Active sites engineering of Pt/CNT oxygen reduction catalysts by atomic layer deposition

Understanding carbon-supported Pt-catalyzed oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)from the perspective of the active sites is of fundamental and practical importance.In this study,three differently sized carbon nanotube-supported Pt nanoparticles(Pt/CNT)are prepared by both atomic layer deposition(ALD)and impregnation methods.The performances of the catalysts toward the ORR in acidic media are comparatively studied to probe the effects of the sizes of the Pt nanoparticles together with their distributions,electronic properties,and local environments.The ALD-Pt/CNT catalysts show much higher ORR activity and selectivity than the impregnation-Pt/CNT catalysts.This outstanding ORR performance is ascribed to the well-controlled Pt particle sizes and distributions,desirable Pt^04f binding energy,and the Cl-free Pt surfaces based on the electrocatalytic measurements,catalyst characterizations,and model calculations.The insights reported here could guide the rational design and fine-tuning of carbon-supported Pt catalysts for the ORR.     

Facile preparation of nano-g-C3N4/UiO-66-NH2 composite as sorbent for high-efficient extraction and preconcentration of food colorants prior to HPLC analysis

In this work,the nano-g-C₃N₄/Ui O-66-NH₂composite was prepared by one-step solvothermal method.The as-prepared composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy,Brunner-Emmet-Teller measurement,energy dispersive spectrometer,X-ray diffraction,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.By using nano-g-C₃N₄/Ui O-66-NH₂composite as sorbent,a dispersive solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatogra...     

Versatile coordination chemistry towards multifunctional carbon nanotube nanohybrids

Dispersible single-walled carbon nanotubes grafted with poly(4-vinylpyridine), SWNT-PVP, were tested in coordination assays with zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnP). Kinetic and spectroscopic evidence corroborates the successful formation of a SWNT-PVPZnP nanohybrid. Within this SWNT-PVPZnP nanohybrid, static electron-transfer quenching (2.0+/-0.1) x 10(9) s(-1) converts the photoexcited-ZnP chromophore into a radical-ion-pair state with a microsecond lifetime, namely one-electron oxidized-ZnP and reduced-SWNT.     

Synthesis of Macrocyclic Arsinous Acid Estcrs

MacrocyclicarsinousacidestersareusuallypreparedbycondensationofdichloroalkylarsinesRAsCI,Iwithdidsinthepresenceoforganicalkali].ThemethoddescribedhereinvolvesthetransformationofintermediatefromItohis(dimethylamino)alkylarsineRAs(NMe,),2andthereactionof2withdidsindryTHFtoleadtotheformationoftitlecompounds.2canreactsmoothlywithdidsintheabsenceoforganicalkalitogeneratecorrespondingmacrocyclicarsinousacidesters4anddimethylaminewhichescapesfromthereactingsystemasagasinreflux.Althoughonemoreste…     

Homogenous synthesis of hydroxyethylcellulose in NaOH/urea aqueous solution

Hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) was synthesized by a fully homogenous method from cellulose in 7.5 wt.-% NaOH/11 wt.-% urea aqueous solutions under mild conditions. HEC samples were characterized with NMR, SEC-LLS, solubility, and viscosity measurements. The MS and DS values of the obtained HEC samples are in the range from 0.54 to 1.44 and 0.45 to 1.14, respectively, and the relative DS values at C-2 and C-6 hydroxyl groups are slightly higher than those at C-3 hydroxyl groups. HEC samples are soluble in water starting from a MS of 0.57 and DS of 0.49, which display high viscosity in aqueous solutions. Moreover, a NaOH/urea aqueous solution is a stable system for cellulose etherification. In this way, we could provide a simple, pollution-free, and homogeneous aqueous solution system for synthesizing cellulose ethers.     

CO adsorption on Ag(100) and Ag/MgO(100)

Theoretical studies of CO adsorption on a two-layer Ag(100) film and on a two-layer Ag film on a MgO(100) support are reported. Ab initio calculations are carried at the configuration interaction level of theory using embedding methods to treat the metal-adsorbate region and the extended ionic solid. The metal overlayer is considered in two different structures: where Ag-Ag distances are equal to the value in the bulk solid, and for a slightly expanded lattice in which the Ag-Ag distances are equal to the O-O distance on the MgO(100) surface. The calculated adsorption energy of Ag(100) on MgO(100) is 0.58 eV per Ag interfacial atom; the Ag-O distance is 2.28 A. A small transfer of electrons from MgO to Ag occurs on deposition of the silver overlayer. CO adsorption at an atop Ag site is found to be the most stable for adsorption on the two-layer Ag film and also for adsorption on Ag deposited on the oxide; CO adsorption energies range from 0.12 to 0.19 eV. The CO adsorption energy is reduced for the Ag/MgO system compared to adsorption on the unsupported metal film thereby providing evidence for a direct electronic effect of the oxide support at the metal overlayer surface. Expansion of the Ag-Ag distance in the two-layer system also reduces the adsorption energy.     

Dense layers of vertically oriented WO3 crystals as anodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Films of crystalline WO(3) nanosheets oriented perpendicular to tungsten substrates were grown by a surfactant-free hydrothermal method, followed by sintering. The films exhibit photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution at low overpotential.     

Morphology transformation via pH-triggered self-assembly of peptides

Three flexible peptides (P1: (C(17)H(35)CO-NH-GRGDG)(2)KG; P2: (Fmoc-GRGDG)(2)KG; P3: (CH(3)CO-NH-GRGDG)(2)KG) self-assembled to form a variety of morphologically distinct assemblies at different pHs. P1 formed nanofibers at pH 3, then self-assembled into nanospheres with pH up to 6 and further changed to lamellar structures when the pH value was further increased to 10. P2 aggregated into an entwined network structure at pH 3, and then self-assembled into well-defined nanospheres, lamellar structures, and vesicles via adjusting the pH value. However, P3 did not self-assemble into well-ordered nanostructures, presumably due to the absence of a large hydrophobic group. The varying self-assembly behaviors of the peptides at different pHs are attributed to molecular conformational changes. These self-assembled supramolecular materials might contribute to the development of new peptide-based biomaterials.     

Designed double layer assembly: a three-dimensional open framework with two types of cavities by connection of infinite two-dimensional bilayer

A photoluminescent three-dimensional coordination polymer containing two types of cavities is prepared by the covalent linkage of 2D bilayer motif with linear connecting ligand.