In situ Raman cell for high pressure and temperature studies of metal and complex hydrides

A novel cell for in situ Raman studies at hydrogen pressures up to 200 bar and at temperatures as high as 400 °C is presented. This device permits in situ monitoring of the formation and decomposition of chemical structures under high pressure via Raman scattering. The performance of the cell under extreme conditions is stable as the design of this device compensates much of the thermal expansion during heating which avoids defocusing of the laser beam. Several complex and metal hydrides were analyzed to demonstrate the advantageous use of this in situ cell. Temperature calibration was performed by monitoring the structural phase transformation and melting point of LiBH(4). The feasibility of the cell in hydrogen atmosphere was confirmed by in situ studies of the decomposition of NaAlH(4) with added TiCl(3) at different hydrogen pressures and the decomposition and rehydrogenation of MgH(2) and LiNH(2).     

Alkali-metal-induced enhancement of hydrogen adsorption in C60 fullerene: an ab Initio study

It is demonstrated that the doping of alkali metal atoms on fullerene, C60, remarkably enhances the molecular hydrogen adsorption capacity of fullerenes, which is higher than that of conventionally known other fullerene complexes. This effect is observed to be more pronounced for sodium than lithium atom. The formation of stable complex forms of a sodium-doped fullerene molecule, Na8C60, and the corresponding hydrogenated species, [Na(H2)6]8C60, with 48 hydrogen molecules has been demonstrated to lead to a hydrogen adsorption density of approximately 9.5 wt %. One of the main factors favoring the interactions involved is attributed to the pronounced charge transfer from the sodium atom to the C60 molecule and electrostatic interaction between the ion and the dihydrogen. The suitability of these complexes for developing fullerene-based hydrogen storage materials is discussed.     

高容量储氢材料的研究进展

高容量储氢材料在燃料电池和储热等方面有着良好的潜在应用.从高体积密度(kg/m3)和高储氢质量分数两个方面综述了高容量储氢材料的国内外研究近况.从材料组成、制备工艺、材料的组织结构以及催化剂应用等方面重点评述了Mg2FeH6、LiBH4、NaBH4、LiAlH4、NaAlH4等储氢材料的研究进展,指出高容量储氢材料今后中长期研究的重点是NaAlH4、Mg2 FeH6等络合氢化物以及催化剂.     

改善LiBH4吸放氢动力学和热力学方法的研究进展

LiBH4有很高的储氢含量,是一种很有应用前途的储氢材料,但是其高吸放氢温度和压力影响了实际应用.综述了近年来LiBH4的研究进展,介绍了目前国内外改进LiBH4吸放氢动力学和热力学的几种主要方法和特点,并展望了其发展前景.     

Plasma-plasmonics synergy in the Ga-catalyzed growth of Si-nanowires

This paper reports on the growth of Si nanowires (NWs) by SiH₄/H₂ plasmas using the non-noble Ga-nanoparticles (NPs) catalysts. A comparative investigation of conventional Si-NWs vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) growth catalyzed by Au NPs is also reported. We investigate the use of a hydrogen plasma and of a SiH₄/H₂ plasma for removing Ga oxide shell and for enhancing the Si dissolution into the catalyst, respectively. By exploiting the Ga NPs surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensitivity to their surface chemistry, the SPR characteristic of Ga NPs has been monitored by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry in order to control the hydrogen plasma/Ga NPs interaction and the involved processes (oxide removal and NPs dissolution by volatile gallium hydride). Using in situ laser reflectance interferometry the metal catalyzed Si NWs growth process has been investigated to find the effect of the plasma activation on the growth kinetics. The role of atomic hydrogen in the NWs growth mechanism and, in particular, in the SiH₄ dissolution into the catalysts, is discussed. We show that while Au catalysts because of the re-aggregation of NPs yields NWs that do not correspond to the original size of the Au NPs catalyst, the NWs grown by the Ga catalyst retains the diameter dictated by the size of the Ga NPs. Therefore, the advantage of Ga NPs as catalysts for controlling NWs diameter is demonstrated.     

Nitrate reduction in water: influence of the addition of a second metal on the performances of the Pd/CeO(2) catalyst

An attempt is made to improve the catalytic nitrate reduction on Pd/CeO(2) catalysts by the addition of a second metal. The influence of the second metal such as Sn, In and Ag on the Pd/CeO(2) for nitrate reduction is explored. The second metal is introduced over monometallic Pd/CeO(2) by a redox reaction. Pd/CeO(2) is more active than the bimetallic catalysts under pure hydrogen flow. Whereas in presence of CO(2) the monometallic Pd/CeO(2) is inactive for nitrate reduction, bimetallic catalysts are found to be more active than under pure hydrogen flow and also than the monometallic catalyst with a low selectivity towards ammonium ions, undesired product of the reaction. The Pd-Sn/CeO(2) catalyst is comparatively the most suited for nitrate reduction.     

Carbon‐Based Metal‐Free Catalysts for Key Reactions Involved in Energy Conversion and Storage

Electrocatalysts are key for renewable energy technologies and other important industrial processes. Currently, noble metals and metal oxides are the most widely used catalysts for electrocatalysis. However, metal‐based catalysts often suffer from multiple disadvantages, including high cost, low selectivity, poor durability, impurity poisoning and fuel crossover effects, and detrimental effects on the environment. Therefore, carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts have received increasing interest as promising electrocatalysts for advanced energy conversion and storage. Recently, tremendous progress has been achieved in the development of low‐cost, efficient carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts for renewable energy technologies and beyond. Here, a concise, but comprehensive and critical, review of recent advances in the field of carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts is provided. A brief overview of various reactions involved in renewable energy conversion and storage, including the oxygen reduction reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, nitrogen reduction reaction, and bifunctional/multifunctional electrocatalysis, along with some challenges and opportunities, is presented.     

Selective catalysts for the hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions by patterning of platinum with calix[4]arene molecules

The design of new catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells must be guided by two equally important fundamental principles: optimization of their catalytic behaviour as well as the long-term stability of the metal catalysts and supports in hostile electrochemical environments. The methods used to improve catalytic activity are diverse, ranging from the alloying and de-alloying of platinum to the synthesis of platinum core-shell catalysts. However, methods to improve the stability of the carbon supports and catalyst nanoparticles are limited, especially during shutdown (when hydrogen is purged from the anode by air) and startup (when air is purged from the anode by hydrogen) conditions when the cathode potential can be pushed up to 1.5 V (ref. 11). Under the latter conditions, stability of the cathode materials is strongly affected (carbon oxidation reaction) by the undesired oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the anode side. This emphasizes the importance of designing selective anode catalysts that can efficiently suppress the ORR while fully preserving the Pt-like activity for the hydrogen oxidation reaction. Here, we demonstrate that chemically modified platinum with a self-assembled monolayer of calix[4]arene molecules meets this challenging requirement.     

Mechanism of reversible effect of hydrogen on mechanical properties of steel

By analyzing the experimental data on the influence of gaseous hydrogen on physicomechanical properties of steels, we consider the mechanism of reversible hydrogen embrittlement, focus our attention on the processes of surface interaction, and explain the surface-active properties of hydrogen. The low solubility, high mobility, and affinity to metals characterize hydrogen as the most efficient surface-active element with respect to metals. We propose to consider the ability of hydrogen to concentrate in certain microvolumes of metal as the main point for explanation of the mechanism of reversible hydrogen embrittlement. The actual behavior of the material is determined by hydrogen localized in defects of the structure, but its total concentration cannot characterize the degree of danger of hydrogen degradation. Depending on the deformation conditions, the interaction of a metal with hydrogen either promotes plastic flow or leads to selective fracture. Karpenko Physicomechanical Institute, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, L'viv. Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 29–36, July–August, 1999.     

Nitrogen‐Coordinated Single Cobalt Atom Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Due to the Fenton reaction, the presence of Fe and peroxide in electrodes generates free radicals causing serious degradation of the organic ionomer and the membrane. Pt‐free and Fe‐free cathode catalysts therefore are urgently needed for durable and inexpensive proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, a high‐performance nitrogen‐coordinated single Co atom catalyst is derived from Co‐doped metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) through a one‐step thermal activation. Aberration‐corrected electron microscopy combined with X‐ray absorption spectroscopy virtually verifies the CoN₄ coordination at an atomic level in the catalysts. Through investigating effects of Co doping contents and thermal activation temperature, an atomically Co site dispersed catalyst with optimal chemical and structural properties has achieved respectable activity and stability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in challenging acidic media (e.g., half‐wave potential of 0.80 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The performance is comparable to Fe‐based catalysts and 60 mV lower than Pt/C ‐60 μg Pt cm^?2). Fuel cell tests confirm that catalyst activity and stability can translate to high‐performance cathodes in PEMFCs. The remarkably enhanced ORR performance is attributed to the presence of well‐dispersed CoN₄ active sites embedded in 3D porous MOF‐derived carbon particles, omitting any inactive Co aggregates.     

X-ray-diffraction characterization of Pt(111) surface nanopatterning induced by C60 adsorption

Understanding the adsorption mechanisms of large molecules on metal surfaces is a demanding task. Theoretical predictions are difficult because of the large number of atoms that have to be considered in the calculations, and experiments aiming to solve the molecule-substrate interaction geometry are almost impossible with standard laboratory techniques. Here, we show that the adsorption of complex organic molecules can induce perfectly ordered nanostructuring of metal surfaces. We use surface X-ray diffraction to investigate in detail the bonding geometry of C(60) with the Pt(111) surface, and to elucidate the interaction mechanism leading to the restructuring of the Pt(111) surface. The chemical interaction between one monolayer of C(60) molecules and the clean Pt(111) surface results in the formation of an ordered sqrt[13] x sqrt[13]R13.9 degrees reconstruction based on the creation of a surface vacancy lattice. The C(60) molecules are located on top of the vacancies, and 12 covalent bonds are formed between the carbon atoms and the 6 platinum surface atoms around the vacancies. In-plane displacements induced on the platinum substrate are of the order of a few picometres in the top layer, and are undetectable in the deeper layers.     

NiO(CoO)/N-SrTiO3异质结型复合光催化剂的制备及模拟太阳光催化产氢

采用固相法制备氮掺杂SrTiO₃,并用浸渍氢气还原法制备了不同NiO、CoO负载量的N－SrTiO₃异质结复合光催化剂,采用XRD、SEM、荧光光谱（FS）、紫外可见漫反射光谱（UV－Vis DRS）对其进行表征和分析,考察了在模拟太阳光下产氢活性及其变化规律,同时探讨了负载物的不同处理方法对光催化剂产氢活性的影响. 结果表明,氧化物的负载先氢还原后氧化处理较直接氧化处理有更高的光催化活性;所制备的NiO/N-SrTiO₃、CoO/N-SrTiO₃复合催化剂较单一催化剂有更高的产氢活性,当负载量分别为1.0wt%、0.5wt%时达最佳产氢活性,6h内的产氢量分别是未改性N-SrTiO₃样品的4.2、4.9倍. 导致产氢率提高的主要原因是由于负载金属氧化物在两相界面处形成的异质结成为光催化反应中光生电子和空穴的单向转移通道,促使光生电荷有效分离,提高了复合催化剂的光催化活性.     

水解制氢材料研究进展

水解制氢是一种常温常压下的现场制氢方式。由于水解制氢材料氢含量高, 储存容易, 运输方便, 安全可靠, 一直受到研究者们的关注。本文综述了近年来水解制氢材料的总体发展情况, 介绍了三类主要的水解制氢材料, 包括硼氢化物(NaBH₄, NH₃·BH₃)、金属(Mg, Al)以及金属氢化物(MgH₂), 对不同材料的制氢原理、主要问题、催化剂与材料设计进行了详细介绍, 比较了不同体系的特点与制氢成本, 并对水解制氢及水解制氢材料的现状和商业化面临的困难做了评价, 最后对未来的发展方向进行了展望。     

Sustainable Hydrothermal Carbonization Synthesis of Iron/Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanofiber Aerogels as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction

It is urgent to develop new kinds of low‐cost and high‐performance nonprecious metal (NPM) catalysts as alternatives to Pt‐based catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells and metal–air batteries, which have been proved to be efficient to meet the challenge of increase of global energy demand and CO₂ emissions. Here, an economical and sustainable method is developed for the synthesis of Fe, N codoped carbon nanofibers (Fe–N/CNFs) aerogels as efficient NPM catalysts for ORR via a mild template‐directed hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process, where cost‐effective biomass‐derived d (+)‐glucosamine hydrochloride and ferrous gluconate are used as precursors and recyclable ultrathin tellurium nanowires are used as templates. The prepared Fe/N‐CNFs catalysts display outstanding ORR activity, i.e., onset potential of 0.88 V and half‐wave potential of 0.78 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in an alkaline medium, which is highly comparable to that of commercial Pt/C (20 wt% Pt) catalyst. Furthermore, the Fe/N‐CNFs catalysts exhibit superior long‐term stability and better tolerance to the methanol crossover effect than the Pt/C catalyst in both alkaline and acidic electrolytes. This work suggests the great promise of developing new families of NPM ORR catalysts by the economical and sustainable HTC process.     

In situ catalytic activity of CuO nanosheets synthesized from a surfactant-lamellar template

CuO nanosheets approximately 0.8 nm thick were synthesized under ambient conditions within a few hours using a surfactant lamellar mesophase as a soft template. In aqueous media, metal ions and anionic surfactants form a lamellar mesophase. In the lamellar layers, metal ions can crystallize without structural collapse. Highly ordered CuO nanosheet/surfactant lamellar layers formed in an aqueous solution can be easily delaminated by washing with water. The use of the delaminated CuO nanosheet catalyst instead of traditional metallic catalysts resulted in a reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol with NaBH4 that obeyed zero-order kinetics. This indicates in situ conversion of CuO to Cu in the reaction solution. Cu in situ reduced by BH4- acted as a catalyst relaying electrons for the reduction of 4-NP. The catalytic reaction was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy, and the reduction and crystalline structures of the nanosheets were analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. These results indicate CuO nanosheets to be an attractive alternative to metal catalysts in reactions involving hydrogen.     

Carbon‐Encapsulated WOx Hybrids as Efficient Catalysts for Hydrogen Evolution

Developing non‐noble metal catalysts as Pt substitutes, with good activity and stability, remains a great challenge for cost‐effective electrochemical evolution of hydrogen. Herein, carbon‐encapsulated WO_x anchored on a carbon support (WO_x@C/C) that has remarkable Pt‐like catalytic behavior for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is reported. Theoretical calculations reveal that carbon encapsulation improves the conductivity, acting as an electron acceptor/donor, and also modifies the Gibbs free energy of H* values for different adsorption sites (carbon atoms over the W atom, O atom, W? O bond, and hollow sites). Experimental results confirm that WO_x@C/C obtained at 900 °C with 40 wt% metal loading has excellent HER activity regarding its Tafel slope and overpotential at 10 and 60 mA cm^?2, and also has outstanding stability at ?50 mV for 18 h. Overall, the results and facile synthesis method offer an exciting avenue for the design of cost‐effective catalysts for scalable hydrogen generation.     

Characterization of Pt-Cu binary catalysts for oxygen reduction for fuel cell applications

Nanostructured Pt-Cu/C alloy catalysts synthesized by a reduction procedure with different reducing agents are investigated to find the origin of the enhanced activity of the oxygen reduction reaction for fuel cell applications. Prepared catalysts are characterized by various techniques, such as energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cyclic voltammetry. XRD analysis shows that all prepared catalysts exhibit face-centered cubic structures and have smaller lattice parameters than pure Pt catalyst. TEM images show that the particle size of the catalysts increases with the heat treatment temperature, and that different reducing agent causes different particle size and dispersion of the binary catalysts on XC-72R. Using the polyol method with CuSO₄ as the precursor, the Pt-Cu/C sample is found to have good dispersion and high Cu loading. The Pt-Cu/C sample has a slightly higher specific activity value than that of Pt/C. The catalytic activity can be enhanced greatly with hydrogen reduction at 300 °C. Higher reduction temperatures cause the catalytic particles to agglomerate and therefore decreased catalytic activity.     

Active Sites and Mechanism of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysis on Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Materials

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a core reaction for electrochemical energy technologies such as fuel cells and metal–air batteries. ORR catalysts have been limited to platinum, which meets the requirements of high activity and durability. Over the last few decades, a variety of materials have been tested as non‐Pt catalysts, from metal–organic complex molecules to metal‐free catalysts. In particular, nitrogen‐doped graphitic carbon materials, including N‐doped graphene and N‐doped carbon nanotubes, have been extensively studied. However, due to the lack of understanding of the reaction mechanism and conflicting knowledge of the catalytic active sites, carbon‐based catalysts are still under the development stage of achieving a performance similar to Pt‐based catalysts. In addition to the catalytic viewpoint, designing mass transport pathways is required for O₂. Recently, the importance of pyridinic N for the creation of active sites for ORR and the requirement of hydrophobicity near the active sites have been reported. Based on the increased knowledge in controlling ORR performances, bottom‐up preparation of N‐doped carbon catalysts, using N‐containing conjugative molecules as the assemblies of the catalysts, is promising. Here, the recent understanding of the active sites and the mechanism of ORRs on N‐doped carbon catalysts are reviewed.     

Selective and Stable CO2 Electroreduction to CH4 via Electronic Metal–Support Interaction upon Decomposition/Redeposition of MOF

The CO₂ electroreduction to fuels is a feasible approach to provide renewable energy sources. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct experimental and theoretical investigations on various catalyst design strategies, such as electronic metal–support interaction, to improve the catalytic selectivity. Here a solvent-free synthesis method is reported to prepare a copper (Cu)-based metal–organic framework (MOF) as the precursor. Upon electrochemical CO₂ reduction in aqueous electrolyte, it undergoes in situ decomposition/redeposition processes to form abundant interfaces between Cu nanoparticles and amorphous carbon supports. This Cu/C catalyst favors the selective and stable production of CH₄ with a Faradaic efficiency of ≈55% at −1.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) for 12.5 h. The density functional theory calculation reveals the crucial role of interfacial sites between Cu and amorphous carbon support in stabilizing the key intermediates for CO₂ reduction to CH₄. The adsorption of COOH* and CHO* at the Cu/C interface is up to 0.86 eV stronger than that on Cu(111), thus promoting the formation of CH₄. Therefore, it is envisioned that the strategy of regulating electronic metal–support interaction can improve the selectivity and stability of catalyst toward a specific product upon electrochemical CO₂ reduction.