Silylating Agents Grafted onto Silica Derived from Leached Chrysotile

Silica from leached chrysotile fibers (SILO) was silanized with trialkoxyaminosilanes to yield inorganic–organic hybrids designated SILx (x=1–3). The greatest amounts of the immobilized agents were quantified as 2.14, 1.90, and 2.18 mmol g⁻¹ on SIL1, SIL2, and SIL3 for –(CH₂)₃NH₂,–(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH₂, and –(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₂NH₂ groups attached to the inorganic support. The infrared spectra for all modified silicas showed the absence of the Si–OH deformation mode, originally found at 950 cm⁻¹, and the appearance of asymmetric and symmetric C–H stretching bands at 2950 and 2840 cm⁻¹. Other important bands associated with the organic moieties were assigned to ν_as(NH) at 3478 and ν_sym(NH) at 3418 cm⁻¹. The NMR spectrum of the solid precursor material suggested two different kinds of silicon atoms: silanol and siloxane groups, between −90 and 110 ppm; however, additional species of silicon that contain the organic moieties bonded to silicon at −58 and −66 ppm appeared after chemical modification. These modified silicas showed a high adsorption capacity for cobalt and copper cations in aqueous solution, in contrast to the original SILO matrix, confirming the unequivocal anchoring of silylating agents on the silica surface.     

Self-assembled dynamics of silver nanoparticles and self-assembled dynamics of 1,4-benzenedithiol adsorbed on silver nanoparticles: Surface-enhanced Raman scattering study

Self-assembled dynamics of silver nanoparticles and self-assembled dynamics of 1,4-benzenedithiol (1,4-BDT) adsorbed on silver nanoparticles were investigated experimentally with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and theoretically with density functional theory (DFT) and finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The absorption spectroscopy of 1,4-BDT in silver sol at different time intervals was measured, which give the indirect evidence of self-assembled dynamics of silver nanoparticles and self-assembled dynamics of 1,4-benzenedithiol (1,4-BDT) adsorbed on silver nanoparticles. To obtain the direct evidence of self-assembled dynamics of silver nanoparticles and self-assembled dynamics of 1,4-benzenedithiol (1,4-BDT) adsorbed on silver nanoparticles, the SERS of 1,4-BDT were measured experimentally and investigated theoretically. The appearances of S–S stretching band (revealing the formation of multilayers of 1,4-BDT), and strongly enhanced S–C stretching, C–C ring stretching vibrational modes clearly show self-assembled dynamics of 1,4-BDT.     

Molecular Interactions in Mixed Monolayers of Octadecanoic Acid and Three Related Amphiphiles

Binary mixed monolayers of octadecanoic acid and three related amphiphilic compounds (octadecanamide, octadecylamine, octadecylurea) have been investigated at the air/water interface by surface pressure–area (Π–Â) isotherms and their resistances to water evaporation (r). In addition, the excess free energies of mixing (ΔG^E) were calculated using the Goodrich method. Both the ln r vs x and ΔG^E vs x plots exhibit marked deviations from linearity, indicating a high degree of miscibility and nonideal behavior of the components in the mixed films. For all of these binary systems the excess free energies of mixing have been found to be minimum for a certain composition corresponding almost to a maximum in evaporation resistances. Weak interactions were detected in octadecanoic acid/octadecanamide monolayers, whereas significant condensation effects were observed in 1 : 1 mixed films containing octadecanoic acid and octadecylamine. This is attributed to an acid–base equilibrium followed by the formation of a well-ordered arrangement of COO⁻ and NH₃⁺ head groups bound to each other by electrostatic forces. The unusual polymorphism of octadecylurea monolayers could be influenced by adding small amounts of octadecanoic acid. The formation of the low-temperature phase (β-phase) is completely suppressed, if the acid content exceeds 8 mol%. The octadecanoic acid seems to induce the formation of the high-temperature phase (α-phase), which is characterized by a vertical orientation of the hydrocarbon chains.     

Self-Assembled Monolayers of Organoselenium Compounds on Gold: Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Study

To understand the binding nature of organoselenium compounds on gold, we have examined the adsorption behavior of several representative organoselenium compounds, i.e., benzeneselenol (BSe), diphenyl diselenide, dibenzyl diselenide, dioctyl diselenide, and benzyl phenyl selenide (BPSe) on the Au surface by virtue of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). BSe chemisorbs on gold as selenolate with a tilted orientation. Upon adsorption, the Se–Se bonds of diselenides are cleaved to form selenolates, analogous to the formation of thiolate monolayers from disulfides. BPSe adsorbs on gold without any C–Se bond scission. The benzyl moiety of BPSe assumes a rather vertical stance while the phenyl moiety is more tilted to the gold surface.     

Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Environmental Pollutants with Mass-Produced ZnS Nanocrystals

Photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants using nanometersized semiconductor colloids is an emerging area of environmental remediation. The synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), however, can be costly and result in low product yields. For large-scale photocatalytic application in environmental remediation, cost-effective production of the semiconductor NCs would be ideal. Demonstrated in this report is the efficient photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol (pNP) and Acid Orange 7 (AO7) using ZnS nanocrystals (3 to 5 nm diameter) produced in gram quantities with >50% product yield. The pNP half-life in ZnS nanocrystal photocatalyzed reactions was about 1.95 to 2.45 min, whereas in comparable TiO₂ reactions, the pNP half-lives were in the range of 12 to 15 min. Absorption spectra of the photocatalysis reactions suggested the decolorization of pNP without any noticeable formation of phenolic intermediates, implying a mechanism that involves a pNP ring opening via a radical mediated attack. Likewise, the degradation of AO7 was suggested to occur via an oxidative pathway involving hydroxyl radicals formed at the photocatalyst/liquid interface. Optimum conditions for AO7 degradation such as pH, photocatalyst-to-AO7 ratio, and photocatalyst surface passivation were similar to those for pNP. By demonstrating efficient mineralization of these model pollutants using mass-produced ZnS nanocrystals, we hope to lay the foundations necessary for development of large-scale, field-applicable systems.     

Influence of Surface Hydrophobic Groups on the Adsorption of Proteins onto Nonporous Polymeric Particles with Immobilized Metal Ions

Iminodiacetic acid (IDA) and octyl moieties were covalently bound on nonporous particles, which were prepared from dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate and glycidyl methacrylate. After being charged with copper ions, the IDA-bound particles could specifically adsorb deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) through the affinity interaction between protein and immobilized metal ion. A mixed-ligand (metal–chelate and octyl–bound) support was obtained after hydrophobic (octyl) groups were also introduced to the particle surface. The affinity adsorption of DNase I on the copper–IDA chelate was influenced by interaction between the protein and the bound octyl group. Both the affinity and the hydrophobic interactions could be well described by the Langmuir isotherms. The equilibrium adsorption constants were estimated separately to be 0.96 and 0.50 liter g⁻¹ for affinity and hydrophobic bindings, respectively. For binding on mixed-ligand support, the adsorption constant was 0.45 liter g⁻¹. It was evident that both affinity and hydrophobic interactions are involved in the adsorption of proteins onto mixed-ligand particles. Desorption of the inactive proteins from the support was possible by increasing the hydrophobicity of the solution.     

Electrochemical properties of polyaniline in p-toluene sulfonic acid solution

Polyaniline was deposited potentiodynamically on a stainless steel substrate in the presence of an inorganic acids (sulfuric acid). The electrochemical characterization of the electrode was carried out by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the organic acids (p-toluene sulfonic acid) solution. The results show that polyaniline has a high specific capacitance of 431.8 F g⁻¹ at 1 mV s⁻¹, high coulombic efficiency of 95.6% at 20 mV s⁻¹, and exhibits a high reversibility. This indicates the promising feasibility of the polyaniline used as an electrochemical capacitor material in the electrolyte of p-toluene sulfonic acid solution especially at high charge–discharge process.     

Effect of β-Cyclodextrin on the Photoinduced Charge Transfer in Sodium 1-Anilino-8-naphthalene Sulfate (ANS)/CdS Colloidal System

The S-center radical (ANS^·) of sodium 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfate (ANS) generated by photoinduced charge transfer in ANS/CdS and ANS/CdS/β-cyclodextrin(β-CD) systems has been studied by using spin trapping electron spin resonance techniques, UV-visible spectroscopic methods, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods. It was found that the S-centered radical (ANS^·) was produced by the charge transfer reaction between the ground state ANS and the positive hole h⁺(CdS) from the valence band of CdS colloids, by the charge transfer from the excited singlet state ¹ANS* to the conduction band of CdS colloids, or by both in the ANS/CdS and ANS/CdS/β-CD systems. The ESR signal intensity of the spin adduct (5,5′-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO)–ANS)^·, which is formed from ANS^· trapped by DMPO, in the latter system is 15 times stronger than that in the former system. The apparent association constants between ANS and CdS colloids in the absence and presence of β-CD determined from fluorescence quenching experiments are 1097 and 1606 M⁻¹, respectively. From ESR and fluorescence results, it is estimated that the efficiency of photoinduced charge transfer from ANS to CdS colloids in the ANS/CdS/β-CD system is 12.5 times that in the ANS/CdS system.     

The Heavy-Atom Effect on the Photophysics of Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Presence of Solid Clays

The exchange of the original cation present on a Laponite clay (usually Na⁺) for heavy atoms such as Rb⁺, Cs⁺, and Tl⁺ significantly alters the emission characteristics of some aromatic hydrocarbons (p-terphenyl, naphthalene, pyrene, and biphenyl). The increase of the atomic mass of the cation induces a decrease of the fluorescence emission simultaneous with an increase of the emission in the region of lower energies of the spectra, ascribed to the phosphorescence of those hydrocarbons. Time-resolved experiments for the pyrene–clay system showed a decrease of singlet lifetimes for the heavier atoms. Hydrocarbon aggregates were also detected from both the emission spectra and the time-resolved studies. The “excimer-like” emission showed longer lifetimes (10–25 ns) than the monomolecular hydrocarbons (1–3 ns), as already found for other similar systems. The amount of aggregates increased for the heavier cations due to the smaller surface available on the clay particles. Experiments increasing the amount of Tl⁺ in samples containing a constant concentration of naphthalene allowed evaluation of the distance between the heavy atoms and the probe on the clay surface. The Perrin model treatment was used and resulted in approximately R₀=9.2 Å.     

Electrooptics of β-FeOOH Particles in Aqueous Media: 1. Reversing-Pulse Electric Birefringence in the Low Field Region

Reversing-pulse electric birefringence (RPEB) of a nearly monodisperse iron(III) hydroxide oxide sample in the β-form (β-FeOOH) was measured at 25°C and at a wavelength of 633 nm in aqueous media in the presence of NaCl. The concentrations of β-FeOOH and added NaCl varied between 0.00111 and 0.0555 g/L and 0.03 and 2.0 mM, respectively. Except for the suspensions with high salt concentrations, each RPEB signal showed a dip or minimum in the reverse process upon electric field reversal, together with a smooth rise in the buildup and a fall in the decay process. The observed signals were analyzed with a new RPEB theory, which takes into account not only the permanent electric dipole moment (μ) but also the root-mean-square ionic dipole moment (m^21/2) due to the ion fluctuation in ion atmosphere, in addition to the field-induced electronic (covalent) dipole moment Δα′ E. The results showed that the slowly fluctuating moment of m^21/2 is by far the most predominant one for the field orientation of the β-FeOOH particle, though the permanent dipole moment μ may not be completely excluded. The rotational relaxation time of the whole particle was evaluated from the decay signal, while the relaxation time for fluctuating ions was estimated from RPEB signal fitting. The sign of the steady-state birefringence for β-FeOOH suspensions was positive without exception under the present conditions. The birefringence signals in the steady state (δ/d) were proportional to the second power of the applied field strength (E) in the low field region; thus, the Kerr law was verified to hold for β-FeOOH suspensions. The specific Kerr constant was evaluated for each suspension by extrapolating the values of δ/d to zero field (E→0).     

Influence of Sodium Periodate and Tyrosinase on Binding of Alginate to Adlayers of Mytilus edulis Foot Protein 1

Mytilus edulis foot protein 1 (Mefp-1) is the most well-characterized component of this sea mussel's adhesive plaque. The plaque is a condensed, heterogeneous mixture consisting of a large proportion of cross-linked biopolymers that bonds the mussel to a chosen mooring. Mefp-1 is densely populated with lysine and -3,4-dihyroxyphenylalanine ( -dopa) residues incorporated into a repeating amino acid sequence motif. It has been proposed that one plaque cross-linking reaction is the nucleophilic addition of the ε-amino groups of the lysine residues into the oxidized catechol (o-diphenol) functionality (quinone) of the -dopa residues. In order to determine if this reaction occurs in adlayers of Mefp-1, a previously developed assay for ε-amino groups was applied. Adlayers of Mefp-1 were exposed to an oxidant, either the enzyme, mushroom tyrosinase, or sodium periodate. Binding of alginate to adlayers was used to probe for accessibility of ε-amino groups. It was found that lysine residues lose the ability to bind alginate after exposure to sodium periodate, but that this loss is not clearly due to a reaction with -dopa residues. There is a slight decrease of binding of alginate to adlayers of Mefp-1 exposed to either active or thermally deactivated mushroom tyrosinase, probably due to the obstruction of binding sites by bound enzyme. Adsorption kinetics of mushroom tyrosinase onto adlayers of Mefp-1 for active and thermally inactivated enzyme were nearly identical. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize these interactions at a germanium (Ge) interface.     

Solvent effect on the blue shifted weakly H-bound F3 CH…FCD3 complex

Solvent effect on the ν^c frequency of CH stretching vibration of the blue shifted F₃CH…FCD₃ complex has been studied in liquefied N₂, CO, Ar, Kr and Xe. In the case of Xe, the spectroscopic measurements have also been extended to the solid state. It was found that the ν^c position of the complex in the solutions studied lowers with respect to the value in the gas phase. In liquid Xe, characterized by the largest permittivity, this effect reaches its maximum value of −14.5 cm⁻¹. The ν^c frequency begins to grow again just below the freezing point of Xe, where a noticeable (15%) increase of the density of Xe occurs. The experimental results obtained for the liquid phase have been analyzed in the framework of the Onsager-like reaction field model and Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM) implemented into a standard Gaussian 98 Program.     

Electronic Properties of Q-CdS Clusters Stabilized by Adenine

Adenine-capped Q-CdS has been synthesized in an aqueous medium. IR spectroscopy indicates an interaction between Q-CdS and adenine through Cd²⁺. The amount of adenine controls the size of the clusters. A typical 5×10⁻³ mol dm⁻³ of adenine produces nanoclusters having the onset of absorption and an emission band at 2.8 and 2.35 eV, respectively. Adenine binds to the shallower traps and enhances the emission intensity of the 530-nm band without causing any shift in emission. Thermolysis of these colloids leads to the production of larger CdS clusters with changed electronic properties. Relaxation kinetics of charge carriers shows their average lifetime to increase with a decrease in particle size. Illumination of these particles does not lead to their photodissolution. This catalyst is, however, photoactive. The addition of indole causes the quenching of its emission. The photocatalytic oxidation of indole produces indigo with a quantum efficiency of 0.03.     

Substituent Effects on Binding Constants of Carotenoids to n-Heptane/AOT Reverse Micelles

The absorption spectra of 6′-apo-β-caroten-6′-ol (1), 6′-apo-β-caroten-6′-oic acid (2), and ethyl 6′-apo-β-caroten-6′-oate (3) were analyzed in homogeneous media and in reversed micelles of AOT (sodium 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate) in n-heptane. The possible solute–solvent interactions of these compounds were analyzed in pure solvents by Taft and Kamlet's solvatochromic comparison method. These carotenoids show sensitivity similar to that of medium polarity-polarizability as measured by π*. Moreover, the absorption spectra of carotenoid 3 and to much less extent carotenoid 2 display broadening of the visible bands induced by polar solvents characteristic of carotenoids that contain a carbonyl functional group in conjugation with the carbon–carbon π-electron system. They are also sensitive to the ability of the solvent to accept protons in a hydrogen bond interaction measured by β. This sensitivity follows the expected order: 2>1>3. In the reverse micellar system, while the spectra for 3 remain unchanged, the intensity of the absorption band characteristic of n-heptane for 1 and 2 decreases as the AOT concentration increases, and a new band develops. This new band is attributed to the solute bound to the micelle interface. These changes allowed us to determine the binding constant (K_b) between these compounds and AOT. At W₀=[H₂O]/[AOT]=0 the values of K_b of 326±5 and 6.2±0.3 were found for the acid 2 and the alcohol 1, respectively. The strength of binding is interpreted considering their hydrogen-bond donor ability and the solubility in the organic pseudophase. For 1K_bdecreases as W₀ is increased, while for 2 no variation was observed. These effects are discussed in terms of carotenoid–water competition for interfacial binding sites.     

Electroosmosis through a Cation-Exchange Membrane: Effect of an ac Perturbation on the Electroosmotic Flow

Electroosmosis experiments through a cation-exchange membrane have been performed using NaCl solutions in different experimental situations. The influence of an alternating (ac) sinusoidal perturbation, of known angular frequency and small amplitude, superimposed to the usual applied continuous (dc) signal on the electroosmotic flow has been studied. The experimental results show that the presence of the ac perturbation affects the electroosmotic flow value, depending on the frequency of the ac signal and on the solution stirring conditions. In the frequency range studied, two regions have been observed where the electroosmotic flow reaches a maximum value: one at low frequencies (Hz); and another at frequencies of the order of kHz. These regions could be related to membrane relaxation phenomena.     

Nitrogen Adsorption Studies of PAN-Based Activated Carbon Fibers Prepared by Different Activation Methods

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) prepared by various activation methods were characterized using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption over a wide relative pressure from 10⁻⁶ to 1. Nitrogen adsorption is a standard tool for determination of porous structure parameters. In the present work, we carried out extensive adsorption studies of a series of PAN-ACFs activated by different methods. It was shown that the high-resolution α_S plot provided valuable information about structural properties of samples under study. The pore size distributions of samples under study were calculated by employing the regularization method according to density functional theory. By these analyses, the pore development and the dominant pores of samples prepared by different methods can be clearly observed. Moreover, the adsorption measurement could provide profound insight into the structural heterogeneity of the ACFs.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on silver electrodes as a technical tool in the study of the electrochemical reduction of cyanopyridines and in quantitative analysis

The SER spectra of 4-, 3- and 2-cyanopyridines adsorbed on a silver electrode are presented. The results show that cyanopyridines may adsorb in two different orientations, end-on (with the N atom of the Py ring bound to the surface) and flat, and that for potentials more negative than −1.1 V (SCE), the cyanopyridine radical anions can also be detected. The SERS intensity vs. potential curves show more than one potential of maximum SERS intensity which are assigned to the existence of more than one species on the electrode surface. The analytical potentially of SERS on electrodes has also been investigated. It is shown that the relative SERS intensity (ν_CN of the 4-CNPy (2120 cm⁻)/breathing mode of Py (1008 cm⁻¹)), at a fixed Py bulk concentration and at a fixed potential and exciting radiation, depends linearly on the 4-CNPy bulk concentration in the range 10⁻⁷-10⁻⁵M. The selectivity of the technique has also been investigated by studying the SER spectrum and the SERS intensity vs. potential curves for a mixture of 10⁻³M 4-CNPy, pyridine (Py) and 4-methylpyridine(4-MePy) in 0.1 M KCl aqueous solution.     

Characterization of the [Ru(CN)5(pyS)] ion complex adsorbed on gold, silver and copper substrates by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The adsorption of the [Ru(CN)₅(pyS)]⁴⁻ (pyS=4-mercaptopyridine) ion complex on gold, silver and copper surfaces has been studied by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The influence of the nature of the metallic substrates in the adsorption geometry of the complex is reflected in a strong variation of the SERS spectra, particularly, the relative intensities of characteristic vibrational modes of pyS and CN ligands, which is likely to result from changes in specific chemical interactions involving both ligands and the surface. The effect of the surface modification procedure on the properties of the adsorbed monolayers has also been investigated for the gold surface. Surface modification has been performed by self-assembly or under an electrochemical potential. The spectroscopic results have shown that, according to the modification procedure, the modifier can be bound to the surface via sulfur atom or via CN nitrogen atoms. The ability to control the orientation of the adsorbed monolayer permits control over the properties of the interface, as demonstrated by the study of the electrochemistry of cytochrome-c (cyt-c) on the differently prepared surfaces. A reversible electrochemical response of the metalloprotein is only observed on the self-assembly prepared surface, where CN moieties of the surface modifier are available to interact with the protein molecule.     

Adsorption of a double-chain surfactant on an oxide

Adsorption of surfactants on solids is affected by the intermolecular packing in the adsorbed layer besides the driving forces. The adsorption behavior of a double-chain surfactant on silica is studied here along with that of the single-chain one. Comparison of adsorption of these two surfactants is warranted since while the single-chain surfactants form spherical micelles, the double-chain ones form bilayered vesicles in solution. While the adsorption of the single-chain surfactant reaches the plateau in a wide concentration range, the adsorption of the double-chain one increases sharply in a concentration range 10⁻⁵ mol/L up to the plateau. The single chain is found to form 1.5 monolayers under saturation coverage suggesting adsorption with reverse orientation at high concentration. In contrast, the adsorption of the double-chain surfactant under saturation coverage is equivalent to a 0.9 monolayer. Fluorescence tests revealed the hydrophobicity change of the surface with increase in adsorption. However, the hydrophobicity tests show the solid surface to be hydrophilic in this range; the double-chain surfactant is proposed to form a partial bilayer.     

Contribution to the Determination of Kinetic Parameters of the Sol-Gel Transformation by Rheological Measurements

The system tetraethoxysilane(TEOS)–water–ethanol has been studied by rheological measurements. Different molar ratios of TEOS : water (1 : 4, 1 : 10, and 1 : 20) are studied at different temperatures (30, 40, and 50°C). The dynamic viscosity (rotating mode) at a constant shear rate (100 s⁻¹) and the elastic and viscous moduli (oscillating mode) at a constant frequency (1 Hz) are determined. The viscosity–time curves are evaluated by application of a nucleation and particle growth model. Good agreement between experiments and theory is observed. The model allows the determination of the complex rate constant of silica precipitation. The temperature-dependent measurements gave the possibility to determine the apparent energy of activation by common methods. The results are in agreement with data from the literature. The gel time defined as intersection point of elastic and plastic moduli and its dependence on temperature are evaluated by the Smoluchowski model. The energy of activation for the coagulation was determined and found to be in the correct order of magnitude.