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.     

Ammonia Oxidation Enhanced by Photopotential Generated by Plasmonic Excitation of a Bimetallic Electrocatalyst

We study how visible light influences the activity of an electrocatalyst composed of Au and Pt nanoparticles. The bimetallic composition imparts a dual functionality: the Pt component catalyzes the electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to liberate hydrogen and the Au component absorbs visible light by the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances. Under visible-light excitation, this catalyst exhibits enhanced electrochemical ammonia oxidation kinetics, outperforming previously reported electrochemical schemes. We trace the enhancement to a photochemical potential resulting from electron–hole carriers generated in the electrocatalyst by plasmonic excitation. The photopotential responsible for enhanced kinetics scales linearly with the light intensity—a general design principle for eliciting superlative photoelectrochemical performance from catalysts comprised of plasmonic metals or hybrids. We also determine a photochemical conversion coefficient.     

La掺杂和空位对ZnS磁性和光学性能影响的第一性原理研究

利用密度泛函理论框架下的平面波超软赝势法,通过第一性原理对La掺杂与Zn空位(V_(Zn))及La掺杂与S空位(V_S)共存的ZnS体系的电子结构、磁性机理、形成能及吸收光谱进行了研究.结果表明, La掺杂与空位(V_(Zn)或V_S)的空间位置最近时,掺杂体系的形成能最低,体系最稳定.另外,La掺杂与Zn空位共存时,体系具有磁性,且体系的净磁矩与La原子与Zn空位的相对位置有关;La掺杂与S空位共存时,掺杂体系无磁性,但此时体系的禁带宽度最窄且吸收光谱红移最显著.     

3d过渡金属掺杂M_2@Si_(20)(M=Sc-Zn)团簇的密度泛函理论研究

利用密度泛函理论(DFT)研究3d过渡金属掺杂硅团簇的几何结构和稳定性,计算了绝热电子亲和能和垂直电离能,内嵌双金属间距,自旋磁矩等.结果表明内嵌的Sc、Ti、V、Mn金属二聚体和十二面体硅笼构成了稳定的富勒烯结构,随着d电子数目的增加其内嵌的富勒烯构型有部分畸变,总体而言Si_(20)团簇掺杂双金属后稳定性得到了提高.     

The structural,electronic and magnetic properties of Ag4M and Ag4MCO (M = Sc–Zn) clusters

The structures, spectra and electronic and magnetic properties of Ag₄M and Ag₄MCO (M?=?Sc–Zn) clusters have been studied using density functional theory and CALYPSO structure searching method. Structural searches show that M atoms except Zn tend to occupy the highest coordination position in the ground state Ag₄M and Ag₄MCO clusters. Carbon monoxide is most easily adsorbed on Ag atom of Ag₄Zn and M atom of other Ag₄M. Infrared and Raman spectra, photoabsorption spectra and photoelectron spectra of Ag₄M and Ag₄MCO clusters are forecasted and can be used to identify these clusters from experiment. Analysis of electronic properties indicates that the adsorption of CO on Ag₄M clusters changes the zero vibrational energy (ZPVE) and increases stability of the host clusters. Dopant atoms except for Zn improve the stability of silver cluster. The Ag₄Ni cluster shows high chemical activity and maximum adsorption energy for carbon monoxide. Magnetism calculations reveal that the magnetic moment of Ag₄M (M?=?Mn–Ni) cluster adsorbed by carbon monoxide is decreased by 2 μ_B. The change of magnetic moment makes it possible to be used as a nanomaterial for carbon monoxide detection. Simultaneously, it is found that the adsorption of CO on Ag₄Cu cluster is a physical adsorption.     

Origins of Boosted Charge Storage on Heteroatom-Doped Carbons

Although tremendous efforts have been devoted to understanding the origin of boosted charge storage on heteroatom-doped carbons, none of the present studies has shown a whole landscape. Herein, by both experimental evidence and theoretical simulation, it is demonstrated that heteroatom doping not only results in a broadened operating voltage, but also successfully promotes the specific capacitance in aqueous supercapacitors. In particular, the electrolyte cations adsorbed on heteroatom-doped carbon can effectively inhibit hydrogen evolution reaction, a key step of water decomposition during the charging process, which broadens the voltage window of aqueous electrolytes even beyond the thermodynamic limit of water (1.23 V). Furthermore, the reduced adsorption energy of heteroatom-doped carbon consequently leads to more stored cations on the heteroatom-doped carbon surface, thus yielding a boosted charge storage performance.     

Improved Effect of Water-Soluble Binder NV-1A on the Electrochemical Proprieties LFP Electrodes

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - The electrochemical properties of batteries consist of LiFePO4 (LFP) with the NV-1A binder were studied in depth. It was shown that SEI layer for NV-1A formed...     

Measured and Predicted Solubility Phase Diagrams of Quaternary Systems LiBr-NaBr-MgBr2-H2O and LiBr-KBr-MgBr2-H2O at 298.15 K

The stable phase equilibria of quaternary systems LiBr-NaBr-MgBr₂-H₂O and LiBr-KBr-MgBr₂-H₂O at 298.15 K were studied by both experimental measurement(isothermal solution saturation method) and theoretical prediction(Pitzer model). The solubilities of the saturated solution have been determined experimentally and two stable phase diagrams and relevant water diagrams of the two quaternary systems were obtained. Results show that quaternary system LiBr-NaBr-MgBr₂-H₂O is hydrate II type as NaBr and NaBr·2H₂O coexistence. Its phase diagram consists of only one invariant point, four univariant curves, and five crystallization fields. The quaternary system LiBr-KBr-MgBr₂-H₂O is a complex type as the double salt KBr·MgBr₂·6H₂O formed. In addition to this double salt, the three single salts LiBr·2H₂O, KBr and MgBr₂·6H₂O also crystallize. In this paper, the solubilities of phase equilibria in above quaternary systems were also calculated by the Pitzer's electrolyte solution model. All the needed parameters can be obtained from the literature or be fitted by experimental data. On the Basis of the experimental and calculated results, the phase diagram of the quaternary system was plotted for comparison. It shows that the calculation results are consistent with the experimental ones.     

原子分子光子系统的耗散相互作用和退相干

原子分子系统与量子化的电磁场或光子模式耦合的系统是非相对论量子力学理论研究和实验研究的主要对象和模型. 现实系统必然与外界环境耦合，且即便原子隔绝较好、光学腔壁品质因子足够高，原子系统也不等价于少数几个能级构成的简单模型：它仍然有不为零的几率跃迁到不可控的能级空间、与原子相互作用的自由空间真空场的量子效应也必须考虑. 本文将结合开放量子系统理论的基本要素与原子光子的基本模型，对原子分子系统在电磁场中发生的耗散以及量子退相干过程做简单综述，并重点介绍描述量子系统退相干过程的主流理论工具——主方程.