A study of atom-atom and atom-molecule interactions in the resonance extraction of sodium atoms

The formation of Na(n²L) and Na₂(A¹?_u⁺, B¹Π_u) in sodium vapour(≈10¹⁴–10¹⁵ cm^?3) irradiated by a cw dye laser tuned to the D lines has been studied. The density of excited atoms was determined by measurements of the realtive absorption of 3²P-3²D transitions. These, together with measurements of Na and Na₂ fluorescence intensities, yield rate constants for formation of Na(n²L) and Na₂(A¹?_u⁺, B¹Π_u). The experimental evidence indicates a negligible role for the photorecombination process Na(3²P) + Na(3²S) in populating A¹?_u⁺ and B¹Π_u molecular states. A new stepwise process is proposed to account for excitation to the molecular diffuse band (420–450 nm).     

Production of solvated electrons,ion-paris and alkali metal anions in tetrahydrofuran studied by pulse radiolysis

Pulse radiolysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) and solutions of NaAIH₄ in THF shows the formation of solvated electrons (e^?_s), their conversion to Na⁺-e^?_s) ion-pairs and ultimately the alkali metal anion (Na^?).     

Determination of sodium ion diffusion coefficients in sodium vanadium phosphate

Carbon-coated Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃ (NVP) was prepared by a standard sol–gel procedure. The apparent diffusion coefficients of sodium ions in the rhombohedral NVP have been determined by different techniques such as galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was found that the apparent diffusion coefficients range from 6?×?10^?13 cm² s^?1 to 2?×?10^?15 cm² s^-1. These sodium ion apparent diffusion coefficients follow a similar trend as observed for lithium ions in the closely related monoclinic modification of Li₃V₂(PO₄)₃, demonstrating a minimum at the potential where the ion extraction/insertion occurs.     

Stabilization of the Pentazolate Anion in a Zeolitic Architecture with Na20N60 and Na24N60 Nanocages

The experimental detection and synthesis of pentazole (HN₅) and its anion (cyclo‐N₅^?) have been actively pursued for the past hundred years. The synthesis of an aesthetic three‐dimensional metal–pentazolate framework (denoted as MPF‐1) is presented. It consists of sodium ions and cyclo‐N₅^? anions in which the isolated cyclo‐N₅^? anions are preternaturally stabilized in this inorganic open framework featuring two types of nanocages (Na₂₀N₆₀ and Na₂₄N₆₀) through strong metal coordination bonds. The compound MPF‐1 is indefinitely stable at room temperature and exhibits high thermal stability relative to the reported cyclo‐N₅^? salts. This finding offers a new approach to create metal–pentazolate frameworks (MPFs) and enables the future exploration of interesting pentazole chemistry and also related functional materials.     

Structural parameters of the ground states of the quasi‐stable diatomic anions CO−, BF−, and BCl− as obtained by conventional Ab Initio methods

The experimental electron affinity (EA) of CO(X¹Σ⁺) is ?1.5 eV, signifying the metastability of the CO^?(X²Π) anion. The electronic structure and bonding of CO^?, BF^?, and BCl^? vis‐à‐vis their neutral counterparts have been studied by conventional coupled‐cluster (CCSD(T)) and multireference (MRCI) methods. Our results are in agreement with experiment for the CO/CO^? system, indicating as well the metastable nature of the BF^?(X²Π) and BCl^?(X²Π) anions, their MRCI EAs being ?0.8 ± 0.1 and ?0.3 ± 0.1 eV, respectively. Our work clearly shows the usefulness of stationary state ab initio methods to the elucidation of metastable species. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cross section for the photochemical formation of the NaZn (22Π) excimer

We studied the conditions for the photochemical formation of the NaZn excimer in the excited 2²Π state using Na₂(2¹Π _u )+Zn→NaZn(2²Π)+Na reaction. The Na-Zn vapor mixture was prepared in the heat-pipe oven with the well defined column density and temperature. The Na and Zn atom densities in the vapor mixture were controlled by the preparation of the alloy with different mole fraction ratios of the relevant components in the solid phase. The Na densities were determined from the total absorption coefficient at Na₂ X-B and X-A bands. The cross section for photochemical formation of the NaZn in the 2²Π state is estimated to be 17·10^?16 cm² for the laser excitation at 308 nm, measured relative to the cross section of 470·10^?16 cm² for collisional energy transfer Na₂(2¹Π _u )+Na→Na₂(2³Π _g )+Na published by Mehdizadeh et al. [2].     

Ground and first excited states of fractionally charged sodium atoms

The energy levels in sodium atoms with quarks attached to the nucleus are obtained using the configuration interaction method. It is found that the calculated 3p (²P) → 3s (²S) electronic transition in the Na^?1/3 quark–atom system is in agreement with that predicted by extrapolation of experimental data. Also, ionization potentials of fractionally charged sodium atoms are discussed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Solvent extraction of cesium into nitrobenzene by using sodium,potassium and rubidium dicarbollylcobaltates in the presence of polypropylene glycol PPG 425

Extraction of microamounts of cesium by nitrobenzene solutions of sodium dicarbollylcobaltate (Na⁺B^?), potassium dicarbollylcobaltate (K⁺B^?) and rubidium dicarbollylcobaltate (Rb⁺B^?) in the presence of polypropylene glycol PPG 425 (L) has been investigated. The equilibrium data have been explained assuming that the complex species ML⁺ (M⁺ = Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺; L = PPG 425) are present in the organic phase. The stability constants of the cationic complex species ML⁺ (M⁺ = Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺) in nitrobenzene saturated with water have been determined; they were found to increase in the series of Rb⁺ < K⁺ < Na⁺.     

High-performance all-solid-state electrolyte for sodium batteries enabled by the interaction between the anion in salt and Na3SbS4

All-solid-state sodium batteries with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolytes have shown great promise for large-scale energy storage applications. However, the reported PEO-based electrolytes still suffer from a low Na⁺ transference number and poor ionic conductivity, which mainly result from the simultaneous migration of Na⁺ and anions, the high crystallinity of PEO, and the low concentration of free Na⁺. Here, we report a high-performance PEO-based all-solid-state electrolyte for sodium batteries by introducing Na₃SbS₄ to interact with the TFSI⁻ anion in the salt and decrease the crystallinity of PEO. The optimal PEO/NaTFSI/Na₃SbS₄ electrolyte exhibits a remarkably enhanced Na⁺ transference number (0.49) and a high ionic conductivity of 1.33 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at 45 °C. Moreover, we found that the electrolyte can largely alleviate Na⁺ depletion near the electrode surface in symmetric cells and, thus, contributes to stable and dendrite-free Na plating/stripping for 500 h. Furthermore, all-solid-state Na batteries with a 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride cathode exhibit a high capacity retention of 84% after 200 cycles and superior rate performance (up to 10C). Our work develops an effective way to realize a high-performance all-solid-state electrolyte for sodium batteries.

A high-performance all-solid-state PEO/NaTFSI/Na₃SbS₄ electrolyte for sodium batteries is realized owing to the electrostatic interaction between TFSI⁻ in the salt and Na₃SbS₄, which immobilizes TFSI⁻ anions and promotes the dissociation of NaTFSI.     

Determination of the atomic charge on sodium in sodium salts by numerical integration — a theoretical investigation

The electron density difference in a NaSCN crystal is set up from the ab initio densities of Na⁺ and SCN^? ions and compared to the experimental counterpart based on X-ray diffraction measurements. Numerical integration over the electron density difference is executed around the Na⁺ ion. The atomic charge (+0.20e) derived in this way is in good agreement with the analogous experimental charge (+0.27e) The low experimental value cannot therefore be taken as an indication for a predominantly non-ionic structure of NaSCN and similar sodium salts     

Electronic assignments of the violet bands of sodium

The puzzling violet bands of sodium ( ≈ 425-460 nm), known since 1932, are shown conclusively to arise from the superposition of two distinct continuum emission bands - one singlet (2 ¹Σ⁺_u → X ¹Σ⁺_g) and one triplet (primarily 2 ³Π_g → 1 ³Π_u⁺). Each continuum emission system shows complex interference structure arising from multiple branches of the Mulliken difference potential.     

Theoretical study of the formation of acetylene from two CH fragments

The interaction between two CH radicals to form C₂H₂ is studied theoretically. The fragments are treated by MO theory but the interaction between them is described by VB theory. Thus reveals a sudden change in spin coupling at R_CC≈ 6 au from that characteristic of CH(²Π)-CH(²Π) to CH(⁴Σ^?)-CH(⁴Σ^?) and this is associated with a barrier in the potential energy surface≈ 0.33 eV in height.     

Bis(pyrene)metal complexes of vanadium,niobium and titanium: isolable homoleptic pyrene complexes of transition metals

Reduction of VCl₃(THF)₃ (THF is tetrahydrofuran) and NbCl₄(THF)₂ by alkali metal pyrene radical anion salts in THF affords the paramagnetic sandwich complexes bis[(1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η)‐pyrene]vanadium(0), [V(C₁₆H₁₀)₂], and bis[(1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η)‐pyrene]niobium(0), [Nb(C₁₆H₁₀)₂]. Treatment of tris(naphthalene)titanate(2−) with pyrene provides the isoelectronic titanium species, isolated as an (18‐crown‐6)potassium salt, namely catena‐poly[[(18‐crown‐6)potassium]‐μ‐[(1,2‐η:1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η)‐pyrene]‐titanate(−I)‐μ‐[(1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η:6,7‐η)‐pyrene]], {[K(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)][Ti(C₁₆H₁₀)₂]}_n. The first two compounds have very similar packing, with neighboring molecules arranged orthogonally to one another, such that aromatic donor–acceptor interactions are likely responsible for the specific arrangement. The asymmetric unit contains a half‐occupancy metal center η⁶‐coordinated to one pyrene ligand, with the full M(pyrene)₂ molecule generated by a crystallographic inversion center. In the titanium compound, the cations and anions are in alternating contact throughout the crystal structure, in one‐dimensional chains along the [101] direction. As in the other two compounds, the asymmetric unit contains a half‐occupancy Ti atom η⁶‐coordinated to one pyrene ligand. Additionally, the asymmetric unit contains one half of an (18‐crown‐6)potassium cation, located on a crystallographic inversion center coincident with the K atom. The full formula units are generated by those inversion centers. In all three structures, the pyrene ligands are eclipsed and sandwich the metals in one of two inversion‐related sites. These species are of interest as the first isolable homoleptic pyrene transition metal complexes to be described in the scientific literature.     

On‐site sampling of inorganic contamination on the metal surface and analysis with capillary electrophoresis

Pipes are the primary structural elements used for transporting fluid in various industries. The most common damage mechanism is corrosion, which occurs in pipes surface of turbine. The corrosive compounds for pipes are inorganic ion (Na⁺, Cl^?, NH₄⁺, NO₃^?, etc.) and grinding oil. For rapid and quantitative detection of inorganic ions on site, more reliable and reproducible analytical methods are demanded. A highly efficient solid–liquid sampling collection system is introduced in this work. Papering on the sample surface, inorganic cations and anions were simultaneously collected and analyzed by capillary electrophoresis with indirect ultraviolet detection. As a result, five cations (Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) and three anions (Cl^?, NO₃^?, SO₄^2?) were completely separated. The efficiency of the sampling and ability of capillary electrophoresis analysis were presented by the determination of trace‐level (mg/m²) contaminants. The recoveries of cations and anions on the paper from metal surface were between 86.6 and 107.2%, and the relative standard deviations were less than 12.85%.     

Realizing Complete Solid‐Solution Reaction in High Sodium Content P2‐Type Cathode for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Batteries

P2‐type layered oxides suffer from an ordered Na⁺/vacancy arrangement and P2→O2/OP4 phase transitions, leading them to exhibit multiple voltage plateaus upon Na⁺ extraction/insertion. The deficient sodium in the P2‐type cathode easily induces the bad structural stability at deep desodiation states and limited reversible capacity during Na⁺ de/insertion. These drawbacks cause poor rate capability and fast capacity decay in most P2‐type layered oxides. To address these challenges, a novel high sodium content (0.85) and plateau‐free P2‐type cathode‐Na_0.85Li_0.12Ni_0.22Mn_0.66O₂ (P2‐NLNMO) was developed. The complete solid‐solution reaction over a wide voltage range ensures both fast Na⁺ mobility (10^?11 to 10^?10 cm² s^?1) and small volume variation (1.7 %). The high sodium content P2‐NLNMO exhibits a higher reversible capacity of 123.4 mA h g^?1, superior rate capability of 79.3 mA h g^?1 at 20 C, and 85.4 % capacity retention after 500 cycles at 5 C. The sufficient Na and complete solid‐solution reaction are critical to realizing high‐performance P2‐type cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries.     

Infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of sodium and potassium chlorate anions

The structures of gas‐phase, metal chlorate anions with the formula [M(ClO₃)₂]^?, M = Na and K, were determined using tandem mass spectrometry and infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy. Structural assignments for both anions are based on comparisons of the experimental vibrational spectra for the two species with those predicted by density functional theory (DFT) and involve conformations that feature either bidentate or tridentate coordination of the cation by chlorate. Our results strongly suggest that a structure in which both chlorate anions are bidentate ligands is preferred for [Na(ClO₃)₂]^?. However, for [K(ClO₃)₂]^? the best agreement between experimental and theoretical spectra is obtained from a composite of predicted spectra for which the chlorate anions are either both bidentate or both tridentate ligands. In general, we find that the overall accuracy of DFT calculations for prediction of IR spectra is dependent on both functional and basis set, with best agreement achieved using frequencies generated at the B3LYP/6‐311+g(3df) level of theory. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The possible resurrection of the Chapman mechanism for atmospheric sodium chemiluminescence and ruminations on NaO reaction dynamics

A critical reappraisal and kinetic modeling is presented of a sodium/N₂O system. The analysis provides a compelling argument that previously reported kinetic decay rates may refer not to the reaction of O with NaO but rather to that of O with Na₂O. The system shows pronounced propensity for a significant portion of the NaO to be quantitatively converted to Na₂O on a time scale commensurate with that of the Na/N₂O titration reaction. The O atom in the system does appear to originate from the photolysis of a residual level of NaO. The observed Na(²P) chemiluminescence, used to track the O atom decay rates, can be consistent with the O + NaO reaction as previously surmised. It is unlikely that the alternate O + Na₂ and O + Na₂O chemiluminescent channels can generate the observed intensity levels. This reanalysis, which provides for the observed first order dependences on N₂O(Na₂O) and O atom concentrations has significant implications for the Chapman atmospheric mechanism of the sodium airglow. Its conclusions resurrect the viability of the original scheme which requires efficient branching of the O + NaO reaction to Na(²P). Recent suggestions invoking the participation of NaO(A²Σ⁺) require the latter to have a metastable nature with respect to its radiative and collisional quenching (N₂, O₂) channels, for which there is no current evidence. An additional evaluation of the rate constant measurements for the fast reactions of NaO with NO or CO indicates that these most probably are kinetically complex and involve longlived transition states. Their rate constants are predicted to have small negative activation energies and pressure dependences. In the case of NaO with CO this may explain its low Na(²P) chemiluminescent efficiency. For the NaO + O reaction, a rate constant of about 4 ×10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1s^?1 is predicted at room temperature. This is similar to that used in earlier atmospheric models. Its magnitude circumvents the consequences of the reaction's large entropy decrease which otherwise implies too large a cross-section for the reverse reaction. A smaller value also is more likely to be consistent with a normal short-lived collisional transition state, which will allow for a more significant Na(²P) quantum efficiency. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stepwise Reduction of Azapentabenzocorannulene

Mono‐ and dianions of 2‐tert‐butyl‐3a²‐azapentabenzo[bc,ef,hi,kl,no]corannulene ( 1 a ) were synthesized by chemical reduction with sodium and cesium metals, and crystallized as the corresponding salts in the presence of 18‐crown‐6 ether. X‐ray diffraction analysis of the sodium salt, [{Na⁺(18‐crown‐6)(THF)₂}₃{Na⁺(18‐crown‐6)(THF)}( 1 a ^2?)₂], revealed the presence of a naked dianion. In contrast, controlled reaction of 1 a with Cs allowed the isolation of singly and doubly reduced forms of 1 a , both forming π‐complexes with cesium ions in the solid state. In [{Cs⁺(18‐crown‐6)}( 1 a ^?)]?THF, asymmetric binding of the Cs⁺ ion to the concave surface of 1 a ^? is observed, whereas in [{Cs⁺(18‐crown‐6)}₂( 1 a ^2?)], two Cs⁺ ions bind to both the concave and convex surfaces of the dianion. The present study provides the first successful isolation and characterization of the reduced products of heteroatom‐containing buckybowl molecules.     

Reactions of [Y(BDI)(I)2(THF)] [BDI = {HC(CMeNAr)2}−, Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl] with Na[M(Cp)(CO)3] (M = Cr,W): X-ray crystal structures of [{Y(BDI)[Cr(Cp)(CO)3]2(THF)}2] and [W(Cp)(CO)3][Na(THF)2]

Reaction of [Y(BDI)(I)₂(THF)] (1) with two equivalents of Na[Cr(Cp)(CO)₃] affords the dimeric complex [{Y(BDI)[Cr(Cp)(CO)₃]₂(THF)}₂] (2). Complex 2 contains two yttrium-BDI units which are each linked by two isocarbonyl bridging [Cr(Cp)(CO)₃]^? anions; a terminal, isocarbonyl bound [Cr(Cp)(CO)₃]^? anion and THF molecule completes the coordination sphere at each yttrium. This results in formation of a centrosymmetric, 12-membered C₄O₄Cr₂Y₂ ring. Forcing conditions were required to produce carbonyl metallate derivatives such as 2, as exemplified by the isolation of crystals of [W(Cp)(CO)₃][Na(THF)₂] (3) from the analogous reaction between 1 and two equivalents of Na[W(Cp)(CO)₃]. Complex 3 loses coordinated THF very easily and all isolated samples exhibit spectra consistent with the known, un-solvated form of Na[W(Cp)(CO)₃]. The crystal structure of 3 shows dimeric sodium units bridged by two THF molecules and one isocarbonyl group. Each sodium centre is further coordinated by one THF molecule and two isocarbonyl ligands. There are two crystallographically distinct [W(Cp)(CO)₃]^? units; one exhibits two bridging isocarbonyl groups and the other exhibits three bridging isocarbonyl groups to different sodium dimer units. This results in a 2-dimensional polymeric sheet network in the solid state. Complex 2 was characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and CHN microanalysis; complex 3 was characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction only.