A novel method for highly efficient nitric oxide absorption by azole-based ionic liquid was reported. The NO absorption capacity reached up to 4.52 mol per mol ionic liquid and is significant higher than the capacity other traditional absorbents. Moreover, the absorption of NO by this ionic liquid was reversible. Through a combination of experimental absorption, quantum chemical calculation, NMR and FT-IR spectroscopic investigation, the results indicated that such high capacity originated from multiple-site interactions between NO and the anion through the formation of NONOate with the chemical formula R R N-(NO )-N=O, where R and R are alkyl groups. We believe that this highly efficient and reversible NO absorption by an azole-based ionic liquid paves a new way for gas capture and utilization.

Five kinds of anion‐functionalized ionic liquids (ILs) with different basicity and substituent were selected, prepared and applied in the capture of SO2 from flue gas, where the concentration of SO2 is only 2000 ppm. The effect of the anion on SO2 absorption capacity, desorption residue, and available absorption capacity under 2000 ppm was investigated. The relationship between available absorption capacity and absorption enthalpy was also studied. Through a combination of thermodynamic analysis and quantum calculation, the results indicated that the effect of the cation in the IL on absorption enthalpy was significant. However, the effect of chain length in the cation was weak. Hence, a new IL with low molecular weight, [P4442][Tetz], was further designed and applied for the capture of SO2, which shows the high absorption capacity of 0.18 g SO2 per g IL and excellent reversibility for 2000 ppm SO2. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2028–2034, 2015

The development of narrow-bandgap photocatalysts for one-step-excitation overall water splitting (OWS) remains a critical challenge in the field of solar hydrogen production. SrTaO 2 N is a photocatalytic material having a band structure suitable for OWS under visible light (λ ≤ 600 nm). However, the presence of defects in the oxynitride and the lack of cocatalysts to promote simultaneous hydrogen and oxygen evolution make it challenging to realize OWS using this material. The present work demonstrates a SrTaO 2 N-based particulate photocatalyst for OWS. This photocatalyst, which was composed of single crystals, was obtained by nitriding SrCl 2 and Ta 2 O 5 together with NaOH, with the latter added to control the formation of defects. The subsequent loading of bimetallic RuIrO x nanoparticles accelerated charge separation and allowed the SrTaO 2 N photocatalyst to exhibit superior OWS activity. This research presenting the strategies of controlling the oxygen sources and promoting the cocatalyst function is expected to expand the range of potential OWS-active oxynitride photocatalysts and permit the design of efficient cocatalysts for photocatalytic OWS.

A strategy to achieve the efficient synthesis of alkylidene carbonates from CO2 at atmospheric pressure by tuning the basicity of ionic liquids was developed. Excellent yields were obtained due to basic ionic liquids' dual roles both as absorbents and as activators. The reaction mechanism was investigated through a combination of NMR spectroscopy, controlled experiments and quantum calculations, indicating the importance of a moderate basicity.