capture,and Sulfur Dioxide/Carbon Dioxide Selectivity

A new strategy involving the computer‐assisted design of substituted imidazolate‐based ionic liquids (ILs) through tuning the absorption enthalpy as well as the basicity of the ILs to improve SO₂ capture, CO₂ capture, and SO₂/CO₂ selectivity was explored. The best substituted imidazolate‐based ILs as absorbents for different applications were first predicted. During absorption, high SO₂ capacities up to ≈5.3 and 2.4 mol mol_IL⁻¹ could be achieved by ILs with the methylimidazolate anions under 1.0 and 0.1 bar (1 bar=0.1 MPa), respectively, through tuning multiple N ⋅⋅⋅ S interactions between SO₂ and the N atoms in the imidazolate anion with different substituents. In addition, CO₂ capture by the imidazolate‐based ILs could also be easily tuned through changing the substituents of the ILs, and 4‐bromoimidazolate IL showed a high CO₂ capacity but a low absorption enthalpy. Furthermore, a high selectivity for SO₂/CO₂ could be reached by IL with 4,5‐dicyanoimidazolate anion owing to its high SO₂ capacity but low CO₂ capacity. The results put forward in this work are in good agreement with the predictions. Quantum‐chemical calculations and FTIR and NMR spectroscopy analysis methods were used to discuss the SO₂ and CO₂ absorption mechanisms.     

Fast and reversible CO2 quartz crystal microbalance response of vinylimidazolium‐based poly(ionic liquid)s

A series of poly(ionic liquid)s (pILs) based on the 1‐vinyl‐3‐hexylimidazolium polymerizable cation and on the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, nonafluoro‐1‐butanesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, and 4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,11‐heptadecafluoroundecanoate anions have been synthesized and characterized. Their sorption/desorption response towards CO₂ has been tested through quartz crystal microbalance investigations. The obtained results show that all of the pILs here reported are featured by peculiar CO₂ sorption properties as they display fast and linear response, reversibility without any memory effect, and reproducibility, suggesting that anion plays a key role in determining sensitivity. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Release by Anions with Solvent‐Dependent Behaviour: A Theoretical Study

Recently, Clyburne and co‐workers [Science, 2014 , 344, 75–78] reported the novel synthesis of the elusive cyanoformate anion, NCCO₂^?. The stability of this anion is dependent on the dielectric constant of the local environment (polarity‐switchable solvent): it is stable in low‐polarity media and unstable in high‐polarity solvents; hence, capturing and then releasing CO₂. The possibility of extending such behaviour to other anions is explored herein. Specifically, the CO₂ capture process is studied for 26 anions in the gas phase and 3 distinct solvents (water, tetrahydrofuran, and toluene) by using the polarisable continuum model. Calculations are performed with the M06‐2X and B3LYP‐D3 density functionals and the aug‐cc‐pVTZ basis set. The design of new CO₂ complexes with the anion, which can be formed or destroyed on demand by changing the solvent, is possible; the results for the alkoxylate and thiolate anions are especially promising. The nature of the substituents connected to the atom that bonds to CO₂ in the anion is crucial in modulating the relative stability of the products—a key point for reversibility in the CO₂ capture process. A moderate interaction for the anion–CO₂ adduct—about 10 kcal mol^?1 relative free energy with respect to the isolated reactants in the gas phase—and a relevant effect in the dielectric constant of the local environment are also key ingredients to achieve solvent dependency.     

Bullet‐like Cu9S5 Hollow Particles Coated with Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Metal sulfides with excellent redox reversibility and high capacity are very promising electrode materials for sodium‐ion batteries. However, their practical application is still hindered by the poor rate capability and limited cycle life. Herein, a template‐based strategy is developed to synthesize nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu₉S₅ bullet‐like hollow particles starting from bullet‐like ZnO particles. With the structural and compositional advantages, these unique nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu₉S₅ bullet‐like hollow particles manifest excellent sodium storage properties with superior rate capability and ultra‐stable cycling performance.     

A Mixed Ionic and Electronic Conducting Dual‐Phase Membrane with High Oxygen Permeability

To combine good chemical stability and high oxygen permeability, a mixed ionic‐electronic conducting (MIEC) 75 wt % Ce_0.85Gd_0.1Cu_0.05O_2?δ‐25 wt % La_0.6Ca_0.4FeO_3?δ (CGCO‐LCF) dual‐phase membrane based on a MIEC–MIEC composite has been developed. Copper doping into Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_2?δ (CGO) oxide enhances both ionic and electronic conductivity, which then leads to a change from ionic conduction to mixed conduction at elevated temperatures. For the first time we demonstrate that an intergranular film with 2–10 nm thickness containing Ce, Ca, Gd, La, and Fe has been formed between the CGCO grains in the CGCO‐LCF one‐pot dual‐phase membrane. A high oxygen permeation flux of 0.70 mL min^?1 cm^?2 is obtained by the CGCO‐LCF one‐pot dual‐phase membrane with 0.5 mm thickness at 950 °C using pure CO₂ as the sweep gas, and the membrane shows excellent stability in the presence of CO₂ even at lower temperatures (800 °C) during long‐term operation.     

Boron‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide‐Organic Frameworks for Highly Efficient CO2 Capture

The capture and storage of CO₂ have been suggested as an effective strategy to reduce the global emissions of greenhouse gases. Hence, in recent years, many studies have been carried out to develop highly efficient materials for capturing CO₂. Until today, different types of porous materials, such as zeolites, porous carbons, N/B‐doped porous carbons or metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), have been studied for CO₂ capture. Herein, the CO₂ capture performance of new hybrid materials, graphene‐organic frameworks (GOFs) is described. The GOFs were synthesized under mild conditions through a solvothermal process using graphene oxide (GO) as a starting material and benzene 1,4‐diboronic acid as an organic linker. Interestingly, the obtained GOF shows a high surface area (506 m² g⁻¹) which is around 11 times higher than that of GO (46 m² g⁻¹), indicating that the organic modification on the GO surface is an effective way of preparing a porous structure using GO. Our synthetic approach is quite simple, facile, and fast, compared with many other approaches reported previously. The synthesized GOF exhibits a very large CO₂ capacity of 4.95 mmol g⁻¹ at 298 K (1 bar), which is higher those of other porous materials or carbon‐based materials, along with an excellent CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 48.8.     

Highly Rechargeable Lithium-CO2 Batteries with a Boron- and Nitrogen-Codoped Holey-Graphene Cathode

Metal-air batteries, especially Li-air batteries, have attracted significant research attention in the past decade. However, the electrochemical reactions between CO₂ (0.04 % in ambient air) with Li anode may lead to the irreversible formation of insulating Li₂CO₃, making the battery less rechargeable. To make the Li-CO₂ batteries usable under ambient conditions, it is critical to develop highly efficient catalysts for the CO₂ reduction and evolution reactions and investigate the electrochemical behavior of Li-CO₂ batteries. Here, we demonstrate a rechargeable Li-CO₂ battery with a high reversibility by using B,N-codoped holey graphene as a highly efficient catalyst for CO₂ reduction and evolution reactions. Benefiting from the unique porous holey nanostructure and high catalytic activity of the cathode, the as-prepared Li-CO₂ batteries exhibit high reversibility, low polarization, excellent rate performance, and superior long-term cycling stability over 200 cycles at a high current density of 1.0 A g⁻¹. Our results open up new possibilities for the development of long-term Li-air batteries reusable under ambient conditions, and the utilization and storage of CO₂.     

Encapsulated Ionic Liquids for CO2 Capture: Using 1‐Butyl‐methylimidazolium Acetate for Quick and Reversible CO2 Chemical Absorption.

The potential advantages of applying encapsulated ionic liquid (ENIL) to CO₂ capture by chemical absorption with 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate [bmim][acetate] are evaluated. The [bmim][acetate]‐ENIL is a particle material with solid appearance and 70 % w/w in ionic liquid (IL). The performance of this material as CO₂ sorbent was evaluated by gravimetric and fixed‐bed sorption experiments at different temperatures and CO₂ partial pressures. ENIL maintains the favourable thermodynamic properties of the neat IL regarding CO₂ absorption. Remarkably, a drastic increase of CO₂ sorption rates was achieved using ENIL, related to much higher contact area after discretization. In addition, experiments demonstrate reversibility of the chemical reaction and the efficient ENIL regeneration, mainly hindered by the unfavourable transport properties. The common drawback of ILs as CO₂ chemical absorbents (low absorption rate and difficulties in solvent regeneration) are overcome by using ENIL systems.     

含氰基基团的以C为中心的不对称阴离子离子液体的合成、表征及应用

首次通过不对称阴离子的钠盐/钾盐和不同的季胺化的咪唑,吡咯溴盐/氯盐进行离子交换,合成了一系列含氰基官能团的不对称阴离子功能化离子液体。通过红外、核磁共振、质谱和元素分析对离子液体的结构进行表征;通过TGA对离子液体的热稳定性进行测定,结果发现不对称功能化离子液体具有良好的热稳定性,其分解温度在219-319℃范围内。将功能化离子液体[Bmim][C(CN)2COCH3]作为弱配体应用于模型的Suzuki偶联反应,发现在反应中加入功能化离子液体[Bmim][C(CN)2COCH3]可以使反应收率提高10-15%。     

Theoretical Study on the Spectroscopic Properties of CO3.−.nH2O Clusters: Extrapolation to Bulk

Vertical detachment energies (VDE) and UV/Vis absorption spectra of hydrated carbonate radical anion clusters, CO₃^.?.n H₂O (n=1–8), are determined by means of ab initio electronic structure theory. The VDE values of the hydrated clusters are calculated with second‐order Moller–Plesset perturbation (MP2) and coupled cluster theory using the 6‐311++G(d,p) set of basis functions. The bulk VDE value of an aqueous carbonate radical anion solution is predicted to be 10.6 eV from the calculated weighted average VDE values of the CO₃^.?.n H₂O clusters. UV/Vis absorption spectra of the hydrated clusters are calculated by means of time‐dependent density functional theory using the Becke three‐parameter nonlocal exchange and the Lee–Yang–Parr nonlocal correlation functional (B3LYP). The simulated UV/Vis spectrum of the CO₃^.?.8 H₂O cluster is in excellent agreement with the reported experimental spectrum for CO₃^.? (aq), obtained based on pulse radiolysis experiments.     

Ascorbic Acid‐Assisted Synthesis of Mesoporous Sodium Vanadium Phosphate Nanoparticles with Highly sp2‐Coordinated Carbon Coatings as Efficient Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Herein, mesoporous sodium vanadium phosphate nanoparticles with highly sp²‐coordinated carbon coatings (meso‐Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C) were successfully synthesized as efficient cathode material for rechargeable sodium‐ion batteries by using ascorbic acid as both the reductant and carbon source, followed by calcination at 750 °C in an argon atmosphere. Their crystalline structure, morphology, surface area, chemical composition, carbon nature and amount were systematically explored. Following electrochemical measurements, the resultant meso‐Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C not only delivered good reversible capacity (98 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 A g^?1) and superior rate capability (63 mAh g^?1 at 1 A g^?1) but also exhibited comparable cycling performance (capacity retention: ≈74 % at 450 cycles at 0.4 A g^?1). Moreover, the symmetrical sodium‐ion full cell with excellent reversibility and cycling stability was also achieved (capacity retention: 92.2 % at 0.1 A g^?1 with 99.5 % coulombic efficiency after 100 cycles). These attributes are ascribed to the distinctive mesostructure for facile sodium‐ion insertion/extraction and their continuous sp²‐coordinated carbon coatings, which facilitate electronic conduction.     

A Protic Ionic Liquid Catalyzes CO2 Conversion at Atmospheric Pressure and Room Temperature: Synthesis of Quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones

The chemical fixation of CO₂ under mild reaction conditions is of significance from a sustainable chemistry viewpoint. Herein a CO₂‐reactive protic ionic liquid (PIL), [HDBU⁺][TFE^?], was designed by neutralization of the superbase 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) with a weak proton donor trifluoroethanol (TFE). As a bifunctional catalyst for simultaneously activating CO₂ and the substrate, this PIL displayed excellent performance in catalyzing the reactions of CO₂ with 2‐aminobenzonitriles at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, thus producing a series of quinazoline‐2,4(1H,3H)‐diones in excellent yields.     

以N为中心的阴离子离子液体的合成、表征及应用

首次通过不同阴离子的钾盐和不同的季铵化的咪唑,吡咯溴盐/氯盐进行离子交换,合成了一系列含氰基官能团的阴离子功能化离子液体。通过红外、核磁共振、质谱对离子液体的结构进行表征;通过TGA对离子液体的热稳定性进行测定,结果发现功能化离子液体具有良好的热稳定性,其分解温度在224-289℃范围内。将功能化离子液体[EMIm][N(CN)COC2H5]作为配体应用于无膦配体的Suzuki偶联反应,发现在反应中加入功能化离子液体[EMIm][N(CN)COC2H5]可以使反应收率提高10-20%。     

Inorganic Salts Induce Thermally Reversible and Anti‐Freezing Cellulose Hydrogels

Inspired by the anti‐freezing mechanisms found in nature, ionic compounds (ZnCl₂/CaCl₂) are integrated into cellulose hydrogel networks to enhance the freezing resistance. In this work, cotton cellulose is dissolved by a specially designed ZnCl₂/CaCl₂ system, which endows the cellulose hydrogels specific properties such as excellent freeze‐tolerance, good ion conductivity, and superior thermal reversibility. Interestingly, the rate of cellulose coagulation could be promoted by the addition of extra water or glycerol. This new type of cellulose‐based hydrogel may be suitable for the construction of flexible devices used at temperature as low as ?70 °C.     

Hollow Metal–Organic‐Framework‐Mediated In Situ Architecture of Copper Dendrites for Enhanced CO2 Electroreduction

Electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to a single product at high current densities and efficiencies remains a challenge. However, the conventional electrode preparation methods, such as drop‐casting, usually suffer from low intrinsic activity. Herein, we report a synthesis strategy for preparing heterogeneous electrocatalyst composed of 3D hierarchical Cu dendrites that derived from an in situ electrosynthesized hollow copper metal–organic framework (MOF), for which the preparation of the Cu‐MOF film took only 5 min. The synthesis strategy preferentially exposes active sites, which favor's the reduction of CO₂ to formate. The current density could be as high as 102.1 mA cm^?2 with a selectivity of 98.2 % in ionic‐liquid‐based electrolyte and a commonly used H‐type cell.     

Poly(ionic liquid)s as new materials for CO2 absorption

A series of imidazolium‐based ionic liquid monomers and their corresponding polymers (poly(ionic liquid)s) were synthesized, and their CO₂ sorption was studied. The poly(ionic liquid)s had enhanced CO₂ sorption capacities and fast sorption/desorption rates compared with room temperature ionic liquids. The effects of the chemical structures, including the types of anion, cation, and backbone of the poly(ionic liquid)s on their CO₂ sorption have been discussed. In contrast to room temperature ionic liquids, the polymer with PF anions had the highest CO₂‐sorption capacity, while those with BF or Tf₂N^? anions had the same capacities. The CO₂ sorption and desorption of the polymers were fast and reversible, and the sorption was selective over H₂, N_2, and O₂. The measured Henry's constants of P[VBBI][BF₄] and P[MABI][BF₄] were 26.0 bar and 37.7 bar, which were lower than those of similar room temperature ionic liquids. The preliminary study of the mechanism indicated that the CO₂ sorption of the polymer particles was more absorption (the bulk) but less adsorption (the surface). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5477–5489, 2005     

Physical and CO2-Absorption Properties of Imidazolium Ionic Liquids with Tetracyanoborate and Bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide Anions

Ionic liquids with tetracyanoborate ([TCB]^?) and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide ([Tf₂N]^?) anions generally have low viscosities and high CO₂ capacities, and thus they are attractive solvents for CO₂-related applications. Herein, we have investigated physical and CO₂-absorption properties of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetracyanoborate ionic liquid ([emim][TCB]) to discuss the anion effects of [TCB]^? in comparison with the previous results of [emim][Tf₂N]. The density, viscosity, electrical conductivity, and isobaric molar heat capacity were measured as a function of temperature at atmospheric pressure. [emim][TCB] has both lower density and isobaric molar heat capacity than [emim][Tf₂N]. [emim][TCB] shows superior transport properties (lower viscosity and higher electrical conductivity) compared to [emim][Tf₂N], whereas the Walden plots of molar conductivity against fluidity (reciprocal of viscosity) have smaller values in [emim][TCB] than in [emim][Tf₂N] at certain fluidities. The high-pressure CO₂ solubilities were also determined in [emim][TCB]. The mole fraction scaled solubility of CO₂ in [emim][TCB] is slightly larger than that in [emim][Tf₂N] at certain pressures and temperatures. The former ionic liquid shows much higher molarity scaled solubility of CO₂ than the latter because of the smaller molar volume. It is suggested that both anions have similar strength of intermolecular interaction with CO₂ and comparable changes in the solvent structure between neat and CO₂ solution, in view of the thermodynamic parameters of dissolution.