Catalytic Water Oxidation by Iridium‐Modified Carbonic Anhydrase

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is a ubiquitous metalloenzyme with a Zn cofactor coordinated to trigonal histidine imidazole moieties in a tetrahedral geometry. Removal of the Zn cofactor in CA and subsequent binding of Ir afforded CA[Ir]. Under mild and neutral conditions (30 °C, pH 7), CA[Ir] exhibited water‐oxidizing activity with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 39.8 min^?1, which is comparable to those of other Ir‐based molecular catalysts. Coordination of Ir to the apoprotein of CA is thermodynamically preferred and is associated with an exothermic energy change (ΔH) of ?10.8 kcal mol^?1, which implies that the CA apoprotein is stabilized by Ir binding. The catalytic oxygen‐evolving activity of CA[Ir] is displayed only if Ir is bound to CA, which functions as an effective biological scaffold that activates the Ir center for catalysis. The results of this study indicate that the histidine imidazoles at the CA active site could be exploited as beneficial biological ligands to provide unforeseen biochemical activity by coordination to a variety of transition‐metal ions.     

Donor‐Flexible Nitrogen Ligands for Efficient Iridium‐Catalyzed Water Oxidation Catalysis

A pyridylideneamide ligand with variable donor properties owing to a pronounced zwitterionic and a neutral diene‐type resonance structure was used as a dynamic ligand at a Cp* iridium center to facilitate water oxidation catalysis, a reaction that requires the stabilization of a variety of different iridium oxidation states and that is key for developing an efficient solar fuel device. The ligand imparts high activity (nearly three‐fold increase of turnover frequency compared to benchmark systems), and exceptionally high turnover numbers, which indicate a robust catalytic cycle and little catalyst degradation.     

氧化程度对氧化石墨结构与阳离子交换容量的影响

通过改进hummers法制备了不同氧化程度的氧化石墨。采用XRD、FTIR及XPS等对不同氧化程度氧化石墨样品的结构特征、含氧官能团种类与含量及阳离子交换容量进行表征。结果表明,石墨经氧化后结构层上键入羟基(C-OH)、环氧基(C-O-C)和羧基(-COOH)等含氧官能团;随氧化程度的增加,石墨结构逐渐全部转化为氧化石墨结构,C-O-C和-COOH的含量逐渐增大,而C-OH的含量先增大后略有减小,阳离子交换容量也表现为先增大后减小,对应的最大值分别为1.70、3.80和4.50 mmol·g^-1;氧化石墨碳平面上C-OH发生去质子化反应在层间产生H⁺,其他阳离子与之交换进入GO层间域,C-OH的含量是影响氧化石墨阳离子交换容量的主要因素,随C-OH含量的增加,氧化石墨样品的阳离子交换容量增大。     

氧化程度对氧化石墨结构与阳离子交换容量的影响

通过改进hummers法制备了不同氧化程度的氧化石墨。采用XRD、FTIR及XPS等对不同氧化程度氧化石墨样品的结构特征、含氧官能团种类与含量及阳离子交换容量进行表征。结果表明,石墨经氧化后结构层上键入羟基(C-OH)、环氧基(C-O-C)和羧基(-COOH)等含氧官能团;随氧化程度的增加,石墨结构逐渐全部转化为氧化石墨结构,C-O-C和-COOH的含量逐渐增大,而C-OH的含量先增大后略有减小,阳离子交换容量也表现为先增大后减小,对应的最大值分别为1.70、3.80和4.50 mmol·g-1;氧化石墨碳平面上C-OH发生去质子化反应在层间产生H+,其他阳离子与之交换进入GO层间域,C-OH的含量是影响氧化石墨阳离子交换容量的主要因素,随C-OH含量的增加,氧化石墨样品的阳离子交换容量增大。     

Size‐Dependent Electrocatalytic Activity of Free Gold Nanoparticles for the Glucose Oxidation Reaction

Understanding the fundamental relationship between the size and the structure of electrode materials is essential to design catalysts and enhance their activity. Therefore, spherical gold nanoparticles (GNSs) with a mean diameter from 4 to 15 nm were synthesized. UV/Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and under‐potential deposition of lead (UPD_Pb) were used to determine the morphology, size, and surface crystallographic structure of the GNSs. The UPD_Pb revealed that their crystallographic facets are affected by their size and the growth process. The catalytic properties of these GNSs toward glucose electrooxidation were studied by cyclic voltammetry, taking into account the scan rate and temperature effects. The results clearly show the size‐dependent electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation reactions that are controlled by diffusion. Small GNSs with an average size of 4.2 nm exhibited high catalytic activity. This drastic increase in activity results from the high specific area and reactivity of the surface electrons induced by their small size. The reaction mechanism was investigated by in situ Fourier transform infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Gluconolactone and gluconate were identified as the intermediate and the final reaction product, respectively, of the glucose electrooxidation.     

纳米TiN粉体氧化制备铱钛氧化物为中间层的钛基氧化铱电极

以纳米TiN粉体和氯铱酸的混合液为涂液,采用浸渍-热分解法制备了含IrOx-TiO2中间层的钛基氧化铱电极.利用扫描电镜、X射线能谱和X射线衍射技术并结合电化学方法考察了中间层的组成和焙烧温度对电极的电催化性能和使用寿命的影响.结果表明,IrOx-TiO2中间层的加入没有改变传统的钛基氧化铱电极的形貌特征和组成,并使电极具有相同的电催化响应特性,同时大大提高了钛基氧化铱电极的使用寿命.制备钛基氧化铱电极的最优条件为焙烧温度450℃,中间层中Ir/Ti摩尔比为1.5。     

Catalytic Performance of Graphite Oxide Supported Au Nanoparticles in Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol: Support Effect

Various Au/GO catalysts were prepared by depositing Au nanoparticles on thermally- and chemically-treated graphite oxide (GO) supports using a sol-immobilization method. The surface chemistry and structure of GO supports were characterized by a series of analytical techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that thermal and chemical treatments have large influence on the presence of surface oxygenated groups and the crystalline structure of GO supports. A strong support effect was observed on the catalytic activity of Au/GO catalysts in the liquid phase aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Compared to the amount and the type of surface oxygen functional groups, the ordered structure of GO supports may play a more important role in determining the catalytic performance of Au/GO catalysts.     

Chitosan‐Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes as Support for the High Dispersion of PtRu Nanoparticles and their Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Methanol

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were non‐covalently functionalized with chitosan (Chit) and then employed as the support for PtRu nanoparticles. The functionalization was carried out at room temperature without the use of corrosive acids, thereby preserving the integrity and the electronic conductivity of the CNTs. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that PtRu nanoparticles were highly dispersed on the surface of Chit‐functionalized CNTs (CNT‐Chit) with small particle‐size. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicated that the PtRu nanoparticle/CNT‐Chit nanohybrids have a higher electrochemical surface area, electrocatalytic performance, and stability towards methanol oxidation compared to PtRu nanoparticles supported on the pristine CNTs.     

An Enzyme‐free H2O2 Sensor Based on Poly(2‐Aminophenylbenzimidazole)/Gold Nanoparticles Coated Pencil Graphite Electrode

A poly(2‐aminophenylbenzimidazole)/gold nanoparticles (P2AB/AuNPs) coated disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was fabricated as an enzyme‐free sensor for the H₂O₂ determination. P2AB/AuNPs and P2AB were successfully synthesized electrochemically on PGE in acetonitrile for the first time. The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, Energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and UV‐Vis spectroscopy. AuNPs interacted with P2AB as carrier enhances the electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of H₂O₂. The analytical performance was evaluated in a 100 mM phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.5 by amperometry. The steady state current vs. H₂O₂ concentration is linear in the range of 0.06 to 100 mM (R²=0.992) with a limit of detection 3.67×10^?5 M at ?0.8 V vs. SCE and no interference is caused by ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, and glucose. The examination for the sensitive determination of H₂O₂ was conducted in commercially available hair oxidant solution. The results demonstrate that P2AB/AuNPs/PGE has potential applications as a sensing material for quantitative determination of H₂O₂.     

Dehydrogenative Aromatization of Saturated Aromatic Compounds by Graphite Oxide and Molecular Sieves

Graphite oxide (GO) has attracted much attention of material and catalysis chemists recently. Here we describe a combination of GO and molecular sieves for the dehydrogenative aromatization. GO prepared through improved Hummers method showed high oxidative activity in this reaction. Partially or fully saturated aromatic compounds were converted to their corresponding dehydrogenated aromatic products with fair to excellent conversions and selectivities. As both GO and molecular sieves are easily available, cheap, lowly toxic and have good tolerance to various functional groups, this reaction provides a facile approach toward aromatic compounds from their saturated precursors.     

Supported Palladium Oxide Nanoparticles in SBA‐15 as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols

Palladium nanoparticles were first synthesized through the thermal decomposition method and subsequently immobilized on ordered mesoporous silica material, SBA‐15, to afford PdO/SBA‐15 catalyst. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption‐desorption measurement, transmission electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The catalytic activity was tested for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols. Easy recovery, high yeilds and relatively short reaction times were observed for the mentioned catalyst.     

Electrocatalysis of Horseradish Peroxidase Immobilized on Cobalt Nanoparticles Modified ITO Electrode

Abstract

It is the first time that Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was successively immobilized on the magnetic cobalt nanoparticles modified ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode. Morphologies of electrode surface were featured by the field emission‐scanning electron microscope (FSEM). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to characterize the modified process of electrode. Direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of HRP immobilized on nano‐Co/ITO were investigated. The biosensor exhibited high sensitivity, good stability, and excellent electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of H₂O₂. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a calibration curve over 2.0×10^?9～2.0×10^?8 mol l^?1 and 2.0×10^?7～2.0×10^?6 mol l^?1, with a limit of detection of 1.9×10^?9 mol l^?1 was obtained. The apparent Michaelis‐Menten constant (K _M ^app ) for HRP/nano‐Co/ITO electrode was calculated to be 0.79 mmol l^?1, indicating a higher affinity of HRP attached on the modified electrode.     

Formation of Protective Coatings on Graphite by a Microspark Oxidation Method

Models, mechanisms, and criteria of formation of protective coatings on graphite by a microspark oxidation method (MSO) are considered. It is established that a prerequisite for the graphite MSO is the deposition of a barrier film of a valve metal oxide at the graphite surface. Optimum regimes of the graphite MSO in aqueous solutions of sodium aluminate are determined. Protective coatings on graphite comprising α-phase aluminum oxide are obtained. It is concluded that the graphite MSO should be viewed as a version of MSO of metals, which involves the electrochemical deposition (at high voltages that cause the anode to microspark) of oxide films consisting of electrolyte components on graphite, as opposed to a version of MSO of metals, which involves the formation of an anodic film consisting of electrolyte components and the intrinsic oxide.     

Multilayer‐Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Gold Nanoparticles as a Designed Nanonanocatalyst for the Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexene by Molecular Oxygen in a Solvent‐Free System

The aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene is of great significance from the viewpoints of both fundamental and industry studies as it can transfer the petrochemical feedstock into valuable chemicals. In this research, gold nanoparticles were synthesized on the multi‐layer functionalized reduced graphene oxide . The surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was modified with hydrophobic and hydrophilic layers to create the rGO with scattered hydrophilic positions. The gold nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized simultaneously in small hydrophilic micro reactors in a mild condition. Characterization of synthesized nanocatalyst was confirmed with different techniques such as TEM, XRD, FT‐IR, and SEM. TEM images of synthesized catalyst show the gold nanoparticles have diameters less than 5 nm. Designed nanonanocatalyst was investigated for the selective liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen in solvent free condition which after optimized conditions a maximum of 88% conversion and 91% selectivity was obtained.     

电解氧化法膨胀石墨形成机理研究

采用现代测试方法对电解氧化法制备的膨胀石墨各阶段产物进行了表征 ,对其形成机理作了一些探讨。结果证实 ,在氧化过程中 ,层间表面的石墨被氧化后 ,与嵌入层间的H2 SO4、H2 O等生成层间化合物 ,该化合物瞬间受高热而分解 ,产生的推力使石墨沿C轴方向膨胀 ,而层平面碳 -碳结构未被破坏。     

H2 Oxidation Electrocatalysis Enabled by Metal‐to‐Metal Hydrogen Atom Transfer: A Homolytic Approach to a Heterolytic Reaction

Oxidation of H₂ in a fuel cell converts the chemical energy of the H?H bond into electricity. Electrocatalytic oxidation of H₂ by molecular catalysts typically requires one metal to perform multiple chemical steps: bind H₂, heterolytically cleave H₂, and then undergo two oxidation and two deprotonation steps. The electrocatalytic oxidation of H₂ by a cooperative system using Cp*Cr(CO)₃H and [Fe(diphosphine)(CO)₃]⁺ has now been invetigated. A key step of the proposed mechanism is a rarely observed metal‐to‐metal hydrogen atom transfer from the Cr?H complex to the Fe, forming an Fe?H complex that is deprotonated and then oxidized electrochemically. This “division of chemical labor” features Cr interacting with H₂ to cleave the H?H bond, while Fe interfaces with the electrode. Neither metal is required to heterolytically cleave H₂, so this system provides a very unusual example of a homolytic reaction being a key step in a molecular electrocatalytic process.     

苯胺和环氧丙烷共聚物电催化氧化甲酸

 采用循环伏安法制备了苯胺和环氧丙烷导电高分子共聚物(PAN-PPO)电极,研究了其对甲酸氧化的电催化性能. 结果表明,PAN-PPO对甲酸氧化具有较高的催化活性,其催化性能稳定. 研究了PAN-PPO电催化甲酸氧化的动力学特征. 结果表明,甲酸在PAN-PPO上可能直接经电催化氧化生成CO2,此反应受液相扩散控制,扩散系数为1.32×10-7 cm2/s,反应级数为1.     

Arginine‐Containing Ligands Enhance H2 Oxidation Catalyst Performance

Hydrogenase enzymes use Ni and Fe to oxidize H₂ at high turnover frequencies (TOF) (up to 10 000 s^?1) and low overpotentials (<100 mV). In comparison, the fastest reported synthetic electrocatalyst, [Ni^II(P^Cy₂N^tBu₂)₂]²⁺, oxidizes H₂ at 60 s^?1 in MeCN under 1 atm H₂ with an unoptimized overpotential of ca. 500 mV using triethylamine as a base. ¹ Here we show that a structured outer coordination sphere in a Ni electrocatalyst enhances H₂ oxidation activity: [Ni^II(P^Cy₂N^Arg₂)₂]⁸⁺ (Arg=arginine) has a TOF of 210 s^?1 in water with high energy efficiency (180 mV overpotential) under 1 atm H₂, and 144 000 s^?1 (460 mV overpotential) under 133 atm H₂. The complex is active from pH 0–14 and is faster at low pH, the most relevant condition for fuel cells. The arginine substituents increase TOF and may engage in an intramolecular guanidinium interaction that assists in H₂ activation, while the COOH groups facilitate rapid proton movement. These results emphasize the critical role of features beyond the active site in achieving fast, efficient catalysis.     

Electrooxidative Ruthenium‐Catalyzed C−H/O−H Annulation by Weak O‐Coordination

Electrocatalysis has been identified as a powerful strategy for organometallic catalysis, and yet electrocatalytic C?H activation is restricted to strongly N‐coordinating directing groups. The first example of electrocatalytic C?H activation by weak O‐coordination is presented, in which a versatile ruthenium(II) carboxylate catalyst enables electrooxidative C?H/O?H functionalization for alkyne annulations in the absence of metal oxidants; thereby exploiting sustainable electricity as the sole oxidant. Mechanistic insights provide strong support for a facile organometallic C?H ruthenation and an effective electrochemical reoxidation of the key ruthenium(0) intermediate.