Local fluorine environments in nanoscopic magnesium hydr(oxide) fluorides studied by 19F MAS NMR

Coloured hybrid materials: exploiting an emergent surface property of fluorinated Al2O3 containing anthocyanins and betacyanins

Two fluorinated γ-Al₂O₃ series were synthesized by a sol-gel method with two solvents (2-propanol and 2-butanol), two aluminium sources (ATB and ATP) and one fluorine source (Na₃AlF₆). The resulting inorganic matrixes were evaluated to characterize aluminium and fluorine species ([AlO₄^5-], [AlO₅^7-], [AlO₆^9-], [AlF₄^-], [AlF₅^2-] and [AlF₆^3-]) by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ²⁷Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁷Al MAS-NMR) and infrared spectroscopy (IR-ATR). BET and BJH analyses using the nitrogen isotherms of these materials allowed identifying a clear trend in some textural parameters such as specific surface area and fluorine content. These results were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical affinity and acid surface properties were evidenced with colour shifts in two groups of hybrid pigments, prepared with natural anthocyanins (Brassica oleracea) and betacyanins (Bougainvillea glabra).

Enhanced Fluoride Uptake by Layered Double Hydroxides under Alkaline Conditions: Solid-State NMR Evidence of the Role of Surface >MgOH Sites

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are potential low-cost filter materials for use in fluoride removal from drinking water, but molecular-scale defluoridation mechanisms are lacking. In this research, we employed ¹⁹F solid-state NMR spectroscopy to identify fluoride sorption products on 2:1 MgAl LDH and to reveal the relationship between fluoride sorption and the LDH structure. A set of six ¹⁹F NMR peaks centered at -140, -148, -156, -163, -176, and -183 ppm was resolved. Combining quantum chemical calculations based on density function theory (DFT) and ¹⁹F{²⁷Al} transfer of populations in double resonance (TRAPDOR) analysis, we could assign the peaks at -140, -148, -156, and -163 ppm to Al-F (F coordinated to surface Al) and those at -176 and -183 ppm to Mg-F (F coordinated to surface Mg only). Interestingly, the spectroscopic data reveal that the formation of Al-F is the predominant mode of F^- sorption at low pH, whereas the formation of Mg-F is predominant at high pH (or a higher Mg/Al ratio). This finding supports the fact that the F^- uptake of 2:1 MgAl LDH was nearly six times that of activated alumina at pH 9. Overall, we explicitly revealed the different roles of the surface >MgOH and >AlOH sites of LDHs in defluoridation, which explained why the use of classic activated alumina for defluoridation is limited at high pH. The findings from this research may also provide new insights into material screening for potential filters for F^- removal under alkaline conditions.

Toward an Understanding of SEI Formation and Lithium Plating on Copper in Anode-Free Batteries

"Anode-free" batteries present a significant advantage due to their substantially higher energy density and ease of assembly in a dry air atmosphere. However, issues involving lithium dendrite growth and low cycling Coulombic efficiencies during operation remain to be solved. Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation on Cu and its effect on Li plating are studied here to understand the interplay between the Cu current collector surface chemistry and plated Li morphology. A native interphase layer (N-SEI) on the Cu current collector was observed with solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (ssNMR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) studies showed that the nature of the N-SEI is affected by the copper interface composition. An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study identified a relationship between the applied voltage and SEI composition. In addition to the typical SEI components, the SEI contains copper oxides (Cu _x O) and their reduction reaction products. Parasitic electrochemical reactions were observed via in situ NMR measurements of Li plating efficiency. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed a correlation between the morphology of the plated Li and the SEI homogeneity, current density, and rest time in the electrolyte before plating. Via ToF-SIMS, we found that the preferential plating of Li on Cu is governed by the distribution of ionically conducting rather than electronic conducting compounds. The results together suggest strategies for mitigating dendrite formation by current collector pretreatment and controlled SEI formation during the first battery charge.

F-doping of nanostructured ZnO: a way to modify structural, electronic, and surface properties

Polycrystalline ZnO is a material often used in heterogeneous catalysis. Its properties can be altered by the addition of dopants. We used gaseous fluorine (F_2(g)) as direct way to incorporate fluoride in ZnO as anionic dopants. Here, the consequences of this treatment on the structural and electronic properties, as well as on the acidic/basic sites of the surface, are investigated. It is shown that the amount of F incorporation into the structure can be controlled by the synthesis parameters (t, T, p). While the surface of ZnO was altered as shown by, e.g., IR spectroscopy, XPS, and STEM/EDX measurements, the F₂ treatment also influenced the electronic properties (optical band gap, conductivity) of ZnO. Furthermore, the Lewis acidity/basicity of the surface was affected which is evidenced by using, e.g., different probe molecules (CO₂, NH₃). In situ investigations of the fluorination process offer valuable insights on the fluorination process itself.

New 2D layered structures with direct fluorine–metal bonds: MF(CH3COO) (M: Sr, Ba, Pb)

New coordination polymers with 2D network structures with fluorine directly coordinated to the metal ion were prepared both via mechanochemical synthesis and fluorolytic sol–gel synthesis.

Sol-Gel-Synthesis of Nanoscopic Complex Metal Fluorides

The fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis for binary metal fluorides (AlF₃, CaF₂, MgF₂) has been extended to ternary and quaternary alkaline earth metal fluorides (CaAlF₅, Ca₂AlF₇, LiMgAlF₆). The formation and crystallization of nanoscopic ternary CaAlF₅ and Ca₂AlF₇ sols in ethanol were studied by ¹⁹F liquid and solid state NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystalline phases of the annealed CaAlF₅, Ca₂AlF₇, and LiMgAlF₆ xerogels between 500 and 700 °C could be determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and ¹⁹F solid state NMR spectroscopy. The thermal behavior of un-annealed nanoscopic ternary and quaternary metal fluoride xerogels was ascertained by thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The obtained crystalline phases of CaAlF₅ and Ca₂AlF₇ derived from non-aqueous sol-gel process were compared to crystalline phases from the literature. The corresponding nanoscopic complex metal fluoride could provide a new approach in ceramic and luminescence applications.

The non-aqueous fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis of nanoscaled metal fluorides

This review article focuses on the mechanism of the non-aqueous fluorolytic sol gel-synthesis of nanoscopic metal fluorides and hydroxide fluorides. Based on MAS-NMR, XRD, WAXS and SAXS investigations in combination with computational calculations, it is shown that a stepwise replacement of alkoxide by F-ions takes place resulting in the formation of a large variety of metal alkoxide fluoride clusters, some of them being isolated and structurally characterised. It is shown that these nanoscopic metal fluorides obtained via this new synthesis approach exhibit distinctly different properties compared with their classically prepared homologues. Thus, extremely strong solid Lewis acids are available which give access to new catalytic reactions with sometimes unexpectedly high conversion degrees and selectivity. Even more interestingly, metal hydroxide fluorides can be obtained via this synthesis route that are not accessible via any other approach for which the hydroxide to fluoride ratios can be adjusted over a wide range. Optically fully transparent sols obtained in this way can be used for the first time to manufacture antireflective coatings, corundum ceramics with drastically improved properties as well as novel metal fluoride based organic-inorganic composites. The properties of these new fluoride based materials are presented and discussed in context with the above mentioned new fields of application.

Dehydration of xylose and glucose to furan derivatives using bifunctional partially hydroxylated MgF2 catalysts and N2-stripping

The current furfural production yield is low due to the use of non-selective homogeneous catalysts and expensive separation.

Inorganic-organic nanocomposites based on sol-gel derived magnesium fluoride

Monodispersed magnesium fluoride nanoparticles are utilized for the first time to prepare transparent inorganic-organic nanocomposite materials with improved mechanical properties. The fluorolytic sol-gel synthesis route has been modified for the preparation of monodispersed magnesium fluoride nanoparticles with a size of 2-3 nm. MgF(2) particles are effectively stabilised against agglomeration by phosphonic acids, which strongly bind to the particles and lead to an increased compatibility of the inorganic particles with the organic polymers. This way, highly transparent nanocomposite materials with up to 20 wt% magnesium fluoride in different acrylates are obtained, featuring high dispersion of MgF(2) particles in the polymer matrix and an increased hardness by the factor of 2. The nature of interaction between phosphonic acids and magnesium fluoride is thoroughly investigated by IR and NMR showing a monodentate coordination of phosphonates to the particle's surface.