E01-JEM ARM 200CF
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Ruoyu
Xu
,
Jingwei
Xiang
,
Junrun
Feng
,
Xuekun
Lu
,
Zhangxiang
Hao
,
Liqun
Kang
,
Ming
Li
,
Yunsong
Wu
,
Chun
Tan
,
Yiyun
Liu
,
Guanjie
He
,
Dan J. L.
Brett
,
Paul R.
Shearing
,
Lixia
Yuan
,
Yunhui
Huang
,
Feng Ryan
Wang
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[17559, 19318, 19246, 20643]
Abstract: The lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have high theoretical energy density, exceeding that of the lithium-ion batteries. However, their practical applications are hindered by the capacity decay due to lithium polysulfide shuttle effect and sulfur volume expansion. Here, we design a S@hollow carbon with porous shell/MnOx (S@HCS/MnOx) cathode to accommodate and immobilize sulfur and polysulfides, and develop a non-destructive technique X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) to in situ visualize the volume expansion of Li-S cathode. The designed cathode achieves a specific capacity of ~1100 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C with a fade rate of 0.18% per cycle over 300 cycles. The X-ray CT shows that only 16% volume expansion and 70% volume fraction of solid sulfur remaining in the S@HCS/MnOx cathode, superior to the commercial cathode with 40% volume expansion and 5% volume remaining of solid sulfur particles. This is the first reported visualization evidence for the effectiveness of hollow carbon structure in accommodating cathode volume expansion and immobilizing sulfur shuttling. X-ray CT can serve as a powerful in situ tool to trace the active materials and then feedback to the structure design, which helps develop efficient and reliable energy storage systems.
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Oct 2020
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B18-Core EXAFS
E01-JEM ARM 200CF
E02-JEM ARM 300CF
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Liqun
Kang
,
Bolun
Wang
,
Adam
Thetford
,
Ke
Wu
,
Mohsen
Danaie
,
Qian
He
,
Emma
Gibson
,
Ling-dong
Sun
,
Hiroyuki
Asakura
,
Richard
Catlow
,
Feng Ryan
Wang
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[16966, 17559, 18909, 19246, 19318, 20643, 20847, 17377, 15151, 14239]
Open Access
Abstract: Ru(II) compounds are widely used in catalysis, photocatalysis and medical applications. They are usually obtained in reductive environment as molecular O 2 can oxidize Ru(II) to Ru(III) and Ru(IV). Here we report the design, identification and evolution of an air‐stable surface ‐[bipy‐Ru(II)(CO) 2 Cl 2 ] site that is covalently mounted onto a polyphenylene framework. Such Ru(II) site was obtained by reduction of ‐[bipy‐Ru(III)Cl 4 ] ‐ with simultaneous ligand exchange from Cl ‐ to CO. This structural evolution was witnessed by a combination of in situ X‐ray and infrared spectroscopy studies. The ‐[bipy‐Ru(II)(CO) 2 Cl 2 ] site enables oxidation of CO with a turnover frequency of 0.73 × 10 ‐2 s ‐1 at 462 K, while the Ru(III) site is completely inert. This work contributes to the studies of structure‐activity relationship by demonstrating a practical control over both geometric and electronic structures of single‐site catalysts at molecular level, which can be further applied in other single site catalyst researches.
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Sep 2020
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B18-Core EXAFS
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[17377, 19072]
Abstract: Understanding and tuning the catalytic properties of metals atomically dispersed on oxides are major stepping-stones towards a rational development of single-atom catalysts (SACs). Beyond individual showcase studies, the design and synthesis of structurally regular series of SACs opens the door to systematic experimental investigations of performance as a function of metal identity. Herein, a series of single-atom catalysts based on various 4d (Ru, Rh, Pd) and 5d (Ir, Pt) transition metals has been synthesized on a common MgO carrier. Complementary experimental (X-ray absorption spectroscopy) and theoretical (Density Functional Theory) studies reveal that, regardless of the metal identity, metal cations occupy preferably octahedral coordination MgO lattice positions under step-edges, hence highly confined by the oxide support. Upon exposure to O2-lean CO oxidation conditions, FTIR spectroscopy indicates the partial de-confinement of the monoatomic metal centers driven by CO at pre-catalysis temperatures, followed by the development of surface carbonate species under steady-state conditions. These findings are supported by DFT calculations, which show the driving force and final structure for the surface metal protrusion to be metal-dependent, but point to an equivalent octahedral-coordinated M4+ carbonate species as the resting state in all cases. Experimentally, apparent reaction activation energies in the range of 96±19 kJ/mol are determined, with Pt leading to the lowest energy barrier. The results indicate that, for monoatomic sites in SACs, differences in CO oxidation reactivity enforceable via metal selection are of lower magnitude than those evidenced previously through the mechanistic involvement of adjacent redox centers on the oxide carrier, suggesting that tuning of the oxide surface chemistry is as relevant as the selection of the supported metal.
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Aug 2020
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B18-Core EXAFS
E01-JEM ARM 200CF
E02-JEM ARM 300CF
I11-High Resolution Powder Diffraction
I20-Scanning-X-ray spectroscopy (XAS/XES)
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Liqun
Kang
,
Bolun
Wang
,
Qiming
Bing
,
Michal
Zalibera
,
Robert
Büchel
,
Ruoyu
Xu
,
Qiming
Wang
,
Yiyun
Liu
,
Diego
Gianolio
,
Chiu C.
Tang
,
Emma K.
Gibson
,
Mohsen
Danaie
,
Christopher
Allen
,
Ke
Wu
,
Sushila
Marlow
,
Ling-dong
Sun
,
Qian
He
,
Shaoliang
Guan
,
Anton
Savitsky
,
Juan J.
Velasco-vélez
,
June
Callison
,
Christopher W. M.
Kay
,
Sotiris E.
Pratsinis
,
Wolfgang
Lubitz
,
Jing-yao
Liu
,
Feng Ryan
Wang
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[15151, 15763, 16966, 17377, 19072, 19246, 20939, 17559, 24285, 19318, 19850]
Open Access
Abstract: Supported atomic metal sites have discrete molecular orbitals. Precise control over the energies of these sites is key to achieving novel reaction pathways with superior selectivity. Here, we achieve selective oxygen (O2) activation by utilising a framework of cerium (Ce) cations to reduce the energy of 3d orbitals of isolated copper (Cu) sites. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance and density-functional theory simulations are used to demonstrate that a [Cu(I)O2]3− site selectively adsorbs molecular O2, forming a rarely reported electrophilic η2-O2 species at 298 K. Assisted by neighbouring Ce(III) cations, η2-O2 is finally reduced to two O2−, that create two Cu–O–Ce oxo-bridges at 453 K. The isolated Cu(I)/(II) sites are ten times more active in CO oxidation than CuO clusters, showing a turnover frequency of 0.028 ± 0.003 s−1 at 373 K and 0.01 bar PCO. The unique electronic structure of [Cu(I)O2]3− site suggests its potential in selective oxidation.
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Aug 2020
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E01-JEM ARM 200CF
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[22572, 21641]
Abstract: Porous polymer catalysts possess the potential to combine the advantages of heterogeneous and homogeneous cataly-sis, namely easy post-reaction recycling and high dispersion of active sites. Here we designed a -SO3H functionalized polyphenylene (PPhen) framework with purely sp2-hybridized carbons, which exhibited high activity in the hydration of alkynes including challenging aliphatic substrates such as 1-octyne. The superiority of the structure lies in its cova-lent crosslink in the xy-plane with π-π stacking interaction between the planes, enabling simultaneously high swella-bility and porosity (653 m2·g-1). High acidic sites density (2.12 mmol/g) was achieved at mild sulfonation condition. Similar turnover frequencies (0.015 ± 0.001 min-1) were obtained regardless of acidic density and crosslink content, suggesting high accessibility for all active sites over PPhen. In addition, the substituted benzene groups can activate alkynes through a T-shape CH/π interaction, as indicated by the 8 cm-1 and 16 cm-1 red shift of the alkyne C-H stretch-ing peak for phenylacetylene and 1-octyne repectively in the IR spectra. These advantages render PPhen-SO3H a prom-ising candidate as a solid catalyst replacing the highly toxic liquid phase acids such as the mercury salt.
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May 2020
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B07-C-Versatile Soft X-ray beamline: Ambient Pressure XPS and NEXAFS
E01-JEM ARM 200CF
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Jianwei
Li
,
Kit
Mccoll
,
Xuekun
Lu
,
Sanjay
Sathasivam
,
Haobo
Dong
,
Liqun
Kang
,
Zhuangnan
Li
,
Siyu
Zhao
,
Andreas G.
Kafizas
,
Ryan
Wang
,
Dan J. L.
Brett
,
Paul R.
Shearing
,
Furio
Corà
,
Guanjie
He
,
Claire J.
Carmalt
,
Ivan P.
Parkin
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[24197, 22572]
Abstract: Cost‐effective and environment‐friendly aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) exhibit tremendous potential for application in grid‐scale energy storage systems but are limited by suitable cathode materials. Hydrated vanadium bronzes have gained significant attention for AZIBs and can be produced with a range of different pre‐intercalated ions, allowing their properties to be optimized. However, gaining a detailed understanding of the energy storage mechanisms within these cathode materials remains a great challenge due to their complex crystallographic frameworks, limiting rational design from the perspective of enhanced Zn2+ diffusion over multiple length scales. Herein, a new class of hydrated porous δ‐Ni0.25V2O5.nH2O nanoribbons for use as an AZIB cathode is reported. The cathode delivers reversibility showing 402 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and a capacity retention of 98% over 1200 cycles at 5 A g−1. A detailed investigation using experimental and computational approaches reveal that the host “δ” vanadate lattice has favorable Zn2+ diffusion properties, arising from the atomic‐level structure of the well‐defined lattice channels. Furthermore, the microstructure of the as‐prepared cathodes is examined using multi‐length scale X‐ray computed tomography for the first time in AZIBs and the effective diffusion coefficient is obtained by image‐based modeling, illustrating favorable porosity and satisfactory tortuosity.
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Feb 2020
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E01-JEM ARM 200CF
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Richard J.
Lewis
,
Kenji
Ueura
,
Yukimasa
Fukuta
,
Simon J.
Freakley
,
Liqun
Kang
,
Feng Ryan
Wang
,
Qian
He
,
Jennifer. K.
Edwards
,
David J.
Morgan
,
Yasushi
Yamamoto
,
Graham J.
Hutchings
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[19246]
Abstract: In this study we show that using AuPd nanoparticles supported on a commercial titanium silicate (TS‐1) prepared using a wet co‐impregnation method it is possible to produce hydrogen peroxide from molecular H2 and O2 via the direct synthesis reaction. The effect of Au: Pd ratio and calcination temperature is evaluated as well as the role of Pt addition to the AuPd supported catalysts. The effect of Pt addition to AuPt nanoparticles is observed to result in a significant improvement in catalytic activity and selectivity to hydrogen peroxide with detailed characterisation indicating this is a result of selectively tuning the ratio of Pd oxidation states.
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Mar 2019
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B18-Core EXAFS
E01-JEM ARM 200CF
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Ruoyu
Xu
,
Liqun
Kang
,
Johannes
Knossalla
,
Jerrik
Mielby
,
Qiming
Wang
,
Bolun
Wang
,
Junrun
Feng
,
Guanjie
He
,
Yudao
Qin
,
Jijia
Xie
,
Ann-christin
Swertz
,
Qian
He
,
Søren
Kegnæs
,
Dan J.l.
Brett
,
Ferdi
Schüth
,
Feng Ryan
Wang
Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[206191, 15151]
Abstract: Nanostructured carbons with different pore geometries are prepared with a liquid-free nanocasting method. The method uses gases instead of liquid to disperse carbon precursor, leach templates and remove impurities, minimizing synthetic procedures and the use of chemicals. The method is universal and demonstrated by the synthesis of 12 different porous carbons with various template sources. The effects of pore geometries in catalysis can be isolated and investigated. Two of the resulted materials with different pore geometries are studied as supports for Ru clusters in the hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and electrochemical hydrogen evolution (HER). The porous carbon supported Ru catalysts outperform commercial ones in both reactions. It was found that Ru on bottle-neck pore carbon shows highest yield in hydrogenolysis of HMF to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) due to a better confinement effect. A wide temperature operation window from 110 °C to 140 °C, with over 75% yield and 98% selectivity of DMF has been achieved. Tubular pores enable fast charge transfer in electrochemical HER, requiring only 16 mV overpotential to reach current density of 10 mA cm.
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Jan 2019
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B18-Core EXAFS
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Diamond Proposal Number(s):
[15151]
Abstract: Here we present a simple and effective method to encapsulate Ni nanoparticles in zeolite silicalite-1. In this method, the zeolite is modified by selective desilication, which creates intra-particle voids and mesopores that facilitate the formation of small and well-dispersed nanoparticles upon impregnation and reduction. TEM and XPS analysis confirm that a significant part of the Ni nanoparticles are situated inside the zeolite rather than on the outer surface. The encapsulation results in an increased metal dispersion and, consequently, a high catalytic activity for CO2 methanation. With a gas hourly space velocity of 60000 ml/g catalyst h-1 and H2/CO2=4, the zeolite-encapsulated Ni nanoparticles result in 60% conversion at 450°C, which corresponds to a site-time yield of around 304 mol CH4/mol Ni h-1. The encapsulated Ni nanoparticles show no change in activity or selectivity after 50 h of operation, although post-catalysis characterisation reveals some particle migration.
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Jan 2018
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