Edge-enriched graphene with boron and nitrogen co-doping for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction

Carbon-based electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), especially in anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), have received a lot of attention because they exhibit excellent stability and are comparable to commercial Pt/C catalysts. Currently, to maximize the catalytic activity of carbon-based electrocatalysts, there are two major strategies: heteroatom doping or exposing active edge sites. However, the approach of increasing heteroatomic dopants of active edge sites has been rarely addressed. In this study, we present a simple strategy to prepare edge-enriched graphene catalysts with an increased ratio of heteroatomic dopants suitable for ORR of AEMFCs. The catalysts were prepared under harsh oxidation conditions, followed by a simple co-doping process with boron and nitrogen. The ORR activity of the catalysts was observed to be related to an increase of edge sites with heteroatomic dopants. We believe that the edge-enriched structure leads to accelerated electron transfer with enhanced oxygen adsorption.     

One-pot Synthesis,Crystal Structures and Antimicrobial Activities of Two New 1,4-Disubstituted 1,2,3-Triazole-4-Carboxylates

Two new 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles-4-carboxylates were synthesized via click reaction. Compound 1a was synthesized by the interaction of 6-nitro-tetrazolo[1.5-a]-pyridine with ethyl propynoate at room temperature in the presence of Cu(OAc)2 as a catalyst and THF as solvent. Compound 1b was also synthesized by the same manner except that tert-butyl propionate, instead of ethyl propynoate, was used. The compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compound 1a(C10H9N5O4) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 5.0894(9), b = 8.9834(13), c = 13.089(2) ?, α= 83.041(7), β= 80.256(7), γ=87.296(8)°, V = 585.24(16)?3, Z = 2, Mr = 263.22, crystal size(mm) = 0.37 × 0.20 ×0.18,(I 2σ(I)) = 8557, 2493, 1229, Rint = 0.057. Compound 1b(C12H13N5O4) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 6.8854(5), b = 21.783(2), c = 9.3986(8) ?,β = 93.239(4)°, V = 1407.4(2)?3, Z = 4, Mr = 291.27, crystal size(mm) = 0.38 × 0.22 × 0.20,(I 2σ(I)) = 11842, 3172, 1866, Rint = 0.047. Antimicrobial assay results showed that the title compounds display excellent activities to different bacterial and fungal strains.     

零维到三维结构中三核铜自旋阻挫簇单元的磁构关系和反对称交换

量子自旋液体是最近几年刚被人们证实除铁磁体、反铁磁体之外的第三种磁性类型,因其有望解释高温超导的运行机制、改变计算机硬盘信息存储方式而在物理、材料等领域备受关注。自旋阻挫作为量子自旋液体的最小单元可能是解开量子自旋液体诸多问题的钥匙,所以在磁学、电学研究领域再一次成为人们研究的热点。基于文献报道的三核铜配合物[Cu3(μ3-OH)(μ-OPz)3(NO3)2(H2O)2]·CH3OH(1),我们合成了三维金属有机框架配合物{[Ag(HOPz)Cu3(μ3-OH)(NO3)3(OPz)2Ag(NO3)]·6H2O}n(2)(HOPz=甲基(2-吡嗪基)酮肟),并从自旋阻挫的角度对二者磁性质进行对比和详细分析。磁化率数据表明自旋间有很强的反铁磁相互作用和反对称交换。通过包含各向同性和反对称交换的哈密顿算符对两者磁学数据进行拟合并研究其磁构关系,所获最佳拟合参数为:配合物1:Jav=-426 cm^-1,g⊥=1.83,g∥=2.00;配合物2:Jav=-401 cm^-1,g⊥=1.85,g∥=2.00。     

Triesterase and Promiscuous Diesterase Activities of a Di‐CoII‐Containing Organophosphate Degrading Enzyme Reaction Mechanisms

The reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of trimethyl phosphate and of the obtained phosphodiester by the di‐Co^II derivative of organophosphate degrading enzyme from Agrobacterium radiobacter P230(OpdA), have been investigated at density functional level of theory in the framework of the cluster model approach. Both mechanisms proceed by a multistep sequence and each catalytic cycle begins with the nucleophilic attack by a metal‐bound hydroxide on the phosphorus atom of the substrate, leading to the cleavage of the phosphate‐ester bond. Four exchange‐correlation functionals were used to derive the potential energy profiles in protein environments. Although the enzyme is confirmed to work better as triesterase, as revealed by the barrier heights in the rate‐limiting steps of the catalytic processes, its promiscuous ability to hydrolyze also the product of the reaction has been confirmed. The important role played by water molecules and some residues in the outer coordination sphere has been elucidated, while the binuclear Co^II center accomplishes both structural and catalytic functions. To correctly describe the electronic configuration of the d shell of the metal ions, high‐ and low‐spin arrangement jointly with the occurrence of antiferromagnetic coupling, have been herein considered.     

Solvent Influence on Cellulose 1,4‐β‐Glycosidic Bond Cleavage: A Molecular Dynamics and Metadynamics Study

We explore the influence of two solvents, namely water and the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate (EmimAc), on the conformations of two cellulose models (cellobiose and a chain of 40 glucose units) and the solvent impact on glycosidic bond cleavage by acid hydrolysis by using molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations. We investigate the rotation around the glycosidic bond and ring puckering, as well as the anomeric effect and hydrogen bonds, in order to gauge the effect on the hydrolysis mechanism. We find that EmimAc eases hydrolysis through stronger solvent–cellulose interactions, which break structural and electronic barriers to hydrolysis. Our results indicate that hydrolysis in cellulose chains should start from the ends and not in the centre of the chain, which is less accessible to solvent.     

Formation of Azulene-Embedded Nanographene: Naphthalene to Azulene Rearrangement During the Scholl Reaction

Incorporation of a non-hexagonal ring into a nanographene framework can lead to new electronic properties. During the attempted synthesis of naphthalene-bridged double [6]helicene and heptagon-containing nanographene by the Scholl reaction, an unexpected azulene-embedded nanographene and its triflyloxylated product were obtained, as confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis and 2D NMR spectroscopy. A 5/7/7/5 ring-fused substructure containing two formal azulene units is formed, but only one of them shows an azulene-like electronic structure. The formation of this unique structure is explained by arenium ion mediated 1,2-phenyl migration and a naphthalene to azulene rearrangement reaction according to an in-silico study. This report represents the first experimental example of the thermodynamically unfavorable naphthalene to azulene rearrangement and may lead to new azulene-based molecular materials.     

Close‐Packed Two‐Dimensional Silver Nanoparticle Arrays: Quadrupolar and Dipolar Surface Plasmon Resonance Coupling

Silver nanoparticles (NPs) ranging in size from 40 to 100 nm were prepared in high yield by using an improved seed‐mediated method. The homogeneous Ag NPs were used as building blocks for 2D assembled Ag NP arrays by using an oil/water interface. A close‐packed 2D array of Ag NPs was fabricated by using packing molecules (3‐mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane) to control the interparticle spacing. The homogeneous 2D Ag NP array exhibited a strong quadrupolar cooperative plasmon mode resonance and a dipolar red‐shift relative to individual Ag NPs suspended in solution. A well‐arranged 2D Ag NP array was embedded in polydimethylsiloxane film and, with biaxial stretching to control the interparticle distance, concomitant variations of the quadrupolar and dipolar couplings were observed. As the interparticle distance increased, the intensity of the quadrupolar cooperative plasmon mode resonance decreased and dipolar coupling completely disappeared. The local electric field of the 2D Ag NP array was calculated by using finite difference time domain simulation and qualitatively showed agreement with the experimental measurements.     

Strategies for Improving the Catalytic Performance of 2D Covalent Organic Frameworks for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Evolution Reactions

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have been deemed as clean and sustainable strategies to solve the energy crisis and environmental problems. Various catalysts have been developed to promote the process of HER and OER. Among them, two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) have received great attention due to their diverse and designable structure. In this minireview, we mainly summarize the diverse linkages of 2D COFs and strategies for enhancing the catalytic performance of 2D COFs for HER and OER, such as introducing active building blocks, metal ions and tailored linkages. Furthermore, a brief outlook for the development directions of COFs in the field of HER and OER is provided, expecting to stimulate new opportunities in future research.     

Mononuclear and Dinuclear Copper Complexes of Tridentate Redox-active Ligands with Tunable H-bonding Donors: Structure,Spectroscopy and H+/e− Reactivity

In this research article, we describe the synthesis and characterization of mononuclear and dinuclear Cu complexes bound by a family of tridentate redox-active ligands with tunable H-bonding donors. The mononuclear Cu-anion complexes were oxidized to the corresponding “high-valent” intermediates by oxidation of the redox-active ligand. These species were capable of oxidizing phenols with weak O−H bonds via H-atom abstraction. Thermodynamic analysis of the H-atom abstractions, which included reduction potential measurements, pK_a determination and kinetic studies, revealed that modification of the anion coordinated to the Cu and changes in the H-bonding donor did not lead to major differences in the reactivity of the “high-valent” CuY complexes (Y: hydroxide, phenolate and acetate), which indicated that the tridentate ligand scaffold acts as the H⁺ and e⁻ acceptor.