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At least 847 records · Page 47

Ab Initio Derived Force Fields for Predicting CO 2 Adsorption and Accessibility of Metal Sites in the Metal–Organic Frameworks M-MOF-74 (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu)

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile nanoporous materials that have gained significant interest as low heat capacity, high selectivity sorbents for CO 2 capture applications. Large-scale atomistic simulations for identifying high-performance MOFs are possible, but are limited to systems for which existing molecular mechanics force fields describe the interactions between the guest and framework atoms with sufficient accuracy. However, standard force fields are not applicable to cases involving coordinatively unsaturated metal centers that can strongly bind specific sorbate molecules. It has been previously shown that improved force fields can be derived from quantum mechanical calculations. We derived force fields for an isostructural series of MOFs, M-MOF-74, where M = Mn, Co, Ni, and Cu, from first principles. Monte Carlo calculations in the Gibbs ensemble were used to calculate the CO 2 adsorption isotherms in order to assess the quality of the derived force field parameters and to determine a generally applicable procedure for obtaining a reliable force field for a targeted MOF and adsorbate system. The computed CO 2 adsorption isotherms for the different M-MOF-74 members agree with experimental measurements at low loading and show that Ni-MOF-74 possesses the highest affinity toward CO 2 and Cu-MOF-74 the weakest. In addition, we explored the source of open metal site and pore inaccessibility in these materials and quantified its impact on adsorption, especially the discrepancies often observed between experiments and simulations at high loadings.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Hydrogen-Induced Clustering of Metal Atoms in Oxygenated Metal Surfaces

Nearly, all metals form spontaneously an oxygenated surface upon exposure to air. We demonstrate that the reaction of such an oxygenated surface with hydrogen results in the clustering of metal atoms. Using scanning electron microcopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ low-energy electron microscopy, we show that Cu atoms in the oxygenated Cu(110) surface self-assemble into Cu clusters upon the hydrogen-induced loss of the chemisorbed oxygen. It is shown that the clustering of Cu atoms occurs preferentially along the upper side of step edges formed by neighboring terraces of the substrate and boundaries of heterophase domains on the same terrace, followed by the spreading across the entire surface as the reaction progresses toward completion. Using density functional theory calculations, we show that the heterogeneous clustering of Cu atoms is induced by step-crossing barriers that hinder Cu atoms crossing descendent steps, thereby resulting in three-dimensional aggregation of Cu atoms on the upper side of step edges. These results may find broader applicability to tailor the formation of metal clusters for elucidating the intrinsic properties and functionalities of nanoclusters.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Rational Construction of Porous Metal–Organic Frameworks for Uranium(VI) Extraction: The Strong Periodic Tendency with a Metal Node

Although metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been reported as important porous materials for the potential utility in metal ion separation, coordinating the functionality, structure, and component of MOFs remains a great challenge. Herein, a series of anionic rare earth MOFs (RE-MOFs) were synthesized via a solvothermal template reaction and for the first time explored for uranium(VI) capture from an acidic medium. The unusually high extraction capacity of UO2 2 + (e.g., 538 mg U per g of Y-MOF) was achieved through ion-exchange with the concomitant release of Me 2 NH 2 + , during which the uranium(VI) extraction in the series of isostructural RE-MOFs was found to be highly sensitive to the ionic radii of the metal nodes. That is, the uranium(VI) adsorption capacities continuously increased as the ionic radii decreased. Finally, in-depth mechanism insight was obtained from molecular dynamics simulations, suggesting that both the accessible pore volume of the MOFs and hydrogen-bonding interactions contribute to the strong periodic tendency of uranium(VI) extraction.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

In Situ TEM Study of Radiation Resistance of Metallic Glass–Metal Core–Shell Nanocubes

Radiation damage can cause significantly more surface damage in metallic nanostructures than bulk materials. Structural changes from displacement damage compromise the performance of nanostructures in radiation environments such as nuclear reactors and outer space, or used in radiation therapy for biomedical treatments. As such, it is important to develop strategies to prevent this from occurring if nanostructures are to be incorporated into these applications. In this work, in situ transmission electron microscope ion irradiation was used to investigate whether a metallic glass (MG) coating mitigates sputtering and morphological changes in metallic nanostructures. Dislocation-free Au nanocubes and Au nanocubes coated with a Ni–B MG were bombarded with 2.8 MeV Au 4+ ions. The formation of internal defects in bare Au nanocubes was observed at a fluence of 7.5 × 10 11 ions/cm 2 (0.008 dpa), and morphological changes such as surface roughening, rounding of corners, and formation of nanofilaments began at 4 × 10 12 ions/cm 2 (0.04 dpa). In contrast, the Ni–B MG-coated Au nanocubes (Au@NiB) showed minimal morphological changes at a fluence of 1.9 × 10 13 ions/cm 2 (0.2 dpa). Finally, the MG coating maintains its amorphous nature under all irradiation conditions investigated.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Atomic Structural Origin of the High Methanol Selectivity over In 2 O 3 –Metal Interfaces: Metal–Support Interactions and the Formation of a InO x Overlayer in Ru/In 2 O 3 Catalysts during CO 2 Hydrogenation

CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol is of great environmental and economic interest due to its potential to reduce carbon emissions and produce valuable chemicals in one single reaction. Compared with the unmodified traditional Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst, an indium oxide (In 2 O 3 )-based catalyst can double the methanol selectivity from 30–50 to 60–100%. It is worth noting that over catalysts involving various active metals dispersed on indium oxide (M/In 2 O 3 , M = Pd, Ni, Au, etc.), although the methanol yield is boosted, the selectivity remains similar to that of plain In 2 O 3 despite the distinct chemical properties of the added metals. Here, to investigate the phenomena behind this behavior, we used RuO 2 /In 2 O 3 as a test catalyst. The results of ambient pressure photoelectron spectroscopy, in situ X-ray absorption fine structure, and time-resolved X-ray diffraction indicate that the structure of the RuO 2 /In 2 O 3 catalyst is highly dynamic in the presence of a reactive environment. Specifically, under CO 2 hydrogenation conditions, Ru clusters facilitate the reduction of In 2 O 3 to generate In 2 O 3–x aggregates, which encapsulate the Ru systems in a migration driven by thermodynamics. In this way, the Ru O sites for CH 4 production are blocked while creating RuO x –In 2 O 3–x interfacial sites with tunable metal–oxide interactions for selective methanol production. In an inverse oxide/metal configuration, indium oxide has properties not seen in its bulk phase that are useful for the binding and conversion of CO 2 . This work reveals the dynamic nature of In 2 O 3 -based catalysts, providing insights for a rational design of materials for the selective synthesis of methanol.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Opportunities and Challenges of High-Energy Lithium Metal Batteries for Electric Vehicle Applications

Lithium metal batteries have great advantages over state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries in terms of energy density and cost, which present huge opportunities for long-range and low-cost electric vehicles in the future. However, the automotive industry has critical requirements on specific characteristics of battery cells, including but not limited to cycle life, working temperature range, fast discharge–charge capability, volume change, safety, and so on. In this Focus Review, we discuss both the cell- and system-level requirements and challenges of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries for future electrical vehicle applications and highlight some recent key progress in these aspects. Furthermore, our main objective is to identify key strategies on how to solve these challenges and inspire more research and development effort to accelerate the practical applications of lithium metal batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Growth of Carbon Nanotubes Using Mixed-Metal Catalysts That Include Heavy Refractory Metals as Catalyst Stabilizers

Here, we report new findings from studies of a novel technique to augment the growth of CNTs. In this method, the catalytic metals used for CNT growth are combined with high-melting-point heavy refractory metals, which serve to stabilize the metal catalyst nanoparticles, from which the CNTs nucleate and grow. Our study investigates the combination of an iron catalyst with tungsten and osmium refractory stabilizers. We find that both tungsten and osmium enhance the lifetime of the iron catalyst particles by a factor of approximately two. Tungsten stabilizer resulted in production of CNTs longer by a factor of 1.25 compared to those produced using a pure iron catalyst, while the osmium stabilizer did not significantly affect the ultimate length of the CNTs due to the decreased CNT growth rate with a combined Fe/Os catalyst. These results suggest a possible new route toward producing CNTs with lengths sufficient for materials applications.

Park, Wonjung [Univ. of Tampa, FL (United States)]↗

Synthesis, Structure, and Metalation of Two New Highly Porous Zirconium Metal-Organic Frameworks

Three new metal-organic frameworks [MOF-525, Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 (TCPP-H 2 ) 3 ; MOF-535, Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 (XF) 3 ; MOF-545, Zr 6 O 8 (H 2 O) 8 (TCPP-H 2 ) 2 , where porphyrin H 4 -TCPP-H 2 = (C 48 H 24 O 8 N 4 ) and cruciform H 4 -XF = (C 42 O 8 H 22 )] based on two new topologies, ftw and csq, have been synthesized and structurally characterized. MOF-525 and -535 are composed of Zr 6 O 4 (OH) 4 cuboctahedral units linked by either porphyrin (MOF-525) or cruciform (MOF-535). Another zirconium-containing unit, Zr 6 O 8 (H 2 O) 8 , is linked by porphyrin to give the MOF-545 structure. The structure of MOF-525 was obtained by analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. The structures of MOF-535 and -545 were resolved from synchrotron single-crystal data. MOF-525, -535, and -545 have Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface areas of 2620, 1120, and 2260 m 2 /g, respectively. In addition to their large surface areas, both porphyrin-containing MOFs are exceptionally chemically stable, maintaining their structures under aqueous and organic conditions. MOF-525 and -545 were metalated with iron(III) and copper(II) to yield the metalated analogues without losing their high surface area and chemical stability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Robust and Porous β-Diketiminate-Functionalized Metal–Organic Frameworks for Earth-Abundant-Metal-Catalyzed C–H Amination and Hydrogenation

We have designed a strategy for postsynthesis installation of the β-diketiminate (NacNac) functionality in a metal–organic framework (MOF) of UiO-topology. Metalation of the NacNac-MOF (I) with earth-abundant metal salts afforded the desired MOF-supported NacNac-M complexes (M = Fe, Cu, and Co) with coordination environments established by detailed EXAFS studies. The NacNac-Fe-MOF catalyst, I•Fe(Me), efficiently catalyzed the challenging intramolecular sp 3 C–H amination of a series of alkyl azides to afford α-substituted pyrrolidines. The NacNac-Cu-MOF catalyst, I•Cu(THF), was effective in promoting the intermolecular sp 3 C–H amination of cyclohexene using unprotected anilines to provide access to secondary amines in excellent selectivity. Finally, the NacNac-Co-MOF catalyst, I•Co(H), was used to catalyze alkene hydrogenation with turnover numbers (TONs) as high as 700 000. All of the NacNac-M-MOF catalysts were more effective than their analogous homogeneous catalysts and could be recycled and reused without a noticeable decrease in yield. The NacNac-MOFs thus provide a novel platform for engineering recyclable earth-abundant-element-based single-site solid catalysts for many important organic transformations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Charge Delocalization and Bulk Electronic Conductivity in the Mixed-Valence Metal–Organic Framework Fe(1,2,3-triazolate) 2 (BF 4 ) x

Metal–organic frameworks are of interest for use in a variety of electrochemical and electronic applications, although a detailed understanding of their charge transport behavior, which is of critical importance for enhancing electronic conductivities, remains limited. Herein, we report isolation of the mixed-valence framework materials, Fe(tri) 2 (BF 4 ) x (tri – = 1,2,3-triazolate; x = 0.09, 0.22, and 0.33), obtained from the stoichiometric chemical oxidation of the poorly-conductive iron(II) framework Fe(tri) 2 , and find that the conductivity increases dramatically with iron oxidation level. Notably, the most oxidized variant, Fe(tri) 2 (BF 4 ) 0.33 , displays a room-temperature conductivity of 0.3(1) S/cm, which represents an increase of eight orders of magnitude from that of the parent material and is one of the highest conductivity values reported among three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks. Detailed characterization of Fe(tri) 2 and the Fe(tri) 2 (BF 4 ) x materials via powder X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and IR and UV-vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopies reveals that the high conductivity arises from intervalence charge transfer between mixed-valence low-spin Fe II/III centers. Further, Mössbauer spectroscopy indicates the presence of a valence-delocalized Fe II/III species in Fe(tri) 2 (BF 4 ) x at 290 K, one of the first such observations for a metal–organic framework. The electronic structure of valence-pure Fe(tri) 2 and the charge transport mechanism and electronic structure of mixed-valence Fe(tri) 2 (BF 4 ) x frameworks are discussed in detail.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ultra-high Photoresponsivity in Suspended Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Mesoscopic Multilayer MoS 2 Broadband Detector from UV-to-IR with Low Schottky Barrier Contacts

The design, fabrication, and characterization of ultra-high responsivity photodetectors based on mesoscopic multilayer MoS 2 is presented, which is a less explored system compared to direct band gap monolayer MoS 2 that has received increasing attention in recent years. The device architecture is comprised of a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector, where Mo was used as the contact metal to suspended MoS 2 membranes. The photoresponsivity R was measured to be ~1.4 × 10 4 A/W, which is > 10 4 times higher compared to prior reports, while the detectivity D* was computed to be ~2.3 × 10 11 Jones at 300 K at an optical power P of ~14.5 pW and wavelength λ of ~700 nm. In addition, the dominant photocurrent mechanism was determined to be the photoconductive effect (PCE), while a contribution from the photogating effect was also noted from trap-states that yielded a wide spectral photoresponse from UV-to-IR (400 nm to 1100 nm) with an external quantum efficiency (EQE) ~10 4 . From time-resolved photocurrent measurements, a decay time τ d ~ 2.5 ms at 300 K was measured from the falling edge of the photogenerated waveform after irradiating the device with a stream of incoming ON/OFF white light pulses.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A Density Functional Theory Analysis of Trends in Glycerol Decomposition on Close-Packed Transition Metal Surfaces

We describe an accelerated density functional theory (DFT)-based computational strategy to determine trends in the decomposition of glycerol via elementary dehydrogenation, C–C, and C–O bond scission reactions on close-packed transition metal surfaces. Beginning with periodic DFT calculations on Pt(111), the thermochemistry of glycerol dehydrogenation on Pd(111), Rh(111), Cu(111) and Ni(111) is determined using a parameter-free, bond order-based scaling relationship. By combining the results with Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi (BEP) relationships to estimate elementary reaction barriers, free energy diagrams are developed on the respective metal surfaces, and trends concerning the relative selectivity and activity for C–C and C–O bond scission in glycerol on the various metals are obtained. The results are consistent with available theoretical and experimental literature and demonstrate that scaling relationships are capable of providing powerful insights into the catalytic chemistry of complex biomolecules.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗

Non-precious metal electrocatalysts with high activity for hydrogen oxidation reaction in alkaline electrolytes

A ternary metallic CoNiMo catalyst is electrochemically deposited on a polycrystalline gold (Au) disk electrode using pulse voltammetry, and characterized for hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) activity by temperature-controlled rotating disk electrode measurements in 0.1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH). The catalyst exhibits the highest HOR activity among all non-precious metal catalysts (e.g., 20 fold higher than Ni). At a sufficient loading, the CoNiMo catalyst is expected to outperform Pt and thus provides a promising low cost pathway for alkaline or alkaline membrane fuel cells. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and parallel H-2-temperature programmed desorption (TPD) experiments on structurally much simpler model alloy systems show a trend that CoNiMo has a hydrogen binding energy (HBE) similar to Pt and much lower than Ni, suggesting that the formation of multi-metallic bonds modifies the HBE of Ni and is likely a significant contributing factor for the enhanced HOR activity.

Sheng, WC↗

Covalent Attachment of Diphosphine Ligands to Glassy Carbon Electrodes via Cu-Catalyzed Alkyne-Azide Cycloaddition. Metallation with Ni(II)

Covalent tethering of PPh2NC6H4C=CH2 ligands (PPh2NC6H4C=CH2 = 1,5-di-(4-ethynylphenyl)-3,7-diphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane) to planar, azide-terminated glassy carbon electrode surfaces has been accomplished using a CuI-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) as the coupling reaction, using a BH3?P protection-deprotection strategy. Deprotected, surface-confined ligands were metallated using [NiII(MeCN)6](BF4)2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements demonstrate that metallation introduced 1.3 equivalents NiII per diphosphine onto the electrode surface. Exposure of the surface to a second diphosphine ligand, PPh2NPh2, resulted in the removal of Ni from the surface. Protection, coupling, deprotection, and metallation conditions were optimized using solution-phase model systems, with benzyl azide as a model for the azide-terminated carbon surface; these reactions generate a [NiII(diphosphine)2]2+ complex. Acknowledgment. This research was supported as part of the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The XPS measurements were performed at the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a national scientific user facility sponsored by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The x-ray crystal structure analysis was carried out by S.L., who was supported by a grant to Wendy J. Shaw from the Early Career Research Program through the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.

electrocatalysis, surface attachment, XPS↗

The migration mechanism of transition metal ions in LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4

The migration of transition metal ions in the oxygen framework was recently proposed to be responsible for the continuous loss of average working potential of high energy density layered–layered composite cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. The potential migration pathway in a model material, LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 spinel, was investigated using in situ high-energy X-ray diffraction and in situ neutron diffraction during the solid state synthesis process. It was found that the migration of transition metal ions among octahedral sites is possible by using tetrahedral vacancies as intermediate sites. It was also suggested that the number of electrons in 3d orbitals has a significant impact on their mobility in the hosting oxygen framework.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗