Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at Pt and Pt electrode surface deposited with various amounts of Ru (denoted as PtxRuy, nominal coverage y is 0.17, 0.27, and 0.44 ML) in 0.1 mol/L HClO4+0.5 mol/L MeOH has been ...Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at Pt and Pt electrode surface deposited with various amounts of Ru (denoted as PtxRuy, nominal coverage y is 0.17, 0.27, and 0.44 ML) in 0.1 mol/L HClO4+0.5 mol/L MeOH has been studied under potentiostatic conditions by in situ FTIR spectroscopy in attenuated-total-reflection con guration and di erential electro-chemical mass spectrometry under controlled flow conditions. Results reveal that (i) CO is the only methanol-related adsorbate observed by IR spectroscopy at all the Pt and PtRu electrodes examined at potentials from 0.3 V to 0.6 V (vs. RHE); (ii) at Pt0.56Ru0.44, two IR bands, one from CO adsorbed at Ru islands and the other from COL at Pt substrate are detected, while at other electrodes, only a single band for COL adsorbed at Pt is observed; (iii) MOR activity decreases in the order of Pt0.73Ru0.27〉Pt0.56Ru0.44〉Pt0.83Ru0.17〉Pt; (iv) at 0.5 V, MOR at Pt0.73Ru0.27 reaches a current e ciency of 50% for CO2 production, the turn-over frequency from CH3OH to CO2 is ca. 0.1 molecule/(site sec). Suggestions for further improving of PtRu catalysts for MOR are provided.展开更多
Cell membranes play a crucial role in many biological functions of cells. A small change in the composition of cell membranes can strongly influence the functions of membrane-associated proteins, such as ion and water...Cell membranes play a crucial role in many biological functions of cells. A small change in the composition of cell membranes can strongly influence the functions of membrane-associated proteins, such as ion and water channels, and thus mediate the chemical and physical balance in cells. Such composition change could originate from the introduction of short-chain alcohols, or other anesthetics into membranes. In this work, we have applied sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS), supplemented by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), to investigate interaction between methanol and 1,2-dimyristoyl-d54-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (d54-DMPC) lipid bilayers. Lipid's hydrocarbon interior is deuterated while its head group is hydrogenated. At the same time, CH3 symmetric stretch from methanol and lipid head amine group has different frequency, thus we can distinguish the behaviors of methanol, lipid head amine group, and lipid hydrocarbon interior. Based on the spectral feature of the bending mode of the water molecules replaced by methanol, we determined that the methanol molecules are intercalated into the region between amine and phosphate groups at the lipid hydrophilic head. The dipole of CH3 groups of methanol and lipid head, and the water O-H M1 adopt the same orientation directions. The introduction of methanol into the lipid hydrophilic head group can strongly perturb the entire length of the alkyl chains, resulting that the signals of CD2 and CD3 groups from both leaflets can not cancel each other.展开更多
Besides carbon solubility, the carbide formation possibility is another important factor to differentiate various substrate materials in graphene growth. A recent experiment indicates that the formation of transition ...Besides carbon solubility, the carbide formation possibility is another important factor to differentiate various substrate materials in graphene growth. A recent experiment indicates that the formation of transition metal carbides (TMCs) can suppress carbon precipitation. In this study, Mo2C, a representative of TMCs, is used to study the effects of carbide formation in graphene growth from first principles. Carbon diffusion in Mo2C bulk turns out to be very difficult and it becomes much easier on the Mo2C(001) surface. Therefore, carbon precipitation suppression and graphene growth can be realized simultaneously. A direction depended diffusion behavior is observed on the Mo2C(101) surface, which makes it less favorable for graphene growth compared to the (001) surface.展开更多
文摘Methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at Pt and Pt electrode surface deposited with various amounts of Ru (denoted as PtxRuy, nominal coverage y is 0.17, 0.27, and 0.44 ML) in 0.1 mol/L HClO4+0.5 mol/L MeOH has been studied under potentiostatic conditions by in situ FTIR spectroscopy in attenuated-total-reflection con guration and di erential electro-chemical mass spectrometry under controlled flow conditions. Results reveal that (i) CO is the only methanol-related adsorbate observed by IR spectroscopy at all the Pt and PtRu electrodes examined at potentials from 0.3 V to 0.6 V (vs. RHE); (ii) at Pt0.56Ru0.44, two IR bands, one from CO adsorbed at Ru islands and the other from COL at Pt substrate are detected, while at other electrodes, only a single band for COL adsorbed at Pt is observed; (iii) MOR activity decreases in the order of Pt0.73Ru0.27〉Pt0.56Ru0.44〉Pt0.83Ru0.17〉Pt; (iv) at 0.5 V, MOR at Pt0.73Ru0.27 reaches a current e ciency of 50% for CO2 production, the turn-over frequency from CH3OH to CO2 is ca. 0.1 molecule/(site sec). Suggestions for further improving of PtRu catalysts for MOR are provided.
文摘Cell membranes play a crucial role in many biological functions of cells. A small change in the composition of cell membranes can strongly influence the functions of membrane-associated proteins, such as ion and water channels, and thus mediate the chemical and physical balance in cells. Such composition change could originate from the introduction of short-chain alcohols, or other anesthetics into membranes. In this work, we have applied sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG-VS), supplemented by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), to investigate interaction between methanol and 1,2-dimyristoyl-d54-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (d54-DMPC) lipid bilayers. Lipid's hydrocarbon interior is deuterated while its head group is hydrogenated. At the same time, CH3 symmetric stretch from methanol and lipid head amine group has different frequency, thus we can distinguish the behaviors of methanol, lipid head amine group, and lipid hydrocarbon interior. Based on the spectral feature of the bending mode of the water molecules replaced by methanol, we determined that the methanol molecules are intercalated into the region between amine and phosphate groups at the lipid hydrophilic head. The dipole of CH3 groups of methanol and lipid head, and the water O-H M1 adopt the same orientation directions. The introduction of methanol into the lipid hydrophilic head group can strongly perturb the entire length of the alkyl chains, resulting that the signals of CD2 and CD3 groups from both leaflets can not cancel each other.
文摘Besides carbon solubility, the carbide formation possibility is another important factor to differentiate various substrate materials in graphene growth. A recent experiment indicates that the formation of transition metal carbides (TMCs) can suppress carbon precipitation. In this study, Mo2C, a representative of TMCs, is used to study the effects of carbide formation in graphene growth from first principles. Carbon diffusion in Mo2C bulk turns out to be very difficult and it becomes much easier on the Mo2C(001) surface. Therefore, carbon precipitation suppression and graphene growth can be realized simultaneously. A direction depended diffusion behavior is observed on the Mo2C(101) surface, which makes it less favorable for graphene growth compared to the (001) surface.