New findings on the influence of carbon surface curvature on energetics of benzene adsorption from gaseous phase

Synthesis of High Surface Area, Carbyne-Derived, Acidic Nanocarbons Obtained from Municipal Wastes for Daily Sorption Thermal Battery Cycle

Modern materials that allow for an easy way to store energy are the top of the top of recent investigations. Near room temperature synthesis of high-area carbyne-derived nanocarbons from municipal wastes. The acidic and consequently hydrophilic nature of the surface of the studied nanocarbons is confirmed by various analytical techniques. It has been shown that low-temperature dehydration in a concentrated sulfuric acid environment does not result in the incorporation of sulfonic groups, and the total concentration of surface acid groups is close to 3 nm2. This value, combined with the Raman spectra characteristic of the carbyne structures, allows the conclusion that acidic derivatives of the carbynes have been obtained. A high concentration of surface functional groups causes the results from low-temperature N2 isotherm are underestimated (≈100 m2 g-1). The correct surface area values are possible to be obtained from measurement in the aqueous phase using methylene blue as a model molecule (≈1400 m2 g-1). High acidity prevents the adsorbate condensation, typical for carbon materials during water adsorption. By mitigating the S-shape of the adsorption isotherm, the amount of adsorbed and desorbed water is temperature-dependent, allowing to obtain ≈1200 kJ kg-1 at a typical daily thermal cycle.

The Consequences of Water Interactions with Nitrogen-Containing Carbonaceous Quantum Dots-The Mechanistic Studies

Despite the importance of quantum dots in a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical processes, the structure of the molecular layers surrounding their surface in solution remains unknown. Thus, knowledge about the interaction mechanism of Nitrogen enriched Carbonaceous Quantum Dots' (N-CQDs) surface with water-their natural environment-is highly desirable. A diffusive and Stern layer over the N-CQDs, characterized in situ, reveals the presence of anionic water clusters [OH(H2O)n]-. Their existence explains new observations: (i) the unexpectedly low adsorption enthalpy (ΔHads) in a pressure range below 0.1 p/ps, and ΔHads being as high as 190 kJ/mol at 0.11 p/ps; (ii) the presence of a "conductive window" isolating nature-at p/ps below 0.45-connected to the formation of smaller clusters and increasing conductivity above 0.45 p/ps, (iii) Stern layer stability; and (iv) superhydrophilic properties of the tested material. These observables are the consequences of H2O dissociative adsorption on N-containing basic centers. The additional direct application of surfaces formed by N-CQDs spraying is the possibility of creating antistatic, antifogging, bio-friendly coatings.

Sorption and Magnetic Properties of Oxalato-Based Trimetallic Open Framework Stabilized by Charge-Assisted Hydrogen Bonds

We report a new structure of {[Co(bpy)₂(ox)][{Cu₂(bpy)₂(ox)}Fe(ox)₃]}_n·8.5nH₂O NCU-1 presenting a rare ladder topology among oxalate-based coordination polymers with anionic chains composed of alternately arranged [Cu₂(bpy)₂(ox)]²⁺ and [Fe(ox)₃]³⁻ moieties. Along the a axis, they are separated by Co(III) units to give porous material with voids of 963.7 ų (16.9% of cell volume). The stability of this structure is assured by a network of stacking interactions and charge-assisted C-H…O hydrogen bonds formed between adjacent chains, adjacent cobalt(III) units, and alternately arranged cobalt(III) and chain motifs. The soaking experiment with acetonitrile and bromobenzene showed that water molecules (8.5 water molecules dispersed over 15 positions) are bonded tightly, despite partial occupancy. Water adsorption experiments are described by a D’arcy and Watt model being the sum of Langmuir and Dubinin–Serpinski isotherms. The amount of primary adsorption sites calculated from this model is equal 8.2 mol H₂O/mol, being very close to the value obtained from the XRD experiments and indicates that water was adsorbed mainly on the primary sites. The antiferromagnetic properties could be only approximately described with the simple Cu^II-ox-Cu^II dimer using H = −J·S₁·S₂, thus, considering non-trivial topology of the whole Cu-Fe chain, we developed our own general approach, based on the semiclassical model (SC) and molecular field (MF) model, to describe precisely the magnetic superexchange interactions in NCU-1. We established that Cu(II)-Cu(II) coupling dominates over multiple Cu(II)-Fe(III) interactions, with J_CuCu = −275(29) and J_CuFe = −3.8(1.6) cm⁻¹ and discussed the obtained values against the literature data.