Overwhelming electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction of zinc-nitrogen-carbon from biomass resource chitosan via a facile carbon bath method

Developing high efficiency and low cost electrocatalysts is critical for the enhancement of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is the fundamental for the development and commercialization of renewable energy conversion technology. Herein, zinc-nitrogen-carbon (Zn-N-C) was prepared by using biomass resource chitosan via a facile carbon bath method. The obtained Zn-N-C delivered a high specific surface area (794.7 cm²/g) together with pore volume (0.49 cm³/g). During the electrochemical evaluation of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), Zn-N-C displayed high activity for ORR with an onset potential E₀ = 0.96 V_RHE and a half wave potential E_1/2 = 0.86 V_RHE, which were more positive than those of the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C benchmark catalyst (E₀ = 0.96 V_RHE and E_1/2 = 0.81 V_RHE). In addition, the Zn-N-C catalyst also had a better stability and methanol tolerance than those of the Pt/C catalyst.     

Effects of pretreatments and modifiers on electrochemical properties of carbon paste electrodes

The electrochemical properties of carbon paste electrodes (CPEs), including unmodified and modified with protein and polycations, were investigated by impedance spectroscopy (IS) using ferricyanide and ferrocene monocarboxylic acid (FcMA) as redox probes. Various electrochemical pretreatments were applied to the unmodified CPE. The heterogeneous charge transfer rate constant of ferro/ferricyanide couple is enhanced by 2 to 10 times compared with that obtained at untreated electrodes. It was found that for ferricyanide the more suitable pretreatments are successive cyclic voltammetric scans, cathodization and a square wave-like stepping rather than high-potential anodization. However, the pretreatment only exhibits a slight effect on the kinetics of FcMA. At the CPEs containing modifier, the electron transfer rate of the redox couple depends more on the pH of electrolyte solution if ferro/ferricyanide is used. The results can be explained by the differently charged states of the CPEs that were caused by the protonation or deprotonation of the modifiers in various pH solutions and demonstrate the importance of the electrostatic interaction on the kinetics of the highly polar species such as ferricyanide. The different adsorptive behavior of ferricyanide and FcMA is also discussed.     

CO2氧化丙烷脱氢MoO3-V2O5/SiO2催化剂研究

采用表面改性和等体积浸渍法制备了MoO3-V2O5／SiO2复合氧化物，采用TPR、IR、TPD和微反技术表征了催化剂对CO2和C3H8的吸附性能和CO2部分氧化丙烷脱氢的反应性能．结果表明：随MoO3加入量的增加，V=O还原温度降低，晶格氧更易活化．CO2和丙烷的活化温度降低，丙烷转化率增高，丙烯选择性下降．V=O中晶格氧的活化是CO2氧化丙烷制丙烯反应的关键．     

The use of carbon nanofibers microcolumn preconcentration for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry determination of Mn,Co and Ni

Based on carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as a solid phase extraction adsorbent, a microcolumn preconcentration method coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) was developed for the determination of trace elements (Mn, Co and Ni). The effect of various experimental parameters such as pH, sample flow rate and volume, elution solution and interfering ions on the retention of the studied ions have been investigated systematically. During all the steps of the experimental process, Mn, Co and Ni could be quantitatively sorbed on the microcolumn containing CNFs in the range of pH 6.0–9.0, and then eluted completely with 0.5 mol ml^− 1 HNO₃. A preconcentration factor of 150-fold was obtained. The detection limits for Mn, Co and Ni were 40, 0.4 and 8.0 pg ml^− 1, respectively, with relative standard deviations less than 6.0%. In order to validate the proposed method, two certified reference materials of human hair (GBW 07601) and mussel (GBW 08571), and water sample were analyzed with satisfactory results. The recoveries were between 95.0 and 114%.     

Selective Determination of Quercetin Using Carbon Nanotube‐Modified Electrodes

Electrochemical detection of quercetin has been carried out on glassy carbon electrodes modified with carbon nanotubes and Nafion (GC/Nafion‐CNT). GC/Nafion‐CNT electrodes did not show passivation effect that occurs on the unmodified electrodes and displayed better stability and reproducibility. Quercetin oxidation was most favorable in acidic conditions and current gradually decreased as the solution pH increased. No oxidation was observed when two ? OH groups in a catechol moiety were fully deprotonated. These electrodes enabled selective determination of quercetin in the presence of interfering species such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, glucose, and catechol in large excess. Quantification of quercetin in a yellow onion has been made and favorably compared with reported values. Good selectivity and high sensitivity obtained by Osteryoung sSquare‐wave voltammetry can open new possibilities of direct quercetin determination in vegetables with a minimal sample treatment.     

Preparation and characterization of silica—polyimide composite membranes coated on porous tubes for CO2 separation

Silica-polyimide microcomposite membranes were prepared on γ-alumina-coated α-alumina support tubes, and their gas permeation properties were evaluated with He, N₂ and CO₂. Smoothing of the substrate surface and hybridization of silica and polyamic acid were both effective to form defect-free thin composite membranes. The CO₂ permeance of a membrane with a silica content of 68 wt% was one order of magnitude higher than that of a polyimide membrane having the same thickness. The permselectivity of CO₂ to N₂ was 30 at 30°C and 13 at 100°C. Contributions of the silica and polyimide phases to permeance of the composite membrane were analyzed with a two-phase permeation model. The effective thickness of the rate-controlling polyimide phase was less than one-tenth of the total thickness of the silica-polyimide membrane.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed one-pot hydroformylation of alkenes using carbon dioxide as a reactant

A new hydroformylation of alkenes using carbon dioxide as a reactant is shown to take place in the presence of ruthenium cluster complexes and halide salts. Similar or even better yields of alcohols were formed as compared to the conventional hydroformylation with CO under the same reaction conditions. The reaction proceeded in three steps: CO₂ is first converted to CO; then it is used as a reagent for hydroformylation to give aldehyde; subsequently, it is hydrogenated to alcohol. ESI-mass spectrometric analyses of the reaction solutions indicated formation of four kinds of ruthenium anionic complexes including tetra-, tri-, and mononuclear species. On the basis of experimental findings, possible roles of these complexes are discussed.     

甲烷二氧化碳介质阻挡放电转化产物分布研究

针对介质阻挡放电甲烷二氧化碳转化实验,分析了反应的产物分布,探讨了进料组成和反应器结构对反应的影响.反应产物包括:高H2/CO摩尔比的合成气、气态烃、高辛烷值的汽油组分、醇和酸等含氧有机物.对所述电极结构,产物的选择性随碳数增加而降低;高的甲烷进料浓度有利于烃的生成,对醇和酸的最佳甲烷进料体积分数范围在67.4％～75.1％;放电间隙越小,原料转化率和烃、酸的选择性越大,大的放电间隙对醇的生成有利.     

A high yielding, one-pot synthesis of O,S-dialkyl dithiocarbonates from alcohols using Mitsunobu’s reagent

A novel Mitsunobu-based protocol has been developed for the synthesis of O,S-dialkyl dithiocarbonates from a variety of primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols using carbon disulfide, in good to excellent yields. This protocol is mild and efficient compared to other reported methods.     

碳纤维微电极恒电位活化及测定金属离子的研究

碳纤维微电极已被广泛应用于电化学研究和分析测定,该电极尺寸极小,在分析性能上与常规电极有显著不同,在不镀汞的情况下,用碳纤维电极直接测定金属离子几乎没有明显的伏安响应,本文提出用+2.5 V恒电位预先活化碳纤维电极,使测定灵敏度大为提高,在双电极体系和静止溶液中,采用溶出伏安法可测定10~(-9)级金属离子,以同样的方法清洗电极,测定结果重现性良好,由于分析过程中不使用汞,该电极的测定范围大大增加,特别是用于氧化还原电位较正的金属离子测试,根据循环伏安法、扫描电镜和电子能谱的研究,发现碳纤维表面状况在处理前后有很大变化,并与测定灵敏度密切相关。