Kinetics of low-temperature initiation of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>/O<Subscript>2</Subscript>/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O mixture combustion upon the excitation of molecular vibrations in H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O molecules by laser radiation

The initiation of H₂/O₂/H₂O mixture combustion when asymmetric vibrations in H₂O molecules are excited by a resonant IR laser radiation is considered. It is shown that the vibrational excitation of the molecules gives rise to new efficient channels for the formation of chemically active O and H atoms and OH radicals. As a result, the chain mechanism of combustion in the mixtures is enhanced and, as a consequence, the induction time is cut and the ignition temperature is lowered. Even at a minor radiant energy flux delivered to the gas (E_in≈2.5 J/cm²), the ignition temperature of the stoichiometric H₂/O₂ mixture containing only 5% of H₂O may become as low as 300 K.     

Ionic composition of a humid air plasma under ionizing radiation

A kinetic model is proposed for ion–molecular processes involving charged particles of a humid air plasma produced by a fast electron beam. The model includes more than 600 processes involving electrons and 41 positive and 14 negative ions, including hydrated ions H₃O⁺ (H₂O) _n and O ₂ ^? (H₂O) _n with n = 1, 2, …, 12. The energy costs of production of electron–ion pairs and electronic and vibrational (for water molecules, also rotational) excitation of molecules are calculated in nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, air, and humid air. A method is proposed for calculating the energy costs in mixtures by the calculation data in pure gases. The evolution of the plasma composition is studied by the numerical solution of a system of 56 time-dependent balance equations for the number of charged particles of plasma by the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. The steady-state composition of plasma is determined by solving nonlinear steady-state balance equations for the ionization rates of humid air from 10 to 10¹⁶ cm^–3/s and the fraction of water molecules from 10^–3% to 1.5%. It is established that, for water vapor content (the ratio of the number density of water molecules to the total number density of air molecules) of 0.015–1.5% in air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, the main ion species are two types of positive ions H₃O⁺ (H₂O) _n with the number of water molecules n = 5, 6 and three species of negative ions O ₂ ^? (H₂O) _n with n = 5, 8, 9.     

Features of Propene Oxidation in Argon,Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor Media at a High Density of Reagents

The features of propene oxidation in high-density mixtures of C₃H₆/O₂ ([C₃H₆]₀ = 0.23–0.25 mol/dm³, [O₂]₀ = 0.76–0.82 mol/dm³), diluted with argon, carbon dioxide and water vapor at uniform heating (1 K/min) to T ≤ 620 K are investigated for the first time. From the time dependences of reaction mixtures temperature it is found that propene self-ignition occurs at 465 K and does not depend on the nature of the diluent. Using mass spectrometry analysis it is demonstrated that in the composition of the products of propene oxidation in the Ar and CO₂ medium predominate methanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, acetic acid and formaldehyde; in the oxidation in the H₂O medium, only small amof O₂ in the oxidation of propene increases in ounts of these substances were registered. Degree of consumption the following order: CO₂ ? Ar < H₂O, which is a consequence of the involvement of CO₂ and H₂O molecules in chemical transformations. Mechanisms of the observed processes are discussed.     

First direct kinetic measurement of i-C4H5 (CH2CHCCH2) + O2 reaction: Toward quantitative understanding of aromatic ring formation chemistry

The kinetics of the i-C₄H₅ (buta-1,3-dien-2-yl) radical reaction with molecular oxygen has been measured over a wide temperature range (275–852 K) at low pressures (0.8–3 Torr) in direct, time-resolved experiments. The measurements were performed using a laminar flow reactor coupled to photoionization mass spectrometer (PIMS), and laser photolysis of either chloroprene (2-chlorobuta-1,3-diene) or isoprene was used to produce the resonantly stabilized i-C₄H₅ radical. Under the experimental conditions, the measured bimolecular rate coefficient of i-C₄H₅ + O₂ reaction is independent of bath gas density and exhibits weak, negative temperature dependency, and can be described by the expression k₃ = (1.45 ± 0.05) × 10^?12 × (T/298 K)^{?(0.13±0.05)} cm³ s^?1. The measured bimolecular rate coefficient is surprisingly fast for a resonantly stabilized radical. Under combustion conditions, the reactions of i-C₄H₅ radical with ethylene and acetylene are believed to play an important role in forming the first aromatic ring. However, the current measurements show that i-C₄H₅ + O₂ reaction is significantly faster under combustion conditions than previous estimations suggest and, consequently, inhibits the soot forming propensity of i-C₄H₅ radicals. The bimolecular rate coefficient estimates used for the i-C₄H₅ + O₂ reaction in recent combustion simulations show significant variation and are up to two orders of magnitude slower than the current, measured value. All estimates, in contrast to our measurements, predict a positive temperature dependency. The observed products for the i-C₄H₅ + O₂ reaction were formaldehyde and ketene. This is in agreement with the one theoretical study available for i-C₄H₅ + O₂ reaction, which predicts the main bimolecular product channels to be H₂CO + C₂H₃ + CO and H₂CCO + CH₂CHO.     

Magnetic properties of single crystals of a new cobaltite TbBaCo<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>7+<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>

The temperature and field dependences of the magnetization of a single crystal of a new class of layered cobaltites, TbBaCo₄O_7+x , with a structure containing a Kagomé lattice and a triangular lattice were measured. The measurements were performed on a SQUID magnetometer at temperatures in the range 2–300 K and in magnetic fields of up to 55 kOe for two field orientations. The anisotropy of the magnetization was studied, and the presence of antiferromagnetic ordering in fields H < H _c and a weak magnetic-field-induced (H > H _c ) ferromagnetic component in the low-temperature range was demonstrated. The magnetic characteristics of the initial TbBaCo₄O_7+x single crystal and the single crystal annealed in an O₂ atmosphere were compared.     

Preparation of periodic mesoporous silica-included divacant Keggin units for the catalytic oxidation of styrene to synthesize styrene oxide

Periodic mesoporous composite catalysts, [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]₄[γ-SiW₁₀O₃₄(H₂O)₂]/SBA-15 (TBA-1*/SBA-15, where TBA-1* = [(n-C₄H₉)₄N]₄[γ-SiW₁₀O₃₄(H₂O)₂]), with TBA-1* loadings of 4.3-14.8% were prepared by simultaneous hydrolysis and co-condensation of the tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in the presence of divacant Keggin-type polyoxometalate and triblock copolymer surfactant (P123) followed by hydrothermal treatment process. Structure integrity of the Keggin unit in as-prepared composites was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman scattering spectra, and ²⁹Si magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. Periodic mesoporous structure of the composites was evaluated by low-angle X-ray powder diffraction (LXRD) patterns, nitrogen porosimetry, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) measurements. As-prepared TBA-1*/SBA-15 was used as an heterogeneous oxidation catalyst for the styrene epoxidation reaction to synthesize styrene oxide in the presence of dilute H₂O₂ (30%), and influences of solvent, molar ratio of styrene to H₂O_2, TBA-1* loading on the styrene conversion, styrene oxide yield and selectivity were considered.     

The formation of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles in the oxidation of aluminum by water under sub- and supercritical conditions

Massive aluminum samples were oxidized by sub- and supercritical water with the formation of (AlOOH) _n and (Al₂O₃) _n nanoparticles. The release of H₂ began at 523 K when the reagents were heated uniformly to 700 K. The time lag of the beginning of oxidation was 140 s when supercritical water was injected into a reactor with aluminum samples at 665 K and 23.1 MPa. Oxidized aluminum powders were analyzed using a transmission electron microscope. Predominantly large (300–400 nm) α-Al₂O₃ particles were formed when supercritical water was injected into a reactor with aluminum. Smaller (20–50 nm) γ-Al₂O₃ particles were also observed in samples oxidized by water vapor under temperature increase conditions. Kinetic equations describing the rate of H₂ formation in the reaction of H₂O with aluminum were obtained. Possible nanostructuring mechanisms are discussed.     

Effect of alloying on the stabilities and catalytic properties of Pt–Au bimetallic subnanoclusters: a theoretical investigation

Density functional theory (DFT) has been applied to study the geometrical and electronic structures and the catalytic properties for NO oxidation of pure Pt and PtAu clusters. The calculated results suggest that Pt₁₀ clusters shows the most stable structure among the pure Pt _n (n = 2–13) clusters with the local maximum Δ₂ E value. The doping of Au atoms reduces the stability of the clusters, and Pt₆Au₄ cluster has the most stable structure among Pt_10?n Au _n (n = 1–7) clusters, due to the closest band centers between Pt and Au atoms (0.83 eV) and the obvious s–p resonance peaks near the Fermi level. Pt₆Au₄ cluster displays the strongest activation of O₂ molecules among Pt_10?n Au _n (n = 0–7) clusters, owing to the clear overlap between O 2p and Pt 6 s and Au 6 s near the Fermi level, and the more positive d band center than the others. The interaction between NO and metals changes slightly in NO/Pt_10-nAu_n (n = 2–7) systems, which is weaker than that in NO/Pt₉Au system, as a result of the decreasing resonance peaks of sp hybridization near the Fermi level. Compared to pure Pt₁₀ cluster, the lower energy barriers and larger reaction energies on Pt₆Au₄ cluster suggest a higher catalytic activity of PtAu cluster for the O₂ dissociation and NO oxidation reactions. Our study provides atomic-scale insights into the nature of the interfacial effect that determines NO oxidation on PtAu cluster catalysts.     

Elastic properties of La<Subscript>0.82</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.18</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> single crystal

The temperature dependences of the velocity of longitudinal sound waves and the internal friction in a La_0.82Ca_0.18MnO₃ single crystal with the Curie temperature T _C = 181 K have been studied. As temperature decreases, the single crystal is shown to undergo the transition from the pseudocubic O* to the Jahn–Teller O’ phase at T ~ 254 K and the reverse transition from O’ to O* phase at T ~ 84 K. The velocity of sound and the internal friction in the O’ phase are found to be significantly smaller than those in the O* phase.     

Structure of ZnZrF<Subscript>6</Subscript> · <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 6–2) and ZnZrF<Subscript>6</Subscript> crystallohydrates according to vibrational spectroscopy data

Fluoridezirconate crystallohydrates ZnZrF₆ · nH₂O (n = 6–2) and anhydrous ZnZrF₆ are investigated by vibrational spectroscopy and thermography. The influence of the hydrate number on the structure of the cationic and anionic sublattices of the crystallohydrates is studied. The changes in the strength of HOH···F and HOH···O hydrogen bonds of coordinated and outer-sphere water molecules occurring with variations in the hydrate number are determined by changes in the IR spectra. The IR spectra of ZnZrF₆ · nH₂O (n =6, 4) compounds, which have isolated complex anions [ZrF₆]^2– in their structure, revealed a band with two peaks in the range of 3470–3430 cm^–1, which corresponds to stretching vibrations of coordinated water molecules. The spectra of ZnZrF₆ · nH₂O (n = 5, 3, 2, 1) crystallohydrates with a polymeric structure show a high-frequency shift of this band, which corresponds to weakening of hydrogen bonds. The vibrations of crystallization water molecules involved in the network of strong O–H···F and O–H···O hydrogen bonds manifest themselves in the spectra of ZnZrF₆ · nH₂O (n =5, 3) crystallohydrates by broad structureless bands in the region of stretching, bending, and libration vibrations.     

Reactions of initiation of the autoignition of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>–O<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixtures in shock waves

The initiation of the autoignition of hydrogen–oxygen–argon mixtures behind reflected shock waves is studied by absorption and emission spectrophotometry in the temperature range of 960 < T < 1670 K at pressures of ~0.1 MPa. Introduction of Mo(CO)₆ additive in an amount of ~80 ppm made it possible to study the effect of O atoms on the shortening of the ignition delay time of H₂–O₂–Ar mixtures. A kinetic modeling of our own and published experimental data at temperatures of 930 < T < 2500 K and pressures of 0.05 < P < 8.7 MPa enabled to establish how the initiation reactions influence the process of self-ignition and to evaluate the rate constant for one of the initiation reactions: k(H₂ + O₂ → 2OH) = (3 ± 1) × 10¹¹exp(–E _a/RT), cm³ mol^–1 s^–1, where E _a = (40 ± 2) kcal/mol.     

Antiferromagnetic Resonance in GdB<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The electron spin resonance has been measured for the first time both in the paramagnetic phase of the metallic GdB₆ antiferromagnet (T_N = 15.5K) and in the antiferromagnetic state (T < T_N). In the paramagnetic phase below T* ~ 70 K, the material is found to exhibit a pronounced increase in the resonance linewidth and a shift in the g-factor, which is proportional to the linewidth Δg(T) ~ ΔH(T). Such behavior is not characteristic of antiferromagnetic metals and seems to be due to the effects related to displacements of Gd³⁺ ions from the centrosymmetric positions in the boron cage. The transition to the antiferromagnetic phase is accompanied by an abrupt change in the position of resonance (from μ₀H₀ ≈ 1.9 T to μ₀H₀ ≈ 3.9 T at ν = 60 GHz), after which a smooth evolution of the spectrum occurs, resulting eventually in the formation of the spectrum consisting of four resonance lines. The magnetic field dependence of the frequency of the resonant modes ω₀(H₀) obtained in the range of 28–69 GHz is well interpreted within the model of ESR in an antiferromagnet with the easy anisotropy axis ω/γ = (H ₀ ² +2H_AH_E)^1/2, where H_E is the exchange field and H_A is the anisotropy field. This provides an estimate for the anisotropy field, H_A ≈ 800 Oe. This value can result from the dipole?dipole interaction related to the mutual displacement of Gd³⁺ ions, which occurs at the antiferromagnetic transition.     

The vibrational spectrum of the OCS molecule based on the data on spectra of liquid and cryosolutions

The IR absorption spectra of liquid OCS (T = 135(1) K) and of the following solutions—OCS + Ar (T = 90 K), OCS + N₂ (T = 90 K), OCS + Kr (T = 130 K), and OCS + Xe (T = 163 K)—are measured in the range 800–7000 cm^?1. From 16 to 40 bands corresponding to transitions to vibrational states up to the third order inclusive are interpreted for basic isotope modification and for the isotopically substituted molecules ¹⁸O¹²C³²S, ¹⁶O¹³C³²S, and ¹⁶O¹²C³⁴S. In the spectra of the liquids, the spectral moments M(1) and M(2) of all the observed bands are determined. The harmonic frequencies ω _i and the anharmonicity constants x _ik are calculated for all the systems, including the liquid. The anharmonicity is found to be constant within the experimental error. A large shift Δω₃ is primarily determined by the dipole-induced dipole interaction.     

Mössbauer study of copper ferrite diluted by Ga<Superscript>3+</Superscript> and Al<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions

Mössbauer spectra of the CuGa _x Al_2x Fe_{2 ? 3x} O₄ system (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) have been studied at a temperature of 295 K. The results obtained are compared with Mössbauer data for the CuGa _x Al _x Fe_2?2x O₄ system. It is established that the hyperfine magnetic fields H _B (for octahedral sites) and H _A (for tetrahedral sites) for ferrites in both systems with ferrimagnetic ordering decrease linearly depending on the total number of nonmagnetic ions in octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the two systems.     

Paramagnetische Resonanz von Er3+ in Y2O3

The paramagnetic resonance absorption of trivalent erbium in single crystals of Y₂O₃ on sites of crystal field symmetry C_3i and C₂ is investigated at 4.2°K and 9.2 kMc/s. The values of theg-tensors and those of the hyperfine structure parallel to the axes of crystalline fields are:g _‖=12.176,g _⊥=3.319,A=426.4·10^?4 cm^?1, andg _z =12.314,g _x =1.645,g _y =4.892, andA _z =433.2·10^?4 cm^?1 for the C_3i-ions and the C₂-ions, respectively. For ions on sites of symmetry C₂ the principal axes ofg in the plane perpendicular toz are found ± 2° beside the [100]-directions. This is different from the result on Yb³⁺ in Y₂O₃. The dependency ofg on the angle of rotation is determined for the (001)-, (110)-, and (111)-plane.     

Thermodynamic study of compounds of the Nd-Ba-Cu-O system

Standard enthalpies of formation for solid solutions of composition Nd_{1 + x} Ba_{2 ? x} Cu₃O _y (x = 0–0.8, y = 6.65–7.24) from oxides were determined by solution calorimetry. The heat capacity of NdBa₂Cu₃O_6.87 phase was measured in the range 5–320 K by low-temperature adiabatic calorimetry. The absolute entropy S ^o(T), the difference of enthalpies H ^o(T)-H ^o(0 K), and the reduced Gibbs energy Φ^o(T) = S ^o(T)–[H ^o(T)–H ^o(0)]/T were calculated on the basis of smoothed dependence C _p (T) in the 0–320 K range. An assessment was made for the heat capacities and the absolute entropies of solid solutions Nd_1+x Ba_2?x Cu₃O _y . The obtained set of thermodynamic parameters can be used for the calculation of phase equilibria in the Nd-Ba-Cu-O system.     

The influence of the proton affinity of molecules that form proton disolvates on disolvate hydrogen bridge parameters

The optimum structures of thirty three proton disolvates (B…H…B)⁺ and (B…H…S)⁺ containing O…H⁺…O, N…H⁺…N, and N…H⁺…O hydrogen bridges were calculated by the density functional theory method (B3LYP/6-31++G(d, p)). The bridge parameters are compared with the proton affinities (PAs) of B and S molecules. Several dependences between the PA or ΔPA = PA_B ? PA_S values and the R _OO, R _NN, and R _NO distances were established. It follows from these results that the proton affinity of oxygen-or nitrogen-containing molecules that form (B…H…B)⁺ and (B…H…S)⁺ ions is an important but not the only factor determining the geometric parameters of hydrogen bridges in them. The dependences obtained can be used to estimate the length of the central fragment of proton disolvates if the PA values of molecules in the disolvates are known. They also allow the degree of proton transfer (the R _N…H and R _H…O distances) to be estimated for N…H⁺…O bridges.     

Paramagnetische Relaxation im Holmiumäthylsulfat

The paramagnetic relaxation of Ho _x Y_1?x (C₂H₅SO₄)₃·9H₂O (x=1; 0.14; 0.1) was investigated with a mutual inductance bridge with frequencies fromν=10 sec^?1 toν=10600 sec^?1 in the temperature range betweenT=1.14°K and 2.11°K. In the diluted samples there is a strong influence of cross relaxation processes between the hyperfine levels on both the paramagnetic relaxation and the paramagnetic susceptibility. One and two spin cross relaxation processes were found. The susceptibility measured as a function of frequency is compared with the susceptibility calculated from the known energy levels of Ho(C₂H₅SO₄)₃·9H₂O. Thus the way how the relaxation process takes place between the various systems (crystal field-, Zeeman-, dipol dipol coupling-, hyperfine structure-, lattice- and bath-system) can be deduced. Some preliminary measurements atν=24.10⁶ sec^?1 are reported and discussed.     

Paramagnetische Relaxation im Terbiumäthylsulfat

The paramagnetic relaxation of Tb_0,01 Y_0,99(C₂H₅SO₄)₃·9H₂O at temperatures between 1,14°K and 4,21°K has been investigated with the absorption-dispersion method at frequencies between 5 sec^?1 and 10240 sec^?1 and different magnetic fields. AtH=700 Oe. The relaxation time follows the equationτ ^?1=[A H ³ coth (g _z μ _B H/2k T)+B T ⁷] sec^?1 as a function of temperature. ForH<800 Oe the paramagnetic relaxation is influenced by cross relaxation processes between the hyperfine structure levels.