ABSTRACT
Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) is extensively used in the defense industry, medicines, food, plastics, rubber, and other applications. Traditional organic synthesis of HMTA relies on ammonia derived from the Haber process at high temperatures and pressures. In contrast, electrochemical methods enable a safe and green one-pot synthesis of HMTA from waste NO3-. However, HMTA synthesis through the electrochemical method is challenging owing to the complex reaction pathways involving C-N bond construction and ring formation. In this study, HMTA was efficiently synthesized over electrochemical oxidation-derived copper (e-OD-Cu), with a yield of 76.8% and a Faradaic efficiency of 74.9% at -0.30 VRHE. The catalytic mechanism and reaction pathway of HMTA synthesis on e-OD-Cu were investigated through a series of in situ characterization methods and density-functional theory calculations. The results demonstrated that the electrocatalytic synthesis of HMTA involved a tandem electrochemical-chemical reaction. Additionally, the results indicated that the presence of Cu vacancies enhanced substrate adsorption and inhibited the further hydrogenation of CâN. Overall, this study provides an electrocatalytic method for HMTA synthesis and an electrochemical strategy for constructing multiple C-N bonds.
ABSTRACT
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), one of the essential C6 biomass derivatives, has been deeply investigated in electrocatalytic reduction upgrading. Nevertheless, the high product selectivity and rational design strategy of electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic HMF reduction is still a challenge. Here, a high selective electro-reduction of HMF to dimethylfuran (DMF) on palladium (Pd) single atom loaded on titanium dioxide (Pd SA/TiO2 ) via hydrogen spillover and adsorption configuration adjustment in neutral electrolytes is achieved. Combining density functional theory calculations and in situ characterization, it is revealed that Pd single atom could weaken the interaction between Pd atoms and adsorbed hydrogen (*H) to promote the *H spillover for increasing *H coverage on the surface and maintain the tilted adsorption configuration to activate CâO bond; thus the selectivity of DMF on Pd SA/TiO2 increases to 90.33%. Besides, it is elaborated that low *H coverage on TiO2 favors the formation of bis(hydroxymethyl)hydro-furoin (BHH), and the flat adsorption configuration of HMF on Pd nanoparticles benefits to form 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF). This work provides a promising approach for modifying electrocatalysts to realize the selective electroreduction of HMF to value-added products.
ABSTRACT
In this paper, a novel high temperature strain sensor based on a polyimide-coated fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a rhombus metal structure is presented and experimentally demonstrated. By heating low softening point glass via a micro torch, the polyimide-coated FBG could be fixed into the rhombus metal structure. Consequently, when the rhombus structure is stretched and compressed, respectively, then the FBG will be subjected to a reverse state. Moreover, the strain sensitivity is controllable and enhanced by adjusting the dimension of the rhombus metal structure appropriately. The experiment was then carried out by using an equi-intensity cantilever beam and high temperature chamber, and the result showed that the proposed high temperature strain sensor could be used at the high temperature of 300°C. A resolution of â¼10 µÎµ has been experimentally achieved. The average wavelength strain sensitivity at 300°C is 1.821 and 1.814 pm/µÎµ, for the compressed and stretched states, respectively.
