Mineralization of clofibric acid by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes using a boron-doped diamond anode and Fe and UVA light as catalysts

This work shows that aqueous solutions of clofibric acid (2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic acid), the bioactive metabolite of various lipid-regulating drugs, up to saturation at pH 3.0 are efficiently and completely degraded by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes such as electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton with Fe²⁺ and UVA light as catalysts using an undivided electrolytic cell with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and an O₂-diffusion cathode able to electrogenerate H₂O₂. This is feasible in these environmentally friendly methods by the production of oxidant hydroxyl radical at the BDD surface from water oxidation and in the medium from Fenton's reaction between Fe²⁺ and electrogenerated H₂O₂. The degradation process is accelerated in photoelectro-Fenton by additional photolysis of Fe³⁺ complexes under UVA irradiation. Comparative treatments by anodic oxidation with electrogenerated H₂O₂, but without Fe²⁺, yield much slower decontamination. Chloride ion is released and totally oxidized to chlorine at the BDD surface in all treatments. The decay kinetics of clofibric acid always follows a pseudo-first-order reaction. 4-Chlorophenol, 4-chlorocatechol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone and 2-hydroxyisobutyric, tartronic, maleic, fumaric, formic and oxalic acids, are detected as intermediates. The ultimate product is oxalic acid, which is slowly but progressively oxidized on BDD in anodic oxidation. In electro-Fenton this acid forms Fe³⁺–oxalato complexes that can also be totally destroyed at the BDD anode, whereas in photoelectro-Fenton the mineralization rate of these complexes is enhanced by its parallel photodecarboxylation with UVA light.     

微生物浸出MnO2过程中嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌与Fe3+的催化作用

考察了MnO₂-FeS₂-H₂SO₄细菌浸出体系下,嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌和Fe³⁺单独或联合对MnO₂浸出Mn²⁺的浸出速率影响,并采用循环伏安电化学方法对过程中嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌与Fe³⁺的催化作用进行了分析。结果表明：嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌和Fe³⁺单独或联合都可以有效提高MnO₂浸出Mn²⁺的浸出速率,对MnO₂细菌浸出过程有一定催化作用;循环伏安电化学分析表明嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌和Fe³⁺单独或联合加入,都会使FeS₂出现明显的氧化还原峰,且嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌可以降低FeS₂的氧化电位和缩短FeS₂氧化峰与还原峰之间的电位差,从而催化MnO₂浸出Mn²⁺的过程。     

Degradation of pesticides in water using solar advanced oxidation processes

Alachlor, atrazine and diuron dissolved in water at 50, 25 and 30 mg/L, respectively were photodegraded by Fe²⁺/H₂O₂, Fe³⁺/H₂O₂, TiO₂ and TiO₂/Na₂S₂O₈ treatments driven by solar energy at pilot-plant scale using a compound parabolic collector (CPC) photoreactor. All the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) employed mainly compared the TOC mineralisation rate to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Parent compound disappearance, anion release and oxidant consumption are discussed as a function of treatment time. The use of Fe²⁺ or Fe³⁺ showed no influence on the reaction rate under illumination and the reaction using 10 or 55 mg/L of iron was quite similar. TiO₂/Na₂S₂O₈ showed a quicker reaction rate than TiO₂ and a similar rate compared to photo-Fenton. The main difference found was between TiO₂/Na₂S₂O₈ and photo-Fenton, detected during atrazine degradation, where pesticide transformation into cyanuric acid was confirmed only for TiO₂/Na₂S₂O₈.     

抗坏血酸对Fe2+/H2O2体系氧化NO的促进作用

采用实验方法研究了低成本环境友好型添加剂抗坏血酸(AA)对Fe²⁺/H₂O₂体系氧化NO气体及其对体系内H₂O₂分解的影响,分析了AA对体系氧化NO能力及H₂O₂分解的影响机制。研究结果表明:AA通过加速Fe³⁺向Fe²⁺的转化而促进Fe²⁺/H₂O₂体系对NO的氧化。[AA]₀:[Fe²⁺]₀对体系氧化NO的能力及H₂O₂的分解具有重要影响。综合考虑NO氧化脱除量及H₂O₂消耗量,合理的[AA]₀:[Fe²⁺]₀为1/3~1/2。AA的分次添加方式可大幅度提升体系氧化NO气体的能力。研究结果可望为发展基于H₂O₂为氧化剂的烟气NO绿色氧化技术提供理论基础。     

Fe/Fe cycling promoted by Ta3N5 under visible irradiation in Fenton degradation of organic pollutants

Ta₃N₅ was synthesized by nitridation of Ta₂O₅ under NH₃ flow at 700 °C. The catalyst was pure Ta₃N₅ according to X-ray diffraction (XRD), and was about 5 nm in size with a BET specific surface area 52.8 m²/g. When Ta₃N₅ was added to Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ solution (known as Fenton-like system), most Fe³⁺ were adsorbed on the Ta₃N₅ surface and could not react with H₂O₂ in the dark, which is different from the general Fenton reaction. Under visible light irradiation, adsorbed Fe³⁺ ions were reduced to Fe²⁺ rapidly and Fe²⁺ were reoxidized by H₂O₂ on the Ta₃N₅ surface, thus a fast Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ cycling was established. Kinetics and ESR measurements supported this mechanism. The Ta₃N₅/Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ system could efficiently decompose H₂O₂ to generate hydroxyl radicals driven by visible light, which could accelerate significantly the degradation of organic molecules such as N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA), and 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP). A mechanism was proposed for iron cycling on the basis of experimental results.     

Fe2+/Fe3+和Mn2+对低氧曝气过程总氮去除与转化途径的影响

为短期快速实现实际生活污水自养脱氮,采用含有厌氧氨氧化菌的实际污水处理厂活性污泥,针对Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺和Mn²⁺对低氧曝气过程中氮的去除效果进行了研究,分析确定了氮素转化的途径。研究结果表明,Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺和Mn²⁺均可提高活性污泥中厌氧氨氧化菌（AnAOB）丰度,但由于Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺对氨氧化菌（AOB）也存在一定抑制作用,因此,短期投加Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺条件下,低氧曝气过程中总无机氮去除率为25%,但投加Mn²⁺条件下总无机氮去除率可达44%。通过氮素平衡分析,发现投加Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺条件下,氮素主要通过反硝化作用去除;而投加Mn²⁺条件下,氮素主要通过厌氧氨氧化（anammox）作用去除。因此,传统活性污泥可通过短期投加Mn²⁺增强厌氧氨氧化活性,促进低氧曝气过程中氮的去除,利于快速实现一体化自养脱氮。     

Catalytic behavior of the Fe/Fe system in the electro-Fenton degradation of the antimicrobial chlorophene

The catalytic behavior of the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ system in the electro-Fenton degradation of the antimicrobial drug chlorophene has been studied considering four undivided electrolytic cells, where a Pt or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a carbon felt or O₂-diffusion cathode have been used. Chlorophene electrolyses have been carried out at pH 3.0 under current control, with 0.05 M Na₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte and Fe³⁺ as catalyst. In these processes the drug is oxidized with hydroxyl radical (OH) formed both at the anode from water oxidation and in the medium from electrochemically generated Fenton's reagent (Fe²⁺ + H₂O₂, both of them generated at the cathode). The catalytic behavior of the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ system mainly depends on the cathode tested. In the cells with an O₂-diffusion cathode, H₂O₂ is largely accumulated and the Fe³⁺ content remains practically unchanged. Under these conditions, the chlorophene decay is enhanced by increasing the initial Fe³⁺ concentration, because this leads to a higher quantity of Fe²⁺ regenerated at the cathode and, subsequently, to a greater OH production from Fenton's reaction. In contrast, when the carbon felt cathode is used, H₂O₂ is electrogenerated in small extent, whereas Fe²⁺ is largely accumulated because the regeneration of this ion from Fe³⁺ reduction at the cathode is much faster than its oxidation to Fe³⁺ at the anode. In this case, an Fe³⁺ concentration as low as 0.2 mM is required to obtain the maximum OH generation rate, yielding the quickest chlorophene removal. Chlorophene is poorly mineralized in the Pt/O₂ diffusion cell because the final Fe³⁺–oxalate complexes are difficult to oxidize with OH. These complexes are completely destroyed using a BDD anode at high current thanks to the great amount of OH generated on its surface. Total mineralization is also achieved in the Pt/carbon felt and BDD/carbon felt cells with 0.2 mM Fe³⁺, because oxalic acid and its Fe²⁺ complexes are directly oxidized with OH in the medium. Comparing the four cells, the highest oxidizing power regarding total mineralization is attained for the BDD/carbon felt cell at high current due to the simultaneous destruction of oxalic acid at the BDD surface and in the bulk solution.     

含硫酸亚铁废溶液的生物氧化过程中氮源对溶解性Fe（Ⅲ）生成量的影响

利用嗜酸性氧化亚铁硫杆菌将含硫酸亚铁废溶液中的Fe²⁺氧化成Fe³⁺后用于脱除H₂S,同时实现了含硫酸亚铁废溶液的循环利用和H₂S的脱除。而溶解性Fe³⁺较高的生成量是保证该处理系统连续高效运行的关键因素。但在充足氮源和K⁺条件下大量Fe³⁺以黄铁矾沉淀形式存在。因此,本文通过控制氮源种类及投加浓度,减少沉淀生成,增大溶解性Fe³⁺生成量,以期提高H₂S的去除效率。结果表明（NH₄）₂HPO₄可替代以往研究中的（NH₄）₂SO₄作为氮源,确定适宜菌体生长的氮源浓度范围为0.33～1 g·L^-1。在1 g·L^-1 （NH₄）₂HPO₄条件下细菌生长无明显停滞期、Fe²⁺平均氧化速率为0.221～0.229 g·（L·h） ^-1,Fe³⁺生成量为7.62～7.72 g·L^-1,沉淀量为1.17 g·L^-1,因此确定（NH₄）₂HPO₄为1 g·L^-1时最能保证H₂S的脱除效率。为降低工艺成本,最低可采用0.33 g·L^-1为运行浓度。该优化方案不仅保证了菌体的Fe²⁺氧化活性,而且有效地减少了菌体培养过程中沉淀的产生,获得了较高的Fe³⁺生成量和增速,为使用含硫酸亚铁废溶液处理H₂S的工艺条件优化提供了依据。     

Photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds diluted in water using visible light-responsive metal ion-implanted TiO2 catalysts: Fe ion-implanted TiO2

The application of metal ion-implantation method has been made to improve the electronic properties of the TiO₂ photocatalyst to realize the utilization of visible light. The photocatalytic properties of these unique TiO₂ photocatalysts for the purification of water have been investigated. By the metal ion-implantation method, metal ions (Fe⁺, Mn⁺, V⁺, etc.) are accelerated enough to have the high kinetic energy (150 keV) and can be implanted into the bulk of TiO₂. TiO₂ photocatalysts which can absorb visible light and work as a photocatalyst efficiently under visible light irradiation were successfully prepared using this advanced technique. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of these metal ion-implanted TiO₂ photocatalysts were found to shift toward visible light regions depending on the amount and the kind of metal ions implanted. They were found to exhibit an effective photocatalytic reactivity for the liquid-phase degradation of 2-propanol diluted in water at 295 K under visible light (λ>450 nm) irradiation. The investigation using XAFS analysis suggested that the substitution of Ti ions in TiO₂ lattice with implanted metal ions is important to modify TiO₂ to be able to adsorb visible light.     

Self-assembly of metal-cholesterol oxidase hybrid nanostructures and application in bioconversion of steroids derivatives

A cholesterol oxidase (COD) was hybridized with Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺. After precipitation with PO₄^3– at 4 °C for 72 h, the resulting pellets were freeze-dried. In scanning electron microscopy assays, the metal-COD complexes revealed flower-like or granular structures after hybridization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy assay revealed the characteristic peaks of both the enzyme and metal materials. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that COD was encapsulated in CaHPO₄·2H₂O-, Zn₃(PO₄)₂·4H₂O-, AlPO₄-, FeP₄- and Mn₃(PO₄)₂·3H₂O-based nanostructures, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry assay indicated significant increases in thermo-denaturation temperatures from 60.5 °C to 167.02 °C, 167.02 °C, 137.70 °C, 172.85 °C and 160.99 °C, respectively. Using steroid derivatives as substrates, this enzyme could convert cholesterol, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, ergosterol, b-sitosterol and stigmasterol to related single products. Hybridization in metal-based nanostructures could significantly enhance the initial conversion ratio and reaction stability of the enzyme. In addition, substrate selectivity could be affected by various metal materials. Briefly, using Ca²⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ as hybrid raw materials could help to encapsulate COD in related metal-enzyme nanostructures, and could help to promote the stability and tolerant properties of the enzyme, while also enhancing its catalytic characteristics.     

Mineralization of paracetamol by ozonation catalyzed with Fe, Cu and UVA light

Acid solutions containing up to 1 g l⁻¹ of the drug paracetamol have been treated with ozone alone and ozonation catalyzed with Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺ and/or UVA light at 25.0 °C. Direct ozonation yields poor degradation due to the high stability of final carboxylic acids formed, whereas more than 83% of mineralization is attained with the catalyzed methods. Under UVA irradiation, organics can be efficiently destroyed by the combined action of generated H₂O₂ and UVA light. In the presence of Fe²⁺ and UVA light, the process is accelerated due to the production of oxidant hydroxyl radical (OH) and the photodecomposition of Fe³⁺ complexes. The highest oxidizing power is achieved by combining Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺ and UVA light, because complexes of final acids with Cu²⁺ are more quickly degraded than those competitively formed with Fe³⁺. For all catalyzed methods, the initial mineralization rate is enhanced and the percent of degradation generally drops with increasing drug concentration. The paracetamol decay always follows a pseudo-first-order reaction with slightly higher rate constant for catalyzed systems than direct ozonation. Aromatic products such as hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone and 2-hydroxy-4-(N-acetyl)aminophenol are identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and reversed-phase chromatography. Acetamide is generated when hydroquinone is produced. These products are degraded to oxalic and oxamic acids as ultimate carboxylic acids, as detected by GC–MS and ion-exclusion chromatography. Oxalic acid is generated via glycolic, glyoxylic, tartronic, ketomalonic and maleic acids. While Fe³⁺-oxalato complexes are photolyzed by UVA light, Cu²⁺-oxalato, Fe³⁺-oxamato and Cu²⁺-oxamato complexes are oxidized with OH. NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions are produced during mineralization.     

氰化尾渣矿浆电解液中铁离子的萃取富集

采用二(2-乙基己基)磷酸酯(P204)-磺化煤油萃取体系从高硫酸氰化尾渣矿浆电解液中富集铁离子,重点研究了P204浓度、相比(O/A)、振荡时间、振荡频率及温度等对Fe³⁺萃取率的影响及其萃取过程。研究表明,在P204体积分数为25%、电解液pH为1.5、温度25℃、O/A=1∶1、振荡时间10 min、振荡频率180r/min的条件下,电解液中Fe³⁺的单级萃取率可达97.73%以上,饱和萃取容量可达到21.57g/L。Fe³⁺在有机相中的萃取富集主要归因于其与P204分子结构中羟基的阳离子交换反应以及磷酰基的配位反应,形成的配合物为FeSO₄A(HA)₃与FeA₃(HA)₃。在草酸1mol/L、O/A=1∶1、振荡时间10min、振荡频率190r/min的条件下,负载有机相中Fe³⁺的单级反萃率可达82.64%以上,反萃液中铁主要以[Fe(C₂O₄)_3<...     

Degradation of salicylic acid by photo-assisted Fenton reaction using Fe ions on strongly acidic ion exchange resin as catalyst

The photo-assisted Fenton degradation of salicylic acid (SA) was studied by using strongly acidic ion exchange resin (SAIER) exchanged with Fe ions as catalyst in the presence of UV light (254 nm) and H₂O₂. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results revealed that the Fe ions are indeed anchored by the sulfonate groups on the surface of the SAIER and are Fe³⁺. Our results also indicate that the Fe/SAIER catalyst can significantly enhance the degradation rate of SA without remarkable Fe leaching to the solution, implying that the catalyst has photo-catalytic activity. In addition, the effects of [H₂O₂]/[SA] molar ratio, UVC light power, solution pH, catalyst loading, and initial SA concentration on the degradation of SA were investigated in detail.     

Absence of E. coli regrowth after Fe and TiO2 solar photoassisted disinfection of water in CPC solar photoreactor

Field disinfection of water in a large solar compound parabolic collector (CPC) photoreactor (35–70 l) was conducted at 35 °C by different photocatalytic processes: sunlight/TiO₂, sunlight/TiO₂/Fe³⁺, sunlight/Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ and compared to the control experiment of direct sunlight alone. Experiments were carried out using a CPC and natural water spiked with E. coli K 12. Under these conditions, total disinfection by bare sunlight irradiation was not reached after 5 h of treatment; and bacterial recovery was observed during the subsequent 24 h in the dark.

The addition of TiO₂, TiO₂/Fe³⁺ or Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ to the water accelerates the bactericidal action of sunlight, leading to total disinfection by solar-photocatalysis. No bacterial regrowth was observed during 24 h after stopping sunlight exposure. For some samples, the decrease of bacteria continues in the dark. A “residual disinfection effect” was observed for these samples before reaching the total inactivation. The effective disinfection time (EDT₂₄), defined as the treatment time required to prevent any bacterial regrowth during the subsequent 24 h in the dark, after stopping the phototreatment, was reached in the presence but not in the absence of different photocatalytic systems. EDT₂₄ was 2 h 30 min, 2 h and 1 h 30 min for sunlight/TiO₂, sunlight/TiO₂/Fe³⁺ and sunlight/Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ systems, respectively. The post irradiation events observed when the phototreated water is poured into an optimal growth medium are also discussed.     

超声强化铁碳微电解-Fenton法降解硝基苯废水

针对铁碳微电解（Fe⁰/GAC）-Fenton法降解硝基苯（NB）废水时难连续运行的问题,采用超声（US）强化铁碳微电解-Fenton法降解硝基苯废水。考察了超声对铁碳微电解-Fenton法连续运行效果的影响,研究表明：不更换铁碳填料时,Fe⁰/GAC-Fenton法连续处理4批硝基苯废水时,硝基苯去除率从69.54%降至31.66%,TOC去除率也从48.11%降至19.20%;而US/Fe⁰/GAC-Fenton法处理4批相同废水时,硝基苯去除率均近至100%,TOC去除率均稳定在60%以上。与单纯Fe⁰/GAC-Fenton相比,超声不仅整体上强化了Fe⁰/GAC-Fenton法降解硝基苯废水的效率,还实现了连续多次高效运行。研究了pH、H₂O₂投加量及投加次数对Fenton法降解US/Fe⁰/GAC出水的影响规律,得到适宜操作条件：H₂O₂总投加量为4 ml并分5次添加,US/Fe⁰/GAC的出水pH调为4,反应30 min,最终硝基苯去除率达到100%,TOC去除率可达75%。     

SrFe0.6Co0.4O3催化降解孔雀石绿的研究

具有复杂分子结构的三苯甲烷类染料孔雀石绿是一种典型的较难降解染料,是工业废水处理的难点之一。本文根据Goldschmidt半径容差规则法,设计了用于孔雀石绿降解的ABO₃型SrFe_(1-x)Co_xO₃催化剂,并选择出活性较高的SrFe_0.6Co_0.4O₃催化剂。通过XRD、SEM、BET吸附及XPS分析表明:该催化剂是纯净钙钛矿结构,颗粒形貌为无规则堆叠的“蜂窝”片状;吸附等温线没有明显的回滞环,说明没有“墨水瓶”类孔结构;XPS谱中,B位离子同时存在Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺和Co²⁺/Co³⁺ 4种价态离子,且反应前后,4种离子的分布比例有较大变化。根据实验结果,推测该催化反应机理为:催化剂B位Co³⁺与溶解氧形成活性氧[O₂]⁺和Co²⁺;活性氧[O₂]⁺完成氧化反应后其正电荷转移到B位Fe²⁺上形成Fe³⁺,Fe³⁺的正电荷可再转移到Co²⁺形成Co³⁺,完成催化过程的电荷转移与循环。     

Dehydrogenation of i-butane on CrOx/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by ALE and impregnation techniques

Atomic layer epitaxy (ALE), a technique relying on saturating gas–solid reactions, was applied in the preparation of CrO_x/Al₂O₃ catalysts using Cr(acac)₃ vapor and air as source materials for CrO_x. Vaporized Cr(acac)₃ was reacted with preheated Al₂O₃, and the surface complex formed was treated with air to remove the ligand residues. The Cr loading increased from 1.3 to 12.5 wt.% as the number of saturating Cr(acac)₃ and air reactions was increased from one to 10. CrO_x/Al₂O₃ catalysts were also prepared from solution by incipient wetness impregnation (0.3–21 wt.%). XPS and UV–VIS measurements of the catalysts revealed the presence of both Cr⁶⁺ and Cr³⁺. Although the oxidation state distribution was similar, H₂-temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and solubility measurements indicated that Cr⁶⁺ surface sites were in stronger interaction with Al₂O₃ and more uniformly distributed in the catalysts prepared by ALE than by impregnation. On the basis of the activity of the catalysts in the dehydrogenation of i-butane, we propose that the dehydrogenation reaction uses both reduced Cr⁶⁺, i.e. redox Cr³⁺, and exposed non-redox Cr³⁺ sites. Furthermore, the dehydrogenation reaction must be insensitive to the size of the CrO_x ensembles since activities were similar for the catalysts prepared by ALE and impregnation. The decay of the dehydrogenation activity in successive prereduction–reaction–regeneration cycles was attributed to a decrease in the number of redox Cr³⁺ sites.     

添加剂改性Fenton体系中Fe2+再生过程及机制的对比

Fe²⁺的再生直接决定Fenton体系产生的能力。选取羟胺、对苯二酚、对苯醌、亚硫酸钠4种典型添加剂,通过分析不同改性Fenton体系中Fe²⁺浓度、H₂O₂浓度、氧化还原电极电位（ORP）,揭示了Fe²⁺再生机制的差异,并进一步分析了不同添加剂与体系中H₂O₂及·OH的反应情况。结果表明：NH₂OH能快速使Fe²⁺再生,但伴随其消耗,Fe²⁺浓度不断降低。对苯二酚、对苯醌具有相似效果,两者均可大大强化Fe²⁺的再生。与NH₂OH不同,两者在体系中可迅速建立醌循环,持续还原Fe³⁺,且以两种物质或其组合均可建立循环。与上述机理均不同,Na₂SO₃会先与·OH及H₂O₂反应,因而不能有效还原Fe³⁺。实验还发现添加剂均存在与·OH的反应,其中Na₂SO₃还会消耗H₂O₂。     

Influence of chromium doping on the electrochemical performance of the 5 V spinel cathode LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4

With an aim to improve the 5 V capacity and cyclability of the LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ spinel oxide, three series of Cr substitutions have been pursued with y ≤ 0.2: LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5−yCr_yO₄, LiMn_1.5−0.5yNi_0.5−0.5yCr_yO₄, and LiMn_1.5−0.33yLi_0.33yNi_0.5−yCr_yO₄. While the first series involves an increase in the Mn³⁺ content, the second and third series are designed to maintain charge neutrality (Mn⁴⁺, Ni²⁺, Cr³⁺, and Li⁺) without introducing Mn³⁺ ions. The LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5−yCr_yO₄ series experiences a widening of the 4 V plateau and a decrease in the 5 V capacity compared to LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄ due to an increase in the Mn³⁺ content. On the other hand, the LiMn_1.5−0.5yNi_0.5−0.5yCr_yO₄ series shows a suppression of the 4 V plateau and an increase in the 5 V capacity due to the elimination of the Mn³⁺ions. The LiMn_1.5−0.33yLi_0.33yNi_0.5−yCr_yO₄ series shows a suppression of the 4 V plateau at low Cr contents, but an increase in the 4 V plateau as the Cr content increases above 0.1. Among the various compositions investigated, LiMn_1.45Ni_0.45Cr_0.1O₄ exhibits the best combination of high 5 V capacity (128 mAh/g at 5–4.2 V) and excellent capacity retention (98% in 50 cycles) compared to 118 mAh/g and 92% for LiMn_1.5Ni_0.5O₄.     

Photodegradation catalyst screening by combinatorial methodology

In this work, a combinatorial methodology was developed for photodegradation catalyst screening. A fluorescence imaging detection system was designed for high throughput analysis, 1,6-hexamethylenediamine was used as the probe molecule for catalyst testing. The photodegradation activity of catalysts was evaluated by 1,6-hexamethylenediamine consumption during the photodegradation reaction. The methodology could provide reliable results. We found that pure TiO₂, ZrO₂, Nb₂O₅, MoO₃, and WO₃ did not show much activity for 1,6-hexamethylenediamine photodegradation under visible light. TiO₂ catalysts doped with different metal ions were tested. When TiO₂ was doped with Ta₂O₅, Nb₂O₅, V₂O₅, MoO₃, or WO₃, higher activity for photodegradation was observed. The doping of La³⁺, Ba²⁺, and Br⁻ to TiO₂ did not improve the catalytic activities. When doping TiO₂ with Mn²⁺, Cl⁻, Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Li⁺, F⁻, Co²⁺, or K⁺, catalytic activity was lower than that of pure TiO₂. After elaborate catalysts screening, we discovered new catalysts, such as 50–70% TiO₂/0–20% WO₃/20–40% VO_2.5 and 20–30% TiO₂/30–50% MoO₃/40–60% VO_2.5 as well as 30% WO₃/20% ZrO₂/50% NbO_2.5 (synthesized from ZrCl₄, NbCl₅, and (NH₄)₅H₅[H₂(WO₄)₆]·H₂O in ethanol solution or suspension) and 60–70% WO₃/Nb₂O₅ (synthesized from WCl₆ and NbCl₅ in ethanol solution). We observed that the catalytic activity is sensitive to preparation methods and catalyst specific surface areas. When P123 (HO(CH₂CH₂O)₂₀(CH₂CH(CH₃)O)₇₀(CH₂CH₂O)₂₀H, designated EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀) was used as template to synthesize mesoporous materials, the mesoporous catalysts showed higher activity than regular catalytic materials.