Characterization of aerogel prepared high-surface-area alumina: in situ FTIR study of dehydroxylation and pyridine adsorption

Mesoporous high-surface-area alumina was prepared by a modified aerogel procedure. Specific surface areas between 530-685 m(2)g(-1) were obtained after heat treatment at 500 degrees C. Nitrogen adsorption studies have shown that surface areas and pore characteristics change upon decomposition of aluminum hydroxide to oxide as well as upon compaction of oxide powders. The surface area of aluminum hydroxide increased to a maximum, while the pore volume and diameter decreased as the hydroxide was heated to a temperature of 400 degrees C. Heating at higher temperatures resulted in sintering of the particles accompanied by a decline in the surface area. Compaction of activated alumina into pellets was accompanied by a relatively gradual change in the surface area and pore characteristics at pressures below 6.9 x 10(7) Pa, while severe changes took place at a pressure of 1.4 x 10(8) Pa. In situ IR studies of the dehydroxylation of the alumina surface, showed nu(OH) absorptions for isolated surface hydroxy groups centering at 3670, 3714, and 3765 cm(-1), which are shifted to lower frequencies than common literature values. Pyridine was found to adsorb on Al(3+) ions as well as through hydrogen bonding to relatively acidic surface OH groups, and IR spectra indicated the presence of strong Lewis acid sites.     

Products of the addition of water molecules to Al3O3- clusters: structure, bonding, and electron binding energies in Al3O4H2-, Al3O5H4-, Al3O4H2, and Al3O5H4

Two stable products of reactions of water molecules with the Al3O3- cluster, Al3O4H2- and Al3O5H4-, are studied with electronic structure calculations. There are several minima with similar energies for both anions and the corresponding molecules. Dissociative absorption of a water molecule to produce an anionic cluster with hydroxide ions is thermodynamically favored over the formation of Al3O3-(H2O)n complexes. Vertical electron detachment energies of Al3O4H2- and Al3O5H4- calculated with ab initio electron propagator methods provide a quantitative interpretation of recent anion photoelectron spectra. Contrasts and similarities in these spectra may be explained in terms of the Dyson orbitals associated with each transition energy.     

Synthesis of spherical silver nanoparticles by digestive ripening, stabilization with various agents, and their 3-D and 2-D superlattice formation

Capped nanoparticles of silver were synthesized via the solvated metal atom dispersion (SMAD) technique followed by a digestive ripening procedure producing gram quantities of monodisperse spherical nanoparticles. This shows for the first time that a digestive ripening protocol is possible for an element other than gold. The particle size and optical spectra were found to be dependent on the capping agent used. Particles capped with dodecane thiol had a mean diameter of 6.6+/-1 nm, while trioctyl phosphine capped particles were 6.0+/-2 nm determined via TEM microscopy. These particles were found to organize into two- and three-dimensional superlattices with a well defined geometry through self-assembly in a liquid solution, that was dictated by the ligand used resulting in a triangular or circular lattice.     

Unusual Behavior of Nanocrystalline Strontium Oxide Toward Hydrogen Sulfide

The thermodynamically favored reaction of solid strontium oxide with gaseous hydrogen sulfide is kinetically enhanced to a large degree by the use of higher surface area nanocrystalline SrO in the form of brush-like collections of metal oxide fibers. An unusual feature is that the reaction SrO + H₂S SrS + H₂O proceeds stoichiometrically at room temperature, but at higher temperatures the reaction efficiency goes down, apparently due to rapid temperature induced crystal growth of the nanocrystalline SrO. The samples studied vary in crystallite size from 20 to 27nm, while average particle size (nanocrystal aggregates) varies in the following order; aerogel prepared SrO (100nm) 相似文献   

Structural defects cause TiO2-based photocatalysts to be active in visible light

Oxidation of TiO or Ti2O3 led to the formation of TiO2 with activity in visible light much higher than when TiN was used as a precursor, pointing out the importance of oxygen defects/vacancies for extension of activity of TiO2 into the visible region.     

Synthesis of β‐Hydroxy α‐Sulfanyl Esters by Using Nanocrystalline Magnesium Oxide

Aldol‐type reaction between electron deficient aldehydes and sulfonium salts to afford the corresponding β‐hydroxy α‐sulfanyl esters in moderate‐to‐good yields by using nanocrystalline MgO is described. The sulfanyl group is a useful group for further transformations in organic synthesis. Low R_f‐value isomer is anti‐configured as revealed by X‐ray diffraction study and consistent with the assignment of ¹H‐NMR spectrum.