An Overview of Metal-Organic Framework Based Electrocatalysts: Design and Synthesis for Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution,Oxygen Evolution,and Carbon Dioxide Reduction Reactions

Due to the increasing global energy demands, scarce fossil fuel supplies, and environmental issues, the pursued goals of energy technologies are being sustainable, more efficient, accessible, and produce near zero greenhouse gas emissions. Electrochemical water splitting is considered as a highly viable and eco-friendly energy technology. Further, electrochemical carbon dioxide (CO₂) reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is a cleaner strategy for CO₂ utilization and conversion to stable energy (fuels). One of the critical issues in these cleaner technologies is the development of efficient and economical electrocatalyst. Among various materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are becoming increasingly popular because of their structural tunability, such as pre- and post- synthetic modifications, flexibility in ligand design and its functional groups, and incorporation of different metal nodes, that allows for the design of suitable MOFs with desired quality required for each process. In this review, the design of MOF was discussed for specific process together with different synthetic methods and their effects on the MOF properties. The MOFs as electrocatalysts were highlighted with their performances from the aspects of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and electrochemical CO₂RR. Finally, the challenges and opportunities in this field are discussed.     

Organic‐inorganic hybrids based on phenanthrene‐functionalized gold nanoparticles for OLEDs

The electroluminescence intensity of the phenanthrene‐functionalized gold nanoparticles, PMPT‐Au nanoparticles/CPB: Ir(PIA)₂ (acac) film, was increased by 4.9 times compared with control device, CPB: Ir(PIA)₂ (acac) due to coupling between the excitons of emissive layer and localized surface plasmonic resonance of PMPT‐Au NPs. The maximum luminous efficiencies of devices II to IV with PMPT‐Au NPs were 39.2 cd A^?1 (11.8 V), 40.1 cd A^?1 (10.5 V), and 43.1 cd A^?1 (9.0 V), respectively. The increment of current efficiency with PMPT‐Au NP coated devices was strongly related to the energy transfer between the radiated light generated from CBP: Ir(PIA)₂ (acac) emissive layer and localized surface plasmonic resonance excited by PMPT‐Au NP layer.     

A pyrone remodeling strategy to access diverse heterocycles: application to the synthesis of fascaplysin natural products

The synthesis of diverse N-fused heterocycles, including the pyrido[1,2-a]indole scaffold, using an efficient pyrone remodeling strategy is described. The pyrido[1,2-a]indole core was demonstrated to be a versatile scaffold that can be site-selectively functionalized. The utility of this novel annulation strategy was showcased in a concise formal synthesis of three fascaplysin congeners.

The synthesis of diverse N-fused heterocycles, including the pyrido[1,2-a]indole scaffold, using an efficient pyrone remodeling strategy is described.     

Determination of Paraquat Dichloride from Water Samples Using Differential Pulse Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry

Paraquat dichloride commonly used as herbicide was determined by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry technique. Experimental parameters, such as pH, accumulation time, accumulation potential and initial potential were optimized. In this analysis, paraquat dichloride exhibited a well-defined tworeduction peaks at ?0.35 and ?0.90 V in the pH range from 2.0 to 12.0. The 0.04 mol L^–1 BR buffer at pH 2.0 was found a suitable medium for electroanalytical determination of the paraquat dichloride. Interfering ions effect was not significant. Linear calibration plots for standard solutions of paraquat dichloride were obtained in the range of 0.25 to 1.75 × 10^–6 mol L^–1. Detection limit was 3.66 × 10^–8 mol L^–1. The optimized parameters were effectively applied for the determination of commercial paraquat dichloride and in artificial samples. Artificial samples were prepared by spiking paraquat dichloride into tap water and drinking water dispenser samples. The recovery value was 90.5% in drinking water dispenser samples and 91.7% in tap water samples at the concentration range of 1.00 × 10^–6 to 1.75 × 10^–6 mol L^–1.

     

Slow Magnetic Relaxation and Single‐Molecule Toroidal Behaviour in a Family of Heptanuclear {CrIIILnIII6} (Ln=Tb,Ho, Er) Complexes

The synthesis, magnetic properties, and theoretical studies of three heterometallic {Cr^IIILn^III₆} (Ln=Tb, Ho, Er) complexes, each containing a metal topology consisting of two Ln₃ triangles connected via a Cr^III linker, are reported. The {CrTb₆} and {CrEr₆} analogues display slow relaxation of magnetization in a 3000 Oe static magnetic field. Single‐crystal measurements reveal opening up of the hysteresis loop for {CrTb₆} and {CrHo₆} molecules at low temperatures. Ab initio calculations predict toroidal magnetic moments in the two Ln₃ triangles, which are found to couple, stabilizing a con‐rotating ferrotoroidal ground state in Tb and Ho examples and extend the possibility of observing toroidal behaviour in non Dy^III complexes for the first time.     

Thermal characterization of NaNO3/KNO3 with different concentrations of Al2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The thermo-physical properties of NaNO3/KNO3 (solar salt) added with Al2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles as phase change material in thermal energy storage...     

Alkyl substituents triggered an unexpected formation of mono-and dinuclear zirconium hydrazonate complexes: synthesis,characterization and their catalytic behavior toward ethylene polymerization

Mononuclear zirconium complex 3a of the molecular identity [Zr[η²-(C₄H₃O)C (Et) = NNPh]Cl₃(THF)₂], dinuclear zirconium complexes 3b [{Zr[η²-(C₄H₃O)C(i-Pr) = NNPh]₂}₂(μ²-Cl)₃(μ³-Cl)₂Li(Et₂O)] and 3c [{Zr[η²-(C₄H₃O)C(t-Bu) = NNPh]₂}₂Cl₂(μ²-Cl)₂] have been synthesized by the treatment of lithium salt of (C₄H₃O)C(R) = NNHPh (R = CH₃CH₂, 1a ; R = (CH₃)₂CH, 1b ; R = (CH₃)₃C, 1c ), with different molar ratios of anhydrous zirconium tetrachloride. Of these, complex 3b was formed with lithium adduct and no such adduct was found in complex 3c . Compound 1a and all the zirconium complexes ( 3a - 3c ) were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Thus, it revealed that each hydrazonato ligand acts in a strained η²-coordination fashion for the three zirconium complexes. The molecular structures of the three zirconium complexes ( 3a - 3c ) reveal the existence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. Interestingly, complexes 3a and 3b assemble into a two-dimensional network structure through intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane (MAO), all the complexes namely 3a , 3b , and 3c exhibited moderate catalytic activities toward ethylene polymerization and produced high molecular weight polyethylene with narrow molecular weight distributions.     

Unifying Molecular Weights of Highly Linear Polyethylene Waxes through Unsymmetrical 2,4-Bis(imino)pyridylchromium Chlorides

By dealing CrCl₃∙3THF with the corresponding ligands (L1–L5), an array of fluoro-substituted chromium (III) chlorides (Cr1–Cr5) bearing 2-[1-(2,4-dibenzhydryl-6-fluoro- phenylimino)ethyl]-6-[1-(arylimino)ethyl]pyridine (aryl = 2,6-Me₂Ph Cr1, 2,6-Et₂Ph Cr2, 2,6-iPr₂Ph Cr3, 2,4,6-Me₃Ph Cr4, 2,6-Et₂-4-MePh Cr5) was synthesized in good yield and validated via Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Besides the routine characterizations, the single-crystal X-ray diffraction study revealed the solid-state structures of complexes Cr2 and Cr4 as the distorted-octahedral geometry around the chromium center. Activated by either methylaluminoxane (MAO) or modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), all the chromium catalysts exhibited high activities toward ethylene polymerization with the MMAO-promoted polymerizations far more productive than with MAO (20.14 × 10⁶ g (PE) mol⁻¹ (Cr) h⁻¹ vs. 10.03 × 10⁶ g (PE) mol⁻¹ (Cr) h⁻¹). In both cases, the resultant polyethylenes were found as highly linear polyethylene waxes with low molecular weights around 1–2 kg mol⁻¹ and narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD range: 1.68–2.25). In general, both the catalytic performance of the ortho-fluorinated chromium complexes and polymer properties have been the subject of a detailed investigation and proved to be highly dependent on the polymerization reaction parameters (including cocatalyst type and amount, reaction temperature, ethylene pressure and run time).     

Effective electro-chemo-therapy for proliferation control of adult human mesenchymal stem cells

Clinically chemo-resistant types of cancers do not respond well to conventional therapies. To treat and enhance the efficacy of drug delivery for these cancers, we have developed an in vitro model of a combination therapy using adult human mesenchymal stem cells, electrical pulses and chemo drug. Adult Mesenchymal stem cells were used because they are similar to cancer stem cells which cause the tumor to be chemo- and radiation resistant. These cells, derived from human adult bone marrow were subjected to low voltage, long duration (200 V/cm, 40 ms and 450 V/cm, 25 ms) and high voltage, short duration (1200 V/cm, 100 μs) pulses. The effect of these voltages on the viability and proliferation ability of these cells in the presence and absence of Bleomycin (chemodrug used for treating various cancers, FDA approved in US and other respective medical agencies in other countries,) indicate the potential of transfer of this technique to clinical practice for effective electro-targeted stem cell therapy.