Effect of the Support on the Structural Characteristics of Tin

Tin oxide was supported on alumina, titania, magnesia and silica, treated with hydrogen at different temperatures and characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. For the samples calcined at 773 K, tin is present as SnO₂ on alumina, magnesia and silica, but it occupies Ti sites on titania. After hydrogen treatment at high temperatures, tin is reduced from Sn(IV) to Sn(II) on alumina and titania, from Sn(IV) to Sn(0) on silica, but practically not reduced on magnesia. These results show the different degree of interaction between tin and the supporting material.     

(Salen)tin complexes: syntheses, characterization, crystal structures, and catalytic activity in the formation of propylene carbonate from CO(2) and propylene oxide

A series of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes was synthesized. The (salen)tin(IV) complexes, (salen)SnX(2) (X = Br and I), were prepared in good yields via the direct oxidation reaction of (salen)tin(II) complexes with Br(2) or I(2). (Salen)SnX(2) successfully underwent the anion-exchange reaction with AgOTf (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) to form (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) and (salen)Sn(X)(OTf) (X = Br). The (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) complex was easily converted to any of the dihalide (salen)SnX(2) compounds using halide salts. All complexes were fully characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis, while some were characterized by (13)C, (19)F, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy. Several crystal structures of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) were also determined. Finally, both (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes were shown to efficiently catalyze the formation of propylene carbonate from propylene oxide and CO(2). Of the series, (3,3',5,5'-Br(4)-salen)SnBr(2), 3i, was found to be the most effective catalyst (TOF = 524 h(-)(1)).     

Modified Glassy-Carbon Electrodes for the Flow-Injection Determination of Inorganic Tin Species by Stripping Voltammetry

The behavior of tin(II, IV) chloride species on an unmodified glassy-carbon electrode, and on or at film electrodes obtained by the electrooxidative modification of a glassy-carbon surface, in solutions of some polyphenols and other hydroxyl-containing aromatic compounds (salicylic acid and morin) was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The optimum conditions were found for the potentiostatic formation of films reproducible in thickness in the cyclic hydrodynamic mode. A comparison of the results of the studies demonstrated the effect of hydrophobic film nature on the redox processes observed in Sn(II, IV) and Pb(II) chloride solutions at different pHs. All the electrodes proposed preconcentrated tin(II) from flow solutions without applying a polarization voltage. The interfering effect of lead(II) was minimized by selecting an appropriate accumulation medium. The modified electrodes prepared by the electrooxidation of pyrogallol and morin were used for the flow-injection determination of trace amounts of Sn(II) in the presence of Sn(IV) and Pb(II) and for the determination of the total inorganic tin in model solutions by anodic stripping voltammetry.     

Synthesis and characteristic studies of tin(II) and tin(IV) complexes of macrocyclic schiff bases

Equimolar reactions of tin (II) chloride, tin(IV) chloride or dimethyltin dichloride with macrocyclic Schiff bases lead to the formation of a new series of tin(II) and tin(IV) complexes. An attempt has been made to prove the structures of the resulting complexes on the basis of elemental analysis, conductance measurements, molecular-weight determination, and electronic, IR and multinuclear magnetic resonance (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) spectral studies.     

Potentiometric stripping analysis for tin with a gold film electrode formed in situ on glassy carbon

A gold film electrode formed in situ on glassy carbon is used as the working electrode for the determination of tin over the range 0.1–10 μg ml^?1. Gold(III) added to the solution provides the film and serves as the oxidant for stripping. Two stripping curves corresponding to Sn(Au) → Sn(II) and Sn(II) → Sn(IV) were observed; either can be used for determinations of tin. The equations for the transition time (i.e., stripping signal) and stripping curve derived were verified experimentally.     

Raman microscopy of Greek icons: identification of unusual pigments

Five Greek icons, made between the 15th and 18th centuries and now belonging to the Victoria and Albert Museum collections, were analysed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), optical microscopy and Raman microscopy in order to determine the stratigraphy of the artworks and the identity of the pigments used. Together with common pigments, such as red lake, vermilion, red lead, red iron oxide, orpiment, yellow ochre, lead white, chalk, gypsum, anhydrite, Prussian blue, indigo and a copper-containing green, a few unusual materials were identified, specifically pararealgar (a yellow arsenic sulphide, As4S4), its precursor the chi-phase, and lead tin yellow type II (PbSn(1-x)SixO3). Attention is drawn to the complementarity of the techniques used for the pigment identifications.     

Determination of trace tin by stripping potentiostatic coulometry

On the basis of voltammetric and coulometric studies of the behavior of tin(II) in a 2 M HCl solution at a carbon-graphite bulky electrode made of fibrous porous felt (FPF), we have found the optimum conditions for the stripping potentiostatic coulometric determination of 10–1000 μg tin(II) by the reaction Sn(0)-ē ? Sn(I) after preconcentrating Sn(0) at the electrode surface. The relative standard deviation varied from 0.5 to 4%. The results of the coulometric determination of the number of electrons involved in the oxidation of Sn(0) suggest that the stripping Sn(0) from the surface of the FPF electrode proceeds in two stages. The first stage Sn(0) → Sn(I) was electrochemical, and the second stage Sn(I) → Sn(II) was chemical. The procedure was applied to the determination of ～1% tin in a jewelry alloy based on gold, silver, platinum, and copper.     

Modification of a Pt surface by spontaneous Sn deposition for electrocatalytic applications

In the present communication we explored a simple dip-coating method for spontaneous (without applying an external current or additional reducing agents) modification of Pt surface by both tin oxy-species and tin metal based on hydrolysis of tin chloride complex and autocatalytic (electroless) deposition of tin for fabrication of the fuel cell catalysts with improved CO tolerance. It consisted of (i) Pt immersion into SnCl₂/HCl solution under open-circuit conditions; (ii) subsequent rinsing of the surface by pure water. The resulting Sn-modified Pt surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Two types of tin species, namely, tin oxide/hydroxide species and metallic tin were identified at Pt surface. Tin oxide/hydroxide species were assumed to be derived as a result of Sn(II) chloride complex hydrolysis, while tin metal particles were most likely deposited spontaneously on Pt surface due to disproportionation of Sn(II) to Sn(IV) and metallic tin, competing with dissolution of the Sn deposit in strongly acidic medium. Modifying tin species show a satisfactory stability in 0.5-M H₂SO₄ solution at potentials relevant to low-temperature fuel cell operating conditions (below 0.6 V vs. a standard hydrogen electrode, SHE).     

The role of the He I and He II metastables in the population of the Sn II,Sn III and Sn IV ion levels

On the basis of the temporal evolutions of the singly, doubly and triply ionized tin (Sn II, Sn III and Sn IV, respectively) spectral line intensities, in the pulsed helium and nitrogen plasmas, the important role of the He I and He II metastables has been observed in the Sn II, Sn III and Sn IV ionization and population processes. According to these processes, one can expect realization of several laser levels in the Sn II (11.07, 11.20, 12.44 and 13.11 eV), Sn III (15.91, 17.82, 19.13 and 20.19 eV) and Sn IV (20.51 eV) spectra. The modified version of the linear, low-pressure, pulsed arc was used as a plasma source operated in helium with tin atoms, as impurities, evaporated from tin cylindrical plates located in the homogenous part of the discharge tube. This plasma source provides good conditions for a generation of the Sn III, Sn IV and Sn V ions at relatively low electron temperatures (below 18,000 K) providing low background radiation around the intense Sn IV and Sn III spectral lines in the helium plasma. The 222.613 ± 0.0005 nm Sn IV line, not observed up to now, has been identified. The marked, but not classified 243.688 nm Sn spectral line is sorted by ionization stages. The shapes of Sn III and Sn IV lines, ranged between 207 nm and 307 nm, have been obtained. At a 17,500 K electron temperature and 1.07 × 10²³ m^− 3 electron density the Stark broadening was found as the dominant mechanism in the mentioned lines broadening. The measured Stark widths of the prominent nine Sn IV and seven Sn III lines are the first data in the literature. The Stark widths of the intense 229.913 nm and 288.766 nm Sn IV lines can be used for the plasma electron density and temperature diagnostics purposes.     

Transmethylation of metals in aquatic systems

Transmethylation reactions between organometals and metal ions in aqueous solutions in biotic and abiotic systems, with and without the presence of sediment, were investigated. It was found that alkyllead compounds can transfer their alkyl groups to Sn(II) and Sn(IV) ions to form various methyltin compounds in biotic and abiotic systems. The presence of sediment enhanced the transmethylation reactions. Methyltin compounds do not transfer their methyl groups of Pb(II). Methylarsenic acids transfer their methyl groups to Sn(II) and Sn(IV) in an abiotic system, but not in a biotic system containing sediment. The strong adsorption of tin onto sediment was the reason for the non-availability of tin ions for methylation. Methylarsenic acids do not transmethylate Pb(II). Other alkyllead compounds, such as ethyllead and butyllead species were also able to transfer their alkyl groups to tin. When both trimethyllead and triethyllead species are present in the same system, only the individual monoalkyl tin species were formed in both the Sn(II) and Sn(IV) solutions. No mixed alkyltin was produced. The findings of this study suggest that alkyllead compounds, if present in the environment, could be potential methylating agents for the formation of other methylmetals, such as methyltins. Methyltin compounds have already been documented to methylate mercuric ions in aqueous solution. Thus the study of transmethylation reactions opens up a new area of research that is essential in predicting the fate of organometals in the environment.     

Tuning physical surface properties of tin dioxide nanopowders using zinc oxide as template

With a view to energetic and (opto)electronic applications, tin (IV) oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticles have been successfully prepared at the nanoscale by a templating approach based on the use of zinc (II) oxide (ZnO) as template. The procedure consisted in preparing a mixture of tin precursor and template, subsequently calcined at 650 °C under air to lead to the formation of a SnO₂/ZnO composite material. Finally, the material was washed with an alkali solution to remove the template. The template/tin precursor mass ratio was varied in order to tailor the tin (IV) oxide material, especially with a view to main particle size. The resulting SnO₂ nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption and electron microscopy. The tin (IV) oxide nanomaterial exhibited enhanced textural and physical surface properties (particle size, surface area, pore size) correlated to an increasing template/tin precursor mass ratio. For instance, from optimized experimental conditions, the specific surface area and pore volume were heightened twofold, reaching values of 49 m²/g and 0.32 cm³/g, respectively.     

CO oxidation on nanostructured SnO(x)/Pt(111) surfaces: unique properties of reduced SnO(x)

We have investigated surface CO oxidation on "inverse catalysts" composed of SnO(x) nanostructures supported on Pt(111) using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low-energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEISS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Nanostructures of SnO(x) were prepared by depositing Sn on Pt(111) pre-covered by NO(2) layers at low temperatures. XPS data show that the SnO(x) nanoparticles are highly reduced with Sn(II)O being the dominant oxide species, but the relative concentration of Sn(II) in the SnO(x) nanoparticles decreases with increasing Sn coverage. We find that the most active SnO(x)/Pt(111) surface for CO oxidation has smallest SnO(x) coverage. Increasing the surface coverage of SnO(x) reduces CO oxidation activity and eventually suppresses it altogether. The study suggests that reduced Sn(II)O, rather than Sn(IV)O(2), is responsible for surface CO oxidation. The occurrence of a non-CO oxidation reaction path involving reduced Sn(II)O species at higher SnO(x) coverages accounts for the decreased CO oxidation activity. From these results, we conclude that the efficacy of CO oxidation is strongly dependent on the availability of reduced tin oxide sites at the Pt-SnO(x) interface, as well as unique chemical properties of the SnO(x) nanoparticles.     

A novel precursor system and its application to produce tin doped indium oxide

A new type of precursor has been developed by molecular design and synthesised to produce tin doped indium oxide (ITO). The precursor consists of a newly developed bimetallic indium tin alkoxide, Me(2)In(O(t)Bu)(3)Sn (Me = CH(3), O(t)Bu = OC(CH(3))(3)), which is in equilibrium with an excess of Me(2)In(O(t)Bu). This quasi single-source precursor is applied in a sol-gel process to produce powders and coatings of ITO using a one-step heat treatment process under an inert atmosphere. The main advantage of this system is the simple heat treatment that leads to the disproportionation of the bivalent Sn(II) precursor into Sn(IV) and metallic tin, resulting in an overall reduced state of the metal in the final tin doped indium oxide (ITO) material, hence avoiding the usually necessary reduction step. Solid state (119)Sn-NMR measurements of powder samples confirm the appearance of Sn(II) in an amorphous gel state and of metallic tin after annealing under nitrogen. The corresponding preparation of ITO coatings by spin coating on glass leads to transparent conductive layers with a high transmittance of visible light and a low electrical resistivity without the necessity of a reduction step.     

Synthesis of organically templated nanoporous Tin(II/IV) phosphate for radionuclide and metal sequestration

Nanoporous tin(II/IV) phosphate materials, with spherical morphology, have been synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium chloride [CH3(CH2)15N(CH3)3Cl] as the surfactant. The structure of the material is stable at 500 degrees C; however, partial oxidation of the material occurs with redox conversion of Sn2+ to Sn4+, resulting in a mixed Sn(II)/Sn(IV) material. Preliminary batch contact studies were conducted to assess the effectiveness of nanoporous tin phosphate, NP-SnPO, in sequestering redox-sensitive metals and radionuclides, technetium(VII), neptunium(V), thorium(IV), and a toxic metal, chromium(VI), from aqueous matrixes. Results indicate that tin(II) phosphate removed >95% of all contaminants investigated from solution.     

Radiochemical investigation of the electron exchange reaction between tin(II) and tin(IV) in hydrochloric acid solutions

This paper is concerned with the study of isotope exchange reaction between Sn(II) and Sn(IV) in hydrochloric acid solutions. The kinetics of the exchange reaction of tin in these solutions were studied by extraction of Sn(IV)-hydroxyquinolate into chloroform.¹¹³Sn tracer, initially in the Sn(IV) state, was used. The rate of exchange reaction was determined at 22°C in a wide range of hydrochloric acid concentrations (2.8–12M). The dependence of the exchange rate on the concentration of chloride and hydrogen ions in these solutions (ionic strength: I∼8 and I∼12) are given. The activation energy dependence on chloride ion concentration at I∼12 was determined. The possible mechanism of the exchange reaction between tin(II) and tin(IV) is discussed on the basis of these data.     

Lead-selective electrodes based on lead(IV) oxide

Lead(IV) oxide electrodes are shown to give near-theoretical calibration slopes for lead(II) ions over the range 10^?3–10^?5 mol l^?1, and to have near-theoretical standard potentials in different acidic media. They are compared with lead sulphide-silver sulphide membrane electrodes and shown to be more tolerant of acidity and copper(II), mercury(II) and iron(III) ions. Iron(II) and manganese(II), however, interfere significantly. Some of the advantages of the lead(IV) oxide electrode are brought out in the determination of the solubility product of lead sulphate; implications for constructing phosphate- and sulphate-sensitive electrodes are mentioned.     

Electrochemical behaviour of tin in alkaline electrolyte

The electrochemical behaviour of two types of tin electrodes, Sn rod and electrodeposited Sn is investigated in 0.1 M KOH_aq in order to evaluate processes related to anodic Sn dissolution. Potential regions of formation of soluble Sn(II) and Sn(IV) are identified by means of a rotating ring disk electrode. An anodic reactivation peak observed for cathodic potential scans for partially passivated electrodes is accompanied by formation of soluble Sn(II) species and a minimum in the imaginary part of the impedance. This confirms that the reactivation peak is due to active dissolution of metallic Sn exposed to the electrolyte during rupture of the oxidised layer.     

Electron Transfer Studies of TIN(IV)/TIN(II) in Acid Media

Abstract

Cyclic voltammaetry of mixed tin(II)/tin(IV) solutions was investigated in 6M HCl on gold and mercury electrodes. It was found that the reduction of tin(II) to tin(iv) proceeded irreversibly while tin(II) to tin(IV) was reversible. Two forms of tin(IV) are postulated. The peak potential for the reduction of tin(IV) was a function of both tin(II) and tin(IV) while that for the oxidation of tin(II) was a function only of tin(II) concentration Potentials for all oxidations and reductions were a function of potential scan rate.     

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of tin in the presence of noble metals

A voltammetric method for the determination of tin is proposed to minimise interferences from noble metals that are commonly encountered with other analytical techniques. Strong distortions of voltammetric peaks are observed in the presence of platinum. On the basis of a full investigation, the formation of an intermediate Sn(II)–Pt mixed chloro-complex at the electrode surface is identified as being responsible for the platinum interference, as it competes with the normal Sn(IV)→Sn(0)_Hg reduction. The use of a higher scan rate prevents the relatively low reaction kinetics and thus gets rid of this interference. No problems are encountered with other noble metals such as Pd, Ir, Re, Rh and Ru when using the modified method, although a baseline subtraction is necessary for the latter one. The proposed method is validated with real Pt–Sn catalysts.     

Surface oxidation of tin chalcogenide nanocrystals revealed by 119Sn-Mössbauer spectroscopy

Narrow band gap tin(II) chalcogenide (SnS, SnSe, SnTe) nanocrystals are of high interest for optoelectronic applications such as thin film solar cells or photodetectors. However, charge transfer and charge transport processes strongly depend on nanocrystals' surface quality. Using (119)Sn-M?ssbauer spectroscopy, which is the most sensitive tool for probing the Sn oxidation state, we show that SnS nanocrystals exhibit a Sn((IV))/Sn((II)) ratio of around 20:80 before and 40:60 after five minutes exposure to air. Regardless of the tin or sulfur precursors used, similar results are obtained using six different synthesis protocols. The Sn((IV)) content before air exposure arises from surface related SnS(2) and Sn(2)S(3) species as well as from surface Sn atoms bound to oleic acid ligands. The increase of the Sn((IV)) content upon air exposure results from surface oxidation. Full oxidation of the SnS nanocrystals without size change is achieved by annealing at 500 °C in air. With the goal to prevent surface oxidation, SnS nanocrystals are capped with a cadmium-phosphonate complex. A broad photoluminescence signal centered at 600 nm indicates successful capping, which however does not reduce the air sensitivity. Finally we demonstrate that SnSe nanocrystals exhibit a very similar behavior with a Sn((IV))/Sn((II)) ratio of 43:57 after air exposure. In the case of SnTe nanocrystals, the ratio of 55:45 is evidence of a more pronounced tendency for oxidation. These results demonstrate that prior to their use in optoelectronics further surface engineering of tin chalcogenide nanocrystals is required, which otherwise have to be stored and processed under inert atmosphere.