NEXAFS study of a Pt-containing rod-like organometallic polymer (Pt-DEBP): molecular orientation onto HOPG, Au/Si(1 1 1), Cr/Si(1 1 1) and Si(1 1 1) surfaces

The influence of different substrates on the molecular orientation of organometallic polymer Pt-DEBP, [Pt(PBu₃)₂CCC₁₂H₈CC]_n, has been investigated by NEXAFS spectroscopy. Thin films were deposited on HOPG, Au/Si(1 1 1), Cr/Si(1 1 1), Si(1 1 1) and stainless steel. The assignment of the spectral features has been carried out on the basis of previous STEX calculations performed on phenylacetylene model molecule in gas phase and adsorbed on Pt(1 1 1) and Cu(1 0 0). Angular dependent analysis of the π* resonance occurring at 285.50 eV photon energy deriving by the benzene carbon orbitals showed a polarisation effect for all substrates. A preferential molecular orientation at nearly 40° to the surface normal was observed. This result might be explained by the strong interaction between sp and sp² carbons of the organic diethynylbiphenyl DEBP moiety contained in close chains, leading to polymer self-assembling.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of the reduction of Cu0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 with hydrogen at 400–600 °C for the production of metallic nanoparticles

Ferrites have continued to attract attention over years. As magnetic materials, ferrites cannot be replaced by any other magnetic material because they are relatively inexpensive, stable and have a wide range of technological applications in transformer core, high quality filters, high frequency circuits and operating devices. Nanocrystallite sizes of Cu_0.5 Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ with 25 nm have been obtained by hydrothermal route. Cu_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ powder was isothermally reduced in H₂ flow at 400–600 °C. The reduction behavior of the produced powder as well as the influence of reduction temperature on the structural characteristics of the products was extensively studied. Microstructure of partially and completely reduced samples was investigated and the activation energy values were calculated from Arrhenius equation. The activation energy for nanocrystallite Cu_0.5 Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ reduced at the initial stage was found to be 37.4 kJ/mole, while that at the final stage is 14 kJ/mole. The approved mathematical formulations for the different crystallite sizes gas solid reaction were applied and it was found that at the final stages the reaction is controlled by the gaseous diffusion while the combined gaseous diffusion and interfacial chemical reaction is the rate controlling mechanisms at the initial stages. The reduction process produce nanoparticles metallic phases of iron, copper and zinc, which have ball and fibers shapes.     

Polarized absorption spectra and polarized Raman spectra of single crystals of trans(Cl2)-[CoCl2(NH3)n(H2O)4−n]Cl complexes (n = 2, 3, 4)

The title cobalt(III) complexes have been investigated by polarized absorption and Raman spectroscopies of the single crystals. The symmetry properties of the d-electron orbitals and of the vibrational modes attributable to the Raman bands of trans(Cl₂)-[CoCl₂(NH₃)_n(H₂O)_4−n]Cl complexes (n = 2, 3, or 4) were examined to elucidated the peculiar observation that ligand substitution causes no splitting of the 15 200-cm⁻¹ absorption band and the 250-cm⁻¹ Raman band. Effects of replacing the NH₃ ligand with H₂O on the electronic structure, atom–atom force constants and vibrational modes of these complex ions are briefly described.     

Adsorption dynamics of O2 on Cu(1 0 0): The role of vacancies, steps and adatims in dissociative chemisorption of O2

Adsorption dynamics experiments on Cu(1 0 0) at 300 K indicate that surface defects induced by 3.4 keV Ar⁺-ion bombardment strongly enhance the dissociative chemisorption probability of O₂. Energy selective molecular beam surface scattering experiments reveal a defect induced low-barrier dissociation pathway leading to enhanced dissociation of O₂ molecules with translational energy up to 60 meV. Density functional theory calculations attribute the decrease in O₂ dissociation barrier to the weakening of O–O bond at Cu vacancies, thus resolving the contradiction between experimental observations and theoretical predictions of the height of the barrier to O₂ dissociation on Cu(1 0 0).     

Modelling of aqueous solvation of eosin Y at the rutile TiO2(1 1 0)/water interface

Molecular dynamics simulations at 298 K are used to study an aqueous dissolved dye (eosin Y) adsorbed at the TiO₂(1 1 0) surface to extract static and dynamic information of solvation. Differences in the physical behaviour of the dye at the surface and in bulk water are compared with recent transient absorption and photon echo experiments within the limits of linear response. The calculated solvent dynamics features fast contributions, which change very little at the surface as well as a slow component, which slows down by a factor of two at the interface, in good agreement with experimental data.     

Anionic surfactant‐aided preparation of high surface area and high thermal stability ceria/zirconia‐mixed oxide from cerium and zirconium glycolates via sol–gel process and its reduction property

This work is focused on the ceria zirconia mixed oxide prepared through a surfactant‐introduced synthesis method. High surface area nanoparticle mesoporous ceria/zirconia‐mixed oxide was successfully synthesized and characterized using various techniques. High surface area mesoporous fluorite‐structured CeO₂? ZrO₂ was obtained from the elimination of surfactants upon calcination. A surface area in excess of 205.6 m²/g was obtained after calcination at 500 °C, and dropped to 75.96 m²/g by heating at 900 °C. Temperature‐programming reduction (TPR) results showed that the lowest reduction temperature was obtained from the sample containing 40% zirconia content. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using n-mode potentials for reactive scattering: Application to the 6D H2 + Pt(1 1 1) problem

The accuracy of n-mode representations of potential energy surfaces (PESs) is investigated, for a reaction involving six degrees of freedom. Probabilities computed with the time-dependent wave packet (TDWP) method for reaction of (v = 0,1; j = 0) H₂ on Pt(1 1 1) employing a 5-mode (4-mode) PES show quantitative (semi-quantitative) agreement with results for the full PES. The ratio of the v = 1 and v = 0 reaction probabilities obtained with the 5-mode PES is in quantitative agreement with full PES results for most of the energy range considered. The results suggest that n-mode representations can be employed successfully to study reactions of polyatomic molecules with surfaces.     

Preparation of Al2O3–ZrO2 mixed supports; their characteristics and hydrothermal stability

Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ mixed supports have been synthesised using a colloidal solution of ZrO(OH)₂ or a Zr(IV) propoxide solution in organic medium. Zirconia content in these samples was about 10% (36% of the theoretic monolayer). The hydrothermal stability (alumina→boehmite transformation at 230 °C, about 10 bar pressure, in the presence of water vapour) of these supports was then investigated by XRD. The presence of the zirconia over the alumina decrease the quantity of boehmite formed after the hydrothermal treatment. The dispersion of zirconia and the stability in hydrothermal conditions of the final support are function of the preparation method.     

Phase equilibria and crystal structure of the solid solution LaFe1−xNixO3−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Phase equilibria in the LaFeO₃–“LaNiO₃” were studied at 1100 °C in air. The samples were synthesized by standard ceramic and/or solution route via nitrate or citrate precursors. According to the results of XRD it was found that the homogeneity ranges of LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ solid solution lay within 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 (sp.gr. Pbnm) and 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 (sp.gr. ). The structural parameters (bond lengths, atom coordinates) for the single-phase samples were refined using Rietveld analysis. The unit cell parameters versus LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ composition are presented.     

The effects of saturation and velocity selective population in two-step 6S1/2 → 6P3/2 → 6D5/2 laser excitation in cesium

Excited states population distributions created by two-step 6S_1/2 → 6P_3/2 → 6D_5/2 laser excitation in room temperature cesium vapor were quantitatively analyzed applying absorption and saturation spectroscopy. A simple method for the determination of the excited state population in a single excitation step that is based on the measurements of the saturated and unsaturated absorption coefficients was proposed and tested. It was shown that only ≈ 2% of the ground state population could be transferred to the first excited state by pumping the Doppler broadened line with a single-mode narrow-line laser. With complete saturation of the second excitation step, the population amounting to only ≈ 1% of the ground state can be eventually created in the 6D_5/2 state. The fluorescence intensity emerging at 7P_3/2 → 6S_1/2 transition, subsequent to the radiative decay of 6D_5/2 population to the 7P_3/2 state, was used to assess the efficiency of the population transfer in the chosen two-step excitation scheme. The limitations imposed on the sensitivity of such resonance fluorescence detector caused by velocity-selective excitation in the first excitation step were pointed out and the way to overcome this obstacle is proposed.     

The geometry, vibrational frequencies, thermochemistry, quadrupole moments and electronic structure of C2Na2: Comparison with C2Li2, C2H2, C2F2 and C2Cl2

The electronic structure of Na₂C₂ is studied using ab initio electronic structure methods and is compared to the companion molecule Li₂C₂. Both the linear D_∞h and planar structures are minima on the ground state potential surface with the planar D_2h conformation being the lowest energy form, similar to Li₂C₂. At the CCSD(t) level the planar form is more stable that the linear by 11.2 kcal/mol as compared with 7.34 kcal/mol for Li₂C₂. Both molecules are significantly ionic. The vibrational frequencies, atomization energy at 0 K, D₀, and the standard enthalpy of formation, are calculated and compared to those of Li₂C₂ as well as HCCH, FCCF and ClCCCl. We find D₀ and to be 331.1 and 84.92 kcal/mol for Li₂C₂ and 298.3 and 93.25 kcal/mol for Na₂C₂. We calibrate these by calculating the same quantities for HCCH, FCCF and ClCCCl.     

Gaseous nitryl azide N4O2: A joint theoretical and experimental study

Gaseous nitryl azide N₄O₂ is generated by the heterogeneous reaction of gaseous ClNO₂ with freshly prepared AgN₃ at −50 °C. The geometric and electronic structure of the molecule in the gas phase has been characterized by in situ photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and quantum chemical calculations. The experimental first vertical ionization energy of N₄O₂ is 11.39 eV, corresponding to the ionization of an electron on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) {4a″(π_{nb(N4–N5–N6)})}⁻¹. An apparent vibrational spacing of 1600 ± 60 cm⁻¹ (ν_asO1N2O3) on the second band at 12.52 eV (π_{nb(O1–N2–O3)}) further confirms the preference of energetically stable chain structure in the gas phase. To complement the experimental results, the potential-energy surface of this structurally novel transient molecule is discussed. Both calculations and spectroscopic results suggest that the molecule adopts a trans-planar chain structure, and a five-membered ring decomposition pathway is more favorable.     

Preparation of TiO2–ZrO2 mixed oxides with controlled acid–basic properties

Titania–zirconia mixed oxides with various ZrO₂ content in TiO₂ (10, 50 and 90 wt.%) were prepared by the sol–gel method. High specific surface areas (77–244 m²/g) were obtained. Acidity determined by NH₃-TPD and FTIR-pyridine adsorption showed that in mixed oxides the number of acid sites is dramatically increased; it varies from 173 μmol NH₃/g for TiO₂ to 1226–1456 μmol NH₃/g for the mixed oxides. FTIR-pyridine adsorption showed the presence of Lewis sites in the catalysts. Basic sites were identified by FTIR-CO₂ adsorption, suggesting the formation of mixed oxides with acid–basic properties. XRD spectra identified anatase in the TiO₂ rich region, amorphous material in the mixed oxide 50–50 TiO₂–ZrO₂ and tetragonal and monoclinic crystalline phases in the ZrO₂ rich region. Activity in the isopropanol decomposition showed a good correlation between the acid–basic properties and the selectivity to propene, acetone and isopropyl ether. The latter was found as a product which mainly depends of the acid sites density.     

Liquid phase epitaxy of REBa2Cu3O7−δ single-crystalline thick films

The growth of REBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ (REBCO = rare earth elements) high-temperature superconducting thick films by liquid phase epitaxy is reviewed, which are most promising for electronic device and coated conductor applications. The paper focused on thermodynamic relations, chemical reactions and physical phenomena in the liquid phase epitaxy process, which are closely related to the control of the microstructures and properties of materials. Recent progresses achieved and the problems to be solved have been reviewed in above sections.     

Hydroformylation of propylene in supercritical CO2 + H2O and supercritical propylene + H2O

Hydroformylation of propylene has been carried out in supercritical CO₂ + H₂O and in supercritical propylene + H₂O mixtures using Rh(acac)(CO)₂ and triphenylphosphine trisulfonate trisodium salt (TPPTS), P(m-C₆H₄SO₃Na)₃, as catalyst. Visual observation of the reaction mixtures indicates that in both systems a single phase is present at supercritical temperatures and pressures so that the reaction occurs under homogeneous conditions. After reaction is complete, a biphasic system is formed when the pressure and temperature are reduced to ambient. This facilitates separation of the products in the organic phase and the rhodium catalyst in the aqueous phase. The rhodium concentration in the organic phase was found to be negligible (1.0 × 10⁻⁶ mg/ml). Furthermore, compared with traditional hydroformylation technology, the supercritical reactions also show better activity and selectivity.     

Structural and spectroscopic investigations of europium(III) entrapped by the ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonate) ligand in K12H8[Eu4(EDTMP)4] · 45H2O crystal

The X-ray crystal structure of an anionic octacoordinate Eu³⁺ complex of the formula K₁₂H₈[Eu₄(EDTMP)₄] · 45H₂O, where EDTMP is the ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonate) anion, hereinafter referred to as I, has been determined. The crystal consists of cyclic tetrameric complex anions, in which the surrounding of each Eu³⁺ ion is composed of two nitrogen atoms and six oxygen atoms from phosphonate groups. One of the phosphonate groups in the ligand molecule is tridentate (O:O′,O″), thus giving rise to the formation of the tetramers. The compound was characterized by UV–Vis electronic spectroscopy. At room and liquid nitrogen temperatures the complex shows luminescence from both ⁵D₀ and ⁵D₁ states, the latter one, which is very rare in Eu³⁺ compounds with organic ligands, is probably brought about by the saturation of the coordination sphere with the phosphonate groups.     

TiCl4(THF)2 impregnation on a flat SiOx/Si(1 0 0) and on polycrystalline Au foil: determination of surface species using XPS

TiCl₄(THF)₂ was impregnated by spin-coating on a Si(1 0 0) wafer covered with a thin SiO_x layer and on a polycrystalline Au foil. The nature of the surface species was determined at room temperature and after annealing, by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). A mixed Si:O:Ti interfacial layer was formed on the silicon substrate while in the case of Au, TiOCl_x and TiO_x were the main surface species at room temperature. Annealing at 723 K leads to the total desorption of the Cl atoms, and in both cases a significant amount of Ti atoms was reduced to the Ti³⁺ state. AFM measurements revealed a homogenous distribution of nano-sized TiO_x clusters with semi-ellipsoid shape and increased contact area with the underlying silica.     

Synthesis, structure and oxygen nonstoichiometry of La0.4Sr0.6Co1−yFeyO3−δ

The samples of La_0.4Sr_0.6Co_1−yFe_yO_3−δ (y = 0.2 and 0.4) were prepared using both conventional ceramic technique and nitrate–citrate precursors technique. The phase identification was made by X-ray diffraction method. The refinement of structural parameters from the XRD and neutron diffraction measurements was performed by full profile Rietveld analysis. Neutron diffraction showed that both samples possess distorted perovskite-type structure. Oxygen nonstoichiometry was measured by chemical analysis and thermogravimetry (TG) analysis in the range 20 ≤ T/°C ≤ 900 and 2E-5 ≤ pO₂/atm ≤ 4E-1. TG-experiments indicate a relatively fast and reversible oxygen exchange at pO₂ > 1E-2 atm. Mass saturation occurs at T < 300 °C upon cooling. The absolute value of oxygen nonstoichiometry was determined by iodometric titration measurements. It was found that both samples have practically stoichiometric composition at 300 °C in air and δ increases with increasing temperature and decreasing oxygen partial pressure.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes with 2-(indazol-1-yl)-2-thiazoline (TnInA). X-ray characterization of [CoCl2(TnInA)2] · C2H6O and [(M)(TnInA)2(H2O)2](NO3)2 (M = Co, Zn)

Several complexes of 2-(indazol-1-yl)-2-thiazoline (TnInA) with the divalent ions Co and Zn have been synthesized by the direct combination of the ligand and the metal chloride or nitrate hydrated salts in ethanol. These complexes have been characterized by a variety of physical–chemical techniques. Moreover, the structures of [CoCl₂(TnInA)₂] · C₂H₆O (1) and [(M)(TnInA)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ (M = Co, 3; Zn, 4) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In all the complexes, the ligand TnInA bonds to the metal ion through the indazole and thiazoline nitrogen atoms. In complex 1 the environment around the cobalt ion may be described as a distorted octahedron with two TnInA ligands and two chlorine ligands. Compounds 3 and 4 are isostructural with a distorted octahedral geometry around the metal center, being linked to two water molecules and two TnInA ligands. However, in complex [ZnCl₂(TnInA)] (2) the zinc atom is four-coordinated with a probable tetrahedral environment with two chloro ligands and one TnInA ligand bonded to the metal ion.     

The specific behavior of MxTiS2 (x=1/4, M=Fe, Ni) surfaces probed by scanning microscopy (STM and AFM)

The scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of two model systems M_1/4TiS₂ (M=Fe, Ni) were interpreted on the basis of the partial electron density ρ(r,E_F) and total electron density ρ(r) of a slab which consists of seven (0 0 1) M_1/4TiS₂ atomic layers. The geometrical structure of the slabs investigated was optimized. Electronic structure calculations were performed using the ab initio periodic LCAO-DFT method. The top sulfur plane (0 0 1) imaged gives a different answer depending both of the compounds considered and the scanning probe microscopic instrument used. Theoretical calculations have then been carried out in order to improve our knowledge of the surface electronic structure of these inserted compounds and attempts are made to rationalize the experimental data. A specific behavior of the surface electronic structure in comparison with the 3D compounds (depending on the guest specie inserted) is shown.