Ultra-small, Uniform, and Single bcc-Phased FexCo1-x/Graphitic Shell Nanocrystals forT1Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents

Surface distortion of FeRu nanoparticles improves the hydrogen evolution reaction performance in alkaline media

Rational design of electrocatalysts, including an increased catalytic surface area, a unique surface structure, and improved conductivity, for facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is emerging as an important issue. In this work, we consider the engineering of catalyst surfaces as an effective and feasible way to accelerate the HER kinetics. By etching the surface Fe of FeRu alloy nanoparticles (NPs) using hydrofluoric acid (HF), a distorted catalytic surface of FeRu NPs was formed. The distorted surface of the HF-treated FeRu NPs was successfully analyzed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy, high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy, and electrochemical absorption/desorption experiments. The electrocatalytic HER activity of the HF-treated FeRu NPs demonstrated that surface distortion enhances the water dissociation reaction and the electron transfer rate. As a result, the surface-distorted FeRu NPs improved HER performances in alkaline media compared to the pristine FeRu alloy NP/C, commercial Ru/C, and the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalysts.

Highly stable mesoporous silica nanospheres embedded with FeCo/graphitic shell nanocrystals as magnetically recyclable multifunctional adsorbents for wastewater treatment

We report the first synthesis of highly stable and efficiently recyclable multifunctional adsorbents containing FeCo/GC nanoparticles with the strongest magnetic properties.

A Highly Stable and Magnetically Recyclable Nanocatalyst System: Mesoporous Silica Spheres Embedded with FeCo/Graphitic Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles and Pt Nanocatalysts

We have developed a highly stable and magnetically recyclable nanocatalyst system for alkene hydrogenation. The materials are composed of mesoporous silica spheres (MSS) embedded with FeCo/graphitic shell (FeCo/GC) magnetic nanoparticles and Pt nanocatalysts (Pt-FeCo/GC@MSS). The Pt-FeCo/GC@MSS have superparamagnetism at room temperature and show type IV isotherm typical for mesoporous silica, thereby ensuring a large enough inner space (surface area of 235.3 m(2)  g(-1), pore volume of 0.165 cm(3)  g(-1), and pore diameter of 2.8 nm) to undergo catalytic reactions. We have shown that the Pt-FeCo/GC@MSS system readily converts cyclohexene into cyclohexane, which is the only product isolated and Pt-FeCo/GC@MSS can be seperated very quickly by an external magnetic field after the catalytic reaction is finished. We have demonstrated that the recycled Pt-FeCo/GC@MSS can be reused further for the same hydrogenation reaction at least four times without loss in the initial catalytic activity.

Sustainable processing of waste polypropylene to produce high yield valuable Fe/carbon nanotube nanocomposites

This study presents an environmentally benign and solvent-free autogenic process to produce sponge-like Fe/carbon nanotube nanocomposites by catalytic pyrolysis of waste polypropylene (PP) at 600 °C.