Sulfonated silica‐based electrolyte nanocomposite membranes

New functionalized particles were prepared by attaching sulfonated aromatic bishydroxy compounds onto fumed silica surface. First, a bromophenyl group was introduced onto the silica surface by reaction of bromophenyltrimethoxysilane with fumed silica. Then, sulfonated bishydroxy aromatic compounds were chemically attached to the silica surface by nucleophilic substitution reactions. The structure of the modified silica was characterized by elemental analysis: ¹³C‐NMR, ²⁹Si‐NMR, and FTIR. Afterward, novel inorganic–organic electrolyte composite membranes based on sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) have been developed using the sulfonated aromatic bishydroxy compounds chemically attached onto the fumed silica surface. The composite membrane prepared using silica with sulfonated hydroxytelechelic, containing 1,3,4‐oxadiazole units, has higher proton conductivity values in all range of temperatures (40–140 °C) than the membrane containing only the plain electrolyte polymer, while the methanol permeability determined by pervaporation experiment was unchanged. A proton conductivity up to 59 mS cm^?1 at 140 °C was obtained. The combination of these effects may lead to significant improvement in fuel cells (fed with hydrogen or methanol) at temperatures above 100 °C. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2278–2298, 2006     

A direct hydrogen-1, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 NMR study of lutetium(III)-isothiocyanate complexation in aqueous solvent mixtures

A direct, low-temperature hydrogen-1, carbon-13, and nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance study of lutetium(III)-isothiocyanate complex formation in aqueous solvent mixtures has been completed. At –100°C to –120°C in water-acetone-Freon mixtures, ligand exchange is slowed sufficiently to permit the observation of separate¹H,¹³C, and¹⁵N NMR signals for coordinated and free water and isothiocyanate ions. In the¹³C and¹⁵N spectra of NCS^–, resonance signals for five complexes are observed over the range of concentrations studied. The¹³C chemical shifts of complexed NCS^– varied from –0.5 ppm to –3 ppm from that of free anion. For the same complexes, the¹⁵N chemical shifts from free anion were about –11 ppm to –15 ppm. The magnitude and sign of the¹⁵N chemical shifts identified the nitrogen atom as the binding site in NCS^–. The concentration dependence of the¹³C and¹⁵N signal areas, and estimates of the fraction of anion bound at each NCS^–:Lu³⁺ mole ratio, were consistent with the formation of [(H₂O)₅Lu(NCS)]²⁺ through [(H₂O)Lu(NCS)₅]^2–. Although proton and/or ligand exchange and the resulting bulk-coordinated signal overlap prevented accurate hydration number measurements, a good qualitative correlation of the water¹H NMR spectral results with those of¹³C and¹⁵N was possible.     

Building block approach to organic/silica hybrid materials

The reaction of the cubic octameric silicate anion, Si₈O ₂₀ ^8– , with dimethyldichlorosilane in 2,2-dimethoxypropane yielded solid products. FT-IR and solid-state ²⁹Si NMR spectra of the products indicate that the silicate anion becomes cross-linked via the dimethylsilyl group without degradation of the cubic core, resulting in the formation of organic/silica hybrids consisting of the Si₈O ₂₀ ^8– structure as a building block. The hybrids are thermally stable up to ca. 380°C in air. The specific surface area of the hybrids is 31 m² g^–1, while the value increases to 339 m² g^–1 after calcination at 350°C in air. The process of increasing the surface area of the hybrids by the heat-treatment was investigated using solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Mesoporous silica functionalized with diethylenetriamine moieties for metal removal and thermodynamics of cation–basic center interactions

The inorganic–organic hybrid material was synthesized by co-condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate and the organosilane N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]diethylenetriamine. Spectroscopic analysis of the hybrid material by FTIR showed bands at 2937 and 2839 cm⁻¹ related to ν(CH); ²⁹Si NMR spectrum gave signals at −108, −99, −68 and −59 ppm, Q⁴, Q³, T⁴ and T² species related to the silica backbone structure. The well-defined peaks obtained in the ¹³C NMR spectrum in the 10–58 ppm region confirmed the attachment of organic functional groups as pendant chains bonded into the porous silica. Particle morphology evaluated by a scanning electron microscopic (SEM) study showed the formation of spherical particles in the nanometer range. The X-ray diffraction pattern showed a peak at a 2θ of 2.3°, demonstrating the mesoporous characteristic of the synthesized material. Adsorption evaluated by batch equilibrium processes gave the maximum adsorption of 2.2 and 2.8 mmol g⁻¹ for copper and nickel, respectively. From these values a stoichiometry of 2:1 for cation/ligand was established, considering the amount of 1.2 mmol of pendant groups per gram of the hybrid material. Thermodynamic parameters related to the adsorption of metal ions, evaluated using the calorimetric titration technique presented a negative Gibbs free energy value, in agreement with the spontaneity of cation removal on the basic center in the mesoporous silica at the solid/liquid interface.     

CP/MAS NMR investigations of silica gel surfaces modified with aminopropylsilane

Summary Aminopropyl chemically bonded phases for high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been prepared using mono- and trifunctional methoxyor ethoxysilanes. Three types of silica gel with different surface characteristics were used as support for the chemically bonded phases (CBPs). Surface characteristics of the packings before and after chemical modification were determined by porosity parameters, elemental analysis and CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy.²⁹Si and¹³C CP/MAS NMR investigations gave informations about different interactions between aminosilyl ligands and/or these ligands and/or water molecules condensed in the pores of the silica gel surface. With decreasing pore diameter of the silica gel the proportion of protonated aminopropyl ligand increases.     

A Direct Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 NMR Study of Samarium(III)–Isothiocyanate Complexation in Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

Multinuclear magnetic resonance studies of trivalent lanthanide inner-shell ion-pairing with nitrate and isothiocyanate are continuing. For NCS^– solutions in water–acetone–Freon mixtures at low temperature, generally –100 to –125°C, ligand exchange is slow enough to permit the observation of ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR signals for coordinated and free anions. For samariuni(III) solutions, four coordinated NCS^–signals, displaced about +35 ppm and +250 ppm from free anion, are observed in the ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra, respectively. The ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR data are complementary, showing a signal area concentration dependence and measured coordination numbers consistent with the formation of Sm(NCS)²⁺ through Sm(NCS) ₄ ¹ . The coordination numbers reach a maximum of about three moles of NCS^– per mole of Sm(III) with both nuclides, a result confirmed by spectral appearance showing the dominance of Sm(NCS)₃ at the highest concentration studied. An analysis of the chemical shifts indicates that binding occurs at the nitrogen atom of NCS^–. In water–methanol, due to the higher dielectric constant of such mixtures, coordination was less extensive. A competitive binding study with Ci^– by ³⁵Ci NMR demonstrated conclusively the superior coordinating ability of NCS^–.     

A Direct Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 NMR Study of Cerium(III)–Isothiocyanate Complexation in Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

A study of lanthanide complexation with isothiocyanate is underway using a multinuclear magnetic resonance technique. For isothiocyanate solutions in water–acetone–Freon mixtures at low temperature, –85––125°C, ligand exchange is slow enough to permit the observation of ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR signals for coordinated and free anions. For the Ce³⁺–NCS^– system, four coordinated anion signals, displaced from the free anion signal by about +450 to +550 ppm for ¹⁵N and +50 to +80 ppm for ¹³C, are observed. The ¹³C and ¹⁵N spectral data are complementary, showing a signal area concentration dependence and measured coordination numbers consistent with the formation of Ce(NCS)²⁺ through Ce(NCS)^1- ₄. In water–methanol, the extent of complexing is decreased, presumably because of the higher dielectric constant of this medium. In addition, the results of a competitive study of NCS^– and Cl^– ion binding, carried out using ³⁵Cl NMR, is presented.     

NMR investigations of the silanophilic interactions of alkyl-modified silica

The ¹³C NMR spin lattice relaxation times have been measured for suspensions of chemically bonded silica particles in solutions of an organic base in deuteroacetonitrile, CD₃CN, at different base concentrations. A correlation has been observed between the relaxation rates and the ratio of the amounts of base and silica in the suspension. Thus, silanophilic interactions of chemically bonded silicas can be monitored using ¹³C NMR relaxation rates. The correlation is interpreted in terms of the rapid exchange model. The method seems to have potential for the rapid and accurate determination of equilibrium isotherms.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. J.F.K. Huber on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Li+(TMPAND)Na−: The first alkalide prepared from an azacage complexant

The new lithium-selective complexant 5,12,17-trimethyl-1,5,9,12,17-pentaazabicyclo[7.5.5]nonadecane (TMPAND) was used to synthesize Li⁺(TMPAND)Na–, the first alkalide prepared from an azacage complexant. This sodide was characterized by a variety of methods. Differential scanning calorimetry experiments showed a reversible, endothermic, solid-solid phase transition at an onset temperature of –75 ± 3°C and with H = 3.3 ± 1 kJ/mol.²³Na NMR spectra showed a peak at –61 ppm, characteristic of a sodium anion, and a second minor peak at –10 ppm, probably due to the interaction of Na- with trapped electrons. The quadrupole coupling constant of the complexed lithium cation was found to be 0.19 MHz at –100°C, and⁷Li NMR spectra showed a discontinuity in the line width of the⁷Li NMR peak and in the quadrupole coupling constant at the phase transition.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr C. J. Pedersen.     

NMR spectra and structures of protonated 1-vinylpyrroles

Stable 1-vinylpyrrolium fluorosulfonates were prepared by the reaction of 1-vinylpyrroles with excess HSO₃F at –50°C in CD₂Cl₂ and their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were obtained. Despite its overall positive charge, the pyrrole ring remains an electron donor relative to the vinyl group. Delocalization of the positive charge onto substituents decreases in the order 2-heteroaryl > 2-aryl > 2-alkyl.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 48–57, January, 1993.     

Dielectric investigation of the glass relaxation in poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl chloride) under high hydrostatic pressure

Measurements of the complex relative permittivity of poly(vinyl acetate) from 35 °C to 190 °C and poly(vinyl chloride) from 90 °C to 150 °C in the frequency range 10^–2 –10⁷ Hz and the pressure range 1–5000 bar are reported. Details of the pressure generating system and of the dielectric equipment are described.     

A direct carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 NMR study of europium(III) complexation-nitrate and europium(III)-isothiocyanate complexation in aqueous solvent mixtures

A direct, low-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study of europium(III)-nitrate contact ion-pairing has been completed, and preliminary results for europium(III)-isothiocyanate have been obtained. In water-acetone-Freon mixtures, at –110°C to –120°C, four¹⁵N NMR signals are observed for coordinated nitrate ion. Area evaluations of the signals and their concentration dependence indicate the formation of Eu(NO₃)²⁺, Eu(NO₃) ₂ ¹⁺ , and two higher complexes, possibly the tetra-, with either the penta-or hexanitrato. This correlates well with similar¹⁵N NMR results obtained for Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), and Sm(III). As a result of a higher dielectric constant, complex formation is significantly less in water-methanol mixtures, wheein only three complexes form with Eu(NO₃) ₂ ¹⁺ dominating at the highest anion concentrations. Competitive complexing experiments in water-methanol also were made by³⁵Cl NMR chemical shift and linewidth measurements, as well as¹⁵N NMR. Initial experiments with the Eu³⁺-NCS^– system show four coordinated anion signals, displaced from the bulk anion peak by about –250 ppm and –2,500 ppm in the¹³C and¹⁵N NMR spectra, respectively. Area evaluations are consistent with the presence of Eu(NCS)²⁺ through Eu(NCS) ₄ ^1- in these solutions. A consideration of the chemical shifts identified the nitrogen atom as the site of binding in the NCS^–. A discussion of these preliminary results, as well as those for several other metal-ions, will be presented.     

A Direct Carbon-13 and Nitrogen-15 NMR Study of Praseodymium(III)- and Neodymium(III)-Isothiocyanate Complex Formation in Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

Multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies of the trivalent lanthanide complexes with isothiocyanate have been completed for the praseodymium(III) and neodymium(III) ions. In water–acetone–Freon mixtures, at temperatures low enough to slow ligand exchange, usually –85 to –125°C for isothiocyanate, separate carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 NMR signals can be observed for free anion and NCS^- in each metal–ion complex. For both metal ions, ¹⁵N NMR signals are observed for four complexes, displaced about +1500 ppm downfield from free NCS^- for Pr³⁺ and about +2000 ppm for Nd³⁺. In the ¹³C NMR spectra, only three peaks are observed for the complexes of both metal anions, with signal overlap obscuring the resonance for the fourth complex. However, the metal ion coordination numbers, obtained by integration of the resonance signals, are comparable in the ¹⁵N and ¹³C spectra, approaching a maximum value of about 3. These spectral data indicate the formation of Ln(NCS)²⁺ through Ln(NCS) ₄ ^1- occurs for both lanthanides in these solvent systems, a result also observed previously for Ce³⁺, Sm³⁺, and Eu³⁺ in our laboratory. Attempts to study these complexes in water–methanol were unsuccessful, due to the inability to achieve low enough temperatures to slow ligand exchange sufficiently. Results for NCS^- and Cl^- competitive-binding studies by ³⁵Cl NMR for both metal ions will also be described.     

Adsorption of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes on a silica gel surface chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole

The isotherms of adsorption of MeX₂ (Me = Cu²⁺, Co²⁺; X = Cl^–, Br^–, ClO ₄ ^– ) by silica gel chemically modified with 2-mercaptoimidazole (SiMI) were studied in acetone and ethanol solutions, at 25 °C. Covalently attached 2-mercaptoimidazole molecule to silica gel surface adsorbs MeX₂ from solvent by forming a surface complex. The metal is bonded to the surface through the nitrogen atom of attached 2-mercaptoimidazole. At low loading, the electronic and ESR spectral parameters indicated that the Cu²⁺ complexes are in a distorted-tetragonal symmetry field. The d-d electronic transition spectra showed that for Cu(ClO₄)₂ complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading and for Cl^– and Br^– complexes, the peak maxima shifted to higher energy with lower metal loading. The CoX₂(X = Cl^–, Br^–, ClO ₄ ^– ) analogues possess a distorted-tetrahedral field.     

Photo- and thermochromic spirans. 16. 2-Oxo-3-phenyl-5,5-dimethylspiro(1,3-oxazolidine-4,2′-[2h]chromenes)

New spirans of the 5,5-dimethyl-3-phenyl-2-oxazolidone series that display photo-chromic properties in alcohol solutions at -80 °C were synthesized. The photoinduced forms are characterized by the presence of two long-wave absorption bands at 350–420 nm and 500–650 nm. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were studied. Anisochronicity of the diastereotopic methyl groups of the oxazolidone ring shows up only in the ¹³C NMR spectra.See [1] for communication 15.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1031–1035, August, 1985.     

Polysiloxane-Modified Mesoporous Materials

We report the preparation of polysiloxane-modified mesoporous silica gels derived from the acid catalysed hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and oligomeric silanol terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in the presence of the non-ionic surfactant, octaethylene glycol monohexadecyl ether. The gels were characterised using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), infra-red (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ²⁹Si solid state cross-polarisation (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. TGA and IR spectroscopy showed the loss of surfactant after calcination and a decrease in the Si–OH band at 950 cm^–1 indicated further condensation had occurred. This was confirmed by the increase in Q⁴ at –110 ppm, in ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, which also showed that calcination had led to the redistribution of PDMS forming a T species. XRD data showed ordering within the structure, with an initial d-spacing of 45 Å, decreasing to 35 Å after calcination.     

An NMR study of the species produced by the reactions of dialkyl magnesium and HCl with calcined silica and the polymerisation performance of Ziegler-Natta catalysts produced from this support material

The effect of calcinations on the silica surface groups and thereby on the activity of Ziegler-Natta catalysts in ethylene homopolymerisation has been studied. Silica was calcined at different temperatures and treated with MgR₂ and HCl. Silica surface groups were identified by using ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C and ²⁹Si CP MAS NMR techniques. Magnesium, titanium and chlorine were measured by elemental analysis. Ziegler-Natta catalysts were prepared from these supports and subsequently used in ethylene homopolymerisation. Maximum activity was obtained with the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica. The results indicate that MgR₂ reacts with siloxane-groups (Si-O-Si) in the 300 °C calcined silica, leaving the hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl-groups unreacted. Low activity Si-O-Ti(Cl)₂-O-Si species are formed after reacting with TiCl₄. The higher activity in the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica can be explained by the formation of -Si(R)-O-Si-O-TiCl₃ groups, originating from the siloxane bridges which cannot form in 300 °C calcined silica. Other explanations for the higher activity are a higher Mg/Ti ratio or small amounts of crystal water formed in the 590 °C calcined silica.     

Analysis of silica hydride and surface hydrosilation reactions by solid-state NMR in the preparation of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> p</Emphasis>-chlorobenzamide bonded silica phase

²⁹Si and ¹³C CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy was used to follow the conversion of native silica to a p-chlorobenzamide bonded silica material. The benzamide bonded phase was prepared via a hydrosilation reaction of a hydride silica intermediate with p-chloro-N-allylbenzamide. Solid-state NMR was used to show the disappearance of reactive surface hydride species (M_H) and to identify newly formed bonded chemical species on the silica surface. DRIFT spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and specific surface-area determinations (BET) of the prepared phases are also reported.     

Silylating Agents Grafted onto Silica Derived from Leached Chrysotile

Silica from leached chrysotile fibers (SILO) was silanized with trialkoxyaminosilanes to yield inorganic–organic hybrids designated SILx (x=1–3). The greatest amounts of the immobilized agents were quantified as 2.14, 1.90, and 2.18 mmol g⁻¹ on SIL1, SIL2, and SIL3 for –(CH₂)₃NH₂,–(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH₂, and –(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₂NH₂ groups attached to the inorganic support. The infrared spectra for all modified silicas showed the absence of the Si–OH deformation mode, originally found at 950 cm⁻¹, and the appearance of asymmetric and symmetric C–H stretching bands at 2950 and 2840 cm⁻¹. Other important bands associated with the organic moieties were assigned to ν_as(NH) at 3478 and ν_sym(NH) at 3418 cm⁻¹. The NMR spectrum of the solid precursor material suggested two different kinds of silicon atoms: silanol and siloxane groups, between −90 and 110 ppm; however, additional species of silicon that contain the organic moieties bonded to silicon at −58 and −66 ppm appeared after chemical modification. These modified silicas showed a high adsorption capacity for cobalt and copper cations in aqueous solution, in contrast to the original SILO matrix, confirming the unequivocal anchoring of silylating agents on the silica surface.     

A direct carbon-13 and nitrogen-15 NMR study of samarium(III) complexation with nitrate and isothiocyanate in aqueous solvent mixtures

The extent of inner-shell, contact ion-pairing between samarium(III)-nitrate and in a preliminary manner, samarium(III)-isothiocyanate, has been determined by a direct, low-temperature, multinuclear magnetic resonance technique. In water-acetone mixtures containing Freon-12 or Freon-22, the slow exchange condition is achieved at –110 to –120°C, permitting the observation of¹⁵N NMR resonance signals for bulk and coordinated nitrate. In these mixtures, signals are observed for Sm(NO₃)²⁺, Sm(NO₃) ₂ ⁺ , and two higher complexes, possibly the tetranitrato with either the penta-or hexanitrato.¹H NMR signals for bound water molecules in these mixtures were observed, but accurate hydration numbers can not yed be determined. In anhydrous or aqueous methanol mixtures,¹⁵N NMR signals for only three complexes are observed, with the dinitrato clearly dominating. Using¹⁵N and³⁵Cl NMR chemical shift and linewidth measurements, the superior complexing ability of nitrate compared to perchlorate and chloride, was demonstrated. Successful preliminary¹³C and¹⁵N NMR measurements of Sm³⁺-NCS^– interactions in water-acetone-Freon-22 mixtures also have been made. The¹³C NMR spectra reveal signals for five complexes, presumably Sm(NCS)²⁺ through Sm(NCS) ₅ ^2– . In the¹⁵N NMR spectra, signals for only three complexes are observed (the result of insufficient spectral resolution.) displaced about +240 ppm from bulk anion.