Analysis of polyaddition levels in i-Sc3NC80

Using the density functional method, the stabilities of highly hydrogenated and fluorinated [80]fullerenes, both empty and containing the Sc3N molecule, have been calculated. Addition of 44 atoms to i-Sc3NC80 is predicted to be most favorable due to the formation of six octahedrally located benzenoid rings, while addition of up to 52 atoms (consistent with preliminary fluorination data) gives a structure stabilized by the presence of four benzenoid rings. The most stable isomers at this addition level have been determined and the relative stabilities of a number of C80H52, C80F52, and i-Sc3NC80H52 species calculated. The hydrogenation of the i-Sc3NC80 has been computed to be more difficult than the corresponding partner, C80. From the geometrical point of view, the Sc3N molecule is planar in the parent [80]fullerene but is calculated to be pyramidal in some of the hydrogenated/fluorinated derivatives. Moreover, in these it has fixed locations due to orbital interactions arising from deformation of the cage and the presence of localized double bonds.     

A Titration Microcalorimetric Study of the Effects of Halide Counterions on Vesicle-Forming Aggregation in Aqueous Solution of Branched-Chain Alkylpyridinium Surfactants

Titration microcalorimetry is used to study the influences of iodide, bromide, and chloride counterions on the aggregation of vesicle-forming 1-methyl-4-(2-pentylheptyl)pyridinium halide surfactants. Formation of vesicles by these surfactants was characterised using transmission electron microscopy. When the counterion is changed at 303 K through the series iodide, bromide, to chloride, the critical vesicular concentration (cvc) increases and the enthalpy of vesicle formation changes from exo- to endothermic. With increase in temperature to 333 K, vesicle formation becomes strongly exothermic. Increasing the temperature leads to a decrease in enthalpy and entropy of vesicle formation for all three surfactants. However the standard Gibbs energy for vesicle formation is, perhaps surprisingly, largely unaffected by an increase in temperature, as a consequence of a compensating change in both standard entropy and standard enthalpy of vesicle formation. Interestingly, standard isobaric heat capacities of vesicle formation are negative, large in magnitude but not strikingly dependent on the counterion. We conclude that the driving force for vesicle formation can be understood in terms of overlap of the thermally labile hydrophobic hydration shells of the alkyl chains. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Effects of Adsorbed Polyaniline on Redox Process on MoO3 Surface

The effects exhibited by adsorbed conducting polyaniline on the redox process on a molybdenum oxide surface were studied. Thermogravimetric results indicate a 4% polyaniline deposition. Cyclic voltammograms of the adsorbed polymer on MoO3 show that polyaniline exerts remarkable effects on the molybdenum blue oxidation-reduction process, with oxidation and reduction potentials of 0.33 and 0.18 V, respectively. This effect strongly enhances the electrode response, and can be used as an important tool in qualitative and/or quantitative determinations of molybdenum in solution as well as in any substrate. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.