Bismuth-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites: synthesis and applications.

In the vast landscape of materials science, bismuth emerges as a compelling element with unique properties and diverse applications. Its intriguing characteristics and advancements in nanotechnology have propelled bismuth-based nanoparticles to the forefront of scientific exploration, promising breakthroughs in various disciplines. This comprehensive review explores diverse methods for synthesizing bismuth-based nanoparticles and nanocomposites, ranging from conventional approaches such as hydrothermal and sol-gel to innovative techniques such as microwave-assisted, microemulsion, and green synthesis.

Plasma-Enabled Process with Single-Atom Catalysts for Sustainable Plastic Waste Transformation.

The escalating issue of plastic waste generation has prompted the search for an effective solution to address these challenges. In this study, we present a novel plasma-enabled strategy for the rapid breakdown of various types of plastic wastes, including mixtures, into high-value carbon nanomaterials and hydrogen. The H yield and selectivity achieved through the implemented catalyst-free plasma-enabled strategy are 14.

Product Peroxidation Inhibition in Methane Photooxidation into Methanol.

Methane photooxidation into methanol offers a practical approach for the generation of high-value chemicals and the efficient storage of solar energy. However, the propensity for C─H bonds in the desired products to cleave more easily than those in methane molecules results in a continuous dehydrogenation process, inevitably leading to methanol peroxidation. Consequently, inhibiting methanol peroxidation is perceived as one of the most formidable challenges in the field of direct conversion of methane to methanol.

Light-Reinforced Key Intermediate for Anticoking To Boost Highly Durable Methane Dry Reforming over Single Atom Ni Active Sites on CeO.

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) has been investigated for more than a century; the paramount stumbling block in its industrial application is the inevitable sintering of catalysts and excessive carbon emissions at high temperatures. However, the low-temperature DRM process still suffered from poor reactivity and severe catalyst deactivation from coking. Herein, we proposed a concept that highly durable DRM could be achieved at low temperatures via fabricating the active site integration with light irradiation.

Selective Cleavage of Chemical Bonds in Targeted Intermediates for Highly Selective Photooxidation of Methane to Methanol.

Restrained by the uncontrollable cleavage process of chemical bonds in methane molecules and corresponding formed intermediates, the target product in the reaction of methane selective oxidation to methanol would suffer from an inevitable overoxidation process, which is considered to be one of the most challenging issues in the field of catalysis. Herein, we report a conceptually different method for modulating the conversion pathway of methane through the selective cleavage of chemical bonds in the key intermediates to suppress the generation of peroxidation products. Taking metal oxides, typical semiconductors in the field of methane oxidation as model catalysts, we confirm that the cleavage of different chemical bonds in CHO* intermediates could greatly affect the conversion pathway of methane, which has a vital role in product selectivity.

Phosphineoxide-Chelated Europium(III) Nanoparticles for Ceftriaxone Detection.

The present work demonstrates the optimization of the ligand structure in the series of bis(phosphine oxide) and β-ketophosphine oxide representatives for efficient coordination of Tb and Eu ions with the formation of the complexes exhibiting high Tb- and Eu-centered luminescence. The analysis of the stoichiometry and structure of the lanthanide complexes obtained using the XRD method reveals the great impact of the bridging group nature between two phosphine oxide moieties on the coordination mode of the ligands with Tb and Eu ions. The bridging imido-group facilitates the deprotonation of the imido- bis(phosphine oxide) ligand followed by the formation of tris-complexes.

Regulating the Spin State of Single Noble Metal Atoms by Hydroxyl for Selective Dehydrogenation of CH Direct Conversion to CHOH.

The key scientific challenge for methane (CH) direct conversion to methanol (CHOH) is considered to be the prevention of overoxidation of target products, which is restrained by the difficulty in the well-controlled process of selective dehydrogenation. Herein, we take single noble metal atom-anchored hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets with B vacancies (M/BN) as the model materials and first propose that the dehydrogenation in the direct conversion of CH to CHOH is highly dependent on the spin state of the noble metal. The results reveal that the noble metal with a higher spin magnetic moment is beneficial to the formation of the spin channels for electron transfer, which boosts the dissociation of C-H bonds.

Dual-Function Reaction Center for Simultaneous Activation of CH and O via Oxygen Vacancies during Direct Selective Oxidation of CH into CHOH.

The direct oxidation of methane (CH) to methanol (CHOH) has been a focus of global concern and is quite challenging due to the thermodynamically stable CH and uncontrolled overoxidation of the products. Here, we provided a new viewpoint on the role of oxygen vacancies that induce a dual-function center in enhancing the adsorption and activation of both CH and O reactants for the subsequent selective formation of a CHOH liquid fuel on two-dimensional BiOCl photocatalysts at atmospheric pressure. The key for the favorable activity lies in the simultaneous ability of the electron-trapped Bi atom in activating CH and the formation of O radicals due to the activation of O at the adjacent oxygen vacancy site, which immediately attack the activated CH to directly produce CHOH, in initiating the oxidation reaction.

Modulating electron density of vacancy site by single Au atom for effective CO photoreduction.

The surface electron density significantly affects the photocatalytic efficiency, especially the photocatalytic CO reduction reaction, which involves multi-electron participation in the conversion process. Herein, we propose a conceptually different mechanism for surface electron density modulation based on the model of Au anchored CdS. We firstly manipulate the direction of electron transfer by regulating the vacancy types of CdS.

B-O Bonds in Ultrathin Boron Nitride Nanosheets to Promote Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Conversion.

Limited by the chemical inertness of CO and the high dissociation energy of the C═O bond, photocatalytic CO conversion is highly challenging. Herein, we prepare ultrathin oxygen-modified h-BN (O/BN) nanosheets containing B-O bonds. On the O/BN surface, CO can be chemically captured and is bonded with the B-O bond, leading to the formation of an O-B-O bond.

Important Role of Strontium Atom on the Surface of SrKTaO with a Tetragonal Tungsten Bronze Structure to Improve Adsorption of CO for Photocatalytic Conversion of CO by HO.

SrKNaTaO, which belongs to the Na-substituted SrKTaO series of compounds with a tetragonal tungsten bronze structure, was fabricated using a flux mixture of KCl and NaCl (KCl/NaCl molar ratio = 55:45). It exhibited higher CO formation rate (94.6 μmol h), better selectivity for CO evolution (85.

Sodium Cation Substitution in SrKTaO toward Enhancement of Photocatalytic Conversion of CO Using HO as an Electron Donor.

The K and Sr cations (K and Sr) in a SrKTaO photocatalyst were found to be easily substituted by Na cations (Na) to form Sr K Na TaO by a facile one-pot flux method using a mixture of potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). Sr K Na TaO fabricated using a mixture of KCl and NaCl with a Ag cocatalyst showed enhanced photocatalytic activity without apparent change in selectivity toward CO for the photocatalytic conversion of CO using HO. The present study demonstrates that the flux treatment significantly affected the phase, morphology, band gap, and surface Sr composition of the catalyst owing to the substitution of K and Sr for Na.

Enhancement of CO Evolution by Modification of GaO with Rare-Earth Elements for the Photocatalytic Conversion of CO by HO.

Modification of the surface of GaO with rare-earth elements enhanced the evolution of CO as a reduction product in the photocatalytic conversion of CO using HO as an electron donor under UV irradiation in aqueous NaHCO as a pH buffer, with the rare-earth species functioning as a CO capture and storage material. Isotope experiments using CO as a substrate clearly revealed that CO was generated from the introduced gaseous CO. In the presence of the NaHCO additive, the rare-earth (RE) species on the GaO surface are transformed into carbonate hydrates (RE(CO)·nHO) and/or hydroxycarbonates (RE(OH)(CO)) which are decomposed upon photoirradiation.

Efficient photocatalytic carbon monoxide production from ammonia and carbon dioxide by the aid of artificial photosynthesis.

Ammonium bicarbonate (NHHCO) was generated by the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO) into an aqueous solution of ammonia (NH). NHHCO was successfully used to achieve highly efficient photocatalytic conversion of CO to carbon monoxide (CO). NH and/or ammonium ions (NH) derived from NHHCO in aqueous solution were decomposed into nitrogen (N) and hydrogen (H).

Transformation of TiOF2 cube to a hollow nanobox assembly from anatase TiO2 nanosheets with exposed {001} facets via solvothermal strategy.

Hierarchical nanostructures have attracted increasing interest due to their exceptional properties and widespread potential applications. In this paper, anatase TiO2 hollow nanoboxes (TiO2-HNBs) are formed by assembly of nanosheets with exposed {001} facets by solvothermal treatment of TiOF2 cubes in alcohols (tert-butanol and ethanol) at 180 °C. It was found that phase transformation of TiOF2 to anatase TiO2 begins at corners and edges of TiOF2 cubes due to in situ hydrolysis of TiOF2, where water was produced by dehydration of alcohol molecules.