Application of Ion Chromatography for the Reliable Quantification of Ammonium in Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis Experiments: A Practical Guide.

Assessing novel electrocatalysts for the electrochemical ammonia synthesis (EAS) requires reliable quantitative trace analysis of electrochemically produced ammonia to infer activity and selectivity. This study concerns the development of an ion chromatography (IC) method for quantitative trace analysis of ammonium in 0.1 M sulfuric acid electrolyte, which is applied to EAS gas-diffusion electrode (GDE) experiments with commercial chromium nitride as electrocatalyst. The developed IC method is highly sensitive, versatile, and reliable, achieving a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 6 µg l-1 (6 ppbmol ) ammonium. The impacts of the sample matrix, dilution, and neutralization, as well as contamination, on the quantitative analysis by IC are analyzed. Experimental constraints result in an effective LOQ including dilution of 60 µg l-1 for the determination of ammonium in 0.1 M sulfuric acid electrolyte, owing to necessary sample dilution. The practical guide presented herein is intended to be very relevant for the field of EAS as a guideline and applicable to a broad range of catalyst systems and ion chromatography devices.

Discrete Arsonate-Grafted Inverted-Keggin 12-Molybdate Ion [Mo12O32(OH)2(4-N3C2H2-C6H4AsO3)4]2- and Formation of a Copper(II)-Mediated Metal-Organic Framework.

The discrete inverted-Keggin ion [Mo12O32(OH)2(4-N3C2H2-C6H4AsO3)4]2- (1) has been prepared in an aqueous acidic (pH 0.8) medium by the reaction of MoO3 with the (4-triazolylphenyl)arsonic acid 4-N3C2H2-C6H4AsO3H2 under hydrothermal conditions and was isolated as a sodium salt in 21% yield. The exact same reaction in the presence of Cu2+ ions resulted in the neutral metal-organic framework (MOF) Cu2[Mo12O34(4-N3C2H2-C6H4AsO3)4] (Cu-1) in 68% yield. The inverted-Keggin ion 1 comprises a metal-oxo core, which is capped by four organoarsonate groups, and in Cu-1, individual polyanions are linked in the solid state by coordination of the Cu2+ ions with the triazolyl groups. The discrete ion 1 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the POM-MOF Cu-1 was characterized by single-crystal and powder XRD, FT-IR, TGA, and gas sorption. Cu-1 has channels with a diameter of around ∼0.9 nm and exhibits a water-vapor adsorption capacity of 89.7 cm3 g-1 (p/p0 = 0.95).

Organically Functionalized Mixed-Valent Polyoxo-30-molybdate Wheel and Neutral Tetramolybdenum(V) Oxo Cluster.

The first organofunctionalized mixed-valent polyoxo-30-molybdate wheel, [MoVI18MoV12O84{AsO2(CH3)2}18]18- (Mo30), was synthesized in aqueous, mildly acidic conditions, and upon further acidification, the neutral tetramolybdenum(V) oxo cluster [MoV4O8{AsO2(CH3)2}4] (Mo4) was obtained. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that Mo30 comprises 18 MoVI and 12 MoV ions arranged in a cyclic fashion with alternating {MoV2} and {MoVI3} groups, which are capped by 18 dimethylarsinate ligands, resulting in a novel polyoxo-30-molybdate wheel with a central cavity of ∼1.5 nm. On the other hand, Mo4 has a distorted-cubic structure, with the corners of the cube being occupied by alternating MoV ions and oxo ligands. The compounds were characterized in solution by 1H and 13C NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy and in the solid state by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and powder XRD. Mo30 represents a novel type of polyanionic cycle with manyfold possibilities regarding host-guest chemistry.

Discovery of Polythioplatinate(II) [Pt3S2(SO3)6]10- and Study of Its Solution and Catalytic Properties.

We have discovered the first polythioplatinate(II), [PtII3S2(SO3)6]10- (1), which was synthesized in aqueous basic medium (pH 11) by hydrothermal heating at 150 °C. Polyanion 1 comprises a discrete, triangular assembly of three Pt2+ ions linked by two µ3-sulfido ligands, and their square-planar coordination geometry is completed by two terminal S-bound sulfito ligands. Polyanion 1 was isolated as a hydrated sodium salt, Na10[PtII3(µ3-S)2(SO3)6]·22H2O (Na-1), which was characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectra, and elemental analysis, in solution by 195Pt NMR and atomic absorption spectroscopy, and in the gas phase by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Density functional theory calculations were performed, and the 195Pt NMR chemical shifts of 1 were computed theoretically and shown to match well with the experimental data. Furthermore, the discrete title polyanion 1 was immobilized on mesoporous SBA-15 support and used as a precatalyst for the hydrogenation of o-xylene.

Combinatorial Screening of Cu-W Oxide-Based Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

Metal oxide libraries for photoanodes for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were generated by printing a metal salt solution in an array layout, followed by calcination to yield 22 ternary metal oxide systems. The libraries included a ternary metal cation system based on CuWO4 with one out of eight transition or posttransition metal ions Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Bi, and Ga in different overall atomic ratios. The photocatalyst libraries were screened by scanning photoelectrochemical microscopy for the highest anodic photocurrents. Array elements that showed promising performance were printed in another set of eight libraries with smaller increments of overall composition. Improved performance with respect to CuWO4 was found for Ga, Co, and Ni as the third element. A comparison of the most active composition of those arrays within one library showed the highest activity for Cu48Ga3W49Ox. Printing spots of identical composition (Cu48Ga3W49Ox, Cu44Ni9W47Ox, and Cu44Co9W47Ox) over a larger area facilitated further characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, chopped light voltammetry, and scanning electrochemical microscopy for the OER. High and stable steady-state photocurrents were generated in a photoelectrochemical cell for all three electrodes even at a low constant bias voltage. The best overall photoanode composition Cu48Ga3W49Ox showed currents that were 36 times higher than the currents of the binary Cu50W50Ox system. Significant n-doping was found by UPS valence band spectra for Ga-containing materials.

Discovery of a Neutral 40-PdII-Oxo Molecular Disk, [Pd40O24(OH)16{(CH3)2AsO2}16]: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Catalytic Studies.

We report on the synthesis and structural characterization of a giant, discrete, and neutral molecular disk, [Pd40O24(OH)16{(CH3)2AsO2}16] (Pd40), comprising a 40-palladium-oxo core that is capped by 16 dimethylarsinate moieties, resulting in a palladium-oxo cluster (POC) with a diameter of ∼2 nm. Pd40, which is the largest known neutral Pd-based oxo cluster, can be isolated either as a discrete species or constituting a 3D H-bonded organic-inorganic framework (HOIF) with a 12-tungstate Keggin ion, [SiW12O40]4- or [GeW12O40]4-. 1H and 13C NMR as well as 1H-DOSY NMR studies indicate that Pd40 is stable in aqueous solution, which is also confirmed by ESI-MS studies. Pd40 was also immobilized on a mesoporous support (SBA15) followed by the generation of size-controlled Pd nanoparticles (diameter ∼2-6 nm, as based on HR-TEM), leading to an effective heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst for the transformation of various arenes to saturated carbocycles.

Discovery and Supramolecular Interactions of Neutral Palladium-Oxo Clusters Pd16 and Pd24.

We report on the synthesis, structure, and physicochemical characterization of the first three examples of neutral palladium-oxo clusters (POCs). The 16-palladium(II)-oxo cluster [Pd16 O24 (OH)8 ((CH3 )2 As)8 ] (Pd16 ) comprises a cyclic palladium-oxo unit capped by eight dimethylarsinate groups. The chloro-derivative [Pd16 Na2 O26 (OH)3 Cl3 ((CH3 )2 As)8 ] (Pd16 Cl) was also prepared, which forms a highly stable 3D supramolecular lattice via strong intermolecular interactions. The 24-palladium(II)-oxo cluster [Pd24 O44 (OH)8 ((CH3 )2 As)16 ] (Pd24 ) can be considered as a bicapped derivative of Pd16 with a tetra-palladium-oxo unit grafted on either side. The three compounds were fully characterized 1) in the solid state by single-crystal and powder XRD, IR, TGA, and solid-state 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, 2) in solution by 1 H, 13 C NMR and 1 H DOSY spectroscopic methods, and 3) in the gas phase by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).

Relevant Properties of Carbon Support Materials in Successful Fe-N-C Synthesis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Study of Carbon Blacks and Biomass-Based Carbons.

Fe-N-C materials are promising non-precious metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel cells and batteries. However, during the synthesis of these materials less active Fe-containing nanoparticles are formed in many cases which lead to a decrease in electrochemical activity and stability. In this study, we reveal the significant properties of the carbon support required for the successful incorporation of Fe-N-related active sites. The impact of two carbon blacks and two activated biomass-based carbons on the Fe-N-C synthesis is investigated and crucial support properties are identified. Carbon supports having low portions of amorphous carbon, moderate surface areas (>800 m2/g) and mesopores result in the successful incorporation of Fe and N on an atomic level and improved oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity. A low surface area and especially amorphous parts of the carbon promote the formation of metallic iron species covered by a graphitic layer. In contrast, highly microporous systems with amorphous carbon provoke the formation of less active iron carbides and carbon nanotubes. Overall, a phosphoric acid activated biomass is revealed as novel and sustainable carbon support for the formation of Fe-Nx sites. Overall, this study provides valuable and significant information for the future development of novel and sustainable carbon supports for Fe-N-C catalysts.

Polyoxopalladate-Loaded Metal-Organic Framework (POP@MOF): Synthesis and Heterogeneous Catalysis.

We report on the synthesis and characterization of the first polyoxo-noble-metalate-containing metal-organic framework (MOF) material, wherein the preformed MIL-101 has been impregnated with the discrete, cuboid-shaped polyoxopalladate [Pd13Se8O32]6- (Pd13Se8), leading to the composite Pd13Se8@MIL-101. This material was characterized by FTIR, TGA, elemental analysis, powder-XRD, N2 sorption (BET), SEM-EDX, and XPS. Furthermore, the Pd13Se8@MIL-101 composite was shown to be an effective, stable, and recyclable heterogeneous precatalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction at room temperature utilizing environmentally benign solvents, such as water and methanol.

Semiconductive microporous hydrogen-bonded organophosphonic acid frameworks.

Herein, we report a semiconductive, proton-conductive, microporous hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) derived from phenylphosphonic acid and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[p-phenylphosphonic acid] porphyrin (GTUB5). The structure of GTUB5 was characterized using single crystal X-ray diffraction. A narrow band gap of 1.56 eV was extracted from a UV-Vis spectrum of pure GTUB5 crystals, in excellent agreement with the 1.65 eV band gap obtained from DFT calculations. The same band gap was also measured for GTUB5 in DMSO. The proton conductivity of GTUB5 was measured to be 3.00 × 10-6 S cm-1 at 75 °C and 75% relative humidity. The surface area was estimated to be 422 m2 g-1 from grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. XRD showed that GTUB5 is thermally stable under relative humidities of up to 90% at 90 °C. These findings pave the way for a new family of organic, microporous, and semiconducting materials with high surface areas and high thermal stabilities.

Tuning Coordination Geometry of Nickel Ketoiminates and Its Influence on Thermal Characteristics for Chemical Vapor Deposition of Nanostructured NiO Electrocatalysts.

Nickel-based nanostructured materials have gained widespread attention, particularly for energy-related applications. Employing chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for NiO necessitates suitable nickel precursors that are volatile and stable. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of new nickel ß-ketoiminato complexes with different aliphatic and etheric side chain substitutions, namely, bis(4-(isopropylamino)-pent-3-en-2-onato)nickel(II) ([Ni(ipki)2], 1), bis(4-(2-methoxyethylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)nickel(II) ([Ni(meki)2], 2), bis(4-(2-ethoxyethylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)nickel(II) ([Ni(eeki)2], 3), bis(4-(3-methoxy-propylamino)-pent-3-en-2-onato)nickel(II) ([Ni(mpki)2], 4), and bis(4-(3-ethoxypropylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)nickel(II) ([Ni(epki)2], 5). These compounds have been thoroughly characterized with regard to their purity and identity by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS). Contrary to other transition metal ß-ketoiminates, the imino side chain strongly influences the structural geometry of the complexes, which was ascertained via single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). As a result, the magnetic momenta of the molecules also differ significantly as evidenced by the magnetic susceptibility measurements employing Evan's NMR method in solution. Thermal analysis revealed the suitability of these compounds as new class of precursors for CVD of Ni containing materials. As a representative precursor, compound 2 was evaluated for the CVD of NiO thin films on Si(100) and conductive glass substrates. The as-deposited nanostructured layers were stoichiometric and phase pure NiO as confirmed by XRD, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated the formation of slightly oxygen-rich surfaces. The assessment of NiO films in electrocatalysis revealed promising activity for the oxygen evolution reactions (OER). The current densities of 10 mA cm-2 achieved at overpotentials ranging between 0.48 and 0.52 V highlight the suitability of the new Ni complexes in CVD processes for the fabrication of thin film electrocatalysts.

Correction: Micro-spectroscopy of HKUST-1 metal-organic framework crystals loaded with tetracyanoquinodimethane: effects of water on host-guest chemistry and electrical conductivity.

Correction for 'Micro-spectroscopy of HKUST-1 metal-organic framework crystals loaded with tetracyanoquinodimethane: effects of water on host-guest chemistry and electrical conductivity' by Miguel Rivera-Torrente et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2019, 21, 25678-25689.

Micro-spectroscopy of HKUST-1 metal-organic framework crystals loaded with tetracyanoquinodimethane: effects of water on host-guest chemistry and electrical conductivity.

Composite materials, consisting of a metal-organic framework (MOF) and a guest molecule, further denoted as guest@MOF composites, have gained strong interest due to the guest-induced tunability of the host properties, for example in sensing or electroconductivity applications. However, decoding the complexity of these guest@MOF composites and extracting structure-performance relationships are far from trivial and require the use of a gamut of characterization tools. In this work, we use various micro-spectroscopic tools both under static (ex situ) and dynamic (in situ) conditions to map the properties and diffusion behavior of TCNQ (7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) as a guest molecule in single HKUST-1 crystals as the host. Raman micro-spectroscopy allowed us to map the spatial distribution of TCNQ within HKUST-1 single crystals, thereby revealing a heterogeneous distribution of TCNQ after initial TCNQ-infiltration, concentrated at the crystal edges, and a homogeneous redistribution upon water vapor treatment. These insights are correlated to I-V scans at different temperatures and to electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which allowed us to verify the different contributions to conductivity. These data showed changes in electrical conductivity after exposing the sample to moisture and air. In situ FT-IR micro-spectroscopy during treatment with moisturized nitrogen gas suggests lower transient diffusion rates for water inside TCNQ@HKUST-1 relative to pristine HKUST-1, likely due to steric hindrance of the pore-filling TCNQ molecules in the HKUST-1 framework. The application of micro-spectroscopic techniques is crucial to uncovering MOF intracrystal heterogeneities and yielding rationally-derived instructions for the improved design of guest@MOF systems.

Sol-gel chemistry in molten Brønsted acids towards "activated" carbons and beyond.

"Chemical activation" using Brønsted acids as chemical agents is widely used to generate activated carbons for various sorption applications. Commercially relevant is especially a process using phosphoric acid as activating agent applied to abundant and inexpensive biomass such as wood or coconut shells. In this manuscript, we revisit the porogenesis mechanism based on experiments involving molecular model compounds and oxygen-free polymer precursors, as well as different molten acids as activating agents. Describing acid activation with principles of sol-gel chemistry results in a more general understanding and uncovers a versatile synthetic tool for materials nanochemistry.

Discovery of Polyoxo-Noble-Metalate-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Here we report on the synthesis, structure, and characterization of the first example of a polyoxopalladate (POP)-based metal-organic framework (MOF). This novel class of materials comprises discrete polyoxo-13-palladate(II) nanocubes [Pd13O8(AsO4)8H6]8- decorated by four Ba2+ ions on each of two opposite faces. These secondary building units (SBUs) are linked to each other via rigid linear organic groups, resulting in a stable 3D POP-MOF framework, which exhibits interesting sorption as well as catalytic properties.

Rational Development of Cobalt ß-Ketoiminate Complexes: Alternative Precursors for Vapor-Phase Deposition of Spinel Cobalt Oxide Photoelectrodes.

A series of six cobalt ketoiminates, of which one was previously reported but not explored as a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) precursor, namely, bis(4-(isopropylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)cobalt(II) ([Co( ipki)2], 1), bis(4-(2-methoxyethylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)cobalt(II) ([Co(meki)2], 2), bis(4-(2-ethoxyethylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)cobalt(II) ([Co(eeki)2], 3), bis(4-(3-methoxy-propylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)cobalt(II) ([Co(mpki)2], 4), bis(4-(3-ethoxypropylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)cobalt(II) ([Co(epki)2], 5), and bis(4-(3-isopropoxypropylamino)pent-3-en-2-onato)cobalt(II) ([Co( ippki)2], 6) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies on compounds 1-3 revealed a monomeric structure with distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. Owing to the promising thermal properties, metalorganic CVD of CoO x was performed using compound 1 as a representative example. The thin films deposited on Si(100) consisted of the spinel-phase Co3O4 evidenced by XRD, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry/nuclear reaction analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical water-splitting capabilities of spinel CoO x films grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and TiO2-coated FTO revealed that the films show p-type behavior with conduction band edge being estimated to -0.9 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. With a thin TiO2 underlayer, the CoO x films exhibit photocurrents related to proton reduction under visible light.

Scale-Up of the Electrodeposition of ZnO/Eosin Y Hybrid Thin Films for the Fabrication of Flexible Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Modules.

The low-temperature fabrication of flexible ZnO photo-anodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) by templated electrochemical deposition of films was performed in an enlarged and technical simplified deposition setup to demonstrate the feasibility of the scale-up of the deposition process. After extraction of eosin Y (EY) from the initially deposited ZnO/EY hybrid films, mesoporous ZnO films with an area of about 40 cm² were reproducibly obtained on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO)-glass as well as flexible indium tin oxide (ITO)-polyethylenterephthalate (PET) substrates. With a film thickness of up to 9 µm and a high specific surface area of up to about 77 m²·cm-3 the ZnO films on the flexible substrates show suitable properties for DSSCs. Operative flexible DSSC modules proved the suitability of the ZnO films for use as DSSC photo-anodes. Under a low light intensity of about 0.007 sun these modules achieved decent performance parameters with conversion efficiencies of up to 2.58%. With rising light intensity the performance parameters deteriorated, leading to conversion efficiencies below 1% at light intensities above 0.5 sun. The poor performance of the modules under high light intensities can be attributed to their high series resistances.

Photocatalytic degradation of the herbicide chloridazon on mesoporous titania/zirconia nanopowders.

Advanced oxidation processes using semiconducting photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants are a promising approach for the remediation of pesticide-contaminated wastewater. High photodegradation efficiency and stability of the photocatalyst are of key importance for practical application of the semiconductor. In this study, mesoporous TiO2/ZrO2 nanopowders were synthesized via two techniques; evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) and sol-gel using triblock copolymers Pluronic P123 and F127. The photodegradation activities of the composites were determined by employing the herbicide chloridazon as a model compound. Due to well-developed mesoporosity, the TiO2/ZrO2 nanocomposite synthesized by EISA displays high surface area and small crystallite sizes leading to higher photocatalytic activity than pristine TiO2 prepared under similar condition and commercial Degussa P25 nanopowder. The optimum amount of zirconium required for the highest activities was identified and found to be 0.14 and 0.05 mol% for the EISA and sol-gel-prepared samples, respectively. Systematic studies of the post-thermal treatment step for both samples show that Zr inhibits an anatase-to-rutile phase transition only up to 600 °C, at higher temperature phase separation occurs. Samples synthesized by EISA method showed enhanced degradation activity than sol-gel-synthesized samples.

Green Synthesis of a New Al-MOF Based on the Aliphatic Linker Mesaconic Acid: Structure, Properties and In Situ Crystallisation Studies of Al-MIL-68-Mes.

A new aluminium metal-organic framework (MOF), based on the short aliphatic linker molecule mesaconic acid (H2 Mes; methylfumaric acid) is reported. Al-MIL-68-Mes with composition [Al(OH)(O2 C-C3 H4 -CO2 )]⋅n H2 O is obtained after short reaction times of 45 minutes under mild, aqueous synthesis conditions (95 °C). It exhibits a kagome-like framework structure with large hexagonal, and small trigonal channels (diameters of ≈6 and ≈2 Å, respectively) and a specific surface area of SBET ≈1040 m2 g-1 (VMIC =0.42 cm3 g-1 ). A sigmoidal vapour sorption isotherm for water, and uptakes of water and methanol above 30 wt. % were observed. Al-MIL-68-Mes is stable against water ad-/desorption and its thermal stability is 350 °C in air. The proton conductivity for the hydrated MOF showed values up to 1.1×10-5  S cm at 130 °C and 100 % relative humidity, which exceeds the values observed for the non-hydrated compound by up to four orders of magnitude. Using synchrotron radiation the crystallisation of the MOF by in situ PXRD was also studied at temperatures from 80 to 100 °C. Kinetic evaluation revealed that the induction periods and crystallization times vary depending on the synthesis batch, but the rate limiting steps are consistently observed.

Crystalline and permanently porous porphyrin-based metal tetraphosphonates.

The new porphyrin-based tetraphosphonic acid (Ni-H8TPPP) was employed in the synthesis of four isostructural MOFs of composition [M(Ni-H6TPPP)(H2O)], denoted CAU-29 (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cd). Ni-CAU-29 was thoroughly characterized regarding its thermal and chemical stability as well as for proton conductivity.