Single-dispersed polyoxometalate clusters embedded on multilayer graphene as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for efficient Li-S batteries

The redox reactions occurring in the Li-S battery positive electrode conceal various and critical electrocatalytic processes, which strongly influence the performances of this electrochemical energy storage system. Here, we report the development of a single-dispersed molecular cluster catalyst composite comprising of a polyoxometalate framework ([Co4(PW9O34)2]10−) and multilayer reduced graphene oxide. Due to the interfacial charge transfer and exposure of unsaturated cobalt sites, the composite demonstrates efficient polysulfides adsorption and reduced activation energy for polysulfides conversion, thus serving as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. When tested in full Li-S coin cell configuration, the composite allows for a long-term Li-S battery cycling with a capacity fading of 0.015% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 2 C (i.e., 3.36 A g−1). An areal capacity of 4.55 mAh cm−2 is also achieved with a sulfur loading of 5.6 mg cm−2 and E/S ratio of 4.5 μL mg−1. Moreover, Li-S single-electrode pouch cells tested with the bifunctional electrocatalyst demonstrate a specific capacity of about 800 mAh g−1 at a sulfur loading of 3.6 mg cm−2 for 100 cycles at 0.2 C (i.e., 336 mA g−1) with E/S ratio of 5 μL mg−1.

The Magnetic Behaviour of CoTPP Supported on Coinage Metal Surfaces in the Presence of Small Molecules: A Molecular Cluster Study of the Surface trans-Effect

Density functional theory, combined with the molecular cluster model, has been used to investigate the surface trans-effect induced by the coordination of small molecules L (L = CO, NH3, NO, NO2 and O2) on the cobalt electronic structure of cobalt tetraphenylporphyrinato (CoTPP) surface-supported on coinage metal surfaces (Cu, Ag, and Au). Regardless of whether L has a closed- or an open-shell electronic structure, its coordination to Co takes out the direct interaction between Co and the substrate eventually present. The CO and NH3 bonding to CoTPP does not influence the Co local electronic structure, while the NO (NO2 and O2) coordination induces a Co reduction (oxidation), generating a 3d8 CoI (3d6 CoIII) magnetically silent closed-shell species. Theoretical outcomes herein reported demonstrate that simple and computationally inexpensive models can be used not only to rationalize but also to predict the effects of the Co–L bonding on the magnetic behaviour of CoTPP chemisorbed on coinage metals. The same model may be straightforwardly extended to other transition metals or coordinated molecules.

Simulation Investigation of Bulk and Surface Properties of Liquid Benzonitrile: Ring Stacking  Assessment and Deconvolution

This manuscript is devoted to classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation studies of the bulk and surface properties of liquid benzonitrile (BZN) in the temperature range of 293-323K. The content and the simulation-analysis are inspired by our recent ab initio calculation on benzonitrile, whereas present results are to expand and develop macroscopic documentation involving data verification. We investigate the molecular stacking that involves phenyl ring, which is notably absent in the counterpart acetonitrile solvent. MD simulations of the bulk liquid unravel the hydrogen bond (C≡N⋯H) formation and strength, in the order of ortho-H >> meta-H ~>para-H. The possibility for ortho-H’s to get involved in the formation of two bonds simultaneously confirms each having - and -bonding features. The singularity centered at about 313 K found in the trend of the simulated temperature-dependent viscosity and diffusion coefficient of liquid BZN goes alongside the reported experiment, and the phenomenon may root from a change in the internal frictional motion of the molecular cluster in stacking modes. Accordingly, we used vast efforts for analysis particularly based on the deconvolution of the corresponding complex correlation functions. Specific angle-dependent correlation functions led to the recognition of the stacking molecules and their strict orientational character by utilizing relative molecular twist angles. Recognition of the strict orientational character of the stacking molecules, as a clue to the singularity in the viscosity trend, will be discussed based on specific angle-dependent correlation functions.

Surface Functionalization of Boron-Carbon BС5 Nanotubes by a Nitro Group As a Sensor Device Element: Theoretical Research

The problem of modification of boron-carbon nanotubes (BCNT) by functional groups is relevant in connection with the intensive development of the nano industry, in particular, nano- and microelectronics. For example, a modified nanotube can be used as an element of a sensor device for detecting microenvironments of various substances, in particular metals included in salts and alkalis. The paper discusses the possibility of creating a high-performance sensor using single-layer boron-carbon nanotubes as a sensitive element, the surface of which is modified with a functional nitro group -NO2. Quantum-chemical studies of the process of attaching a nitro group to the outer surface of a single-layer boron-carbon nanotube (BCNT) of type (6, 6) were carried out, which proved the possibility of modifying the BCNT and the formation of a bond between the group -NO2 and the carbon atom of the surface of the nanotube. The results of computer simulation of interaction of surface-modified boron-carbon nanotube with alkali metal atoms (lithium, sodium, potassium) are presented. The sensory interaction of the modified boron-carbon nanosystem with the selected metal atoms was investigated, which proved the possibility of identifying these atoms using a nanotubular system that can act as an element of the sensor device. When reacting with alkali metal atoms in the “BСNT+NO 2” complex, the number of basic carriers increases, due to the transfer of electron density from metal atoms to modified BСNT. The results presented in this paper were obtained using the molecular cluster model and the calculated DFT method with exchange-correlation functionality B3LYP (valence-split basis set 6-31G).

Formation of ice particles through nucleation in the mesosphere

Observations of polar mesospheric clouds have revealed the presence of solid ice particles in the upper mesosphere at high latitudes; however, their formation mechanism remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated the formation process of ice particles through nucleation from small amounts of water vapor at low temperatures. Previous studies that used classical nucleation theory have shown that amorphous solid water particles can nucleate homogeneously at conditions that are present in the mesosphere. However, the rate predictions for water in classical nucleation theory disagree with experimental measurements by several orders of magnitude. We adopted a semi-phenomenological model for the nucleation process, which corrects the evaluation of the molecular cluster formation energy using the second virial coefficient, which agrees with both experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. To calculate the nucleation process, we applied atmospheric conditions for the temperature, pressure, numerical density of dust grains, and cooling rate. The results indicate that homogeneous water nucleation is extremely unlikely to occur in the mesosphere, while heterogeneous nucleation occurs effectively. Dust grains generated by meteor ablation can serve as nuclei for heterogeneous nucleation. We also showed that the ice can form directly in a crystalline state, rather than an amorphous state.

Multistep nucleation of anisotropic molecules

Phase transition of anisotropic materials is ubiquitously observed in physics, biology, materials science, and engineering. Nevertheless, how anisotropy of constituent molecules affects the phase transition dynamics is still poorly understood. Here we investigate numerically the phase transition of a simple model system composed of anisotropic molecules, and report on our discovery of multistep nucleation of nuclei with layered positional ordering (smectic ordering), from a fluid-like nematic phase with orientational order only (no positional order). A trinity of molecular dynamics simulation, machine learning, and molecular cluster analysis yielding free energy landscapes unambiguously demonstrates the dynamics of multistep nucleation process involving characteristic metastable clusters that precede supercritical smectic nuclei and cannot be accounted for by the classical nucleation theory. Our work suggests that molecules of simple shape can exhibit rich and complex nucleation processes, and our numerical approach will provide deeper understanding of phase transitions and resulting structures in anisotropic materials such as biological systems and functional materials.