Theory-driven design of cadmium mineralizing layered double hydroxides for environmental remediation.

The environmental concern posed by toxic heavy metal pollution in soil and water has grown. Ca-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have shown exceptional efficacy in eliminating heavy metal cations through the formation of super-stable mineralization structures (SSMS). Nevertheless, it is still unclear how the intricate coordination environment of Ca2+ in Ca-based LDH materials affects the mineralization performance, which hinders the development and application of Ca-based LDH materials as efficient mineralizers. Herein, we discover that, in comparison to a standard LDH, the mineralization efficiency for Cd2+ ions may be significantly enhanced in the pentacoordinated structure of defect-containing Ca-5-LDH utilizing both density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Furthermore, the calcination-reconstruction technique can be utilized to successfully produce pentacoordinated Ca-5-LDH. Subsequent investigations verified that Ca-5-LDH exhibited double the mineralization performance (421.5 mg g-1) in comparison to the corresponding pristine seven coordinated Ca-7OH/H2O-LDH (191.2 mg g-1). The coordination-relative mineralization mechanism of Ca-based LDH was confirmed by both theoretical calculations and experimental results. The understanding of LDH materials and their possible use in environmental remediation are advanced by this research.

Boosting NIR Laser Marking Efficiency of a Transparent Epoxy Using a Layered Double Hydroxide.

Efficient near-infrared (NIR) laser marking on transparent polymers like polypropylene, epoxy, and polyethylene has posed a big challenge due to their lack of absorption in the NIR. Currently, inorganic additives are used to improve NIR laser marking efficiency, but they come with issues such as toxicity, high loading requirement, adverse effects on color/opaqueness, and the need for low laser head speeds. Herein, we report a new strategy of incorporating a food-grade, Mg2Al-CO3 LDH as a boosting coadditive alongside the commercial NIR laser marking additive (Iriotech 8815) in an epoxy system. Our findings demonstrate that the incorporation of Mg2Al-CO3 LDH can significantly increase both the darkness and contrast of marking even at high laser head speed (5000 mm/s), while minimizing surface damage. Notably, by replacing 95% of Iriotech 8815 with Mg2Al-CO3 LDH, an epoxy plate can exhibit high transparency, while producing dark, sharply defined markings with excellent readable QR code markings at high laser speeds. This result offers a promising solution for enhancing high-speed NIR laser marking on transparent polymers with additional advantages of lower toxicity and cost and with minimal optical interference from high additive loadings.

Recent advances and perspectives for intercalation layered compounds. Part 2: applications in the field of catalysis, environment and health.

Intercalation compounds represent a unique class of materials that can be anisotropic (1D and 2D-based topology) or isotropic (3D) through their guest/host superlattice repetitive organisation. Intercalation refers to the reversible introduction of guest species with variable natures into a crystalline host lattice. Different host lattice structures have been used for the preparation of intercalation compounds, and many examples are produced by exploiting the flexibility and the ability of 2D-based hosts to accommodate different guest species, ranging from ions to complex molecules. This reaction is then carried out to allow systematic control and fine tuning of the final properties of the derived compounds, thus allowing them to be used for various applications. This review mainly focuses on the recent applications of intercalation layered compounds (ILCs) based on layered clays, zirconium phosphates, layered double hydroxides and graphene as heterogeneous catalysts, for environmental and health purposes, aiming at collecting and discussing how intercalation processes can be exploited for the selected applications.

Recent advances and perspectives on intercalation layered compounds part 1: design and applications in the field of energy.

Herein, initially, we present a general overview of the global financial support for chemistry devoted to materials science, specifically intercalation layered compounds (ILCs). Subsequently, the strategies to synthesise these host structures and the corresponding guest-host hybrid assemblies are exemplified on the basis of some families of materials, including pillared clays (PILCs), porous clay heterostructures (PCHs), zirconium phosphate (ZrP), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), graphite intercalation compounds (GICs), graphene-based materials, and MXenes. Additionally, a non-exhaustive survey on their possible application in the field of energy through electrochemical storage, mostly as electrode materials but also as electrolyte additives, is presented, including lithium technologies based on lithium ion batteries (LIBs), and beyond LiBs with a focus on possible alternatives such XIBs (X = Na (NIB), K (KIB), Al (AIB), Zn (ZIB), and Cl (CIB)), reversible Mg batteries (RMBs), dual-ion batteries (DIBs), Zn-air and Zn-sulphur batteries and supercapacitors as well as their relevance in other fields related to (opto)electronics. This selective panorama should help readers better understand the reason why ILCs are expected to meet the challenge of tomorrow as electrode materials.

Mixing and matching N,N- and N,O-chelates in anionic Mg(I) compounds: synthesis and reactivity with RNCNR and CO.

Reduction of [Mg(NON)]2 ([NON]2- = [O(SiMe2NDipp)2]2-, Dipp = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) affords Mg(I) species containing NON- and NNO-ligands ([NNO]2- = [N(Dipp)SiMe2N(Dipp)SiMe2O]2-). The products of reactions with iPrNCNiPr and CO are consistent with the presence of reducing Mg(I) centres. Extraction with THF affords [K(THF)2]2[(NNO)Mg-Mg(NNO)] with a structurally characterised Mg-Mg bond that was examined using density functional theory.

Europium insertion into MgAl hydrotalcite-like compound to promote the photocatalytic oxidation of nitrogen oxides.

Easy synthesis of efficient, non-toxic photocatalysts is a target to expand their potential applications. In this research, the role of Eu3+ doping in the non-toxic, affordable, and easily prepared MgAl hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) was explored in order to prepare visible light semiconductors. Eu doped MgAl-HTlcs (MA-xEu) samples were prepared using a simple coprecipitation method (water, room temperature and atmospheric pressure) and europium was successfully incorporated into MgAl HTlc frameworks at various concentrations, with x (Eu3+/M3+ percentage) ranging from 2 to 15. Due to the higher ionic radius and lower polarizability of Eu3+ cation, its presence in the metal hydroxide layer induces slight structural distortions, which eventually affect the growth of the particles. The specific surface area also increases with the Eu content. Moreover, the presence of Eu3+ 4f energy levels in the electronic structure enables the absorption of visible light in the doped MA-xEu samples and contributes to efficient electron-hole separation. The microstructural and electronic changes induced by the insertion of Eu enable the preparation of visible light MgAl-based HTlcs photocatalysts for air purification purposes. Specifically, the optimal HTlc photocatalyst showed improved NOx removal efficiency, ∼ 51% (UV-Vis) and 39% (visible light irradiation, 420 nm), with excellent selectivity (> 96 %), stability (> 7 h), and enhanced release of •O2- radicals. Such results demonstrate a simple way to design photocatalytic HTlcs suitable for air purification technologies.

Optimising the acid-base ratio of Mg-Al layered double oxides to enhance CO2 capture performance: the critical role of calcination conditions.

The effect of calcination conditions (ramp rate, calcination temperature and time) on the formation of Mg2Al layered double oxides (Mg2Al LDOs) as well as their CO2 capture performance, has been systematically investigated. This study explores novel insights into the intricate relationship between these calcination conditions and the resulting surface characteristics, which play a vital role in CO2 capture efficiency. Notably, it is revealed that a rapid ramp rate (100 °C min-1) significantly increases surface area and hydroxyl concentration, leading to a 69% increase in CO2 capture efficiency compared to slower ramp rate. Conversely, short calcination times (1 h) and fast ramp rates (100 °C min-1) are observed to compromise CO2 adsorption due to the presence of dehydrated LDHs. A critical acid : base ratio of 0.37, achieved from a fast ramp rate (100 °C min-1) at 400 °C for 2 h, was found as a key threshold for optimising surface properties, effectively balancing favourable hydroxyl and less favourable strong acid sites, thereby maximizing CO2 capture performance.

Trends in Structure and Ethylene Polymerization Reactivity of Transition-Metal Permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) Complexes.

A family of ansa-permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) transition-metal chloride complexes has been synthesized and characterized (1-7; {(η5-C9Me6)Me(R″)Si(2-R-4-R'-C6H2O)}MCl2; R,R' = Me, tBu, Cumyl (CMe2Ph); R″ = Me, nPr, Ph; M = Ti, Zr, Hf). The ancillary chloride ligands could readily be exchanged with halides, alkyls, alkoxides, aryloxides, or amides to form PHENI* complexes [L]TiX2 (8-17; X = Br, I, Me, CH2SiMe3, CH2Ph, NMe2, OEt, ODipp). The solid-state crystal structures of these PHENI* complexes indicate that one of two conformations may be preferred, parametrized by a characteristic torsion angle (TA'), in which the η5 system is either disposed away from the metal center or toward it. Compared to indenyl PHENICS complexes, the permethylindenyl (I*) ligand appears to favor a conformation in which the metal center is more accessible. When heterogenized on solid polymethylaluminoxane (sMAO), titanium PHENI* complexes exhibit exceptional catalytic activity toward the polymerization of ethylene. Substantially greater activities are reported than for comparable PHENICS catalysts, along with the formation of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylenes (UHMWPE). Catalyst-cocatalyst ion pairing effects are observed in cationization experiments and found to be significant in homogeneous catalytic regimes; these effects are also related to the influence of the ancillary ligand leaving groups in slurry-phase polymerizations. Catalytic efficiency and polyethylene molecular weight are found to increase with pressure, and PHENI* catalysts can be categorized as being among the most active for the controlled synthesis of UHMWPE.

Interplay between Defects and Short-Range Disorder Manipulating the Oxygen Evolution Reaction on a Layered Double Hydroxide Electrocatalyst.

Improving the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial for advancing sustainable and environmentally friendly hydrogen energy. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for the OER. However, a thorough understanding of the impact of structural disorder and defects on the catalytic activity of LDHs remains limited. In this work, a series of NiAl-LDH models are systematically constructed, and their OER performance is rigorously screened through theoretical density functional theory. The acquired results unequivocally reveal that the energy increase induced by structural disorder is effectively counteracted at the defect surface, indicating the coexistence of defects and disorder. Notably, it is ascertained that the simultaneous presence of defects and disorder synergistically augments the catalytic activity of LDHs in the context of the OER. These theoretical findings offer valuable insights into the design of highly efficient OER catalysts while also shedding light on the efficacy of LDH electrocatalysts.

Boosting the effectiveness of UV filters and sunscreen formulations using photostable, non-toxic inorganic platelets.

We have studied the size-dependent optical scattering of aqueous suspensions containing Mg2Al-LDH platelets, which exhibit high total- and side-scatterings. By incorporating 3 wt% Mg2Al-LDH platelets (280 nm) in a commercial sunscreen formulation, we achieved a twofold Sun Protection Factor boost, providing a promising, high-efficient and non-toxic strategy to enhance sunscreen effectiveness.

Towards designer polyolefins: highly tuneable olefin copolymerisation using a single permethylindenyl post-metallocene catalyst.

Using a highly active permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) titanium catalyst, high to ultra-high molecular weight ethylene-linear-α-olefin (E/LAO) copolymers are prepared in high yields under mild conditions (2 bar, 30-90 °C). Controllable, efficient, and predictable comonomer enchainment provides access to a continuum of copolymer compositions and a vast range of material properties using a single monomer-agnostic catalyst. Multivariate statistical tools are employed that combine the tuneability of this system with the analytical and predictive power of data-derived models, this enables the targeting of polyolefins with designer properties directly through predictive alteration of reaction conditions.

Intrabasal Plane Defect Formation in NiFe Layered Double Hydroxides Enabling Efficient Electrochemical Water Oxidation.

Defect engineering has proven to be one of the most effective approaches for the design of high-performance electrocatalysts. Current methods to create defects typically follow a top-down strategy, cutting down the pristine materials into fragmented pieces with surface defects yet also heavily destroying the framework of materials that imposes restrictions on the further improvements in catalytic activity. Herein, we describe a bottom-up strategy to prepare free-standing NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoplatelets with abundant internal defects by controlling their growth behavior in acidic conditions. Our best-performing nanoplatelets exhibited the lowest overpotential of 241 mV and the lowest Tafel slope of 43 mV/dec for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) process, superior to the pristine LDHs and other reference cation-defective LDHs obtained by traditional etching methods. Using both material characterization and density functional theory (DFT) simulation has enabled us to develop relationships between the structure and electrochemical properties of these catalysts, suggesting that the enhanced electrocatalytic activity of nanoplatelets mainly results from their defect-abundant structure and stable layered framework with enhanced exposure of the (001) surface.

Fully tuneable ethylene-propylene elastomers using a supported permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) catalyst.

Using a highly active supported permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) titanium catalyst, high molecular weight ethylene-propylene (EPM) and ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) elastomers are prepared using slurry-phase catalysis. Final copolymer composition was found to reflect the monomer feed ratio in a linear fashion, to access a continuum of material properties with a single catalyst. Post-polymerisation crosslinking of EPDM was also demonstrated in a model sulfur vulcanisation system.

Core-shell silica@CuxZnAl LDH catalysts for efficient CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.

The efficient production of methanol by reduction of CO2 using green hydrogen is a promising strategy from both a green chemistry and a carbon net zero perspective. Herein, we report the synthesis of well-dispersed core-shell catalyst precursors using silica@CuxZnAl-LDHs that can convert CO2 to methanol. The catalyst precursors can be formed using either a commercially available silica (ES757) or a mesoporous silica (e.g. MCM-48). These hybrid materials show significantly enhanced catalytic performance compared to the equivalent unsupported CuxZnAl LDH precursor. Space-time yields of up to 0.7 gMeOH gcat-1 h-1 under mild operating conditions were observed.

Hydrogen-bonding and resonance stabilisation effects in cationic bis(iminium) phenoxide diacids.

The synthesis and characterisation of a bis(iminium)phenoxide diacid cation [4-tBu-C6H2-2,6-(HCN(H)Dipp)-1-O]+ ([H2tBu,DippL]+), is discussed. [H2tBu,DippL][BF4] (1) and [H2tBu,DippL][H2N{B(C6F5)3}2] (2) were synthesised in high yields via protonation of the bis(imino)phenol conjugate base with ethereal HBF4 or Bochmann's acid ([H(OEt2)2][H2N{B(C6F5)3}2]). Both species were fully characterised using NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography. The cationic fragment adopts an unusual tautomeric form in which both acidic protons are located on the nitrogen atoms: [HN〈O〉NH]+. This bis(iminium) phenoxide tautomer is stabilised by delocalisation of electron density from oxygen, into the extended π-system of the planar cation, and was found to be 22.6 and 263.1 kJ mol-1 lower in energy (ΔG) than the alternative [N〈OH〉NH]+ and [N〈OH2〉N]+ tautomers respectively. Topological analysis confirmed the presence of two electrostatic N+H⋯O- hydrogen bonds which contribute -111.2 kJ mol-1 towards the stabilisation of the diacid. The pKa values of the cations were estimated, from NMR experiments, to be 4.2 in THF (1) and 11.4 in acetonitrile (2).

Recent advances in direct air capture by adsorption.

Significant progress has been made in direct air capture (DAC) in recent years. Evidence suggests that the large-scale deployment of DAC by adsorption would be technically feasible for gigatons of CO2 capture annually. However, great efforts in adsorption-based DAC technologies are still required. This review provides an exhaustive description of materials development, adsorbent shaping, in situ characterization, adsorption mechanism simulation, process design, system integration, and techno-economic analysis of adsorption-based DAC over the past five years; and in terms of adsorbent development, affordable DAC adsorbents such as amine-containing porous materials with large CO2 adsorption capacities, fast kinetics, high selectivity, and long-term stability under ultra-low CO2 concentration and humid conditions. It is also critically important to develop efficient DAC adsorptive processes. Research and development in structured adsorbents that operate at low-temperature with excellent CO2 adsorption capacities and kinetics, novel gas-solid contactors with low heat and mass transfer resistances, and energy-efficient regeneration methods using heat, vacuum, and steam purge is needed to commercialize adsorption-based DAC. The synergy between DAC and carbon capture technologies for point sources can help in mitigating climate change effects in the long-term. Further investigations into DAC applications in the aviation, agriculture, energy, and chemical industries are required as well. This work benefits researchers concerned about global energy and environmental issues, and delivers perspective views for further deployment of negative-emission technologies.

Multimetallic Permethylpentalene Hydride Complexes.

The synthesis and characterization of group 4 permethylpentalene (Pn* = C8Me6) hydride complexes are explored; in all cases, multimetallic hydride clusters were obtained. Group 4 lithium metal hydride clusters were obtained when reacting the metal dihalides with hydride transfer reagents such as LiAlH4, and these species featured an unusual hexagonal bipyramidal structural motif. Only the zirconium analogue was found to undergo hydride exchange in the presence of deuterium. In contrast, a trimetallic titanium hydride cluster was isolated on reaction of the titanium dialkyl with hydrogen. This diamagnetic, mixed valence species was characterized in the solid state, as well as by solution electron paramagnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structure was further probed and corroborated by density functional theory calculations, which illustrated the formation of a metal-cluster bonding orbital responsible for the diamagnetism of the complex. These permethylpentalene hydride complexes have divergent structural motifs and reactivity in comparison with related classical cyclopentadienyl analogues.

Aged layered double hydroxide nanosheet-polyvinyl alcohol dispersions for enhanced gas barrier coating performance.

Whilst applying a coating layer to a polymer film is a routine approach to enhance the gas barrier properties of the film, it is counter-intuitive to consider that the gas barrier performance of the film would improve by ageing the coating dispersion for weeks before application. Herein, we report that the oxygen barrier performance of a 12 µm PET film coated with a dispersion of inorganic nanosheets in polyvinyl alcohol can be significantly enhanced by ageing this coating dispersion for up to 8 weeks before application. We found up to a 37-fold decrease in the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the PET coated film using aged dispersions of [Mg0.66Al0.33(OH)2](NO3)0.33 layered double hydroxide nanosheets (Mg2Al-LDH NS) in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) compared to the film coated with an equivalent freshly prepared LDH/PVA dispersion. A limiting OTR value of 0.31 cc m-2 day-1 was achieved using the PET film coated with a 3 week aged LDH NS/PVA dispersion. X-ray diffraction experiments show that the degree of in plane alignment of LDH NS on the PET film surface increased significantly from 70.6 ± 0.6 to 86.7 ± 0.6 (%) (100% represents complete alignment of LDH NS platelets on the film surface) for the 4 week aged dispersion compared to the freshly prepared layer. We postulate that when the Mg2Al-LDH NS are aged in PVA the coiled PVA aggregates start to unwrap and attach onto the Mg2Al-LDH NS through hydrogen bonding and eventually form a hydrogen bonded ordered network that facilitates the alignment of nanosheet dispersions during the coating process. Our results suggest that the ageing of inorganic nanosheet dispersions in PVA or other potential hydrogen bonding adhesive systems could be a general approach to improve the alignment of the nanosheets on the polymer film surface once applied and thus improve their performance characteristics for barrier coating applications.

Supported permethylindenyl titanium catalysts for the synthesis of disentangled ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (disUHMWPE).

Novel permethylindenyl-phenoxide (PHENI*) ansa-metallocene titanium complexes have been synthesised and immobilised on inorganic solid supports to afford highly effective catalysts for slurry-phase ethylene polymerisation. When supported on solid polymethylaluminoxane these complexes were both extremely active (up to 3.7 × 106 gPE molTi-1 h-1 bar-1) and produced substantially disentangled polyethylene with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 3.4 MDa (disUHMWPE).

High-efficiency CO2 separation using hybrid LDH-polymer membranes.

Membrane-based gas separation exhibits many advantages over other conventional techniques; however, the construction of membranes with simultaneous high selectivity and permeability remains a major challenge. Herein, (LDH/FAS)n-PDMS hybrid membranes, containing two-dimensional sub-nanometre channels were fabricated via self-assembly of unilamellar layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets and formamidine sulfinic acid (FAS), followed by spray-coating with a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) layer. A CO2 transmission rate for (LDH/FAS)25-PDMS of 7748 GPU together with CO2 selectivity factors (SF) for SF(CO2/H2), SF(CO2/N2) and SF(CO2/CH4) mixtures as high as 43, 86 and 62 respectively are observed. The CO2 permselectivity outperforms most reported systems and is higher than the Robeson or Freeman upper bound limits. These (LDH/FAS)n-PDMS membranes are both thermally and mechanically robust maintaining their highly selective CO2 separation performance during long-term operational testing. We believe this highly-efficient CO2 separation performance is based on the synergy of enhanced solubility, diffusivity and chemical affinity for CO2 in the sub-nanometre channels.