Role of A-sites in pyrochlore lanthanide ruthenate for electrocatalysis of oxygen evolution reaction

Developing highly stable and efficient catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is extremely important to sustainable energy conversion and storage,but improved efficiency is largely hindered by sluggish reaction kinetics.Dense and bimetal ruthenates have emerged as one of the promising substitutes to replace single-metal ruthenium or iridium oxides,but the fundamental understanding the role of A-site cations is still blurring.Herein,a family of lanthanides(Ln=all the lanthanides except Pm)are applied to synthesize pyrochlore lanthanide ruthenates(Ln_(2)Ru_(2)O_(7)),and only Ln_(2)Ru_(2)O_(7)(Ln=Sm,Eu,Gd,Tb,Dy,Ho,Er,Tm,Yb,or Lu)with pure phase can be obtained by the ambient-pressure calcination.Compared with the perovskite ruthenates(SrRuO_(3))and rutile RuO_(2),the[RuO_(6)]units in these Ln_(2)Ru_(2)O_(7) present the largely distorted configurations and different energy level splitting to prevent the excessive Ru oxidation and dissolution,which leads the primary improvement in the electrocatalytic OER performance.In the similar crystalline field split states,the charge transfer between[RuO6]units and Ln^(3+)cations also affect catalytic activities,even in the Ln_(2)Ru_(2)O_(7) surface reconstruction during the OER process.Consequently,Tb_(2)Ru_(2)O_(7) showed the highest OER performance among all the prepared Ln_(2)Ru_(2)O_(7) with similar morphologies and crystallization.This systematic work gives fundamental cognition to rational design of high-performance OER electrocatalysts in proper water electrolysis technologies.

Role of Lanthanide in the Electronic Properties of RbLn_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2)(Ln=Sm and Ho)Superconductors

We focus on the effect of ionic radius of lanthanides and the number of electrons in 4f orbitals on the superconducting temperature in 12442-type iron-based superconductors RbLn_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2)(Ln=Sm and Ho).Electronic properties of RbSm_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2) and RbHo2Fe4As4O2with the largest differences of ionic radii and numbers of electrons in 4f orbital,and the largest difference of superconducting temperatures by using firstprinciples calculations.We predict that the ground state of RbLn_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2) is spin-density-wave-type in-plane striped antiferromagnet,and the magnetic moment around each Fe atom is about 2μB.RbSm_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2)has a great influence on the energy band near theΓpoint,and a Dirac-like dispersion energy band appears.This band is mainly contributed by the dz2orbital of Fe,which proves that RbSm_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2)has a stronger threedimensionality.At the same time,this extra Fermi surface appears at theΓpoint,which also shows that Sm can effectively enhance the coupling strength within Fe2As2bilayers.This is also confirmed by the charge density differenceρ(RbHo_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2))-ρ(RbSm_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2)).It increases the internal coupling strength of the bilayer Fe_(2)As2layers,which in turn leads to a higher Tcof RbSm_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2)than RbHo_(2)Fe_(4)As_(4)O_(2).Determining the details of their electronic structure,which may be closely related to superconductivity,is crucial to understanding the underlying mechanism.Such microscopic studies provide useful clues for our further research of other hightemperature superconductors.

Fabrication and Characterization of Lanthanide-TiO2 Nanotube Composites

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) doped with neodymium (Nd) and/or Gadolinium (Gd) rare-earth elements were fabricated into nanotubes via the hydrothermal method in a KOH solution and in-situ doping. Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) and in-situ Nd-doped and/or Gd-doped TNTs were characterized with transmission and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Morphologies indicated a network of aggregated nanotubes. The phase and composition analyses revealed that the lanthanide TNTs had anatase phases with Nd and/or Gd nanoparticles in the TNT lattice. The nanoparticles were uniformly deposited on the surface because of hydroxyl groups on the TNT surfaces, resulting in a very high loading density. The outer diameter and the length of the TNTs increased with doping. The mechanisms for the formation of multiwall TNTs are discussed.

Researchers achieve photon avalanche luminescence with giant nonlinearities based on lanthanide-doped KMgF_(3) upconversion nanoparticles

Lanthanide(Ln^(3+))-doped photon avalanche(PA)upconversion nanoparticles(UCNPs)have great prospects in many frontier applications,such as super-resolution bioimaging,miniaturized lasers,single-molecule tracking,and quantum optics.However,it remains challenging to realize PA in colloidal Ln^(3+)-doped UCNPs at room temperature(RT),due to the deleterious quenching effect associated with the surface and lattice OH^(-)defects.

Amine-grafted on lanthanide metal-organic frameworks:Three solid base catalysts for Knoevenagel condensation reaction

A post-synthetic modification strategy has been used to prepare three solid base catalysts, including Er（btc）（ED）075（H2O）0.25 （2, btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylates, ED = 1,2-ethanediamine）, Er（btc）（PP）0.55（H20）0.45 （3, PP = piperazine）, and Er（btc）（DABCO）0.15（H2O）0.85 （4, DABCO = 1,4- diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane）, by grafting three different diamines onto the coordinatively unsaturated Er（III） ions into the channels of the desolvated lanthanide metal-organic framework （Er（otc））. The resulting metal-organic frameworks were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and N2 adsorption. Based on its higher loading ratio of the diamine, as well as its greater stability and porosity, catalyst 2 exhibited higher catalytic activity and reusability than catalysts 3 and 4- for the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The catalytic mechanism of 2 has also been investigated using size-selective catalysis tests.

New Opportunities for Lanthanide Luminescence

Trivalent lanthanide ions display fascinating optical properties. The discovery of the corresponding elements and their first industrial uses were intimately linked to their optical properties. This relationship has been kept alive until today when many high-technology applications of lanthanide-containing materials such as energy-saving lighting devices, displays, optical fibers and amplifiers, lasers, responsive luminescent stains for biomedical analyses and in cellulo sensing and imaging, heavily rely on the brilliant and pure-color emission of lanthanide ions. In this review we first outlined the basics of lanthanide luminescence with emphasis on f-f transitions, the sensitization mechanisms, and the assessment of the luminescence efficiency of lanthanide-containing emissive molecular edifices. Emphasis was then put on two fast developing aspects of lanthanide luminescence： materials for telecommunications and light emitting diodes, and biomedical imaging and sensing. Recent advances in NIR-emitting materials for plastic amplifiers and waveguides were described, together with the main solutions brought by researchers to minimize non-radiative deactivation of excited states. The demonstration in 1999 that erbium tris（8-hydroxyquinolinate） displayed a bright green emission suitable for organic light emitting diodes （OLEDs） was followed by realizing that in OLEDs, 25% of the excitation energy leads to singlet states and 75% to triplet states. Since lanthanide ions are good triplet quenchers, they now also play a key role in the development of these lighting devices. Luminescence analyses of biological molecules are among the most sensitive analytical techniques known. The long lifetime of the lanthanide excited states allows time-resolved spectroscopy to be used, suppressing the sample autofluorescence and reaching very low detection limits. Not only visible lanthanide sensors are now ubiquitously provided in medical diagnosis and in cell imaging, but the feasibility of using NIR emission of ions such as YbⅢ is now being tested because of deeper penetration in biological tissues.

Prolonging charge-separation states by doping lanthanide-ions into {001}/{101} facets-coexposed TiO_(2) nanosheets for enhancing photocatalytic H_(2) evolution

Ultrathin TiO_(2)nanosheets with coexposed{001}/{101}facets have attracted considerable attention because of their high photocatalytic activity.However,the charge-separated states in the TiO_(2)nanosheets must be extended to further enhance their photocatalytic activity for H_(2)evolution.Herein,we present a successful attempt to selectively dope lanthanide ions into the{101}facets of ultrathin TiO_(2)nanosheets with coexposed{001}/{101}facets through a facile one-step solvothermal method.The lanthanide doping slightly extended the light-harvesting region and markedly improved the charge-separated states of the TiO_(2)nanosheets as evidenced by UV-vis absorption and steady-state/transient photoluminescence spectra.Upon simulated sunlight irradiation,we observed a 4.2-fold enhancement in the photocatalytic H_(2)evolution activity of optimal Yb^(3+)-doped TiO_(2)nanosheets compared to that of their undoped counterparts.Furthermore,when Pt nanoparticles were used as cocatalysts to reduce the H_(2)overpotential in this system,the photocatalytic activity enhancement factor increased to 8.5.By combining these results with those of control experiments,we confirmed that the extended charge-separated states play the main role in the enhancement of the photocatalytic H_(2)evolution activity of lanthanide-doped TiO_(2)nanosheets with coexposed{001}/{101}facets.

Preparation of Ternary Lanthanide Complexes with Unsaturated Acid and 1,10-Phenanthroline, and Their Anti-Inflammatory Action

Four ternary lanthanide complexes with unsaturated acid and 1,10-phenanthroline are prepared in methanol and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, UV, IR, (()~1H) NMR and XPS. The results from this paper show that the complexes Ln(phen)(SA)_3·2H_2O or Ln(phen)(CA)_3·H_2O (Ln=Ce(Ⅲ), Sm(Ⅲ) and Eu(Ⅲ), (phen=1,10-)phenanthroline, SA=Sorbate and CA=Cinnamate) has better anti-inflammatory effect than cerium nitrate and their gremores are steadier than cerium nitrate gremor. And there is a kind of medicament which can replace the cerium nitrate gremor completely in treating burn.

A New 3-D Lanthanide Porphyrin: Synthesis,Structure and Photophysical Properties

A new lanthanide porphyrin, [Smm（H3TPPSHI）]n-nH20 （1, H6TPPS = tetra（4- sulfonatophenyl）porphyrin）, has been synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 crystallizes in the P4/mcc space group of tetragonal system： a = 15.3683（12）, c = 9.895（2）/k, V = 2337.0（5） A3, C44H29N4OI3SaSm, Mr = 1100.30, Z = 2, Dc = 1.564 g/cm3, S = 1.063,μ（MoKa） = 1.502 mm-1, F（000） = 1102, R = 0.0583 and wR = 0.1666. Compound 1 is characteristic of a three-dimensional （3-D） framework with a slightly distorted square-antiprism eight-coordinated Sm3＋ ion. Fluorescent study revealed that compound 1 exhibits an emission in the red region. The fluorescence quantum yield and lifetime of 1 were determined to be 3.5% and 9.1 ns, respectively. UV-vis absorption spectra were also investigated.

Crystal Structure and Luminescence Property of Lanthanide Complexes with 2-Fluorobenzoic Acid and 2,2′-Bipyridine

The two compounds of [Ln（2-FBA）3·2,2＇-bpy ]2（2-FBA = 2-fluorobenzoato, 2,2＇-bpy = 2,2＇-bipyridine, Ln = Eu（1 ）, Dy（2）） were synthesized and their structures were determined by X-ray diffraction method. Crystallized complexes 1 and 2 are isomorphous, monoelinie system with P21/n space group. The two complexes are binuclear molecule with an inversion center. The two lanthanide ions are linked by four bridged 2-FBA ligands and each lanthanide ion is further bonded to one chelated bidentate 2-FBA ligand and one 2,2＇-bipyridine molecule. The coordination number of metal ion is eight. The europium complex exhibits strong red fluorescence. ^5D0→^7Fj（j = 1 - 4） transition emission of Eu^3＋ ion was observed.

Possible Involvement of NADPH Oxidase in Lanthanide Cation-Induced Superoxide Anion Generation in BY-2 Tobacco Cell Suspension Culture

A rapid and concentration-dependent generation of superoxide anion （·O2^-）, measured with a superoxide-specific Cypridina luciferin-derived chemiluminescent reagent, was observed when two lanthanide salts （LaCl3 and CdCl3 ） were added to tobacco （ Nicotiana tabacum） cell suspension culture. Addition of superoxide dismutase （480 U·ml^-1） and Tiron （5 μmol·L^-1） to cell culture suspension decreases the level of lanthanide cation-induced ·O2^- generation, suggesting that ·O2^- generation is extra-cellular. Pretreatment of the cell culture suspension with diphenyleneiodonium （10 and 50 μmol·L^-1 ）, quinacrine （ 1 and 5 mmol· L^-1 ） and imidazol （ 10 mmol· L^-1 ）, inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, notably inhibits the generation of superoxide induced by lanthanide cation, implying the possible involvement of activation of NADPH oxidase. In addition, addition of SHAM （1 and 5 mmol· L^-1）, azide （0.2 and 1 mmol· L^-1 ）, inhibitor of peroxidase, has no influence on ·O2^- generation.

Lanthanide-regulated oxygen evolution activity of face-sharing Ir〇6 dimers in 6H-perovskite electrocatalysts

The development of efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalysts with reduced noble metal uses is a critical challenge for the deployment of various advanced energy conversion technologies.Here,a series of lanthanide-contained 6H-perovskites with a formula of Ba3LnIr2〇9(Ln=lanthanides)are investigated as oxygen evolution electrocatalysts,whose active subunits(i.e.,face-sharing Ir〇6 dimers)can be regulated by the lanthanides in terms of catalytic activity.By using density functional theory(DFT)calculations,we establish the theoretical trend in activity for Ba3LnIr2〇96H-perovskites,the activity of which is correlated with the difference of adsorption free energy(△G〇-△Goh)between O*and OH*reaction intermediates.We further establish a volcano curve between△Go—△Goh and the calculated 0 p-band center Among the Ba3LnIr2〇96H-perovskites,Ba3Lalr2〇9 locates at the peak of volcano curve,and correspondingly is the most active electrocatalyst due to the optimal 0 p-band property.

A Series of Lanthanide-organic Frameworks Constructed by Ln_4(OH)_4 Clusters and Mixed Ligands

Three new lanthanide-organic compounds, namely, [Ln_2(OH)_2(oba)(2-pc)_2]n(Ln =Er(1), Ho(2), and Dy(3))(oba = 4,4?-oxybis(benzoate), 2-pc = 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid) have been obtained under hydrothermal conditions. These compounds are isostructural and exhibit 2 D layered structures by incorporating [Ln_4(μ_3-OH)_4]^(8+) clusters and the mixed linkers of oba and 2-pc. It is interesting that decarboxylation occurred in the ortho position and 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylic acid was partially transformed into 2-pc under hydrothermal conditions. Compound 3 emits a typical Dy^(3+) emission spectrum. Furthermore, the PXRD, TGA and IR spectra were also studied.

Recent Progress on Spectroscopy of Lanthanide Ions Incorporated in Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Doping luminescent lanthanide ions into semiconductor nanocrystals is an ideal approach for developing nanodevices for various applications. Quantum confinement effects are expected for lanthanide ions doped in small semiconductor nanocrystals. The most recent progress on the synthesis and spectroscopy of lanthanide ions in various semiconductor nanocrystals such as Ⅱ -Ⅵ, Ⅲ-Ⅴ and Ⅳ-Ⅵ families were systematically reviewed, focusing on our recent findings on the optical spectroscopy of Eu^3 ＋ doped in ZnO and TiO2 nanocrystals by wet chemical synthesis. The energy transfer from the band-gap excitation to lanthanides further confirmed that lanthanide ions could be successfully incorporated into the lattice sites in spite of the mismatch in ionic radii.

Synthesis, Characterization and Antioxidative Activity of Lanthanide Complexes with Genistein

Six genistein lanthanide complexes, LnL_2 (OAc)·nH_2O [Ln=La(Ⅲ), Sm(Ⅲ), Eu(Ⅲ), Gd(Ⅲ), (Tb(Ⅲ),) Dy(Ⅲ); L=genistein; n=4, 7, 8] were synthesized and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, (()~1H) NMR spectra and molar conductivity. The scavenging activity of genistein and five lanthanides complexes on the hydroxyl free radicals (OH·) was also investigated by spectrophotometric methods. The results show that the scavenging activity of the complexes is better than that of the ligand and their scavenging ability can be assembled in the following order: Sm>La>Dy>Eu>Tb>L.

1D Lanthanide Coordination Polymers Based on 3-(Pyridin-4-yl)benzoic Acid: Syntheses, Structures and Luminescent Properties

ABSTRACT Four novel 1D lanthanide coordination polymers with formula [Ln（3,4-pybz）3（HzO）2. H2O]n （Ln = 1 Sm; 2 Eu; 3 Tb; 4 Dy, 3,4-Hpybz = 3-（pyridin-4-yl）benzoic acid） have been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions of lanthanide oxide and 3-（pyridine-4-yl） benzoic acid. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the four compounds are isostructural. They all crystallize in a monoelinic system, space group P1^-. They have a doubly carboxylate-bridged infinite-chain structure with alternating Ln-（carboxylate）2-Ln linkages and one chelating carboxylate group on each metal center. The Ln ion also combines to two water molecules to form an eight-coordinate square antiprismatic geometry. The pyridine nitrogen atoms of the ligand do not coordinate to the metal centers but direct the formation of a 3D network through hydrogen bonding with coordinated water molecules. The photoluminescent properties of 2 and 3 have been also studied.

Ring-opening Polymerization ofε-Caprolactone Using Lanthanide Tris(4-tert-butylphenolate)s as a Single-component Initiator

The ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone (CL) initiated by novel single lanthanide tris(4-tert-butylphenolate)s [Ln(OTBP)3] is reported. Single-component La(OTBP)3 can effectively prepare polycaprolactone (PCL) with over 90% yield and viscosity average molecular weight about 60 x 10 under quite mild conditions: molar ratio of CL to initiator is 1000, 60 C, 2 h in toluene. Mechanism study indicates that the monomer inserts into the growing chain via the break of acyl-oxygen bond of CL.

Hydrothermal Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Three Lanthanide(Ⅲ)Complexes Based on Carboxyl Derivatives of 1,10-Phenanthroline

Three lanthanide（III） complexes [Ln（4-NCP）（1,4-BDC）]n·xn H2O（Ln = Pr（1）, Sm（2）, Nd（3）. 4-HNCP = 2-（4-carboxyphenyl）imidazo（4,5-f）（1,10）phenanthroline, 1,4-H2 BDC = benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid） have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized via elemental analysis, infrared spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structural analyses revealed that complexes 1~3 possess similar porous three-dimensional frameworks with the point symbol {4^（12）·6~3}. Meanwhile, complexes 1~3 exhibit excellent thermal stabilities and complex 2 exhibits characteristic luminescent property.

Synthesis,structures,thermal and magnetic properties of a series of lanthanide Ln=Sm,Gd,Er,Yb complexes with 4-quinolineacarboxylate

A series of lanthanide binuclear complexes, Ln2（L）6（H2O）4·2H2O（Ln=Sm（Ⅲ）, Gd（Ⅲ）, Er（Ⅲ）, Yb（Ⅲ）, HL=4-quinolinea-carboxylic acid, were synthesized by reactions of corresponding rare earth salts with 4-quinolineacarboxylic acid at room temperature and were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.X-ray diffraction analyses showed that they exhibited the same binuclear architecture and crystallized in monoclinic system and P21/c space group.In four complexes, each metal center adopted nine-coordinated mode coordinated by nine O atoms from two H2O molecules and three carboxyls of three ligands, and HL showed three different coordination modes.The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility showed that complex Gd2（L）6（H2O）4·2H2O performed very weak antiferromagnetic property at low temperature and exchange was almost paramagnetic at high temperature.Complexes Er2（L）6（H2O）4·2H2O and Yb2（L）6（H2O）4·2H2O performed dominating antiferromagnetic coupling.

Two Tri-spin Complexes Based on Lanthanide (Ln~Ⅲ =Dy~Ⅲ and Tb~Ⅲ ) and Nitronyl Nitroxide Radicals: Syntheses, Structures and Properties

Two new tri-spin radical-Ln（III）-radical complexes, [Ln（hfac）3（NITPh-Ph）2] （Ln = Dy （1） and Tb （2）, NITPh-Ph = 4＇-biphenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, and hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate） have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, IR, Uv-visible and magnetic properties. X-ray analysis reveals that the two complexes are isomorphous and crystallize in the triclinic system, space group P1. For complex 1, a = 12.402（3）, b = 15.414（3）, c = 17.383（3） A, a = 68.61（3）, β = 81.97（3）, y = 79.40（3）°, V = 3031.7（11） A3, Z = 2, Mr = 1401.86, Dc = 1.536 g/cm^3, kt = 1.344 mm^-1, F（000） = 1398, the final GOF = 1.173, R = 0.0670 and wR = 0.1376 for 9035 observed reflections with 1 〉 2a（/）; while for complex 2, a = 12.397（3）, b = 15.391（3）, c = 17.395（4） A, a = 68.62（3）, fl = 81.97（3）, ）, = 79.60（3）°, V = 3030.0（11） A3, Z = 2, Mr = 1398.29, Dc = 1.537 g/cm^3,μ = 1.344 mm-1, F（000） = 1398, the final GOF = 1.130, R = 0.0644 and wR = 0.1382 for 8989 observed reflections with 1 〉 2a（/）. They all consist of the discrete adducts, in which the central Ln（lll） ions are coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three hfacs and two oxygen atoms from nitronyl radicals. The temperature dependency of magnetic susceptibilities for these two complexes is studied, showing that the magnetic interactions are governed by the depopulation of the Ln Stark levels.