Key Role of a-Top CO on Terrace Sites of Metallic Pd Clusters for CO Oxidation

Pd-based catalysts are the most widely used for CO oxidation because of their outstanding catalytic activity and thermal stability. However, fundamental understanding of the detailed catalytic processes occurring on Pd-based catalysts under realistic conditions is still lacking. In this study, we investigated CO oxidation on metallic Pd clusters supported on Al₂O₃ and SiO₂. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of similar-sized Pd clusters on Al₂O₃ and SiO₂. In contrast, CO chemisorption analysis indicated a gradual change in the dispersion of Pd (from 0.79 to 0.2) on Pd/Al₂O₃ and a marginal change in the dispersion (from 0.4 to 0.24) on Pd/SiO₂ as the Pd loading increased from 0.27 to 5.5 wt %; these changes were attributed to differences in the metal-support interactions. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy revealed that fewer a-top CO species were present in Pd supported on Al₂O₃ than those in Pd supported on SiO₂, which is related to the morphological differences in the metallic Pd clusters on these two supports. Despite the different dispersion profiles and surface characteristics of Pd, O₂ titration demonstrated that linearly bound CO (with an infrared signal at 2090 cm⁻¹) reacted first with oxygen in the case of CO-saturated Pd on Al₂O₃ and SiO₂, which suggests that a-top CO on the terrace site plays an important role in CO oxidation. The experimental observations were corroborated by periodic density functional calculations, which confirmed that CO oxidation on the (111) terrace sites is most plausible, both kinetically and thermodynamically, compared to that on the edge or corner sites. This study will deepen the fundamental understanding of the effect of Pd clusters on CO oxidation under reaction conditions.     

Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃的发光性能

采用传统高温熔融法合成了玻璃组成为B2O3-GeO2-15GdF3-(40-x)Gd2O3-xEu2O3(0≤x≤10)的Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃。在硼锗酸盐玻璃基质中,Gd2O3和GdF3稀土试剂的总含量高达55%,从而确保其密度高于6.4 g/cm^3。闪烁玻璃的光学性能通过光学透过光谱、光致发光光谱、X射线激发发射(XEL)光谱和荧光衰减曲线来表征。玻璃中Gd^3+→Eu^3+离子的能量传递通过激发光谱、发射光谱和Gd^3+-Eu^3+离子间距得到证明,同时也确定了在紫外线和X射线激发下Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃的最佳浓度。Judd-Ofelt理论分析了玻璃中Eu―O键的共价性随Eu^3+掺杂浓度增加而显著增强。Eu^3+激活氟氧硼酸锗酸盐闪烁玻璃在80~470 K温度范围内荧光衰减曲线和发射光谱的温度依赖关系最终证实了其具有较好的发光稳定性。     

Synthesis of nanoscale zero‐valent iron modified graphene oxide nanosheets and its application for removing tetracycline antibiotic: Response surface methodology

Nowadays, pharmaceutical antibiotics are known as a serious class of pollutants. Therefore, it is important to develop effective methods for removing these pollutants from aqueous media. Different methods were applied for this purpose, and among these methods, chemical reduction by a cheap and eco‐friendly nanocatalyst is the most efficient and simplest method. In this research, based on graphene oxide supported by zero‐valent iron in mono‐, bi‐, and tri‐metallic systems, various nanocomposites were synthesized and used to degrade tetracycline as a model antibiotic from aqueous media. An investigation was carried out on the synergic effect among graphene oxide and the nano zero‐valent iron‐based tri‐metallic system as well as removal efficiencies. It was found that higher degradation efficiency is yielded by graphene oxide supported by Fe/Cu/Ag tri‐metallic system. The maximum synergic effect occurs at an acidic medium. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Fourier transform spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction analysis were used to characterize the synthesized nanocomposites, which has successfully proved the loading of nanoscale Fe/Cu/Ag tri‐metallic on a graphene oxide support. The central composite design was used to model and optimize all involved variables affecting antibiotic removal efficiency. The consequences illustrated the optimum condition regarding the removal of 50 ppm of tetracycline, for the nanocomposites dose of 3.0 mg ml^?1, the contact time of 30 min, and pH of 2, was achieved using the simplex non‐linear optimization method. Moreover, antibiotic adsorption kinetic models were also investigated. Finally, the tetracycline removal from aqueous media at different concentrations, 25, 50, and 75 ppm, was successful by applying the proposed nanocomposite, and the results showed tetracycline removal efficiencies of above 70%.     

Two-Dimensional Layered Metallic VSe2/SWCNTs/rGO Based Ternary Hybrid Materials for High Performance Energy Storage Applications

In this work, the ternary hybrid structure VSe₂/SWCNTs/rGO is reported for supercapacitor applications. The ternary composite exhibits a high specific capacitance of 450 F g⁻¹ in a symmetric cell configuration, with maximum energy density of 131.4 Wh kg⁻¹ and power density of 27.49 kW kg⁻¹. The ternary hybrid also shows a cyclic stability of 91 % after 5000 cycles. Extensive density functional theory (DFT) simulations on the structure as well as on the electronic properties of the binary hybrid structure VSe₂/SWCNTs and the ternary hybrid structure VSe₂/SWCNTs/rGO have been carried out. Due to a synergic effect, there are enhanced density of states near the Fermi level and higher quantum capacitance for the hybrid ternary structure compared to VSe₂/SWCNTs, leading to higher energy and power density for VSe₂/SWCNTs/rGO, supporting our experimental observation. Computed diffusion energy barrier of electrolyte ions (K⁺) predicts that ions move faster in the ternary structure, providing higher charge storage performance.     

Hydrogen-induced dynamic slowdown of metallic glass-forming liquids

Dynamics of hydrogen doped Cu_(50) Zr_(50) glass-forming liquids are investigated by using the newly developed modified embedded atomic method(MEAM) potential based on molecular dynamics simulations. We find that the doping of hydrogen atoms slows down the relaxation dynamics, reduces the fragility of supercooled melts, and promotes the occurrence of glass transitions. The dynamic slowdown is suggested to be closely related to the effect of hydrogen atoms on locally ordered structure of melts. With increasing concentration of hydrogen, the five-fold symmetry associated with Cu-and Zr-centered polyhedrons is lowered, on the other hand, the local order featuring metal hydrides is enhanced. The latter dominates the dynamic behaviors of glass-forming liquids, especially for Zr atoms, and results in the dynamic slowdown.     

Theoretical studies of the concentration dependences of d–d transition band,g factors,and local distortion for V4+ in Li2O–PbO–B2O3–P2O5 glasses

In this work, the g factors, d–d transition band, local distortion, and their concentration dependences for impurity V⁴⁺ in 20Li₂O–20PbO–45B₂O₃–(15 − x)P₂O₅:V₂O₅ (0 ≤ x ≤ 2.5 mol%) glasses are theoretically investigated by using perturbation formulas of g factors for a tetragonally compressed octahedral 3d¹ cluster. In the light of the cubic polynomial concentration functions for cubic field parameter D_q, covalency factor N, and relative tetragonal compression ratio ρ, the calculated concentration dependences of d–d transition band and g factors for V⁴⁺ show good agreement with the experimental data. With increasing x, N (≈0.7682–0.8165) displays the monotonously increasing trend, whereas ρ (≈6.5–4.2%) and D_q (≈1504.9–1481.1 cm⁻¹) exhibit the decreasing tendencies. The above concentration dependences can be ascribed to the modifications of the V⁴⁺–O²⁻ bonding and orbital admixtures around the impurity V⁴⁺ due to the effects of V₂O₅ doping on the stability of the glass network, the strength of local crystal fields, and the electron cloud distribution.     

Was Pauling Mistaken about Metals?

Pauling described metallic bonds using resonance. The maximum probability domains in the Kronig–Penney model can show a picture of it. When the walls are opaque (and the band gap is large) the maximum probability domain for an electron pair essentially corresponds to the region between the walls: the electron pairs are localized within two consecutive walls. However, when the walls become transparent (and the band gaps closes), the maximum probability domain can be moved through the system without a significant loss in probability.     

UV Emission of Gd3+ in the Presence of Cu2+: Towards Luminescence Quenching through Quantum Cutting?

The first investigation into the ultraviolet (UV) photoluminescence of gadolinium(III) in the presence of copper(II) is reported. A melt‐quenched barium phosphate glass was used as a model matrix. The optical spectroscopy assessment shows that with increasing CuO concentration the Cu²⁺ absorption band grows steadily, whereas the UV emission from Gd³⁺ ions is progressively quenched. The data, thus, suggests the existence of a Gd³⁺→Cu²⁺ energy‐transfer process ocurring through quantum cutting. A downconversion/cross‐relaxation pathway proceeding through a virtual state in Gd³⁺ is proposed. These findings suggest gadolinium(III) could potentially be used in the optical sensing of copper(II).     

Er3+掺杂Li2O-SrO-ZnO-Bi2O3玻璃中Er3+离子在1.53 μm处的荧光发射特性

采用传统的熔融法制备了Er~(3+)掺杂的新型铋酸盐玻璃(Li_2O-SrO-ZnO-Bi_2O_3,LSZB),并对其光谱性质进行了表征,分析了玻璃的拉曼光谱、吸收光谱、荧光光谱,利用Judd-Ofelt理论研究了其荧光特性。LSZB玻璃样品中Er~(3+)的~4I_(13/2)→~4I_(15/2)跃迁发射峰位于1.53 μm处,半高宽约为78 nm。样品中Er~(3+)的~4I_(13/2)能级寿命为2.848 ms,量子效率为99.93%,受激发射截面达到9.76×10~(-21)cm~2。以上结果显示,Er~(3+)掺杂LSZB玻璃有良好的光谱特性。     

Facile Surfactant-, Reductant-, and Ag Salt-free Growth of Ag Nanoparticles with Controllable Size from 35 to 660 nm on Bulk Ag Materials

Morphologically and dimensionally controlled growth of Ag nanocrystals has long been plagued by surfactants or capping agents that complicate downstream applications, unstable Ag salts that impaired the reproducibility, and multistep seed injection that is troublesome and time-consuming. Here, we report a one-pot electro-chemical method to fast (∼2 min) produce Ag nanoparticles from commercial bulk Ag materials in a nitric acid solution, eliminating any need for surfactants or capping agents. Their size can be easily manipulated in an unprecedentedly wide range from 35 to 660 nm. Furthermore, the Ag nanoparticles are directly grown on the Ag substrate, highly desirable for promising applications such as catalysis and plasmonics. The mechanistic studies reveal that the concentration of Ag⁺ in the diffusion layer nearby the surface, controlled by the magnitude and duration of voltage, is critical in governing the nanoparticle formation (<1.3 mM) and its dimensional adjustability.