Redox‐Active Nickel in Carbon Nanotubes and Its Direct Determination

The presence of residual metal‐catalyst impurities in carbon nanotubes is responsible for their toxicity. It is important to differentiate between the total amount of impurities and the redox‐active (bioavailable) amount of such impurities because only the bioavailable impurities exhibit toxic effects. Herein, we report a simple and specific method for quantifying the amount of redox‐active Ni present in various commercial samples of CNTs. It is based on the electrochemical oxidation of Ni(OH)₂ that is formed in alkaline solutions when Ni impurities are opened to the surrounding environment. Metallic Ni impurities play an extremely active role in toxicological assays as well as in undesired catalytic processes, and thus a method to rapidly quantify the amount of redox‐active Ni is of great importance.     

Anomalous electrochemical dissolution and passivation of iron growth catalysts in carbon nanotubes

Catalytically synthesized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) such as those prepared via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) contain metallic impurities including Fe, Ni, Co, and Mo. Transition metal contaminants such as Fe can participate in redox cycling reactions that catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species and other products. Through the nature of the CVD growth process, metallic nanoparticles become encased within the CNT graphene lattice and may still be chemically accessible and participate in redox chemistry, especially when these materials are utilized as electrodes in electrochemical applications. We demonstrate that metallic impurities can be selectively dissolved and/or passivated during electrochemical potential cycling. Anomalous Fe dissolution and passivation behavior is observed in neutral (pH=6.40+/-0.03) aqueous solutions when using multiwalled CNTs prepared from CVD. Fe particles contained within these CNTs display intriguing, potential-dependent Fe redox activity that varies with supporting electrolyte composition. In neutral solutions containing dibasic sodium phosphate, sodium acetate, and sodium citrate, FeII dissolution and surface confined FeII/III redox activity are significant despite Fe being encapsulated within CNT graphene layers. However, no apparent Fe dissolution is observed in 1 M potassium nitrate solutions, suggesting that the electrolyte composition plays an important role in observing FeII dissolution, passivation, and surface confined FeII/III redox activity. Between potentials of 0 and -1.1 V versus Hg/Hg2SO4, the primary redox-active Fe species are surface FeII/III oxides/oxyhydroxides. This FeII/III surface oxide redox chemistry can be completely suppressed by passivating Fe through repeated cycling of the CNTs in supporting electrolyte. By increasing the potential to more negative values (>-1.3 V), FeII dissolution may be induced in electrolyte solutions containing acetate and phosphate and inhibited by addition of sodium benzoate, which adsorbs on exposed Fe particles, effectively passivating them. Finally, we observe that the FeII/III redox chemistry or subsequent passivation does not affect the onset of oxygen reduction at nitrogen-doped CNTs, suggesting that the surface-bound FeII species is not the primary catalytically active site for oxygen reduction in these materials.     

Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrodes: Overcoming Large Capacitive Currents Using Rotating Disk Electrodes

The voltammetric response of graphite or carbon nanotube paste electrodes, which incorporate the room temperature ionic liquid, N‐butyl‐N‐methyl pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide or [C₄mpyrr][NTf₂], (RTIL‐CNTPE and RTIL‐CPE respectively) as the binder, towards anionic, cationic and neutral redox probes is examined and compared to conventional paste electrodes which use mineral oil as the binder. The RTIL paste electrodes are found to suffer from very large background currents due to capacitive charging. This is exacerbated further when CNTs are combined with RTILs in the paste. The large charging currents obscure any Faradaic processes of interest, especially at low analyte concentrations. By employing steady state voltammetry at a rotating disk electrode made of the RTIL pastes this problem can be overcome. This allows the electroanalytical properties of these interesting electrode substrates, which combine the attractive properties of CNTs with RTILs to be further explored and developed.     

Carbon Nanotubes Based Nanoelectrode Arrays: Fabrication,Evaluation, and Application in Voltammetric Analysis

Fabrication, electrochemical characterization, and applications of low‐site density carbon nanotubes based nanoelectrode arrays (CNTs‐NEAs) are reported in this work. Spin‐coating of an epoxy resin provides a new way to create the electrode passivation layer effectively reducing electrode capacitance and current leakage. Cyclic voltammetry showed the sigmoidal shape curves with low capacitive current and scan‐rate‐independent limiting current. Square‐wave voltammetry showed well‐defined peak shapes in voltammograms of K₃Fe(CN)₆ and 4‐acetamidophenol (acetaminophen) and the peak currents to be proportioned to their concentrations, demonstrating the feasibility for voltammetric analysis of the CNTs‐NEAs. The CNTs‐NEAs were also used successfully for voltammetric detection of trace concentrations of lead(II) at ppb level at first‐time. The CNTs‐NEAs provide an excellent platform for ultra sensitive electrochemical sensors for chemical and biological sensing.     

Carbon Nanotube Immobilized Electrode Using Amphiphilic Phospholipid Polymer with Anti‐fouling and Dispersion Property for Electrochemical Analysis

A carbon nanotube (CNT)‐modified electrode was fabricated by dropping a dispersion of multi‐walled CNTs in water‐soluble and amphiphilic phospholipid polymer with both dispersing ability and anti‐biofouling property onto a Au electrode. A poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine‐co‐n‐butyl methacrylate) (PMB) composed from 50 mol% of 2‐methacryloxylethyl phosphorylcholine and 50 mol% of n‐butyl methacrylate (PMB50) was used as dispersing reagent for CNTs. The dispersion of water‐insoluble material by PMB50 and its antifouling effects in electrochemical analysis were investigated. The CNT‐modified electrode showed an anodic peak potential that was shifted negatively and an increase in the current value for the electrolytic oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. In addition, the charge on PMB50 did not inhibit the electrochemical reaction of the redox compounds K₃[Fe(CN)₆], [Ru(NH₃)₆]Cl₃, and hydroxymethylferrocene. Cyclic voltammetry of K₃[Fe(CN)₆] in 4 % bovine serum albumin (BSA) using a bare Au electrode, the anodic peak current was reduced to 47 % of that without BSA. In contrast, the antifouling effect of the PMB50‐coated electrode meant that the current was only reduced to 70 % of that without BSA.     

Direct reversible voltammetry and electrocatalysis with surface-stabilised Fe2O3 redox states

Nanoparticle film voltammetry is employed to explore the presence and reactivity of surface-stabilised iron redox centers at the interface of immobilised Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles of ca. 4 nm diameter and aqueous buffer media. Mesoporous films of Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) substrates are formed in a layer-by-layer deposition process from aqueous colloidal Fe₂O₃ and aqueous cyclohexyl-hexacarboxylate followed by thermal (500 °C) removal of the organic binder content. Both reversible oxidation and reversible reduction responses for Fe(III) are observed in phosphate and carbonate buffer media in the “underpotential” zone. Higher oxidation states of iron formed anodically (here tentatively assigned to Fe(IV)) are shown to be inert in phosphate buffer media but reactive towards the oxidation of glucose in carbonate buffer media.     

Electrochemical Behavior and Multilayer Assembly Films with Fine Functional Activities of the Sandwich‐Type Polyoxometallate [Sb2W20Fe2O70(H2O)6]8−

The iron‐substituted sandwich‐type polyoxometalate (POM), comprised of the main group element Sb(III) as the central heteroatom, [Sb₂W₂₀Fe₂O₇₀(H₂O)₆]^8? (Sb₂W₂₀Fe₂), is one of the Krebs‐type derivatives. For the first time, the POMs' redox electrochemistry has been elucidated under acidic conditions employing cyclic voltammetry. It exhibited what is believed to be a bielectronic redox couple associated with the two Fe(III) centers followed by four‐electron and two‐electron redox processes, respectively, with these being attributed to redox processes of the tungsten‐oxo framework. The oxidized form of this POM was found to be stable from pH 1.5 to pH 6. Release of the iron centers from the complex, namely demetallization, was observed upon reduction of the Fe(III) sites at room temperature, with an influence of the solution pH being observed. Through the technique of layer‐by‐layer (LBL) assembly, the POM was successfully immobilized on both quartz and glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surfaces by alternate deposition with the polyelectrolyte poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). Thus‐prepared multilayer films have been characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV‐vis spectroscopy (UV‐vis) and XPS. The electrocatalytic activities of the multilayer films containing Sb₂W₂₀Fe₂ have been investigated towards the reduction of NO₃^? and IO₃^?. With an increase in the number of Sb₂W₂₀Fe₂ monolayers within the assembly, the catalytic current towards the reduction of IO₃^? was enhanced.     

Sensitive Determination of Terbutaline Using a Platform Based on Nanoparticles of Europium Oxide and Carbon Nanotubes

This study presents a sensitive voltammetric determination of terbutaline (TER) on a platform based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and europium oxide nanoparticles (Eu₂O₃NPs) coated glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). An ultrasonic bath was performed for the preparation of composite material. The material was characterized by energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), X‐ray diffraction method (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Eu₂O₃NPs/CNTs/GCE system was assessed for the oxidation of terbutaline (TER). A broad oxidation peak was appeared at 0.71 V using a bare GCE. However, the voltammetry of TER has been improved at a GCE coated with CNTs and a well‐defined anodic peak exhibited at 0.61 V. Furthermore, the nanoparticles of Eu₂O₃ and CNTs coated GCE has greatly improved the electrochemical behaviour of TER and a sharp peak was appeared at 0.59 V. Cyclic voltammetry at Eu₂O₃NPs/CNTs/GCE also reveals a high catalytic effect for the oxidation of TER with an oxidation peak that is distinctly enhanced compared to GCE and CNTs/GCE. Eu₂O₃ nanoparticles were utilized to enhance the surface area of GCE and then improve the sensitivity of the procedure. The response of TER was linear over a concentration range of 2.0×10^?8 M ?9.5×10^?6 M with an LOD of 3.7×10^?9 M. Square wave voltammetric analysis of tablets by Eu₂O₃NPs/CNTs/GCE yielded a recovery of 99.2 % with an RSD% of 3.2. The modified electrode (EuO₂NPs/CNTs/GCE) provides accuracy and precision to the analysis of samples.     

A Comparative Study of Functionalized High‐Purity Carbon Nanotubes towards the V(IV)/V(V) Redox Reaction Using Cyclic Voltammetry and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Functionalized high purity carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with various amounts of oxygen containing surface groups were investigated towards the relevant redox reactions of the all‐vanadium redox flow battery. The quinone/hydroquinone redox peaks between 0.0 and 0.7 V vs. Ag|AgCl|KCl_sat. were used to quantifying the degree of functionalization and correlated to XPS results. Cyclic voltammetry in vanadyl sulfate‐containing 3 M H₂SO₄ as a common supporting electrolyte showed no influence of the amount of surface groups on the V(IV)/V(V) redox system. In contrast, the reactions occurring at the negative electrode (V(II)/V(III) and V(III)/V(IV)) are strongly affected by oxygen surface groups. However, under modified experimental conditions, SECM experiments detecting the consumption of VO²⁺ molecules by CNT thin films in pH=2 solution show improved onset potentials with increased surface oxygen content up to ∼ 3 at%. Further increase in surface oxygen up to 8 at% led to minor improvement. These dissimilar results under different experimental conditions are rationalized by suggesting that oxygen functional groups do not form the active site for the V(IV)/V(V) reaction but wetting of the catalyst layer is of high importance.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Phenol‐tailed Porphyrin Ligand and Its Iron(III) Complex

The phenol‐tailed porphyrin ligand, H₃L was synthesized as a model compound for catalases. H₃L and its corresponding iron complex [Fe(L)] were synthesized by using the precursor, 5‐(8‐ethoxycarbonyl‐1‐naphthyl)‐10, 15, 20‐triphenyl porphyrin (ENTPP). They were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X‐ray crystallography, and cyclic voltammetry. All the results have confirmed that the phenol group is covalently attached to the porphyrin. In the iron complex, phenolate oxygen is coordinated to iron(III) as the fifth ligand, leading to the five‐coordinate high‐spin iron(III) species.     

Theoretical Aspects of a Surface Electrode Reaction Coupled with Preceding and Regenerative Chemical Steps: Square‐wave Voltammetry of a Surface CEC’ Mechanism

Large number of lipophilic substances, whose electrochemical transformation takes place from adsorbed state, belong to the class of so‐called “surface‐redox reactions”. Of these, especially important are the enzymatic redox reactions. With the technique named “protein‐film voltammetry” we can get insight into the chemical features of many lipophilic redox enzymes. Electrochemical processes of many redox adsorbates, occurring at a surface of working electrode, are very often coupled with chemical reactions. In this work, we focus on the application of square‐wave voltammetry (SWV) to study the theoretical features of a surface electrode reaction coupled with two chemical steps. The starting electroactive form Ox_(ads) in this mechanism gets initially generated via preceding chemical reaction. After undergoing redox transformation at the working electrode, Ox_(ads) species got additionally regenerated via chemical reaction of electrochemically generated product Red_(ads) with a given substrate Y. The theory of this so‐called surface CEC’ mechanism is presented for the first time under conditions of square‐wave voltammetry. While we present plenty of calculated voltammograms of this complex electrode mechanism, we focus on the effect of rate of regenerative (catalytic) step to simulated voltammograms. We consider both, electrochemical reactions featuring moderate and fast electron transfer. The obtained voltammetric patterns are very specific, having sometime hybrid‐like features of voltammograms as typical for CE, EC and EC’ mechanisms. We give diagnostic criteria to recognize this complex mechanism in SWV, but we also present hints to access the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters relevant to both chemical steps, and the electrochemical reaction, too. Indeed, the results presented in this work can help experimentalists to design proper experiments to study chemical features of important lipophilic systems.     

Electrochemical Determination and in silico Studies of Fludarabine on NH2 Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A sensitive voltammetric technique has been developed for the determination of Fludarabine using amine‐functionalized multi walled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode (NH₂‐MWCNTs/GCE). Molecular dynamics simulations, an in silico technique, were employed to examine the properties including chemical differences of Fludarabine‐ functionalized MWCNT complexes. The redox behavior of Fludarabine was examined by cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry in a wide pH range. Cyclic voltammetric investigations emphasized that Fludarabine is irreversibly oxidized at the NH₂‐MWCNTs/GCE. The electrochemical behavior of Fludarabine was also studied by cyclic voltammetry to evaluate both the kinetic (k_s and E_a) and thermodynamic (ΔH, ΔG and ΔS) parameters on NH₂‐MWCNTs/GCE at several temperatures. The mixed diffusion‐adsorption controlled electrochemical oxidation of Fludarabine revealed by studies at different scan rates. The experimental parameters, such as pulse amplitude, frequency, deposition potential optimized for square‐wave voltammetry. Under optimum conditions in phosphate buffer (pH 2.0), a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 2×10^?7 M–4×10^?6 M solution using adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were calculated 2.9×10^?8 M and 9.68×10^?8 M, respectively. The developed method was applied to the simple and rapid determination of Fludarabine from pharmaceutical formulations.     

The preparation of ionic liquid based iron phosphate/CNTs composite via microwave radiation for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction

Water electrolysis is a promising method for hydrogen production, so the preparation of low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts with a quick and simple procedure is crucial. Herein, iron phosphate (Fe₇(PO₄)₆) was prepared via microwave radiation using ionic liquid (IL) as iron and phosphorus dual-source. This method is simple and rapid, and the product can be directly used as electrocatalysts without further treatment. The experimental results show that the IL can influence the morphology and electrocatalytic performance. Moreover, the addition of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is favorable for formation of iron phosphate nanoparticles to improve the catalytic activities. As hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalyst, this iron phosphate/CNTs exhibits an onset overpotential of 120 mV, Tafel slope of 32.9 mV dec^-1, and current densities of 10 mA cm⁻² at overpotential of 185 mV. Then, it obtains a good activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with a low onset potential of 1.48 V, Tafel slope of 73.3 mV dec^-1, and it only needs an overpotential of 300 mV to drive the 10 mA cm⁻². This bifunctional catalyst also shows good durability for HER and OER. This microwave-assisted method provides an outstanding strategy to prepare iron phosphate in a simple and fast process with good catalytic performance for water splitting.     

Effect of confinement in carbon nanotubes on the activity of Fischer-Tropsch iron catalyst

Following our previous findings that confinement within carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can modify the redox properties of encapsulated iron oxides, we demonstrate here how this can affect the catalytic reactivity of iron catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The investigation, using in situ XRD under conditions close to the reaction conditions, reveals that the distribution of iron carbide and oxide phases is modulated in the CNT-confined system. The iron species encapsulated inside CNTs prefer to exist in a more reduced state, tending to form more iron carbides under the reaction conditions, which have been recognized to be essential to obtain high FTS activity. The relative ratio of the integral XRD peaks of iron carbide (Fe(x)C(y)) to oxide (FeO) is about 4.7 for the encapsulated iron catalyst in comparison to 2.4 for the iron catalyst dispersed on the outer walls of CNTs under the same conditions. This causes a remarkable modification of the catalytic performance. The yield of C5+ hydrocarbons over the encapsulated iron catalyst is twice that over iron catalyst outside CNTs and more than 6 times that over activated-carbon-supported iron catalyst. The catalytic activity enhancement is attributed to the effect of confinement of the iron catalyst within the CNT channels. As demonstrated by temperature-programmed reduction in H2 and in CO atmospheres, the reducibility of the iron species is significantly improved when they are confined. The ability to modify the redox properties via confinement in CNTs is expected to be of significance for many catalytic reactions, which are highly dependent on the redox state of the active components. Furthermore, diffusion and aggregation of the iron species through the reduction and reaction have been observed, but these are retarded inside CNTs due to the spatial restriction of the channels.     

Predicting the redox properties of uranyl complexes using electronic structure calculations

A plethora of chemical reactions is redox driven processes. The conversion of toxic and highly soluble U(VI) complexes to nontoxic and insoluble U(IV) form are carried out through proton coupled electron transfer by iron containing cytochromes and mineral surfaces such as machinawite. This redox process takes place through the formation of U(V) species which is unstable and immediately undergo the disproportionation reaction. Thus, theoretical methods are extremely useful to understand the reduction process of U(VI) to U(V) species. We here have carried out the structures and reduction properties of several U(VI) to U(V) complexes using a variety of electronic structure methods. Due to the lack of experimental ionization energies for uranyl (UO₂(V)‐UO₂(VI)) couple, we have benchmarked the current and popularly used density functionals and cost effective ab initio methods against the experimental electron detachment energies of [UO₂F₄]^1‐/2‐ and [UO₂Cl₄]^1‐/2‐. We find that electron detachment energy of U(VI) predicted by RI‐MP2 level on the BP86 geometries correlate nicely with the experimental and CCSD(T) data. Based on our benchmark studies, we have predicted the structures and electron detachment energies of U(V) to U(VI) species for a series of uranium complexes at the RI‐MP2//BP86 level which are experimentally inaccessible till date. We find that the redox active molecular orbital is ligand centered for the oxidation of U(VI) species, where it is metal centered (primarily f‐orbital) for the oxidation of U(V) species. Finally, we have also calculated the detachment energies of a known uranyl [UO₂]¹⁺ complex whose X‐ray crystal structures of both oxidation states are available. The large bulky nature of the ligand stabilizing the uncommon U(V) species which cannot be routinely studied by present day CCSD(T) methods as the system size are more than 20–30 atoms. The success of our efficient computational strategy can be experimentally verified in the near future for the complex as the structures are stable in gas phase which can undergo oxidation.     

Electrodes modified with iron porphyrin and carbon nanotubes: application to CO2 reduction and mechanism of synergistic electrocatalysis

Electrodes modified with iron porphyrin and carbon nanotubes (FeP–CNTs) were prepared and used for CO₂ electroreduction. The adsorption of iron porphyrin onto the multiwalled carbon nanotubes was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the modified electrodes for CO₂ reduction were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and CO₂ electrolysis. The FeP–CNT electrodes exhibited less negative cathode potential and higher reaction rate than the electrodes modified only with iron porphyrin or carbon nanotubes. A mechanism of the synergistic catalysis was proposed and studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance. The direct electron transfer between iron porphyrin and carbon nanotubes was examined. The current study shed light on the mechanism of synergistic catalysis between CNTs and metalloporphyrin, and the iron porphyrin–CNT-modified electrodes showed great potential in the efficient CO₂ electroreduction.     

A Non‐Enzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensor Based on Gold Nanoparticles/Carbon Nanotube/Self‐Doped Polyaniline Hollow Spheres

In this study, a novel non‐enzymatic hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) sensor was fabricated based on gold nanoparticles/carbon nanotube/self‐doped polyaniline (AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN) hollow spheres modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). SPAN was in‐site polymerized on the surface of SiO₂ template, then AuNPs and CNTs were decorated by electrostatic absorption via poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride). After the SiO₂ cores were removed, hollow AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN spheres were obtained and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The electrochemical catalytic performance of the hollow AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN/GCE for H₂O₂ detection was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. Using chronoamperometric method at a constant potential of ?0.1 V (vs. SCE), the H₂O₂ sensor displays two linear ranges: one from 5 µM to 0.225 mM with a sensitivity of 499.82 µA mM^?1 cm^?2; another from 0.225 mM to 8.825 mM with a sensitivity of 152.29 µA mM^?1 cm^?2. The detection limit was estimated as 0.4 µM (signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3). The hollow AuNPs/CNTs/SPAN/GCE also demonstrated excellent stability and selectivity against interferences from other electroactive species. The sensor was further applied to determine H₂O₂ in disinfectant real samples.     

A Reusable CNT-Supported Single-Atom Iron Catalyst for the Highly Efficient Synthesis of C−N Bonds

C−N bond formation is regarded as a very useful and fundamental reaction for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing molecules in both organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. Noble-metal and homogeneous catalysts have frequently been used for C−N bond formation, however, these catalysts have a number of disadvantages, such as high cost, toxicity, and low atom economy. In this work, a low-toxic and cheap iron complex (iron ethylene-1,2-diamine) has been loaded onto carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to prepare a heterogeneous single-atom catalyst (SAC) named Fe-N_x/CNTs. We employed this SAC in the synthesis of C−N bonds for the first time. It was found that Fe-N_x/CNTs is an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of C−N bonds starting from aromatic amines and ketones. Its catalytic performance was excellent, giving yields of up to 96 %, six-fold higher than the yields obtained with noble-metal catalysts, such as AuCl₃/CNTs and RhCl₃/CNTs. The catalyst showed efficacy in the reactions of thirteen aromatic amine substrates, without the need for additives, and seventeen enaminones were obtained. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed that the iron species were well dispersed in the Fe-N_x/CNTs catalyst as single atoms and that Fe-N_x might be the catalytic active species. This Fe-N_x/CNTs catalyst has potential industrial applications as it could be cycled seven times without any significant loss of activity.     

The Formation of Surface Lithium–Iron Ternary Hydride and its Function on Catalytic Ammonia Synthesis at Low Temperatures

Lithium hydride (LiH) has a strong effect on iron leading to an approximately 3 orders of magnitude increase in catalytic ammonia synthesis. The existence of lithium–iron ternary hydride species at the surface/interface of the catalyst were identified and characterized for the first time by gas‐phase optical spectroscopy coupled with mass spectrometry and quantum chemical calculations. The ternary hydride species may serve as centers that readily activate and hydrogenate dinitrogen, forming Fe‐(NH₂)‐Li and LiNH₂ moieties—possibly through a redox reaction of dinitrogen and hydridic hydrogen (LiH) that is mediated by iron—showing distinct differences from ammonia formation mediated by conventional iron or ruthenium‐based catalysts. Hydrogen‐associated activation and conversion of dinitrogen are discussed.     

Electrochemical Study of the Interactions of DNA with Redox‐Active Molecules Based on the Immobilization of dsDNA on the Sol‐Gel Derived Nano Porous Hydroxyapatite‐Polyvinyl Alcohol Hybrid Material Coating

A novel type of sol‐gel inorganic‐organic hybrid material coated on glassy carbon electrode used for immobilization of double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) and study of dsDNA with redox‐active molecules was developed. The hybrid material coating was produced by sol‐gel method with nano hydroxyapatite (HAp)‐polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The optimum composition of the hybrid material was first examined, and the morphology of the nano HAp‐PVA coatings was investigated with the help of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). DsDNA was immobilized in/on the nano HAp‐PVA hybrid coatings by adsorption and the characteristics of the dsDNA/HAp‐PVA/GCE were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) using the probes of Co(phen) and Fe(CN) . The results indicate that the dsDNA can be immobilized on the nano porous HAp‐PVA coating effectively and its stability can satisfy the necessity of study on the interactions of dsDNA with redox‐active molecules on the electrode surface. Co(bpy) and Co(phen) were used as the model molecule to study the interactions of dsDNA with redox‐active molecules. Information such as ratio (K_Ox/K_Red) of the binding constant for the oxidized and reduced forms of a bound species, interaction mode, including change in the mode of interaction, and “limiting” ratio K /K at zero ionic strength (μ) can be obtained using dsDNA/HAp‐PVA/GCE with about 2 μg of DNA samples.