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An electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) is considered a promising alternative for the traditional Haber-Bosch process. In this study, we present a method for improving the ENRR by controlling the wettability of the catalyst surface, suppressing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) while facilitating N

The weight reduction of the bipolar plate (BP) is essential for commercializing unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs). In order to lighten the weight of the bipolar plate, we have used Pb/C composite powder as a cost-effective primary material, which is a mixture of low-density graphite and lead. Further, varied lead-carbon weight ratios (1: 8, 1:4, 1:1, 4:1, and 8:1) were investigated for fabricating the bipolar plate by hot-pressing process adding styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) as a binder. The specific surface area, porosity, and microstructure characteristics corresponding to the varied lead-graphite ratio of the prepared bipolar plates were studied. The relative difference in conductivity upon the compressibility of the plates is also examined. Finally, the wettability and electrochemical properties of the prepared bipolar plates were evaluated through water contact angle and cyclic voltammetry analysis.

Hydrogen has become an indispensable aspect of sustainable energy resources due to depleting fossil fuels and increasing pollution. Since hydrogen storage and transport is a major hindrance to expanding its applicability, green ammonia produced by electrochemical method is sourced as an efficient hydrogen carrier. Several heterostructured electrocatalysts are designed to achieve significantly higher electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction (NRR) activity for electrochemical ammonia production. In this study, we controlled the nitrogen reduction performances of Mo2C-Mo2N heterostructure electrocatalyst prepared by a simple one pot synthesis method. The prepared Mo2C-Mo2N0.92 heterostructure nanocomposites show clear phase formation for Mo2C and Mo2N0.92, respectively. The prepared Mo2C-Mo2N0.92 electrocatalysts deliver a maximum ammonia yield of about 9.6 μg h-1 cm-2 and a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of about 10.15%. The study reveals the improved nitrogen reduction performances of Mo2C-Mo2N0.92 electrocatalysts due to the combined activity of the Mo2C and Mo2N0.92 phases. In addition, the ammonia production from Mo2C-Mo2N0.92 electrocatalysts is intended by the associative nitrogen reduction mechanism on Mo2C phase and by Mars-van-Krevelen mechanism on Mo2N0.92 phase, respectively. This study suggests the importance of precisely tuning the electrocatalyst by heterostructure strategy to substantially achieve higher nitrogen reduction electrocatalytic activity.

The Cd4S6+ and Cd2S2+ clusters in the sodalite cavities were synthesized by reaction of the fully Cd2+-exchanged zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56) and 0.1 M Na2S(aq) solution at 294 K for 2 days. The single-crystal structure was determined at 100(1) K by synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd $$\overline{3}$$ m. The structure was refined using all intensities to the final error index R1/wR2 = 0.048/0.156 (for Fo > 4σ(Fo)). Approximately 13 Cd2+ and 53 Na+ ions per unit cell were found at two and four crystallographically distinct positions, respectively: two site-Iʹ positions (in the sodalite cavities opposite double 6-rings (D6Rs)) are occupied by 5 and 7.5 Cd2+ ions, respectively, per unit cell. The 0.5 Cd2+ ions per unit cell are at site IIʹ in the sodalite cavity. The 2 Na+ ion is located at the center of the D6R (site I). The 15.5 Na+ ions per unit cell are located at site Iʹ. Site-II position is occupied by 31.5 Na+ ions per unit cell. The remaining 4 Na+ ions per unit cell are located at sites IIIʹ near triple 4-rings in the supercage. Finally, 0.5 and 1.5 S2− ions per unit cell, associated with Cd2+ ions, were found at the center of sodalite cavity and opposite 6-ring in the sodalite cavity, respectively. The 1 S2− ion at the center of the sodalite cavity is coordinated to 4 Cd2+ ions at site Iʹ to give a centered-tetrahedral cationic cluster, Cd4S6+, and the other S2− ion opposite 6-ring in the sodalite cavity bridges between two Cd2+ ions at site Iʹ to give a cationic cluster with a bent arrangement, Cd2S2+, in 6.3% and 18.8% of the sodalite cavities of zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56), respectively.

The structures of fully Zn2+-exchanged zeolite Y, |Zn37.5|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (Si/Al = 1.56), evacuated at 523, 623, 723, 773, and 823 K, were determined at 100 K by single-crystal synchrotron X-ra...

The extraframework sodium sulfide cationic cluster, Na4S2+, has been introduced into zeolite Y (FAU, Si/Al = 1.56). A single crystal of |Na73(Na4S2+)1.0|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU was prepared by allowing aqueous 0.1 M Na2S solution to flow past a |Na75|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU crystal, and followed by vacuum dehydration at 723 K. Its structure was determined by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd $$\overline{3}$$ m. The structure was refined using all intensities to the final error index R1/wR2 = 0.044/0.125. About 77 Na+ ions per unit cell are found at the crystallographically distinct positions, six. One Na+ ion per unit cell is at the center of double 6-ring. Two site-I′ positions are occupied by 26.5 and 4 Na+ ions, respectively, per unit cell. Thirty-two Na+ ions per unit cell are found at site II, in the supercage opposite single 6-rings. The remaining 4.5 and 9 Na+ ions per unit cell occupy two sites III′ near triple 4-rings in the supercage. Finally, one sulfide ion per unit cell, associated with Na+ ions, is found at the center of sodalite cavity. The 4 Na+ ions at site I′ coordinate to a sulfide ion at the center of sodalite cavity to give tetrahedral cationic cluster, Na4S2+. In |Na73(Na4S2+)1.0|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, tetrahedral Na4S2+ ions center about 12.5% of the sodalite cavities.

The structures of 19 single crystals of ZIF-8 that were subjected to different thermal treatments have been determined. Crystal 1 was as-synthesized from an in situ synthetic batch. Crystals 2–12 w...

To study the Sr2+-ion selectivity of zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56) in binary solution with different Sr2+ and K+ concentration during exchange, two single-crystals of fully dehydrated, Sr2+- and K+-exchanged zeolites Y were prepared by the flow method using a mixed ion-exchange solution whose Sr(NO3)2:KNO3 mol ratios were 1:1 (crystal 1) and 1:100 (crystal 2), respectively, with a total concentration of 0.05 M, followed by vacuum dehydration at 723 K. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group $$ Fd\bar{3}m $$, respectively, and were refined to the final error indices R1/wR2 = 0.0429/0.1437 and 0.0356/0.1239 for crystals 1 and 2, respectively. In the structure of |Sr28K19|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (crystal 1), 28 Sr2+ ions per unit cell occupy four different crystallographically distinct sites; 15, 2, 2, and 9 are at sites I, I′, II′, and II, respectively, whereas, the K+ ions occupy only one site: 19 are at site II. In the structure of |Sr17K41|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (crystal 2), 17 Sr2+ ions per unit cell occupy three equipoints; 10.5, 2, and 4.5 are at sites I, I′, and II, respectively. The residual 41 K+ ions per unit cell are found at four different sites; 8, 24, 3, and 6 are at sites I′, II, III′a, and III′b, respectively. The degrees of ion exchange are 74.7 and 45.3% for crystals 1 and 2, respectively. This result shows that the degree of Sr2+ exchange decreased sharply by decreasing the initial Sr2+ concentration and increasing the initial K+ concentration in the given ion-exchange solution.

The structure of a cyclohexane sorption complex of partially dehydrated, fully Mn2+-exchanged zeolite Y has been determined at 100(1) K by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques. It was refined using all intensities to the final error indices R1 = 0.052 and wR2 = 0.174. Cyclohexane molecules of symmetry 3 ¯ 2/m (D3d, chair form) occupy 5.7 of the 16 12-rings per unit cell. Each cyclohexane molecule is held in place by 18 weak hydrogen bonds between its six equatorial hydrogen atoms and all 12 oxygen atoms of its 12-ring: C⋯O ca. 3.85 A. Mn2+ ions are found at four crystallographic sites, I, I′, II′, and II. Each of the 17.7(2) Mn2+ ions per unit cell at site II (opposite 6-rings in the supercage) coordinates tetrahedrally to three framework oxygen atoms and a water molecule. The cyclohexane molecules interact neither with the Mn2+ ions nor with the water molecules.

Three single-crystals of fully dehydrated and partially Sr2+-exchanged zeolites Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared by the flow method using mixed ion-exchange solutions. The Sr(NO3)2:NaNO3 molar ratios of the ion exchange solution were 1:100 (crystal 1), 1:250 (crystal 2), and 1:500 (crystal 3) with a total concentration of 0.05 M. The single-crystals were then vacuum dehydrated at 723 K and 1 × 10−4 Pa for 2 days. The structures of the crystals were determined by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction technique in the cubic space group $$Fd\bar {3}m$$ , at 100(1) K, and were then refined to the final error indices of R1/wR2 = 0.044/0.167, 0.051/0.175, and 0.069/0.219 for crystals 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The unit-cell formulas of crystals 1, 2, and 3 were |Sr17Na41|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, |Sr13Na49|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, and |Sr9Na57|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, respectively. In all three crystals, the Sr2+ ions preferred to occupy site I in the D6Rs, with the remainder occupying site II. The Sr2+ ions are also located at site I′ in crystal 1. On the other hand, the Na+ ions are located at sites I′, II, and III′ in all crystals. With increasing the molar concentration of Na+ in the given exchange solution, the occupancies of the Sr2+ ions at sites I, I′, and II decreased, whereas the occupancies of the Na+ ions at sites I′, II, and III′ increased.

Four single crystals of fully dehydrated and partially Zn2+-exchanged zeolites Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared by the static ion-exchange method using a mixed ion-exchange solution in which Zn(NO3)2:NaCl mole ratios were 1:1 (crystal 1), 1:25 (crystal 2), 1:50 (crystal 3), and 1:100 (crystal 4), respectively, with a total concentration of 0.05 M, and followed by vacuum dehydration at 673 K. Their single-crystal structures were determined by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd $$\bar {3}$$ m and refined to the final error indices R1/wR2 = 0.0459/0.1454, 0.0449/0.1283, 0.0427/0.1284, and 0.0486/0.1680, respectively. Their unit-cell formulas are |Zn25Na25|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (crystal 1), |Zn19.5Na36|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (crystal 2), |Zn19.5Na36|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (crystal 3), and |Zn7Na61|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU (crystal 4), respectively. The degree of Zn2+ exchange decreases from 67 to 19% as the initial concentration of Zn2+ decrease and the initial concentration of Na+ increases in given ion-exchange solutions.

Seven single crystals of fully dehydrated Ni2+-exchanged zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared via cation exchange of Na75-Y (|Na75|[Si117Al75O384]-FAU) by flowing 0.05 M aqueous solutions of Ni(NO3)2·6H2O (pH = 4.9, at 294 K) with various ion-exchange time. Their crystal structures were completely determined by single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd–3m at 100(1) K. In all seven structures, Ni2+ ions occupy sites I, I’, II, and sometimes II’ or a second II, or both, preferring site I; residual Na+ ions in crystals 1 and 2 are found at site III and/or a second III. The level of Ni2+ exchange monotonically increased from 75.2% to 89.6% (from 28.2(2) to 33.6(8) Ni2+ per unit cell) with increasing exchange time until 18 h. The dealumination of zeolite frameworks was observed in the center of sodalite cavities after 24 h, suggesting that this process occurs during ion-exchanges, or subsequent dehydration. H+ ions are present in all seven crystals for a charge balan...

Centered-tetrahedral cationic clusters are frequently found in the sodalite cavities of zeolites and in the cavities of analogues of the mineral sodalite. Examples are Mn4S6+, Fe4Te6+, Zn4Se6+, Cd4S6+, Cu4Cl7+, Na4Cl3+, Na4I3+, Na54+, In57+, Ga57+, and Sn512+.

The structures of the subnanometer clusters of CdS that form in zeolite Y (FAU), prepared as follows, have been determined. A single crystal of Cd2+-exchanged zeolite Y was prepared by the exchange of Na75–Y (|Na75|[Si117Al75O384]–Y with aqueous Cd(NO3)2 at 294 K, followed by vacuum dehydration at 723 K (crystal 1). A second crystal, similarly prepared, was exposed to 6.7 × 104 Pa of dry H2S(g) for 6 h at 294 K and evacuated (crystal 2). Their structures were determined crystallographically using synchrotron X-rays and were refined using all data to the final error indices (calculated using only Fo > 4σ(Fo)) of R1/wR2 = 0.040/0.156 and 0.049/0.186, respectively. In crystal 1, Cd2+ ions primarily occupy sites I and II. In crystal 2, |Cd27(Cd4S6+)0.6(Cd(SHCd)46+)0.9H12|[Si117Al75O384]–FAU, tetrahedral Cd4S6+ ions center about 7.5% of the sodalite cavities and tetrahedral Cd(SHCd)46+ ions center about 11% of the supercages. In Cd(SHCd)46+, a Cd2+ ion at the center of a supercage bonds tetrahedrally to four S...

To investigate the tendency of Mn(2+)-ion exchange into zeolite Y, four single crystals of fully dehydrated Mn2+, Na(+)-exchanged zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared by the exchange of Na75-Y (INa75I[Si117Al75,O384]-FAU) with aqueous of various concentrations by Mn2+ and Na+ in a total 0.05 M for molar ratios of 1:1 (crystal 1), 1:25 (crystal 2), 1:50 (crystal 3), and 1:100 (crystal 4), respectively, followed by vacuum dehydration at 400 degrees C. Their single-crystal structures were determined by synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3(-)m and were refined to the final error indices R1/wR2 = 0.0440/0.1545, 0.0369/0.1153, 0.0373/0.1091, and 0.0506/0.1667, respectively. Their unit-cell formulas are approximately LMn33.5Na8I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, IMn20.5Na34I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, IMn20.5Na34I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, and IMn16.5Na42I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, respectively. The degree of Mn2+-ion exchange increases from 44.3% to 89.1% with increasing the initial Mn2+ concentrations as Na+ content and the unit cell constant of the zeolite framework decrease.

To investigate the tendency of Mn(2+)-ion exchange into zeolite Y, four single crystals of fully dehydrated Mn2+, Na(+)-exchanged zeolite Y (Si/Al = 1.56) were prepared by the exchange of Na75-Y (INa75I[Si117Al75,O384]-FAU) with aqueous of various concentrations by Mn2+ and Na+ in a total 0.05 M for molar ratios of 1:1 (crystal 1), 1:25 (crystal 2), 1:50 (crystal 3), and 1:100 (crystal 4), respectively, followed by vacuum dehydration at 400 degrees C. Their single-crystal structures were determined by synchrotron X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group Fd3(-)m and were refined to the final error indices R1/wR2 = 0.0440/0.1545, 0.0369/0.1153, 0.0373/0.1091, and 0.0506/0.1667, respectively. Their unit-cell formulas are approximately LMn33.5Na8I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, IMn20.5Na34I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, IMn20.5Na34I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, and IMn16.5Na42I[Si117Al75O384]-FAU, respectively. The degree of Mn2+-ion exchange increases from 44.3% to 89.1% with increasing the initial Mn2+ concentrations as Na+ content and the unit cell constant of the zeolite framework decrease.