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The simultaneous removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater is a complex challenge and requires usually several sequential processes. Here, we demonstrate the fabrication of a hybrid material that can fulfill both tasks: (i) the adsorption of metal ions due to the negative surface charge, and (ii) photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds. The bioinorganic hybrid membrane consists of cellulose fibers to ensure mechanical stability and of Bi4O5Br2/BiOBr nanosheets. The composite is synthesized at low temperature of 115 °C directly on the cellulose membrane (CM) in order to maintain the carboxylic and hydroxyl groups on the surface that are responsible for the adsorption of metal ions. The composite can adsorb both Co(II) and Ni(II) ions and the kinetic study confirmed a good agreement of experimental data with the pseudo-second-order equation kinetic model. CM/Bi4O5Br2/BiOBr showed higher affinity to Co(II) ions than to Ni(II) ions from diluted aqueous solutions. The bioinorganic composite demonstrates a synergistic effect in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) by exceeding the removal efficiency of single components. The fabrication of the biologic-inorganic interface was confirmed by various analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM EDX) mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The presented approach for controlled formation of the bioinorganic interface between natural material (cellulose) and nanoscopic inorganic materials of tailored morphology (Bi–O–Br system) enables the significant enhancement of materials functionality.

Cobalt-based Li-ion batteries are produced globally on a massive scale, but most are discarded to landfill at the end of their useful lifetime. In this work, an efficient cobalt catalyst for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride to dihydrogen was prepared from lithium ion battery waste, providing a second life for valuable minerals. This material is composed of a mixed metal cobalt–aluminium oxide supported on graphene, as elucidated by a combined FTIR, Raman, SEM, scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron energy loss spectroscopy (STEM-EELS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) study. The obtained metal oxide material, which exhibits an average oxidation state for Co of 2.45, is a languid catalyst at room temperature, but rapid hydrogen production of up to 49 L(H2) min−1 g−1(Co) was observed in catalytic runs heated to 70 °C. This carbon-supported cobalt catalyst is competitive with designed cobalt nanostructured catalysts prepared from pure precursors. This work is illustrative of the opportunities which arise when e-waste is utilised as a mineral resource within the scope of a circular economy.

CuWO4 is a photoanode candidate in neutral pH, and manganese-based oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysts are of high interest due to their low price and low toxicity. Considering the unexplored chemistry of transition-metal carbodiimides/cyanamides for the PEC water oxidation, we investigated MnNCN as an electrocatalyst for CuWO4 under AM 1.5G illumination in potassium phosphate electrolyte (pH 7). Surface functionalization of CuWO4 photoanodes with MnNCN increased the photocurrent from 22 to 30 μA cm-2 at 1.23 V vs RHE. Complementary structural analysis by means of XRD and XPS revealed that MnNCN forms a core-shell structure MnNCN@MnPO x in phosphate electrolyte and mimics a manganese phosphate electrocatalyst. As such, the surface chemistry of MnNCN significantly differs from previous studies on the cobalt analogue (CoNCN). A separately prepared MnNCN electrode developed a small but detectable photocurrent due to photogenerated holes inside the semiconducting carbodiimide core of the MnNCN@MnPO x structure.

Zintl phases: The new lithium-rich Zintl phase Li12Ag1−xSi4 (x=0.15) contains the highly charged 16-electron anion [AgSi2]7−. Chemical bonding is discussed based on electronic band structure analysis (see figure).

The title compound was prepared from elements by sintering in the temperature region between 1073 and 1473 K. The monoclinic structure of La7Pd17P12 was solved and refined from X-ray single crystal data: space group C2/m, a = 24.519(1), b = 4.0859(5), c = 13.6106(8)Å , β = 112.129(3)°, Z = 2, RF = 0.025 for 1065 unique of 4877 measured reflections and 112 refined parameters. Main structural motif of the new phosphide are condensed blocks of trigonal prisms around phosphorus atoms connected to infinite chains via lanthanum atoms. The structural features of La7Pd17P12 are discussed in comparison with some representatives of a large family of structures with metal / non-metal ratio close to 2 : 1.

Materials with a low degree of space filling may have low thermal conductivity. If combined with the enhanced thermopower, often observed in strongly correlated rare-earth or transition metal containing materials, this may result in a material with superior thermoelectric properties for cooling applications. YbGa6Te10 is a new rare-earth containing material. The thermal conductivity of this compound is very low and is explained in terms of low degree of space filling, large unit cell and relatively heavy elements. The very low thermal conductivity makes this compound or similar modifications a potential candidate for a strongly correlated thermoelectric material.

CaH8Mn2O12, orthorhombic, Pccn (no. 56), a = 13.9791(19) A, b = 5.5404(8) A, c = 13.3908(18) A, V = 1037.1(2) A, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0318, wRref(F ) = 0.0659, T = 293 K.

The title compound was prepared from elements by sintering in the temperature region between 1073 and 1473 K. The monoclinic structure of La 7 Pd 1 7 P 1 2 was solved and refined from X-ray single crystal data: space group C2/m, a = 24.519(1), b = 4.0859(5), c = 13.6106(8) A,β = 112.129(3)°, Z = 2, R F = 0.025 for 1065 unique of 4877 measured reflections and 112 refined parameters. Main structural motif of the new phosphide are condensed blocks of trigonal prisms around phosphorus atoms connected to infinite chains via lanthanum atoms. The structural features of La 7 Pd 1 7 P 1 2 are discussed in comparison with some representatives of a large family of structures with metal / non-metal ratio close to 2: 1.