Electrochemical oxidation of HCOONa on Pt in acidic solutions

The electrooxidation of HCOONa was carried out over a wide range of pH on Pt. HCOO⁻ and its associated form of HCOOH do not show any difference in electrochemical behaviour. A voltammetric study demonstrates the formation of two kinds of poisoning species in the hydrogen (X₁) and double-layer (X₂) regions. Their dependences on the potential and pH were examined. Constant polarization measurements give the rate expression, i = k(α_H⁺)^−0.43 exp(0.4Fφ_n/RT), independent of the concentrations of HCOO⁻ and HCOOH. The rate-determining step is concluded to be HCOO⁻ (a) → COO⁻ (a)+H⁺ + e⁻ or HCOOH(a) → COOH(a)+H⁺ + e⁻. The negative reaction order with respect to H⁺ was explained through the retarding action of X₂. The nature of X₁ and X₂ is discussed.     

Radiation-induced oxidation of ferrous iron in aqueous solutions

Summary An investigation was made of the dependence of the yield G in the oxidation of aqueous solutions of ferrous iron on various factors. The limits within which the enhanced-G effect is observed and the accuracy with which the effect can be measured were established.     

Kinetic study on hydrolysis and oxidation of formamidine disulfide in acidic solutions

Hydrolysis and oxidation of formamidine disulfide in acidic medium were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and mass spectrometry(MS) at 25 °C.By controlling the slow reaction rate and choosing appropriate mobile phase,HPLC provides the unique advantages over other methods(UV-Vis,chemical separation) in species tracking and kinetic study.In addition to thiourea and formamidine sulfinic acid,two unreported products were also detected in the hydrolysis reaction.Mass spectrometry measurement indicates these two products to be formamidine sulfenic acid and thiocyanogen with mass weights of 92.28 and 116.36,respectively.In the oxidation of formamidine disulfide by hydrogen peroxide,besides thiourea,formamidine sulfenic acid,formamidine sulfinic acid,thiocyanogen and urea,formamidine sulfonic acid and sulfate could be detected.The oxidation reaction was found to be first order in both formamidine disulfide and hydrogen peroxide.The rate constants of hydrolysis and oxidation reactions were determined in the pH range of 1.5-3.0.It was found both rate constants are increased with the increasing of pH.Experimental curves of different species can be effectively simulated via a mechanism scheme for formamidine disulfide oxidation,including hydrolysis equilibrium of formamidine disulfide and irreversible hydrolysis of formamidine sulfenic acid.     

The oxidation of thiosulphate ions by octacyanotungstate(V) in weak acidic medium

The kinetics of the oxidation of thiosulphate ions by octacyanotungstate(V) ions has been studied in the pH range 3.9–5.0. The reaction showed zero-order kinetics with respect to [W(CN)₈^3?] and is consistent with the rate law R = k[H⁺][S₂O₃^2?]². A reaction mechanism is proposed for the reaction with a third-order rate constant of 0.26 M^?2 s^?1 at 25°C.     

The first step of oxidation of alkylbenzenes by permanganates in acidic aqueous solutions

Data on the kinetics, kinetic isotope effects, substrate selectivety, and activation parameters for the first step of oxidation of alkylbenzenes by permanganante in acidic aqueous solutions are surveyed. The MnO₄ ⁻, HMnO₄, and MnO₃ ⁺ species serve as oxidants at different acidities. The increase in the positive charge in this series enhances the electrophilicity of the reagent, which manifests itself as an increase in the reaction rate and a change in the site of attack on the alkylbenzene molecule (either the aromatic ring or C−H bond in the alkyl group). The oxidation of the alkyl C−H bonds in alkylbenzenes and in alkanes follows similar mechanisms, while the attack on the aromatic ring proceedsvia the electrophilic aromatic substitution mechanism with a transition state intermediate between the charge transfer complex and σ-complex. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 765–780, May, 2000.     

The oxidation of 3,3′-dimethoxy benzidine with potassium bromate in acidic solutions

The kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of 3,3′-dimethoxybenzidine (oda, o-dianisidine) by potassium bromate in aqueous acidic medium were studied by monitoring the formation rate of the reaction product, 3,3′-dimethoxy 4,4′-diphenoquinone at 447 nm. The reaction is, first order with respect to both the substrate and oxidant, and second order with respect to H⁺. The oda: bromate stoichiometric ratio is 1:1. Plausible mechanism and rate laws are proposed accounting the experimental findings. Computer simulations were done using the proposed mechanism.     

A weak surface memory effect in liquid crystal cells with rubbed polyimide layers

For the first time we have observed a surface memory effect in liquid crystal cells where both surfaces consist of rubbed polymers. In this case the azimuthal orientation of the optical axis in the cell is unchanged, while the polar orientation of the optical axis in the cell changes. This change is brought about by imposing changes in the in-plane order of the molecules at the surface.     

Silver particles-modified polysulfonic acid-doped polyaniline layers: electroless deposition of silver in slightly acidic and neutral solutions

Polyaniline layers are produced by electrochemical polymerisation of aniline in the presence of small amounts of poly(2-acryalamido-2-methyl-propane-sulfonic acid) in an inorganic acid solution. Electroactivity and in situ conductance of the obtained polysulfonic acid-doped layers are studied in slightly acidic and neutral solutions. Electroless deposition of silver particles is carried out in silver-EDTA complex ion solutions at pH????.2 and pH????.6 by using the polyaniline layers as reductant. The amount of electroless-deposited silver is studied depending on: polymerisation charge used to synthesize the polymer layer, pH of the plating solution, metal ion concentration and dipping time. SEM shows in all cases a highly non-homogeneous distribution of the metallic phase over the surface, the most protruding fibrillar polymer structures favouring the electroless silver deposition. A linear dependence between amount of the polyaniline material and amount of deposited silver is found for the silver plating solutions with the highest investigated concentration (10?mmol?l^??). At lower concentrations (2.0 and 0.4?mmol?l^??), the same amount of silver becomes deposited on polymer layers with markedly different charges. The electroless deposition of silver in the solutions with lower acidity results in lower amounts of deposited silver at otherwise identical conditions. Effects such as charge transfer within the polymer phase and mass transport in the solution are addressed to explain the observed dependencies of the amount of deposited silver on concentration and pH in the different plating solutions.     

Silver particles-modified polysulfonic acid-doped polyaniline layers: electroless deposition of silver in slightly acidic and neutral solutions

Polyaniline layers are produced by electrochemical polymerisation of aniline in the presence of small amounts of poly(2-acryalamido-2-methyl-propane-sulfonic acid) in an inorganic acid solution. Electroactivity and in situ conductance of the obtained polysulfonic acid-doped layers are studied in slightly acidic and neutral solutions. Electroless deposition of silver particles is carried out in silver-EDTA complex ion solutions at pH = 4.2 and pH = 6.6 by using the polyaniline layers as reductant. The amount of electroless-deposited silver is studied depending on: polymerisation charge used to synthesize the polymer layer, pH of the plating solution, metal ion concentration and dipping time. SEM shows in all cases a highly non-homogeneous distribution of the metallic phase over the surface, the most protruding fibrillar polymer structures favouring the electroless silver deposition. A linear dependence between amount of the polyaniline material and amount of deposited silver is found for the silver plating solutions with the highest investigated concentration (10 mmol l⁻¹). At lower concentrations (2.0 and 0.4 mmol l⁻¹), the same amount of silver becomes deposited on polymer layers with markedly different charges. The electroless deposition of silver in the solutions with lower acidity results in lower amounts of deposited silver at otherwise identical conditions. Effects such as charge transfer within the polymer phase and mass transport in the solution are addressed to explain the observed dependencies of the amount of deposited silver on concentration and pH in the different plating solutions.

     

Ru(III) catalysis in oxidation of n-propanol and n-butanol by acidic solutions of bromamine-ULE

Kinetics of Ru(III) catalysed oxidation of n-propanol and n-butanol by acidic solutions of bromamine-T have been investigated. The results show that oxidation of both alcohols follows first-order kinetics in bromamine-T, both alchols, hydrogen ion concentration and Ru(III). Decreasing effect of chloride ion]variation on reaction was observed. No effect of p-toluensulphonamide and ionic strength of the medium was observed. Activation parameters have been calculated and recorded. A suitable mechanism in conformity with the above observations has been proposed.     

Chemiluminescence in the course of methyl ethyl ketone oxidation by ozone in acidic aqueous solutions

Chemiluminescence in the visible spectral region is observed in the course methyl ethyl ketone oxidation by ozone in neutral and acidic aqueous solutions. The spectral composition of the chemiluminescence is studied. On going from neutral to acidic aqueous solutions of methyl ethyl ketone, the initial intensity of the signal increases and the kinetics of a decrease in the chemiluminescence intensity changes. A radical scheme of the process is proposed to explain the results obtained.Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 45, No. 6, 2004, pp. 829–835.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Zimin, Gusmanov, Khursan.     

Corrosion processes of iron in acidic solutions associated with potential oscillations induced by chlorates and perchlorates

Potential oscillations appear under current-controlled conditions of the chlorate- and perchlorate-perturbed electrochemical Fe|H₂SO₄ system. The potential oscillates between the active and passive states of Fe. It is shown that this oscillatory phenomenon is associated with localized corrosion of Fe due to the generation of chlorides via the reduction of chlorates and perchlorates by ferrous ions. Ferrous ions are generated either during the active dissolution of bare Fe (low-potential state) or during the passivation of Fe (high-potential state) due to a H⁺-catalyzed chemical dissolution of the oxide. Potential oscillations can be utilized to detect and characterize pitting corrosion of Fe in acidic solutions because, under current-controlled conditions, the halide-free Fe|H₂SO₄ system does not exhibit any kind of oscillatory phenomena. Characterization of pitting corrosion becomes possible through the analysis of galvanodynamic and galvanostatic curves obtained at various concentrations of chlorates and perchlorates. The variation of the anion concentration and applied current influence the onset and features of the potential oscillations.     

Atomic and electronic structure of the surface of porous silicon layers

Atomic and electronic structure of the surface layers of porous silicon was studied by the methods of the near fine structure spectroscopy at the edge of X-ray absorption and ultrasoft X-ray emission spectroscopy. The thickness of the oxide layer and the degree of distortion of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra in this layer were estimated. The thickness of the surface oxide layer on the amorphous layer covering the nanocrystals of porous silicon that was kept during one year is several times greater than the thickness of the natural oxide in the single crystal silicon wafers. Distortion of the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, the basic structural units of the silicon oxide, is accompanied by elongation of Si-O bonds and an increase in the Si-O-Si bond angles.     

Effect of supporting surface layers on catalytic activities of gold nanoparticles in CO oxidation

The surfaces of fumed silica materials were modified with a surface sol-gel process for catalysis applications. This surface-modification approach allows not only a monolayer growth of TiO(2) or Al(2)O(3) but also a stepwise double-layer growth of TiO(2)/TiO(2), Al(2)O(3)/Al(2)O(3), TiO(2)/Al(2)O(3), or Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2) on the surfaces of the silica materials with a monolayer precision. XRD analyses revealed that the coated monolayers and double layers of TiO(2) and Al(2)O(3) were amorphous. Gold nanoparticles were successfully deposited on the above six surface-modified silica materials via a deposition-precipitation method. The catalytic activities of these six gold catalysts for CO oxidation are highly dependent on the structures of their surface monolayers or double layers. The gold catalyst supported on the silica material functionalized with a TiO(2) monolayer (Au/TiO(2)) is the most active in both as-synthesized and oxidized forms, while the gold catalyst supported on the silica material functionalized with an Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2) double layer (Au/Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2)/SiO(2)) is the most active in the reduced form among the six catalysts. Surprisingly, the gold catalyst supported on the silica material functionalized with a TiO(2)/Al(2)O(3) double layer (Au/TiO(2)/Al(2)O(3)/SiO(2)) has much less activity than Au/Al(2)O(3)/TiO(2)/SiO(2) under all various treatments, underscoring the sensitivity of the catalytic activity to the structure of the supporting surfaces.     

The surface structure of concentrated aqueous salt solutions

The surface-normal electron density profile rhos(z) of concentrated aqueous salt solutions of RbBr, CsCl, LiBr, RbCl, and SrCl2 was determined by x-ray reflectivity (XR). For all but RbBr and SrCl2 rhos(z) increases monotonically with depth z from rhos(z)=0 in the vapor (z<0) to rhos(z)=rhob of the bulk (z>0) over a width of a few angstroms. The width is commensurate with the expected interface broadening by thermally excited capillary waves. Anomalous (resonant) XR of RbBr reveals a depletion at the surface of Br- ions to a depth of approximately 10 A. For SrCl2, the observed rhos(z)>rhob may imply a similar surface depletion of Cl- ions to a depth of a few angstorms. However, as the deviations of the XRs of RbBr and SrCl2 from those of the other solutions are small, the evidence for a different ion composition in the surface and the bulk is not strongly conclusive. Overall, these results contrast earlier theoretical and simulational results and nonstructural measurements, where significant surface layering of alternate, oppositely charged, ions is concluded.     

Changes in iron oxidation state and surface composition of iron-chromium catalyst reduced by hydrogen

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of the reduction of iron-chromium catalysts have been carried out to determine changes in the relative surface concentrations of iron(II) and (III) oxides and metallic iron and in its surface composition at 100–500°C.

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(II), (III) 100–500°C. .

     

Evolution of fractal-like surface structures in layers of polyacrylonitrile solutions by interfacial dynamic processes

Solvent evaporation causes concentration and temperature gradients at the free surface of a coating polymer solution. Thereby surface-tension-driven flows can result in a surface instability with regular structures within the layer. Different types of surface structures can occur at spots with thickness differences. One can find fractal-like structures especially in the edge zone of a layer. The evolution of such fractal-like structures at the surfaces of coating solutions of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in dimethylformamide (DMF) during layer hardening is examined. Condensation of water on the surface of the fluid layer exerts a strong influence on the formation of these structures. Solutions of PAN in DMF are important for the production of ultrafiltration membranes. Such membranes are produced by precipitation in a water bath after a short open time.