NH_(4)Cl-assisted synthesis of TaON nanoparticle applied to photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution from water

Oxynitride semiconductors are promising photocatalyst materials for visible light-driven water splitting,while the synthesis of well crystalized oxynitride still remains challenge.In present work,narrow-bandgap TaON nanoparticles are synthesized via heating a vacuum-sealed mixture of KTaO_(3),Ta and NH_(4)Cl.This method possesses multiple advantages in terms of lower calcination parameter,higher N conversion efficiency and superior photocatalytic activity in comparison with the traditional thermal ammonolysis using NH_(3) gas as a nitrogen source.Through the analysis of intermediates produced upon the elevation of heating temperature,a gas-solid-phase reaction between TaCl_(5) and Ta_(2)O_(5) is demonstrated as the final step,which is conducive to decreasing thermal energy barrier and accelerating nitridation process.Precise control of preparation conditions,including calcination temperature and duration,allows for the regulation of surface O/N ratio of TaON particles to unity,resulting in optimized photocat-alytic activity.Photoelectrochemical assessment and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy provide convincing evidence for improved charge transfer effciency of photoexcited holes at TaON surface.A Z-scheme overall water splitting is accomplished by employing the TaON as an effective oxygen evolution photocatalyst,SrTiO_(3):Rh as a hydrogen evolution photocatalyst,and reduced graphene oxide(rGO)as a solid-state electron mediator.This work presents a promising strategy for the synthesis of high-quality oxynitride materials in application to photocatalytic water splitting.

Hydrogen evolution-assisted one-pot aqueous synthesis of hierarchical trimetallic PdNiRu nanochains for hydrazine oxidation reaction

A hydrogen evolution-assisted one-pot aqueous approach was developed for facile synthesis of trimetallic Pd Ni Ru alloy nanochain-like networks（Pd Ni Ru NCNs） by only using KBHas the reductant, without any specific additive（e.g. surfactant, polymer, template or seed）. The products were mainly investigated by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, X-ray diffraction（XRD） and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）. The hierarchical architectures were formed by the oriented assembly growth and the diffusioncontrolled deposition in the presence of many in-situ generated hydrogen bubbles. The architectures had the largest electrochemically active surface area（ECSA） of 84.32 mgPdthan Pd Ni nanoparticles(NPs,65.23 mgPd), Pd Ru NPs(23.12 mgPd), Ni Ru NPs（nearly zero）, and commercial Pd black(6.01 mgPd), outperforming the referenced catalysts regarding the catalytic characters for hydrazine oxygen reaction（HOR）. The synthetic route provides new insight into the preparation of other trimetallic nanocatalysts in fuel cells.

Recent advances in cobalt phosphide-based materials for electrocatalytic water splitting:From catalytic mechanism and synthesis method to optimization design

Electrochemical water splitting has long been considered an effective energy conversion technology for trans-ferring intermittent renewable electricity into hydrogen fuel,and the exploration of cost-effective and high-performance electrocatalysts is crucial in making electrolyzed water technology commercially viable.Cobalt phosphide(Co-P)has emerged as a catalyst of high potential owing to its high catalytic activity and durability in water splitting.This paper systematically reviews the latest advances in the development of Co-P-based materials for use in water splitting.The essential effects of P in enhancing the catalytic performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction are first outlined.Then,versatile synthesis techniques for Co-P electrocatalysts are summarized,followed by advanced strategies to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of Co-P materials,including heteroatom doping,composite construction,integration with well-conductive sub-strates,and structure control from the viewpoint of experiment.Along with these optimization strategies,the understanding of the inherent mechanism of enhanced catalytic performance is also discussed.Finally,some existing challenges in the development of highly active and stable Co-P-based materials are clarified,and pro-spective directions for prompting the wide commercialization of water electrolysis technology are proposed.

Recent advances in quantum dot catalysts for hydrogen evolution:Synthesis,characterization,and photocatalytic application

Photocatalytic water splitting is beneficial for the effective mitigation of global energy and environmental crises.Owing to multi-exciton generation,impressive light harvesting,and excellent photochemical properties,the quantum dot(QD)-based catalysts reveal a considerable potential in photocatalytic hydrogen(H_(2))production compared with bulk competitors.In this review,we summarize the recent advances in QDs for photocatalytic H_(2) production by enumerating different synthetic and characterization strategies for QDs.Various QDs-based photocatalysts are introduced and summarized in categories,and the role of different QDs in varied systems,as well as the mechanism and key factors that enhance the photocatalytic H_(2) generation performance,is discussed.Finally,conclusions and future perspectives in the exploration of highly efficient QDs-based photocatalysts for innovative applications are highlighted.

Porous TiFe_(2) intermetallic compound fabricated via elemental powder reactive synthesis

Porous intermetallics show potential in the field of filtration and separation as well as in the field of catalysis.Herein,porous Ti Fe2intermetallics were fabricated by the reactive synthesis of elemental powders.The phase transformation and pore formation of porous TiFe2intermetallics were investigated,and its corrosion behavior and hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)performance in alkali solution were studied.Porous TiFe2intermetallics with porosity in the range of 34.4%-56.4%were synthesized by the diffusion reaction of Ti and Fe elements,and the pore formation of porous TiFe2intermetallic compound is the result of a combination of the bridging effect and the Kirkendall effect.The porous TiFe2samples exhibit better corrosion resistance compared with porous 316L stainless steel,which is related to the formation of uniform nanosheets on the surface that hinder further corrosion,and porous TiFe2electrode shows the overpotential of 220.6 and 295.6 mV at 10 and 100 mA·cm-2,suggesting a good catalytic performance.The synthesized porous Fe-based intermetallic has a controllable pore structure as well as excellent corrosion resistance,showing its potential in the field of filtration and separation.

Electrochemical synthesis of trimetallic nickel-iron-copper nanoparticles via potential-cycling for high current density anion exchange membrane water-splitting applications

Hydrogen is known for its elevated energy density and environmental compatibility and is a promising alternative to fossil fuels.Alkaline water electrolysis utilizing renewable energy sources has emerged as a means to obtain high-purity hydrogen.Nevertheless,electrocatalysts used in the process are fabricated using conventional wet chemical synthesis methods,such as sol-gel,hydrothermal,or surfactantassisted approaches,which often necessitate intricate pretreatment procedures and are vulnerable to post-treatment contamination.Therefore,this study introduces a streamlined and environmentally conscious one-step potential-cycling approach to generate a highly efficient trimetallic nickel-iron-copper electrocatalyst in situ on nickel foam.The synthesized material exhibited remarkable performance,requiring a mere 476 mV to drive electrochemical water splitting at 100 mA cm^(-2)current density in alkaline solution.Furthermore,this material was integrated into an anion exchange membrane watersplitting device and achieved an exceptionally high current density of 1 A cm^(-2)at a low cell voltage of2.13 V,outperforming the noble-metal benchmark(2.51 V).Additionally,ex situ characterizations were employed to detect transformations in the active sites during the catalytic process,revealing the structural transformations and providing inspiration for further design of electrocatalysts.

Binary molten salt in situ synthesis of sandwich-structure hybrids of hollowβ-Mo2C nanotubes and N-doped carbon nanosheets for hydrogen evolution reaction

Focused exploration of earth-abundant and cost-efficient non-noble metal electrocatalysts with superior hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)performance is very important for large-scale and efficient electrolysis of water.Herein,a sandwich composite structure(designed as MS-Mo2C@NCNS)ofβ-Mo2C hollow nanotubes(HNT)and N-doped carbon nanosheets(NCNS)is designed and prepared using a binary NaCl–KCl molten salt(MS)strategy for HER.The temperature-dominant Kirkendall formation mechanism is tentatively proposed for such a three-dimensional hierarchical framework.Due to its attractive structure and componential synergism,MS-Mo2C@NCNS exposes more effective active sites,confers robust structural stability,and shows significant electrocatalytic activity/stability in HER,with a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and an overpotential of only 98 mV in 1 M KOH.Density functional theory calculations point to the synergistic effect of Mo2C HNT and NCNS,leading to enhanced electronic transport and suitable adsorption free energies of H*(ΔGH*)on the surface of electroactive Mo2C.More significantly,the MS-assisted synthetic methodology here provides an enormous perspective for the commercial development of highly active non-noble metal electrocatalysts toward efficient hydrogen evolution.

Overview of emerging catalytic materials for electrochemical green ammonia synthesis and process

The concept of“green-ammonia-zero-carbon emission”is an emerging research topic in the global community and many countries driving toward decarbonizing a diversity of applications dependent on fossil fuels.In light of this,electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction(ENRR)received great attention at ambient conditions.The low efficiency(%)and ammonia(NH_(3))production rates are two major challenges in making a sustainable future.Besides,hydrogen evolution reaction is another crucial factor for realizing this NH_(3)synthesis to meet the large-scale commercial demand.Herein,the(i)importance of NH_(3)as an energy carrier for the next future,(ii)discussion with ENRR theory and the fundamental mechanism,(iii)device configuration and types of electrolytic systems for NH_(3)synthesis including key metrics,(iv)then moving into rising electrocatalysts for ENRR such as single-atom catalysts(SACs),MXenes,and metal–organic frameworks that were scientifically summarized,and(v)finally,the current technical contests and future perceptions are discussed.Hence,this review aims to give insightful direction and a fresh motivation toward ENRR and the development of advanced electrocatalysts in terms of cost,efficiency,and technologically large scale for the synthesis of green NH_(3).

One-step synthesis of Pt@ZIF-8 catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol to 1,4-butenediol

A catalyst consisting of platinum nanoparticles on a ZIF-8 support（Pt@ZIF-8） was synthesized in a straightforward one-step procedure,by adding a nanostructured platinum sol during the formation of ZIF-8 at room temperature.Pt@ZIF-8 was highly porous and well crystallized.The Pt nanoparticles were well dispersed within the ZIF-8 support.In the hydrogenation of 1,4-butynediol,Pt@ZIF-8 exhibited high activity,excellent selectivity for 1,4-butenediol of greater than 94%,and reusability.The Pt@ZIF-8 catalyst did not require further additives.The favorable catalytic performance was attributed primarily to the modification of the ZIF-8 support by the platinum nanoparticles.

A1_2O_3 Effect on the Catalytic Activity of Cu-ZnO-Al_2O_3-SiO_2 Catalysts for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis from CO_2 Hydrogenation

The effect of Al2O3 on the Cu-ZnO-Al2O3-SiO2 catalysts prepared by a pseudo sol-gel method has been investigated and these catalysts were characterized by XRD, H2-TPR, XPS, NH3-TPD and CO2- TPD techniques. As revealed by XRD and H2-TPR, the added alumina produces high dispersion of CuO and makes the reduction of CuO difficult. XPS analysis detects a remarkably high Al^3＋ enrichment at the surface of calcined samples, along with a decrease of Eb of Cu 2p3/2, which confirms the Cu-Al interaction. Another important role of Al203 would be to incorporate into the SiO2 structure to form the acid-base sites for ether formation. The reaction results shows that the addition of Al2O3 exhibits a promoting effect on the CO2 conversion only when its content is below 1.4%, and an optimal DME selectivity is obtained when 4.0%Al2O3 is added, indicating a better ＇synergistic effect＇ is present between the methanol forming component and the acidic component in bifunctional catalysts. Possible relationship between the catalytic activity and the Cu-Al interaction as well as the surface acidity is discussed.

Promotional effects of Sb on Pd-based catalysts for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide at ambient pressure

TiO2‐supported Pd‐Sb bimetallic catalysts were prepared and evaluated for the direct synthesis of H2O2 at ambient pressure.The addition of Sb to Pd significantly enhanced catalytic performance,and a Pd50Sb catalyst showed the greatest selectivity of up to 73%.Sb promoted the dispersion of Pd on TiO2,as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction.X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the oxidation of Pd was suppressed by Sb.In addition,Sb2O3 layers were formed and partially wrapped the surfaces of Pd catalysts,thus suppressing the activation of H2 and subsequent hydrogenation of H2O2.In situ diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy for CO adsorption suggested that Sb homogenously located on the surface of Pd‐Sb catalysts and isolated contiguous Pd sites,resulting in the rise of the ratio of Pd monomer sites that are favorable for H2O2 formation.As a result,the Sb modified Pd surfaces significantly enhanced the non‐dissociative activation of O2 and H2O2 selectivity.

High-precision regulation synthesis of Fe-doped Co_(2)P nanorod bundles as efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution in all-pH range and seawater

The hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)via water electrolysis has gained immense research attention.Seawater electrolysis provides great opportunities for sustainable energy production,but is extremely challenging.Transition metal phosphides are promising candidate electrocatalysts.Herein,we prepared a novel Fe-Co_(2)P bundle of nanorods(BNRs)for catalyzing the HER in seawater electrolysis and over the entire p H range.Cobalt phosphides with different crystal phases and morphologies were obtained by varying the Fe doping amount.The Co:Fe molar ratio of 1:0.5 was found to be optimum.The Fe doping improved the HER performance of Co_(2)P over the entire p H range by providing favorable electronic properties and morphology,lattice distortion,and special coordination environment.The Fe-Co_(2)P BNRs showed higher catalytic activity than 20%Pt/C in seawater at high potentials.The density functional theory calculations revealed that the Fe doping reduced the hydrogen binding strength of Co_(2)P to efficiently accelerate the HER kinetics and produce a favorable charge density.This study provides valuable insights into the design and development of high-efficiency HER catalysts for large-scale seawater electrolysis.

Synthesis of a New Rigid Bicyclic AMPP Ligand (TIAMPP) and Application in Asymmetric Hydrogenation

The new rigid bicyclic AMPP（（S）-TIAMPP） has been synthesized from the corresponding Ticol and Ph2PCI. The application of （S）-TIAMPP in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino acids derivatives has been examined. Up to 93% ee was obtained.

Sustainable synthesis of supported metal nanocatalysts for electrochemical hydrogen evolution

Among the various types of heterogeneous catalysts,supported metal nanocatalysts(SMNCs)have attracted widespread interest in chemistry and materials science,due to their advantageous features,such as high efficiency,stability,and reusability for catalytic reactions.However,to obtain well-defined SMNCs and inhibit nanoparticle aggregation,traditional approaches generally involve numerous organic reagents,complex steps,and specialized equipment,thus hindering the practical and large-scale synthesis of SMNCs.In this review,we summarize green and sustainable synthetic methodologies for the assembly of SMNCs,including low temperature pyrolysis and solid-state,surfactant-and reductant-free,and ionic liquid assisted syntheses.The conventional application of SMNCs for electrochemical hydrogen evolution and the corresponding achievements are subsequently discussed.Finally,future perspectives toward the sustainable production of SMNCs are presented.

The Synthesis of Dialdehyde from Sodium Hydrogen Telluride with 1,1',3,3'-Tetramethyl-2,2'-bis-benzimidazolium Salt

The reaction of bis-benzimidazolium salts with sodium hydrogen telluride is reported, and a new synthetic method for dialdehydes is provided.

A new phosphidation route for the synthesis of NiPx and their cocatalytic performances for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over g-C3N4

Ni-based phosphides(NiPx)composed of earth-abundant elements are promising cocatalysts to replace noble metals for photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction(HER).A safe,energy-saving,and compositioncontrollable synthesis of NiPx is still highly desired.A facile and mild solvothermal process was developed for the first time for selective synthesis of a series of NiPx,including Ni,Ni12P5,Ni2P/Ni12P5,Ni/Ni2P and Ni2P,through controlling the dosage of NaBH4 and NaH2PO2.The phosphidation process was mainly composed of(1)a sequential reduction of Ni2+to Nj0 and(H2PO2)-to P(around the formed Ni0)triggered by NaBH4,and(2)a final phosphidation between Nj0 and the in situ generated P atoms.The photocatalytic HER performance of g-C3N4 can be substantially improved with the decoration of NiPx(3 wt%)as the separation of photoinduced charge carriers can be promoted and some active sites with low over-potential for HER can be introduced.The cocatalytic efficiency of NiPx is mainly determined by P content.Ni2P with a high ratio of P consequently exhibits the highest HER performance(215.1 umol g-1 h-1),which is almost six times higher than that of the pristine g-C3N4(35.6 umol g-1 h-1).Thus,as for the cocatalyst based on Ni phosphides,Ni2P is the preferable crystal phase and more efforts should be devoted to Ni2P to further optimize its structure,texture,and morphology in future works.

Synthesis and Kinetics of Hydrogenated Rosin Dodecyl Ester as an Environmentally Friendly Plasticizer

The plasticizer is an important polymer material additive.Non-toxic and environmentally friendly plasticizers are developed recently in order to decrease fossil fuel reserves,serious environmental pollution and the toxicity of phthalate esters.In this study,a new,efficient and environmentally friendly plasticizer of hydrogenated rosin dodecyl ester was prepared by an esterification reaction of hydrogenated rosin and dodecanol.The influences of different reaction conditions(including different catalysts,the catalyst concentration,the ratio of the reactants,reaction temperature,and reaction time)on the esterification yield are examined and discussed.Hydrogenated rosin dodecyl ester with 71.8%yield was synthesized under the optimized reaction conditions(1:0.8 molar ratio of rosin to dodecanol,1 mol%tetrabutyl titanate concentration,and 210℃for 6 h).The esterification reaction is a second-order reaction,and kinetic calculations showed that the activation energy is 39.77 KJ·mol^(−1).The structure of the hydrogenated rosin dodecyl ester was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and^(13)C NMR spectrum.Besides,the thermal stability of target product(hydrogenated rosin dodecyl ester)was also tested by thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA),which showed a good thermal stability.

Synthesis of antidepressant duloxetine via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

Antidepressant duloxetine （1） was prepared via asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of 3-（dimethylamino）-1-（thiophen-2- yl）propan-1-one （3）. The Ru（Ⅱ）, Rh（Ⅲ） and Ir（Ⅲ） complexes of several chiral ligands were examined as the catalyst and （S,S）-N-tosyl-1,2-diphenyl ethylenediamine （TsDPEN）-Ru（Ⅱ） complex was found to provide good yield and excellent enantioselectivity. 2007 Ming Yan. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.

Biomolecule-assisted, cost-effective synthesis of a Zn_(0.9)Cd_(0.1)S solid solution for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light

A series of alloyed Zn‐Cd‐S solid solutions with a cubic zinc blende structure were fabricated hydrothermally with the assistance of L‐cystine under mild conditions.The products were characterized by XRD,TEM,HRTEM,XPS,UV‐vis,and BET techniques,and the photocatalytic performance for the reduction of water to H2on the solid solutions was evaluated in the presence of S2?/SO32?as hole scavengers under visible light illumination.Among all the samples,the highest photocatalytic activity was achieved over Zn0.9Cd0.1S with a rate of4.4mmol h?1g?1,even without a co‐catalyst,which far exceeded that of CdS.Moreover,Zn0.9Cd0.1S displayed excellent anti‐photocorrosion properties during the photoreduction of water into H2.The enhancement in the photocatalytic performance was mainly attributed to the efficient charge transfer in the Zn0.9Cd0.1alloyed structure and the high surface area.This work provides a simple,cost‐effective and green technique,which can be generalized as a rational preparation route for the large‐scale fabrication of metal sulfide photocatalysts.

Solvothermal Synthesis and Structure Characterization of a 3D Hydrogen-bonded Copper Compound [Cu(H_2dhpmc)_2]·2H_2O

The solvothermal reaction of H3dhpmc (H3dhpmc = 2, 4-dihydroxypyrimidine- 5-carboxylic acid), CuCl2稨2O and NaVO3 results in the formation of a discrete mononuclear Cu(Ⅱ) complex [Cu(H2dhpmc)2]?H2O. It crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 5.0497(9), b = 10.0196(6), c = 13.715(2) ? b = 96.237(1)? V = 689.8(2) 3, Z = 2, Dc = 1.973 g/cm3, ?= 1.654 mm-1, F(000) = 414, R = 0.0736 and wR = 0.1351. Each Cu(Ⅱ) is coordinated to four oxygen atoms of two 2, 4-dihydroxypyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid ligands in the equatorial position and two oxygen atoms of two water molecules in the axial position to form an axially elongated octahedral geometry. The title complex is further linked into a three-dimensional structure through the weak interactions of hydrogen bonds between the oxygen atoms and the nitrogen atoms.