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At least 19 records

Graphite crystals in catalytically-graphitized glass-like carbon

Catalytic graphitization of glass-like carbon leads to enhanced growth of micro-sized graphitic crystals with unusual shapes of wires, filaments, tubes, rods, whiskers, and spirals. Similar particles with axial symmetry are also found in pure glass-like carbon heat-treated at high temperatures. Nonetheless, the presence of a graphitization catalyst, Si in this case, in the heat-treatment process supports the transformation of porous, disordered carbon structure towards the graphitic atomic order and the formation of manifold peculiar polyhedral wires and particles of geometry distinct from the plate-like shape typical for conventional graphite. In contrast to conventional carbon nanotubes and fibers, the graphene layers are stacked perpendicular to the tube axis, while the size of the most common tube fibers can reach up to 10 μm in diameter and 100 μm in length. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering combined with complementary techniques have been used to characterize the structure of the glass-like carbon derived from furfuryl alcohol catalytically-graphitized using Si particles at 3000 °C. Finally, since control of graphite shape is vital to achieving the level of performance required in contemporary applications, the obtained results demonstrate that the catalytic graphitization method may be employed to produce filamentous graphite crystals.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Catalytic Reduction of Cyanide to Ammonia and Methane at a Mononuclear Fe Site

Nitrogenase enzymes catalyze nitrogen reduction (N 2 R) to ammonia and also the reduction of non-native substrates, including the 7H + /6e – reduction of cyanide to CH 4 and NH 3 . CN – and N 2 are isoelectronic, and it is hence fascinating to compare the mechanisms of synthetic Fe catalysts capable of both CN – and N 2 reduction. Here, we describe the catalytic reduction of CN – to NH 3 and CH 4 by a highly selective (P 3 Si )Fe(CN) catalyst (P 3 Si represents a tris(phosphine)silyl ligand). Catalysis is driven in the presence of excess acid ([Ph 2 NH 2 ]OTf) and reductant ((C 6 H 6 ) 2 Cr), with turnover as high as 73 demonstrated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Revealing the Predominant Surface Facets of Rough Cu Electrodes under Electrochemical Conditions

Metal electrodes with rough surfaces are frequently found to convert CO or CO 2 to hydrocarbons and oxygenates with high selectivity and at high reaction rates in comparison with their smooth counterparts. The atomic-level morphology of a rough electrode is likely one key factor responsible for its comparatively high catalytic selectivity and activity. However, few methods are capable of probing the atomic-level structure of rough metal electrodes under electrocatalytic conditions. As a result, the nuances in the atomic-level surface morphology that control the catalytic characteristics of these electrodes have remained largely unexplored. Because the C≡O stretching frequency of atop-bound CO (CO atop ) depends on the coordination of the underlying metal atom, the IR spectrum of this reaction intermediate on the copper electrode could, in principle, provide structural information about the catalytic surface during electrolysis. However, other effects, such as dynamic dipole coupling, easily obscure the dependence of the frequency on the surface morphology. Further, in the limit of low CO atop coverage, where coupling effects are small, the C≡O stretching frequencies of CO atop on Cu(111) and Cu(100) facets are virtually identical. Therefore, on the basis of the C≡O stretching frequency, it is not straightforward to distinguish between these two ubiquitous surface facets, which exhibit vastly different CO reduction activities. Herein, we show that key features of the atomic-level surface morphology of rough copper electrodes can be inferred from the potential dependence of the line shape of the C≡O stretching band of CO atop . Specifically, we compared two types of rough copper thin-film electrodes that are routinely employed in the context of surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS). We found that copper films that are electrochemically deposited on Si-supported Au films (CuAu–Si) are poor catalysts for the reduction of CO to ethylene in comparison to copper films (Cu–Si) that are electrolessly deposited onto Si crystals. As quantified by differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS), the onset potential for ethylene is ~200 ± 65 mV more cathodic for CuAu–Si than that for Cu–Si. To reveal the origin of the disparate catalytic properties of Cu–Si and CuAu–Si, we probed the surfaces of the electrodes with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and SEIRAS. The CV characterization suggests that the (111) surface facet predominates on CuAu–Si, whereas the (100) facet is more common on Cu–Si. SEIRAS reveals that the line shape of the C≡O stretching of CO atop is composed of two bands that are attributable to CO atop on terrace and defect sites. The different surface structures manifest themselves in the form of starkly different potential dependences of the line shape of the C≡O stretching mode of CO atop on the two types of electrodes. With a simple Boltzmann model that considers the different adsorption energies of CO atop on terrace and defect sites, and the resulting CO atop populations on terrace and defect sites, we deduced that the observed electrode-specific potential dependence of the line shape is consistent with the presence of different predominant terrace sites on the two types of films. This strategy for assessing the atomic-level morphology is not restricted to SEIRAS but could also be applied to the C≡O stretching bands recorded with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), which is suitable for probing a wide range of rough copper electrodes. Therefore, with this work, we establish the potential dependence of the C≡O stretching band of CO atop as a probe of the atomic-level surface structure of rough metal electrodes under electrochemical conditions. When it is coupled with complementary techniques, this methodology provides essential structural information for further improvement in the reaction selectivity of rough metal electrodes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Syngas Production at Si Hybrid Photoelectrodes Modified with Re(I) and Mn(I) Tricarbonyl Phenanthroline Complexes Containing Reactive Aryl Azide Groups

We installed molecular CO 2 reduction (CO 2 R) catalysts directly onto Si (photo)electrodes. The highly reactive M(5-azido-1,10-phenanthroline)(CO) 3 X (where M = Mn or Re, X = Br or Cl) complexes readily bubbled when dissolved in polar organic solvents, in both the presence and absence of an ultraviolet light source. When placed on hydrogen-terminated Si (H-Si) and native silicon oxide (SiOx), similar amounts of the complex were attached to the surface under illumination (367 nm, 50–200 mW/cm 2 ) or in the dark. Surprisingly, these films revealed submonolayer coverages instead of the multilayered structures we expected. DFT analyses support monolayer formation, showing that the triplet-state nitrene of the complex is more energetically favorable than the singlet state. Using controlled-potential electrolysis experiments, we showed that Re- and Mn-containing films on pSi photoelectrodes generated small amounts of CO when exposed to 1 atm of CO 2 and 1 sun illumination. These amounts of CO were an order of magnitude greater than control surfaces, producing 5.59 × 10 –7 mol CO/h for Re(az-phen) and 7.83 × 10 –7 mol CO/h for Mn(az-phen) films. Much of the charge passed at the pSi electrodes was consumed by the competing hydrogen evolution reaction, which we attribute to the low molecular coverage and the presence of native oxide on the electrode surface after attachment. Finally, this work demonstrates the feasibility of reacting azide-containing ligands with Si surfaces. Still, it highlights the need for alternative ligand structures and reaction conditions to form multilayer films.

azides↗

Tandem Electrocatalytic CO 2 Reduction with Efficient Intermediate Conversion over Pyramid-Textured Cu–Ag Catalysts

If combined with renewably generated electricity, electrochemical CO 2 reduction (E-CO 2 R) could be used as a sustainable source of chemicals and fuels. Tandem catalysis approaches are attractive for providing the product selectivity, which would be required for commercial applications. Here, we demonstrate a two-step tandem electrocatalytic E-CO 2 R with efficient conversion of the intermediate species. The catalyst scaffold is Si(100), which is etched to form a textured surface consisting of micron-sized pyramid structures with the {111} facets. Two metals are used in the electrocatalytic cascade: Ag is employed to perform a two-electron reduction of CO 2 to the intermediate CO, and Cu performs conversion to more reduced products. Using high-angle physical vapor deposition, we form separated, micron-scale areas of the two electrocatalysts on opposite sides of the pyramids, with their relative surface coverages being tunable with the deposition angle. Compared to the textured scaffolds with blanket Ag and Cu used as controls, bimetallic pyramid tandem catalysts have higher current densities and much lower faradic efficiencies (FE) for CO. These effects are due to efficient conversion of the CO formed on Ag to more reduced products on Cu. Methane is the main product to be enhanced by the cascade pathway: a bimetallic catalyst with approximately equal coverages of Ag and Cu produces methane with a FE of 62% at -1.1 V RHE , corresponding to a partial current density of 12.7 mA cm -2 . We estimate an intermediate conversion yield for the CO intermediate of 80-90%, which is close to the mass-transport limited value predicted by reaction-diffusion simulations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Elemental zoning enhances mass transport in zeolite catalysts for methanol to hydrocarbons

Mass transport limitations in zeolite catalysts pose major hurdles for their optimal performance in diverse chemical reactions. Most approaches to reduce these restrictions focus on the synthesis of either hierarchical or nanosized zeolites. Here we demonstrate that the existence of a siliceous, catalytically inactive exterior rim on ZSM-5 particles dramatically reduces the diffusion limitations, which leads to an enhanced catalyst lifetime for the methanol-to-hydrocarbon reaction. In this study, our findings reveal that binary inorganic and organic structure-directing agents enable a one-pot synthesis of Si-zoned ZSM-5 catalysts with diffusion properties that are characteristic of particles with a much smaller size. Operando ultraviolet–visible light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy reveals a marked reduction in external coking among Si-zoned samples. Molecular dynamics simulations to assess the diffusion of methanol and benzene in siliceous pores and in those with Brønsted acids reveal substantially reduced transport limitations in zoned regions, consistent with the improved catalyst activity of Si-zoned zeolites relative to that of ZSM-5 with a homogeneous acid-site distribution.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Protective Catalyst Systems on III-V and Si-based Semiconductors for Efficient, Durable Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Devices

The overall goal of this project was to develop unassisted water splitting devices based on III-V materials, creating pathways to improve performance in terms of efficiency, improve durability, and cost. One major objective is to develop pathways to systems that can ultimately achieve > 20% solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency. Another objective was to develop pathways to high efficiency systems that can operate on-sun for at least 2 weeks. With respect to cost, this research provide new approaches to tandem photoelectrode design and fabrication that one day may allow for costs to reach $200/m 2 . Two distinct water splitting schemes were explored: Scheme 1 aims to develop high efficiency devices with tandem III-V photoabsorbers (e.g. GaInP 2 /GaInAs) with Scheme 2 targeting cost reduction while maintaining high efficiency by growing InGaN on crystalline Si (InGaN/Si). Both schemes were employed to couple with thin film, semi-transparent, catalytic/protection layers containing reduced or zero precious metal content that can enhance durability while maintaining high efficiency and enabling low material costs. Overall the project greatly advanced the technology to developing high performance systems with increased durability, as demonstrated by true on-sun testing through partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

08 HYDROGEN↗

Poly(cyclosilane) Postpolymerization Hydrosilylation

Postpolymerization functionalization is a key strategy in the diversification of polymeric materials for the conferral of tailored properties. Poly(cyclosilane)s are structurally complex polymers with an all-silicon backbone, featuring a periodic array of hydrido (Si–H) side chains that are potentially suitable for postpolymerization functionalization via hydrosilylation. At the same time, classical methods for hydrosilylation employing Pt- or Pd-based catalysts can result in Si–Si bond scission. In this work, we demonstrate borane-catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions between α-olefins and small molecules or three distinct poly(cyclosilane) architectures. We investigate chemoselectivity for end group versus internal Si–H groups and find that 29 Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning can provide insight on site-selectivity in the functionalization of a complex poly(cyclosilane). Furthermore, we show that postpolymerization hydrosilylation, converting oxidatively sensitive Si–H groups to Si–alkyl chains, modulates solubility and physical characteristics, optical properties, pyrolytic reactivity, and air sensitivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Immobilizing a Lehn-Type Catalyst with Nitrocyclocondensation Chemistries: CO 2 Reduction on Silicon Hybrid Photoelectrodes

Here, we present the first examples of installing a redox reporter and CO 2 reduction (CO 2 R) catalyst onto freshly HF-etched Si (photo)­electrodes using a solution-phase nitrocyclocondensation (NCC) reaction. Previous studies detailed the mechanism of NCC reactions on Si under ultrahigh vacuum conditions but have not applied these chemistries to generate functional (photo)­electrodes. Installing 4-nitrophenyl ferrocene (4-NpFc) molecules directly onto degenerately doped p + Si allowed us to evaluate the effects of different NCC reaction conditions on coverage (e.g., 3.6 ± 1.2 × 10 –11 mol/cm 2 ) and electrochemical reversibility. The 4-NpFc molecules remained immobilized under the reducing potentials (−2.0 V vs Fc +/0 in acetonitrile) needed to drive molecular CO 2 R catalysts. Installing 4-nitroaniline (4-NA) molecules onto low-doped pSi allowed us to couple Lehn-type Re­(I) catalysts with pendant carboxylic acids. The CO Faradaic efficiency of CO production under 1-sun illumination (−2.15 V vs Fc +/0 ) was 23% in CO 2 -saturated electrolyte, a value that surpasses previous examples of CO 2 R catalyst monolayers on Si. These two examples highlight the versatility of solution-phase NCC attachment chemistries for generating functional Si (photo)­electrodes.

catalysis↗

Photoelectrochemical CO 2 Reduction to CO Enabled by a Molecular Catalyst Attached to High-Surface-Area Porous Silicon

A high-surface-area p-type porous Si photocathode containing a covalently immobilized molecular Re catalyst is highly selective for the photoelectrochemical conversion of CO 2 to CO. It gives Faradaic efficiencies of up to 90% for CO at potentials of –1.7 V (versus ferrocenium/ferrocene) under 1 sun illumination in an acetonitrile solution containing phenol. Here, the photovoltage is approximately 300 mV based on comparisons with similar n-type porous Si cathodes in the dark. Using an estimate of the equilibrium potential for CO 2 reduction to CO under optimized reaction conditions, photoelectrolysis was performed at a small overpotential, and the onset of electrocatalysis in cyclic voltammograms occurred at a modest underpotential. The porous Si photoelectrode is more stable and selective for CO production than the photoelectrode generated by attaching the same Re catalyst to a planar Si wafer. Further, facile characterization of the porous Si-based photoelectrodes using transmission mode FTIR spectroscopy leads to highly reproducible catalytic performance.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Achieving Diesel-Like Efficiency in a High Stroke-to-Bore Ratio DISI Engine under Stoichiometric Operation

This work explores pathways to achieve diesel-like, high-efficiency combustion with stoichiometric 3-way catalyst compatible spark ignition (SI). A high stroke-to-bore engine design (1.5:1) with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and high compression ratio (r c ) was used to improve engine efficiency by up to 30% compared with a production turbocharged gasoline direct injection spark ignition engine. To achieve efficiency improvements, engine experiments were coupled with computational fluid dynamics simulations to guide and explain experimental trends between the original engine and the high stroke-to-bore ratio design (1.5:1). The effects of EGR and late intake valve closing (IVC) and fuel characteristics are investigated through their effects on knock mitigation. Direct injection of 91 RON E10 gasoline, 99 RON E0 gasoline, and liquified petroleum gas (i.e., propane/autogas) were evaluated with geometric rc ranging from 13.3:1 to 16.8:1. Finally, engine experiments demonstrated 47% gross thermal efficiency, and 45% net thermal efficiency at stoichiometric engine operation, at up to 17 bar IMEP and 2000 r/min with 16.8:1 rc.

42 ENGINEERING↗

In Situ Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Spectroelectrochemistry (ATR-IR-SEC) for the Characterization of Molecular Redox Processes on Surface-Proximal Doped Silicon ATR Crystal Working Electrodes

In situ mid-infrared spectroscopy is a powerful technique for understanding the mechanism of CO 2 reduction (CO 2 R) catalysts because it enables the direct detection of catalytic intermediates and products. Moreover, spectroelectrochemistry (SEC), the coupling of spectroscopy with electrochemistry, allows spectroscopic changes to be correlated with applied potentials to reveal potential-dependent intermediates that are often relevant to photoelectrochemical reactions. Hybrid photoelectrodes, comprised of a narrow bandgap semiconductor, like silicon (Si), with a covalently-linked molecular catalyst, are a promising platform for sunlight-driven catalysis, but characterization of the catalytic mechanism(s) is challenging under photoelectrochemical conditions, particularly when the catalyst is present in monolayer or less concentrations. Here, we have developed a new strategy to use multiple-reflection attenuated total reflectance IR spectroscopy (ATR-IR) coupled with electrochemistry to characterize catalysts directly integrated with a semiconductor surface under applied potential. We show that by surface-proximal n-type or p-type doping of the top ~100-200 nm of the crystal surface, Si ATR crystals can be used simultaneously as the internal reflection element and semiconductor working electrode for ATR-IR-SEC measurements. The surface-proximal doping strategy yields a quasi-equipotential surface with excellent infrared transparency that would have been compromised by free carrier absorption if the crystal was uniformly doped. This approach permits the catalytically-active functionalized surface to be directly probed without modification and overcomes signal-to-noise limitations of other strategies that use separately deposited working electrodes on Si ATR crystals. Proof-of-concept ATR-IR-SEC spectra were collected during the reduction and oxidation of monolayers of Re- and Ru-based transition metal carbonyl complexes, respectively, verifying the viability of the technique to probe redox processes associated with CO 2 R catalysts on Si electrode surfaces with high sensitivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High-Energy Hybridized States Enable Long-Lived Hot Electrons in Cobaloxime-Silicon Nanocrystal System

Strong electronic coupling is achieved between the molecular catalyst cobaloxime ([Co]) and silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) bridged by an ethylenepyridine group derived from vinylpyridine (vpy) covalently bound to the Si NC surface (Si-vpy-[Co]). The ethylenepyridine tether in Si-vpy-[Co] is key to dramatic changes to the system’s physical properties which are not observed in the corresponding formylpyridine (fpy) system (Si-fpy-[Co]) consistent with strong electronic coupling previously observed only in dark electrochemical systems. UV−vis absorption spectroscopy reveals new [Co]-centered electronic states in Si-vpy-[Co], and transient absorption spectroscopy finds a strong absorption feature appearing within 250 fs and persisting for at least 5 ns. Astoundingly, spectroelectrochemical measurements reveal that this absorption feature is consistent with both the singly reduced [Co] − and doubly reduced [Co] 2− complexes, leading to the conclusion that these long-lived charges are derived from high-energy “hot” electrons residing in [Co]-centered states. Detailed analysis using cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations provides insight into the unique electronic structure created in Si-vpy-[Co]. DFT reveals that the new electronic states arise from hybridization between deep Si NC band states and high-energy molecular orbitals of the ethylenepyridine tether and the [Co] catalyst and are facilitated by σ-bonding character at the ethylenepyridine linkage. This study demonstrates that strong electronic coupling achieved through precise molecular chemistry can change the paradigm of otherwise fixed energy levels in hybrid photoelectrochemical systems for artificial photosynthesis and related applications.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

A Heterogeneous Palladium Catalyst for the Polymerization of Olefins Prepared by Halide Abstraction Using Surface R 3 Si + Species

Abstract The silylium‐like surface species [ i Pr 3 Si][(R F O) 3 Al−OSi≡)] activates (N^N)Pd(CH 3 )Cl (N^N=Ar−N=CMeMeC=N−Ar, Ar=2,6‐bis(diphenylmethyl)‐4‐methylbenzene) by chloride ion abstraction to form [(N^N)Pd−CH 3 ][(R F O) 3 Al−OSi≡)] ( 1 ). A combination of FTIR, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, and reactions with CO or vinyl chloride establish that 1 shows similar reactivity patterns as (N^N)Pd(CH 3 )Cl activated with Na[B(Ar F ) 4 ]. Multinuclear 13 C{ 27 Al} RESPDOR and 1 H{ 19 F} S‐REDOR experiments are consistent with a weakly coordinated ion‐pair between (N^N)Pd−CH 3 + and [(R F O) 3 Al−OSi≡)]. 1 catalyzes the polymerization of ethylene with similar activities as [(N^N)Pd−CH 3 ] + in solution and incorporates up to 0.4 % methyl acrylate in copolymerization reactions. 1 produces polymers with significantly higher molecular weight than the solution catalyst, and generates the highest molecular weight polymers currently reported in copolymerization reactions of ethylene and methylacrylate.

Gao, Jiaxin↗

A Heterogeneous Palladium Catalyst for the Polymerization of Olefins Prepared by Halide Abstraction Using Surface R 3 Si + Species

The silylium-like surface species [ i Pr 3 Si][(R F O) 3 Al-OSi≡)] activates (N^N)Pd(CH 3 )Cl (N^N=Ar-N=CMeMeC=N-Ar, Ar=2,6-bis(diphenylmethyl)-4-methylbenzene) by chloride ion abstraction to form [(N^N)Pd-CH 3 ][(R F O) 3 Al-OSi≡)] ( 1 ). A combination of FTIR, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and reactions with CO or vinyl chloride establish that 1 shows similar reactivity patterns as (N^N)Pd(CH 3 )Cl activated with Na[B(Ar F ) 4 ]. Multinuclear 13 C{ 27 Al} RESPDOR and 1 H{ 19 F} S-REDOR experiments are consistent with a weakly coordinated ion-pair between (N^N)Pd-CH 3 + and [(R F O) 3 Al-OSi≡)]. 1 catalyzes the polymerization of ethylene with similar activities as [(N^N)Pd-CH 3 ] + in solution and incorporates up to 0.4% methyl acrylate in copolymerization reactions. 1 produces polymers with significantly higher molecular weight than the solution catalyst, and generates the highest molecular weight polymers currently reported in copolymerization reactions of ethylene and methylacrylate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Catalytically mediated epitaxy of 3D semiconductors on van der Waals substrates

The formation of well-controlled interfaces between materials of different structure and bonding is a key requirement when developing new devices and functionalities. Of particular importance are epitaxial or low defect density interfaces between two-dimensional materials and three-dimensional semiconductors or metals, where an interfacial structure influences electrical conductivity in field effect and optoelectronic devices, charge transfer for spintronics and catalysis, and proximity-induced superconductivity. Epitaxy and hence well-defined interfacial structure has been demonstrated for several metals on van der Waals-bonded substrates. Semiconductor epitaxy on such substrates has been harder to control, for example during chemical vapor deposition of Si and Ge on graphene. Here, we demonstrate a catalytically mediated het-eroepitaxy approach to achieve epitaxial growth of three-dimensional semiconductors such as Ge and Si on van der Waals-bonded materials such as graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. Epitaxy is "transferred" from the substrate to semiconductor nanocrystals via solid metal nano-crystals that readily align on the substrate and catalyze the formation of aligned nuclei of the semiconductor. In situ transmission electron microscopy allows us to elucidate the reaction pathway for this process and to show that solid metal nanocrystals can catalyze semiconductor growth at a significantly lower temperature than direct chemical vapor deposition or deposition mediated by liquid catalyst droplets. We discuss Ge and Si growth as a model system to explore the details of such hetero-interfacing and its applicability to a broader range of materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗