Characterization of the patina formed on a low tin bronze exposed to aqueous hydrogen sulfide

The dark gray corrosion layer (patina) formed on the surface of a polished low tin bronze alloy following exposure to a deoxygenated and saturated aqueous solutions of H₂S has been characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy‐energy dispersive spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The system represents a model for bronze corrosion in reducing conditions where sulfate‐reducing bacteria in soils or deoxygenated seawater may generate H₂S during respiration. The initial surface was dominated by metallic copper together with Sn, Pb and Zn oxides and hydroxides. Surface enrichment of Pb and Zn was noted because of a smearing effect during polishing. At least some of the lead was crystalline. In contrast, the corrosion layer formed by H₂S(aq) exposure was dominated by polycrystalline Cu₂S (low and high chalcocite) and smaller concentrations of CuSO₄ · nH₂O. This surface was enriched with Zn as Zn(OH)₂. Lead was present as redeposited PbS (galena) crystallites in at least two different morphologies. Unlike bronzes exposed to oxidizing conditions, which develop protective SnO₂ layers, the H₂S(aq)‐exposed surface was considerably depleted in Sn. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of Yolk‐Shell and Filled Co9S8 Microspheres and Comparison of their Electrochemical Properties

In this study, we report the first preparation of phase‐pure Co₉S₈ yolk–shell microspheres in a facile two‐step process and their improved electrochemical properties. Yolk–shell Co₃O₄ precursor microspheres are initially obtained by spray pyrolysis and are subsequently transformed into Co₉S₈ yolk–shell microspheres by simple sulfidation in the presence of thiourea as a sulfur source at 350 °C under a reducing atmosphere. For comparison, filled Co₉S₈ microspheres were also prepared using the same procedure but in the absence of sucrose during the spray pyrolysis. The prepared yolk–shell Co₉S₈ microspheres exhibited a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area of 18 m² g^?1 with a mean pore size of 16 nm. The yolk–shell Co₉S₈ microspheres have initial discharge and charge capacities of 1008 and 767 mA h g^?1 at a current density of 1000 mA g^?1, respectively, while the filled Co₉S₈ microspheres have initial discharge and charge capacities of 838 and 638 mA h g^?1, respectively. After 100 cycles, the discharge capacities of the yolk–shell and filled microspheres are 634 and 434 mA h g^?1, respectively, and the corresponding capacity retentions after the first cycle are 82 % and 66 %.     

o‐Fluorination of Aromatic Azides Yields Improved Azido‐Based Fluorescent Probes for Hydrogen Sulfide: Synthesis,Spectra, and Bioimaging

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is an endogenously produced gaseous signaling molecule with multiple biological functions. To visualize the endogenous in situ production of H₂S in real time, new coumarin‐ and boron‐dipyrromethene‐based fluorescent turn‐on probes were developed for fast sensing of H₂S in aqueous buffer and in living cells. Introduction of a fluoro group in the ortho position of the aromatic azide can lead to a greater than twofold increase in the rate of reaction with H₂S. On the basis of o‐fluorinated aromatic azides, fluorescent probes with high sensitivity and selectivity toward H₂S over other biologically relevant species were designed and synthesized. The probes can be used to in situ to visualize exogenous H₂S and D ‐cysteine‐dependent endogenously produced H₂S in living cells, which makes them promising tools for potential applications in H₂S biology.     

硫化钴装饰BiVO4光阳极提升其光电化学水分解性能

太阳能驱动的光电化学(PEC)水分解可以有效地将太阳能转化为化学能,作为解决环境排放和能源危机最具前景的途径之一,已经引起了科学界的广泛关注.PEC水分解系统由两个半反应组成:在光阳极上的析氧反应(OER)和光阴极上的析氢反应(HER).PEC系统的太阳能转化效率主要由光阳极/电解质界面的OER过程所决定,这是一个非常复杂且涉及质子偶联的多步四电子转移过程.钒酸铋(BiVO₄)是应用于PEC水分解的典型且具有实际应用前景的光阳极材料之一.然而,由于不良的表面电荷转移、电荷在光阳极/电解质结面处的表面复合以及缓慢的OER动力学等因素,导致BiVO₄的PEC性能受到严重限制.本文开发了一种新颖有效的解决方案,以低成本、高电导率和具有快速电荷转移能力的硫化钴装饰来提升BiVO₄光阳极的PEC活性,X射线多晶衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)等表征,研究结果表明CoS成功装饰于BiVO₄表面.采用紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-VisDRS)研究了BiVO₄和复合光阳极CoS/BiVO₄的光学性质,结果表明,与纯的BiVO₄相比,CoS/BiVO₄光阳极在可见光范围内光吸收能力有所增强.将制备的BiVO₄和CoS/BiVO₄光阳极应用于PEC分解水实验中,结果表明,相对于1.23 V可逆氢电极,在光照下,CoS/BiVO₄光阳极的光电流密度显著提升,可高达3.2 m Acm^-2,是纯BiVO₄的2.5倍以上.与纯BiVO₄相比,CoS/BiVO₄光阳极的起始氧化电位显示出负向偏移0.2 V,表明析氧过电势得到有效减小.入射光子转换效率(IPCE)测试结果表明,CoS/BiVO₄光阳极的入射光子转换效率在500 nm之前的可见光范围内得到明显提升,其中,CoS/BiVO₄的IPCE值在380 nm处达到最大.此外,由于CoS的装饰作用,CoS/BiVO₄光阳极的电荷注入效率和电荷分离效率均得到较大的提升,分别达到75.8%(相较于纯BiVO₄光阳极的36.7%)和79.8%(相较于纯BiVO₄光阳极的66.8%).电化学阻抗谱(EIS)测试结果表明,通过CoS的装饰,CoS/BiVO₄光阳极的界面电荷转移电阻得到有效降低,证明其界面电荷转移动力学得到有效提升.光致发光光谱测试结果表明,CoS的装饰显著提高了BiVO₄的光生电子-空穴对的分离效率,进一步证明BiVO₄表面的CoS装饰在其PEC分解水中起着非常积极的作用.本文为通过表面修饰设计应用于PEC水分解的有效的光阳极提供了新思路.     

Comparison of Nitrogen Activation on Trinuclear Niobium and Tungsten Sulfide Clusters Nb3Sn and W3Sn (n=0–3): A DFT Study

The reaction of N₂ with trinuclear niobium and tungsten sulfide clusters Nb₃S_n and W₃S_n (n=0–3) was systematically studied by density functional theory calculations with TPSS functional and Def2-TZVP basis sets. Dissociations of N−N bonds on these clusters are all thermodynamically allowed but with different reactivity in kinetics. The reactivity of Nb₃S_n is generally higher than that of W₃S_n. In the favorite reaction pathways, the adsorbed N₂ changes the adsorption sites from one metal atom to the bridge site of two metal atoms, then on the hollow site of three metal atoms, and at that place, the N−N bond dissociates. As the number of ligand S atoms increases, the reactivity of Nb₃S_n decreases because of the hindering effect of S atoms, while W₃S and W₃S₂ have the highest reactivity among four W₃S_n clusters. The Mayer bond order, bond length, vibrational frequency, and electronic charges of the adsorbed N₂ are analyzed along the reaction pathways to show the activation process of the N−N bond in reactions. The charge transfer from the clusters to the N₂ antibonding orbitals plays an essential role in N−N bond activation, which is more significant in Nb₃S_n than in W₃S_n, leading to the higher reactivity of Nb₃S_n. The reaction mechanisms found in this work may provide important theoretical guidance for the further rational design of related catalytic systems for nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR).     

In Vivo Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide in Brain and Cell

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), is proposed as a cytoprotectant and gasotransmitter, involving in many physiological processes and regulating of some diseases. In addition, H₂S is a small molecular with a minimum of steric hindrance compared with other reactive sulfur species. In physiological atmosphere, H₂S is mainly existent in HS⁻, which has a strong nucleophilicity and reducing potency. It also can precipitate with some metal ions forming metallic sulfides with high precipitation coefficient. In recent years, the researchers have a desire to develop methods to achieve real-time detection of H₂S in vivo, further understanding the physiology and pathology of H₂S. In this minireview, we summarize recent progress for detecting of H₂S in brain or cell and briefly expound the principle of methods with the comparison of the different methods between performance and temporal resolution.     

BODIPY-based Fluorescent Probe for Fast Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide and Lysosome-targeting Applications in Living Cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is recognized as an endogenous gaseous signaling agent in many biological activities. Lysosomes are the main metabolic site and play a pivotal role in cells. Herein, we designed and synthesized two new fluorescent probes BDP-DNBS and BDP-DNP with a BODIPY core to distinguish H₂S. The sensing mechanism is based on the inhibition-recovery of the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process. Through comparing the responsive behaviors of the two probes toward H₂S, BDP-DNBS showed a fast response time (60 s), low limit of detection (LOD, 51 nM), high sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the reaction mechanism was demonstrated by mass spectrometry and fluorescence off-on mechanism was proved by density functional theory (DFT). Significantly, confocal fluorescence imaging indicated that BDP-DNBS was successfully used to visualize H₂S in lysosomes in living HeLa cells.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,and electronic structure of Li2PbSiS4: a quaternary thiosilicate with a compressed chalcopyrite‐like structure

The new quaternary thiosilicate, Li₂PbSiS₄ (dilithium lead silicon tetrasulfide), was prepared in an evacuated fused‐silica tube via high‐temperature, solid‐state synthesis at 800 °C, followed by slow cooling. The crystal structure was solved and refined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. By strict definition, the title compound crystallizes in the stannite structure type; however, this type of structure can also be described as a compressed chalcopyrite‐like structure. The Li⁺ cation lies on a crystallographic fourfold rotoinversion axis, while the Pb²⁺ and Si⁴⁺ cations reside at the intersection of the fourfold rotoinversion axis with a twofold axis and a mirror plane. The Li⁺ and Si⁴⁺ cations in this structure are tetrahedrally coordinated, while the larger Pb²⁺ cation adopts a distorted eight‐coordinate dodecahedral coordination. These units join together via corner‐ and edge‐sharing to create a dense, three‐dimensional structure. Powder X‐ray diffraction indicates that the title compound is the major phase of the reaction product. Electronic structure calculations, performed using the full potential linearized augmented plane wave method within density functional theory (DFT), indicate that Li₂PbSiS₄ is a semiconductor with an indirect bandgap of 2.22 eV, which compares well with the measured optical bandgap of 2.51 eV. The noncentrosymmetric crystal structure and relatively wide bandgap designate this compound to be of interest for IR nonlinear optics.     

Target-induced mimic enzyme deactivation based on mixed-node metal-organic frameworks for colorimetric assay of hydrogen sulfide

Accurate detection of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is of great significance for environmental monitoring and protection. We propose a colorimetric method for the detection of H₂S by the use of mixed-node Cu-Fe metal organic frameworks (Cu-Fe MOFs) as highly efficient mimic enzymes for target-induced deactivation. The Cu-Fe MOFs were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method and could catalyze the H₂O₂ mediated oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to oxTMB with a blue color. The presence of dissolved H₂S would deactivate the mimic enzymes, and then the blue color disappeared. The mechanism of the sensor was discussed by steady-state kinetic analysis. The designed assay was highly sensitive for H₂S detection with a linear range of 0−80 μmol/L and a detection limit of 1.6 μmol/L. Moreover, some potential substances in the water samples had no interference. This method with the advantages of low cost, high sensitivity, selectivity, and visual readout with the naked eye was successfully applied to the determination of H₂S in industrial wastewater samples.