Computational study of location and role of fluoride in zeolite structures

The distribution of fluoride ions has been studied in the pure silica IFR, ITH, IWR, STF and STT zeolite structures using computational techniques. The interactions between the F- and SDA+ ions (where SDA is the organic structure directing agent) are able to explain the F- cage occupation found experimentally. While studying the short-range fluoride-framework interactions, a relationship was found between the Si atoms forming the pentacoordinated units and the lowest F- defect energies, which rationalizes the experimental Si-F bonding in terms of energetic stability. It is proposed that the F- location is governed by a two step process. In a first stage, the electrostatic long-range forces and, especially, the interactions between the F- and the SDA+ ions, decide which cage will be filled with F-; in a second stage, once the F- cage location is decided, the F- forms a covalent bond with a Si site to form an energetically stable pentacoordinated unit [SiO4/2F]-.     

Studies on the role of fluoride ion vs reaction concentration in zeolite synthesis

This work is an experimental response to an intriguing paper recently published by Catlow and co-workers, which looked at the computational feasibility of fluorine location in three different all-silica zeotypes (Attfield, M. P.; Catlow, C. R. A.; Sokol, A. A. Chem. Mater. 2001, 13, 4708). The materials were chosen as representative of three unique host locations. Our present work examined the synthesis of zeotypes AST, IFR, and MTT using organo-cations with a strong preference for crystallizing these structures. We studied the effect of reaction time and the H(2)O/SiO(2) reactant ratio. The latter is probably the most important function in these zeolite crystallizations that use HF. As reaction conditions became more dilute, AST gave way to SGT and IFR to MTW as host structures, while the MTT synthesis was invariant. Our reactions were studied in terms of product yield vs time, product organo-cation content, fluorine content, and the representative (29)Si and (19)F NMR spectra for certain samples. A single crystal study was carried out for a sample of MTT. Our results showed that, consistent with other recent studies, low H(2)O/SiO(2) reactant ratios lead to more open framework host structures (i.e., IFR vs MTW), and there is typically a higher uptake of organo-cation and fluorine. The structure may well contain a higher population of 4-rings within the silicate substructure. While MTT that contains no 4-rings was chosen as the best possible candidate to achieve an ion-pair for the organo-cation and fluoride anion within the silicate host, both NMR and single crystal work confirm that fluoride is bonded to a 5-coordinate silica center within the lattice.     

Thermal characterization of the metal-silicalites obtained from aqueous nonalkaline fluoride gels

Thermal analysis of crystalline Metallosilicalite-1 precursors with various heteroatoms was carried out in a nitrogen atmosphere. Different interactions between tetrapropylammonium species and the zeolitic environment were evidenced, depending on the type of metallic complexes in the reaction medium. The results support the mechanism of Metallosilicalite-1 formation through a condensation process from the liquid phase.Isomorphous substitution of T element in a molecular sieve material is very interesting in order to modify its acidity or redox catalytic properties [1–6].Normally zeolites are synthesized in hydrothermal mixtures. Alkaline hydroxides, TPABr, silica and water are typically required to obtain Silicalite-1. Recently, MFI zeolitic structures have been obtained from near-neutral nonalkaline reaction mixtures containing fluoride ions [7–8].Using tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPABr) as a template, molecular sieve Bi-, Ce-, Cu-, Cr-, Mo-, Pb-, Sb-, Ti-, V- and W-Silicalite-1 was the only phase obtained in the presence of fluoride ions.In this paper, it is investigated how the thermal decomposition of TPA ions is influenced by the presence of heteroatoms in the framework of crystals.     

Cluster chemistry in the solid state: Structured diffuse scattering,oxide/fluoride ordering and polar behaviour in transition metal oxyfluorides

Oxide/fluoride ordering in three families of ‘disordered’ transition metal oxyfluoride compounds is carefully investigated and used to obtain insight into why the constituent inherently acentric octahedral units do not usually order in a long range ordered polar sense. Observed highly structured diffuse intensity distributions are used in each case to analyze the local crystal chemistry and orientational ordering rules governing the way in which the dipole moments from the individual polar pseudo-octahedral units add together. The common local oxide/fluoride ordering rules, the consequences of these rules for polar behaviour on the local scale as well as the role of configurational entropy and energy minimization in suppressing long range polar order are highlighted.     

Crystallographic analysis of atomic structures in the study of crystallization mechanisms

By means of the mechanical-wave concept of crystal state and the crystallographic analysis the universal regularities of the crystal structure formation are determined: presudotranslational ordering of atoms within unit cells; separate ordering of different groups of atoms with the alignment of their sublattice parameters; the principle of coherent assembly a structure from stable building blocks with the local geometry and block symmetry spread on the structure formed, and so on. The crystallization mechanism is illustrated by specific structures.     

Structure-directing roles and interactions of fluoride and organocations with siliceous zeolite frameworks

Interactions of fluoride anions and organocations with crystalline silicate frameworks are shown to depend subtly on the architectures of the organic species, which significantly influence the crystalline structures that result. One- and two-dimensional (2D) (1)H, (19)F, and (29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy measurements establish distinct intermolecular interactions among F(-) anions, imidazolium structure-directing agents (SDA(+)), and crystalline silicate frameworks for as-synthesized siliceous zeolites ITW and MTT. Different types and positions of hydrophobic alkyl ligands on the imidazolium SDA(+) species under otherwise identical zeolite synthesis compositions and conditions lead to significantly different interactions between the F(-) and SDA(+) ions and the respective silicate frameworks. For as-synthesized zeolite ITW, F(-) anions are established to reside in the double-four-ring (D4R) cages and interact strongly and selectively with D4R silicate framework sites, as manifested by their strong (19)F-(29)Si dipolar couplings. By comparison, for as-synthesized zeolite MTT, F(-) anions reside within the 10-ring channels and interact relatively weakly with the silicate framework as ion pairs with the SDA(+) ions. Such differences manifest the importance of interactions between the imidazolium and F(-) ions, which account for their structure-directing influences on the topologies of the resulting silicate frameworks. Furthermore, 2D (29)Si{(29)Si} double-quantum NMR measurements establish (29)Si-O-(29)Si site connectivities within the as-synthesized zeolites ITW and MTT that, in conjunction with synchrotron X-ray diffraction analyses, establish insights on complicated order and disorder within their framework structures.     

A higher yielding route to octasilsesquioxane cages using tetrabutylammonium fluoride, Part 2: further synthetic advances, mechanistic investigations and X-ray crystal structure studies into the factors that determine cage geometry in the solid state

The recently-reported reaction of triethoxysilanes with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in the presence of scarce water provides a higher yielding route to substituted octasilsesquioxane cages. Further cages have now been prepared in good yield using this route and their X-ray crystal structures demonstrate that their cage geometries in the solid state are very similar with the packing constraints of the crystal lattices appearing to have the greatest influence on the geometry of the cage core. The mechanism of the reaction has been examined and the proposed mechanism of cage formation validated, though its exclusivity has not been categorically proven. By careful choice of reaction conditions, dramatic increases in rate and yield have been demonstrated.     

LiNiO2及掺杂化合物的结构与稳定性的第一性原理研究

应用第一原理局域密度泛函对LiNiO2及其掺杂化合物的晶体结构、能带结构和态密度进行了研究.结果表明:锂镍氧系正极材料是电子的良导体,在充放电过程中具有良好的稳定性,适合做锂离子电池的正极材料;在LiNiO2晶体中主要是O和Ni之间成键,镍离子和氧离子的相互作用比较强,Li在嵌入层状结构材料后部分失去电子,以离子状态存在.     

Evolutionary Algorithm-Based Crystal Structure Prediction for Copper(I) Fluoride

Despite numerous experimental studies since 1824, the binary copper(I) fluoride remains unknown. A crystal structure prediction has been carried out for CuF using the USPEX evolutionary algorithm and a dispersion-corrected hybrid density functional method. In total about 5000 hypothetical structures were investigated. The energetics of the predicted structures were also counter-checked with local second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory. Herein 39 new hypothetical copper(I) fluoride structures are reported that are lower in energy compared to the previously predicted cinnabar-type structure. Cuprophilic Cu−Cu interactions are present in all the low-energy structures, leading to ordered Cu substructures such as helical or zig-zag-type Cu−Cu motifs. The lowest-energy structure adopts a trigonal crystal structure with space group P3₁21. From an electronic point of view, the predicted CuF modification is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of 2.3 eV.     

Formation of sol-gel nanostructured mullite by additions of fluoride ion

Summary The subject of this study was to investigate the effect of fluoride ions addition on the temperature of sol gel mullite formation based on the hypotheses that the presence of fluoride ions can decrease the temperature of mullite formation (in respect to common 980°C, in sol-gel processing). Polymeric sols were prepared by mixing TEOS and aluminum nitrate nanohydrate and by adding fluoride ions (from 2 to 5 mass%). DTA, TG, XRD and SEM were used for characterisation of mullite gel and crystalline mullite. The experimental results confirmed that the addition of fluoride ions decrease the temperature of mullite formation up to 890°C for the fluorine concentration of 3.5 mass%. Experimental results showed that the temperature of mullite formation is not a simple function of the fluoride ion content. The mechanism of fluorine effect was discussed in terms of the gelling process, gel structure and the phase separation before the mullite formation.     

Structure of dense hydrogen fluoride gas from neutron diffraction and molecular dynamics simulations

The gas phase of hydrogen fluoride has been investigated by neutron diffraction experiments at three different particle densities. All investigated states are within the liquid-gas coexistence region of hydrogen fluoride. From the obtained diffraction data we deduced information about the local structure of the gas phase, which consists of small agglomerates. This has been expected as liquid hydrogen fluoride forms the strongest hydrogen bonds known. Molecular dynamics simulations with a modified potential have been carried out for all experimentally investigated states. The results confirmed that the size of the formed agglomerates in the gas phase is growing with increasing density of the gas phase.     

沸石电流变液材料的研究

系统地研究了沸石的由离子类型、数目、骨架的孔道大小和结构特性对沸石电流变液性能的影响. 证实了阳离子在电场中的迁移所引起的晶粒极化是Y，A和M等沸石电流变特性的基础，指出了较大的孔径和具有足够多易迁移的阳离子是该类沸石具有较好电流变性的的前提．根据NaZSM－5沸石在高电场中与其它沸石表现不同，具有屈服应力大而漏电流小的特点，提出了沸石晶粒极化还可能存在的另一种新的晶格变形机理．     

Effect of crystal structure and ions concentration on luminescence in Yb and Tm codoped fluoride microcrystals

A facile hydrothermal method is used for the preparation of Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped fluoride microphosphors. The effect of crystal structure and ions concentration on the spectra and lifetimes of the radiative levels of Tm³⁺ ions in the different fluoride microcrystals is studied in detail. XRD analysis of Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped LaF₃ microcrystals shows that 20% Yb³⁺ doping is sufficient for hexagonal LaF₃ microparticles to crystallize completely in the orthorhombic phase. And lifetime analysis suggests that the average lifetimes of the radiative levels of Tm³⁺ ions increased when the matrix phase structure changing from orthorhombic phase to hexagonal phase with ytterbium dopant concentration changing.     

Chemical bonding and electronic structure of LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> orthorhombic crystals

The electronic structure of the LaMnO₃ orthorhombic crystal of a stoichiometric composition and of La_0.75MnO₃ crystals with a La vacancy in the unit cell is calculated in the LSDA+U approximation of density functional theory. The calculations showed that LaMnO₃ is an insulator with a forbidden gap of 0.5 eV and with antiferromagnetic ordering of magnetic moments. The magnetic moment on the manganese ions is 3.78 BM. The La atom has ionic bonds in the lattice, while the bond between oxygen and manganese is covalent. After lanthanum has been removed, geometry optimization of the unit cell leads to La_0.75MnO₃ stable structures. In one of the structures, which is lower in energy, the states of manganese may be attributed to Mn⁴⁺ ions. In both structures with removed lanthanum, the oxygen ions have reduced effective charge, so that one can speak about O^? ions appearing along with O^2? in the structure. The oxygen, as well as lanthanum and manganese, ions are nonequivalent in these structures; their nonequivalence is primarily reflected by the local densities of states. This leads to charge and magnetic nonequivalence of ions. In La_0.75MnO₃ crystals, the degree of bond covalence between manganese and oxygen decreases.     

噻吩在稀土离子改性Y型分子筛上吸附与催化转化研究

以NaY、HY、液相Ce离子交换改性Y分子筛(L-CeY)和稀土离子改性超稳Y分子筛(HRSY-3)为研究对象,运用XRD、N₂吸附、NH₃-TPD和Py-FTIR表征样品的物化性能;采用原位红外光谱技术与程序升温脱附-同步质谱检测联用技术(TPD-MS)研究噻吩在活性中心上的吸附及催化转化行为.结果表明,稀土离子改性不改变分子筛晶体的基本结构但改变其精细结构,并形成一定的介孔,同时降低分子筛强酸位的强度,并生成与稀土离子物种有关的弱L酸位.REY与HY均可通过B酸中心的质子化作用活化噻吩,而稀土离子物种促进氢转移反应及低聚反应的进行,进而利于噻吩裂化反应的进行.     

Effect of nanostructure on the properties of water at the water-hydrophobic interface: a molecular dynamics simulation

The local structure of water near hydrophobic surfaces of different surface topographies has been analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation. An alkane crystal has been taken as the parent model for a hydrophobic surface. Surface structures were created by placing pits into it, which were half a nanometer deep and several nanometers wide. Around all structures, the water has a lower density, less orientational ordering, fewer water-water hydrogen bonds, and fewer surface contacts than for a flat unstructured surface. This indicates that the structured surfaces are more hydrophobic than the flat surface. Of the structures investigated, pits with a diameter of approximately 2.5 nm were effective in increasing the hydrophobic character of the surface.     

Targeted Synthesis of a Zeolite with Pre‐established Framework Topology

Given their great potential as new industrial catalysts and adsorbents, the search for new zeolite structures is of major importance in nanoporous materials chemistry. However, although innumerable theoretical frameworks have been proposed, none of them have been synthesized by a priori design yet. We generated a library of diazolium‐based cations inspired from the organic structure‐directing agents (OSDAs) recently reported to give two structurally related zeolites (PST‐21 and PST‐22) under highly concentrated, excess‐fluoride conditions and compared the stabilization energies of each OSDA cation in ten pre‐established hypothetical structures. A combination of the ability of the OSDA selected in this way with the excess‐fluoride approach has allowed us to crystallize PST‐30, the targeted aluminosilicate zeolite structure. We anticipate that our approach, which aims to rationally couple computational predictions of OSDAs with an experimental setup, will advance further development in the synthesis of zeolites with desired properties.     

Zeolite synthesis in fluoride media: structure direction toward ITW by small methylimidazolium cations

Pure silica ITW zeolite can be synthesized using 1,2,3-trimethylimidazolium and 1,3-dimethylimidazolium cations and fluoride anions as structure-directing agents (SDAs). Similarly to the previously reported 1,3,4-trimethylimidazolium, the dimethyl cation can also produce the zeolite TON, but this higher framework density phase finally transforms in situ into ITW. The structures of the as-made and calcined phases prepared with the new cations show a unit cell doubling along z, and the refined structures are reported. Periodic Density Functional Theory calculations provide the energies of the six SDA-ITW and SDA-TON zeolites, and their relative stabilities fully agree with the experimental observations. Structure-direction in this system is discussed from experimental and theoretical results that give strong support to the idea that strained silica frameworks are made possible in fluoride media by decreasing the covalent character of the Si-O bond. This decreased covalency is enhanced with the 1,2,3-trimethyl isomer, which is shown to be the strongest SDA for ITW and, at the same time, is the more hydrophilic of the three SDAs tested. Our observations with the three SDAs agree with the so-called Villaescusa's rule, i.e., the low framework density phase is favored at higher concentrations, but at the same time question the supersaturation hypothesis that has been proposed to explain this rule, since here the low-density phase is the most stable one.     

Fast migration of fluoride ions in growing anodic titanium oxide

The rapid inward migration of fluoride ions in growing anodic titanium oxide under a high electric field has been elucidated by anodizing a Ti–12 at% silicon alloy, where film growth proceeds at nearly 100% efficiency in selected electrolytes. Further, incorporated silicon species in the anodic film are immobile, acting as marker species. The migration rate of fluoride ions is determined precisely by three-stage anodizing, consisting of initial anodic film formation at a constant current density to 50 V in ammonium pentaborate electrolyte, subsequent incorporation of fluoride ions by reanodizing to 55 V in ammonium fluoride electrolyte and, finally, anodizing again in ammonium pentaborate electrolyte at high current efficiency. The resultant films were analyzed by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy to reveal the depth distribution of fluoride ions and the location of the silicon marker species. The fluoride ions migrate inward at twice the rate of O²⁻ ions. Consequently, anodizing of titanium in fluoride-containing electrolytes develops a fluoride-rich layer that separates the alloy substrate from the anodic oxide, with eventual detachment of the film from the substrate.     

Elimination of fluoride ions in water for human consumption using hydroxyapatite as an adsorbent

In this work, a synthetic hydroxyapatite, Bio-gel HTP, marketed by BIO-RAD®, has been studied in order to propose a method to remove the excess fluoride present in drinking water. The removal of fluoride ions by this adsorbent has been studied as a function of solution pH, and fluoride ion concentration. Experiments of fluoride ions sorption have been carried out with the use of ¹⁸F radiotracer in solutions of NaF at several concentrations with an ion selective electrode used for fluoride analysis. The adsorption isotherms show that the best fluoride adsorption on hydroxyapatite occurs at a pH range of 7.0–7.5. At this pH value the solid presents an important capacity of subtraction of fluoride, of around of 100 mmol/100 g.