Reaction pathway for the nonadiabatic reaction of Ca(4s3d 1D)+H2-->CaH(X 2Sigma+)+H

The reaction pathway and the nascent CaH product distribution in the reaction Ca(4s3d (1)D)+H(2)-->CaH(X (2)Sigma(+))+H are obtained using a pump-probe technique. The Ca atom is first prepared in the 3 (1)D state by a two-photon absorption, and then in brief time delay the laser-induced fluorescence of the reaction product CaH is monitored. The CaH(v=0,1) distributions appear to be single peaked, as characterized by Boltzmann rotational temperature of 807+/-38 K (v=0) and 684+/-77 K (v=1). The vibrational population ratio of CaH(v=0)/CaH(v=1) is determined to be 3.3+/-0.1, while the v=2 population is not detectable. The fractions of the available energy partitioning into rotation, vibration, and translation are estimated to be 0.36+/-0.05, 0.28+/-0.04, and 0.36+/-0.05, respectively. With the aid of the potential energy surfaces calculations, the current reaction should favor a near C(2v) collision configuration. The temperature dependence measurement yields a positive slope, indicative of the reaction occurrence without any potential barrier. The colliding species are anticipated to follow an attractive 1B(2) (or 2A') surface and then transit nonadiabatically to the reactive ground state surface.     

Reaction pathway and potential barrier for the CaH product in the reaction of Ca(4s4p1P1) + H2 --> CaH(X2Sigma+) + H

The nascent CaH product in the reaction Ca(4s4p1P1) + H2 --> CaH(X2Sigma+) + H is obtained using a pump-probe technique. The CaH(v = 0,1) distributions, with a population ratio of CaH(v = 0)/CaH(v = 1) = 2.7+/-0.2, may be characterized by low Boltzmann rotational temperature. According to Arrhenius theory, the temperature dependence measurement yields a potential barrier of 3820+/-480 cm(-1) for the current reaction. As a result of the potential energy surfaces (PES) calculations, the reaction pathway favors a Ca insertion into the H2 bond along a (near) C2v geometric approach. As the H2 bond is elongated, the configurational mixing between the orbital components of the 4p and nearby low-lying 3d state with the same symmetry makes significant the nonadiabatic transition between the 5A' and 2A' surface in the repulsive limbs. Therefore, the collision species are anticipated to track along the 5A' surface, then undergo nonadiabatic transition to the inner limb of the 2A' surface, and finally cross to the reactive 1A' surface. The observed energy barrier probably accounts for the energy requirement to surmount the repulsive hill in the entrance. The findings of the nascent CaH product distributions may be reasonably interpreted from the nature of the intermediate structure and lifetime after the 2A'-1A' surface transition. The distinct product distributions between the Ca(4 1P1) and Mg(3 1P1) reactions with H2 may also be realized with the aid of the PES calculations.     

Reaction dynamics of Ca(4s3d 1D2)+CH4-->CaH(X 2Sigma+)+CH3: reaction pathway and energy disposal for the CaH product

The reaction pathway for Ca(4s3d 1D2)+CH4-->CaH(X 2Sigma+)+CH3 has been investigated by using a pump-probe technique in combination with potential-energy surface (PES) calculations. The nascent product distributions of CaH have been characterized with Boltzmann rotational temperatures of 1013+/-102 and 834+/-70 K for the v=0 and 1 levels, respectively, and a Boltzmann vibrational temperature of 1313+/-173 K. The rotational and vibrational energy partitions in CaH have been estimated to be 461+/-45 and 252+/-15 cm(-1), respectively. According to the PES calculations, the pathway favors an insertion mechanism. Ca(3 1D2) approaches CH4 along an attractive potential surface in a C2v (or Cs) symmetry and then the collision complex undergoes nonadiabatic transition to the reactive ground-state surface. An Arrhenius plot shows a potential-energy requirement of 2695+/-149 cm(-1), which accounts for the endothermicity of 2930 cm(-1) for the reaction scheme. The Ca-C bond distance in the transition state structure is short enough to allow for tight orbital overlap between CaH and CH3. The strong coupling between the moieties renders the energy transfer sufficient from CaH into the CH3 radical. As compared to the Ca(4 1P1) reaction, the dissociation lifetime of the intermediate complex with less excess energy is prolonged so as to cause much less vibrational energy disposal into CaH.     

Hydrogen storage of metal nitride by a mechanochemical reaction

Metal imides (Li(2)NH, CaNH), a metal amide (LiNH(2)) and metal hydrides (LiH, CaH(2)) were synthesized by ball milling of their respective metal nitrides (Li(3)N, Ca(3)N(2)) in a H(2) atmosphere at 1 MPa and at room temperature.     

Reduction and oxidation of SrCoO(2.5) thin films at low temperatures

Brownmillerite SrCoO(2.5) (010) thin films synthesized by pulsed laser deposition became amorphous when reduced at low temperatures by CaH(2), indicating that the infinite-layer structure with the square planar Co(2+)O(4) configuration is unstable. Ferromagnetic and conducting perovskite SrCoO(3) epitaxial thin films, on the other hand, were obtained topotactically at room temperature by oxidation with NaClO.     

Calcium borohydride for hydrogen storage: catalysis and reversibility

We demonstrate a new solid-state synthesis route to prepare calcium borohydride, Ca(BH4)2, by reacting a ball-milled mixture of CaB(6) and CaH(2) in a molar ratio of 1:2 at 700 bar of H2 pressure and 400-440 degrees C. Moreover, doping with catalysts was found to be crucial to enhance reaction kinetics. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry revealed a reversible low-temperature to high-temperature endothermic phase transition at 140 degrees C and another endothermic phase transition at 350-390 degrees C associated with hydrogen release upon formation of CaB(6) and CaH(2), as was evident from X-ray diffraction analysis. Thus, since Ca(BH(4))(2) here is shown to be prepared from its anticipated decomposition products, the conclusion is that it has potential to be utilized as a reversible hydrogen storage material. The theoretical reversible capacity was 9.6 wt % hydrogen.     

Ca(AlH4)2, CaAlH5, and CaH2+6LiBH4: Calculated dehydrogenation enthalpy, including zero point energy, and the structure of the phonon spectra

The dehydrogenation enthalpies of Ca(AlH(4))(2), CaAlH(5), and CaH(2)+6LiBH(4) have been calculated using density functional theory calculations at the generalized gradient approximation level. Harmonic phonon zero point energy (ZPE) corrections have been included using Parlinski's direct method. The dehydrogenation of Ca(AlH(4))(2) is exothermic, indicating a metastable hydride. Calculations for CaAlH(5) including ZPE effects indicate that it is not stable enough for a hydrogen storage system operating near ambient conditions. The destabilized combination of LiBH(4) with CaH(2) is a promising system after ZPE-corrected enthalpy calculations. The calculations confirm that including ZPE effects in the harmonic approximation for the dehydrogenation of Ca(AlH(4))(2), CaAlH(5), and CaH(2)+6LiBH(4) has a significant effect on the calculated reaction enthalpy. The contribution of ZPE to the dehydrogenation enthalpies of Ca(AlH(4))(2) and CaAlH(5) calculated by the direct method phonon analysis was compared to that calculated by the frozen-phonon method. The crystal structure of CaAlH(5) is presented in the more useful standard setting of P2(1)c symmetry and the phonon density of states of CaAlH(5), significantly different to other common complex metal hydrides, is rationalized.     

Reactivity of [HC{(C(Me)N(Dipp))}2Ca{N(SiMe3)2}(THF)] (Dipp = C6H3Pr2-2,6) with C-H acids: Synthesis of heteroleptic calcium η-organometallics

A series of heteroleptic calcium η⁵-C₅R₅ cyclopentadienides supported by an N-Dipp (Dipp = 2,6-ⁱPr₂C₆H₃)-substituted β-diketiminate ligand have been synthesised by selective protonolysis of the readily available reagent [HC{(C(Me)N(Dipp))}₂Ca{N(SiMe₃)₂}(THF)] with tetramethylcyclopentadiene, fluorene, indene or cyclopentadiene. No reaction was observed with pentamethylcyclopentadiene, presumably for steric reasons. The tetramethylcyclopentadienyl, fluorenyl and indenyl compounds were characterised by variable temperature ¹H NMR and X-ray crystallography. Each complex was found to exist as a mononuclear species both in solution and in the solid state and to be highly sterically crowded, as evidenced by the variable temperature NMR studies. DFT (B3LYP/LANL2DZ) calculations on the model complexes [CaH(C₅Me₄H)], [CaH(C₁₃H₉)] and [CaH(C₉H₇)] indicate that the precise structures of such heteroleptic compounds are a result of both stereoelectronic and steric influences. Attempts to isolate the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl were unsuccessful, but resulted in the crystallographic analysis of the dimeric calcium siloxide [HC{(C(Me)N(Dipp))}₂Ca(μ-OSiMe₃)]₂.     

Sr(3)Co(2)O(4.33)h(0.84): an extended transition metal oxide-hydride

Reaction of the n = 2 Ruddlesden-Popper oxide Sr(3)Co(2)O(5.80) with CaH(2) yields an extended oxide-hydride phase: Sr(3)Co(2)O(4.33)H(0.84). Neutron powder diffraction data reveal the material adopts a body-centered orthorhombic structure (Immm: a = 3.7551(5) ?, b = 3.7048(4) ?, c = 21.480(3) ?) in which the hydride ions are accommodated within disordered CoO(1.16)H(0.46) layers. Low temperature neutron powder diffraction data show no evidence for long-range magnetic order, suggesting the chemical disorder in the anion lattice of the material leads to magnetic frustration.     

High-performance hydrogen production and oxidation electrodes with hydrogenase supported on metallic single-wall carbon nanotube networks

We studied the electrocatalytic activity of an [FeFe]-hydrogenase from Clostridium acetobutylicum (CaH2ase) immobilized on single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks. SWNT networks were prepared on carbon cloth by ultrasonic spraying of suspensions with predetermined ratios of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes. Current densities for both proton reduction and hydrogen oxidation electrocatalytic activities were at least 1 order of magnitude higher when hydrogenase was immobilized onto SWNT networks with high metallic tube (m-SWNT) content in comparison to hydrogenase supported on networks with low metallic tube content or when SWNTs were absent. We conclude that the increase in electrocatalytic activities in the presence of SWNTs was mainly due to the m-SWNT fraction and can be attributed to (i) substantial increases in the active electrode surface area, and (ii) improved electronic coupling between CaH2ase redox-active sites and the electrode surface.     

Ab initio prediction of the potential energy surface and vibrational-rotational energy levels of calcium dihydride, CaH2

The equilibrium structure and potential energy surface of calcium dihydride, CaH(2), have been determined from large-scale ab initio calculations using the coupled-cluster method, CCSD(T), in conjunction with basis sets of quadruple- and quintuple-zeta quality. The CaH(2) molecule was found to be quasilinear. The HCaH bending potential function was predicted to be extraordinarily flat near the minimum, located at the HCaH angle of 164 degrees. The barrier to linearity was calculated to be just 6 cm(-1). The vibrational-rotational energy levels of various isotopomers were predicted using the variational method. The calculated vibrational fundamental frequencies are in good agreement with the results of matrix-isolation studies, and the other predicted spectroscopic constants can assist in the future detection of calcium dihydride in the gas phase.     

A theoretical study of calcium monohydride, CaH: low-lying states and their permanent electric dipole moments

Potential energy curves, energy parameters, and spectroscopic values for the X (2)Sigma(+), A (2)Pi, B (2)Sigma(+), a (4)Pi, and b (4)Sigma(+), states of CaH have been calculated using the multireference configuration interaction and coupled cluster levels of theory, while employing quantitative basis sets (of augmented quintuple-zeta quality) and taking also into account core/valence correlation and one-electron relativistic effects. For the ground (X (2)Sigma(+)) and the first two following excited states (A (2)Pi, B (2)Sigma(+)) of CaH, the permanent electric dipole moments have been calculated. Our best finite field dipole moment of the A (2)Pi state of 2.425 D (upsilon = 0) is in very good agreement with the experimental literature value of 2.372(12) D. However, a discrepancy is observed in the dipole moment of the X (2)Sigma(+) state. Our most extensive calculation gives mu = 2.623 D (upsilon = 0), which is considerably smaller than the experimental value of mu = 2.94(16) D (upsilon = 0). Small van der Waals minima were found for both "repulsive" quartet states. Spectroscopic constants and energy parameters for all states are in remarkable agreement with available experimental values.     

Pd-catalyzed regio- and stereoselective cyclization-heck reaction of monoesters of 1,2-allenyl phosphonic acids with alkenes

[reaction: see text] The cyclization-Heck reactions of monoesters of 1, 2-allenyl phosphonic acids with alkenes were studied. The reaction afforded 4-(1-Z-alkenyl)-2-ethoxy-2,5-dihydro[1,2]oxaphosphole 2-oxides regio- and stereoselectively. Pd(II) was regenerated from the in situ formed Pd(0) using CaH2(cat.)/NaI/O2 or benzoquinone to furnish the catalytic cycle.     

Structures and thermochemistry of calcium-containing molecules

A variety of theoretical procedures, including the high-level ab initio methods G3, G3[CC](dir,full), and W2C//ACQ, have been used to predict the structures and heats of formation of several small calcium-containing molecules (CaH, CaH2, CaO, CaOH, Ca(OH)2, CaF, CaF2, CaS, CaCl, and CaCl2). B3-LYP and CCSD(T) with both the (aug-)cc-pWCVQZ and (aug-)cc-pWCVQ+dZ basis sets are found to give molecular geometries that agree well with the experimental results. The CCSD(T)(riv)/(aug-)cc-pWCVQ+dZ results are found to be the most accurate, with a mean absolute deviation from experiment of just 0.008 angstroms. Zero-point vibrational energies (ZPVEs) and thermochemical corrections are found to be relatively insensitive to the level of theory, except in the case of molecules with highly anharmonic calcium-centered bending modes (CaH2, Ca(OH)2, CaF2, CaCl2), where special procedures need to be employed in order to obtain satisfactory results. Several potential improvements to the W2C method were investigated, most of which do not produce significant changes in the heats of formation. It was observed, however, that for CaO and CaS the scalar relativistic corrections are unexpectedly large and highly basis set dependent. In these cases, Douglas-Kroll CCSD(T)/(aug-)cc-pWCV5Z calculations appear to give a converged result. The G3[CC](dir,full) and best W2C-type heats of formation are both found generally to agree well with experimental values recommended in recent critical compendia. However, in some cases (CaO, Ca(OH)2, and CaF2), they differ from one another by more than their predicted error margins. The available experimental data are not sufficiently precise to distinguish definitively between the two sets of results although, in general, when discrepancies exist the W2C heats of formation are lower in energy and tend to be in better agreement with experiment. In the case of CaO, the W2C heat of formation (20.7 kJ mol(-1)) is approximately 20 kJ mol(-1) lower than the G3[CC](dir, full) result and most of the experimental data. Extensive investigation of possible refinements of the W2C method has failed to reveal any weaknesses that could account for this discrepancy. We therefore believe that the heat of formation of CaO is likely to lie closer to the more recent direct experimental determination of 27 kJ mol(-1) than to the value of approximately 40 kJ mol(-1) recommended in recent thermochemical reviews.     

Features and mechanism of H- anion emission from 12 CaO x 7 Al2O3 surface

The hydrogen anion (H-) and other anionic species (O-, OH-, e-) in the gas phase, emitted from the synthesized crystal surface of 12 CaO x 7 Al2O3-H- (C12A7-H-), have been observed. The emission intensity of all the anionic species strongly depends on the sample surface temperature and the extraction field. H- has the highest emission branch ratio, and the extraction field can reduce its apparent activation energy. H- emission current at a microA/cm2-level has been achieved, which is about 4 orders of magnitude higher than that obtained from the thermal desorption process of CaH2. The observed anions of H- and OH- are attributed to their migration from the C12A7-H- cages onto the surface [i.e., Y-(cages) --> Y-(surface) --> Y-(gas phase) (Y = H, OH)]. The weak O- and electron emission would both arise from the dissociation of O2-: O2-(surface) --> O-(surface) + e-(surface) --> O-(gas phase) + e-(space).     

Functions of MgH(2) in hydrogen storage reactions of the 6LiBH(4)-CaH(2) reactive hydride composite

A significant improvement of hydrogen storage properties was achieved by introducing MgH(2) into the 6LiBH(4)-CaH(2) system. It was found that ～8.0 wt% of hydrogen could be reversibly stored in a 6LiBH(4)-CaH(2)-3MgH(2) composite below 400 °C and 100 bar of hydrogen pressure with a stepwise reaction, which is superior to the pristine 6LiBH(4)-CaH(2) and LiBH(4) samples. Upon dehydriding, MgH(2) first decomposed to convert to Mg and liberate hydrogen with an on-set temperature of ～290 °C. Subsequently, LiBH(4) reacted with CaH(2) to form CaB(6) and LiH in addition to further hydrogen release. Hydrogen desorption from the 6LiBH(4)-CaH(2)-3MgH(2) composite finished at ～430 °C in non-isothermal model, a 160 °C reduction relative to the 6LiBH(4)-CaH(2) sample. JMA analyses revealed that hydrogen desorption was a diffusion-controlled reaction rather than an interface reaction-controlled process. The newly produced Mg of the first-step dehydrogenation possibly acts as the heterogeneous nucleation center of the resultant products of the second-step dehydrogenation, which diminishes the energy barrier and facilitates nucleation and growth, consequently reducing the operating temperature and improving the kinetics of hydrogen storage.     

A cold and slow molecular beam

Employing a two-stage cryogenic buffer gas cell, we produce a cold, hydrodynamically extracted beam of calcium monohydride molecules with a near effusive velocity distribution. Beam dynamics, thermalization and slowing are studied using laser spectroscopy. The key to this hybrid, effusive-like beam source is a "slowing cell" placed immediately after a hydrodynamic, cryogenic source [Patterson et al., J. Chem. Phys., 2007, 126, 154307]. The resulting CaH beams are created in two regimes. In one regime, a modestly boosted beam has a forward velocity of v(f) = 65 m s(-1), a narrow velocity spread, and a flux of 10(9) molecules per pulse. In the other regime, our slowest beam has a forward velocity of v(f) = 40 m s(-1), a longitudinal temperature of 3.6 K, and a flux of 5 × 10(8) molecules per pulse.     

Towards accurate ab initio calculations on the vibrational modes of the alkaline earth metal hydrides

The fundamental modes of the alkaline earth metal hydrides (BeH2, MgH2, CaH2) and their dimers, HX(H)2XH, have been studied by vibrational configuration-interaction calculations based on very accurate potential energy surfaces. Comparison with experimental data obtained from matrix isolation and gas phase measurements is provided and the agreement was found to be excellent for the monomers but poor for the dimers. In addition, many fundamental bands are predicted which have not yet been detected experimentally.     

Preparation of iron,aluminium, calcium,magnesium, and zinc humates for environmental applications

A few non-conventional humate sorbents, i.e. iron humate (FeH), aluminium humate (AlH), calcium humate (CaH), magnesium humate (MgH), and zinc humate (ZnH), were prepared from a commercial product Fortehum L/K (Humatex, Bílina, Czech Republic). The metal content in humates was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis, the organic elements (C, H, N, and S) were analysed by an Elementar Vario III and the functional groups were determined by classical methods using KBr pellets and diffuse reflection infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). FeH, AlH, and ZnH were tested as sorbents for the removal of inorganic or organic pollutants (metals, inorganic ions, dyes, and chlorophenols) from waste water. Sorption properties decreased in order: ZnH, AlH, FeH. CaH and MgH are partly soluble and therefore they are not usable as sorbents. However, their ion-exchange abilities for heavy metals are excellent which makes them usable for phytoremediation and bioremediation.     

Chemiluminescence of CaH and AIH in the reaction of the metal atoms and formaldehyde

Chemiluminescence from the reaction of calcium and aluminum with various hydrogen containing compounds in a flowing gas system and in a heat pipe oven are described. Red chemiluminescence of CaH was observed in the reaction of calcium, and weak chemiluminescence of AlH was seen in the reaction of aluminum with formaldehyde (H₂CO). It is proposed that a reaction between metal atoms and formaldehyde may be used as a source of diatomic metallic hydrides.