Ion-etching of discharge-produced tetrafluoroethylene film with hydrogen,oxygen and noble gases. A mass spectrometric analysis

Freshly deposited discharge-produced tetrafluoroethylene films were ion-etched with either helium, neon, argon, oxygen or hydrogen. The ions C⁺, CF⁺, CF₂⁺ and CF₃⁺ comprised most of the positive ions in rare gas discharges, with CF⁺ always dominant. Sputtered fragments containing two or more carbon atoms were rare. These findings are compatible with the ion-etching of a highly crosslinked polymer film. Residual background gases were contributed to 1–3% of the total ion flux even though their actual partial pressures were very low. The concentration of neutral species corresponding to the ions observed was less than one part in ten thousand of the etching gas. With pure hydrogen, very little etching occurred and the degree of ionization relative to the rare gases was low. The principal reaction was the abstraction of fluorine from the polymer to give hydrogen fluoride and a more highly crosslinked film. Oxygen containing discharges produced the largest total yield of all the systems studied and the most evidence of chemical attack on the polymer. The ions observed were CO⁺, CO₂⁺, COF⁺, COF₂⁺ as well as C⁺, CF⁺, CF₂⁺ and CF₃⁺. Thus oxygen etches the polymer by preferentially attacking the carbon-carbon framework.     

Sensitivity and Selectivity of Polypyrrole Based AC‐Amperometric Sensors for Electroinactive Ions – Frequency and Applied Potential Influence

Oxidation/reduction of polypyrrole films coupled with ion exchange on the polymer/solution interface can be utilized for amperometric sensing of electroinactive ions. Anion or cation exchanging films (polypyrrole doped by chloride or poly(4‐styrenesulfonate) ions, respectively) can be used to determine common anions (as Cl^?, NO , SO etc) or cations (K⁺, Na⁺, Li⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺) under conditions of alternating current (AC) amperometry in the range 10^?4–1 M. A sensitivity can be tuned by choosing appropriate electrode potential, corresponding to polypyrrole oxidation (anion‐exchanging films) or reduction (cation‐exchangers). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and AC‐voltammetry studies have shown that applied frequency and potential could also affect the observed dependence of the signal (admittance or AC‐current) on ion concentration. For high frequency the sensitivity is higher but selectivity lower, due to influence of solution conductivity on the response. For low frequencies the sensitivity is lower; however, a selectivity increase was observed due to diverse mobility of ions in the polymer film. Selectivity of AC‐amperometric responses was studied both in separate and mixed solutions.     

Fluorination of polyhydrofluoroethylenes. I. Direct fluorination of poly(vinyl fluoride) film

It has been demonstrated that the poly(vinyl fluoride) film can be fluorinated by exposing the polymer to an environment of fluorine under atmospheric pressure and at ambient temperature. Fluorine content, infrared spectra, thermal properties, and solubilities in the polar solvents were investigated for the fluorinated products and the following results were obtained. In the case of films less than 10 μ in thickness, the fluorination appeared to proceed homogeneously. Under any fluorinating conditions applied, i.e., fluorine pressure of up to 800 mm Hg and temperatures of up to 90°C, the fluorine content never exceeded 65% which corresponds to a composition of C₂F_2.5H_1.5. The activation energy of the reaction was calculated to be 6.8 kcal/mole. The polymer reacted with a small amount of oxygen contained in the fluorine to form acyl fluoride groups. The fluorinated films became insoluble in boiling N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide, but colored gradually to a dark brown. The occurrence of some crosslinking in the products was revealed.     

Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Reduction of Metal Cation-Containing Polymer Films to Produce Electrically Conductive Nanocomposites by an Electrodiffusion Mechanism

We describe an atmospheric-pressure plasma process for the reduction of metal cation-containing polymer films to form electrically conductive patterns. Thin films of poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) containing silver ions (Ag⁺) were prepared by mixing the polymer with silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in solution to produce a cross-linked precipitate, homogenizing, and depositing onto a substrate by doctor’s blade. Exposing the Ag–PAA films to a scanning microplasma resulted in reduction of the bulk dispersed Ag⁺ in a desired pattern at the film surface. The processed films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and current–voltage measurements. The resistances of the patterned features were found to depend on the thickness of the films, the microplasma scan rate, residual solvent in the film, and electric field created between the microplasma and the substrate. Together these results show that the formation of conductive features occurs via an electrodiffusion process where Ag⁺ diffuses from the film bulk to the surface to be reduced by the microplasma.     

TiO2 nanotube, nanowire, and rhomboid-shaped particle thin films fixed on a titanium metal plate

Titanium dioxide thin films having various nanostructures could be formed by various treatments on sodium titanate nanotube thin films approximately 5 μm thick fixed on titanium metal plates. Using an aqueous solution with a lower hydrochloric acid concentration (0.01 mol/L) and a higher reaction temperature (90 °C) than those previously employed, we obtained a hydrogen titanate nanotube thin film fixed onto a titanium metal plate by H⁺ ion-exchange treatment of the sodium titanate nanotube thin film. Calcination of hydrogen titanate nanotube thin films yielded porous thin films consisting of anatase nanotubes, anatase nanowires, and anatase nanoparticles grown directly from the titanium metal plate. H⁺ ion-exchange treatment of sodium titanate nanotube thin films at 140 °C resulted in porous thin films consisting of rhomboid-shaped anatase nanoparticles.     

Separation of rare-earth elements and thorium in sorption conversion of phosphate rare-earth concentrate produced in nitric acid processing of Khibiny apatite concentrate

It is shown that REEs and thorium can be separated directly in the course of a sorption conversion of the phosphate rare-earth concentrate precipitated in nitric acid processing of the Khibiny apatite concentrate by introduction of compounds containing fluoride ions into the nitric acid solution used in the process. Under the optimal conditions, REEs are quantitatively adsorbed by the sulfo cation exchanger, whereas thorium mostly remains together with phosphorus and fluorine in the mother pulp. The influence exerted by the composition of compounds containing fluoride ions and process conditions on the separation efficiency of REEs and thorium. The suggested approach rules out formation of burial-requiring radioactive wastes with increased content of thorium.     

Effect of bombardment with helium ions on the molecular-topological structure and elemental composition of the surface of Kynar polyvinylidene fluoride resin

A polyvinylidene fluoride film has been bombarded with accelerated (1–5 MeV) helium ions at a fluence of 10¹⁵ ion/cm². Unlike the completely amorphous structure of the unirradiated polymer, the weight fraction of the crystalline modification in the irradiated polymer is 0.86–0.90, which is indicative of the efficient conversion of the amorphous structures of the polymer pseudo-network into the crystalline ones. Irradiation with 1-MeV ions leads to the greatest changes in the fraction of the crystalline modification and the glass-transition and flow temperatures of the polymer. The detachment of fluorine and the surface carbonization of the irradiated polymer occur under the ion beam.     

Loss of CO from the molecular ions of o-, m- and p-anisoyl fluorides,CH3OC6H4COF,with fluorine atom migration

Loss of CO from the molecular ions ([CH₃OC₆H₄COF]⁺˙) of o-, m- and p-anisoyl fluorides has been investigated by mass-analysed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectrometry. This reaction involves fluorine atom migration from the carbonyl group to the benzene ring. In the cases of o- and p-anisoyl fluorides, the fluorine atom migrates via a three-membered transition state to form the molecular ions ([CH₃OC₆H₄F]⁺˙) of o- and p-fluoroanisoles, respectively. On the other hand, in the case of m-anisoyl fluoride, the fluorine atom migrates from the carbonyl group to the benzene ring via a three- or four-membered transition state.     

Mass spectrometric investigation of the side-arm lariat effect of ortho- and para-methoxyphenoxymethyl-15-crown-5 in the gas phase

Mixtures of unsubstituted 15-crown-5 and its analogues containing ortho- and para-methoxyphenoxymethyl substituents with sodium salts were investigated by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Peaks of cationized molecules [M+Na]⁺ and cluster ions [2M+2Na+An]⁺, where M is the crown ether molecule and An is monobasic acid anion, were observed in the mass spectra. It was shown that an increase of the shielding degree of the sodium cation in complexes with crown ethers, i.e., the lariat effect, led to a significant decrease in the intensity of peaks of the cluster ions.     

Explanation of Ionic Sequences in Various Phenomena. I. Salting-Out of Uncharged Molecules

Abstract

Theoretical models for hydrated ions and their calculated effective dielectric constants obtained previously were used to explain the salting-in or salting-out of nonionic molecules. Three types of salting-out sequences were obtained: nonpolar (Na⁺ > K⁺ > Li⁺ Rb⁺ > Cs⁺), basic (K⁺ > Na⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺ > Li⁺), and acidic (Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺). The nonpolar sequence is not influenced by the A region of a cation, and therefore the ability to salt-out is great if the effective dielectric constant of the ion is small. The A region on hydrated Li⁺ ions (the tightly bound water) salts-in basic compounds because of the interaction of its positively charged hydrogen atoms with the negative dipolar charge of the base. Conversely, the A region of a cation salts-out acidic compounds because the hydroxyl group on carboxylic acids behaves as a similar cationic A region. A sulfonic polymer will cause the salting-in of the base p-nitroaniline because the addition of salts to an aqueous solution of the base and polymer destroys hydrogen bonds in the polymer and in so doing releases hydronium ions from the polymer. This release of H⁺, in turn, produces a positive charge on part of the p-nitroaniline molecules, which produces a salting-in effect.     

Reactions of poly(ethylene glycol) cations with iodide and perfluorocarbon anions

Multiply charged poly(ethylene glycol) ions of the form (M+nNa) ⁿ⁺ derived from electrospray ionization have been subjected to reactions with negative ions in the quadrupole ion trap. Mixtures of multiply charged positive ions ranging in average mass from about 2000 to about 14,000 Da were observed to react with perfluorocarbon anions by either proton transfer or fluoride transfer. Iodide anions reacted with the same positive ions by attachment. In no case was fragmentation of the polymer ion observed. In all cases, the multiply charged positive ion charge states could be readily reduced to +1, thereby eliminating the charge state overlap observed in the normal electrospray mass spectrum. With all three reaction mechanisms, however, the +1 product ions were comprised of mixtures of products with varying numbers of sodium ions, and in the case of iodide attachment and fluoride transfer, varying numbers of halogen anions. These reactions shift the mass distributions to higher masses and broaden the distributions. The extents to which these effects occur are functions of the magnitudes of the initial charges and the width of the initial charge state distributions. Care must be taken in deriving information about the polymer molecular weight distribution from the singly charged product ions arising from these ion/ion reactions. The cluster ions containing iodide were shown to be intermediates in sodium ion transfer. Dissociation of the adduct ions can therefore lead to a +1 product ion population that is comprised predominantly of M+Na⁺ ions. However, a strategy based on the dissociation of the iodide cluster ions is limited by difficulties in dissociating high mass-to-charge ions in the quadrupole ion trap.     

Transport of metal ions through cation exchange membranes containing episulfide (or thiol) groups and/or triethylenetetramine side chains

Two types of cation exchange membranes bearing sulfonic acid groups were prepared. One membrane (EA membrane), having episulfide groups beside sulfonic acid groups, was prepared with 2,3-epithiopropylmethacrylate (ETMA)-2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) copolymers and the another one (EA-TTA membrane) having thiol groups, triethylenetetramide (TTA) side chains, and carboxyl groups beside sulfonic acid groups was prepared by treating EA membranes with TTA in a water-1,4-dioxane mixture solution. The transport of metal ions such as K⁺, Li⁺, Ag⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cu²⁺ through the membranes was investigated. The transport rate of Ag⁺ through the EA membranes was considerably lower than those of other metal ions from solution. High selective transport of Ag⁺ from mixed solution could be observed using the EA and EA-TTA membranes. Transport of Cu²⁺ and Ca²⁺ through the EA-TTA membrane was depressed by an electrostatic repulsion between ammonium groups in the membranes and metal ions when HNO₃ or sodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate was used as receiving solution.     

A comparative study on the behaviour of 1,3-diheterocyclopentanes (X = O,O; S,S; O,S) under electron impact. The formation of thioacetyl and thiiranyl cations

The electron-impact-induced mass spectra of 1,3-dioxolane (la), 1,3-dithiolane (2a) and 1,3-oxatbiolane (3a) and their 2-methyl (1b–3b) and 2,2-dimethyl [(CH₃)₂: 1c–3c or (CD₃)₂: 1d–3d] derivatives have been studied in detail to gain further insight into their ion structures and competing reaction pathways with low-resolution, high-resolution, metastable and collision-induced dissociation (CID) techniques. For compounds 1a–1d the most significant reaction is loss of H^˙ and CH₃^˙ by α-cleavage and a subsequent formation of CHO⁺ and C₂H₃O⁺ ions. The [M ? H]⁺ ions from 1a and 1b give a C₂H₃O⁺ ion which does not have the acyl cation structure as shown by their CID spectra. In compounds 3a–3d the sulphur-containing ions predominate, the C₂H₃O⁺ now having the acyl cation structure. 1,3-Dithiolanes (2a–2d) exhibit the most complicated fragmentation patterns. Furthermore the [M ? H]⁺ ion from 2a and [M ? CH₃]⁺ ion from 2b have different structures as well as the [M ? H]⁺ ion from 2b and [M ? CH₃]⁺ ion from 2c, as shown by their CID spectra. This can be utilized to explain why 3a–3c and 2a give principally a thiiranyl cation, whereas 2b gives a mixture of this and the thioacyl cation and 2c practically only the open-chain thioacetyl cation.     

Preparation of Thallium Hexacyanoferrate Film and Mixed‐Film Modified Electrodes with Cobalt(II) Hexacyanoferrate

Thallium hexacyanoferrate films have been prepared from various aqueous electrolyte solutions using consecutive cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammograms recorded the direct deposition of thallium hexacyanoferrate films from the mixing of Tl³⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]^3? ions from solutions of seven cations: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, H⁺, and Tl⁺. An electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and cyclic voltammetry were used to study the in situ growth of the thallium hexacyanoferrate films. The thallium hexacyanoferrate film shows a single redox couple with a formal potential between +0.6 V and +1.2 V, and shows a cation effect (H⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, and Tl⁺). A mixed film and a two‐layered modified electrodes composed of a thallium hexacyanoferrate film with cobalt(II) hexacyanoferrate film were prepared.     

Depth profiling of latex blends of fluorinated and fluorine‐free acrylates with laser‐induced secondary mass spectrometry

We explored phase separation and self‐assembly of perfluoroalkyl segments at the surface of polymer films obtained from latices of semifluorinated acrylate copolymers and the corresponding latex blends of nonfluorinated and semifluorinated polyacrylates. With laser‐induced secondary mass spectrometry the fluorine distribution was measured after annealing above the minimum film‐forming temperature of the polymers up to a depth of several micrometers. Depth profiles of a semifluorinated acrylate homopolymer and latex blends thereof with fluorine‐free alkylacrylates with 25, 50, and 75 mol % semifluorinated acrylate as well as a copolymer comprised of alkyl acrylate and semifluorinated acrylate (50/50 mol %) were investigated. In the case of latex blends containing both semifluorinated polyacrylates and fluorine‐free or low‐fluorine polymers, self‐assembly accounted for enrichment of the perfluoroalkyl segments at the surface. Coatings exhibiting low surface energy and having a substantially reduced total fluorine content were obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 360–367, 2003     

Ion recognition properties of poly[Cu(3-MeOsalpd)] films

Poly[Cu(3-MeOsalpd)] films with good physical, chemical and electrochemical stability may be potentiodynamically electrodeposited with high deposition efficiency from acetonitrile solutions of the monomer. Comparative coulometric assays with the Ni-based analogue show that the metal in the salen motif does play a role in the electronic structure of the polymer, but that the electroactive response is ligand (not metal) based. The dynamics of redox switching are ultimately limited by coupled electron/counter ion diffusion, but this process is sufficiently rapid that it influences the voltammetric response only for thick films (Γ >420?nmol?cm^?2) at high scan rates. Redox cycling in monomer-free electrolyte shows a voltammetric signature that responds, via interaction with the pseudo-crown ether receptor sites, to the presence of Li⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺ ions in solution. The most prominent change is associated with the first anodic peak in the i-E signature. For each of the metal ions considered, this peak potential responds logarithmically to concentration in a manner that varies with individual complexed cation and film thickness and to an extent greater than predicted by the Nernst equation. The film characteristics offer some analytical promise, including a trade-off between sensitivity and dynamic range and signal amplification, possibly due to supramolecular effects.     

Einsäulen-Trennverfahren für Uran,Plutonium und Neodym aus Abgebrannten (UPu)C Kernbrennstoffen zur Anschliessenden Massenspektrometrischen Abbrandbestimmung

A method for separation of uranium, plutonium and neodymium in a cation exchange column is presented and discussed. The nitric acid fuel and fission product solution is, through addition of sulphuric acid in sulfate transferred and absorbed on a H⁺-form Dowex 50X8 cation exchanger. Afterwards uranium and plutonium both segregate as oxalate complexes, while neodymium attached to the same column is separated with α-hydroxy-isobutyric acid (α-HIBS). A detailed procedure is given.      

Sorption of Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> and Sr<Superscript>2+</Superscript> by ion exchanger based on titanium phosphate

Sorption capacity of a composite ion exchanger based on titanium phosphate for Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations was studied. The effect of pH and concentration of salts and, in particular, sodium chloride in solution on the sorption efficiency and distribution coefficient was analyzed. The diffusion coefficients were calculated for the Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations and the time of half-exchange of the Na⁺ cation for the Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ cations was found.