Synthesis of Nordstrandite and Nordstrandite-Derived Layered Double Hydroxides of Li and Al: A Comparative Study with the Bayerite Counterpart

The layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of Li and Al can be synthesized from the four polymorphs of Al(OH)₃, namely gibbsite, bayerite, nordstrandite, and doyleite. The crystal structure of this class of compounds depends on the type of the precursor used due to their topotactic reaction mechanism. While the LDHs derived from gibbsite and bayerite yield different crystal structures, the incorporation of Li into nordstrandite was expected to yield new LDH structures different from those derived from gibbsite and bayerite. The structure of nordstrandite derived LDHs were however identical to that derived from the bayerite counterpart. The absence of symmetry in the interlayer of nordstrandite (C₁) makes it unsuitable to accommodate the intercalating anions with different molecular symmetries. To make the interlayer gallery suitable for the anions, the metal hydroxide layers of the nordstrandite translate, transforming nordstrandite to bayerite. The bayerite with site symmetries O_h and C₂ stabilizes the anions in the interlayer by hydrogen bonding. The transformation of nordstrandite to bayerite, when soaked in lithium salt solution is, therefore, a manifestation of the intercalating anions.     

单层类水滑石纳米片的可控合成及规模生产展望

水滑石(LDHs)是一种阴离子黏土材料,由于其主体层板厚度的可调性,使其在光/电催化、电池、超级电容器、传感器以及生物医药等领域都具有广泛应用。降低层厚至单层可使材料的物理化学性质发生根本改变,从而优化催化性能。近期研究表明,利用自上而下,自下而上的方法,可以实现单层LDHs类材料的合成,但是受限于产量(g级)以及成本设备等问题,目前规模化制备高质量单层LDHs类材料还没有工业案例。成核晶化隔离法是目前唯一规模化合成纳米LDHs的工业化方法,具有成本低,产量可吨级放大等优点。本综述从合成方法、表征手段、应用三个角度讨论了单层及超薄LDHs的精准调控,详细论述了近期关于单层及超薄LDHs合成突破以及LDHs的规模化生产进展,并对其性能进行了总结,为后续设计高性能单层LDHs提供思路。     

Structure and reactivity of the polarised liquid–liquid interface: what we know and what we do not

Charge transfer phenomena at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES) are electrochemical reactions taking place in soft media. Owing to their liquid nature, the ITIES shows a large panel of electrochemical reactions including electron transfer reactions, ion transfer reactions, coupled electron–ion transfer reactions or biomimetic redox reactions. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which these reactions proceed are yet to be fully understood. The goal of this short review is to summarise the work accomplished over the past decades towards the elucidation of the structure and reactivity at the ITIES, highlighting the main questions still to be answered.     

On‐Demand Electrochemical Epoxidation in Nano‐Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry to Locate Carbon–Carbon Double Bonds

Reported here is the first on‐demand electrochemical epoxidation incorporated into the standard nano‐electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nanoESI‐MS) workflow for double‐bond identification. The capability lies in a novel tunable electro‐epoxidation of double bonds, where onset of the reaction can be controlled by simply tuning the spray voltage. On‐demand formation of mono‐/multiple epoxides is achieved at different voltages. The electro‐epoxidized products are then fragmented by tandem MS to generate diagnostic ions, indicating the double bond position(s). The process is completed within seconds, holding great potential for high‐throughput analysis. The rapid switch‐on/off electro‐epoxidation of a single sample, the low sample consumption, the demonstrated applicability to complex lipids containing multiple double bonds, and the advantage of not requiring extra apparatus make this method attractive for use in lipid‐related biological studies.     

Mechanistic aspects of magnetic MgAlNi barium-ferrite nanocomposites enhanced adsorptive removal of an anionic dye from aqueous phase

The mechanistic aspects of improved aqueous removal of methyl orange (MO) dyes using high performance novel magnetic MgAlNi barium-ferrite (MgAlNi-BaFe) ternary double layer hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites is reported in this study. Detailed surface characterization coupled with kinetic, equilibrium, thermodynamics and regeneration studies were undertaken under different operational conditions of temperature (298–318 K), initial concentration (20–100 mg/L), pH (2–6). The kinetic results show that MO sorption was mainly, associated with pseudo-second order and intra-particular diffusion process. The MO adsorption onto the MgAlNi-BaFe nanocomposites suggests a multi-layered sorption process that is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The MO adsorption mechanism insight taken in cognizance of FTIR, XRD, pKa, zeta potential, the adsorbates surface functional groups and the adsorbate-adsorbent surface charges interactions suggest involvement of hydrogen bonding and n-π interactions, predominantly via physisorption process (ΔG° = −7.406 to −5.69 kJ/mol). The excellent adsorptive performance of the MgAlNi-BaFe adsorbents for removal of MO from water compared with other magnetic LDH nanocomposites was further elucidated via the MgAlNi-BaFe nanomaterials high rates of regeneration and superior performances for three successive desorption-adsorption cycles. This study demonstrates the high potentials of employing MgAlNi-BaFe nanomaterials for removal of dyes from water and wastewater.     

A Pressure‐Induced Inverse Order–Disorder Transition in Double Perovskites

Given the consensus that pressure improves cation ordering in most of known materials, a discovery of pressure‐induced disordering could require recognition of an order–disorder transition in solid‐state physics/chemistry and geophysics. Double perovskites Y₂CoIrO₆ and Y₂CoRuO₆ polymorphs synthesized at 0, 6, and 15 GPa show B‐site ordering, partial ordering, and disordering, respectively, accompanied by lattice compression and crystal structure alteration from monoclinic to orthorhombic symmetry. Correspondingly, the long‐range ferrimagnetic ordering in the B‐site ordered samples are gradually overwhelmed by B‐site disorder. Theoretical calculations suggest that unusual unit‐cell compressions under external pressures unexpectedly stabilize the disordered phases of Y₂CoIrO₆ and Y₂CoRuO₆.     

Principles of Surface Potential Estimation in Mixed Electrolyte Solutions:Taking into Account Dielectric Saturation

The dielectric properties between in-particle/water interface and bulk solution are significantly different, which are ignored in the theories of surface potential estimation. The analytical expressions of surface potential considering the dielectric saturation were derived in mixed electrolytes based on the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The surface potentials calculated from the approximate analytical and exact numerical solutions agreed with each other for a wide range of surface charge densities and ion concentrations. The effects of dielectric saturation became important for surface charge densities larger than 0.30 C/m\begin{document}$ ^2 $\end{document}. The analytical models of surface potential in different mixed electrolytes were valid based on original Poisson-Boltzmann equation for surface charge densities smaller than 0.30 C/m\begin{document}$ ^2 $\end{document}. The analytical model of surface potential considering the dielectric saturation for low surface charge density can return to the result of classical Poisson-Boltzmann theory. The obtained surface potential in this study can correctly predict the adsorption selectivity between monovalent and bivalent counterions.     

Temperature‐programmed capillary high‐performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry for analysis of fatty acid methyl esters

A new capillary high‐performance liquid chromatography method with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry was developed for the analysis of fatty acid methyl esters and long‐chain alcohols. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Zorbax SB‐C18 HPLC column (0.3 × 150 mm, 3.5 μm) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and formic acid and delivered isocratically at a flow rate of 10 μL/min. The column temperature was programmed simply, using a common column oven. Good reproducibility of the temperature profile and retention times were achieved. The temperature programming during the isocratic high‐performance liquid chromatography run had a similar effect as a solvent gradient; it reduced retention times of later eluting analytes and improved their detection limits. Two atmospheric pressure chemical ionization sources of the mass spectrometry detector were compared: an enclosed conventional ion source and an in‐house made ion source with a glass microchip nebulizer. The enclosed source provided better detectability of saturated fatty acid methyl esters and made it possible to determine the double bond positions using acetonitrile‐related adducts, while the open chip‐based source provided better analytical figures of merit for unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters. Temperature‐programmed capillary high‐performance liquid chromatography is a promising method for analyzing neutral lipids in lipidomics and other applications.     

微波辐照石油焦制备双电层电容器用活性炭

以石油焦为原料,KOH为活化剂,采用微波辐照加热法,制备了石油焦基双电层电容器用活性炭。研究了石油焦与KOH活化剂的比例、微波功率以及微波辐照时间对活性炭孔径分布和比电容量的影响。结果表明:在KOH活化剂与石油焦的质量比为3.5∶1,微波功率800W和辐照时间7min时,制备的活性炭比表面积为2031.96m2/g,比电容量达286.79F/g,以该活性炭作电极的双电层电容器有良好的循环稳定性和充放电性能。