First-Principles Study of Ultrathin Molybdenum Sul des Nanowires: Electronic and Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution Properties

Molybdenum sulfides nanomaterials, such as one-dimensional (1D) nanotubes, nanoribbons, and two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, have attracted intensive research interests for their novel electronic, optical, and catalytic properties. On the basis of first-principles calculation, here, we report a new series of 1D ultrathin molybdenum sulfides nanowires, including Mo₂S₆、Mo₃S₆ and Mo₆S₁₀ nanowires. Our results demonstrate that these ultrathin nanowires are both thermal and lattices dynamically stable, confirmed with the calculated phonon spectrum and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamic simulation at the temperature up to 600 K. The calculated elastic constant is 21.33, 103.22, and 163.00 eV/? for Mo₂S₆, Mo₃S₆, and Mo₆S₁₀ nanowires, respectively. Mo₂S₆ and Mo₃S₆ nanowires are semiconductors with band gap of 1.55 and 0.46 eV, while Mo₆S₁₀ nanowires is metal, implying their potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics. In particular, ultrathin molybdenum sulfides nanowires can be used as catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. The calculated Gibbs free energy change for hydrogen evolution is about -0.05 eV for Mo₂S₆ nanowire, comparable with those of Pt and H-MoS₂. The prediction of these 1D molybdenum sulfides nanowires may enrich the 1D family molybdenum sulfides and make a supplement to understand the high performance of hydrogen evolution reaction in transition-metal dichalcogenides.     

Structural,Magnetic and Optical Properties of BiFe1-xNbxO3

Nb doped multiferroic BiFe_1-xNb_xO₃ (0 <x <0.05) polycrystalline powders have been syn-thesized by using a sol-gel method. The effect of Nb dopant on the structural, magnetic and optical properties is investigated. According to the X-ray di raction data and the result of Rietveld re nement, all the samples maintain the R3c phase, while the lattice parameters a, c, the cell volume V and the Fe-O-Fe bond angle change. The remnant magnetization enhances by appropriate Nb doping due to the decreasing of the grain size. Meanwhile, Nb dopant leads to the narrowing of the band gap of BiFe_1-xNb_xO₃ samples.     

A new thio­phosphate,Rb0.38Ag0.5Nb2PS10

The structure of the new pentanary thio­phosphate rubidium silver diniobium tris(disulfide) tetrathio­phosphate, Rb_0.38Ag_0.5Nb₂PS₁₀, is made up of one‐dimensional [Nb₂PS] chains along the [001] direction. These chains are separated from one another by Ag⁺ and disordered Rb⁺ ions. The Nb₂PS chain is built up from bicapped trigonal prismatic Nb₂S₁₂ units which lie about inversion centres and tetrahedral PS₄ groups. The Nb₂S₁₂ units are linked together to form linear Nb₂S₉ chains by sharing S—S prism edges. Short [2.898 (1) and 2.908 (1) Å] and long [3.724 (1) Å] Nb⋯Nb distances alternate along the chains, and S and S²⁻ anionic species co‐exist in the structure. The Ag⁺ cation lies on an inversion centre and has distorted octahedral coordination described as a [2+4]‐bonding interaction.     

铌源和掺杂位置对LiFePO4/C电化学性能的影响

使用Nb2O5和Nb(OC6H5)5为铌源对LiFePO4/C中的锂位和铁位分别掺杂,采用碳热还原法合成掺杂Nb的磷酸铁锂系列材料。运用X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜、循环伏安、交流阻抗谱和恒电流充放电测试等对材料进行表征。结果表明:相比掺杂位置,铌源对材料的颗粒形貌和粒径分布影响更大,而颗粒大小对材料的电化学性能,尤其是大倍率性能的提高有重要作用;掺杂在Li位的Nb元素比在Fe位能更好的稳定晶体结构,从而有利于提高循环性能。     

Ammoxidation of ethane on V-Mo-Nb oxide catalysts

Summary Catalytic and physicochemical properties of V-Mo-Nb oxide catalysts (V_0.3Mo₁Nb_x, where x = 0.05, 0.15, 0.22, and 0.27) have been studied in the ammoxidation of ethane. An increase in the Nb content in the samples is accompanied by an increase in the catalytic activity and selectivity to acetonitrile. It was established that a triple Mo₅O₁₄-like phase with a variable composition (V_{0.23 ±0.3}Mo₁Nb_x, where х = 0.2?0.37) acts as an active component in the catalyst.</o:p>     

Effects of Nb substitution on structure and electrochemical properties of LiNi<Subscript>0.7</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.3</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> cathode materials

Nb-doped cathode materials with the formula Li(Ni_0.7Mn_0.3)_1?xNb_xO₂ (x?=?0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04) have been prepared successfully by calcining the mixtures of LiOH·H₂O, Nb₂O₅, and Ni_0.7Mn_0.3(OH)₂ precursor formed through a simple continuous co-precipitation method. The effects of Nb substitution on the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of LiNi_0.7Mn_0.3O₂ were studied systematically by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and various electrochemical measurements. The results show that the lattice parameters of the Nb substitution LiNi_0.7Mn_0.3O₂ samples are slightly larger than that of pure LiNi_0.7Mn_0.3O₂, and the basic α-NaFeO₂ layered structure does not change with the Nb doping. What’s more, better morphology, lower resistance, and good cycle stability were obtained after Nb substitution. In addition, CV test exhibits that Nb doping results in lower electrode polarization and XPS results indicate that the valence of Mn kept constant but the component of Ni³⁺ decreased after doping. All the results indicate that Nb doping in LiNi_0.7Mn_0.3O₂ is a promising method to improve the properties of Ni-rich lithium-ion batteries positive-electrode materials.     

Comparison of optical and structural properties of nanostructure TiO2 thin film doped by Sn and Nb

The thin films of TiO₂ doped by Sn or Nb were prepared by sol–gel method under process control. The effects of Sn and Nb doping on the structural, optical and photo-catalytic properties of applied thin films have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) high resolution transmission electron microscopy and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. Surface chemical state of thin films was examined by atomic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. XRD results suggest that adding impurities has a great effect on the crystallinity and particle size of TiO₂. Titania rutile phase formation in thin film was promoted by Sn⁴⁺ addition but was inhibited by Nb⁵⁺ doping. The activity of the photocatalyst was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation kinetics of aqueous methylene blue under UV and Visible radiation. The results show that the photocatalytic activity of the Sn-doped TiO₂ thin film have a larger degradation efficiency than Nb-doped TiO₂ under visible light, but under UV light photocatalytic activity of the Nb-doped TiO₂ thin film is better.     

A new quaternary thiophosphate,RbNb2(S2)3(PS4)

The structure of the new quaternary thio­phosphate rubidium diniobium tris­(di­sulfide) tetra­thio­phosphate, RbNb₂(S₂)₃(PS₄), is made up of one‐dimensional [Nb₂(S₂)₃(PS₄)^?] chains along the [101] direction, and these chains are separated from one another by Rb⁺ ions. The chain is basically built up from [Nb₂S₁₂] units and tetrahedral [PS₄] groups. The [Nb₂S₁₂] units are linked together to form a linear [Nb₂S₉] chain by sharing the S–S prism edge. Short and long Nb—Nb distances [2.888 (2) and 3.760 (2) Å, respectively] alternate along the chain, and the anionic species S₂^2? and S^2? are observed.     

The crystal structure of niobium trisulfide,NbS3

The crystal structure of NbS₃ was determined from single-crystal diffractometer data obtained with MoKα radiation. The compound is triclinic, space group $\text{P}\text{1}$, with: a 4.963(2) Å; b = 6.730(2) Å; c = 9.144(4)Å; α = 90°; β = 97.17(1)°; γ = 90°. The structure is closely related to the ZrSe₃ structure type; it shows that the compound can be formulated as Nb⁴⁺(S₂)^2?S^2?, in agreement with XPS spectra. The main difference with ZrSe₃ is that the Nb atoms are shifted from the mirror planes of the surrounding bicapped trigonal prisms of sulfur atoms to form NbNb pairs (NbNb = 3.04 Å); this causes a doubling of the b axis relative to ZrSe₃ and a decrease of the symmetry to triclinic.     

How to find an optimum cluster size through topological site properties: MoSxmodel clusters

Computational investigations in catalysis frequently use model clusters to represent realistically the catalyst and its reaction sites. Detailed knowledge of the molecular charge, thus electronic density, of a cluster would then allow physical and chemical insights of properties and can provide a procedure to establish their optimum size for catalyst studies. For this purpose, an approach is suggested to study model clusters based on the distributed multipole analysis (DMA) of molecular charge properties. After full density functional theory (DFT) geometry optimization of each cluster, DMA computed from the converged DFT one‐electron density matrix allowed the partition of the corresponding cluster charge distribution into monopole, dipole, and quadrupole moments on the atomic sites. The procedure was applied to MoS₂ model clusters Mo₁₀S₁₈, Mo₁₂S₂₆, Mo₁₆S₃₂, Mo₂₃S₄₈, and Mo₂₇S₅₄. This analysis provided detailed features of the charge distribution of each cluster, focused on the 101 0 (Mo or metallic edge) and 1 010 (sulfur edge) active planes. Properties of the Mo₂₇S₅₄ cluster, including the formation of HDS active surfaces, were extensively discussed. The effect of cluster size on the site charge distribution properties of both planes was evaluated. The results showed that the Mo₁₆S₃₂ cluster can adequately model both active planes of real size Mo₂₇S₅₄. These results can guide future computational studies of MoS₂ catalytic processes. Furthermore, this approach is of general applicability. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and crystal structure of Mo6−x Nb x I11 (x = 1–1.5)

A solid solution Mo_{6 ? x} Nb _x I₁₁ (x = 1.1–1.5) containing cluster cores {Mo₅NbI₈} is obtained by the high-temperature reaction of molybdenum, niobium, and iodine (550°C, 70 h, quartz ampule). According to the X-ray diffraction data, heating at 800°C in a molybdenum container results in the decomposition of the solution to Mo₆I₁₂ and Nb₆I₁₁. According to the X-ray structure analysis data, the compounds are isostructural to the high-spin modification Nb₆I₁₁ (space group Pccn). The presence of Nb atoms in the structure changes the structural type from the layered (Mo₆I₁₂) to framework structure, noticeably increases the metalmetal distances (2.661–2.716 Å, 2.695 Å) Mo₆ octahedron with the retention of the distance from the metal (M) to the μ₃-“capped” I atoms, and strongly elongates the M₆-I-M₆ bridges almost to the value observed in Nb₆I₁₁.     

Structure determination of low-dimensional conductor sodium molybdenum purple bronze Na0.9Mo6O17

Structure determination of the molybdenum purple bronze Na_0.9Mo₆O₁₇ is carried out by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal is monoclinic with space group A2 and the lattice constants are a = 12.983(2), b = 5.518(1), c = 9.591(2) Å, β = 89.94(1)°, Z = 2. Full-matrix least-squares refinement gives the final values of R(F) = 0.028 and R_w(F) = 0.040 for 1484 independent reflections, in which the occupancy factor of the sodium atom becomes 0.899(12). The present structure is built up of the linkage of the MoO₄ and MoO₆ polyhedra. There are slabs which consist of four layers of distorted MoO₆ octahedra sharing corners. Both the structure and the molybdenum valence distribution estimated from the MoO bond lengths are considered to lead to the two-dimensional electronic transport. This structure is compared with those of other members of molybdenum purple bronzes, K_0.9Mo₆O₁₇ and Li_0.9Mo₆O₁₇. The difference of the electronic properties among these compounds can be well understood on the basis of their structural characteristics.     

Phase composition and magnetic properties of niobium-iron codoped TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized in Ar/O2 radio-frequency thermal plasma

Nanoparticles of Nb⁵⁺-Fe³⁺ codoped TiO₂ with various Nb⁵⁺ concentrations (Nb/(Ti+Fe+Nb)=0-10.0 at%) and Fe³⁺ (Fe/(Ti+Fe+Nb)=0-2.0 at%) were synthesized using Ar/O₂ thermal plasma. Dopant content, chemical valence, phase identification, morphology and magnetic properties were determined using several characterization techniques, including inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrometer, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and SQUID commercial instrument. The XRD revealed that all the plasma-synthesized powders were exclusively composed of anatase as major phase and rutile. The rutile weight fraction was increased by the substitution of Fe³⁺ for Ti⁴⁺ whereas it was reduced by the Nb⁵⁺ doping. The plasma-synthesized Nb⁵⁺-Fe³⁺ codoped TiO₂ powders had intrinsic magnetic properties of strongly paramagnetic and feebly ferromagnetic at room temperature. The ferromagnetic properties gradually deteriorated as the Fe³⁺ concentration was decreased, suggesting that the ferromagnetism was predominated by the phase composition as a carrier-mediated exchange.     

A New Structure Type of the Ternary Sulfide Eu1.3Nb1.9S5

The structure model for the Eu_1.3Nb_1.9S₅ compound is determined based on high-resolution electron microscopy evidence. This compound crystallizes in a hexagonal unit cell with a=8.8732(8) Å and c=23.45(1) Å. Its structure is built up as an alternating sequence of trigonal-prismatic NbS₂ layers of formula [Nb₇S₁₄] and [Nb(Eu₃S₄)₂] slabs along the c-direction. In the [Nb(Eu₃S₄)₂] block the stacking of two close-packed (Eu₃S₄) layers creates octahedral interstices formed by S atoms; these cavities are occupied by Nb cations. The model is compared with structures of other Eu-containing niobium sulfides, such as Eu_0.167NbS₂ and the misfit compound [(EuS)_1.5]_1.15NbS₂.     

Sol–gel synthesis and structural characterization of niobium-silicon mixed-oxide nanocomposites

(Nb₂O₅) _x ·(SiO₂)_1−x gels of four different compositions with x = 0.025 (2.5Nb), 0.050 (5Nb), 0,10 (10Nb) and 0.20 (20Nb) were synthesized at room temperature from niobium penta-chloride and tetra-ethoxysilane and their structural evolution with the temperature was examined by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, Raman and IR spectroscopy (Fourier transform). The synthesis procedure tuned in this work allowed to obtain for each studied composition transparent chemical gels in which the niobium dispersion resulted to be strongly dependent on the Nb₂O₅ loading: it was on the atomic scale for the 2.5Nb and 5Nb gel samples whereas the gel structure of the 10Nb and 20Nb appears formed by phase separated niobia-silica nanodomains. All dried gels keep their amorphous nature up to 873 K, while at higher temperatures crystallization of T- and H-Nb₂O₅ polymorphs were observed according to the Nb₂O₅ loading: at low loading T-Nb₂O₅ was the main crystallising phase, whereas at higher one the H-Nb₂O₅ prevails. Particularly, T-Nb₂O₅ was the sole crystallising phase in the whole explored temperature range for the 2.5Nb, keeping its nanosize up to 1273 K for all samples except for the 20Nb.     

Characterization of Thermally Stable Brønsted Acid Sites on Alumina‐Supported Niobium Oxide after Calcination at High Temperatures

Thermally stable Brønsted acid sites were generated on alumina‐supported niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅/Al₂O₃) by calcination at high temperatures, such as 1123 K. The results of structural characterization by using Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, TEM, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis indicated that the Nb₂O₅ monolayer domains were highly dispersed over alumina at low Nb₂O₅ loadings, such as 5 wt %, and no Brønsted acid sites were presents. The coverage of Nb₂O₅ monolayer domains over Al₂O₃ increased with increasing Nb₂O₅ loading and almost‐full coverage was obtained at a loading of 16 wt %. A sharp increase in the number of hydroxy groups, which acted as Brønsted acid sites, was observed at this loading level. The relationship between the acidic properties and the structure of the material suggested that the bridging hydroxy groups (Nb? O(H)? Nb), which were formed at the boundaries between the domains of the Nb₂O₅ monolayer, acted as thermally stable Brønsted acid sites.     

Trinuclear molybdenum cluster sulfides coordinated to dithiolene ligands and their use in the development of molecular conductors

The present article reviews synthetic approaches to efficiently prepare Mo₃S₇ clusters coordinated to 1,2-bis-dithiolene ligands of general formula [Mo₃S₇(dithiolene)₃]^2? where dithiolene stands for tfd (bis(trifluoromethyl)-1,2-dithiolene), bdt (1,2-benzenedithiolene), mnt (maleonitriledithiolene), tdas (1,2,5-thiadiazole-3,4-dithiolene), dmid (1,3-dithia-2-one-4,5-dithiolene), dmit (1,3-dithia-2-thione-4,5-dithiolene) and the diselenolene dsit (1,3-dithia-2-thione-4,5-diselenolene). These [Mo₃S₇(dithiolene)₃]^2? dianions serve as starting materials to access new dithiolene clusters featuring Mo₃S₄ and Mo₂O₂S₂ cluster cores. The electrochemical and spectroscopic properties as well as solid state structures of Mo₃S₇/dithiolene compounds are also described. These C₃-symmetry [Mo₃S₇(dithiolene)₃]^2? molecules inherently possess degenerate frontier orbitals and display a rich structural diversity due to the electrophilic character of the three sulfur atoms in axial positions. These characteristics make the [Mo₃S₇(dithiolene)₃]^2? dianions, versatile targets for the development of new molecular conductors. Several examples of hybrid charge-transfer salts based on TTF-donors and [Mo₃S₇(dithiolene)₃]^2?/[Mo₃S₇X₆]^2? dianions (X = Cl, Br) are discussed as well as the preparation of the first family of cluster-based single-component magnetic conductors of formula Mo₃S₇(dithiolene)₃.     

Na3Al2Nb34O64 und Na (Si,Nb) Nb10O19: Clusterverbindungen mit isolierten Nb6-Oktaedern

Na₃Al₂Nb₃₄O₆₄ and Na (Si, Nb) Nb₁₀O₁₉. Cluster Compounds with Isolated Nb₆-Octahedra Hexagonal ormolu coloured plates of the new compounds Na₃Al₂Nb₃₄O₆₄ ( I ) and Na(Si, Nb)Nb₁₀O₁₉ ( II ) were prepared by heating pellets of NaF, Al₂O₃, NbO₂ and NbO (3:1:8:2) and NaF, NbO₂ and NbO (1:4:2), respectively, at approx. 850°C. I was contained in a sealed gold capsule, II in a silica tube. The Si incorporated in II originates from the container material. Both compounds crystallize in R 3 , I with a = 784.4(1), c = 7065(1) pm, Z = 3 and II with a = 784.1(1), c = 4221.8(5) pm, Z = 6. I and II represent new structure types. They contain the same characteristic structural units, namely discrete Nb₆O₁₂ clusters (d_Nb–Nb = 283 ± 4 pm) and Nb₂O₁₀ units with Nb–Nb dumbells (d_Nb–Nb ≈? 269 pm) in edgesharing coordination octahedra. In addition NbO₆ octahedra containing Nb in the oxidation state + 5 and NaO₁₂ cube-octahedra occur in both compounds besides AlO₄ and SiO₄ tetrahedra in I and II , respectively. The structures can be described in terms of a common closepacking of O and Na atoms together with Nb₆ octahedra.     

X-ray emission study of the electronic structure of binuclear niobium complexes with (S<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Superscript>2</Superscript>–disulfide bridging ligands

The electronic structure of binuclear niobium complexes [Nb₂S₄(acac)₄] and K₄[Nb₂S₄(ox)4] is studied by X-ray emission fluorescent spectroscopy and quantum chemistry techniques. Data on the partial atomic composition of highest occupied molecular orbitals of the complexes are obtained. The energy positions of bonding and antibonding frontier molecular orbitals observed in the X-ray emission spectra of binuclear [Nb₂((S₂)^2–)₂]⁴⁺ clusters are determined by the analysis of overlap populations.     

Über das Mischungsverhalten von Nb3Sn mit Ti3Sn,Mo3Al und verwandten Phasen

Zusammenfassung Nb₃Sn und Mo₃Al bilden eine lückenlose Mischreihe. Nb₃Sn löst bei 1600°C rd. 60 Mol% Ti₃Sn, 30 Mol% Zr(3)Sn, 40 Mol% Hf(3)Sn bzw. 50 Mol% Nb(3)Si.Mit 5 Abbildungen