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11.
Insight into the interdependence of Ni and Al in bifunctional Ni/ZSM-5 catalysts at the nanoscale
Hue-Tong Vu, Iztok Arčon, Danilo Oliveira de Souza, Simone Pollastri, Goran Dražić, Janez Volavšek, Gregor Mali, Nataša Zabukovec Logar, Nataša Novak Tušar, 2022, original scientific article

Abstract: Catalyst design is crucial for improving catalytic activity and product selectivity. In a bifunctional Ni/ZSM-5 zeolite type catalyst, catalytic properties are usually tuned via varying Al and Ni contents. While changes in acid properties associated with Al sites are usually closely investigated, Ni phases, however, receive inadequate attention. Herein, we present a systematic structural study of Ni in the Ni/ZSM-5 materials by using Ni K-edge XANES and EXAFS analyses, complemented by XRD and TEM, to resolve the changes in the local environment of Ni species induced by the different Al contents of the parent ZSM-5 prepared by a “green”, template free technique. Ni species in Ni/ZSM-5 exist as NiO crystals (3–50 nm) and as charge compensating Ni2+ cations. The Ni K-edge XANES and EXAFS results enabled the quantification of Ni-containing species. At a low Al to Si ratio (nAl/nSi # 0.04), the NiO nanoparticles predominate in the samples and account for over 65% of Ni phases. However, NiO is outnumbered by Ni2+ cations attached to the zeolite framework in ZSM-5 with a high Al to Si ratio (nAl/nSi ¼ 0.05) due to a higher number of framework negative charges imparted by Al. The obtained results show that the number of highly reducible and active NiO crystals is strongly correlated with the framework Al sites present in ZSM-5 zeolites, which depend greatly on the synthesis conditions. Therefore, this kind of study is beneficial for any further investigation of the catalytic activities of Ni/ZSM-5 and other metal-modified bifunctional catalysts.
Keywords: Ni/ZSM-5 catalysts, zeolite, Ni XANES, EXAFS
Published in RUNG: 11.05.2022; Views: 1500; Downloads: 42
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12.
Characterization of electrochemical processes in metal-organic batteries by X-ray Raman spectroscopy
Ava Rajh, Iztok Arčon, Klemen Bučar, Matjaž Žitnik, Marko Petric, Alen Vižintin, Jan Bitenc, Urban Košir, Robert Dominko, Hlynur Gretarsson, Martin Sundermann, Matjaž Kavčič, 2022, original scientific article

Abstract: X-ray Raman spectroscopy (XRS) is an emerging spectroscopic technique that utilizes inelastic scattering of hard Xrays to study X-ray absorption edges of low Z elements in bulk material. It was used to identify and quantify the amount of carbonyl bonds in a cathode sample, in order to track the redox reaction inside metal−organic batteries during the charge/ discharge cycle. XRS was used to record the oxygen K-edge absorption spectra of organic polymer cathodes from different multivalent metal−organic batteries. The amount of carbonyl bond in each sample was determined by modeling the oxygen K-edge XRS spectra with the linear combination of two reference compounds that mimicked the fully charged and the fully discharged phases of the battery. To interpret experimental XRS spectra, theoretical calculations of oxygen K-edge absorption spectra based on density functional theory were performed. Overall, a good agreement between the amount of carbonyl bond present during different stages of battery cycle, calculated from linear combination of standards, and the amount obtained from electrochemical characterization based on measured capacity was achieved. The electrochemical mechanism in all studied batteries was confirmed to be a reduction of double carbonyl bond and the intermediate anion was identified with the help of theoretical calculations. X-ray Raman spectroscopy of the oxygen K-edge was shown to be a viable characterization technique for accurate tracking of the redox reaction inside metal−organic batteries.
Keywords: X-ray Raman spectroscopy, meta-organic batteries, oxygen K-edge XANES, electrochemical processes
Published in RUNG: 24.03.2022; Views: 1624; Downloads: 20
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13.
Monitoring of chemical processes at the atomic level by X-ray absorption spectrometry using extremely bright synchrotron radiation sources
Iztok Arčon, unpublished invited conference lecture

Abstract: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool for characterisation of local structure and chemical state of selected elements in different new functional materials and biological or environmental samples. The XAS spectroscopy is based on extremely bright synchrotron radiation X-rays sources, which allow precise characterisation of bulk, nanostructured or highly diluted samples. The rapid development of extremely bright synchrotron sources of X-ray and ultraviolet light in recent years has opened new possibilities for research of matter at the atomic or molecular level, indispensable in the development of new functional nanostructured materials with desired properties. The lecture will present the possibilities offered by X-ray absorption spectroscopy with synchrotron light for ex-situ and in-situ or operando characterization of various functional porous and other nanomaterials before, after and during their operation. With the operando micro-XANES and EXAFS methods it is possible to track changes in the valence states and local structures of selected elements in different energy storage materials or in various (photo)catalysts, during chemical reactions under controlled reaction conditions, thus gaining insight into the dynamic functional properties and reaction mechanisms of these materials. New synchrotron light sources also opened the possibility of combining X-ray absorption or emission spectroscopy and microscopy with a resolution of up to a few tens of nanometres, crucial for analysis of environmental and biological samples on sub-cellular level, to understand the mechanisms of uptake, transport, accumulation, and complexation of metal cations on subcellular level in various plant tissues or accumulation in environment, to develop effective remediation approaches.
Keywords: X-ray absorption spectroscopy, EXAFS, XANES, synchrotron radiation sources, operando
Published in RUNG: 15.12.2021; Views: 1714; Downloads: 0
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14.
Resolving the dilemma of Fe-N-C catalysts by the selective synthesis of tetrapyrrolic active sites via an imprinting strategy
Davide Menga, Jian Liang Low, Yan-Sheng Li, Iztok Arčon, Burak Koyutürk, Friedrich Wagner, Francisco Ruiz-Zepeda, Miran Gaberšček, Beate Paulus, Tim-Patrick Fellinger, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: Combining the abundance and inexpensiveness of their constituent elements with their atomic dispersion, atomically dispersed Fe−N−C catalysts represent the most promising alternative to precious-metal-based materials in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Due to the high temperatures involved in their synthesis and the sensitivity of Fe ions toward carbothermal reduction, current synthetic methods are intrinsically limited in type and amount of the desired, catalytically active Fe− N4 sites, and high active site densities have been out of reach (dilemma of Fe−N−C catalysts). We herein identify a paradigm change in the synthesis of Fe−N−C catalysts arising from the developments of other M−N−C single-atom catalysts. Supported by DFT calculations we propose fundamental principles for the synthesis of M−N−C materials. We further exploit the proposed principles in a novel synthetic strategy to surpass the dilemma of Fe−N−C catalysts. The selective formation of tetrapyrrolic Zn−N4 sites in a tailor-made Zn−N−C material is utilized as an active-site imprint for the preparation of a corresponding Fe−N−C catalyst. By successive low- and high-temperature ion exchange reactions, we obtain a phase-pure Fe−N−C catalyst, with a high loading of atomically dispersed Fe (>3 wt %). Moreover, the catalyst is entirely composed of tetrapyrrolic Fe−N4 sites. The density of tetrapyrrolic Fe−N4 sites is more than six times as high as for previously reported tetrapyrrolic single-site Fe−N−C fuel cell catalysts
Keywords: Fe-N-C catalysts, selective synthesis, tetrapyrrolic active sites, EXAFS, XANES, single atom, DFT
Published in RUNG: 25.10.2021; Views: 1787; Downloads: 54
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15.
Photo-Chemically-Deposited and Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst Material Surface Structures During CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol: EXAFS, XANES and XPS Analyses of Phases After Oxidation, Reduction, and Reaction
Maja Pori, Iztok Arčon, Venkata Dasireddy, Blaž Likozar, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 or novel rate catalysts, prepared with a photochemical deposition method, were studied under functional CH3OH synthesis conditions at the set temperature (T) range of 240–350 °C, 20 bar pressure, and stoichiometric carbon dioxide/hydrogen composition. Analytical scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray adsorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) methods were systematically utilized to investigate the interfaces, measured local geometry, and chemical state electronics around the structured active sites of commercially available Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 material or synthesized Cu/ZnO. Processed Cu K-edge EXAFS analysis suggested that various Cu atom species, clusters, metallic fcc Cu, Cu oxides (Cu2O or CuO) and the Cu0.7Zn2 alloy with hexagonal crystalline particles are contained after testing. It was proposed that in addition to the model’s Cu surface area, the amount, ratio and dispersion of the mentioned bonded Cu compounds significantly influenced activity. Additionally, XPS revealed that carbon may be deposited on the commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3, forming the inactive carbide coating with Cu or/and Zn, which may be the cause of basicity’s severe deactivation during reactions. The selectivity to methanol decreased with increasing T, whereas more Cu0.7Zn2 inhibited the CO formation through reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) CO2 reduction.
Keywords: CH3OH synthesis, Cu/ZnO-based catalyst, XPS, XANES, EXAFS analyses, Catalyst selectivity and activity
Published in RUNG: 03.06.2021; Views: 2128; Downloads: 0
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16.
Laser ablation-single-particle-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as a multimodality bioimaging tool in nano-based omics
Dino Metarapi, Johannes Teun van Elteren, Martin Šala, Katarina Vogel-Mikuš, Iztok Arčon, Vid Simon Šelih, Mitja Kolar, Samo B. Hočevar, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: Advanced data processing and visualization techniques were applied to laser ablation-single particleinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-sp-ICPMS) data obtained from imaging of roots of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) which were exposed to ionic silver (Ag+). Highly multiplexed images with tissue level resolution were generated, showing the uptake and transformation of Ag+ to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in whole root cross-sections, and revealing that the size of biosynthesized AgNPs is predisposed by the reducing power of particular root compartments. Various Ag+ and AgNP visualization strategies are shown with special emphasis on spatially resolved information associated with the number and spherical-equivalent size of individual AgNPs in user-selected root cross-sectional regions, including statistical analysis of the AgNP distribution. Normally, this multimodality information can only be obtained by combining the results of techniques from several complementary platforms.
Keywords: Laser ablation, Ag XANES, bioimaging
Published in RUNG: 03.06.2021; Views: 1979; Downloads: 50
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17.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis: in situ, operando, in vivo
Iztok Arčon, 2020, published scientific conference contribution abstract (invited lecture)

Abstract: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool for characterisation of local structure and chemical state of selected elements in different new functional materials and biological or environmental samples. The XAS spectroscopy is based on extremely bright synchrotron radiation X-rays sources, which allow precise characterisation of bulk, nanostructured or highly diluted samples. With its two methods (XANES and EXAFS) it enables monitoring changes in valence states and local structures of constituent elements during chemical reactions under controlled reaction conditions, and it offers a possibility of a combination of X-ray spectroscopy and microscopy with sub-micron lateral resolution, crucial for analysis of biological samples on sub-cellular level. In this talk some typical examples of advanced XAS analysis will be presented.
Keywords: X-ray absorption spectroscopy, EXAFS, XANES, in-situ, operando
Published in RUNG: 17.10.2020; Views: 2974; Downloads: 0
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18.
Spectroscopic insights into the electrochemical mechanism of rechargeable calcium/sulfur batteries
Antonio Scafuri, Romain Berthelot, Klemen Pirnat, Alen Vižintin, Jan Bitenc, Giuliana Aquilanti, Dominique Foix, Rémi Dedryvère, Iztok Arčon, Robert Dominko, Lorenzo Stievano, 13, original scientific article

Abstract: Calcium batteries represent a promising alternative to lithium metal systems. The combination of the low redox potential and low cost and the energy-dense calcium anode (2073 mAh/cm3, similar to 2044 mAh/cm3 for Li) with appropriate low-cost cathode materials such as sulfur could produce a game-changing technology in several fields of applications. In this work, we present the reversible activity of a proof-of-concept Ca/S battery at room temperature, characterized by a surprising medium-term cycling stability with low polarization, promoted by the use of a simple positive electrode made of sulfur supported on an activated carbon cloth scaffold, and a state-of-the-art fluorinated alkoxyborate-based electrolyte. Insights into the electrochemical mechanism governing the chemistry of the Ca/S system were obtained for the first time by combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The mechanism implies the formation of different types of soluble polysulfide species during both charge and discharge at room temperature, and the formation of solid CaS at the end of discharge. The reversible electrochemical activity is proven by the reformation of elemental sulfur at the end of the following charge. These promising results open the way to the comprehension of emerging Ca/S systems, which may represent a valid alternative to Mg/S and Li/S batteries.
Keywords: Calcium/Sulfur Batteries EXAFS, XANES
Published in RUNG: 17.10.2020; Views: 2821; Downloads: 0
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19.
A mechanistic study of metal sulfur batteries
Robert Dominko, Alen Vižintin, Sara Drvarič Talian, Ana Robba, Iztok Arčon, 2018, published scientific conference contribution abstract (invited lecture)

Keywords: Li-sulphur batteries, Sulphur XANES, magnesium
Published in RUNG: 15.10.2020; Views: 2313; Downloads: 0

20.
Study of water adsorption on EDTA dealuminated zeolite Y
O. L. Pliekhov, Olena Pliekhova, Iztok Arčon, Federica Bondino, Elena Magnano, Gregor Mali, Nataša Zabukovec Logar, 2020, original scientific article

Abstract: Zeolite Y was synthesized and modified with EDTA dealumination procedure. The modified zeolites were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, chemical analysis and water adsorption measurements. We demonstrated that dealumination with bulk organic acid such as EDTA is able to reduce the original intense water affinity. Furthermore, it was found that dealumination with EDTA, in contrast with steaming and HCl dealumination, provides fully controllable, predictable and secure process of Al removal from the zeolites’ frameworks. The shift of the adsorption isotherm in the low partial pressure range represents an interesting result for adsorption-based applications.
Keywords: Zeolite Y Water sorption Dealumination Al XANES EDTA treatment
Published in RUNG: 05.06.2020; Views: 2907; Downloads: 0
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