Simultaneous hydrogen and peroxide production by photocatalytic water splitting

Photocatalytic oxidation of water is a promising method to realize large-scale H₂O₂ production without a hazardous and energy-intensive process. In this study, we introduce a Pt/TiO₂(anatase) photocatalyst to construct a simple and environmentally friendly system to achieve simultaneous H₂ and H₂O₂ production. Both H₂ and H₂O₂ are high-value chemicals, and their separation is automatic. Even without the assistance of a sacrificial agent, the system can reach an efficiency of 7410 and 5096 μmol g^–1 h^–1 (first 1 h) for H₂ and H₂O₂, respectively, which is much higher than that of a commercial Pt/TiO₂(anatase) system that has a similar morphology. This exceptional activity is attributed to the more favorable two-electron oxidation of water to H₂O₂, compared with the four-electron oxidation of water to O₂.     

Mise au point d'un procede de preparation catalytique de perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide par addition d'ethylamine a un chlorure d'acide perfluoroalcane sulfonique

Addition of N-ethylamine to a perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid chloride R_FSO₂Cl has been studied, to obtain the corresponding perfluoroalkylsulfonamide R_FSO₂NHC₂H₅. First a two-step synthesis has been considered : transformation of the perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid chloride R_FSO₂Cl to the corresponding fluoride R_FSO₂F, and addition of N-ethylamine; the study of the first step is reported. Then, a sulfonamide one-step synthesis involving a fluoride catalysis, is described.     

Sub-solidus Relations in the System KF—PbF2 to high Pressures

The phase β-K_0.25Pb_0.75F_1.75 previously found in the KF-PbF₂ system appears to be metastable at low temperatures relative to a mixture of orthorhombic PbF₂ and a new phase suspected to be KPbF₃ II. KPbF₃ II transforms to KPbF₃ I at 298.5°C at atmospheric pressure. The KPbF₃ II/I transition line rises with pressure, but the substance appears to reversibly disproportionate above ～360°C, 5 kbar, possibly to a mixture of PbF₂ and K₄PbF₆. Instead of β-K_0.25Pb_0.75F_1.75, a mixture with this composition yielded, in addition to weak heat events due to the KPbF₃ II/I transition, strong heat events at 254.5°C and atmospheric pressure (thermal hysteresis ～13°C) which were ascribed to the PbF₂ orthorhombic/cubic transition. This transition rises with pressure to 673°C at 37.8 kbar.     

Electronic structure and properties of NbS3 and Nb3S4

Electronic structure calculations for NbS₃ and Nb₃S₄ are reported. The NbS₃ structure is closely related to that of ZrSe₃. In the undistorted ZrSe₃ atomic arrangement, NbS₃ would be a metal; it is shown that the observed distortion, a pairing of Nb atoms along the b-axis relative to ZrSe₃, stabilizes the NbS₃ crystal by inducing a 0.5-eV semiconducting gap. Nb₃S₄ is found to be a metal with the Fermi level lying near a deep minimum in the density of electron states.     

Stable Aqueous Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction by a Cu2O Dark Cathode with Improved Selectivity for Carbonaceous Products

Photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to produce fuels is a promising way to reduce CO₂ emission and address the energy crisis. However, the H₂ evolution reaction competes with CO₂ photoreduction, which would lower the overall selectivity for carbonaceous products. Cu₂O has emerged as a promising material for suppressing the H₂ evolution. However, it suffers from poor stability, which is commonly regarded as the result of the electron‐induced reduction of Cu₂O. This paper describes a simple strategy using Cu₂O as a dark cathode and TiO₂ as a photoanode to achieve stable aqueous CO₂ reduction with a high Faradaic efficiency of 87.4 % and a selectivity of 92.6 % for carbonaceous products. We have shown that the photogenerated holes, instead of the electrons, primarily account for the instability of Cu₂O. Therefore, Cu₂O was used as a dark cathode to minimize the adverse effects of holes, by which an improved stability was achieved compared to the Cu₂O photocathode under illumination. Additionally, direct exposure of the Cu₂O surface to the electrolyte was identified as a critical factor for the high selectivity for carbonaceous products.     

[PtIn6][GaO4]2 – das erste Oxid mit [PtIn6]‐Oktaedern. Darstellung,Charakterisierung und Rietveldverfeinerung – mit einer Bemerkung zur Mischkristallreihe [PtIn6][GaO4]2–x[InO4]x (0 < x ≤ 1)

[PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ – The First Oxide Containing [PtIn₆] Octahedra. Preparation, Characterisation, and Rietveld Refinement – With a Remark to the Solid Solution Series [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2‐x[InO₄]_x (0 < x ≤ 1) The novel oxides [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2–x[InO₄]_x (0 < x ≤ 1) are formed by heating intimate mixtures of Pt, In, In₂O₃, and Ga₂O₃ in the corresponding stoichiometric ratio in corundum crucibles under an atmosphere of argon (1220 K, 70 h). The compounds are black, stable in air at room temperature, reveal a semiconducting behaviour, and decompose only in oxidizing acids. X‐ray powder diffraction patterns can be indexed by assuming a face centered cubic unit cell with lattice parameters ranging from a = 1001.3(1) pm (x = 0) to a = 1009.3(1) pm (x = 1). According to a Rietveld refinement [PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ crystallizes isotypic to the mineral Pentlandite (Fm3m, Z = 4, R(profile) = 6.11%, R(intensity) = 3.95%). The characteristic building units are isolated [PtIn₆]¹⁰⁺ octahedra which are linked via [GaO₄]^5– tetrahedra to a three dimensional framework. Starting from [PtIn₆][GaO₄]₂ the substitution of Ga³⁺ ions by larger In³⁺ ions leads to the formation of a solid solution series according to the general formula [PtIn₆][GaO₄]_2–x[InO₄]_x and becomes apparent in an increase of the lattice parameter.     

Acyl and α-Ketoacyl Complexes of Pt(II) with Weak Donor Ligands

Treatment of trans-Pt(COCOPh)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂ (1a) with AgBF₄in THF led to the formation of a metastatic complex trans-[Pt(COCOPh)(THF)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (2) which readily underwent ligand substitution to give a cationic aqua complex trans-[Pt(COCOPh)(OH₂)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (5a). Complex 5a has been characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically. Analogous reaction of trans-Pt(COCOOMe)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂ (1b) with Ag(CF₃SO₃) in dried CH₂C1₂ was found first to yield a methoxyoxalyl triflato complextrans-Pt(COCOOMe)(OTf)(PPh₃)₂ (6). Attempts to crystallize the triflato product in CH₂-cl₂hexane under ambient conditions also afforded an aqua complex of the triflate salt f/wu-[Pt(COCOOMe)(OH₂)(PPhj)₂](CF₃SO₃) (5b). Complex 5a in a noncoordinating solvent such as CH₂C1₂ or CHCl₃ suffered spontaneous decarbonylation to form first cis-[Pt(COPh)(CO)(PPh₃)₂l(BF₄) (3a) then the thermodynamically stable isomer trans-[Pt(COPh)(CO)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (3b). Crystallization of complex 3b under ambient conditions resulted in an aqua benzoyl complex trans-[Pt(COPh)(OH₂)(PPh₃)₂](BF₄) (7). The replacement of the H_2O ligand in complex 7 by CO was done simply by bubbling CO into the solution of 7. The single crystal structures of 5b and 7 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The distances of the Pt-O bonds in 5a, 5b, and 7 support that the aqua ligand is a weak donor in such cationic aquaorganoplatinum(lI) complexes, in agreement with their lability to the substitution reactions.     

A novel approach to consolidation of historical limestone: the calcium alkoxides

Potential utilization of calcium alkoxides as stone consolidants was considered. Reaction of Ca(OCH₃)₂, Ca(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₃CH₂OH)₄ and Ca[OCH(CH₃)₂]₂ with the atmosphere in different experimental conditions was studied. The reaction produced CaCO₃ and two different pathways seem to be involved, the first taking place through CO₂ insertion into the Ca–O bond of Ca(OR)₂ species with formation of an alkylcarbonate derivative, subsequently transformed into CaCO₃ through ROH elimination; the second takes place through hydrolysis of Ca(OR)₂ to Ca(OH)₂, which is then carbonated to CaCO₃. The vaterite/calcite ratios found in the final CaCO₃ vary considerably with the experimental conditions adopted. Investigations demonstrated the potentiality of Ca(OCH₃)₂ to act as a stone consolidant. In fact, impregnation of a porous substrate, simulating the deteriorated stone, with a methanol solution of Ca(OCH₃)₂, produced a crystalline vaterite film, which gradually filled all the pores and cavities of substrate and seems to fulfil the necessary requirements for a consolidant. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two novel molybdenum complexes containing [Mo2O2S2]2+ fragment: synthesis,crystal structures and catalytic studies

Mo₂O₂S₂(HGly)(Gly)₂ 1 and K₆[Mo₂O₂S₂(nta)₂][Mo₂O₂S₂(ntaH)₂]^·4H₂O 2 were synthesized by the reactions of (NH₄)₂MoS₄ and amino acids L (L = glycine, nitrilotriacetic acid) in ethanol–water medium at ambient temperature. The two complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectra, UV–visible spectra, TG–DTA and XPS. X‐ray crystallographic structural analyses revealed that compound 1 is a binuclear Mo? S? glycinate complex, a glycinate ligand is coordinated to each molybdenum atom through its amine nitrogen and carboxylato oxygen, respectively, and the third glycinate acts as a bridge through its two carboxylato oxygens linking the two molybdenum atoms. Compound 2 is also a binuclear Mo? S complex with two nitrilotriacetate ligands, each of which is coordinated to a molybdenum atom via its two β‐carboxylato oxygens and a nitrogen atom. Simultaneously, each molybdenum atom in 1 and 2 is chelated to a terminal oxygen and two bridging sulfurs to complete the octahedral configuration. Their catalytic activities in the reduction from C₂H₂ to C₂H₄ as well as other binuclear Mo? S? polycarboxylate complexes, a [Fe₄S₄] single cubane and a chainlike Mo? Fe? S compound were investigated and it was found that 1 exhibited relatively good catalytic activity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Al2O3/SnO2 Co-Nanoparticle Modified Grafted Collagen for Improving Thermal Stability and Infrared Emissivity

Al2O3/SnO2 co-nanoparticles were prepared with a modified sol-gel technique followed by a thermal treatment process. With these co-nanoparticles the grafted collagen-Al2O3/SnO2 nanocomposites were obtained using a supersonic dispersion method. X-ray diffraction, FT-IR analysis, transmission electron microscopy, TGA/DTA and infrared emissivity test were performed to characterize the resulting nanoparticles and nanocomposites, respectively. The Al2O3/SnO2 co-nanoparticles showed a narrow distribution of size between 20-40 nm and could be uniformly absorbed on the tri-helix scaffolds of the grafted collagen without any aggregation. The nanocomposites possessed better thermal stability and substantially lower infrared emissivity than the grafted collagen and Al2O3/SnO2 co-nanoparticles with an increase of degradation temperature from 39 to 210 ℃ and a decrease of infrared emissivity from 0.850 of the grafted collagen and 0.708 of the Al2O3/SnO2 co-nanoparticles to 0.424, which provided a potential application of the nanocomposites to areas such as photoelectronics.     

C60 as a chemical Faraday cage for three ferromagnetic Fe atoms

Based on calculations using density functional theory, we show that C₆₀ can act as a chemical Faraday cage in which a highly magnetic metal cluster with a high chemical reactivity can be encapsulated. As an example, we find that C₆₀ can encapsulate a Fe₃ cluster, while it is much less likely to encapsulate a Fe₂ cluster. Spin multiplicity (=9) of the Fe₃@C₆₀ is very high, being comparable to that (=11) of a free Fe₃ cluster. Geometrically, the triangular plane of the cluster is perpendicular to a S₆ axis of the fullerene.     

Chemical Reactivity of Tetrasulfur Tetranitride: Synthesis,Physical Properties,and Structural Characterization of the Amorphous Phase Cu7S4N4

Tetrasulfur tetranitride, S₄N₄, reacts with elemental Cu within inert solvents to a black‐blue material of approximate composition Cu₇S₄N₄ which is totally amorphous to X‐rays and which cannot be made crystalline by either thermal treatment or electron radiation. Cu₇S₄N₄ explodes if heated above 234 °C or when subjected to mechanical shock to eventually yield copper(I) sulfide; this together with the characteristic infrared spectrum of Cu₇S₄N₄ indicates the presence of molecular S₄N₄ units inside the amorphous phase. The metastable nature of Cu₇S₄N₄ is also mirrored by electron microscopy which furthermore allows the structural characterization of its degradation products. Based on experimental EXAFS data offering characteristic Cu—N and Cu—S distances, a theoretical crystalline approximant of Cu₇S₄N₄ was suggested and structurally optimized by density‐functional total‐energy calculations including periodic boundary conditions. This model incorporates a central S₄N₄ unit bonded to three shells of Cu atoms of different functionalities; in addition, a partial rupture of the S₄N₄ unit is likely to allow for a lowering of the total energy of the metastable phase. The latter observation supports the impossibility to make Cu₇S₄N₄ crystallize using ₄N₄ crystallize using whatever kind of measures.     

Umsetzungen von Ferrocenol und 1,1′-Ferrocendiol mit Cyclotriphosphazenen,P3N3F6 und P3N3Cl6

Reactions of Ferrocenol and 1,1′-Ferrocendiol with Cyclotriphosphazenes, P₃N₃F₆ and P₃N₃Cl₆ The hexahalogeno-cyclotriphosphazenes, P₃N₃X₆ (X ? F ( 1 a ), Cl ( 1 b )), react with ferrocenol (FcOH) in a molar ratio 1 : 1 to give the ferrocenoxy derivatives, FcO[P₃N₃X₅] (X ? F ( 3 a ), Cl ( 3 b )); in an analogous manner the tetrameric ring P₄N₄Cl₈ ( 2 b ) is converted to FcO[P₄N₄Cl₇] ( 4 b ).

1 Abkürzungen: Fc = Ferrocenyl, (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H_4?); fc = 1,1′-ferrocendiyl, Fe(C₅H_4?)₂; rc = 1,1′-ruthenocendiyl, Ru(C₅H_4?)₂. Fluorphosphazene werden mit a , Chlorphosphazene mit b gekennzeichnet.

With 1,1′-ferrocenediol, (fc(OH) ₂ ), the cyclo triphosphazenes react in a molar ratio 1 : 1 to produce fcO ₂ [P ₃ N ₃ X ₄ ] (X ? F ( 5 a ), Cl ( 5 b )). According to the x-ray structure analysis, the 1,1′-ferrocenediolato group in 5 a , b is bound to two different phosphorus atoms. On the contrary, the 1,1′-ferrocenedithiolato- and 1,1′-ferrocenediselenolato units in fcS ₂ [P ₃ N ₃ X ₅ ] (X ? F ( 6 a ), Cl ( 6 b )) and fcSe ₂ [P ₃ N ₃ X ₅ ] (X ? F ( 7 a ), Cl ( 7 b )) are attached to only one phosphorus atom, and spirocyclic 1,3-dichalcogena-2-phospha-[3]ferrocenophanes are formed. All new products have been characterized on the basis of their ¹ H, ¹³ C and ³¹ P NMR as well as EI mass spectra. The molecular structures of 5 a , b and 6 a have been determined by x-ray structure analyses.     

Unit cell dimensions of some oxofluorometallates of transition metals

Unit cell dimensions of seven oxofluorometallates of transition metals were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction method. The compounds K₃NbO₂F₄ and K₃TaO₂F₄ were found to be isomorphous with cubic (FCC) structure and having lattice parameters 8.885 and 8.942 Å respectively. Similarly, the compounds K₂NbOF₅ (a = 8.367 Å, c = 13.038 Å) and K₂TaOF₅ (a = 8.463 Å, c = 13.139 Å) were also found to be isomorphous with a tetragonal structure. The compound K₃Zr₂O₂F₇ (a = 9.367 Å) was found to possess a cubic (FCC) structure. Both K₂V₂O₅F₂ (a = 6.739 Å, c = 10.635 Å) and K₂VO₃F (a = 5.984 Å, c = 10.914 Å) have a hexagonal structure.     

New Perspectives in Polyoxometalate Chemistry by isolation of compounds containing very large moieties as transferable building blocks: (NMe4)5[As2Mo8V4AsO40] · 3H2O, (NH4)21[H3Mo57V6(NO)6O183(H2O)18] · 65 H2O, (NH2Me2)18(NH4)6[Mo57V6(NO)6O183(H2O)18] · 14 H2O,and (NH4)12[Mo36(NO)4O108(H2O)16] · 33 H2O

The compounds (NMe₄)₅[As₂Mo₈V₄AsO₄₀] · 3 H₂O 2a , (NH₄)₂₁[H₃Mo₅₇V₆(NO)₆O₁₈₃(H₂O)₁₈] · 65 H₂O 3a , (NH₂Me₂)₁₈(NH₄)₆[Mo₅₇V₆(NO)₆O₁₈₃(H₂O)₁₈] · 14 H₂O 3b and (NH₄)₁₂[Mo₃₆(NO)₄O₁₀₈(H₂O)₁₆] · 33 H₂O 4a ( 3a and 4a were not correctly reported in the literature regarding to their composition, structures and the oxidation states of the metal centres) which contain large isolated anionic species, have been prepared (among them 3a, 3b , and 4a in rather high yield) and characterized by complete crystal structure analysis as well as IR/Raman, UV/VIS/NIR, ESR spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements, redox titrations, bond valence sum calculations, elemental analyses and thermogravimetric studies. Perspectives for polyoxometalate chemistry referring to the synthesis of “extremely” large nanoscaled species are discussed, together with the occurrence of a large transferable {Mo₁₇} building block in the compounds 3a, 3b and 4a which also exists in the corresponding iron compound Na₃(NH₄)₁₂[H₁₅Mo₅₇Fe₆(NO)₆O₁₈₃(H₂O)₁₈] · 76 H₂O 7a .     

Synthesis and thermal decomposition of bismuth peroxotitanate to Bi2Ti2O7

Bi-peroxotitanate was synthesized by a peroxo method and after thermal decomposition Bi₂Ti₂O₇ was obtained. DTA, TG and DSC curves of Bi₂[Ti₂(O₂)₄(OH)₆]5H₂O were recorded and used to determine isothermal conditions suitable for obtaining the intermediate samples corresponding to the phases observed during the thermal decomposition. The samples were identified by quantitative analysis, IR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The experimental results were used to propose a mechanism of thermal decomposition of the investigated compound to a nanosized Bi₂Ti₂O₇. The optimum conditions were also determined for obtaining Bi₂Ti₂O₇, which is applicable for piezosensors.     

Solar Hydrocarbons: Single-Step,Atmospheric-Pressure Synthesis of C2−C4 Alkanes and Alkenes from CO2

Cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) spinel has been found to produce C₂−C₄ hydrocarbons in a single-step, ambient-pressure, photocatalytic hydrogenation of CO₂ with a rate of 1.1 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, selectivity of 29.8 % and conversion yield of 12.9 %. On stream the CoFe₂O₄ reconstructs to a CoFe−CoFe₂O₄ alloy-spinel nanocomposite which facilitates the light-assisted transformation of CO₂ to CO and hydrogenation of the CO to C₂−C₄ hydrocarbons. Promising results obtained from a laboratory demonstrator bode well for the development of a solar hydrocarbon pilot refinery.     

Bonding of acetylene to copper atom,dimer, and trimer

The bonding of acetylene to copper atom, dimer, and trimer was investigated with a Kohn–Sham density functional approach. Full geometry optimization yielded the equilibrium structures of various Cu_nC₂H₂ species. Gradient corrections were included in the calculation of binding energies (BE ). The Cu—C₂H₂ complex was found to have a C_s structure and a BE of 10 kcal/mol. Three isomers of Cu₂C₂H₂ have similar total energies: a C_2v end-bonded structure with a BE of 18 kcal/mol, and two 1,2-dicupro ethylene isomers—a cis form with a BE of 12 kcal/mol and a trans form with a BE of 15 kcal/mol. Two stable C_2v isomers of Cu₃C₂H₂ were found. In both isomers, the Cu₃ ring relaxes from its isosceles structure, with two short bonds (2.247 Å) and one long bond (2.478 Å), and adopts a nearly equilateral geometry. In one isomer of Cu₃C₂H₂, the acetylene is bonded to one apex of the Cu₃ ring with a BE of 29 kcal/mol. In the other, it is bonded to two copper atoms of one side of the Cu₃ ring with a BE of 33 kcal/mol. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rational design of a novel two-dimensional porous metal-organic framework material for efficient benzene sensor

As a common volatile organic compound, benzene (C₆H₆) exists in home decoration pollution gas widely, which causes great harm to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is necessary to rationally design advanced materials with high selectivity to detect and capture C₆H₆. Herein, combined with the d-band center theory and cohesive energy, a new two-dimensional metal-organic framework material, Ni-doped hexaaminobenzene-based coordination polymer (Ni-HAB-CP) is designed, and its application potential as a C₆H₆ sensor are systematically investigated by using first principles calculation. The result shows that Ni-HAB-CP has a strong adsorption for C₆H₆ without any additional method. In addition, Ni-HAB-CP can maintain good conductivity before and after adsorption, and C₆H₆ can be easily desorbed from the surface of Ni-HAB-CP by charge control. Moreover, the I-V curve calculated by Atomistix Toolkit (ATK) reveals that Ni-HAB-CP has high sensitivity and selectivity to C₆H₆. Hence, Ni-HAB-CP is expected to be used as a potential material for a highly efficient and recyclable C₆H₆ sensor in the future. The calculation and analysis methods used in this paper could provide a certain theoretical basis and reference for the future research of gas sensors.     

Zn4Si2O7(OH)2H2O盐修饰的纳米Ru催化剂催化苯选择加氢制环己烯

利用沉淀法制备了纳米Ru催化剂,在ZnSO₄存在下考察了Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O和二乙醇胺作反应修饰剂对Ru催化剂催化苯选择加氢制环己烯性能的影响,并用X-射线衍射(XRD)、X-射线荧光光谱(XRF)和透射电镜-能量散射谱(TEM-EDS)等物理化学手段对加氢前后Ru催化剂进行了表征。结果表明,在水溶液中Na₂SiO₃与ZnSO₄可以反应生成Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂H₂O盐、H₂SO₄和Na₂SO₄,化学吸附在Ru催化剂表面上的Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂H₂O盐起着提高Ru催化剂环己烯选择性的关键作用。Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O量的增加,生成的Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂H₂O盐逐渐增加,Ru催化剂的活性降低,环己烯选择性逐渐升高。向反应体系中加入二乙醇胺,它可以中和Na₂SiO₃与ZnSO₄反应生成的硫酸,使化学平衡向生成更多的Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂H₂O盐的方向移动,导致Ru催化剂环己烯选择性增加。当Ru催化剂与ZnSO₄·7H₂O、Na₂SiO₃·9H₂O和二乙醇胺、分散剂ZrO₂的质量比为1.0:24.6:0.4:0.2:5.0时,2 g Ru催化剂上苯转化73%时环己烯选择性和收率分别为75%和55%,而且该催化剂体系具有良好的重复使用性和稳定性。