Investigation of IrO2/SnO2 thin film evolution by thermoanalytical and spectroscopic methods

The formation mechanism of thermally prepared IrO₂/SnO₂ thin films has been investigated under in situ conditions by thermogravimetry combined with mass spectrometry (TG-MS) and infrared emission spectroscopy (IRES). Mixtures of varying composition of the precursor salts (SnCl₂·2H₂O dissolved in ethanol and IrCl₃·3H₂O dissolved in isopropanol) were prepared onto titanium metal supports. Then the solvent was evaporated and the gel-like films were heated in an atmosphere containing 20% O₂ and 80% Ar to 600°C. The thermogravimetric curves showed that the evolution of the oxide phases take place in several decomposition stages and the final mixed oxide film is formed between 490 and 550°C, depending on the noble metal content. Mass spectrometric ion intensity curves revealed that below 200°C crystallization water, residual solvent, and hydrogen-chloride (formed as a result of an intramolecular hydrolysis) are liberated. The decomposition of surface species (surface carbonates, carbonyls and carboxylates) formed via the interaction of the residual solvent with the precursor salts takes place up to 450°C as evidenced by emission Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and crosslinking reaction of a novel polymer containing benzoxazine and phenyleneethynylene moieties in the main chain

A novel polymer, poly( 1 ) containing benzoxazine and phenyleneethynylene moieties in the main chain with number‐average molecular weights ranging from 1400 to 9800 was obtained quantitatively by the Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling polymerization of the corresponding iodophenyl‐ and ethynylphenyl‐substituted monomer 1 . Poly( 1 ) was heated at 200 °C under N₂ for 2 h to obtain the cured polymer, poly( 1 )′ via the ring‐opening polymerization of the benzoxazine moieties. The structures of the polymer before and after curing were confirmed by ¹H‐NMR, IR, and UV–vis absorption and reflectance spectroscopies. Poly( 1 )′ was thermally more stable than monomer 1 and poly( 1 ). A specimen was prepared from a mixture of poly( 1 ) and phenol‐diaminodiphenylmethane type benzoxazine 2 by heating at 200 °C for 2 h under N₂. The poly( 1 )/ 2 resin was thermally stable than bisphenol‐A type benzoxazine resin 3 . Poly( 1 ) exhibited XRD peaks corresponding to the d‐spacings of 1.26–0.98 and 0.40 nm, assignable to the repeating monomer unit and alignment of polymer molecules, respectively. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2581–2589     

Catalytic Ethanolysis of Kraft Lignin into High‐Value Small‐Molecular Chemicals over a Nanostructured α‐Molybdenum Carbide Catalyst

We report the complete ethanolysis of Kraft lignin over an α‐MoC_1?x/AC catalyst in pure ethanol at 280 °C to give high‐value chemicals of low molecular weight with a maximum overall yield of the 25 most abundant liquid products (LP25) of 1.64 g per gram of lignin. The LP25 products consisted of C₆–C₁₀ esters, alcohols, arenes, phenols, and benzyl alcohols with an overall heating value of 36.5 MJ kg^?1. C₆ alcohols and C₈ esters predominated and accounted for 82 wt % of the LP25 products. No oligomers or char were formed in the process. With our catalyst, ethanol is the only effective solvent for the reaction. Supercritical ethanol on its own degrades Kraft lignin into a mixture of small molecules and molecular fragments of intermediate size with molecular weights in the range 700–1400, differing in steps of 58 units, which is the weight of the branched‐chain linkage C₃H₆O in lignin. Hydrogen was found to have a negative effect on the formation of the low‐molecular‐weight products.     

Effect of solvent on phase composition and particle morphology of lanthanum niobates prepared by polymeric complex sol–gel method

Lanthanum niobates were prepared by a new polymeric complex sol–gel method using Nb-citrate or -tartrate complexes in different solvent (ethanol or methanol) and calcination at 750–1,050 °C. The perovskite La_1/3NbO₃ and pyrochlore LaNb₅O₁₄ phases were formed after calcination at 900 and 1,050 °C from gels synthesized from ethanol and methanol solvents respectively. The very similar xerogel thermal decomposition processes were observed independently on applied solvents, where the pyrochlore monoclinic LaNbO₄ and Nb₂O₅ phases were intermediate products at lower calcination temperatures during transformation. The particle morphologies changed from spherical 20–50 nm particles at 750 °C to granular LN particles (ethanol) or rectangular (methanol) at 1,050 °C. HRTEM images and SAED verified the coexistence of minority monoclinic LaNbO₄ phase with majority phases in individual LN particles after annealing. The strong effect of alcohol solvent on phase formation was shown, while the effect of chelating agent was insignificant.     

Synthesis of Ag and Ag/SiO2 sols by solvothermal method and their bactericidal activity

Ag and Ag/SiO₂ sols containing nanocrystalline silver particles can be advantageously prepared by solvothermal methods using an autoclave with conventional thermal or microwave heating. In this process, the reduction of silver salts can be realized with alcohols like ethanol in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone at temperatures of more than 120 °C. Furthermore a combination of silver salt reduction with hydrolysis of alkoxysilanes during the solvothermal process can yield Ag/SiO₂ composite sols. Particle size and crystallinity of as-prepared particles are analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Nanosized silver particles gained by this process exhibit antimicrobial properties that are investigated in detail after application on textile fabrics.     

Reverse atom transfer radical solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate under pulsed microwave irradiation

The reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was successfully carried out under pulsed microwave irradiation (PMI) at 69 °C with N,N‐dimethylformamide as a solvent and with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN)/CuBr₂/tetramethylethylenediamine as an initiation system. PMI resulted in a significant increase in the polymerization rate of RATRP. A 10.5% conversion for a polymer with a number‐average molecular weight of 34,500 and a polydispersity index of 1.23 was obtained under PMI with a mean power of 4.5 W in only 52 min, but 103 min was needed under a conventional heating process (CH) to reach a 8.3% conversion under identical conditions. At different [MMA]₀/[AIBN]₀ molar ratios, the apparent rate constant of polymerization under PMI was 1.5–2.3 times larger than that under CH. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3823–3834, 2002     

Thermally reversible covalently bonded linear polymers prepared from a dihalide monomer and a salt of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acid

Alkali and earth‐alkali salts of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acid (DCPDCA) were prepared and employed as monomers in the polyesterification with an α,ω‐dihalide monomer, such as 1,4‐dichlorobutane (DCB), 1,4‐dibromobutane (DBB), α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene (DCX), and α,α′‐dibromo‐p‐xylene (DBX). Novel linear polymers that possessed repeating moieties of dicyclopentadiene ( DCPD ) in the backbone were thus prepared. The IR and NMR spectra indicated that poly(tetramethylene dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylate) (PTMDD) with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n ) of about 1× 10⁴ and poly(p‐xylene dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylate) (PXDD) with a M_n of 4–6 × 10³ were obtained with an yield of about 80% via the polyesterification of the alkali salts with DBB and DCX, respectively. The reaction was carried out in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst, such as BzMe₃NBr or poly(ethylene glycol), in DMF at 100 °C for 4 h. Oligomers with a lower M_n (1–2 × 10³) were obtained when the earth‐alkali salts were employed as salt monomers. Compared to the irreversible linear polymers, poly(p‐xylene terephthalate) (PXTP) and poly(p‐xylene maleate) (PXM), prepared through the reaction between DCX and the potassium salts of terephthalic and maleic acid, respectively, the specific viscosities (η_sp) of the new linear polymers increased abnormally with the decrease of the temperature from 200 °C to 100 °C. This occurred due to the thermally reversible dedimerization/redimerization of  DCPD moieties of the backbone of the polymers via the catalyst‐free Diels–Alder/retro Diels–Alder cycloadditive reactions. The ratio of the η_sp at 100 °C and 200 °C of the reversible polymers was found to be much higher than that of PXTP and PXM, even when the heating/cooling cycle was carried out several times under a N₂ atmosphere. The obtained results indicated that thermally reversible covalently bonded linear polymer can be obtained by introducing the  DCPD structure into the backbone of the polymer through the polymerization of a monomer containing the  DCPD moiety. The reversible natures of the polymers and oligomers might be useful in preparing easily processable and recyclable polymers and thermosensor materials. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1662–1672, 2000     

Effect of thermal treatment on phase composition and ethanol oxidation activity of a carbon supported Pt50Sn50 alloy catalyst

A carbon supported Pt–Sn electrocatalyst in the Pt/Sn atomic ratio 50:50 was prepared by the reduction of Pt and Sn precursors with formic acid and thermally treated at 200 °C (i.e., in the presence of solid tin) and 500 °C (in the presence of molten tin) in flowing hydrogen. In the absence of thermal treatment, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a solid solution of Sn in the face centered cubic (fcc) Pt and SnO₂. After thermal treatment, the formation of a main phase of hexagonal PtSn (niggliite) and a secondary phase of cubic Pt₃Sn was observed in the Pt50Sn50 catalyst. The relative amount of the PtSn phase increased with increasing thermal treatment temperature. The presence of molten tin gave rise to the formation of some big particles during annealing at 500 °C. The activity for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) of the as-prepared catalyst was higher than that of both thermally treated catalysts and Pt75Sn25/C and Pt50Ru50/C by E-TEK. The higher activity for the EOR of the as-prepared Pt–Sn catalysts was ascribed to the presence of a large amount of SnO₂. Dedicated to Teresa Iwasita’s 65th birthday.     

Polyquinoxalines. III

Six thermally stable polyquinoxalines have been prepared by the reactions of combinations of three tetraamines, 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl sulfone (II), and 3,3′,4,4′-tetraaminodiphenyl ether (V), with two bisglyoxals, 4,4′-diglyoxalyldiphenyl sulfide dihydrate (III) and 4,4′-diglyoxalyldiphenyl sulfone dihydrate (IV). The polymers were prepared from polymerization in two stages. The first stage, a solution polymerization, produces an initially low or moderate molecular weight material, which is advanced to a high molecular weight (η_inh > 1.0) by heating at 375°C. under reduced pressure. All the polyquinoxalines have excellent thermal stability both in nitrogen and in air and improved solubility.     

Effect of temperature and water as additive on the MW and thermal properties of copoly(p-phenylene/biphenylene sulfide)s

Copoly(p-phenylene/biphenylene sulfide)s, PPBS were prepared from sodium sulfide trihydate(Na₂S·3H₂O), p-dichlorobenzene (DCB), and 4,4′-dibromobiphenyl (DBB) comonomers in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) solvent using an autoclave. The molecular weights of PPBS copolymers were determined by high temperature (210°C) GPC in 1-chloronaphthalene solvent. The reaction temperature had little effect on the molecular weights of PPBS copolymers with water as additive at the level of 3 mol H₂O per 1 mol Na₂S. PPBS copolymer, however, showed maximum molecular weight of M_w = 24.1 × 10³ with the total water content of 9 mol H₂O per 1 mol Na₂S at an optimum polymerization temperature of 270°C. The resulting PPBS copolymer sample showed higher T_g (by 30°C) and lower T_m (by 10°C) than PPS homopolymer prepared under similar conditions. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Phosphorylated PEG (PPEG) as a new support for generation of nano‐Pd(0): application to the Heck–Mizoroki and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) with different molecular weights (M_w = 200, 400, 1000) were phosphorylated to their bis‐diphenyl phosphinite derivatives as stable solids which are melted in the range 140–160°C. These phosphorylated PEGs were used as ligands and reducing agents to generate nano‐Pd(0) catalysts in 2.5–8.3 nm. The nano‐Pd(0) particles supported on phosphorylated PEG₂₀₀ were applied for the efficient Heck–Mizoroki carbon–carbon coupling reactions of ArX (X = Cl, Br, I) at 80–100°C under solvent‐free conditions and for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction in ethanol at 70°C. The catalyst was recycled easily and reused for several runs. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Novel Production Route for Nylon-6: Aspects of Microwave-Enhanced Catalysis

Summary: Microwave irradiation was used for the amidation of a nitrile with an amine with a freshly prepared zirconium-based heterogeneous catalyst. Microwave irradiation selectively heats the catalyst which enhances its activity as compared to conventional heating. The difference between microwave heating and conventional heating disappears when Zr(OH)₄ is used instead of ZrO₂, indicating a microwave-induced shift in the hydrolysis equilibrium, i.e. the distribution of ZrO₂, ZrO(OH)₂ and Zr(OH)₄, of the zirconium-based catalyst. The catalyst efficiently catalyzes the amidation of valeronitrile with n-hexylamine with conventional as well as with microwave heating. Zr(OH)₄ was also used for the polymerization of 6-aminocapronitrile using conventional and microwave heating. With both heating methods a relatively low molecular weight polymer with a M_n of 4000 g/mol was obtained in a sealed vessel, due to the presence of water and ammonia. A post-polymerization step under microwave irradiation, with active removal of water and ammonia shifts M_n to 10000 g/mol. Pressure decrease to facilitate water removal resulted in products with higher molecular weights. A pressure reduction to 50 Pa and operation in an argon atmosphere at 230 °C resulted in nylon-6 with a M_n of 65000 in rather short reaction times. Lower pressures led to end-biting and evaporation of the volatile ε-caprolactam at 230 °C. As a consequence the resulting product has than a much lower molecular weight. The combination of a heterogeneous zirconium based catalyst and microwave heating is promising for process intensification for nylon-6 production.     

Preparation and microstructure of sol-gel derived silver-doped silica

Silver-doped silica was prepared by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS, Si(OC₂H₅)₄) in the presence of a silver nitrate (AgNO₃) solution by two different synthesis methods. In the first synthesis route, sol-gel mixtures were prepared using an acid catalyst. In the second synthesis route, silver-doped silica gels were formed by two-step acid/base catalysis. For the same concentration of silver dopant [AgNO₃]/[TEOS] = 0.015 acid-catalyzed sol-gel formed a microporous silica with an average pore size of <25 Å whereas the two-step catalyzed silica had an average pore size of 250 Å and exhibited a mesoporous structure when fully dried. The differences in the pore size affected the silver particle formation mechanism and post-calcination silver particle size. After calcination at 800 °C for 2 h the acid-catalyzed silica contained metallic silver particles size with an average particle size of 24 ± 2 nm whereas two-step catalyzed silica with the same concentration of [AgNO₃]/[TEOS] = 0.015 contained silver nanoparticles with an average size of approximately 32 ± 2 nm. Mechanisms for silver particle formation and for silica matrix crystallization with respect to the processing route and calcination temperature are discussed.     

Synthesis of hyperbranched polyphenylenes using aryl dichloride monomers by Suzuki polycondensation

Advanced microelectronic fabrication requires stable organic materials that can be used under extreme conditions such as high temperatures. In this study, hyperbranched polyphenylenes (HBPs) were synthesized as stable and soluble polymers via the Suzuki polycondensation of 2‐(3,5‐dichlorophenyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolane (Bpin‐Cl) and 3,5‐dichlorophenylboronic acid (BOH‐Cl) in the presence of palladium acetate and 2‐(2′,6′‐dimethoxybiphenyl) dicyclohexylphosphine (SPhos). Soluble polymers having an average molecular weight in the range of 11 000 to 31 000 g/mol were obtained through the polymerization of chloride monomers. The degree of branching was determined to be 50% through inverse‐gated decoupling ¹³C NMR measurements. The chloride‐terminated HBP showed a temperature of 402°C for 1% weight loss (T_d1%) after the sample was purified via precipitation from an N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) solution and then thermally treated at 260°C for 3 hours. This thermal stability is higher than that of the HBPs synthesized from the corresponding bromide monomers. Moreover, after heating at 260°C, the sample was found to be soluble in organic solvents. The chlorinated terminal groups played an important role in achieving good solubility after heating. This unique property is attractive for non‐volatile or temporary coating materials used in microelectronic fabrication.     

Synthesis of star‐shaped polystyrenes via nitroxide‐mediated stable free‐radical polymerization

High molecular weight star‐shaped polystyrenes were prepared via the coupling of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) terminated polystyrene oligomers with divinylbenzene (DVB) in m‐xylene at 138 °C. The optimum ratio of the coupling solvent (m‐xylene) to divinylbenzene was determined to be 9 to 1 based on volume. Linear polystyrene oligomers (M_n = 19,300 g/mol, M_w/M_n = 1.10) were prepared in bulk styrene using benzoyl peroxide in the presence of TEMPO at approximately 130 °C under an inert atmosphere. Coupling of the TEMPO‐terminated oligomers under optimum conditions resulted in a product with a number average molecular weight exceeding 300,000 g/mol (M_w/M_n = 3.03) after 24 h, suggesting the formation of relatively well‐defined star‐shaped polymers. Additionally, the intrinsic viscosities of the star‐shaped products were lower than calculated values for linear analogs of equivalent molecular weight, which further supported the formation of a star‐shaped architecture. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 216–223, 2001     

Formation and Catalytic Functionality of Synthetic Polymer-Noble Metal Colloid

Colloidal dispersions of noble metals in synthetic polymers are prepared by reduction with alcohol. Reflux of a solution of rhodium(III) chloride and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) in a methanol-water mixed solvent under argon or air for 4 hr gives a homogeneous solution of colloidal dispersion of rhodium (Rh-PVA-MeOH/H₂O). The particle size of metallic rhodium is distributed n a narrow range of 30-70 Å, and the average diameter is 40 A. The formation of colloidal rhodium proceeds through three steps: coordination of poly(vinyl alcohol) to rhodium(III) ion, reduction with methanol to form small particles (8 Å in diameter), and growth of the small particle to large particle (40 Å in diameter). Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE) can be used in place of poly(vinyl alcohol) and result in colloidal dispersions, respectively, similar to Rh-PVA-MeOH/H₂O. Colloidal dispersions in nonaqueous solvent can be prepared by using ethanol instead of methanol-water (Rh-PVP-EtOH) and by using methanol instead of methanol-water, with addition of small amount of methanol solution of sodium hydroxide (Rh-PVP-MeOH/NaOH). The average diameters of rhodium particles in Rh-PVP-EtOH and Rh-PVP-MeOH/NaOH are 22 and 9 Å, respectively. The colloidal dispersions of palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold in aqueous or nonaqueous solvent are prepared by using polyvinylpyrrolidone. The colloidal dispersions are very stable even under air for 20 days. Those of rhodium, palladium, and platinum are effective catalysts for hydrogenation of olefins at 30°C under an atmospheric hydrogen pressure. The colloidal dispersion of palladium catalyzes highly selective hydrogenation of diene and dienoate to monoene and monoenoate, respectively.     

PREPARATION OF Fe3O4/PSt MAGNETIC PARTICLES IN THE PRESENCE OF MAGNETIC FLUID IN ETHANOL/WATER MIXTURE*

Fe_3O_4/Polystyrene(PSt) magnetic particles with core/shell structure have been prepared in thepresence of Fe_3O_4 magnetic fluid in ethanol/water medium by dispersion polymeriation of styrene. A Fe_3O_4particle formation mechanism was proposed. According to this mechanism, the size of particle nuclei isdetermined by the extent of aggregation of Fe_3O_4 /oligomer. Magnetic particles with diameter ranging from 5to 200 μm were prepared under different reaction conditions. Some polymerization parameters such as theconcentration of monomer, stabilizer, initiator, and ethanol which affect particle size and size distribution arediscussed and their effect on particle formation are explained by the proposed mechanism.     

Branching by reactive end groups. II. Synthesis,branching, and melt rheology of (meth)acrylate/p‐t‐butylphenol‐coterminated bisphenol a polycarbonates

(Meth)acrylate/p‐t‐butylphenol (PTBP)‐coterminated bisphenol A polycarbonates (PCs) were prepared by interfacial processes and subsequently were reacted at high temperatures (≥200 °C) to form new branched polymers. Two interfacial methods were used to prepare the precursor linear PCs, one with (meth)acryloyl chloride [(M)AC] and the other with (meth)acrylic acid [(M)AA]. Both processes involve phosgenation in the presence of catalytic amounts of triethylamine. The process that used (M)AC formed disproportionately large amounts of bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, whereas the process using (M)AA required about 50% more phosgene to achieve high (M)AA conversions than typical interfacial PC processes. The branching of the acrylate/PTBP PCs occurred with heating at temperatures greater than or equal to 250 °C. The molecular weight and degree of branching depended on the mole ratio of the thermally reactive and nonreactive coterminators, the total amount of coterminators, and the reaction conditions. The functionality of the branch points formed appeared to be dependent on the acrylate concentration. The branching of the methacrylate/PTBP PCs required the presence of a free‐radical initiator and temperatures up to about 200 °C. The methacrylate end group was less effective than the acrylate on a molar basis in increasing the branched polymer molecular weight and degree of branching. The melt rheology of the branched acrylate/PTBP PCs showed the expected increase in low shear viscosity and shear rate sensitivity with increasing weight‐average molecular weight and acrylate‐end‐group concentration. Small changes in the total terminator concentration and, therefore, the linear precursor polymer molecular weight produced large effects in the low shear rate melt viscosity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2340–2351, 2000     

Thickness, Morphology and Structure of Sol-Gel Hybrid Films: II—The Role of the Solvent

The influence of the solvent on the thickness, morphology and structure of silica-polytetrahydrofuran hybrid films, prepared by spin coating, has been analysed. The inorganic precursor, tetraethylorthosilicate, was hydrolysed under acid catalysis, the hydrolysis molar ratio being 4. Polymers of average molecular weight (M _n) 650 and 2900 were incorporated in the initial colloidal solutions, in a low concentration (organic/inorganic molar ratio 0.01). Two solvents were compared: ethanol, protic, and tetrahydrofuran, aprotic and a little less polar. The thickness and surface texture parameters of the films were determined by profilometry, their morphology characterized by SEM and their structure studied by FTIR. It is shown that the solvent has no effect on the molecular structure of the films, but strongly influences the surface texture and the morphology of both pure silica and hybrid films. The solutions prepared in tetrahydrofuran present shorter gelation times (t _G) and allow the deposition of good quality films almost up to the gelation point (to a reduced time, t/t _G, of 0.9). The films are thinner than those prepared from corresponding ethanolic solutions at the same reduced ageing times. For pure silica films, tetrahydrofuran is the best choice, since it reduces the fractured region on the edge of the substrate. For hybrid films, this effect is achieved by the polymer and tetrahydrofuran is responsible for a higher arithmetical mean roughness. Therefore, ethanol becomes the preferable solvent.     

A Bis(phenoxy‐imine)Zr Complex for Ultrahigh‐Molecular‐Weight Amorphous Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer

A new bis(phenoxy‐imine)Zr complex has been developed. This complex in conjunction with ⁱBu₃Al/Ph₃CB(C₆F₅)₄ at 70°C produces ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight amorphous ethylene/propylene copolymer with a weight‐average molecular weight of 10 200 000 g/mol versus polystyrene standards, which represents the highest molecular weight known for linear, synthetic copolymers to date.