Structural Defects and Acidic and Basic Sites in Sol−Gel MgO

MgO Heterostructures: From Synthesis to Applications

The energy storage capacity of batteries and supercapacitors has seen rising demand and problems as large-scale energy storage systems and electric gadgets have become more widely adopted. With the development of nano-scale materials, the electrodes of these devices have changed dramatically. Heterostructure materials have gained increased interest as next-generation materials due to their unique interfaces, resilient structures and synergistic effects, providing the capacity to improve energy/power outputs and battery longevity. This review focuses on the role of MgO in heterostructured magnetic and energy storage devices and their applications and synthetic strategies. The role of metal oxides in manufacturing heterostructures has received much attention, especially MgO. Heterostructures have stronger interactions between tightly packed interfaces and perform better than single structures. Due to their typical physical and chemical properties, MgO heterostructures have made a breakthrough in energy storage. In perpendicularly magnetized heterostructures, the MgO's thickness significantly affects the magnetic properties, which is good news for the next generation of high-speed magnetic storage devices.

Mild Microfluidic Approaches to Oxide Nanoparticles Synthesis

Oxide nanoparticles (oxide NPs) are advanced materials with a wide variety of applications in different fields. The use of continuous flow methods is particularly appealing for their synthesis due to the high control achieved over the reaction conditions and the easy process scalability. The present review focuses on the preparation of oxide NPs using microfluidic setups at low temperature (≤80 °C), since the employment of mild reaction conditions is crucial for developing sustainable and cost-effective processes. A particular emphasis will be put on the improvement over the final product features (e. g., size, shape, and size distribution) given by flow methods with respect to conventional batch procedures. The main issues that arise by treating NPs suspensions in microfluidic systems are product deposition or channel clogging; mitigation strategies to overcome these drawbacks will also be presented and discussed.

Synthesis of Ce/MgO Catalysts for Direct Oxidation of Hibiscus cannabinus Stalks to Vanillin

One possible method of producing vanillin from biomass is through controlled oxidation of lignin. Direct oxidation of kenaf stalks was chosen without having to separate the cellulose and hemicellulose components from the lignocellulosic biomass. This makes the process greener, as well as saving time. In this paper, Ce/MgO catalysts were developed for oxidation of kenaf stalks and kenaf lignin under microwave irradiation. The catalysts were characterized for their physicochemical properties using XRD and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The synthesized MgO showed the presence of diffraction peaks assigned to cubic MgO while the 30Ce/MgO catalysts showed the presence of cubic fluorite of CeO2. N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms showed that all catalysts possess Type III isotherm according to IUPAC classification, indicating a nonporous structure. All catalysts were tested for direct oxidation of kenaf stalks under 300 W of microwave irradiation using H2O2 as the oxidizing agent at pH 11.5 and temperatures between 160 and 180 °C for 10–30 min with 5–15% catalyst loading. The highest vanillin yields of 3.70% and 2.90% for extracted lignin and direct biomass oxidation were achieved using 30Ce/MgO-48. In comparison, 7.80% and 4.45% were obtained using 2N of NaOH homogeneous catalyst for extracted lignin and direct biomass, respectively, at 170 °C for 20 min. The reusability test shows that 30Ce/MgO can be used up to three cycles without significant loss in catalytic activity. Other compounds detected were 4-vinylguaiacol, syringol and syringaldehyde.

Inorganic Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine

Regenerative medicine leverages the innate potential of the human body to efficiently repair and regenerate damaged tissues using engineered biomaterials. By designing responsive biomaterials with the appropriate biophysical and biochemical characteristics, cellular response can be modulated to direct tissue healing. Recently, inorganic biomaterials have been shown to regulate cellular responses including cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Moreover, ions released from these mineral-based biomaterials play a vital role in defining cell identity, as well as driving tissue-specific functions. The intrinsic properties of inorganic biomaterials, such as the release of bioactive ions (e.g., Ca, Mg, Sr, Si, B, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Co, Mo, Mn, Au, Ag, V, Eu, and La), can be leveraged to induce phenotypic changes in cells or modulate the immune microenvironment to direct tissue healing and regeneration. Biophysical characteristics of biomaterials, such as topography, charge, size, electrostatic interactions, and stiffness can be modulated by addition of inorganic micro- and nanoparticles to polymeric networks have also been shown to play an important role in their biological response. In this Review, we discuss the recent emergence of inorganic biomaterials to harness the innate regenerative potential of the body. Specifically, we will discuss various biophysical or biochemical effects of inorganic-based materials in directing cellular response for regenerative medicine applications.

Hydrogen-free hydrogenation of nitrobenzene via direct coupling with cyclohexanol dehydrogenation over ordered mesoporous MgO/SBA-15 supported Cu nanoparticles

Direct catalytic coupling of nitrobenzene hydrogenation and cyclohexanol dehydrogenation was studied in the gas phase over mesoporous MgO-SBA15 supported Cu nanoparticles. This approach avoids an external supply of H₂ and utilizes the in situ liberated H₂ from the dehydrogenation step of the first reactant for the hydrogenation reaction of the second reactant. A catalyst series consisting of four Cu/MgO-SBA15 mesoporous solids with varying Cu loadings (5–20 wt%) were prepared and systematically characterized by BET, ICP, XRD, TPR, TPD, FT-IR, SEM, XPS, and TEM. Among the series, the 15 wt% Cu catalyst exhibited the best performance with ≥82% conversion of nitrobenzene along with ≥89% cyclohexanol conversion. In addition, significantly higher yields of cyclohexanone (83%) and aniline (75%) could be achieved successfully over the same catalyst. Furthermore, the catalyst exhibited almost stable activity during 30 h time-on-stream with slow deactivation. The highly ordered mesoporous silica increases the metal–support interaction with smaller particles of Cu on the surface, and the synergism between acid–base sites is responsible for the improved catalytic activity.

Coupling of nitrobenzene and cyclohexanol over mesoporous Cu/MgO-SBA15 exhibited better conversion of 89% cyclohexanol, 82% nitrobenzene with remarkable yields of cyclohexanone (83%) and aniline (75%). The catalyst has stable activity up to 30 h.

Aerobic oxidation of 1,6-hexanediol to adipic acid over Au-based catalysts: the role of basic supports

1,6-Hexanediol is a relevant building blocks that could be obtained from biomass and transformed under base free conditions into adipic acid used for polymer synthesis.

Microwave-assisted MgO NP catalyzed one-pot multicomponent synthesis of polysubstituted steroidal pyridines

MgO NPs were proved to be a highly efficient catalyst for mild and clean conversion of steroids to steroidal heterocycles.

Atomically Resolved Site-Isolated Catalyst on MgO: Mononuclear Osmium Dicarbonyls formed from Os3(CO)12

Supported triosmium clusters, formed from Os3(CO)12 on MgO, were treated in helium at 548 K for 2 h, causing fragmentation of the cluster frame and the formation of mononuclear osmium dicarbonyls. The cluster breakup and the resultant fragmented species were characterized by infrared and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, and the fragmented species were imaged by scanning transmission electron microscopy. The spectra identify the surface osmium complexes as Os(CO)2{Osupport}n (n = 3 or 4) (where the braces denote support surface atoms). The images show site-isolated Os atoms in mononuclear osmium species on MgO. The intensity analysis on the images of the MgO(110) face showed that the Os atoms were located atop Mg columns. This information led to a model of the Os(CO)2 on MgO(110), with the distances approximated as those determined by EXAFS spectroscopy, which are an average over the whole MgO surface; the results imply that these complexes were located at Mg vacancies.

Soft and hard nanomaterials for restoration and conservation of cultural heritage

In this review we report the most recent applications of nanotechnology to the conservation and restoration of the world's cultural heritage. Nanoparticles of humble calcium and magnesium hydroxide and carbonate can be used to restore and protect wall paints and to de-acidify paper and wood. We highlight the synthetic pathways that can be used to produce nanoparticles, and some applications for the conservation of Maya wall paints in Mexico and to the de-acidification of paper documents and wood.