Transition metal-based single-atom catalysts(TM-SACs);rising materials for electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

The continuous increase of global atmospheric CO_(2) concentrations brutally damages our environment. A series of methods have been developed to convert CO_(2) to valuable fuels and value-added chemicals to maintain the equilibrium of carbon cycles. The electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR) is one of the promising methods to produce fuels and chemicals, and it could offer sustainable paths to decrease carbon intensity and support renewable energy. Thus, significant research efforts and highly efficient catalysts are essential for converting CO_(2) into other valuable chemicals and fuels. Transition metal-based single atoms catalysts(TM-SACs) have recently received much attention and offer outstanding electrochemical applications with high activity and selectivity opportunities. By taking advantage of both heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, TM-SACs are the new rising star for electrochemical conversion of CO_(2) to the value-added product with high selectivity. In recent years, enormous research effort has been made to synthesize different TM-SACs with different M–Nxsites and study the electrochemical conversion of CO_(2) to CO. This review has discussed the development and characterization of different TMSACs with various catalytic sites, fundamental understanding of the electrochemical process in CO_(2) RR,intrinsic catalytic activity, and molecular strategics of SACs responsible for CO_(2)RR. Furthermore, we extensively review previous studies on 1 st-row transition metals TM-SACs(Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sn) and dual-atom catalysts(DACs) utilized for electrochemical CO_(2) conversions and highlight the opportunities and challenges.

π-π Stacking, Hydrogen Bonding and Magnetic Coupling Mechanism on a Mono-nuclear Cu^Ⅱ Complex

A new mono-nuclear CuII complex [Cu（DPP）（DP）Br]（ClO4）H2O （DPP = 2-（3,5- dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl）-1,10-phenanthroline, DP = 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole） has been syn- thesized with 2-（3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl）-1,10-phenanthroline and 3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole as ligands, and its crystal structure was determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystal is of monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 13.765（2）, b = 17.044（3）, c = 10.9044（16）, β= 97.112（2）°, V = 2538.5（6）3, Z = 4, C22H24BrClCuN6O5, Mr = 631.37, Dc = 1.652 g/cm3, F（000） = 1276 and μ= 2.585 mm-1. In the crystal, DPP functions as a tridentate ligand and CuII ions assume a distorted square pyramidal geometry with Br atom lying on the apex, and at the same time, there is π-π stacking between adjacent complexes, which deals with two 1,10-phenanthroline plane rings. In addition to the π-π stacking, there are C-H···Br non-classic hydrogen bonds between adjacent complexes. The theoretical calculations reveal that the π-π stacking and C-H···Br non-classic hydrogen bond result in a weak anti-ferromagnetic interaction with 2J = -5.34 cm-1 and a weak ferromagnetic 2J = 5.92 cm-1, respectively. The magnetic coupling sign from the π-π stacking could be explained with McConnell I spin-polarization mechanism.

Crystal Structure and Electronic Structure of a Luminescent Compound 2-(2-Pyridyl) Benzimidazole

The crystal structure of 2-(2-pyridyl) benzimidazole was determined by single- crystal X-ray diffraction at 193(2) K. It crystallizes in orthorhombic system, space group Pbca with unit cell constants a = 10.6204(7), b = 10.1407(4), c = 18.6327(8) , Z = 8, V = 2006.7(2) 3, Dc = 1.292 g/cm3, F(000) = 816 and m(MoK) = 0.081 mm-1. The structure was refined to R = 0.0317 and wR = 0.0454 for 795 observed reflections with I > 2s(I). In the solid state, it has an emission maximum at 369 nm, while in solution (DMSO), the maximum excitation is at 372 nm. Quantum chemistry calculation was performed by the method of density functional theory. Theoretical results show that atom N is the reactive site when coordinating with a metal, and the electronic structure of the title compound presents excellent carrier transport properties.

Three interpenetrated copper(Ⅱ) coordination polymers based on a V-shaped ligand:Synthesis,structures,sorption and magnetic properties

Three new CuⅡ coordination polymers,[Cu2(oba)2(H2O)(DMF)].3H2O(1),[Cu4(oba)4(DMF)4].4H2O.DMF(2) and [Cu2(oba)(hmp)2](3)(H2oba = 4,4'-oxybis(benzoic acid),Hhmp = 2-pyridine methanol,DMF = N,N'-dimethylformamide) were synthesized by solvothermal reactions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Both complexes 1 and 2 take three-dimensional(3D) three-fold interpenetrating PtS topology with 1D channels.In complex 3,Cu4 clusters were formed by the chelating hmp ligands,and then the clusters were further linked by oba ligands to form a 3D three-fold interpenetrating dia topology network.For 2,N2 sorption shows type I isotherm with BET surface areas of 562 m2 g-1 and Langmuir surface area of 747 m2 g-1,respectively.At 77 and 87 K,the hydrogen uptakes of complex 2 are 0.89 wt% and 0.57 wt%,respectively.Magnetic investigation showed the ferromagnetic coupling between CuII ions and very weak antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu4 clusters in complex 3.

A water-stable metal-organic framework： serving as a chemical sensor of PO43– and a catalyst for CO2 conversion

A new 2D Eu-BTB framework(1) with stratified gridding structure of about 14.6×16.9was synthesized and characterized.Compound 1 displays excellent water stability with the pH 2–12. The luminescent investigations suggest that 1 could represent a chemical sensor of PO43. with high sensitivity and selectivity. Importantly, 1 as a sensor of PO_4^(3-) can be reused at least five times.On the other hand, the catalytic investigations of 1 were carried out, indicating that 1 could be demonstrated as a recyclable catalyst for CO_2 conversion with epoxides.

Electronic property and molecule design for luminescent metal complexes of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) gallium

By means of ab initio HF and DFT B3LYP methods, the structure of Gaq3 (q = 8-hydroxyquinoline) was optimized. The frontier molecular orbital characteristics and energy levels of Gaq3 have been analyzed systematically in order to study the electronic transition mechanism in Gaq3. Three derivatives of Gaq3 and their polymers were designed and the possibilities that they were employed as luminescent materials were discussed. The regularities and characteristic of energy bands of Gaq3 and its derivatives were also investigated. The results show that the electronic π-π* transitions in Gaq3 are localized on the quinolate ligands. The emission of Gaq3 is due to the electron transitions from a phenoxide donor to a pyridyl acceptor. Two possible electron transfer pathways are presented, one by carbon atoms, and the other via metal cation Ga3+. The derivatives of Gaq3 may possess high luminescence efficiency.

ZnSe/NiO heterostructure-based chemiresistive-type sensors for low-concentration NO_(2) detection

Novel ZnSe/NiO heterostructure nanocomposites were successfully prepared by one-step hydrothermal method.The ZnSe/NiO-based sensor exhibits a response of~96.47% to 8×10^(-6) NO_(2) at 140℃,which is significantly higher than those of intrinsic ZnSe-based(no response)and NiO-based(~19.65%)sensors.The theoretical detection limit(LOD)of the sensor is calculated to be 8.91×10^(-9),indicating that the sensor can be applied to detect the ultralow concentrations of NO_(2).The effect of NiO content on the gas-sensing performance of the nanocomposites was investigated in detail.The optimal NiO content in the nanocomposite is determined to be15.16%to achieve the highest response.The as-fabricated sensor also presents an excellent selectivity to several possible interferents such as methanol,ethanol,acetone,benzene,ammonia and formaldehyde.The enhanced sensing performance can be attributed to the formation of p-p heterostructures between ZnSe and NiO,which induces the charge transfer across the interfaces and yields more active sites.

The Application of Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization in Modification of PVDF-based Fluoropolymer

Fluorinated polymers are important materials that are widely used in many areas as taking the advantage of inertness to chemical corrosion,prominent weather resista nee,low flammability,and good thermal stability.Poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)based fluoropolymers is the most commontype of commercial fluoropolymer especially used as dielectric materials.However,there are always some shortcomings in practical applications,so it is necessary to modify PVDF-based fluoropolymers for better application.Controlled/living radical polymerization(CRP)and related techniques have become a powerful approach to tailoring the chemical and physical properties of materials and have given rise to great advances in modification of PVDF-based fluoropolymers.

Electronic properties and stabilities of methoxy-substituted Lindqvist polyoxometalates [Nb_2W_4O_(19)CH_3]^(3-) by DFT

The electronic properties and stabilities of five [Nb2W4O18OCH3]3-isomers have been investigated using a density functional theory method.The results show that the isomer with the methoxy group occupying a bridging position between two tungsten atoms(two tungsten atoms in the plane that contains two niobium atoms) in the [Nb2W4O18OCH3]3-framework is the most stable isomer in acetonitrile.The stability of the one-electron-reduced isomers changes little.The most stable one-electron-reduced isomer has the methoxy group occupying a bridging position between niobium atoms in the [Nb2W4O18OCH3]4-framework.The M-Ob(M = Nb,W;b denotes bridging) bond lengths in anions in which the metal atoms are connected by a methoxy group are longer than those in [Nb2W4O19]4-.The highest occupied molecular orbitals(HOMO) in [Nb2W4O19]4-mainly delocalize over the bridging oxygen atoms of two niobium atoms and two tungsten atoms located in the equatorial plane,and the bridging oxygen atoms on the axial surface.The lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals(LUMO) of [Nb2W4O19]4-are mainly concentrated on the tungsten atoms and antibonding oxygen atoms.Methoxy substitution modifies the electronic properties of the [Nb2W4O18OCH3]3-isomers.The HOMOs in the five isomers formally delocalize over the bridging oxygen atoms,which are distant from the surface containing the methoxy group and four metal atoms.The LUMOs delocalize over the d-shells of the four metal atoms that are close to the methoxy group,and the p-orbitals of oxygen.One-electron reduction occurred at the tungsten atoms,not the niobium atoms.

One-dimensional lanthanide complexes bridged by nitronyl nitroxide radical ligands with non-chelating nitrogen donors: Structure and magnetic characterization

A series of new lanthanide-radical complexes [{Ln(hfac)3}2(NITPhIM)2] (Ln = Nd (1), Eu (2), Tb (3), Er (4); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NITPhIM = 2-[4-(1-imidazole)phenyl]-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide) have been prepared and characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that these complexes are isostructural with one-dimensional chain structures. These consist in Ln(hfac)3 units bridged by the paramagnetic ligands by the means of coordination of their nitronyl nitroxide groups and imidazole rings. Interestingly, each Ln ion is either bound to two nitronyl nitroxide groups or to two imidazole units, and the different Ln centers alternate along the chain. Magnetic studies show that complex 3 exhibits a single-chain magnet behavior.