Bismuth-rich bimetallic clusters (CuBi8)3+ and [MBi10]4+ (M = Pd, Pt) from ionothermal synthesis

The reaction of Bi, BiBr3, and CuBr in the Lewis-acidic ionic liquid [BMIm]Br·4AlBr3 (BMIm = 1-n-butyl-3-limidazolium) at 180 °C yielded air-sensitive, shiny black crystals of (CuBi8)[AlBr4]2[Al2Br7]. Crystals of [MBi10][AlCl4]4 (M = Pd, Pt) were obtained by reacting Bi, BiCl3, and MCl2 under similar conditions. The structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction on single-crystals and were found to be very similar to that of the known analogues with other halogens, although not isostructural. In crystals of the complex salts, polyhedral bimetallic clusters (CuBi8)3+ or [MBi10]4+ are embedded in matrices of halogenidoaluminate anions. The heteroatomic nido-cluster (CuBi8)3+ consists of a (Bi8)2+ square antiprism η4-coordinating a copper(I) cation. In the cluster cation [MBi10]4+, the metal atoms M center a pentagonal antiprism of bismuth atoms.

Titanium Dioxide/Activated Carbon Electrode with Polyurethane Binder for the Removal of Indium Ions via Capacitive Deionization

The process of removing indium ions from aqueous solutions by applying capacitive deionization (CDI) is reported in this manuscript. First, a modified carbon material was prepared by incorporating titanium dioxide (TiO2) into activated carbon (AC). A microwave-assisted ionothermal synthesis (MAIS) method was used to produce evenly distributed nanostructured anatase TiO2 on the surface of AC. A polyurethane (PU) elastomer was then synthesized as the binder material instead of using conventional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). By combining the aforementioned materials, a MAIS TiO2/AC-PU electrode was synthesized and applied to CDI tests. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the size and dispersion of the composites. For electrochemical properties, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to analyze the synthesized electrode. The performance of the prepared electrode during the CDI process was tested in different concentrations of indium solutions. It was discovered that the indium removal efficiency can be as high as 84% in 1 and 5 ppm of indium solutions.