Molecular macrocluster formation on silica surfaces in phenol-cyclohexane mixtures

The adsorption of phenol, an aromatic compound with a hydrogen-bonding group, onto a silica surface in cyclohexane was investigated by colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and adsorption isotherm measurements. ATR-FTIR measurements on the silica surface indicated the formation of surface macroclusters of phenol through hydrogen bonding. The ATR-FTIR spectra were also measured on the H-terminated silicon surface to observe the effect of the silanol groups on the phenol adsorption. The comparison of the ATR-FTIR spectra for both the silicon oxide and H-terminated silicon surfaces proved that the silanol groups are necessary for the formation of phenol clusters on the surface. The surface force measurement using colloidal probe AFM showed a long-range attraction between the two silica surfaces in phenol-cyclohexane mixtures. This long-range attraction resulted from the contact of the adsorbed phenol layers for the phenol concentrations below 0.6 mol %, at which no significant phenol clusters formed in the bulk solution. The attraction started to decrease at 0.6 mol % phenol due to the exchange of the phenol molecules between the clusters in the bulk phase and on the surface. The surface density of phenol in the adsorbed layer was calculated on the basis of the long-range attraction and found to be much smaller than the liquid phenol density. The plausible structure of the adsorbed phenol layer was drawn by referring to the crystal structure of the bulk phenol and orientation of the phenol molecules on the surface, estimated by the dichroic analysis of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. The investigation of the phenol adsorption on the silica surface in a nonpolar solvent using this novel approach demonstrated the effect of the aromatic ring on the surface packing density.     

Surface induced hydrogen-bonded macrocluster formation of methanol on silica surfaces

Recently, we have succeeded in identifying the structure of the adsorption layer of ethanol on a silica surface in cyclohexane to be a hydrogen-bonded linear aggregate (polymer), which we call a surface molecular macrocluster. In this work, we studied the effect of the miscibility of liquids on the formation of the surface molecular macroclusters for confirming that this is a surface induced phenomenon. We investigated the interaction and the structure of methanol adsorbed on a silica surface in methanol-cyclohexane binary liquids by a combination of colloidal probe atomic force microscopy, adsorption excess isotherm measurement, and FTIR spectroscopy using the attenuated total reflection (ATR) mode, and compared the results with those of the ethanol-cyclohexane and 1-propanol-cyclohexane binary liquids. The former system is immiscible at methanol concentrations of ca. 8-90 mol %, and the latter two are miscible at any composition. At 0.03 mol % methanol, which is far from the critical concentration for the phase separation, the contact of the methanol macrocluster layers formed on the silica surface brought about the attraction from a distance of 42 +/- 5 nm which was similar to that observed in ethanol-cyclohexane. At a methanol concentration of 9.0 mol %, above bulk phase separation, completely different force profiles were observed. These results demonstrated that the molecular macrocluster formation was different from the wetting induced by the bulk.     

Zirconocene interaction with MAO on (111) and (100) silica surfaces

This work examines a polymerisation catalyst based on zirconocene with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a cocatalyst on silica surfaces. Calculations were carried out using the Atom Superposition and Electron Delocalisation method (ASED‐MO) considering the (111) and (100) silica planes, both completely and partially hydrated. Our results suggest the production of a cationic zirconocene as a final step for the active site formation for (111) silica plane, occurring preferentially on partially hydrated silica. On the contrary this may not be possible for the (100) plane, resulting in this case in the formation of a MAO‐zirconocene complex as a final and most stable state.     

Hydrogen-bonded assembly of methanol on Cu(111)

Investigation of methanol's surface chemistry on metals is a crucial step towards understanding the reactivity of this important chemical feedstock. Cu is a relevant metal for methanol synthesis and reforming, but due to the weak interaction of methanol with Cu, an atomic scale view of methanol's coverage-dependent ordering and self-assembly on Cu(111), the most abundant facet of most nanoparticles, has not yet been possible. Low and variable temperature scanning tunneling microscopy coupled with density functional theory reveal a coverage-dependent range of highly ordered structures stabilized by two hydrogen bonds per molecule. While extended chains that resemble the hydrogen-bonded zigzag structures reported for solid methanol are an efficient way to pack methanol at higher coverages, lower surface coverages yield isolated hexamer units. These hexamers form the same number of hydrogen bonds as the chains but appear to repel one another on the surface. Annealing treatments lead to the desorption of methanol with almost no decomposition. This data serves as a useful guide to both the preferred adsorption geometries and energies of a variety of methanol structures on Cu(111) surfaces as a function of surface coverage.     

Gelatine thin films as biomimetic surfaces for silica particles formation

The formation of silica nanostructures by several living organisms, such as diatoms or sponges, involves specific macromolecules that control the growth and the organization of silica nanoparticles. In order to investigate if a single molecular system could perform both particle size control and morphological template, gelatine thin films of various concentration and strength were prepared as biomimetic models and their reactivity towards sodium silicate aqueous solutions was studied. Simultaneous formation of silica particles in the nanometric and micrometric size range was observed. The former corresponds to colloids grown at the surface of the gelatine films and the latter to particles induced by gelatine chain brushes formed at the film/water interface. These results are in good agreement with well-known principles of biomineralization and suggest that multi-molecular systems, rather than single components, are responsible for biogenic silica nanostructure formation.     

Photochemistry of cyclohexane on Cu(111)

The photochemistry of cyclohexane on Cu(111) and its excitation mechanism have been studied by temperature-programmed desorption, ultraviolet and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cyclohexane weakly adsorbed on Cu(111) has been known to show a broadened and redshifted CH stretching band, i.e., CH vibrational mode softening. Although no dehydrogenation takes place thermally on this surface and by the irradiation of photons at 5.0 eV, adsorbed cyclohexane is dissociated to cyclohexyl and hydrogen by the irradiation of photons at 6.4 eV. This is a marked contrast to cyclohexane in the gas phase where the onset of absorption is located at 7 eV. When the surface irradiated by 6.4-eV photons is further annealed, cyclohexyl is dehydrogenated to form cylcohexene that desorbs at 230 K. The systematic measurements of photochemical cross sections at 6.4 eV with linearly polarized light as a function of incident angle indicate that the electronic transition from the highest occupied band of cyclohexane to a partially occupied hybridized band near the Fermi level is responsible for the photochemistry. The hybridized band is formed by the interactions between the electronic states of cyclohexane and the metal substrate. The role of the hybridized band in the photochemistry and the CH vibrational mode softening is discussed.     

Hydrogen-bonded supramolecular poly(ether ketone)s

The preparation of 2,4-diamino-1,3,5-triazine telechelic poly(ether ketone)s (triazine PEKs) and the formation of supramolecular polymers with dodecyl-(α-ω)-bis(5-methyl-1,3-pyrimidine-2,4-dione) were investigated. Both structures interacted by complementing hydrogen-bonding units present at their respective chain ends, this being reminiscent of triple hydrogen bonding in DNA. The preparation of the triazine PEKs started from hydroxyl-terminated poly(ether ketone)s by a nucleophilic displacement reaction with 2,4-diamino-6-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,5-triazine. With this method and molecular weight control via the Carothers equation, a series of triazine PEKs with a complete degree of end-group functionalization were prepared. The structure of the polymers was proven by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization spectroscopy. When mixed as a 1:1 complex in solution with dodecyl-(α-ω)-bis(5-methyl-1,3-pyrimidine-2,4-dione), short triazine PEKs (molecular weight = 5700 or 10,000) showed a temperature-dependent association behavior visible via dynamic NMR spectroscopy. Additional proof of the formation of a supramolecular, hydrogen-bonded network was derived from solid-state NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheological investigations. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 661–674, 2004     

Influence of cyclohexane vapor on stick-slip friction between mica surfaces

Stick-slip friction between mica surfaces under cyclohexane vapor has been investigated with the Surface Force Apparatus. The dynamic shear stress decreased from 60 to 10 MPa with increasing relative vapor pressure (rvp) from 5% to 50%. Between a rvp of 50% and 80%, the shear stress remained at approximately 10 MPa, with a slight decrease on increasing the rvp. At a rvp greater than 80%, the values of shear stress were below 5 MPa. The stick-slip behavior was observed in the rvp range of 20% to saturation. When the rvp reached 20%, stick-slip appeared but faded out with sliding time. At a rvp greater than 50%, the stick-slip pattern was stable without fading. By taking into account the size of the meniscus formed by capillary condensation of the liquid around the contact area and the Laplace pressure, the dependence of shear stress and the stick-slip modulation on rvp suggests that the origin of the stick-slip observed in cyclohexane vapor is as follows: At a rvp greater than 50%, where stable sick-slip is observed, the stick-slip caused by the cyclohexane layering in the contact area is of essentially the same origin as that observed with mica surfaces sliding in bulk cyclohexane liquid. As with the bulk liquid experiment, decreasing the layer thickness (or the number of the layers) between the surfaces increases the shear stress at the onset of slip. In the vapor phase experiments, the stick-slip is enhanced by the increase of the negative Laplace pressure in the capillary condensed liquid, thereby forcing the surfaces toward each other more strongly with decreasing rvp. In the rvp range between 20% and 50%, where the fading stick-slip is observed, the condensate liquid seeps into the contact area under the influence of the applied tangential force and thus triggers the slip motion. Due to the small condensation volume, the liquid condensed around the contact area is exhausted in the process of repeating stick-slip. As the slip length is limited to the meniscus size, the stick-slip amplitude becomes smaller, and eventually the surfaces start sliding without stick-slip.     

One step formation of propene from ethene or ethanol through metathesis on nickel ion-loaded silica

Increased propene production is presently one of the most significant objectives in petroleum chemistry. Especially the one-step conversion of ethene to propene (ETP reaction, 3C?H? →2C?H?) is the most desired process. In our efforts, nickel ion-loaded mesoporous silica could turn a new type of ETP reaction into reality. The one-step conversion of ethene was 68% and the propene selectivity was 48% in a continuous gas-flow system at 673 K and atmospheric pressure. The reactivity of lower olefins and the dependences of the ETP reaction on the contact time and the partial pressure of ethene were consistent with a reaction mechanism involving dimerization of ethene to 1-butene, isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butene, and metathesis of 2-butene and ethene to yield propene. The reaction was then expanded to an ethanol-to-propene reaction on the same catalyst, in which two possible reaction routes are suggested to form ethene from ethanol. The catalysts were characterized mainly by EXAFS and TPR techniques. The local structures of the nickel species active for the ETP reaction were very similar to that of layered nickel silicate, while those on the inert catalysts were the same as that of NiO particles.     

Activity and selectivity of superhigh silica zeolites in cyclohexane conversion

Cyclohexane conversion on superhigh silica (SHS) zeolites with different Si:Al ratios and on faujazite (HY) has been studied on a pulse microcatalytic setup. It has been found that the catalytic activity of SHS zeolites in cyclohexane conversion decreases with increasing Si:Al ratio. Unlike HY zeolite, SHS samples are highly selective to cyclohexane cracking and have low selectivity to the formation of cyclic hydrocarbons.

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(CBK) Si:Al HY. , Si:Al CBK- . HY, CBK- .

     

The terminal grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) chains to silica surfaces

Two methods are described for the terminal grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains to silica particles. In both cases, a diisocyanate coupling route is employed. In the first method, isocyanatecapped PEO chains are reacted directly with the silica surface in a suitable organic solvent e.g. carbon tetrachloride. This route was found to be suitable for silica surfaces which had been previously, at some stage, dry. The second method, more suitable for aqeous silica dispersions, involves reacting the isocyanate-capped PEO chains with γ-amino n-propyl triethoxysilane. The resultant triethoxysilanecapped PEO chains are then added directly to the silica dispersion during the later stages of its formation (by hydrolysis of tetraethylsilicate in water/methanol mixtures). A co-condensation process results in the grafting of the PEO chains. In both cases, high coverages of PEO chains are achieved. However, in aqeous media it was found necessary to add isopropanol (0.5%) to the system to prevent oxidative degradation of the PEO chains. Even then long-term stability ( > c. 1 month) diffucult to to achieve; this was thought to be due to the slow dissolution process of silica itself in aqeous solution.     

Kinetic and geometric isotope effects originating from different adsorption potential energy surfaces: cyclohexane on Rh(111)

Novel isotope effects were observed in desorption kinetics and adsorption geometry of cyclohexane on Rh(111) by the use of infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, photoelectron spectroscopy, and spot-profile-analysis low energy electron diffraction. The desorption energy of deuterated cyclohexane (C(6)D(12)) is lower than that of C(6)H(12). In addition, the work function change by adsorbed C(6)D(12) is smaller than that by adsorbed C(6)H(12). These results indicate that C(6)D(12) has a shallower adsorption potential than C(6)H(12) (vertical geometric isotope effect). The lateral geometric isotope effect was also observed in the two-dimensional cyclohexane superstructures as a result of the different repulsive interaction between interfacial dipoles. The observed isotope effects should be ascribed to the quantum nature of hydrogen involved in the C-H···metal interaction.     

Computational study of ethanol adsorption and reaction over rutile TiO(2) (110) surfaces

Studies of the modes of adsorption and the associated changes in electronic structures of renewable organic compounds are needed in order to understand the fundamentals behind surface reactions of catalysts for future energies. Using planewave density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the adsorption of ethanol on perfect and O-defected TiO(2) rutile (110) surfaces was examined. On both surfaces the dissociative adsorption mode on five-fold coordinated Ti cations (Ti(4+)(5c)) was found to be more favourable than the molecular adsorption mode. On the stoichiometric surface E(ads) was found to be equal to 0.85 eV for the ethoxide mode and equal to 0.76 eV for the molecular mode. These energies slightly increased when adsorption occurred on the Ti(4+)(5c) closest to the O-defected site. However, both considerably increased when adsorption occurred at the removed bridging surface O; interacting with Ti(3+) cations. In this case the dissociative adsorption becomes strongly favoured (E(ads) = 1.28 eV for molecular adsorption and 2.27 eV for dissociative adsorption). Geometry and electronic structures of adsorbed ethanol were analysed in detail on the stoichiometric surface. Ethanol does not undergo major changes in its structure upon adsorption with its C-O bond rotating nearly freely on the surface. Bonding to surface Ti atoms is a σ type transfer from the O2p of the ethanol-ethoxide species. Both ethanol and ethoxide present potential hole traps on O lone pairs. Charge density and work function analyses also suggest charge transfer from the adsorbate to the surface, in which the dissociative adsorptions show a larger charge transfer than the molecular adsorption mode.     

Unwinding of poly(ethylene oxide) chains grafted on silica under a shear flow of cyclohexane, observed by spin-labelling

Poly(ethylene oxide) chains of molecular weight 2000 have been grafted on pyrogenic silica, spin-labelled at their free end and put into contact with cyclohexane. The electron paramagnetic resonance of the nitroxide free radical gives evidence of two specific environments: namely, trains adsorbed on the solid with a restricted motion and loops and tails protruding into solution with a high mobility. The dynamic parameters such as the rotational correlation time and the static ones such as the fraction of each population have been evaluated. Under a flow of solvent the unwinding of the chains has been observed with increasing flow rate in our experimental range. Some mechanisms are proposed to explain this behaviour. Received: 27 April 1999 Accepted in revised form: 3 June 1999     

乙醇和环己烷液体混合物的内压

测定了25-65℃温度范围内乙醇和环己烷液体混合物的热压力系数, 它们都很好地遵守我们先前提出的修正van der Waals模型。从模型参数B/A^2, 可以得到乙醇自缔合的破坏与浓度间的定量关系。混合物的内压不仅取决于两个组分的内压, 而且还与相互作用参数A12有关。     

Changes of methylated silica surfaces on ageing

Silica rendered hydrophobic by organosilanes is a widely used model material in colloid chemistry, biological research, catalysis, etc. However, it is often overlooked that the surface properties of silica, and silica made hydrophobic be reacting with silane, change with time when the substrate is immersed in aqueous solution. Therefore the experimental conditions when such model systems are employed have to be carefully assessed. This paper summarizes the findings of the force measurement tests between air bubbles and silica particles hydrophobized with organosilanes such as trimethylchlorosilane and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyl-disilazane. The results showed that the attractive forces as well as the adhesion between the air bubbles and silica particles decrease with the time of aging in aqueous solution. The silica surfaces rendered hydrophobic with organosilanes become hydrophilic with time due to hydration. The hydrophobicity could be restored by heating the samples at 190?^○C. The atomic force microscopy imaging on silica plates revealed that in addition to hydration, decomposition of the organosilane layer also takes place.     

Fabrication of superhydrophilic poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride)/silica hybrid surfaces on poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes

Superhydrophilic organic/inorganic hybrid surfaces have been fabricated on blend membranes of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (SMA). The blend membranes were prepared from PVDF/SMA mixed solution with N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as solvent by immersion-precipitation phase inversion process. The gained blend membranes were immersed into γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) solution to generate SMA/silica hybrid surfaces by the reaction between anhydrides and APTS. The hybrid surfaces chemical compositions, morphologies and hydrophilicity were investigated in detail. It demonstrates that the hybrid surfaces possess micro-nano hierarchical structure and display superhydrophilicity property and good stability. Finally, the reaction and formation mechanism of the superhydrophilicity hybrid surface was discussed.