Polypyrrole-Fe2O3 nanohybrid materials for electrochemical storage

We report on the synthesis and electrochemical characterization of nanohybrid polypyrrole (PPy) (PPy/Fe₂O₃) materials for electrochemical storage applications. We have shown that the incorporation of nanoparticles inside the PPy notably increases the charge storage capability in comparison to the “pure” conducting polymer. Incorporation of large anions, i.e., paratoluenesulfonate, allows a further improvement in the capacity. These charge storage modifications have been attributed to the morphology of the composite in which the particle sizes and the specific surface area are modified with the incorporation of nanoparticles. High capacity and stability have been obtained in PC/NEt₄BF₄ (at 20 mV/s), i.e., 47 mAh/g, with only a 3% charge loss after one thousand cyles. The kinetics of charge–discharge is also improved by the hybrid nanocomposite morphology modifications, which increase the rate of insertion–expulsion of counter anions in the bulk of the film. A room temperature ionic liquid such as imidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonimide seems to be a promising electrolyte because it further increases the capacity up to 53 mAh/g with a high stability during charge–discharge processes.     

Electrophysical properties of titanates of alkaline-earth metals

Results on oxygen-ion, electron, and proton conduction and oxygen penetrability of titanates of alkaline-earth metals doped with acceptor admixtures are briefly reviewed. The applicability of these materials in electrochemical devices, in particular, as oxygen-penetrable membranes, is considered. The focus is on the studies carried out at the Institute of High-Temperature Electrochemistry, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.     

基于离子液体的炭材料制备、改性及应用

离子液体因其熔点低、液态温域宽、蒸气压低、热稳定性高、电导率高、电化学窗口宽、结构可设计及对许多化合物的亲和性等系列性能而引起人们广泛关注。离子液体在炭材料制备、改性领域展示出了良好的前景及巨大的应用潜力,可直接作为碳源,经过高温炭化实现杂原子掺杂制备多孔炭材料;离子液体也可充当反应介质和致孔剂,将生物质转化为多孔炭材料;此外,由于离子液体与炭材料相容性较好,可以用于多孔炭材料改性制备炭复合材料。基于离子液体的炭材料在电催化、超级电容器、吸附分离及生物医学等领域具有潜在的应用价值。本文总结了基于离子液体炭材料的制备、改性及应用最新研究进展,并着重介绍了其在能源和环境相关领域的应用。     

Synthesis of Tetrahydrofuran and Tetrahydropyran Derivatives Catalyzed by Tungstophosphoric Acid in Ionic Liquid

Synthesis of tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran derivatives catalyzed by tungstophosphoric acid （H3PW12040） were conveniently performed with high yield from the corresponding unsaturated alcohols in ionic liquid. Sufuric acid （H2SO4）, trifluoromathanesulfonic acid （TfOH） and p-toluenesulfonic acid （TsOH） were also explored for preparing these products in ionic liquid. The catalysts and ionic liquid can be easily recovered and reused.     

Heterogeneous oxidation of pyrimidine and alkyl thioethers in ionic liquids over mesoporous Ti or Ti/Ge catalysts

Heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of a series of thioethers (2-thiomethylpyrimidine, 2-thiomethyl-4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidine, 2-thiobenzylpyrimidine, 2-thiobenzyl-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine, thioanisole, and n-heptyl methyl sulfide) was performed in ionic liquids by using MCM-41 and UVM-type mesoporous catalysts containing Ti, or Ti and Ge. A range of triflate, tetrafluoroborate, trifluoroacetate, lactate and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide-based ionic liquids were used. The oxidations were carried out by using anhydrous hydrogen peroxide or the urea-hydrogen peroxide adduct and showed that ionic liquids are very effective solvents, achieving greater reactivity and selectivity than reactions performed in dioxane. The effects of halide and acid impurities on the reactions were also investigated. Recycling experiments on catalysts were carried out in order to evaluate Ti leaching and its effect on activity and selectivity.     

Photochemical Ionic-Conductivity Switching Systems of Photochromic Crown Ethers for Information Technology

Design of two types of ion-conducting systems using photochromic crown ethers as the photocontrol agents is described; one type is based on the phase transition of azobenzene derivatives induced by their photoisomerization and the other based on the molecular control of metal ion complexation by crowned spirobenzopyrans. The photoresponsive ion-conducting systems are applicable to electrostatic imaging and photorefractive materials.     

Photocatalytic and antifouling properties of TiO2-based photocatalytic membranes

Photocatalysis has been extensively studied due to its potential ability to avoid the excessive use of chemical reagents and reduce the energy consumption by employing solar energy. Moreover, to alleviate the reduction in the membrane permeation selectivity, separation efficiency, and membrane service life caused by the emerging micro-pollutants and membrane fouling, membrane technology is often coupled with microbial, electrochemical, and catalytic processes. However, although physical/chemical cleaning and membrane module replacement can overcome the inherent limitations caused by membrane fouling and other membrane separation processes, high operating costs limit their practical applications. In this review, common preparation methods for TiO₂ photocatalytic membranes are described in detail, and the main approaches to enhancing their photocatalytic performance are discussed. More importantly, the mechanism of the TiO₂ photocatalytic membrane antifouling process is elucidated, and some applications of photocatalytic membranes in other areas are described. This review systematically outlines future research directions in the field of photocatalytic membrane modification, including metal and non-metal doping, fabrication of heterojunction structures, control over reaction conditions, increase in hydrophilicity, and increase in membrane porosity.     

ESR investigation on the phase transitions of DPPC vesicles in presence of high concentrations of Li+, Na+, K+ and Cs+

The partition of the spin label TEMPO in the hydrophobic region of di-palmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine unilamellar vesicles has been used to investigate the influence of high concentration (up 3M) of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺ on the phase transitions at 20–60°C. All of the above salts increase the permeation of TEMPO. The efficiency of monovalent cations in inducing the partition of the spin label in the hydrophobic environment of the bilayer increases in the order: Cs⁺+++. The disappearing of the pretransition and the downward shift of the main phase transition temperature from 37°C to 33.5°C is related to the increased permeation of TEMPO into the bilayer. The presence of salts in the bulk solution disturbs the hydration of the zwitterionic polar head of the DPPC molecules and changes the electrical interaction between the polar groups of the bilayer. This reduces the packing density of the lipid molecules and promotes the permeation of TEMPO.     

Multicomponent electrolyte systems: Dependence of ionic mobilities on aqueous organic solvent structure

Ionic mobility data for multicomponent electrolyte systems at low concentrations are scarce due to experimental difficulties and are actually restricted to aqueous solutions of alkali chlorides. Some new results are presented which have been obtained by using a radiotracer method valid even if one of the ionic species is present at very low concentrations (tracer ion). The following electrolyte systems (two electrolytes with a common ion in a solvent) have been investigated at a 0.5N total ionic strength: NaNO₃–AgNO₃, KNO₃–AgNO₃, LiNO₃–AgNO₃ either in pure water or in water-rich (acetonitrile or dimethylsulfoxide) mixed solvents. Since ionic conductivity data processing by an extended law generalized to mixtures, such as that proposed by Quint and Viallard, has proved to be delicate to handle, our experimental results have been compared with the qualitative predictions of the classical Onsager-Fuoss limiting law. The main conclusion of this work is to give clear experimental evidence of the inability of any continuum theory to predict the ionic mobilities when solvent structural effect have to be taken into account. Consequently, the ionic behavior, particularly that of the Ag⁺ ion, has been interpreted in terms of preferential solvation and solvent microscopic structure. The trace mobility measurements reflect the maximum structural effect on the ionic transport properties.     

Amide Ionic Liquids（AILs）/L-Proline Synergistic Catalyzed Asymmetric Mannich Reactions

IntroductionThe Mannich reaction is one of the most importantreactions for the formation of C—C bonds in the organicsynthetic chemistry, and this reaction has been widelyused for the synthesis of secondary and tertiary aminederivatives that is considered…