Solvation and solvatochromism in CO2-expanded liquids. 3. The dynamics of nonspecific preferential solvation

Subpicosecond time-resolved fluorescence of trans-4-dimethylamino-4'-cyanostilbene (DCS) is used to measure solvation dynamics in the gas-expanded liquid (GXL) system CH(3)CN + CO(2) at 25 degrees C along the liquid-vapor coexistence curve. These measurements are supplemented by measurements of the steady-state solvatochromism of DCS and of its rotation and isomerization times. Molecular dynamics computer simulations and a semiempirical spectral model that reproduces the observed solvatochromism in this system are used to interpret the experimental results. Simulations indicate that at compositions of x(CO2) > 0.5, the cybotactic region surrounding DCS is enriched in CH(3)CN molecules, and the extent of this enrichment is greater in S(1) than that in S(0). Solvation dynamics are dominated by the CH(3)CN component. These dynamics are biphasic, consisting of a subpicosecond inertial component, followed by a slower picosecond component, related to the redistribution of CH(3)CN molecules between the cybotactic region and the bulk solvent.     

Solvatochromic behavior of phenol blue in CO2+ethanol and CO2+n-pentane mixtures in the critical region and local composition enhancement

The UV-Vis spectra of probe phenol blue in CO(2)+ethanol and CO(2)+n-pentane binary mixtures were studied at 308.15 K and different pressures. The experiments were conducted in both supercritical region and subcritical region of the mixtures by changing the compositions of the mixed solvents. On the basis of the experimental results the local compositions of the solvents about phenol blue were estimated by neglecting the size difference of CO(2) and the cosolvents. Then the local composition data were corrected by a method proposed in this work, which is mainly based on Lennard-Jones sphere model. It was demonstrated that the local mole fraction of the cosolvents is higher than that in the bulk solution at all the experimental conditions. In the near critical region of the mixed solvents the local composition enhancement, defined as the ratio of cosolvent mole fraction about the solute to that in the bulk solution, increased significantly as pressure approached the phase boundary from high pressure. The local composition enhancement was not considerable as pressure was much higher than the critical pressure. In addition, in subcritical region the degree of composition enhancement was much smaller and was not sensitive to pressure in the entire pressure range as the concentration of the cosolvents in the mixed solvents was much higher than the concentration at the critical point of the mixtures.     

Removal of Cs,Sr, U and Pu species from simulated nuclear waste effluent using graphene oxide

This article reports the findings from a series of radioactive experimental trials which have examined the sorption properties of graphene oxide focused on four key radionuclides commonly linked to effluent challenges in the nuclear industry—Cs, Sr, U and Pu. Unlike previous experimental studies, simulated effluent waste solutions were utilised with compositions typical of those found at the Sellafield nuclear site, UK. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed in parallel to elucidate the functional groups to which radionuclides preferentially adsorb.     

Vibrational branching ratios in photoionization of CO and N2

We report results of experimental and theoretical studies of the vibrational branching ratios for CO 4sigma(-1) photoionization from 20 to 185 eV. Comparison with results for the 2sigma(u)(-1) channel of the isoelectronic N2 molecule shows the branching ratios for these two systems to be qualitatively different due to the underlying scattering dynamics: CO has a shape resonance at low energy but lacks a Cooper minimum at higher energies whereas the situation is reversed for N2.     

Comparative theoretical study of the dissociation process of the isoelectronic molecules BH3CO,CH2CO,HNCO, CO2 and BH3N2, CH2N2, HN3, N2O

Anab initio study of the electronic structure of several 22-electrons molecules is presented. The equilibrium geometries of their ground state are calculated at the SCF level using the 6–31G basis set and are found to be in good agreement with the experimental geometries. The dissociation process of these molecules leading to the isoelectronic products CO or N₂ on the one hand and BH₃, CH₂, NH and O on the other hand is studied. The least-energy dissociation paths of the ground states determined at the SCF level are compared on the basis of electron density interactions. The dissociation energies corresponding to the two lowest dissociation channels are calculated. In these calculations, the correlation energy is taken into account using a non-variational method developed previously. The calculated values of dissociation energies are in good agreement with the existing experimental values. The results permit to predict values for HNCO, BH₃CO and CH₂N₂ and to confirm the instability of BH₃N₂.Aspirant du Fonds National Belge de la Recherche Scientifique.     

Quantum state-resolved CO2 collisions at the gas-liquid interface: surface temperature-dependent scattering dynamics

Energy transfer dynamics at the gas-liquid interface are investigated as a function of surface temperature both by experimental studies of CO2 + perfluorinated polyether (PFPE) and by molecular dynamics simulations of CO2 + fluorinated self-assembled monolayers (F-SAMs). Using a normal incident molecular beam, the experimental studies probe scattered CO2 internal-state and translational distributions with high resolution infrared spectroscopy. At low incident energies [Einc = 1.6(1) kcal/mol], CO2 J-state populations and transverse Doppler velocity distributions are characteristic of the surface temperature (Trot approximately Ttrans approximately TS) over the range from 232 to 323 K. In contrast, the rotational and translational distributions at high incident energies [Einc = 10.6(8) kcal/mol] show evidence for both trapping-desorption (TD) and impulsive scattering (IS) events. Specifically, the populations are surprisingly well-characterized by a sum of Boltzmann distributions where the two components include one (TD) that equilibrates with the surface (TTD approximately TS) and a second (IS) that is much hotter than the surface temperature (TIS > TS). Support for the superthermal, yet Boltzmann, nature of the IS channel is provided by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of CO2 + F-SAMs [Einc = 10.6 kcal/mol], which reveal two-temperature distributions, sticking probabilities, and angular distributions in near quantitative agreement with the experimental PFPE results. Finally, experiments as a function of surface temperature reveal an increase in both sticking probability and rotational/translational temperature of the IS component. Such a trend is consistent with increased surface roughness at higher surface temperature, which increases the overall probability of trapping, yet preferentially leads to impulsive scattering of more highly internally excited CO2 from the surface.     

Optical Diagnostics of Supercritical CO2 and CO2-Ethanol Mixture in the Widom Delta

The supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) is widely used as solvent and transport media in different technologies. The technological aspects of scCO₂ fluid applications strongly depend on spatial–temporal fluctuations of its thermodynamic parameters. The region of these parameters’ maximal fluctuations on the p-T (pressure-temperature) diagram is called Widom delta. It has significant practical and fundamental interest. We offer an approach that combines optical measurements and molecular dynamics simulation in a wide range of pressures and temperatures. We studied the microstructure of supercritical CO₂ fluid and its binary mixture with ethanol in a wide range of temperatures and pressures using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. MD is used to retrieve a set of optical characteristics such as Raman spectra, refractive indexes and molecular refraction and was verified by appropriate experimental measurements. We demonstrated that in the Widom delta the monotonic dependence of the optical properties on the CO₂ density is violated. It is caused by the rapid increase of density fluctuations and medium-sized (20–30 molecules) cluster formation. We identified the correlation between cluster parameters and optical properties of the media; in particular, it is established that the clusters in the Widom delta acts as a seed for clustering in molecular jets. MD demonstrates that the cluster formation is stronger in the supercritical CO₂-ethanol mixture, where the extended binary clusters are formed; that is, the nonlinear refractive index significantly increased. The influence of the supercritical state in the cell on the formation of supersonic cluster jets is studied using the Mie scattering technique.     

Origin of Thermal and Hyperthermal CO2 from CO Oxidation on Pt Surfaces: The Role of Post‐Transition‐State Dynamics,Active Sites,and Chemisorbed CO2

The post‐transition‐state dynamics in CO oxidation on Pt surfaces are investigated using DFT‐based ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. While the initial CO₂ formed on a terrace site on Pt(111) desorbs directly, it is temporarily trapped in a chemisorption well on a Pt(332) step site. These two reaction channels thus produce CO₂ with hyperthermal and thermal velocities with drastically different angular distributions, in agreement with recent experiments (Nature, 2018 , 558, 280–283). The chemisorbed CO₂ is formed by electron transfer from the metal to the adsorbate, resulting in a bent geometry. While chemisorbed CO₂ on Pt(111) is unstable, it is stable by 0.2 eV on a Pt(332) step site. This helps explain why newly formed CO₂ produced at step sites desorbs with far lower translational energies than those formed at terraces. This work shows that steps and other defects could be potentially important in finding optimal conditions for the chemical activation and dissociation of CO₂.     

Origin of Thermal and Hyperthermal CO2 from CO Oxidation on Pt Surfaces: The Role of Post‐Transition‐State Dynamics,Active Sites,and Chemisorbed CO2

The post‐transition‐state dynamics in CO oxidation on Pt surfaces are investigated using DFT‐based ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. While the initial CO₂ formed on a terrace site on Pt(111) desorbs directly, it is temporarily trapped in a chemisorption well on a Pt(332) step site. These two reaction channels thus produce CO₂ with hyperthermal and thermal velocities with drastically different angular distributions, in agreement with recent experiments (Nature, 2018 , 558, 280–283). The chemisorbed CO₂ is formed by electron transfer from the metal to the adsorbate, resulting in a bent geometry. While chemisorbed CO₂ on Pt(111) is unstable, it is stable by 0.2 eV on a Pt(332) step site. This helps explain why newly formed CO₂ produced at step sites desorbs with far lower translational energies than those formed at terraces. This work shows that steps and other defects could be potentially important in finding optimal conditions for the chemical activation and dissociation of CO₂.     

高压下CO_2-乙醇二元系统的气液平衡

在带有可视石英窗的可变体积高压釜内 ,在 60－ 180℃温度范围、 4.0－ 14.5 MPa压力范围下测定了 CO2和乙醇二元系统的相平衡数据 .根据实验结果预测了 pc,Tc,xc.用 Peng-Robinson方程和 Wong-Sandler混合规则进行了拟合 ,所得结果与实验数据基本相符 .     

Equilibria in Cu(CH3CO2)2-pyridine-water system. Spectrophotometric,conductometric, and EPR study of the Cu(CH3CO2)2-pyridine-water system

Electronic spectra (340–800 nm; 298.2 K), liquid (298.2 K) and frozen solution (77 K) EPR spectra and electrolytic conductivities (298.2 K) have been measured for Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂ over the whole range of compositions of the mixed pyridine-water solvent. The results have been interpreted in terms of the possible coordination equilibria in the solution. They support the strong tendency of the Cu^II ion to coordinate pyridine molecules in aqueous solutions, revealed by other Cu^II salts. Even small amounts of pyridine were found to withdraw the electrolytic dissociation of the aqueous Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂ solutions, probably, through the enhancement of the Cu^II ion interactions.     

Phase behavior in model homopolymer/CO2 and surfactant/CO2 systems: discontinuous molecular dynamics simulations

Discontinuous molecular dynamics simulations are performed on surfactant (HmTn)/solvent systems modeled as a mixture of single-sphere solvent molecules and freely jointed surfactant chains composed of m slightly solvent-philic head spheres (H) and n solvent-philic tail spheres (T), all of the same size. We use a square-well potential to account for the head-head, head-solvent, tail-tail, and tail-solvent interactions and a hard-sphere potential for the head-tail and solvent-solvent interactions. We first simulate homopolymer/supercritical CO2 (scCO2) systems to establish the appropriate interaction parameters for a surfactant/scCO2 system. Next, we simulate surfactant/scCO2 systems and explore the effect of the surfactant volume fraction, packing fraction, and temperature on the phase behavior. The transition from the two-phase region to the one-phase region is located by monitoring the contrast structure factor of the equilibrated surfactant/scCO2 system, and the micelle to unimer transition is located by monitoring the aggregate size distribution of the equilibrated surfactant/scCO2 system. We find a two-phase region, a micelle phase, and a unimer phase with increasing packing fraction at fixed temperature or with increasing temperature at fixed packing fraction. The phase diagram for the surfactant/scCO2 system in the surfactant volume fraction-packing fraction plane and the density dependence of the critical micelle concentration are in qualitative agreement with experimental observations. The phase behavior of a surfactant/scCO2 system can be directly related to the solubilities of the corresponding homopolymers that serve as the head and tail blocks for the surfactant. The influence of surfactant structure (head and tail lengths) on the phase transitions is explored.     

H＋CH2CO反应机理的G2计算

分别在UQCISD/6-311G(d,p)和G2理论计算水平上，对CH2CO和H反应可能存在的四条反应通道进行了研究，详细分析了每个通道的反应机理;通过振动分析的虚频数和内禀反应坐标(IRC)计算,确认了反应涉及的每一个过渡态.通过反应位能剖面的比较，发现经过一个中间体生成CH3＋CO的一条途径是主反应通道，该通道是个放热反应，总焓变为－146.07 kJ•mol－1，速控步骤的位垒为55.09 kJ•mol－1.理论计算结果较好地解释了实验观察到的主要产物和副产物并存的现象。     

High resolution Dopplerimetry of correlated angular and quantum state-resolved CO(2) scattering dynamics at the gas-liquid interface

Full three dimensional (3D) translational distributions for quantum state-resolved scattering dynamics at the gas-liquid interface are presented for experimental and theoretical studies of CO(2) + perfluorinated surfaces. Experimentally, high resolution absorption profiles are measured as a function of incident (θ(inc)) and scattering (θ(scat)) angles for CO(2) that has been scattered from a 300 K perfluorinated polyether surface (PFPE) with an incident energy of E(inc) = 10.6(8) kcal mol(-1). Line shape analysis of the absorption profiles reveals non-equilibrium dynamics that are characterized by trapping-desorption (TD) and impulsive scattering (IS) components, with each channel simply characterized by an effective "temperature" that compares very well with previous results from rotational state analysis [Perkins and Nesbitt, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2008, 112, 9324]. From a theoretical perspective, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of CO(2) + fluorinated self-assembled monolayer surface (F-SAMs) yield translational probability distributions that are also compared with experimental results. Trajectories are parsed by θ(scat) and J, with the results rigorously corrected by flux-to-density transformation and providing comparisons in near quantitative agreement with experiment. 3D flux and velocity distributions obtained from MD simulations are also presented to illustrate the role of in- and out-of-plane scattering.     

Fixed bed adsorption of CO2/H2 mixtures on activated carbon: experiments and modeling

We present breakthrough experiments in a fixed bed adsorber packed with commercial activated carbon involving feed mixtures of carbon dioxide and hydrogen of different compositions. The experiments are carried out at four different temperatures (25?°C, 45?°C, 65?°C and 100?°C) and seven different pressures (1?bar, 5?bar, 10?bar, 15?bar, 20?bar, 25?bar and 35?bar). The interpretation of the experimental data is done by describing the adsorption process with a detailed one-dimensional model consisting of mass and heat balances and several constitutive equations, such as an adsorption isotherm and an equation of state. The dynamic model parameters, i.e. mass and heat transfer, are fitted to one single experiment (reference experiment) and the model is then further validated by predicting the remaining experiments. Furthermore, the choice of the isotherm model is discussed. The assessment of the model accuracy is carried out by comparing simulation results and experimental data, and by discussing key features and critical aspects of the model. This study is valuable per se and a necessary step toward the design, development and optimization of a pressure swing adsorption process for the separation of CO₂ and H₂ for example in the context of a pre-combustion CO₂ capture process, such as the integrated gasification combined cycle technology.     

Fine speciation of active sites in zeolites by a CO probe: Dynamics and IR frequencies

The influence of system dynamics onto infrared spectra calculated and measured for probe molecules weakly interacting with active sites is discussed. OH stretching frequencies for Brønsted sites in Y zeolite and their shift on CO adsorption (measured by IR spectroscopy at ca. 170 K) are simulated from AIMD trajectory, based on BO DFT calculations. We present here very good agreement between experimental and computed OH frequency red‐shift on CO adsorption in dealuminated zeolite Y. It is shown that extracting nonharmonic OH frequencies from ab initio molecular dynamics trajectory provides better estimate of experimental IR results than standard vibrational analyses due to realistic computational model and better correspondence with experimental conditions.     

Solubility of CO2, CO, and H2 in the ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] from Monte Carlo simulations

This work reports predictions from molecular simulation results for the solubility of the single gases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen in the ionic liquid 1-N-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]) at temperatures from 293 to 393 K and at pressures up to 9 MPa. The predictions are achieved by Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations at constant pressure and temperature (NpT-GEMC). The intermolecular forces are approximated by effective pair potentials for the pure gases and by a quantum-chemistry-based pair potential for [bmim][PF6]. The interactions between unlike groups are described using common mixing rules without any adjustable binary interaction parameter. The simulation results for the solubility of hydrogen agree within their statistical uncertainty with experimental data, whereas the results for carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide reveal somewhat larger deviations.     

Prediction of CO2 and H2 solubility,diffusion, and permeability in MFI zeolite by molecular dynamics simulation

Structural Chemistry - Molecular dynamics simulation has been employed to calculate the amounts of solubility, diffusion coefficient, and permeability for the pure and volumetric binary mixture of...     

Enhancing the rate of the Diels-Alder reaction using CO2 + ethanol and CO2 + n-hexane mixed solvents of different phase regions

The reaction rate of the Diels-Alder reaction between N-ethylmaleimide and 9-hydroxymethylanthrance in CO2 + ethanol and CO2 + hexane mixed solvents of different compositions were determined by in situ UV/vis spectroscopy at 318.15 K and different pressures. The density of the mixed solvents at different pressures was also determined and the isothermal compressibility was calculated using the density data. The activation volume of the reaction was calculated based on the dependence of rate constant (kc) on pressure. It was demonstrated that the kc was very sensitive to the pressure in the mixed solvents near the critical region and the kc increased dramatically as pressure approached dew points, critical point, and bubble points of the mixed solvents. However, the kc in the mixed solvents outside the critical region or in pure CO2 was not sensitive to pressure. At suitable conditions, kc could be 40 times larger than that in acetonitrile. The activation volume of the reaction was nearly independent of pressure as the pressure was much higher than the phase separation pressure of the mixed solvents, while it increased considerably as pressure approached the bubble points, critical point, and dew points from high pressure. The clustering of the solvent molecules with the reactants and the activated complex in the reaction systems near the phase boundary in the critical region may be the main reason for the interesting phenomena observed. This work also shows that, using pure CO2 as the solvent, the reaction cannot be carried out in the critical region of the solvent due to the limitations of the reactants, while it can be conducted in the critical region of mixed solvents of suitable compositions, where the solvents are highly compressible and the reaction rate can be tuned effectively by pressure.     

Method/basis set dependence of the traceless quadrupole moment calculation for N2, CO2, SO2, HCl,CO, NH3, PH3, HF,and H2O

Dipole moments and traceless quadrupole moments for a training set of nine molecules—N₂, CO₂, SO₂, HCl, CO, NH₃, PH₃, HF, and H₂O—were deduced from the final optimized density matrices of a series of ab initio calculations, thereby employing different levels of theory with varying basis set quality. All the results were obtained in a true ab initio sense, meaning that at a certain combination of method/basis set, the configurations of the molecules were first subjected to a geometry optimization and only afterwards the dipole and traceless quadrupole moments were derived for the final relaxed structures. All results could be compared to experimental data, thus the quality of the different models with respect to applicability and reliability of calculating molecular moments without any knowledge of structural details of the equilibrium geometries could be evaluated. Generally, a combination of methods that take into account correlation effects, together with a high‐level basis set, was found to yield molecular moments close to the experimental values. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001