Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Beibei Dai, Chao Fan, Xing Xu, Zhuodong Qi, Qin Xiao, Jinhui Wei, Sha Jiang, Qinglin Zhang
Summary: Flag-like CdS microstructures were grown via a PVD route with the assistance of a Pb catalyst and CdS wire sidewall template. The higher defect density in the CdS flag compared to the CdS wire leads to a wider optoelectronic response range for the former. The growth mechanism was well understood through investigating the morphology evolution of the sample at different growth stages.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kun-Su Kim, Gilsu Jang, Miyoung Kim, Nong-Moon Hwang
Summary: The rapid coalescence and active motion of nanoparticles (NPs) are primarily caused by the built-up charge. This finding helps to clarify the mechanisms of various NP phenomena.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Wenlong Yao, Qin Ling, Qing Dai, Shuyan Fang, Cheng Yang, Like Huang, Xiaohui Liu, Houcheng Zhang, Jing Zhang, Yuejin Zhu, Ziyang Hu
Summary: This paper systematically examines the degradation mechanisms of all-inorganic perovskite CsPbI2Br under a humid environment. It is found that the level of relative humidity (RH) is important for the degradation process and it initiates at the grain boundaries and extends toward the grain interiors.
ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Tiqing Zhao, Youhong Jiang, Shiwen Luo, Yifan Ying, Qian Zhang, Shi Tang, Linzhi Chen, Jing Xia, Peng Xue, Jia-Jun Zhang, Shi-Gang Sun, Hong-Gang Liao
Summary: The study focuses on the catalysis reaction mechanism at the nano/atomic scale and the limitations of current in situ characterization technologies. By combining in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) holder system with MEMS chips, an ultra-stable heating chip is developed to achieve atomic resolution imaging during the heating process at high temperature. The developed gas reaction cells with ultra-low drift enable the identification of nanoparticle's structure evolution at the atomic scale.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Tianlai Xia, Yu Yang, Qiang Song, Mingchuan Luo, Mianqi Xue, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, Yong Zhao, Fengwang Li
Summary: Recently, electrocatalytic reactions involving oxygen, nitrogen, water, and carbon dioxide have been developed to produce clean energy, fuels, and chemicals. Understanding catalyst structures, active sites, and reaction mechanisms is crucial for improving performance. In this review, we summarize state-of-the-art in situ characterisation techniques used in electrocatalysis, categorizing them into microscopy, spectroscopy, and other techniques. We discuss the capacities and limits of these techniques to guide further advances in the field.
NANOSCALE HORIZONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paul Leidinger, Mirco Panighel, Virginia Perez Dieste, Ignacio J. Villar-Garcia, Pablo Vezzoni, Felix Haag, Johannes V. Barth, Francesco Allegretti, Sebastian Guenther, Laerte L. Patera
Summary: Dynamic covalent chemistry is used for designing covalent organic frameworks with high crystallinity achieved through reversible bond formation. In this study, near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is employed to investigate the reversible formation of a two-dimensional boroxine framework. By mapping the pressure-temperature parameter space, the regions where the rates of condensation and hydrolysis reactions dominate are identified, which enable the thermodynamically controlled growth of crystalline frameworks.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jingyi Wang, Lei Xie, Linbo Han, Xiaogang Wang, Jianmei Wang, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: The anodic dissolution of chalcopyrite faces the challenge of surface passivation, affecting copper extraction efficiency. The concentrations of Fe2+, Cu2+, and CuxS released during dissolution varied with potential, suggesting that the presence of CuxS is a result of passive layer dissolution. The formation of a hydrophobic passive layer initiates in the active region and covers the chalcopyrite surface in the passive region.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tianyu Zhang, Ruohui Cheng, Bingbing Li, Cuilian Wang, Ying Guo, Junfeng Liu, Lianying Wang
Summary: A facile strategy was developed to prepare graphitic carbon encapsulated Cu nanoparticle nanofibers by in situ pyrolysis of organic-layered copper hydroxides, exhibiting superior activity and durability for water splitting.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiyu Zou, Alessandro Sala, Mirco Panighel, Ezequiel Tosi, Paolo Lacovig, Silvano Lizzit, Mattia Scardamaglia, Esko Kokkonen, Cinzia Cepek, Cristina Africh, Giovanni Comelli, Sebastian Guenther, Laerte L. L. Patera
Summary: The mechanism behind the growth of hydrocarbon chains during the synthesis of high-value fuels and plastics from small hydrocarbon molecules remains largely unknown. In this study, the formation of hydrocarbon chains resulting from acetylene polymerization on a Ni(111) model catalyst surface was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at near-ambient pressures. The intermediate species and reaction products were identified, and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy observations provided insights into the C-C coupling mechanism. The study revealed that polymerization occurs on the flat terraces of the metallic surface instead of the step edges commonly assumed as the active sites for C-C coupling.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Bruno Daudin, Alexandra-Madalina Siladie, Marion Gruart, Martien den Hertog, Catherine Bougerol, Benedikt Haas, Jean-Luc Rouviere, Eric Robin, Maria-Jose Recio-Carretero, Nuria Garro, Ana Cros
Summary: The spontaneous growth of GaN nanowires in the absence of catalyst is controlled by Ga flux, with diffusion barriers causing an uneven distribution of Ga adatoms at the top surface leading to GaN accumulation in the periphery. This promotes the formation of superlattices in InGaN and AlGaN nanowires, while the presence of Mg enhances Al diffusion length along the sidewalls in AlN nanowires, inducing the formation of AlN nanotubes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zachary T. Gossage, Nanako Ito, Tomooki Hosaka, Ryoichi Tatara, Shinichi Komaba
Summary: This study provides a deeper understanding of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) that occurs in highly concentrated water-insalt electrolytes (WISEs). The research shows that SEI in aqueous batteries exhibits similar passivating structures and slow electron transfer rates to that found in lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, the properties of SEI change when the electrolyte becomes more concentrated.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hao Hu, Fenglei Shi, Peter Tieu, Benwei Fu, Peng Tao, Chengyi Song, Wen Shang, Xiaoqing Pan, Tao Deng, Jianbo Wu
Summary: Nanobubbles have gained attention in various fields due to their potential applications. Understanding the growth kinetics of different types of nanobubbles is a challenge. Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy can reveal the growth trajectory of nanobubbles in real-time.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alex Mirabal, Scott Calabrese Barton
Summary: Research demonstrates that atomic force microscopy-based SECM technology can measure concentration profiles around active surfaces, but the presence of the tip can distort these profiles, affecting the chemical behavior at the catalytic surface. By inversely fitting data, kinetic and geometric parameters characterizing the tip effect can be derived, and the tip effects can be removed in the model.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jie Chen, Longcheng Zhang, Jun Li, Xun He, Yinyuan Zheng, Shengjun Sun, Xiaodong Fang, Dongdong Zheng, Yongsong Luo, Yan Wang, Jing Zhang, Lisi Xie, Zhengwei Cai, Yuntong Sun, Abdulmohsen Ali Alshehri, Qingquan Kong, Chengwu Tang, Xuping Sun
Summary: The use of nickel-iron sulfide nanosheet array on nickel foam as a bifunctional electrocatalyst demonstrates high-performance and cost-effective electrolysis of seawater for hydrogen production. It delivers a current density of 500 mA cm(-2) at overpotentials of 300 and 347 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline seawater respectively. Moreover, it only requires a cell voltage of 1.85 V to drive 500 mA cm(-2) in a two-electrode electrolyzer, and shows strong stability for at least 50 hours of electrolysis in alkaline seawater, outperforming recently reported catalyst electrodes for seawater splitting.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Zhang, Tao Xu, Yatong Zhu, Wen Wang, Hao Zhang, Dundong Yuan, Litao Sun
Summary: The study revealed oscillatory growth during the oxidation process of silver, influenced by both thermodynamic and kinetic factors. These findings enhance the fundamental understanding of oxidation processes and offer a promising method for the fabrication of desired nanostructures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arik Beck, Mark A. Newton, Maxim Zabilskiy, Przemyslaw Rzepka, Marc G. Willinger, Jeroen A. van Bokhoven
Summary: In this study, the activation process of a copper-zinc-alumina (CZA) catalyst was investigated using operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results revealed two major events, the reduction of copper and the ripening and re-oxidation of zinc, that significantly altered the catalyst's structure. Understanding these events is crucial for developing effective start-up protocols.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
H. Frey, A. Beck, X. Huang, J. A. van Bokhoven, M. G. Willinger
Summary: There are differences between reactive and nonreactive states, and the manifestations of metal-support interaction strongly depend on the chemical environment. The dynamics of nanoparticles and their migration depend on the orientation of the nanoparticles.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xing Huang, Arik Beck, Alexey Fedorov, Hannes Frey, Bingsen Zhang, Bernhard Kloetzer, Jeroen A. van Bokhoven, Christophe Coperet, Marc-Georg Willinger
Summary: This study investigates the structures and phases of an industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst using in situ and ex situ transmission electron microscopy. The research reveals high structural inhomogeneity in the catalyst and demonstrates the formation of various phases with different compositions during activation and reaction. The study also uncovers the intimate contact between metallic copper particles and zinc oxide phases, and the potentially important role of alumina in stabilizing zinc species.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arik Beck, Przemyslaw Rzepka, Kenneth P. Marshall, Dragos Stoian, Marc G. Willinger, Jeroen A. van Bokhoven
Summary: Oxides are crucial catalysts and carriers for noble metal catalysts. The interaction between oxides and hydrogen is important for their use as a hydrogenation catalyst. This study investigates the temperature-programmed reduction of various oxides, such as iron oxide, ceria, titania, zirconia, and alumina, with and without supported platinum. The results show that platinum enhances the reducibility of the oxides, but there are significant differences among the catalysts.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gwen-Jiro Clochard, Aby Mbengue, Clement Mettling, Birane Diouf, Charlotte Faurie, Omar Sene, Emilie Chancerel, Erwan Guichoux, Guillaume Hollard, Michel Raymond, Marc Willinger
Summary: Living in risky environments and having a risky occupation can affect risk-tolerance. Despite the involvement of dopamine in reward expectation, genetic studies have not found a conclusive link between dopaminergic genes and risk attitudes. This study explores the possibility that the DRD4-7R allele's effect on risk-taking behavior is influenced by environmental factors. The results show that the increase in risk-tolerance caused by the 7R allele is independent of environmental risk in two populations in Northern Senegal, one of which is exposed to a very high risk due to dangerous fishing.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Iveta Ukropcova, Radek Dao, Martin Stubian, Miroslav Kolibal, Tomas Sikola, Marc G. Willinger, Zhu-Jun Wang, Jakub Zlamal, Petr Babor
Summary: This study investigates the manipulation of AuGe droplets on a germanium substrate using an electron beam in a scanning electron microscope. Experimental observations and simulations are combined to analyze the phenomenon of directional thermomigration induced by the electron beam. It is found that the motion of the droplets is limited by the dissolution of the substrate and the electron tractor beam can both control and split the droplets, offering new possibilities for droplet manipulation inside an SEM.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yiming Niu, Yongzhao Wang, Junnan Chen, Shiyan Li, Xing Huang, Marc-Georg Willinger, Wei Zhang, Yuefeng Liu, Bingsen Zhang
Summary: This study achieves atom-by-atom control of the Pd2Ga intermetallic nano-particles (NPs) surface using reactive metal-support interaction (RMSI) and reveals the mechanism of surface restructuring. It provides possible solutions for controlling and rearranging the surface atoms of supported intermetallic catalysts.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arik Beck, Hannes Frey, Xing Huang, Adam H. Clark, Emmett D. Goodman, Matteo Cargnello, Marc Willinger, Jeroen A. van Bokhoven
Summary: Platinum nanoparticles supported by titania can form overlayer due to strong metal-support interaction, which can enhance the catalyst's properties and prevent sintering. The overlayer can be reversed through oxidative treatments, but recent findings suggest its stability in oxygen. In our study, we used in situ transmission electron microscopy to investigate the changes in the overlayer under different conditions and found that high temperature and oxygen atmosphere preserved the overlayer, preventing platinum evaporation.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
En-Hui Yuan, Yiming Niu, Xing Huang, Meng Li, Jun Bao, Yong-Hong Song, Bingsen Zhang, Zhao-Tie Liu, Marc-Georg Willinger, Zhong-Wen Liu
Summary: In this study, finned Zn-MFI zeolite encapsulated noble metal nanoparticles (NPs@Zn-MFI) were designed as bifunctional catalysts for CO2-ODP reaction. The Zn2+ species were coordinated with the MFI zeolite matrix and the Pt, Rh, or RhPt NPs were highly dispersed in the zeolite crystals. The optimal catalyst showed high propylene yield, satisfactory CO2 conversion, and long-term stability.
JOURNAL OF ENERGY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fuli Deng, Iris K. M. Yu, Xi Chen, Guanhua Cheng, Ruixue Zhao, Ali Rinaldi, Andreas Jentys, Donald M. Camaioni, Marc G. Willinger, Yue Liu, Johannes A. Lercher
Summary: Direct conversion of carboxylic acids to alkanes by decarboxylation on PdHx is improved by anchoring the carboxylate group with K+ on PdHx/C, which increases the rate of decarboxylation. This modification increases the surface basicity and induces dissociative adsorption of the acid carboxylic group, facilitating the C-C bond cleavage by weakening the bond adjacent to the carboxyl group.
JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Willum Hansen, Marc Willinger
Summary: Catalysis is a highly complex phenomenon involving fundamental processes on multiple length scales. The understanding of the full-scale complexity of catalysis is still limited, and the experimental documentation of how atomic-scale processes influence long-range order in materials is lacking. Elucidating the link between atomic-scale structural dynamics and collective behavior could lead to a deeper understanding and further optimization of catalysts and processes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Panpan Liu, Alexander Klyushin, Praveen Chandramathy Surendran, Alexey Fedorov, Wangjing Xie, Chaobin Zeng, Xing Huang
Summary: This study investigates the carbon encapsulation of metallic iridium nanoparticles (NPs) using in situ TEM and in situ XPS. The results show that carbon overcoating grows over Ir NPs at high temperatures, leading to improved catalytic performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alexey Kurlov, Dragos Stoian, Ali Baghizadeh, Evgenia Kountoupi, Evgeniya B. Deeva, Marc Willinger, Paula M. Abdala, Alexey Fedorov, Christoph R. Mueller
Summary: In this study, Mo2C nanobelts and Mo2C/SiO2 were synthesized through thermal carburization, and they exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability in dry reforming of methane. The influence of Mo2C morphology and silica dispersion on the structural evolution and oxidation behavior of the catalysts under reaction conditions were investigated by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)