Melt quenched metal-organic framework (MOF) glasses define a new category of glass, distinct from metallic, organic, and inorganic glasses, owing to the dominant role of metal-ligand coordination bonding. The mechanical properties of glasses in general are important given their application in protective coatings and display technologies, though little is known about MOF glasses in this respect. The experimental elucidation of key properties such as their scratch resistance has been limited by the lack of processing methodologies capable of producing bulk glass samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSize-dependent phenomena at the nanoscale influence many applications, notably in the science of heterogeneous catalysis. In cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS), the size of Co nanoparticles (NPs) dictates to a high degree catalyst's performance in terms of activity, selectivity, and stability. Here, a highly dispersed Re/Co/γ-AlO catalyst with high Co surface area per gram of catalyst was exposed to industrially relevant FTS conditions and monitored in situ by synchrotron X-ray radiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe specific energy of a supercapacitor (SC) with an ionic liquid (IL)-based electrolyte is larger than that using an aqueous electrolyte owing to the wide operating voltage window provided by the IL. However, the wide-scale application of high-energy SCs using ILs is limited owing to a serious reduction of the energy with increasing power. The introduction of macropores to the porous material can mitigate the reduction in the gravimetric capacitance at high rates, but this lowers the volumetric capacitance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoaxial carbon/metal oxide/aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) arrays over stainless-steel foil are reported as high-performance binder-free anodes for lithium ion batteries. The coaxial arrays were prepared by growth of ACNTs over stainless-steel foil followed by coating with metal oxide and carbon. The carbon/manganese oxide/ACNT arrays can deliver an initial capacity of 738 mAh g(-1) with 99.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch systems are widely used to convert synthesis gas to clean hydrocarbon fuel. However, surprisingly little is known about the morphology of the catalysts on the nanoscale. Here we show that scanning transmission electron tomography reveals their true 3-D morphology and provides direct evidence that the support controls the final morphology of the catalyst.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe microstructure of LiAlD(4) with TiCl(3).1/3(AlCl(3)) and VCl(3) additives has been studied during different steps of the decomposition process using electron energy loss spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope. Energy filtered transmission electron microscopy was used to show elemental distributions in the samples.
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