and Fuels Changzhi Li,† Xiaochen Zhao,† Aiqin Wang,† George W. Huber,†,‡ and Tao Zhang*,† †State Key Laborotary of Catalysis, iChEM (Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials), Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China ‡Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of WisconsinMadison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States

Catalytic Transformation of Lignin for the Production of Chemicals and Fuels

Spinels with the formula of AB2O4 (where A and B are metal ions) and the properties of magnetism, optics, electricity, and catalysis have taken significant roles in applications of data storage, biotechnology, electronics, laser, sensor, conversion reaction, and energy storage/conversion, which largely depend on their precise structures and compositions. In this review, various spinels with controlled preparations and their applications in oxygen reduction/evolution reaction (ORR/OER) and beyond are summarized. First, the composition and structure of spinels are introduced. Then, recent advances in the preparation of spinels with solid-, solution-, and vapor-phase methods are summarized, and new methods are particularly highlighted. The physicochemical characteristics of spinels such as their compositions, structures, morphologies, defects, and substrates have been rationally regulated through various approaches. This regulation can yield spinels with improved ORR/OER catalytic activities, which can furth...

Spinels: Controlled Preparation, Oxygen Reduction/Evolution Reaction Application, and Beyond

Catalysts for chemical and electrochemical reactions underpin many aspects of modern technology and industry, from energy storage and conversion to toxic emissions abatement to chemical and materials synthesis. This role necessitates the design of highly active, stable, yet earth-abundant heterogeneous catalysts. In this Review, we present the perovskite oxide family as a basis for developing such catalysts for (electro)chemical conversions spanning carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen chemistries. A framework for rationalizing activity trends and guiding perovskite oxide catalyst design is described, followed by illustrations of how a robust understanding of perovskite electronic structure provides fundamental insights into activity, stability, and mechanism in oxygen electrocatalysis. We conclude by outlining how these insights open experimental and computational opportunities to expand the compositional and chemical reaction space for next-generation perovskite catalysts.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/358/6364/751.full.pdf

Perovskites in catalysis and electrocatalysis

Polymer nanocomposites possess promising high performances as engineering materials, if they are prepared and fabricated properly. Some work has been recently done on such polymer nanocomposites as dielectrics and electrical insulation. This was reviewed in 2004 based on the literatures published up to 2003. New significant findings have been added since then. Furthermore, a multi-core model with the far-distance effect, which is closely related to an "interaction zones", has been proposed from consideration of mesoscopic analysis of electrical and chemical structures of an existing interface with finite thickness. It is speculatively examined in the paper how the model works for various properties and phenomena already found in nanocomposites as dielectrics focusing on electrical characteristics, resistance to high voltage environment, and thermal properties.

Dielectric nanocomposites with insulating properties

Polymer nanocomposites are defined as polymers in which small amounts of nanometer size fillers are homogeneously dispersed by only several weight percentages. Addition of just a few weight percent of the nanofillers has profound impact on the physical, chemical, mechanical and electrical properties of polymers. Such change is often favorable for engineering purpose. This nanocomposite technology has emerged from the field of engineering plastics, and potentially expanded its application to structural materials, coatings, and packaging to medical/biomedical products, and electronic and photonic devices. Recently these 'hi-tech' materials with excellent properties have begun to attract research people in the field of dielectrics and electrical insulation. Since new properties are brought about from the interactions of nanofillers with polymer matrices, mesoscopic properties are expected to come out, which would be interesting to both scientists and engineers. Improved characteristics are. expected as dielectrics and electrical insulation. Several interesting results to indicate the foreseeable future have been revealed, some of which are described on materials and processing in the paper together with basic concepts and future direction.

Polymer nanocomposites as dielectrics and electrical insulation-perspectives for processing technologies, material characterization and future applications

Perovskites as substitutes of noble metals for heterogeneous catalysis: dream or reality.

An Fe–35 wt-%Mn alloy, aimed to be used as a metallic degradable biomaterial for stent applications, was prepared via a powder metallurgy route. The effects of processing conditions on the microstructure, mechanical properties, magnetic susceptibility and corrosion behaviour were investigated and the results were compared to those of the SS316L alloy, a gold standard for stent applications. The Fe35Mn alloy was found to be essentially austenitic with fine MnO particles aligned along the rolling direction. The alloy is ductile with a strength approaching that of wrought SS316L. It exhibits antiferromagnetic behaviour and its magnetic susceptibility is not altered by plastic deformation, providing an excellent MRI compatibility. Its corrosion rate was evaluated in a modified Hank's solution, and found superior to that of pure iron (slow in vivo degradation rate). In conclusion, the mechanical, magnetic and corrosion characteristics of the Fe35Mn alloy are considered suitable for further development ...

Iron–manganese: new class of metallic degradable biomaterials prepared by powder metallurgy

The aim of this work was to study the effect of cation-substitution on the reducibility of the perovskite, as well as the effect on the catalytic activity for the CH 4 oxidation reaction. Six perovskites (LaCoO 3 , LaMnO 3 , La 1− x Sr x MnO 3 ( x  = 0.2, 0.4), and La 1− x Ce x MnO 3 ( x  = 0.05, 0.1)) were synthesized by reactive grinding. The reducibility of the perovskite was studied by means of the oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurement. OSC was performed at different temperatures on LaCoO 3 and LaMnO 3 , in order to elucidate the different mechanisms of reduction involved at each temperature. The substituted samples showed that reduction profile is modified at high-substitution degrees; however, no differences were observed on the OSC values (amount of most active oxygen, calculated after one pulse of CO) between the pure lanthanum sample and the substituted ones. Tested in the CH 4 oxidation reaction, the LaCoO 3 sample was found to present a little higher activity than LaMnO 3 , even if the cobalt-based sample presented a smaller specific surface area. Moreover, all the substituted samples presented very slightly higher activities than the pure LaMnO 3 solid. Because of the supposed redox oxidation mechanism (Mars-Van-Krevelen), this agrees well with the OSC results obtained for the reducibility of the manganese on these samples, by which it was observed that substitution does not clearly affect the immediate reduction of the manganese.

Oxygen storage capacity of La1−xA′xBO3 perovskites (with A′ = Sr, Ce; B = Co, Mn)—relation with catalytic activity in the CH4 oxidation reaction

Effect of alkali additives over nanocrystalline Co–Cu-based perovskites as catalysts for higher-alcohol synthesis

There is today the neologism "nanotechnology" around which much effervescence is consolidating. This scientific wave is complex in nature with multiple ramifications: The domain extends widely including in fact old and newer concepts. At this point of time, a focused perspective revealing the status and incidences of the domain on new materials, especially dielectrics and their insulating possibilities, is desirable. Thus, a personalized overview is given here, offering finally a tentative definition of "nanodielectrics".

Houshang Alamdari

Papers

Perovskites as substitutes of noble metals for heterogeneous catalysis: dream or reality.

Iron–manganese: new class of metallic degradable biomaterials prepared by powder metallurgy

Oxygen storage capacity of La1−xA′xBO3 perovskites (with A′ = Sr, Ce; B = Co, Mn)—relation with catalytic activity in the CH4 oxidation reaction

Effect of alkali additives over nanocrystalline Co–Cu-based perovskites as catalysts for higher-alcohol synthesis

Introductory remarks on nanodielectrics