A New Modified Pseudoequilibrium Calculation to Determine the Composition of Hydrogen and Nitrogen Plasmas at Atmospheric Pressure

This paper proposes a modified pseudoequilibrium calculation, which gives almost the same results as those of kinetic calculations to determine the composition of hydrogen and nitrogen plasmas at atmospheric pressure. The computing time is two to three orders of magnitude faster than that of the kinetic calculations. First, according to experimental results, a relationship between the electron temperature T_e and the heavy species one T_h has been proposed. The ratio T_e/T_h varies as a function of the logarithm of the ratio n_e/n _e ^max , _e ^max being the electron density in the plasma core for which equilibrium is achieved _e ^max ~ 10 ²³ ). The kinetic calculations have been performed assuming the microreversibility where the backward kinetic rate coefficient k_b is calculated by k_d/k_b=K_x, where k_d is the direct kinetic coefficient and K_x the molar fraction equilibrium constant. When electrons are involved in both direct and backward reactions, k_d and K_x are expressed as functions of T_e . However, when the direct reaction involves electrons while the backward one is due to collisions between heavy species (or the reverse), a temperature T* between T_e and T_h is introduced. T* is determined as a function of the ratio of the electron flux to that of neutral species in such a way that T*=T^e for n_e > 10²³ and T*=T_h for low values of n_e(n_e < 10¹⁵ m^–3). Compared to hydrogen, the nitrogen composition exhibits a very abrupt variation between 6000 and 6500 K, corresponding to a shift from the dissociation-dominated regime to that of ionization. It occurs because dissociation of nitrogen starts almost simultaneously with its ionization, which is not the case of H₂, for which dissociation is terminated long before ionization starts. If the charge transfer reaction, whose activation energy is low for both gases, is neglected, in both cases the electron density increases drastically below 9000 K. These results are quite similar to those obtained when calculating the composition with the multitemperature mass action law. The kinetic calculations are dominated by the reactions with a low activation energy: dissociation, dissociative recombination and charge transfer. Thus, a modified pseudoequilibrium calculation has been introduced, the plasma composition being calculated with the equilibrium constants corresponding to low activation energies[X₂ 2X, e+X ₂ ⁺ 2X, X ₂ ⁺ +X X⁺ + X₂ both for hydrogen (X=H) and nitrogen (X=N)] at the temperature T* between T_e and T_h. The results are in very good agreement with those of the kinetic calculations.     

Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen by Microorganisms

Research on the enzymatic assimilation of molecular nitrogen (N₂ fixation) has made decisive advances in recent years. Both the purely scientific aspects of this process and its industrial implications are assuming ever-increasing interest. Some of the results most important from the biochemical point of view have been collected in the present report.     

Reaction of Nitrogen(I) Oxide with Nitrogen-fixing Systems on the Basis of Lithium,Chlorotrimethylsilane, and Transition Metal Compounds

Reaction of nitrogen(I) oxide with nitrogen-fixing systems Li/Me₃SiCl/MCl _n (MCl _4n = CrCl₃, CoCl₂, Cp₂TiCl₂, FeCl₃, CuCl₂). In these systems nitrogen(I) oxide, molecular nitrogen, and air nitrogen undergo reductive silylation to tris(trimethylsilyl)amine. The efficiency of the process was estimated by the molar ratio of the tris(trimethylsilyl)amine formed to metal chloride MCl _n n. The reaction of N₂O with the nitrogen-fixing systems including CoCl₂ and Cp₂TiCl₂ is not exhausted by the reduction of the former to molecular nitrogen and its subsequent fixation by transition metal complexes.     

A Spectroscopic Study of Electrochemical Nitrogen and Nitrate Reduction on Rhodium Surfaces

Rh is a promising electrocatalyst for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) given its suitable nitrogen‐adsorption energy and low overpotential. However, the NRR pathway on Rh surfaces remains unknown. In this study, we employ surface‐enhanced infrared‐absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) to study the reaction mechanism of NRR on Rh. N₂H_x (0≤x≤2) is detected with a N=N stretching mode at ≈2020 cm^?1 by SEIRAS and a signal at m/z=29 by DEMS. A new two‐step reaction pathway on Rh surfaces is proposed that involves an electrochemical process with a two‐electron transfer to form N₂H₂ and its subsequent decomposition in the electrolyte producing NH₃. Our results also indicate that nitrate reduction and the NRR share the same reaction intermediate N₂H_x.     

Determination of Nitrogen in Silicon Carbide by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

The emission of atomic and complex nitrogen ions, which are the main impurity determining the n type conduction of silicon carbide, is investigated. It is shown that, among all the secondary ions of the C _x N and Si _x N kind (x = 0, 1, 2, 3), the ²⁶(CN)^– fragment exhibits the highest ion yield. The use of an ion peak with a specified mass as an analytical signal provides a detection limit for nitrogen in SiC at a level of 10¹⁶ cm^–3. This result is attained in measurements at high mass resolution (M/M = 7500, interference peak ²⁶(¹³C₂)^–).     

Preparation and Characterization of Iron Manganese Carbide by Reaction of the Oxides and Carbon in Nitrogen

Fe₂O₃, Mn₂O₃, and their mixtures are reduced by carbon in nitrogen. The product depends on manganese loading. A cohenite Fe₃C type phase is stabilized by substituting manganese into the lattice. A single phase cohenite phase solid solution Fe_3-xMn_xC is prepared for 20-50% manganese loading, and a Fe₇C₃ type phase can be obtained with manganese loading of 65-80%. The nitrogen participates in the reduction of the manganese-rich oxide mixtures. A manganese carbonitride is obtained by heating the mixture of Mn₂O₃ and carbon in nitrogen. The composition of the new compound is analyzed as Mn₂C_0.60N_0.21 and it has a hexagonal structure with a₀ = 4.778 Å and c₀ = 4.486 Å.     

Rapid Detection of Different Types of Soil Nitrogen Using Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging

Rapid and accurate determination of soil nitrogen supply capacity by detecting nitrogen content plays an important role in guiding agricultural production activities. In this study, near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) combined with two spectral preprocessing algorithms, two characteristic wavelength selection algorithms and two machine learning algorithms were applied to determine the content of soil nitrogen. Two types of soils (laterite and loess, collected in 2020) and three types of nitrogen fertilizers, namely, ammonium bicarbonate (ammonium nitrogen, NH₄-N), sodium nitrate (nitrate nitrogen, NO₃-N) and urea (urea nitrogen, urea-N), were studied. The NIR characteristic peaks of three types of nitrogen were assigned and regression models were established. By comparing the model average performance indexes after 100 runs, the best model suitable for the detection of nitrogen in different types was obtained. For NH₄-N, R²_p = 0.92, RMSE_P = 0.77% and RPD = 3.63; for NO₃-N, R²_p = 0.92, RMSE_P = 0.74% and RPD = 4.17; for urea-N, R²_p = 0.96, RMSE_P = 0.57% and RPD = 5.24. It can therefore be concluded that HSI spectroscopy combined with multivariate models is suitable for the high-precision detection of various soil N in soils. This study provided a research basis for the development of precision agriculture in the future.     

不同氮掺杂量碳纳米管的合成和表征

以不同氮含量的有机胺为碳和氮源，用催化方法合成出了不同氮含量的大管径碳纳米管。采用Fe/SBA-15分子筛为催化剂，有机胺经过1 073 K高温裂解得到氮掺杂碳纳米管材料(CN_x)。比较了苯、三乙胺、二乙胺、乙二胺四种原料对合成CN_x形貌、产率、掺氮量和吸水率的影响；以二乙胺为原料合成出适中的氮碳比(N/C原子比为0.15)和较高产率(2.2 g·（g·cat）^-1)的竹节状CN_x材料。     

Lewis Acid or Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Reactions of Vinylidene Cyclopropanes with Activated Carbon–Nitrogen,Nitrogen–Nitrogen,and Iodine–Nitrogen Double‐Bond‐Containing Compounds

Lewis acid or Brønsted acid catalyzed reactions of vinylidene cyclopropanes (VDCPs), 1 , with activated carbon–nitrogen, nitrogen–nitrogen, and iodine–nitrogen double‐bond‐containing compounds have been thoroughly investigated. We found that pyrrolidine and 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline derivatives can be formed in good yields in the reactions of VDCPs 1 with ethyl (arylimino)acetates 2 by a [3+2] cycloaddition or intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction pathway. Based on these results, we found that activated carbon–nitrogen and nitrogen–nitrogen double‐bond‐containing compounds, such as N‐toluene‐4‐sulfonyl (N‐Ts) imines 5 and diisopropylazodicarboxylate ( 7 ), can also react with VDCPs 1 to give [3+2] cycloaddition products in moderate to good yields in the presence of a Lewis acid. When N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl aldimine 9 was used as the substrate, six‐membered cycloaddition products 10 and 11 were formed in moderate yields in the presence of a Brønsted acid, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH). The reactions of VDCPs 1 with N‐Ts‐iminophenyliodinane ( 12 ) were also carried out in the presence of (CuOTf)₂ ? C₆H₆ and it was found that nitrogen‐containing indene derivatives 13 were obtained, rather than the aziridination products. Plausible mechanisms for all of these transformations are discussed, based on the obtained results.     

Decomposition of Acetaldehyde in Atmospheric Pressure Filamentary Nitrogen Plasma

The removal of 500?ppm acetaldehyde in nitrogen at 1?bar is characterized in a pulse dielectric barrier discharge generating a spatial random distribution of plasma filaments. The identification and the quantification of numerous by-products are performed. At 20?°C, CH₃CHO is efficiently dissociated, probably owing to quenching of N₂ metastable states. The most abundant by-products are CO, H₂, and CH₄, in consistency with the three important exit channels for the quenching of the N₂(A³?? _u ⁺ ) state by CH₃CHO proposed by Faider et al. (2011). In order of importance, other products are HCN, C₂H₆, CH₃CN, HNCO, CO₂, CH₃COCH₃, C₂H₄, C₂H₅CN, NH₃, C₂H₂, and a group of nitriles and of ketones. An increase of the temperature from 20?°C up to 300?°C induces a strong decrease of the removal characteristic energy, but the by-products types remain unchanged. Probably the reaction of H with CH₃CHO plays a role in the removal of the molecule at 300?°C.     

Distortion of Configuration of the Nitrogen Atom in 3-Trimethylsilylpropynamides

Analysis of the IR spectral parameters and the results of AM1 quantum-chemical calculations indicated distortion of the planar structure of the amide fragment and destabilization of the nitrogen configuration in new N-functionalized 3-trimethylsilylpropynamides Me₃SiCCC(O)NHR. This effect is most pronounced in N-hydroxy-3-trimethylsilylpropynamide upon formation of intramolecular hydrogen bond C=O···H-O.     

Isotope Shifts of Nitrogen around 800 nm

The Doppler-limited absorption spectra of ¹⁴N and ¹⁵N atoms were measured around 800 nm using concentration modulation spectroscopy to study their isotope shifts. The nitrogen atoms were generated by discharging molecular nitrogen buffered with helium in a homemade discharge tube. The isotope shifts of four multiplets (3s⁴P_J→3p⁴D_J^o, 3s⁴P_J→3p⁴P_J^o, 3s²D_J→5s²P_J^o, and 3p²P_J^o→5s²D_J^o) were measured and their J-dependent specific mass shifts were observed and discussed.     

Electrochemistry of Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes (CNx) with Different Nitrogen Content and Its Application in Simultaneous Determination of Dihydroxybenzene Isomers

The bamboo‐shaped nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes (CN_x) with different nitrogen content were synthesized using Fe‐containing SBA‐15 molecular sieve as catalyst with thermal decomposition. The CN_x nanotubes prepared were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. The results suggest that there are a larger amount of defective sites on CN_x nanotubes surfaces due to the nitrogen doping and CN_x nanotube with higher nitrogen content possesses lower graphitic ordering in the framework. Furthermore the effects of nitrogen content on the electrochemistry of CN_x modified electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). CN_x modified electrodes exhibit better electrocatalytic activities to the oxidation of hydroquinone. Moreover CN_x with lower nitrogen content is in favor of the electron transfer between dihydroxybenzene and electrode surface, while CN_x with higher nitrogen content possesses high surface adsorptive ability. CN_x modified electrodes can be applied to determine dihydroxybenzene isomers directly and simultaneously by linear sweep voltammetry technique without previous separation.     

Determination of the Nitrogen Atom Density in the Afterglow of a Nitrogen and Helium,Nonequilibrium, Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

Three methods have been examined for evaluating the concentration of nitrogen atoms in the afterglow of a nonequilibrium, helium-stabilized, atmospheric pressure plasma. These are nitric oxide titration, absolute emission intensity of N₂(B ³_g) and temporal decay of the N₂(B ³_g) emission. To employ the second method, the rate constants for the recombination of N atoms into N₂(B ³_g), at different vibrational levels of the B state, were determined. The third newly developed method has three advantages over the other two techniques: (1) it can predict the N-atom density for the entire afterglow, (2) it does not require calibration of the N₂(B ³_g) emission intensity, and (3) it does not disturb the gas flow. According to these measurements, the atmospheric pressure plasma produced a high density of nitrogen atoms, exceeding 4.0×10¹⁵ cm^–3 at the edge of the discharge for 10 Torr N₂ in 745 Torr He at 375 K and 15.5 W/cm³.     

Characterization of Titania/Silica Gel by Means of Low-Pressure Nitrogen Adsorption

Adsorbents synthesized by grafting of titania onto mesoporous silica gel surfaces at different temperatures were studied by means of nitrogen adsorption–desorption and water desorption. The pore size distribution f(R_p) of titania/silica gel depends on the titania concentration (C_TiO2) and the temperature of titania synthesis. Nonuniformity of TiO₂ phase is maximal at a low C_TiO2 value (3.2 wt.% anatase deposited at 473 K), and two peaks of the fractal dimension distribution f(D) are observed at such a concentration of titania, but at larger C_TiO2 values, only one f(D) peak is seen. More ordered filling of pores and adsorption sites by nitrogen, reflecting in the shape of adsorption energy distributions f(E) at different pressures of adsorbate, is observed for adsorbent with titania (rutile+anatase) grafted on silica gel at a higher temperature (673 K).     

Modelling of an Atmospheric Pressure Nitrogen Glow Discharge Operating in High-Gas Temperature Regimes

A model of an atmospheric pressure nitrogen glow discharge in high-gas temperature regimes is developed. The model considers a fairly complete set of chemical reactions, including several processes with the participation of electronically exited nitrogen atoms describing the energy balance and charged particles kinetic processes in the discharge. It is shown that the thermal dissociation of vibrationally excited molecules plays an essential role in the production of N(⁴ S) atoms. The dominant ion within the investigated current range (52–187 mA) is the molecular N₂ ⁺ with an increasing proportion of atomic N⁺ towards high-current values. The process of production of electrons within the almost whole current range is controlled predominantly by associative ionization in atomic collisions N(² P) + N(² P) → N₂ ⁺ + e; being the N(² P) atoms mainly produced via quenching of N₂(A ³∑ _u ⁺ ) electronically excited molecules by N(⁴ S) atoms. The results of calculations are compared with the available experimental data and a good agreement is found.     

Production of N3 upon Photolysis of Solid Nitrogen at 3 K with Synchrotron Radiation

The photodissociation of gaseous molecular nitrogen has been investigated intensively, but the corresponding knowledge in a solid phase is lacking. Irradiation of pure solid nitrogen at 3 K with vacuum‐ultraviolet light from a synchrotron produced infrared absorption lines of product l‐N₃ at 1657.8 and 1652.6 cm^?1. The threshold wavelength to generate l‐N₃ was determined to be (143.7±1.8) nm, corresponding to an energy of (8.63±0.11) eV. Quantum‐chemical calculations support the formation of l‐N₃ from the reaction N₂+N₂, possibly through an activated complex l‐N₄ upon photoexcitation with energy above 8.63 eV. The results provide a possible application to an understanding of the nitrogen cycle in astronomical environments.     

Photoinitiated Cationic Polymerization of 3-Ethyl-3-(phenoxymethyl)-oxetane in Nitrogen Atmosphere

Abstract

The photoinitiated cationic polymerizations of 3-ethyl-3-(phenoxymethyl)-oxetane (PhO) and phenyl glycidyl ether (PhE) with diphenyl-4-thiophenoxyphenyl sulfonium hexafluoroantimonate as the cationic photoinitiator were carried out in air and nitrogen atmospheres. A real time FT-IR method was used to estimate the polymerization rates. The number-average molecular weight (M _n) of the resulting polymers were measured by gel permeation chromatography. In nitrogen, the photopolymerization rate of PhO was more than four times greater than in air, while there was no essential difference for PhE. The M _n of the PhO polymer increased from 13,900 (in air) to 61,200 (in nitrogen) at the peak top. The fast polymerization mechanism in nitrogen was postulated to be the radical-assisted decomposition of the sulfonium salt.     

Electrochemical Oxidation Behavior of Nitrogen Dioxide for Gas Detection Using Boron Doped Diamond Electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation reaction of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) using boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes is presented. Cyclic voltammetry of NO₂ in a 0.1 M KClO₄ solution exhibits oxidation peaks at +1.1 V and +1.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) which are attributable to oxidation of HONO and NO₂⁻, respectively. Moreover, the pH and scan rate dependences were investigated to study the oxidation mechanism. A linear calibration curve was observed in the concentration range of ∼1 to 5 mM (R²=0.99) with a detection limit of 11.1 ppb (S/B=3) for HONO and 58.6 ppb (S/B=3) for NO₂⁻. In addition, the analytical performance was compared with those using glassy carbon, platinum and stainless steel as the working electrode.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Nitrogen to Ammonia Using Tiara-like Phenylethanethiolated Nickel Cluster

The fixing of N₂ to NH₃ is challenging due to the inertness of the N≡N bond. Commercially, ammonia production depends on the energy-consuming Haber-Bosch (H−B) process, which emits CO₂ while using fossil fuels as the sources of hydrogen and energy. An alternative method for NH₃ production is the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) process as it is powered by renewable energy sources. Here, we report a tiara-like nickel-thiolate cluster, [Ni₆(PET)₁₂] (where, PET=2-phenylethanethiol)] as an efficient electro-catalyst for the electrochemical NRR at ambient conditions. Ammonia (NH₃: 16.2±0.8 μg h⁻¹ cm⁻²) was the only nitrogenous product over the potential of −2.3 V vs. F_c⁺/F_c with a Faradaic efficiency of 25%±1.7. Based on theoretical calculations, NRR by [Ni₆(PET)₁₂] proceeds through both the distal and alternating pathways with an onset potential of −1.84 V vs. RHE (i.e., −2.46 V vs. F_c⁺/F_c) which corroborates with the experimental findings.