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Abstract: Electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) under neutral or near-neutral conditions has attracted research interest due to its environmental friendliness and economic sustainability in comparison with currently available acidic and alkaline conditions. However, it is challenging to identify electrocatalytically active species in the OER procedure under neutral environments due to non-crystalline forms of catalysts. Crystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) materials could provide novel insights into electrocatalytical active species because of their well-defined structures. In this study, we synthesized two isostructural two-dimensional (2D) MOFs [Co(HCi)2(H2O)2·2DMF]n (Co-Ci-2D) and [Ni(HCi)2(H2O)2·2DMF]n (Ni-Ci-2D) (H2Ci = 1H-indazole-5-carboxylic acid, DMF = N, N-Dimethyl-formamide) to investigate their OER performance in a neutral environment. Our results indicate that Co-Ci-2D holds a current density of 3.93 mA cm-2 at 1.8 V vs. RHE and a OER durability superior to the benchmark catalyst IrO2. Utilizing the advantages of structural transformation of MOF materials which are easier to characterize and analyze compared to ill-defined amorphous materials, we found out that a mononuclear coordination compound [Co(HCi)2(H2O)4] (Co-Ci-mono-A) and its isomer (Co-Ci-mono-B) were proven to be active species of Co-Ci-2D in the neutral OER process. For Ni-Ci-2D, mononuclear coordination compounds similar to structures of the cobalt material (Ni-Ci-mono-A and Ni-Ci-mono-B) together with NiHPO4 formed by the precipitation were confirmed as active species for the neutral OER catalysis. Additionally, the difference in OER activities between Co-Ci-2D and Ni-Ci-2D, approximately one order of magnitude, originates primarily from the opposite tendency of bond length changes in coordination octahedron after being treated by the PBS solution. These findings contribute to a better comprehension of the OER procedure in the neutral media.

Open Access

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Abstract: Pt-based bimetallic electrocatalysts are promising candidates to convert surplus glycerol from the biodiesel industry to value-added chemicals and coproduce hydrogen. It is expected that the nature and content of the elements in the bimetallic catalyst can not only affect the reaction kinetics but also influence the product selectivity, providing a way to increase the yield of the desired products. Hence, in this work, we investigate the electrochemical oxidation of glycerol on a series of PtNi nanoparticles with increasing Ni content using a combination of physicochemical structural analysis, electrochemical measurements, operando spectroscopic techniques, and advanced product characterizations. With a moderate Ni content and a homogenously alloyed bimetallic Pt–Ni structure, the PtNi2 catalyst displayed the highest reaction activity among all materials studied in this work. In situ FTIR data show that PtNi2 can activate the glycerol molecule at a more negative potential (0.4 VRHE) than the other PtNi catalysts. In addition, its surface can effectively catalyze the complete C–C bond cleavage, resulting in lower CO poisoning and higher stability. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy suggest that glycerol adsorbs strongly onto surface Ni(OH)x sites, preventing their oxidation and activation of oxygen or hydroxyl from water. As such, we propose that the role of Ni in PtNi toward glycerol oxidation is to tailor the electronic structure of the pure Pt sites rather than a bifunctional mechanism. Our experiments provide guidance for the development of bimetallic catalysts toward highly efficient, selective, and stable glycerol oxidation reactions.

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Abstract: An integrated carbon capture and utilization (ICCU) process present an ideal solution to address anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel-driven electricity production, allowing for capturing and subsequent utilization of CO2 instead of current release into the atmosphere. Effective dual-functional materials (DFMs), through the combination of CO2 sorbents and catalysts, can not only capture CO2 but also convert it into higher-value chemicals, such as CH4 or CO, under isothermal conditions within a single reactor are highly desirable for ICCU processes. In this study, we investigate the mechanism of ICCU over 10 %NiCaO by the time-resolved operando XAS/DRIFTS/MS and the influence of a reduction pretreatment on the process and the products formed. During the 1st stage of the ICCU process (carbon capture), CaO adsorbs CO2 resulting in bicarbonate, carbonate, and formate species formation. At the same time, the Ni catalytic active species are oxidized by CO2, leading to the formation of NiO and CO. However, pre-treating the same DFM under hydrogen, during heating to operating temperature, resulted in a switch to CH4 production, suggesting the presence of high levels of surface adsorbed H2. During the 2nd stage of ICCU (CO2 conversion), the NiO generated during capture is reduced by H2 to metallic Ni, which facilitates the reduction of bicarbonates, carbonates, and formats, via H2 dissociation, to produce and liberate gaseous CO. Thus, both adsorption and catalytic sites are regenerated for the subsequent ICCU cycle.

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Abstract: This thesis details the synthesis, characterisation and catalytic testing of a series of metal nanocluster (NC)-laden metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The overall aim was to determine the effect of the functional group on the linker on the success of embedding palladium (Pd) NCs within the pores of the MOFs of the UiO-66 topology and to probe the impact on the catalytic activity and selectivity of the samples for some industrially important reactions. Firstly, the effect of the nature of the functional groups was investigated. It was found that the success of embedment of NCs in the pores was related to the ability of the functional group to interact with the Pd precursor, while also being able to accept electron density from the Pd NCs when formed. Subsequently, the effect of the number of functional groups per linker was explored. It was determined that, for functional groups which interact with the Pd guest species, the analogues with more functional groups per linker appeared to interact more strongly with the Pd precursor and required harsher synthetic conditions to form NCs. This changed the extent to which the Pd NCs could be contained within the pores. In analogues without host-guest interactions, increasing the number of functional groups per linker inhibited embedment within the pores entirely. Following these findings, two of the samples in which embedding of Pd NCs in the pores was successful, Pd⸦NH2-UiO-66 and Pd⸦I-UiO-66, underwent catalytic testing for some industrially important reactions. Pd⸦NH2-UiO-66 was found to be active for 1,3-butadiene hydrogenation, with a high selectivity for the desired product attributed to the small Pd NC size attained by embedment within the pores. It was also an active electrocatalyst for glycerol ii oxidation and for deNOx reactions, while Pd⸦I-UiO-66 was active for acetylene hydrogenation.

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Abstract: The commercial catalysts currently used to remove polluting gases from vehicle exhausts rely on expensive precious metals, with demand continually growing. Preparing these catalysts often requires solvents, waste treatment and elevated temperatures, all with an environmental cost. One solution is to investigate the use of an alternative, more abundant material. LaMnO has shown promising catalytic behaviour and is made by physically mixing two solid reactants. The catalytic activity of materials is highly dependent on how they are produced. In this work, researchers synthesised LaMnO3 by a novel method, ball milling, to improve its catalytic properties. To replicate or optimise the final material structure, it is vital to investigate the chemical steps occurring within the ball mill. However, the ball mill setup makes it difficult to perform real-time analysis. Therefore, the research team replicated the conditions experienced within the ball mill by applying extreme pressures to the starting materials. Using Diamond Light Source’s Energy Dispersive EXAFS beamline (I20-EDE) meant they could monitor how the structure changes with increasing pressure, using X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) measurements in real-time. This beamline setup also allowed them to use a specialised high-pressure cell. They used complementary measurements on Diamond’s Versatile Soft X-ray (VerSoX) beamline (B07) to study the surface properties of the materials during catalysis. Beamline I20-Scanning was used to look at electronic structure. For industrial companies researching ball milling as an alternative production route, i.e. for autocatalysis or battery materials, this research highlights that though the preparation route produces beneficial properties at a lower environmental cost, understanding its underlying chemistry is hugely challenging.