The use of imidazolium ionic liquids for the formation and stabilization of ir0 and rh0 nanoparticles: efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of arenes

Stable transition-metal nanoparticles of the type [M(0)](n) are easily accessible through the reduction of Ir(I) or Rh(III) compounds dissolved in "dry" 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid by molecular hydrogen. The formation of these [M(0)](n) nanoparticles is straightforward; they are prepared in dry ionic liquid whereas the presence of the water causes the partial decomposition of ionic liquid with the formation of phosphates, HF and transition-metal fluorides. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) show the formation of [Ir(0)](n) and [Rh(0)](n) nanoparticles with 2.0-2.5 nm in diameter. The isolated [M(0)](n) nanoparticles can be redispersed in the ionic liquid, in acetone or used in solventless conditions for the liquid-liquid biphasic, homogeneous or heterogeneous hydrogenation of arenes under mild reaction conditions (75 degrees C and 4 atm). The recovered iridium nanoparticles can be reused several times without any significant loss in catalytic activity. Unprecedented total turnover numbers (TTO) of 3509 in 32 h, for arene hydrogenation by nanoparticles catalysts, have been achieved in the reduction of benzene by the [Ir(0)](n) in solventless conditions. Contrarily, the recovered Rh(0) nanoparticles show significant agglomeration into large particles with a loss of catalytic activity. The hydrogenation of arenes containing functional groups, such as anisole, by the [Ir(0)](n) nanoparticles occurs with concomitant hydrogenolysis of the C-O bond, suggesting that these nanoparticles behave as "heterogeneous catalysts" rather than "homogeneous catalysts".     

Metallic Particles from Complexing Microcapsules Dispersed in a Silica Gel

A new process to control the distribution of metal nanoparticles is proposed. It involves the use of complexing microcapsules obtained by interfacial polycondensation. The latter are hollow spheres constituted of a polymer membrane, containing an insoluble active ingredient, such as a polyacrylic acid, which can complex Co²⁺ ions. These capsules are dispersed in a silica sol followed by thermal treatments and reduction under H₂ which results in metallic Co nanoparticles confined in the capsules domains. The particles do not diffuse in the matrix.     

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on Fe3+-doped TiO2 nanoparticles under visible light irradiation

Fe³⁺-doped TiO₂ composite nanoparticles with different doping amounts were successfully synthesized using sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultravioletvisible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was used as a model reaction to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of Fe³⁺/TiO₂ nanoparticles under visible light irradiation. The influence of doping amount of Fe³⁺ (ω: 0.00%–3.00%) on photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ was investigated. Results show that the size of Fe³⁺/TiO₂ particles decreases with the increase of the amount of Fe³⁺ and their absorption spectra are broaden and absorption intensities are also increased. Doping Fe³⁺ can control the conversion of TiO₂ from anatase to rutile. The doping amount of Fe³⁺ remarkably affects the activity of the catalyst, and the optimum efficiency occurs at about the doping amount of 0.3%. The appropriate doping of Fe³⁺ can markedly increase the catalytic activity of TiO₂ under visible light irradiation. __________ Translated from Journal of Northwest Normal University (Natural Science), 2006, 42(6): 55–56 [译自: 西北师范大学学报(自然科学版)]     

XPS study of interactions between linear carbon chains and colloidal Au nanoparticles

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Ab initio and DFT studies on tautomerism of indazole in gaseous and aqueous phases

Electronic structure of optimized Ge₅, Ge₁₇, Ge₅–O and Ge₅ embedded in SiO₂ nanoparticles have been studied by density functional theory to find out the effect of cluster size and Ge–O bond(s) on the optical energy gap between LUMO and HOMO. It was found that the optical energy gap depends on both cluster size and the number of Ge–O bonds nonlinearly. The optical energy gap was found to be in visible light range when the Ge₅ nanoparticle has been embedded in SiO₂ matrix.     

Inorganic—Organic Hybrid 18—Molybdodiphosphate Nanoparticles Bullk—modified Carbon Paste Electrode and Its Electrocatalysis

A kind of inorganic‐organic hybrid 18‐molybdodiphosphate nanoparticles ([(C₄H₉)₄N]₆P₂Mo₁₈Q₆₂·4H₂O) was firstly used as a bulk‐modifier to fabricate a three‐dimensional chemically modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) by direct mixing. The electrochemical behavior of the solid nanoparticles dispersed in the CPE in acidic aqueous solution was characterized by cyclic and square‐wave voltammetry. The hybrid 18‐molybdodiphosphate nanoparticles bulk‐modified CPE (MNP‐CPE) displayed a high electrocatalytic activity towards the reduction of nitrite, bromate and hydrogen peroxide. The remarkable advantages of the MNP‐CPE over the traditional polyoxometalates‐modified electrodes are their excellent reproducibility of surface‐renewal and high stability owing to the insolubility of the hybrid 18‐molybdodiphosphate nanoparticles.     

Metal Nanoparticles on Stainless Steel Surfaces as Novel Heterogeneous Catalysts

The goal of this work was the development of a novel type of heterogeneous catalyst, consisting of bare metal nanoparticles on stainless steel foils, which can be shaped to any kind of architecture and, if necessary, heated electrically. Solutions of pre-prepared, ligand protected and monodispersed gold, palladium, platinum and rhodium nanoparticles were sprayed onto stainless steel foils, followed by the careful removal of the ligand molecules by an oxygen plasma treatment. Due to this, bare particles become irreversibly fixed on the steel support. It could be shown that the original particle sizes do not change during the plasma treatment. Foils, densely coated with the nanoparticles, were used for gas phase catalyses in a self-made reactor at room temperature or at 60 °C. Hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene at 15 nm Pd and 2 nm Pt, CO oxidation at 16 nm, 8 nm and 1.4 nm gold and NO reduction with NH₃ at 2 nm Rh particles were performed, indicating that the novel catalysts might in principle be applicable in technical processes if the experimental conditions like form and temperature would be optimized. Dedicated to Professor Dieter Fenske on the occassion of his 65th birthday.     

Gold nanoparticles as dehydrogenase mimicking nanozymes for estradiol degradation

Small gold nanoparticles can mimic dehydrogenase activity to catalyze estradiol (E2) oxidation to estrone (E1), extending the range of nanozyme catalysis to environmentally and biologically important substrates.     

功能化离子液体中Ag纳米微粒的制备及摩擦学性能研究

合成了1-甲基-3-羟乙基咪唑四氟硼酸盐离子液体([C₂OHmim]BF₄)，用红外光谱表征了其结构。以所合成的离子液体作为还原剂、稳定剂与反应介质制备了Ag纳米微粒，用XRD和TEM对微粒的结构和形貌进行了表征。在四球摩擦磨损实验机上研究了[C₂OHmim]BF₄离子液体及掺入Ag纳米微粒后的离子液体的摩擦学性能。掺入银纳米微粒后，离子液体在高载荷下的润滑性有了大幅的改善。用SEM和XPS分别对磨痕表面的形貌和元素组成、化学状态进行了分析，结果表明：在低、高载荷分别起润滑作用的是有机膜和金属-有机复合膜。     

The Intelligent Properties of Micro－reactors for Preparating Nanoparticles

TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by using micro-reactors. The shape and size of the nanoparticles produced from the original micro-reactors and the five times recycled micro-reactorsmother liquor were investigated on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) by using the original sample, freeze prepared sample, and dyeing treated sample, respectively. UV-VIS spectrometry was used to study the growth process of TiO2 nanoparticles in main reactors. The results showed that micro-reactors with nanometer magnitude had spherical or oval structures, and could restore to their original structure after they were destroyed. The products prepared in the original micro-reactors were similar to that in the micro-reactors recycled for many times, suggesting that the micro-reactors had memory function.