Distribution and structure of N atoms in multiwalled carbon nanotubes using variable-energy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

We investigated the inhomogeneous distribution of concentration and electronic structure of the nitrogen (N) atoms doped in the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by variable-energy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption near-edge structure, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The vertically aligned N-doped CNTs on the substrates were grown via pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine (FePc), cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc), and nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) in the temperature range 750-1000 degrees C. They usually have a bamboo-like structure, and the diameter is in the range of 15-80 nm. As the photon energy of XPS increases from 475 to 1265 eV, the N content increases up to 8 atomic %, indicating a higher N concentration at the inside of nanotubes. We identified three typed N structures: graphite-like, pyridine-like, and molecular N(2). The pyridine-like N structure becomes significant at the inner walls. Molecular N(2) would exist as intercalated forms in the vicinity of hollow inside. The XPS valence band analysis reveals that the pyridine-like N structure induces the metallic behaviors. The CNTs grown using NiPc contain the higher content of pyridine-like structure compared to those grown using FePc and CoPc, so they exhibit more metallic properties.     

Determination of CoSi2 self-aligned nanostructures with grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Self-aligned nanostructures (SAN) made by reacting Co nanoparticles with crystalline Si substrates at high temperatures were studied with grazing incidence X-ray absorption spectroscopy (GI-XAS). The results from extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) were used to identify SAN as crystalline CoSi2. Theoretical calculations of EXAFS and XANES spectra of several crystalline cobalt silicides were performed with the FEFF8 package. On the basis of these studies, the SAN samples were determined to contain nearly pure CoSi2.     

Local structure of nitrogen atoms in a porphine ring of mesophenyl substituted porphyrin with an electron-withdrawing group using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

This study investigated the protonation of nitrogen atoms in porphyrins with meso-phenyl p-substituted by an electron-withdrawing group using N 1s X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the N K X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and the discrete variational (DV)-Xalpha molecular orbital (MO) method. Both tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP) have a single structure: the former has two protonated and two non-protonated N atoms in the porphine ring; the latter has four protonated N atoms in the porphine ring. In contrast, a combination of XPS, XANES, and DV-Xalpha MO calculations shows that tetrakis(p-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) has a dual structure: one structure has two protonated and two non-protonated N atoms; the other has four protonated N atoms. Furthermore, this result was also considered based on the protonation constants of N atoms in the porphyrins. The correlation between the strength of electron-withdrawing groups and protonation to N atoms in porphyrins can be described using the spectral patterns of the N 1s XPS and N K XANES spectra.     

原子层沉积制备掺氮碳膜修饰的 Pt/CNTs 实现甲醇高效电催化氧化

甲醇燃料电池作为一种清洁、高效的能源转化形式广受关注. 贵金属 Pt 是甲醇燃料电池阳极催化剂不可缺少的活性组分, 但 Pt 价格昂贵, 易与 CO 等中间体强相互作用而中毒失活, 从而限制了甲醇燃料电池的广泛应用. 因此, 如何提高Pt 的利用率成为一个关键问题. 研究表明, 在碳材料载体中掺杂氮元素, 改变了载体本身的表面结构和电子性质, 有利于Pt 颗粒的成核和生长, 可获得尺寸小、分布均匀的 Pt 纳米颗粒, 能显著提升催化反应活性和 Pt 利用率. 然而, 传统的氮掺杂方法需要在高温、高压及氨气条件下进行, 增加了催化剂制备难度和成本.原子层沉积技术是逐层超薄沉积技术, 能够在原子级别精确控制膜的厚度, 既可制备尺度均一、高度可控的纳米粒子,也能实现材料表面的可控超薄修饰. 本课题组利用原子层沉积技术优势, 首先在碳纳米管表面沉积了直径 2 nm 左右的 Pt纳米颗粒, 然后在 Pt 纳米颗粒外表面超薄修饰聚酰亚胺膜, 通过后处理得到多孔掺氮碳膜修饰的 Pt/CNTs 催化剂. 碳膜的厚度可简单通过调控聚酰亚胺膜的沉积厚度来控制. 结果表明, 适当厚度的碳膜修饰 Pt/CNTs 催化剂可显著提升其甲醇电氧化性能, 电流密度可达商业 20% Pt/C 的 2.7 倍, 催化剂稳定性也显著改善. 然而碳膜修饰过厚会导致催化剂活性降低.通过计算催化剂电化学活性表面积发现, 超薄修饰碳膜后催化剂活性表面积有所降低, 这是由于碳膜的覆盖导致表面 Pt原子数减少. 修饰前后催化剂颗粒尺度变化不大, 推测催化剂活性的提高与形成了有利于催化反应的 Pt-碳膜界面有关.然而, 当碳膜修饰层过厚时, 会导致反应物分子难以扩散到 Pt 颗粒表面, 使催化剂活性降低. 预吸附单层 CO 溶出实验结果表明, 多孔掺氮碳膜超薄修饰 Pt/CNTs 催化剂后, CO 氧化峰的起始电位和峰值电位都向低电位处偏移, 这表明 Pt 表面吸附的 CO 在较低电位下即可被氧化, CO 更容易从 Pt 表面移除, 从而提高了催化剂的抗 CO 毒化能力. X 射线光电子能谱实验结果进一步表明, 经多孔掺氮碳膜修饰后, Pt 的 4f 电子向高结合能处偏移, 表明 Pt 原子周围的电子密度减小, 从而弱化了 Pt 对 CO 吸附的σ-π键反馈作用, 即减弱了 Pt 原子对 CO 的吸附, 这是导致掺氮碳膜修饰后催化剂活性及稳定性都大幅提高的原因.     

含钴介孔分子筛催化热解乙醇制备纳米碳管

以CTAB为模板剂,硅酸钠、氯化钴为原料,通过水热法合成含钴介孔分子筛(Co-MCM-41)。以所合成的Co-MCM-41做催化剂,采用化学气相沉积(CVD)法催化热解乙醇制备纳米碳管。通过XRD、FT-IR、TEM、N2吸附-脱附和Raman光谱等分析手段对所合成的介孔分子筛和纳米碳管进行了表征。结果表明:合成的Co-MCM-41样品具有MCM-41的介孔结构,比表面积较大且介孔有序性较好。以所合成的含钴介孔分子筛催化热解乙醇制备出管径均匀、管壁较厚、顶端开口的多壁纳米碳管。     

Electronic structure analysis of iron(III)-porphyrin complexes by X-ray absorption spectra at the C, N and Fe K-edges.

X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements at the C, N, and Fe K absorption edges were performed for iron(III)-tetraphenylporphyrin (FeTPP), iron(III)-tetrakis(p-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (FeTCPP), and iron(III)-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (FeTSPP). The spectral shapes differ in the Fe K XANES, but not in C and N K XANES among FeTPP, FeTCPP, and FeTSPP. Crosschecks of XANES data for C, N, and Fe K absorption edges in combination with discrete variational (DV)-Xalpha molecular orbital (MO) calculations indicate that each p-electron-withdrawing group on four meso-phenyl substitutes in an Fe(III)-porphyrin complex brings about a unique electron state through the complex because of the electron-withdrawal strength, itself. Consequently, they affect the positive charge of the center Fe(III) ion.     

Three-dimensional local structure of photoexcited Cu diimine complex refined by quantitative XANES analysis

The structural details of [Cu(dmp) 2] (+) (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) at its metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) excited-state in acetonitrile were extracted using quantitative analysis of Cu K-edge X-ray adsorption near edge structure (XANES). The study combines two techniques: fitting experimental XANES spectra with a multidimensional interpolation approximation, and calculating theoretical XANES spectra with molecular potentials beyond the muffin-tin approximation. The results of the study show that the best fit of the experimental XANES data must include a solvent molecule binding to the Cu with a short Cu-N distance of 2.00 A. This confirms that the formation of an exciplex is responsible for the excited-state quenching in coordinating solvents, such as acetonitrile. Moreover, the calculations suggest that the formation of this exciplex state is accompanied by significant rocking distortions of the dmp ligands resulting in a 108 degrees angle between the N(solvent)-Cu bond and the C 2 symmetry axis of the dmp ligand. This combined approach allows us to extract molecular configurations that would otherwise be missed in a conventional qualitative XANES analysis.     

An X-ray spectroscopy study of CdS nanoparticles formed by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique on the surface of carbon nanotube arrays

The composition and electronic structure of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles formed by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique on clean silicon wafers and the surface of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays are studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The samples were annealed in a vacuum at 175 °C and 225 °C to remove the organic matrix of the LB film. From the analysis of the XPS data the increased concentration of sulfate groups on the surface of CdS nanoparticles formed on CNTs and the electron density transfer from CdS to CNTs are determined. An increase in the LB film annealing temperature causes an increase in the degree of crystallinity and the CdS crystallite size and a decrease in the photoluminescence intensity of a CdS–CNT hybrid.     

Oxidation, deformation, and destruction of carbon nanotubes in aqueous ceric sulfate

A simple wet chemical method involving only ultrasonic processing in dilute ceric sulfate (CS) was used to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Unexpectedly, single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs and MWCNTs) were cut, oxidized, and disintegrated by sonication in 0.1 N CS for 2-5 h. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Raman scattering, and photoacoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to probe wall damage during the chemical processing. Cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were used to evaluate the conductivity of the CS-treated CNTs. This one-step process resulted in the destruction of SWCNTs to produce nonconducting amorphous carbon. MWCNTs were oxidized and converted to graphitic materials and amorphous carbon with retained conductivity.     

Structural Investigation of Mixed Nitrided Galloaluminophosphates “AlGaPON” by EELS, XAS, and XPS Spectroscopies

Amorphous nitrided galloaluminophosphates “AlGaPON” catalysts with nitrogen contents varying from 0 to 23.3 wt% N were obtained by nitriding an Al_0.5Ga_0.5PO₄ precursor under ammonia flow at 750°C in a tubular furnace. The structural changes induced by this treatment were investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and X-ray photoelecton spectroscopy (XPS). XANES and XPS results indicate that the first-coordination spheres of P, Ga, and Al atoms are modified by nitridation. In particular, the comparison of the P XANES spectra recorded on “AlGaPON” and on a PON phosphorus oxynitride (reference of mixed PO₂N₂ tetrahedra) reveals that mainly PO₂N₂ tetrahedra are present in highly nitrided samples. Moreover, the replacement of oxygen by nitrogen probably concerned P-O-Ga bonds rather than P-O-Al. EELS investigation reveals that the precursor is homogeneous at the used probe scale, but indicates that nitridation is accompanied by a loss of homogeneity of the material.     

激光溅射法制备Pt/CNTs催化剂用于邻氯硝基苯的液相加氢反应

采用激光溅射法制备了碳纳米管负载铂(Pt/CNTs)催化剂, 并利用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线能量散射谱(EDS)、X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等表征手段研究了Pt粒子在碳纳米管表面存在的状态、组成、结构等性质. 讨论了Pt/CNTs催化剂的不同制备条件对催化剂结构的影响, 并考察了催化剂对邻氯硝基苯液相加氢合成邻氯苯胺反应的加氢性能. 研究结果表明, 在激光电压为250 V, 绝对压力为300 Pa, 载体温度为25 ℃条件下制备的Pt/CNTs催化剂, 在不加脱卤抑制剂, 反应温度为60 ℃和氢气压力为1.0 MPa的条件下, 邻氯硝基苯转化率可以达到99.7%以上, 邻氯苯胺选择性可达到98.2%以上, 表现出较高的加氢性能和抑制脱卤性能.     

Redox chemistry of tantalum clusters on silica characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

SiO(2)-supported clusters of tantalum were synthesized from adsorbed Ta(CH(2)Ph)(5) by treatment in H(2) at 523 K. The surface species were characterized by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES)) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The EXAFS data show that SiO(2)-supported tantalum clusters were characterized by a Ta-Ta coordination number of approximately 2, consistent with the presence of tritantalum clusters, on average. When these were reduced in H(2) and reoxidized in O(2), the cluster nuclearity remained essentially unchanged, although reduction and oxidation occurred, respectively, as shown by XANES and UV-vis spectra; in the reoxidation, the tantalum oxidation state change was approximately two electronic charges per tritantalum cluster. The data demonstrate an analogy between the chemistry of group 5 metals on the SiO(2) support and their chemistry in solution, as determined by the group of Cotton.     

Functionalization of a self-assembled monolayer driven by low-energy electron exposure

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 10-undecene-1-thiol on Au were functionalized with nitrogen-containing groups using an approach in which multilayer ammonia (NH(3)) films were deposited at low temperature onto the SAMs and subsequently exposed to 15 eV electrons. The result of this process was investigated after removal of the remaining NH(3) by annealing to room temperature using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). HREELS shows that the CC double bonds disappear during electron exposure, while XPS gives evidence that about 25% of the terminal double bonds of the SAM were functionalized. Also, XPS shows that a sufficiently thick NH(3) layer protects the underlying SAM from electron-induced damage. The process suggested here thus represents a particularly gentle approach to the functionalization of ultrathin molecular layers. Thermal desorption spectrometry (TDS) and electron-stimulated desorption (ESD) experiments on condensed layers of NH(3) reveal production of N(2) but show that significant amounts of the initial NH(3) as well as N(2) produced during electron exposure desorb. Hydrogen released upon formation of N(2) is held responsible for the reduction of double bonds and protection of the SAMs from damage.     

Synthesis of ZrO2-carbon nanotube composites and their application as chemiluminescent sensor material for ethanol

ZrO2-carbon nanotube (CNT) composites have been successfully synthesized via decomposition of Zr(NO3)4.5H2O in supercritical carbon dioxide-ethanol solution with dispersed CNTs at relatively low temperatures. The samples were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. It was demonstrated that CNTs were fully coated with an amorphous ZrO2 layer, and the coating layer was nominally complete and uniform. In addition, the thickness of the coating sheath could be readily controlled by tuning the Zr(NO3)4.5H2O/CNTs ratio used. Furthermore, the chemiluminescent sensor prepared from ZrO2-carbon nanotube composites exhibited dramatic sensitivity as well as high stability and selectivity to ethanol.     

The determination of local structural units in amorphous SiBN3C by means of X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the K-edge of Si, N, and B are presented as techniques suited to determine structural units in amorphous SiBN(3)C. The measurements reported give evidence for the presence of tetrahedral (SiN(4))- and planar (BN(3))-groups. It is concluded that these structural elements dominate the atomic surroundings of B and Si, respectively. From the spectroscopic results we conclude that C is mainly bonded to N and is not present as a pure carbide.     

Solvation of Copper(II) Ions in Liquid Ammonia

X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements have been performed at -50 degrees C on a 0.4 mol dm(-)(3) copper(II) nitrate solution in liquid ammonia. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy was used to determine the coordination number and bond distances for the solvated copper(II) ion in solution. The equatorial ammonia nitrogens are located 2.00 ? from the copper and the axial nitrogen 2.19 ? from the copper. However, it was not possible from the EXAFS analysis alone to conclude whether there was one or two axial nitrogens. Therefore, X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy was combined with discrete variational Xalpha (DV-Xalpha) molecular orbital calculations for a series of five- and six-coordinated models to determine the coordination number and the geometry. The experimental XANES spectrum was best reproduced by a model where the copper(II) ion is pentacoordinated in liquid ammonia in a square pyramidal geometry with the copper(II) ion lifted above the average nitrogen plane.     

Products of SO2 adsorption on fuel cell electrocatalysts by combination of sulfur K-edge XANES and electrochemistry

Electrochemical adsorption of SO(2) on platinum is complicated by the change in sulfur oxidation state with potential. Here, we attempt to identify SO(2) adsorption products on catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) at different electrode potentials using a combination of in situ sulfur K-edge XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. CCMs employed platinum nanoparticles supported on Vulcan carbon (Pt/VC). SO(2) was adsorbed from a SO(2)/N(2) gas mixture while holding the Pt/VC-electrode potential at 0.1, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 V vs a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Sulfur adatoms (S(0)) are identified as the SO(2) adsorption products at 0.1 V, while mixtures of S(0), SO(2), and sulfate/bisulfate ((bi)sulfate) ions are suggested as SO(2) adsorption products at 0.5 and 0.7 V. At 0.9 V, SO(2) is completely oxidized to (bi)sulfate ions. The identity of adsorbed SO(2) species on Pt/VC catalysts at different electrode potentials is confirmed by modeling of XANES spectra using FEFF8 and a linear combination of experimental spectra from sulfur standards. Results on SO(2) speciation gained from XANES are used to compare platinum-sulfur electronic interactions for Pt(3)Co/VC versus Pt/VC catalysts in order to understand the difference between the two catalysts in terms of SO(2) contamination.     

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of nanostructured polyanilines

In this paper, X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy at the nitrogen K edge (N K XANES) data of polyaniline (PANI) and its derivatives were revisited and expanded. The N K XANES spectra of PANI nanocomposites and PANI nanofibers were also investigated. The analysis of N K XANES spectra were done by the deconvolution of bands and the 1s → π* and 1s → σ* transitions were assigned by a correlation with the N K XANES spectra of smaller organic compounds. The “free” forms of PANI were dominated by bands from 397.7 eV to 399.1 eV attributed to imine and radical cation nitrogen atoms, respectively. Nitrogen bonded to phenazine-like rings can also be seen, mainly for PANI prepared at pH higher than 3.0. The spectra of nanocomposites show sharper bands than the “free” polymers as well as new bands at 398.8 eV and 405–406 eV. These new bands were assigned to phenazine-like rings and azo bonds in the structure of the polymers (polyaniline, polybenzidine, and poly(p-phenylediamine)) within the galleries of the montmorillonite clay. PANI nanofibers doped with HCl or HClO₄ show bands related to phenazine-like rings and/or dication segments of PANI, indicating that these segments are important in the formation of PANI nanofibers.     

过碱烷基酚钙与二烷基二硫代磷酸锌复配形成摩擦膜的表征

利用X射线吸收精细结构光谱(XANES)研究了过碱硫化烷基酚钙与二烷基二硫代磷酸锌(ZDDP)复配使用时对ZDDP形成摩擦膜的表面化学行为的影响, 并提出了其和ZDDP的相互作用机制. 结果表明, 在ZDDP中加入过碱硫化烷基酚钙后完全改变了ZDDP单独使用时形成摩擦膜的结构, 摩擦膜中含有一定数量的钙离子, 其结构以磷酸钙为主; 对较高碱值的过碱硫化烷基酚钙, 在高浓度下使用时, 在摩擦膜形成的同时观测到碳酸钙颗粒的沉积. 此外, ZDDP和过碱硫化烷基酚钙共同使用时形成的摩擦膜厚度减小. 摩擦膜特性的改变是ZDDP和过碱硫化烷基酚钙复配体系抗磨性能变差的主要原因.     

The determination of local structural units in amorphous SiBN 3C by means of X-ray photoelectron and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the K-edge of Si, N, and B are presented as techniques suited to determine structural units in amorphous SiBN₃C. The measurements reported give evidence for the presence of tetrahedral (SiN₄)- and planar (BN₃)-groups. It is concluded that these structural elements dominate the atomic surroundings of B and Si, respectively. From the spectroscopic results we conclude that C is mainly bonded to N and is not present as a pure carbide.