Electron-Donors–Acceptors Interaction Enhancing Electrocatalytic Activity of Metal-Organic Polymers for Oxygen Reduction

Catalysts with metal-N_x sites have long been considered as effective electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), yet the accurate structure-property correlations of these active sites remain debatable. Report here is a proof-of-concept method to construct 1,4,8,11-tetraaza[14]annulene (TAA)-based polymer nanocomposites with well-managed electronic microenvironment via electron-donors/acceptors interaction of altering electron-withdrawing β-site substituents. DFT calculation proves the optimal −Cl substituted catalyst (CoTAA−Cl@GR) tailored the key OH* intermediate interaction with Co−N₄ sites under the d-orbital regulation, hence reaching the top of ORR performance with excellent turnover frequency (0.49 e s⁻¹ site⁻¹). The combination of in situ scanning electrochemical microscopy and variable-frequency square wave voltammetry techniques contribute the great ORR kinetics of CoTAA−Cl@GR to the relatively high accessible site density (7.71×10¹⁹ site g⁻¹) and fast electron outbound propagation mechanism. This work provides theoretical guidance for rational design of high-performance catalysts for ORR and beyond.     

Covalent Organic Framework Materials for Photo/ Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction北大核心CSCD

Covalent organic frameworks （COFs）are a class of emerging materials connected by covalent bonds,which have high thermal/chemical stability （except boric acid COFs）,permanent porosity,large specific surface area and good crystallinity. In addition,the structure of the monomer unit in COFs is adjustable and can coordinate with many transition metal ions to provide catalytic active sites. These advantages make COFs helpful to catalyze various reactions. Among them,COFs have an excellent catalytic effect on the CO2 reduction reaction（CO2 RR）. This is mainly because the adjustable pore structure of COFs allows them to adsorb a large amount of CO2 and the π-π stacking structure in COFs can promote charge transfer, which can greatly improve the efficiency of CO2 reduction. COFs can be used as photo/ electrocatalysts to efficiently reduce CO2 to CO,CH4 ,HCOOH and other products. This review discusses the important achievements of CO2 RR catalyzed by COFs, including photo/electrocatalytic CO2 RR and photoelectric coupling CO2 RR. In addition,the future development of COFs as CO2 RR catalysts is also prospected. © 2022, Science Press (China). All rights reserved.     

Effect of Acid–Base Characteristics of Zeolite Catalysts on Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane with Carbon Dioxide

Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry - The peculiarities of propane dehydrogenation with carbon dioxide over zeolite catalysts of different structural types, in particular, BEA with incorporated...     

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution in Au–Fe Nanoalloys

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the most critical step in water splitting, still limiting the development of efficient alkaline water electrolyzers. Here we investigate the OER activity of Au–Fe nanoalloys obtained by laser-ablation synthesis in solution. This method allows a high amount of iron (up to 11 at %) to be incorporated into the gold lattice, which is not possible in Au–Fe alloys synthesized by other routes, due to thermodynamic constraints. The Au_0.89Fe_0.11 nanoalloys exhibit strongly enhanced OER in comparison to the individual pure metal nanoparticles, lowering the onset of OER and increasing up to 20 times the current density in alkaline aqueous solutions. Such a remarkable electrocatalytic activity is associated to nanoalloying, as demonstrated by comparative examples with physical mixtures of gold and iron nanoparticles. These results open attractive scenarios to the use of kinetically stable nanoalloys for catalysis and energy conversion.     

Understanding the Catalytic Sites of Metal–Nitrogen–Carbon Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts

The development of low-cost catalysts containing earth-abundant elements as alternatives to Pt-based catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the large-scale commercial application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Nonprecious metal–nitrogen–carbon (M-N-C) materials represent the most promising candidates to replace Pt-based catalysts for PEMFCs applications. However, the high-temperature pyrolysis process for the preparation of M-N-C catalysts frequently leads to high structural heterogeneity, that is, the coexistence of various metal-containing sites and N-doped carbon structures. Unfortunately, this impedes the identification of the predominant catalytic active structure, and thus, the further development of highly efficient M-N-C catalysts for the ORR. This Minireview, after a brief introduction to the development of M-N-C ORR catalysts, focuses on the commonly accepted views of predominant catalytic active structures in M-N-C catalysts, including atomically dispersed metal–N_x sites, metal nanoparticles encapsulated with nitrogen-doped carbon structures, synergistic action between metal–N_x sites and encapsulated metal nanoparticles, and metal-free nitrogen-doped carbon structures.     

Thermochemical Study of the Reactions of Acid–Base Interaction in an Aqueous Solution of β-Aminobutyric Acid

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - The enthalpies of interaction between β-aminobutyric acid and HNO3 and KОН solutions are measured calometrically in different pH ranges, a...     

Electrochemical Reduction of Oxygen on Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Electrode in Alkaline Solution

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) electrode was constructed using polytetrafluoroethylene as binder, and the electrochemical reductive behavior of oxygen in alkaline solution was first examined on this electrode. Compared with other carbon materials, MWNTs show higher electrocatalytic activity, and the reversibility of O2 reduction reaction is greatly improved. The experiments reveal that the electrochemical reduction of O2 to HO2 is controlled by adsorption. The preliminary results illustrate the potential application of MWNTs in fuel cells.     

Acid–Base Behavior in Supercritical Water: β-Naphthoic Acid–Ammonia Equilibrium

Equilibrium constants for the reaction of -naphthoic acid and ammonia, K _BHA, were measured with UV-vis spectroscopy in water from 25°C to 400°C. At high density K _BHA decreases with temperature, the normal behavior for an exothermic reaction of a stronger acid and base to a weaker acid and base. At low density, the reaction becomes endothermic as the solvation of the ionic products becomes weaker. These data were combined with literature results for the dissociation of water and ammonia to determine equilibrium constants for the dissociation of -naphthoic acid and the reaction of -naphthoic acid and OH^- Whereas the density (and dielectric constant) of water have only a modest effect on the isocoulombic reaction of -naphthoic acid and OH^-, they have a large effect on all of the other reactions which are ionogenic.     

Some Organic Reactions in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Organic reactions in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) have facilitated great progress in recent years . ScCO2, as an environmentally friendly reaction medium, may be a substitute for 1 volatile and toxic organic solvents and show some special advantages. Firstly, CO2 is inexpensive, nonflammable, nontoxic and chemical inert under many conditions. Secondly, scCO2 possesses hybrid properties of both liquid and gas, to the advantage of some reactions involving gaseous reagents. Control o…     

Carbon Dioxide Fixation Method for Electrosynthesis of Benzoic Acid from Chlorobenzene

Carbon dioxide fixation technique was developed as an alternative dechlorination method of chlorobenzenes.Electrolysis of chlorobenzene was carried out in a one-compartment cell fitted with an alu- minium anode and a platinum cathode.Electrolysis in N,N-dimethylformamide(DMF)solution contain- ing 0.1 M of tetrapropylammonium bromide(TPAB)at 0℃,100 ml/min of CO_2 flow rate and 120 mA/cm~2 of current density was found to be the optimum conditions of this electrocarboxylation,which gave 72% yield of benzoic acid from chlorobenzene.These conditions were then applied to 1,2-dichlorobenzene and 1,3-dichlorobenzene in order to convert them to their corresponding benzoic acids.     

Cooperative Carbon Dioxide Adsorption in Alcoholamine- and Alkoxyalkylamine-Functionalized Metal–Organic Frameworks

A series of structurally diverse alcoholamine- and alkoxyalkylamine-functionalized variants of the metal–organic framework Mg₂(dobpdc) are shown to adsorb CO₂ selectively via cooperative chain-forming mechanisms. Solid-state NMR spectra and optimized structures obtained from van der Waals-corrected density functional theory calculations indicate that the adsorption profiles can be attributed to the formation of carbamic acid or ammonium carbamate chains that are stabilized by hydrogen bonding interactions within the framework pores. These findings significantly expand the scope of chemical functionalities that can be utilized to design cooperative CO₂ adsorbents, providing further means of optimizing these powerful materials for energy-efficient CO₂ separations.     

Acid–Base Properties of Polyhalogenated Tetraphenylporphyrins

Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry - [2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-Octabromo-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrinato]zinc(II) and...     

Thermodynamic Investigation of Phase Equilibria in Metal Carbonate–Water–Carbon Dioxide Systems

 Solubility measurements as a function of temperature have been shown to be a powerful tool for the determination of thermodynamic properties of sparingly-soluble transition metal carbonates. In contrast to calorimetric methods, such as solution calorimetry or drop calorimetry, the evaluation of solubility data avoids many systematic errors, yielding the enthalpy of solution at 298.15 K with an estimated uncertainty of ±3 kJ · mol⁻¹. A comprehensive set of thermodynamic data for otavite (CdCO₃), smithsonite (ZnCO₃), hydrozincite (Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂), malachite (Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃), azurite (Cu₃(OH)₂(CO₃)₂), and siderite (FeCO₃) was derived. Literature values for the standard enthalpy of formation of malachite and azurite were disproved by these solubility experiments, and revised values are recommended. In the case of siderite, data for the standard enthalpy of formation given by various data bases deviate from each other by more than 10 kJ · mol⁻¹ which can be attributed to a discrepancy in the auxiliary data for the Fe²⁺ ion. A critical evaluation of solubility data from various literature sources results in an optimized value for the standard enthalpy of formation for siderite. The Davies approximation, the specific ion-interaction theory, and the Pitzer concept are used for the extrapolation of the solubility constants to zero ionic strength in order to obtain standard thermodynamic properties valid at infinite dilution, T = 298.15 K, and p = 10⁵ Pa. The application of these electrolyte models to both homogeneous and heterogeneous (solid-solute) equilibria in aqueous solution is reviewed.     

Thermodynamic Investigation of Phase Equilibria in Metal Carbonate–Water–Carbon Dioxide Systems

Summary.  Solubility measurements as a function of temperature have been shown to be a powerful tool for the determination of thermodynamic properties of sparingly-soluble transition metal carbonates. In contrast to calorimetric methods, such as solution calorimetry or drop calorimetry, the evaluation of solubility data avoids many systematic errors, yielding the enthalpy of solution at 298.15 K with an estimated uncertainty of ±3 kJ · mol⁻¹. A comprehensive set of thermodynamic data for otavite (CdCO₃), smithsonite (ZnCO₃), hydrozincite (Zn₅(OH)₆(CO₃)₂), malachite (Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃), azurite (Cu₃(OH)₂(CO₃)₂), and siderite (FeCO₃) was derived. Literature values for the standard enthalpy of formation of malachite and azurite were disproved by these solubility experiments, and revised values are recommended. In the case of siderite, data for the standard enthalpy of formation given by various data bases deviate from each other by more than 10 kJ · mol⁻¹ which can be attributed to a discrepancy in the auxiliary data for the Fe²⁺ ion. A critical evaluation of solubility data from various literature sources results in an optimized value for the standard enthalpy of formation for siderite. The Davies approximation, the specific ion-interaction theory, and the Pitzer concept are used for the extrapolation of the solubility constants to zero ionic strength in order to obtain standard thermodynamic properties valid at infinite dilution, T = 298.15 K, and p = 10⁵ Pa. The application of these electrolyte models to both homogeneous and heterogeneous (solid-solute) equilibria in aqueous solution is reviewed. Received June 26, 2001. Accepted July 2, 2001     

Mixed Platinum–Nickel Catalysts of Oxygen Reduction

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - A mixed catalyst based on platinum and nickel oxide was obtained as a result of the synthesis and subsequent alkaline hydrolysis of thin polymer films of...     

MnO/N-Doped Mesoporous Carbon as Advanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalyst for Zinc–Air Batteries

The development of alternative electrocatalysts exhibiting high activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is vital for the deployment of large-scale clean energy devices, such as fuel cells and zinc–air batteries. N-doped carbon materials offer a promising platform for the design and synthesis of electrocatalysts due to their high ORR activity, high surface area, and tunable porosity. In this study, materials in which MnO nanoparticles are entrapped in N-doped mesoporous carbon (MnO/NC) were developed as electrocatalysts for the ORR, and their performances were evaluated in zinc–air batteries. The obtained carbon materials had large surface area and high electrocatalytic activity toward the ORR. The carbon compounds were fabricated by using NaCl as template in a one-pot process, which significantly simplifies the procedure for preparing mesoporous carbon materials and in turn reduces the total cost. A primary zinc–air battery based on this material exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 1.49 V, which is higher than that of conventional zinc–air batteries with Pt/C (Pt/C cell) as ORR catalyst (1.41 V). The assembled zinc–air battery delivered a peak power density of 168 mW cm⁻² at a current density of about 200 mA cm⁻², which is higher than that of an equivalent Pt/C cell (151 mW cm⁻² at a current density of ca. 200 mA cm⁻²). The electrocatalytic data revealed that MnO/NC is a promising nonprecious-metal ORR catalyst for practical applications in metal–air batteries.     

Ionic Polyimide Derived Porous Carbon Nanosheets as High-Efficiency Oxygen Reduction Catalysts for Zn–Air Batteries

Two-dimensional (2D) porous carbon nanosheets (2DPCs) have attracted great attention for their good porosity and long-distance conductivity. Factors such as templates, precursors, and carbonization–activation methods, directly determine their performance. However, rational design and preparation of porous carbon materials with controlled 2D morphology and heteroatom dopants remains a challenge. Therefore, an ionic polyimide with both sp²- and sp³-hybridized nitrogen atoms was prepared as a precursor for fabricating N-doped hexagonal porous carbon nanosheets through a hard-template approach. Because of the large surface area and efficient charge-mass transport, the resulting activated 2D porous carbon nanosheets (2DPCs-a) displayed promising electrocatalytic properties for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline and acidic media, such as ultralow half-wave potential (0.83 vs. 0.84 V of Pt/C) and superior limiting current density (5.42 vs. 5.14 mA cm⁻² of Pt/C). As air cathodes in Zn–air batteries, the as-developed 2DPCs-a exhibited long stability and high capacity (up to 614 mA h g⁻¹), which are both higher than those of commercial Pt/C. This work provides a convenient method for controllable and scalable 2DPCs fabrication as well as new opportunities to develop high-efficiency electrocatalysts for ORR and Zn–air batteries.     

Importing Antibonding-Orbital Occupancy through Pd−O−Gd Bridge Promotes Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction

The active-site density, intrinsic activity, and durability of Pd−based materials for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are critical to their application in industrial energy devices. This work constructs a series of carbon-based rare-earth (RE) oxides (Gd₂O₃, Sm₂O₃, Eu₂O₃, and CeO₂) by using RE metal–organic frameworks to tune the ORR performance of the Pd sites through the Pd−RE_xO_y interface interaction. Taking Pd−Gd₂O₃/C as a representative, it is identified that the strong coupling between Pd and Gd₂O₃ induces the formation of the Pd−O−Gd bridge, which triggers charge redistribution of Pd and Gd₂O₃. The screened Pd−Gd₂O₃/C exhibits impressive ORR performance with high onset potential (0.986 V_RHE), half-wave potential (0.877 V_RHE), and excellent stability. Similar ORR results are also found for Pd−Sm₂O₃/C, Pd−Eu₂O₃/C, and Pd−CeO₂/C catalysts. Theoretical analyses reveal that the coupling between Pd and Gd₂O₃ promotes electron transfer through the Pd−O−Gd bridge, which induces the antibonding-orbital occupancy of Pd−*OH for the optimization of *OH adsorption in the rate-determining step of ORR. The pH-dependent microkinetic modeling shows that Pd−Gd₂O₃ is close to the theoretical optimal activity for ORR, outperforming Pt under the same conditions. By its ascendancy in ORR, the Pd−Gd₂O₃/C exhibits superior performance in Zn-air battery as an air cathode, implying its excellent practicability.