Selective CO2 reduction into formate using Ln-Ta oxynitrides combined with a binuclear Ru(Ⅱ)complex under visible light

Hybrid materials constructed from a visible-light-absorbing semiconductor and a functional metal complex have attracted attention as efficient photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction with high selectivity to a desired product.In this work,defect fluorite-type Ln-Ta oxynitrides LnTaO_xN_y(Ln=Nd,Sm,Gd,Tb,Dy and Ho)were examined as the semiconductor component in a hybrid photocatalyst system combined with known Ag nanoparticle promoter and binuclear ruthenium(Ⅱ)complex(RuRu’).Among the LnTaO_xN_y examined,TbTaO_xN_y gave the highest performance for CO₂ reduction under visible light(k>400 nm),with a Ru Ru0-based turnover number of 18 and high selectivity to formate(>99%).Physicochemical analyses indicated that high crystallinity and more negative conduction band potential of Ln Ta O_xN_ywith the absence of Ln-4 f states in the band gap structure contributed to higher activity of the hybrid photocatalyst.     

Mössbauer study of new vanadate glass with large charge-discharge capacity

Charge-discharge capacity and cyclicity of lithium ion battery (LIB) was evaluated in which 15Li₂O·10Fe₂O₃·xSnO₂·5P₂O₅·(70–x)V₂O₅ glass (x?=?0 and 20 in mol%, abbreviated as xLFSPV) was used as a cathode. A local structure of xLFSPV glass before and after charging was investigated by ⁵⁷Fe- and ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectroscopies. ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectrum of xLFSPV glass with ‘x’ of 20 was composed of a doublet with isomer shift (δ) of 0.35_±0.02 mm s^???1 and quadrupole splitting (Δ) of 0.88_±0.03 mm s^???1 due to distorted Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra. ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectrum of this glass consisted of a doublet with δ of 0.08_±0.01 and Δ of 0.52_±0.01 mms^???1 due to distorted Sn^VIO₆ octahedra. After discharging the battery from 4.5 to 1.0 V, larger δ of 0.40_±0.03 mm s^???1 and Δ of 0.94_±0.04 mm s^???1 were obtained, indicating that both iconicity of Fe-O bonds and local distortion of Fe^IIIO₄ tetrahedra were increased. On the contrary, identical δ of 0.09_±0.01 mm s^???1 and Δ of 0.50_±0.01 mm s^???1 were observed in the ¹¹⁹Sn-Mössbauer spectrum of 20LFSPV glass after the discharge, indicating that chemical environment of Sn^IVO₆ octahedra was not affected after the discharge. Charge-discharge curve of LIB containing 20LFSPV glass as a cathode active material recorded under the current density of 8.3 mA g^???1 (0.011 mA cm^???2) between 1.0 and 4.5 V showed a large initial charge capacity of 431.1 mAh g^???1 and discharge capacity of 382.3 mAh g^???1, respectively. These results indicate that 20LFSPV glass could be a new cathode active material for LIB.     

Mechanically strengthened new Hagi porcelain developed by controlling the chemical environment of iron

In order to enhance the mechanical strength of Hagi Porcelain (Hagiyaki), one of the oldest and famous potteries in Japan, new preparation condition was examined. Tempered Hagi porcelain, denominated as ‘Hagi Porcelain B’, was prepared with the Porcelain clay originating from Daido district, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Structural change of ‘Hagi Porcelain B’ was investigated by means of ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and three-point bending test. Mechanical strength of the ‘original Hagi Porcelain B’ was estimated to be 43.1 MPa by means of the three-point bending test, while much larger value of 104.5 MPa could be achieved when tempered by a chemical modification. Mössbauer spectrum of the ‘original Hagi porcelain B’ was composed of a paramagnetic doublet and a magnetic sextet due to Fe(III) of γ-Fe₂O₃(maghemite), while only one paramagnetic doublet due to to octahedral Fe(II)O₆ was observed for the ‘tempered Hagi Porcelain B’ with isomer shift and quadrupole splitting values of 1.13 and 2.15 mm s^?1, respectively. It is considered that the absence of magnetic phase causes an increase of the mechanical strength because the maghemite phase has a defect spinel structure. These results indicate that mechanical strength of the ‘Hagi porcelain B’ could be enhanced by controlling the sintering condition.     

Tentative Comparison of Tube Radial Distribution Chromatography and CZE

Tube radical distribution chromatography (TRDC) uses an untreated open tubular capillary tube and a ternary mixture of solvents (water and hydrophilic/hydrophobic organic solvents) as a carrier solution. A model analyte mixture comprising 1-naphthol, 1-naphthoic acid, 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedisulfonic acid, and 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonic acid was examined by the TRDC and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) systems that comprised mainly a capillary tube and a detector. In the TRDC system the elution order of analytes could be changed by altering the component ratios of the solvents, whereas in the CZE system the elution order was changed by altering the electroosmotic flow direction. The experimental data obtained provide clues about the features and utility of TRDC as a new separation method.     

Thermal behavior and dismantlability of adhesives containing various inorganic salts

As a fundamental study on the development of dismantlable adhesives containing chemically reactive materials, the thermal behavior and dismantlability of an epoxy adhesive containing one of the twenty-seven inorganic salts (chlorides, perchlorates, and nitrates) were observed. In the thermal behavior measured by the differential scanning calorimetry, epoxy adhesives with inorganic salts containing iron, copper, zinc, and aluminum cations released heats of reaction at lower temperatures than the adhesive alone or the adhesives with other inorganic salts. Since such inorganic salts were considered to be effective candidates as fillers in dismantlable adhesives, the adhesion strengths of their mixtures with the adhesive were observed after heat aging at 270 °C for 30 min. The results showed that both chloride and perchlorate salts specifically decreased the adhesion strength after heating. On the other hand, the effect of nitrate salts on the decrease in adhesion strength was low in comparison with the chloride and perchlorate salts.     

How Strain Affects the Reactivity of Surface Metal Oxide Catalysts

Highly dispersed molybdenum oxide supported on mesoporous silica SBA‐15 has been prepared by anion exchange resulting in a series of catalysts with changing Mo densities (0.2–2.5 Mo atoms nm^?2). X‐ray absorption, UV/Vis, Raman, and IR spectroscopy indicate that doubly anchored tetrahedral dioxo MoO₄ units are the major surface species at all loadings. Higher reducibility at loadings close to the monolayer measured by temperature‐programmed reduction and a steep increase in the catalytic activity observed in metathesis of propene and oxidative dehydrogenation of propane at 8 % of Mo loading are attributed to frustration of Mo oxide surface species and lateral interactions. Based on DFT calculations, NEXAFS spectra at the O‐K‐edge at high Mo loadings are explained by distorted MoO₄ complexes. Limited availability of anchor silanol groups at high loadings forces the MoO₄ groups to form more strained configurations. The occurrence of strain is linked to the increase in reactivity.     

Synthesis of 4,5-fused tricyclic quinolines via an acid-promoted intramolecular Friedel–Crafts allenylation of aniline derivatives

A novel method for synthesizing 4,5-fused tricyclic quinoline derivatives based on an acid-promoted intramolecular Friedel–Crafts allenylation of anilines. Using aryl group-substituted propargyl alcohol derivatives with a meta-substituted N-Boc aniline unit as substrates, a four-step reaction sequence involving an acid-promoted intramolecular Friedel–Crafts allenylation of anilines, an acid-promoted intramolecular C–N bond formation, deprotection of the Boc group, and air oxidation proceeded in a single pot, producing the corresponding 4,5-fused tricyclic quinoline derivatives in 31–84% yield.