There is a special reason for reviewing this book at this time: it is the 50th edition of a compendium that is known and used frequently in most chemical and physical laboratories in many parts of the world. Surely, a publication that has been published for 56 years, withstanding the vagaries of science in this century, must have had something to offer. There is another reason: while the book is a standard fixture in most chemical and physical laboratories, including those in medical centers, it is not as frequently seen in the laboratories of physician's offices (those either in solo or group practice). I believe that the Handbook can be useful in those laboratories. One of the reasons, among others, is that the various basic items of information it offers may be helpful in new tests, either physical or chemical, which are continuously being published. The basic information may relate

Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

Über die Adsorption in Lösungen

Properties and Application of Geopolymers Vol. 841 (/MSF.841 /book) Development and Investigation of Materials Using Modern Techniques Vol. 840 (/MSF.840/book) Superplasticity in Advanced Materials ICSAM 2015 Vols. 838-839 (/MSF.838-839/book) 12th International Conference on High Speed Machining Vols. 836-837 (/MSF.836-837/book) Sintering Fundamentals II Vol. 835 (/MSF.835/book) Advanced Machining Technologies: Traditions and Innovations Vol. 834 (/MSF.834/book) Applied Materials and Technologies Vol. 833 (/MSF.833/book) Emerging Functional Materials: Book (/MSF.841/book) Papers (/MSF.841)

Materials Science Forum

Molybdenum diselenide (MoSe2) for energy storage, catalysis, and optoelectronics

The use of a PtAu catalyst as an anode catalyst for the oxidation of formic acid in direct formic acid fuel cells is described. Catalytic activities of PtAu and PtRu anodes were studied using a linear sweep voltammetry technique in a single cell configuration. PtAu showed a lower on-set potential and a larger current density than that of PtRu in formic acid oxidation. In addition, the maximum power densities at 30 ◦ C for PtAu and PtRu were 94 and 74 mW cm −2 , respectively. In order to evaluate long-term durability, the single cells were operated for hundreds of hours with a 6 M aqueous formic acid solution at 60 ◦ C under 100 mA cm −2 . The difference in performance between PtAu and PtRu after 500 h reached ca.

Short communication Electro-oxidation of methanol and formic acid on PtRu and PtAu for direct liquid fuel cells

https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/aenm.202003456

Sustainable Li-Ion Batteries: Chemistry and Recycling

Lignin is one the most fascinating natural polymers due to its complex aromatic-aliphatic structure. Phenolic hydroxyl and carboxyl groups along with other functional groups provide technical lignins with reactivity and amphiphilic character. Many different lignins have been used as functional agents to facilitate the synthesis and stabilization of inorganic materials. Herein, the use of lignin in the synthesis and chemistry of inorganic materials in selected applications with relevance to sustainable energy and environmental fields is reviewed. In essence, the combination of lignin and inorganic materials creates an interface between soft and hard materials. In many cases it is either this interface or the external lignin surface that provides functionality to the hybrid and composite materials. This Minireview closes with an overview on future directions for this research field that bridges inorganic and lignin materials for a more sustainable future.

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cssc.202000216

Lignin–Inorganic Interfaces: Chemistry and Applications from Adsorbents to Catalysts and Energy Storage Materials

A little less than a decade after their quantum-chemical prediction and eventual synthesis, solid-state transition-metal carbodiimides and closely related compounds have somewhat unexpectedly emerged as energy materials. In these carbodiimides, the O2− oxide dianion has been replaced by the complex NCN2− dianion, and the outstanding properties of such materials are likely related to their metastability and their higher amount of covalency compared to related oxides. When used as anode materials in rechargeable Li- and Na-ion batteries, one finds a conversion reaction, and further improving their performance will likely involve studying the redox behavior of NCN2−, the synthesis of novel ternary carbodiimides, in particular those with redox-active transition metals, and controlling their morphology. At present, such materials serve as catalysts in photochemical water oxidation, where they outperform their oxide cousins.

Carbodiimides as energy materials: which directions for a reasonable future?

The development of smart and sustainable photocatalysts is in high priority for the synthesis of H2O2 because the global demand for H2O2 is sharply rising. Currently, the global market share for H2O2 is around 4 billion US$ and is expected to grow by about 5.2 billion US$ by 2026. Traditional synthesis of H2O2 via the anthraquinone method is associated with the generation of substantial chemical waste as well as the requirement of a high energy input. In this respect, the oxidative transformation of pure water is a sustainable solution to meet the global demand. In fact, several photocatalysts have been developed to achieve this chemistry. However, 97% of the water on our planet is seawater, and it contains 3.0-5.0% of salts. The presence of salts in water deactivates the existing photocatalysts, and therefore, the existing photocatalysts have rarely shown reactivity toward seawater. Considering this, a sustainable heterogeneous photocatalyst, derived from hydrolysis lignin, has been developed, showing an excellent reactivity toward generating H2O2 directly from seawater under air. In fact, in the presence of this catalyst, we have been able to achieve 4085 μM of H2O2. Expediently, the catalyst has shown longer durability and can be recycled more than five times to generate H2O2 from seawater. Finally, full characterizations of this smart photocatalyst and a detailed mechanism have been proposed on the basis of the experimental evidence and multiscale/level calculations.

Lignin-Supported Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for the Direct Generation of H2O2 from Seawater.

We investigated CuWO4 as a promising photoanode and its surface functionalization with Ag2NCN. The composite photoanode displays a synergetic effect between its constituents during photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. After placing Ag2NCN particles on the CuWO4 thin film, the photocurrent density increases from 15 to 45 μA cm–2 at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in phosphate buffer electrolyte at pH 7 under simulated AM1.5 G illumination. The different positions of the band edges of CuWO4 and Ag2NCN favor charge carrier separation at their interface. Upon illumination, photogenerated electrons of both semiconductors are transferred to the conduction band and can migrate to the counterelectrode. The higher position of the conduction band edge of Ag2NCN allows its electrons to be injected into the conduction band of CuWO4. Simultaneously, holes from the cyanamide are blocked, because the valence band edge position of CuWO4 is positioned lower than for Ag2NCN. This results in more effici...

Adam Slabon

Papers

Sustainable Li-Ion Batteries: Chemistry and Recycling

Lignin–Inorganic Interfaces: Chemistry and Applications from Adsorbents to Catalysts and Energy Storage Materials

Carbodiimides as energy materials: which directions for a reasonable future?

Lignin-Supported Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for the Direct Generation of H2O2 from Seawater.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Efficiency of CuWO4 Photoanodes by Surface Modification with Ag2NCN