Low‐energy ion scattering: Determining overlayer thickness for functionalized gold nanoparticles

With the widespread use of engineered nanoparticles for biomedical applications, detailed surface characterization is essential for ensuring reproducibility and the quality/suitability of the surface chemistry to the task at hand. One important surface property to be quantified is the overlayer thickness of self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) functionalized nanoparticles, as this information provides insight into SAM ordering and assembly. We demonstrate the application of high sensitivity low‐energy ion scattering (HS‐LEIS) as a new analytical method for the fast thickness characterization of SAM functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). HS‐LEIS demonstrates that a complete SAM is formed on 16‐mercaptohexadecanoic acid (C16COOH) functionalized 14 nm AuNPs. HS‐LEIS also experimentally provides SAM thickness values that are in good agreement with previously reported results from simulated electron spectra for surface analysis of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy data. These results indicate HS‐LEIS is a valuable surface analytical method for the characterization of SAM functionalized nanomaterials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A study of the surface region of the Mo-V-Te-O catalysts for propane oxidation to acrylic acid

The bulk mixed Mo-V-Te oxides possess high activity and selectivity in propane oxidation to acrylic acid and represent well-defined model catalysts for studies of the surface molecular structure-activity/selectivity relationships in this selective oxidation reaction. The elemental compositions, metal oxidation states, and catalytic functions of V, Mo, and Te in the surface region of the model Mo-V-Te-O system were examined employing low energy ion scattering (LEIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This study indicated that the surfaces of these catalysts are terminated with a monolayer, which possesses a different elemental composition from that of the bulk. The rates of propane consumption and formation of propylene and acrylic acid depended on the topmost surface V concentration, whereas no dependence of these reaction rates on either the surface Mo or Te concentrations was observed. These findings suggested that the bulk Mo-V-Te-O structure may function as a support for the unique active and selective surface monolayer in propane oxidation to acrylic acid. The results of this study have important practical consequences for the development of improved selective oxidation catalysts by introducing surface metal oxide components to form new surface active V-O-M sites for propane oxidation to acrylic acid.     

Dehydrogenation of Isobutane to Isobutene with Carbon Dioxide over SBA‐15‐Supported Chromia‐Ceria Catalysts

A series of SBA‐15‐supported chromia‐ceria catalysts with 3% Cr and 1%–5% Ce (3Cr‐Ce/SBA) were prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption, SEM, TEM‐EDX, Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, XPS and H₂‐TPR, and their catalytic performance for isobutane dehydrogenation with CO₂ was tested. The addition of ceria to SBA‐15‐supported chromia improves the dispersion of chromium species. 3Cr‐Ce/SBA catalysts are more active than SBA‐15‐supported chromia (3Cr/SBA), which is due to a higher concentration of Cr⁶⁺ species present on the former catalysts. The 3Cr‐3Ce/SBA catalyst shows the highest activity, which gives 35.4% isobutane conversion and 89.6% isobutene selectivity at 570 °C after 10 min of the reaction.     

Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction to Carbon Monoxide over Defect‐Rich Plasma‐Activated Silver Catalysts

Efficient, stable catalysts with high selectivity for a single product are essential if electroreduction of CO₂ is to become a viable route to the synthesis of industrial feedstocks and fuels. A plasma oxidation pre‐treatment of silver foil enhances the number of low‐coordinated catalytically active sites, which dramatically lowers the overpotential and increases the activity of CO₂ electroreduction to CO. At −0.6 V versus RHE more than 90 % Faradaic efficiency towards CO was achieved on a pre‐oxidized silver foil. While transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy showed that oxygen species can survive in the bulk of the catalyst during the reaction, quasi in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the surface is metallic under reaction conditions. DFT calculations reveal that the defect‐rich surface of the plasma‐oxidized silver foils in the presence of local electric fields drastically decrease the overpotential of CO₂ electroreduction.     

Surface composition of PdCuAu ternary alloys: a combined LEIS and XPS study

PdCuAu ternary alloy samples with different composition were synthesized on top of ZrO₂‐modified porous stainless steel disks by the sequential electroless deposition technique. The structure, morphology and bulk composition of the samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). Complete alloy formation with a pure fcc phase for the Pd₇₁Cu₂₆Au₃, Pd₇₀Cu₂₅Au₅ and Pd₆₇Cu₂₄Au₉ samples and a bcc structure for the Pd₆₂Cu₃₆Au₂ and Pd₆₀Cu₃₇Au₃ samples were obtained upon annealing at 500 °C for 120 h as revealed by XRD. A combination of low‐energy ion scattering (LEIS) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the surface properties of the PdCuAu alloys. XPS results confirmed alloy formation under the annealing conditions. XPS analysis also revealed that the near‐surface regions of the alloys became enriched in Pd with respect to the bulk composition determined by EDX. In contrast, LEIS and angle‐resolved XPS analyses showed that the top‐most surface layers in all samples were copper‐rich compared with the bulk composition. This high Cu surface concentration could impart resistance to bulk sulfide formation to the PdCuAu alloy membranes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics and Mechanism Comparison between Cr/Ti‐Based Bimetallic and Ti‐Based Monometallic Catalysts for Ethylene Polymerization

Two (SiO₂/MgR₂/MgCl₂)·TiCl_x model catalysts are made by refluxing TiCl₄ with 0.35 wt% Cr modified silica gel/alkyl Mg adducts or silica gel/alkyl Mg adducts, which are named as Cr/Ti‐based bimetallic Cat‐1 and Ti‐based monometallic Cat‐2, respectively. The kinetics, active center counting, morphology, and polymer characterizations are studied to disclose the effect of low loading Cr active sites on the Cr/Ti‐based bimetallic Cat‐1 polymerization under mild conditions. The activity of Cat‐1 is 120.4% higher than that of Cat‐2, with a 114.1% higher [C*]/[M] value. Morphology results show the Cat‐1 fragmentation in the first 3 min is highly accelerated, which helps to release buried clustered Ti sites. Differential scanning calorimetry results show that low‐temperature heat absorbing shoulder of polyethylene (PE) from Cat‐2 demonstrates the signal of low crystallinity polymer made by Cat‐2 during the first 60 s, verifying the fluffy polymer in morphology results. GPC results show PE from Cat‐1 has a higher M_w in the first 3 min while a lower M_w in the end. The Cat‐1, which release active sites faster, has a high M_w in the early time. Lower M_w in the 900 s attributes to the effect of relative lower M_w polymer made by Cr sites, compared with Cat‐2.     

Hydroxyl‐Mediated Non‐oxidative Propane Dehydrogenation over VOx/γ‐Al2O3 Catalysts with Improved Stability

Supported vanadium oxides are one of the most promising alternative catalysts for propane dehydrogenation (PDH) and efforts have been made to improve its catalytic performance. However, unlike Pt‐based catalysts, the nature of the active site and surface structure of the supported vanadium catalysts under reductive reaction conditions still remain elusive. This paper describes the surface structure and the important role of surface‐bound hydroxyl groups on VO_x / γ‐Al₂O₃ catalysts under reaction conditions employing in situ DRIFTS experiments and DFT calculations. It is shown that hydroxyl groups on the VO_x /Al₂O₃ catalyst (V?OH) are produced under H₂ pre‐reduction, and the catalytic performance for PDH is closely connected to the concentration of V?OH species on the catalyst. The hydroxyl groups are found to improve the catalyst that leads to better stability by suppressing the coke deposition.     

Vitamin B12 supported on graphene oxide: As a bio‐based catalyst for selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols

The environmental impact of chemical processes has now opened new windows of opportunity for bio‐based catalysts. In this paper a highly active bio‐based catalyst of vitamin B₁₂ supported on graphene oxide nanosheets is reported for the selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, high yield and selectivity, non‐hazardous nature, commercial availability and affordability are the main advantages of this novel catalytic system.     

Characterization and Activity of Cu‐MnOx/γ‐Al2O3 Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide

The effect of manganese on the dispersion, reduction behavior and active states of surface of supported copper oxide catalysts have been investigated by XRD, temperature‐programmed reduction and XPS. The activity of methanol synthesis from CO₂/H₂ was also investigated. The catalytic activity over CuO‐MnO_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst for CO₂ hydrogenation is higher than that of CuO/γ‐Al₂O₃. The adding of manganese is beneficial in enhancing the dispersion of the supported copper oxide and make the TPR peak of the CuO‐MnK_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst different from the individual supported copper and manganese oxide catalysts, which indicates that there exists strong interaction between the copper and manganese oxide. For the CuO/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst there are two reducible copper oxide species; α and β peaks are attributed to the reduction of highly dispersed copper oxide species and bulk CuO species, respectively. For the CuO‐MnO_x/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalyst, four reduction peaks are observed, α peak is attributed to the dispersed copper oxide species; β peak is ascribed to the bulk CuO; γ peak is attributed to the reduction of high dispersed CuO interacting with manganese; δ peak may be the reduction of the manganese oxide interacting with copper oxide. XPS results show that Cu⁺ mostly existed on the working surface of the Cu‐Mn/γ‐Al₂O₃ catalysts. The activity was promoted by Cu with positive charge which was formed by means of long path exchange function between Cu? O? Mn. These results indicate that there is synergistic interaction between the copper and manganese oxide, which is responsible for the high activity of CO₂ hydrogenation.     

The Mechanism Study on the Catalytic Synthesis of 2,6‐Dimethylphenol from KA‐Oil and Methanol over Magnesium Oxide Catalysts

Catalytic synthesis of 2,6‐dimethylphenol from KA‐oil (a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone) and methanol was achieved by using magnesium oxide‐supported chromium oxide catalysts in one step. At higher conversion (> 90%), dimethylphenol was formed in high yield (>60 %). The activity of Cr/MgO catalysts depended on the concentration of chromium. The yield of 2,6‐dimethylphenol was also affected by the composition of the ratio of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone in KA‐oil. Cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone reacting with methanol under the same conditions indicated that pure cyclohexanol or cyclohexanone is less reactive than their mixture, KA‐oil. The adsorption properties of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone on the surface of Cr/MgO determined by FT‐IR spectroscopy suggest that cyclohexanone is easily reduced to cyclohexanol by the hydrogen which formed in the reaction, and then further reacted with methanol to form 2,6‐dimethyphenol.     

Preparation and characterization of silica supported Au-Pd model catalysts

Au-Pd bimetallic model catalysts were synthesized as alloy clusters on SiO2 ultrathin films under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. The surface composition and morphology were characterized with low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS), and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). Relative to the bulk, the surface of the clusters is enriched in Au. With CO as a probe, IRAS and TPD were used to identify isolated Pd sites at the surface of the supported Au-Pd clusters. Ethylene adsorption and dehydrogenation show a clear structure-reactivity correlation with respect to the structure/composition of these Au-Pd model catalysts.     

Structure‐activity relationship of supported Au catalysts with high catalytic activity by modifying the inactive supports

Three supported Au catalysts have been prepared by the deposition‐precipitation method by using the active carbon (AC), SiO₂‐AC, and SiO₂‐AC‐hollowed. The 3 supports were characterized by Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller and scanning electron microscopy. Meanwhile, the supported Au nanoparticles were also characterized in detail by X‐ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, H₂‐TRP, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their catalytic activity and stability in CO oxidation was evaluated. The results demonstrated that Au supported on SiO₂‐AC‐hollowed exhibited much higher catalytic activity with acceptable stability for 72 hours than the other 2. We attributed to finer supported Au nanoparticles with abundant low‐coordinated Au atoms on the surfaces of hollowed supports with large special surface area and abundant pore structure. In summary, we successfully found an efficient and cheap method to prepare catalysts with high catalytic activity and acceptable stability by modifying the inactive supports.     

Surface and Structural Investigation of a MnOx Birnessite‐Type Water Oxidation Catalyst Formed under Photocatalytic Conditions

Catalytically active MnO_x species have been reported to form in situ from various Mn‐complexes during electrocatalytic and solution‐based water oxidation when employing cerium(IV) ammonium ammonium nitrate (CAN) oxidant as a sacrificial reagent. The full structural characterization of these oxides may be complicated by the presence of support material and lack of a pure bulk phase. For the first time, we show that highly active MnO_x catalysts form without supports in situ under photocatalytic conditions. Our most active ⁴MnO_x catalyst (～0.84 mmol O₂ mol Mn^?1 s^?1) forms from a Mn₄O₄ bearing a metal–organic framework. ⁴MnO_x is characterized by pair distribution function analysis (PDF), Raman spectroscopy, and HR‐TEM as a disordered, layered Mn‐oxide with high surface area (216 m²g^?1) and small regions of crystallinity and layer flexibility. In contrast, the ^SMnO_x formed from Mn²⁺ salt gives an amorphous species of lower surface area (80 m²g^?1) and lower activity (～0.15 mmol O₂ mol Mn^?1 s^?1). We compare these catalysts to crystalline hexagonal birnessite, which activates under the same conditions. Full deconvolution of the XPS Mn2p_3/2 core levels detects enriched Mn³⁺ and Mn²⁺ content on the surfaces, which indicates possible disproportionation/comproportionation surface equilibria.     

Polymer‐supported half‐titanocene catalysts for the syndiospecific polymerization of styrene

Monocyclopendienyltitanium trichloride (CpTiCl₃) was supported on polymer carriers with different hydroxyl contents, and the supported catalysts were used for styrene polymerization. The supported catalysts exhibited high activity even at low Al/Ti ratios and increased the molecular weight of the products, indicating that polymer carriers could stabilize the active sites. The polymers prepared with unsupported and supported catalysts were extracted with boiling n‐butanone and characterized by carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers obtained by supported catalysts had a high fraction of boiling n‐butanone‐insoluble part and high melting temperatures, but ¹³C NMR results showed that syndiotacticity decreased compared with that of polymers prepared with an unsupported catalyst. ESR study on the supported catalysts confirmed that the active sites supported on the carrier dropped into the solution and formed active sites the same as those in the unsupported system when they reacted with methylaluminoxane. ¹³C NMR analysis showed that the polymerization mechanism of the supported active sites was an active‐site controlled mechanism instead of a chain‐end controlled mechanism of the unsupported active sites. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 127–135, 2000     

Probe molecule chemisorption-low energy ion scattering study of surface active sites present in the orthorhombic Mo-V-(Te-Nb)-O catalysts for propane (amm)oxidation

Methanol and allyl alcohol chemisorption and surface reaction in combination with low energy ion scattering (LEIS) were employed to determine the outermost surface compositions and chemical nature of active surface sites present on the orthorhombic (M1) Mo-V-O and Mo-V-Te-Nb-O phases. These orthorhombic phases exhibited vastly different behavior in propane (amm)oxidation reactions and, therefore, represented highly promising model systems for the study of the surface active sites. The LEIS data for the Mo-V-Te-Nb-O catalyst indicated surface depletion for V (-23%) and Mo (-27%), and enrichments for Nb (+55%) and Te (+165%) with respect to its bulk composition. Only minor changes in the topmost surface composition were observed for this catalyst under the conditions of the LEIS experiments at 400 degrees C, which is a typical temperature employed in these propane transformation reactions. These findings strongly suggested that the bulk orthorhombic Mo-V-Te-Nb-O structure may function as a support for the unique active and selective surface monolayer in propane (amm)oxidation. Moreover, direct evidence was obtained that the topmost surface VO(x) sites in the orthorhombic Mo-V-Te-Nb-O catalyst were preferentially covered by chemisorbed allyloxy species, whereas methanol was a significantly less discriminating probe molecule. The surface TeO(x) and NbO(x) sites on the Mo-V-Te-Nb-O catalyst were unable to chemisorb these probe molecules to the same extent as the VO(x) and MoO(x) sites. Our findings suggested that different surface locations for V(5+) ions in the orthorhombic Mo-V-O and Mo-V-Te-Nb-O catalysts may be primarily responsible for vastly different catalytic behavior exhibited by the Mo-V-O and Mo-V-Te-Nb-O phases. Although the proposed isolated V(5+) pentagonal bipyramidal sites in the orthorhombic Mo-V-O phase may be capable of converting propane to propylene with modest selectivity, the selective 8-electron transformation of propane to acrylic acid and acrylonitrile may require the presence of several surface VO(x) redox sites lining the entrances to the hexagonal and heptagonal channels of the orthorhombic Mo-V-Te-Nb-O phase. The study of allyl alcohol oxidation over the Mo-V-O and Mo-V-Te-Nb-O catalysts further suggested that water plays a critical role during the oxidation of acrolein intermediate to acrylic acid over the orthorhombic (M1 phase) Mo-V-Te-Nb-O catalysts. Finally, the present study strongly indicated that chemical probe chemisorption combined with low energy ion scattering (LEIS) is a novel and highly promising surface characterization technique for the investigation of the active surface sites present in the bulk mixed metal oxides.     

Synergic Effect of Active Sites in Zinc‐Modified ZSM‐5 Zeolites as Revealed by High‐Field Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy

Understanding the nature of active sites in metal‐supported catalysts is of great importance towards establishing their structure–property relationships. The outstanding catalytic performance of metal‐supported catalysts is frequently ascribed to the synergic effect of different active sites, which is however not well spectroscopically characterized. Herein, we report the direct detection of surface Zn species and ¹H–⁶⁷Zn internuclear interaction between Zn²⁺ ions and Brønsted acid sites on Zn‐modified ZSM‐5 zeolites by high‐field solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The observed promotion of C?H bond activation of methane is rationalized by the enhanced Brønsted acidity generated by synergic effects arising from the spatial proximity/interaction between Zn²⁺ ions and Brønsted acidic protons. The concentration of synergic active sites is determined by ¹H–⁶⁷Zn double‐resonance solid‐state NMR spectroscopy.     

贫燃条件 In-Ag/TiO2-γ-Al2O3催化 CO选择性还原NO

汽车尾气中主要污染成分 CO和 NOx可导致酸雨、光化学烟雾和臭氧空洞效应,对生物、环境及生态系统造成重大危害。污染源中 CO是性能优良的还原剂,如能不添加还原剂实现 CO催化还原 NOx,将成为最具经济技术优势的 NOx脱除技术。在富氧、低温条件下,利用 CO选择性催化还原 NOx为 N2,是目前选择性催化还原研究中的热点和难点。催化 CO还原 NOx常用的贵金属 Ir, Rh, Pt和Pd矿藏稀少,价格昂贵,有氧条件下活性急降,而分子筛催化剂和一些金属氧化物催化剂普遍存在反应温度高,尤其对 N2选择性差等问题。为解决上述问题,需寻找新的适合我国矿产资源的催化体系。研究发现,稀散金属基催化剂对氮氧化物的净化具有一定效果,因而可将我国的稀散金属资源优势转化为技术优势和经济优势。因此,本文以 TiO2-γ-Al2O3(TA)为载体, In/Ag为活性组分,采用等体积浸渍法制备了 InAg/TA以及 In/TA, Ag/TA和InAg/Al (γ-Al2O3为载体)催化剂,考察了贫燃条件下 CO选择性还原NO的催化活性。研究表明,双金属催化剂InAg/Al和 InAg/TA的活性比单金属催化剂In/TA和 Ag/TA高, In/TA催化剂中引入 Ag物种能降低起燃温度;另外,相比于InAg/Al催化剂, InAg/TA催化剂具有较高的催化活性,550?600°C时 N2产率超过60%,说明载体中引入TiO2可以提高催化剂活性。为了深入研究 InAg/TA催化剂中 Ag物种和TiO2对 In物种的作用,通过比表面测定、X射线衍射(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱、紫外-可见光吸收光谱、氢气程序升温还原、傅立叶变换红外线光谱等方法分析了催化剂结构和表面形态。结果表明, Ag物种可以提高 In物种的分散性, In和 Ag物种在 TA载体表面可以很好地分散,从而有利于提高催化活性。 In和 Ag物种在 TA载体表面以氧化态形式存在,并且 Ag物种可以提高 In物种表面含量,表面 In和 Ag物种含量越高,吸附活性位越多,催化活性越高;同时, TiO2也可以促进 NO吸附,从而提高 InAg/TA催化剂活性。 InAg/TA催化剂在450°C连续反应72 h进行稳定性测试,测试前后分别在50?600°C进行活性测试,并用 XRD和 TEM对反应后的催化剂进行表征测试。结果表明, InAg/TA催化剂具有较好的稳定性,连续反应前后催化剂活性基本保持不变,推测可能由于在有 CO和O2存在的体系中, Ag物种利用自身 Ag+与 Ag0之间的氧化还原反应抑制了活性组分 In2O3的还原和聚集,稳定了 In物种乃至催化剂活性。 InAg/TA催化剂用于贫燃条件下CO还原NO具有较好的催化效果,主要归因于催化剂活性组分分散性好,稳定性高,对NO吸附能力强。 Ag物种可以稳定In物种并提高其分散性, TiO2可以改善In物种和Ag物种的分散性并促进NO吸附。     

Au/Ag2O与Ag掺杂的Au粉催化剂上CO氧化反应：Au-Ag双金属催化剂活性位

有关用于各种氧化反应中Au-Ag双金属催化剂存在显著协同效应的来源有两种观点：(1) AgOx块与体相Au表面的接触界面起重要作用,体相Au的表面是催化活性位;(2) Au-Ag双金属催化剂中形成的Au-Ag合金中电荷从Ag转移到Au上,可能对催化剂活性起作用。因此,确定Au表面上Ag是以氧化物还是以金属合金形式存在可能是深度理解该协同效应的关键。
　　为了检测和验证催化剂活性的增加是由于Ag2O与Au纳米粒子的紧密接触,在密闭循环反应体系中比较研究了Au/Ag2O和Ag2O催化剂上CO氧化反应。将CO/O2摩尔比为2的混合气通入到这二个催化剂上来跟踪压力降低的速率。因而检测了气体的消耗量和CO2的生成量。结果发现,在稳态下Au/Ag2O和Ag2O催化剂的压力降低的速率不存在差别。这两个催化剂上压力的降低是由于Ag2O中表面晶格氧被混合气中CO的还原所致。 Au/Ag2O催化剂上得到的结果与以前研究的具有氧化表面的Ag掺杂的Au粉末(Ag/Au-b)上的一致,也表明AgOx块与体相Au表面界面周边不大可能是CO氧化反应催化活性位。基于具有稳态表面的Ag/Au-b样品上的研究结果,我们认为AgOx物种被还原为0价态Ag而形成的Ag-Au合金很可能是催化活性位。     

Alumina‐supported nickel catalyst for liquid‐phase reactions: an expedient and efficient heterogeneous catalyst for hydrogenation reactions

The preparation of a new nickel(0)/Al₂O₃ catalyst for hydrogenation reactions is described. The nickel(0)/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by impregnation of alumina with a solution of a nickel(II) salt. After drying, the nickel(II) salt was reduced under mild conditions into nickel(0) using t‐BuONa‐activated sodium hydride in tetrahydrofuran at 65 °C. The nickel(0)/Al₂O₃ catalysts obtained were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The supported catalysts were successfully used in solution‐phase hydrogenation of double and triple bonds. Although the activity of the nickel(0)/Al₂O₃ is comparable to non‐supported nickel(0) reagents, it has the advantage of being reusable more than ten times with only a slight decrease of reactivity. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.