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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

Stepwise impregnation of bimetallic catalysts for carbon nanotube synthesis

Supported bimetallic catalysts are widely used for carbon nanotube (CNT) synthesis, yet the effects of impregnation procedure remain underexplored. Here, we investigated how the sequence of metal impregnation affects CNT synthesis. We prepared cobalt-molybdenum (Co-Mo) bimetallic catalysts on alumina supports via co- and stepwise impregnation, then compared their CNT synthesis performance under identical conditions. Stepwise-impregnated catalysts exhibited higher carbon yields than those prepared by co-impregnation. Notably, impregnating Mo after Co achieved the highest yield despite the lowest BET surface area. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and visible/UV-Raman spectroscopy revealed that only this catalyst contained Al 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 with a MoO 4 structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy clarified the surface chemistry: the catalyst with the highest CNT productivity exposed Mo entirely as Mo 6+ in Al 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 and CoMoO 4 , whereas the others contained both Mo 4+ and Mo 6+ . The MoO x species like Al 2 (MoO 4 ) 3 is known to suppress Co sintering during CNT synthesis, delaying catalyst deactivation and enhancing the carbon yield. Moreover, an inverse relationship was observed between carbon yield and the CoMoO 4 content. This is attributed to the consumption of catalytically active Co during CoMoO 4 formation, which reduces active sites for CNT growth. ICP-OES further confirmed higher Co and Mo loadings for stepwise catalysts, contributing to superior catalyst performance. The extent of CoMoO 4 formation strongly depended on the metal introduction sequence. In conclusion, this trend is illustrated by considering the relationship between the point of zero charge of support and the pH of the metal precursor solutions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Elimination of NO Pollutant in Semi-enclosed Spaces over Sodium-promoted Cobalt Oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) by Oxidation and Adsorption Mechanism

Low concentrations of NOx accumulated in air in semi-enclosed spaces is a severe health hazard, but its efficient removal at low cost is a grand challenge. A simple method in preparing CoOOH for low-concentration NO removal at room temperature is described here. The samples are synthesized by oxidizing Co(OH)2 to CoOOH with different oxidants (Na2S2O8, O2 and H2O2). Among them, CoOOH prepared by Na2S2O8 (Co-NS) shows remarkable performance for NO abatement, while the samples synthesized by and H2O2 (Co-HO) and O2 (Co-OG) have no apparent NO removal capacity. It is found that the Co-NS material contains a higher concentration of residual Na, which contributes to the decreased crystallinity and increased concentrations of surface active species (Co2+, active oxygen) for NO storage. Following NO storage, the material can be readily regenerated by water washing. The authors from East China University of Science and Technology acknowledge support from National Basic Research Program of China (2013CB933200), National Natural Science Foundation of China (21577035, 21577034), Commission of Science and Technology of Shanghai Municipality (15DZ1205305) and 111 Project (B08021). Aiyong Wang acknowledges the China Scholarship Council for the Joint-Training Scholarship Program with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is operated by Battelle for the US DOE under contract DE-AC05-76RL01830. FG is supported by the U.S. DOE/Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office.

NOx abatement, NOx adsorber, ambient temperature, ↗

High surface area magnetic double perovskite La 2 AlFeO 6 as an efficient and stable photo-Fenton catalyst under a wide pH range

Photo-Fenton process is an efficient way to treat the organic pollutants in wastewater. However, the efficiency is limited by serious leaching of iron ion, separation of spent catalyst from reaction system for facile recycling, low (pH<4) reaction environment. Herein, we report a preparation of a novel magnetic double perovskite photocatalyst La2AlFeO6, and refractory organic pollutants like phenol, etc. were used as probes to test the efficiency of catalyst. The results showed that the catalytic material retained high surface area and high ratio of Fe 3+ on its surface, and the generated ·OH, ·O 2 - and 1 O 2 lead to a highly photocatalytic efficiency even at neutral pH condition. In addition, the as prepared double perovskite photocatalyst La 2 AlFeO 6 also exhibits excellent stable and magnetic properties. There is no iron ion leaching detected during the courses of the reaction. Furthermore, the spent catalyst can be separated by magnetic field easily, and thus can be reused after simple air drying without any further treatment or calcination.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pragmatic protocols for working cleanly when measuring ice nucleating particles

We report that measuring ice nucleating particles (INPs) is critical for understanding, and modeling, cloud formation, reflectivity, and precipitation patterns. However, because INPs are very rare in the atmosphere, but abundant—sometimes alarmingly so—in the dust that covers all work surfaces, contamination during processing of collected aerosol samples can be a significant hindrance to obtaining accurate measures of INPs. In preparing this technical note, we questioned the cleanliness of every collection and processing step involved in making immersion freezing measurements of INPs re-suspended from filter samples. The aim was to identify, and then minimize, all potential sources of significant contamination, including containers and tools used to store filters and prepare liquid suspensions, gloves, work surfaces, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) trays commonly used for sample analysis. While plasticware released few INPs, most gloves readily shed them, but this can be mitigated by using washed cleanroom vinyl or polyethylene gloves. Work surfaces, even those that had been cleaned, were prodigious reservoirs of contaminating INPs, but simply covering them with aluminum foil will provide an INP-free surface. By applying these practices, we developed a method to reduce the background level of INPs on Nuclepore™ polycarbonate filters in our tests to 0 at -25 °C and < 20 at -27 °C, making them suitable for use in all sampling environments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Quantification of the carbon bonding state in amorphous carbon materials: A comparison between EELS and NEXAFS measurements

In this report the quantitative determination of the carbon hybridization is critical for establishing processing-structure-properties relationships for carbon-based materials, including amorphous carbon coatings. While several techniques have been employed to characterize the amount of sp 2 and sp 3 carbon in these materials, direct comparisons between analytical results are limited. Here, we compare near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra of a silicon- and oxygen-containing hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H:Si:O) coating acquired in synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) mode with electron energy loss spectra (EELS) obtained from the same a-C:H:Si:O lamella. While the fractions of sp 2 carbon computed from STXM and EELS spectra are in close agreement, the comparison of NEXAFS spectra acquired in STXM mode with NEXAFS spectra collected in partial electron yield mode on a flat a-C:H:Si:O surface indicated that the destructive preparation of thin lamellae for STXM analyses induces variations in the structure of a-C:H:Si:O, namely the breakage of carbon-silicon and carbon-hydrogen bonds, a change in ordering of sp 2 -bonded carbon, and an increase in the sp 2 carbon fraction. These findings can help scientists in the careful interpretation of spectroscopic results obtained from the analysis of samples made of metastable materials after the destructive preparation of specimens for analytical purposes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Coal-based graphene oxide-like materials: A comprehensive review

Coal is the most abundant energy and hydrocarbon resource in the United States which has been primarily used for power generation. With the increasing retirement of coal power plants and transition to a low-carbon emission economy, the future use of coal will likely shift to a feedstock source for production of valuable materials for different applications. In this review, the latest research reported on production of graphene-like materials in a powder form from coal is compiled and discussed. Here, this review includes: 1) brief background information on graphene and related materials (GRM); 2) relevant material, resource, economic, and socioeconomic information regarding suitability of coal as a potential feedstock for production of GRM; 3) a summary of common approaches for coal upgrading for preparation of more suitable precursors for production of GRM; 4) a compilation and analysis of the reported routes and methods for preparation of GRM from coal and coal derivatives; and 5) reported potential applications of coal-based GRM.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Enhancing thermal conductivity and toughness of cellulose nanofibril/boron nitride nanosheet composites

Generally, the thermal conductivity (TC) of composite based on cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) is improved by adding thermal conductive filler, which inevitably leads to the loss of its mechanical properties. Here, in this work, it is the first to simultaneously improve the toughness and TC of CNF/boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) composite from the perspective of thermal conductive filler addition and CNF crystal change. The hydrophilic-modified BNNSs were successfully prepared by xylose-assisted ball-milling prior to adding into CNF. Compared with that of CNF film (1.34 W/(m·K)), the in-plane TC of CNF/BNNS composite (12.68 W/(m·K)) increased significantly by 846 % with loading 30 % BNNS. Afterwards, both toughness (8.0 MJ·m -3 , increased ~250 %) and TC (14.7 W/(m·K), increased ~16 %) of CNF/BNNS composite were further enhanced significantly by mercerization with 12.5 % NaOH solution. The simultaneously improvement of toughness and TC is unprecedented in related studies, which contributes to the effective preparation of thermal management materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Overexpression of a gibberellin 20-oxidase gene in poplar xylem led to an increase in the size of nanocellulose fibrils and improved paper properties

Cellulose, the major component of secondary cell walls, is the most abundant renewable long-chain polymer on earth. Nanocellulose has become a prominent nano-reinforcement agent for polymer matrices in various industries. We report the generation of transgenic hybrid poplar overexpressing the Arabidopsis gibberellin 20-oxidase1 gene driven by a xylem-specific promoter to increase gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis in wood. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and sum frequency generation spectroscopic (SFG) analyses showed that cellulose in transgenic trees was less crystalline, but the crystal size was larger. The nanocellulose fibrils prepared from transgenic wood had an increased size compared to those from wild type. When such fibrils were used as a reinforcing agent in sheet paper preparation, the mechanical strength of the paper was significantly enhanced. Engineering the GA pathway can therefore affect nanocellulose properties, providing a new strategy for expanding nanocellulose applications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Spontaneously supersaturated nucleation strategy for high reproducible and efficient perovskite solar cells

High-quality perovskite films are predominantly prepared by anti-solvent assisted spin-coating method. How- ever, small device size and narrow operation window limit their applications in practical and scalable production. Here, a spontaneously supersaturated nucleation strategy is developed to fabricate high-quality perovskite films without any antisolvents. The rapid precipitation behavior of the precursor solutions could be triggered by the volatilization of methylamine ethanol at the initial film formation stage, forming uniform and compact intermediate phase films. Mirror-like large area (10 cm × 10 cm) methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPbI 3 ) perovskite films with micrometer-sized grains can be achieved by phase transition via annealing. The average power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.4% is achieved for 0.1 cm 2 perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The 1 cm 2 device shows a PCE of 17.57% and retains 96.8% after aging for 39 days in the air with a relative humidity of 5–30%. The perovskite module based on the perovskite films prepared by our strategy exhibits a PCE of 13.13%. Here, the perovskite film fabrication method developed in this work shows high reproducibility of the fabrication process due to the spontaneous nucleation process. Meanwhile, it also exhibits significant potential in the application of scalable solution processing deposition techniques toward the commercialization of PSCs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Highly efficient Pt catalyst on newly designed CeO 2 -ZrO 2 -Al 2 O 3 support for catalytic removal of pollutants from vehicle exhaust

Pt-CeO 2 catalysts have been widely studied for the vehicle emission control. Designing novel CeO 2 based supports with improved physical-chemical properties has become a research hotspot to further promote the catalytic performance and stability of Pt-CeO 2 catalysts. In this work, through utilizing a unique, two-step incipient wetness impregnation (T-IWI) method for ceria-zirconia-alumina (CZA-T) support preparation, a Pt single site catalyst (Pt/CZA-T) with excellent thermal stability was synthesized. Higher oxidation activity and Oxygen storage capacity (OSC) were achieved on activated Pt/CZA-T, comparing to Pt catalysts on regular CeO 2 /Al 2 O 3 (Pt/CA) and one-step prepared CeZrO x /Al 2 O 3 (Pt/CZA). Via the modification of hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of γ-Al 2 O 3 by this unique T-IWI method, finer Ce 0.9 Zr 0.1 O 2 particles with higher density of surface defects were formed on CZA-T, on which a higher Pt dispersion and stronger Pt-O-Ce interaction were achieved. Upon activation, smaller, well-dispersed Pt clusters on CZA-T were generated. It was concluded that the CO oxidation performance and OSC were highly related to the size of Pt clusters on different supports that we have developed. Finally, more Pt sites located at Pt cluster-CeZrO x interfaces, which were the real active sites, were responsible for the highest OSC function and CO oxidation activity of activated Pt/CZA-T catalyst.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Printed graphene oxide-based membranes for gas separation and carbon capture

Graphene oxide (GO)-based separation membranes have demonstrated the great potential to separate molecules and ions by the interlayer spacing with tunable nano-sized channels. The scalable fabrication of GO-based gas separation membranes, however, remains challenging, although a few preparation approaches have been reported. Here in this work, we present for the first time that the co-solvent ink-jet printing, as a fast and scalable method, can be utilized for scalable GO-based gas separation membrane preparation. Large-area (>100 cm 2 ), ultrathin, and high-quality GO membrane was successfully deposited on commercial polysulfone (PS) support, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, et al., Selective hydrogen (H 2 ) and helium (He) transport over carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and nitrogen (N 2 ) was demonstrated for the printed GO membrane. To further explore the separation potential of the printed GO-based gas membrane, additives for facilitated molecular transport were incorporated during the membrane printing process. By inserting CO 2 -philic agents into the printed GO membrane, highly efficient separation of CO 2 from N 2 was achieved with CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 70 and CO 2 permeance as high as 2,500 GPU. The strategy proposed here may provide guidance for large-scale GO-based gas separation membrane production and a versatile approach for applying other functional 2-dimensional materials towards the membrane separation application.

42 ENGINEERING↗

3D printed lignin/polymer composite with enhanced mechanical and anti-thermal-aging performance

Lignin is the most abundant natural aromatic polymer globally but is still underutilized as a renewable material, even with its versatile properties. One approach to using lignin is to incorporate it in polymer composites, but this application is often limited by the poor mechanical performance of the resultant composite due to the poor interfacial adhesion. Following the structure–property relationship, stronger interactions were designed to be enhanced by alternating the functional groups of lignin. Here, this study applied a demethylation method to hardwood lignin (Ori-Lig) to introduce more phenolic hydroxyl groups. Research studies with rheology behavior and molecular simulations demonstrated that an increased phenolic hydroxyl content could improve the adhesion between the modified lignin (OH-Lig) and the polymer matrix at the interface. The tensile performance of the samples from the fused depositional modeling (FDM) 3D printing technique was also improved due to the improved interfacial adhesion. Specifically, by adding 10 wt% of the modified lignin, the tensile strength of the 3D printed samples could reach 46.1 MPa (40.2 MPa of Polyamide 12, PA12), and Young’s Modulus could be improved to 1.73 GPa (1.48 GPa of PA12). OH-Lig also improved anti-aging performance so that the tensile strength of the OH-Lig composite after thermo-aging (100 h at 140 °C) remained ~48MPa. The enhanced mechanical performance with anti-aging properties indicated that the OH-Lig composite may replace PA12 to reduce the use of petrol-based materials. This work showed the method of purposefully designing and modifying lignin structures to fulfill the interaction requirements between lignin and polymer matrix. The as-prepared lignin could be used to prepare functional composites to achieve improved mechanical performance and targeted functions at the same time.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Development of ceria-supported metal-oxide (MO x /CeO 2 ) catalysts via a one-pot chemical vapor deposition (OP-CVD) technique: Structure and reverse water gas shift reaction study

Current synthesis techniques for metal oxide (MO x )-supported catalysts have certain limitations of undesired target loading, ineffective dispersion of active species over the surface, uncontrolled particle size of active species, and complicated synthesis steps. Here, we developed a one-pot chemical vapor deposition (OP-CVD) methodology; by using which a solid metal precursor forms a vapor in a controlled condition and gets supported over the surrounding matrix. The theoretical stability followed by experimental validation using TGA is crucial for selecting the metal precursors. Three simple steps viz. premixing, dispersion, and rapid fixation by calcination are involved in the catalyst development via the OP-CVD approach. This study solely focused on the synthesis of 3d transition MO x over ceria support. The physicochemical characterizations of the prepared catalysts were performed by XRD, ICP-OES, SEM-EDX, CO pulse chemisorption, XANES, and EXAFS analyses to understand the crystal structure of involved species, target metal loading, dispersion, and particle size and prove the feasibility and viability of OP-CVD. The prepared catalysts were further tested for reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction to link their structural information with activity. The RWGS reaction data showed that the CO activity and CO selectivity were metal - and metal precursor-dependent. Higher CO activity of > 0.1 mol/h g-cat was observed for Cu and Co-based catalysts, with CO selectivity of ~100 %. This study provides an opportunity to produce efficient supported catalysts in a convenient way, providing effective catalytic activity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Additive manufacturing of continuous carbon fiber-reinforced SiC ceramic composite with multiple fiber bundles by an extrusion-based technique

Due to the high cost, complex preparation process and difficulty in structural design, the traditional methods for carbon fiber-reinforced SiC ceramic composite preparation have great limitations. This paper presents a technique for the additive manufacturing multiple continuous carbon fiber bundle-reinforced SiC ceramic composite with core-shell structure using an extrusion-based technique. A conventional nozzle system was modified to print simultaneously a water-based SiC paste with continuous carbon fibers. Different levels of binder contents were investigated to optimize the stickiness, viscosity, thixotropy and viscoelasticity of the paste. After sintering, SiC whiskers were generated on the surface of fiber, which is conjectured to be due to the reaction between SiO and carbon fiber at high temperature. The continuous carbon fiber-reinforced SiC ceramic composite exhibited non-brittle fracture. In conclusion, the flexural strength of the additively manufactured Cf/SiC composites improved from 162 MPa with no fiber bundles to a maximum of 219 MPa with three fiber bundles.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Vapor-phase self-assembly for generating thermally stable single-atom catalysts

Preparation of thermally stable metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) is a challenge in heterogeneous catalysis, especially on conventional supports that provide a weak metal-support interaction. In this work, we report that a modified support MgAl 2 O 4 can stabilize Pt single atoms by a mechanism of vapor-phase self-assembly in a high-temperature treatment (800°C, air). The experimental results on the formation mechanism and the structure are validated by DFT and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. We infer that stable triangular K 3 O 3 structures help stabilize Pt single atoms at high temperatures in oxidizing conditions, exhibiting excellent reactivity for methane oxidation. The obtained Pt/K/MgAl 2 O 4 SAC presents excellent stability in methane oxidation after steam treatment at elevated temperatures, whereas the Pt/MgAl 2 O 4 nanocatalyst suffers from rapid deactivation due to Pt nanoparticle growth. Now this work paves the way for preparing thermally stable and highly active SACs using conventional high-surface-area supports, despite the weak metal-support interaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Silver-mediated separations: A comprehensive review on advancements of argentation chromatography, facilitated transport membranes, and solid-phase extraction techniques and their applications

The use of silver(I) ions in chemical separations, also known as argentation separations, is a powerful approach for the selective separation and analysis of many natural and synthetic organic compounds. In this review, a comprehensive discussion of the most common argentation separation techniques, including argentation-liquid chromatography (Ag-LC), argentation-gas chromatography (Ag-GC), argentation-facilitated transport membranes (Ag-FTMs), and argentation-solid phase extraction (Ag-SPE) is provided. For each of these techniques, notable advancements, optimized separations, and innovative applications are discussed. The review begins with an explanation of the fundamental chemistry underlying argentation separations, mainly the reversible π-complexation between silver(I) ions and carbon-carbon double bonds. Within Ag-LC, the use of silver(I) ions in thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, as well as preparative LC are explored. This discussion focuses on how silver(I) ions are employed in the stationary and mobile phase to separate unsaturated compounds. For Ag-GC and Ag-FTMs, different silver compounds and supporting media are discussed, often with relation to olefin-paraffin separations. Ag-SPE has been widely employed for the selective extraction of unsaturated compounds from complex matrices in sample preparation. This comprehensive review of Ag-LC, Ag-GC, Ag-FTMs, and Ag-SPE techniques emphasizes the immense potential of argentation separations in separations science and serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to learn, optimize, and utilize argentation separations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Ion soft landing: A unique tool for understanding electrochemical processes

Ion soft landing (SL) is a preparative mass spectrometry approach that enables deposition of mass- and charge-selected gaseous ions onto surfaces with controlled kinetic energy. The unique capabilities of SL provide an opportunity to populate electrode–electrolyte interfaces (EEIs) with well-defined intact electroactive ions of known composition, thereby facilitating the characterization of their intrinsic electrochemical properties. Here, in this perspective, we describe the SL technique and discuss how it may be used to study the effect of the charge state, stoichiometry, and composition of large redox active molecules and clusters on their electron transfer kinetics. SL has enabled the characterization of redox-active species that cannot be purified and examined using conventional bulk-phase separation and deposition approaches. Furthermore, precise control over the deposition process provides an opportunity to prepare and characterize well-defined EEIs relevant to energy storage and conversion, catalysis, and sensing.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of different manufacturing methods on polyamide reverse-osmosis membranes for desalination: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations

Membranes are a key technology platform for a broad application of energy-efficient separations. To best serve the separation demands of industry, the manufacturing processes for these membranes are garnering increasing attention. In particular, for water desalination, the industry leading polyamide (PA) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes can be manufactured via molecular layer-by-layer (mLBL) deposition, interfacial polymerization (IP), and 3D-printing technique. However, the influence of different manufacturing methods on PA membrane’s properties is far from understood. Here, in this study, we present the high-pressure transport behavior of water and salt ions for PA membranes formed with IP, mLBL, and 3D-printing through non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Studies show that membranes fabricated with 3D-printing have similar performances to those manufactured using mLBL, quantified by water permeability, rejection of salt ions, structural integrity, and porosity features. However, the membranes formed with IP exhibit faster water transport, lower rejection, worse structural integrity, and more inhomogeneous network pores than those constructed using mLBL and 3D-printing. The unconnected water-accessible space governs water transport for PA membranes formed with mLBL and 3D-printing, which offers the impermanent open-closed pores that enable water to jump through PA membranes. In contrast, the permeated water-enterable space plays a prominent role in water movement across the PA membrane formed with IP, providing a continuous transport channel at high pressure. Importantly, we observe the more significant compaction features at high pressure for PA membranes formed with IP than mLBL and 3D printing. In short, these findings provide a comprehensive understanding of existing membrane preparation technologies. It also provides a guide for developing the new membrane preparation process at the molecular level.

3D-printing↗