Hot-Electron Photodynamics in Silver-Containing BEA-Type Nanozeolite Studied by Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

Silver cations were introduced in nanosized BEA-type zeolite containing organic template by ion-exchange followed by chemical reduction towards preparation of photoactive materials (Ag⁰-BEA). The stabilization of highly dispersed Ag⁰ nanoparticles with a size of 1–2 nm in the BEA zeolite was revealed. The transient optical response of the Ag-BEA samples upon photoexcitation at 400 nm was studied by femtosecond absorption. The photodynamic of the hot electrons was found to depend on the sample preparation. The lifetime of the hot electrons in the Ag−BEA samples containing small Ag nanoparticles (1–2 nm) is significantly shortened in comparison to bear Ag nanoparticles with a size of 10 nm. While for the larger Ag nanoparticles, the energy absorbed in the conduction band is decaying by electron-phonon coupling into the metal lattice, the high surface-to-volume ratio of the small Ag nanoparticles favors the dissipation of the energy of the hot electrons from the metal nanoparticles (Ag⁰) towards the zeolitic micro-environment. This finding is encouraging for further applications of Ag-containing zeolites in photocatalysis and plasmonic chemistry.     

Molecular structure refinement of a segmented thermotropic polyester containing an aromatic triad mesogen

The polymorphic behavior of a polyester consisting of an aromatic triad mesogen and a flexible spacer has been investigated. The effect of thermal and mechanical treatment on the appearance of two crystalline phases stable at room temperature is discussed. The molecular packing (triclinic cell, space group P1 ) and the morphological parameters of the crystalline phase stabilized by drawing process are evaluated and refined. The whole-pattern method, based on the analysis of the whole x-ray diffraction pattern from fiber samples of polymer, has been employed. The molecular packing resembles very much that of polyethylene terephthalate. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mechanism of 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride hydrolysis and formation in aqueous solution

The study of highly conjugated, carbonyl-containing molecules such as 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic dianhydride, III, is of interest since reactivity differences and transmission of electronic effects through the conjugated framework can be evidenced. The kinetics of hydrolysis of III in aqueous solution were determined from 5 M acid to pH 10. In basic solution hydrolysis of III yields, sequentially, 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diacid monoanhydride, II, and 1,4,5,8-naphthalene tetracarboxylic acid, I. The second order rate constant for alkaline hydrolysis is 200 fold higher for the first ring opening. The water-catalyzed hydrolysis of III yields a pH-dependent mixture of ionic forms of I and II. The rate constant for water-catalyzed hydrolysis of III is 25 fold higher than that for II. In concentrated acid the rates for reaching equilibrium (I, II and III) increase and III is the major product. The pK(a)s of I (3.24, 5.13 and 6.25) and II (3.05, 5.90) were determined by potentiometric, fluorescence and UV spectroscopy titrations and by quantitative fit of the kinetic and equilibrium data. The apparent, pH-dependent, equilibrium constants, K(EqII), for anhydride formation between I and II were obtained from the UV spectra. The quantitative fit of kinetic and equilibrium data are consistent with the assumption that anhydride formation only proceeds with the fully protonated species for both I and II and permitted the estimation of the equilibrium constants for anhydride formation, K(EqII). The value of K(EqII) (I <==> II) between pH 1 and 6 was ca. 5. Geometry optimization calculations in the gas phase of the reactions of III in alkaline, neutral and acid conditions, at the DFT level of theory, gave electronic distributions that were qualitatively consistent with the experimental results.     

Spectral Mapping Theorem for Fractional Powers of Linear Relations

In this paper, we give the fractional powers version of spectral mapping theorems for various essential spectra of non-negative linear operators and non-negative linear relations.     

Lattice mismatch effect in atomic migration along steps during heteroepitaxial metal growth

Lattice mismatch plays a determining role in surface atomic diffusion in epitaxy. One effect is the increasing anisotropy of diffusion along close-packed steps of adsorbed islands on (1 1 1) surfaces with increasing strain in the layer as shown by previous works on homoepitaxy and heteroepitaxy where the adlayer is under compressive strain. In most of these investigations the barrier of diffusion along steps with triangular microfacets (B steps) is greater than the barrier of diffusion along steps with square microfacets (A steps). Through atomistic simulations of a system under tensile strain, Co/Pt(1 1 1), we evidence reversal behaviour with a much smaller barrier obtained for diffusion at B step. Such effect results from a particular diffusion path along B step having a low cost in energy and being specific to tensile strain systems.     

Effect of alkyl group size on the mechanism of acid hydrolyses of benzaldehyde acetals

Hydrolyses of benzaldehyde acetals, PhCH(OR)(2), are specific hydrogen-ion catalyzed when R = methyl, n-butyl, but with secondary and tertiary alkyl derivatives, R = i-propyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, t-amyl, hydrolyses are general-acid catalyzed. The Br?nsted alpha values for both secondary and tertiary alkyl groups are in the range: alpha = 0.57-0.61. A simple iterative procedure was developed to estimate the individual rate constants for general-acid catalysis by the diacid and monoacid forms of succinic acid buffer. Plots of log k(obs) (at [buffer] = 0 M) against pH are linear for the secondary and tertiary acetals, and plots of log k(H) for the H(3)O(+)-catalyzed reaction, (13)C and (1)H chemical shifts, and (1)J(CH) coupling constants against the Charton steric parameter, nu, for alkoxy groups are linear. The second-order rate constant, k(H), increases about 100-fold on going from R = Me to R = t-amyl, indicating the significant role of steric effects on reactivity. Steric effects upon (13)C NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants indicate that increasing the bulk of the alkoxy moiety increases the electron density at the carbon reaction center, which accelerates hydrolysis. Analysis of the Jencks-More-O'Ferrall free energy diagram for the reaction provides support for concerted proton transfer and C-O bond breaking in the transition state for hydrolyses of benzaldehyde acetals with secondary and tertiary alkyl groups in contrast to specific hydrogen catalysis with R = Me and n-Bu. All our results are consistent with rate-determining acid hydrolysis of benzaldehyde dialkyl acetals to hemiacetal intermediates that breakdown rapidly to benzaldehyde.     

Engineered microsphere contrast agents for optical coherence tomography

Contrast agents are utilized in virtually every imaging modality to enhance diagnostic capabilities. We introduce a novel class of optical contrast agent, namely, encapsulating microspheres, that are based not on fluorescence but on scattering nanoparticles within the shell or core. The agents are suitable for reflection- or scattering-based techniques such as optical coherence tomography, light microscopy, and reflectance confocal microscopy. We characterize the optical properties of gold-, melanin-, and carbon-shelled contrast agents and demonstrate enhancement of optical coherence tomography imaging after intravenous injection of such an agent into a mouse.     

Co-extraction and separation of zirconium and hafnium by long-chain amines from sulphate media

The extraction of Zr and Hf from sulphuric acid systems by solutions of Primene JMT (a long-chain primary amine) in kerosene, is described. The effect of contact time, free acidity, solvent concentration and temperature, has been thoroughly examined. A rapid improved method for HfZr separation is suggested.     

The extraction of beryllium(II) by di-(2-ethyl hexyl)-phosphoric acid from sulphate media

The distribution of Be(II) between aqueous sulphuric acid solutions and organic phases of di-(2-ethyl hexyl)-phosphoric acid (HDEHP) has been described. The dependence of extraction on contact time, acidity, metal and extractant concentration, diluent type and temperature was thoroughly investigated. The possible mechanism of the extraction is discussed on the basis of results obtained.