Interface Catalysis of Nickel Molybdenum (NiMo) Alloys on Two-Dimensional (2D) MXene for Enhanced Hydrogen Electrochemistry.

Development of efficient bifunctional nonprecious metallic electrocatalysts for hydrogen electrochemistry in alkaline solution is of importance to enable commercialization of a low-cost alkaline hydrogen fuel cell and water electrolyzer, but it is very challenging. Two-dimensional (2D) MXene-based electrocatalysts hold tremendous potential for the applications of hydrogen fuel cell and water electrolyzer. Here, we successfully immobilized transition-metal-based NiMo nanoparticles (NPs) on 2D TiCT (T: surface terminations, such as O, OH, or F) surfaces by a wet chemical method.

Nucleophilic Polymers and Gels in Hydrolytic Degradation of Chemical Warfare Agents.

Water- and solvent-soluble polymeric materials based on polyalkylamines modified with nucleophilic groups are introduced as catalysts of chemical warfare agent (CWA) hydrolysis. A comparative study conducted at constant pH and based on the criteria of the synthetic route simplicity, aqueous solubility, and rate of hydrolysis of CWA mimic, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), indicated that 4-aminopyridine-substituted polyallylamine (PAAm-APy) and polyvinylamine substituted with 4-aminopyridine (PVAm-APy) were advantageous over 4-pyridinealdoxime-modified PVAm and PAAm, poly(butadiene-co-pyrrolidinopyridine), and PAAm modified with bipyridine and its complex with Cu(II). The synthesis of PVAm-APy and PAAm-APy involved generation of a betaine derivative of acrylamide and its covalent attachment onto the polyalkylamine chain followed by basic hydrolysis.

Lewis acid-assisted detection of nerve agents in water.

The five-coordinate compound, Salen((t)Bu)Al(Ac), prepared in situ from Salen((t)Bu)AlBr and NH4Ac, forms Lewis acid-base adducts in aqueous solution with the G-type nerve agents, Sarin and Soman, and the VX hydrolysis product, ethylmethylphosphonate (EMPA). The resulting compounds, [Salen((t)Bu)Al(NA)](+)[Ac] (-) (with NA = Sarin, Soman, and EMPA) are sufficiently stable to be identified by ESI-MS. Molecular ion peaks were detected for every compound with little or no fragmentation.

Reaction of nerve agents with phosphate buffer at pH 7.

Chemical weapon nerve agents, including isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GB or Sarin), pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (GD or Soman), and S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate (VX), are slow to react in aqueous solutions at midrange pH levels. The nerve agent reactivity increases in phosphate buffer at pH 7, relative to distilled water or acetate buffer. Reactions were studied using (31)P NMR.

A decontamination system for chemical weapons agents using a liquid solution on a solid sorbent.

A decontamination system for chemical warfare agents was developed and tested that combines a liquid decontamination reagent solution with solid sorbent particles. The components have fewer safety and environmental concerns than traditional chlorine bleach-based products or highly caustic solutions. The liquid solution, based on Decon Greentrade mark, has hydrogen peroxide and a carbonate buffer as active ingredients.