Dating Archaeological Strata in the Magna Mater Temple Using Solid‐state Voltammetric Analysis of Leaded Bronze Coins

The application of solid state electrochemistry techniques for dating archaeological strata using lead‐containing bronze coins is described. The proposed methodology was applied to samples coming from the Roman archaeological site of Magna Mater Temple (Rome, Italy) occurring in different strata dating back between the second half and the end of the 4^th century A.D. and the 20^th century. The voltammetric signatures of copper and lead corrosion products in contact with aqueous acetate buffer, as well as the catalytic effects produced on the hydrogen evolution reaction, were used for establishing the age of different strata and dating coins belonging to unknown age. Voltammetric data were consistent with a theoretical approximation based on a potential rate law for the corrosion process.     

Potential Application of Voltammetry of Microparticles for Dating Porcine Blood‐based Binding Media used in Taiwanese Architectural Polychromies

A method for dating Hemoglobine‐containing archaeological samples using the voltammetry of microparticles is described. This is based on the record of the voltammetric response of such materials attached to paraffin‐impregnated graphite electrodes in contact with aqueous acetate buffer. Signals attributable to the Fe^III/Fe^II iron couple and their catalytic enhancement in the presence of H₂O₂ can be correlated, via first‐order reaction kinetics, with the time of aging of the samples. The method has been applied to the study and dating of the polychromed architectural decoration of different parts of the architectural complex of the Longshan Temple in Lukang (18^th century, Taiwan).     

Screening of Iberian Coinage in the 2th‐1th BCE Period Using the Voltammetry of Immobilized Particles

The voltammetry of immobilized particles (VIMP) was applied for grouping a series of 86 Iberian coins nominally minted in the cities of Iltirta, Cástulo and Obulco in the 2^th‐1^th BCE period for which there are no chronological data. Using characteristic signatures for the reduction of cuprite, tenorite and lead corrosion products in the patina of the coins, voltammetric grouping of coins was proposed. Voltammetric data were found to be consistent with textural and compositional properties of the surface and subsurface of selected coins using FIB‐FESEM‐EDX. The obtained data confirmed a clear separation between the productions of Iltirta on one side, and those of Cástulo and Obulco on the other side, indicating the possibility to establish a rough chronology for these productions.     

Composition of 12–18th century window glass in Belgium: Non-figurative windows in secular buildings and stained-glass windows in religious buildings

A set of ca. 500 window glass fragments originating from different historical sites in Belgium and covering the period 12^th–18^th century was analyzed by means of electron probe microanalysis. Most samples are archaeological finds deriving from non-figurative windows in secular buildings. However, the analyzed set also contains glass sampled from still existing non-figurative windows in secular buildings and stained-glass windows in religious buildings. A sudden compositional change at the end of the 14^th century can be noticed among the series of glass compositions that were obtained. These changes could be related to the use of different glassmaker recipes and to the introduction of new raw materials for glass making.     

Heme Fe?SO2− intermediates in sulfite reduction: Contrasts with Fe?OO2− species from oxygen–oxygen bond activating systems

Sulfite reductase (SiR) catalyzes a six electron and six proton reduction of sulfite to sulfide. Similarly to the cytochrome P450 (cytP450) family, the active site in SiR contains a (partially reduced) heme bound axially to a cysteinate ligand—though with an extra Fe₄S₄ cluster. Fe(III) SO²⁻, Fe(III) SOH⁻, and Fe(III) SO(H₂) intermediates have been proposed for the catalytic cycle of SiR, leading to a formally Fe(V)S species—akin to the widely accepted reaction mechanism in cytP450. Here, density functional theory (DFT) data is reported for of such FeSO(H₂) intermediates. The Fe(III) SO²⁻ models display relatively high energies for homolytic bond breaking compared to their isomeric oxygen‐bound Fe(III) OS²⁻ models, and thus offer a better alternative in terms of avoiding radical side products able to induce enzyme suicide. This could be due to the fact that the (iron‐bound) sulfur is more active from a redox standpoint compared to oxygen, thus permitting the departing oxygen to maintain a redox‐inert state. Di‐protonation of the oxygen is computed to lead to a compound I type Fe(IV)S coupled to a porphyrin radical anion—consistent with an intermediate previously observed by x‐ray crystallography.     

Mechanism of Framework Oxygen Exchange in Fe‐Zeolites: A Combined DFT and Mass Spectrometry Study

The role of framework oxygen atoms in N₂O decomposition [N₂O(g)→N₂(g) and 1/2O₂(g)] over Fe‐ferrierite is investigated employing a combined experimental (N₂¹⁸O decomposition in batch experiments followed by mass spectroscopy measurements) and theoretical (density functional theory calculations) approach. The occurrence of the isotope exchange indicates that framework oxygen atoms are involved in the N₂O decomposition catalyzed by Fe‐ferrierite. Our study, using an Fe‐ferrierite sample with iron exclusively present as Fe^II cations accommodated in the cationic sites, shows that the mobility of framework oxygen atoms in the temperature range: 553 to 593 K is limited to the four framework oxygen atoms of the two AlO₄^? tetrahedra forming cationic sites that accomodate Fe^II. They exchange with the Fe extra‐framework ¹⁸O atom originating from the decomposed N₂¹⁸O. We found, using DFT calculations, that O₂ molecules facilitate the oxygen exchange. However, the corresponding calculated energy barrier of 87 kcal mol^?1 is still very high and it is higher than the assumed experimental value based on the occurrence of the sluggish oxygen exchange at 553 K.     

Oxygen Isotope Labeling Experiments Reveal Different Reaction Sites for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction on Nickel and Nickel Iron Oxides

Nickel iron oxide is considered a benchmark nonprecious catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the nature of the active site in nickel iron oxide is heavily debated. Here we report direct spectroscopic evidence for the different active sites in Fe‐free and Fe‐containing Ni oxides. Ultrathin layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were used as defined samples of metal oxide catalysts, and ¹⁸O‐labeling experiments in combination with in situ Raman spectroscopy were employed to probe the role of lattice oxygen as well as an active oxygen species, NiOO^?, in the catalysts. Our data show that lattice oxygen is involved in the OER for Ni and NiCo LDHs, but not for NiFe and NiCoFe LDHs. Moreover, NiOO^? is a precursor to oxygen for Ni and NiCo LDHs, but not for NiFe and NiCoFe LDHs. These data indicate that bulk Ni sites in Ni and NiCo oxides are active and evolve oxygen via a NiOO^? precursor. Fe incorporation not only dramatically increases the activity, but also changes the nature of the active sites.     

A Bimetallic Zn/Fe Polyphthalocyanine‐Derived Single‐Atom Fe‐N4 Catalytic Site:A Superior Trifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water Splitting and Zn–Air Batteries

Developing an efficient single‐atom material (SAM) synthesis and exploring the energy‐related catalytic reaction are important but still challenging. A polymerization–pyrolysis–evaporation (PPE) strategy was developed to synthesize N‐doped porous carbon (NPC) with anchored atomically dispersed Fe‐N₄ catalytic sites. This material was derived from predesigned bimetallic Zn/Fe polyphthalocyanine. Experiments and calculations demonstrate the formed Fe‐N₄ site exhibits superior trifunctional electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction, oxygen evolution, and hydrogen evolution reactions. In overall water splitting and rechargeable Zn–air battery devices containing the Fe‐N₄ SAs/NPC catalyst, it exhibits high efficiency and extraordinary stability. This current PPE method is a general strategy for preparing M SAs/NPC (M=Co, Ni, Mn), bringing new perspectives for designing various SAMs for catalytic application.     

A Study of Different Doped Metal Cations on the Physicochemical Properties and Catalytic Activities of Ce20M1Ox (M=Zr,Cr, Mn,Fe, Co,Sn) Composite Oxides for Nitric Oxide Reduction by Carbon Monoxide

This work is mainly focused on investigating the effects of different doped metal cations on the formation of Ce₂₀M₁O_x (M=Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Sn) composite oxides and their physicochemical and catalytic properties for NO reduction by CO as a model reaction. The obtained samples were characterized by using N₂ physisorption, X‐ray diffraction, laser Raman spectroscopy, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction by hydrogen and by oxygen (H₂‐TPR and O₂‐TPD), in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and the NO+CO model reaction. The results imply that the introduction of M^x+ into the lattice of CeO₂ increases the specific surface area and pore volume, especially for variable valence metal cations, and enhances the catalytic performance to a great extent. In this regard, increases in the oxygen vacancies, reduction properties, and chemisorbed O₂^? (and/or O^?) species of these Ce₂₀M₁O_x composite oxides (M refers to variable valence metals) play significant roles in this reaction. Among the samples, Ce₂₀Cr₁O_x exhibited the best catalytic performance, mainly because it has the best reducibility and more chemisorbed oxygen, and significant reasons for these attributes may be closely related to favorable synergistic interactions of the vacancies and near‐surface Ce³⁺ and Cr³⁺. Finally, a possible reaction mechanism was tentatively proposed to understand the reactions.     

S‐Doping of an Fe/N/C ORR Catalyst for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells with High Power Density

Fe/N/C is a promising non‐Pt electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but its catalytic activity is considerably inferior to that of Pt in acidic medium, the environment of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). An improved Fe/N/C catalyst (denoted as Fe/N/C‐SCN) derived from Fe(SCN)₃, poly‐m‐phenylenediamine, and carbon black is presented. The advantage of using Fe(SCN)₃ as iron source is that the obtained catalyst has a high level of S doping and high surface area, and thus exhibits excellent ORR activity (23 A g^?1 at 0.80 V) in 0.1 M H₂SO₄ solution. When the Fe/N/C‐SCN was applied in a PEMFC as cathode catalyst, the maximal power density could exceed 1 W cm^?2.     

A Mössbauer study of oxygen vacancy and cation distribution in 6H-BaTi1−xFexO3−x/2

We have synthesized samples in the system BaTi_1−xFe_xO_3−x/2 with x=0.1−0.6 at temperatures of 1200-1300°C under reducing conditions of oxygen fugacity. After drop quenching, samples were characterized using the electron microprobe, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. All samples were hexagonal with a 6H-BaTiO₃ type structure. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed all iron to be present as Fe³⁺, occurring in octahedral and pentahedral sites. Analysis of area ratios indicates that oxygen vacancies are distributed randomly over O1 sites, and that a random distribution of Fe and Ti cations over M1 and M2 sites is consistent with the data. No evidence for ordering of oxygen vacancies was found. Results are consistent with conductivity results, which show generally increasing ionic conductivity with increasing oxygen vacancy concentration.     

Silicotungstic acid modified Ce‐Fe‐Ox catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3: Effect of the amount of HSiW

The HSiW(x)/Ce‐Fe catalysts were used to research the effect of silicotungstic acid contents on the catalytic activity in the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃. Doping different contents of silicotungstic acid affected surface species and redox property as well as the catalytic activity. With the increasing amount of HSiW (x = 5%, 10% and 20%), the redox reaction between Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ and Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺ enhanced, which could improve the ratio of Ce³⁺ and Fe³⁺. And then, more Ce³⁺ increased the ratio of chemisorbed oxygen (O_α). Besides, the type and strength of acid sites over HSiW(_x)/Ce‐Fe was affected by the HSiW contents. These factors facilitated the catalytic performance. Thus, the NO_x conversion of HSiW(x)/Ce‐Fe(x = 20%) was higher than 90%, which maintained in a wide temperature range between 200 and 400 °C.     

The Direct Electron Transfer of Iron‐Containing Superoxide Dismutase (Fe‐SOD) and its Catalysis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) on a Gold Electrode

In this work, for the first time, the direct electron transfer of iron‐containing superoxide dismutase (Fe‐SOD) was observed by cyclic voltammetry on a gold (Au) electrode in three RTILs, i.e., 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIBF₄), 1‐n‐propyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (PMIBF₄) and 1‐n‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIBF₄). And the results demonstrate that when the scan rate was as low as 1 mV/s, a pair of well‐defined quasi‐reversible peaks of Fe‐SOD was presented, while as the potential scan rate was above 10 mV/s, the reduction peak of Fe‐SOD disappeared though its oxidation peak could be clearly observed even as the potential scan rate was up to 400 mV/s, strongly indicating that these CVs we observed were attributable to Fe‐SOD rather than the impurities in RTILs. Its catalysis for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was directly verified by the shifting of formal potential, E⁰′, of ORR, to the positive direction though the value of standard rate constant, κ⁰, corresponding to ORR, was not much enhanced. In PMIBF₄, for the multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)‐modified gold electrode, both the reduction peak current and oxidation peak current for oxygen redox reaction were all dramatically enhanced compared to the case of a bare gold electrode, and the value of κ⁰ was also increased from 3.1 × 10^?3 cm s^?1 for the bare gold electrode, to 17.5 × 10^?3 cm s^?1. Hence, in the presence of Fe‐SOD in RTILs, MWCNTs, showing catalysis for the electron transfer process of ORR, coupled with Fe‐SOD, leading to the shifting of formal potential corresponding to ORR to the positive direction, presented us a satisfactory catalysis for ORR in RTILs. Some reasons available for this catalysis behavior stemming from Fe‐SOD, and MWCNTs as well, for ORR are discussed based on the previously developed proposition.     

The Proportion of Fe‐NX,N Doping Species and Fe3C to Oxygen Catalytic Activity in Core‐Shell Fe‐N/C Electrocatalyst

A bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst composed of iron carbide (Fe₃C) nanoparticles encapsulated by nitrogen doped carbon sheets is reported. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray absorption near edge structure revealed the presence of several kinds of active sites (Fe?N_x sites, N doping sites) and the modulated electron structure of nitrogen doped carbon sheets. Fe₃C@N‐CSs shows excellent oxygen evolution and oxygen reduction catalytic activity owing to the modulated electron structure by encapsulated Fe₃C core via biphasic interfaces electron interaction, which can lower the free energy of intermediate, strengthen the bonding strength and enhance conductivity. Meanwhile, the contribution of the Fe?N_x sites, N doping sites and the effect of Fe₃C core for the electrocatalytic oxygen reaction is originally revealed. The Fe₃C@N‐CSs air electrode‐based zinc‐air battery demonstrates a high open circuit potential of 1.47 V, superior charge‐discharge performance and long lifetime, which outperforms the noble metal‐based zinc‐air battery.     

Efficient Fe‐Co‐N‐C Electrocatalyst Towards Oxygen Reduction Derived from a Cationic CoII‐based Metal–Organic Framework Modified by Anion‐Exchange with Potassium Ferricyanide

Fe‐Co‐N‐C electrocatalysts have proven superior to their counterparts (e.g. Fe‐N‐C or Co‐N‐C) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report on a unique strategy to prepare Fe‐Co‐N‐C?x (x refers to the pyrolysis temperature) electrocatalysts which involves anion‐exchange of [Fe(CN)₆]^3? into a cationic Co^II‐based metal‐organic framework precursor prior to heat treatment. Fe‐Co‐N‐C‐900 exhibits an optimal ORR catalytic performance in an alkaline electrolyte with an onset potential (E_onset: 0.97 V) and half‐wave potential (E_1/2: 0.86 V) comparable to that of commercial Pt/C (E_onset=1.02 V; E_1/2=0.88 V), which outperforms the corresponding Co‐N‐C‐900 sample (E_onset=0.92 V; E_1/2=0.84 V) derived from the same MOF precursor without anion‐exchange modification. This is the first example of Fe‐Co‐N‐C electrocatalysts fabricated from a cationic Co^II‐based MOF precursor that dopes the Fe element via anion‐exchange, and our current work provides a new entrance towards MOF‐derived transition‐metal (e.g. Fe or Co) and nitrogen‐codoped carbon electrocatalysts with excellent ORR activity.     

A Strategy to Promote the Electrocatalytic Activity of Spinels for Oxygen Reduction by Structure Reversal

The electrocatalytic performance of a spinel for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) can be significantly promoted by reversing its crystalline structure from the normal to the inverse. As the spinel structure reversed, the activation and cleavage of O?O bonds are accelerated owing to a dissimilarity effect of the distinct metal atoms co‐occupying octahedral sites. The Co^IIFe^IIICo^IIIO₄ spinel with the Fe and Co co‐occupying inverse structure exhibits an excellent ORR activity, which even exceeds that of the state‐of‐the‐art commercial Pt/C by 42 mV in alkaline medium.     

On the Influence of Oxygen on the Degradation of Fe‐N‐C Catalysts

Fe‐N‐C catalysts containing atomic FeN_x sites are promising candidates as precious‐metal‐free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The durability of Fe‐N‐C catalysts in fuel cells has been extensively studied using accelerated stress tests (AST). Herein we reveal stronger degradation of the Fe‐N‐C structure and four‐times higher ORR activity loss when performing load cycling AST in O₂‐ vs. Ar‐saturated pH 1 electrolyte. Raman spectroscopy results show carbon corrosion after AST in O₂, even when cycling at low potentials, while no corrosion occurred after any load cycling AST in Ar. The load‐cycling AST in O₂ leads to loss of a significant fraction of FeN_x sites, as shown by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analyses, and to the formation of Fe oxides. The results support that the unexpected carbon corrosion occurring at such low potential in the presence of O₂ is due to reactive oxygen species produced between H₂O₂ and Fe sites via Fenton reactions.     

Role of Iron Carbonyls in the Inhibition of Oxygen Activation for the Oxidation of CO Catalyzed by Iron Oxide‐Supported Gold

Iron oxide‐supported gold samples were prepared by co‐precipitation from HAuCl₄ and Fe(NO₃)₃. The activities of the samples as CO oxidation catalysts were tested without thermal treatment and following treatments in flows of He and O₂ at various temperatures. It was found that the untreated samples and those treated in a flow of He at 150 °C were more active than samples that had been treated at 400 °C in either a flow of O₂ or of He. Infrared spectra recorded during CO oxidation catalysis indicate the presence of bonded CO molecules to cationic gold on all samples, whereas spectra of the least active catalysts indicate a predominant presence of Fe²⁺ carbonyls, which were highly stable under the conditions of our experiments. Our results indicate that in the least active samples the Fe²⁺‐bound CO blocks sites that would otherwise be available for oxygen activation.     

Electrocatalytic effect of iron sulfates on oxygen reduction. Influence of the solvation sphere of the mediator

The redox catalysis of oxygen reduction was performed on a platinum rotating disk electrode. The Fe(III)/Fe(II)/H₂SO₄ system at different pH's was used as a MEDIATOR. The catalytic effect of mediator was directly related to the solvation sphere of Fe(III) and Fe(II). Only the redox couple FeHSO ₄ ²⁺ /FeHSO ₄ ⁺ (pH<0) showed a catalytic effect on oxygen reduction.     

Thermally Driven Structure and Performance Evolution of Atomically Dispersed FeN4 Sites for Oxygen Reduction

FeN₄ moieties embedded in partially graphitized carbon are the most efficient platinum group metal free active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction in acidic proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells. However, their formation mechanisms have remained elusive for decades because the Fe?N bond formation process always convolutes with uncontrolled carbonization and nitrogen doping during high‐temperature treatment. Here, we elucidate the FeN₄ site formation mechanisms through hosting Fe ions into a nitrogen‐doped carbon followed by a controlled thermal activation. Among the studied hosts, the ZIF‐8‐derived nitrogen‐doped carbon is an ideal model with well‐defined nitrogen doping and porosity. This approach is able to deconvolute Fe?N bond formation from complex carbonization and nitrogen doping, which correlates Fe?N bond properties with the activity and stability of FeN₄ sites as a function of the thermal activation temperature.