Synthesis and structural characterization of a new layered gallium phosphate using triethylenetetramine as structure-directing agent

A new layered gallium phosphate Ga₁₀(PO₄)₂(HPO₄)₁₂(OH)₅2.5N₄C₆H₂₀4.5H₂O was hydrothermally synthesized at 180 °C for 3 days by using triethylenetetramine (teta) as structure-directing agent. Its structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction with a triclinic cell in the space group P-1 (n^o 2) with a=8.4718(1) Å, b=18.5915(1) Å, c=24.1994(3) Å, α=110.538(1)°, β=93.656(1)°, γ=93.549(1)° and V=3547.45(6) Å³. It consists of [Ga₁₀(PO₄)₂(HPO₄)₁₂(OH)₅]⁵⁻ macroanionic sheets composed of infinite chains of GaO₄(OH)₂ octahedra connected via corner-sharing to PO₄ and GaO₄ tetrahedra. They contain four-, seven- and nine-membered rings. The inorganic layers are held together through hydrogen bond between the terminal PO bondings, the water molecules and the terminal ammonium groups of the intercalated teta molecules.     

Electrochemical and structural characterization of lithium titanate electrodes

Lithium titanate (LTO) materials of different particle size, surface area, and morphology were characterized by constant current cycling and cyclic voltammetry. By examining the particles and electrodes with scanning electron microscopy, we show that particle morphology, in addition to particle size, has important implications for high-rate performance. Large agglomerates, even when porous and made of small crystallites, cannot effectively form homogenous electrodes with the polymer binder and carbon conducting diluents; hence, low power performance results. Another nanostructured LTO of very high surface area was found to have poor electrochemical performance most likely due to its high concentration of structural defects. We recommend further development in nanoparticles of LTO of optimal crystallinity as well as improved electrode homogeneity through the use of more compatible binders and conducting diluents and better electrode processing techniques. Simultaneous realization of these imperatives should facilitate the development of LTO-based high-power batteries for automotive applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of ion-exchangeable titanate nanotubes

Titanate nanotubes were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The optimized synthesis (100-180 degrees C, longer than 48 h), thermal and hydrothermal stability, ion exchangeability and consequent magnetic and optical properties of the titanate nanotubes were systematically studied in this paper. First, nanotubes with monodisperse pore-size distribution were prepared. The formation mechanism of the titanate nanotubes was also studied. Second, the thermal and hydrothermal stability were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. Results showed that sodium ions played a significant role in the stability of the frameworks. Third, the selective ion exchangeability was demonstrated with a series of ions. The ion substitution also enlarged the BET surface area of the titanate nanotubes to 240 m(2) x g(-1). Combination of these two features implied that these nanotubes might be functionalized by substitution of different transitional-metal ions and consequently used for selective catalysis. Magnetism, photoluminescence, and UV/Vis spectra of the substituted titanate nanotubes revealed that the magnetic and optical properties of the nanotubes were modifiable.     

Synthesis and characterization of chitosan‐modified polymethyl methacrylate latex particles

Stable chitosan‐modified polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) latex particles were prepared by using 2,2′‐azobis(2‐amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (V‐50) as the cationic initiator. The polymerization rate (R_p) is controlled by the V‐50 concentration ([V‐50]) and R_p is less sensitive to the chitosan concentration ([C]) used in the synthesis work. The reaction system follows Smith–Ewart Case III kinetics due to the relatively large particles produced. The zeta potential data show that the isoelectric point (pI) of the latex particles is 10.7. The amounts of V‐50 (C_V‐50) and chitosan (C_c) ultimately incorporated into the particles correlate reasonably well with [V‐50] and [C], respectively. At pH 7, the quantity of the negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA, pI = 4.8) adsorbed on the positively charged chitosan‐free particles (Q) via the electrostatic interaction increases with increasing C_V‐50. However, Q is relatively insensitive to changes in C_c. This result implies that only the outermost region of the hairy chitosan‐modified particles is available for adsorption of the relatively large protein species. Colloidal stability shows a significant influence on the BSA adsorption process. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1489–1499, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of nanomagnetite particles and their polymer coated forms

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation of ferrous (Fe(2+)) and ferric (Fe(3+)) aqueous solution by a base. Nanomagnetite particles were coated with poly(St/PEG-EEM/DMAPM) and poly(St/PEG-MA/DMAPM) layer by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Chemical structure of nanoparticles was characterized by both FTIR and (1)H NMR. Particle morphologies were determined by Zeta Sizer, DLS, XRD and SAXS. Structural analysis showed that after polymer coating nanomagnetite particles kept their superparamagnetic property. Besides the synthesized magnetites, polymer coated forms of these particles are more biocompatible, well dispersable and uniform. These properties make them a very strong candidate for bioengineering applications, such as bioseparation, gene transfer.     

Synthesis and characterization of single-crystalline alkali titanate nanowires

A simple, one-step method has been utilized to synthesize functional ternary alkali titanate nanowires of single crystallinity. Nanostructural characterization shows that the nanowires are Na2Ti6O13 with [010] growth direction and KTi8O16.5 with [001] growth direction.     

Synthesis and thermal characterization of zirconium titanate pigments

Vezetéknév This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of some titanium butoxides modified with chloroacetic acids

Reactions of Ti(OBu^s)₄ and Ti(OBuⁿ)₄ with chloroacetic acids (mono-, di-, and tri-) were carried out in toluene in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios at room temperature to generate new precursors of titania. These modified alkoxides/oxo-alkoxides were characterized by spectroscopic methods. A solution of Ti(OBuⁿ)₂(OOCCCl₃)₂ in toluene left for crystallization at ?30 °C yielded single crystals of the product Ti₆(μ₂-O)₂(μ₃-O)₂(μ₂-OC₄H₉)₂(OC₄H₉)₆(OOCCCl₃)₈. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the molecular structure to be composed of a hexanuclear unit in which two Ti₂O₁₀ units (made by two edge-sharing octahedra) are linked with two corner-sharing octahedra.     

Synthesis of uniform layered protonated titanate hierarchical spheres and their transformation to anatase TiO2 for lithium-ion batteries

Layered protonated titanates (LPTs), a class of interesting inorganic layered materials, have been widely studied because of their many unique properties and their use as precursors to many important TiO(2)-based functional materials. In this work, we have developed a facile solvothermal method to synthesize hierarchical spheres (HSs) assembled from ultrathin LPT nanosheets. These LPT hierarchical spheres possess a porous structure with a large specific surface area and high stability. Importantly, the size and morphology of the LPT hierarchical spheres are easily tunable by varying the synthesis conditions. These LPT HSs can be easily converted to anatase TiO(2) HSs without significant structural alteration. Depending on the calcination atmosphere of air or N(2), pure anatase TiO(2) HSs or carbon-supported TiO(2) HSs, respectively, can be obtained. Remarkably, both types of TiO(2) HSs manifest excellent cyclability and rate capability when evaluated as anode materials for high-power lithium-ion batteries.     

Synthesis and characterization of chromia-pillared layered tetratitanate

The first chromia-pillared layered tetratitanate was prepared by the reaction of layered tetramethy-lammonium tetratitanate with chromium(Ⅲ) acetate [Cr(OAc)3] aqueous solution and subsequent calcination of the resultant solid product in air at 400℃. The obtained chromia-pillared layered tetratitanate has an interlayer distance of 1.06 nm and a high thermal stabih'ty up to 600℃. It was also found that calcination in N2 led to the chromia-pillared layered tetratitanate with relatively higher Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area (93.9 m2·g-1) and smaller average pore diameter (4.44 nm) than that in air (82.0 m2·g-1, 7.61 nm) . Both Bronsted and Lewis acid sites (mainly Lewis type) are present on the chromia-pillared layered tetratitanate (500℃, N2, 8 h) and strong enough to still remain a small proportion of pyridine upon outgassing at 250℃. Moreover, ammonia temperature-programmmed desorption (NH3-TPD) result showed that there were three NH3 desorption peaks at 160, 200and315℃, resp     

Synthesis and characterization of layered zinc hydroxychlorides

Layered material of zinc hydroxychlorides (Zn₅(OH)₈Cl₂·nH₂O: ZHC), which is one of the basic zinc salts (BZS), was synthesized from ZnO nano-particles aged with aqueous ZnCl₂ solutions at different temperatures ranging from 6 to 140 °C for 48 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicated that the diffraction peaks of ZnO completely disappeared by aging at 6 °C and the ZHC peaks were developed. By increasing the aging temperature, crystallinity of the layered structure was improved. At 6 °C, the ZHC particles were thin hexagonal plate particles with sizes ranging from 1 to 3 μm. The particle size of ZHC was independent of aging temperature. The atomic Cl/Zn ratios of all the ZHC materials were almost 0.2 less than 0.4 of the theoretical ratio, indicating that the synthetic ZHC is Cl-deficient. It seemed that half of Cl atoms in the layer were replaced with HCO₃⁻ and/or OH⁻. The specific surface areas of ZHC estimated from N₂ adsorption isotherms were ca. 10 m² g⁻¹ and were independent of the aging temperature. However, the H₂O monolayer adsorption capacity per unit surface area (n_w) for all the samples was higher than that of ZnO particles, revealing the high affinity of ZHC to H₂O molecules. The n_w values were increased by reducing the crystallinity of ZHC. This enhancement of H₂O adsorption selectivity was thought to be related with less-crystallized parts of the particles.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of 2-D layered copper(II) styrylphosphonate coordination polymers

We report the synthesis, physicochemical characterization, and crystal structure of Cu-SP (SP?=?styrylphosphonic acid, H₂O₃PCH=CH₂(C₆H₅)), the first reported example of a metal derivative of SP. The starting SP acid was fully characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffractometry, elemental analysis (C and H), ³¹P-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, ¹H-NMR, HPLC, UV–vis, MS, TG, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The copper(II) derivative was synthesized and characterized by DTA-TG and FT-IR, and also its structure was determined from powder data. The crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method. The crystal structure of Cu-SP shows a layered 2-D architecture, where the organic moieties are pointed toward the interlamellar space. The inorganic layers are composed of Cu²⁺ dimers, where the coordination geometry of Cu²⁺ can be described as distorted trigonal bipyramid. The three coplanar oxygens (O2, O3, and O3) have bond distances of 2.165(9), 1.982(9), and 2.103(11)?Å, respectively. The bond lengths for the apical oxygens (O1 and O2) are 1.908(13) and 1.996(11)?Å, respectively.     

Synthesis and swelling behavior of pH-responsive polybase brushes

We synthesize polybase brushes and investigate their swelling behavior. Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) (PDMAEMA) brushes are prepared by the "grafting from" method using surface-initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization to obtain dense brushes with relatively monodisperse chains (PDI = 1.35). In situ quaternization reaction can be performed to obtain poly(2-(trimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)) (PTMAEMA) brushes. We determine the swollen thickness of the brushes using ellipsometry and neutron reflectivity techniques. Brushes are submitted to different solvent conditions to be investigated as neutral brushes and weak and strong polyelectrolyte brushes. The swelling of the brushes is systematically compared to scaling models. It should be pointed out that the scaling analysis of different types of brushes (neutral polymer and weak and strong polyelectrolyte brushes) is performed with identical samples. The scaling behavior of the PDMAEMA brush in methanol and the PTMAEMA brush in water is in good agreement with the predicted scaling laws for a neutral polymer brush in a good solvent and a polyelectrolyte brush in the osmotic regime. The salt-induced contraction of the quaternized brush is observed for high salt concentration, in agreement with the predicted transition between the regimes of the osmotic brush and the salted brush. From the crossover concentration, we calculate the effective charge ratio of the brush following the Manning counterion condensation. We also use PDMAEMA brushes as pH-responsive polybase brushes. The swelling behavior of the polybase brush is intermediate with respect to the behavior of the neutral polymer brush in a good solvent and the behavior of the quenched polyelectrolyte brush, as expected. The effective charge ratio of the PDMAEMA brush is determined as a function of pH using the scaling law of the polyelectrolyte brush in the osmotic regime.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a terminal hydroxide containing alumoxane via hydrolysis of aluminum hydrides

A novel terminal hydroxide containing dinuclear alumoxane LAl(OH)OAlL(OCH=N-tBu) (3; L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) was prepared by treatment of aluminum dihydride LAlH2 (1) and tert-butyl isocyanate in the presence of trace amounts of water and alternatively from 1 and LAlH(OCH=N-tBu) (2) with water. Compound 2 was obtained from the reaction of 1 and tert-butyl isocyanate.     

Preparation and characterization of pseudocubic hematite particles by utilizing polyethylene amine nonionic surfactants in forced hydrolysis reaction

The shape and porosity of hematite particles, produced from a forced hydrolysis reaction of acidic FeCl₃ solution, were controlled by using polyethylene amine nonionic surfactants (Surfonamine®; 0～10 wt.%). Surfonamine® possesses a nominal formula of CH₃-(PEO) _x -(PPO) _y -NH₂. Surfonamine with the highest total amine content (PEO contents were over 76 mol%, L-100) gave spherical particles, but those with lower total amine contents (L-200, L-207 and L-300) produced pseudocubic hematite particles. The pH value of the system with 10 wt.% of L-100 rose up to 8.49. With this pH rise, the diameter of the spherical particles was dramatically decreased. This fast particle formation was explained by the aggregation of very fine 6-line ferrihydrite particles produced at their high pH conditions. The uniformity of pseudocubic hematite particles produced with L-200, L-207 and L-300 were improved by increasing their concentrations. Since the pH values of these systems before aging were controlled between 2.03 and 2.35, it was presumed that the Surfonamine molecules acts as a buffer agent and attained pseudocubic particles. From the calculation of crystallite size, all the pseudocubic hematite particles were regarded as a polycrystal as well as the large spherical hematite particles produced without Surfonamine (control system). This polycrystallinity of the particles provided evidence that the particles are grown by aggregation of polynuclear (PN) primary particles. Not only the morphology but also the pore size of hematite particles was controlled from nonporous to microporous by using Surfonamines. The N₂ adsorption experiment and t-plot curve analysis revealed that the pseudocubic hematite particles have uniform micropores. The XRD, transmission electron microscope, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and total organic carbon analysis measurements employed on the systems produced for pseudocubic particles elucidated that the pseudocubic crystal habit was formed by the specific adsorption of chloride ions and/or chloroferric complexes to the {012} faces, restraining the growth process through stacking of ultrafine PN particles in the direction of normal to the {012} faces but strictly restricting the growth and mutual fusion of PN ones. The uniform micropores could be produced between the PN particles. The uniform pseudocubic particles were found to be an effective photocatalytic material than the spherical particles due to their large size with uniform flat crystal faces.     

Synthesis of non-stoichiometric lithium nickel cobalt oxides and their structural and electrochemical characterization

Non-stoichiometric phases of lithium nickel cobalt oxides were synthesized by a sol–gel method using oxalic acid as a chelating agent. The structural properties have been examined using X-ray diffraction techniques. Electrochemical coin cell studies showed materials with excess lithium stoichiometry had interesting properties of improved capacity and cyclability. Of all the compositions with excess lithium stoichiometry, Li_1.1Ni_0.8Co_0.2O₂, showed better electrochemical characteristics with a first cycle discharge capacity of 182 mAh/g and a 10th cycle of 172 mAh/g than the ideal stoichiometry LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂. The structural and electrochemical properties of Li_xNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ with x=1.00, 1.05, 1.10 and 1.15 are discussed in detail.     

Synthesis and characterization of zinc titanate fibers by sol-electrospinning method

A facile and economic electrospinning approach has been developed for the synthesis of zinc titanate-rutile composite fibers as a nanofibrous mat at the first time. The composite fibers with different morphologies were obtained by calcination of the PVP/Ti(OC₄H₉)₄–Zn(CH₃COO)₂ fibers. The reaction mechanism was characterized by thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier transform infraction spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra techniques. According to the thermal analysis, the phase of ZnTiO₃ occurred at 450 °C and it decomposed at 885 °C. FE-SEM micrographs indicated that the as-spun fibers were round and had a rather uniform and smooth surface with the diameters in the range of 300–800 nm over its length. Its morphology is greatly affected by the calcination temperatures.     

Synthesis and hydrolysis behavior of side-chain functionalized norbornenes

[reaction: see text] The stabilities of various functionalized norbornenes that are monomers for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) in aqueous solution were evaluated toward hydrolysis under a range of temperatures (37, 60, and 80 degrees C) and pH values (3-9). All monomers contain hydrolyzable linkages to pendant functional groups, and conclusions were drawn relating to how the chemical diversity of these pendant functional groups, in accordance with the pH and temperature variations, affect hydrolysis of the aforementioned linkages. The hydrolysis was monitored by reverse phase HPLC analysis, and/or NMR spectroscopy. As expected, monomers containing ester linkages were fairly labile at higher pH values, while acetal-based linkers were cleaved at lower pH values. Beta-amino ester groups experienced a significant increase in hydrolysis rate, while carboxylic acid-containing monomers did not follow any clear trend. Saccharide-containing monomers exhibited unique behaviors for various pH values and temperature ranges.     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable network hydrogels having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components with controlled swelling behavior

A new class of biodegradable hydrogels, consisting of hydrophobic poly(D ,L )lactic acid (PDLLA) and hydrophilic dextran segments with a polymer network structure, was synthesized with UV photopolymerization. Unsaturated vinyl groups first were introduced onto the PDLLA and dextran polymer backbones, then followed by a crosslinking reaction of diacrylate-terminated PDLLA and dextran acrylate. The chemical crosslinking forced the hydrophobic PDLLA and hydrophilic dextran segments to mix with each other in the network hydrogels. The new polymers were characterized by standard polymer characterization methods such as NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The effects of reaction time, temperature, and molar ratio of the reactants on the incorporation of acrylate onto the polymer backbone were examined. A series of hydrogels with different dextran/PDLLA composition ratios was prepared, and their swelling behaviors were studied. These new bicomponent network hydrogels had a wide range of hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity that was difficult to achieve in totally hydrophilic hydrogels. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 4554–4569, 1999