Half-lanthanidocenes catalysts via the “borohydride/alkyl” route: A simple approach of ligand screening for the controlled polymerization of styrene

The “borohydride/alkyl” (B/A) route initially reported for isoprene has been applied successfully to the polymerization of styrene. This method provides via an in situ approach an interesting tool for the assessment of the influence of a ligand on the performance of half-lanthanidocene catalysts. All systems lead to well-controlled oligomerization/polymerization processes. This method is thus a convenient tool for the controlled polymerization of styrene starting from a common trisborohydride precursor and commercial ligands. The influence of the nature of several ligands on the activity could be established, with trends corresponding to those obtained starting from the isolated precursors: HCpHCp^Ph₃>HCp^*(Cp=C₅H₅,Cp^Ph₃=1,2,4-Ph₃C₅H₂,Cp^*=C₅Me₅). These results suggest an influence of the electron donating ability of the ligand rather than steric requirements.     

Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Environmental Pollutants with Mass-Produced ZnS Nanocrystals

Photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants using nanometersized semiconductor colloids is an emerging area of environmental remediation. The synthesis of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), however, can be costly and result in low product yields. For large-scale photocatalytic application in environmental remediation, cost-effective production of the semiconductor NCs would be ideal. Demonstrated in this report is the efficient photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol (pNP) and Acid Orange 7 (AO7) using ZnS nanocrystals (3 to 5 nm diameter) produced in gram quantities with >50% product yield. The pNP half-life in ZnS nanocrystal photocatalyzed reactions was about 1.95 to 2.45 min, whereas in comparable TiO₂ reactions, the pNP half-lives were in the range of 12 to 15 min. Absorption spectra of the photocatalysis reactions suggested the decolorization of pNP without any noticeable formation of phenolic intermediates, implying a mechanism that involves a pNP ring opening via a radical mediated attack. Likewise, the degradation of AO7 was suggested to occur via an oxidative pathway involving hydroxyl radicals formed at the photocatalyst/liquid interface. Optimum conditions for AO7 degradation such as pH, photocatalyst-to-AO7 ratio, and photocatalyst surface passivation were similar to those for pNP. By demonstrating efficient mineralization of these model pollutants using mass-produced ZnS nanocrystals, we hope to lay the foundations necessary for development of large-scale, field-applicable systems.     

Effects of carbon dioxide in breath gas on proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) measurements

PTR-MS is becoming a common method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human breath. Breath gas contains substantial and, particularly for bag samples, highly variable concentrations of water vapour (up to 6.3%) and carbon dioxide (up to 6.5%). The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of carbon dioxide on PTR-MS measurements; such effects can be expected in view of the already well known effects of water vapour. Carbon dioxide caused an increase of the pressure in the PTR-MS drift tube (1% increase for 5% CO₂), and this effect was used to assess the CO₂ concentration of breath gas samples along the way with the analysis of VOCs. Carbon dioxide enhanced the concentration ratio of protonated water clusters (H₃O⁺H₂O) to protonated water (H₃O⁺) in the drift tube. Using the observed increase, being 60% for 5% CO₂, it is estimated that the mobility of water cluster ions in pure CO₂ is almost 65% lower than in air. Carbon dioxide had a significant effect on the mass spectra of the main breath gas components methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, acetone, and isoprene. Carbon dioxide caused a small increase (<10% for 5% CO₂) of the normalised main signals for the non-fragmenting molecules methanol and acetone. The increase can be much higher for the fragmenting VOCs (ethanol, propanol, and isoprene) and was, for 5% CO₂, up to 60% for ethanol. This effect of CO₂ on fragment patterns is mainly a consequence of the increased abundance of protonated water clusters, which undergo softer reactions with VOCs than the hydronium ions. Breath gas samples stored in Teflon bags lost 80% of CO₂ during 3 days, the decrease of VOC signals, however, is mainly attributed to decreasing VOC concentrations and to the loss of humidity from the bags.     

Electroosmosis through a Cation-Exchange Membrane: Effect of an ac Perturbation on the Electroosmotic Flow

Electroosmosis experiments through a cation-exchange membrane have been performed using NaCl solutions in different experimental situations. The influence of an alternating (ac) sinusoidal perturbation, of known angular frequency and small amplitude, superimposed to the usual applied continuous (dc) signal on the electroosmotic flow has been studied. The experimental results show that the presence of the ac perturbation affects the electroosmotic flow value, depending on the frequency of the ac signal and on the solution stirring conditions. In the frequency range studied, two regions have been observed where the electroosmotic flow reaches a maximum value: one at low frequencies (Hz); and another at frequencies of the order of kHz. These regions could be related to membrane relaxation phenomena.     

Enhanced tungstate electrochromism via formation of transparent conductive networks

Indium tin oxide (ITO) nanopowder was added to a polymer film containing WO₃ · H₂O particles to enhance electron conductivity and complimentary Li ion kinetics in an electrochromic device. Film conductivity increased dramatically with ITO content, suggesting the formation of conductive ITO networks in the film. The improved electron conductivity leads to a substantial increase of the effective Li⁺ ion diffusion coefficient in the composite film, from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁹ cm²/s. Electrochromic contrast studies revealed that the presence of the ITO networks leads to enhanced blue/green color contrast.     

TGA–FTIR study of a lead zirconate titanate gel made from a triol-based sol–gel system

A Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ precursor gel made from a sol prepared using 1,1,1,-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane, lead acetate and zirconium and titanium propoxides, stabilised with acetylacetone, was analysed using TGA–FTIR analysis. Decomposition under nitrogen (N₂) gave rise to evolved gas absorbance peaks at 215 °C, 279 °C, 300 °C and 386 °C, but organic vapours continued to be evolved, along with CO₂ and CO until 950 °C. The final TGA step in N₂ is thought to relate to decomposition of an intermediate carbonate phase and the final elimination of residues of triol or acetylacetonate species which form part of the polymeric gel structure. By contrast, heating in air promoted oxidative pyrolysis of the final organic groups at ≤450 °C. In air, an intermediate carbonate phase was decomposed by heating at 550 °C, allowing Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ to be produced some 400 °C below the equivalent N₂ decomposition temperature.     

Efficient hydrogen peroxide generation from organic matter in a bioelectrochemical system

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is an important industrial chemical, but its current production methods are highly energy-intensive. This study presents a novel process for the production of H₂O₂ based on the bioelectrochemical oxidation of wastewater organics at an anode coupled to the cathodic reduction of oxygen to H₂O₂. At an applied voltage of 0.5 V, this system was capable of producing 1.9 ± 0.2 kg H₂O₂/m³/day from acetate at an overall efficiency of 83.1 ± 4.8%. As most of the required energy was derived from the acetate, the system had a low energy requirement of 0.93 kWh/kg H₂O₂.     

Interaction and photodynamic activity of cationic porphyrin derivatives bearing different patterns of charge distribution with GMP and DNA

The interaction of amphiphilic cationic porphyrins, containing different patterns of meso-substitution by 4-(3-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumpropoxy)phenyl (A) and 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl (B) groups, with guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP) and calf thymus DNA have been studied by optical methods in phosphate buffer solution. The properties of these synthetic porphyrins were compared with those of representative standard of anionic 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-sulphonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS₄⁴⁻) and cationic 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-N,N,N-trimethylammonium phenyl)porphyrin (TMAP⁴⁺). Stable complexes with GMP were found for cationic porphyrins, except for monocationic AB₃⁺. The binding constant (K_GMP  10⁴ M⁻¹) follows the order: A₃B³⁺  ABAB²⁺ > A₄⁴⁺  TMAP⁴⁺. Also, interaction with DNA was observed for all evaluated cationic porphyrins. For these related cationic porphyrins, the binding constant (K_DNA  10⁵ M⁻¹) increases with the number of cationic charges. On the other hand, the photodynamic activity of porphyrins was analyzed in solution of GMP and DNA. Monocationic AB₃⁺ is a less effective sensitizer to oxidize GMP in comparison with the other cationic porphyrins, in agreement with the lack of detected interaction with this nucleotide. The electrophoretic analysis of DNA indicates that photocleavage takes place when the samples are exposed to photoexcited tricationic and tetracationic porphyrins. In the presence of sodium azide the DNA decomposition was diminished. Also, reduction in the DNA photocleavage was observed under anoxic condition, indicating that oxygen is essential for DNA photocleavage sensitized by these cationic porphyrins. In addition, an increase in DNA degradation was not observed in deuteriated water. Therefore, an important contribution of type I photoreaction processes could be occurring in the DNA photodamage sensitized by these cationic porphyrins. These results provide a better understanding of the characteristics needed for sensitizers to produce efficient DNA photocleavage.     

高热稳定性纳米Au/TiO2催化剂的制备与表征

 采用三嵌段共聚物聚乙醚-聚丙醚-聚乙醚EO20PO70EO20 (P123)为有机模板剂合成了介孔TiO2载体,用沉积-沉淀法制得Au/TiO2催化剂. 运用N2 吸附-脱附、 X射线衍射、 X射线光电子能谱和高分辨电镜技术对催化剂的结构与形貌进行了表征. 采用P123模板剂合成的TiO2具有较均匀的介孔结构,孔径集中在6.1 nm附近,负载金后,其介孔结构保持良好,但孔径下降至5.4 nm. 400 ℃焙烧后,介孔TiO2负载的Au催化剂中Au主要以金属态存在. 负载在三种TiO2载体(介孔TiO2、溶胶-凝胶法合成的TiO2和工业TiO2)上的Au晶粒大小和分散度差异较大,其中介孔TiO2载体更有利于金的分散,以该载体制备的催化剂400 ℃焙烧后金的晶粒尺寸在1～5 nm范围内,催化剂显示了很好的CO氧化活性和抗热稳定性,即使在420 ℃焙烧,其室温下CO的转化率也在90%以上. 而溶胶-凝胶法制备的TiO2和工业TiO2负载的纳米金催化剂中,金晶粒尺寸约为10 nm,催化剂的CO氧化活性和抗热稳定性较差.     

Steric effect on construction of Cu(II) complexes with pyridine carboxamide ligands

The structures of three new Cu(II) complexes with pyridine carboxamide ligands (Me₂bpb, 6-Me₂-Mebpb, and 6-Me₂-Me₂bpb) have been determined. 6-Methyl-substituted pyridyl bpb ligands produced dimeric compounds with Cu(II) ions, and weak interactions between dimers can make even polymeric compounds, while bpb ligands without 6-methyl substitution produced monomeric Cu(II) complexes. The large distortion effects of 6-methyl-substitution are shown in Cu(II) complexes with 6-methyl-substituted pyridyl bpb ligands. This result suggests that the steric effect of 6-methyl-substitution plays important role for distortion of the structure, and 6-methyl-substitution can also influence to make polymeric compounds with interactions between Cu(II) ions and neighbor carbonyl oxygen atoms. In addition, the voltammetric behaviors of the Cu complexes were examined and classified into two groups, with/without 6-methyl group. The complexes without 6-methyl group show reversible redox waves at −1.6 V, and the complexes with 6-methyl group do irreversible redox ones at −1.3 V, indicating that the presence of the methyl group of 6-position of the complex makes the reduction of the complexes easier.     

Fabrication and superhydrophobicity of fluorinated titanium dioxide nanocoatings

This study demonstrates the fabrication of a stable superhydrophobic surface with low contact angle hysteresis (CAH) using an arrangement of nanoscale TiO₂ spheres. The control of precursor quantity is selected as the key factor in determining surface roughness that significantly intensifies water contact angle (CA) of TiO₂ films. After surface fluorination treatment, the anatase-type crystalline surfaces exhibit good water repellency (CA 166.1°), low CAH (6°), and superhydrophobic stability (>60 min). Enhanced water repellency is attributed to the fact that the higher density of TiO₂ spheres results in more tortuous three-phase contact line, leading to the self-cleaning effect. Such a unique textured surface imparts many promising potentials for engineering and the development of optics devices with robust superhydrophobic materials.     

Simultaneous determination of chloride, nitrate and sulphate in vegetable samples by single-column ion chromatography

A new ion chromatography method is described for the simultaneous determination of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻, using a selected eluent 1.3-mM sodium gluconate/1.3-mM borax (pH 8.5). The extraction methods of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ in vegetables are studied. The determination limits of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ are 0.17 μg/ml, 0.63 μg/ml and 0.81 μg/ml. The linear ranges are 060 μg/ml, 090 μg/ml and 090 μg/ml. The relative S.D. are <2.5%. The mean recoveries of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ in vegetables range from 97.0 to 104%.     

Adsorption of 1,4-Benzenedithiol on Gold and Silver Surfaces: Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Study

The adsorption behavior of 1,4-benzenedithiol (1,4-BDT) on colloidal gold and silver surfaces has been investigated by means of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). 1,4-BDT chemisorbed dissociatively on both gold and silver surfaces but as mono- and dithiolate, respectively. Regardless of the bulk concentration of 1,4-BDT, only a monolayer was assembled on the silver surface with a flat orientation by forming two Ag–S bonds. On the gold surface, the monothiolate species,1,4-BDT⁻¹, appeared to assume a rather flat orientation at a very low surface coverage, but as the surface coverage was increased, the adsorbate took a perpendicular orientation. Furthermore, when the bulk concentration of 1,4-BDT was close to that required for a full-monolayer coverage limit, a band assignable to the S–S stretching vibration appeared at 536 cm⁻¹ in the gold sol SERS spectra. A separate ellipsometry measurement performed with vacuum-evaporated gold substrates revealed that up to tetralayers could be assembled on gold in 1 mM n-hexane solution of 1,4-BDT while at best a bilayer formed in either methanol or ethanol solution. The different adsorbate structure of 1,4-BDT on gold and silver was overall quite comparable to that of p-xylene-α,α′-dithiol.     

Effect of small amount of poly(ethylene naphthalate) on isothermal crystallization and spherulitic morphology of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

The effect of a small amount of poly(ethylene naphthalate) (PEN) in its blends with poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) on isothermal melt-crystallization kinetics and spherulitic morphology of the blends was thoroughly investigated. The maximum PEN content in the blends was 9 wt%. Due to the single composition-dependent glass transition temperature (T_g) that was observed for each blend, these blends appeared to be miscible in the amorphous state. After isothermal crystallization from the melt state, the neat PTT and its blends with PEN exhibited either double or triple melting endotherms. The triple endothermic peaks were observed in both the neat PTT and the blends when being crystallized at crystallization temperatures (T_c) of less than or equal to 195 °C. The equilibrium melting temperature () for the neat PTT was determined based on the linear Hoffman–Weeks extrapolative method to be 248 °C. Such values for the blends were found to decrease with the addition and increasing amount of PEN. Both the neat PTT and the blends were isothermally crystallized over the T_c range of 190–205 °C. At a given T_c, the 97PTT/3PEN blend exhibited a half-time of crystallization (t_0.5) value that was lower, while it exhibited reciprocal half-time (), Avrami rate constant (K_A), and spherulitic growth rate (G) values that were greater, than those of the neat PTT. With further increase in the PEN content, the t_0.5 value increased, while the , K_A, and G values decreased. Analysis of the G values based on the Lauritzen–Hoffman's (LH) secondary nucleation theory showed that the neat PTT and the 91PTT/9PEN blend exhibited a regime II→III transition at 194 °C (467.2 K), while no regime transition was observed for the other two blends. The lateral and the fold surface free energies (σ and σ_e) and the work of chain folding (q) for the neat PTT and the blends were 19.4, 30.2–46.3 erg cm⁻², and 2.4–3.6 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. Lastly, the effect of both the T_c and the PEN content on morphology and texture of the PTT spherulites was also investigated and the results showed that the texture of the spherulites became coarser with increasing T_c and PEN content.     

Molecular fine structure and transition dipole moment of NO2 using an external cavity quantum cascade laser

Rotational vibrational fine structure and transition dipole moment of NO₂ is measured using Doppler free saturation spectroscopy with an external grating cavity quantum cascade laser (QCL). The QCL wavelength is calibrated using a 310 cm long internally coupled Fabry–Perot interferometer. We obtain a frequency splitting of 139.68 ± 0.06 MHz (0.0047 cm⁻¹) between the spin doublets (17) of 000 → 001 transition of NO₂. The resolution of the QCL based saturation spectrometer is limited by the QCL linewidth of 3.99 MHz ( 0.00013 cm⁻¹) deduced from the half width of the Lamb dips. The Lamb dip spectroscopy is utilized to obtain a vibrational dipole moment of 0.37 Debye for the (17) transitions.     

Preparation and characterization of mesoporous N-doped and sulfuric acid treated anatase TiO2 catalysts and their photocatalytic activity under UV and Vis illumination

Nitrogen-doped TiO₂ catalysts were prepared by a precipitation method. The samples were calcined at 400 °C for 4 h in air. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low temperature N₂-adsorption was used for structural characterization and UV-diffuse reflectance (UV-DR) was applied to investigate the optical properties of the as-prepared samples. It was found that microporous N-doped catalysts have solely anatase crystalline structure. Acidic treatment of the calcined samples was performed using sulfuric acid agitation. The crystalline structure remained unchanged due to surface treatment, while the porosity and the surface areas were decreased dramatically. Optical characterization of the doped catalysts showed that they could be excited by visible light photons in the 400–500 nm wavelength range (λ_g,1=390 nm, λ_g,2=510 nm). It was also established that surface treatment enhances the Vis-light absorption of the N-TiO₂ powders. Finally the catalysts were tested in the photocatalytic degradation of phenol in aqueous suspensions. Two different light sources were used; one of them was a UV-rich high pressure Hg-lamp, while the other was a tubular visible light source. We found that using visible light illumination N-doped, acid treated TiO₂ samples were more catalytically active than non-doped TiO₂ catalysts.     

Solvent effect on the blue shifted weakly H-bound F3 CH…FCD3 complex

Solvent effect on the ν^c frequency of CH stretching vibration of the blue shifted F₃CH…FCD₃ complex has been studied in liquefied N₂, CO, Ar, Kr and Xe. In the case of Xe, the spectroscopic measurements have also been extended to the solid state. It was found that the ν^c position of the complex in the solutions studied lowers with respect to the value in the gas phase. In liquid Xe, characterized by the largest permittivity, this effect reaches its maximum value of −14.5 cm⁻¹. The ν^c frequency begins to grow again just below the freezing point of Xe, where a noticeable (15%) increase of the density of Xe occurs. The experimental results obtained for the liquid phase have been analyzed in the framework of the Onsager-like reaction field model and Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM) implemented into a standard Gaussian 98 Program.     

Dual electrochemical microsensor for simultaneous measurements of nitric oxide and oxygen: Fabrication and characterization

A planar-type amperometric dual microsensor was developed for the simultaneous measurement of the nitric oxide (NO) and oxygen (O₂) concentrations. The sensor (overall diameter = 500 μm) consisted of a dual working electrode (WE) containing two platinized platinum microdisks (25 μm diameter, WE1, WE2, distance between two disks > 330 μm) and a Ag/AgCl wire reference electrode covered with an expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) gas-permeable membrane. The differentiation and concurrent measurements of NO and O₂ were obtained successfully using two sensing WEs with different applied potentials (+0.75 V for WE1 and −0.4 V for WE2). Cross-talk between WE1 and WE2 was eliminated with an optimized internal solution composition. Linear dynamic range, selectivity, sensitivity, detection limit (<5 nM for NO; <500 nM for O₂), and stability (>50 h) were evaluated.     

Technetium transmutation and production of artificial stable ruthenium

The recent Russian results on technetium transmutation into ruthenium are summarized, including the first isolation of artificial stable ruthenium from irradiated technetium targets. To cite this article: V. Peretroukhine et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).

Résumé

Transmutation du technétium et production du ruthénium artificiel. Les résultats obtenus en Russie sur la transmutation du technétium en ruthénium artificiel et son isolement des cibles irradiées sont présentés. Pour citer cet article : V. Peretroukhine et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).     

Monoclinic iron hydroxy sulphate: A new route to electrode materials

The monoclinic form of FeOHSO₄ was prepared by dehydration of FeSO₄·7H₂O. We show that reversible insertion of up to 1Li/f.u. is possible in this compound at an average voltage of 3.2 V. The insertion/deinsertion is a biphasic process. The high voltage plateau, a reversible capacity of 110 mAh/g after 20 cycles and good cycling behavior make this compound an attractive positive electrode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries, suggesting also that transition metal sulphates need to be explored.