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17 Jul 12:05

Catalyst characterisation techniques and reaction cells operating at realistic conditions; towards acquisition of kinetically relevant information

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2015, 5,4859-4883
DOI: 10.1039/C5CY00269A, Perspective
Nikolaos E. Tsakoumis, Andrew P. E. York, De Chen, Magnus Ronning
Catalyst characterisation techniques and reaction cells operating at realistic conditions; towards acquisition of kinetically relevant information.
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18 Jun 11:29

Stable Cobalt Nanoparticles and Their Monolayer Array as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

by Liheng Wu, Qing Li, Cheng Hao Wu, Huiyuan Zhu, Adriana Mendoza-Garcia, Bo Shen, Jinghua Guo and Shouheng Sun

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Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b04142
18 Jun 11:27

Simple and Efficient System for Combined Solar Energy Harvesting and Reversible Hydrogen Storage

by Lu Li, Xiaoyue Mu, Wenbo Liu, Zetian Mi and Chao-Jun Li

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Journal of the American Chemical Society
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b03505
18 Jun 11:24

Highly active oxygen reduction non-platinum group metal electrocatalyst without direct metal–nitrogen coordination

by Kara Strickland

Article

The active site of many non-noble metal cathodic oxygen reduction catalysts consists of a nitrogen-corodinated transition metal. Here, the authors report an iron-based electrocatalyst devoid of iron–nitrogen coordination, and demonstrate its high activity in acid and alkaline media.

Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/ncomms8343

Authors: Kara Strickland, Elise Miner, Qingying Jia, Urszula Tylus, Nagappan Ramaswamy, Wentao Liang, Moulay-Tahar Sougrati, Frédéric Jaouen, Sanjeev Mukerjee

18 Jun 11:24

Efficient photosynthesis of carbon monoxide from CO2 using perovskite photovoltaics

by Marcel Schreier

Article

Artificial photosynthesis is a means of harnessing solar energy to generate fuels but has traditionally been exploited for the generation of hydrogen. Here, Schreier et al . instead employ a perovskite photovoltaic device to effect the solar conversion of CO 2 to CO with high efficiency.

Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/ncomms8326

Authors: Marcel Schreier, Laura Curvat, Fabrizio Giordano, Ludmilla Steier, Antonio Abate, Shaik M. Zakeeruddin, Jingshan Luo, Matthew T. Mayer, Michael Grätzel

18 Jun 11:24

In situ oxidation of carbon-encapsulated cobalt nanocapsules creates highly active cobalt oxide catalysts for hydrocarbon combustion

by Han Wang

Article

Palladium is an effective but expensive catalyst used in catalytic converters. Here, the authors show that defective Co 3 O 4 nanocrystals, synthesized via oxidation of carbon-encapsulated cobalt nanoparticles, display similar or even comparable catalytic activity to palladium for hydrocarbon combustion.

Nature Communications doi: 10.1038/ncomms8181

Authors: Han Wang, Chunlin Chen, Yexin Zhang, Lixia Peng, Song Ma, Teng Yang, Huaihong Guo, Zhidong Zhang, Dang Sheng Su, Jian Zhang

18 Jun 11:23

Rational design of self-assembly pathways [Chemistry]

by Jacobs, W. M., Reinhardt, A., Frenkel, D.
The field of complex self-assembly is moving toward the design of multiparticle structures consisting of thousands of distinct building blocks. To exploit the potential benefits of structures with such “addressable complexity,” we need to understand the factors that optimize the yield and the kinetics of self-assembly. Here we use a...
18 Jun 11:18

[Report] High-performance photovoltaic perovskite layers fabricated through intramolecular exchange

by Woon Seok Yang
The band gap of formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskites allows broader absorption of the solar spectrum relative to conventional methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). Because the optoelectronic properties of perovskite films are closely related to film quality, deposition of dense and uniform films is crucial for fabricating high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We report an approach for depositing high-quality FAPbI3 films, involving FAPbI3 crystallization by the direct intramolecular exchange of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) molecules intercalated in PbI2 with formamidinium iodide. This process produces FAPbI3 films with (111)-preferred crystallographic orientation, large-grained dense microstructures, and flat surfaces without residual PbI2. Using films prepared by this technique, we fabricated FAPbI3-based PSCs with maximum power conversion efficiency greater than 20%. Authors: Woon Seok Yang, Jun Hong Noh, Nam Joong Jeon, Young Chan Kim, Seungchan Ryu, Jangwon Seo, Sang Il Seok
18 Jun 11:15

Light converting phosphor-based photocatalytic composites

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2015, 5,4727-4740
DOI: 10.1039/C5CY00622H, Minireview
Xinjuan Liu, Haipeng Chu, Jinliang Li, Lengyuan Niu, Can Li, Huili Li, Likun Pan, Chang Q. Sun
Light-conversion phosphor-based composites including up-conversion, down-conversion, and long afterglow phosphor-semiconductors for efficient photocatalysis are summarized.
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19 May 11:00

Transient Absorption Spectroscopy of Anatase and Rutile: The Impact of Morphology and Phase on Photocatalytic Activity

by Xiuli Wang, Andreas Kafizas, Xiaoe Li, Savio J. A. Moniz, Philip J. T. Reardon, Junwang Tang, Ivan P. Parkin and James R. Durrant

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The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b01858
19 May 10:55

In Situ Resonant UV-Raman Spectroscopy of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

by Matteo Signorile, Francesca Bonino, Alessandro Damin and Silvia Bordiga

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The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b02209
19 May 09:20

In-Depth Studies on Rapid Photochemical Activation of Various Sol–Gel Metal Oxide Films for Flexible Transparent Electronics

by Sungjun Park, Kwang-Ho Kim, Jeong-Wan Jo, Sujin Sung, Kyung-Tae Kim, Won-June Lee, Jaekyun Kim, Hyun Jae Kim, Gi-Ra Yi, Yong-Hoon Kim, Myung-Han Yoon, Sung Kyu Park

Despite intensive research on photochemical activation of sol–gel metal oxide materials, the relatively long processing time and lack of deep understanding of the underlying chemical courses have limited their broader impact on diverse materials and applications such as thin-film electronics, photovoltaics, and catalysts. Here, in-depth studies on the rapid photochemical activation of diverse sol–gel oxide films using various spectroscopic and electrical investigations for the underlying physicochemical mechanism are reported. Based on the exhaustive chemical and physical analysis, it is noted that deep ultraviolet-promoted rapid film formation such as densification, polycondensation, and impurity decomposition is possible within 5 min via in situ radical-mediated reactions. Finally, the rapid fabrication of all-solution metal oxide thin-film-transistor circuitry, which exhibits stable and reliable electrical performance with a mobility of >12 cm2 V−1 s−1 and an oscillation frequency of >650 kHz in 7-stage ring oscillator even after bending at a radius of <1 mm is demonstrated.

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The general physicochemical mechanisms underlying photoactivated sol–gel reactions are described, with comprehensive chemical and structural analysis inducing rapid (<5 min) fabrication of various metal oxide films at low temperatures (<150 °C), and all-solution processed high-performance electronic devices and circuitry on ultrathin polymeric substrates are demonstrated. This will open new possibilities to prepare future electronic materials in a fast, scalable, and economic manner.

19 May 09:18

Charge Photogeneration in Few-Layer MoS2

by Tetiana Borzda, Christoph Gadermaier, Natasa Vujicic, Peter Topolovsek, Milos Borovsak, Tomaz Mertelj, Daniele Viola, Cristian Manzoni, Eva A. A. Pogna, Daniele Brida, Maria Rosa Antognazza, Francesco Scotognella, Guglielmo Lanzani, Giulio Cerullo, Dragan Mihailovic

The 2D semiconductor MoS2 in its mono- and few-layer form is expected to have a significant exciton binding energy of several 100 meV, suggesting excitons as the primary photoexcited species. Nevertheless, even single layers show a strong photovoltaic effect and work as the active material in high sensitivity photodetectors, thus indicating efficient charge carrier photogeneration. Here, modulation spectroscopy in the sub-ps and ms time scales is used to study the photoexcitation dynamics in few-layer MoS2. The results suggest that the primary photoexcitations are excitons that efficiently dissociate into charges with a characteristic time of 700 fs. Based on these findings, simple suggestions for the design of efficient MoS2 photovoltaic and photodetector devices are made.

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Few-layer MoS2 flakes are intermediates between conventional semiconductors and excitonic nanomaterials. By femtosecond optical pump–probe spectroscopy it is shown that photoexcitation creates excitons as the primary species. The excitons efficiently dissociate into charge carriers with a time constant of 700 fs, making few-layer MoS2 an excellent candidate for efficient photodetectors and photovoltaic devices.

19 May 09:17

Sol–Gel Metal Oxides: In-Depth Studies on Rapid Photochemical Activation of Various Sol–Gel Metal Oxide Films for Flexible Transparent Electronics (Adv. Funct. Mater. 19/2015)

by Sungjun Park, Kwang-Ho Kim, Jeong-Wan Jo, Sujin Sung, Kyung-Tae Kim, Won-June Lee, Jaekyun Kim, Hyun Jae Kim, Gi-Ra Yi, Yong-Hoon Kim, Myung-Han Yoon, Sung Kyu Park
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The front cover demonstrates the fabrication of sol–gel derived metal oxide electronic devices and circuits by low-temperature photochemical activation via in-situ radical-mediated reactions. On page 2807, M.-H. Yoon, S. K. Park, and colleagues show that the rapid photoactivation process enables the conversion of the sol–gel precursors into metal oxide electronic materials directly on ultra-flexible plastic substrates, which will serve as a general methodology in a rapid, scalable, and economic manner.

19 May 09:11

Catalytic Water Oxidation by a Molecular Ruthenium Complex: Unexpected Generation of a Single-Site Water Oxidation Catalyst

by Wangchuk Rabten, Markus D. Kärkäs, Torbjörn Åkermark, Hong Chen, Rong-Zhen Liao, Fredrik Tinnis, Junliang Sun, Per E. M. Siegbahn, Pher G. Andersson and Björn Åkermark

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Inorganic Chemistry
DOI: 10.1021/ic502755c
19 May 09:08

An Mn(V)-oxo role in splitting water? [Chemistry]

by Britt, R. D., Suess, D. L. M., Stich, T. A.
The oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) uses the full spectrum of visible light to oxidize water, producing O2 and bioactivated electrons and protons (1, 2). The unique nature of this crucial bioenergetic reaction has led to much interest in harnessing analogous photochemistry and catalysis for energy storage, with...
19 May 09:07

Mammoth genomes provide recipe for creating Arctic elephants

by Ewen Callaway

Mammoth genomes provide recipe for creating Arctic elephants

Nature 521, 7550 (2015). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature.2015.17462

Author: Ewen Callaway

Catalogue of genetic differences between woolly mammoths and elephants reveals how ice-age giants braved the cold.

19 May 09:05

[Report] A synthetic Mn4Ca-cluster mimicking the oxygen-evolving center of photosynthesis

by Chunxi Zhang
Photosynthetic splitting of water into oxygen by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria is catalyzed by the oxygen-evolving center (OEC). Synthetic mimics of the OEC, which is composed of an asymmetric manganese-calcium-oxygen cluster bound to protein groups, may promote insight into the structural and chemical determinants of biological water oxidation and lead to development of superior catalysts for artificial photosynthesis. We synthesized a Mn4Ca-cluster similar to the native OEC in both the metal-oxygen core and the binding protein groups. Like the native OEC, the synthetic cluster can undergo four redox transitions and shows two magnetic resonance signals assignable to redox and structural isomerism. Comparison with previously synthesized Mn3CaO4-cubane clusters suggests that the fourth Mn ion determines redox potentials and magnetic properties of the native OEC. Authors: Chunxi Zhang, Changhui Chen, Hongxing Dong, Jian-Ren Shen, Holger Dau, Jingquan Zhao
19 May 09:05

[This Week in Science] Mimicking the oxygen evolution center

by Nicholas S. Wigginton
Author: Nicholas S. Wigginton
19 May 09:02

Research progress of perovskite materials in photocatalysis- and photovoltaics-related energy conversion and environmental treatment

Chem. Soc. Rev., 2015, 44,5371-5408
DOI: 10.1039/C5CS00113G, Review Article
Wei Wang, Moses O. Tade, Zongping Shao
Perovskite materials are shown to be active in the applications of photocatalysis- and photovoltaics-related energy conversion and environmental treatment.
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19 May 09:01

Formation of Urban Fine Particulate Matter

by Renyi Zhang, Gehui Wang, Song Guo, Misti L. Zamora, Qi Ying, Yun Lin, Weigang Wang, Min Hu and Yuan Wang

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Chemical Reviews
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00067
19 May 08:55

Can Dynamics Be Responsible for the Complex Multipeak Infrared Spectra of NO Adsorbed to Copper(II) Sites in Zeolites?

by Florian Göltl, Philippe Sautet, Ive Hermans

Abstract

Copper-exchanged SSZ-13 is a very efficient material in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx using ammonia (deNOx-SCR) and characterizing the underlying distribution of copper sites in the material is of prime importance to understand its activity. The IR spectrum of NO adsorbed to divalent copper sites are modeled using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. For most sites, complex multi-peak spectra induced by the thermal motion of the cation as well as the adsorbate are found. A finite temperature spectrum for a specific catalyst was constructed, which shows excellent agreement with previously reported data. Additionally these findings allow active and inactive species in deNOx-SCR to be identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such complex spectra for single molecules adsorbed to single active centers have been reported in heterogeneous catalysis, and we expect similar effects to be important in a large number of systems with mobile active centers.

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Theory and practice: The IR spectra of NO adsorbed on Cu centers in a copper-containing zeolite were modeled using molecular dynamics simulations. The spectra are complex, which is due to the thermal motions of the cations and the adsorbates, and are in excellent agreement with the experimental spectra.

28 Apr 10:13

Chemistry: Imaging of excited electron orbitals

Chemistry: Imaging of excited electron orbitals

Nature 519, 7544 (2015). doi:10.1038/519392d

A technique could pave the way for imaging electron behaviour as chemical reactions happen.Many reactions are governed by the behaviour of electrons in excited orbital states, but these states are difficult to capture because they last only a few picoseconds (10−12 seconds).

28 Apr 10:12

The future of the postdoc

by Kendall Powell

The future of the postdoc

Nature 520, 7546 (2015). http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/520144a

Author: Kendall Powell

There is a growing number of postdocs and few places in academia for them to go. But change could be on the way.

28 Apr 09:58

Facile Synthesis of Crystalline Polymeric Carbon Nitrides with an Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance under Visible Light

by Qinghua Liang, Zheng-Hong Huang, Feiyu Kang, Quan-Hong Yang

Abstract

Poly(triazine imides) intercalated with Li+ and X (PTI/X, X=Cl or Br), which are described widely as crystalline polymeric carbon nitrides, were synthesized in a facile manner by heating a mixture of melamine and LiX. This method has the advantages of low cost, scalable production, and high efficiency. Importantly, both PTI/Cl and PTI/Br exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic performance compared to conventional graphitic polymeric carbon nitride in the degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation because of their higher visible-light-harvesting ability and charge carrier separation efficiency.

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Easy does it: Crystalline polymeric graphitic carbon nitrides with an enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance are prepared by heating a mixture of melamine and lithium halides.

28 Apr 09:54

Cover Picture: Synthesis of a Fe–Ni Alloy on a Ceria Support as a Noble-Metal-Free Catalyst for Hydrogen Production from Chemical Hydrogen Storage Materials (ChemCatChem 8/2015)

by Kohsuke Mori, Tomohisa Taga, Hiromi Yamashita
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The cover picture shows effective hydrogen production from an aqueous solution of ammonia-borane (NH3-BH3, AB) by bimetallic FeNi nanoparticles supported on CeO2. In their Full Paper, K. Mori, T. Taga, and H. Yamashita show highly dispersed and partially oxidized amorphous FeNi NPs stabilized by strong interaction with the CeO2 is active for the catalytic dehydrogenation of AB. The advantages of this catalytic system, such as the facile preparation method, free of noble metals, and high recyclability are particularly desirable for a hydrogen vector in terms of potential industrial application in fuel cells. The article highlighted by this cover can be found on p. 1285 ff. of Issue 8, 2015.

28 Apr 09:54

Merging Surface Organometallic Chemistry with Graphitic Carbon Nitride Photocatalysis for CO2 Photofixation

by Guigang Zhang, Zhi-An Lan, Xinchen Wang
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On the surface: The reaction kinetics of CO2 photocatalytic reduction to formic acid on graphitic carbon nitride polymers can be promoted by surface organometallic chemistry. C.B.=Conduction band, V.B.=Valance band, D=electron donor.

28 Apr 09:51

EPR Spectroscopic Detection of the Elusive FeVO Intermediates in Selective Catalytic Oxofunctionalizations of Hydrocarbons Mediated by Biomimetic Ferric Complexes

by Oleg Y. Lyakin, Alexandra M. Zima, Denis G. Samsonenko, Konstantin P. Bryliakov and Evgenii P. Talsi

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ACS Catalysis
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5b00169
28 Apr 09:51

Substantial Improvement of Pyridine-Carbene Iridium Water Oxidation Catalysts by a Simple Methyl-to-Octyl Substitution

by Ilaria Corbucci, Ana Petronilho, Helge Müller-Bunz, Luca Rocchigiani, Martin Albrecht and Alceo Macchioni

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ACS Catalysis
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5b00319
28 Apr 09:50

Theoretical Studies on the Mechanism of Homogeneous Catalytic Olefin Hydrogenation and Amine–Borane Dehydrogenation by a Versatile Boryl-Ligand-Based Cobalt Catalyst

by Gaurab Ganguly, Tanmay Malakar and Ankan Paul

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ACS Catalysis
DOI: 10.1021/cs501359n