Physicochemical properties of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> xerogel modified by hydrogen peroxide

How the specific surface area and the amorphous-to-crystalline titania phase ratio in TiO₂–SiO₂ (14 mol % TiO₂) xerogels change during the fivefold repeated cycles comprising the hydrogen peroxide treatment of the xerogel followed by drying and calcining of the binary material, was traced by the BET method, X-ray powder diffraction, and IR spectroscopy.     

Thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogen absorption–desorption of highly crystalline LaNi<Subscript>5</Subscript>

Lanthanum penta-nickel (LaNi₅) has been considered as potential candidates for hydrogen storage application at room temperature (20 °C). The intermetallic could store more than 1.36 mass % hydrogen. Substantially, work has been done on the hydrogenation–dehydrogenation kinetics and thermodynamics of LaNi₅. It has been reported that the hydrogen storage capacity reduced after single activation due to the deep trap of hydrogen. The kinetics and thermodynamics of trap hydrogen need to be quantified to understand the nature of trap and the required temperature to release the trapped hydrogen. In the current study, thermodynamics and kinetics of hydrogenation–dehydrogenation of high phase purity crystalline LaNi₅ were investigated. Sievert’s apparatus was used to investigate the pressure composition-temperature measurement to find out the cyclic hydrogen storage capacity and the thermodynamic parameters. The thermodynamic data obtained were evaluated using high-pressure differential scanning calorimetric technique. The trap hydrogen and their desorption kinetics were studied using thermogravimetric–thermal analysis–mass spectrometric techniques.     

Theoretical study of bifurcated bent blue-shifted hydrogen bonds CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>···Y

Ab initio quantum chemistry methods were applied to study the bifurcated bent hydrogen bonds Y··· H₂CZ (Z = O, S, Se) and Y···H₂CZ₂ (Z = F, Cl, Br) (Y = Cl⁻, Br⁻) at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) and MP2/6-311++G(2df,2p) levels. The results show that in each complex there are two equivalent blue-shifted H-bonds Y···H-C, and that the interaction energies and blue shifts are large, the energy of each Y···H-C H-bond is 15–27 kJ/mol, and Δr(CH) = −0.1 − −0.5 pm and Δv(CH) = 30 − 80 cm⁻¹. The natural bond orbital analysis shows that these blue-shifted H-bonds are caused by three factors: large rehybridization; small direct intermolecular hyperconjugation and larger indirect intermolecular hyperconjugation; large decrease of intramolecular hyperconjugation. The topological analysis of electron density shows that in each complex there are three intermolecular critical points: there is one bond critical point between the acceptor atom Y and each hydrogen, and there is a ring critical point inside the tetragon YHCH, so these interactions are exactly H-bonding.     

Direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen over insoluble Pd<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>M<Subscript>2.5</Subscript>H<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>PW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript> (M = K,Rb, and Cs) heteropolyacid catalysts

Palladium-containing insoluble heteropolyacid (HPA) catalysts (Pd_0.15M_2.5H_0.2PW₁₂O₄₀) were prepared by an ion-exchange method using various alkaline metal ions (M = K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺) (denoted as Pd-KPW, Pd-RbPW, and Pd-CsPW). They were then applied to the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen. Conversion of hydrogen over the catalysts was almost identical with no great difference, while selectivity for hydrogen peroxide increased in the order of Pd-KPW < Pd-RbPW < Pd-CsPW. As a consequence, yield for hydrogen peroxide increased in the order of Pd-KPW < Pd-RbPW < Pd-CsPW. It was found that yield for hydrogen peroxide increased with increasing Pd 3d_5/2 binding energy of the catalyst. Among the catalysts tested, Pd-CsPW catalyst with the highest Pd 3d_5/2 binding energy showed the highest yield for hydrogen peroxide.     

Nature and strength of C-H···O interactions involving formyl hydrogen atoms: computational and experimental studies of small aldehydes

Structural and electronic properties of C-H···O contacts in compounds containing a formyl group are investigated from the perspective of both hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions, in a systematic and graded approach. The effects of α-substitution and self-association on the nature of the formyl H-atom are studied with the NBO and AIM methodologies. The relative dipole-dipole contributions in formyl C-H···O interactions are obtained for aldehyde dimers. The stabilities and energies of aldehyde clusters (dimer through octamer) have been examined computationally. Such studies have an implication in crystallization mechanisms. Experimental X-ray crystal structures of formaldehyde, acrolein and N-methylformamide have been determined in order to ascertain the role of C-H···O interactions in the crystal packing of formyl compounds.     

Theoretical study of the S?H···O blue‐shifted hydrogen bond

Theoretical calculations were performed to study the nature of the hydrogen bonds in the complexes HCHO···HSO, HCOOH···HSO, HCHO···HOO, and HCOOH···HOO. The geometric structures and vibrational frequencies of these four complexes at the MP2/6‐31G(d,p) and MP2/6‐311+G(d,p) levels are calculated by standard and counterpoise‐corrected methods, respectively. The results indicate that in the complexes HCHO···HSO and HCOOH···HSO the S? H bond is strongly contracted. In the S? H···O hydrogen bonds, the calculated blue shifts for the S? H stretching frequencies are in the vicinity of 50 cm^?1. While in the complexes HCHO···HOO and HCOOH···HOO, the O? H bond is elongated and O? H···O red‐shifted hydrogen bonds are found. From the natural bond orbital analysis it can be seen that the X? H bond length in the X? H···Y hydrogen bond is controlled by a balance of four main factors in the opposite directions: hyperconjugation, electron density redistribution, rehybridization, and structural reorganization. Among them hyperconjugation has the effect of elongating the X? H bond. Electron density redistribution and rehybridization belong to the bond shortening effects, while structural reorganization has an uncertain influence on the X? H bond length. In the complexes HCHO···HSO and HCOOH···HSO, the shortening effects dominate which lead to the blue shift of the S? H stretching frequencies. In the complexes HCHO···HOO and HCOOH···HOO where elongating effects are dominant, the O? H···O hydrogen bonds are red‐shifted. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009     

Structure of hydrogen fluoride complexes with diethylketone in a HF–Et<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO solution

The optimal configurations and the vibrational spectra of heteroassociates (HAs) of hydrogen fluoride and diethylketone molecules with 1:1, 2:2, 4:1, and 8:2 compositions are calculated using the density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)). A comparison of the results of calculations and the known experimental data reveal that the following stable hydrogen-bonded molecular complexes are formed in HF–Et₂CO solutions: the C _2h symmetry cyclic heterotetramer (HF)₂?(Et₂CO)₂ and the tricyclic HA (HF)₈?(Et₂CO)₂ formed based on the heterotetramer by the binding of two (HF)₃ moieties. It is shown that it is appropriate to decompose the spectral curve into the Gaussian functions or the Lorentzian functions to determine the frequencies and the integrated intensities of broad and overlapped IR bands. The first type of the decomposition enables one to estimate more correctly the values of the band frequencies, and the second type makes it possible to find more correctly the band intensities.     

Synthesis of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>—Ag nanocomposites and their application to enzymeless hydrogen peroxide detection

To achieve highly sensitive nonenzymatic detection of H₂O₂, a novel electrochemical sensor based on Fe₃O₄-Ag nanocomposites was developed. Nanocomposites were synthesized by reducing [Ag(NH₃)₂]⁺ at the gas/liquid interface in the presence of silver seeds and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry. Electrochemical investigations indicate that the sensor is able to detect H₂O₂ within a wide linear range of 0.5 μM to 4.0 mM, sensitivity of 135.4 μA mM^?1 cm^?2 and low detection limit of 0.2 μM (S/N = 3). Additionally, the sensor exhibits good anti-interference ability, stability and repeatability. These results show that the Fe₃O₄-Ag nanocomposite is a promising electrocatalytic material for sensors construction.     

A computational study on [(PH<Subscript>2</Subscript>X)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>·+</Superscript> homodimers involving intermolecular two-center three-electron bonds

A computational study at CCSD(T) theoretical level has been carried out on radical cation [(PH₂X)₂]^·+ homodimers. Four stable minima configurations have been found for seven substituted phosphine derivatives, X = H, CH₃, CCH, NC, OH, F and Cl. The most stable minimum presents an intermolecular two-center three-electron P···P bond except for X = CCH. The other three minima correspond to an alternative P···P pnicogen bonded complex, to a P···X contact and the last one to the complex resulting from a proton transfer, PH₃X⁺:PHX^·. The complexes obtained have been compared with those of the corresponding neutral ones, (PH₂X)₂, and the analogous protonated ones, PH₃X⁺:PH₂X, recently described in the literature. The spin and charge densities of the complexes have been examined. The electronic characteristics of the complexes have been analyzed with the NBO and AIM methods. The results obtained for the spin density, charge and NBO are coherent for all the complexes.     

Photocatalytic production of hydrogen from water–alcohol media with the participation of mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Samples of mesoporous TiO₂ containing 80-85% of anatase and 15-20% of rutile with average particle and pore sizes of ∼10 nm and specific surface areas of 70 m²/g were obtained. The nanohetero structures TiO₂/Cu formed during photocatalytic reduction of Cu^II exhibit photocatalytic activity in the release of hydrogen from water–ethanol mixtures. The quantum yield with respect to atomic hydrogen amounts to 1.5.     

C–H bond activation induced by thorium metallacyclopropene complexes: a combined experimental and computational study

Inter- and intramolecular C–H bond activations by thorium metallacyclopropene complexes were comprehensively studied. The reduction of [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂]₂ThCl₂ (1) with potassium graphite (KC₈) in the presence of internal alkynes (PhCCR) yields the corresponding thorium metallacyclopropenes [η⁵-1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂]₂Th(η²-C₂Ph(R)) (R = Ph (2), Me (3), ⁱPr (4), C₆H₁₁ (5)). Complexes 3–5 derived from phenyl(alkyl)acetylenes are very reactive resulting in an intramolecular C–H bond activation of the 1,2,4-(Me₃C)₃C₅H₂ ligand. In contrast, no intramolecular C–H bond activation is observed for the diphenylacetylene derived complex 2, but it does activate α-C–H bonds in pyridine or carbonyl derivatives upon coordination. Density functional theory (DFT) studies complement the experimental studies and provide additional insights into the observed reactivity.     

Role of the HO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>•</Superscript></Stack> radical in hydrogen oxidation at the third self-ignition limit

It is demonstrated by simultaneous analysis of experimental data and the results of numerical simulation that, at 100 kPa, the H₂/O₂ mixture self-ignites only owing to the occurrence of a chain avalanche. Self-heating becomes significant in the course of chain combustion and strengthens the chain avalanche. The accelerating decomposition of H₂O₂, which results from the reaction between HO₂^• and H₂, contributes to chain branching and determines the character of the chain thermal explosion. The role of the HO₂^• radical depends on the chain process conditions, consisting of chain termination as a result of the partial loss of HO₂^• at the initial self-acceleration stage, H atom regeneration, and participation in the second branched cycle under conditions of accelerated H₂O₂ decomposition.     

The sensor properties of SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> · In<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanocomposite oxides in the detection of hydrogen in air

The sensor properties of In₂O₃ · SnO₂ polycrystalline films having different compositions were studied in the detection of 2% hydrogen in air over the temperature range 330–530°C. Films containing 19% In₂O₃ were most sensitive to hydrogen. The temperature dependence of the sensitivity of sensors passed a maximum, the position of which depended on the composition of the film. The temperature at which sensor sensitivity was maximum decreased as the content of indium oxide increased. This temperature was 485°C for the SnO₂ film and 425°C for the In₂O₃ film. The response and relaxation times of sensors also decreased as the amount of In₂O₃ in the composite metal oxide film increased. Possible mechanisms of the sensor sensitivity of the films are discussed.     

Investigating the mechanisms of 17<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-estradiol imprinting by computational prediction and spectroscopic analysis

Molecular dynamics simulations combined with spectroscopic analysis were applied to understand the nature of recognition in molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), and for optimizing the MIP formulation. The best monomers for synthesizing imprinted materials for 17β-estradiol (BE2) were selected by evaluating the strength of the template–monomer interaction derived from molecular dynamics simulations. A number of potential functional monomers for BE2 were screened for hydrogen-bonding strength in order to analyze template–monomer interactions favorable for synthesizing noncovalent MIPs, with the simulations revealing that methacrylic acid, 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate, and methacrylamide provided the highest binding affinity to BE2. These theoretical predictions agree with previously reported results on batch rebinding studies using the corresponding functional monomers for synthesizing a series of MIPs. Molecular analysis such as ¹H NMR was used for experimentally confirming the prevalent template–monomer interactions derived from the modeling results. Molecular dynamics simulations indicating monomer dimerization in the prepolymerization solution correlated with the nature of the porogenic solvent, which was confirmed by NMR studies on hydrogen-bonding interactions of methacrylic acid in different solvents. Furthermore, batch rebinding studies revealed that the specific functionalities of the monomers essential to rebinding are retained after polymerization, which proves that the application of computational methods for modeling the prepolymerization solution provides useful information for optimizing real MIP systems.     

Carbon nitride–TiO2 hybrid modified with hydrogenase for visible light driven hydrogen production

A system consisting of a [NiFeSe]–hydrogenase (H₂ase) grafted on the surface of a TiO₂ nanoparticle modified with polyheptazine carbon nitride polymer, melon (CN_x) is reported. This semi-biological assembly shows a turnover number (TON) of more than 5.8 × 10⁵ mol H₂ (mol H₂ase)^–1 after 72 h in a sacrificial electron donor solution at pH 6 during solar AM 1.5 G irradiation. An external quantum efficiency up to 4.8% for photon-to-hydrogen conversion was achieved under irradiation with monochromatic light. The CN_x–TiO₂–H₂ase construct was also active under UV-free solar light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), where it showed a substantially higher activity than TiO₂–H₂ase and CN_x–H₂ase due, in part, to the formation of a CN_x–TiO₂ charge transfer complex and highly productive electron transfer to the H₂ase. The CN_x–TiO₂–H₂ase system sets a new benchmark for photocatalytic H₂ production with a H₂ase immobilised on a noble- and toxic-metal free light absorber in terms of visible light utilisation and stability.     

Reactions of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">closo</Emphasis>-dodecaborate anion B<Subscript>12</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>12</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> with hydrogen halides in dichloroethane

The reaction of the closo-dodecaborate anion with hydrogen halides in dichloroethane is studied. Regardless of the hydrogen halide used (HCl, HBr, HI), the chlorination process with the formation of monoand disubstituted products is the main in all cases. The substitution has a weakly pronounced stepwise character. The synthesized compounds are identified by IR spectroscopy, ¹¹B NMR, and ESI mass spectrometry. The structure of a single crystal of the complex Ni(Bipy)₃(B₁₂H_10.668Cl_1.332) · 3CH₂CN · 0.464H₂O is determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

A computational study of the radical–radical reaction of O(<Superscript>3</Superscript>P) + C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>5</Subscript> with comparisons to gas-phase kinetics and crossed-beam experiments

We present density functional theory (DFT) and complete basis set (CBS) calculations of the prototypical radical–radical reaction of ground–state atomic oxygen [O(³P)] with ethyl (C₂H₅) radicals. The respective reaction mechanisms and dynamics were investigated on the doublet potential energy surfaces using the DFT method and CBS model. In the title reaction, the barrierless addition of O(³P) to C₂H₅ led to the formation of energy-rich intermediates that underwent subsequent isomerization and decomposition to yield various products. The products predicted to be found were: H₂CO + CH₃, CH₃CHO + H, c–CH₂OCH₂ + H, ^1,3CH₃COH + H, ^1,3HCOH + CH₃, CH₂CHOH + H, C₂H₃ + H₂O, and CH₂CH₂ + OH. In particular, unlike previous kinetic results, proposed to proceed only through the direct H-atom abstraction process, two distinctive pathways to the formation of CH₂CH₂ + OH were predicted to be in competition: direct, barrierless H-atom abstraction mechanism versus addition process. The competition was consistent with the recent crossed-beam investigations, and their microscopic dynamic characteristics are discussed at the molecular level.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In situ</Emphasis> powder X-ray diffraction study of the process of NiMoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> reduction with hydrogen

An interest in NiMoО₄–SiO₂ reduction stems from its promising use as catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation and hydrodesulfurization processes. The work exploits in situ X-ray diffraction to investigate phase transformations during NiMoO₄–SiO₂ reduction with hydrogen in a temperature range of 30-700°C. The α-NiMoО₄ reduction is shown to proceed in two stages. In the first stage, at 400-500°C, an intermediate state (Ni,Mo,□)O mixed oxide and Ni_1–x Mo _x form. In the second stage, above 650°C, two solid solutions based on the Mo and Ni structures form. The structure of the intermediate state is refined by the Rietveld method. It is demonstrated that the Ni–Mo mixed oxide forms based on the NiO structure, which contains a certain number of cation vacancies.     

Photoelectrochemical performance of bilayered Fe–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Zn–Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films for solar generation of hydrogen

A visible-light sensitive bilayered photoanode of Fe–TiO₂/Zn–Fe₂O₃ has been developed by spray pyrolytically depositing Zn–Fe₂O₃ layers onto predeposited Fe–TiO₂ thin film on ITO substrate. Fe–TiO₂/Zn–Fe₂O₃ photoelectrodes were characterized by XRD, Raman, AFM, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical properties of bilayered Fe–TiO₂/Zn–Fe₂O₃ photoelectrode were studied by Mott–Schottky curves and I–V characteristics. Bilayered Fe–TiO₂/Zn–Fe₂O₃ photoelectrode was observed to possess much higher separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers and could generate nine times better photocurrent density than pure Fe–TiO₂. Solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency exhibited by this electrode was 0.77%.