Four mononuclear dysprosium complexes with neutral Schiff-base ligands: syntheses, crystal structures and slow magnetic relaxation behavior.

Four mononuclear 9-coordinate Dy-based complexes, [Dy(HL1)2(NO3)3(CH3OH)] (1Dy), [Dy(HL2)2(NO3)3(H2O)] (2Dy), [Dy(HL3)3(NO3)3]·CH3CN (3Dy), and [Dy(HL4)3(NO3)3] (4Dy), have been constructed by neutral Schiff-base ligands (1-[N-(4-R)aminomethylidene-2(1H)-naphthalenone, R = -Cl (HL1), -NO2 (HL2), -OCH3 (HL3), -I (HL4)). By tuning the terminal substituent group of HL ligands, the number of HL ligands coordinated to the central Dy3+ ion unexpectedly varies from 2 to 3, and the local symmetry around the Dy3+ ion reduces from D3h to Cs. Magnetic measurements reveal that 2Dy can display single-ion magnet (SIM) behavior in zero dc field, while 1Dy, 3Dy and 4Dy show field-induced slow magnetic relaxation. Ab initio calculations were employed to elucidate magnetic anisotropy in the complexes, including g-tensors, averaged transition magnetic moments and magnetic easy axes. The difference in magnetic behaviors of the four complexes can be ascribed to the terminal substituent effect of neutral Schiff-base ligands.

Recent advances in the removal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) using multifunctional materials:a review.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have gained heightened attentions in recent years owing to their persistent property and hazard influence on wild life and human beings. Removal of POPs using varieties of multifunctional materials have shown a promising prospect compared with conventional treatments. Herein, three main categories, including thermal degradation, electrochemical remediation, as well as photocatalytic degradation with the use of diverse catalytic materials, especially the recently developed prominent ones were comprehensively reviewed. Kinetic analysis and underlying mechanism for various POPs degradation processes were addressed in detail. The review also systematically documented how catalytic performance was dramatically affected by the nature of the material itself, the structure of target pollutants, reaction conditions and treatment techniques. Moreover, the future challenges and prospects of POPs degradation by means of multiple multifunctional materials were outlined accordingly. Knowing this is of immense significance to enhance our understanding of POPs remediation procedures and promote the development of novel multifunctional materials.

The degradation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene using synthesized Co3O4 and the hypothesized mechanism.

Co(3)O(4) was synthesized with cabbage-like, plate-like and sphere-like morphologies. The effect of different morphologies on the degradation of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TrCB) was evaluated, and the cabbage-like Co(3)O(4) exhibited the highest reactivity. The degradation of 1,2,4-TrCB on the cabbage-like Co(3)O(4) is hypothesized to act competitively via hydrodechlorination and oxygen-attacking pathways. By the hydrodechlorination pathway, 1,2,4-TrCB is successively dechlorinated into the three dichlorobenzenes (DCBs) and then monochlorobenzene (MCB). The yield of the DCBs was in the order of p-DCB>m-DCB>o-DCB, which can be explained by the calculated C-Cl bond dissociation energies in 1,2,4-TrCB and DCBs. Derivatization and electron spin resonance experiments identified that lattice oxygen and superoxide anions may take part in the oxidation pathway. The lattice oxygen initiated a partial oxidation of 1,2,4-TrCB, leading to the formation of chlorinated phenols. The superoxide anions caused ring-cracking oxidation of 1,2,4-TrCB, possibly producing some low-molecular-weight products, thus explaining a mass imbalance in the chlorine atoms and total organic carbon.

Development of self-assembled 3D Fe(x)Oy micro/nano materials for application in hexachlorobenzene degradation.

Self-assembled three dimensional (3D) hierarchical, flower-like iron oxide micro/nano materials, including pure Fe3O4, alpha-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 composite and pure alpha-Fe2O3, were developed to degrade hexachlorobenzene (HCB) at 300 degrees C. It was found that pure Fe3O4 exhibited the highest activity with the reaction rate constant at 0.959 min(-1). Identified degradation products with lower chlorinated benzenes suggest a stepwise hydrodechlorination was occurring for the degradation of HCB on the synthesized Fe3O4. The characterization of the synthesized iron oxides after reaction indicates the Fe3O4 phase was partially transformed into alpha-Fe2O3 phase and in return accelerated progress of hydrodechlorination of HCB. The superior performance of as-prepared Fe3O4 could be attributed to its structural feature such as surface area and pore structure, as well as its phase transformation during HCB degradation.