Synthesis of Ag2O nanocrystals with systematic shape evolution from cubic to hexapod structures and their surface properties

We report the development of a facile method for the synthesis of Ag(2)O crystals with systematic shape evolution from cubic to edge- and corner-truncated cubic, rhombicuboctahedral, edge- and corner-truncated octahedral, octahedral, and hexapod structures by mixing AgNO(3), NH(4)NO(3), and NaOH at molar ratios of 1:2:11.8. A sufficient volume of NaOH solution was first added to a mixture of AgNO(3) and NH(4)NO(3) solution to promote the formation of Ag(NH(3))(2)(+) complex ions and the growth of Ag(2)O nanocrystals with good morphological control. The crystals are mostly submicrometer-sized. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy characterization has been performed to determine the crystalline surface facets. A band gap value of approximately 1.45 eV has been found for the octahedral Ag(2)O crystals. By changing the molar ratios of AgNO(3)/NH(4)NO(3)/NaOH to 1:2:41.8, corner-depressed rhombicuboctahedra and elongated hexapods were obtained as a result of enhanced crystal growth along the [100] directions. Smaller nanocubes with average sizes of approximately 200 and 300 nm and octapods can also be prepared by adjusting the reagent molar ratios and their added volumes. Both the octahedra and hexapods with largely silver atom-terminated {111} surface facets responded repulsively and moved to the surface of the solution when dispersing in a solution of positively charged methylene blue, but can be suspended in a negatively charged methyl orange solution. The cubes and octapods, bounded by the {100} faces, were insensitive to the molecular charges in solution. The dramatic facet-dependent surface properties of Ag(2)O crystals have been demonstrated.     

Effect of surface orientation on the segregation kinetics of Sb from a Cu single crystal

In a previous theoretical study it has been suggested that the bulk vacancy formation energy near a surface depends on the orientation of the surface. It has been suggested also that this dependency of the vacancy formation energy would influence the bulk diffusion coefficient near the surface. The experimental results presented in this paper support this hypothesis. The experimental results were obtained by measuring the bulk‐to‐surface segregation of Sb for a Cu(111) single crystal with 0.088 at.% Sb and for a Cu(110) single crystal with 0.082 at.% Sb. The experimental results were fitted with the vacancy‐modified Darken model and it was clear that the bulk diffusion coefficient beneath the (110) surface is higher than the bulk diffusion coefficient beneath the (111) surface. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and hydrogenation studies of rhodium(I) catalyst supported on polymer crystal surfaces

In recent years polymers have been utilized as binding sites for transition metal catalysts (e.g. crosslinked polystyrene beads). However, general problems exist with the above system. The rate of reaction depends on the presence of solvents that adequately swell the polystyrene bead in order to allow access to the catalytic sites. Differences in polarity and reactant size can inhibit diffusion into the bead. Recently a new system has been developed whereby tris(triphenyl phosphine) chlororhodium (Wilkinson's catalyst) is bound to the surface of polyethylene single crystals. Polyethylene single crystals have a very high surface to volume ratios allowing for greater ease of reaction compared to the polystyrene system. Diffusion control of the reactant poses no problem as the catalyst is bound to the surface of the crystal rather than the interior (as in the case of polystyrene beads). In addition, many solvents can be used due to the difficulty of dissolving crystalline polyethylene (except at high temperatures). The polyethylene crystals were tested for their catalyst content using neutron activation analysis. Test results showed 3.11 wt% catalyst present on the surface of the PE single crystals. Hydrogenation studies have been conducted using the PE supported catalyst system to show the potential effectiveness of the new system.     

Aqueous pathways for the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles

We examine the effect of reactant concentrations, temperatures and feeding methods on the morphology of ZnO formed when reacting solutions of ZnSO(4) and NaOH. The catalytic effect of hydroxide in excess relative to the stoichiometric ratio is considered. It is shown that, having fixed other reaction conditions, the end-products, particle structures and size strongly depend on the mole ratio of the precursors. The presence of zinc salt hydroxide species was confirmed at sub-stoichiometric ratios in slightly acidic conditions. At the stoichiometric ratio both zinc hydroxide and zinc oxide are formed, while only zinc oxide forms in an excess of hydroxide. The method of feeding the reactants into the reaction vessel also has a strong influence on the end-product properties, as does the reaction temperature. By control of these parameters the specific surface area could be varied from 10 to 33 m(2) g(-1), the particle shape could be varied from equiaxed, through to star-like and needle-like, and the particle size may be varied from 50 to over 300 nm.     

Secondary nucleation in the formation of methane crystal hydrate

The kinetic data on crystallization and a morphological analysis of a layer of CH₄ · 6H₂O hydrate crystals formed on the surface of water as a result of methane absorption showed that secondary nucleation occurred during hydrate crystallization. The mutual arrangement of crystals in the layer revealed photographically in situ was evidence that part of nuclei produced on the surface of previously formed crystals went away from the surface into solution and grew there independently of “mother” crystals, although the probability of such transfer into an immobile solution remained low. In view of this, a model of crystal growth generating secondary crystals was developed.     

Kinetic study on crystal growth in gels by radioisotopic labelling

The paper deals with a kinetic study of crystal growth in gelatin and agar gels, using a technique based on radioactive tracers.²⁰⁴TlCl,²⁰⁴TlBr,²⁰⁴TlI,⁶⁰CoC₂O₄ and⁶⁰CoH₄C₄O₆ crystals in gels have been obtained. The global kinetic process of appearance of crystals has been found to be made up of two distinct stages: diffusion of the ions in the gel and crystallization, having different rate constants.     

The inhibition of calcium carbonate crystal growth by the cysteine-rich Mdm2 peptide

The crystal growth of calcite, the most stable calcium carbonate polymorph, in the presence of the cysteine-rich Mdm2 peptide (containing 48 amino acids in the ring finger configuration), has been investigated by the constant composition technique. Crystallization took place exclusively on well-characterized calcite crystals in solutions supersaturated only with respect to this calcium carbonate salt. The kinetic results indicated a surface diffusion spiral growth mechanism. The presence of the Mdm2 peptide inhibited the crystal growth of calcite by 22-58% in the concentration range tested, through adsorption onto the active growth sites of the calcite crystal surface. The kinetic results favored a Langmuir-type adsorption model, and the value of the calculated affinity constant was k(aff)=147x10(4) dm(3)mol(-1), a(ads)=0.29.     

On the possibility of obtaining crystalline materials containing extended cylindrical pores

Using the example of studying the behavior of heated crystals of copper sulfate CuSO₄ · 5H₂O that are derived from an aqueous solution and contain three-dimensional inclusions of the mother environment, we show that the heating of these crystals in an inactive medium leads to the discharging of inclusions due to the emersion of their content on the surface. The routes for discharging mother-solution inclusions are determined using optical and electron microscopy and X-ray topography. According to the proposed model, the inclusions are discharged because they expand on being heated and press the crystal matrix. As a result, the solubility of copper sulfate in the mother environment increases, and, along the linear dislocation that passes close to the inclusions and emerges on the crystal surface, a cylindrical pore appears via which the mother solution goes from the bulk of the crystal to its surface. Finally, we obtain a porous material that can reversibly absorb appreciable amounts of an inert fluid (e.g., alcohol) from the ambient environment.     

Calculation of effective diffusion coefficient in a colloidal crystal by the finite-element method

The work is devoted to the calculation of effective diffusion coefficient of ions from the bulk solution to the electrode through a mask and the calculation of the distribution of the limiting current density over the electrode surface. A colloidal crystal, which is formed by orderly arranged monodispersed spherical particles, serves as a mask. It is shown that the diffusion of electroactive ions in the pores between spherical particles can be simulated by unit cells with rhombic, rectangular, or triangular cross-section. In the latter case, the cell side surface has no periodical boundaries. This simplifies significantly the numerical solution of the Laplace??s equation by the finite-element method. The effective diffusion coefficient in the bulk colloidal crystal is calculated at various values of its porosity. The calculated results agree well with the literature data. It is found that, for close-packed spherical particles, the relative effective diffusion coefficient in the bulk colloidal crystal is 0.16. The thicknesses of transient zones adjacent to the electrode surface and outer boundary of colloidal crystal and the effective diffusion coefficients for these zones are determined. The dependence of effective diffusion coefficient on the number of spherical particle layers in the colloidal crystal is obtained. The distribution of the limiting current density over the electrode surface is analyzed at various numbers of particle layers.     

Tuning in-meso-crystallized lysozyme polymorphism by lyotropic liquid crystal symmetry

Lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) show great potential for applications in fields as diverse as food technology, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, or structural biology. Recently, these systems have provided a viable alternative to the difficult process of membrane protein crystallization, owing to their similarities with cell membranes. Nonetheless, the process of in-meso crystallization of proteins still remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that in-meso crystal morphologies of lysozyme (LSZ), a model hydrophilic protein, can be controlled by both the composition and symmetry of the mesophase, inferring a possible general influence of the LLC space group on the protein crystal polymorphism. Lysozyme was crystallized in-meso from three common LLC phases (lamellar, inverse hexagonal, and inverse bicontinuous cubic) composed of monolinolein and water. Different mixing ratios of mesophase to crystallization buffer were used in order to tune crystallization both in the bulk mesophase and in excess water conditions. Two distinct mechanisms of crystallization were shown to take place depending on available water in the mesophases. In the bulk mesophases, protein nuclei form and grow within structural defects of the mesophase and partially dehydrate the system inducing order-to-order transitions of the liquid crystalline phase toward stable symmetries in conditions of lower hydration. The formed protein crystals eventually macrophase separate from the mesophase allowing the system to reach its final symmetry. On the other hand, when excess water is available, protein molecules diffuse from the water channels into the excess water, where the crystallization process can take place freely, and with little to no effect on the structure and symmetry of the lyotropic liquid crystals.     

Effect of CO_2 on the structural variation of Na_2WO_4/Mn/SiO_2 catalyst for oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene

In this work,the influence of CO2 on the structural variation and catalytic performance of Na2WO4/Mn/Si O2 for oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene was investigated. The catalyst was prepared by impregnation method and characterized by XRD,Raman and XPS techniques. Appropriate amount of CO2 in the reactant gases enhanced the formation of surface tetrahedral Na2WO4 species and promoted the migration of O in MOx,Na,W from the catalyst bulk to surface,which were favorable for oxidative coupling of methane. When the molar ratio of CH4/O2/CO2 was 3/1/2,enriched surface tetrahedral Na2WO4 species and high surface concentration of O in MOx,Na,W were detected,and then high CH4 conversion of 33.1% and high C2H4 selectivity of 56.2% were obtained. With further increase of CO2 in the reagent gases,the content of active surface tetrahedral Na2WO4 species and surface concentration of O in MOx,Na,W decreased,while that of inactive species(Mn WO4 and Mn2O3) increased dramatically,leading to low CH4 conversion and low C2H4 selectivity. It could be speculated that Na2WO4 crystal was transformed into Mn WO4 crystal with excessive CO2 added under the reaction conditions. Pretreatment of Na2WO4/Mn/Si O2 catalyst by moderate amount of CO2 before OCM also promoted the formation of Na2WO4 species.     

Thermodynamics of heterogeneous crystal nucleation in contact and immersion modes

One of the most intriguing problems of heterogeneous crystal nucleation in droplets is its strong enhancement in the contact mode (when the foreign particle is presumably in some kind of contact with the droplet surface) compared to the immersion mode (particle immersed in the droplet). Heterogeneous centers can have different nucleation thresholds when they act in contact or immersion modes. The underlying physical reasons for this enhancement have remained largely unclear. In this paper we present a model for the thermodynamic enhancement of heterogeneous crystal nucleation in the contact mode compared to the immersion one. To determine if and how the surface of a liquid droplet can thermodynamically stimulate its heterogeneous crystallization, we examine crystal nucleation in the immersion and contact modes by deriving and comparing with each other the reversible works of formation of crystal nuclei in these cases. The line tension of a three-phase contact gives rise to additional terms in the formation free energy of a crystal cluster and affects its Wulff (equilibrium) shape. As an illustration, the proposed model is applied to the heterogeneous nucleation of hexagonal ice crystals on generic macroscopic foreign particles in water droplets at T = 253 K. Our results show that the droplet surface does thermodynamically favor the contact mode over the immersion one. Surprisingly, the numerical evaluations suggest that the line tension contribution (from the contact of three water phases (vapor-liquid-crystal)) to this enhancement may be of the same order of magnitude as or even larger than the surface tension contribution.     

ZSM-5单晶生长的研究

本文研究了DEA(二乙醇胺)-Na2O-SiO2-Al2O3-H2O体系中由晶种水热生长的ZSM-5单晶形貌和线性生长速度. 晶体外部晶面为轴面(100)、(010)及坡面(101)、(011). 在互相贯穿连生的各单晶之间, 其对称轴互成倾角. 在160-220℃范围内, 晶体线性生长速度保持恒定. 观察到单晶生长的诱导期. 由线性生长速度与温度的关系计算了生长活化能. 研究了反应物组成对晶面法线生长速度的影响、母液成分变化, 并分析了晶体的化学成分. 按晶体生长的基本原理及ZSM-5结构, 构想了实际上可能存在的ZSM-5单晶的面结构, 并估算了不同晶面上生长位的密度及其分布. 从面结构及沸石生长基元角度讨论了单晶生长机理的DEA的作用, 支持了生长基元为高聚态硅(铝)阴离子团的假设.     

明胶溶液中沉淀法制备纯相β-磷酸三钙

本文以明胶、硝酸钙Ca(NO₃)₂和磷酸氢二铵(NH₄)₂HPO₄为前驱体,初始Ca/P为1.5,制备了纯相的β-磷酸三钙.红外谱图和X射线晶体衍射结果表明,溶液中直接沉淀得到的产物为缺钙磷灰石,该产物在明胶浓度≥0.22 %(质量分数)时热转化为纯相的β-磷酸三钙.通过晶体尺寸计算和比表面积测定,缺钙磷灰石的晶体大小随着明胶用量的增加而变小.透射电镜结果显示溶液中直接沉淀的缺钙磷灰石呈针状形貌,经过高温煅烧后,针状的缺钙磷灰石将相互融合形成葡萄状的β-磷酸三钙.差热/热重结果表明,明胶与生成的缺钙磷灰石形成了化学键合,这将有助于吸附较多的水分子,随后水分子与缺钙磷灰石发生化学反应生成羟基磷灰石,羟基磷灰石继续与沉淀中的偏磷酸钙反应生成β-磷酸三钙.本文还研究了明胶对纯相β-磷酸三钙的生成机理.     

Three-dimensional etching profiles and surface speciations (via attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) of silicon nanowires in NH4F-buffered HF solutions: a double passivation model

A systematic study of the etching behavior, in terms of three-dimensional profiles, of one-dimensional (1-D) silicon nanowires (SiNWs) in NH(4)F-buffered hydrofluoric acid (BHF) solutions of varying concentrations and pH values and the surface speciations of the resulting etched SiNW surfaces, as characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, is reported. It was found that SiNWs are stable only in relatively narrow pH ranges of the BHF solutions. The results are rationalized in terms of a "double passivation" model. When SiNWs are etched in BHF solutions with pH values of 1-3, the surfaces are passivated with hydrogen (inner layer) giving rise to surface moieties such as Si-H(x) species (x = 1-3); at high HF concentrations, the H-terminated Si surfaces are covered with a hydrogen bonding network of HF and related molecules (oligomers, etc.), providing an outer-layer passivation. When SiNWs are etched in BHF solutions with pH values of 11-14 (by adding a strong base such as NaOH), the surfaces are oxygen-terminated with surface moieties such as Si-(O(-))(x)() species (x = 1-3); at high NH(4)F concentrations, the negatively charged Si surfaces are stabilized by NH(4)(+) ions via ionic bonding, again providing outer-layer passivation. In BHF solutions with pH values of 3-11, the surface speciation, consisting of Si-(OH)(x)(O(-))(y) (x + y = 1-3) species, is unstable and etched away rapidly. The surface speciations of SiNWs etched in various BHF solutions were explored via ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that, while etching SiNWs with HF-rich BHF solutions with pH < 4 gave rise to Si-H(x)() surface species, no surface Si-H(x) species were observed with SiNWs etched in BHF solutions with pH >/= 4 (HF/NH(4)F /= 4 on the other. These two factors, among others, contribute to the rapid hydrolysis of the surface Si-H(x)() species (and the etching of the SiNWs), particularly in BHF solutions with low HF/NH(4)F ratios and high pH values (pH >/= 4).     

Mechanism of preferential enrichment,an unusual enantiomeric resolution phenomenon caused by polymorphic transition during crystallization of mixed crystals composed of two enantiomers

The mechanism of Preferential Enrichment, an unusual enantiomeric resolution phenomenon observed upon recrystallization of a series of racemic crystals which are classified as a racemic mixed crystal with fairly ordered arrangement of the two enantiomers, has been studied. On the basis of the existence of polymorphs and the occurrence of the resulting polymorphic transition during crystallization from solution, the mechanism has been accounted for in terms of (1) a preferential homochiral molecular association to form one-dimensional chain structures in the supersaturated solution of the racemate or nonracemic sample with a low ee value, (2) a kinetic formation of a metastable crystalline phase retaining the homochiral chain structures in a process of nucleation, (3) a polymorphic transition from the metastable phase to a stable one followed by enantioselective liberation of the excess R (or S) enantiomers from the transformed crystal into solution at the beginning of crystal growth to result in a slight enrichment (up to 10% ee) of the opposite S (or R) enantiomer in the deposited crystals, together with an enantiomeric enrichment of the R (or S) enantiomer in the mother liquor, and (4) a chiral discrimination by the once formed S (or R)-rich stable crystalline phase in a process of the subsequent crystal growth, leading to a considerable enantiomeric enrichment of the R (or S) enantiomer up to 100% ee in the mother liquor. The processes (3) and (4) are considered to be directly responsible for an enrichment of one enantiomer in the mother liquor. The association mode of the two enantiomers in solution has been investigated by means of (i) the solubility measurement and (ii) the number-averaged molecular weight measurement in solution by vapor pressure osmometry, together with (iii) the molecular dynamics simulation of oligomer models. The polymorphic transition during crystallization has been observed visually and by means of the in situ FTIR technique and DSC measurement. Both metastable and stable crystals have been obtained, and their crystal structures have been elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis of their single crystals.     

Morphological evolution of inorganic crystal into zigzag and helical architectures with an exquisite association of polymer: a novel approach for morphological complexity

The morphology of potassium sulfate (K(2)SO(4)) crystals grown in a viscous polymer solution of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was remarkably changed from the tilted columnar assembly into zigzag and helical architectures with increasing PAA concentration. The habit modification of orthorhombic K(2)SO(4) with adsorption of PAA molecules on a specified crystal face fundamentally led to the formation of tilted unit crystals. Concurrently with the habit modification, a diffusion-limited condition controlling the assembly of tilted units was achieved in the presence of PAA molecules in the matrix. Various complex morphologies, including zigzag and helical assembly, emerged through the formation of twinned crystals with the variation of the diffusion condition. Understanding the morphogenesis observed in this report would provide a novel approach for sophisticated crystal design by using an exquisite association of organic and inorganic materials.     

Preparation of ZnS nanorods by a liquid crystal template

ZnS nanorods were synthesized in lamellar liquid crystals of C(12)E(4) by mixing zinc ions and thioacetamide (TAA) solution. The effects of the reactant concentration and the surfactant/water molar ratio in the liquid crystal system on the morphology and size of the ZnS particles were investigated. The prepared ZnS particles are regular nanorods having a width of about 60 nm and a length of about 80-380 nm, with a largest aspect ratio of about 6.3. A lamellar liquid crystal templating mechanism has been proposed to interpret the experimental results.     

Crystallization near glass transition: transition from diffusion-controlled to diffusionless crystal growth studied with seven polymorphs

A remarkable property of certain glass-forming liquids is that a fast mode of crystal growth is activated near the glass transition temperature Tg and continues in the glassy state. This growth mode, termed GC (glass-crystal), is so fast that it is not limited by molecular diffusion in the bulk liquid. We have studied the GC mode by growing seven polymorphs from the liquid of ROY, currently the top system for the number of coexisting polymorphs of known structures. Some polymorphs did not show GC growth, while others did, with the latter having higher density and more isotropic molecular packing. The polymorphs not showing GC growth grew as compact spherulites at all temperatures; their growth rates near Tg decreased smoothly with falling temperature. The polymorphs showing GC growth changed growth morphologies with temperature, from faceted single crystals near the melting points, to fiber-like crystals near Tg, and to compact spherulites in the GC mode; in the GC mode, they grew at rates 3-4 orders of magnitude faster with activation energies 2-fold smaller than the polymorphs not showing GC growth. The GC mode had rates and activation energies similar to those of a polymorphic transformation observed near Tg. The GC mode was disrupted by the onset of the liquid's structural relaxation but could persist well above Tg (up to 1.15 Tg) in the form of fast-growing fibers. We consider various explanations for the GC mode and suggest that it is solid-state transformation enabled by local molecular motions native to the glassy state and disrupted by the liquid's structural relaxation (the alpha process).