Facile Synthesis of MOF-derived Mn3O4@N-doped Carbon with Efficient Oxygen Reduction

Integration of MnO_x into the carbon matrix proves a viable strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of MnO_x materials. Mn₃O₄ nanoparticle-decorated N-doped carbon composites (Mn₃O₄@N-doped carbon) were facilely prepared from a non-porous eight-fold interpenetrated Zn^II-based MOF, which involves first synthesis of bimetallic Mn/Zn-MOF in one-pot reaction followed by direct pyrolysis at 1000 °C. In 0.1 m KOH solution, the optimal Mn₃O₄@N-doped carbon exhibits decent oxygen reduction activity with the onset potential (E_onset) of 0.94 V (vs. RHE) and half-wave potential (E_1/2) of 0.81 V (vs. RHE), excellent methanol tolerance as well as good durability.     

Contributions on Thermal Behaviour and Crystal Chemistry of Anhydrous Phosphates. XXXIV [1] Oxygen Equilibrium Pressures in Ternary Systems M / P / O (M = Co,Ni) and Heats of Formation of Anhydrous Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Phosphates

Oxygen equilibrium pressures have been measured in the temperature range 800 °C to 1000 °C by coulometric/potentiometric techniques for several equilibrium regions in the ternary systems M / P / O (M = Co, Ni). In both systems oxygen coexistence pressures of three‐phase equilibrium solids phosphide/phosphate are about 3 to 5 orders of magnitude smaller than p(O₂) above the corresponding M_s / MO_s system. Heats of formation Δ_fH°₂₉₈ and standard entropies S°₂₉₈ for the phosphates have been obtained from 2^nd and 3^rd law evaluation of the temperature dependence of the oxygen coexistence pressures. Thermodynamic data from literature for the phosphides of cobalt and nickel and estimated heat capacities for the anhydrous phosphates Co₃(PO₄)₂, Co₂P₂O₇, Ni₃(PO₄)₂, Ni₂P₂O₇ and Ni₂P₄O₁₂ were used for these calculations. Thus obtained enthalpies and entropies are compared to results from thermodynamic modelling of observed solid phase equilibria in the ternary systems M / P / O (M = Co, Ni).     

Diesel Soot Combustion over Mn2O3 Catalysts with Different Morphologies: Elucidating the Role of Active Oxygen Species in Soot Combustion

Catalytic diesel soot combustion was examined using a series of Mn₂O₃ catalysts with different morphologies, including plate, prism, hollow spheres and powders. The plate‐shaped Mn₂O₃ (Mn₂O₃‐plate) exhibited superior carbon soot combustion activity compared to the prism‐shaped, hollow‐structured and powdery Mn₂O₃ under both tight and loose contact modes at soot combustion temperatures (T₅₀) of 327 °C and 457 °C, respectively. Comprehensive characterization studies using scanning electron microscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction and oxygen release measurements, revealed that the improved activity of Mn₂O₃‐plate was mainly attributed to the high oxygen release rate of surface‐adsorbed active oxygen species, which originated from oxygen vacancy sites introduced during the catalyst preparation, rather than specific surface‐exposed planes. The study provides new insights for the design and synthesis of efficient oxidation catalysts for carbon soot combustion as well as for other oxidation reactions of harmful hydrocarbon compounds.     

Thermochemical properties from ab initio calculations: π- and σ-Free radicals of importance in soot formation: •C3H3 (propargyl), •C4H3, •C13H9 (phenalenyl), •C6H5 (phenyl), •C10H7 (naphthyl), •C14H9 (anthryl), •C14H9 (phenanthryl), •C16H9 (pyrenyl), •C12H7 (acenaphthyl), and •C12H9 (biphenylyl)

The calculated difference in the standard heat of formation Δ Δ_fH°(298.15) of n- and i-C₄H₃^• free radicals is 37.9 kJ mol⁻¹ for G3MP2B3 and 45.0 kJ mol⁻¹ for CCSD(T)-CBS (W1U) calculations, which seems to preclude the direct even-carbon radical pathway to benzene and higher PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) formation including soot in a hydrocarbon flame. For the phenyl-type σ-radicals listed in the title, absolute values of Δ_fH°(298.15) have been calculated using G3MP2B3-computed values of bond dissociation energies D°(298.15) and combined with experimental values of Δ_fH° (298.15) for the parent hydrocarbon because of a slight systematic overprediction of the thermodynamic stability of large PAHs by the applied computational G3MP2B3 method. Standard enthalpies of formation Δ_fH°(298.15) as well as absolute entropies S° and heat capacities C°_p are given for a series of π- and σ-free radicals important to combustion as a function of temperature. A spread of roughly 40 kJ mol⁻¹ in the average C H bond strength of PAH leading to σ-radicals has been calculated, the lowest leading to 4-phenanthryl (463.6 kJ mol⁻¹), the highest leading to 2-biphenylyl radical (502.5 kJ mol⁻¹). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 395–415, 2008     

Porous Mn2O3: A Low‐Cost Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Alkaline Media with Comparable Activity to Pt/C

Preparing nonprecious metal catalysts with high activity in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can promote the development of energy conversion devices. Support‐free porous Mn₂O₃ was synthesized by a facile aerosol‐spray‐assisted approach (ASAA) and subsequent thermal treatment, and exhibited ORR activity that is comparable to commercial Pt/C The catalyst also exhibits notably higher activity than other Mn‐based oxides, such as Mn₃O₄ and MnO₂. The rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) study indicates a typical 4‐electron ORR pathway on Mn₂O₃. Furthermore, the porous Mn₂O₃ demonstrates considerable stability and a good methanol tolerance in alkaline media. In light of the low cost and high earth abundance of Mn, the highly active Mn₂O₃ is a promising candidate to be used as a cathode material in metal–air batteries and alkaline fuel cells.     

Oxygen reduction behavior of RuO2/Ti,IrO2/Ti and IrM (M: Ru,Mo, W,V) Ox/Ti binary oxide electrodes in a sulfuric acid solution

Some oxide catalysts, such as RuO₂/Ti, IrO₂/Ti and IrM(M: Ru, Mo, W, V)O_x/Ti binary oxide electrodes, were prepared by using a dip-coating method on a Ti substrate. Their catalytic behavior for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ at 60 °C. These catalysts were found to exhibit considerably high activity, and the most active one among them was Ir_0.6V_0.4O₂/Ti prepared at 450 °C, showing onset potential for the ORR at about 0.86 V–0.90 (vs RHE).     

Decorating Single-Atomic Mn Sites with FeMn Clusters to Boost Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The regulation of electron distribution of single-atomic metal sites by atomic clusters is an effective strategy to boost their intrinsic activity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein we report the construction of single-atomic Mn sites decorated with atomic clusters by an innovative combination of post-adsorption and secondary pyrolysis. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms the formation of Mn sites via Mn-N₄ coordination bonding to FeMn atomic clusters (FeMn_ac/Mn-N₄C), which has been demonstrated theoretically to be conducive to the adsorption of molecular O₂ and the break of O−O bond during the ORR process. Benefiting from the structural features above, the FeMn_ac/Mn-N₄C catalyst exhibits excellent ORR activity with half-wave potential of 0.79 V in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.90 V in 0.1 M KOH as well as preeminent Zn-air battery performance. Such synthetic strategy may open up a route to construct highly active catalysts with tunable atomic structures for diverse applications.     

Thermodynamic Studies of Bi-Univalent Electrolytes. VI. Thermodynamics of Cadmium Acetate from E. M. F. and Calorimetric Measurements

E. M. F. of the Cell, Cd-Hg (2-phase)/CdAc₂(m), Hg₂Ac₂(s)/Hg was measured at 20°, 25°, 30° and 40°C. The standard e. m. f. of the cell, Cd/CdAc₃(m), Hg₂Ac₂(c)/Hg was evaluated as E°=1.1500?11.09×10^?4T+1.06×10^?8T² The thermodynamic data of the reaction, Cd(c) + Hg₂Ac₂(c)=2Hg(l)+Cd⁺⁺(aq)+2Ac^?(aq) at 25°C were estimated as ΔF°=?42,139, ΔH°=?48,698 cal mole^?1 and ΔS°=?22.0 cal deg^?1 mole^?1 at 25°C. The thermodynamic data for the formation of Hg₂Ac₂(s) were evaluated as ΔF_f°=?202.3, ΔH_f°=?154.5 Kcal mole^?1 and S°=72.9 cal deg^?1 mole^?1. From measurements of the heats of solution of CdAc₂·2H₂O in aqueous solution, the relative partial molal enthalpies of cadmium acetate in aqueous solution were estimated.     

Insights into Nitrogen-doped Carbon for Oxygen Reduction: The Role of Graphitic and Pyridinic Nitrogen Species

Nitrogen-doped carbons (N/Cs) manifest good catalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cell systems. However, to date, controversies remain on the role of active sites in N/Cs. In the present study, ORR test was conducted on three N/Cs in O₂-saturated 0.1 M KOH aqueous solution, where apparent linear correlation between graphitic N contents and ORR activity was observed. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that graphitic N doping is energetically more favorable than that of pyridinic N doping for ORR and the pyridinic N leads to more preferential with 2 e^– ORR pathway. These results reveal that graphitic N plays a key role in N/Cs mediated ORR activity. This work lays a solid foundation on identifying the active sites in heteroatom-doped carbons and can be exploited for rational design and engineering of effective carbon-based ORR catalysts.     

Mass‐Production of Mesoporous MnCo2O4 Spinels with Manganese(IV)‐ and Cobalt(II)‐Rich Surfaces for Superior Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis

A mesoporous MnCo₂O₄ electrode material is made for bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis. The MnCo₂O₄ exhibits both Co₃O₄‐like activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and Mn₂O₃‐like performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The potential difference between the ORR and OER of MnCo₂O₄ is as low as 0.83 V. By XANES and XPS investigation, the notable activity results from the preferred Mn^IV‐ and Co^II‐rich surface. The electrode material can be obtained on large‐scale with the precise chemical control of the components at relatively low temperature. The surface state engineering may open a new avenue to optimize the electrocatalysis performance of electrode materials. The prominent bifunctional activity shows that MnCo₂O₄ could be used in metal–air batteries and/or other energy devices.     

Adapting Synthetic Models of Heme/Cu Sites to Energy-Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction

In nature, cytochrome c oxidases catalyze the 4e⁻ oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the heme/Cu site, in which Cu^I is used to assist O₂ activation. Because of the thermodynamic barrier to generate Cu^I, synthetic Fe-porphyrin/Cu complexes usually show moderate electrocatalytic ORR activity. We herein report on a Co-corrole/Co complex 1-Co for energy-efficient electrocatalytic ORR. By hanging a Co^II ion over Co corrole, 1-Co realizes electrocatalytic 4e⁻ ORR with a half-wave potential of 0.89 V versus RHE, which is outstanding among corrole-based electrocatalysts. Notably, 1-Co outperforms Co corrole hanged with Cu^II or Zn^II. We revealed that the hanging Co^II ion can provide an electron to improve O₂ binding thermodynamically and dynamically, a function represented by the biological Cu^I ion of the heme/Cu site. This work is significant to present a remarkable ORR electrocatalyst and to show the vital role of a second-sphere redox-active metal ion in promoting O₂ binding and activation.     

Efficient Selective Oxidation of Aromatic Alkanes by Double Cobalt Active Sites over Oxygen Vacancy-rich Mesoporous Co3O4

The development of efficient catalyst for selective oxidation of hydrocarbon to functional compounds remains a challenge. Herein, mesoporous Co₃O₄ (mCo₃O₄-350) showed excellent catalytic activity for selective oxidation of aromatic-alkanes, especially for oxidation of ethylbenzene with a conversion of 42 % and selectivity of 90 % for acetophenone at 120 °C. Notably, mCo₃O₄ presented a unique catalytic path of direct oxidation of aromatic-alkanes to aromatic ketones rather than the conventional stepwise oxidation to alcohols and then to ketones. Density functional theory calculations revealed that oxygen vacancies in mCo₃O₄ activate around Co atoms, causing electronic state change from Co³⁺_(Oh)→Co²⁺_(Oh). Co²⁺_(Oh) has great attraction to ethylbenzene, and weak interaction with O₂, which provide insufficient O₂ for gradual oxidation of phenylethanol to acetophenone. Combined with high energy barrier for forming phenylethanol, the direct oxidation path from ethylbenzene to acetophenone is kinetically favorable on mCo₃O₄, sharply contrasted to non-selective oxidation of ethylbenzene on commercial Co₃O₄.     

Approaching Theoretical Performances of Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Generation by Cobalt-Nitrogen Moieties

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been intensively studied for environmentally benign applications. However, insufficient understanding of ORR 2 e⁻-pathway mechanism at the atomic level inhibits rational design of catalysts with both high activity and selectivity, causing concerns including catalyst degradation due to Fenton reaction or poor efficiency of H₂O₂ electrosynthesis. Herein we show that the generally accepted ORR electrocatalyst design based on a Sabatier volcano plot argument optimises activity but is unable to account for the 2 e⁻-pathway selectivity. Through electrochemical and operando spectroscopic studies on a series of CoN_x/carbon nanotube hybrids, a construction-driven approach based on an extended “dynamic active site saturation” model that aims to create the maximum number of 2 e⁻ ORR sites by directing the secondary ORR electron transfer towards the 2 e⁻ intermediate is proven to be attainable by manipulating O₂ hydrogenation kinetics.     

Enhanced Four-Electron Oxygen Reduction Selectivity of Clamp-Shaped Cobalt(II) Porphyrin(2.1.2.1) Complexes

The molecular structure, electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) features of two Co^II porphyrin(2.1.2.1) complexes bearing Ph or F₅Ph groups at the two meso-positions of the macrocycle are examined. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveal a highly bent, nonplanar macrocyclic conformation of the complex resulting in clamp-shaped molecular structures. Cyclic voltammetry paired with UV/Vis spectroelectrochemistry in PhCN/0.1 M TBAP suggest that the first electron addition corresponds to a macrocyclic-centered reduction while spectral changes observed during the first oxidation are consistent with a metal-centered Co^II/Co^III process. The activity of the clamp-shaped complexes towards heterogeneous ORR in 0.1 M KOH show selectivity towards the 4e⁻ ORR pathway giving H₂O. DFT first-principle calculations on the porphyrin catalyst indicates a lower overpotential for 4e⁻ ORR as compared to the 2e⁻ pathway, consistent with experimental data.     

Nitrogen‐Rich Manganese Oxynitrides with Enhanced Catalytic Activity in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The catalytic activity of manganese oxynitrides in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated in alkaline solutions to clarify the effect of the incorporated nitrogen atoms on the ORR activity. These oxynitrides, with rock‐salt‐like structures with different nitrogen contents, were synthesized by reacting MnO, Mn₂O₃, or MnO₂ with molten NaNH₂ at 240–280 °C. The anion contents and the Mn valence states were determined by combustion analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure analysis. An increase in the nitrogen content of rock‐salt‐based manganese oxynitrides increases the valence of the manganese ions and reinforces the catalytic activity for the ORR in 1 m KOH solution. Nearly single‐electron occupancy of the antibonding e_g states and highly covalent Mn?N bonding thus enhance the ORR activity of nitrogen‐rich manganese oxynitrides.     

Oxygen reduction on a Ru x S y (CO) n cluster electrocatalyst in 0.5 M H2SO4

A ruthenium-sulfur carbonyl cluster electrocatalyst, Ru _x S _y (CO) _n , was synthesized by pyrolysis of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ and elemental sulfur in a sealed ampoule at 300 °C. The pyrolyzed compound was characterized by DSC, FT-IR, XRD and SEM (EDX) techniques. The electrocatalytic activity and kinetic parameters for the molecular oxygen reduction were determined by a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) in a 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution at 25 °C. The cathodic polarization indicates two Tafel slopes: −0.124 ± 0.002 V dec⁻¹ at low and −0.254 ± 0.003 V dec⁻¹ at high overpotentials, and first-order kinetics with respect to O₂ concentration. From the analysis of Levich plots and RRDE results, the oxygen reduction on Ru _x S _y (CO) _n was determined to proceed mostly via a multielectron transfer path (4e⁻) to water formation ( >94%). Received: 4 March 1999 / Accepted: 26 May 1999     

Structures and sorption properties of the coordination polymers built up of 3d metal carboxylate polynuclear complexes

The reaction of trinuclear acetate complexes Fe₂MO(AcO)₆(H₂O)₃ (M = Ni²⁺, Co²⁺) with 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) results, depending on the reaction conditions, in porous coordination polymers with the composition Fe₂MO(AcO)₆(bpy)_1.5 (with retention of the metal core Fe₂MO(AcO)₆) or nonporous coordination polymers with the composition M₂(AcO)₄(bpy)₂ (with destruction of the metal core Fe₂MO(AcO)₆). The adsorption and desorption properties of the compounds Fe₂MO(AcO)₆(bpy)_1.5 with respect to nitrogen and hydrogen were studied. The reaction of hexanuclear benzoate complex Mn₆O₂(PhCOO)₁₀(MeCN)₄ with bpy or trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) in DMF results in destruction of the metal core Mn₆O₂(PhCOO)₁₀ and formation of nonporous coordination polymers, while the pivalate complex Mn₆O₂(Piv)₁₀(EtOH)₃(HPiv) under the same conditions gives rise to the coordination polymer containing Mn₆O₂(Piv)₁₀ structural blocks.     

Modulating Electronic Structures of Iron Clusters through Orbital Rehybridization by Adjacent Single Copper Sites for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

The atom-cluster interaction has recently been exploited as an effective way to increase the performance of metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the rational design of such catalysts and understanding their structure-property correlations remain a great challenge. Herein, we demonstrate that the introduction of adjacent metal (M)−N₄ single atoms (SAs) could significantly improve the ORR performance of a well-screened Fe atomic cluster (AC) catalyst by combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental analysis. The DFT studies suggest that the Cu−N₄ SAs act as a modulator to assist the O₂ adsorption and cleavage of O−O bond on the Fe AC active center, as well as optimize the release of OH* intermediates to accelerate the whole ORR kinetic. The depositing of Fe AC with Cu−N₄ SAs on nitrogen doped mesoporous carbon nanosheet are then constructed through a universal interfacial monomicelles assembly strategy. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the resultant catalyst exhibits an outstanding ORR performance with a half-wave potential of 0.92 eV in alkali and 0.80 eV in acid, as well as a high power density of 214.8 mW cm⁻² in zinc air battery. This work provides a novel strategy for precisely tuning the atomically dispersed poly-metallic centers for electrocatalysis.     

Potential Dominates Structural Recombination of Single Atom Mn Sites for Promoting Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Single atom sites (SAS) often undergo structural recombination in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), while the effect of valence state and reconstruction on active centers needs to be investigated thoroughly. Herein, the Mn-SAS catalyst with uniform and precise Mn-N₄ configuration is rationally designed. We utilize operando synchrotron radiation to track the dynamic evolution of active centers during ORR. Under the applied potential, the structural evolution of Mn-N₄ into Mn-N₃C and further into Mn-N₂C₂ configurations is clarified. Simultaneously, the valence states of Mn are increased from +3.0 to +3.8 and then decreased to +3.2. When the potential is removed, the catalyst returned to its initial Mn^+3.0-N₄ configuration. Such successive evolutions optimize the electronic and geometric structures of active centers as evidenced by theory calculations. The evolved Mn^+3.8-N₃C and Mn^+3.2-N₂C₂ configurations respectively adjust the O₂ adsorption and reduce the energy barrier of rate-determining step. Thus, it can achieve an onset potential of 0.99 V, superior stability over 10,000 cycles, and a high turnover frequency of 1.59 s⁻¹ at 0.85 VRHE. Our present work provides new insights into the construction of well-defined SAS catalysts by regulating the valence states and configurations of active centers.     

Elucidating Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Kinetics via Intermediates by Time-Dependent Electrochemiluminescence

Facile evaluation of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics for electrocatalysts is critical for sustainable fuel-cell development and industrial H₂O₂ production. Despite great success in ORR studies using mainstream strategies, such as the membrane electrode assembly, rotation electrodes, and advanced surface-sensitive spectroscopy, the time and spatial distribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) intermediates in the diffusion layer remain unknown. Using time-dependent electrochemiluminescence (Td-ECL), we report an intermediate-oriented method for ORR kinetics analysis. Owing to multiple ultrasensitive stoichiometric reactions between ROS and the ECL emitter, except for electron transfer numbers and rate constants, the potential-dependent time and spatial distribution of ROS were successfully obtained for the first time. Such exclusively uncovered information would guide the development of electrocatalysts for fuel cells and H₂O₂ production with maximized activity and durability.