Spectroscopic Signature of the Carbon-Carbon Coupling Reaction between Carbon Monoxide and Nickel Carbide.

Spectroscopic characterization of ketenylidene complexes is of essential importance for understanding the structure-reactivity relationships of the catalytic sites. Here, we report a size-specific photoelectron velocity map imaging spectroscopic study of the reactions of carbon monoxide with nickel carbide. Quantum chemical calculations have been conducted to search for the energetically favorable isomers and to recognize the experimental spectra.

Piezoelectricity and Thermophysical Properties of BaCaTiZrO Ceramics Modified with Amphoteric Nd and Y Dopants.

Lead-free barium calcium titanate zirconate (BCTZ) ceramics doped with a single rare-earth element generally exhibit excellent piezoelectric properties. However, their electrical properties deteriorate at an excessive dopant content, limiting their application. In this study, amphoteric neodymium (Nd) and yttrium (Y)-codoped BCTZ-NY ceramics were synthesized via a solid-state reaction at 1240 °C.

Synthesis and Characterization of Single-Phase α-Cordierite Glass-Ceramics for LTCC Substrates from Tuff.

Single-phase α-cordierite glass-ceramics for a low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate were fabricated from tuff as the main raw material, using the non-stoichiometric formula of α-cordierite with excess MgO without adding any sintering additives. The sintering/crystallization behavior and the various performances of dielectric properties, thermal expansion, and flexural strength of the glass-ceramics were detected. The results indicated that only single-phase α-cordierite crystal was precipitated from the basic glass sintered at the range 875-950 °C, and μ-cordierite crystal was not observed during the whole sintering-crystallization process.

Supramolecular Precursor Strategy to Construct g-CN/Silica Hybrid Nanosheets for Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye and Antibiotic Pollutants.

To construct a highly active g-CN (CN)/silica hybrid nanosystem, the supramolecular precursor strategy of introducing melamine-cyanuric acid (MCA) by synergistically using micromolecular melamine (m) and urea (u) for CN nanostructure construction on the silica nanosheets (SiNSs) surface was researched. The results showed that the introduction of MCA supramolecular aggregates promoted the generation of ordered CN nanostructures attached to SiNSs, and the morphology of the CN nanostructure could be regulated through the m/u mass ratio. When the ratio is equal to 1/30, a typical g-CN/silica hybrid nanosheet (mu-CN/SiNSs-3) was successfully prepared, which showed the ultra-high photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B dye degradation within 25 min with an apparent rate constant of 0.

Self-induced matrix with Li-ion storage activity in ultrathin CuMnO nanosheets electrode.

Conversion anode materials such as MnO draw much attention due to their considerable theoretical capacity for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, poor conductivity, slow solid-state Li-ion diffusion, and huge volume expansion of the active materials during charge/discharge lead to unsatisfied electrochemical performance. Despite several strategies like nanocrystallization, fabricating hierarchical nanostructures, and introducing a matrix are valid to address these crucial issues, the achieved electrochemical performance still needs to be further enhanced.

Heterostructure engineering of ultrathin SnS/TiCT nanosheets for high-performance potassium-ion batteries.

Layered metal sulfides are considered as promising candidates for potassium ion batteries (KIBs) owing to the unique interlayer passages for ion diffusion. However, the insufficient electronic conductivity, inevitable volume expansion, and sulfur loss hinder the promotion of K-ion storage performance. Herein, few-layered TiCT nanosheets were selected as the multi-functional substrate for cooperating few-layered SnS nanosheets, constructing SnS/TiCT hetero-structural nanosheets (HNs) with the thickness as thin as about 5 nm.

Stimulating the Reversibility of Sb S Anode for High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Conversion-alloy sulfide materials for potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have attracted considerable attention because of their high capacities and suitable working potentials. However, the sluggish kinetics and sulfur loss result in their rapid capacity degeneration as well as inferior rate capability. Herein, a strategy that uses the confinement and catalyzed effect of Nb O layers to restrict the sulfur species and facilitate them to form sulfides reversibly is proposed.

Role of microporous Janus silica nanosheets in the assembly of ultra-small Ag nanoparticles with high catalytic activity.

As an emerging nano-silica material, two-dimensional (2D) silica nanosheets (SiNSs) have been derived from natural layered kaolinite and applied as a substrate for the highly efficient and dispersed assembly of functional materials, such as noble metal nanoparticles (NPs). In this work, the nature of SiNSs and its particular role in the assembly of ultra-small AgNPs via the reduction-growth method using a Sn(ii) reductant were further researched. By adjusting the Sn(ii) content x (1.

Photoelectron Velocity Map Imaging Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study of Heteronuclear MNi(CO) (M = V, Nb, Ta).

A series of heteronuclear group 5 metal-nickel carbonyls MNi(CO) (M = V, Nb, Ta) have been generated via a laser ablation ion source and studied by photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy. Quantum chemical calculations have been performed to probe the electronic and geometric structures and help to assign the spectra. The adiabatic detachment energies (ADEs) and vertical detachment energies (VDEs) are deduced from spectra to be 3.

CuO Nanoplates for High-Performance Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries because of the abundance and low cost of K. However, an important challenge faced by KIBs is the search for high-capacity materials that can hold large-diameter K ions. Herein, copper oxide (CuO) nanoplates are synthesized as high-performance anode materials for KIBs.

Engineering the Core-Shell-Structured NCNTs-NiSi@Porous Si Composite with Robust Ni-Si Interfacial Bonding for High-Performance Li-Ion Batteries.

A new strategy has been innovatively proposed for wrapping the Ni-incorporated and N-doped carbon nanotube arrays (Ni-NCNTs) on porous Si with robust Ni-Si interfacial bonding to form the core-shell-structured NCNTs-NiSi@Si. The hierarchical porous silicon core was first fabricated via a novel self-templating synthesis route based on two crucial strategies: in situ thermal evaporation of crystal water from the perlite for producing porous SiO and subsequent magnesiothermic reduction of porous SiO into porous Si. Ni-NCNTs were subsequently constructed based on the Ni-catalyzed tip-growth mechanism and were further engineered to fully wrap the porous Si microparticles by forming the NiSi alloy at the heterojunction interface.

Strategic Design of Vacancy-Enriched FeS Nanoparticles Anchored on FeC-Encapsulated and N-Doped Carbon Nanotube Hybrids for High-Efficiency Triiodide Reduction in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

A new class of hybrids with the unique electrocatalytic nanoarchitecture of FeS anchored on FeC-encapsulated and N-doped carbon nanotubes (FeS/FeC-NCNTs) is innovatively synthesized through a facile one-step carbonization-sulfurization strategy. The efficient synthetic protocols on phase structure evolution and dynamic decomposition behavior enable the production of the FeS/FeC-NCNT hybrid with advanced structural and electronic properties, in which the Fe vacancy-contained FeS showed the 3d metallic state electrons and an electroactive Fe in +2/+3 valence, and the electronic structure of the CNT was effectively modulated by the incorporated FeC and N, with the work function decreased from 4.85 to 4.

Nitrogen self-doped carbon aerogels derived from trifunctional benzoxazine monomers as ultralight supercapacitor electrodes.

Ultralight benzoxazine-derived porous nitrogen self-doped carbon aerogels with good yield can be prepared by direct polymerization of trifunctional benzoxazine monomers under acid catalysis using concentrated hydrochloric acid. This allows for a significantly widened density range (0.8-4.

Three-dimensional flower-like MoS-CoSe heterostructure for high performance superccapacitors.

A novel three-dimensional (3D) flower-like MoS-CoSe heterostructure has been designed and synthesized by a facile two-step hydrothermal process as the electrode materials for supercapacitors. The MoS-CoSe heterostructure is demonstrated to deliver a high specific capacitance (2577 F g at 1 A g) and remarkable rate capability (896 F g at 20 A g). Besides, the MoS-CoSe electrode also exhibits excellent cycling stability of 91.

Phosphonate-Stabilized Titanium-Oxo Clusters with Ferrocene Photosensitizer: Structures, Photophysical and Photoelectrochemical Properties, and DFT/TDDFT Calculations.

The metal-to-core charge transfer (MCCT) transition in sensitized titanium-oxo clusters is an important process for photoinduced electron injection in photovoltaic conversion. This process resembles most closely the Type II photoinjection in dye-sensitized solar cells. Herein we report the synthesis and photophysical and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the phosphonate-stabilized titanium-oxo clusters containing the ferrocenecarboxylate ligands.

A 4-dimethylaminobenzoate-functionalized Ti-oxo cluster with a narrow band gap and enhanced photoelectrochemical activity: a combined experimental and computational study.

Organic donor-π-bridge-acceptor (D-π-A) dyes with arylamines as an electron donor have been widely used as photosensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). However, titanium-oxo clusters (TOCs) functionalized with this kind of D-π-A structured dye-molecule have rarely been explored. In the present study, the 4-dimethylaminobenzoate-functionalized titanium-oxo cluster [Ti(μ-O)(OiPr)(DMABA)]·2CHCH (DMABA = 4-dimethylaminobenzoate) was synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Strong Blue Emissive Supramolecular Self-Assembly System Based on Naphthalimide Derivatives and Its Ability of Detection and Removal of 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol.

Two simple and novel gelators (G-P with pyridine and G-B with benzene) with different C-4 substitution groups on naphthalimide derivatives have been designed and characterized. Two gelators could form organogels in some solvents or mixed solvents. The self-assembly processes of G-P in a mixed solvent of acetonitrile/HO (1/1, v/v) and G-B in acetonitrile were studied by means of electron microscopy and spectroscopy.

A ferrocenecarboxylate-functionalized titanium-oxo-cluster: the ferrocene wheel as a sensitizer for photocurrent response.

Sensitized titanium-oxo clusters (TOCs) have attracted growing interest. However, reports on TOCs incorporated with a metal complex as photosensitizers are still very rare. In the present work, the organometallic complex ferrocene was used as a sensitizer for a titanium-oxo cluster.

General Strategy for Controlled Synthesis of NiP/Carbon and Its Evaluation as a Counter Electrode Material in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Hydrothermal treatment of nickel acetate and phosphoric acid aqueous solution followed with a carbothermal reduction assisted phosphorization process using sucrose as the carbon source for the controlled synthesis of NiP/C was successfully realized for the first time. The critical synthesis factors, including reduction temperature, phosphorus/nickel ratio, pH, and sucrose amount were systematically investigated. Remarkably, the carbon serves as a reducer and plays a determinative role in the transformation of NiPO into NiP/C.

Enhanced sensing of dopamine in the present of ascorbic acid based on graphene/poly(p-aminobenzoic acid) composite film.

Graphene/p-aminobenzoic acid composite film modified glassy carbon electrode (Gr/p-ABA/GCE) was first employed for the sensitive determination of dopamine (DA). The electrochemical behavior of DA at the modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltametry (CV), differential pulse voltametry (DPV) and amperometric curve. The oxidation peak currents of DA increased dramatically at Gr/p-ABA/GCE.

Spectrofluorimetric determination of glutathione in human plasma by solid-phase extraction using graphene as adsorbent.

An efficient solid phase extraction-spectrofluorimetric method using graphene as adsorbent was developed to sensitively determine glutathione (GSH) in biological samples. Fluorescent probe N-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-yl)methyl)iodoacetamide (BODIPY Fl-C1-IA) was applied for the derivatization of GSH. The procedure was based on BODIPY Fl-C1-IA selective reaction with GSH to form highly fluorescent product BODIPY Fl-C1-IA-GSH, its extraction to the graphene-packed SPE cartridge and spectrofluorimetric determination.

Hydrothermal preparation and electrochemical sensing properties of TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposite.

A facile hydrothermal method has been developed and shown to be effective for the preparation of TiO(2)-graphene nanocomposite. The as-prepared nanocomposite was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TiO(2)-graphene modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited remarkable electron transfer kinetics and electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of dopamine (DA).