Flame Temperature Effect on the Structure of SiC Nanoparticles Grown by Laser Pyrolysis

Small SiC nanoparticles (10 nm diameter) have been grown in a flow reactor by CO₂ laser pyrolysis from a C₂H₂ and SiH₄ mixture. The laser radiation is strongly absorbed by SiH₄ vibration. The energy is transferred to the reactive medium and leads to the dissociation of molecules and the subsequent growth of the nanoparticles. The reaction happens with a flame. The purpose of the experiments reported in this paper is to limit the size of the growing particles to the nanometric scale for which specific properties are expected to appear. Therefore the effects of experimental parameters on the structure and chemical composition of nanoparticles have been investigated. For a given reactive mixture and gas velocity, the flame temperature is governed by the laser power. In this study, the temperature was varied from 875°C to 1100°C. The chemical analysis of the products indicate that their composition is a function of the temperature. For the same C/Si atomic ratio in the gaseous phase, the C/Si ratio in the powder increases from 0.7 at 875°C up to 1.02 at 1100°C, indicating a growth mechanism limited by C₂H₂ dissociation. As expected, X-ray diffraction has shown an improved crystallisation with increasing temperature. Transmission electron microscopy observations have revealed the formation of 10 nm grains for all values of laser power (or flame temperature). These grains appear amorphous at low temperature, whereas they contain an increasing number of nanocrystals (2 nm diameter) when the temperature increases. These results pave the way to a better control of the structure and chemical composition of laser synthesised SiC nanoparticles in the 10 nm range.     

Crystal Structures of 1,3-Calix[4]-bis-crown-6·3CH3CN and 1,3-Calix[4]-bis-(benzo-crown-6)·3 CH3CN

The crystal structures of a new solvate of the ditopic receptor 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crown-6, Bis-C6, and of 1,3-calix[4]-bis-(benzo-crown-6), Bis-benzoC6, are reported. Bis-C6.3 CH3CN (1) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n, a = 14.388(3), b = 26.947(8), c = 14.707(4) Å, = 113.19(3)°, V = 5241(5) Å3, Z = 4. Refinement led to a final conventional R value of 0.092 for 2723 reflections. The structure of (1) differs from the previously reported structure of Bis-C6.4 CH3CN by the conformation of one crown either chain. Two acetonitrile molecules are in the close neighbourhood of the crown ether cavities. Bis-benzoC6.3 CH3CN (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c, a = 10.391(4), b = 17.264(11), c = 30.426(9) Å, = 94.62(3)°, V = 5440(7) Å3, Z = 4. Refinement led to a final conventional R value of 0.106 for 2965 reflections. Two acetonitrile molecules are located near the crown ether cavities, as in (1). One of the crown ether conformations is the same as in the binuclear caesium complex of Bis-benzoC6, supporting the hypothesis of a preorganization of this ligand towards the complexation of this ion; the second crown ether chain is partially disordered.     

Synthesis and complexing properties of a double-calix[4]arene crown ether

The template synthesis of copper(II) phthalocyanine by the condensation of dicyanobenzene within the supercages of Cu(II) exchanged X and Y type zeolites was studied using differential scanning calorimetry. The exotherms for intrazeolite and surface complexation have been resolved. These thermal events exhibit a dependence on the copper loading and hydration level which has been interpreted as a pressure effect.     

Investigation of U(VI) extraction with calixarene: Application to analysis of urine sample

A macrocyclic molecule, the calix[6]arene 4₆, functionalized with carboxy groups, has been studied and its extraction efficiency towards uranium determined in a two phases solvent-extraction system. Two solvents, dichloromethane and benzene were used to follow uranium extraction from media containing sodium ions. The study of the extraction parameters allowed proposing an extraction scheme with each solvent. The extraction efficiency was found to increase with pH, with an optimal efficiency of nearly 100%. No decrease of uranium extraction was observed in synthetic solutions containing sodium ions (spiked with²²Na) and/or²³⁹Pu. Under specific conditions, almost 100% of uranium have been extracted by the calixarene from real urine samples.     

Synthesis and Complexation Studies of a Tetra(N,N-dimethyl) Aminoethylamide p-tert-butyl Calix[4]arene and Its Tetramethylammonium Derivative

We describe the synthesis of two functionalised p-tert-butyl calix[4]arenes: tetra(N,N-dimethyl) aminoethylamide derivative 1 and related tetramethylammonium 2. Their complexation properties towards alkali and zinc metal cations are reported along with complexation of perchlorate anion by 2.     

Crystal and molecular structures of binuclear caesium complexes with 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crown-6 and 1,3-calix[4]-bis-benzo-crown-6

The crystal structures of two binuclear complexes between caesium and 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crowns have been determined. Cs₂ Bis-benzoC6(NO₃)₂. 3CHCl₃ (1) in whichBis-benzoC6 is 1,3-calix[4]-bis-benzo-crown-6, crystallizes in the orthorhombic system: space groupPca2 ₁ a=19.513(10),b=15.382(5),c=23.708(9) Å,V=7116(5) ų,Z=4. Refinement led to a final conventionalR value of 0.065 for 2321 reflections. The structure of (1) is analogous to those already reported withBis-C6, (in whichBis-C6 is, 1,3-calix[4]-bis-crown-6) and NO ₃ ^– as a counter-ion. Cs₂ Bis-C6(NCS)₂ (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic system: space, groupC2 a=36.57(2),b=11.47(1),c=13.65(1) Å, =109.03(5)°.,V=5415(6) ų,Z=4. Refinement led to a final conventionalR value of 0.063 for 2227 reflections. Compound (2) is made of dimers bridged by a disordered NCS^– ion. The crown ether chain conformations are discussed. Supplementary data relating to this article (atomic coordinates, anisotropic displacement parameters, bond distances and angles and observed and calculated structure factors) are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82199 (52 pages).     

Effect of alkali ions (Na+, K+) on the solvent extraction of uranium(VI) with a di-carboxylated calix[4] arene

The solvent extraction of uranium(VI) with a di-carboxylated calix[4]arne (LH₂) in chloroform and 1,2-dichloroethane has been studied in the presence or absence of alkali ions (M=Na⁺,K⁺). For UO ₂ ²⁺ when studied alone, a 12 (metal: ligand) extracted species is evidenced, with a rather low associated extraction equilibrium constant. The efficiency of extraction increases drastically in the presence of alkali ions, due to the formation of heteronuclear complexes. In all cases, the extracted species are found to be both 122 and 112 (UO ₂ ²⁺ MLH₂) mixed complexes, except in chloroform with K⁺, where only the latter is formed. In the case of Na⁺, mass spectrometry spectra confirm the existence of both homo and heteronuclear complexes as determined in the extraction studies.     

Synthesis of tripodal aza crown ether calix[4]arenes and their supramolecular chemistry with transition-, alkali metal ions and anions

Tripodal aza crown ether calix[4]arenes, 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b, have been synthesized. The structure of protonated 5a was elucidated by X-ray crystallography to be a self-threaded rotaxane. Complexation studies of 5a and 5b towards anions using Na⁺ as countercation were carried out by ¹H NMR titration in dimethylsulfoxide-d₆ and the mixture of chloroform-d and methanol-d₄, respectively. Ligands 5a and 5b were able to form 1:1 complexes with Br⁻, I⁻ and NO₃⁻ and the complexation stability varied as follows: NO₃⁻>I⁻>Br⁻. The effect of countercation on anion complexation was also investigated. The results showed that the association constants of 5a towards Br⁻ in the presence of various cations varied as K⁺>Bu₄N⁺>Na⁺. The enhancement in anion complexation ability of 5a may result from the rearrangement of the tripodal ammonium unit in the presence of K⁺. The neutral forms, 6a and 6b, were able to form complexes with transition metal ions such as Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. The stability of the complexes followed the sequence: Ni²⁺2+Cu²⁺Zn²⁺. Compounds 6a and 6b may, therefore, potentially be used as either transition metal ion or anion receptors that can be controlled by pH of the solution.