Heteropoly acid encapsulated into zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) cage as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for Friedel–Crafts acylation

Innovative cross-linked electrospun PVA/MOF nanocomposites for removal of cefixime antibiotic

In this study, we synthesized two nanocomposites, cross-linked PVA/HKUST and PVA/ZIF-67, by integrating metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Several characterization techniques including FTIR, XRD, ICP, SEM, TGA, UV-Vis, zeta potential, and N2 adsorption-desorption were employed. The adsorption performance of the composites for cefixime (CFX) removal was assessed under varying conditions such as MOF content, contact time, pH, initial CFX concentration, and temperature. ZIF-67 and HKUST contribute to the high adsorption efficiency of the composites by providing a porous structure with high surface area, facilitating interactions with CFX molecules, and enhancing the overall stability of the composite material in the removal process. The Langmuir isotherm model revealed a maximum adsorption capacity of 282.5 mg/g for PVA/HKUST and 211.4 mg/g for PVA/ZIF-67. Notably, CFX was rapidly removed within 50 min, demonstrating the high potential of these nanofibers in wastewater treatment. However, after six cycles, removal efficiencies declined from 88 to 74% for PVA/HKUST and from 85 to 59% for PVA/ZIF-67.

Exploring the economic viability of electrochemical assessment for water contaminants with NiFe-PBA/ZIF-67 core shell modified GCE

Zeolitic Imidazolate (metal organic) Frameworks (ZIFs) and Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) are promising materials in electrochemical sensing due to their unique properties. In this study, a composite material comprising NiFe-PBA and ZIF-67 was synthesized and made to form a uniform layer onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to enhance electrochemical performance for furazolidone (FZD) detection. The synthesized NiFe-PBA/ZIF-67 composite exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and stability towards FZD detection, with a low limit of detection (LOD). The electrochemical behaviour of FZD on the NiFe-PBA/ZIF-67/GCE electrode was investigated, revealing a diffusion-controlled process. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis demonstrated the synergetic effect of the PBA/MOF core-shell structure in enhancing FZD electro-reduction. The sensor exhibited exceptional LOD of 0.007 μM. Selectivity studies confirmed the sensor's ability to distinguish FZD from potential interferents. Extensive evaluations demonstrated the sensor's reproducibility, repeatability, and long-term stability, affirming its practical utility. Real sample analysis further validated the sensor's excellent analytical capabilities in diverse matrices.

Silicotungstate@ZIF-67 as an effective catalyst for an extraction and oxidative desulfurization system

Through a simple room-temperature process, different amounts of Keggin-type quaternary ammonium silicotungstate were successfully encapsulated into the metal-organic framework (MOF) material ZIF-67. The catalysts were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET analysis. An extraction and catalytic oxidation desulfurization system was studied using H2O2 as an oxidant and a deep eutectic solvent (DES) as an extractant. Using the 43.06%-SiW12@ZIF-67 composite under optimal reaction conditions, DBT present in a model oil could be deeply and effectively removed. The catalyst was reused 6 times, and the desulfurization rate still exceeded 90%. Finally, a possible desulfurization mechanism is proposed.

Rational design of metal-based nanocomposite catalysts for enhancing their stability in solid acid catalysis

The use of supported metal-based heterogeneous catalysts is very ubiquitous in the modern chemical industry. Although high reactivity has been achieved, conventional supported metal-based heterogeneous catalysts commonly face the problem of rapid deactivation, generally involving leaching, poisoning or sintering of the active metal species, which is particularly serious in various solid acid catalysis processes. To overcome these drawbacks, different strategies have been adopted, including strengthening metal-support interactions, confining metal species in various porous materials, or coating the active metal nanoparticles with thin shells, which may generate effective metal-based nanocomposite catalysts with enhanced stability. In this feature article, we summarize our recent work on the design of some metal-based nanocomposites possessing yolk-shell, core-shell or other confined structures for enhanced catalytic applications in several important acid catalysis reactions, such as cycloaddition of CO2, epoxidation of olefins, acylation of aromatic compounds, and transesterification/carbonylation synthesis of organic carbonates. More attention is paid to the design and preparation strategy of metal-based nanocomposite catalysts, which can generate unique catalytically active and stable metal sites for meeting the tough requirements of a specific catalytic reaction. Finally, the existing challenges and the future directions for metal-based nanocomposite catalysts with respect to the preparation strategies and catalytic application prospects are proposed.

Bimetal-organic frameworks derived redox-type composite materials for high-performance energy storage

Electrodes and electroactive materials are crucial components in the development of supercapacitors due to their geometric properties. In this study, bimetal-organic frameworks (Bi-MOFs, ZIF-8@ZIF-67) were utilized as electrode materials for a high-performance hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) by designing a novel synthesis of metallic carbonate hydroxide/oxides. In particular, the Bi-MOFs function as a sacrificial precursor in the synthesis of hollow NiMn(CO3)0.5·0·.11H2O/ZnO@Co3O4 CNCs (NM-CH/ZnO@Co3O4 CNCs) cubic composite materials by a straightforward low-temperature treatment. The NM-CH/ZnO@Co3O4 CNCs exhibited exceptional electrochemical performance with high specific capacity of 196.3 ± 0.08 mAh/g, specific capacitance of 1179 ± 0.10 F g-1 at 0.5 A g-1, and outstanding cycling stability of 98% after 25,000 cycles compared to the other electrode materials. The porous and hollow structure, along with a large surface area, contributed to the enhanced electrochemical properties of the composite material. An HSC was constructed using NM-CH/ZnO@Co3O4 CNCs as the cathode and activated porous carbon (APC) as the anode, resulting in a device with a specific energy of 33 ± 0.12 Wh kg-1 and a power density of 19354 ± 0.07 W kg-1. The use of Bi-MOF electrodes presents new avenues for the development of high-performance energy storage materials, with the potential for industrial energy storage application demonstrated though the successful powering of portable lightbulbs.

ZIF-67@polyvinylidene fluoride mixed matrix membranes towards improved hydrogen separation performance

This work is primarily focused on overcoming the limitations of polymeric membranes in achieving the balance between permeability and selectivity of the separation performance. The filler, Zeolitic imidazole framework -67 (ZIF-67) nanoparticles were synthesised in cubical morphology using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant via the wet-chemical method. The uniform particles with particle sizes ranging between 120-180 nm were incorporated into the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix to fabricate mixed matrix membranes via the phase inversion method. These mixed matrix membranes were systematically characterised to confirm the chemical, structural and morphological properties of the materials and membranes. Furthermore, the membranes showed a 56.5% improvement in their mechanical properties. The results confirm that 5 wt.% ZIF-67/PVDF membrane showed the best separation results compared to its pure counterpart. The permeability of H₂ gas was reported to be 1,094,511 Barrer, with selectivities of 3.03 for H₂/CO₂ and 3.06 for H₂/N₂. This represents a 210.6% increase in the permeability of H₂ gas. These results demonstrate the influence of ZIF-67 loading in the PVDF polymer matrix along with the potential of ZIF-67/PVDF mixed matrix membranes in the field of hydrogen separation and purification.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 encapsulated with Mo-based polyoxometalates as surfaces with antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli

Bacterial infections represent a major global health concern, causing millions of deaths and a significant economic burden. The development of antibacterial nanoporous surfaces with potential mechano-bactericidal effects can revolutionize infection control practices. In this study, a hybrid material of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) doped with phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) was synthesized and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and N2 sorption isotherms. PMA@ZIF-8 performance as an antibacterial agent against E. coli was superior to that of its individual constituents, suggesting a synergistic effect of PMA and ZIF-8. The incorporation of PMA into ZIF-8 significantly enhanced its antibacterial efficacy, as evidenced by a twofold reduction in MIC (375 μg mL-1 vs. 750 μg mL-1) and a 4.35 times increase in the bactericidal kinetics rate constant. The time-kill curve experiment revealed that PMA@ZIF-8 achieved a 3-log reduction within 7 hours, whereas ZIF-8 required 24 hours to reach the same level of reduction. The density functional theory (DFT) calculated bandgap of PMA@ZIF-8 was significantly less than that of ZIF-8. Also, PMA@ZIF-8 has caused the elimination of 56.72% of the thiol group as detected by Ellman's assay. Accordingly, PMA@ZIF-8 can be both computationally and experimentally demonstrated as an oxidative nanozyme. PMA@ZIF-8's surface topology revealed nanorod protrusions, suggesting a potential mechano-bactericidal effect, which was confirmed by live/dead assay on PMA@ZIF-8-coated glass. This study highlights the potential of the PMA@ZIF-8 hybrid as a highly effective antibacterial agent, holding promise for creating multifunctional antibacterial surfaces.

Green synthesize of nano-MOF-ethylcellulose composite fibers for efficient adsorption of Congo red from water

Two novel MOF- ethyl cellulose (EC)- based nanocomposites have been designed and synthesized in water by electrospinning and applied for adsorption of congo red (CR) in water. Nano- Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67), and Materials of Institute Lavoisier (MIL-88A) were synthesized in aqueous solutions by a green method. To enhance the dye adsorption capacity and stability of MOFs, they have been incorporated into EC nanofiber to prepare composite adsorbents. The performance of both composites in the absorption of CR, a common pollutant in some industrial wastewaters, has then been investigated. Various parameters including initial dye concentration, the dosage of the adsorbent, pH, temperature and contact time were optimized. The results indicated 99.8 and 90.9% adsorption of CR by EC/ZIF-67 and EC/MIL-88A, respectively at pH = 7 and temperature at 25 °C after 50 min. Furthermore, the synthesized composites were separated conveniently and successfully reused five times without significant loss of their adsorption activity. For both composites, the adsorption behavior can be explained by pseudo-second-order kinetics, Intraparticular diffiusion and Elovich models demonstrated that the experimental data well matched to the pseudo-second-order kinetics. Intraparticular diffiusion model showed that the adsorption of CR on EC/ZIF-67 and EC/MIL-88a took place in one and two steps, respectively. Freundlich isotherm models and thermodynamic analysis indicated exothermic and spontaneous adsorption.

Optimized Fabrication of Bimetallic ZnCo Metal-Organic Framework at NiCo-Layered Double Hydroxides for Multiple Storage and Capability Synergy All-Solid-State Supercapacitors

Rational design and structural regulation of hybrid nanomaterials with superior electrochemical performance are crucial for developing sustainable energy storage platforms. Among these materials, NiCo-layered double hydroxides (NiCo-LDHs) demonstrate an exceptional charge storage capabilities owing to their tunable 2D lamellar structure, large interlayer spacing, and rich redox electrochemically active sites. However, NiCo-LDHs still suffer from sever agglomeration of their particles with limited charge transfer rates, resulting in an inadequate rate capability. In this study, bimetallic ZnCo-metal organic framework (MOF) tripods were grown on the surface of NiCo-LDH nanowires, which significantly reduced the self-agglomeration and stacking of the NiCo-LDH nanowire arrays, offering more accessible active sites for charge transfer and shortening the path for ion diffusion. The fabricated hybrid ZnCo-MOF@NiCo-LDH and its individual counterparts were tested as supercapacitor electrodes. The ZnCo-MOF@NiCo-LDH electrode demonstrated a remarkable specific capacitance of 1611 F g^-1 at 2 A g^-1 with an enhanced rate capability of 66% from 2 to 20 A g^-1. Moreover, an asymmetric all solid-state supercapacitor device was constructed using ZnCo-MOF@NiCo-LDH and palm tree-derived activated carbon (P-AC) as positive and negative poles, respectively. The constructed device can store a high specific energy of 44.5 Wh Kg^-1 and deliver a specific power of 876.7 W Kg^-1 with outstanding Columbic efficiency over 10,000 charging/discharging cycles at 15 A g^-1.

Interfacial Regulation of ZIF-67 on Bacteria to Generate Bifunctional Sensing Material on Chip for Qualifying Cell-Released Reactive Oxygen Species

Cell's activities are highly dependent on signal molecules, of which reactive oxygen species of the superoxide anion (O₂^•-) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) are important ones that always work together to regulate biological processes such as apoptosis and oxidative stress. It is of significance to realize simultaneous qualification of O₂^•- and H₂O₂ but it still faces challenges particularly in live-cell assay with a complex environment. We report the design of a bifunctional sensing material by interfacially regulating ZIF-67 on bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens to generate cobalt nanoparticles/nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanorods (Co/N-doped CNRs) and its sensing chip for qualifying cell-released O₂^•- and H₂O₂. Co/N-doped CNRs exhibit unique properties including porous structure for significantly increased reaction surface area and coordinating Co nanoparticles for rich active sites. The bifunctional Co/N-doped CNRs is used to fabricate the electrochemical sensing chip, which achieves a fast response time (0.5 s for O₂^•-, 1.9 s for H₂O₂), a low detection limit (0.69 nM for O₂^•-, 2.25 μM for H₂O₂), and a remarkably high sensitivity (792.30 μA·μM^-1·cm^-2 for O₂^•-, 153.91 μA·mM^-1·cm^-2 for H₂O₂), among the best of reported bifunctional nanozymes.

Photocatalytic degradation of industrial dye using hybrid filler impregnated poly-sulfone membrane and optimizing the catalytic performance using Box-Behnken design

Mixed Matrix Membranes have gained significant attention over the past few years due to their diverse applications, unique hybrid inorganic filler and polymeric properties. In this article, the impregnation of nano-hybrid filler (polyoxometalates (∼POMs) encapsulated into the metal-organic framework (MOF) ∼ PMOF) on the polysulfone membrane (∼PSF) was done, resulting in a mix matrix membrane (∼PMOF@PSF). The developed structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopes (TEM). The results confirmed that the nano-hybrid filler was successfully fabricated on the surface of PSF. Different loading ratios of nano-hybrid filler (5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) were used for impregnation. The study's objective was to enhance catalytic performance using optimization curves designed using a three-level Box-Behnken Design (BBD) simulation. The photodegradation of Methylene Blue (∼MB) was studied against PMOF@PSF_30% and was found to perform optimally when the concentration of catalyst, time of degradation, and temperature were 0.05-0.15 gm, 40-120 min, and 30-70 °C respectively. These experiments were replicated 15 times, and obtained results were further processed using a two-quadratic polynomial model to develop response surface methodology (RSM), which allowed for a functional relationship between the decolorization and experimental parameters. The optimal performance of the reaction mixture was calculated to be 0.15 gm for concentration, 70 °C for temperature, with an 80 min reaction time. Under these optimal conditions, the predicted decolorization of MB was 98.09%. Regression analysis with R² > 0.99 verified the fit of experimental results with predicted values. The PMOF@PSF PSF_30% demonstrated excellent reusability as its dye degradation properties were significantly unaffected after ten cycles.

Mechanism of Friedel-Crafts Acylation Using Metal Triflate in Deep Eutectic Solvents: An Experimental and Computational Study

In this paper, we develop a method for Friedel-Crafts acylation using metal triflate in deep eutectic solvents. Various metal triflates were tested and provided good to excellent yields of corresponding ketone products. The density functional theory calculation revealed the metal effects on the formation of active intermediate acylium triflate as well as the acidic condition. The metal triflate in the deep eutectic solvent can be recovered and reused with a little loss in the catalytic activity.

The Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation of Cycloketones Using Hydrogen Peroxide as an Oxidant

Baeyer–Villiger oxidation can synthesize a series of esters or lactones that have essential application value but are difficult to be synthesized by other methods. Cycloketones can be oxidized to lactones using molecular oxygen, peroxy acids, or hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the environmental oxidants. Because of the weak oxidation ability of hydrogen peroxide, Bronsted acids and Lewis acids are used as catalysts to activate hydrogen peroxide or the carbonyl of ketones to increase the nucleophilic performance of hydrogen peroxide. The catalytic mechanisms of Bronsted acids and Lewis acids differ in the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone with an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant.

Computational and experimental elucidation of the boosted stability and antibacterial activity of ZIF-67 upon optimized encapsulation with polyoxometalates

Water microbial purification is one of the hottest topics that threats human morbidity and mortality. It is indispensable to purify water using antimicrobial agents combined with several technologies and systems. Herein, we introduce a class of nanosized metal organic framework; Zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-67) cages encapsulated with polyoxometalates synthesized via facile one-step co-precipitation method. We employed two types of polyoxometalates bioactive agents; phosphotungstic acid (PTA) and phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) that act as novel antibacterial purification agents. Several characterization techniques were utilized to investigate the morphological, structural, chemical, and physical properties such as FESEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, and N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms techniques. The antibacterial assessment was evaluated using colony forming unit (CFU) against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as models of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. The PTA@ZIF-67 showed higher microbial inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria by 98.8% and 84.6%, respectively. Furthermore, computational modeling using density functional theory was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of PTA when compared to PMA. The computational and experimental findings demonstrate that the fabricated POM@ZIF-67 materials exhibited outstanding bactericidal effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and effectively purify contaminated water.

Highly efficient Hg2+ removal via a competitive strategy using a Co-based metal organic framework ZIF-67

The stronger coordination ability of mercury ions with organic ligands than the metal ions in metal organic framework (MOFs) provides an accessible way to separate mercury ions from solution using specific MOFs. In this study, a Co-based MOF (ZIF-67, Co(mIM)₂) was synthesized. It did not introduce specific functional groups, such as -SH and -NH₂, into its structure through complicated steps. It separate Hg²⁺ from wastewater with a new strategy, which utilized the stronger coordination ability of Hg²⁺ with the nitrogen atom on the imidazole ring of the organic ligand than the Co²⁺ ions. Hg²⁺ replaced Co²⁺ nodes from ZIF-67 and formed a more stable precipitate with mIM. The experimental results showed that this new strategy was efficient. ZIF-67 exhibited Hg²⁺ adsorption capacity of 1740 mg/g, much higher than the known MOFs sorbents. mIMs is the reaction center and ZIF-67 can improve its utilization. The sample color faded from purple to white due to the loss of cobalt ion. It is a great feature of ZIF-67 that allows users to judge whether the sorbent is deactivated intuitively. ZIF-67 can be sustainable recycled by adding organic ligands to the solution after treatment due to its simple synthesis method at room temperature. It's a high-efficient and sustainable sorbent for Hg²⁺ separation from wastewater.

Multilayered Mesoporous Composite Nanostructures for Highly Sensitive Label-Free Quantification of Cardiac Troponin-I

Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) is a well-known biomarker for the diagnosis and control of acute myocardial infarction in clinical practice. To improve the accuracy and reliability of cTnI electrochemical immunosensors, we propose a multilayer nanostructure consisting of Fe₃O₄-COOH labeled anti-cTnI monoclonal antibody (Fe₃O₄-COOH-Ab₁) and anti-cTnI polyclonal antibody (Ab₂) conjugated on Au-Ag nanoparticles (NPs) decorated on a metal–organic framework (Au-Ag@ZIF-67-Ab₂). In this design, Fe₃O₄-COOH was used for separation of cTnI in specimens and signal amplification, hierarchical porous ZIF-67 extremely enhanced the specific surface area, and Au-Ag NPs synergically promoted the conductivity and sensitivity. They were additionally employed as an immobilization platform to enhance antibody loading. Electron microscopy images indicated that Ag-Au NPs with an average diameter of 1.9 ± 0.5 nm were uniformly decorated on plate-like ZIF-67 particles (with average size of 690 nm) without any agglomeration. Several electrochemical assays were implemented to precisely evaluate the immunosensor performance. The square wave voltammetry technique exhibited the best performance with a sensitivity of 0.98 mA mL cm⁻² ng⁻¹ and a detection limit of 0.047 pg mL⁻¹ in the linear range of 0.04 to 8 ng mL⁻¹.

Acid-base bifunctional catalyst with coordinatively unsaturated cobalt-nitrogen sites for the simultaneous conversion of microalgal triglycerides and free fatty acids into biodiesel

An acid-base bifunctional catacknalyst with coordinatively unsaturated cobalt-nitrogen active sites Co-N_x (x < 4) was synthesized to convert microalgal lipids with high acid value into biodiesel. Pyrolysis destroyed Co-N₄ coordination structure in ZIF-67 and released coordinatively unsaturated Co-N_x and uncoordinated N sites, which resulted in the Lewis/Brønsted acid ratio increasing from 0.1 to 11.45 and the basicity increasing from 0.96 to 6.05 mmol/g. According to DFT calculations, the adsorption energy of free fatty acid (FFA) on Co-N₂ site (-1.003 eV) exceeded that on Co-N₄ site (-0.271 eV). The strong interaction between Co-N₂ site and FFA increased electropositivity of carbonyl carbon atom in FFA from 1.379 to 1.529 eV and promoted esterification. The pyrolysis-induced defects generated more mesopores to promote the transportation of lipid molecules inside the catalyst. Therefore, the conversion efficiency of microalgal lipids into biodiesel over the ZC-450 catalyst (96.7%) was higher than that over the ZIF-67 catalyst (69.5%).

Continuous Flow Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Catalyzed by Silica Supported Phosphotungstic Acid: An Environmentally Benign Process

Six silica-supported phosphotungstic acid catalysts (PTA/SiO2) of different composition (20–70 wt% PTA content) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, BET, BJH, NH3-TPD methods, FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine and 1H MAS NMR techniques. The new composite catalysts were first applied in the Friedel–Crafts alkylation of toluene with 1-octene as a benchmark process under batch conditions in order to screen their activity and recyclability. The combined analytical techniques together with the catalytic studies enabled the identification of the main factors affecting the activity of the catalysts. Based on these preliminary experiments, the best performing catalyst system (50 wt% PTA/SiO2) was investigated in continuous flow mode using an in-house-made flow reactor. The thorough screening of the reaction conditions (temperature, toluene/1-octene molar ratio and flow rate) provided firm evidence that the 50 wt% PTA/SiO2 composite is highly active, selective and stable catalyst under mild reaction conditions even at elevated flow rate. Additionally, the catalyst used in the flow mode could successfully be regenerated and reused in the alkylation process.

Construction of a Tl(I) voltammetric sensor based on ZIF-67 nanocrystals: optimization of operational conditions via response surface design

An electroanalytical sensor was constructed constituted on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) with a ZIF-67 modifier and devoted to the quantification of Tl(I). Several characterization tests including XRD, BET, FT-IR, SEM/EDS/mapping, TEM, impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were performed on the synthesized ZIF-67 nanocrystals and CPE matrix. Central composite design (CCD) was used to assess the impact of variables affecting the sensor response, including the weight percent of ZIF-67 (14%), the pH of the thallium accumulation solution (6.4), and accumulation time (315 s) as well as the accumulation potential (-1.2 V). The direct linear relationship between the sensor response and the concentration of Tl(I) is in the interval of 1.0×10^-10 to 5.0×10^-7 M (coefficient of determination = 0.9994). The detection limit is approximately 1.0 × 10^-11 M. The right selection of the MOF makes this sensor highly resistant to the interference of other ions. High selectivity against common interferences in the measurement of thallium (such as Pb(II) and Cd(II)) is an important feature of this sensor. To confirm the performance of the prepared sensor, the amount of thallium in the real sample was determined.

p-Toluenesulfonic acid functionalized imidazole ionic liquids encapsulated into bismuth SBA-16 as high-efficiency catalysts for Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction

Bismuth SBA-16 catalyst was synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Four kinds of p-toluenesulfonic acid functionalized imidazole ionic liquids were prepared by a two-step method and their molecular structures were characterized by 1H NMR and MS. The post-synthesis impregnation method was used to functionalize the Bi(10)-SBA-16 silicon mesoporous material with the ionic liquids and the obtained materials were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, BET, XPS, and TG. The results show that the volume and pore size of SBA-16 were changed by loading Bi and ionic liquids, while the three-dimensional cubic pore structure of SBA-16 was not destroyed. The composite catalyst was evaluated in Friedel-Crafts acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride. The effects of reaction temperature and the ratio of anisole and acylating agent on the acylation of anisole were investigated by experimental design. The results showed that 1.2ILc@Bi(10)-SBA-16 was used as the catalyst, the conversion of anisole was 85.41% and the yield of aromatic ketone was 69.19% under the conditions of a reaction temperature of 100 °C, a catalyst dosage of 0.5 g, a time period of 4 h and a molar ratio of 1 : 1.5. After 5 recycling runs, the reduction in the overall ratio of reactant conversion and product yield did not exceed 7.5%, indicating that 1.2ILc@Bi(10)-SBA-16 has good stability and reusability.

Investigation of the Hβ Molecular Sieve Inactivation Caused by Reactants and Products and Improvement of Continuous Thiophene Acylation

In this paper, the factors leading to the inactivation of the molecular sieve are explored in the batch thiophene (TH) acylation. The coexistence of acetic anhydride (AC) as the reactant and 2-acetylthiophene (2-ATH) as the product plays a key role in accelerating the inactivation, attributing to the 2-ATH polymerization. According to the molecular simulation, when AC is not present, the energy barrier of 2-ATH polymerization can be reduced from 287.45 kJ/mol to 85.87 kJ/mol. Then, the process of the continuous TH acylation is improved, in which thiophene is excessive (molar ratio). After optimizing the molar ratio and volume flowrate of raw material, the productivity of the catalyst can reach 21.56 g/g, which exceeds the best process previously studied (15.10 g/g). Subsequently, the use of carbon tetrachloride (CT) as a solvent is further studied, hoping to further improve the performance of the catalyst, and a significant advancement is achieved, in which the production capacity of the catalyst exceeds 45 g, and the conversion rate of AC can still be as high as 96% after the reaction is carried out for 15,000 min.

Synthesis of graphene oxide nanosheets decorated by nanoporous zeolite-imidazole (ZIF-67) based metal-organic framework with controlled-release corrosion inhibitor performance: Experimental and detailed DFT-D theoretical explorations

For the first time, the zeolite-imidazole (ZIF-67) framework, a new subfamily of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), is synthesized on the graphene oxide (GO) platform. Co²⁺ (as a central atom) and 2-methylimidazole (as organic ligands) were assembled to fabricate ZIF-67/GO NPs for providing epoxy-based anti-corrosion coatings with both active (self-healing) and passive (barrier) performance. Also, the ZIF-67/GO NPs were modified by 3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APS) to improve the particles compatibility with the epoxy matrix and control their solubility in saline media. The FE-SEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis, Raman, TGA, and low-angle XRD techniques were used to prove the successful ZIF-67 particles growth onto the GO platforms. Tafel (potentiodynamic) polarization test demonstrated that the ZIF-67/GO@APS NPs could protect the surface of steel through mixed anodic/cathodic type (O₂ reduction/Fe oxidation) mechanisms and the corrosion current density of the iron sample decreased to 1.41 µA·cm^-2. Interestingly, the epoxy coatings containing ZIF-67/GO and ZIF-67/GO@APS particles revealed long-term corrosion protection durability and outstanding self-healing anti-corrosion performance, which were well studied via EIS, salt spray, cathodic delamination, and pull-off techniques. The impedance value at the lowest frequency for the coating containing ZIF-67/GO@APS after 50 days decreased from 10.7 Ω·cm² to 10.2 Ω·cm² that showed the lowest reduction among the studied samples.

Interface Engineering of Co-LDH@MOF Heterojunction in Highly Stable and Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The electrochemical splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen is considered one of the most promising approaches to generate clean and sustainable energy. However, the low efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) acts as a bottleneck in the water splitting process. Herein, interface engineering heterojunctions between ZIF-67 and layered double hydroxide (LDH) are designed to enhance the catalytic activity of the OER and the stability of Co-LDH. The interface is built by the oxygen (O) of Co-LDH and nitrogen (N) of the 2-methylimidazole ligand in ZIF-67, which modulates the local electronic structure of the catalytic active site. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the interfacial interaction can enhance the strength of the Co-Oout bond in Co-LDH, which makes it easier to break the H-Oout bond and results in a lower free energy change in the potential-determining step at the heterointerface in the OER process. Therefore, the Co-LDH@ZIF-67 exhibits superior OER activity with a low overpotential of 187 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and long-term electrochemical stability for more than 50 h. This finding provides a design direction for improving the catalytic activity of OER.

A "MOFs plus ZIFs" Strategy toward Ultrafine Co Nanodots Confined into Superficial N-Doped Carbon Nanowires for Efficient Oxygen Reduction

N-doped carbon-confined transition metal nanocatalysts display efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance comparable to commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts because of their efficient charge transfer from metal atoms to active N sites. However, the sheathed active sites inside the electrocatalysts and relatively large-size confined metal particles greatly restrict their activity improvement. Here, we develop a facile and efficient "MOFs plus ZIFs" synthesis strategy to successfully construct ultrafine sub-5 nm Co nanodots confined into superficial N-doped carbon nanowires (Co@C@NC) via a well-designed synthesis process. The unique synthesis mechanism is based on low-pressure vapor superassembly of thin zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) coatings on metal-organic framework substrates. During the successive pyrolysis, the preferential formation of the robust N-doped carbon shell from the ZIF-67 shell keeps the core morphology without shrinkage and limits the growth of Co nanodots. Benefiting from this architecture with accessible and rich active N sites on the surface, stable carbon confined architecture, and large surface area, the Co@C@NC exhibits excellent ORR performance, catching up to commercial Pt/C. Density functional theory demonstrates that the confined Co nanodots efficiently enhance the charge density of superficial active N sites by interfacial charge transfer, thus accelerating the ORR process.

One-step conversion of tannic acid-modified ZIF-67 into oxygen defect hollow Co3O4/nitrogen-doped carbon for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution

Controllable structure and defect design are considered as efficient strategies to boost the electrochemical activity and stability of catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, oxygen defect hollow Co₃O₄/nitrogen-doped carbon (O_V-HCo₃O₄@NC) composites were successfully synthesized using tannic acid-modified ZIF-67 (TAMZIF-67) as the precursor through a one-step pyrolysis. Tannic acid provides abundant oxygen during the pyrolysis process of the modified ZIF-67, which can contribute to the formation of oxygen defects and the construction of a hollow structure. The existence of oxygen defects is shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance, whereas the hollow structure is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The optimized O_V-HCo₃O₄@NC shows good electrocatalytic activity and exhibits a low overpotential of 360 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 0.1 M KOH due to the hollow structure, abundant oxygen defects, and good electrical conductivity. This work provides valuable insights into the exploration of promising OER electrocatalysts with oxygen defects and special structures.

Oxygen defect hollow Co₃O₄/nitrogen-doped carbon (O_V-HCo₃O₄@NC) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by simple one-step pyrolysis of tannic acid-modified ZIF-67 (TAMZIF-67). O_V-HCo₃O₄@NC shows good OER electrocatalytic activity and stability.

Rational Design of Hierarchical, Porous, Co-Supported, N-Doped Carbon Architectures as Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction

Developing highly active nonprecious-metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great significance for reducing the cost of fuel cells. 3D-ordered porous structures could substantially improve the performance of the catalysts because of their excellent mass-diffusion properties and high specific surface areas. Herein, ordered porous ZIF-67 was prepared by forced molding of a polystyrene template, and Co-supported, N-doped, 3D-ordered porous carbon (Co-NOPC) was obtained after further carbonization. Co-NOPC exhibited excellent performance for the ORR in an alkaline medium with a half-wave potential of 0.86 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is higher than that of the state-of-the-art Pt/C (0.85 V vs. RHE). Moreover, the substantially improved catalytic performance of Co-NOPC compared with Co-supported, N-doped carbon revealed the key role of its hierarchical porosity in boosting the ORR. Co-NOPC also exhibited a close-to-ideal four-electron transfer path, long-term durability, and resistance to methanol penetration, which make it promising for large-scale application.

Toward Green Production of Chewing Gum and Diet: Complete Hydrogenation of Xylose to Xylitol over Ruthenium Composite Catalysts under Mild Conditions

Xylitol is one of the most famous chemicals known to people as the essential ingredient of chewing gum and as the sugar alternative for diabetics. Catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived xylose with H₂ to produce high-value xylitol has been carried out under harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we exhibit the combination of Ru NPs with an environmentally benign MOF (ZIF-67) to afford a heterogeneous composite catalyst. Complete conversion of xylose with 100% selectivity to xylitol was achieved at 50°C and 1 atm H₂. This is the first successful attempt to produce xylitol with ambient pressure H₂ as well as the first time to achieve a 100% selectivity of xylitol for applicable catalysts. We also proved the universality of the Ru@ZIF-67 towards other hydrogenation processes. Under 1 atm H₂, we achieved 100% conversion and >99% selectivity of 1-phenylethanol at 50°C for the hydrogenation of acetophenone. This is also the first report of hydrogenating acetophenone to 1-phenylethanol under 1 atm H₂, which confirms that our result not only contributes to enhance the industrial yields of xylitol and reduces both the economical and energy costs but also provides new perspectives on the other hydrogenation process with H₂.

MXene Boosted CoNi-ZIF-67 as Highly Efficient Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a pivotal step for many sustainable energy technologies, and exploring inexpensive and highly efficient electrocatalysts is one of the most crucial but challenging issues to overcome the sluggish kinetics and high overpotentials during OER. Among the numerous electrocatalysts, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising due to their high specific surface area, tunable porosity, and diversity of metal centers and functional groups. It is believed that combining MOFs with conductive nanostructures could significantly improve their catalytic activities. In this study, an MXene supported CoNi-ZIF-67 hybrid (CoNi-ZIF-67@Ti₃C₂T_x) was synthesized through the in-situ growth of bimetallic CoNi-ZIF-67 rhombic dodecahedrons on the Ti₃C₂T_x matrix via a coprecipitation reaction. It is revealed that the inclusion of the MXene matrix not only produces smaller CoNi-ZIF-67 particles, but also increases the average oxidation of Co/Ni elements, endowing the CoNi-ZIF-67@Ti₃C₂T_x as an excellent OER electrocatalyst. The effective synergy of the electrochemically active CoNi-ZIF-67 phase and highly conductive MXene support prompts the hybrid to process a superior OER catalytic activity with a low onset potential (275 mV vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) and Tafel slope (65.1 mV∙dec⁻¹), much better than the IrO₂ catalysts and the pure CoNi-ZIF-67. This work may pave a new way for developing efficient non-precious metal catalyst materials.

Fly Ash-Based Geopolymers as Sustainable Bifunctional Heterogeneous Catalysts and Their Reactivity in Friedel-Crafts Acylation Reactions

This study presents the synthesis, characteristics and catalytic reactivity of sustainable bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts derived from coal fly ash-based geopolymer, particularly those with a high Ca content (C-class) fly ash. The developed catalysts were synthesized at room temperature and pressure in a simple ecologically-benign procedure and their reactivity was evaluated in the Friedel-Crafts acylation of various arenes. These catalysts can be produced with multilevel porous architecture, and a combination of acidic and redox active sites allowing their use as bifunctional catalysts. The acidic sites (Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites) were generated within the catalyst framework by ion-exchange followed by thermal treatment, and redox sites that originated from the catalytically reactive fly ash components. The developed catalysts demonstrated higher reactivity than other commonly used solid catalysts such as Metal-zeolite and Metal-mesoporous silicate, heteropolyacids and zeolite imidazole frameworks (ZIF).