Methylviologen-mediated electrochemical synthesis of platinum nanoparticles in solution bulk

Platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) are synthesized by methylviologen-mediated reduction of PtCl₂ at the potentials of the MV²⁺/MV^?+ redox couple in 40% aqueous DMF solution. In the absence of stabilizing agents and in the presence of a stabilizer in the form of spherical silica NPs or alkylamine-modified silica NPs (SiO₂-NHR), a part of PtNPs (14–18%) are deposited on the electrode while the rest of particles remain in solution to form coarse aggregates which precipitate. In the latter case, PtNPs are also partly bound to form individual ultrafine NPs (3 ± 2 nm) on the SiO₂-NHR surface. In the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), the generated PtNPs (18 ± 9 nm) neither aggregate nor deposit on the cathode but are completely stabilized in solution being encapsulated within the PVP matrix. The obtained PtNPs are characterized by the methods of dynamic light-scattering and electron microscopy.     

Electrochemical synthesis of metal nanoparticles using a polymeric mediator,whose reduced form is adsorbed (deposited) on an electrode

Efficient mediated electrosynthesis of nanocomposite Au@р(MVCA⁸⁺-co-St) (~6 nm), in which ultrasmall Au nanoparticles (Au-NP) were bound in nanocapsules of water-soluble nanoparticles of соpolymer р(MVCA⁸⁺-co-St) of tetraviologen calix[4]resorcinol (MVCA⁸⁺) with styrene (St), was accomplished by the reduction of Au^I in aqueous medium. The quanti- tative reduction of Au^I was carried out using the theoretically necessary amount of electricity and was not accompanied by the deposition of metal on the electrode. Radical cations of viologen units MV^?+ of the molecule р(MVCA^4?+-co-St) adsorbed on the electrode and π-dimers MV^?+···MV^?+ of π-polymers [р(MVCA^4?+-co-St)] _n deposited on the electrode act- ed as the reducing agents with respect to Au^I. During electrolysis, the nanoparticles agglo- merated to 37—50 nm. The nanocomposite particles dispersed in ethanol had sizes of 72±16 nm and also contained Au-NP with sizes of 51±8 and 19±3 nm. The catalytic activity of the nanocomposite in the reduction of p-nitrophenol with sodium borohydride was demon- strated. A similar reduction of AgCl nanoparticles (~250 nm) led to the formation of silver nanoparticles with crystallite sizes in the range of 7—11 nm, the process was inefficient, however, even when using 250% of electricity, an incomplete reduction of AgCl was still observed.     

Reaction of dirhodium(II) tetraacetate with S-methyl-L-cysteine

Abstract

The reaction of antitumor active dirhodium(II) tetraacetate, [Rh₂(AcO)₄], with S-methyl-L-cysteine (HSMC) was studied at the pH of mixing (=4.8) in aqueous media at various temperatures under aerobic conditions. The results from UV–vis spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI–MS) showed that HSMC initially coordinates via its sulfur atom to the axial positions of the paddlewheel framework of the dirhodium(II) complex, and was confirmed by the crystal structure of [Rh₂(AcO)₄(HSMC)₂]. After some time (48?h at 25?°C), or at elevated temperature (40?°C), Rh-SMC chelate formation causes breakdown of the paddlewheel structure, generating the mononuclear Rh(III) complexes [Rh(SMC)₂]⁺, [Rh(AcO)(SMC)₂] and [Rh(SMC)₃], as indicated by ESI–MS. These aerobic reaction products of [Rh₂(AcO)₄] with HSMC have been compared with those of the two proteinogenic sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine. Comparison shows that the (S,N)-chelate ring size influences the stability of the [Rh₂(AcO)₄] paddlewheel cage structure and its Rh^II–Rh^II bond, when an amino acid with a thioether group coordinates to dirhodium(II) tetraacetate.     

Methylviologen-mediated electrochemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles via the reduction of AgCl nanospheres stabilized by cetyltrimethylammonium chloride

Efficient synthesis of silver nanoparticles stabilized by cetyltrimethylammonium cations (Ag@CTA⁺) is carried out in aqueous medium by methylviologen-mediated electroreduction of silver chloride nanospheres stabilized by surface-active CTA⁺ cations (AgCl@CTA⁺, diameter ~330 nm), on a glassy carbon electrode at potentials of the MV²⁺/MV^?+ redox couple. The nanospheres AgCl@CTA⁺ can be reduced immediately on the electrode at a low rate and the resulting metal is deposited on the electrode. In the mediated reduction, the metal is not deposited on the cathode but the quantitative reduction of AgCl to Ag@CTA⁺ nanoparticles proceeds completely in solution volume at the theoretical charge. In aqueous solution, the nanoparticles are positively charged (electrokinetic (zeta) potential is +74.6 mV), their characteristic absorption maximum is at 423 nm and the average hydrodynamic diameter is 77 nm. Isolated Ag@CTACl nanoparticles have the size of 39 ± 15 nm. The preferential form of metal nanoparticles is sphere with the diameter of 34 ± 24 nm; nanorods are also obtained in small amounts (4%); the average size of metal grains is 8–16 nm.     

X射线吸收谱研究碳纳米管内Rh-Mn纳米粒子结构的变化

利用X射线吸收谱技术研究了负载于多壁碳纳米管内的Rh-Mn纳米粒子在不同气氛和温度下的结构. 结果表明,Rh-Mn粒子在空气中是由氧化铑团簇和混合锰氧化物组成. 经过氢气在300 ℃下还原后,混合锰氧化物种转化成MnO. 而氧化铑团簇在He气氛下当温度达到250 ℃时就会发生分解而形成金属铑团簇. 对形成的铑团簇用H₂或CO进行热处理,发现其分散性随温度升高而提高; 同时,X射线吸收谱实验没有观察到Mn和Rh之间存在显著的相互作用,助剂Mn的主要作用是提高了Rh的分散性.     

In-situ fabrication of barium titanate@polyvinyl pyrrolidone in polyvinylidene fluoride polymer nanocomposites for dielectric capacitor applications

We have demonstrated an in situ route to design barium titanate (BT)@polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) nanoparticles (NPs) in PVP/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blends. Thus, the PVP simultaneously acted as a linker and a part of the polymer matrix. We have hydrothermally synthesized the tetragonal phase of BT NPs (~150 nm). The BT NPs content was varied from 0 to 15 vol%. The resulting polymer nanocomposites generated enormous interfaces because of homogeneously dispersed BT@PVP NPs. Furthermore, the PVP simultaneously tailored the interfacial properties surrounding the BT NPs and bulk of the polymer matrix. Therefore, we achieved an enhanced maximum polarization (P_max) and energy density (U_d) of 27.9 μC cm⁻² and 13.4 J cm⁻³ (2261 kV cm⁻¹), respectively, at 7.5 vol% BT NPs loadings. At the same time, PVP/PVDF blends showed P_max and U_d of only 3.9 μC cm⁻² and 4.6 J cm⁻³ (3369 kV cm⁻¹), respectively. This simple approach of in situ nanomaterials modification will lead to development of low-cost and time-efficient dielectric capacitors.     

Catalysis of the Sodium Sulfide Reduction of Methylviologene by CuS Nanoparticles

Feasibility was demonstrated for the catalysis of the sodium sulfide reduction of methylviologene (MV²⁺) in aqueous solution using cupric sulfide nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of the nanoparticles depends on their size. The basic features were found for the formation of the MV^+· radical–cation in the reduction of MV²⁺ by HS^– anions in the presence of CuS nanoparticles as the catalyst. This is an equilibrium reaction.     

Radiation reduction of binuclear Rh(II) complexes in aqueous-methanol solutions

Radiation reduction of binuclear [Rh₂(OAc)₂(phen)₂(H₂O)₂](OAc)₂, [Rh₂(OAc)(tpy)₂Cl₂]Cl·2H₂O and [Rh₂Cl₂(HCOO)₂(bpy)₂]·4H₂O complexes in aqueous-methanol solution have been studied. The reduction yields as equal to ca. 6 equiv/100eV and the rate constants of reactions: complex+e _solv ⁻ as equal to 2.9·10¹⁰, 3.2·10¹⁰ and 3.7·10¹⁰ M⁻¹·s⁻¹, respectively, have been determined. On the basis of electronic spectra it has been shown that Rh(II) compounds were reduced giving several Rh(I) complexes being in equilibrium. The mechanism of the processes has been discussed.     

A pyrazine bis‐adduct of a binuclear rhodium(II) carboxylate containing 3,4,5‐triethoxybenzoate as the ­equatorial ligand

The title compound, tetrakis(μ‐3,4,5‐triethoxy­benzoato‐κ²O:O′)­bis­[(pyrazine‐κN)­rhodium(II)](Rh—Rh), [Rh₂(C₁₃H₁₇O₅)₄(C₄H₄N₂)₂], crystallizes on an inversion centre in the triclinic space group . The equatorial carboxyl­ate ligands bridge the two Rh^II atoms, giving a binuclear lantern‐like structure. The pyrazine mol­ecules occupy the two axial coordination sites. The phenyl rings are tilted by ca 10° with respect to the attached carboxyl­ate groups. The pyrazine planes have a torsion angle of ca 19° around the Rh—N bond with respect to the plane of the nearer carboxyl­ate group and are not coplanar with the Rh—Rh bond.     

Electrochemical synthesis of nanocomposite of palladium nanoparticles with polymer viologen-containing nanocapsule

An efficient mediated electrosynthesis of the spherical (85 nm) nanocomposite material Pd@p(MVCA⁸⁺-co-St) was carried out in an aqueous medium. Ultrasmall palladium nanoparticles (3—8 nm) are stabilized in nanocapsules of water-soluble nanoparticles of the copolymer p(MVCA⁸⁺-co-St) consisting of tetraviologen calix[4]resorcinol (MVCA⁸⁺) with styrene (St). The role of the mediator is played by viologen units of a polymer nanoparticle at potentials of the MV²⁺/MV^?+ redox couple. The high catalytic activity of the nanocomposite material in the reduction of nitrophenol with sodium borohydride is shown.     

Synthesis and reactivity of metal-containing monomers

The reaction of Rh₆(CO)₁₅MeCN with allyldiphenylphosphine under mild conditions afforded the cluster-containing complex [Rh₆(CO)₁₄(μ,η²-PPh₂Ch₂CH=CH₂)]. Its molecular structure was characterized. The resulting complex is an octahedral Rh cluster with ten terminal and four μ₃-bridging CO ligands. The average Rh?Rh distance is 2.762(2) Å. The unsaturated ligand is additionally coordinated to the metal center (Rh(4)–C(232), 2.37(1) Å; and Rh(4)–C(233), 2.32(2) Å) to form a π-bond.     

Homogeneous Catalysis of the Water Gas Shift Reaction by Bridged Dinuclear Pyrazolate Rhodium Complexes. FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR In Situ Studies

Homogeneous catalysts for the water gas shift reaction prepared from Rh₂(-Pz)₂(COD)₂ (Pz = pyrazolate ion and COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) in aqueous organic solvent media (pyridine, 4-picoline or 2-ethoxyethanol) and Rh₂(-Pz)₂(CO)₂(TPPMS)₂ (TPPMS = meta-sulfonatophenyl-diphenyldiphosphine) in acidic aqueous media under mild conditions are described. In situ FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic studies of the Rh₂(-Pz)₂(COD)₂ catalytic system reveal the presence of hydrido-Rh complexes with linear and bridging carbonyls. These complexes also catalyze the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline.     

New Bimetallic Ni–Rh Carbonyl Clusters: Synthesis and X-ray Structure of the [Ni7Rh3(CO)18]3?, [Ni3Rh3(CO)13]3? and [NiRh8(CO)19]2? Cluster Anions

The reaction of the [Ni₆(CO)₁₂]²⁻ dianion with [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ (COD = cyclooctadiene) in acetone affords a mixture of bimetallic Ni–Rh clusters, mainly consisting of the new [Ni₇Rh₃(CO)₁₈]³⁻ and [Ni₈Rh(CO)₁₈]³⁻ trianions. A study of the reactivity of [Ni₇Rh₃(CO)₁₈]³⁻ led to isolation of the new [Ni₃Rh₃(CO)₁₃]³⁻ and [NiRh₈(CO)₁₉]²⁻ anions. All these new bimetallic Ni–Rh carbonyl clusters have been isolated in the solid state as tetrasubstituted ammonium salts and have been characterised by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction studies, ESI-MS and electrochemistry. The unit cell of the [NEt₄]₃[Ni₇Rh₃(CO)₁₈] salt contains two orientationally-disordered ν₂-tetrahedral [Ni₇Rh₃(CO)₁₈]³⁻ trianions with occupancy factors of 0.75 and 0.25. Besides, their inner Ni₃Rh₃ octahedral moieties show two cis sites purely occupied by Rh atoms, two trans sites purely occupied by Ni atoms and the remaining two cis sites are disordered Ni and Rh sites with respective occupancy fraction of 0.5. At difference from the parent [Ni₇Rh₃(CO)₁₈]³⁻, the octahedral [Ni₃Rh₃(CO)₁₃]³⁻ displays an ordered distribution of Ni and Rh atoms in two staggered triangles. The [NiRh₈(CO)₁₉]²⁻ dianion adopts an isomeric metal frame with respect to that of the [PtRh₈(CO)₁₉]²⁻ congener. As a fallout of this work, new high-yield synthesis of the known [Ni₆Rh₃(CO)₁₇]³⁻ and [Ni₆Rh₅(CO)₂₁]³⁻, as well as other currently-investigated bimetallic Ni–Rh clusters have been obtained.     

Surface‐Regulated Rhodium–Antimony Nanorods for Nitrogen Fixation

Surface regulation is an effective strategy to improve the performance of catalysts, but it has been rarely demonstrated for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to date. Now, surface‐rough Rh₂Sb nanorod (RNR) and surface‐smooth Rh₂Sb NR (SNR) were selectively created, and their performance for NRR was investigated. The high‐index‐facet bounded Rh₂Sb RNRs/C exhibit a high NH₃ yield rate of 228.85±12.96 μg h^?1 mg^?1_Rh at ?0.45 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), outperforming the Rh₂Sb SNRs/C (63.07±4.45 μg h^?1 mg^?1_Rh) and Rh nanoparticles/C (22.82±1.49 μg h^?1 mg^?1_Rh), owing to the enhanced adsorption and activation of N₂ on high‐index facets. Rh₂Sb RNRs/C also show durable stability with negligible activity decay after 10 h of successive electrolysis. The present work demonstrates that surface regulation plays an important role in promoting NRR activity and provides a new strategy for creating efficient NRR electrocatalysts.     

Preparation and characterization of polypyrrole with dispersed metallic rhodium particles

Polypyrrole (PPy) with dispersed metallic Rh particles has been prepared by all‐chemical route, i.e. reduction of Rh³⁺ ions existing in RhCl₃ aqueous solutions with sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) carried out in the presence of the previously obtained PPy doped with chloride ions (PPyCl). PPy–Rh composites thus formed have been characterized using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM, TEM) combined with energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) microanalysis, Rh3d X‐ray photoelectron (XPS), and IR spectroscopies. This has made it possible to find out that metallic Rh nanoparticles, mainly of sizes below 10 nm, have been present in the composites. Agglomerates, with sizes up to 0.7 µm, have been formed in the systems containing higher amounts of Rh. PPy serving as the matrix in the composites has been doped. However, its doping level has been lower than that of the starting PPyCl. This has been explained by partial reduction of the polymer occurring during preparation of the composites. Catalytic properties of the PPy–Rh systems have been investigated using isopropyl alcohol conversion as a test reaction. It has been established that the composites are active redox catalysts. This makes them promising materials for applications as catalysts of various redox processes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface-Regulated Rhodium–Antimony Nanorods for Nitrogen Fixation

Surface regulation is an effective strategy to improve the performance of catalysts, but it has been rarely demonstrated for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to date. Now, surface-rough Rh₂Sb nanorod (RNR) and surface-smooth Rh₂Sb NR (SNR) were selectively created, and their performance for NRR was investigated. The high-index-facet bounded Rh₂Sb RNRs/C exhibit a high NH₃ yield rate of 228.85±12.96 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_Rh at −0.45 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), outperforming the Rh₂Sb SNRs/C (63.07±4.45 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_Rh) and Rh nanoparticles/C (22.82±1.49 μg h⁻¹ mg⁻¹_Rh), owing to the enhanced adsorption and activation of N₂ on high-index facets. Rh₂Sb RNRs/C also show durable stability with negligible activity decay after 10 h of successive electrolysis. The present work demonstrates that surface regulation plays an important role in promoting NRR activity and provides a new strategy for creating efficient NRR electrocatalysts.     

Catalytic properties of binuclear rhodium(II) complexes in hydrogenation and isomerization of allylbenzene

Binuclear hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes of Rh(II) with axial ligands (Py, H₂O) exhibit activity in hydrogenation and isomerization of allylbenzene, and the isomerization reaction also takes place in an atmosphere of Ar. The catalytic system [Rh₂(hfacac)₄(H₂O)₂]-Ph₃P is much more active than Rh(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate complexes in transformation of allylbenzene. Treatment of the acetate complex [Rh₂(O₂CCH₂)₄] with sodium borohydride significantly increases its activity, probably due to the formation of [Rh₂(O₂CCH₃)₃]⁺ and [Rh₂(O₂CCH₂)₂]²⁺ complexes.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1957–1961, September, 1989.     

Ethanol synthesis from syngas on Mn- and Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al2O3

The catalytic hydrogenation of CO was studied over Mn- and/or Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, BET, H₂-TPR·H₂-TPD, XPS and DRIFTS. CO hydrogenation results showed that the doubly Mn- and Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts exhibited superior catalytic activity and better ethanol selectivity. The DRIFTS results showed that Mn promoter stabilized the adsorbed CO on Rh⁺ and Fe stabilized adsorbed CO on Rh⁺ and Rh⁰, especially Rh⁰. The fact that doubly Mn- and Fe-promoted Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ owned more (Rhx⁰–Rhy⁺)–O–Fe³⁺·(Fe²⁺) active species was proposed to be a crucial factor accounting for its higher ethanol selectivity.     

[μ-6,9-Cl-8-(OMe)-6,9-(η5-C5Me5)2-arachno-6,9,5-Rh2SB7H7]

The title compound, μ-6,9-chloro-8-methoxy-6,9-bis­(η⁵-penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dienyl)-6,9-dirhoda-5-thia-arachno-decaborane(7), [Rh₂(CH₁₀B₇OS)(C₁₀H₁₅)₂Cl], has a single Cl atom bridging the two remote rhodium `prow' vertices of an arachno ten-vertex dirhoda­thia­decaborane cluster, with Rh—­Cl distances of 2.3475 (11) and 2.3536 (11) Å, and an Rh—Cl—Rh angle of 106.82 (4)°.