Thermal Investigations of M[La(C2O4)3]⋅xH2O (M=Cr(III) and Co(III))

The complexes M[La(C₂O₄)₃]⋅xH₂O (x=10 for M=Cr(III) and x=7 forM=Co(III)) have been synthesized and their thermal stability was investigated. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, reflectance and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Thermal investigations using TG, DTG and DTA techniques in air of chromium(III)tris(oxalato)lanthanum(III)decahydrate, Cr[La(C₂O₄)₃]⋅10H₂O showed the complex decomposition pattern in air. The compound released all the ten molecules of water within ∼170°C, followed by decomposition to a mixture of oxides and carbides of chromium and lanthanum, i.e. CrO₂, Cr₂O₃, Cr₃O₄, Cr₃C₂, La₂O₃, La₂C₃, LaCO, LaCrO_x (2<x<3) and C at ∼1000°C through the intermediate formation of several compounds of chromium and lanthanum at ∼374, ∼430 and ∼550°C. Thecobalt(III)tris(oxalato)lanthanum(III)heptahydrate, Co[La(C₂O₄)₃]⋅7H₂O becomes anhydrous around 225°C, followed by decomposition to Co₃O₄, La₂(CO₃)₃ and C at ∼340°C and several other mixture species of cobalt and lanthanum at∼485°C. The end products were identified to be LaCoO₃, Co₃O₄, La₂O₃, La₂C₃, Co₃C, LaCO and C at ∼ 2>1000°C. DSC studies in nitrogen of both the compounds showed several distinct steps of decomposition along with ΔH and ΔSvalues. IR and powder XRD studies have identified some of the intermediate species. The tentative mechanisms for the decomposition in air are proposed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Theoretical study of the energies and activation barriers of elementary reactions of hydrogenation of the Ti-doped closo-aluminide cluster Al@TiAl11 and its anion Al@TiAl 11?

The potential energy surfaces, energies E, and activation barriers h of elementary reactions of addition of an H₂ molecule to the Ti-doped closo-aluminide cluster Al@TiAl₁₁ and its anion Al@Ti₁₁⁻ with an icosahedral and marquee structure in the states with different multiplicity were calculated within the B3LYP approximation of the density functional theory using the 6–31G* and 6–311+G* basis sets. The results were compared with the data calculated at the same level of theory for the related reactions of hydrogenation of bare closo-aluminides Al₁₃ and Al₁₃⁻ and their B-, C-, Si-, and Ge-doped derivatives. The computations demonstrated that, depending on the structure, charge, and multiplicity of the Al@TiAl₁₁ cluster, the hydrogenation energy varies in the range 15–23 kcal/mol. At the first stage of addition (chemisorption) of H₂, a μ-H₂ complex at the Ti atom (intermediate) forms with the distance R(Ti-H₂) ∼ 1.9–2.0 ?, which is accompanied by an energy decrease of ∼4–10 kcal/mol. The H-H bond in the μ-H₂ complex is ∼0.1 ? longer and the stretching vibration frequency V_val(HH) is ∼700–1500 cm⁻¹ (or more) lower than the corresponding characteristics of the isolated H₂ molecule. In the transition state with an imaginary frequency of ∼600i–1100i, the H₂ molecule is coordinated to the attacked edge Ti-Al_r, and its length increases to ∼0.9–1.1 ?. The activation barrier height h varies from a few kcal/mol to ∼8–10 kcal/mol when measured from the μ-H₂ complex and is within 18–22 kcal/mol when measured from the product (dihydride Al@TiAl₁₁H₂). The latter barrier (to the reverse reaction of dehydrogenation) is considerably higher than the barriers to migration of hydrogen atoms around the metal cage in the Al@TiAl₁₁H₂ dehydrides. There is a correlation between the energies E and barriers h of hydrogenation reactions and the structure, external charge, and multiplicity of the Al@TiAl₁₁ cluster. In all cases, the hydrogenation should occur significantly more readily than dehydrogenation. It was shown that these reactions can be both irreversible (for example, for an icosahedron in the singlet state) and reversible (for a marquee in the triplet state and others). The conclusion was drawn that the elementary reactions of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation for Ti-doped aluminides should occur considerably faster and under milder conditions than for bare aluminides or their analogues doped with main-group atoms. Original Russian Text ? V.K. Charkin, O.P. Kochnev, N.M. Klimenko, 2009, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 54, No. 8, pp. 1345–1354.     

A study of YBa2(Cu1?xMex)3O6 + δ (Me = Al, Co, Fe) electrophysical and electrochemical properties

The structure, thermal expansion coefficient, and electroconductivity of YBa₂(Cu_1−x Al _x )₃O_6+δ (x = 0.0–0.9) were studied at 20 to 900°C in air. The most conducting compositions of YBa₂(Cu_1−x Me _x )₃O_6+δ (Me = Al, Co, Fe) were determined. The electrochemical activity of electrodes with the most conducting compositions of YBa₂(Cu_1−x Me _x )₃O_6+δ (Me = Al, Co, Fe) was studied in a wide polarization range in the contact with 0.9ZrO₂ + 0.1Y₂O₃ solid electrolyte in air at the temperatures of 700 to 900°C. Original Russian Text ? V.K. Gil’derman, I.D. Remez, 2009, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 612–615. Published by report at IX Conference “Fundamental Problems of Solid State Ionics”, Chernogolovka, 2008.     

Electrochemical solid phase micro-extraction and determination of salicylic acid from blood samples by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry

The electrochemical solid phase micro-extraction of salicylic acid (SA) at graphite-epoxy-composed solid electrode surface was studied by cyclic voltammetry. SA was oxidized electrochemically in pH 12.0 aqueous solution at 0.70 V (vs. saturated calomel electrode) for 7 s. The oxidized product shows two surface-controlled reversible redox couples with two proton transferred in the pH range of 1.0∼6.0 and one proton transferred in the pH range of 10.0∼13.0 and is extracted on the electrode surface with a kinetic Boltzman function of i _p = 3.473–4.499/[1 + e^{(t − 7.332)/6.123}] (χ ² = 0.00285 μA). The anodic peak current of the extracted specie in differential pulse voltammograms is proportional to the concentration of SA with regression equation of i _p = −5.913 + 0.4843 c (R = 0.995, SD = 1.6 μA) in the range of 5.00∼200 μM. The detection limit is 5.00 μM with RSD of 1.59% at 60 μM. The method is sensitive and convenient and was applied to the detection of SA in mouse blood samples with satisfactory results.     

Specific adsorption of iodide-ion at liquid (Ga-In)-electrode of eutectic composition from aqueous solutions with constant ionic strength

The adsorption behavior of iodide-ion at liquid (Ga-In)-electrode in aqueous electrolyte solutions at 305 K is studied by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, differential capacitance, and cyclic voltammetry. The equivalent circuit describing the experimental data in the presence and in the absence of the I⁻ ion is a series connection of a resistance and a capacitance that is frequency-independent over a ∼500 Hz to 100 kHz range. The experimental data were obtained by the mixed electrolyte method in electrolyte solutions acidified with HClO₄ down to pH 3, with excess of surface-inactive ion ClO₄⁻ and constant ionic strength (0.1 M). The analysis resulted in the determination of the charge σ₁ of the I⁻ ion specifically adsorbed at the liquid (Ga-In)-electrode at the adsorbate maximal concentration: σ_I = 7.73 μC/cm² in the case of analysis at σ = const (at the zero charge potential) or σ_I = 7.50 μC/cm² in the case of analysis at E = const. These values are characteristic of rather strong specific adsorption. The values of σ_I of the studied anion were used in the calculations of different isotherms with the purpose of the adsorption parameters determination. The obtained results were compared with literature data determined on other metals in the presence of specifically adsorbable I⁻ ion.     

Alkylation of catechol with methanol to guaiacol over sulphate-modified zirconia solid acid catalysts

A series of sulphate-promoted ZrO₂ solid acid catalysts with different contents of SO₄ ²⁻ were calcined at 450°C in air for 4 h and tested for the liquid-phase alkylation of catechol to guaiacol in a fixed-bed down-flow reactor. The 5 wt.% SO₄ ²⁻ on ZrO₂ showed the best conversion (82%) and selectivity for guaiacol (84%) at 200°C and 1 bar pressure. A smooth correlation was observed between the catalytical activity and surface acidity of sulphated zirconia. Based on our results, a surface mechanism is proposed.     

Rubidium-cationic conductance in the systems Rb2 ? 2xAl2 ? xAxO4 (A = P, V)

RbAlO₂-based solid solutions are synthesized in the systems Rb_{2 − x} Al_{2 − x} A _x O₄ (A = P, V). Temperature and concentration dependences of their conductance are studied; the rubidium-cationic character of the conductance is corroborated. The high ionic conductivity of the synthesized phases (∼5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 300°C, ∼2 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 700°C) is caused by (a) formation of rubidium vacancies as a result of the replacing of Al³⁺ ions by fivefold-charged cations of phosphorus or vanadium and (b) disordered crystal structure of γ-KAlO₂ type. The obtained data are compared with the results of the studying of similar systems. Original Russian Text ? G.Sh. Shekhtman, E.I. Volegova, E.I. Burmakin, 2009, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2009, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 495–499.     

Light energy accumulation using Ti/RuO2 electrode as capacitor

In the present study, the possibility to use Ti/RuO₂ electrode as capacitor for storage of photoelectrons generated under UV irradiation in Ti/TiO₂ photoelectrode has been investigated. A light-sensitive TiO₂ layer has been formed by means of anodizing Ti electrode in the solution of 0.5 M H₂SO₄. A layer of RuO₂, exhibiting the properties of electrochemical capacitor, has been formed by means of thermal decomposition of RuOHCl₃ also on Ti substrate. The photocharging capability of RuO₂ has been studied by means of short-circuiting Ti/RuO₂ electrode with Ti/TiO₂ photoelectrode in deaerated solution of 0.1 M KOH. It has been shown that the intensity of photocurrent flowing from Ti/TiO₂ to Ti/RuO₂ electrode depends mainly on the potential of the latter. Maximum value of photocurrent density was ∼180 μA cm⁻², which corresponded to maximum value of photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of about 60%. The amount of photogenerated charge Q _ph, which can be stored, depends on the capacitance of RuO₂ coating. Under the conditions of the experiment, Q _ph ranged from ∼35 to ∼50 mC, which corresponded to a specific charge of RuO₂ coating ranging between ∼20 and ∼30 mAh g⁻¹.     

Influence of the support on the state of nickel in the Ni/SiO2, Ni/ZrO2, and Ni/SO4/ZrO2 oxide systems studied by diffuse-reflectance IR spectroscopy

The Ni/SiO₂, Ni/ZrO₂, and Ni/SO₄/ZrO₂ systems were studied by diffuse-reflectance IR spectroscopy using CO as a probe molecule. The Ni/SiO₂ and Ni/ZrO₂ systems are similar in properties, and the state of nickel in the Ni/ZrO₂ system is determined by the specific surface area. In the Ni/SO₄/ZrO₂ system, the surface sulfur compounds affect substantially the state of nickel: Ni^δ+ species with a partial positive charge are formed due to the strong electron-acceptor properties of the sulfur compounds. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 409–413, March, 1998.     

Effect of the nanoparticle size of supported copper-containing catalysts on their activity in the selective oxidation of CO in an excess of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The catalytic properties of systems prepared by the supporting of CuO onto CeO₂, ZrO₂, and Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂ with particle sizes of 15–25 nm (nitrate pyrolysis (p)) and 5–6 nm (microemulsion method (me)) in the reaction of CO oxidation in an excess of H₂ were studied. In the latter case, the supports had an almost homogeneous surface and a small number of defects. The catalytic activity of (me) and (p) supports was low and almost the same, whereas the catalytic activity of CuO/(CeO₂, ZrO₂, and Zr_0.5Ce_0.5O₂)(me) samples was lower than that of CuO/(CeO₂ and ZrO₂)(p). The maximum CO conversion (∼100% at 125°C) was observed on 5% CuO/CeO₂ (p). The CO and CO₂ adsorption species on (p) and (me) catalysts were studied by TPD. Differences in the compositions of copper-containing centers on the surfaces of (p) and (me) systems were found using TPR. The nature of the active centers of CO oxidation and the effect of support crystallite size on the catalytic activity were considered.     

New superconductors based on (Ca, Sr, Ba)Fe2As2 ternary arsenides: Synthesis, properties, and simulation

The discovery in 2008 of superconducting transition (T _c ∼ 38 K) for BaFe₂As₂ arsenide doped with potassium has stimulated works on synthesis, studies of structural and electromagnetic properties, and simulation of this and similar materials. A brief review of the current state of studies on novel superconducting arsenides in the mentioned aspects is presented. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2009 by A. L. Ivanovskii __________ Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 560–572, May–June, 2009.     

Lead-selective poly(vinyl choride) membrane electrodes based on heterocyclic thiocarboxylic acid

Heterocyclic thiocarboxylic acids have been designed to prepare polymeric membrane ion-selective electrode (ISE) for Pb²⁺. Construction, response characteristic and application of the lead ISEs are investigated. Better results have been obtained with membranes containing ligands L1∼L3 with bis(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DOS) as a plasticizer. Ionophores L1∼L3 are [(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl) thio] acetic acid (L1), (1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-diyldithio) diacetic acid (L2) and (1,3,4-thiadiazole-2,5-diyldithio) dipropionic acid (L3). The optimum electrodes have the composition of L1 (1.6): PVC (32.7): DOS (65.3): KT _p ClPB (0.4) (w/w), L2 (1.0): PVC (32.8): DOS (66.0): KT _p ClPB (0.2) (w/w), and L3 (1.0): PVC (32.7): DOS (65.4): KT _p ClPB (0.9) (w/w). The optimized membrane electrodes work well over a wide range of concentrations (1.0 × 10⁻⁵ ∼1.0 × 10⁻² M, 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ ∼1.0 × 10⁻² M, and 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ ∼1.0 × 10⁻² M) with the response slope of 27.4, 30.1 and 29.2 mV/decade, respectively. Potentiometric selectivities of the ISEs based on L1 ∼ L3 for Pb²⁺ over other interfering ions are determined with the fix interference method. The electrodes display good selectivity over a number of alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The lifetime of the electrodes is about 2 months and their response time is 20 s. Applications of these electrodes for the determination of lead in real samples and as indicator electrodes for potentiometric titration of Na₂SO₄ using Pb²⁺ solution are reported.     

Isokinetic relationships in unimolecular heterolysis. Mechanism of ionization of covalent bond

Various types of isokinetic (isoparametric) relationships in heterolytic reactions were summarized and critically analyzed. It was presumed that the series of substrate reactivity is reversed after passing the isoparametric point, and the bimolecular reaction mechanism changes to unimolecular: S_N2-S_N1, S_N2-E1, S_E2-S_E1, S_E2-S_N1, and S_N2(SSIP)-S_N2(C⁺). Three particular cases of isoparametric relationships are discussed: (1) isoentropy (ΔS ^≠ = const) which reflects formation of contact ion pair; (2) isoenthalpy (ΔH ^≠ = const) which reflects formation of space-separated ion pair; and (3) isoenergy (ΔG ^≠ = const), when ΔH ^≠ = ΔG ^≠ = ΔE _r. The rate of heterolysis in cyclohexane does not depend on the substrate nature, and a universal minimal rate of heterolysis exists, k25 ≈ 10⁻¹⁰ s⁻¹, τ_1/2 = 220 years. There is no nucleophilic assistance by the solvent in unimolecular heterolysis.     

Facile Fabrication of Zirconia Modified Screen‐Printed Carbon Electrodes for Electrochemical Sensing of Phosphate

We report here a facile method to immobilize zirconia nanoparticles on a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode (designated as ZrO₂‐SPCE) for phosphate sensor application. Simply by ultrasonicating a bare SPCE in a ZrO₂ slurry, ZrO₂ nanoparticles can be immobilized effectively on the electrode surface as verified by surface characterization evidences. Using ferricyanide as a redox probe, an increase in the charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of ferricyanide upon adsorption of phosphate on ZrO₂ is used for the determination of phosphate. This ZrO₂‐SPCE phosphate sensor shows a wide linear range up to 1 mM and a detection limit of 1.69 µM (S/N=3). Practical applicability of the ZrO₂‐SPCE is demonstrated by detecting phosphate content in human blood samples.     

The state of metals in the supported bimetallic Pt−Pd/SO4/ZrO2 system

The behavior of the metals in the Pt−Pd/ZrO₂ and Pt−Pd/SO₄/ZrO₂ systems was studied by DRIFT spectroscopy. After reduction of Pt−Pd/ZrO₂ at 100 °C, the states of the metals are mainly Pt⁰ and Pd⁰ with a minor admixture of positively charged forms of Pt⁺ or Pd²⁺. An increase in the temperature of reduction leads to the formation of a bimetallic alloy. In the Pt−Pd/SO₄/ZrO₂ system, the effects of alloy formation and the interaction of the surface SO₄ groups superimpose. At low reduction temperatures, the surface SO₄ groups interact mainly with palladium. The influence of the surface sites on both supported metals increases with increasing reduction temperature. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1265–1270, July, 1999.     

FT-IR study of the nature and stability of NOx surface species on ZrO2, VOx/ZrO2 and MoOx/ZrO2 catalysts

The adsorption of NO, NO/O₂ mixtures and NO₂ on pure ZrO₂ and on two series of catalysts supported on ZrO₂, one containing vanadia and the other molybdena (ZV and ZMo, respectively), has been investigated. The V and Mo surface contents of the latter were ≤3 atoms nm⁻² and ≤5 atoms nm⁻², respectively. All samples had been previously submitted to a standard oxidation treatment. On all samples, only extremely minor amounts of NO_x surface species are formed by NO interaction at room temperature (RT). NO_x surface species are formed in greater amounts on pure ZrO₂ when NO and O₂ are coadsorbed at RT; they are mainly nitrites, small amounts of nitrates, and small amounts of (O₂NO−H)^δ− species; when ZrO₂ is warmed to 623 K in the NO/O₂ mixture, nitrites decrease, nitrates and (O₂NO−H)^δ− species increase. The same NO_x species as on the ZrO₂ surface free from V (or Mo) are formed on ZV (or ZMo) samples with surface V (or Mo) density <1.5 atoms nm⁻²; however, they occur in decreased amount with increasing V (or Mo) coverage. On ZV samples with a surface V density of 1.5–3 atoms nm⁻² (or ZMo samples with a surface Mo density of 1.5–5 atoms nm⁻²) when NO and O₂ are coadsorbed at RT, there is formation of small amounts of nitrites, nitrates (both on ZrO₂ surface free from V (or Mo) and at the edges of V- or Mo-polyoxoanions) and NO₂ ^δ+ species, associated with V⁵⁺ (or Mo⁶⁺) of very strong Lewis acidity; when samples are warmed up 623 K in the NO/O₂ mixture, nitrites disappear, nitrates increase, NO₂ ^δ+ species remain constant or slightly decrease. When NO₂ is allowed into contact at RT with oxidized samples, surface situations almost identical to those obtained for each sample warmed to 623 K in NO/O₂ mixture is reached. The NO_x surface species stable at 623 K, the temperature at which catalysts show the best performance in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH₃, are nitrates, both on ZrO₂ and on polyvanadates or polymolybdates at high nuclearity. On the contrary, nitrites and NO₂ ^δ+ species are unstable at 623 K.     

Effect of pH and ionic strength on the interaction of humic acid with aluminium oxide

The effect of pH and neutral electrolyte on the interaction between humic acid/humate and γ-AlOOH (boehmite) was investigated. The quantitative characterization of surface charging for both partners was performed by means of potentiometric acid–base titration. The intrinsic equilibrium constants for surface charge formation were logK _a,1 ^int=6.7±0.2 and logK _a,2 ^int = 10.6±0.2 and the point of zero charge was 8.7±0.1 for aluminium oxide. The pH-dependent solubility and the speciation of dissolved aluminium was calculated (MINTEQA2). The fitted (FITEQL) pK values for dissociation of acidic groups of humic acid were pK ₁ = 3.7±0.1 and pK ₂ = 6.6±0.1 and the total acidity was 4.56 mmol g⁻¹. The pH range for the adsorption study was limited to between pH 5 and 10, where the amount of the aluminium species in the aqueous phase is negligible (less than 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³) and the complicating side equilibria can be neglected. Adsorption isotherms were determined at pH ∼ 5.5, ∼8.5 and ∼9.5, where the surface of adsorbent is positive, neutral and negative, respectively, and at 0.001, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.50 mol dm⁻³ NaNO₃. The isotherms are of the Langmuir type, except that measured at pH ∼ 5.5 in the presence of 0.25 and 0.5 mol dm⁻³ salt. The interaction between humic acid/humate and aluminium oxide is mainly a ligand-exchange reaction with humic macroions with changing conformation under the influence of the charged interface. With increasing ionic strength the surface complexation takes place with more and more compressed humic macroions. The contribution of Coulombic interaction of oppositely charged partners is significant at acidic pH. We suppose heterocoagulation of humic acid and aluminium oxide particles at pH ∼ 5.5 and higher salt content to explain the unusual increase in the apparent amount of humic acid adsorbed. Received: 20 July 1999 /Accepted in revised form: 20 October 1999     

Multifunctional ZrO2 nanoparticles and ZrO2-SiO2 nanorods for improved MALDI-MS analysis of cyclodextrins, peptides, and phosphoproteins

Multifunctional ZrO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) and ZrO₂-SiO₂ nanorods (NRs) have been successfully applied as the matrices for cyclodextrins and as affinity probes for enrichment of peptides (leucine-enkephalin, methionine-enkephalin and thiopeptide), phosphopeptides (from tryptic digestion products of β-casein) and phosphoproteins from complex samples (urine and milk) in atmospheric pressure matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) and MALDI time-of-flight (TOF) MS. The results show that the ZrO₂ NPs and ZrO₂-SiO₂ NRs can interact with target molecules (cyclodextrins, peptides, and proteins), and the signal intensities of the analytes were significantly improved in MALDI-MS. The maximum signal intensities of the peptides were obtained at pH 4.5 using ZrO₂ NPs and ZrO₂-SiO₂ NRs as affinity probes. The limits of detection of the peptides were found to be 75-105 fmol for atmospheric pressure MALDI-MS and those of the cyclodextrins and β-casein were found to be 7.5-20 and 115-125 fmol, respectively, for MALDI-TOF-MS. In addition, these nanomaterials can be applied as the matrices for the analysis of cyclodextrins in urine samples by MALDI-TOF-MS. ZrO₂ NPs and ZrO₂-SiO₂ NRs efficiently served as electrostatic probes for peptide mixtures and milk proteins because 2–11 times signal enhancement can be achieved compared with use of conventional organic matrices. Moreover, we have successfully demonstrated that the ZrO₂ NPs can be effectively applied for enrichment of phosphopeptides from tryptic digestion of β-casein. Comparing ZrO₂ NPs with ZrO₂-SiO₂ NRs, we found that ZrO₂ NPs exhibited better affinity towards phosphopeptides than ZrO₂-SiO₂ NRs. Furthermore, the ZrO₂ and ZrO₂-SiO₂ nanomaterials could be used to concentrate trace amounts of peptides/proteins from aqueous solutions without tedious washing procedures. This approach is a simple, straightforward, separation-and washing-free approach for MALDI-MS analysis of cyclodextrins, peptides, proteins, and tryptic digestion products of phosphoproteins.      

Adsorption of water, diethyl ether, and acetonitrile on silicas with grafted perfluorohexyl coatings

The effect of the functionality of modifiers on the adsorption of vapors of compounds capable of strong specific interactions, including water, diethyl ether, and acetonitrile, on silicas with chemically grafted perfluorohexylsilanes (RSi(CH₃)_{3 −m} Cl _m , where m (functionality) is 1, 2, 3 and R is polyfluoroalkyl) was studied by adsorption under static conditions, gas chromatography, and IR spectroscopy. It was found that modification with monofunctional silane results in the most hydrophobic coating and a comparatively low-polarity surface with a strongly decreased contribution of specific interactions compared with other modifiers. Original Russian Text ? T.M. Roshchina, N.K. Shoniya, M.S. Lagutova, A.B. Nikol’skaya, V.Yu. Borovkov, L.M. Kustov, 2009, published in Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 83, No. 2, pp. 361–369.     

Nanosized zirconium diboride: Synthesis and properties

The thermolysis of Zr(BH₄)₄ vapor at 573 and 623 K in a vacuum of 1.33 × 10⁻¹ Pa was studied. Nanosized zirconium diboride was produced as an X-ray amorphous powder and a crystalline film. According to electron microscopy data, the X-ray amorphous zirconium diboride powder obtained at 573 or 623 K consists of spherical particles 30–40 nm in diameter, which is in quite a good agreement with the equivalent particle diameter (∼35 nm) calculated from the specific surface area of ZrB₂. After annealing at 1273 K, the X-ray amorphous zirconium diboride powder crystallizes into a hexagonal lattice with the unit cell parameters a = 0.3159 nm and c = 0.3527 nm. The coherent scattering length D _hkl is ∼27 nm. The zirconium diboride film produced at 573 or 623 K crystallizes into a hexagonal lattice with the unit cell parameters a = 0.3163−0.3168 nm and c = 0.3524−0.3531 nm. The coherent scattering length D _hkl is ∼14 nm. The thickness of the ZrB₂ film on quartz, glass ceramics, and stainless steel is 5–7 μm. The microhardness of the film on a stainless steel substrate under a load of 20 g is 17.8 GPa.