{"title":"Square-Planar Nickel Bis(phosphinopyridyl) Complexes for Long-Lived Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.","authors":"Chien-Ting Wu, Hung-Ruei Pan, Chi-Tien Hsieh, Yu-Syuan Tsai, Pei-Juan Liao, Shuo-Huan Chiang, Che-Min Chu, Wei-Kai Shao, Yi-Rong Lien, Yu-Wei Chen, Tsung-Lun Kan, Vincent C-C Wang, Mu-Jeng Cheng, Hua-Fen Hsu","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00714","DOIUrl":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00714","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Phosphinopyridyl ligands are used to synthesize a class of Ni(II) bis(chelate) complexes, which have been comprehensively characterized in both solid and solution phases. The structures display a square-planar configuration within the primary coordination sphere, with axially positioned labile binding sites. Their electrochemical data reveal two redox couples during the reduction process, suggesting the possibility of accessing two-electron reduction states. Significantly, these complexes serve as robust catalysts for homogeneous photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> evolution. In a system utilizing an organic photosensitizer and a sacrificial electron donor, an optimal turnover number of 27,100 is achieved in an alcohol-containing aqueous solution. A series of photophysical and electrochemical measurements were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Density function theory calculations propose a catalytic pathway involving two successive one-electron reduction steps, followed by two proton discharges. The sustained photocatalytic activity of these complexes stems from their distinct ligand system, which includes phosphine and pyridine donors that aid in stabilizing the low oxidation states of the Ni center.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-26DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c0055510.1021/jacsau.4c00555
Philip R. Onffroy, Samuel Chiovoloni, Han Lin Kuo, Max A. Saccone*, Jennifer Q. Lu* and Joseph M. DeSimone*,
{"title":"Opportunities at the Intersection of 3D Printed Polymers and Pyrolysis for the Microfabrication of Carbon-Based Energy Materials","authors":"Philip R. Onffroy, Samuel Chiovoloni, Han Lin Kuo, Max A. Saccone*, Jennifer Q. Lu* and Joseph M. DeSimone*, ","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c0055510.1021/jacsau.4c00555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00555https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00555","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In an era marked by a growing demand for sustainable and high-performance materials, the convergence of additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, and the thermal treatment, or pyrolysis, of polymers to form high surface area hierarchically structured carbon materials stands poised to catalyze transformative advancements across a spectrum of electrification and energy storage applications. Designing 3D printed polymers using low-cost resins specifically for conversion to high performance carbon structures via post-printing thermal treatments overcomes the challenges of 3D printing pure carbon directly due to the inability of pure carbon to be polymerized, melted, or sintered under ambient conditions. In this perspective, we outline the current state of AM methods that have been used in combination with pyrolysis to generate 3D carbon structures and highlight promising systems to explore further. As part of this endeavor, we discuss the effects of 3D printed polymer chemistry composition, additives, and pyrolysis conditions on resulting 3D pyrolytic carbon properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate the viability of combining continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) vat photopolymerization with pyrolysis as a promising avenue for producing 3D pyrolytic carbon lattice structures with 15 μm feature resolution, paving way for 3D carbon-based sustainable energy applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/jacsau.4c00555","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142555556","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Square-Planar Nickel Bis(phosphinopyridyl) Complexes for Long-Lived Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution","authors":"Chien-Ting Wu, Hung-Ruei Pan, Chi-Tien Hsieh, Yu-Syuan Tsai, Pei-Juan Liao, Shuo-Huan Chiang, Che-Min Chu, Wei-Kai Shao, Yi-Rong Lien, Yu-Wei Chen, Tsung-Lun Kan, Vincent C.-C. Wang*, Mu-Jeng Cheng* and Hua-Fen Hsu*, ","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c0071410.1021/jacsau.4c00714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00714https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00714","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Phosphinopyridyl ligands are used to synthesize a class of Ni(II) bis(chelate) complexes, which have been comprehensively characterized in both solid and solution phases. The structures display a square–planar configuration within the primary coordination sphere, with axially positioned labile binding sites. Their electrochemical data reveal two redox couples during the reduction process, suggesting the possibility of accessing two–electron reduction states. Significantly, these complexes serve as robust catalysts for homogeneous photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> evolution. In a system utilizing an organic photosensitizer and a sacrificial electron donor, an optimal turnover number of 27,100 is achieved in an alcohol–containing aqueous solution. A series of photophysical and electrochemical measurements were conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Density function theory calculations propose a catalytic pathway involving two successive one–electron reduction steps, followed by two proton discharges. The sustained photocatalytic activity of these complexes stems from their distinct ligand system, which includes phosphine and pyridine donors that aid in stabilizing the low oxidation states of the Ni center.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/jacsau.4c00714","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142517620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-26DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c0071810.1021/jacsau.4c00718
Anna Jäckering, Frederike Göttsch, Moritz Schäffler, Mark Doerr, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Ren Wei and Birgit Strodel*,
{"title":"From Bulk to Binding: Decoding the Entry of PET into Hydrolase Binding Pockets","authors":"Anna Jäckering, Frederike Göttsch, Moritz Schäffler, Mark Doerr, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Ren Wei and Birgit Strodel*, ","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c0071810.1021/jacsau.4c00718","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00718https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00718","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Plastic-degrading enzymes facilitate the biocatalytic recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a significant synthetic polymer, and substantial progress has been made in utilizing PET hydrolases for industrial applications. To fully exploit the potential of these enzymes, a deeper mechanistic understanding followed by targeted protein engineering is essential. Through advanced molecular dynamics simulations and free energy analysis methods, we elucidated the complete pathway from the initial binding of two PET hydrolases─the thermophilic leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) and polyester hydrolase 1 (PES-H1)─to an amorphous PET substrate, ultimately leading to a PET chain entering the active site in a hydrolyzable conformation. Our findings indicate that initial PET binding is nonspecific and driven by polar and hydrophobic interactions. We demonstrate that the subsequent entry of PET into the active site can occur via one of three key pathways, identifying barriers related to both PET–PET and PET–enzyme interactions, as well as specific residues highlighted through <i>in silico</i> and <i>in vitro</i> mutagenesis. These insights not only enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying PET degradation and facilitate the development of targeted enzyme enhancement strategies but also provide a novel framework applicable to enzyme studies across various disciplines.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/jacsau.4c00718","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142517618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-26eCollection Date: 2024-10-28DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00555
Philip R Onffroy, Samuel Chiovoloni, Han Lin Kuo, Max A Saccone, Jennifer Q Lu, Joseph M DeSimone
{"title":"Opportunities at the Intersection of 3D Printed Polymers and Pyrolysis for the Microfabrication of Carbon-Based Energy Materials.","authors":"Philip R Onffroy, Samuel Chiovoloni, Han Lin Kuo, Max A Saccone, Jennifer Q Lu, Joseph M DeSimone","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00555","DOIUrl":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00555","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In an era marked by a growing demand for sustainable and high-performance materials, the convergence of additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, and the thermal treatment, or pyrolysis, of polymers to form high surface area hierarchically structured carbon materials stands poised to catalyze transformative advancements across a spectrum of electrification and energy storage applications. Designing 3D printed polymers using low-cost resins specifically for conversion to high performance carbon structures via post-printing thermal treatments overcomes the challenges of 3D printing pure carbon directly due to the inability of pure carbon to be polymerized, melted, or sintered under ambient conditions. In this perspective, we outline the current state of AM methods that have been used in combination with pyrolysis to generate 3D carbon structures and highlight promising systems to explore further. As part of this endeavor, we discuss the effects of 3D printed polymer chemistry composition, additives, and pyrolysis conditions on resulting 3D pyrolytic carbon properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate the viability of combining continuous liquid interface production (CLIP) vat photopolymerization with pyrolysis as a promising avenue for producing 3D pyrolytic carbon lattice structures with 15 μm feature resolution, paving way for 3D carbon-based sustainable energy applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522932/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-26eCollection Date: 2024-10-28DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00718
Anna Jäckering, Frederike Göttsch, Moritz Schäffler, Mark Doerr, Uwe T Bornscheuer, Ren Wei, Birgit Strodel
{"title":"From Bulk to Binding: Decoding the Entry of PET into Hydrolase Binding Pockets.","authors":"Anna Jäckering, Frederike Göttsch, Moritz Schäffler, Mark Doerr, Uwe T Bornscheuer, Ren Wei, Birgit Strodel","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00718","DOIUrl":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plastic-degrading enzymes facilitate the biocatalytic recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), a significant synthetic polymer, and substantial progress has been made in utilizing PET hydrolases for industrial applications. To fully exploit the potential of these enzymes, a deeper mechanistic understanding followed by targeted protein engineering is essential. Through advanced molecular dynamics simulations and free energy analysis methods, we elucidated the complete pathway from the initial binding of two PET hydrolases-the thermophilic leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) and polyester hydrolase 1 (PES-H1)-to an amorphous PET substrate, ultimately leading to a PET chain entering the active site in a hydrolyzable conformation. Our findings indicate that initial PET binding is nonspecific and driven by polar and hydrophobic interactions. We demonstrate that the subsequent entry of PET into the active site can occur via one of three key pathways, identifying barriers related to both PET-PET and PET-enzyme interactions, as well as specific residues highlighted through <i>in silico</i> and <i>in vitro</i> mutagenesis. These insights not only enhance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying PET degradation and facilitate the development of targeted enzyme enhancement strategies but also provide a novel framework applicable to enzyme studies across various disciplines.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522925/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-25eCollection Date: 2024-10-28DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00375
Zhou Wu, Benjamin Peerless, Panpan Wang, Wolfgang Schuhmann, Stefanie Dehnen
{"title":"Structural Expansion and Enhanced Photocurrent Conversion of Selenido Stannates with Cu<sup>+</sup> Ions.","authors":"Zhou Wu, Benjamin Peerless, Panpan Wang, Wolfgang Schuhmann, Stefanie Dehnen","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00375","DOIUrl":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00375","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As a means of tuning the electronic properties of tin-chalcogenide-based compounds, we present a strategy for the compositional and structural expansion of selenido stannate frameworks under mild conditions by introducing Cu<sup>+</sup> ions into binary anionic Sn/Se aggregates in ionothermal reactions. The variable coordination modes of Cu<sup>+</sup>-contrasting with tetrahedral {SnSe<sub>4</sub>} or trigonal bipyramidal {SnSe<sub>5</sub>} units-and corresponding expansion toward ternary Cu/Sn/Se substructures helped to add another degree of freedom to the nanoarchitectures. As desired, the variation of the structural features was accompanied by concomitant changes of the physical properties. Upon treatment of alkali metal salts of the [SnSe<sub>4</sub>]<sup>4-</sup> anion at slightly elevated temperatures (120 or 150 °C) in ionic liquids, we isolated a series of compounds comprising ternary or quaternary cluster molecules or networks of cluster units, (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>9</sub>Li[Cu<sub>10</sub>Sn<sub>6</sub>Se<sub>22</sub>] (<b>1</b>), (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>4</sub>[Cu<sub>8</sub>Sn<sub>6</sub>Se<sub>18</sub>] (<b>2</b>), (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>1</sub>Im)<sub>3</sub>[Cu<sub>5</sub>Sn<sub>3</sub>Se<sub>10</sub>] (<b>3</b>), and (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>5</sub>[Cu<sub>8</sub>Sn<sub>6</sub>Se<sub>18</sub>F]·(C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)[BF<sub>4</sub>] (<b>4</b>; C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im = 1,3-diethyl-imidazolium, C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>1</sub>Im = 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium), which were investigated in terms of their optical gaps and photocurrent conversion properties. As illustrated by the synthesis and characterization of an additional salt that does not include Cu<sup>+</sup>, {(C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>2</sub>[Sn<sub>3</sub>Se<sub>7</sub>]}<sub>4</sub>·{(C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)[BF<sub>4</sub>]}<sub>2</sub> (<b>5</b>), the significant role of Cu<sup>+</sup> in this system was shown to be 3-fold: (a) structural expansion, (b) narrowing of the optical gap, and (c) photocurrent enhancement. By this three-in-one effect, the work offers an in-depth understanding of chalcogenido metalate chemistry with atomic precision.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522929/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559875","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c0074110.1021/jacsau.4c00741
Zhe Chen, and , Tao Wang*,
{"title":"Toward High-Performance Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis by Circumventing the Surface H-Mediated N2 Reduction","authors":"Zhe Chen, and , Tao Wang*, ","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c0074110.1021/jacsau.4c00741","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00741https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00741","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The rapid performance decay with potentials is a significant obstacle to achieving an efficient electrocatalytic N<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (eNRR), which is typically attributed to competition from hydrogen evolution. However, the potential-dependent competitive behavior and reaction mechanism are still under debate. Herein, we theoretically defined N<sub>2</sub> adsorption, H mediation, and H<sub>2</sub> evolution as three crucial regions along the potentials by revisiting the potential-dependent competitive adsorption between N<sub>2</sub> and H on FeN<sub>4</sub> and RuN<sub>4</sub> catalysts. We revealed that the surface H-mediated mechanism makes eNRR feasible at low potentials but introduces sluggish reaction kinetics, showing a double-edged sword nature. In view of this, we proposed a new possibility to achieve high-performance NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis by circumventing the H-mediated mechanism, where the ideal catalyst should have a wide potential interval with N<sub>2</sub>-dominated adsorption to trigger direct eNRR. Using this mechanistic insight as a new criterion, we proposed a theoretical protocol for eNRR catalyst screening, but almost none of the theoretically reported electrocatalysts passed the assessment. This work not only illustrates the intrinsic mechanism behind the low-performance dilemma of eNRR but also points out a possible direction toward designing promising catalysts with high selectivity and high current density.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/jacsau.4c00741","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142517612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c0037510.1021/jacsau.4c00375
Zhou Wu, Benjamin Peerless, Panpan Wang, Wolfgang Schuhmann and Stefanie Dehnen*,
{"title":"Structural Expansion and Enhanced Photocurrent Conversion of Selenido Stannates with Cu+ Ions","authors":"Zhou Wu, Benjamin Peerless, Panpan Wang, Wolfgang Schuhmann and Stefanie Dehnen*, ","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c0037510.1021/jacsau.4c00375","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00375https://doi.org/10.1021/jacsau.4c00375","url":null,"abstract":"<p >As a means of tuning the electronic properties of tin-chalcogenide-based compounds, we present a strategy for the compositional and structural expansion of selenido stannate frameworks under mild conditions by introducing Cu<sup>+</sup> ions into binary anionic Sn/Se aggregates in ionothermal reactions. The variable coordination modes of Cu<sup>+</sup>─contrasting with tetrahedral {SnSe<sub>4</sub>} or trigonal bipyramidal {SnSe<sub>5</sub>} units─and corresponding expansion toward ternary Cu/Sn/Se substructures helped to add another degree of freedom to the nanoarchitectures. As desired, the variation of the structural features was accompanied by concomitant changes of the physical properties. Upon treatment of alkali metal salts of the [SnSe<sub>4</sub>]<sup>4–</sup> anion at slightly elevated temperatures (120 or 150 °C) in ionic liquids, we isolated a series of compounds comprising ternary or quaternary cluster molecules or networks of cluster units, (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>9</sub>Li[Cu<sub>10</sub>Sn<sub>6</sub>Se<sub>22</sub>] (<b>1</b>), (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>4</sub>[Cu<sub>8</sub>Sn<sub>6</sub>Se<sub>18</sub>] (<b>2</b>), (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>1</sub>Im)<sub>3</sub>[Cu<sub>5</sub>Sn<sub>3</sub>Se<sub>10</sub>] (<b>3</b>), and (C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>5</sub>[Cu<sub>8</sub>Sn<sub>6</sub>Se<sub>18</sub>F]·(C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)[BF<sub>4</sub>] (<b>4</b>; C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im = 1,3-diethyl-imidazolium, C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>1</sub>Im = 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium), which were investigated in terms of their optical gaps and photocurrent conversion properties. As illustrated by the synthesis and characterization of an additional salt that does not include Cu<sup>+</sup>, {(C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)<sub>2</sub>[Sn<sub>3</sub>Se<sub>7</sub>]}<sub>4</sub>·{(C<sub>2</sub>C<sub>2</sub>Im)[BF<sub>4</sub>]}<sub>2</sub> (<b>5</b>), the significant role of Cu<sup>+</sup> in this system was shown to be 3-fold: (a) structural expansion, (b) narrowing of the optical gap, and (c) photocurrent enhancement. By this three-in-one effect, the work offers an in-depth understanding of chalcogenido metalate chemistry with atomic precision.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/epdf/10.1021/jacsau.4c00375","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142517574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
JACS AuPub Date : 2024-09-25eCollection Date: 2024-10-28DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00741
Zhe Chen, Tao Wang
{"title":"Toward High-Performance Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis by Circumventing the Surface H-Mediated N<sub>2</sub> Reduction.","authors":"Zhe Chen, Tao Wang","doi":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00741","DOIUrl":"10.1021/jacsau.4c00741","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The rapid performance decay with potentials is a significant obstacle to achieving an efficient electrocatalytic N<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (eNRR), which is typically attributed to competition from hydrogen evolution. However, the potential-dependent competitive behavior and reaction mechanism are still under debate. Herein, we theoretically defined N<sub>2</sub> adsorption, H mediation, and H<sub>2</sub> evolution as three crucial regions along the potentials by revisiting the potential-dependent competitive adsorption between N<sub>2</sub> and H on FeN<sub>4</sub> and RuN<sub>4</sub> catalysts. We revealed that the surface H-mediated mechanism makes eNRR feasible at low potentials but introduces sluggish reaction kinetics, showing a double-edged sword nature. In view of this, we proposed a new possibility to achieve high-performance NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis by circumventing the H-mediated mechanism, where the ideal catalyst should have a wide potential interval with N<sub>2</sub>-dominated adsorption to trigger direct eNRR. Using this mechanistic insight as a new criterion, we proposed a theoretical protocol for eNRR catalyst screening, but almost none of the theoretically reported electrocatalysts passed the assessment. This work not only illustrates the intrinsic mechanism behind the low-performance dilemma of eNRR but also points out a possible direction toward designing promising catalysts with high selectivity and high current density.</p>","PeriodicalId":94060,"journal":{"name":"JACS Au","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.5,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11522903/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142559877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}