Computational Study of H2 Catalytic Combustion on Pd38 Cluster Model and Pd(111) Slab Model

Hydrogen is one of the exhaust gases produced by nuclear power stations. Due to the potential danger of incomplete combustion and the emission of hydrogen, hydrogen catalytic combustion is introduced to ensure the safety of nuclear power stations. Palladium is a widely used catalyst for hydrogen catalytic combustion. H2 catalytic combustion on a Pd(111) slab model and Pd38 cluster model were simulated using density functional theory (DFT), in order to analyze the H2 oxidation mechanism on the catalyst surface.

Eco-Friendly Methodology for the Formation of Aromatic Carbon-Heteroatom Bonds by Using Green Ionic Liquids

A new sustainable method is reported for the formation of aromatic carbon-heteroatom bonds under solvent-free and mild conditions (no co-oxidant, no strong acid and no toxic reagents) by using a new type of green ionic liquid. The bromination of methoxy arenes was chosen as a model reaction. The reaction methodology is based on only using natural sodium bromine, which is transformed into an electrophilic brominating reagent within an ionic liquid, easily prepared from the melted salt FeCl₃ hexahydrate. Bromination reactions with this in-situ-generated reagent gave good yields and excellent regioselectivity under simple and environmentally friendly conditions. To understand the unusual bromine polarity reversal of sodium bromine without any strong oxidant, the molecular structure of the reaction medium was characterised by Raman and direct infusion electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS). An extensive computational investigation using density functional theory methods was performed to describe a mechanism that suggests indirect oxidation of Br^- through new iron adducts. The versatility of the methodology was successively applied to nitration and thiocyanation of methoxy arenes using KNO₃ and KSCN in melted hexahydrated FeCl₃ .