Ex situ and in situ characterization of stress corrosion cracking of nickel-base alloys at high temperature

Recent ex situ and in situ characterization of the major factors influencing primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) and outside diameter stress corrosion cracking (ODSCC) of nickel-base alloys of Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 as the structural materials in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) was introduced to understand cracking mechanisms. In the primary water environment of PWRs, the effect of stress on PWSCC was analyzed using the in situ direct-current potential drop method combined with electrochemical noise measurement. The compositional and microstructural changes around a crack tip including the oxide film formed during crack propagation were evaluated by using ex situ microscopic methods with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The equivalent local strain was also evaluated by using the electron backscatter diffraction method as ex situ technique. With the aid of ex situ and in situ characterization, it was proposed that the intergranular precipitation of Cr oxides ahead of the crack tip by O penetration along the grain boundary that make the “oxidized grain boundary” can significantly increase the susceptibility to PWSCC propagation of the alloys. In the secondary water environment of PWRs, the properties of oxide film formed on the surface of the alloys were characterized as a function of the Pb content as impurity by using in situ methods of potentiodynamic polarization measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and ex situ techniques of EDS and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. From these ex situ and in situ characterizations, the degradation model of the passivity of the surface oxide film by Pb incorporation was proposed to understand the ODSCC mechanism.     

Hydrophilic modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer

The hydrophilicity of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was first improved by in situ polymerization of polar monomer in PVDF solution. Methyl methacrylate was adopted as the reaction monomer, and the polymerization occurred in a solution of PVDF in N,N-dimethylformamide. PVDF/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend was obtained after in situ polymerization. The relative hydrophilicity of the in situ blend was characterized by contact angle measurement. At the same time, the hydrophilicity of the PVDF/PMMA blends prepared by solution blending was compared with that of the in situ blend. The contact angle measurements indicated that in situ polymerization has a stronger modifying effect on the hydrophilicity of PVDF than solution blending.     

Optimized preparation of in situ forming microparticles for the parenteral delivery of vinpocetine

A spherical symmetric design-response surface methodology was applied to optimize the preparation of vinpocetine-loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) PLGA in situ forming microparticles (ISM system). The influence of the ratio of PLGA to vinpocetine (w/w), the concentration of Tween 80 (w/v) and the volume of propylene glycol on the burst release, medium particle diameter and size distribution was evaluated. Scan electron microscopy of the optimized in situ microparticles exhibited spherical shape, and vinpocetine-loading mainly inside the microparticles. The data showed that the release of vinpocetine from in situ microparticles in vitro and in vivo lasted about 40 d. In vivo pharmacokinetic characteristics of the optimized in situ microparticles was assessed after they were intramuscularly injected into rats. HPLC method was used to determine the plasma concentration of vinpocetine. The absolute bioavailability of vinpocetine in the microparticles was 27.6% in rats, which suggested that PLGA in situ microparticles were a valuable system for the delivery of vinpocetine.     

In situ study of the deposition of (ultra)thin organic phosphonic acid layers on the oxide of aluminum

The interest in self-assembling monolayer deposition on various oxide substrate surfaces is steeply increasing in the last decades. Although many studies are being performed, literature does not come with a general insight in the adsorption of these layers on oxide surfaces. Also for the deposition of phosphonic acids on aluminum oxides, there is no global consensus. In this paper, we present an original in situ analysis in order to eludicate the real layer formation mechanism. First of all, the state of the phosphonic acid molecules was determined using DOSY NMR, making sure that no structures other than free molecules were present at the concentration used. With in situ atomic force microscopy and in situ visual ellipsometry, multilayers of phosphonic acids, showing 3D island growth, were determined. It was shown that using the variation of the in situ obtained roughness and bearing ratio, together with the equivalent thickness modeled by ellipsometry, the growth of the layers occurs in situ in three different stages. They consist of increasing number of islands growth, followed by filling up the gaps between islands. At last, within the adsorption time frame measured, the islands grow further in dimensions but not in numbers. This closely corresponds with the behavior of the octylphosphonic acid films analyzed by ex situ techniques.     

Comparative study of MoS2 and Co/MoS2 catalysts prepared by ex situ/in situ activation of ammonium and tetraalkylammonium thiomolybdates

Ex situ and in situ decompositions of ammonium and tetraalkylammonium thiomolybdates were used to synthesize unsupported MoS₂ and CoMo catalysts. The ex situ activation was performed under a H₂S/H₂ flow whereas the in situ activation consists in decomposing the thiosalt precursors in the presence of a hydrocarbon solvent during the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene (DBT). Particular attention was devoted to the use of carbon-containing precursors and to the synergetic effect of cobalt. Ammonium thiomolybdate (ATM), tetramethylammonium thiomolybdate (TMATM), and tetrapropylammonium thiomolybdate (TPATM) and their cobalt-promoted counterparts were studied. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area measurements (BET, BJH). Catalysts were evaluated for the HDS of DBT. The in situ method of preparation allows to obtain catalysts with larger superficial areas than those obtained with the ex situ method. The cobalt synergetic effect depends both on the method of activation and the presence of carbon in the precursor. For in situ activated catalysts, the promotional effect of cobalt is well-observed if carbon is present in the precursor while an opposite effect is shown for ex situ activated catalysts.     

Preparation and evaluation of lauryl methacrylate monoliths with embedded silver nanoparticles for capillary electrochromatography

In this article, capillary columns constituted by lauryl methacrylate monoliths with embedded silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were developed and tested. Two incorporation approaches of AgNPs in monoliths were explored. The AgNPs were either photogenerated in situ during polymerization of the monolith by UV irradiation, or incorporated to the polymerization mixture (ex situ). The influence of the AgNP concentration on the morphological and chromatographic properties of the polymer matrix was investigated, and both the in situ and ex situ approaches were comparatively discussed. The morphology of the monoliths was characterized by electron microscopic techniques, and their electrochromatographic performance was also evaluated with test mixtures of neutral compounds (sterols, fatty acid methyl esters, tocopherols, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons).     

Immobilization of proteins on carboxylic acid functionalized nanopatterns

The immobilization of proteins on nanopatterned surfaces was investigated using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ex situ infrared reflectance–absorption spectroscopy (IRAS). The AFM-based lithography technique of nanografting provided control of the size, geometry, and spatial placement of nanopatterns within self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). Square nanopatterns of carboxylate-terminated SAMs were inscribed within methyl-terminated octadecanethiolate SAMs and activated using carbodiimide/succinimide coupling chemistry. Staphylococcal protein A was immobilized on the activated nanopatterns before exposure to rabbit immunoglobulin G. In situ AFM was used to monitor changes in the topography and friction of the nanopatterns in solution upon protein immobilization. Complementary studies with ex situ IRAS confirmed the surface chemistry that occurred during the steps of SAM activation and subsequent protein immobilization on unpatterned samples. Since carbodiimide/succinimide coupling chemistry can be used for surface attachment of different biomolecules, this protocol shows promise for development of other aqueous-based studies for nanopatterned protein immobilization.     

Al2O3上羰基硫常温催化水解的氧中毒机理

利用原位漫反射傅立叶变换红外光谱、X光衍射、BET、离子色谱(IC)等手段, 对Al2O3常温催化水解羰基硫(OCS)的氧中毒机理进行了研究. 实验表明, 表面—OH在OCS的催化水解反应中起关键作用, 表面HSCO-2物种是OCS催化水解反应的中间体. 有氧条件下, 利用原位红外光谱和离子色谱检测到了催化剂表面SO2-4的生成. SO2-4在催化剂表面积累是Al2O3上OCS常温催化水解氧中毒的主要原因.<     

A Comparative Study of the Modification of Gold and Glassy Carbon Surfaces with Mixed Layers of In Situ Generated Aryl Diazonium Compounds

In situ generated aryl diazonium cations were synthesized in the electrochemical cell by reaction of the corresponding amines with NaNO₂ in aqueous HCl. This paper reports a study of the formation of mixed layers from in situ generated aryl diazonium cations. Firstly, glassy carbon (GC) and gold electrode surfaces were modified with five single in situ generated aryl diazonium salts to obtain their corresponding reductive potential followed by the modification of GC and gold surfaces with eight binary mixed layers of in situ generated aryl diazonium salts. The difference between GC and gold surfaces in terms of in situ formation of two‐component aryl diazonium salt films was compared. The behavior of the mixed layers formed from in situ generated aryl diazonium salts relative to diazonium salts that were pre‐synthesized prior to surface modification was also investigated. Cyclic voltammetry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the resulting modified GC and gold surfaces. It is found that for some aryl diazonium salts the potential at which reductive adsorption is achieved on gold and GC surfaces is significantly different. For the eight sets of binary mixed layers, the species with more anodic potential are more difficult to attach to the both GC and gold surfaces. The behavior of the mixed layers formed from in situ generated aryl diazonium salts and the pre‐synthesized diazonium salts is similar; which emphasizes the advantage of the in situ approach without any apparent difference in behavior to the presynthesized diazonium salts.     

The ionic conductivity and catalyst activity effects of acetonitrile on proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The effect of trace levels of acetonitrile, an airborne pollutant, on proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) membrane/electrode assemblies (MEAs) was investigated in situ and ex situ using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and polarization with a fuel cell and a membrane conductivity cell. In situ test results indicate that acetonitrile depresses electrode activity and decreases MEA ionic conductivity. Ex situ tests demonstrate that acetonitrile does not affect the membrane ionic conductivity, indicating the role for an acetonitrile reduction product (ammonium cation).     

In situ silica reinforcement of natural rubber by sol–gel process via rubber solution

The in situ silica filling of natural rubber (NR) was carried out via the sol–gel reaction using tetraethoxysilane. The effect of the in situ silica content on the curing, mechanical, dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of the composite vulcanizate materials was investigated in comparison to that with a commercial silica preparation. The Mooney viscosity of the in situ silica filled NR vulcanizates showed a lower value compared with that of the commercial filled ones. The mechanical properties of the in situ silica composite materials, i.e., the moduli and compression set, were improved compared with the commercial silica filler NR vulcanizates. The reinforcement effect of in situ silica did not accord with the Smallwood equation but in contrast was in good agreement with the Guth and Gold equation using a shape factor (f) which itself was in close agreement with estimates derived from independent TEM analysis. The pseudo-network structure of the in situ silica was low, which resulted in a lower storage modulus at 25 °C. By filling NR with in situ silica, the thermal properties of the composite vulcanized material were also improved, and well dispersed in situ silica particles within the NR matrix were also observed.     

电致初生态氧化剂的化学发光行为研究及其分析应用

基于一种新型流通电解池的设计,结合恒电流电解技术与流动注射技术,使电生于电极表面附近的溴具有初生态的化学发光反应活性。它可直接氧化异烟肼而产生强度高、反应速度快的化学发光现象,据此建立了测定异烟肼的电化学发光新方法,同时,提出一种研究、探索初生态试剂化学发光分析的新思想和新方法。     

Preparation of high performance nanocomposite elastomer: effect of reaction conditions on in situ silica generation of high content in natural rubber

Effect of amines on an in situ silica generation in natural rubber was investigated, and n-hexylamine, n-heptylamine and n-octylamine were found to increase the in situ silica content. The nanometer sized silica particles up to ca. 80 parts per hundred rubber by weight were generated in situ in the rubber matrix via a sol–gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane. Additionally, dispersion of the silica in the rubbery matrix was more homogeneous than that of commercial silica dispersed by a conventional mechanical mixing. In this in situ silica generation, the polarity and solubility in water of amine were influential factors for controlling the in situ silica content in the rubbery matrix. The obtained high in situ silica filled natural rubber was useful to prepare high performance nanocomposite elastomers.     

普鲁士蓝膜修饰铂电极的现场拉曼光谱电化学表征(英文)

采用现场拉曼光谱电化学技术表征了普鲁士蓝膜修饰铂电极的循环伏安过程 .结果显示 ,随着修饰膜的微观结构由普鲁士蓝向普鲁士白或相反过程转化 ,表征两种不同结构的拉曼特征振动谱峰及其强度变化呈现出明显的可逆特征 .     

Polymeric stabilization of hybrid nanocomposites: a comparison between in situ and ex situ-grown CuInS2 in poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer

CuInS₂ (CIS) particles were directly synthesized in P3HT matrix with different concentrations ratio of P3HT and CIS (1:2, 1:4, and 1:8) by decomposition of copper indium xanthate (CIX). Here, copper indium xanthate and P3HT were mixed homogeneously in o-dichlorobenzene (DCB), which induced the formation of the CIS nanoparticles by the thermal decomposition of the precursor compound in situ at temperatures as low as 110 °C. The effects of the precursor concentration on the size of the CIS nanoparticles was studied by microstructure investigations (TEM, AFM, XRD) and UV–vis measurements show that these CIS composites possess a direct bandgap energy higher than 1.45 eV depending on the concentration of P3HT. PL quenching of P3HT polymer (i.e., higher accessible fraction of fluorophores) was found to be more for in situ rather than ex situ conditions for comparable CIX concentrations or particle size. This can be attributed to the fact that in in situ synthesis, P3HT act as surface directing template for CIS nanoparticles which is not so in the case of ex situ synthesis. Due to this, the polymeric stabilization of the CIS nanocomposites is better realized for in situ synthesis as compared to ex situ synthesis.     

Combined study of X-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy on a surface-grafted phospholipid monolayer on a solid

We investigated the detailed structure of a surface-grafted phospholipid monolayer, which was polymerized in situ onto a methacryloyl-silanized solid surface. By the combined study of X-ray reflectivity and atomic force microscopy, the in situ polymerization step of the lipid molecules are sufficiently detailed to reveal the molecular structure of lipid molecules before and after in situ polymerization. From the data of the X-ray reflectivity, we confirmed that the in situ polymerization process produces a flat lipid monolayer structure and that the lipid monolayer is substantially grafted on a silanized surface by chemical bonding. After the polymerization and washing processes, the thickness of the head group was 9 angstroms and the thickness of the tail group was 21 angstroms. The surface morphology of the polymerized phospholipid monolayer obtained by the measurements of atomic force microscopy was consistent with the results of the X-ray reflectivity. The cross-sectional analysis shows that the surface coverage of lipid molecules, which are chemically grafted onto a silanized surface, is approximately 89%.     

In Situ Formation of Particulate Silica in Natural Rubber Matrix by the Sol-Gel Reaction

The sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane was conducted in natural rubber (NR) matrix to obtain NR/in situ silica mixtures. In other words, in situ filling of silica onto NR was conducted. The mixtures were compounded with curing regents, and their viscosities were evaluated. The in situ silica with a coupling agent afforded the lowest viscosity compared not only with a conventional silica (VN-3) but also with a carbon black (HAF). The curing behaviors were most favorable for in situ silica compound. Physical properties of the vulcanizates were also evaluated, and again in situ silica stock gave the best result.     

Fe analysis by the ferrozine method: Adaptation to FIA towards in situ analysis in hydrothermal environment

The target of this study is the adaptation of the ferrozine method to flow injection analysis (FIA) to perform iron analysis in situ using an in situ chemical analyser in hydrothermal environments. The adaptation of the method to FIA was followed by its optimisation using an experimental design screening method. The goals of the optimisation steps were to decrease the detection limit and to increase the measuring range to cope with the constraints of in situ analysis. The method allows the determination of iron in the mixing zone of hydrothermal fluid, enriched in iron, and seawater. A single manifold gives the possibility to analyse either Fe(II) or ΣFe [Fe(II) + Fe(III)] in situ, or ΣFe in the lab on hydrothermal seawater samples. The measuring range of the method was increased to up to 2000 μM, which is coherent with the study of the chemical environment of communities associated with deep-sea hydrothermal activity. Finally, the method was applied in situ using the chemical analyser Alchimist during the ATOS cruise on hydrothermal vent fields on the Mid Atlantic Ridge.     

In situ ultrasonic measurements: a powerful tool to control the synthesis of zeolites from coal fly ash

An in situ ultrasonic diagnostic technique was applied to monitoring the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite A and X of clear solution extracted from alkaline fused class F coal fly ash. In this context, kinetic evaluations based on in situ ultrasonic diagnostic data displayed an important approach to study the synthesis process. The impact on nucleation and crystal growth was demonstrated by variation of a few relevant parameters such as reaction temperature, amount of water, Na₂O and ageing time, including templated colloidal synthesis mixtures as model solution. To complement the kinetic analysis, ex situ techniques such as ICP, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used to investigate liquid phase and reaction products extracted from the reaction mixture during the synthesis.     

In situ study of the conductivity of the electrochemically deposited polyaniline film using a dual-disk microelectrode

A conductivity equation based on the dual-disk microelectrode was derived. This electrode was used for in situ measurement of the conductivity of polyaniline. Some factors such as electrochemical potential, solution pH, scan rate and over-oxidation, which influence the conductivity of polyaniline, were conveniently controlled by this electrode. Experimental results proved that this electrode is very useful for measuring the relative conductivity in situ and studying the conducting mechanism of conductive polymers.