Electrosynthesis of Metal-Organic Framework Films with Well-Defined Facets.

The deposition of metal-organic framework (MOF) films with defined exposed facets is important to enhance the performance of these films for, for example, catalysis or separations. In this work, MOF films with specific exposed facets are electrodeposited anodically on various substrates (e. g. on copper-sputtered Si wafers, copper meshes, copper foams, and polypropylene membranes). The influence of the deposition parameters, including the pH of the solution, current density, concentration of linker, and solvent, on the exposed facets of the deposited MOFs was investigated. The results suggest that precise control over the supersaturation during anodic deposition is a possible strategy for synthesizing MOF crystals with well-defined exposed facets. This approach provides a powerful toolbox for various applications requiring crystal facet control of MOF films.

Electrochemical behaviour of new dimeric esters and amides derived from caffeic acid in dimethylsulfoxide.

The electrochemical oxidation in DMSO of four new derivatives of caffeic acid (CA), two dimeric amides and two dimeric esters, is reported in this article. Although all of them contain two caffeoyl electroactive moieties in their structures, small differences in the connectors result in interesting changes in the electrochemical behaviour of this type of compound. Voltammograms of both esters do not show appreciable differences between them; however, an electrografting process occurs during the electrochemical oxidation of one of them, which suggests that the identity of the connector has an influence on the ability of the diesters to interact with the electrode surface. On the other hand, voltammograms of dimeric amides were more complex than those corresponding to dimeric esters. Electronic effects of diamine connectors seem to be related to the fact that caffeoyl moieties suffer from separate oxidation processes in both compounds. In contrast to their ferulic acid (FA) analogues, which have been studied by our group before, CA dimeric amides do not interact in an appreciable way with the electrode surface. In addition, a relationship between the oxidation potential and the inhibition percentage of the DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical was not observed for the symmetrical CA derivatives studied here. However, the molecular flexibility seems to play a very important role in the Free Radical Scavenging Activity (FRSA) of this type of compound.

Exploring Pt-Pd Alloy Nanoparticle Cluster Formation through Conventional Sizing Techniques and Single-Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma-Sector Field Mass Spectrometry.

Accurate characterization of Pt-Pd alloy nanoparticle clusters (NCs) is crucial for understanding their synthesis using Gas-Diffusion Electrocrystallization (GDEx). In this study, we propose a comprehensive approach that integrates conventional sizing techniques-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS)-with innovative single-particle inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (spICP-SFMS) to investigate Pt-Pd alloy NC formation. SEM and DLS provide insights into morphology and hydrodynamic sizes, while spICP-SFMS elucidates the particle size and distribution of Pt-Pd alloy NCs, offering rapid and orthogonal characterization. The spICP-SFMS approach presented enables detailed characterization of Pt-Pd alloy NCs, which was previously challenging due to the absence of multi-element capabilities in conventional spICP-MS systems. This innovative approach not only enhances our understanding of bimetallic nanoparticle synthesis, but also paves the way for tailoring these materials for specific applications, marking a significant advancement in the field of nanomaterial science.