Zeolite synthesis from tetraalkylammonium silicate gels

Siliceous zeolite synthesis gels containing tetraalkylammonium (TAA⁺) and sodium cations were studied using X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, ion exchange, ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The TAA⁺ cations are encapsulated in silicate cages, and silicalite is formed via the rearrangement of these cages by the breaking and reformation of siloxane bonds. Tetrabutylammonium (TBA⁺) cations promote silicalite growth, but not as effectively as tetrapropylammonium (TPA⁺) because the larger TBA⁺ cations do not conform as well to the silicalite lattice, thus forming an intergrowth of the silicalite-1 and silicalite-2 structures. The time to nucleate silicalite is not affected by the TBA⁺ content of the gel, but the rate of silicalite crystal growth increases with increasing TBA⁺ in the gel. The TBA⁺ occupies all the channel intersections of the silicalite formed. Tetraethylammonium (TEA⁺) cations are encapsulated in silicate cages, but not to the same extent as TPA⁺ and TBA⁺, because TEA⁺ is not as hydrophobic. No silicalite forms in the TEA⁺ silicate gel. The addition of tripropylamine (TriPA) to a TPA⁺ silicate gel has no effect on the kinetics of silicalite formation. TriPA does not incorporate into the gel because it is neutral and, therefore, does not experience a coulombic attraction to the negatively charged surface of the gel.     

紫外/臭氧法在脱除沸石有机模板剂中的应用

选取LTA, FAU, BETA, MFI和MEL型沸石, 研究紫外/臭氧法在沸石有机模板剂脱除中的应用, 并与传统高温焙烧法比较, 考察两种方法对有机模板剂的脱除能力. 采用XRD, FT-IR, BET等方法对脱除模板剂前后的沸石样品进行表征, 结果表明紫外/臭氧法是一种低温有效除去沸石模板剂的方法. Beta, silicalite-1和silicalite-2沸石在紫外光照后相应的模板剂四乙基氢氧化铵、四丙基氢氧化铵和四丁基氢氧化铵已彻底脱除, A和Y型沸石中分别有27.5和6.2 wt%的四甲基氢氧化铵模板剂残留, 这主要是受其特殊β笼结构的限制而引起的.     

Investigations on electrochemical supercapacitors using polypyrrole redox electrodes and PMMA based gel electrolytes

Polypyrrole based solid state electrochemical redox supercapacitors have been fabricated using the polymeric gel electrolytes comprising of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)-propylene carbonate (PC)-ethylene carbonate (EC)-perchlorate salts of different cations [Li⁺, Na⁺ and (C₂H₅)₄N⁺ (TEA⁺)]. A comparative study has been carried out using linear sweep reversal voltammetry, complex impedance spectroscopy and constant current charge-discharge tests. The capacitance values of the cells have been observed to be in the range of 15.3-22.5 mF cm⁻² (equivalent to single electrode specific capacitance of 120-178 F g⁻¹ of polypyrrole). This corresponds to the values of energy density 16.7-24.7 Wh kg⁻¹ and power density 1.6-2.8 kW kg⁻¹ calculated for the working voltage of 1.0 V limited for polypyrrole based redox capacitors. Substantial improvements in the coulombic efficiency of the cells have been observed (close to 100%) due to the application of gel electrolytes showing flexible and liquid like behaviour. Further, the types and sizes of the cations in the gel electrolytes do not play any dominant role in the capacitive behaviour of the redox cells.     

Role of tetrapropylammonium cations in gel-phase silicalite synthesis

Silicalite synthesis from tetrapropylammonium (TPA⁺) sodium silicate gels was studied by X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, ion exchange, ²⁹Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Based on this information we confirm a hydrogel—solid transformation mechanism for silicalite crystallization. The initial synthesis gel is a highly articulated silicate network containing pockets of water with solvated Na⁺ and TPA⁺ cations. As the silica condenses and becomes more hydrophobic, water and solvated cations are expelled. The condensed silicate gel then encapsulates the hydrophobic TPA⁺ cations in cages resembling the channel intersections of silicalite before X-ray crystalline silicalite is observed. Crystallization occurs within the gel via rearrangement of the TPA⁺-occluded silicate cages by the breaking and reformation of siloxane bonds into the more stable silicalite structure. Rates of nucleation and crystallization both increase with increasing TPA⁺ gel content. The amount of silicalite which forms is limited by the amount of TPA⁺, which must be present in the ratio of one TPA⁺ per channel intersection.     

Synthesis, structure, and ionic conductivity of Na5Li3Ti2S8

The compound Na₅Li₃Ti₂S₈ has been synthesized by the reaction of Ti with a Na/Li/S flux at 723 K. Na₅Li₃Ti₂S₈ crystallizes in a new structure type with four formula units in space group C2/c of the monoclinic system. The structure contains three crystallographically independent Na⁺ cations and two crystallographically independent Li⁺ cations. Na₅Li₃Ti₂S₈ possesses a channel structure that features two-dimensional layers built from Li(1)S₄ and TiS₄ tetrahedra. The layers, which are stacked along c, comprise eight-membered rings and sixteen-membered rings. Na(3)⁺ cations are located between the eight-membered rings and Na(1)⁺, Na(2)⁺, and Li(2)⁺ cations are located between the sixteen-membered rings. These cations are each octahedrally coordinated by six S²⁻ anions. The ionic conductivity σ_T of Na₅Li₃Ti₂S₈ ranges from 8.8×10⁻⁶ S/cm at 303 K to 3.8×10⁻⁴ S/cm at 483 K. The activation energy E_a is 0.40 eV.     

An Asymmetric Supercapacitor–Diode (CAPode) for Unidirectional Energy Storage

A new asymmetric capacitor concept is proposed providing high energy storage capacity for only one charging direction. Size‐selective microporous carbons (w<0.9 nm) with narrow pore size distribution are demonstrated to exclusively electrosorb small anions (BF₄^?) but size‐exclude larger cations (TBA⁺ or TPA⁺), while the counter electrode, an ordered mesoporous carbon (w>2 nm), gives access to both ions. This architecture exclusively charges in one direction with high rectification ratios (RR=12), representing a novel capacitive analogue of semiconductor‐based diodes (“CAPode”). By precise pore size control of microporous carbons (0.6 nm, 0.8 nm and 1.0 nm) combined with an ordered mesoporous counter electrode (CMK‐3, 4.8 nm) electrolyte cation sieving and unidirectional charging is demonstrated by analyzing the device charge‐discharge response and monitoring individual electrodes of the device via in situ NMR spectroscopy.     

Cationic and anionic environments in LiTFSI-doped di-ureasils with application in solid-state electrochromic devices

Fourier Transform mid-infrared and Raman spectroscopies were used to investigate the cation/polymer, cation/urea bridge, cation/anion and hydrogen bonding interactions in poly(oxyethylene) (POE)/siloxane di-ureasil networks prepared by the sol–gel route and doped with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI). Materials with compositions 200 ?n ? 5 (where n expresses the molar ratio OCH₂CH₂/Li⁺) were studied. The Li⁺ ions coordinate to the urea carbonyl oxygen atoms over the whole range of salt concentration considered. Bonding to the ether oxygen atoms of the POE chains occurs at n ? 40, although a significant fraction of the POE chains remain non-coordinated. In these high salt content samples, the cations interact with the anions forming contact ion pairs. “Free” ions are probably the main charge carriers at the room temperature conductivity maximum of these ormolytes.     

Thermodynamic representation of the NaCl + Na2SO4 + H2O system with electrolyte NRTL model

A comprehensive thermodynamic model based on the electrolyte NRTL (eNRTL) activity coefficient equation is developed for the NaCl + H₂O binary, the Na₂SO₄ + H₂O binary and the NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + H₂O ternary. The NRTL binary parameters for pairs H₂O-(Na⁺, Cl⁻) and H₂O-(Na⁺, SO₄²⁻), and the aqueous phase infinite dilution heat capacity parameters for ions Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ are regressed from fitting experimental data on mean ionic activity coefficient, heat capacity, liquid enthalpy and dissolution enthalpy for the NaCl + H₂O binary and the Na₂SO₄ + H₂O binary with electrolyte concentrations up to saturation and temperature up to 473.15 K. The Gibbs energy of formation, enthalpy of formation and heat capacity parameters for solids NaCl_(s), NaCl·2H₂O_(s), Na₂SO_4(s) and Na₂SO₄·10H₂O_(s) are obtained by fitting experimental data on solubilities of NaCl and Na₂SO₄ in water. The NRTL binary parameters for the (Na⁺, Cl⁻)-(Na⁺, SO₄²⁻) pair are regressed from fitting experimental data on dissolution enthalpies and solubilities for the NaCl + Na₂SO₄ + H₂O ternary.     

Aluminum phosphate dispersed on a cellulose acetate fiber surface: Preparation, characterization and application for Li, Na and K separation

Cellulose acetate fibers with supported highly dispersed aluminum phosphate were prepared by reacting aluminum-containing cellulose acetate (Al₂O₃=3.5 wt.%; 1.1 mmol g⁻¹ aluminum atom per gram of the material) with phosphoric acid. Solid-state NMR spectra (CPMAS ³¹P NMR) data indicated that HPO₄²⁻ is the species present on the fiber surface. The specific concentration of acidic centers, determined by ammonia gas adsorption, is 0.50 mmol g⁻¹. The ion exchange capacities for Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ ions were determined from ion exchange isotherms at 298 K and showed the following values (in mmol g⁻¹): Li⁺=0.03, Na⁺=0.44 and K⁺=0.50. The H⁺/Li⁺ exchange corresponds to the model of the ideal ion exchange with a small value of the corresponding equilibrium constant K=1.1×10⁻². Due to the strong cooperative effect, the H⁺/Na⁺ and H⁺/K⁺ ion exchange is non-ideal. These ion exchange equilibria were treated with the use of models of fixed bi- or tridentate centers, which consider the surface of the sorbent as an assemblage of polyfunctional sorption centers. Both the observed ion exchange capacities with respect to the alkaline metal ions and the equilibrium constants were discussed by taking into consideration the sequence of the ionic hydration radii for Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺. The matrix affinity order for the ions decreases as the hydration radii of the cations increase, i.e. Li⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. The high values of the separation factors S_Na⁺/Li⁺ and S_K⁺/Li⁺ (up to several hundred) provide quantitative separation of Na⁺ and K⁺ from Li⁺ from a mixture containing these three ions.     

Desilication mechanism revisited: highly mesoporous all-silica zeolites enabled through pore-directing agents

The role of pore‐directing agents (PDAs) in the introduction of hierarchical porosity in silicalite‐1 in alkaline medium was investigated. By incorporation of various PDAs in aqueous NaOH, homogenously distributed mesopores were introduced in 2.5 μm silicalite‐1 crystals. It was proven for the first time that framework aluminum is not a prerequisite for the introduction of intracrystalline mesoporosity by desilication. The pore‐directing role is not directly exerted by framework trivalent cations metals, but by species on the external surface of the zeolite. The inclusion of metal complexes (Al(OH)₄^?, Ga(OH)₄^?) and tetraalkyl ammonium cations (tetramethyl ammonium (TMA⁺), tetrapropyl ammonium (TPA⁺)) in the alkaline solution led to distinct mesopore surface areas (up to 286 m² g^?1) and pore sizes centered in the range of 5–20 nm. In the case alkaline treatment was performed in the presence of Al(OH)₄^?, all aluminum partially integrated in the zeolite giving rise to both Lewis and Brønsted acidity. Apart from the concentration and location, the affinity of the PDA to the zeolite surface plays a crucial role in the pore formation process. If the PDA is attracted too strongly (e.g., TMA⁺), the dissolution is reduced dramatically. When the pore‐directing agent is not attracted to the zeolite’s external surface, excessive dissolution occurs (standard alkaline treatment). TPA⁺ proved to be the most effective PDA as its presence led to high mesopore surface areas (>200 m² g^?1) over a broad range of PDA concentrations (0.003–0.1 M ). Importantly, our results enable to extend the suitability of desilication for controlled mesopore formation to all‐silica zeolites.     

Complex formation of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions with cryptands containing thiourea units as a part of macrocyclic framework in aqueous methanol

The stability constants (K_s) of the complexes of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions with new type of the cryptands containing one or two thiourea moieties in one of the bridges were determined by means of pH-metric measurements in 95% aqueous methanol at 25 °C. Cryptands studied do not show any regular alteration of complexes stability depending on the mutual relation of cryptand cavity and cation sizes. In all cases, they form the most stable complexes with K⁺ along the series of alkali metal ions and with cations of Ba²⁺ or Sr²⁺ in the series of alkaline earth ions independently of variations of their structure. The log K_s values for K⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ vary in limits 3.51-5.90, 2.29-7.05 and 2.35-7.51, respectively, depending on the cryptands structure. The complexes stability of the studied cryptands increases in the order Li⁺ < Na⁺ (Cs⁺) < Cs⁺ (Na⁺) < Rb⁺ < K⁺ and Mg²⁺ < Ca²⁺ < Sr²⁺ (Ba²⁺) < Ba²⁺ (Sr²⁺). However, cryptands containing at least one oxygen atom between the nitrogen bridgehead and group of thiourea form considerably more stable complexes with respect to cryptands in which thiourea group connected with nitrogen bridgeheads via ethylenic chain. The origins of the cryptands complexation behavior are discussed in terms of ligands and complexes structural features.     

Complexation of decamethylcucurbit[5]uril with alkali metal ions

Four coordination compounds, namely [Na(H₂O)(H₂O)₂⊂C₄₀H₅₀N₂₀O₁₀](C₆H₆O₂)₂Cl·8H₂O (1), [K₂(H₂O)₂(H₂O)⊂C₄₀H₅₀N₂₀O₁₀](C₆H₆O₂)₂Cl₂·7H₂O (2), [Rb₂(H₂O)₂(H₂O)⊂C₄₀H₅₀N₂₀O₁₀](C₆H₆O₂)₂Cl₂·7H₂O (3) and [Cs(H₂O)₂(H₂O⊂C₄₀H₅₀N₂₀O₁₀)](C₆H₆O₂)₂Cl·6H₂O (4), were obtained by the reactions of the corresponding alkali metal salts with decamethylcucurbit[5]uril (Me₁₀Q[5]) in the presence of hydroquinone, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The results revealed that in compounds 1 and 4 each Me₁₀Q[5] ligand coordinates one Na⁺ or Cs⁺ ion to form a molecular bowl structure, while in compounds 2 and 3 each Me₁₀Q[5] ligand coordinates two K⁺ or Rb⁺ ions to form a closed molecular capsule structure, and adjacent molecular capsules bridge each other through water molecules to form 1D coordination polymers. In addition, we found that the coordination distances for the metal ions and the height of the metal ions out-of-portal-plane for the four compounds are in the same order, 1 < 2 < 3 < 4, which is attributed to the fact that the radius of alkali cations is in the order Na⁺ < K⁺ < Rb⁺ < Cs⁺. Although each portal of Q[6] binds with two alkali cations (not including Cs⁺), the Q[6]-based alkali cations complexes display similar structural trends.     

Solvent isotope effects on the complexation and exchange kinetics of Tl(I), K and Na with 18-crown-6 by competitive NMR spectroscopy: Competition between homo- and heterobimolecular cations exchange

The thermodynamic properties of complexation and exchange kinetics of thallium by 18-crown-6 have been studied by thallium NMR spectroscopy. Effects of solvent isotope, counterion (ClO₄⁻ and NO₃⁻) and presence of competitive cations, such as Na⁺ and K⁺, on the exchange characteristics of the system have been considered. The obvious relationships between the effects of D₂O-H₂O solvent isotope on the thermodynamic properties and activation parameters of complexation have been investigated. In the absence of competitor cations, the mechanism of thallium exchange is unimolecular decomplexation and in the presence of competitor cations, homobimolecular cation exchange is the predominant mechanism at low concentrations of the ligand. At higher concentrations of the ligand, the measured rate constants show that the complexation/decomplexation process obeys a heterobimolecular cation interchange mechanism. The rate constants ratios (k_D2O/k_H2O < 1) for unimolecular mechanisms also show an inverse solvent isotope effect.     

Ion-exclusion chromatography with the direct UV detection of non-absorbing inorganic cations using an anion-exchange conversion column in the iodide-form

An ion-exclusion chromatographic method for the direct UV detection of non-absorbing inorganic cations such as sodium (Na⁺), ammonium (NH₄⁺) and hydrazine (N₂H₅⁺) ions was developed by connecting an anion-exchange column in the I⁻-form after the separation column. For example, NH₄⁺ is converted to a UV-absorbing molecule, NH₄I, by the anion-exchange column in the I⁻-form after the ion-exclusion separation on anion-exchange column in the OH⁻-form with water eluent. As a result, the direct UV detection of Na⁺, NH₄⁺ and N₂H₅⁺ could be successfully obtained as well as the well-resolved separation. The calibration graphs of the analyte cations detected with UV at 230 nm were linear in the range of 0.001-5.0 mM. The detection limits at S/N = 3 of the cations were below 0.1 μM. This method was applied to real water analysis, the determination of NH₄⁺ in river and rain waters, or that of N₂H₅⁺ in boiler water, with the satisfactory results. This could be applied also to low- or non-absorbing anions such as fluoride or hydrogencarbonate ions by the combination of a weakly acidic cation-exchange resin in the H⁺-form as the separation column and the anion-exchange conversion column.     

The influence of tetraalkylammonium counterions on the conformational transition of an alternating copolymer of maleic acid and n-butyl vinyl ether in aqueous solutions

pH titration curves for the neutralization of an alternating co-polymer of maleic acid and n-butylvinylether (MAnBVE) with tetrabutylammoniumhydroxide (TBAOH) are reported, and compared to the case of neutralization with NaOH or tetraethylammoniumhydroxide (TEAOH). With TBA⁺ counterions the compact form of the polymer is stabilized, remaining the preferred form up to higher net charge densities. This tendency is enhanced at higher temperature. Free energy changes of the conformational transition are higher for TBA⁺ than for TEA⁺ or Na⁺ as counterions.     

Structure determination of Na3DySi6O15 and crystal chemistry of zektzerite related compounds

The crystal structure of Na₃DySi₆O₁₅ has been solved and refined to an R₁=2.97% (wR₂=8.25%) for 1311 independent reflections. The compound was found to crystallize within the orthorhombic system with the space group Cmca (Z=8) and the lattice parameters: a=14.590(7) Å, b=17.813(4) Å, c=10.519(2) Å, V=2734.0 Å³, D_cal=3.11 g/cm³. The structure of Na₃DySi₆O₁₅ is a filled variant of the zektzerite with S like corrugated double chains of [SiO₄] tetrahedral, connected via Na⁺ and Dy³⁺ cations and running parallel to c-axis. The three-dimensional network results from the packing of these chains along [100] by skewering them in rods represented by the tunnels delimited by the S shape of the silicate chains. One of the main peculiar features of the Na₃DySi₆O₁₅ structure is the location of Na⁺ in tetrahedral sites with rather short Na-O bond lengths (2×2.243 and 2×2.262 Å).     

New alkali-metal-molybdenum(VI)-selenium(IV) oxides: syntheses, structures, and characterization of A2SeMoO6 (A=Na, K, or Rb)

Three new quaternary selenites, A₂SeMoO₆ (A=Na⁺, K⁺, or Rb⁺), were synthesized through the solid-state reaction of A₂MoO₄ with SeO₂ at 400°C. Although the reported materials are ‘stoichiometrically equivalent’, the compounds exhibit strikingly different crystal structures. Whereas Na₂SeMoO₆ has a three-dimensional crystal structure, K₂SeMoO₆ and Rb₂SeMoO₆ are molecular and uni-dimensional, respectively. However, all of the new materials have structures containing Mo⁶⁺ octahedra linked to Se⁴⁺ trigonal pyramids. Although the Mo⁶⁺ and Se⁴⁺ cations are in local asymmetric environments in all three materials, only Na₂SeMoO₆ is non-centrosymmetric. Single crystal X-ray data: Na₂SeMoO₆, cubic, space group, P2₁3 (no. 198), a=8.375(5) Å, Z=4, R(F)=0.0143; K₂SeMoO₆, monoclinic, space group, P2₁/c (no. 14), a=6.118(8) Å, b=15.395(2) Å, c=7.580(9) Å, β=112.39(4)°, Z=4, R(F)=0.0281; Rb₂SeMoO₆, orthorhombic, space group, Pnma (no. 62), a=7.805(9) Å, b=6.188(7) Å, c=14.405(4) Å, Z=4, R(F)=0.0443.     

A new heteroditopic receptor and sensor highly selective for bromide in the presence of a bound cation

The heteroditopic receptor 2 containing a crown ether and amidoferrocence groups was synthesized and the binding abilities with various anions are reported in the presence and absence of metal cations. In the presence of Na⁺, 2 showed positive co-operative binding towards Br⁻ with the binding affinity K_ass = 16,096 M⁻¹. Therefore, receptor 2 showed a switched-on binding for Br⁻ in the presence of Na⁺ and a switched-off binding in the absence of Na⁺. Compound 2 was also found to sense Cl⁻ and Br⁻ electrochemically.     

A series of borate-rich metalloborophosphates Na2[MB3P2O11(OH)]·0.67H2O (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn): Synthesis, structure and magnetic susceptibility

A series of metalloborophosphates Na₂[M^IIB₃P₂O₁₁(OH)]·0.67H₂O (M^II=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) have been prepared hydrothermally and their structures have been solved by single-crystal diffraction techniques. They all crystallize in a hexagonal space group P6₃ and form a 3D microporous structure with 12-membered ring channels consisted of octahedral (M^IIO₆), tetrahedral (BO₄, PO₄) and triangular (BO₂(OH)) units, in which the counter Na⁺ cations and water molecules are located. The Na⁺ cations are mobile and can be exchanged by Li⁺ in a melt of LiNO₃. Their open frameworks are thermal stable up to about 500 °C. Completed solid solutions between two different transition metals can also be obtained. Magnetic properties of Na₂[M^IIB₃P₂O₁₁(OH)]·0.67H₂O (M^II=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu) have been investigated.