The preparation of CdO nanowires from solid-state transformation of a layered metal-organic framework

Pt-Ni@PC900 Hybrid Derived from Layered-Structure Cd-MOF for Fuel Cell ORR Activity

Fuel cell technology is the supreme alternate option for the replacement of fossil fuel in the current era. Pt alloys can perform well as fuel cell electrodes for being used as catalytic materials to perform the very notorious oxygen reduction reaction. In this regard, first, a layered metal-organic framework with empirical formula [C₈H₁₀CdO₇] _n ·4H₂O is synthesized and characterized using various experimental and theoretical techniques. Then, a nanostructured porous carbon material with a sheet morphology (PC900) having a high BET surface area of 877 m² g^-1 is fabricated by an inert-atmosphere thermal treatment of the framework upon heating up to 900 °C. Pt and Ni nanoparticles are embedded into PC900 to prepare a homogenized hybrid functional material, i.e., Pt-Ni@PC900. The Pt-Ni@PC900 hybrid is proved to be an excellent ORR catalyst in terms of half-wave potential and limiting current density with 7% Pt loading compared with the commercially available 20% Pt/C catalyst. Pt-Ni@PC900 also shows stability of current up to 12 h with only a very small variation in current. This work highlights the importance of Pt alloys in future large-scale commercial applications of fuel cells.

A 1-D coordination polymer route to catalytically active Co@C nanoparticles

Pyrolysis of a 1-D polymeric cobalt(ii) coordination complex ([Co(BDC)(Mim)₂]_n, H₂BDC = benzenedicarboxylic acid; Mim = N-methylimidazole) results in the formation of carbon embedded fcc cobalt nanoparticle composites, Co@C.

Metal/metal oxide nanostructures derived from metal–organic frameworks

MOFs-derived micro/nanostructures have important potential applications. In this review, we describe the use of MOFs as templates in the synthesis of metal/metal oxide micro/nanostructures and composite materials. The applications of the derived materials are also reviewed.

Controllable Synthesis of Single-Crystalline CdO and Cd(OH)2Nanowires by a Simple Hydrothermal Approach

Single-crystalline Cd(OH)2 or CdO nanowires can be selectively synthesized at 150 °C by a simple hydrothermal method using aqueous Cd(NO3)2 as precursor. The method is biosafe, and compared to the conventional oil-water surfactant approach, more environmental-benign. As revealed by the XRD results, CdO or Cd(OH)2 nanowires can be generated in high purity by varying the time of synthesis. The results of FESEM and HRTEM analysis show that the CdO nanowires are formed in bundles. Over the CdO-nanowire bundles, photoluminescence at ~517 nm attributable to near band-edge emission of CdO was recorded. Based on the experimental results, a possible growth mechanism of the products is proposed.