A Green Synthesis of Nanosheet‐Constructed Pd Particles in an Ionic Liquid and Their Superior Electrocatalytic Performance

The ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac) is investigated as a solvent for the synthesis of Pd particles. Interestingly, nanosheet‐constructed Pd particles could be successfully synthesized in [EMIM]Ac without any additional reducing agent and template under ionothermal conditions. [EMIM]Ac itself works as the solvent, the reducing agent, and the template for the formation of these interesting Pd particles, making this method complementary to the well‐known ionic‐liquid‐precursor approach. Furthermore, [EMIM]Ac can be recycled with no loss of activity for the formation of nanosheet‐constructed Pd particles within our studied cycles. Specifically, the nanosheet‐constructed Pd particles exhibit superior electrocatalytic activity and stability towards ethanol oxidation and formic acid oxidation compared with commercially available Pd black catalyst, thus demonstrating their promising applications in fuel‐cell area. The current approach, thus, presents a green approach towards the synthesis of Pd particles, using only a simple palladium salt and an ionic liquid.     

Development of Palladium Surface‐Enriched Heteronuclear Au–Pd Nanoparticle Dehalogenation Catalysts in an Ionic Liquid

Heteronuclear Au–Pd nanoparticles were prepared and immobilized in the functionalized ionic liquid [C₂OHmim][NTf₂]. The structural and electronic properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by a range of techniques and the surface of the nanoparticles was found to be enriched in Pd. Moreover, the extent of Pd enrichment is easily controlled by varying the ratio of Au and Pd salts used in the synthesis. The heteronuclear nanoparticles were found to be effective catalysts in dehalogenation reactions with no activity observed for the pure Au nanoparticles and only limited activity for the pure Pd nanoparticles. The activity of the heteronuclear nanoparticles may be attributed to charge transfer from Pd to Au and consequently to more efficient reductive elimination.     

A Long‐Life Lithium Ion Battery with Enhanced Electrode/Electrolyte Interface by Using an Ionic Liquid Solution

In this paper, we report an advanced long‐life lithium ion battery, employing a Pyr₁₄TFSI‐LiTFSI non‐flammable ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte, a nanostructured tin carbon (Sn‐C) nanocomposite anode, and a layered LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ (NMC) cathode. The IL‐based electrolyte is characterized in terms of conductivity and viscosity at various temperatures, revealing a Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) trend. Lithium half‐cells employing the Sn‐C anode and NMC cathode in the Pyr₁₄TFSI‐LiTFSI electrolyte are investigated by galvanostatic cycling at various temperatures, demonstrating the full compatibility of the electrolyte with the selected electrode materials. The NMC and Sn‐C electrodes are combined into a cathode‐limited full cell, which is subjected to prolonged cycling at 40 °C, revealing a very stable capacity of about 140 mAh g^?1 and retention above 99 % over 400 cycles. The electrode/electrolyte interface is further characterized through a combination of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations upon cell cycling. The remarkable performances reported here definitively indicate that IL‐based lithium ion cells are suitable batteries for application in electric vehicles.     

In Situ Formation of Au–Pd Bimetallic Active Sites Promoting the Physically Mixed Monometallic Catalysts in the Liquid‐Phase Oxidation of Alcohols

The catalytic oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen on supported nanometallic catalysts represents one of the green methods in a crucial process for the synthesis of fine chemicals. We have designed an experiment using physically mixed Au/AC and Pd/AC (AC=activated carbon) as the catalyst in the liquid‐phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol by aerobic oxygen. The evolution of the physically mixed catalyst structures at different stages in the catalytic reaction was investigated by aberration‐corrected high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and spatially resolved element mapping techniques at the nanometre scale, and they were also compared with the structure of the bimetallic alloy. For the first time we show the formation of surface Au–Pd bimetallic sites by reprecipitation of Pd onto Au nanoparticles. Negligible Au leaching was observed. The in situ structural evolution can be directly correlated to the great enhancement of the catalyst activity. Moreover, we distinguish the different behaviours of Au and Pd, thus suggesting an oxygen differentiating mechanism for Au and Pd sites. The findings are of great importance to both the understanding of the structure–activity correlation and the design of highly active catalysts in green chemistry.     

α‐Fe2O3 Cubes with High Visible‐Light‐Activated Photoelectrochemical Activity towards Glucose: Hydrothermal Synthesis Assisted by a Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid

A liquid/liquid interfacial reaction system was designed to fabricate α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes. The reaction system uses a hydrophobic ionic liquid containing iron ions ([(C₈H₁₇)₂(CH₃)₂N]FeCl₄) for manufacturing α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes by a novel and environmentally friendly hydrothermal method under low‐temperature conditions (140 °C). The iron‐containing ionic liquid is hydrophobic and can form a liquid/liquid interface with water, which is vital for fabrication of the α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes. Nanomaterials synthesized from hydrophobic iron‐containing ionic liquids show good crystallinity, well‐developed morphology, and uniform size. The effect of different ionic liquids on the morphology of α‐Fe₂O₃ was investigated in detail. [(C₈H₁₇)₂(CH₃)₂N]FeCl₄ is assumed to perform the triple role of forming a liquid/liquid interface with water and acting as reactant and template at the same time. The effect of the reaction temperature on the formation of the α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes was also studied. Temperatures lower or higher than 140 °C are not conducive to formation of the α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes. Their photoelectrochemical properties were tested by means of the transient photocurrent response of electrodes modified with as‐prepared α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes. The photocurrent response of an α‐Fe₂O₃ cubes/indium tin oxide electrode is high and stable, and it shows great promise as a photoelectrochemical glucose sensor with high sensitivity and fast response, which are beneficial to practical applications of nanosensors.     

Clean Synthesis of an Economical 3D Nanochain Network of PdCu Alloy with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance towards Ethanol Oxidation

A one‐pot method for the fast synthesis of a 3D nanochain network (NNC) of PdCu alloy without any surfactants is described. The composition of the as‐prepared PdCu alloy catalysts can be precisely controlled by changing the precursor ratio of Pd to Cu. First, the Cu content changes the electronic structure of Pd in the 3D NNC of PdCu alloy. Second, the 3D network structure offers large open pores, high surface areas, and self‐supported properties. Third, the surfactant‐free strategy results in a relatively clean surface. These factors all contribute to better electrocatalytic activity and durability towards ethanol oxidation. Moreover, the use of copper in the alloy lowers the price of the catalyst by replacing the noble metal palladium with non‐noble metal copper. The composition‐optimized Pd₈₀Cu₂₀ alloy in the 3D NNC catalyst shows an increased electrochemically active surface area (80.95 m² g^?1) and a 3.62‐fold enhancement of mass activity (6.16 A mg^?1) over a commercial Pd/C catalyst.     

High Electrocatalytic Activity of Pt–Pd Binary Spherocrystals Chemically Assembled in Vertically Aligned TiO2 Nanotubes

To obtain noble metal catalysts with high efficiency, long‐term stability, and poison resistance, Pt and Pd are assembled in highly ordered and vertically aligned TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs) by means of the pulsed‐current deposition (PCD) method with assistance of ultrasonication (UC). Here, Pd serves as a dispersant which prevents agglomeration of Pt. Thus Pt–Pd binary catalysts are embed into TiO₂ NTs array under UC in sunken patterns of composite spherocrystals (Sps). Owing to this synthesis method and restriction by the NTs, the these catalysts show improved dispersion, more catalytically active sites, and higher surface area. This nanotubular metallic support material with good physical and chemical stability prevents catalyst loss and poisoning. Compared with monometallic Pt and Pd, the sunken‐structured Pt–Pd spherocrystal catalyst exhibits better catalytic activity and poison resistance in electrocatalytic methanol oxidation because of its excellent dispersion. The catalytic current density is enhanced by about 15 and 310 times relative to monometallic Pt and Pd, respectively. The poison resistance of the Pt–Pd catalyst was 1.5 times higher than that of Pt and Pd, and they show high electrochemical stability with a stable current enduring for more than 2100 s. Thus, the TiO₂ NTs on a Ti substrate serve as an excellent support material for the loading and dispersion of noble metal catalysts.     

离子液体中钯配合物催化苯胺氧化羰化制苯氨基甲酸甲酯

使用含氮钯配合物为催化剂,离子液体为反应介质,高效地实现了苯胺羰化制 苯氨基酸甲酯。其中使用Pd-(phen)_2(PF_6)_2为催化剂,MeBuImBF_4为溶剂时其 转化频率高于8000 mol·mol~(-1)·h~(-1),较使用离子液体以前提高了57倍。     

Silver‐Palladium Nanoalloys Modified Carbon Ionic Liquid Electrode with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity Towards Formaldehyde Oxidation

Electrocatalysis of the oxidation of formaldehyde on silver‐palladium‐modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (AgPd/CILE) was investigated in 0.1 M NaOH. The electrochemical performance of the AgPd/CILE was compared with those of Pd/CILE and Ag/CILE. Ag plays an important role in the catalytic performance of AgPd nanocatalyst and yields an excellent antifouling effect. Amperometric measurements showed that AgPd/CILE is a promising sensor for the detection of formaldehyde in the range of 10.0 µM–70.0 mM with a sensitivity of 240.6 µA mM^?1 cm^?2 and a detection limit of 2 µM. The method is free from interference of methanol, ethanol and formic acid.     

Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation and Hydrogenolysis in Ionic Liquids with Pd/MgLa Mixed Oxide and Pd/MgAl Hydrotalcite as Recyclable Catalysts

A new Pd/MgLa mixed oxide and the known Pd/MgAl hydrotalcite catalysts were applied and recycled successfully in catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions in ionic liquids. Some α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives were hydrogenated in excellent yields. The catalysts were recycled without significant loss of activity. Besides that, a number of halogenated aromatic compounds were dehalogenated under similar catalytic transfer conditions.     

Metal Deposition at the Liquid–Liquid Interface

Metal nanoparticles are readily formed, with a reasonable degree of size and shape control, using solution‐based reduction methods under ambient conditions. Despite the large number of reports in this field, much of our knowledge of nanoparticle growth is largely empirical, with the relationship between particle form and growth conditions, for example, still not well understood. Many nanoparticle preparation routes actually depend on not one, but two, solution phases, i.e. the syntheses involve reaction or transfer at the liquid–liquid (organic–water) interface. This interface can be polarised electrochemically, an approach that offers promise as a route to better understanding, and ultimately control, of nanoparticle growth.     

Void‐Assisted Ion‐Paired Proton Transfer at Water–Ionic Liquid Interfaces

At the water–trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([P_14,6,6,6][FAP]) ionic liquid interface, the unusual electrochemical transfer behavior of protons (H⁺) and deuterium ions (D⁺) was identified. Alkali metal cations (such as Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) did not undergo this transfer. H⁺/D⁺ transfers were assisted by the hydrophobic counter anion of the ionic liquid, [FAP]^?, resulting in the formation of a mixed capacitive layer from the filling of the latent voids within the anisotropic ionic liquid structure. This phenomenon could impact areas such as proton‐coupled electron transfers, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage where ionic liquids are used as aprotic solvents.     

Immobilization of Pd(II) Catalysts for Cyclopropanation in Ionic Liquid

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Immobilization of Pd（Ⅱ）Catalysts for Cyclopropanation in Ionic Liquid

Cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate catalyzed by Pd(Ⅱ） in ionic liquid [omim][BF4] was investigated.Palladium catalysts can be effectively immobilized in ionic liquid.The catalysts PdCl2 and cyclopalladated complex 2 contained in ionic liquid could be recycled for 6 and 7 times,respectively,without losing the efficiency.     

Nanodroplet Cluster Formation in Ionic Liquid Microemulsions

A common ionic liquid (IL), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF₄), is used as polar solvent to induce the formation of a reverse bmimBF₄‐in‐toluene IL microemulsion with the aid of the nonionic surfactant Triton X‐100. The swelling process of the microemulsion droplets by increasing bmimBF₄ content is detected by dynamic light scattering (DLS), conductivity, UV/Vis spectroscopy, and freeze‐fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF–TEM). The results show that the microemulsion droplets initially formed are enlarged by the addition of bmimBF₄. However, successive addition of bmimBF₄ lead to the appearance of large‐sized microemulsion droplet clusters (200–400 nm). NMR spectroscopic analysis reveal that the special structures and properties of bmimBF₄ and Triton X‐100 together with the polar nature of toluene contribute to the formation of such self‐assemblies. These unique self‐assembled structures of IL‐based microemulsion droplet clusters may have some unusual and unique properties with a number of interesting possibilities for potential applications.