Magnetic zeolite composites with supported silver nanoparicles are a new class of multifunctional materials with potential applications as recyclable catalysts, disinfectants, and sorbents. This study evaluated the suitability of the magnetic composites as sorbents for the removal of elemental mercury vapor from flue gases of coal-fired power plants. The sorbents were found to completely capture mercury at temperatures up to 200 degrees C, and the mercury capacity of the sorbents was found to be affected by the state, content, and size of the silver particles in the composite. Cumulative or extended thermal treatments at 400 degrees C were found to improve the mercury capture capacity, allowing the sorbent to be regenerated and recycled multiple times without performance degradation. The magnetic sorbent was readily separated from fly ash by magnetic separation, leaving the fly ash essentially free of sorbent contamination. In initial in-plant tests, the sorbents were able to capture mercury from the flue gases of an operational, full-scale, coal-fired power plant The combination of mercury capacity, ease of separation and regeneration, and recyclability makes these multifunctional magnetic composites excellent candidate sorbentsforthe control of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Zeolites, as one of the most important porous materials, are most widely utilized in sorbents, catalysis, and ion-exchange fields. However, the multi-functional lanthanide-zeolites constructed exclusively by lanthanide ions and oxygen linkers are to our knowledge unknown hitherto. Herein, we, for the first time, report the unique structure and multifunctions of lanthanide zeolites (1·Gd, 1·Tb, 1·Dy), featuring 60 nuclear [Ln60] nanocages as building blocks and ultrastrong alkali-resisting. These compounds possess extremely high stability and still retain single crystallinity after treatment in boiling water, 0.1 M HCl, and 20 M NaOH aqueous solutions. Magnetic studies revealed 1·Gd has large magnetocaloric effect with -ΔSm(max) = 66.5 J kg(-1) K(-1), falling among the largest values known to date. Importantly, these lanthanide-zeolites themselves can efficiently catalyze the cycloaddition of CO2 with epoxides under mild conditions. Our finding extends the conventional zeolites to lanthanide counterparts, opening a new space for seeking novel and/or multifunctional zeolites.

A novel concept is proposed to synthesize a new class of composites featuring magnetic, molecular sieve and metallic nanoparticle properties. These multi‐functional materials have potential applications as recyclable catalysts, disinfectants and sorbents. The magnetic property enables effective separation of the spent composites from complex multiphase systems for regeneration and recycle, safe disposal of the waste and/or recovery of loaded valuable species. The zeolite molecular sieve provides a matrix which supports a remarkably new, simple, efficient and economical method to make stable, supported silver nanoparticles by silver ion exchange and controlled thermal reduction. The silver nanoparticles generated in this way have excellent properties such as high reactivity and good thermal stability without aggregation, which act as nano reactors for desired functionality in a wide range of applications. Magnetic component (Fe3O4), molecular sieve matrix (zeolite) and silver nanoparticles generated by ion exchange followed by controlled reduction, together form this unique novel composite with designed functions. It represents a practically operational, economical, sustainable and environmentally friendly new advanced functional material. This paper focuses on the novel synthesis and characterization of the composite, with an example of applications as sorbents for the removal of vapor‐phase mercury from the flue gas of coal‐fired power plants.

Based on the newly designed ligand 4'-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-4,2':6',4''-terpyridine (DCTP), a unique semi-conductive 3D framework {[Cu(Ι)Cu(ΙΙ)2(DCTP)2]NO3⋅1.5 DMF}n (1) with a narrow band gap of 2.1 eV, was obtained and structurally characterized. DFT calculations with van de Waals correction employed to explore the electronic structure of 1, clearly revealed its semi-conductive behavior. Furthermore, we found that 1 exhibits a superior band alignment with water to produce hydrogen and degrade organic pollutants. Without adding any photosensitizers, 1 displays an efficiently photocatalytic hydrogen production in water based on the photo-generated electrons under UV/Vis light. 1 also exhibits excellent photo-degradation of methyl blue under visible-light owing to the strong oxidization of excited holes. It is the first example of MOFs with doubly photocatalytic activities related to photo-generated electrons and holes, respectively.