Electronic structure and Raman spectroscopy study of dibarium magnesium orthoborate,Ba2Mg(BO3)2

The samples of dibarium magnesium orthoborate Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Raman spectra of the samples were collected. Electronic structure and vibrational spectroscopy of Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were systematically investigated by first principle calculation. A direct band gap of 4.4 eV was obtained from the calculated electronic structure results. The top valence band is constructed from O 2p states and the low conduction band mainly consists of Ba 5d states. Raman spectra for Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ polycrystalline were obtained at ambient temperature. The factor group analysis results show the total lattice modes are 5E_u + 4A_2u + 5E_g + 4A_1g + 1A_2g + 1A_1u, of which 5E_g + 4A_1g are Raman-active. Furthermore, we obtained the Raman active vibrational modes as well as their eigenfrequencies using first-principle calculation. With the assistance of the first-principle calculation and factor group analysis results, Raman bands of Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were assigned as E_g (42 cm⁻¹), A_1g (85 cm⁻¹), E_g (156 cm⁻¹), E_g (237 cm⁻¹), A_1g (286 cm⁻¹), E_g (564 cm⁻¹), A_1g (761 cm⁻¹), A_1g (909 cm⁻¹), E_g (1165 cm⁻¹). The strongest band at 928 cm⁻¹ in the experimental spectrum is assigned to totally symmetric stretching mode of the BO₃ units.     

Modelling of mass transfer in facilitated supported liquid membrane transport of copper(II) using MOC-55 TD in Iberfluid

The transport of copper(II) through a supported liquid membrane using MOC-55 TD (oxime derivative), dissolved in Iberfluid, as a carrier has been studied. A physico-chemical model is derived to describe the transport mechanism which consists of: diffusion process through the feed aqueous diffusion layer, fast interfacial chemical reaction and diffusion through the membrane. The experimental data can be explained by mathematical equations describing the rate of transport. The mass transfer coefficient was calculated from the described model as 2.8×10⁻³ cm s⁻¹, the thickness of the aqueous boundary layer as 2.6×10⁻³ cm⁻¹ and the membrane diffusion coefficient of the copper-containing species as 1.2×10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹.     

Achieving high-rate capacitance of multi-layer titanium carbide (MXene) by liquid-phase exfoliation through Li-intercalation

The stacks of multi-layer Ti₃C₂T_x and other types of MXene materials limit their electrochemical performance. Herein, we report a facile exfoliation technique to improve the exfoliation efficiency through Li-intercalation into Ti₃C₂T_x interlayers in isopropyl alcohol (IPA) with LiOH as intercalant. This de-intercalation method presented here not only effectively delaminates the stacked Ti₃C₂T_x multi-layers into separate few-layer MXene sheets, but also achieves high-rate supercapacitive performance of Ti₃C₂T_x electrode. The as-produced delaminated Ti₃C₂T_x shows highly improved electrochemical capacitive properties from 47 to 115 F g^− 1 at 200 mV s^− 1. Even at extremely high scan rate of 1000 mV s^− 1, a specific capacitance of 82 F g^− 1 is still obtained. The high-rate capability can be attributed to improved ions accessibility into the few-layer structures. This study offers a new and simple exfoliation pathway for MXenes materials to exploit their full potential in energy storage applications.     

Ab initio calculations and mechanism of two proton migration reactions of ethoxy radical

We present a direct ab initio and density functional theory dynamics study of the thermal rate constants of the two H-migration reactions of C₂H₅O radical. MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) methods were employed to optimize the geometries of all stationary points and to calculate the minimum energy path (MEP). The energies of all the stationary points were refined at the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. The thermal gas phase rate constants were evaluated based on the energetics from the QCISD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory using both microcanonical variational transition state theory (μVT) and canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) with the Eckart tunneling correction in the temperature range of 200–2500 K. The extended Arrhenius expression fitted from the μVT/Eckart rate constants of 1,2 H-shift and 1,3 H-shift reactions of C₂H₅O radical in the temperature range of 200–2500 K are k = 3.90 × 10⁻³¹T^12.4e^{(−2.13 × 103/T)} and k = 2.83 × 10⁻²⁹T^11.9e^{(−2.24 × 103/T)} s⁻¹, respectively. The two isomerization rate constants exhibited positive temperature dependence in the calculated temperature region. The variational effects for the two isomerizations of ethoxy radical are small and the tunneling effects are important in the low temperature range. The titled reactions are minor and not essential compared to the decomposition pathways of ethoxy radical.     

Investigation of anharmonicity in rotational phonon mode for BaWO4 crystal

Spontaneous Raman spectra in the BaWO₄ were measured in the temperature range from 4 K to 280 K, and the temperature dependence of the linewidth of the A_g (191 cm⁻¹) Raman mode was analyzed using the lattice dynamical perturbative approach and one-phonon density of states (PDOS). The linewidth slope for the 191 cm⁻¹ peak for an external mode is 7.2 times larger than that for the 926 cm⁻¹ peak for a breathing mode. The different behaviors of these two modes in the case of temperature broadening could be attributed to the large energy band gap in the one-phonon density of states (PDOS) resulting in different anharmonic interactions. The origin may be that the ratio of up-conversion TDOS to down-conversion TDOS for Eg mode (191 cm⁻¹) is more than that for A_g (926 cm⁻¹). The peak of the Eg mode (191 cm⁻¹) is attributed to the coupling mode both a rotation of the Barium and an out-of-phase rotation of the oxygen in x–y plane as a librational mode.     

Potential energy surface and rate constant of the inversion substitution reactions CH3X + O2 → CH3O2• + X• (X = SH,NO2)

The temperature dependence of the rate constant of the inversion substitution reactions CH₃X + O₂ → CH₃O₂^? + X^? (X = SH, NO₂), can be expressed as k = 6.8 × 10^–12(T/1000)^1.49exp(–62816 cal mol^–1/RT) cm³ s^–1 (X = SH) and k = 6.8 × 10^–12(T/1000)^1.26 × × exp(–61319 cal mol^–1/RT) cm³ s^–1 (X = NO₂), as found with the use of high-level quantum chemical methods and the transition state theory.     

Investigation of the phonon band gap effect on Raman-active optical phonons in SrMoO4 crystal

The phonon dispersions of SrMoO₄ crystal are calculated using the lattice dynamical calculations approach. Spontaneous Raman spectra in the SrMoO₄ were measured in the temperature range from 10 K to 295 K, and the temperature dependence of the linewidth of the B_g (95 cm⁻¹) and A_g (888 cm⁻¹) Raman modes was analyzed using the lattice dynamical perturbative approach. We found that different behaviors of these two modes in the case of temperature broadening could be attributed to the large energy band gap in the phonon spectrum resulting in different anharmonic interactions. The calculated temperature dependence of the linewidth of A_g (888 cm⁻¹) mode was well accounted for the experimental one by including both down-conversion by the cubic term and the dephasing by quartic term. The dephasing processes are increased only at high temperatures and the effect of dephasing is related to the size of a large phonon band gap.     

Hydrogen production from hydrogen sulfide using membrane reactor integrated with porous membrane having thermal and corrosion resistance

Using mathematical model and experimental method, the thermal decomposition of hydrogen sulfide in membrane reactor with porous membrane which has Knudsen diffusion characteristics was investigated. With mathematical model, the effect of characteristics of membrane reactor and operating conditions on H₂ concentration in the permeate chamber, y_H2, which increases at higher reaction temperature, lower pressure and higher ratio of cross-sectional area of the permeate chamber to that of the reactor, was evaluated. The reaction experiments with ZrO₂–SiO₂ porous membrane were carried out under the following conditions: temperature T, 923–1023 K; pressure in the reactor p^R_T, 0.11–0.25 MPa absolute; pressure in the permeate chamber p^P_T, 5 kPa absolute and inlet flow rate of H₂S f⁰_H2S, 3.2×10⁻⁵–1.5×10⁻⁴ mol/s. At p^R_T=0.11 MPa and f⁰_H2S=6.4×10⁻⁵, y_H2 increased from 0.02 at T=923 K to 0.15 at 1023 K. With the experimental condition, p^R_T=0.11, T=1023 K and f⁰_H2S=3.2×10⁻⁵, y_H2 was 0.22. The experimental results were compared with the results of the mathematical analysis. The agreement between both the results is found rather good at a lower reacting temperature, but not so good at a higher reacting temperature.     

Preparation of palladium membranes from the reaction of Pd(C3H3)(C5H5) with H2: wet-impregnated deposition

A new technique to prepare a palladium membrane for high-temperature hydrogen permeation was developed: Pd(C₃H₃)(C₅H₅) an organometallic precursor reacted with hydrogen at room temperature to decompose into Pd crystallites. This reaction together with sintering treatment under hydrogen and nitrogen in sequence resulted in the formation of dense films of pure palladium on the surface of the mesoporous stainless steel (SUS) support. Under H₂ atmosphere the palladium membrane could be sintered at 823 K to form a skin layer inside the support pores. The hydrogen permeance was 5.16×10⁻² cm³ cm⁻² cm Hg⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 723 K. H₂/N₂ selectivity was 1600 at 723 K.     

Heat capacities,third-law entropies and thermodynamic functions of the geometrically frustrated antiferromagnetic spinels GeCo2O4 and GeNi2O4 from T=(0 to 400) K

The molar heat capacities of GeCo₂O₄ and GeNi₂O₄, two geometrically frustrated spinels, have been measured in the temperature range from T=(0.5 to 400) K. Anomalies associated with magnetic ordering occur in the heat capacities of both compounds. The transition in GeCo₂O₄ occurs at T=20.6 K while two peaks are found in the heat capacity of GeNi₂O₄, both within the narrow temperature range between 11.4<(T/K)<12.2. Thermodynamic functions have been generated from smoothed fits of the experimental results. At T=298.15 K the standard molar heat capacities are (143.44 ± 0.14) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ for GeCo₂O₄ and (130.76 ± 0.13) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ for GeNi₂O₄. The standard molar entropies at T=298.15 K for GeCo₂O₄ and GeNi₂O₄ are (149.20 ± 0.60) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ and (131.80 ± 0.53) J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ respectively. Above 100 K, the heat capacity of the cobalt compound is significantly higher than that of the nickel compound. The excess heat capacity can be reasonably modeled by the assumption of a Schottky contribution arising from the thermal excitation of electronic states associated with the CO²⁺ ion in a cubic crystal field. The splittings obtained, 230 cm⁻¹ for the four-fold-degenerate first excited state and 610 cm⁻¹ for the six-fold degenerate second excited state, are significantly lower than those observed in pure CoO.     

Raman scattering study of the geometrically frustrated pyrochlore Y2Ru2O7

Geometrically frustrated pyrochlore Y₂Ru₂O₇, which shows a spin-glass-like transition at T_G ∼ 80 K, were investigated by temperature-dependent Raman scattering. Three discernable phonons appear around 315, 410, and 510 cm⁻¹ without any abrupt change in the number of Raman active modes within the temperature range of 10–300 K. Fitting each phonon with Lorentz oscillators, we analyzed the effects of temperature on the phonon frequencies and the linewidths. The temperature-dependence of the mode near 510 cm⁻¹ shows abnormal behavior below T_G, while the other two phonons follow the usual thermal effect of lattice vibration. This behavior can be understood in terms of spin–phonon coupling. Considering the atomic modulations of each phonon mode, it is conjectured that the 510 cm⁻¹ phonon mode is isotropically coupled to the spin degree of freedom, while the other modes are not.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study of syngenite formed during the treatment of liquid manure with sulphuric acid

Syngenite (K₂Ca(SO₄)₂·H₂O), formed during treatment of manure with sulphuric acid, was studied by infrared, near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy. C_s site symmetry was determined for the two sulphate groups in syngenite (P2₁/m), so all bands are both infrared and Raman active. The split ν₁ (two Raman+two infrared bands) was observed at 981 and 1000 cm⁻¹. The split ν₂ (four Raman+four infrared bands) was observed in the Raman spectrum at 424, 441, 471 and 491 cm⁻¹. In the infrared spectrum, only one band was observed at 439 cm⁻¹. From the split ν₃ (six Raman+six infrared) bands three 298 K Raman bands were observed at 1117, 1138 and 1166 cm⁻¹. Cooling to 77 K resulted in four bands at 1119, 1136, 1144 and 1167 cm⁻¹. In the infrared spectrum, five bands were observed at 1110, 1125, 1136, 1148 and 1193 cm⁻¹. From the split ν₄ (six infrared+six Raman bands) four bands were observed in the infrared spectrum at 604, 617, 644 and 657 cm⁻¹. The 298 K Raman spectrum showed one band at 641 cm⁻¹, while at 77 K four bands were observed at 607, 621, 634 and 643 cm⁻¹. Crystal water is observed in the infrared spectrum by the OH-liberation mode at 754 cm⁻¹, OH-bending mode at 1631 cm⁻¹, OH-stretching modes at 3248 (symmetric) and 3377 cm⁻¹ (antisymmetric) and a combination band at 3510 cm⁻¹ of the H-bonded OH-mode plus the OH-stretching mode. The near-infrared spectrum gave information about the crystal water resulting in overtone and combination bands of OH-liberation, OH-bending and OH-stretching modes.     

Electrochemical properties of liquid electrolyte added quasi-solid state TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells

In this study a process has been introduced to replace traditional liquid or solid electrolyte coatings on dye-sensitized photoelectrode in solar cells. This process has more efficient diffusion of electrolyte, hence higher sensitivity. Better interfacial contact between polymer electrolyte and TiO₂ photoelectrode had improved electrochemical response and ionic conductivity of cell. Conductivity of this electrode was 9.33 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ (at room temperature), which is much higher than the using traditional process for addition of electrolytes. It has 0.68 V open-circuit voltage and 3.19 mA cm⁻² short-circuit current density. Energy conversion efficiency of this cell was about 37% higher than the cell developed with traditional processes under constant light intensity (45 mW cm⁻²).     

Vibrational and electronic properties of single-walled and double-walled boron nitride nanotubes

We calculated IR, nonresonance Raman spectra and vertical electronic transitions of the zigzag single-walled and double-walled boron nitride nanotubes ((0,n)-SWBNNTs and (0,n)@(0,2n)-DWBNNTs). In the low frequency range below 600 cm⁻¹, the calculated Raman spectra of the nanotubes showed that RBMs (radial breathing modes) are strongly diameter-dependent, and in addition the RBMs of the DWBNNTs are blue-shifted reference to their corresponding one in the Raman spectra of the isolated (0,n)-SWBNNTs. In the high frequency range above ∼1200 cm⁻¹, two proximate Raman features with symmetries of the A_1g (∼1355 ± 10 cm⁻¹) and E_2g (∼1330 ± 25 cm⁻¹) first increase in frequency then approach a constant value of ∼1365 and ∼1356 cm⁻¹, respectively, with increasing tubes’ diameter, which is in excellent agreement with experimental observations. The calculated IR spectra exhibited IR features in the range of 1200–1550 cm⁻¹ and in mid-frequency region are consistent with experiments. The calculated dipole allowed singlet–singlet and triplet–triplet electronic transitions suggesting a charge transfer process between the outer- and inner-shells of the DWBNNTs as well as, upon irradiation, the possibility of a system that can undergo internal conversion (IC) and intersystem crossing (ISC) processes, besides the photochemical and other photophysical processes.     

Preparation of monodisperse carbon nanospheres for electrochemical capacitors

The efficiently hydrothermal route using sucrose without any catalysts is employed to prepare the uniform carbon spheres. The monodisperse 100–150 nm carbon spheres are obtained with the activation treatment in molten KOH. The carbon spheres are characterized by transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical techniques. The relationships of specific capacitance and surface properties of carbon spheres are investigated. A single electrode of carbon nanosphere materials performs excellent specific capacitance (328 F g⁻¹), area capacitance (19.2 μF cm⁻²) and volumetric capacitance (383 F cm⁻³).     

A time-resolved study of the multiphase chemistry of excited carbonyls: Imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde and halides

Imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde (IC) reactivity in the presence of halide anions (Cl^–, Br^–, I^–) has been studied by laser flash photolysis in aqueous solution at room temperature. The absorption spectrum of the triplet state of IC has been measured with a maximum absorption at 330 nm and a weaker absorption band around 650 nm. Iodide anions proved to be efficient quenchers of the triplet state IC, with a rate coefficient k_q of (5.33 ± 0.25) × 10⁹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Quenching by bromide and chloride anions was less efficient, with k_q values of (6.27 ± 0.53) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and (1.31 ± 0.16) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. The halide (X^–) quenches the triplet state; the resulting transient absorption feature matches that of the corresponding radical anion (X₂^–). We suggest that this type of quenching reactions is a driving force of oxidation reactions in the oceanic surface microlayer (SML) and a source of halogen atoms in the atmosphere.     

Thermodynamic properties of 4-amino-3-furazanecarboxamidoxime

4-Amino-3-furazanecarboxamidoxime (AAOF) is an important precursor for synthesizing new furazano (furoxano) energetic compounds. Its thermal behaviour was studied under a non-isothermal condition by DSC methods. The results of this study show that there are one melting process and two exothermic decomposition processes. Its kinetic parameters of the intense exothermic decomposition process are obtained from analysis of the DSC curves. The apparent activation energy (E_a), pre-exponential factor (A) and the mechanism function (f(α)) were (146 ± 18) kJ · mol⁻¹, (10^10.9±1.8) s⁻¹ and (1 − α)², respectively. The specific molar heat capacity (C_p,m) of AAOF was determined by a continuous C_p mode of micro-calorimeter. The self-accelerating decomposition temperature (T_SADT), thermal ignition temperature (T_TIT) and critical temperatures of thermal explosion (T_b) were obtained to evaluate its thermal safety.     

The state energy and the displacements of the potential minima of the 2Ag− state in all-trans-β-carotene as determined by fluorescence spectroscopy

The fluorescence spectrum of all-trans-β-carotene was recorded at 170 K. The 1B_u⁺ → 1A_g⁻ fluorescence exhibited clear vibrational structures constituting a mirror image with those of the 1B_u⁺ ← 1A_g⁻ absorption, and the deconvolution of the entire spectrum identified the 2A_g⁻(0) → 1A_g⁻(0) transition at 14 500 cm⁻¹. The displacements of the 1B_u⁺ and 2A_g⁻ potential minima along ν₁ and ν₂ (the CC stretching and C–C stretching normal coordinates, respectively) were determined to be 1.2 and 0.9, and 1.6 and 1.5, respectively. Thus, much larger potential displacements in the 2A_g⁻ state than in the 1Bu⁺ state have been shown.     

Potentiodynamic hydrogen permeation on Palladium-Kelvin probe compared to 3D printed microelectrochemical cell

A specially designed flow cell, fabricated via rapid prototyping (3D printing), was used to perform in-situ electrochemical hydrogen loading and cyclic voltammetry on a Pd foil in alkaline solution during scanning Kelvin probe (SKP) measurements. SKP was successfully employed for hydrogen detection on the exit side of the sample, including determination of hydrogen diffusion coefficient in Pd to 3.32 ⋅ 10^− 7 cm²⋅ s^− 1 at 23 °C. Convection of electrolyte allowed hydrogen charging even under H₂-forming conditions without surface blockage by evolving gas bubbles at very negative potentials. Comparison with electrochemical hydrogen detection under the same conditions, allowed a more comprehensive interpretation of SKP results including determination of trapping effects on measurement of diffusion coefficient. In this manner, the potentiodynamic hydrogen loading technique combined with SKP-H-detection was utilized to determine the effective hydrogen diffusion coefficient (D_eff).     

In-plane chemical pressure in (U1−yCey)O2 studied by Raman spectroscopy

We investigate the nature of bonding and charge states in (U_1−yCe_y)O₂ (y = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) by Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectrum of UO₂ exhibits two prominent bands below 1000 cm⁻¹, a F_2g mode at 446 cm⁻¹ and a F_1u LO mode at 578 cm⁻¹. As y is increased from 0 to 0.6, the F_1u exhibits a large blue shift of 90 cm⁻¹, and from y = 0.6 to 1.0, a red shift of 54 cm⁻¹. We show that our results can be interpreted as arising from anisotropic compression/relaxation of the lattice under Ce substitution and this can give an indication of its charge states. Alternate interpretations have been given in the literature on the effect of substituents and dopants to the Raman spectra of UO₂ and CeO₂. The present interpretation of chemical stress effects can be taken as another plausible explanation.