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Water plays pivotal roles in tailoring reaction pathways in many important reactions, including cascade C-C bond formation and oxygen elimination. Herein, a kinetic study combined with complementary analyses (DRIFTS, isotopic study, 1H solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to elucidate the roles of water in cascade acetone-to-isobutene reactions on a Zn x Zr y O z mixed metal oxide with balanced Lewis acid-base pairs. Our results reveal that the reaction follows the acetone-diacetone alcohol-isobutene pathway. Isobutene is produced through an intramolecular rearrangement of the eight-membered ring intermediate formed via the adsorption of diacetone alcohol on the Lewis acid-base pairs in the presence of cofed water. OH adspecies, formed by the dissociative adsorption of water on the catalyst surface, were found to distort diacetone alcohol's hydroxyl functional group toward its carbonyl functional group and facilitate the intramolecular rearrangement of diacetone alcohol to form isobutene. In the absence of water, diacetone alcohol binds strongly to the Lewis acid site, e.g., at a Zr4+ site, via its carbonyl functional group, leading to its dramatic structural distortion and further dehydration reaction to form mesityl oxide as well as subsequent polymerization reactions and the formation of coke. The present results provide insights into the cooperative roles of water and Lewis acid-base pairs in catalytic upgrading of biomass to fuels and chemicals.

In many heterogeneous catalysts, the interaction of metal particles with their oxide support can alter the electronic properties of the metal and can play a critical role in determining particle morphology and maintaining dispersion. We used a combination of ultrahigh magnetic field, solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with density functional theory calculations to reveal the nature of anchoring sites of a catalytically active phase of platinum on the surface of a [gamma]-[Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] catalyst support material The results obtained show that coordinatively unsaturated pentacoordinate [Al.sup.3+] ([Al.sup.3+.sub.penta]) centers present on the (100) facets of the [gamma]-[Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] surface are anchoring Pt. At low loadings, the active catalytic phase is atomically dispersed on the support surface (Pt/[Al.sup.3+.sub.penta] = 1), whereas two-dimensional Pt rafts form at higher coverages.

Abstract: Injection of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) for the geologic storage of carbon dioxide will displace formation water, and the pore space adjacent to overlying caprocks could eventually be dominated by dry to water- saturated scCO2. Wet scCO2 is highly reactive and capable of carbonating and hydrating certain minerals, whereas anhydrous scCO2 can dehydrate water-containing minerals. Because these geochemical processes affect solid volume and thus porosity and permeability, they have the potential to affect the long-term integrity of the caprock seal. In this study, we investigate the swelling and shrinkage of an expandable clay found in caprock formations, montmorillonite (Ca-STx-1), when exposed to variable water-content scCO2 at 50°C and 90bar using a combination of in situ probes, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), in situ magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MAS NMR), and in situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR). We show that the extent of montmorillonite clay swelling/shrinkage is dependent not only on water hydration/dehydration, but also on CO2 intercalation reactions. Our results also suggest a competition between water and CO2 for interlayer residency where increasing concentrations of intercalated water lead to decreasing concentrations of intercalated CO2. Overall, this paper demonstrates the types of measurements required to develop fundamental knowledge that will enhance modeling efforts and reduce risks associated with subsurface storage of CO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of six types of aprotic organic solvents on the discharge performance and discharge products in Li-O2 batteries are systematically investigated. A large amount of Li2O2 is identified in the air electrodes discharged in glyme-based electrolytes, while only a small amount of Li2O2 is detected in the air electrodes discharged in the electrolytes of nitrile, ionic liquid, phosphate, and sulfoxide. Li2CO3 and LiF are also found as byproducts whose compositions are related to the solvents. Li2CO3 is produced from oxidation and decomposition of the solvent, not from the oxidation of the carbon-based air electrode, as revealed by using a 13C-labeled carbon electrode and the solid-state 13C-magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance technique. LiF in the discharge products can be attributed to the attack of superoxide radical anions to the Teflon binder and/or the F-containing imide salt. The formation of these byproducts will significantly reduce the Coulombic efficiency and cycle life of the Li-air batteries. Among the studied solvents, dibutyl diglyme is the suitable solvent for Li-O2 batteries based on its overall properties. However, better electrolytes that can ensure the formation of Li2O2 but minimize other reaction products need to be further investigated for long cycling rechargeable Li-air batteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To understand the limited cycle life performance and poor energy efficiency associated with rechargeable lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries, the discharge products of primary Li–O2 cells at different depths of discharge (DOD) were systematically analyzed using XRD, FTIR and Ultra-high field MAS NMR. When discharged to 2.0V, the reaction products of Li–O2 cells include a small amount of Li2O2 along with Li2CO3 and RO–(C;OLi in the alkyl carbonate-based electrolyte. However, regardless of the DOD, there is no Li2O detected in the discharge products in the alkyl-carbonate electrolyte. For the first time it was revealed that in an oxygen atmosphere the high surface area carbon significantly reduces the electrochemical operation window of the electrolyte, and leads to plating of insoluble Li salts on the electrode at the end of the charging process. Therefore, the impedance of the Li–O2 cell continues to increase after each discharge and recharge process. After only a few cycles, the carbon air electrode is completely insulated by the accumulated Li salt terminating the cycling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: To gain insight into the effects of mechanical activation (MA) on the hydrogen desorption of the lithium amide (LiNH2) and lithium hydride (LiH) mixture, LiNH2 and LiH+LiNH2 were mechanically activated by high-energy ball milling. The formed products were studied with in situ 1H and 6Li nuclear magic angle spinning (MAS) magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy from ambient temperature to 180°C. Up-field chemical shift was observed in 6Li MAS NMR spectra with increased milling time, indicating that average local electronic structure around Li nuclei was modified during MA. 1H MAS NMR was used to dynamically probe ammonia release from the activated LiNH2 at temperature as low as 50°C. In the case of activated LiH+LiNH2 mixtures, the 1H MAS NMR results implied that MA enhanced the dehydrogenation reaction of LiNH2 +LiH=Li2NH+H2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Synthesis of the spinel lithium titanate Li4Ti5O12 by an alkoxide-free sol–gel method is described. This method yields highly pure and crystalline Li4Ti5O12 samples at relatively low temperature (850°C) and via short thermal treatment (2h). 6Li magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) measurements on these samples were carried out at high magnetic field (21.1T) and over a wide temperature range (295–680K). The temperature dependence of the chemical shifts and integral intensities of the three 6Li resonances demonstrates the migration of lithium ions from the tetrahedral 8a to the octahedral 16c sites and the progressive phase transition from a spinel to a defective NaCl-type structure. This defective structure has an increased number of vacancies at the 8a site, which facilitate lithium diffusion through 16c →8a →16c pathways, hence providing an explanation for the reported increase in conductivity at high temperatures. Molecular dynamics simulations of the spinel oxides Li4+x Ti5O12, with 0≤ x ≤3, were also performed with a potential shell model in the temperature range 300–700K. The simulations support the conclusions drawn from the NMR measurements and show a significant timescale separation between lithium diffusion through 8a and 16c sites and that out of the 16d sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR) measurements were successfully applied to the 27 Al ( I = 5/2) nucleus in concentrated electrolytes to investigate the diffusion of aluminate ions [Al(OH) 4 - ] in simulant high-level nuclear waste (3 M NaOH) between 25 and 85 °C. The temperature-dependent diffusion coefficients obtained from 1 H, 23 Na, and 27 Al PFG-NMR were well fit by a Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann model and a power law equation. Comparison of 27 Al diffusion coefficients of 0.1 M Al(OH) 4 - in ∼3 M MOH (where M = Na + , K + , (CH 3 ) 4 N + ) at room temperature varied in agreement with the expected changes in solution viscosity via Stokes-Einstein relationship, confirming that the dominant Al species at these conditions are Al(OH) 4 - monomers. This 27 Al PFG-NMR study extends an established methodology to a previously unexplored nucleus enabling this experimental technique to be leverage for exploring ion transport, speciation, and solution structure in concentrated electrolytes.