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1. Ni ₂ P‐Modified Ta ₃ N ₅ and TaON for Photocatalytic Nitrate Reduction

   https://doi.org/10.1002/cnma.202000174  

   Wei, Lin; Adamson, Marquix_A_S; Vela, Javier (May 2020, ChemNanoMat)

   Abstract Self‐sustaining photocatalytic NO₃⁻reduction systems could become ideal NO₃⁻removal methods. Developing an efficient, highly active photocatalyst is the key to the photocatalytic reduction of NO₃⁻. In this work, we present the synthesis of Ni₂P‐modified Ta₃N₅(Ni₂P/Ta₃N₅), TaON (Ni₂P/TaON), and TiO₂(Ni₂P/TiO₂). Starting with a 2 mM (28 g/mL NO₃⁻−N) aqueous solution of NO₃⁻, as made Ni₂P/Ta₃N₅and Ni₂P/TaON display as high as 79% and 61% NO₃⁻conversion under 419 nm light within 12 h, which correspond to reaction rates per gram of 196 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹and 153 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively, and apparent quantum yields of 3–4%. Compared to 24% NO₃⁻conversion in Ni₂P/TiO₂, Ni₂P/Ta₃N₅and Ni₂P/TaON exhibit higher activities due to the visible light active semiconductor (SC) substrates Ta₃N₅and TaON. We also discuss two possible electron migration pathways in Ni₂P/semiconductor heterostructures. Our experimental results suggest one dominant electron migration pathway in these materials, namely: Photo‐generated electrons migrate from the semiconductor to co‐catalyst Ni₂P, and upshift its Fermi level. The higher Fermi level provides greater driving force and allows NO₃⁻reduction to occur on the Ni₂P surface. 

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2. Synthesis and structural characterization of the heavy tricysteinylpnictines, models of protein-bound As(III), Sb(III), and Bi(III)

   https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT02476A  

   Hollow, Sophia E; Johnstone, Timothy C (December 2024, Dalton Transactions)

   We synthesize and characterize As(Cys)₃, Sb(Cys)₃, and Bi(Cys)₃, describe their crystal structures, analyze structural trends across Pn(SR)₃compounds, and compare their features to the structures of proteins with these centers bound to Cys₃motifs. 

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3. Identification of a prismatic P3N3 molecule formed from electron irradiated phosphine-nitrogen ices

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25775-1  

   Zhu, Cheng; Eckhardt, André K.; Chandra, Sankhabrata; Turner, Andrew M.; Schreiner, Peter R.; Kaiser, Ralf I. (September 2021, Nature Communications)

   Abstract Polyhedral nitrogen containing molecules such as prismatic P₃N₃- a hitherto elusive isovalent species of prismane (C₆H₆) - have attracted particular attention from the theoretical, physical, and synthetic chemistry communities. Here we report on the preparation of prismatic P₃N₃[1,2,3-triaza-4,5,6-triphosphatetracyclo[2.2.0.0^2,6.0^3,5]hexane] by exposing phosphine (PH₃) and nitrogen (N₂) ice mixtures to energetic electrons. Prismatic P₃N₃was detected in the gas phase and discriminated from its isomers utilizing isomer selective, tunable soft photoionization reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometry during sublimation of the ices along with an isomer-selective photochemical processing converting prismatic P₃N₃to 1,2,4-triaza-3,5,6-triphosphabicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (P₃N₃). In prismatic P₃N₃, the P–P, P–N, and N–N bonds are lengthened compared to those in, e.g., diphosphine (P₂H₄), di-anthracene stabilized phosphorus mononitride (PN), and hydrazine (N₂H₄), by typically 0.03–0.10 Å.  These findings advance our fundamental understanding of the chemical bonding of poly-nitrogen and poly-phosphorus systems and reveal a versatile pathway to produce exotic, ring-strained cage molecules. 

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4. Divalent Anionic Doping in Perovskite Solar Cells for Enhanced Chemical Stability

   https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201800973  

   Gong, Jue; Yang, Mengjin; Rebollar, Dominic; Rucinski, Jordan; Liveris, Zachary; Zhu, Kai; Xu, Tao (July 2018, Advanced Materials)

   Abstract The chemical stabilities of hybrid perovskite materials demand further improvement toward long‐term and large‐scale photovoltaic applications. Herein, the enhanced chemical stability of CH₃NH₃PbI₃is reported by doping the divalent anion Se²⁻in the form of PbSe in precursor solutions to enhance the hydrogen‐bonding‐like interactions between the organic cations and the inorganic framework. As a result, in 100% humidity at 40 °C, the 10% w/w PbSe‐doped CH₃NH₃PbI₃films exhibited >140‐fold stability improvement over pristine CH₃NH₃PbI₃films. As the PbSe‐doped CH₃NH₃PbI₃films maintained the perovskite structure, a top efficiency of 10.4% with 70% retention after 700 h aging in ambient air is achieved with an unencapsulated 10% w/w PbSe:MAPbI₃‐based cell. As a bonus, the incorporated Se²⁻also effectively suppresses iodine diffusion, leading to enhanced chemical stability of the silver electrodes. 

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5. Atomic doping to enhance the p-type behavior of BiFeO ₃ photoelectrodes for solar H ₂ O ₂ production

   https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ta03191a  

   Seo, Daye; Grieder, Andrew; Radmilovic, Andjela; Alamudun, Sophya F; Yuan, Xin; Ping, Yuan; Choi, Kyoung-Shin (August 2024, Journal of Materials Chemistry A)

   Na-doped BiFeO₃demonstrates an enhanced p-type behavior compared to p-type BiFeO₃prepared without extrinsic dopants, and Na-doped BiFeO₃can serve as a photocathode for solar O₂reduction to H₂O₂when coupled with Ag nanoparticle catalysts. 

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