Synergistic Nitrogen Binding Sites in a Metal-Organic Framework for Efficient N2/O2 Separation

Porous materials with d₃ electronic configuration open metal sites have been proved to be effective adsorbents for N₂ capture and N₂/O₂ separation. However, the reported materials remain challenging to address the trade-off between adsorption capacity and selectivity. Herein, we report a robust MOF, MIL-102Cr, that features two binding sites, can synergistically afford strong interactions for N₂ capture. The synergistic adsorption site exhibits a benchmark Q_st of 45.0 kJ mol⁻¹ for N₂ among the Cr-based MOFs, a record-high volumetric N₂ uptake (31.38 cm³ cm⁻³), and highest N₂/O₂ selectivity (13.11) at 298 K and 1.0 bar. Breakthrough experiments reveal that MIL-102Cr can efficiently capture N₂ from a 79/21 N₂/O₂ mixture, providing a record 99.99 % pure O₂ productivity of 0.75 mmol g⁻¹. In situ infrared spectroscopy and computational modelling studies revealed that a synergistic adsorption effect by open Cr(III) and fluorine sites was accountable for the strong interactions between the MOF and N₂.     

Correlation between Interfacial Structures and Device Performance: The Double-Edged Sword Effect of Lead Iodide in Perovskite Solar Cells

The interfacial electronic structure of perovskite layers and transport layers is critical for the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The device performance of PSCs can generally be improved by adding a slight excess of lead iodide (PbI₂) to the precursor solution. However, its underlying working mechanism is controversial. Here, we performed a comprehensive study of the electronic structures at the interface between CH₃NH₃PbI₃ and C₆₀ with and without the modification of PbI₂ using in situ photoemission spectroscopy measurements. The correlation between the interfacial structures and the device performance was explored based on performance and stability tests. We found that there is an interfacial dipole reversal, and the downward band bending is larger at the CH₃NH₃PbI₃/C₆₀ interface with the modification of PbI₂ as compared to that without PbI₂. Therefore, PSCs with PbI₂ modification exhibit faster charge carrier transport and slower carrier recombination. Nevertheless, the modification of PbI₂ undermines the device stability due to aggravated iodide migration. Our findings provide a fundamental understanding of the CH₃NH₃PbI₃/C₆₀ interfacial structure from the perspective of the atomic layer and insight into the double-edged sword effect of PbI₂ as an additive.     

性能优异的Rh改性的Pd/Al2O3密偶催化剂

采用等体积浸渍法制备了Pd/Al2O3和Rh-Pd/Al2O3密偶催化剂,运用H2程序升温还原、CO化学吸附和X射线光电子能谱等手段对催化剂进行了表征,并考察了催化剂对丙烷总包反应和单反应的转化活性.总包反应结果表明, Rh的添加使起燃温度和完全转化温度分别降低了23和18oC.单反应结果证明,添加Rh能提高各单反应丙烷的转化活性,尤其是有NO参与的反应.表征结果证明,掺杂Rh不仅可以抑制活性组分PdOx的烧结,提高PdOx的分散度,而且可以改变其电子状态.     

Sequential Synthesis of 3 d–3 d, 3 d–4 d,and 3 d–5 d Hybrid Polyoxometalates and Application to the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reactions

The Co₇(AlePy)₂ polyoxometalate, which encloses a {(PW₉)₂Co^II₇} core covalently bound to two free aminopyridine groups through bisphosphonate ligands ( AlePy ), has been isolated. It can be used as a precursor, allowing the synthesis of heterometallic hybrid compounds, as illustrated by the characterization of cobalt/zinc ( Co₇(AlePyZn)₂ ), cobalt/palladium ( Co₇(AlePyPd)₂ ), and cobalt/platinum ( Co₇(AlePyPt)₂ ) species. A composite based on the water‐insoluble precious metal‐free Co₇(AlePyZn)₂ compound and the low‐cost carbon material Vulcan XC‐72 has been selected as a cathode material ( Co₇Zn/C ) for oxygen reduction reaction studies. The electrocatalytic performances of the Co₇Zn/C hybrids were assessed at neutral and basic pH, showing that Co₇Zn/C exhibits high selectivity for the four‐electron reduction of O₂. Moreover, its durability is superior to that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst with 20 % loading. Also, comparative studies performed in the presence of methanol have indicated that Co₇Zn/C has a much better tolerance to the crossover effect than Pt/C . Altogether, these results indicate for the first time that, even in neutral media, polyoxometalate/carbon composites can represent low‐cost oxygen reduction catalysts that can function stably, for a long time, and with high performance.     

Mesoporous inorganic salts with crystal defects: unusual catalysts and catalyst supports

We proposed a strategy to synthesize mesoporous inorganic salt particles using the special properties of ionic liquid (IL) mixtures, and hollow mesoporous LaF₃, NdF₃, and YF₃ particles were synthesized and characterized using different techniques. The size of the mesopores in the salt particles was about 4 nm, and the materials were full of crystal defects. The LaF₃, NdF₃ and YF₃ particles were used as the catalysts for the cyanosilylation reaction of benzaldehyde using trimethylsilyl cyanide, and Ru/LaF₃ and Ru/NdF₃, in which Ru nanocatalysts were supported on the LaF₃ and NdF₃ particles with mesopores, were used to catalyze hydrogenations of benzene to cyclohexane and levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL). It was discovered that the activities of these catalysts were unprecedentedly high for these reactions. Detailed study showed that both the crystal defects and the mesopores in the salt particles played crucial roles for the extremely high catalytic activity.     

Spatiotemporally-regulated multienzymatic polymerization endows hydrogel continuous gradient and spontaneous actuation

There are several natural materials which have evolved functional gradients,ingeniously attaining maximal efficacy from limited components.Herein,we utilized the spatiotemporal distribution of initiator acetylacetone to regulate the multienzyme polymerization and fabricate a chitosan-polymer hydrogel.The temporal priority order of acetylacetone was higher than phenolmodified chitosan by density functional theory calculation.The acetylacetone within the gelatin could gradually diffuse spatially into the chitosan hydrogel to fabricate the composite hydrogel with gradient network structure.The gradient hydrogel possessed a transferring topography from the two-dimensional pattern.A continuously decreased modulus along with acetylacetone diffusion was confirmed by atomic force microscope-based force mapping experiment.The water-retaining ability of various regions was confirmed by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)and thermogravimetric analysis(TG)analysis,which led to the spontaneous actuation of gradient hydrogel with maximum 1821°/h curling speed and 227°curling angle.Consequently,the promising gradient hydrogels could be applied as intelligent actuators and flexible robots.     

Organophosphine bearing multiple hydrogen-bond donors for asymmetric Michael addition reaction of 1-oxoindane-2-carboxylic acid ester via dual-reagent catalysis

Multiple hydrogen bonds containing nucleophilic phosphines derived from dipeptide dual-reagents catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition reactions between indene esters and activated olefins in high yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities under mild reaction conditions. The success of current highly selective reactions should provide inspiration for expansion to other reactions and would open up new paradigms for the synthesis of indanone derivatives bearing chiral quaternary carbon centers.     

高效固体酸SBA-15-Zr(OTf)3催化胺或醇开环环氧化合物

通过简单的一锅两步法制备了三氟金属(铝,钛,锆)接枝介孔SBA-15 (AlTf/S,TiTf/S,ZrTf/S)固体酸材料,并通过XRD,N2吸附,TGA,FTIR,原位吡啶FTIR和元素分析对这些材料进行了详细的表征.其中,ZrTf/S能够高效催化环氧化物温和条件下被胺或醇开环生成对应β-氨基醇或β-烷氧基醇,并且催化剂能循环利用.ZrTf/S相较于AlTf/S和TiTf/S酸性最强,因而催化活性也最高.     

无粘结剂ZSM-11催化剂上异丁烯直接胺化生成叔丁胺

叔丁胺是一种重要的化工原料和中间体,广泛应用于制备橡胶促进剂、医药、农药和着色剂等下游产品.异丁烯在分子筛催化剂上直接胺化生产叔丁胺是一个经济环保过程,其中ZSM-5和BEA分子筛的催化性能优于其它系列分子筛.ZSM-11与ZSM-5分子筛具有相似的孔道结构,我们以前的实验结果表明,与ZSM-5相比,ZSM-11表现出更优越的芳构化反应性能,在干气中乙烯低温芳构化方面也有明显优势.在此基础上,我们进行无粘结剂ZSM-11分子筛催化剂合成,并应用于异丁烯直接胺化生产叔丁胺反应.传统水热技术合成的分子筛通常为粉末,机械强度不能达到实际应用的要求,在工业化过程中分子筛粉末一般需要加入粘结剂成型使其具备一定的机械强度和形状,但是粘结剂会降低分子筛催化剂的活性和选择性,有可能会引发一些副反应,因此无粘结剂分子筛催化剂引起人们广泛关注.无粘结剂分子筛是指分子筛颗粒中不含惰性粘结剂或只含有少量粘结剂,主要依靠分子筛晶粒间的相互作用支撑存在,具有一定形状、尺寸和机械强度的催化材料.无粘结剂分子筛催化剂中分子筛含量较高,可利用的有效表面积较大,在离子交换及工业催化等方面具有明显优势.本文采用水热合成的ZSM-11分子筛原粉与二氧化硅机械混合(ZSM-11/SiO2=70/30)挤条后,通过气固相合成法制备了无粘结剂ZSM-11分子筛催化剂(Cat-C).作为对比,还分别制备了ZSM-11和SiO2机械混合(ZSM-11/SiO2=70/30)样品HZSM-11+SiO2及ZSM-11和氧化铝机械混合(ZSM-11/Al2O3=70/30)样品HZSM-11+Al2O3.利用X射线衍射、透射电镜、NH3程序升温脱附和吸附吡啶红外光谱等对分子筛催化剂的物理化学性能进行了表征.同时,以这些分子筛样品为催化剂,在固定床反应装置上进行了异丁烯胺化反应评价,反应条件为270℃,5.0 MPa,氨烯比为4和异丁烯空速0.5 h?1.结果表明,与HZSM-11+SiO2和HZSM-11+Al2O3相比,Cat-C上叔丁胺生成速率最高.关联催化剂物化性能和反应性能发现,催化剂孔道结构与叔丁胺生成并不存在明显的关联性,而较多的Br?nsted酸和较少的Lewis酸才是Cat-C具有良好反应性能的主要原因.具有一定机械强度的无粘结剂ZSM-11分子筛催化剂制备简单,在异丁烯直接胺化过程中叔丁胺生成速率高,具有很好的工业化应用前景.     

A Portable Plasma Sterilizer

An atmospheric microplasma jet system powered by an commercial transformer is developed for investigating the sterilizing efficiency of Escherichia coli in different conditions. The device can be hand-held and operated in the open air. The effect of carrier gas, gas flow rate, distance and treatment time of inactivation is studied. According to the experiment, plasma jet is able to inactivate all the bacteria on the surface in 20 s when the air flow rate is 5 L/min and the distance is 2.0 cm. Besides, the sterilization efficacy with different carrier gas follows an order as bellow: N₂ > air > O₂ > Ar. The measurements of malondialdehyde content, protein leakage quantity and Mg content are performed as well. In addition, the SEM after plasma treatment reveals that the integrity of E. coli cells is damaged and intracellular particles are excreted into the extracellular space. With discussions upon the mechanisms of surface sterilization, it is found that during the treatment of microplasma, it is mainly the etching actions of electrons and ions on the bacilli that kill the E. coli. Chemical effects rather than physical ones that are responsible for inactivation. Furthermore, the experiment results suggest that there may be better sterilization effect with gas mixture as carrier gas.