Metal–Organic Framework-Derived Carbon Nanorods Encapsulating Bismuth Oxides for Rapid and Selective CO2 Electroreduction to Formate

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion is promising in alleviating the excessive CO₂ level and simultaneously producing valuables. This work reports the preparation of carbon nanorods encapsulated bismuth oxides for the efficient CO₂ electroconversion toward formate production. This resultant catalyst exhibits a small onset potential of −0.28 V vs. RHE and partial current density of over 200 mA cm⁻² with a stable and high Faradaic efficiency of 93 % for formate generation in a flow cell configuration. Electrochemical results demonstrate the synergistic effect in the Bi₂O₃@C promotes the rapid and selective CO₂ reduction in which the Bi₂O₃ is beneficial for improving the reaction kinetics and formate selectivity, while the carbon matrix would be helpful for enhancing the activity and current density of formate production. This work provides effective bismuth-based MOF derivatives for efficient formate production and offers insights in promoting practical CO₂ conversion technology.     

Molten-Salt-Assisted Synthesis of Bismuth Nanosheets for Long-term Continuous Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to Formate

Two-dimensional (2D) monometallic pnictogens (antimony or Sb, and bismuth or Bi) nanosheets demonstrate potential in a variety of fields, including quantum devices, catalysis, biomedicine and energy, because of their unique physical, chemical, electronic and optical properties. However, the development of general and high-efficiency preparative routes toward high-quality pnictogen nanosheets is challenging. A general method involving a molten-salt-assisted aluminothermic reduction process is reported for the synthesis of Sb and Bi nanosheets in high yields (>90 %). Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction was investigated on the Bi nanosheets, and high catalytic selectively to formate was demonstrated with a considerable current density at a low overpotential and an impressive stability. Bi nanosheets continuously convert CO₂ into formate in a flow cell operating for one month, with a yield rate of 787.5 mmol cm⁻² h⁻¹. Theoretical results suggest that the edge sites of Bi are far more active than the terrace sites.     

Assessment of Thermal Stability and Detonation Performance of 4-Amino-1,2,4-triazolium Nitrate as compared to 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene for Melt-cast Explosives

4-Amino-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate (4-ATN) is an energetic and non-sensitive ionic liquid, which was introduced as a good candidate in previous works for the replacement of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in melt-cast explosives. Since previous studies used pure nitric acid for nitration of 4-ATN, the effect of the use of low price industrial nitric acids (50 %, 70 % and 98 %) is investigated on the percent yields of 4-ATN. The thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) are done on the synthesized 4-ATN with impure nitric acid at a heating rate of 10 K · min^–1 by the vacuum system. The obtained TGA/DSC curves confirm decomposition of 4-ATN involving melting and dissociation. Derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves of 4-ATN at various heating rates are applied to obtain activation energy of thermolysis by several model-free techniques. The calculated activation energies are in the range 78.7–87.7 kJ · mol^–1, which are about 10 kJ · mol^–1 more than the reported activation energy of industrial TNT (purity 98.2 %), i.e. 66–70 kJ · mol^–1. Assessments of detonation performance of 4-ATN are also compared with TNT, which show higher detonation performance of 4-ATN. Thus, 4-ATN can be used with nitramine compounds as melt-cast explosives with higher thermal stability and detonation performance than corresponding nitramine compound/TNT explosives.     

(NH4)Bi2(IO3)2F5: An Unusual Ammonium‐Containing Metal Iodate Fluoride Showing Strong Second Harmonic Generation Response and Thermochromic Behavior

An ammonium‐containing metal iodate fluoride compound, (NH₄)Bi₂(IO₃)₂F₅, featuring a two‐dimensional double‐layered framework constructed by [BiO₂F₅]^6? and [BiO₄F₄]^9? polyhedra, as well as [IO₃]^? groups, was successfully synthesized. The well‐ordered alignment of these SHG‐active units leads to an extraordinary strong SHG response of 9.2 times that of KDP. Moreover, this compound possesses a large birefringence (Δn=0.0690 at 589.3 nm), a wide energy band gap (E_g=3.88 eV), and a high laser damage threshold (LDT; 40.2×AgGaS₂). In particular, thermochromic behavior was observed for the first time in this type of compound. Such multifunctional crystals will expand the application of nonlinear optical materials.     

Towards Long‐Term Photostability of Nickel Hydroxide/BiVO4 Photoanodes for Oxygen Evolution Catalysts via In Situ Catalyst Tuning

Increasing long‐term photostability of BiVO₄ photoelectrode is an important issue for solar water splitting. The NiOOH oxygen evolution catalyst (OEC) has fast water oxidation kinetics compared to the FeOOH OEC. However, it generally shows a lower photoresponse and poor stability because of the more substantial interface recombination at the NiOOH/BiVO₄ junction. Herein, we utilize a plasma etching approach to reduce both interface/surface recombination at NiOOH/BiVO₄ and NiOOH/electrolyte junctions. Further, adding Fe²⁺ into the borate buffer electrolyte alleviates the active but unstable character of etched‐NiOOH/BiVO₄, leading to an outstanding oxygen evolution over 200 h. The improved charge transfer and photostability can be attributed to the active defects and a mixture of NiOOH/NiO/Ni in OEC induced by plasma etching. Metallic Ni acts as the ion source for the in situ generation of the NiFe OEC over long‐term durability.     

Short-range order structure and free volume distribution in liquid bismuth: X-ray diffraction and computer simulations studies

ABSTRACT

The structure of liquid bismuth was studied by X-ray diffraction and computer simulation methods. The contraction of the atomic structure within the first coordination sphere in the temperature interval of 575-1225?K is reported. The temperature dependencies of the coordination numbers and of the free volume are analysed. On the basis of the temperature dependencies of the free volume, the temperature dependencies of viscosity and the self-diffusion coefficient were calculated to be in the ranges from 1.17 to 0.86?mPa?s and from 2.18 × 10^?9 to 5.44 × 10^?9?m²/s, respectively. The free volume – extracted results are in fair agreement with the experimental data and with the results obtained in the molecular dynamics simulations.     

Use of a Selective Ion Electrode for Determination of Nitrate in Soils

Abstract

A procedure for determination of nitrate in soils involving use of the Orion nitrate-selective electrode is described. It is rapid, simple, and precise, and it gives quantitative recovery of nitrate added to soils. The results by this procedure agree closely with those obtained by extraction-distillation methods of determining, nitrate in soil.     

钛酸铋系化合物的光催化性能研究

采用化学溶液分解法制备了钛酸铋化合物: Bi₁₂TiO₂₀, Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂和Bi₂Ti₂O₇, 并采用XRD表征了其结构. 用TEM观察发现其平均粒径＞100 nm, UV-Vis漫反射谱测定显示它们在可见光区均呈现极强的吸收特征. 紫外光照射下甲基橙的光催化降解脱色实验表明, 三种钛酸铋化合物均具有较强的光催化活性, 其中, Bi₁₂TiO₂₀的光催化活性最强, 几乎与P-25相同. 钛酸铋化合物光催化性能的不同在于它们具有不同的晶相结构和电子结构.     

Thermochemistry of the complexes of chromium nitrate with l-a-amino acids

The solid complexes of Cr(NO₃)₃ with L-α-amino acids (AA=Val, Leu, Thr, Arg, Phe and Try) have been prepared in 95% alcoholic, the compositions of which were identified as the general formula Cr(AA)₂(NO₃)₃·2H₂O by elemental and chemical analyses. The bonding characteristics of the title complexes were characterized by IR, indicating that nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the ligands coordinated to Cr³⁺ in a bidentate fashion. With the aid of TG-DTG and IR techniques, the complexes were subjected to thermal decomposition in an atmosphere of oxygen, presuming that the decompositions of the complexes consist of two steps and the complexes were decomposed into chromium hemitrioxide after undergoing dehydration and skeleton splitting of the complexes. The constant volume energies of combustion of the complexes were determined by a RBC-P type rotating-bomb calorimeter. According to Hess's law, the standard enthalpies of formation of the complexes were calculated as (-1831.40±4.40), (-2542.03±6.13), (-1723.81±3.99), (-2224.31±3.02), (-2911.61±6.53) and (-659.32±7.42) kJ mol^-1, respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.