More Like this

1. Membrane-supported metal organic framework based nanopacked bed for protection against toxic vapors and gases

   https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.117406  

   Song, Yufeng ; Chau, John ; Sirkar, Kamalesh K. ; Peterson, Gregory W. ; Beuscher, Uwe ( July 2020 , Separation and purification technology)

   Defense against small molecule toxic gases is an important aspect of protection against chemical and biological threat as well as chemical releases from industrial accidents. Current protective respirators/garments cannot effectively block small molecule toxic gases and vapors and retain moisture transmission capability without a heavy burden. Here, we developed a nanopacked bed of nanoparticles of UiO-66-NH₂ metal organic framework (MOF) by synthesizing them in the pores of microporous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes. The submicron scale size of membrane pores ensures a large surface area of MOF nanoparticles which can capture/adsorb and react with toxic gas molecules efficiently. It was demonstratedmore »that the microporous ePTFE membrane with UiO-66-NH₂ MOF grown inside and around the membrane can defend against ammonia for a significant length of time while allowing passage of moisture and nitrogen. It was also demonstrated that the MOF-loaded ePTFE membrane could provide significant protection from Cl₂ intrusion as well as intrusion from 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) (a simulant for sulfur mustard). Such MOF-filled membranes exhausted by NH₃ breakthrough experiments were regenerated conveniently by heating at 60 °C for one week under vacuum for further/repeated use; a single regenerated membrane could block NH₃ for 200–300 min. The moisture permeability of such a membrane/nanopacked bed was considerably above the breathability threshold value of 2000 g/m² -day. The results suggest that microporous membranes filled with reactive MOF nanoparticles could be designed as protective barriers against toxic gases/vapors, e.g., NH₃ and Cl₂ and yet be substantially permeable to H₂O and air.« less
2. Synthesis, structures, and reactivity of isomers of [RuCp*(1,4-(Me ₂ N) ₂ C ₆ H ₄ )] ₂

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1DT02155A  

   Longhi, Elena ; Risko, Chad ; Bacsa, John ; Khrustalev, Victor ; Rigin, Sergei ; Moudgil, Karttikay ; Timofeeva, Tatiana V. ; Marder, Seth R. ; Barlow, Stephen ( September 2021 , Dalton Transactions)

   [RuCp*(1,3,5-R 3 C 6 H 3 )] 2 {Cp* = η 5 -pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, R = Me, Et} have previously been found to be moderately air stable, yet highly reducing, with estimated D + /0.5D 2 (where D 2 and D + represent the dimer and the corresponding monomeric cation, respectively) redox potentials of ca. −2.0 V vs. FeCp 2 +/0 . These properties have led to their use as n-dopants for organic semiconductors. Use of arenes substituted with π-electron donors is anticipated to lead to even more strongly reducing dimers. [RuCp*(1-(Me 2 N)-3,5-Me 2 C 6 H 3 )] +more »PF 6 − and [RuCp*(1,4-(Me 2 N) 2 C 6 H 4 )] + PF 6 − have been synthesized and electrochemically and crystallographically characterized; both exhibit D + /D potentials slightly more cathodic than [RuCp*(1,3,5-R 3 C 6 H 3 )] + . Reduction of [RuCp*(1,4-(Me 2 N) 2 C 6 H 4 )] + PF 6 − using silica-supported sodium–potassium alloy leads to a mixture of isomers of [RuCp*(1,4-(Me 2 N) 2 C 6 H 4 )] 2 , two of which have been crystallographically characterized. One of these isomers has a similar molecular structure to [RuCp*(1,3,5-Et 3 C 6 H 3 )] 2 ; the central C–C bond is exo , exo , i.e. , on the opposite face of both six-membered rings from the metals. A D + /0.5D 2 potential of −2.4 V is estimated for this exo , exo dimer, more reducing than that of [RuCp*(1,3,5-R 3 C 6 H 3 )] 2 (−2.0 V). This isomer reacts much more rapidly with both air and electron acceptors than [RuCp*(1,3,5-R 3 C 6 H 3 )] 2 due to a much more cathodic D 2 ˙ + /D 2 potential. The other isomer to be crystallographically characterized, along with a third isomer, are both dimerized in an exo , endo fashion, representing the first examples of such dimers. Density functional theory calculations and reactivity studies indicate that the central bonds of these two isomers are weaker than those of the exo , exo isomer, or of [RuCp*(1,3,5-R 3 C 6 H 3 )] 2 , leading to estimated D + /0.5D 2 potentials of −2.5 and −2.6 V vs. FeCp 2 +/0 . At the same time the D 2 ˙ + /D 2 potentials for the exo , endo dimers are anodically shifted relative to those of [RuCp*(1,3,5-R 3 C 6 H 3 )] 2 , resulting in much greater air stability than for the exo , exo isomer.« less
3. 1-Alkyl-3-Methylimidazolium Cation Binding Preferences in Hexafluorophosphate Ionic Liquid Clusters Determined Using Competitive TCID Measurements and Theoretical Calculations

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D1CP02928B  

   Roy, Harrison A. ; Rodgers, Mary ( January 2021 , Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics)

   Ionic liquids (ILs) exhibit unique properties that have led to their development and widespread use for a variety of applications. Development efforts have generally focused on achieving desired macroscopic properties via tuning of the IL through variation of the cations and anions. Both the macroscopic and microscopic properties of an IL influence its tunability and thus feasibility of use for selected applications. Works geared toward a microscopic understanding of the nature and strength of the intrinsic cation-anion interactions of ILs have been limited to date. Specifically, the intrinsic strength of the cation-anion interactions in ILs is largely unknown. In previousmore »work, we employed threshold collision-induced dissociation (TCID) approaches supported and enhanced by electronic structure calculations to determine the bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and characterize the nature of the cation-anion interactions in a series of four 2:1 clusters of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations with the hexafluorophosphate anion, [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + . To examine the effects of the 1-alkyl chain on the structure and energetics of binding, the cation was varied over the series: 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C 2 mim] + , 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C 4 mim] + , 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C 6 mim] + , and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium, [C 8 mim] + . The variation in the strength of binding among these [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + clusters was found to be similar in magnitude to the average experimental uncertainty in the measurements. To definitively establish an absolute order of binding among these [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + clusters, we extend this work again using TCID and electronic structure theory approaches to include competitive binding studies of three mixed 2:1 clusters of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium cations and the hexafluorophosphate anion, [C n-2 mim:PF 6 :C n mim] + for n = 4, 6, and 8. The absolute BDEs of these mixed [C n-2 mim:PF 6 :C n mim] + clusters as well as the absolute difference in the strength of the intrinsic binding interactions as a function of the cation are determined with significantly improved precision. By combining the thermochemical results of the previous independent and present competitive measurements, the BDEs of the [2C n mim:PF 6 ] + clusters are both more accurately and more precisely determined. Comparisons are made to results for the analogous [2C n mim:BF 4 ] + and [C n-2 mim:PF 6 :C n mim] + clusters previously examined to elucidate the effects of the [PF 6 ] - and [BF 4 ] - anions on the binding.« less
4. High-performance ammonia oxidation catalysts for anion-exchange membrane direct ammonia fuel cells

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE03351K  

   Li, Yi ; Pillai, Hemanth Somarajan ; Wang, Teng ; Hwang, Sooyeon ; Zhao, Yun ; Qiao, Zhi ; Mu, Qingmin ; Karakalos, Stavros ; Chen, Mengjie ; Yang, Juan ; et al ( March 2021 , Energy & Environmental Science)

   Low-temperature direct ammonia fuel cells (DAFCs) use carbon-neutral ammonia as a fuel, which has attracted increasing attention recently due to ammonia's low source-to-tank energy cost, easy transport and storage, and wide availability. However, current DAFC technologies are greatly limited by the kinetically sluggish ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) at the anode. Herein, we report an AOR catalyst, in which ternary PtIrZn nanoparticles with an average size of 2.3 ± 0.2 nm were highly dispersed on a binary composite support comprising cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8)-derived carbon (PtIrZn/CeO 2 -ZIF-8) through a sonochemical-assisted synthesis method. The PtIrZnmore »alloy, with the aid of abundant OH ad provided by CeO 2 and uniform particle dispersibility contributed by porous ZIF-8 carbon (surface area: ∼600 m 2 g −1 ), has shown highly efficient catalytic activity for the AOR in alkaline media, superior to that of commercial PtIr/C. The rotating disk electrode (RDE) results indicate a lower onset potential (0.35 vs. 0.43 V), relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode at room temperature, and a decreased activation energy (∼36.7 vs. 50.8 kJ mol −1 ) relative to the PtIr/C catalyst. Notably, the PtIrZn/CeO 2 -ZIF-8 catalyst was assembled with a high-performance hydroxide anion-exchange membrane to fabricate an alkaline DAFC, reaching a peak power density of 91 mW cm −2 . Unlike in aqueous electrolytes, supports play a critical role in improving uniform ionomer distribution and mass transport in the anode. PtIrZn nanoparticles on silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) integrated with carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT–COOH) were further studied as the anode in a DAFC. A significantly enhanced peak power density of 314 mW cm −2 was achieved. Density functional theory calculations elucidated that Zn atoms in the PtIr alloy can reduce the theoretical limiting potential of *NH 2 dehydrogenation to *NH by ∼0.1 V, which can be attributed to a Zn-modulated upshift of the Pt–Ir d-band that facilitates the N–H bond breakage.« less
5. (Invited) Oxide Electronics and Recent Progress in Bipolar Applications

   https://doi.org/10.1149/MA2022-01191071mtgabs  

   Lee, Sunghwan ; Lee, Donghun ; Qin, Fei ; Zhang, Yuxuan ; Rothschild, Molly ; Song, Han Wook ; No, Kwangsoo ( July 2022 , ECS Meeting Abstracts)

   The discovery of oxide electronics is of increasing importance today as one of the most promising new technologies and manufacturing processes for a variety of electronic and optoelectronic applications such as next-generation displays, batteries, solar cells, memory devices, and photodetectors[1]. The high potential use seen in oxide electronics is due primarily to their high carrier mobilities and their ability to be fabricated at low temperatures[2]. However, since the majority of oxide semiconductors are n-type oxides, current applications are limited to unipolar devices, eventually developing oxide-based bipolar devices such as p-n diodes and complementary metal-oxide semiconductors. We have contributed to amore »wide range of oxide semiconductors and their electronics and optoelectronic device applications. Particularly, we have demonstrated n-type oxide-based thin film transistors (TFT), integrating In 2 O 3 -based n-type oxide semiconductors from binary cation materials to ternary cation species including InZnO, InGaZnO (IGZO), and InAlZnO. We have suggested channel/metallization contact strategies to achieve stable and high TFT performance[3, 4], identified vacancy-based native defect doping mechanisms[5], suggested interfacial buffer layers to promote charge injection capability[6], and established the role of third cation species on the carrier generation and carrier transport[7]. More recently, we have reported facile manufacturing of p-type SnOx through reactive magnetron sputtering from a Sn metal target[8]. The fabricated p-SnOx was found to be devoid of metallic phase of Sn from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and demonstrated stable performance in a fully oxide-based p-n heterojunction together with n-InGaZnO. The oxide-based p-n junctions exhibited a high rectification ratio greater than 10 3 at ±3 V, a low saturation current of ~2x10 -10 , and a small turn-on voltage of -0.5 V. In this presentation, we review recent achievements and still remaining issues in transition metal oxide semiconductors and their device applications, in particular, bipolar applications including p-n heterostructures and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices as well as single polarity devices such as TFTs and memristors. In addition, the fundamental mechanisms of carrier transport behaviors and doping mechanisms that govern the performance of these oxide-based devices will also be discussed. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Award No. ECCS-1931088. S.L. and H.W.S. acknowledge the support from the Improvement of Measurement Standards and Technology for Mechanical Metrology (Grant No. 20011028) by KRISS. K.N. was supported by Basic Science Research Program (NRF-2021R11A1A01051246) through the NRF Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. REFERENCES [1] K. Nomura et al. , Nature, vol. 432, no. 7016, pp. 488-492, Nov 25 2004. [2] D. C. Paine et al. , Thin Solid Films, vol. 516, no. 17, pp. 5894-5898, Jul 1 2008. [3] S. Lee et al. , Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 109, no. 6, p. 063702, Mar 15 2011, Art. no. 063702. [4] S. Lee et al. , Applied Physics Letters, vol. 104, no. 25, p. 252103, 2014. [5] S. Lee et al. , Applied Physics Letters, vol. 102, no. 5, p. 052101, Feb 4 2013, Art. no. 052101. [6] M. Liu et al. , ACS Applied Electronic Materials, vol. 3, no. 6, pp. 2703-2711, 2021/06/22 2021. [7] A. Reed et al. , Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 10.1039/D0TC02655G vol. 8, no. 39, pp. 13798-13810, 2020. [8] D. H. Lee et al. , ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, vol. 13, no. 46, pp. 55676-55686, 2021/11/24 2021.« less