Influence of interlayer water molecules in Ni-based catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

Nickel-iron layered double hydroxides(NiFe LDHs) have been identified as one of the best promising electrocatalysts-candidates for oxygen evolution reaction(OER). However, the catalytic activity effected by interlayer water molecules is ignored and rarely reported. Herein, Ni(OH)_2, NiFe LDHs vertically aligned Ni foam are designed for OER. As a contrast, the corresponding electrocatalysts with the removal of the interlayer water molecules(Ni(OH)_2-AT, NiFe LDHs-AT) are developed to probe into the influence of the interlayer water molecules towards OER. As expected, NiFe LDH nanoplates exhibit excellent catalytic performance and durability for water electrolysis in alkaline conditions with lower overpotential and smaller Tafel slope compared to those of NiFe LDHs-AT, which are influenced mainly by stability of crystal structure due to the existence of interlayer water molecules. The discovery opens up a similar pathway by controlling the amount of water molecules to boost catalytic performance for studying other electrocatalysts with heteroatom dopant.

Novel synthesis of N-substituted-calix[4]azacrown derivatives

A novel series of calix[4]azacrown derivatives with the reaction between calix[4]azacrown and the different fluorophore derivatives,which may be useful fluorescent receptors,have been synthesized and structurally characterized by IR,~1H NMR,^（13）C NMR and MS.From their analysis data,it was found those compounds adopted a cone conformation.

Yttria Promoted Nickel Nanowire Catalyst for the Partial Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas

A yttria promoted nickel nanowire catalyst was prepared by a hard templating method, and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N2 physical adsorption. The catalytic properties of the yttria promoted nanowire catalyst in the partial oxidation of methane to syngas were compared with a metallic Ni catalyst which was prepared with nickel sponge. The characterization results showed that the yttria promoted nickel nanowire catalyst had high specific surface area and there was more NiO phase in the nickel nanowire catalyst than in the metallic Ni catalyst. The reaction results showed that the yttria promoted nickel nanowire catalyst had high CH4 conversion and selectivities to H2 and CO.

To gel or not to gel：A prior prediction of gelation in solvent mixtures

The gelation behaviours of low molecular weight gelators 1,3：2,5：4.6-tris（3,4-dichlorobenzylidene）-Dmannitol（G1） and 2,4-（3.4-dichlorobenzylidene）-N-（3-aminopropyl）-D-gluconamide（G2） in 34 solvents have been studied.We found that sample dissolved at low concentrations may become a gel or precipitate at higher concentrations.The Hansen solubility parameters（HSPs） and a Teas plot were employed to correlate the gelation behaviours with solvent properties,but with no success if the concentration of the tests was not maintained constant.Instead,on the basis of the gelation results obtained for the G1 and G2 in single solvents,we studied the gelation behaviours of G1 and G2 in23 solvent mixtures and found that the tendency of a gelator to form a gel in mixed solvents is strongly correlated with its gelation behaviours in good solvents.If the gelation occurs in a good solvent at higher concentrations,it will take place as well in a mixed solvent（the good solvent plus a poor solvent） at a certain volume ratio.In contrast,if the gelator forms a precipitate in a good solvent at higher concentrations,no gelation is to be observed in the mixed solvents.A gelation rule for mixed solvents is thus proposed,which may facilitate decision making with regard to solvent selection for gel formation in the solvent mixtures in practical applications.