Low temperature conversion of methane to syngas using lattice oxygen over NiO-MgO

Lattice variation as a function of concentration and grain size in MgO-NiO solid solution system

The study aimed to understand how changes in crystal's size affect the lattice parameters and crystal structure of Mg1-xNixO solid solution for six X values ranging from x = 0 to x = 1. Mg1-xNixO was synthesized via two different wet-chemical techniques: the sol-gel and the microwave hydrothermal method, both followed by calcination at different temperatures of 673, 873, 1073, 1273 and 1473 K. As annealing caused grain growth, the varied temperature range allowed to examine a wide range of grain sizes. The lattice parameters and x values were determined from XRD (X-ray diffraction) peak positions and intensities respectively. The grain size was evaluated by XRD line profile analysis and supported by SEM (scanning electron microscope) observations. At the temperatures of 673 and 873 K grain size was in the nanometric range and from 1073 K and above grain size was in the micrometric range. A non-monotonic lattice variation versus grain size was found for each concentration. When grain size decreased there was a slight contraction, however for grain size in the nanometric range there was a severe lattice expansion. Both lattice parameter changes were explained by two effects acting together: contraction due to surface stress and expansion due to weakening of the ionic bonding at nanocrystalline particles. In this current research study, the lattice parameter was mapped in two dimensions: concentration and grain size. The findings of this study provided valuable insights into the lattice variation in the MgO-NiO solid solution system.

Self-Supported Pd Nanorod Arrays for High-Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

Electrochemical nitrate (NO₃ ^- ) reduction to ammonia (NH₃ ) offers a promising pathway to recover NO₃ ^- pollutants from industrial wastewater that can balance the nitrogen cycle and sustainable green NH₃ production. However, the efficiency of electrocatalytic NO₃ ^- reduction to NH₃ synthesis remains low for most of electrocatalysts due to complex reaction processes and severe hydrogen precipitation reaction. Herein, high performance of nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃ ^- RR) is demonstrated on self-supported Pd nanorod arrays in porous nickel framework foam (Pd/NF). It provides a lot of active sites for H* adsorption and NO₃ ^- activation leading to a remarkable NH₃ yield rate of 1.52 mmol cm^-2  h^-1 and a Faradaic efficiency of 78% at -1.4 V versus RHE. Notably, it maintains a high NH₃ yield rate over 50 cycles in 25 h showing good stability. Remarkably, large-area Pd/NF electrode (25 cm² ) shows a NH₃ yield of 174.25 mg h^-1 , be promising candidate for large-area device for industrial application. In situ FTIR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations analysis confirm that the enrichment effect of Pd nanorods encourages the adsorption of H species for ammonia synthesis following a hydrogenation mechanism. This work brings a useful strategy for designing NO₃ ^- RR catalysts of nanorod arrays with customizable compositions.

In Situ Growth of Fe2O3 Nanorod Arrays on Carbon Cloth with Rapid Charge Transfer for Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia

Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia (NH3), a green NH3 production route upon combining with renewable energy sources, is an appealing and alternative method to the Haber-Bosch process. However, this process not only involves the complicated eight-electron reduction to transform nitrate into various nitrogen products but simultaneously suffers from the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction, challenged by a lack of efficient catalysts. Herein, the in situ growth of Fe2O3 nanorod arrays on carbon cloth (Fe2O3 NRs/CC) is reported to exhibit a high NH3 yield rate of 328.17 μmol h-1 cm-2 at -0.9 V versus RHE, outperforming most of the reported Fe catalysts. An in situ growth strategy provides massive exposed active sites and a fast electron-transport channel between the carbon cloth and Fe2O3, which accelerates the charge-transport rate and facilitates the conversion of nitrate to NH3. In situ Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals the catalytic mechanism of nitrate to NH3. Our study provides not only an efficient catalyst for NH3 production but also useful guidelines for the pathways and mechanism of nitrate electroreduction to NH3.