Electrocatalysis in confined space

The complex interplay of restricted mass transport leading to local accumulation or depletion of educts, intermediates, products, counterions and co-ions influences the reactions at the active sites of electrocatalysts when electrodes are rough, three-dimensionally mesoporous or nanoporous. This influence is important with regard to activity, and even more to selectivity, of electrocatalytic reactions. The underlying principles are discussed based on the growing awareness of these considerations over recent years.     

提高金属有机骨架材料在二氧化碳热催化转化中的性能:策略及前景展望

近年来,大气中CO2的浓度不断增加,带来全球变暖等一系列严重后果,成为国际社会共同关注的环境问题.将CO2催化转化为高附加值化学品可有效降低其向大气中的排放,同时可实现其资源化利用,符合低碳社会的发展目标.目前,已有多种催化体系实现了CO2向不同化学品的转化.然而,由于CO2自身的热力学稳定性和动力学惰性,这些转化通常需要在苛刻的反应条件和较高能耗下进行.设计开发高效催化体系、实现温和条件下CO2的转化利用引起了工业界和学术界的广泛兴趣.金属有机骨架材料(MOFs)是一类由有机配体和金属中心通过配位键组装而成的有机-无机杂化材料,在很多方面展现出良好的应用性能.由于其结构的多样性、可设计性、高比表面积和多孔性等独特性质,MOFs在催化领域吸引了很多研究者的关注.其中,MOFs作为非均相催化剂在CO2热催化转化中表现出良好的应用前景,已实现多种CO2向高值化学品的转化路径.但这些催化体系也存在一些缺点,如有些MOFs材料在催化反应中稳定性差以及其微孔性对反应中的传质造成限制等.因此,设计稳定的MOFs和MOF-基材料并对其结构进行优化改性,从而在温和条件下实现高效的CO2转化具有重要意义.本文综述了提高MOFs在CO2热催化转化反应中性能的几种策略:(1)对MOFs结构中的配体进行设计,包括具有活性官能团的配体、活性配合物作为配体和引入混合配体设计多元MOF;(2)调节MOFs结构中的金属中心,设计混合金属中心和包含活性金属团簇的金属中心;(3)构筑多级孔MOFs;(4)设计MOF-基的复合材料,包括MOFs作为载体与金属纳米颗粒、活性配合物和聚合物构建复合材料;(5)利用MOFs作为前驱体制备MOF-基衍生物材料,重点阐述了如何增加MOFs作为非均相催化剂的催化活性位点以及在CO2转化反应中各位点之间的协同作用.此外,介绍了原位表征技术在MOF-基材料用于CO2固定和转化中的应用.最后,分析了MOF-基非均相催化材料在CO2热催化转化领域目前面临的问题和挑战,包括MOFs材料结构优化、催化机理研究和规模化制备等方面,并对未来的发展趋势进行了展望.     

Online Monitoring of Electrochemical Carbon Corrosion in Alkaline Electrolytes by Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry

Carbon corrosion at high anodic potentials is a major source of instability, especially in acidic electrolytes and impairs the long‐term functionality of electrodes. In‐depth investigation of carbon corrosion in alkaline environment by means of differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) is prevented by the conversion of CO₂ into CO₃^2?. We report the adaptation of a DEMS system for online CO₂ detection as the product of carbon corrosion in alkaline electrolytes. A new cell design allows for in situ acidification of the electrolyte to release initially dissolved CO₃^2? as CO₂ in front of the DEMS membrane and its subsequent detection by mass spectrometry. DEMS studies of a carbon‐supported nickel boride (Ni_xB/C) catalyst and Vulcan XC 72 at high anodic potentials suggest protection of carbon in the presence of highly active oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. Most importantly, carbon corrosion is decreased in alkaline solution.     

On the Relation between Prediction and Imputation Accuracy under Missing Covariates

Missing covariates in regression or classification problems can prohibit the direct use of advanced tools for further analysis. Recent research has realized an increasing trend towards the use of modern Machine-Learning algorithms for imputation. This originates from their capability of showing favorable prediction accuracy in different learning problems. In this work, we analyze through simulation the interaction between imputation accuracy and prediction accuracy in regression learning problems with missing covariates when Machine-Learning-based methods for both imputation and prediction are used. We see that even a slight decrease in imputation accuracy can seriously affect the prediction accuracy. In addition, we explore imputation performance when using statistical inference procedures in prediction settings, such as the coverage rates of (valid) prediction intervals. Our analysis is based on empirical datasets provided by the UCI Machine Learning repository and an extensive simulation study.     

A catalogue of isomerization transformations of fullerene polyhedra

Representation of isomerization and carbon insertion or extrusion mechanisms as patch replacements on a fullerene surface allows construction of a catalogue of topologically distinct local transformations of fullerenes, classified by patch boundary and pentagon content. All isomerization patches and isomerization pairs containing up to five pentagons and with an upper limit for the boundary length depending on the number of pentagons are listed. Several infinite series of transformations are identified.     

Percycloalkylated cyclohexanes: attempted synthesis of a trispropellane

The acid catalyzed rearrangement of two cyclohexanols of spiroannelated four-membered rings has been studied. In accordance with molecular mechanics calculations, far-reaching reorganizations with formation of unsaturated hexacyclic systems, including a fully cycloalkylated cyclohexene with a bispropellane partial structure, were observed. Attempts to convert this bispropellane to a trispropellane failed.     

On the Oxidation State of Cu2O upon Electrochemical CO2 Reduction: An XPS Study

The encouraging selectivity of copper oxides for the electroreduction of CO₂ into ethylene and alcohols has led to a vivid debate on the possible relation between their operando (sub-)surface oxidation state (i. e. fully reduced or partially oxidized) and this distinct reactivity. The high roughness of the Cu oxides used in previous studies on this matter adds complexity to this controversy and motivated us to prepare quasi-planar Cu₂O thin films that displayed a CO₂ reduction selectivity similar to that of oxide-derived copper catalysts reported in previous studies. Most importantly, when the post-mortem thin films were transferred for characterization in an air-free environment, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed their complete reduction in the course of the CO₂ reduction reaction. Thus, our results indicate that the selectivity of the Cu oxides featured in previous studies stems from their enhanced roughness, highlighting the importance of controlled sample transfer upon post-mortem characterization with ex situ techniques.     

Electrocatalysis as the Nexus for Sustainable Renewable Energy: The Gordian Knot of Activity,Stability, and Selectivity

The use of renewable energy by means of electrochemical techniques by converting H₂O, CO₂ and N₂ into chemical energy sources and raw materials, is the basis for securing a future sustainable “green” energy supply. Some weaknesses and inconsistencies in the practice of determining the electrocatalytic performance, which prevents a rational bottom‐up catalyst design, are discussed. Large discrepancies in material properties as well as in electrocatalytic activity and stability become obvious when materials are tested under the conditions of their intended use as opposed to the usual laboratory conditions. They advocate for uniform activity/stability correlations under application‐relevant conditions, and the need for a clear representation of electrocatalytic performance by contextualization in terms of functional investigation or progress towards application is emphasized.