Bimetallic Gold(I) Complexes with Ethynyl‐Helicene and Bis‐Phosphole Ligands: Understanding the Role of Aurophilic Interactions in their Chiroptical Properties

Monometallic gold(I)‐alkynyl‐helicene complexes ( 1 a , b ) and bimetallic gold(I)‐alkynyl‐helicene architectures featuring the presence ( 2 a , b ) or absence ( 3 a , b ) of aurophilic intramolecular interactions were prepared by using different types of phosphole ligands (mono‐phosphole L1 or bis‐phospholes L2 , 3 ). The influence of the Au^I d¹⁰ metal center(s) on the electronic, photophysical, and chiroptical properties of these unprecedented phosphole‐gold(I)‐alkynyl‐helicene complexes was examined. Experimental and theoretical results highlight the importance of ligand‐to‐ligand‐type charge transfers and the strong effect of the presence or absence of Au^I–Au^I interactions in 2 a , b .     

Catalytic carbon dioxide hydrogenation to methane: A review of recent studies

Recently,various efforts have been put forward on the development of technologies for the synthesis of methane from CO₂ and H₂,since it can offer a solution for renewable H₂ storage and transportation.In parallel,this reaction is considered to be a critical step in reclaiming oxygen within a closed cycle.Over the years,extensive fundamental research works on CO₂ methanation have been investigated and reported in the literatures.In this updated review,we present a comprehensive overview of recent publications during the last 3 years.Various aspects on this reaction system are described in detail,such as thermodynamic considerations,catalyst innovations,the influence of reaction conditions,overall catalytic performance,and reaction mechanism.Finally,the future development of CO₂ methanation is discussed.     

Adsorption Site Regulation to Guide Atomic Design of Ni–Ga Catalysts for Acetylene Semi‐Hydrogenation

Atomic regulation of metal catalysts has emerged as an intriguing yet challenging strategy to boost product selectivity. Here, we report a density functional theory‐guided atomic design strategy for the fabrication of a NiGa intermetallic catalyst with completely isolated Ni sites to optimize acetylene semi‐hydrogenation processes. Such Ni sites show not only preferential acetylene π‐adsorption, but also enhanced ethylene desorption. The characteristics of the Ni sites are confirmed by multiple characterization techniques, including aberration‐corrected high‐resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray absorption spectrometry measurements. The superior performance is also confirmed experimentally against a Ni₅Ga₃ intermetallic catalyst with partially isolated Ni sites and against a Ni catalyst with multi‐atomic ensemble Ni sites. Accordingly, the NiGa intermetallic catalyst with the completely isolated Ni sites shows significantly enhanced selectivity to ethylene and suppressed coke formation.     

表面喷砂对有机玻璃沿面闪络性能影响

绝缘子表面粗糙处理是提升其沿面闪络性能的重要途径,表面粗糙化处理方式不当,极易带来表面结构不均匀,难以获得稳定耐压性能的绝缘材料。为提升绝缘子表面粗糙处理的均匀性,本文利用表面喷砂技术对圆柱形有机玻璃(PMMA)绝缘子进行了粗糙化处理研究,以球形二氧化硅(SiO2)颗粒为工作介质,研究了不同喷砂粒径、氢氟酸后处理等因素对绝缘材料表面形貌和组分的影响,并利用短脉冲高压测试平台对喷砂处理前后有机玻璃绝缘子样品进行了真空沿面闪络性能测试。研究结果表明,喷砂处理在有机玻璃表面形成了较为均匀的凹坑,HF酸能够有效去除表面残留的SiO2颗粒,具有表面喷砂粗糙结构的绝缘子沿面闪络电压得到了稳定提升,相较于未处理的绝缘子闪络电压提升了约80%。     

Unravelling the Enigma of Nonoxidative Conversion of Methane on Iron Single-Atom Catalysts

The direct, nonoxidative conversion of methane on a silica-confined single-atom iron catalyst is a landmark discovery in catalysis, but the proposed gas-phase reaction mechanism is still open to discussion. Here, we report a surface reaction mechanism by computational modeling and simulations. The activation of methane occurs at the single iron site, whereas the dissociated methyl disfavors desorption into gas phase under the reactive conditions. In contrast, the dissociated methyl prefers transferring to adjacent carbon sites of the active center (Fe₁©SiC₂), followed by C−C coupling and hydrogen transfer to produce the main product (ethylene) via a key −CH−CH₂ intermediate. We find a quasi Mars–van Krevelen (quasi-MvK) surface reaction mechanism involving extracting and refilling the surface carbon atoms for the nonoxidative conversion of methane on Fe₁©SiO₂ and this surface process is identified to be more plausible than the alternative gas-phase reaction mechanism.     

基于Matlab GUI的微观化学反应过程可视化设计

Based on the quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) method and Matlab GUI technology, we developed a program code for visualizing the collision process of the elementary chemical reactions of the a + bc type. The general methodology of QCT, abstraction of dynamical properties of molecular collisions and the making of Graphical User Interface are introduced. The running results of an application to the reaction F + HCl→HF + Cl is also presented. The results showed that this program could vividly demonstrate the behavior and final state of the atom-diatom collision process in animated form. Students can interact with internal MATLAB code through graphical user interface, observe the reactive behavior and final results in real-time from multiple angles, which helps students to understand the complex reaction mechanism and deepen their perceptual impression of the chemical process at a microscopic atomic/molecular level.     

A molecular fluorophore in citric acid/ethylenediamine carbon dots identified and quantified by multinuclear solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance

The composition of fluorescent polymer nanoparticles, commonly referred to as carbon dots, synthesized by microwave-assisted reaction of citric acid and ethylenediamine was investigated by ¹³C, ¹³C{¹H}, ¹H─¹³C, ¹³C{¹⁴N}, and ¹⁵N solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. ¹³C NMR with spectral editing provided no evidence for significant condensed aromatic or diamondoid carbon phases. ¹⁵N NMR showed that the nanoparticle matrix has been polymerized by amide and some imide formation. Five small, resolved ¹³C NMR peaks, including an unusual ═CH signal at 84 ppm (¹H chemical shift of 5.8 ppm) and ═CN₂ at 155 ppm, and two distinctive ¹⁵N NMR resonances near 80 and 160 ppm proved the presence of 5-oxo-1,2,3,5-tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-7-carboxylic acid (IPCA) or its derivatives. This molecular fluorophore with conjugated double bonds, formed by a double cyclization reaction of citric acid and ethylenediamine as first shown by Y. Song, B. Yang, and coworkers in 2015, accounts for the fluorescence of the carbon dots. Cross-peaks in a ¹H─¹³C HETCOR spectrum with brief ¹H spin diffusion proved that IPCA is finely dispersed in the polyamide matrix. From quantitative ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra, a high concentration (18 ± 2 wt%) of IPCA in the carbon dots was determined. A pronounced gradient in ¹³C chemical-shift perturbations and peak widths, with the broadest lines near the COO group of IPCA, indicated at least partial transformation of the carboxylic acid of IPCA by amide or ester formation.