Transition-metal nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids: recyclable catalysts for biphasic hydrogenation reactions

1-n-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate room-temperature ionic liquid is not only suitable as a medium for the preparation and stabilization of iridium nanoparticles but also ideal for the generation of recyclable biphasic catalytic systems for hydrogenation reactions. Thus, Ir(0) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of 2 nm have been prepared by reduction of Ir(I) dissolved in the ionic liquid with H2. This catalytic solution can be reused several times for the biphasic hydrogenation of olefins under mild reaction conditions.     

Role of thermodynamics in the shape transformation of embedded metal nanoparticles induced by swift heavy-ion irradiation

Swift heavy-ion irradiation of elemental metal nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in amorphous SiO(2) induces a spherical to rodlike shape transformation with the direction of NP elongation aligned to that of the incident ion. Large, once-spherical NPs become progressively more rodlike while small NPs below a critical diameter do not elongate but dissolve in the matrix. We examine this shape transformation for ten metals under a common irradiation condition to achieve mechanistic insight into the transformation process. Subtle differences are apparent including the saturation of the elongated NP width at a minimum sustainable, metal-specific value. Elongated NPs of lesser width are unstable and subject to vaporization. Furthermore, we demonstrate the elongation process is governed by the formation of a molten ion-track in amorphous SiO(2) such that upon saturation the elongated NP width never exceeds the molten ion-track diameter.     

Structural characterization of Pb nanoislands in SiO2/Si interface synthesized by ion implantation through MEIS analysis

Medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations are applied to characterize a buried Pb nanoparticle (NP) system synthesized by ion implantation. The NPs are located at the SiO₂/Si film interface, forming a dense two-dimensional array. Full 2D (energy and angle) experimental MEIS spectra are compared with Monte Carlo simulated ones. The results demonstrate that MEIS measurements provide microstructural information (mean NP volume of about 150 nm³ and areal density of about 4 × 10¹¹ NP/cm²), but no accurate information on the NP geometrical shape.     

Temperature behavior of the AlH3 polymorph by in situ investigation using high resolution Raman scattering

A Raman investigation of the AlH(3) polymorph has been carried out at a low temperature (20 K) under helium atmosphere (2 bar). The pristine material was composed of three polymorphs, namely, the α, β, and γ phases. The β phase has been removed by warming the sample to 70 °C, while further heating at 100 °C was used to remove the γ phase. This allowed us to evidence, on a purely experimental basis, the characteristic Raman spectrum for each phase. Raman spectra, for the three phases, have been also calculated using density functional theory, and the results have been compared to the present experimental data, allowing for a univocal assignment, to each phase, of its characteristic spectral features.     

Generalized Brownian Motion,Point Processes and Stochastic Calculus for Random Fields

A representation of the Malliavian derivative and the Skorochod integral in terms of random point systems on Polish spaces (and thus generalizing from the unit interval) is derived. This leads to a stochastic calculus based on random point systems. The operators are given explicitely and in a simple form allowing concrete probabilistic and quantum probabilistic interpretations.     

Depth-resolved speciation of nitrogen compounds in environmental solids

Dynamic SIMS has been applied to the analysis of inorganic and organic nitrogen compounds. A depth-resolved speciation of nitrogen, based on the intensities of small ionic clusters, has been developed. An evaluation method is outlined to distinguish inorganic and organic nitrogen compounds. Furthermore, several organic compound families can be recognised including detailed nitrogen speciation. Because this method is suitable even for characterisation of complex mixtures, urban outdoor aerosol particles have been analysed with Dynamic SIMS.     

Optimizing the Size of Platinum Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mass Activity in the Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction Reaction

High oxygen reduction (ORR) activity has been for many years considered as the key to many energy applications. Herein, by combining theory and experiment we prepare Pt nanoparticles with optimal size for the efficient ORR in proton‐exchange‐membrane fuel cells. Optimal nanoparticle sizes are predicted near 1, 2, and 3 nm by computational screening. To corroborate our computational results, we have addressed the challenge of approximately 1 nm sized Pt nanoparticle synthesis with a metal–organic framework (MOF) template approach. The electrocatalyst was characterized by HR‐TEM, XPS, and its ORR activity was measured using a rotating disk electrode setup. The observed mass activities (0.87±0.14 A mg_Pt^?1) are close to the computational prediction (0.99 A mg_Pt^?1). We report the highest to date mass activity among pure Pt catalysts for the ORR within similar size range. The specific and mass activities are twice as high as the Tanaka commercial Pt/C catalysis.     

Anion Storage Chemistry of Organic Cathodes for High-Energy and High-Power Density Divalent Metal Batteries

Multivalent batteries show promising prospects for next-generation sustainable energy storage applications. Herein, we report a polytriphenylamine (PTPAn) composite cathode capable of highly reversible storage of tetrakis(hexafluoroisopropyloxy) borate [B(hfip)₄] anions in both Magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) battery systems. Spectroscopic and computational studies reveal the redox reaction mechanism of the PTPAn cathode material. The Mg and Ca cells exhibit a cell voltage >3 V, a high-power density of ∼∼3000 W kg⁻¹ and a high-energy density of ∼∼300 Wh kg⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, the combination of the PTPAn cathode with a calcium-tin (Ca−Sn) alloy anode could enable a long battery-life of 3000 cycles with a capacity retention of 60 %. The anion storage chemistry associated with dual-ion electrochemical concept demonstrates a new feasible pathway towards high-performance divalent ion batteries.