Quantum chemical simulation of MoO3 dispergation on hydroxylated SiO2 surface

Метою даної роботи є оцінка енергетичної сприятливості утворення різних молібдатних груп (≡Si‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 та =Si(‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 під час термічно ініційованого диспергування MoO3 на гідроксильованій поверхні SiO2. Для цього було здійснено квантовохімічне моделювання реакції O12Si10(OH)16 + MoO3 = O12Si10(OH)14O2MoO2 + H2O в температурному інтервалі 300–1100 K із використанням обмеженого методу Хартрі-Фока (наближення ЛКАО) з валентним базисом SBKJC (Stevens-Basch-Krauss-Jasien-Cundari). Кластер O12Si10(OH)16, який являє собою структурний фрагмент кристала β‑кристобаліту, був використаний як модель високогідроксильованої поверхні кремнезему. Ми розглянули дві структури молібдатних груп (≡Si‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2, прикріплених до кремнеземного кластера O12Si10(OH)16 через силанольні групи. Молібдатні групи (Etot ‑584.60147 Hartree), прикріплені до кремнеземного кластера через віддалені силанольні групи, виявляються більш енергетично вигідними, ніж молібдатні групи (Etot ‑584.56565 Hartree), прикріплені до кремнеземного кластера через сусідні силанольні групи. Енергія молібдатних груп =Si(‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 (Etot ‑584.48399 Hartree), прикріплених до кремнеземного кластера O12Si10(OH)16 через силандіольні групи, менш енергетично вигідні в порівнянні з подібними групами, прикріпленими через силанольні групи, через більше напруження кута між зв’язками. Знайдено, що реакція O12Si10(OH)16 + MoO3 = O12Si10(OH)14O2MoO2 + H2O в температурному інтервалі 300–1100 K, змодельована шляхом квантовохімічних розрахунків, свідчить, що процес диспергування MoO3 на гідроксильованій поверхні SiO2 є енергетично вигідним. Експ The aim of the present work is to evaluate the energetic favourability of the formation of different molybdate species (≡Si‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 and =Si(‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 during the thermally induced MoO3 dispergation on hydroxylated SiO2 surface. In order to do this a quantum chemical modelling of the reaction O12Si10(OH)16 + MoO3 = O12Si10(OH)14O2MoO2 + H2O within the temperature interval of 300–1100 K was undertaken using the Restricted Hartree-Fock method (the LCAO approximation) with the SBKJC (Stevens-Basch-Krauss-Jasien-Cundari) valence basis set. The cluster O12Si10(OH)16 which represents a structural fragment of a β‑cristobalite crystal was used in this work as a model of highly hydroxylated silica surface. We considered two structures of molybdate (≡Si‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 species attached to O12Si10(OH)16 silica cluster via silanol groups. Molybdate species (Etot ‑584.60147 Hartree) attached to silica cluster via distant silanols appeared more energetically favourable than molybdate species (Etot ‑584.56565 Hartree) attached to silica cluster via nearby silanols. The energy of molybdate =Si(‑O‑)2Mo(=O)2 species (Etot ‑584.48399 Hartree) attached to O12Si10(OH)16 silica cluster via silanediol group is less favourable energetically in comparison with those attached via silanol groups because of higher bond angle straining. The reaction O12Si10(OH)16 + MoO3 = O12Si10(OH)14O2MoO2 + H2O in the temperature interval of 300–1100 K which simulates by quantum chemical calculations the dispergation of MoO3 on hydroxylated SiO2 surface was found to be energetically favourable. The experimentally optimised temperature of ca. 800 K required for dispergation of MoO3 on hydroxylated SiO2 surface is determined by MoO3 evaporation and transportation via the gas phase. ериментальна оптимальна температура (близько 800 K), потрібна для диспергування MoO3 на гідроксильованій поверхні SiO2, визначається випаровуванням та перенесенням MoO3 в газовій фазі.

Synthesis of Densely Immobilized Gold-Assembled Silica Nanostructures

In this study, dense gold-assembled SiO2 nanostructure (SiO2@Au) was successfully developed using the Au seed-mediated growth. First, SiO2 (150 nm) was prepared, modified by amino groups, and incubated by gold nanoparticles (ca. 3 nm Au metal nanoparticles (NPs)) to immobilize Au NPs to SiO2 surface. Then, Au NPs were grown on the prepared SiO2@Au seed by reducing chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) by ascorbic acid (AA) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The presence of bigger (ca. 20 nm) Au NPs on the SiO2 surface was confirmed by transmittance electronic microscopy (TEM) images, color changes to dark blue, and UV-vis spectra broadening in the range of 450 to 750 nm. The SiO2@Au nanostructure showed several advantages compared to the hydrofluoric acid (HF)-treated SiO2@Au, such as easy separation, surface modification stability by 11-mercaptopundecanoic acid (R-COOH), 11-mercapto-1-undecanol (R-OH), and 1-undecanethiol (R-CH3), and a better peroxidase-like catalysis activity for 5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reaction. The catalytic activity of SiO2@Au was two times better than that of HF-treated SiO2@Au. When SiO2@Au nanostructure was used as a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate, the signal of 4-aminophenol (4-ATP) on the surface of SiO2@Au was also stronger than that of HF-treated SiO2@Au. This study provides a potential method for nanoparticle preparation which can be replaced for Au NPs in further research and development.

Nanostructure of Porous Si and Anodic SiO2 Surface Passivation for Improved Efficiency Porous Si Solar Cells

The photovoltaic effect in the anodic formation of silicon dioxide (SiO2) on porous silicon (PS) surfaces was investigated toward developing a potential passivation technique to achieve high efficiency nanostructured Si solar cells. The PS layers were prepared by electrochemical anodization in hydrofluoric acid (HF) containing electrolyte. An anodic SiO2 layer was formed on the PS surface via a bottom-up anodization mechanism in HCl/H2O solution at room temperature. The thickness of the oxide layer for surface passivation was precisely controlled by adjusting the anodizing current density and the passivation time, for optimal oxidation on the PS layer while maintaining its original nanostructure. HRTEM characterization of the microstructure of the PS layer confirms an atomic lattice matching at the PS/Si interface. The dependence of photovoltaic performance, series resistance, and shunt resistance on passivation time was examined. Due to sufficient passivation on the PS surface, a sample with anodization duration of 30 s achieved the best conversion efficiency of 10.7%. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) and internal quantum efficiency (IQE) indicate a significant decrease in reflectivity due to the PS anti-reflection property and indicate superior performance due to SiO2 surface passivation. In conclusion, the surface of PS solar cells could be successfully passivated by electrochemical anodization.

A DFT study of aldol condensation reaction in the process of ethanol to 1,3-butadiene on MgO/SiO2 surface

MgO/SiO2, a significant catalyst system for ethanol production of 1,3-butadiene. The aldol condensation reaction is a key step in the reaction of ethanol to 1,3- butadiene. In this work, density...