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Abstract Octalenobisterphenylene1(also known as terphenylene dimer) was synthesized from 3,3′,5,5′‐tetraaryl‐substituted biaryl bytert‐butyllithium‐mediated cyclization followed by oxidative coupling. This one‐pot two‐step protocol facilitated the successive formation of four four‐membered and two eight‐membered rings. Treatment of1with sodium metal, followed by crystallization from THF, yielded the remarkable diradical dianion [(1^•–)₂]²⁻, where the two molecular halves are connected by four σ bonds. The cyclodimerization is driven by the pronounced reactivity and strain of the central six‐membered ring within the [3]phenylene subunit. The structure and diradical nature of [(Na⁺)₂(1^•–)₂] were confirmed through X‐ray crystallography, DFT computations, and¹H NMR and ESR spectra. These investigations revealed that the two spins, one on each molecular half, exhibit minimal mutual interaction. 

Abstract Rigorous electrokinetic results are key to understanding the reaction mechanisms in the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR), however, most reported results are compromised by the CO mass transport limitation. In this work, we determined mass transport-free CORR kinetics by employing a gas-diffusion type electrode and identified dependence of catalyst surface speciation on the electrolyte pH using in-situ surface enhanced vibrational spectroscopies. Based on the measured Tafel slopes and reaction orders, we demonstrate that the formation rates of C 2+ products are most likely limited by the dimerization of CO adsorbate. CH 4 production is limited by the CO hydrogenation step via a proton coupled electron transfer and a chemical hydrogenation step of CO by adsorbed hydrogen atom in weakly (7 < pH < 11) and strongly (pH > 11) alkaline electrolytes, respectively. Further, CH 4 and C 2+ products are likely formed on distinct types of active sites. 

Abstract Harnessing renewable electricity to drive the electrochemical reduction of CO₂is being intensely studied for sustainable fuel production and as a means for energy storage. Copper is the only monometallic electrocatalyst capable of converting CO₂to value-added products, e.g., hydrocarbons and oxygenates, but suffers from poor selectivity and mediocre activity. Multiple oxidative treatments have shown improvements in the performance of copper catalysts. However, the fundamental underpinning for such enhancement remains controversial. Here, we combine reactivity, in-situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and computational investigations to demonstrate that the presence of surface hydroxyl species by co-electrolysis of CO₂with low concentrations of O₂can dramatically enhance the activity of copper catalyzed CO₂electroreduction. Our results indicate that co-electrolysis of CO₂with an oxidant is a promising strategy to introduce catalytically active species in electrocatalysis.