Studies of surface processes of electrocatalytic reduction of CO_2 on Pt(210), Pt(310) and Pt(510)

Surface processes of CO2 reduction on Pt(210), Pt(310), and Pt(510) electrodes were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Different surface structures of these platinum single crystal electrodes were obtained by various treatment conditions. The experimental results illustrated that the electrocatalytic activity of Pt single crystal electrodes towards CO2 reduction is decreased in an order of Pt(210)>Pt(310)>Pt(510), i.e., with the decrease of (110) step density on well-defined surfaces. When the surfaces were reconstructed due to oxygen adsorption, the catalytic activity of all the three electrodes has been enhanced to a cer- tain extent. Although the activity order remains unchanged, the electrocatalytic activity has been en- hanced more significantly as the density of (110) step sites is more intensive on the Pt single crystal surface. It has revealed that the more open the surface structure is, the more active the Pt single crystal electrode will be, and the easier for the electrode to be transformed into a surface structure that exhib- its higher activity under external inductions. However, the relatively ordered surfaces of Pt single crystal electrode are comparatively stable under the same external inductions. The present study has gained knowledge on the interaction between CO2 and Pt single crystal electrode surfaces at a micro- scopic level, and thrown new insight into understanding the surface processes of electrocatalytic re- duction of CO2.     

Studies of surface processes of electrocatalytic reduction of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on Pt(210), Pt(310) and Pt(510)

Surface processes of CO2 reduction on Pt(210), Pt(310), and Pt(510) electrodes were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Different surface structures of these platinum single crystal electrodes were obtained by various treatment conditions. The experimental results illustrated that the electrocatalytic activity of Pt single crystal electrodes towards CO2 reduction is decreased in an order of Pt(210)＞Pt(310)＞Pt(510), i.e., with the decrease of (110) step density on well-defined surfaces. When the surfaces were reconstructed due to oxygen adsorption, the catalytic activity of all the three electrodes has been enhanced to a certain extent. Although the activity order remains unchanged, the electrocatalytic activity has been enhanced more significantly as the density of (110) step sites is more intensive on the Pt single crystal surface. It has revealed that the more open the surface structure is, the more active the Pt single crystal electrode will be, and the easier for the electrode to be transformed into a surface structure that exhibits higher activity under external inductions. However, the relatively ordered surfaces of Pt single crystal electrode are comparatively stable under the same external inductions. The present study has gained knowledge on the interaction between CO2 and Pt single crystal electrode surfaces at a microscopic level, and thrown new insight into understanding the surface processes of electrocatalytic reduction of CO2.     

Study of homogenous hydrogenation of acetylene compounds withpara-hydrogen and Pd(0) and Pt(0) complexes byin situ NMR spectroscopy

η² -C₆₀Pd(PPh₃)₂, η² -C₆₀Pt(PPh₃)₂ and C₂H₄Pt(PPh₃)₂ have been used as catalysts for homogeneous hydrogenation of acetylene compounds enriched in para-hydrogen (p-H₂). The study of the processes has been carried out byin situ NMR spectroscopy. It has been concluded that the nature of the substrate affects the intensity and patterns of polarization signals.     

Convenient synthesis of Pt(0) olefin complexes by colorimetric reduction of Pt(II) complexes with SmI2

Homoleptic olefin platinum(0) complexes, Pt(C₇H₁₀)₃ and Pt(cod)₂, were synthesized by the colorimetric reduction of platinum(II) complexes with SmI₂ in the presence of 2-norbornene or COD. This is a practically more convenient method for the synthesis of the Pt(0) complexes than the literature method employing Li₂(cot).     

Silver(I) ions-enhanced electrochemiluminescence of tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II)

In this paper, we demonstrate an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) enhancement of tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)₃²⁺) by the addition of silver(I) ions. The maximum enhancement factor of about 5 was obtained on a glassy carbon electrode in the absence of co-reactant. The enhancement of ECL intensity was possibly attributed to the unique catalytic activity of Ag⁺ for reactions between Ru(bpy)₃³⁺ with OH. The higher enhancement was observed in phosphate buffer solutions compared with that from borate buffer solutions. This resulted from the fact that formation of nanoparticles with large surface area in the phosphate buffer solution exhibited high catalytic activity. The amount of Ag⁺, solution pH and working electrode materials played important roles for the ECL enhancement. We also studied the effects of Ag⁺ on Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/tripropylamine and Ru(bpy)₃²⁺/C₂O₄²⁻ ECL systems.     

Synthesis and characterization of preferentially oriented (1 0 0) Pt nanowires

Two types of platinum deposits were obtained by potentiostatic deposition onto Ti substrates, namely platinum black (Pt B) and platinum nanowires (Pt NW) with the latter being achieved through a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane at the solution/substrate interface. Surface characterization of these deposits was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) in sulphuric acid solution. Surface properties for Pt NW revealed a predominant presence of (1 0 0) crystallographic planes, not present in Pt B deposit grown in the same conditions. Also, Pt NW exhibits an increased resistance to electrochemically active surface area (EASA) loss upon potential cycling in acidic solution, as compared to Pt B.     

Novel Synthesis,Characterization of N1,N1,N4,N4-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (THETA) and Terephthalic Acid (TPA) by Depolymerization of PET Bottle Waste Using Diethanolamine

Chemical depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste is a possible remedy to huge amount of solid waste generation as it results in degradation products that possess a potential of recyclability. PET bottle waste was depolymerized by aminolysis using diethanolamine. Novel synthesis of N¹, N¹,N⁴,N⁴-tetrakis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalamide (THETA) with 73-76% yield and terephthalic acid (TPA) with 78-82% yield was achieved. The purified products were analyzed by FTIR, melting point, DSC, DTG and ¹H-NMR. THETA has various applications in the synthesis of rigid polyurethane foam, unsaturated polyester resins and also as a cross linking agent/ hardener for epoxy resins.     

New understanding of the nature of OH adsorption on Pt(1 1 1) electrodes

The adsorption of hydroxyl on Pt(1 1 1) single crystal electrodes from aqueous acidic solutions is carefully reinvestigated. The effect of small additions (10⁻⁸–10⁻⁵ M) of chloride and bisulphate anions on the OH adsorption region in perchloric acid solution has been studied. Two regions can be differentiated in the voltammetric profile, that behave differently after the addition of the foreign anion. The initial broad adsorption process is unaffected until the highest concentration is attained. However, the sharper peak at higher potentials is affected even at the lower anion concentration. Since mass transport limitations allow to discard the anion adsorption as the main process giving this peak, we propose that the two processes are due to the dissociative adsorption of two different kinds of water, that are affected by the anion in a different way. From this idea, a new model, based on the Frumkin adsorption isotherm, is proposed, which gives an excellent fit of the experimental results.     

Retention profile and subsequent chemical speciation of chromium (III) and (VI)) in industrial wastewater samples employing some onium cations loaded polyurethane foams

The retention of chromium (VI) from aqueous media onto tetraphenylarsonium chloride (TPAs⁺Cl⁻) or tetraphenylphosphonium bromide (TPP⁺Br⁻) immobilized polyurethane foams (PUFs) was fast and followed first order reaction. The kinetic data of the retention step were subjected to Weber-Morris, Lagergren, Bhattacharya and Venkobachar and Bt kinetic models. The results revealed that, film and intraparticle transport might be the two steps controlling the rate of chromium (VI) sorption from the aqueous acid solutions of pH ∼ zero. The positive values of the Δ H of chromium (VI) retention by the reagents loaded PUFs were interpreted as an endothermic process. Under the optimum pH (pH ∼ zero ) of the aqueous solution, the proposed TPAs⁺Cl⁻ or TPP⁺Br⁻ immobilized PUFs was successfully used in a series of medical syringe (30, 50 mL capacity) as pulse columns for complete collection of chromium (VI) species present in fresh and industrial wastewater samples at ultra trace low level of chromium (VI) (≤ 0.05 μg mL^− 1). The collected chromium (VI) species onto TPAs⁺Cl⁻ or TPP⁺Br⁻-PUFs was then stripped quantitatively (98-102 ± 2.6%) from the pulse columns with NaOH (2.0 mol L^− 1) and subsequently analyzed photometrically. The chromium (VI) ions could be pre concentrated up to 100-fold from large volume of water samples. The proposed pulse foam columns were applied successfully for complete collection, recovery (97.5 ± 2.6%, n = 5) and subsequent chemical speciation of chromium (III) and (VI) in wastewater samples. The results are in good agreement with the reported and standard methods at 95% confidence.     

Organotransition-Metal Complexes of Multidentate Ligands 3. The Unexpected Derivatives of Bis(3,5-Dimethylpyrazol-1-YL)Methanetetracarbonylmolybdenlim(0) and-Tungsten(0) Complexes

Thermolysis of (H₂CPz′₂)M(CO)₄ (H₂CPz′₂ = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane; M=Mo, W) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane did not give the expected 16-electron complexes, (H₂CPz′₂)M(CO)₃, but gave dinuclear compounds, [(H₂CPz′₂)M(CO)₃]₂, probably containing two linear carbonyl bridges and no metal-metal interactions. The dimers reacted with CH₃CN to give mononuclear compounds, (H₂CPz′₂)M(CO)₃(NCCH₃), identical to the substitution products between (H₂CPz′₂)M(CO)₄ and CH₃CN.     

1-(1-Adamantyl)diaziridine

The reaction of 1-aminoadamantane with CH₂O and H₂NOSO₃H in the presence of K₂CO₃ under phase-transfer conditions leads to hitherto unknown 1-(1-adamantyl)diaziridine and (1-adamantyl)aminoacetonitrile, characterized by spectral data. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 861–862, April, 1997.     

Structure of the neutral metal complex Pt(dddt)2

A neutral metal complex, [Pt(dddt)₂]° (1), has been obtained by oxidation of the [Pt(dddt)₂]^– anion with excess (Bu₄N)AuBr₄ in nitrobenzene. Crystallographic data for 1a=17.854(9) Å,b=18.409(9) Å,c=4.717(5) Å, =68.83(2)°, space group P2₁/n,Z=4,d _calc=2.55 g/cm³. In1 two independent centrosymmetric [Pt(dddt)₂]° molecules are packed in stacks that form layers parallel to the (110) plane. The molecules of1 in the layers have shortened S...S contacts 3.491(9) Å, and 3.594(10) Å. The average bond lengths Pt-S 2.242(7) Å, S-C 1.71(2) Å and C=C 1.40(3) Å, together with the square-planar coordination of Pt in PtS₄, suggest considerable conjugation in the metal cycles.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1207–1209, July, 1993.     

Molecular orientation of CO adsorbed on clean and Al-modified Ru(0 0 0 1) surfaces

Chemisorption of CO on the bare and Al precovered Ru(0 0 0 1) surface as well as on the Al₂Ru surface alloy, was studied by means of angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy using unpolarised He II radiation. Whereas CO molecules stand upright on the clean Ru(0 0 0 1) surface, as deduced by applying the symmetry selection rules of photoemission, they adsorb in a tilted geometry on the Al-precovered Ru(0 0 0 1) surface. On an Al₂Ru surface alloy, produced by annealing the Al-covered Ru(0 0 0 1) surface up to 1100 K, the CO molecules are again found to stand upright, as on the clean Ru(0 0 0 1) surface. The Al atoms, incorporated into the topmost Ru layer, do not have a significant influence on the orientation of the axis of the CO molecules.     

Density-functional study for the NOx (x = 1, 2) dissociation mechanism on the Cu(1 1 1) surface

Spin-polarized density functional theory calculation is employed to study the adsorption and dissociation of NO₂ molecule on Cu(1 1 1) surface. It is shown that the most favorable adsorption structure is the NO₂ (T,T-O-,O′-nitrito) configuration which has an adsorption energy of −1.49 eV. The barriers for step-wise NO₂ dissociation reaction, NO_2(g) → N_(a) + 2O_(a), are 1.05 (for O–N–O bond activation), and 2.08 eV (for N–O bond activation), respectively, and the entire process is 0.6 eV exothermic. The energetics of single N–O dissociation with and without the presence of N atom or O atom on the surface are also calculated. The results indicate that in the presence of O atom on Cu(1 1 1) surface would raise the N–O dissociation barrier, whereas in the presence of N atom decrease it. The interaction nature between adsorbates and substrate is analyzed by the local density of states (LDOS) calculation.     

A many-body theory of the Ti M2,3-VV Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS) spectrum of TiO2(1 1 0)

We calculated the Ti M_2,3-VV Auger-photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy spectrum of TiO₂(1 1 0) by a many-body theory. The spectral main line is governed by the DOS of the two O 2p holes living longer than the Ti ∣cd²L²〉 → ∣L²〉 super Coster-Kronig (sCK) decay. The two O 2p holes are created by the charge transfer core-hole screening at the Ti atomic site. Here c and L are the Ti 3p hole and the ligand O 2p hole, respectively. Analysis of the spectrum shows that the two (or three) CT O 2p holes in the π bonding states are localized, whereas those in the σ bonding states are delocalized. The three localized CT O 2p (π) holes in ∣cd³L³〉 in Ti M_2,3 main line (or satellite) of TiO₂(1 1 0) live longer than the Ti ∣cd³L³〉 → ∣d¹L³〉 sCK decay so that the Coulomb repulsion from the surrounding Ti ions gives the O⁺ ion desorption from the surface.     

FTIR and NMR studies of bis(oxaalkyl) sulphates(IV) and their complexes with proton and some metal cations

The complexation of Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations by three bis(oxaalkyl) sulphates(IV) was studied by FTIR and NMR on ¹H, ¹³C, ⁷Li and ²³Na nuclei. The NMR results have proved the formation of complexes and the fluctuation of Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations in respective circular arrangements. In the FTIR spectra of protonated sulphates intense continuous absorptions were observed indicating fast fluctuation of the protons in the respective multiminima potentials. The continuous absorptions in the far infrared region of the FTIR spectra of Li⁺ or Na⁺ complexes with three bis(oxaalkyl) sulphates(IV) indicate fast fluctuations of Li⁺ or Na⁺ cations between O-atoms of the oxaalkyl chains. The independence of the shape of the continua on the length of the oxaalkyl chains, i. e. the number of minima in the multiminima potential, demonstrates that the fluctuation of cations occurs in the respective circular arrangements.     

1:1 and 1:2 Complexes of Mercury(II) Halides with 1,3-Thiazolidine-2-thione. Spectral, Thermal, and Crystal Structure Studies

The series of compounds of the general formulae HgX₂(tzdtH) and HgX₂(tzdtH)₂ (X = Cl, Br, I; tzdtH = 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione) have been prepared, as well as Hg(tzdt)₂. IR, ¹H, and ¹³C NMR spectral data of the complexes indicate thione donation, which is confirmed by the crystal structure analyses of [HgBr₂(tzdtH)]₂, [HgI₂(tzdtH)]₂, and HgI₂(tzdtH)₂. The structures of [HgBr₂(tzdtH)]₂ and [HgI₂(tzdtH)]₂ consist of centrosymmetric doubly bridged dimers, but they are not isostructural. The asymmetry in the HgX₂Hg bridge is more pronounced in the bromo than in the iodo derivative [S–Hg–X(terminal) is 138.19(9)° for X = Br and 123.49(10)° for X = I], which is accompanied by the stronger Hg–S covalent bond in the bromo than in the iodo complex [2.435(4) vs. 2.510(3) Å]. The Hg–X(bridging) (X = Br, I) bond distances are shorter than the sum of van der Waals radii for mercury and X. Dimeric centrosymmetric complex units are held together only by van der Waals forces in [HgI₂(tzdtH)]₂, while in [HgBr₂(tzdtH)]₂ there is an intramolecular hydrogen bond of N–H Br type (3.34(1) Å). HgI₂(tzdtH)₂ exists as a mononuclear tetrahedral complex with two long Hg–S [2.672(1) Å] and two short Hg–I bond distances [2.688(1) Å] related by a twofold axis. The molecules of HgI₂(tzdtH)₂ are linked into infinite chains along the c axis by intermolecular N–H S [3.38(1) Å] hydrogen bonds.     

A simple and greener approach for the synthesis of PVC supported Pd (0): application to Heck and Sonogashira reactions in water

Preparation of PVC-supported Pd nanoparticles through the reduction of PdCl₂ by a non-toxic and eco-friendly route, employing sodium formate and NaOH in ethanol–water system has been described. The prepared PVC supported Pd nanoparticles were employed as catalyst in the cross coupling reactions, that is, Heck and Sonogashira reactions in water medium to afford the respective products in good to excellent yields.     

Dioxouranium(VI)-carboxylate complexes: A calorimetric and potentiometric investigation of interaction with oxalate at infinite dilution and in NaCl aqueous solution at I = 1.0 mol L and T = 25 °C

In this paper we investigated the interactions between dioxouranium(VI) and oxalate using (H⁺-glass electrode) potentiometry and titration calorimetry. Potentiometric measurements were carried out in NaCl aqueous solutions and at T = 25 °C in a wide range of experimental conditions (concentrations, ligand/metal molar ratio, pH, titrants) at low ionic strength values (I ≤ 0.090 mol L⁻¹, without supporting electrolyte) and at I = 1.0 mol L⁻¹; different procedures were employed for the acquisition of experimental data and careful analysis of these data performed. In all cases the speciation model that best fits experimental data takes into account the formation of the binary mononuclear species UO₂(ox)⁰, UO₂(ox)₂²⁻, UO₂(ox)₃⁴⁻ widely reported in literature, the ternary hydroxyl mononuclear species UO₂(ox)OH⁻, UO₂(ox)(OH)₂²⁻, UO₂(ox)₂OH³⁻, UO₂(ox)₃OH⁵⁻, the protonated ternary mononuclear species UO₂(ox)₃H³⁻ and the binuclear species (UO₂)₂(ox)₅⁶⁻.Calorimetric measurements were carried out following similar procedures and in the same experimental conditions as employed for the potentiometric measurements at I = 1.0 mol L⁻¹ in NaCl. The stability of UO₂²⁺-oxalate²⁻ complexes is fairly high and their main contribution to stability is entropic in nature. Some linear empirical relationships were found which make it possible to calculate (i) the contribution of a single bond: and ; (ii) chelate stabilisation per ring: and and (iii) the mean stability of negatively charged Na⁺-ion pair complexes: log^TK = (0.46 ± 0.02)·|z| (z = charge of complex species), ΔG° = −(2.60 ± 0.1)·|z| kJ mol⁻¹ and TΔS° = 2.5 ± 0.5 kJ mol⁻¹. Both potentiometric and calorimetric results provide evidence of the penta-coordination of the species UO₂(ox)₃⁴⁻. SIT parameters were calculated from the data at I = 0 and I = 1.02 mol kg⁻¹. Comparisons are made with literature data. An insoluble dioxouranium(VI) ternary complex was synthesised (at I = 1.0 mol L⁻¹ in NaCl) and characterised by thermoanalysis and elemental analysis.     

Synthesis, complex-formation, and extracting ability of new derivatives of dithia-13(16)-crown-4(5) ethers

Various methods of synthesizing functional derivatives of dithia-13(16)-crown-4(5) ethers are proposed. Complex-formation of the obtained compounds with Ag⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions has been studied using ¹H NMR. A radiometric method was used to investigate the extracting ability of substituted dithia-13(16)-crown-4(5) ethers in relation to Ag⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions from aqueous solution in the presence of anions of various degree of hardness, with determination of the metal content. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 233–243, February, 2006.