Copper Phosphinate Complexes as Molecular Precursors for Ethanol Dehydrogenation Catalysts

Nowadays, the production of acetaldehyde heavily relies on the petroleum industry. Developing new catalysts for the ethanol dehydrogenation process that could sustainably substitute current acetaldehyde production methods is highly desired. Among the ethanol dehydrogenation catalysts, copper-based materials have been intensively studied. Unfortunately, the Cu-based catalysts suffer from sintering and coking, which lead to rapid deactivation with time-on-stream. Phosphorus doping has been demonstrated to diminish coking in methanol dehydrogenation, fluid catalytic cracking, and ethanol-to-olefin reactions. This work reports a pioneering application of the well-characterized copper phosphinate complexes as molecular precursors for copper-based ethanol dehydrogenation catalysts enriched with phosphate groups (Cu-phosphate/SiO2). Three new catalysts (CuP-1, CuP-2, and CuP-3), prepared by the deposition of complexes {Cu(SAAP)}n (1), [Cu6(BSAAP)6] (2), and [Cu3(NAAP)3] (3) on the surface of commercial SiO2, calcination at 500 °C, and reduction in the stream of the forming gas 5% H2/N2 at 400 °C, exhibited unusual properties. First, the catalysts showed a rapid increase in catalytic activity. After reaching the maximum conversion, the catalyst started to deactivate. The unusual behavior could be explained by the presence of the phosphate phase, which made Cu2+ reduction more difficult. The phosphorus content gradually decreased during time-on-stream, copper was reduced, and the activity increased. The deactivation of the catalyst could be related to the copper diffusion processes. The most active CuP-1 catalyst reaches a maximum of 73% ethanol conversion and over 98% acetaldehyde selectivity at 325 °C and WHSV = 2.37 h-1.

Layered Uranyl Phosphonates Encapsulating Co(II)/Mn(II)/Zn(II) Ions: Exfoliation into Nanosheets and Its Impact on Magnetic and Luminescent Properties

Layered heterometallic 5f-3d uranyl phosphonates can exhibit unique luminescent and/or magnetic properties, but the fabrication and properties of their 2D counterparts have not been investigated. Herein we report three heterobimetallic uranyl phosphonates, namely, [(UO₂ )₃ M(2-pmbH)₄ (H₂ O)₄ ] ⋅ 2H₂ O [MU, M=Co(II), CoU; Mn(II), MnU; Zn(II), ZnU; 2-pmbH₃ =2-(phosphonomethyl)benzoic acid]. They are isostructural and display two-dimensional layered structures where the M(II) centers are encapsulated inside the windows generated by the diamagnetic uranyl phosphonate layer. Each M(II) has an octahedral geometry filled with four water molecules in the equatorial positions and two phosphonate oxygen atoms in the axial positions. The uranium atoms adopt UO₇ pentagonal bipyramidal and UO₆ square bipyramidal geometries. The lattice and coordination water molecules can be released by thermal treatment and reabsorbed in a reversible manner, accompanied with changes of magnetic dynamics. Interestingly, the bulk samples of MU can be exfoliated in acetone via freezing and thawing processes forming nanosheets with single-layer or two-layer thickness (MU-ns). Magnetic studies revealed that the CoU and MnU systems exhibited field-induced slow magnetization relaxation at low temperature. Compared with crystalline CoU, the magnetic relaxation of the CoU-ns aggregates is significantly accelerated. Moreover, photoluminescence measured at 77 K showed slight red-shift of the five characteristic uranyl emission bands for ZnU-ns in comparison with those of the crystalline ZnU. This work gives the first examples of 2D materials based on 5f-3d heterometallic uranyl phosphonates and illustrates the impact of dimension reduction on their magnetic/optical properties.

Uranyl phosphonates: crystalline materials and nanosheets for temperature sensing

Ultrathin nanosheets of luminescent metal-organic frameworks or coordination polymers have been widely used for sensing ions, solvents and biomolecules but, as far as we are aware, not yet used for temperature sensing. Herein we report two luminescent uranyl phosphonates based on 2-(phosphonomethyl)benzoic acid (2-pmbH₃), namely (UO₂)(2-pmbH₂)₂ (1) and (H₃O)[(UO₂)₂(2-pmb)(2-pmbH)] (2). The former has a supramolecular layer structure, composed of chains of corner-sharing {UO₆} octahedra and {PO₃C} tetrahedra which are connected by hydrogen bonds between phosphonate and carboxylic groups. Compound 2 possesses a unique 2D anionic framework structure, where the inorganic uranyl phosphonate chains made up of {UO₇} and {PO₃C} polyhedra are cross-linked by 2-pmb^3- ligands. The carboxylic groups of 2-pmbH^2- ligands are pendant on the two sides of the layers and form hydrogen bonds between the layers. Both compounds can be exfoliated in acetone via a top-down freeze-thaw method, resulting in nanosheets of two-layer thickness. Interestingly, the photoluminescence (PL) of 1 and 2 is highly temperature sensitive. Variable temperature PL studies revealed that compounds 1 and 2 can be used as thermometers in the temperature ranges 120-300 K and 100-280 K, respectively. By doping the nanosheets into polymer matrix, 1-ns@PMMA and 2-ns@PMMA were prepared. The PL intensity of 1-ns@PMMA is insensitive to temperature, unlike that of the bulk sample. While 2-ns@PMMA exhibits similar temperature-dependent luminescence behaviour to its bulk counterpart, thereby enabling its potential application as a thermometer in the temperature range 100-280 K.

Multiple Strategies to Fabricate a Highly Stable 2D CuIICuI-Organic Framework with High Proton Conductivity

Using multifunctional organic ligands with multiple acidic groups (carboxylate and sulfonate groups) to synthesize metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) bearing effective H-bond networks is a promising strategy to obtain highly proton conductive materials. In this work, a highly stable two-dimensional MOF, [Cu^II₅Cu^I₂(μ₃-OH)₄(H₂O)₆(L)₂(H₂L)₂]·3H₂O (denoted as YCu161; H₃L = 6-sulfonaphthalene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid) containing mixed-valence [Cu^II₅Cu^I₂(μ₃-OH)₄]⁸⁺ subunits, was successfully prepared. It exhibited excellent stability and temperature- and humidity-dependent proton conduction properties. Its optimal proton conductivity reached 1.84 × 10^-3 S cm^-1 at 90 °C and 98% relative humidity. On the basis of a crystal structure analysis, water vapor adsorption test results, and activation energy calculations, we deduced the proton conduction pathway and mechanism. Apparently, uncoordinated sulfonic and carboxyl groups and a network of abundant H-bonds inside the framework were responsible for the efficient proton transfer. Therefore, the strategy of selecting suitable bifunctional ligands to construct two-dimensional Cu-cluster-based MOFs with excellent proton conductivity is feasible.

Nanoporous Metal Phosphonate Hybrid Materials as a Novel Platform for Emerging Applications: A Critical Review

Nanoporous metal phosphonates are propelling the rapid development of emerging energy storage, catalysis, environmental intervention, and biology, the performances of which touch many fundamental aspects of portable electronics, convenient transportation, and sustainable energy conversion systems. Recent years have witnessed tremendous research breakthroughs in these fields in terms of the fascinating pore properties, the structural periodicity, and versatile skeletons of porous metal phosphonates. This review presents recent milestones of porous metal phosphonate research, from the diversified synthesis strategies for controllable pore structures, to several important applications including adsorption and separation, energy conversion and storage, heterogeneous catalysis, membrane engineering, and biomaterials. Highlights of porous structure design for metal phosphonates are described throughout the review and the current challenges and perspectives for future research in this field are discussed at the end. The aim is to provide some guidance for the rational preparation of porous metal phosphonate materials and promote further applications to meet the urgent demands in emerging applications.

Cobalt(II)-dianthracene Frameworks: Assembly, Exfoliation and Properties

Metal-organic frameworks containing responsive organic linkers are attractive for potential applications in sensors and molecular devices. Herein we report three cobalt(II) phosphonates incorporating responsive dianthracene linkers, namely, Co₂ (amp₂ H₂ )₂ (H₂ O)₄  ⋅ 6H₂ O (MDAF-1), Co₂ (amp₂ )(H₂ O)₄  ⋅ 2H₂ O (MDAF-2) and Co(amp₂ H₂ ) ⋅ 2H₂ O ⋅ 0.5DMF (MDAF-3), where amp₂ H₄ is pre-photodimerized 9-anthrylmethylphosphonic acid. MDAF-1 shows a layer structure in which dinuclear Co₂ (PO₃ H)₂ units are inter-connected by dianthracene ligands. In MDAF-2 and MDAF-3, inorganic chains of corner-sharing {CoO₄ } (or {CoO₆ }) and {PO₃ C} are cross-linked by dianthracene ligands into 3D frameworks. All compounds underwent thermo-induced phase transitions, first the de-solvation and then the de-dimerization of dianthracene (as well as the release of the remaining solvent molecules for MDAF-2 and -3), associated with magnetic changes. MDAF-1 can be exfoliated into single-layer nanosheets in water which show light-triggered luminescent changes.

An ultra-stable hafnium phosphonate MOF platform for comparing the proton conductivity of various guest molecules/ions

A porous hafnium-phosphonate MOF was synthesized using imidazole ionic liquids (ILs), namely PHOS-100(Hf), which has exceptional chemical stability in aqueous environments, even fuming acids. Its rigid framework with permanent porosity makes PHOS-100 an ideal candidate as a platform to fill with different functional guests such as acidic HCl, H2SO4, or H3PO4. The as-synthesized ILs@PHOS-100 exhibits significant humidity-dependent proton conductivities, increasing by four orders of magnitude from 45% RH to 95% RH at 25 °C. After post-treatment with strong acids, the acids@PHOS-100 show enhanced proton conduction at low relative humidities.

Polymer Lamellae as Reaction Intermediates in the Formation of Copper Nanospheres as Evidenced by In Situ X-ray Studies

The classical nucleation theory (CNT) is the most common theoretical framework used to explain particle formation. However, nucleation is a complex process with reaction pathways which are often not covered by the CNT. Herein, we study the formation mechanism of copper nanospheres using in situ X-ray absorption and scattering measurements. We reveal that their nucleation involves coordination polymer lamellae as pre-nucleation structures occupying a local minimum in the reaction energy landscape. Having learned this, we achieved a superior monodispersity for Cu nanospheres of different sizes. This report exemplifies the importance of developing a more realistic picture of the mechanism involved in the formation of inorganic nanoparticles to develop a rational approach to their synthesis.