Stable Aqueous Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction by a Cu2O Dark Cathode with Improved Selectivity for Carbonaceous Products

Photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to produce fuels is a promising way to reduce CO₂ emission and address the energy crisis. However, the H₂ evolution reaction competes with CO₂ photoreduction, which would lower the overall selectivity for carbonaceous products. Cu₂O has emerged as a promising material for suppressing the H₂ evolution. However, it suffers from poor stability, which is commonly regarded as the result of the electron‐induced reduction of Cu₂O. This paper describes a simple strategy using Cu₂O as a dark cathode and TiO₂ as a photoanode to achieve stable aqueous CO₂ reduction with a high Faradaic efficiency of 87.4 % and a selectivity of 92.6 % for carbonaceous products. We have shown that the photogenerated holes, instead of the electrons, primarily account for the instability of Cu₂O. Therefore, Cu₂O was used as a dark cathode to minimize the adverse effects of holes, by which an improved stability was achieved compared to the Cu₂O photocathode under illumination. Additionally, direct exposure of the Cu₂O surface to the electrolyte was identified as a critical factor for the high selectivity for carbonaceous products.     

Molybdenum–Bismuth Bimetallic Chalcogenide Nanosheets for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol

Methanol is a very useful platform molecule and liquid fuel. Electrocatalytic reduction of CO₂ to methanol is a promising route, which currently suffers from low efficiency and poor selectivity. Herein we report the first work to use a Mo‐Bi bimetallic chalcogenide (BMC) as an electrocatalyst for CO₂ reduction. By using the Mo‐Bi BMC on carbon paper as the electrode and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate in MeCN as the electrolyte, the Faradaic efficiency of methanol could reach 71.2 % with a current density of 12.1 mA cm^?2, which is much higher than the best result reported to date. The superior performance of the electrode resulted from the excellent synergistic effect of Mo and Bi for producing methanol. The reaction mechanism was proposed and the reason for the synergistic effect of Mo and Bi was discussed on the basis of some control experiments. This work opens a way to produce methanol efficiently by electrochemical reduction of CO₂.     

Size Fractionation of Two‐Dimensional Sub‐Nanometer Thin Manganese Dioxide Crystals towards Superior Urea Electrocatalytic Conversion

A universal technique has been proposed to sort two‐dimensional (2D) sub‐nanometer thin crystals (manganese dioxide MnO₂ and molybdenum disulfide MoS₂) according to their lateral dimensions. This technique is based on tuning the zeta potential of their aqueous dispersions which induces the selective sedimentation of large‐sized 2D crystals and leaves the small‐sized counterparts in suspension. The electrocatalytic properties of as‐obtained 2D ultrathin crystals are strongly dependent on their lateral size. As a proof‐of‐concept study, the small‐sized MnO₂ nanocrystals were tested as the electrocatalysts for the urea‐oxidation reaction (UOR), which showed outstanding performance in both half reaction and full electrolytic cell. A mechanism study reveals the enhanced performance is associated with the remarkable structural properties of MnO₂ including ultrathin (ca. 0.95 nm), laterally small‐sized (50–200 nm), and highly exposed active centers.     

Characteristics of inclusions in topaz from Serrinha pegmatite (Medina granite,Minas Gerais State,SE Brazil) studied by Raman spectroscopy

Eastern Brazilian Pegmatite Province includes many topaz-bearing pegmatitic bodies. Residual melts from the Fe–K-rich alkaline Medina granite (ca. 500 Ma) formed the Serrinha pegmatite—a system of branched thin pegmatite veins hosted by pink facies of the parent granite. The colourless topaz from Serrinha pegmatite contains both mineral and fluid inclusions. Microcline (513, 476, 456 cm⁻¹), albite (507, 479, 457 cm⁻¹), topaz (926, 858, 267, 239 cm⁻¹), quartz (463 cm⁻¹), rutile (610, 444 cm⁻¹), wolframite (884 cm⁻¹) and uranophane (968, 788 cm⁻¹) represent solid inclusions formed by fluid-induced processes from the pneumatolytic (∼600–400 °C) to hydrothermal (<400 °C) stages of pegmatite crystallization. Fluid inclusions are mainly liquid or liquid-gas, which contain CO₂ (marker bands ∼1388 cm⁻¹ and ∼1285 cm⁻¹) and traces of methane (2917 cm⁻¹). They are mainly of primary and pseudo-secondary origin, indicating tectonic quiescence during and after topaz crystallization (in agreement with the post-collisional nature of the parent granite). Topaz crystallized in high temperature conditions of the pneumatolytic stage at a depth around 8.5–10.0 km.     

仿生多孔 MgO-TiO2合成及其光催化 CO2还原性能

研究表明, MgO能够活化吸附在其表面的 CO2分子,促进 HCO3–的生成,而在 H原子存在的条件下, HCO3–为 CO2光催化还原为碳氢化合物和 CO的活性中间体. CO2为对称的直线型分子,在化学反应中表现出极高的稳定性,成为阻碍人工光合作用发展的重要因素.在设计新型光催化剂时,复合 MgO可能会有效提高催化剂的活性.绿色植物的叶片结构或茎中存在大量尺寸不一的多孔结构,以利于植物生命活动(包括光合作用和呼吸作用)过程中气体的有效扩散和水分、营养物质的运输. TiO2因其良好的化学稳定性、无毒且成本低廉,在人工光合成领域得到广泛的研究.因此,本文以空心菜杆为模板, TiO2为主体催化剂,应用溶胶-凝胶法,通过调节 MgO的含量合成了一系列仿生多孔结构的 MgO-TiO2复合物.
　　样品的 X射线衍射、X射线光电子能谱和高分辨透射镜表征结果证明,生物模板空心菜杆在550oC下煅烧5 h之后可被完全移除,且 MgNO3分解为 MgO,生成 TiO2-MgO复合物.从扫描电镜中可观察到,以空心菜杆为模板合成的 MgO-TiO2,模板的空心管状结构得以保持,在长度和宽度上有一定程度的皱缩.横截面和纵截面图说明样品很好地复制了空心菜杆的导管和筛管组成的多孔结构.同时N2吸附-脱附结果表明,样品中存在3–5 nm的介孔结构.同时我们发现,由于 MgO的加入,0.05% MgO-TiO2复合物的比表面积比 TiO2减少了18%,之后随着 MgO含量的增加, MgO-TiO2复合物的比表面积呈下降趋势.标准状况下,测试了样品对 CO2的吸附量.结果表明,随 MgO含量的升高,吸附量先增加后减小,且 MgO-TiO2复合物的吸附量为 TiO2的1.3–1.8倍.结合样品比表面积及原位红外光谱测试结果,说明样品的 CO2吸附量受 MgO的含量与样品的比表面积双重因素的影响. CO2吸附包括物理吸附和化学吸附,而且对于同种样品,吸附量与样品比表面积正相关.当 MgO-TiO2复合物的比表面积随着 MgO含量的增加而减小时, CO2吸附量却先增加后减小,表明 MgO的加入极大地促进了 CO2的化学吸附.以 MgO-TiO2复合物作为光催化剂将 CO2和 H2O还原为 CH4. CH4的总产量随着光照时间的增加而增加,10 h后的总产量随着 MgO含量的升高先增加后减少,与样品的 CO2吸附量的变化趋势相似但不完全相同.与 TiO2(6.5μmol/g)相比, MgO-TiO2复合物样品催化作用下的 CH4的最终产量均增大,活性最好的0.2% MgO-TiO2(18.7μmol/g)的产量达到了它的2.88倍,说明 MgO对 CO2具有活化作用,且活化后的 CO2更容易生成 CH4.综合结果表明, CO2在催化剂表面的吸附量、电子的表面迁移、反应活性位点等因素共同决定了催化剂的光催化活性.     

非金属催化剂在催化环氧化物和CO2合成环状碳酸酯中的研究进展

随着科学技术的进步和工业化的发展,大量化石燃料被消耗,大气中二氧化碳浓度急剧增加,导致温室效应加剧,严重威胁到人类的生存和发展。基于可持续发展的思想,利用储量丰富且廉价的二氧化碳作为 C1资源替代有毒的气体(如一氧化碳和光气等)制备具有广泛应用的环状碳酸酯,不仅满足“绿色化学”的要求,而且符合“原子经济性”的原则。迄今为止,大量用于催化二氧化碳和环氧化物环加成反应合成环状碳酸酯的催化剂,包括均相催化剂(如金属卤化物、有机碱、离子液体和金属配合物),多相催化剂(如金属氧化物、负载型催化剂、有机聚合物、金属有机框架材料和碳材料等)被报道。其中金属催化剂占主导地位,大多表现出优异的催化活性。然而,目前可供开采的金属矿越来越少,大多数金属的回收再利用率较低,重金属污染日趋严重。因此,开发新型、廉价、绿色、高效、循环性和稳定性好的非金属催化剂具有重要意义。
　　本文主要介绍了近3年以来用于催化二氧化碳和环氧化物环加成反应合成环状碳酸酯的非金属催化剂,主要包括有机碱、离子液体、固载型催化剂、有机聚合物和碳材料等。概括了不同种类催化剂的设计思想及其催化反应机理,重点阐述了分子内以及分子间各种功能基团的协同作用对环加成反应的影响。通过比较发现,具有“C–N=C”结构的有机碱活性相对较高,氢键给体和亲核物质都能与有机碱协同作用提高其催化活性;传统离子液体的活性一般不理想,氢键给体如羟基和羧基的引入有利于促进环加成反应,且多阳离子和多氢键给体功能化的离子液体表现出更高的催化活性;负载型催化剂中,载体和活性组分之间的协同作用有利于加速环加成反应的进行,多种功能基团负载和以共价键方式多层固载能更好地提高催化剂稳定性和催化活性;利用非烯烃化合物制得的活性组分位于主链的多孔有机聚合物,催化活性和稳定性大多高于活性组分位于侧链的烯烃聚合物;碳材料催化剂中,引入不饱和的 N物种(如伯胺和吡啶氮),有利于 CO2的吸附和活化,能促进环加成反应。此外,利用密度泛函的方法,计算模拟催化反应过程,能更好地揭示反应机理,并为设计和制备高效的催化剂提供理论指导。
　　该领域目前面临的重要挑战是研发可以同时实现二氧化碳捕获和转化的新型、环保和高效非金属催化剂,终极目标是利用多孔催化材料在常温和常压下直接捕获工业废气中的二氧化碳,并利用捕获的二氧化碳实现环状碳酸酯的连续生产。基于协同催化的设计思想,利用多种基团功能化的策略合成高效吸附和活化二氧化碳以及开环活化环氧化物的非金属催化剂,有望实现上述目标。     

纳米多孔二氧化钛电极辅助光电化学降解乙酰氨基酚及伐昔洛韦

作为一类具有较高生物活性的物质,药物及个人护理品对环境的污染引起人们越来越多的关注.对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦是两种使用广泛的药物,由于其潜在的对人类健康和生态安全的威胁而逐渐成为研究热点.而电化学辅助光氧化技术因其具备能够高效处理难降解化学品的优点而得到广泛使用.本文合成了纳米多孔二氧化钛电极,研究了电化学还原处理对纳米多孔二氧化钛电极辅助光电化学降解对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦的影响.使用扫描电镜和色散谱技术对合成的纳米多孔二氧化钛电极的形态和元素组成进行了表征.循环伏安法、莫特-肖特基曲线、紫外-可见分光光度计和总有机碳分析仪被用来研究对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦的光电化学降解过程.结果显示,对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦的光化学降解和电化学降解过程非常缓慢,在研究的时间范围内其浓度未见明显变化,因此可以忽略不计.但是对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦的光电化学降解速度比较快,与未经处理的纳米多孔二氧化钛电极相比,经过电化学还原处理的电极可以使对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦的光电化学降解分别提高86.96%和53.12%.这可能是由于在电化学还原处理过程中生成了Ti3+, Ti2+和氧空位以及导电性的提高.还研究了温度对对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦光电化学降解的影响,随着温度升高,对乙酰氨基酚和伐昔洛韦的光电化学降解速率增大.     

Preparation and Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity of FeTPP-Cr-TiO2 Microspheres

Tetraphenyl-porphyrin iron (FeTPP) was chosen to sensitize Cr doped TiO₂ (Cr-TiO₂) nanoparticles, a novel multimodified photocatalyst FeTPP-Cr-TiO₂ with excellent visiblelight photocatalytic activity was successfully synthesized. The FeTPP-Cr-TiO₂ microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity of FeTPP-Cr-TiO₂ was evaluated by degradations of methylene blue in aqueous solution under irradiation with Xe lamp (150 W). The results showed that the FeTPP-Cr-TiO₂ multimodified photocatalyst was anatase phase with high specific surface area (74.7 m²/g), and exhibited higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency than Cr-TiO₂ and FeTPP-TiO₂. The photocatalytic degradations of three quinolone antibiotics (lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, and ofloxacin) were further estimated for the feasibility of practical application of catalyst in wastewater treatment. It is desirable that photodegradation of antibiotics with FeTPP-Cr-TiO₂ achieved pretty high degradation rates and all followed the pseudo first-order reaction model, and the rate constants k of 3.02×10^-2, 2.81×10^-2, and 3.86×10^-2 min^-1 and the half-lifes t_1/2 of 22.9, 24.6, and 17.9 min were achieved respectively.     

~(12)CO_2/~(13)CO_2体系中碳同位素的显微激光拉曼光谱研究

采用自行设计的装置制备了一系列不同比例的12CO2/13 CO2混合物,对混合物样品进行显微激光拉曼测试,获得CO2气体碳同位素分子的拉曼特征峰。对实验数据分析发现,12CO2的摩尔分数[x(12CO2)]与12CO2/13 CO2混合物中拉曼特征峰峰面积比之间存在数学关系式。根据拟合的关系式,利用显微激光拉曼光谱可以预测CO2气体碳同位素的组成,并为以后预测单个流体包裹体中12CO2的摩尔分数奠定了理论基础。     

Understanding Complex Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy in Corrosion Systems Using in‐situ Synchrotron Radiation Grazing Incidence X‐ray Diffraction

The difficulty in interpreting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data has limited the potential of the method despite its utility as an electrochemical method for studies of electrode reactions and interfacial structures. Taking the test case of the carbon dioxide corrosion of carbon steel, in‐situ synchrotron radiation grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (SR‐GIXRD) has been demonstrated to be a powerful technique for validating and understanding the interfacial structures associated with complex EIS data. Carbon dioxide corrosion was found to occur in several steps, which may only be surmised by EIS, but the use of SR‐GIXRD in conjunction with EIS has enabled the establishment of a link between EIS time constants and structural changes associated with the evolution of corrosion products with time. By comparison to previous studies by the authors and others in this field, this communication provides the first direct experimental evidence linking SR‐GIXRD surface compositional data to otherwise indistinctive EIS time constants.