Catalytic properties of pristine and defect-engineered Zr-MOF-808 metal organic frameworks

[EN] Various defect-engineered Zr-trimesate MOF-808 compounds (DE-MOF-808) have been prepared by mixing the tricarboxylate ligands with dicarboxylate ligands; viz. isophthalate, pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate, 5-hydroxy-isophthalate, or 5-amino-isophthalate. The resulting mixed-ligand compounds, MOF-808-X (X = IP, Pydc, OH or NH2) were all found to be highly crystalline and isostructural to the unmodified MOF-808. Pristine MOF-808 showed better catalytic performance than a UiO-66 reference compound for the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction of carbonyl compounds. This was attributed to a higher availability of coordinatively unsaturated Zr4+ sites (cus) in MOF-808 upon removal of formate ions. Meanwhile, cus in UiO-66 are only located at defect sites and are thus much less abundant. Further improvement of the catalytic activity of defect-engineered MOF-808-IP and MOF-808-Pydc was observed, which may be related with the occurrence of less crowded Zr4+ sites in DE-MOF-808. The wider pore structure of MOF-808 with respect to UiO-66 compounds translates into a sharp improvement of the activity for the MPV reduction of bulky substrates, as shown for estrone reduction to estradiol. Interestingly, MOF-808 produces a notable diastereoselectivity towards the elusive 17--hydroxy estradiol.This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 641887 (project acronym: DEFNET). Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (program Severo Ochoa SEV20120267), the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project MAT2014-52085-C2-1-P), and the German Research Foundation (project KA 1698/19-1) is also gratefully acknowledged. The Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia are gratefully acknowledged for the SEM images.Mautschke, H.; Drache, F.; Senkovska, I.; Kaskel, S.; Llabrés I Xamena, FX. (2018). Catalytic properties of pristine and defect-engineered Zr-MOF-808 metal organic frameworks. Catalysis Science & Technology. 8(14):3610-3616. https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cy00742jS3610361681

Impact of Defects and Crystal Size on Negative Gas Adsorption in DUT-49 Analyzed by in Situ ¹²⁹Xe NMR Spectroscopy

The origin of crystal-size-dependent adsorption behavior of flexible metal-organic frameworks is increasingly studied. In this contribution, we probe the solid-fluid interactions of DUT-49 crystals of different size by in situ 129Xe NMR spectroscopy at 200 K. With decreasing size of the crystals, the average solid-fluid interactions are found to decrease reflected by a decrease in chemical shift of adsorbed xenon from 230 to 200 ppm, explaining the lack of adsorption-induced transitions for smaller crystals. However, recent studies propose that these results can also originate from the presence of lattice defects. To investigate the influence of defects on the adsorption behavior of DUT-49, we synthesized a series of samples with tailored defect concentrations and characterized them by in situ 129Xe NMR. In comparison to the results obtained for crystals with different size, we find pronounced changes of the adsorption behavior and influence of the chemical shift only for very high concentrations of defects, which further emphasizes the important role of particle size phenomena

Current status and future perspectives of lithium metal batteries

With the lithium-ion technology approaching its intrinsic limit with graphite-based anodes, Li metal is recently receiving renewed interest from the battery community as potential high capacity anode for next-generation rechargeable batteries. In this focus paper, we review the main advances in this field since the first attempts in the mid-1970s. Strategies for enabling reversible cycling and avoiding dendrite growth are thoroughly discussed, including specific applications in all-solid-state (inorganic and polymeric), Lithium–Sulfur (Li–S) and Lithium-O2 (air) batteries. A particular attention is paid to recent developments of these battery technologies and their current state with respect to the 2030 targets of the EU Integrated Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) Action 7

Mechanistic insights into the reversible lithium storage in an open porous carbon via metal cluster formation in all solid-state batteries

Porous carbons are promising anode materials for next generation lithium batteries due to their large lithium storage capacities. However, their high voltage slope during lithiation and delithiation as well as capacity fading due to intense formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) limit their gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. Herein we compare a microporous carbide-derived carbon material (MPC) as promising future anode for all solid-state batteries with a commercial high-performance hard carbon anode. The MPC obtains high and reversible lithiation capacities of 1000 mAh g−1carbon in half-cells exhibiting an extended plateau region near 0 V vs. Li/Li+ preferable for full-cell application. The well-defined micro porosity of the MPC with a specific surface area of >1500 m2 g−1 combines well with the argyrodite-type electrolyte (Li6PS5Cl) suppressing extensive SEI formation to deliver high coulombic efficiencies. Preliminary full-cell measurements vs. nickel-rich NMC-cathodes (LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2) provide a considerably improved average potential of 3.76 V leading to a projected energy density as high as 449 Wh kg−1 and reversible cycling for more than 60 cycles. 7Li Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy was combined with ex-situ Small Angle X-ray Scattering to elucidate the storage mechanism of lithium inside the carbon matrix. The formation of extended quasi-metallic lithium clusters after electrochemical lithiation was revealed

The Effect of a Gluten-Free Diet in Children With Difficult-to-Manage Nephrotic Syndrome

Case reports have linked childhood nephrotic syndrome to food sensitivity, including gluten. We report our experience with 8 children (6 boys, 2 girls; age at implementation of special diet 2–14 years) with difficult-to-manage nephrotic syndrome who were placed on a gluten-free diet for 3.4 ± 4.3 years (range, 0.6–14 years) and who had clinical improvement enabling reduction or discontinuation in steroid dosage

Evolution of porosity in carbide-derived carbon aerogels

Carbide-derived carbon (CDC) aerogel monoliths with very high porosity are synthesized starting from polymeric precursors. Cross-linking by platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of polycarbosilanes followed by supercritical drying yields preceramic aerogels. After ceramic conversion and silicon extraction in hot chlorine gas, hierarchically porous carbon materials with specific surface areas as high as 2122 m² g⁻¹ and outstanding total pore volumes close to 9 cm³ g⁻¹ are obtained. Their pore structure is controllable by the applied synthesis temperature as shown by combined nitrogen (-196 °C) and carbon dioxide (0 °C) measurements coupled with electron microscopic methods. The combination of large micropore volumes and the aerogel-type pore system leads to advanced adsorption properties due to a combination of large storage capacities and effective materials transport in comparison with purely microporous reference materials as shown by thermal response measurements

Caspofungin for post solid organ transplant invasive fungal disease: results of a retrospective observational study

M. Winkler, J. Pratschke, U. Schulz, S. Zheng, M. Zhang, W. Li, M. Lu, D. Sgarabotto, G. Sganga, P. Kaskel, S. Chandwani, L. Ma, J. Petrovic, M. Shivaprakash. Caspofungin for post solid organ transplant invasive fungal disease: results of a retrospective observational study. Transpl Infect Dis 2010: 12: 230–237. All rights reserve