Carbon-Free Conversion of SiO2 to Si via Ultra-Rapid Alloy Formation: Toward the Sustainable Fabrication of Nanoporous Si for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Silicon has the potential to improve lithium-ion battery (LIB) performance substantially by replacing graphite as an anode. The sustainability of such a transformation, however, depends on the source of silicon and the nature of the manufacturing process. Today's silicon industry still overwhelmingly depends on the energy-intensive, high-temperature carbothermal reduction of silica─a process that adversely impacts the environment. Rather than use conventional thermoreduction alone to break Si-O bonds, we report the efficient conversion of SiO₂ directly to Mg₂Si by a microwave-induced Mg plasma within 2.5 min at merely 200 W under vacuum. The underlying mechanism is proposed, wherein electrons with enhanced kinetics function readily as the reductant while the "bombardment" from Mg cations and electrons promotes the fast nucleation of Mg₂Si. The 3D nanoporous (NP) Si is then fabricated by a facile thermal dealloying step. The resulting hierarchical NP Si anodes deliver stable, extended cycling with excellent rate capability in Li-ion half-cells, with capacities several times greater than graphite. The microwave-induced metal plasma (MIMP) concept can be applied just as efficiently to the synthesis of Mg₂Si from Si, and the chemistry should be extendable to the reduction of multiple metal(loid) oxides via their respective Mg alloys.

Addressing the sustainability challenges for polymers in liquid formulations

Polymers in liquid formulations, or PLFs, are present in many of the products we use, from the shampoo we use to wash our hair, to the paint on the walls, and the lubricants in our car. They provide high functionality in these and a multitude of other applications, delivering many positive benefits to society. They are essential to global markets worth more than $1 trillion and so large quantities of these materials are made and sold each year - 36.3 million metric tonnes, the volume of 14 500 Olympic sized swimming pools! The chemical industry and the wider supply chain therefore have a responsibility to ensure that the way PLFs are made, used and disposed of at their end of life has a minimal effect on the environment. To date this seems to be a 'hidden problem', not receiving the same attention as other polymer related products, such as plastic packaging waste, yet there are clear challenges to address the sustainability concerns for these materials. To ensure that the PLF industry is economically and environmentally sustainable in the future, some key challenges need to be addressed, ensuring that new approaches to PLF production, use and end-of-life treatment are developed and utilised. Collaboration is key here, and with the UK already possessing a wealth of world-leading expertise and capability, there is an opportunity to leverage this in a coherent, focussed way to improve the overall environmental profile of these products.

Chemical Recycling of High-Molecular-Weight Organosilicon Compounds in Supercritical Fluids

The main known patterns of thermal and/or catalytic destruction of high-molecular-weight organosilicon compounds are considered from the viewpoint of the prospects for processing their wastes. The advantages of using supercritical fluids in plastic recycling are outlined. They are related to a high diffusion rate, efficient extraction of degradation products, the dependence of solvent properties on pressure and temperature, etc. A promising area for further research is described concerning the application of supercritical fluids for processing the wastes of organosilicon macromolecular compounds.

Hybrid Tri-Cure Organo-Silicon Coatings for Monument Preservation

A coating system integrating three distinct chemistries was developed to protect materials used in monuments and construction. Initial curing is achieved using a UV-initiated thiol-ene reaction to form a non-impressionable/non-sticky surface. Second, amine/epoxy reactions form a firm surface adhesion and give mechanical strength through consolidation. Third, alkoxysilane sol-gel curing integrates the siloxane network while adding thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and a hardened surface. The final design utilizes a photoacid generator to increase the reaction speed of the second and third curing steps. The coating can be applied by spray, dip, or wipe on methods and exhibits a rapid non-impressionable surface (as fast as 10 min) that resists graffiti and environmental conditions, and is used and stored as a single-component system with a pot life exceeding six months. A series of experiments were used to determine the coating properties and durability, including field testing and accelerated weathering.

Considerations on the Analysis of E-900 Food Additive: An NMR Perspective

Food additives are in widespread use in the food industry to extend the shelf life of food, improve its organoleptic characteristics or facilitate industrial processing. Their use is not without controversy, which makes regulation and control crucial for food safety and public health. Among food additives, silicone-based antifoaming agents (polysiloxanes or E900) are difficult to analyze and quantify due to their polymeric nature. Currently, there is no official method of quantifying this additive in foods. In this context, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a quantitative method for speciation analysis of silicon compounds almost without known interferents. In this work, we describe the evolution of the regulation of the E900 additive, discuss different analytic methods quantifying polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS), and propose a new method based on NMR suitable for analyzing the content of E900 in the form of PDMS in various types of food from dietary oils to marmalades and jellies, among others. The proposed method consists of a previous quantitative concentration of PDMS by liquid–liquid extraction and the monitoring of the quantification using a bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene (BTMSB) standard to control the variability, ranging within 2–7%, depending on the food. This simple, direct, and reproducible procedure for aqueous and lipidic foods may help to monitor and fill a gap in regulatory legislation regarding the E900 additive.

The Structure of Bis(catecholato)silanes: Phase Adaptation by Dynamic Covalent Chemistry of the Si-O Bond

Catechols occupy a unique role in the structural, bio-, and geochemistry of silicon. Although a wealth of knowledge exists on their hypercoordinate complexes, the structure of tetracoordinate bis(catecholato)silane, Si(cat^H)₂ 1, has been enigmatic since its first report in 1951. Indeed, the claim of a planar-tetracoordinated silicon in 1 triggered a prominent debate, which is unsettled to this day. Herewith, we present a comprehensive structural study on 1 and derivatives in the gas phase by electron diffraction, in a neon matrix by IR spectroscopy, in solution by diffusion NMR spectroscopy, and in the solid-state by X-ray diffraction and MAS NMR spectroscopy, complemented by high-level quantum-chemical computations. The compound exhibits unprecedented phase adaptation. In the gas phase, the monomeric bis(catecholato)silane is tetrahedral, but in the condensed phase, it is metastable toward oligomerization up to a degree controllable by the type of catechol, temperature, and concentration. For the first time, spectroscopic evidence is obtained for a rapid Si-O σ-bond metathesis reaction. Hence, this study sorts out a long-lasting debate and confirms dynamic covalent features for our Earth's crust's most abundant chemical bond.

Let's Make White Phosphorus Obsolete

Industrial and laboratory methods for incorporating phosphorus atoms into molecules within the framework of Green Chemistry are in their infancy. Current practice requires large inputs of energy, involves toxic intermediates, and generates substantial waste. Furthermore, a negligible fraction of phosphorus-containing waste is recycled which in turn contributes to negative environmental impacts, such as eutrophication. Methods that begin to address some of these drawbacks are reviewed, and some key opportunities to be realized by pursuing organophosphorus chemistry under the principles of Green Chemistry are highlighted. Methods used by nature, or in the chemistry of other elements such as silicon, are discussed as model processes for the future of phosphorus in chemical synthesis.