High-temperature reactions in systems of interest for spectrochemical analysis

Summary Reactions between graphite and magnesium, silicon, vanadium and aluminium oxides in graphite electrodes have been investigated by spectrochemical and X-ray diffraction methods. Samples were ignited by means of an evaporator up to controlled temperatures. In the range of 1000–1900°C magnesium oxide does not react with graphite. Aluminium trioxide first forms -Al₂O₃ and at 1900°C Al₄C₃. Silicon dioxide forms silicon carbide at about 1400°C. Vanadium pentoxide is first reduced to VO₂ and than at higher temperatures (1200° C) forms -VC. At about 1400° C MgO and SiO₂ mixed with graphite powder form magnesium silicate, Mg₂SiO₄, and this silicate was stable at higher temperatures (up to 2000°C).

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Hochtemperaturreaktionen in spektralanalytisch wichtigen SystemenII. Reaktionen von Graphit mit den Oxiden von Magnesium, Silicium, Vanadium und Aluminium

Zusammenfassung Die Reaktionen wurden durch Spektralanalyse und Röntgendiffraktometrie untersucht. Die Proben wurden in einem Evaporator auf kontrollierte Temperaturen erhitzt. Im Bereich von 1000–1900° C reagiert MgO nicht mit Graphit. Al₂O₃ bildet zunächst -Al₂O₃ und bei 1900°C Al₄C₃. SiO₂ bildet bei etwa 1400°C SiC. V₂O₅ wird zunächst zu VO₂ reduziert und geht dann bei höheren Temperaturen (1200°C) in -VC über. MgO und SiO₂ im Gemisch mit Graphit bilden Mg₂SiO₄, das bei hohen Temperaturen (bis 2000°C) noch beständig ist.

     

Catalytic Influence of Bimetallic Bifunctional Ni-Pd/H-β and H-Mordenite Nanoporous Catalysts for Hydroisomerisation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Octane

Zeolite-β and mordenite were impregnated with 0.1 wt% Pd and varying the amount (0.1–0.5 wt%) of Ni. The prepared nanoporous catalyst were characterized by various physico-chemical techniques such as XRD, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm (BET), NH₃-TPD and TPR, XPS and TEM. Hydroisomerisation of n-octane was carried out in the temperature range from 200 to 450 °C in the presence of flowing H₂ gas under 1 atm. Finally we found that Ni addition up to 0.3 and 0.2 wt% over 0.1 wt% Pd/H-β and H-mordenite enhances the n-octane conversion and isomerisation selectivity. As the Ni amount exceeds the threshold values, the conversion decreases with increase in cracked products, and also, the selectivity of mono and dibranched isomers were improved suggestion operation of PCP intermediate mechanism. The bimetallic catalysts were more selective to the formation of dibranched isomers with higher octane number, when compared with monometallic catalysts. Ni-Pd loaded zeolite-β supports always show higher activity and selectivity than mordenite supports. Moreover, we achieved higher conversion (74.9 %) and isomerisation selectivity (92.5 %) at low Ni loading (0.3 Ni wt% over 0.1 Pd wt%/Hβ) for the first time.     

Morphology control of poly(lactic) acid/polypropylene blend composite by using silanized cellulose fibers extracted from coir fibers

The objective of this work is the use of cellulose fibers extracted from coir fibers as Janus nanocylinders to suppress the phase retraction and coalescence in poly(lactic) acid/polypropylene bio-blend polymers via prompting the selective localization of cellulose fibers at the interface using chemical modification. The untreated and modified cellulose fibers extracted from coir fibers using a silane molecule (tetraethoxysilane) were used as reinforcement and as Janus nanocylinder at two weight contents (2.5 wt% and 5 wt%) to manipulate the morphology of the bio-blends. Their bio-composites with PLA-PP matrix were prepared via melt compounding (at PLA/PP: 50/50). The treatment effect on component interaction and the bio-composites properties have been studied via Scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and differential calorimetry analysis. The mechanical and rheological properties of nanocomposites were similarly assessed. Young's modulus and tensile strength of PLA-PP nanocomposites reinforced by silanized cellulose fibers show a great enhancement as compared to a neat matrix. In particular, there was a gain of 18.5% in Young's modulus and 11.21% in tensile strength for silanized cellulose fiber-based bio-blend composites at 5 wt%. From the rheological point of view, it was found that the silanized cellulose fibers in PLA-PP at both fibers loading enhances the adhesion between both polymers leading to tuning their morphology from sea-island to the continuous structures with the appearance of PLA microfibrillar inside of bio-composites. This change was reflected in the relaxation of the chain mobility of the bio-blend composites.

     

Exfoliation and Noncovalent Functionalization of Graphene Surface with Poly-N-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone by In Situ Polymerization

Heteroatom functionalization on a graphene surface can endow the physical and structural properties of graphene. Here, a one-step in situ polymerization method was used for the noncovalent functionalization of a graphene surface with poly-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (PNVP) and the exfoliation of graphite into graphene sheets. The obtained graphene/poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone (GPNVP) composite was thoroughly characterized. The surface morphology of GPNVP was observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies were carried out to check for the exfoliation of graphite into graphene sheets. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to calculate the amount of PNVP on the graphene surface in the GPNVP composite. The successful formation of the GPNVP composite and functionalization of the graphene surface was confirmed by various studies. The cyclic voltammetry measurement at different scan rates (5–500 mV/s) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of the GPNVP composite were performed in the typical three-electrode system. The GPNVP composite has excellent rate capability with the capacitive property. This study demonstrates the one-pot preparation of exfoliation and functionalization of a graphene surface with the heterocyclic polymer PNVP; the resulting GPNVP composite will be an ideal candidate for various electrochemical applications.     

Cluster precursors of uncapped CdS quantum dots via electroporation of synthetic liposomes. Experiments and theory

Subnanometer size cluster precursors of uncapped CdS quantum dots were produced via the electroporation of synthetic dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) unilamellar bilayer vesicles of mean hydrodynamic diameter Dh = 175 nm. During electroporation, Cd2+ ions are ejected from the interior compartments of the vesicles into the bulk solution where they react with S(2-) ions to form CdS monomers. The monomers adsorb on the exterior surface of the vesicles, where their spontaneous self-aggregation to (CdS)n clusters occurs on the hour and day time scale. The stepwise growth of the clusters was monitored through the time evolution of the UV absorption spectrum of the solution. The process is characterized by initial stepwise blue shifts of the absorption maxima: 285 nm --> 269 nm --> 245/275 nm --> 240 nm --> 236 nm, followed by a red shift to 494 nm. Nonlocal density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the optimized geometry and HOMO-LUMO gap of (CdS)n particles with n = 1-6 were carried out. The optimized structures are characterized by strong Cd-Cd bonds, with the S atoms bridging those bonds or capping the faces of the Cd polyhedra. The structure of such clusters bears no resemblance to fragments of the bulk crystal. The trend of the calculated HOMO-LUMO gaps facilitates the attribution of aggregation numbers (n) to particular clusters responsible for the observed absorption bands: n = 1 (285 nm), n = 2 (269 nm), n = 4 (245/275 nm --> 240 nm), n = 5 (236 nm), and larger quantum dots absorbing around 494 nm. The multiple bands assigned to the tetramer reflect the existence of its two distinct structures with similar stability.     

On the <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>*-valued triangle equality and inequality in Hilbert <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>*-modules

We prove that for two elements x, y in a Hilbert C*-module V over a C*-algebra the C*-valued triangle equality |x + y| = |x| + |y| holds if and only if 〈x, y〉 = |x| |y|. In addition, if has a unit e, then for every x, y ∊ V and every ɛ > 0 there are contractions u, υ ∊ such that |x + y| ≦ u|x|u* + υ|y|υ* + ɛe.      

Ruthenium(III) complexes with N-(acetyl)-N′-(5-R-salicylidene)hydrazines: Syntheses,structures and properties

The reactions of 1 mol equiv. each of [Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂] and N-(acetyl)-N′-(5-R-salicylidene)hydrazines (H₂ahsR, R = H, OCH₃, Cl, Br and NO₂) in alcoholic media afford simultaneously two types of complexes having the general formulae [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl]. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic, spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements. Molecular structures of [Ru(HahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl] have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. In both species, the PPh₃ ligands are trans to each other. The bidentate HahsH⁻ coordinates to the metal ion via the O atom of the deprotonated amide and the imine–N atom in [Ru(HahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂]. In HahsH⁻, the phenolic OH is involved in a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond with the uncoordinated amide N atom forming a seven-membered ring. In [Ru(ahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl], the tridentate ahsH²⁻ binds to the metal ion via the deprotonated amide O, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms. In the electronic spectra, the green [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and brown [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl] complexes display several absorptions in the ranges 385–283 and 457–269 nm, respectively. Both complexes are low-spin and display rhombic EPR spectra in frozen solutions. Both types of complexes are redox active and display a quasi-reversible ruthenium(III) to ruthenium(II) reduction which is sensitive to the polar effect of the substituent on the chelating ligand. The reduction potentials are in the ranges −0.21 to −0.12 and −0.42 to −0.21 V (versus Ag/AgCl) for [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl], respectively.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and structural investigation of Zn(NCS)2(nicotinamide)2 and [Hg(SCN)2(nicotinamide)]n

Zinc(II) and mercury(II) thiocyanate complexes with nicotinamide, bis(nicotinamide-N)-bis(thiocyanato-N)zinc(II) (1) and catena-[nicotinamide-N-(μ-thiocyanato-S,N)(thiocyanato-S)mercury(II)] (2), have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic, thermal and X-ray crystallographic methods. The vibrational bands of diagnostic value are compared to the values of the free ligand and the data are in good correlation with the X-ray results. Centrosymmetrical hydrogen bonded dimers are found, R₂²(10) in 1 and R₂²(8) in 2.     

Photoacoustic study of the thermal properties of calcium carbonate – the major constituent of pancreatic calculi

The study of the thermal properties of condensed matter is very essential both for crystallizing and thermal energy induced fracturing of solid materials. Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is a recently developed, nondestructive testing (NDT) tool, used for analyzing the surface properties of materials. This method is used here to determine the thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of the gel grown single crystals of calcium carbonate (CC), which is the major constituent of pancreatic calculi. Characterization of CC was made using single crystal X‐ray diffraction and density determination. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)