Sol-gel polyimide-silica composite membrane: gas transport properties

The effect of introduction of silica particles prepared by the sol-gel technique on the gas transport properties of a polyimide film was studied. The sorption and permeation of N₂, O₂, CO₂, H₂ and CH₄ were studied and correlated with morphological changes in the polymer structure. From sorption isotherms, we observed that the composite membrane presents higher solubility coefficients than the polyimide one. The solubility coefficient ratio between the composite and the polyimide is about 1.5–2.0. The isotherms were analyzed in terms of the dual mode sorption. The Henry's coefficient and the Langmuir's affinity and saturation constants were obtained allowing to calculate the Langmuir to Henry concentration ratios as function of the gas pressure. These ratios decrease until zero within a certain pressure range as long as the Langmuir's mode is acting and they are higher for the polyimide membrane when compared with the composite one. This study was completed with calorimetric measurements during the sorption. The gas interaction energy in kJ/mol decreases within the same pressure range as previously described. The measured energies are higher for the polyimide film when compared with the composite one because the polyimide membrane presents a stronger energetic effect caused by a higher Langmuir's contribution. From permeation studies at 3.15⁵ Pa, the composite membrane showed higher permeability coefficients and permselectivities than the polyimide one. All these results were explained, taking into account the difference on the imidization degree of both membranes and the morphological changes which may be induced by the silica nodules in the organic/inorganic interphases.     

以多聚甲醛为还原剂制备新型阳极Pt/CMK-3催化剂

 以多聚甲醛为还原剂,采用液相还原法制备了Pt/CMK-3直接甲醇燃料电池(DMFC)阳极催化剂,并采用透射电镜和X射线衍射技术对其进行了表征. 结果表明,有序介孔碳CMK-3具有规整的二维有序孔道结构,为DMFC中电子和燃料的传输提供了方便的路径,同时它较大的比表面积使得Pt纳米粒子很好地分散在其表面; Pt/CMK-3催化剂中Pt粒子的平均粒径为2.8 nm, 小于E-TEK公司的商品化Pt/XC-72和以甲醇为还原剂制备的Pt/C-M催化剂,并且粒径分布范围窄,结晶度低. 察了Pt/CMK-3催化剂对甲醇的电催化氧化性能,发现Pt/CMK-3催化剂对甲醇氧化的电催化性能优于Pt/XC-72和Pt/C-M催化剂.     

Synthesis and properties of substituted 2-methylene-hydrazono-2,3-dihydro-3-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]furanones

The reaction of 2,3-dihydro-2,3-benzo[b]furandione with the triphenylphosphazines of diazo compounds leads to substituted 2-methylenehydrazono-2,3-dihydro-3-benzo[b]furanones, which are hydrolyzed in an acidic medium to the substituted methylenehydrazides of o-hydroxyphenylglyoxalic acid and react with amines to form the products of addition at the activated CH=N bond of the side chain or 2-hydrazono-2,3-dihydro-3-benzo[b]furanone respectively. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 817–822, June, 2007.     

Computer modelling of the conformational equilibrium of 2-and 2,5,5-substituted 1,3,2-dioxaborinanes

Empirical, semiempirical, and nonempirical quantum-chemical methods were used to study the conformational equilibrium of 2,5,5-substituted 1,3,2-dioxaborinanes. The sofa invertomers were found to correspond to the local and global minima on the potential energy surface. The position of the equilibrium between these forms is a function of the substituents at C₍₅₎ of the heterocycle. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 12, pp. 1860–1865, December, 2007.     

Synthesis of non-agglomerated Ba<Subscript>0.77</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.23</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowders by a modified polymeric precursor method

In this work, we have studied the influence of the pH on the synthesis and structural properties of the Ba_0.77Ca_0.23TiO₃ nanopowders synthesized by a modified polymeric precursor method, in order to achieve non-agglomerated powders. Synthesis, morphology, thermal reactions, crystallite and average particle size of the synthesized powders were investigated through thermal analysis (DTA/TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Infrared spectroscopy. In summary, Ba_0.77Ca_0.23TiO₃ nanopowders were synthesized for the first time at a relative low temperature (500 °C). It was also found that the alkalinity and acidity of the solution presented a great influence on the powder properties. The best results were obtained from solutions with pH = 8.5 and 11 whose nanopowders presented weakly agglomerate, with homogeneous particle size and a narrow size distribution (30–40 nm). This behavior could be explained based on the FT-IR results in which it was possible to see the increased of the chelation in higher pHs.     

Nitrite formation in aerated aqueous azide solutions: A radiation chemical study

Gamma radiolysis of oxygenated 1–10 mM azide solutions was carried out at various pH values. In oxygenated 10 mM azide solutions, H₂O₂ and NO ₂ ⁻ were observed as radiolytic products while NH3 was not. The concentration of H₂O₂ reached its maximum level at a dose of 1 kGy, whereas NO ₂ ⁻ yield increased non-linearly beyond 2 kGy in this system. Both in aerated and oxygenated systems, G(NO ₂ ⁻ ) and G(H₂O₂) were found to vary with N ₃ ⁻ concentration. The yield of NO ₂ ⁻ was found to be dependent on both dose rate and pH. On pulse radiolysis, NO ₂ ⁻ was found as a radiolytic product in aerated 1 mM azide solution at pH 6.8. In this system the intermediate generated exhibits absorbance around 250 nm. The overall results obtained during the present study reveal that in presence of both reducing radical (mainly e _aq ⁻ ) and oxygen, N ₃ ⁻ produced an intermediate possibly NH₂O ₂ ^• radical, which is the prime source for NO ₂ ⁻ generation.     

Comparative study on the synthesis, photoluminescence and application in InGaN-based light-emitting diodes of TAG:Ce phosphors

Cerium-doped terbium aluminum garnet phosphors, Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (TAG:Ce³⁺), were prepared with different methods: co-precipitation (CP), half dry-half wet (HDHW), sol-combustion (SC) and Pechini method plus conventional solid state reaction (SS) method. Comparative study on the phase-formation, particle size, morphologies and luminescent characteristics of the phosphors synthesized with different methods was carried out by means of XRD, FE-SEM and photoluminescence (PL) analysis and SC method was confirmed by the comparison of the results to be an easy and an effective process for preparing efficient and nano-sized Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors. Various factors influencing particle size, morphology and PL of the phosphors, such as precursor preparation, reaction temperature and heating time, were also investigated. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated with each phosphor and a ∼460 nm emitting InGaN chip. The LEDs from SS, HDHW and CP exhibit strong white emission while those from SC and Pechini emit yellow, revealing that the emission characteristics of LEDs are influenced not only by the morphology and the particle size of the phosphors, but also by the preparing process of the phosphors.     

Electronic spectral and photophysical properties of some p-phenylenevinylene oligomers in solution and thin films

A comprehensive photophysical and spectroscopic study of a new class of p-phenylenevinylene oligomers (PPV-trimers) possessing different alkyl and alkyloxy sidechain substituents and different end groups (aldehyde, CC, phenylene and anthracene units) was undertaken in solution at room temperature (293 K), low temperature (77 K) and in thin films. The study comprises absorption, emission and triplet–triplet absorption spectra, together with quantitative measurements of quantum yields (fluorescence, intersystem crossing, internal conversion and singlet oxygen formation) and lifetimes. The data allow the determination of rate constants for all decay processes. From these, several conclusions could be drawn. Changing from alkyl to alkyloxy substituents does not change fluorescence and internal conversion yields but decreases the (already small) intersystem crossing yield. The introduction of anthracene at the terminal ends of the PPV-trimers leads to the lowest fluorescence yield reported in this study. Of particular importance is the fact that the fluorescence quantum yields in films are of the same order of magnitude as those in solution, which suggests the potential for use of these oligomers for light-emitting device applications. With one of the alkyloxy derivatives, a more detailed study of the early part of the fluorescence decay was made, and it was found that upon excitation a fast conformational relaxation process of the initially excited oligomer occurs, leading to a more planar conjugation segment.     

Chiral Phosphino‐ and (Phosphinooxy)‐Substituted N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands and Their Application in Iridium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydrogenation

Enantiomerically pure iridium complexes with phosphino‐ and (phosphinooxy)‐substituted N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands were synthesized. Investigation of their electronic properties showed a similar trans influence of the phosphino (or phosphinooxy) and the NHC units. The complexes were tested in iridium‐catalyzed hydrogenation. While low conversions were observed with unfunctionalized olefins, the catalysts proved to be suitable for hydrogenation of the α,β‐unsaturated ester 20 , allylic alcohol 21 , and imine 22 . The enantioselectivities were, however, moderate.     

3-Nitro-2-naphthalenemethanol: a photocleavable protecting group for carboxylic acids

Photocleavable protecting groups are important in synthesis and caging. Among many such groups, 2-nitrobenzyl and related groups have been found useful in many applications. However, most of the known 2-nitrobenzyl-based caging chromophores show either low quantum yield or the photolysis wavelength is not suitable for various applications. In this paper, we report 2-nitro-3-naphthalenemethanol (NNM) as an efficient photocleavable protecting group for molecules containing a carboxylic function. NNM possesses photochemical properties better than the 2-nitrobenzyl chromophores as it is photoactivatable at 380 nm in aqueous medium (CH₃CN/H₂O, 3:2 v/v) showing the desired photochemistry. The carboxylic acids are efficiently photoreleased from NNM-based esters in almost quantitative yield.