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.     

基于钨(钼)酸铋半导体复合材料的合成及其在光催化降解中的应用

由于全球的工农业的迅速发展,水污染已成为人类所面临的最大危机。基于半导体光催化法是治理水污染的绿色技术之一,能够有效地降解和去除水中的污染物。在众多光催化材料中,金属氧化物半导体由于其具有低毒性、高稳定性和对水溶液中化学腐蚀的较高的抵抗力等优点,而被科学家们广泛地研究和应用。其中,三元组分的金属氧化物因其具有较窄的禁带宽度和可见光响应性质,在光催化降解领域上的能力已经超过其他的金属化合物。本文系统地介绍了两种典型的三元金属氧化物——钨酸铋和钼酸铋,围绕着基于钨酸铋和钼酸铋的复合型催化剂的制备和在光催化降解废水处理领域中的应用以及发展进行了综述,提出了目前关于钨酸铋和钼酸铋的复合材料的设计、机理研究和改性修饰方法中的所存在的主要问题,并对未来的发展趋势进行了展望。     

(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.     

Effect of synthesis pH on the physicochemical properties of a synthesized Bi2WO6 and the type of substrate chosen,in assessing its photo-catalytic activities

Crystalline orthorhombic Bi₂WO₆ powders were synthesized by a hydrothermal method from aqueous solutions of Bi(NO₃)₃·5H₂O and Na₂WO₄·2H₂O over a range of three selected pH values (2.0, 5.0 and 7.0), using NaOH as precipitating agent. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, FE-SEM, TEM, XPS and UV-vis spectroscopy. The effect of pH-synthesis on crystallinity, morphologies, surface area and optical absorption properties, were investigated. Although the pH has a marked influence on morphology, the nature of the precipitating agent (NaOH or TEA) also influences the morphology and surface structure composition, as it is observed in the present work. Three different probe molecules were used to evaluate the photo-catalytic properties under two illumination conditions (UV and Visible): Methyl Orange and Rhodamine B were chosen as dye substrates and Phenol as a transparent substrate. The photo-catalytic activities are strongly dependent not only on the pH used in the synthesis but also on the nature of the chosen substrate in assessing the photo-catalytic activities. Results were compared with those obtained when using TiO₂(P25, Evonik) in the same experimental conditions. The photo-catalytic activity of one of the synthesised samples has been evaluated by exposing a mixture of Rhodamine B and Phenol in water, to different illumination conditions. Our results provide new evidences about the issue of whether dyes are suitable substrates to assess the activity of a photo-catalyst.     

铋改性的钒磷氧化物液相催化氧化环己烷的反应机理

 制备了铋改性的钒磷氧化物(Bi-VPO)催化剂,并将其用于液相催化氧化环己烷,研究了该反应的反应机理. 结果表明,铋改性可大大提高VPO催化剂在温和条件下对环己烷液相氧化的催化性能. 无溶剂实验和四氢呋喃作溶剂的实验证明反应过程中溶剂乙腈和H2O2之间存在相互作用; 自由基捕捉实验证明环己烷氧化过程中存在自由基反应历程; 环己醇氧化实验证明环己酮并不是来自环己醇的氧化,而是由环己烷直接氧化得到的.     

水热法制备二氧化锡/钨酸铋复合光催化材料及其催化活性研究

本文用水热法制备了正交晶系的纳米球状结构的二氧化锡和正交晶系的由片状聚集成球状结构的钨酸铋,并且对二者进行了复合,制备出了二氧化锡/钨酸铋复合光催化材料。采用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、比表面积测试仪(BET)、紫外可见分光光度计等技术对复合样品的结构、形貌、比表面积、孔容孔径和光学性质进行了表征。用碘钨灯模拟太阳光,分别以二氧化锡、钨酸铋和二氧化锡/钨酸铋复合材料为催化剂降解罗丹明B(RhB),研究所制备的二氧化锡/钨酸铋复合材料的光催化活性。光催化90 min时二氧化锡、钨酸铋和二氧化锡/钨酸铋对罗丹明B的降解率分别是9%、22%和30%。实验结果表明,在可见光下,二氧化锡/钨酸铋复合材料的光催化活性要高于单一的二氧化锡和钨酸铋。     

NaGd(WO 4)2∶Yb^3+,Ho^3+,Cr^3+微米晶的上转换发光与温度特性

采用水热法制备了NaGd(WO4)2(NGW)∶Yb^3+,Ho^3+,Cr^3+微米晶。研究了Cr^3+离子掺杂浓度对样品的晶体结构、微观形貌、上转换发光及温度传感特性的影响。在980 nm激光激发下,所有样品均发射以546 nm为中心的较弱绿光和以660 nm为中心的强红光,分别对应于Ho^3+离子的5F4,5S2→5I8和5F5→5I8能级跃迁。随Cr^3+离子掺杂量增加,绿光发射峰强度逐渐减弱,而红光发射先增大后减小,在10%时达到最大,样品色坐标逐渐向红色区域偏移。样品的变温光谱表明,NGW∶Yb^3+,Ho^3+,10%Cr^3+微米晶具有很好的温度特性,其测温灵敏度在486 K时达到最大,约为0.0337 K^-1,比NGW∶Yb^3+,Ho^3+的灵敏度提高近1倍。     

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.