Synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial activity of new bis-1,2,3-triazol-H-yl-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazoles

New bis-1,2,3-triazol-H-yl-substituted 2-aryl benzimidazoles VIa-VIp were synthesized from O- and N-bis-propargyl substituted 2-arylbenzimidazoles using “click chemistry.” The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR, and mass spectra. These compounds were screened for their activity against bacterial and fungal organisms.     

Role of Ceria in the Design of Composite Materials for Elemental Mercury Removal

The necessity to drastically act against mercury pollution has been emphatically addressed by the United Nations. Coal‐fired power plants contribute a great deal to the anthropogenic emissions; therefore, numerous sorbents/catalysts have been developed to remove elemental mercury (Hg⁰) from flue gases. Among them, ceria (CeO₂) has attracted significant interest, due to its reversible Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ redox pair, surface‐bound defects and acid‐base properties. The removal efficiency of Hg⁰ vapor depends among others, on the flue gas composition and temperature. CeO₂ can be incorporated into known materials in such a way that the abatement process can be effective at different operating conditions. Hence, the scope of this account is to discuss the role of CeO₂ as a promoter, active phase and support in the design of composite Hg⁰ sorbents/catalysts. The elucidation of each of these roles would allow the integration of CeO₂ advantageous characteristics to such degree, that tailor‐made environmental solution to complex issues can be provided within a broader application scope. Besides, it would offer invaluable input to theoretical calculations that could enable the materials screening and engineering at a low cost and with high accuracy.     

Transition (Mn,Fe) and rare earth (La,Pr) metal doped ceria solid solutions for high performance photocatalysis: Effect of metal doping on catalytic activity

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In this work, various transition and rare earth metal ions (M3+; M = Mn3+, Fe3+, La3+, and Pr3+) doped CeO2 solid solutions were prepared by a...     

Impact of Surface Defects on LaNiO3 Perovskite Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Perovskite oxides are regarded as promising electrocatalysts for water splitting due to their cost-effectiveness, high efficiency and durability in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Despite these advantages, a fundamental understanding of how critical structural parameters of perovskite electrocatalysts influence their activity and stability is lacking. Here, we investigate the impact of structural defects on OER performance for representative LaNiO₃ perovskite electrocatalysts. Hydrogen reduction of 700 °C calcined LaNiO₃ induces a high density of surface oxygen vacancies, and confers significantly enhanced OER activity and stability compared to unreduced LaNiO₃; the former exhibit a low onset overpotential of 380 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and a small Tafel slope of 70.8 mV dec⁻¹. Oxygen vacancy formation is accompanied by mixed Ni²⁺/Ni³⁺ valence states, which quantum-chemical DFT calculations reveal modify the perovskite electronic structure. Further, it reveals that the formation of oxygen vacancies is thermodynamically more favourable on the surface than in the bulk; it increases the electronic conductivity of reduced LaNiO₃ in accordance with the enhanced OER activity that is observed.