Accelerating the oxygen reduction reaction via a bioinspired carbon‐supported zinc electrocatalyst

Oxygen utilization in electrochemical energy generation systems requires to overcome the slow kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we have outstretched an efficient strategy in order for developing a bioinspired Zn (N₄)/sulfur/graphitic carbon composite (Zn‐S‐Gc) with an effective performance for the ORR at low temperature. The catalyst composite was created by attaching the Zn (N₄) centers in the form of zinc phthalocyanine on the sulfur‐linked graphitic carbon surface. The most positive ORR onset potential of about 1.00 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) was obtained due to the unique structure of a new catalyst in KOH solution (pH = 13) at low temperature (T = 298 K). The catalyst was evaluated using the rotating‐disk electrode method in the potential range of ?0.02–1.18 V versus RHE. The number of transferred electrons as one of the most important parameters (n > 3.70) is almost constant in a wide range of low overpotentials (0.1–0.6 V), which indicates a more efficient four‐electron pathway from O₂ to H₂O on the catalyst surface. The estimated Tafel slope in an appropriate range is about ≈ ?133.3 mV/dec at a low current density and E_1/2 of the electrocatalyst displays a negative shift of only 11 mV after 10,000 cycles. The mean size of the catalyst centers is on the nanoscale (<50 nm).     

Polysulfide Polymers: Synthesis,Blending, Nanocomposites,and Applications

Abstract

Polysulfide polymers as an important class of polymers are used in different applications as sealants, adhesives, etc. They are usually synthesized by reaction of disodium polysulfides with dihalo compounds to yield liquid or solid polymers. Their most important advantages are excellent adhesion to different surfaces, creation of no defect in sealant under stress and pressure, resistance against to fuels and solvents, very low gas and steam permeability, and high resistance to ozone and UV. This article aims to review methods of synthesis, properties, and applications of polysulfide polymers. Also, polysulfide-based nanocomposites and blends are also briefly discussed.     

Are Clusters Important in Understanding the Mechanisms in Atmospheric Pressure Ionization? Part 1: Reagent Ion Generation and Chemical Control of Ion Populations

It is well documented since the early days of the development of atmospheric pressure ionization methods, which operate in the gas phase, that cluster ions are ubiquitous. This holds true for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, as well as for more recent techniques, such as atmospheric pressure photoionization, direct analysis in real time, and many more. In fact, it is well established that cluster ions are the primary carriers of the net charge generated. Nevertheless, cluster ion chemistry has only been sporadically included in the numerous proposed ionization mechanisms leading to charged target analytes, which are often protonated molecules. This paper series, consisting of two parts, attempts to highlight the role of cluster ion chemistry with regard to the generation of analyte ions. In addition, the impact of the changing reaction matrix and the non-thermal collisions of ions en route from the atmospheric pressure ion source to the high vacuum analyzer region are discussed. This work addresses such issues as extent of protonation versus deuteration, the extent of analyte fragmentation, as well as highly variable ionization efficiencies, among others. In Part 1, the nature of the reagent ion generation is examined, as well as the extent of thermodynamic versus kinetic control of the resulting ion population entering the analyzer region.

Dispersive solid phase extraction of metronidazole and clarithromycin from human plasma using a β-cyclodextrin grafted polyethylene polymer composite

In this work, for the first time, a polymeric composite based on β-cyclodextrin grafted with polyethylene has been prepared through ball milling and used as an efficient sorbent for dispersive solid phase extraction of metronidazole and clarithromycin from plasma samples. The prepared sorbent was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. In the extraction process, after precipitating the proteins, the sorbent was added into the sample solution, and the mixture was vortexed to facilitate and speed up the sorption of the analytes onto the sorbent surface. After centrifuging, the sorbent particles were contacted with methanol to elute the analytes under the vortexing process. After this step, an aliquot of the eluate was taken and injected into high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detector for quantitative analysis. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the extraction recoveries for metronidazole and clarithromycin were 76 and 83%, respectively. The limits of detection were 2.6 and 2.2 ng/ml for metronidazole and clarithromycin, respectively. The repeatability of the offered approach, expressed as relative standard deviation, was equal to or less than 4.7%. Finally, the method was successfully applied to plasma samples of the patients treated with metronidazole and clarithromycin.