Structure and redox properties of CexPr1−xO2−δ mixed oxides and their catalytic activities for CO, CH3OH and CH4 combustion

A series of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides were synthesized by a sol–gel method and characterized by Raman, XRD and TPR techniques. The oxidation activity for CO, CH₃OH and CH₄ on these mixed oxides was investigated. When the value x was changed from 1.0 to 0.8, only a cubic phase CeO₂ was observed. The samples were greatly crystallized in the range of the value x from 0.99 to 0.80, which is due to the formation of solid solutions caused by the complete insertion of Pr into the CeO₂ crystal lattices. Raman bands at 465 and 1150 cm⁻¹ in Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ samples are attributed to the Raman active F_2g mode of CeO₂. The broad band at around 570 cm⁻¹ in the region of 0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.99 can be linked to oxygen vacancies. The new band at 195 cm⁻¹ may be ascribed to the asymmetric vibration caused by the formation of oxygen vacancies. The TPR profile of Pr₆O₁₁ shows two reduction peaks and the reduction process is followed: . The reduction temperature of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides is lower than those of Pr₆O₁₁ or CeO₂. TPR results indicate that Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ mixed oxides have higher redox properties because of the formation of Ce_xPr_1−xO_2−δ solid solutions. The presence of the oxygen vacancies favors CO and CH₃OH oxidation, while the activity of CH₄ oxidation is mostly related to reduction temperatures and redox properties.     

Studies of sorption-desorption processes in the CexLa1−xNi5H2 system by DSC

The dependence of the integral enthalpy of hydrogenation (or dehydrogenation) of the intermetallic compounds (IMCs) Ce_xLa_1−xNi₅ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1 or 0.3) on pressure in the range 0.5–6 MPa was studied by the method of differential scanning calorimetry. It has been shown that at x = 0 and x = 0.05 the absorption (or desorption) proceeds via the formation of a stable intermediate hydride phase.     

Phase equilibria and crystal structure of the solid solution LaFe1−xNixO3−δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

Phase equilibria in the LaFeO₃–“LaNiO₃” were studied at 1100 °C in air. The samples were synthesized by standard ceramic and/or solution route via nitrate or citrate precursors. According to the results of XRD it was found that the homogeneity ranges of LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ solid solution lay within 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 (sp.gr. Pbnm) and 0.6 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 (sp.gr. ). The structural parameters (bond lengths, atom coordinates) for the single-phase samples were refined using Rietveld analysis. The unit cell parameters versus LaFe_1−xNi_xO_3−δ composition are presented.     

Synthesis and physical chemical properties of Ca-substituted LaTiO2N

Oxynitrides with the general formula La_1−xCa_xTiO_2+xN_1−x (x = 0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0) were synthesized by thermal ammonolysis of oxide precursors produced with a soft chemistry method. The crystallographic structure, optical properties and the thermal stability of the compounds were studied with X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy and thermal analysis.

All materials crystallize in perovskite-type pseudo-cubic unit cell. It was found that the lattice parameter decreases with increasing Ca content, while the optical band gap width increases with increasing x. Thermal reoxidation studies of the synthesized materials reveal the formation of nitrogen rich intermediates. The decomposition rate of the intermediates was correlated with the structure of the final products. TEM studies show a preferred insertion direction of the nitrogen into the crystal lattice of the starting oxides. Ammonolysis with flux significantly changed the microstructure of the obtained oxynitrides.     

Theoretical studies on the BN substituted fullerenes C70−2x(BN)x (x=1–3)—isoelectronic equivalents of C70

The equilibrium structures and relative stabilities of BN-doped fullerenes C_70−2x(BN)_x (x=1–3) have been studied at the AM1 and MNDO level. The most stable isomers of C_70−2x(BN)_x have been found out and their electronic properties have been predicted. The calculation results show that the BN substituted fullerenes C_70−2x(BN)_x have considerable stabilities, though they are less stable than their all carbon analog. For C₆₈BN, the isomers whose BN is located in the most chemically active bonds of C₇₀ (namely B and A) are among the most stable species, of which B is predicted to be the ground state. The stabilities of C₆₈BN decrease and the dipole moments increase with increasing the distance between the heteroatoms. For C₆₆(BN)₂, the lowest energy species is the isomer in which the B–N–B–N bond is formed; For C₆₄(BN)₃, the most stable species should have three BN units located in the same hexagon to form B–N–B–N–B–N ring. The ionization potentials and the affinity energies of the most stable species of BN-doped C₇₀ are almost the same as those of C₇₀ because of the isoelectronic relationship. The ionization potentials and affinity energies depend on the relative position of the heteroatoms in C₆₈BN, the chemical reactivities of the isomers whose heteroatoms are well separated should differ significantly from their all carbon analog.     

Flexibility of the triblock copolymers modulating their penetration and expulsion mechanism in Langmuir monolayers of dihexadecyl phosphoric acid

The surface activity of the poly–[block (ethylene oxide)]–poly [block (propylene oxide)]–poly [block (ethylene oxide)] copolymers (EO)_x–(PO)_y–(EO)_x adsorbed together with dihexadecyl phosphoric acid (DHP), a synthetic phospholipid, is analyzed from their surface pressure and surface potential isotherms. The block copolymers of (EO)_x–(PO)_y–(EO)_x with variable molecular weight (1100–14 000) were dissolved in the subphase for DHP monolayers. The concentration of the copolymers within the aqueous subphase were selected to render an initial surface tension of 60 mN/m. The simultaneous adsorption of the copolymer and DHP is attested by the observation of a liquid expanded state at large areas, absent for pure DHP monolayers. Above some critical surface pressure all copolymers cited above are expelled from the interface. The surface potential isotherms, which give information on the component of the molecular dipole moment normal to the plane of the monolayer, are interpreted in terms of changes in the copolymer conformation as well as in terms of the copolymer desorption from the air–liquid interface. For an equal hydrophobic/hydrophilic ratio, the size of the chains or molecular weight is decisive in the mechanism of the copolymer expulsion from the air–liquid interface.     

Binding of acrylic and sulphonic polyanions by open-chain polyammonium cations

The interactions between some acrylic and sulphonic polyanions and some protonated amines (diamines NH₂-(CH₂)_x-NH₂, x=2,…,10; linear tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-amines) were studied potentiometrically in aqueous solution, at 25°C. For both types of polyanions AL₂H_i (L⁻, monomer of polyanion, A, amine) species are formed, with i=1,…,n (n=number of amino groups in the amine). The stability of these species is strictly dependent on the polyammonium cation charge, and fairly independent of the type of amine (in diamine species maximum stability is observed for x=4, 5). Acrylic and sulphonic polyanion complexes are considerably stronger than analogous species formed by low molecular weight anions. Mean stability can be expressed as log K=2.87ζ^2/3, for polyacrylic anions and log K=2.42ζ^2/3 for polysulphonic anions (ζ=absolute value for charge product of reactants).     

Formation region and hydrogen storage abilities of perovskite-type hydrides

Formation region and hydrogen desorption and absorption properties of the perovskite-type structure in Li_xNa_1−xMgH₃ with x = 0, 0.17, 0.33, 0.50 and 1.00 were studied in the present work. The experimental results are reasonably explained from the viewpoint of the geometric restrictions of ions that are described by so-called Goldschmidt tolerance factors. In NaMgH₃ (x = 0), two plateau pressures of about 0.040 and 0.15 MPa were clearly detected by hydrogen pressure–composition (p–c) isotherm measurement at 673 K. Moreover, NaMgH₃ can be reversibly formed in 1.0 MPa of hydrogen at 673 K, from the decomposed phase of elemental Na and Mg.     

XPS study of the state of iridium, platinum, titanium and oxygen in thermally formed IrO2+TiO2+PtOX films

Electrodes of nominal composition Ir_0.3Ti_(0.7−x)Pt_xO₂ (x=0; 0.4 and 0.7) have been prepared by thermal decomposition of mixtures of the chloride precursors. H₂PtCl₆ was used as Pt-precursor. A systematic study of the chemical composition and oxidation states of the elements of these electrodes was performed by XPS. XPS analysis showed that the surface of the PtO_x-containing coatings are Pt enriched. Additionally, XPS revealed that the Ir signals are almost absent from the spectra of PtO_x-containing electrodes, while the Ti signal is completely absent. On the basis of the XPS results it is possible to propose a model of the surface structure of these electrodes: the grains, composed almost exclusively of Ir+Pt, are Pt enriched and distributed in a matrix, which although having Ti in its composition, besides Ir and Pt, is also Pt enriched. This finding corroborates the electrochemical behaviour of these electrodes, which is characteristic of polycrystalline Pt.     

Synthesis of ferrocenyl-1,2-diketones and related compounds: Crystal and molecular structures of 1,2-diferrocenylethanedione and 1-ferrocenyl-2-(4-biphenylyl) ethanedione

Ferrocenyl-1,2-diketones FcCOCOR, 3, [Fc = (C₅H₅)Fe(C₅H₄)] can be prepared by oxidation of acylferrocenes FcCOCH₂R or, more efficiently, by oxidation of the isomeric ketones FcCH₂COR, 2. The ketones 2 are in turn readily synthesized from the salt (FcCH₂PPh₃)⁺I⁻ via the acylated salts [FcCH(COR)PPh₃]⁺I⁻. The haloacylferocenes FcCOCCl_x H_3−x (x = 1, 2, 3, of which the x = 2 example is synthetically equivalent to a diketone) are synthesized by Friedel—Crafts acylation of ferrocene using CCl_xH_3−xCOCl/AlCl₃, but the reaction proceeds via two parallel pathways, one giving the normal acyl derivatives FcCOCCl_xH_3−x and the other giving the reduced products FcCOCCl_x−1H_4−x. Two diketones FcCOCOFc 3b and FcCOCOC₆H₄Ph 3c have been structurally characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Infrared spectra of phosphatidylethanolamine-cardiolipin binary system

We report on the infrared spectra of binary di-palmitoyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamine-cardiolipin (DPPE_1−xCLP_x) monolayers and multilamellar vesicles as a function of CLP molar fraction x and temperature T. These data, which clearly show the presence of, at least, two kind of lipid domains with different thermodynamic stability and ordering of the lipid acyl chains, are consistent with similar domains observed in Langmuir–Blodgett films of the same binary system. Infrared results suggest the presence of lateral phase separation phenomena both in the bilayers and in the monolayers build up with this binary lipid mixture. These results further support the hypothesis that, within these structures, DPPE_1−xCLP_x molecules, for given values of x, are organized in a superlattice as shown by thermodynamic and AFM measurements.     

Spectroscopic and structural analysis of Ca substituted La orthoferrite

Samples of orthoferrites La_1−xCa_xFeO₃ (0.15≤x≤0.45) were synthesized by double sintering ceramic technique. X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy experiments were carried out and discussed for the investigated samples. The data showed the formation of single-phase orthorhombic structure of space group Pbnm. The FTIR spectra were performed in the region (1200–200 cm⁻¹). Four main absorption bands were present with some side bands and shoulders in the range (1200–400 cm⁻¹). Another four bands were appeared in the range (400–200 cm⁻¹). The positions, intensities and values of the absorptions bands vary depending on the Ca content in the samples. The first absorption band appeared at about 920 cm⁻¹ was assigned to the La–O stretching vibration.     

Synthesis and low temperature fluorination of the alkaline-earth palladates Ba2−xSrxPdO3 (x = 0–2)

Since the discovery of superconductivity in Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ there has been an increased interest in ternary oxide-fluorides. Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ is prepared via low temperature (T = 220 °C) reaction routes. Low temperature fluorination induces an interesting structural rearrangement in the parent compound Sr₂CuO₃, which is a one-dimensional material containing linear chains of vertex sharing CuO₄ squares along the crystallographic b axis. Upon fluorination, one oxide is substituted by two fluorides and Cu²⁺ becomes octahedrally coordinated by four oxides and two fluorides. The fluorinated compound Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ displays the T-type structure (La₂CuO₄). Insertion of excess fluorine, δ, also takes place and this fluorine occupies interstitial sites in the T structure. Although the starting material Ca₂CuO₃ is isostructural to Sr₂CuO₃, Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ displays the T′ (Nd₂CuO₄) structure due to the smaller radius of Ca²⁺ compared to that of Sr²⁺.

The alkaline-earth palladates with the general formula A₂PdO₃ (A = Ba, Sr) are isostructural with the A₂CuO₃(A = Ca, Sr) materials. We prepared the Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₃ (x = 0–2) series and performed low temperature fluorination, which led to the synthesis of the series Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₂F_2+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.5). All the compounds in the Ba_2−xSr_xPdO₂F_2+δ series show T′ structure (Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ). Similarities and differences with Sr₂CuO₂F_2+δ and Ca₂CuO₂F_2+δ will be discussed.     

Thermodynamics of (1,4-difluorobenzene + an n-alkane) and of (hexafluorobenzene + an n-alkane)

Excess molar enthalpies H^E and excess molar volumes V^E have been measured, as a function of mole fraction x₁, at 298.15 K and atmospheric pressure for the five liquid mixtures (x₁1,4-C₆H₄F₂ + x₂n-C_lH_2l+2), l = 7, 8, 10, 12 and 16. In addition, H^E and excess molar heat capacities C_P^E at constant pressure have been determined for the two liquid mixtures (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C_lH_2l+2), l = 7 and 14, at the same temperature and pressure. The instruments used were flow microcalorimeters of the Picker design (the H^E version was equipped with separators) and a vibrating-tube densimeter, respectively.

The excess enthalpies of the five difluorobenzene mixtures are all positive and quite large; they increase with increasing chain length l of the n-alkane from H^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(J mol⁻¹) = 1050 for l = 7 to 1359 for l = 16. The corresponding excess volumes V^E are all positive and also increase with increasing l: V^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(cm³ mol⁻¹) = 0.650 for l = 7 and 1.080 for l = 16. Interestingly, the excess enthalphies of the corresponding mixtures with hexafluorobenzene are only about 5% larger, whereas the excess volumes of (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C_lH_2l+2) are roughly twice as large as those of their counterparts in the series containing 1,4-C₆H₄F₂. Specifically, at 298.15 K H^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(J mol⁻¹) = 1119 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₇H₁₆) and 1324 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₁₄H₃₀), and for the same mixtures V^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(cm³ mol⁻¹) = 1.882 and 2.093, respectively. The excess heat capacities for both systems are negative and of about the same magnitude as the excess heat capacities of mixtures of fluorobenzene with the same n-alkanes (Roux et al., 1984): C_P^E(x₁ = 0.5)/(J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹) = −1.18 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₇H₁₆), and −2.25 for (x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₁₄H₃₀). The curve C_P^E vs. (x₁ for x₁C₆F₆ + x₂n-C₁₄H₃₀) shows a sort of “hump” for x₁ 0.5, which is presumed to indicate emerging W-shape composition dependence at lower temperatures.     

Phase behavior and surface tensions of amphiphilic fluorinated random copolymer aqueous solutions

Phase behavior and surface tension of aqueous solutions of fluorinated random copolymers [perfluoroalkylacrylate]–[poly(ethyleneoxide)methacrylate], [C_mRf-acrylate]-[EO_n-methacrylate] with fluroalkyl carbon number m = 8, 6, 4, 2 and number of ethyleneoxide unit, n = 9 and 4.5 were investigated as a function of composition and different combinations of m and n. Isotropic solutions are formed at lower temperatures over wide concentration range of copolymer but at higher temperature phase separation occurs. The cloud point of copolymer decreases with decreasing n as well as m, and also with decreasing the number of poly(ethyleneoxide)methacrylate chain per perfluorinatedalkylacrylate chain, suggesting that the copolymers become more hydrophobic on decreasing m and n. Equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements show that copolymers become increasingly surface active as m as well as n decrease but the adsorption at the air–water interface is very slow due to bulkiness of the molecules. No clear evidence of the formation of micellar aggregates could be obtained from surface tension–composition curves.     

Mixed-metal cluster chemistry VI: Phosphine substitution at CpMoIr3(μ-CO)3(CO)8; X-ray crystal structure of CpMoIr3(μ-CO)3(CO)7(PPh3)

Reactions of CpMoIr₃(μ-CO)₃(CO)₈ (1) with stoichiometric amounts of phosphines afford the substitution products CpMoIr₃(μ-CO)₃(CO)_8−x (L)_x (L = PPh₃, x = 1 (2), 2 (3); L = PMe₃, x = 1 (4), 2 (5), 3 (6)) in fair to good yields (23–54%); the yields of both 3 and 6 are increased on reacting 1 with excess phosphine. Products 2–5 are fluxional in solution, with the interconverting isomers resolvable at low temperatures. A structural study of one isomer of 2 reveals that the three edges of an MoIr₂ face of the tetrahedral core are spanned by bridging carbonyls, and that the iridium-bound triphenyiphosphine ligates radially and the molybdenum-bound cyclopentadienyl coordinates axially with respect to this Molr₂ face. Information from this crystal structure, ³¹P NMR data (both solution and solid-state), and results with analogous tungsten—triiridium and tetrairidium clusters have been employed to suggest coordination geometries for the isomeric derivatives.     

Surface modification with well-defined biocompatible triblock copolymers Improvement of biointerfacial phenomena on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface

To improve interfacial phenomena of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as biomaterials, well-defined triblock copolymers were prepared as coating materials by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) controlled polymerization. Hydroxy-terminated poly(vinylmethylsiloxane-co-dimethylsiloxane) (HO–PV_lD_mMS–OH) was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization. The copolymerization ratio of vinylmethylsiloxane to dimethylsiloxane was 1/9. The molecular weight of HO–PV_lD_mMS–OH ranged from (1.43 to 4.44) × 10⁴, and their molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) as determined by size-exclusion chromatography equipped with multiangle laser light scattering (SEC-MALS) was 1.16. 4-Cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate was reacted with HO–PV_lD_mMS–OH to obtain macromolecular chain transfer agents (macro-CTA). 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) was polymerized with macro-CTAs. The gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) chart of synthesized polymers was a single peak and M_w/M_n was relatively narrow (1.3–1.6). Then the poly(MPC) (PMPC)–PV_lD_mMS–PMPC triblock copolymers were synthesized. The molecular weight of PMPC in a triblock copolymer was easily controllable by changing the polymerization time or the composition of the macro-CTA to a monomer in the feed. The synthesized block copolymers were slightly soluble in water and extremely soluble in ethanol and 2-propanol.

Surface modification was performed via hydrosilylation. The block copolymer was coated on the PDMS film whose surface was pretreated with poly(hydromethylsiloxane). The surface wettability and lubrication of the PDMS film were effectively improved by immobilization with the block copolymers. In addition, the number of adherent platelets from human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was dramatically reduced by surface modification. Particularly, the triblock copolymer having a high composition ratio of MPC units to silicone units was effective in improving the surface properties of PDMS.

By selective decomposition of the Si–H bond at the surface of the PDMS substrate by irradiation with UV light, the coating region of the triblock copolymer was easily controlled, resulting in the fabrication of micropatterns. On the surface, albumin adsorption was well manipulated.     

Sulfur in different chemical surroundings – S K XANES spectra of sulfur-containing heterocycles and their quantum-chemically supported interpretation

The excited states in the XANES region of 2-mercaptobenzooxazole and 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and of their sulfur-bridged dimeric analogues were investigated at the sulfur 1s-ionization threshold by means of synchrotron radiation. The electronic excitations were treated employing density functional theory calculations. The theoretical results obtained for the planar monomers and the bent dimers are in good accordance with the experimental spectra. They allow the assignment of the spectral structures in the region of the S 1s-electron binding energy to π^* and σ^* resonances involving orbitals of the >C=S and –C–S_x–C– (x=1,2) moieties of the molecules. The results are discussed in terms of antibonding π^* and σ^* interactions between the sulfur and the neighboring carbon atoms and of the symmetric and antisymmetric combinations of the respective σ^* orbitals of the monomeric units.     

Synthesis and characterization of V-MFI obtained in fluoride-containing medium

Crystallization fields for the formation of V-MFI were determined from gels of composition: xNa₂O–yVO₂–7NaF–ySO₃–zSiO₂–2TPABr–260H₂O at 190 °C with 3.6≤x≤14.4 and 2.1≤y≤7.1 for z=12.0 and with 0.3≤y≤4.2 and 4.0≤z≤12.0 for x=3.6; TPA=tetrapropylammonium ions. The crystallization curves were analysed together with the various intermediate phases using XRD, pH of mother liquors, thermal analysis and SEM. The final samples were analysed, in addition, by multinuclear NMR. It is concluded, that V can be introduced into the MFI framework as V(IV) ions, accompanied by the presence of two SiOH defect groups per V atom introduced. The ⁵¹V-NMR signal due to V(V) can only be detected when additional vanadium-containing siliceous phases are formed.     

I NQR and spectroscopic investigation of impurity-doped and mixed lithium iodate Li1−xHxIO3 crystals

The ¹²⁷I NQR, IR absorption and Raman spectra of impurity-doped and mixed lithium iodate Li_1−xH_xIO₃ crystals grown from water solutions with different LiIO₃/HIO₃ ratios were investigated depending on the content of the impurity hydrogen x. The NQR results suggested that, at small concentration of doping iodic acid x<0.22, the lattice dynamics of the crystal grown from water solution changes significantly though the crystal retains hexagonal symmetry. Spectroscopic studies are compatible with average hexagonal symmetry of the grown doped crystals. From the results of Raman studies at room temperature and 100 K, the concentration range of hydrogen dopant 0.22<x<0.36 was found where disordered solid solution crystals Li_1−xH_xIO₃ are formed.