Research on the Construction of a Series of Transition Metal-Substituted Keggin-Type TMSPOMs@PCN-224 Composites through the Encapsulation Method and Their Electron Transfer Mechanism in CO2RR.

In order to take advantage of the distinct reversible multielectron transfer properties of polyoxometalates (POMs) and increase the electron density at the active sites during the electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2RR), a range of transition metal-doped polyoxometalates (TMSPOMs) was entrapped within the porphyrin-based framework of PCN-224 via an encapsulation method, known as TMSPOMs@PCN-224 (TMSPOMs = [XW11O39MII(H2O)]n-, [XW11O40VIV]n-, M = CoII, MnII; X = Si, n = 6; X = P, n = 5). The central elements (Si, P) and the incorporated transition metals (VIV, CoII, and MnII) both play a role in adjusting the electronic structure and electron transfer during the CO2RR process. Remarkably, the composite material with cobalt substitution displayed significantly improved performance. Through fine-tuning the POM loading, the electrocatalytic activity was optimized, leading to an impressive Faradaic efficiency for CO production (FECO) of 89.9% for SiW11Co@PCN-224, a significant improvement compared to the 12.1% FECO of PCN-224. Furthermore, the electrochemical stability of this catalyst was demonstrated over 20 h. Comparative analyses involving six composite materials indicated a relationship between the negative charge of the polyanions and their ability to facilitate effective electron transfer, ultimately enhancing the catalyst's performance. Meanwhile, these findings were supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Green preparation of CaO-based CO2 adsorbent by calcium-induced hydrogenation of shell wastes at room/moderate temperature.

Capturing CO2 using clamshell/eggshell-derived CaO adsorbent can not only reduce carbon emissions but also alleviate the impact of trash on the environment. However, organic acid was usually used, high-temperature calcination was often performed, and CO2 was inevitably released during preparing CaO adsorbents from shell wastes. In this work, CaO-based CO2 adsorbent was greenly prepared by calcium-induced hydrogenation of clamshell and eggshell wastes in one pot at room/moderate temperature. CO2 adsorption experiments were performed in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). The adsorption performance of the adsorbents obtained from the mechanochemical reaction (BM-C/E-CaO) was superior to that of the adsorbents obtained from the thermochemical reaction (Cal-C/E-CaO). The CO2 adsorption capacity of BM-C-CaO at 650 °C is up to 36.82 wt%, but the adsorption decay rate of the sample after 20 carbonation/calcination cycles is only 30.17%. This study offers an alternative energy-saving method for greenly preparing CaO-based adsorbent from shell wastes.

Exploring the role of sandwich-type polyoxometalates in {K10(PW9O34)2M4(H2O)2}@PCN-222 (M = Mn, Ni, Zn) for electroreduction of CO2 to CO.

To overcome the drawbacks of high solubility and instability of polyoxometalates (POMs) in aqueous solution and to expand their application in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 (ECR), we assemble sandwich-type POMs, K10[(PW9O34)2M4(H2O)2] (M = Mn, Ni, Zn, shortened as P2W18M4), into the hexagonal channel of a porphyrin-based metal-organic framework (MOF) PCN-222 to form P2W18M4@PCN-222 composites. Their ECR behavior displays polyoxoanion-dependent activity. P2W18Mn4@PCN-222 demonstrates a faradaic efficiency of 72.6% for the CO product (FECO), more than four times that of PCN-222 (FECO = 18.1%), and exhibits exceptional electrochemical stability over 36 h. P2W18Ni4@PCN-222 and P2W18Zn4@PCN-222 slightly increase (26.9%) and decrease (3.2%) in FECO, respectively. We combine the results with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to help understand the intrinsic reasons which reveals that the rate-determining step (RDS) reaction energy of P2W18Mn4@PCN-222 and P2W18Ni4@PCN-222 is significantly reduced compared to that of PCN-222. It is different in P2W18Zn4@PCN-222. Frontier molecular orbitals electron distribution results hint at directional electron transfer from P2W18Mn4/P2W18Ni4 to the porphyrin ring active center in PCN-222, promoting the electro-reduction of CO2 activity. By contrast, P2W18Zn4 may accumulate electrons from PCN-222, thus facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This work reveals the critical role of sandwich-type POMs in manipulating the electron transfer pathway during the electrocatalytic process. Our findings would broaden the scope of POM applications in electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction.

One-pot preparation of H2-mixed CH4 fuel and CaO-based CO2 sorbent by the hydrogenation of waste clamshell/eggshell at room temperature.

The preparation of clean fuel or CO2 adsorbents using industrial and domestic garbage is an alternative way of meeting global energy needs and alleviating environmental problems. Herein, H2-mixed CH4 fuel and CaO-based CO2 sorbent were first prepared in one pot by the mechanochemical reaction of pretreated clamshell or eggshell wastes (carbon and calcium source) with calcium hydride (hydrogen source) at room temperature. In the above reactions, CH4 was the sole hydrocarbon product, and its yield reached 78.23%. The H2/CH4 ratio of the produced H2-mixed CH4 fuel was tunable according to the need by changing the reaction conditions. It is inspiring that the simultaneously formed solid CaO/carbon products were efficient CaO-based sorbents, which possessed a higher CO2 adsorption capacity (49.81-58.74 wt.%) at 650 °C and could maintain good adsorption stability in 30 carbonation/calcination cycles (average activity loss per cycle of only 1.6%). The three achievements of the idea are that it can simultaneously eliminate clamshell or eggshell wastes, obtain valuable clean fuel, and acquire efficient CaO-based sorbents.

Atomically dispersed Fe-N-C catalyst displaying ultra-high stability and recyclability for efficient electroreduction of CO2 to CO.

To avoid the agglomeration of iron NPs and improve the dispersion of Fe SAs, we employed a mixed-ligand strategy to regulate the iron content in PCN-224(ZnxFey) and PCN-222(ZnxFey). Thanks to the sublimation of Zn and the Kirkendall effect, uniform dispersions of Fe SAs with 1.04-1.06 wt% were obtained in the pyrolysis products Zn0.5Fe0.5-N-C-224 and Zn0.5Fe0.5-N-C-222 with excellent CO2 → CO activity, super-stability, and recyclability.

Revealing the structure-activity relationship of two Cu-porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks for the electrochemical CO2-to-HCOOH transformation.

The eCO2RR activity is correlated to the internal structural character of the catalyst. We employed two types of structural models of porphyrin-based MOFs of PCN-222(Cu) and PCN-224(Cu) into heterogeneous catalysis to illustrate the effect of structural factors on the eCO2RR performance. The composite catalyst PCN-222(Cu)/C displays better activity and selectivity (η = 450 mV, FEHCOOH = 44.3%, j = 3.2 mA cm-2) than PCN-224(Cu)/C (η = 450 mV, FEHCOOH = 34.1%, j = 2.4 mA cm-2) for the CO2 reduction to HCOOH in the range of -0.7--0.9 V (vs. RHE) due to its higher BET surface area, CO2 uptake, and a larger pore diameter. It is interesting that PCN-224(Cu)/C displays better performance in the range of -0.4--0.6 V (vs. RHE) due to its greater heat of adsorption, Qst and a higher affinity for CO2 molecule, which could promote the capture of CO2 onto the exposed active sites. As a result, PCN-224(Cu)/C exhibits better stability for the long-term electrolysis.

Acquiring an effective CaO-based CO2 sorbent and achieving selective methanation of CO2.

CO2 capture, utilization, and storage are promising strategies to solving the problems of superfluous CO2 or energy shortage. Here, mechanochemical reduction of CO2 by a MgH2/CaH2 mixture was first performed, by which we achieve selective methanation of CO2 and acquire an effective CaO-based CO2 sorbent, simultaneously. The selectivity of methanation is near 100% and the yield of CH4 reaches 30%. Four MgO and carbon-doped CaO-based CO2 sorbents (MgO/CaO/C, MgO/2CaO/C, MgO/4CaO/C, and MgO/8CaO/C) were formed as solid products in these reactions. Among them, the MgO/4CaO/C sorbent shows high initial adsorption amount of 59.3 wt% and low average activity loss of 1.6% after 30 cycles. This work provides a novel, well-scalable, and sustainable approach to prepare an efficient inert additive-including CaO-based CO2 sorbent and selectively convert CO2 to CH4 at the same time.

Adenine Components in Biomimetic Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient CO2 Photoconversion.

Visible-light driven photoconversion of CO2 into energy carriers is highly important to the natural carbon balance and sustainable development. Demonstrated here is the adenine-dependent CO2 photoreduction performance in green biomimetic metal-organic frameworks. Photocatalytic results indicate that AD-MOF-2 exhibited a very high HCOOH production rate of 443.2 µmol g-1 h-1 in pure aqueous solution, and is more than two times higher than that of AD-MOF-1 (179.0 µmol g-1 h-1 ) in acetonitrile solution. Significantly, experimental and theoretical evidence reveal that the CO2 photoreduction reaction mainly takes place at the aromatic nitrogen atom of adenine molecules through a unique o-amino-assisted activation rather than at the metal center. This work not only serves as an important case study for the development of green biomimetic photocatalysts used for artificial photosynthesis, but also proposes a new catalytic strategy for efficient CO2 photoconversion.

The effect of KH on enhancing the dehydrogenation properties of the Li-N-H system and its catalytic mechanism.

Although recent works demonstrated that some potassium compounds that can be converted to KH during ball-milling or heat-treatment have obvious effects on enhancing the dehydrogenation properties of the Li-N-H system, the effect of KH on enhancing the dehydrogenation properties of the Li-N-H system and its catalytic mechanism remain unclear. In this study, the hydrogen desorption properties of the LiNH2-LiH system with alkali metal hydrides (LiH, NaH, or KH) were investigated and discussed. We find that the three types of hydrides are effective for enhancing the hydrogen desorption properties of the LiNH2-LiH system, among which, KH shows the best effect. In comparison with the broad shaped hydrogen desorption curve of the LiNH2-LiH composite without additive, the hydrogen desorption curve of the LiNH2-LiH-0.05KH composite becomes narrow. The dehydrogenation onset temperature of the LiNH2-LiH-0.05KH composite is decreased by approximately 20 °C, and the dehydrogenation peak temperature is lowered by approximately 30 °C. Moreover, the reversibility of the LiNH2-LiH system is enhanced drastically by the addition of KH. On the basis of previous reports and present experimental results, the mechanism for the enhancement of the dehydrogenation properties in the KH-added Li-N-H system is proposed. The reason for the improvement of the hydrogen desorption kinetics is that KH has superior reactivity with NH3 and plays the role of a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen release by cyclic reactions.

Construction of (3,6)-connected polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks (POMOFs) from triangular carboxylate and dimerized Zn4-ε-Keggin.

Using the methodology of extension of reduced transition metal-grafted ε-Keggin polyoxoanions with two types of terphenyl-based tricarboxylates of H3L1 (3,5',3''-position substitution) and H3L2 (4,5',4''-position substitution) we isolated two (3,6)-connected 3D polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks, [TBA]3[H3PMo12O40][Zn4L2] (1, YZU-105), and [TPA]3[H3PMo12O40][Zn4L1]·0.5H2O (2, YZU-106) (H3L1 = [1,1';3',1''-terphenyl]-3,5',3''-tricarboxylic acid; H3L2 = [1,1';3',1''-terphenyl]-4,5',4''-tricarboxylic acid; TBA = tetrabutylammonium; TPA = tetrapropylammonium). In both compounds, the building block was the dimerized form of Zn4-{ε-H3PMo12O40}. Such dimerization left six anchoring points for each dimer and, as a result, a 6-connected node was formed. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited topologies of (4·85)3(4·82)6 and (65·10)3(63)6, respectively. This work illustrates that use of tri-carboxylate substitutions in different positions (3,5',3''-position/4,5',4''-position) in tripodal terphenyl-based ligands allows different extents of twisting of the peripheral aromatic ring with respect to the central ring, thereby giving rise to different extending directions and symmetries.

The first tritopic bridging ligand 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)-benzene (H3BTB) functionalized porous polyoxometalate-based metal-organic framework (POMOF): from design, synthesis to electrocatalytic properties.

Replacing the metal ions (or metal clusters) in routine MOFs with size-matched polyoxoanions to construct POM-based MOF materials (POMOF) combining well-defined crystalline structures, high surface area, regular and tunable cavities is the great challenge in the current POM chemistry area. In this work, we report a 2-fold interpenetrated porous POMOF, [TBA]6[H3PMo12O40]2[Zn8(BTB)2]·(∼35H2O), which exhibits effective catalytic activity towards bromate reduction, using the methodology of extension for the reduced transition-metal-grafted ε-Keggin polyoxoanions with an expanded tripodal bridging ligand of H3BTB. The simultaneous TGA/DSC-MS technique was applied in this work to identify the evolved gases and was proved to be an effective method for analysing the decomposition process.

Improvement of hydrogen desorption kinetics in the LiH-NH3 system by addition of KH.

It was found that, when a little amount of KH (5 mol%) was added in the LiH-NH(3) hydrogen storage system, the hydrogen desorption kinetics of this system at 100 °C was drastically improved by the KH "pseudo-catalytic" effect.

Reactions of yttrium and scandium atoms with acetylene: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study.

Laser-ablated yttrium and scandium metal atoms have been codeposited at 4 K with acetylene in excess argon. Products, Y(C(2)H(2)), HYCCH, HScCCH(-), and HScScCCH(-), have been formed in the present experiments and characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and the comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed to account for the formation of these molecules.

Reactions of group 14 metal atoms with acetylene: a matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and theoretical study.

Laser-ablated group 14 metal atoms have been codeposited at 4 K with acetylene in excess argon. Products, Ge(C2H2), HGeCCH, Sn(C2H2), Sn2CCH2, HSnCCH, and HPbCCH, have been formed in the present experiments and characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and the comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and the calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed to account for the formation of these molecules.

Infrared spectroscopic and theoretical studies on the formation of Au2NO- and Au(n)NO (n = 2-5) in solid argon.

Laser-ablated gold atoms have been codeposited at 4 K with nitric oxide in excess argon and the low temperature reactions of Au with NO in solid argon have been studied using infrared spectroscopy. The reaction products Au(2)NO(-), Au(2)NO, Au(3)NO, Au(4)NO, and Au(5)NO are formed in the present experiments and characterized on the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotope splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change in reagent concentration and laser energy, and comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these systems to identify possible reaction products. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules based on the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction pathways have been proposed for the formation of these molecules.

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and density functional theoretical studies on the reactions of lanthanum atoms with acetylene.

Laser-ablated lanthanum atoms have been codeposited at 4 K with acetylene in excess argon. Products, La(C 2H 2), LaCCH 2, HLaCCH, and La 2(C 2H 2), have been formed in the present experiments and characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and the comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed to account for the formation of these molecules.

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and density functional theory studies on the reactions of yttrium and lanthanum hydrides with dinitrogen.

Laser-ablated yttrium and lanthanum hydrides have been codeposited at 4 K with dinitrogen in excess argon. Products, HY(N2), HYNN, H2YNN, HLaNN, and H2LaNN, have been formed in the present experiments and characterized by using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, and comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of these molecules.

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic studies and density functional theory calculations of the MNN, (MN)2 (M = Y and La), and Y3NN molecules.

The reactions of yttrium and lanthanum with dinitrogen were reinvestigated. Laser-ablated yttrium and lanthanum atoms were co-deposited at 4 K with dinitrogen in excess argon, and the low-temperature reactions of Y and La with N2 in solid argon were studied using infrared spectroscopy. The reaction products YNN, (YN)2, LaNN, and (LaN)2 were formed in the present experiments and characterized on the basis of 14N/15N isotopic shifts, mixed isotope splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and comparison with theoretical predictions. Some assignments were made based on a previous report. Density functional theory calculations were performed on these systems to identify possible reaction products. The agreement between experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts of the MNN and (MN)2 (M = Y and La) molecules supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms were proposed for the formation of these molecules along with tentative identification of the Y3NN molecule.

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopic and density functional theory studies on the reactions of yttrium and lanthanum hydrides with carbon monoxide.

Laser-ablated yttrium and lanthanum hydrides have been co-deposited at 4 K with carbon monoxide in excess argon. Products, such as HYCO, (HY)2CO, HLaCO, HLa(CO)2, and H2LaCO, have been formed in the present experiments and characterized using infrared spectroscopy on the basis of the results of the isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, stepwise annealing, the change of reagent concentration and laser energy, and the comparison with theoretical predictions. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these molecules. The agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these molecules from the matrix infrared spectra. Plausible reaction mechanisms have been proposed to account for the formation of these molecules.

Infrared spectroscopic and density functional theory study on the reactions of rhodium and cobalt atoms with carbon dioxide in rare-gas matrixes.

Reactions of laser-ablated rhodium and cobalt atoms with carbon dioxide molecules in solid argon and neon have been investigated using matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy. The OMCO, O2MCO, OMCO(-) (M = Rh, Co), OCo2CO, and OCoCO(+) molecules have been formed and characterized on the basis of isotopic shifts, mixed isotopic splitting patterns, ultraviolet irradiation, CCl4-doping experiments, and the change of laser power. Density functional theory calculations have been performed on these products. The overall agreement between the experimental and calculated vibrational frequencies, relative absorption intensities, and isotopic shifts supports the identification of these products from the matrix infrared spectrum.