To make supercapattery devices feasible, there is an urgent need to find electrode materials that exhibit a hybrid mechanism of energy storage. Herein, we provide a first report on the capability of lithium manganese sulfates to be used as supercapattery materials at elevated temperatures. Two compositions are studied: monoclinic Li₂Mn(SO₄)₂ and orthorhombic Li₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃, which are prepared by a freeze-drying method followed by heat treatment at 500 °C. The electrochemical performance of sulfate electrodes is evaluated in lithium-ion cells using two types of electrolytes: conventional carbonate-based electrolytes and ionic liquid IL ones. The electrochemical measurements are carried out in the temperature range of 20–60 °C. The stability of sulfate electrodes after cycling is monitored by in-situ Raman spectroscopy and ex-situ XRD and TEM analysis. It is found that sulfate salts store Li⁺ by a hybrid mechanism that depends on the kind of electrolyte used and the recording temperature. Li₂Mn(SO₄)₂ outperforms Li₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃ and displays excellent electrochemical properties at elevated temperatures: at 60 °C, the energy density reaches 280 Wh/kg at a power density of 11,000 W/kg. During cell cycling, there is a transformation of the Li-rich salt, Li₂Mn(SO₄)₂, into a defective Li-poor one, Li₂Mn₂(SO₄)₃, which appears to be responsible for the improved storage properties. The data reveals that Li₂Mn(SO₄)₂ is a prospective candidate for supercapacitor electrode materials at elevated temperatures.

The present study aims to investigate a Pd catalyst on a complex multi-oxide medium-entropy support interlayer La₂O₃-CeO₂-ZrO₂-Al₂O₃ and its possible use as catalysts for methane abatement applications. The low-temperature N₂-adsorption, XRD, TEM, XPS, TPD, and TPR techniques were used to characterize the catalyst. The palladium deposition on the supports leads to the formation of PdO. After the catalytic tests, the metal-Pd phase was observed. The complete oxidation of methane on Pd/La-Ce-Zr-Al catalyst takes place at temperatures above 250 °C, and in the presence of water vapor, the reaction temperature increases to about 70 °C. The careful choice of constituent oxides provides a balance between structural stability and flexibility. The alumina and lanthanum oxide ensure the high specific surface area, while the simultaneous presence of zirconia and ceria leads to the formation of a mixed-oxide phase able to interact with palladium ions by incorporating and de-incorporating them at different conditions. The mechanism of Mars–van Kerevelen was considered as the most probable for the reaction of complete methane oxidation. The possibility of the practical application of Pd-modified La-Ce-Zr-Al catalyst is evaluated. The use of a mix of multiple rare and abundant oxides makes the proposed catalyst a cost-effective alternative.

“Chemistry Festival” is a student competition designed for students from 5th to 12th grade. The goal of the competition is to promote chemistry among young people and provide a platform for students interested in the natural sciences to showcase their talents. The organization of the competition involves prior registration of participant/participants and a supervisor/teacher; selection of a topic predefined by the organizers; and a choice of participation category: essay, poster, or presentation. The research project category is available for students in grades 8. – 12., where they present their projects on a topic related to Chemistry and Environmental Protection, using the scientific method. Participants’ work is evaluated based on predefined criteria, and those with the highest scores qualify for a defense in front of a jury. After hearing and assessing the participants’ presentations, the jury awards first, second, and third places in each category, along with special and incentive prizes.