Structural analysis of metal clusters confined in nanoporous materials is typically performed by X-ray-driven techniques. Although X-ray analysis has proved its strength in the characterization of metal clusters, it provides averaged structural information. Therefore, we here present an alternative workflow for bringing the characterization of confined metal clusters towards the local scale. This workflow is based on the combination of aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (TEM), TEM image simulations, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) with advanced statistical techniques. In this manner, we were able to characterize the clustering of Pb atoms in Linde Type A (LTA) zeolites with Pb loadings as low as 5 wt%. Moreover, individual Pb clusters could be directly detected. The proposed methodology thus enables a local-scale characterization of confined metal clusters in zeolites. This is important for further elucidation of the connection between the structure and the physicochemical properties of such systems.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2nr01819e | DOI Listing |
Inorg Chem
January 2025
Hoffmann Institute of Advanced Materials, Shenzhen Polytechnic University, 7098 Liuxian Blvd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518055, P. R. China.
Metal-organic frameworks have received extensive development in the past three decades, which are generally constructed via the reaction between inorganic building units and commercially available or presynthesized organic linkers. However, the presynthesis of organic linkers is usually time-consuming and unsustainable due to multiple-step separation and purification. Therefore, methodology development of a new strategy is fundamentally important for the construction and further exploration of the applications of MOFs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
Developing high-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries faces serious polysulfide shuttle effects and sluggish conversion kinetics, often necessitating the excessive use of electrolytes, which in turn adversely affects battery performance. Our study introduces a meticulously designed electrocatalyst, Cu-CeO@N/C, to enhance lean-electrolyte lithium-sulfur battery performance. This catalyst, featuring in situ synthesized Cu clusters, regulates oxygen vacancies in CeO and forms Cu-CeO heterojunctions, thereby diminishing sulfur conversion barriers and hastening reaction kinetics through the generation of S/S intermediates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
January 2025
Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
The main categories of transition metal-mercury heterometallic compounds are briefly summarized. The attention is focused on complexes and clusters where the {Hg-Y} fragment, where Y represents a halide atom, interacts with transition metals. Most of the structurally characterized derivatives are organometallic compounds where the transition metals belong to the Groups 6, 8, 9 and 10.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Res
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
The role of metal resistance on nitrogen metabolism function and community resilience against Cd is important for elucidating the evolutionary dynamics of key ecological functions in river ecosystems. In this study, the response of nitrogen transforming function to Cd exposure in river sediments from the Yangtze River Basin with varying levels of heavy metal contamination history (Cd-contaminated and Cd-free sediments) was compared to understand how Cd influenced nitrogen metabolism under varying metal resistance conditions. The results showed that chronic and persistent Cd pollution of sediments caused an elevation of transport efflux metal resistance genes (MRGs) and a reduction in the uptake MRGs, leading to a stronger tolerance to Cd for Cd-contaminated sediment than Cd-free ones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEpithelial tissues in vitro undergo dynamic changes while differentiating heterogeneously on the culture substrate. This gives rise to diverse cellular arrangements which are undistinguished by conventional analysis approaches, such as transepithelial electrical resistance measurement or permeability assays. In this context, solid substrate-based systems with integrated electrodes and electrochemical impedance monitoring capability can address the limited spatiotemporal resolution of traditional porous membrane-based methods.
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