Non‐chromate deoxidation of AA2024‐T3 using Fe(III)–HF–HNO3

The effect on AA2024‐T3 of a non‐chromate deoxidizer based on Fe(III)–HF–HNO₃ has been examined by atomic force microscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Magnesium and silicon present on the surface after alkaline cleaning was removed very rapidly at room temperature. The surface oxide also showed signs of significant attack within a short period of time. Intermetallics were removed almost completely within 10 min. There was evidence of iron deposition from the deoxidizer, which would tend to reduce the corrosion resistance of subsequent conversion coatings. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of cerium‐based conversion coatings on 2024‐T3 Al alloy after rare‐earth desmutting

The deposition of Ce‐based conversion coatings onto 2024‐T3 Al alloy sheet was studied using Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The Al sheet was pretreated with an alkaline clean followed by treatment in a Ce(IV) and H₂SO₄‐based desmutter. The Ce(IV)‐based conversion coating solution contained 0.1 M CeCl₃·7H₂O and 3% H₂O₂ and was acidified to pH 1.9 with HCl. Upon immersion, there was an induction period that included activation followed by aluminium oxide growth over the matrix and cerium oxide deposition onto cathodic intermetallic particles and along rolling marks on the surface. After the induction period cerium oxide deposited generally across the whole surface and thickened. The strongest anodic sites initially were adjacent to the intermetallic cathodes and resulted in aluminium dissolution but also oxide thickening. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Coordination Compounds of Palladium(II) and 4‐Amino‐1,2,4‐triazole

Mononuclear coordination compounds of the type [Pd(NH₂trz)₄]²⁺ with the counterions chloride, nitrate, trifluoromethanesulfonate, and methanesulfonate were synthesized and their structures identified with single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In case of the synthesis with methanesulfonate as the counterion the dominant product was of the generic formula [Pd₂(NH₂trz)₃](CH₃SO₃)₄, and the complex [Pd(NH₂trz)₄](CH₃SO₃)₂ only emerged as a byproduct. While the structure of the byproduct could be analyzed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, suitable crystals of the main product [Pd₂(NH₂trz)₃](CH₃SO₃)₄ could not be obtained. However, stoichiometry implies a polynuclear nature with NH₂trz present in the rare μ₃‐η¹:η¹:η¹ coordination type, i.e. with NH₂trz molecules coordinating to three palladium atoms. Accordingly, identification of solids by single‐crystal analysis alone can be misleading in particular with NH₂trz as a ligand due to its versatile coordination behavior. Finally, analysis by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the complexes were thermally stable (the onset of decomposition well above 100 °C), with [Pd₂(NH₂trz)₃](CH₃SO₃)₄ being the most stable compound (onset of decomposition at 204 °C).     

Theoretical study of the electronic spectra of bi‐ and tri‐heteronuclear platinum complexes

The electronic structure and the spectroscopic properties of [Pt(NH₃)₄][Au(CN)₂]₂, [Pt(NH₃)₄][Ag(CN)₂]₂, [Pt(CNCH₃)₄][Pt(CN)₄], and [Pt(CNCH₃)₄][Pd(CN)₄] were studied at the HF, MP2, B3LYP, and PBE levels. In all the complexes, it was found that the nature of the intermetal interactions is consistent with the presence of a high‐ionic contribution (90%) and a dispersion‐type interaction (10%). The absorption spectra of these complexes were calculated by the single‐excitation time‐dependent (TD) method at the HF, B3LYP, and PBE levels. The [Pt(NH₃)₄][M(CN)₂]₂ (M ? Au, Ag) complexes showed a ¹(dσ* → pσ) transition associated with a metal–metal charge transfer. On the other hand, the [Pt(CNCH₃)₄][M(CN)₄] (M ? Pt, Pd) complexes showed a ¹(dσ* → π*) transition associated with a metal‐to‐metal and ligand charge transfer. The values obtained theoretically are in agreement with the experimental range. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Electrochemical oxidative modification of nanocarbon materials in aqueous electrolyte solutions

The effect exerted by electrochemical oxidative modification of carbon nanofibers and nanotubes by anodic and successive cathodic and anodic polarization in aqueous solutions of electrolytes H₂SO₄, CH₃COONH₄, HNO₃, (NH₄)₂SO₄, [H₂SO₄ + (NH₄)₂SO₄] on the structure and morphology of the fibers constituting the nanomaterials, on the composition of surface groups, on the stationary electrode potential of carbon nanofibers, and on properties of epoxy–carbon composites was studied. The results of the electrochemical modification were compared to the results of chemical modification of carbon nanofibers in a 6.0 M HNO₃ solution and of carbon nanotubes in a mixture of concentrated acids H₂SO₄ + HNO₃.     

Optimization of a radioanalytical procedure for the determination of uranium isotopes in environmental samples

A radiochemical procedure is described for the fast and sensitive measurement of uranium isotopes in gaseous and liquid effluents of nuclear facilities. Equally, this procedure is suitable to measure uranium isotopes in all kinds of environmental samples. Uranium is leached from ashed sample materials with HNO₃, HF, and Al(NO₃)₃ solution and separated from matrix elements by extraction with trioctylphosphinic oxide and backextraction with NH₄F. After radiochemical cleaning by coprecipitation with LaF₃ and anion exchange, uranium isotopes are electroplated on stainless steel discs from HCl/oxalate solution. The preparation is measured by alpha-spectrometry using surface barrier detectors. The detection limit for 1000 minutes of counting time is 2 mBq per sample and nuclide, the chemical yield is in the range of 50 to 80%.     

Cation-exchange studies of yttrium(III) and its separation from various other elements

Summary Systematic studies are presented on the cation-exchange behaviour of yttrium on Dowex 50W-X8. HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, NH₄Cl, NH₄NO₃, (NH₄)₂SO₄, CH₃COONH₄, NaCl, NaNO₃, malonic acid, tartaric acid and EDTA were used as eluting agents. Y was separated from a large variety of elements by selective elution or selective adsorption. Thus it was possible to separate it from many common ions such as alkalis, alkaline earths, Bi, Hg, V, Cd, U, In, Co, Ga, Zn, Sc, Fe, Al, Ni, and Ce by selective elution. It was separated from Ti, Zr, Hf, and Sb by selective sorption in citrate media and from Cr, Tl, Pb, and Th by gradient elution.     

Synthesis of 2‐aryl‐1‐arylmethyl‐1H‐1,3‐benzimidazoles catalysed by ferric ammonium sulfate (NH4Fe(SO4)2) under solvent‐free conditions

NH₄Fe(SO₄)₂ was found to be a mild and effective catalyst for the selective synthesis of 2‐aryl‐1‐arylmethyl‐1H‐1,3‐benzimidazoles under solvent‐free conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Some studies on thallium oxalates. I. Thermal decomposition of ammonium bisoxalatothallate(III)

Trivalent thallium is precipitated in the presence of 0.1 M HNO₃ (or 0.05 M H₂SO₄) and O.1 M NH₄NO₃ (or 0.05 M (NH₄)₂SO₄) with oxalic acid. The chemical analysis of the salt obtained correspondens to the formula, NH₄[Tl(C₂O₄)₂]·3H₂O. The thermal decomposition studies of the complex indicate the formation of the intermediates ammonium thallous oxalate (stable from 150° to 160°C) and thallous oxalate (stable up to 290°C) and the final product to be a mixture of 25% of thallous oxide and 75% of thallic oxide (stable from 450° to 650°C). The infrared absorption spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, microscopic observations and the electrical resistance measurements are used to characterise the complex and the intermediates of its thermal decomposition.     

Template‐Free Synthesis of Highly b‐Oriented MFI‐Type Zeolite Thin Films by Seeded Secondary Growth

Highly b‐oriented, closely packed, MFI zeolite films are prepared on seeded stainless‐steel plates using organic template‐free, secondary growth solutions, containing aluminum sulfate as a crystallization agent. The number of a‐oriented twin crystals is significantly reduced, and even eliminated, simply by restricting the pH value of the secondary growth solution to the narrow range of 11.1–11.3. Values of pH can be adjusted through the controlled addition of (NH₄)₂SO₄ or H₂SO₄ to secondary growth solutions of the composition (1 SiO₂:0.57 NaOH:137.5 H₂O:0.0050 (Al₂(SO₄)₃?18 H₂O)) or by simply decreasing the molar composition of NaOH with no extra additives.     

Energetic Hydrazine‐Based Salts with Nitrogen‐Rich and Oxidizing Anions

1,1,1‐Trimethylhydrazinium iodide ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂]I, 1 ) was reacted with a silver salt to form the corresponding nitrate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][NO₃], 2 ), perchlorate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][ClO₄], 3 ), azide ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][N₃], 4 ), 5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazolate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][H₂N? CN₄], 5 ), and sulfate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂]₂[SO₄]?2H₂O, 6 ?2H₂O) salts. The metathesis reaction of compound 6 ?2H₂O with barium salts led to the formation of the corresponding picrate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][(NO₂)₃Ph ‐ O], 7 ), dinitramide ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][N(NO₂)₂], 8 ), 5‐nitrotetrazolate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][O₂N? CN₄], 9 ), and nitroformiate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][C(NO₂)₃], 10 ) salts. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, infrared/Raman spectroscopy, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N). Additionally, compounds 1 , 6 , and 7 were also characterized by low‐temperature X‐ray diffraction techniques (XRD). Ba(NH₄)(NT)₃ (NT=5‐nitrotetrazole anion) was accidentally obtained during the synthesis of the 5‐nitrotetrazole salt 9 and was also characterized by low‐temperature XRD. Furthermore, the structure of the [(CH₃)₃N? NH₂]⁺ cation was optimized using the B3LYP method and used to calculate its vibrational frequencies, NBO charges, and electronic energy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to assess the thermal stabilities of salts 2 – 5 and 7 – 10 , and the sensitivities of the materials towards classical stimuli were estimated by submitting the compounds to standard (BAM) tests. Lastly, we computed the performance parameters (detonation pressures/velocities and specific impulses) and the decomposition gases of compounds 2 – 5 and 7 – 10 and those of their oxygen‐balanced mixtures with an oxidizer.     

Werner transition‐metal complex (WTMC)‐mediated mild and efficient chemo‐selective acylation of phenols and anilines under solvent‐free condition

Werner‐type transition‐metal complexes (WTMC) such as [Co(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂, Cu[(NH₃)₄]SO₄, Mn(acac)₃, Ni[(NH₃)₆]Cl₂, Ni[(en)₃]S₂O₃, and Hg[Co(SCN)₄] efficiently promote the chemoselective acetylation of phenols and anilines under solvent‐free condition. The results of this study clearly shows that the optimal condition for the acetylation of anilines/phenols (1 mmol) ( 2a–r ) with acetic anhydride (1.2 mmol) in the presence of WTMC (1 mmol) and two drops of H₃PO₄ on heating for 10 min under solvent‐free condition gives the corresponding acetanilides/phenyl acetate ( 3a–r ) in good to excellent yield. Furthermore, the method is simple, efficient, chemoselective, and eco‐friendly under solvent‐free condition for the acetylation of anilines and phenols promoted by WTMC by using acetic anhydrate as the acetylating agent. The simple preparation of the catalyst, easy procedure of the acetylation reaction, and simple work‐up indicate the importance of WTMC for such reactions.     

Vibrational spectra of NH4-Ln(SO4)2·4H2O/D2O (LnLa and Ce)

Infrared and Raman spectra of NH₄Ce(SO₄)₂·4H₂O, NH₄La(SO₄)₂·4H₂O and the deuterated compounds NH₄Ce(SO₄)₂·4D₂O and NH₄La(SO₄)₂·4D₂O have been analysed. Splittings indicating the presence of two types of SO₄ ions are not observed. The SO bond strengths of the different SO₄ units are not significantly different. The SO₄ ion is distorted in these compounds. Deuteration causes changes in the SO₄ bond strength. Three crystallographically distinct water molecules exist in the unit cell.     

Assembly of 3‐D Network Structures Containing Oxydiacetate and CeIII or CeIV

Reaction of CeCl₃·7H₂O with Na₂(oda) (oda = O(CH₂CO₂)₂^2— oxydiacetate) in a 2:3 ratio gives the neutral cerium(III) complex [Ce₂(oda)₃(H₂O)₃]·9H₂O ( 1 ). Treatment of a 1:3 mixture of CeCl₃·7H₂O and H₂oda in water with 4 molar equivalents of NaOH also gives 1 but, with a larger excess of NaOH, the tri‐sodium salt Na₃[Ce(oda)₃]·9H₂O ( 2 ) is isolated. Formation of a tri‐ammonium analogue of 2 can be achieved by neutralisation of an aqueous solution of CeCl₃·7H₂O and H₂(oda) in a 1:3 ratio by NH₄OH, giving (NH₄)₃[Ce(oda)₃]·7H₂O ( 3 ). Use of the cerium(IV) reagent (NH₄)₂[Ce(NO₃)₆] with Na₂(oda) results in reduction to cerium(III) under ambient conditions and isolation of 1 . However, in the absence of light this reaction yields crystals of the novel cerium(IV) heterobimetallic [Ce(oda)₃Na₄(NO₃)₂] ( 4 ). Each of these complexes exhibit a 3‐D network structure having a common nine‐coordinate [Ce(oda)₃]^n— (n = 2 or 3) subunit, irrespective of the oxidation state of cerium. In 1 , six [Ce(oda)₃]^3— anions are connected, through bridging bidentate carboxylates, to a second Ce³⁺ site further coordinated by three water molecules. In contrast, the ammonium salt 2 , displays isolated [Ce(oda)₃]^3— anions, devoid of further carboxylate bonding, but enmeshed within a network of hydrogen‐bonded NH₄⁺ cations and water molecules. The remarkable structure of 4 consists of infinite 2‐D sheets of [Na₂(NO₃)]⁺ pillared by [Ce(oda)₃]^2— units, the connectivity arising by multidentate nitrate and carboxylate bridging.     

Synthesis of Bis‐Heterocyclic 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides from 3‐Oxido‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides

The reaction of 1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides 1 , which are conveniently accessible by treatment of the corresponding esters with NH₂NH₂?H₂O, with isothiocyanates in refluxing EtOH led to thiosemicarbazides (=hydrazinecarbothioamides) 4 in high yields (Scheme 2). Whereas 4 in boiling aqueous NaOH yielded 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones 5 , the reaction in concentrated H₂SO₄ at room temperature gave 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amines 6 . Similarly, the reaction of 1 with butyl isocyanate led to semicarbazides 7 , which, under basic conditions, undergo cyclization to give 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ones 8 (Scheme 3). Treatment of 1 with Ac₂O yielded the diacylhydrazine derivatives 9 exclusively, and the alternative isomerization of 1 to imidazol‐2‐ones was not observed (Scheme 4). It is important to note that, in all these transformations, the imidazole N‐oxide residue is retained. Furthermore, it was shown that imidazole N‐oxides bearing a 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione or 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine moiety undergo the S‐transfer reaction to give bis‐heterocyclic 1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 by treatment with 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione (Scheme 5).     

Trithallium hydrogen bis(sulfate), Tl3H(SO4)2, in the super‐ionic phase by X‐ray powder diffraction

The structure of trithallium hydrogen bis­(sulfate), Tl₃H(SO₄)₂, in the super‐ionic phase has been analyzed by Rietveld analysis of the X‐ray powder diffraction pattern. Atomic parameters based on the isotypic Rb₃H(SeO₄)₂ crystal in space group Rm in the super‐ionic phase were used as the starting model, because it has been shown from the comparison of thermal and electric properties in Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ and M₃H(SO₄)₂ type crystals (M = Rb, Cs or NH₄) that the room‐temperature Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ phase is isostructural with the high‐temperature Rm‐symmetry M₃H(SO₄)₂ crystals. The structure was determined in the trigonal space group Rm and the Rietveld refinement shows that an hydrogen‐bond O—­H?O separation is slightly shortened compared with O—H?O separations in isotypic M₃H(SeO₄)₂ crystals. In addition, it was found that the distortion of the SO₄ tetrahedra in Tl₃H(SO₄)₂ is less than that in isotypic crystals.     

Crosslinking behavior and enhanced mechanical properties of acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber composites by incorporating aluminum ammonium sulfate particles

The crosslinked structure formed by the metal coordination bonding provides excellent and new properties for rubber materials. Herein, the crosslinking of acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (NBR) is induced by introducing aluminum ammonium sulfate (NH₄Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O) particles. The crosslinking behavior, morphology, mechanical properties, and the Akron abrasion resistance of NBR/NH₄Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O composites were fully explored. The results show that the three‐dimensional crosslinking structure is held together by metal–ligand coordination bonds between the nitrile group and AI(III). The coordination crosslink density exhibits a considerable increase with the addition of NH₄Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O. Thus, the mechanical properties and abrasion resistance of the obtained composites are better than that of NBR/sulfur system. Interestingly, the elongation at break for NBR/NH₄Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O composites is over 2000% due to the nature of coordination bonds. The abrasion volume loss decreases to 0.4 cm³ for NBR/NH₄Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O composites with 20 phr NH₄Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O particles as compared to 0.75 cm³ for NBR/sulfur system. The obtained NBR composites with facile preparation and excellent mechanical properties make the composites based on metal coordination bonding attractive for practical use. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 879–886     

Rational Design of the Metal‐Free KBe2BO3F2⋅(KBBF) Family Member C(NH2)3SO3F with Ultraviolet Optical Nonlinearity

The first fluorosulfonic ultraviolet (UV) nonlinear optical (NLO) material, C(NH₂)₃SO₃F, is rationally designed by taking KBe₂BO₃F₂ (KBBF) as the parent compound. C(NH₂)₃SO₃F features similar topological layers as KBBF by replacing inorganic (BO₃)^3? with organic C(NH₂)₃⁺ trigonal units and BeO₃F with SO₃F^? tetrahedra. Therefore, C(NH₂)₃SO₃F is a metal‐free UV NLO crystal. Benefiting from the coplanar configuration of the C(NH₂)₃⁺ cationic groups, it possesses a large SHG response of 5×KDP and moderate birefringence of 0.133@1064 nm. Besides, it has a short UV cutoff edge of 200 nm. The calculated results reveal the shortest SHG phase‐matching wavelengths can reach 200 nm. These findings highlight the exploration of metal‐free compounds as nontoxic and low‐cost UV NLO materials as a new research area.     

Rocking‐Chair Ammonium‐Ion Battery: A Highly Reversible Aqueous Energy Storage System

Aqueous rechargeable batteries are promising solutions for large‐scale energy storage. Such batteries have the merit of low cost, innate safety, and environmental friendliness. To date, most known aqueous ion batteries employ metal cation charge carriers. Here, we report the first “rocking‐chair” NH₄‐ion battery of the full‐cell configuration by employing an ammonium Prussian white analogue, (NH₄)_1.47Ni[Fe(CN)₆]_0.88, as the cathode, an organic solid, 3,4,9,10‐perylenetetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI), as the anode, and 1.0 m aqueous (NH₄)₂SO₄ as the electrolyte. This novel aqueous ammonium‐ion battery demonstrates encouraging electrochemical performance: an average operation voltage of ca. 1.0 V, an attractive energy density of ca. 43 Wh kg⁻¹ based on both electrodes’ active mass, and excellent cycle life over 1000 cycles with 67 % capacity retention. Importantly, the topochemistry results of NH₄⁺ in these electrodes point to a new paradigm of NH₄⁺‐based energy storage.