Pd-incorporated polyoxometalate catalysts for electrochemical CO reduction.

Polyoxometalates (POMs), representing anionic metal-oxo clusters, display diverse properties depending on their structures, constituent elements, and countercations. These characteristics position them as promising catalysts or catalyst precursors for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR). This study synthesized various salts-TBA (tetra--butylammonium), Cs, Sr, and Ba-of a dipalladium-incorporated POM (Pd2, [γ-HSiWOPd(OAc)]) immobilized on a carbon support (Pd2/C).

Structurally well-defined conjugated -aminoporphyrin oligomers analogous to polyanilines.

Polyaniline, which is formed by the oxidative polymerization of aniline, is a widely explored conducting polymer with several stable oxidation states, and can be applied in advanced materials, including sensing devices and electrochemical catalysts. The marriage of polyanilines with the diverse chemistry of porphyrins is expected to confer new properties, including a combination of electrical, optical, magnetic and chemical properties. Herein, we demonstrate that -aminodiarylporphyrin, a porphyrin analogue of aniline, undergoes oxidative oligomerization in an acidic solution under an oxygen atmosphere to yield stable oligomeric products that are analogous to fully oxidized polyanilines.

Variable control of the electronic states of a silver nanocluster protonation/deprotonation of polyoxometalate ligands.

The properties of metal nanoclusters depend on both their structures and electronic states. However, in contrast to the significant advances achieved in the synthesis of structurally well-defined metal nanoclusters, systematic control of their electronic states is still challenging. In particular, stimuli-responsive and reversible control of the electronic states of metal nanoclusters is attractive from the viewpoint of their practical applications.

Phenylphosphonate surface functionalisation of MgMnO with 3D open-channel nanostructures for composite slurry-coated cathodes of rechargeable magnesium batteries operated at room temperature.

Spinel-type MgMnO, prepared by a propylene-oxide-driven sol-gel method, has a high surface area and structured bimodal macro- and mesopores, and exhibits good electrochemical properties as a cathode active material for rechargeable magnesium batteries. However, because of its hydrophilicity and significant water adsorption properties, macroscopic aggregates are formed in composite slurry-coated cathodes when 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is used as a non-aqueous solvent. Functionalising the surface with phenylphosphonate groups was found to be an easy and effective technique to render the structured MgMnO hydrophobic and suppress aggregate formation in NMP-based slurries.

Self-activated Rh-Zr mixed oxide as a nonhazardous cocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Efficient, robust and environmentally friendly cocatalysts for photocatalysts are important for large-scale solar hydrogen production. Herein, we demonstrate that a Rh-Zr mixed oxide is an efficient cocatalyst for hydrogen evolution. Impregnation of Zr and Rh precursors (Zr/Rh = 5 wt/wt%) formed RhZrO cocatalyst particles on Al-doped SrTiO, which exhibited 31× higher photocatalytic water-splitting activity than a RhO cocatalyst.

Highly active and durable WO/AlO catalysts for gas-phase dehydration of polyols.

Gas-phase glycerol dehydration over WO/AlO catalysts was investigated. WO loading on γ-AlO significantly affected the yield of acrolein and the catalyst with 20 wt% WO loading showed the highest activity. The WO/AlO catalyst with 20 wt% WO loading showed higher activity and durability than the other supported WO catalysts and zeolites.

Investigation of Termite Attack on Cultural Heritage Buildings: A Case Study in Aceh Province, Indonesia.

Surveys of the conditions of termite attack were conducted in two regencies, Pidie and Greater Aceh, Aceh Province, Indonesia (40 houses in each location). Interviews were also conducted with home owners to collect data on the building history; culture, such as daily life in the house; the frequency and intensity of termite attacks; and traditional knowledge for avoiding and/or suppressing termite attacks. We found that 51% of traditional houses were infested by two termite species: and .

Synergetic effect in water treatment with mesoporous TiO/BDD hybrid electrode.

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have a wide potential window and can produce ozone by water electrolysis at high voltage. Though ozone has strong oxidative power (standard oxidation potential: 2.07 V NHE), it cannot decompose certain types of recalcitrant organic matter completely.

Importance of Size and Contact Structure of Gold Nanoparticles for the Genesis of Unique Catalytic Processes.

Since the discovery of catalysis by Au nanoparticles (NPs), unique catalytic features of Au have appeared that are greatly different from those of Pd and Pt. In this Review, we aimed to disclose how the unique catalytic abilities of Au are generated with respect to (a) the contact structures between Au and its supports and (b) the size of the Au particles. For CO oxidation, the catalytic activity of Au on reducible metal oxides (MO) is strongly correlated with the amount of oxygen vacancies of the MO surface, which play a key role in O activation.

γ-Alumina-supported Pt cluster: controlled loading, geometrical structure, and size-specific catalytic activity for carbon monoxide and propylene oxidation.

Although Pt is extensively used as a catalyst to purify automotive exhaust gas, it is desirable to reduce Pt consumption through size reduction because Pt is a rare element and an expensive noble metal. In this study, we successfully loaded a Pt cluster on γ-alumina (γ-AlO) (Pt/γ-AlO) using [Pt(CO)(PPh)]Cl ( = 1, 2) as a precursor. In addition, we demonstrated that Pt is not present in the form of an oxide in Pt/γ-AlO but instead has a framework structure as a metal cluster.

Palaeo-tsunami inundation distances deduced from roundness of gravel particles in tsunami deposits.

Information on palaeo-tsunami magnitude is scientifically and socially essential to mitigate tsunami risk. However, estimating palaeo-tsunami parameters (e.g.

Computational investigation of the Mg-ion conductivity and phase stability of MgZr(PO).

Solid electrolyte materials exhibiting high Mg-ion conductivity are required to develop Mg-ion batteries. In this study, we focused on a Mg-ion-conducting solid phosphate based electrolyte, MgZr(PO) (MZP), and evaluated the ionic conductivity of NASICON-type and β-iron sulfate-type MgZr(PO) structures density functional theory calculations. The calculations suggest that the migration energy of Mg is 0.

Synthesis of new polyesters by acyclic diene metathesis polymerization of bio-based α,ω-dienes prepared from eugenol and castor oil (undecenoate).

Synthesis of new polyesters by acyclic diene metathesis (ADMET) polymerization of α,ω-diene, 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenyl 10-undecenoate (M1), prepared from bio-renewable eugenol and castor oil (undecenoate), have been demonstrated. Ruthenium-carbene (called second generation Grubbs) catalyst afforded polymers with unimodal molecular weight distributions ( = 12 700, / = 1.85).

One-pot synthesis of end-functionalised soluble star-shaped polymers by living ring-opening metathesis polymerisation using a molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst.

Precise synthesis of soluble star-shaped polymers has been achieved by adopting living ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) using a molybdenum-alkylidene catalyst with sequential addition of norbornene and cross-linking agent; the method provides efficient one-pot synthesis of high molecular weight end-functionalised star-shaped polymers ( = >1.37 × 10) with more arms (branching) with rather low PDI values ( / = 1.17-1.

Synthesis of Mono-, Di-, and Trinuclear Rhodium Diphosphine Complexes Containing Light-Harvesting Fluorene Backbones.

Syntheses and structural determination of rhodium complexes ligated by diphosphines containing light-harvesting fluorene backbones are presented. In these rhodium complexes, the rhodium center is surrounded by a light-absorbing diphosphine unit. The presence of Rh-Rh bonding interactions is suggested by density functional theory studies.

Description of the first Oriental species of the ant genus Xymmer (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Amblyoponinae).

The monotypic ant genus Xymmer Santschi, 1914 was established for X. muticus (Santschi, 1914) which has so far been known only from the West African subregion. The genus is easily distinguishable from the other amblyoponine genera by the anteromedian part of clypeus which is produced as a short rectangular lobe.

Thermal Conductivity through the Quantum Critical Point in YbRh_{2}Si_{2} at Very Low Temperature.

The thermal conductivity of YbRh_{2}Si_{2} has been measured down to very low temperatures under field in the basal plane. An additional channel for heat transport appears below 30 mK, both in the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic states, respectively, below and above the critical field suppressing the magnetic order. This excludes antiferromagnetic magnons as the origin of this additional contribution to thermal conductivity.

Evaluation of damage progression and mechanical behavior under compression of bone cements containing core-shell nanoparticles by using acoustic emission technique.

In this work, the effect of the incorporation of core-shell particles on the fracture mechanisms of the acrylic bone cements by using acoustic emission (AE) technique during the quasi-static compression mechanical test was investigated. Core-shell particles were composed of a poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) rubbery core and a methyl methacrylate/styrene copolymer (P(MMA-co-St)) outer glassy shell. Nanoparticles were prepared with different core-shell ratio (20/80, 30/70, 40/60 and 50/50) and were incorporated into the solid phase of bone cement at several percentages (5, 10 and 15 wt%).

Geographical origin of Leucobryum boninense Sull. & Lesq. (Leucobryaceae, Musci) endemic to the Bonin Islands, Japan.

Leucobryum boninense is endemic to the Bonin Islands, Japan, and its related species are widely distributed in Asia and the Pacific. We aimed to clarify the phylogenetic relationships among Leucobryum species and infer the origin of L. boninense.

Self-Assembly of Uniform Spherical Aggregates of Magnetic Nanoparticles through π-π Interactions.

Nanoparticles of Fe O coated with 2-carboxyterthiophene (TTP-COOH) self-assemble through π-π interactions to form uniform transparent microspheres. The interaction between individual particles is relatively weak and the spherical aggregates can be destroyed by sonication to leave the monodispersed nanoparticles.