Galvanic replacement synthesis of AgxAu1–x@CeO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) core@shell nanospheres with greatly enhanced catalytic performance

A galvanic replacement strategy has been successfully adopted to design Ag_xAu_1–x@CeO₂ core@shell nanospheres derived from Ag@CeO₂ ones. After etching using HAuCl₄, the Ag core was in situ replaced with Ag_xAu_1–x alloy nanoframes, and void spaces were left under the CeO₂ shell. Among the as-prepared Ag_xAu_1–x@CeO₂ catalysts, Ag_0.64Au_0.36@CeO₂ shows the optimal catalytic performance, whose catalytic efficiency reaches even 2.5 times higher than our previously reported Pt@CeO₂ nanospheres in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by ammonia borane (AB). Besides, Ag_0.64Au_0.36@CeO₂ also exhibits a much lower 100% conversion temperature of 120 °C for catalytic CO oxidation compared with the other samples.     

Synthesis of sol–gel Na2Zr x Ti6−x O13 (0≤x≤1) materials and their performance in photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

In this work we present the synthesis and characterization of four compositions of the solid solution with the general formula Na₂Zr _x Ti_6−x O₁₃ (0≤x≤1) which was prepared by a sol-gel method. The main goal of this work is to evaluate the influence of the incorporation of different amounts of zirconium into the binary phase Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ on two properties: the textural surface and E _g values. This titanate phase crystallizes in a monoclinic unit cell and is built into an octahedral TiO₆ framework forming a rectangular tunnel structure. Additionally, we have compared their photocatalytic performances in degradation of organic dyes under visible light. The heat-treated sol-gel samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, N₂ physisorption, thermal analysis, UV and FT-IR spectroscopy. According to the X-ray powder diffraction results, the new ternary tunnel compound Na₂ZrTi₅O₁₃ was obtained as a single phase at 800°C. The cell parameters for the two end-member phases of that solid solution were refined to confirm that Zr ion was incorporated into the structural framework. This ternary compound had an E _g value of about 2.9 eV. The activity of all heat-treated Na₂ZrTi₅O₁₃ samples was tested in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and Rhodamine B under visible light. The Na₂ZrTi₅O₁₃ calcined at 400°C showed the best performance with 95% of photodegradation of methylene blue and a half time t _1/2 of 15 min.     

Facile synthesis of an organic–inorganic nanocomposite,PEG–silica,by sol–gel method; its characterization and application as an efficient catalyst in regioselective nucleophilic ring opening of epoxides: Preparation of β-azido alcohols and β-cyanohydrins

The sol–gel method was used for the synthesis of a PEG–silica hybrid. In order to introduce PEG into the cavities of silica gel, first, the bis(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)-polyethylene glycol precursor was synthesized by the reaction of 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane with alkoxides formed on the PEG terminals. The organic–inorganic hybrid silica was then synthesized by hydrolysis and polycondensation of the precursor under mild acidic conditions. The characteristics results of FT–IR, XRD and TGA confirmed the coexistence of silica and PEG networks. The catalytic ability of this heterogeneous catalyst to the regioselective ring opening of epoxides by azide and cyanide anions in H₂O was also investigated.     

Self-assembly of tetrareduced corannulene with mixed Li–Rb clusters: dynamic transformations,unique structures and record 7Li NMR shifts

Self-assembly processes of the highly reduced bowl-shaped corannulene generated by the chemical reduction with a binary combination of alkali metals, namely Li–Rb, have been investigated by variable-temperature ¹H and ⁷Li NMR spectroscopy. The formation of several unique mixed metal sandwich products based on tetrareduced corannulene, C₂₀H₁₀ ^4– (1 ^4–), has been revealed followed by investigation of their dynamic transformations in solutions. Analysis of NMR data allowed to propose the mechanism of stepwise alkali metal substitution as well as to identify experimental conditions for the isolation of intermediate and final supramolecular products. As a result, two new triple-decker aggregates with a mixed Li–Rb core, [{Rb(THF)₂}₂]//[Li₃Rb₂(C₂₀H₁₀)₂{Li⁺(THF)}] (2) and [{Rb(diglyme)}₂]//[Li₃Rb₃(C₂₀H₁₀)₂(diglyme)₂]·0.5THF (3·0.5THF), have been crystallized and structurally characterized. The Li₃Rb₂-product has an open coordination site at the sandwich periphery and thus is considered transient on the way to the Li₃Rb₃-sandwich having the maximized intercalated alkali metal content. Next, the formation of the LiRb₅ self-assembly with 1 ^4– has been identified by ⁷Li NMR as the final step in a series of dynamic transformations in this system. This product was also isolated and crystallographically characterized to confirm the LiRb₅ core. Notably, all sandwiches have their central cavities, located in between the hub-sites of two C₂₀H₁₀ ^4– decks, occupied by an internal Li⁺ ion which exhibits the record high negative shift (ranging from –21 to –25 ppm) in ⁷Li NMR spectra. The isolation of three novel aggregates having different Li–Rb core compositions allowed us to look into the origin of the unusual ⁷Li NMR shifts at the molecular level. The discussion of formation mechanisms, dynamic transformations as well as unique electronic structures of these remarkable mixed alkali metal organometallic self-assemblies is provided and supported by DFT calculations.     

Synthesis,structural characterization and growth features of some (Ph)Se–Cd cluster compounds (Ph = phenyl)

Cd(SePh)₂, CdBr₂·4H₂O/CdI₂ and PCh₃ (Ph = phenyl; PCh₃ = tricyclohexylphosphine) react to give [(SePh)₂Cd₂Br₂(PCh₃)₂] (1), [(SePh)₂Cd₂I₂(PCh₃)₂] (2) and [(SePh)₇Cd₄Br(PCh₃)]_n (3).     

Global Minimum Search and Bonding Analysis of Tl2Hx and Tl3Hy (x=0–6; y=0–5) Series

A remarkable distinction between boron and carbon hydrides lies in their extremely different bonding patterns and chemical reactivity, resulting in diverse areas of application. Particularly, carbon, characterized by classical two-center – two-electron bonds, gives rise to organic chemistry. In contrast, boron forms numerous exotic and non-intuitive compounds collectively called non-classical structures. It is reasonable to anticipate that other elements of Group 13 exhibit their own unusual bonding patterns; however, our knowledge of the hydride chemistry for other elements in Group 13 is much more limited, especially for the heaviest stable element, thallium. In this work, we performed a conformational analysis of Tl₂H_x and Tl₃H_y (x=0–6, y=0–5) series via Coalescence Kick global minimum search algorithm, DFT, and ab initio quantum chemistry methods; we investigated the bonding pattern using the AdNDP algorithm, thermodynamic stability, and stability toward electron detachment. All found global minimum structures are classified as non-classical structures featuring at least one multi-center bond.     

Energy Transfer and Green Emitting Properties of Solid Solution PbGd_(1-x)Tb_xB_7O_(13)(x = 0～1)

A series of Tb-doped solid solutions PbGd_(1-x)Tb_xB_7O_(13)(x = 0~1) were synthesized by high-temperature solid state reaction method. The luminescence properties were investigated under UV(274 nm) and near-UV(372 nm) excitation. The emission spectrum by 274 nm exciting reveals a charge-transfer between Gd~(3+) and Tb~(3+) ions. Under near-UV light(372 nm) excitation, PbGd_(1-x)Tb_xB_7O_(13):x Tb~(~(3+)) exhibits intense green emission centered at 543 nm due to the ~5D_4→~7F_5 transition of Tb~(3+) activator. The optimum doping concentrations were found to be x = 0.8 with the quantum efficiency of 35%. One may expect that PbGd_(1-x)Tb_xB_7O_(13) has the potential to be used as a green phosphor activated by near near-UV light.     

Shape and composition control of Bi19S27(Br3–x,Ix) alloyed nanowires: the role of metal ions

We present the first colloidal synthesis of highly uniform single-crystalline Bi₁₉S₂₇Br₃ nanowires (NWs) with a mean diameter of ∼9 nm and tunable lengths in the range of 0.15–2 μm in the presence of foreign metal ions (Al³⁺). The Al³⁺ ions not only control the growth of NWs, but also achieve species transformation, i.e., from Bi₂S₃ to Bi₁₉S₂₇Br₃, and are not present in the resulting NWs. This colloidal chemistry approach can be expanded to prepare a family of single-crystalline Bi₁₉S₂₇(Br_3–x,I_x) alloyed NWs with controlled compositions (0 ≤ x ≤ 3). Interestingly, these alloyed NWs show an unusual composition-independent band gap of ∼0.82 eV, and theoretical calculations indicate that this phenomenon comes from the very minor contributions of the halogens to the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum. The photodetectors made of Bi₁₉S₂₇(Br_3–x,I_x) alloyed NWs show a pronounced photoresponse with high stability and reproducibility, which makes the NWs potentially useful candidates in optoelectronic devices.     

Geometries and stabilities of Ag n v (v?=?±1, 0; n?=?21–29) clusters

We performed a systematical study on the lowest-energy structures of the medium-sized silver clusters Ag _n (n?=?21?C29) by using a genetic algorithm coupled with a tight-binding method, and the DFT calculations with Perdew?CWang generalized-gradient approximation. The corresponding cluster ions were also searched based on the neutral cluster structures. It is found that the Ag_21?C23 prefer icosahedron or double-icosahedron as core structures. Ag _n (n?=?24?C27) favor a bulk-like fcc stacking motif. Ag₂₈ and Ag₂₉ tend to high symmetrical structures. The relative stabilities, the ionization potentials and electronic affinities of silver clusters analyzed in the paper are consistent with the experimental data. It is interesting to find that the experimental spectra fit reasonable well the optical absorption spectra obtained with the structures calculated by us.     

Electronic structure and molecular properties of [Re6−x Os x Se8Cl6](4−x)− (x = 0–3) clusters: A study based on time-dependent density functional theory including spin-orbit and solvent effects

Relativistic time-dependent density functional (TDDFT) calculations including spin-orbit interactions via the zero order regular approximation (ZORA) and solvent effects are carried out on the [Re_6?x Os _x Se₈Cl₆]^(4?x)? (x = 0–3) cluster. These calculations indicate that the lowest energy electronic transitions of the MMCT and LMCT type are similar to those observed in strongly luminescent 24-electron hexanuclear rhenium chalcogenide clusters [Re₆Se₈Cl₆]^4?. Thus our calculations predict that [Re_6?x Os _x Se₈Cl₆]^(4?x)? (x = 0–3) clusters could be luminescent.     

Structural,optical and photoluminescence properties of Zn<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>x</Subscript>O (x = 0, 0.05 and 0.1) nanoparticles by sol–gel method annealed under Ar atmosphere

Ce doped ZnO nanoparticles (Zn_1−xCe_xO, x = 0.0, 0.05 and 0.1) have been synthesized by sol–gel method at annealing temperature of 500 °C for 1 h under Ar atmosphere. The synthesized samples have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray studies, UV–Visible spectrophotometer and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The XRD measurements indicate that the prepared nanoparticles have a hexagonal wurtzite structure and CeO₂ crystallites. The calculated average crystalline varied from 21.97 to 15.62 nm with increase in Ce concentrations. The increase in lattice parameters reveals the substitution of Ce into ZnO lattice. The presence of functional groups and the chemical bonding is confirmed by FTIR spectra. PL spectra of the Zn_1−xCe_xO system show that the shift in near band edge emission from 386 to 363 nm and a shift in blue band emission from 517 to 485 nm which confirms the substitution of Ce into the ZnO lattice.     

Construction of an organoruthenium complex (–[biphRuCp]PF6–) within a biphenylene-bridged inorganic–organic hybrid mesoporous material, and its catalytic activity in the selective hydrosilylation of 1-hexyne

An organoruthenium complex (–[biphRuCp]PF₆–; biph = –(C₆H₄)₂–, Cp = C₅H₅), constructed within a biphenylene-bridged inorganic–organic hybrid mesoporous material (HMM–biph) by use of a simple ligand-exchange reaction, has been used as a heterogeneous catalyst. UV–visible and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) studies furnished evidence that the structure of the complex is closely similar to that of [(C₆H₆)RuCp]PF₆, suggesting that the biphenylene moiety within HMM–biph directly coordinates the metal center of the organoruthenium complex. The –[biphRuCp]PF₆– complex constructed within the HMM–biph (HMM–biphRuCp) catalyzes hydrosilylation of 1-hexyne with triethylsilane in a solid–gas heterogeneous system and gives α-vinylsilane as a main product. Moreover, HMM–biphRuCp has higher catalytic activity than the –[phRuCp]PF₆– (ph = –C₆H₄–) complex constructed within phenylene-bridged HMM (HMM–phRuCp). The high catalytic performance of HMM–biphRuCp can be attributed to the high loading of the HMM–biph with the Ru complex, because of the electron-donating ability of the biphenylene moieties.     

Synthesis of ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Cu(II) xerogels by joint hydrolysis in an aqueous ammonia atmosphere

ZrO₂–SiO₂ xerogels have been synthesized through hydrolysis of a mixture of tetrabutoxyzirconium and tetraethoxysilane in a desiccator in a vapor of a 15% aqueous NH₃ atmosphere. ZrO₂–SiO₂–Cu(II) xerogels were synthethized analogously through joint hydrolysis of a mixture of the organometallic precursors and copper(II) chloride. The effect of synthesis conditions on the physical and chemical properties of the resulting material has been studied.     

Are closed clusters expected from the (n + 1) skeletal electron pairs rule in alanes and gallanes? A DFT structural study of AnHn + 2 (A = Al, Ga, and n = 4-6)

It has been suggested recently that the alanes Al_nH_n + 2 can be treated by the polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory (PSEPT) of Wade and Mingos (W-M) as it was successful for their borane congeners such as B_nH_n + 2, well known as the deprotonated B_nH_n²⁻. To do so, the neutral Al_nH_n + 2 have been considered as Al_nH_n²⁻ + 2H⁺. The additional hydrogens donate their electrons to the Al_nH_n polyhedral framework and according to the n + 1 electron pairs rule; these clusters should have closo-polyhedral structures. In this work the homologous gallanes, the structures and stabilities of Ga_nH_n + 2 are studied at high levels of calculational theory and we investigated the applicability of the W-M rule to the alanes and gallanes A_nH_n + 2 (n = 4-6; A = Al, Ga). It will be shown that the presence of bridging hydrogen atoms reduces the compactness of the corresponding polyhedron and so these species do not have the closed structures. The computations were performed at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p), BPW91/6-311G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) levels of theory. Our interest in these compounds includes their potential use as hydrogen storage species and future clean sources of energy.     

Thermal and kinetic parameters of 30Li2O–55B2O3–5ZnO–xTiO2–(10−x)V2O5 (0 ≤ x ≤ 10) glasses

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In the present investigation, the effects of titanium and vanadium concentration on the thermal properties have been studied for...     

1H–13C HMBC NMR experiments as a structural and analytical tool for the characterization of elusive trans/cis hydroperoxide isomers from oxidized unsaturated fatty acids in solution

The radical-dependent oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids is a fundamental reaction in lipid chemistry, biochemistry, and technology. We report herein the first successful application of ¹H–¹³C HMBC NMR experiment for the identification and quantification of complex and minor (3.9% to 0.85%) components of cis and trans primary hydroperoxide isomers of oxidized oleate and linoleate methyl esters in solution, without the need of laborious isolation of the individual components.     

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of Amber Emitting La7Sr[Si10N19O3] : Eu2+ and Syntheses of the Substitutional Variants RE8-xAEx[Si10N20-xO2+x] : Eu2+ with RE=La,Ce; AE=Ca,Sr, Ba; 0≤x≤2

The oxonitridosilicate La₇Sr[Si₁₀N₁₉O₃] : Eu²⁺ and its substitutional variants RE_8-xAE_x[Si₁₀N_20-xO_2+x] : Eu²⁺ with RE=La, Ce; AE=Ca, Sr, Ba and 0≤x≤2 were synthesized starting from REN, SrN/Ca₃N₂/Ba₂N, SiO₂, amorphous Si₃N₄ and Eu₂O₃ as doping agent at 1600 °C in a radiofrequency furnace. The crystal structure of La₇Sr[Si₁₀N₁₉O₃] was solved and refined based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. La₇Sr[Si₁₀N₁₉O₃] crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pmn2₁ (no. 31). The crystal structures of the isotypic compounds RE_8-xAE_x[Si₁₀N_20-xO_2+x] were confirmed by Rietveld refinements based on powder X-ray diffraction data using the single-crystal data of La₇Sr[Si₁₀N₁₉O₃] as starting point. Crystal structure elucidation reveals a 3D network of vertex sharing SiN₄ and SiN₂(N_1/2-x/4O_1/2+x/4)₂ (0≤x≤2) tetrahedra. When excited with UV to blue light, La₇Sr[Si₁₀N₁₉O₃] : Eu²⁺ shows amber luminescence with λ_em=612 nm and fwhm=84 nm/2194 cm⁻¹, which makes it interesting for application in amber phosphor-converted light emitting diodes.     

Cu-doping effect on structural, optical and photoluminescence properties of Zn0.96−xFe0.04CuxO (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1) nanopowders by sol–gel method

Zn_0.96?xFe_0.04Cu_xO (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.10) nanopowders have been synthesized by sol–gel method. The synthesized samples have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–visible spectrophotometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The XRD measurement reveals that the prepared nanopowders have different microstructure without changing a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The calculated average crystalline size increases from 20.9 to 22.1 nm for x = 0 to 0.02 then gradually decreases to 18.2 nm for x = 0.10 which were confirmed by SEM and TEM micrographs. The change in lattice parameters, micro-strain, and shift of X-ray diffraction peaks towards lower angles and increase of energy gap reveal the substitution of Cu²⁺ ions into Zn–Fe–O matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study described the increase of oxygen vacancies with increase of Cu concentrations, which was found to enhance the green emission. The presence of functional groups and the chemical bonding is confirmed by FTIR spectra. Photoluminescence spectra of Zn_0.96?xFe_0.04Cu_xO system shows that the blue shift in NBE ultraviolet emission from 389 to 369 nm and the same blue shift in green band emission from 552 to 535 nm with enhancing intensity confirms the substitution of Cu into the Zn–Fe–O lattice. Cu-doped Zn_0.96?xFe_0.04Cu_xO system is appreciable for the fabrication of nano-optoelectronic devices like tunable light emitting diode in the near future.