Abstract: Direct hydroxylation via the functionalization of tertiary benzylic C(sp3)-H bond is of great significance for obtaining tertiary alcohols which find wide applications in pharmaceuticals as well as in fine chemical industries. However, current synthetic procedures use toxic reagents and therefore, the development of a sustainable strategy for the synthesis of tertiary benzyl alcohols is highly desirable. To solve this problem, herein, we report a metal-free
heterogeneous photocatalyst to synthesize the hydroxylated products using oxygen as the key reagent. Various benzylic substrates were employed into our mild reaction conditions to afford the desirable products in good to excellent yields. More importantly, gram-scale reaction was achieved via harvesting direct solar energy and exhibited high quantity of the product. The high stability of the catalyst was proved via recycling the catalyst and spectroscopic analyses. Finally, a possible mechanism was proposed based on the EPR and other experimental
evidence.

Abstract: Plasma catalysis is emerging for plasma-assisted gas conversion processes. However, the underlying mechanisms of plasma catalysis are poorly understood. In this work, we present a 1D heterogeneous catalysis model with axial dispersion (i.e., accounting for back-mixing and molecular diffusion of fluid elements in the process stream in the axial direction), for plasma-catalytic NO production from N2/O2 mixtures. We investigate the concentration and reaction rates of each species formed as a function of time and position across the catalyst, in order to determine the underlying mechanisms. To obtain insights into how the performance of the process can be further improved, we also study how changes in the postplasma gas flow composition entering the catalyst bed and in the operation conditions of the catalytic stage affect the performance of NO production.

Abstract: Plasma catalysis is emerging for plasma-assisted gas conversion
processes. However, the underlying mechanisms of plasma catalysis are poorly
understood. In this work, we present a 1D heterogeneous catalysis model with axial
dispersion (i.e., accounting for back-mixing and molecular diffusion of fluid elements in
the process stream in the axial direction), for plasma-catalytic NO production from
N2/O2 mixtures. We investigate the concentration and reaction rates of each species
formed as a function of time and position across the catalyst, in order to determine the
underlying mechanisms. To obtain insights into how the performance of the process
can be further improved, we also study how changes in the postplasma gas flow
composition entering the catalyst bed and in the operation conditions of the catalytic
stage affect the performance of NO production.

Abstract: As recently highlighted by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viruses have become an increasing burden for health, global economy, and environment. The control of transmission by contact with contaminated materials represents a major challenge, particularly in hospital environments. However, the current disinfection methods in hospital settings suffer from numerous drawbacks. As a result, several medical supplies that cannot be properly disinfected are not reused, leading to severe shortages and increasing amounts of waste, thus prompting the search for alternative solutions. In this work, we report that non-thermal plasma (NTP) can effectively inactivate SARS-CoV-2 from non-porous and porous materials commonly found in healthcare facilities. We demonstrated that 5 min treatment with a dielectric barrier discharge NTP can inactivate 100% of SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan and Omicron strains) from plastic material. Using porcine respiratory coronavirus (surrogate for SARS-CoV-2) and coxsackievirus B3 (highly resistant non-enveloped virus), we tested the NTP virucidal activity on hospital materials and obtained complete inactivation after 5 and 10 min, respectively. We hypothesize that the produced reactive species and local acidification contribute to the overall virucidal effect of NTP. Our results demonstrate the potential of dielectric barrier discharge NTPs for the rapid, efficient, and low-cost disinfection of healthcare materials.

Abstract: Nonthermal plasmas are currently being studied as a green alternative to the Haber-Bosch process, which is, today, the dominant industrial process allowing for the fixation of nitrogen and, as such, a fundamental component for the production of nitrogen-based industrial fertilizers. In this context, the gliding arc plasma (GAP) is considered a promising choice among nonthermal plasma options. However, its stability is still a key parameter to ensure industrial transfer of the technology. Nowadays, the conventional approach to stabilize this plasma process is to use external resistors. Although this indeed allows for an enhancement of the plasma stability, very little is reported about how it impacts the process efficiency, both in terms of NOx yield and energy cost. In this work, this question is specifically addressed by studying a DC-powered GAP utilized for nitrogen fixation into NOx at atmospheric pressure stabilized by variable external resistors. Both the performance and the stability of the plasma are reported as a function of the utilization of the resistors. The results confirm that while the use of a resistor indeed allows for a strong stabilization of the plasma without impacting the NOx yield, especially at high plasma current, it dramatically impacts the energy cost of the process, which increases from 2.82 to 7.9 MJ/mol. As an alternative approach, we demonstrate that the replacement of the resistor by an inductor is promising since it allows for decent stabilization of the plasma, while it does not affect either the energy cost of the process or the NOx yield.

Abstract: Latest trends in dental restorative ceramics involve the development of full-contour 3Y-TZP ceramics which can avoid chipping of veneering porcelains. Among the challenges are the low translucency and the hydrothermal stability of 3Y-TZP ceramics. In this work, different trivalent oxides (Al2O3, Sc2O3, Nd2O3 and La2O3) were selected to dope 3Y-TZP ceramics. Results show that dopant segregation was a key factor to design hydrothermally stable and high-translucent 3Y-TZP ceramics and the cation dopant radius could be used as a controlling parameter. A large trivalent dopant, oversized as compared to Zr4+, exhibiting strong segregation at the ZrO2 grain boundary was preferred. The introduction of 0.2 mol% La2O3 in conventional 0.10.25 wt.% Al2O3-doped 3Y-TZP resulted in an excellent combination of high translucency and superior hydrothermal stability, while retaining excellent mechanical properties.

Abstract: Synthetic and naturally occurring forms of tricopper orthotellurate, (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV (the mineral mcalpineite) have been investigated by 3D electron diffraction (3D ED), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopic measurements. As a result of the diffraction analyses, (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV is shown to occur in two polytypes. The higher-symmetric (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-1C polytype is cubic, space group 1a (3) over bar, with a = 9.537 (1) angstrom and V = 867.4 (3) angstrom(3) as reported in previous studies. The 1C polytype is a well characterized structure consisting of alternating layers of (CuO6)-O-II octahedra and both (CuO6)-O-II and (TeO6)-O-VI octahedra in a patchwork arrangement. The structure of the lower-symmetric orthorhombic (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-2O polytype was determined for the first time in this study by 3D ED and verified by Rietveld refinement. The 2O polytype crystallizes in space group Pcca, with a = 9.745 (3) angstrom, b = 9.749 (2) angstrom, c = 9.771 (2) angstrom and V = 928.3 (4) angstrom(3) . High-precision XRPD data were also collected on (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-2O to verify the lower-symmetric structure by performing a Rietveld refinement. The resultant structure is identical to that determined by 3D ED, with unit-cell parameters a = 9.56157 (19) angstrom, b = 9.55853 (11) angstrom, c = 9.62891 (15) angstrom and V = 880.03 (2) angstrom(3) . The lower symmetry of the 2O polytype is a consequence of a different cation ordering arrangement, which involves the movement of every second (CuO6)-O-II and (TeO6)-O-VI octahedral layer by (1/4, 1/4, 0), leading to an offset of (TeO6)-O-VI and (CuO6)-O-II octahedra in every second layer giving an ABAB* stacking arrangement. Syntheses of (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV showed that low-temperature (473 K) hydrothermal conditions generally produce the 2O polytype. XRPD measurements in combination with Raman spectroscopic analysis showed that most natural mcalpineite is the orthorhombic 2O polytype. Both XRPD and Raman spectroscopy measurements may be used to differentiate between the two polytypes of (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV. In Raman spectroscopy, (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-1C has a single strong band around 730 cm(-1), whereas (Cu3TeO6)-Te-II-O-IV-2O shows a broad double maximum with bands centred around 692 and 742 cm(-1).

Abstract: We calculated the temperature dependence of the Debye-Waller factors for a variety of group IV, III-V and II-VI semiconductors from 0.1 to 1000 K. The approach used to fit the temperature dependence is described and resulting fit parameters are tabulated for each material. The Debye-Waller factors are deduced from generalized phonon densities of states which were derived from first principles using the WIEN2k and the ABINIT codes.

Abstract: Starting from a microscope model of the intermolecular potential, a unified description is presented of the Bragg scattering law in the orientationally disordered and in the ordered phase of solid C-60. The orientational structure factor is expanded in terms of symmetry-adapted surface harmonics. The expansion coefficients are calculated from theory and compared with experiment Their temperature evolution is studied in the disordered phase at the 260 K transitions and in the ordered phase. In the ordered phase, new results from high-resolution neutron powder diffraction are given. In the disordered phase, space group Fm $($) over bar$$ 3m, the reflections have A(1g) symmetry; in the ordered phase, space group Pa $$($) over bar 3, reflections of T-2g symmetry appear and in addition the A(1g) reflections are renormalized. The orientational density distribution is calculated. The effective crystal-field potential is constructed, its temperature evolution in the ordered phase is studied and related to the occurrence of an orientational glass.

Abstract: The crystal structure solution of modulated compounds is often very challenging, even using the well established methodology of single-crystal X-ray crystallography. This task becomes even more difficult for materials that cannot be prepared in a single-crystal form, so that only polycrystalline powders are available. This paper illustrates that the combined application of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder diffraction is a possible solution to the problem. Using examples of anion-deficient perovskites modulated by periodic crystallographic shear planes, it is demonstrated what kind of local structural information can be obtained using various TEM techniques and how this information can be implemented in the crystal structure refinement against the powder diffraction data. The following TEM methods are discussed: electron diffraction (selected area electron diffraction, precession electron diffraction), imaging (conventional high-resolution TEM imaging, high-angle annular dark-field and annular bright-field scanning transmission electron microscopy) and state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques (atomic resolution mapping using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and electron energy loss spectroscopy).

Abstract: Multiphase steels utilising composite strengthening may be further strengthened via grain refinement or precipitation by the addition of microalloying elements. In this study a Nb microalloyed steel comprising martensite, bainite and retained austenite has been studied. By means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) we have investigated the size distribution and the structural properties of (Nb, Ti)N and NbC precipitates, their occurrence in the various steel phases, and their relationship with the Fe matrix. (Nb, Ti)N precipitates were found in ferrite, martensite, and bainite, while NbC precipitates were found only in ferrite. All NbC precipitates were found to be small (520 nm in size) and to have a face centred cubic (fcc) crystal structure with lattice parameter a = 4.36 ± 0.05 Å. In contrast, the (Nb, Ti)N precipitates were found to have a broader size range (5150 nm) and to have a fcc crystal structure with lattice parameter a = 8.09 ± 0.05 Å. While the NbC precipitates were found to be randomly oriented, the (Nb, Ti)N precipitates have a well-defined NishiyamaWasserman orientation relationship with the ferrite matrix. An analysis of the lattice mismatch suggests that the latter precipitates have a high potential for effective strengthening. Density functional theory calculations were performed for various stoichiometries of NbCx and NbxTiyNz phases and the comparison with experimental data indicates that both the carbides and nitrides are deficient in C and N content.