Free volume and water vapor permeability of dense segmented polyurethane membrane

This paper presented micro-structure, free volume and water vapor permeability of dense segmented polyurethane (SPU) membrane. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were employed to investigate the micro-structure. Free volume was measured by positron annihilation life spectroscopy (PALS). WAXD and DSC results indicated microcrystalline structure presents in the polymer membrane. Percent crystallinity of SPU would depend on the types of polyol used. The microphase-separated structure of copolymers was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Extent of phase separation was depended on the type and composition of polyol used. Free volume hole sizes are different for SPU samples due to the interaction between the polymer chains and packing of polymer chains due to the different compositions. The influences of temperature and chemical compositions on the free volume and water vapor permeability have been discussed. Experimental results revealed that the water vapor permeability can be controlled by free volume, which would depend on the chemical composition of SPU, and hydrophilicity of membranes.     

Suppression of red cell diffusional water permeability by lipophilic solutes

The inhibitory effect of a series of neutral lipophilic solutes (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol, iso-amylalcohol, n-hexanol, diethylether, nitrobenzene, and pyridine) on the diffusional water permeability (Pd, tot) of bovine erythrocyte membrane at 25 degrees C was studied in comparison to that of p-chloromercuri benzoate (pCMB). Permeability data were obtained by measuring the transmembrane diffusional water exchange time tau(exch) using an 1H-T2 NMR technique. Maximal inhibition by approximately 50% of Pd, tot was produced by 2 mM pCMB which completely blocked the membrane water channels in 20 min, hence suggesting the channel-to-lipid diffusional water permeability ratio of about 1:1. Furthermore, the maximal inhibitory effect of pCMB in combination with the lipophilic solutes was lower than that of pCMB alone. As pCMB does not interfere with the lipid bilayer, and provided that it blocks the water channels in solute presence as well, this confirms that the solutes induce an increase in the lipid-mediated background water permeability contribution (Pd, lipid) by the formation of aqueous leaks in the membrane hydrophobic barrier. However, faster but less efficient in permeability inhibition than pCMB (either alone or combined with solutes) were the lipophilic solutes alone. Taken together, the results indicate that the lipophilic solutes suppress the membrane total permeability Pd, tot by two opposing effects: a reduction of its channel-mediated part (Pd, channel) to the extent exceeding that of a simultaneous Pd, lipid increase. The inhibitory potency of the solutes tested appears to be correlated with their solubility in the membrane medium.     

Interfacial tension between water and high pressure CO2 in the presence of hydrocarbon surfactants

Interfacial tension of water–CO₂ interface was measured by pendant drop method in the presence of a surfactant of various concentrations. The surfactants used were three surfynols which are non-ionic blanched hydrocarbon with different length of the alkyl side chain. Prior to the interfacial tension measurements, the solubility of the surfynols in CO₂ were determined from cloud point method. The measured interfacial tensions indicated that an addition of small amount surfactant did reduce the interfacial tension. The interfacial activities of surfactants were evaluated from the slope of the interfacial tension reduction curve against the surfactant concentration and rationalized in terms of the molecular natures such as hydrophobic alkyl chain length.     

Raman spectra and O NMR study effects of CaCl2 and MgCl2 on water structure

With various concentrations of CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ aqueous solution below 1.0 mol/l, Raman spectra of water in the OH stretch region of 2500-4000 cm⁻¹ and ¹⁷O NMR chemical shift of water are measured and the Raman spectra are deconvoluted. Both Raman spectra and ¹⁷O NMR of water show that the effect of Ca²⁺ on water structure is stronger than that of Mg²⁺. CaCl₂ and MgCl₂ destroy four hydrogen bonded water structure, but promote median water cluster size.     

A comparative study on the dispersion behaviors and surface acid properties of molybdena on CeO2 and ZrO2 (Tet)

Dispersion of molybdena on CeO₂, ZrO₂ (Tet), and a mixture of CeO₂ and ZrO₂ (Tet), was investigated by using laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The results indicate that molybdena is dispersed on both individual oxide support and mixed oxide support at the adopted molybdena loadings (0.2 and 0.8 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m²) and the structure of the supported molybdena species is intimate association with its loading amount. Two molybdena species are identified by Raman results, i.e. isolated MoO²⁻₄ species at 0.2 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m² and polymolybdate species at 0.8 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m². IR spectra of ammonia adsorption prove that isolated MoO²⁻₄ species are Lewis acid sites on the Mo/Ce and/or Zr samples, and the polymolybdate species are Brönsted acid sites on the Mo/Ce and/or Zr samples. Moreover, a combination of the Raman, IR and TPR results confirms that at 0.2 mmol Mo⁶⁺/100 m² Ce + Zr, molybdena is preferentially dispersed on the surface of CeO₂ when a mixed oxide support (CeO₂ and ZrO₂) is present, which was explained in term of the difference of the surface basicity between CeO₂ and ZrO₂ (Tet). Surface structures of the oxide supports were also taken into consideration.     

Preparation of ZrO2-TiO2-CeO2 and Its Application in the Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3

TiO₂,ZrO₂-TiO₂,andZrO₂-TiO₂-CeO₂ were prepared by co-precipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), specific surface area measurements (BET), temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD), oxygen storage capacity (OSC), and temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR). The results showed that ZrO₂-TiO₂-CeO₂ exhibited large number of surface strong acid, possessed some oxygen storage capacity, and strong redox property. The three materials were used as supports and the monolith catalysts were prepared with 1% (w) V₂O₅ and 9% (w)WO₃ for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with ammonia in the presence of excessive O₂, and the results of catalytic activity showed that the catalyst used ZrO₂-TiO₂-CeO₂ as support yielded nearly 100% NO conversion at 275 °C at a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 10000 h⁻¹, and it had the best catalytic activity and showed great potential for practical application.     

GGA and GGA + U Study of ThMn2Si2 and ThMn2Ge2 Compounds in a Body-Centered Tetragonal Ferromagnetic Phase

Our study used the full-potential linearized augmented plane waves (FP-LAPW) method to conduct a first-principles evaluation of the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of ThMn₂X₂ (X = Si and Ge) compounds. To establish theoretical dependability with the currently available experimental results, computations for the structural findings of ternary intermetallic thorium (Th)-based compounds were achieved using the generalized gradient approximation in the scheme of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE–GGA) potential, while the generalized gradient approximation plus the Hubbard U (GGA + U) approach was employed to improve the electrical and magnetic properties. In contrast with both the paramagnetic (PM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) phases, the ThMn₂X₂ compounds were optimized in a stable ferromagnetic (FM) phase, which was more suited for studying and analyzing magnetic properties. The electronic band structures (BS) and the density of state (DOS) were computed using the two PBE–GGA and GGA + U approximations. The thorium (Th)-based ThMn₂X₂ compound has full metallic character, due to the crossing and overlapping of bands across the Fermi level of energy, as well as the absence of a gap through both spin (up and down) channels. There was a significant hybridization between (Mn-d and (X = Si and Ge)-p states of conduction band with Th-f states in the valence band. The total magnetic moment of ThMn₂Si₂ in the ferromagnetic phase was 7.94534 μB, while for ThMn₂Ge₂ it was 8.73824 μB with a major contribution from the Mn atom. In addition, the ThMn₂Ge₂ compound’s total magnetic moment confirmed that it exhibits higher ferromagnetism than does the ThMn₂Si₂ compound.     

Gas-Sensing Property of TM-MoTe2 Monolayer towards SO2, SOF2, and HF Gases

Detecting the characteristic decomposition products (SO₂, SOF₂, and HF) of SF₆ is an effective way to diagnose the electric discharge in SF₆-insulated equipment. Based on first-principles calculations, Au, Ag, and Cu were chosen as the surface modification transition metal to improve the adsorption and gas-sensing properties of MoTe₂ monolayer towards SO₂, SOF₂, and HF gases. The results show that Au, Ag, and Cu atoms tend to be trapped by T_H sites on the MoTe₂ monolayer, and the binding strength increases in the order of Ag < Au < Cu. In gas adsorption, the moderate adsorption energy provides the basis that the TM-MoTe₂ monolayer can be used as gas-sensing material for SO₂, SOF₂, and HF. The conductivity of the adsorption system changes significantly. The conductivity decreases upon gases adsorption on TM-MoTe₂ monolayer, except the conductivity of Ag-MoTe₂ monolayer increases after interacting with SOF₂ gas.     

2-Aminophenyl diphenylphosphinite as a new ligand for heterogeneous palladium-catalyzed Heck-Mizoroki reactions in water in the absence of any organic co-solvent

In this article, 2-aminophenyl diphenylphosphinite has been introduced as a new ligand for the Heck-Mizoroki reactions of aryl halides with styrene and n-butylacrylate in water in the presence of palladium acetate. This ligand is easily prepared from the reaction of chlorodiphenyl phosphine with 2-aminophenol in high yield. Pre-catalyst [Pd(OAc)₂] in the presence of the ligand produces a black solid mass. The solid catalyst has been recycled for the reaction of bromobenzene with styrene for six runs without appreciable loss of its catalytic activity.     

Hydrogen production from water decomposition by redox of Fe2O3 modified with single- or double-metal additives

Iron oxide modified with single- or double-metal additives (Cr, Ni, Zr, Ag, Mo, Mo-Cr, Mo-Ni, Mo-Zr and Mo-Ag), which can store and supply pure hydrogen by reduction of iron oxide with hydrogen and subsequent oxidation of reduced iron oxide with steam (Fe₃O₄ (initial Fe₂O₃)+4H₂↔3Fe+4H₂O), were prepared by impregnation. Effects of various metal additives in the samples on hydrogen production were investigated by the above-repeated redox. All the samples with Mo additive exhibited a better redox performance than those without Mo, and the Mo-Zr additive in iron oxide was the best effective one enhancing hydrogen production from water decomposition. For Fe₂O₃-Mo-Zr, the average H₂ production temperature could be significantly decreased to 276 °C, the average H₂ formation rate could be increased to 360.9-461.1 μmol min⁻¹ Fe-g⁻¹ at operating temperature of 300 °C and the average storage capacity was up to 4.73 wt% in four cycles, an amount close to the IEA target.     

H2O−D2O solvent isotope effect in the volume behavior of some high-charge high-size electrolytes

The apparent molar volumes V of KCl, BaCl₂, K₂SO₄, LaCl₃, Co(en)₃Cl₃ [Tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) chloride], K₃Co(CN)₆, K₃Fe(CN)₆, K₄Fe(CN)₆, and Ba₃[Co(CN)₆]₂ have been determined at 25°C in both light and heavy water. The V values in D₂O are systematically lower and increase more rapidly with salt concentration than the V in H₂O. The volume of transfer from H₂O to D₂O as well as the partial molar volume at infinite dilution in both solvents have also been calculated. These results together with literature values for other electrolytes were used to estimate both of these quantities for D₂O solutions of individual ions. The predictions of ion hydration models and ion-ion interactions are compared with experimental observations.     

Fabrication and optical conductivities of strained epitaxial NaxCoO2 thin films: x=0.5, 0.7

Epitaxial γ phase-Na_xCoO₂ thin films were deposited on (001) sapphire by the pulsed laser deposition method. To fabricate epitaxial Na_0.5CoO₂ thin films, we used a solution of iodine-dissolved acetonitrile and obtained an epitaxial Na_0.5CoO₂ thin film with a high crystallinity because of Na deintercalation of epitaxial Na_0.7CoO₂. From the spectroscopic ellipsometry analysis, we obtained the optical constants as well as the optical conductivities for the Na_0.5CoO₂ and Na_0.7CoO₂ thin films. The energy splitting between e_g and a_1g increased because of the structural strain of the Na_0.7CoO₂ thin film. It is inferred that the structural strain is the source for the lower resistivity and the preservation of the strongly correlated system up to 200 K for the Na_0.7CoO₂ thin film. On the other hand, the strain in the Na_0.5CoO₂ thin film was not affected, and the charge-ordering state and the Na content (x=0.5) only cause the charge-ordering state.     

Theoretical Study of the Products of Acetylene Addition to HgCl2

The ab initio MP2 method is used with the LANL2DZ basis to calculate the mercury chloride ,-complex with two acetylene molecules (1) and various isomeric forms of mercury di()-vinyl chloride -complexes (2): cis-cis (2A), cis-trans (2B), and trans-trans (2C). The ,-complex is the most stable form of all those considered; the difference between 1 and 2A is 24.9 kcal/mole. A relation between the total energies (kcal/mole) for isomeric forms 2 is established to be 2A (0) < 2B (0.98) < 2C (1.58). Complex 1 is shown to be transformed into 2A via the intermediate formation of 3, which is a hybrid form of the complex (,-complex of mercury chloride with two acetylene molecules). The structures of the transition states for the transformations of 1 into 3 (structure 4) and of 3 into 2A (structure 5) and the corresponding transition activation energies are determined. The interaction of 2A, 2B, and 2C with the Cl^- anion as a model nucleophile is considered. It is shown that the resulting anions (6A, 6B, 6C) have a planar structure with the relative stability increasing in the series 6A<6B<6C.     

Transport and optical properties of heavily hole-doped semiconductors BaCu2Se2 and BaCu2Te2

Experimental and theoretical studies of the electronic and optical properties of orthorhombic BaCu₂Se₂ and BaCu₂Te₂ are reported. Experimental data include the electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and lattice constants for , and optical transmission and diffuse reflectance data at room temperature. Nominally stoichiometric, polycrystalline samples form with hole concentrations inferred from Hall measurements of 2×10¹⁸ and 5×10¹⁹ cm⁻³ near room temperature for the selenide and telluride, respectively. The corresponding mobilities are near 15 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for both materials. Optical measurements reveal a transition near 1.8 eV in BaCu₂Se₂, while no similar feature was observed for BaCu₂Te₂. First principles calculations indicate both materials are direct or nearly direct gap semiconductors with calculated gaps near 1.0 eV and 1.3 eV for the telluride and selenide, respectively, and predict weak absorption below about 2 eV. Transport properties calculated from the electronic structure are also presented.     

K3Na(FeO4)2的电合成及其晶体结构

本文采用间接法电合成出较高纯度的复盐K₃Na(FeO₄)₂晶体，用粉末XRD结构分析法对其晶体结构作了详细研究。用EDX和AAS确认了其化学式。结构分析表明，K₃Na(FeO₄)₂晶体属三方晶系，具有六方晶胞，空间群为P3m1(No.164)，Z=1,晶胞中有6个O位于6(i)位，O,Fe和K各自有2个位于2(d)位，1个K和Na分别位于1(b)位和1(a)位，晶胞参数a=0.583 3(1) nm,c=0.755 9(1) nm，D=2.824 g·cm^-3。同时晶胞中各原子间化学键键长得到确定。     

Viscosity of aqueous NH4Cl and tracer diffusion coefficients of ions,water and non-electrolytes in aqueous NH4Cl,KI, and MgCl2 at 25°C

Viscosities for aqueous NH₄Cl and tracer diffusion coefficients for²²Na⁺,³⁶Cl^–, HTO, and CH₃OH, acetone and dimethylformamide (all¹⁴C-labelled) in NH₄Cl supporting electrolyte are reported for 25°, together with tracer diffusion coefficients for²²Na⁺,³⁶Cl^–, and¹⁴CH₃OH in 1M KI, and for¹⁴CH₃OH in 1M MgCl₂. The diffusion coefficient of HTO in NH₄Cl solutions is slightly larger, for most of the concentration range investigated (0.05 to 4.5 M), than the value for pure water and is almost unaffected by the supporting electrolyte up to about 4M. Similar behavior is shown by CH₃OH, acetone and dimethylformamide in NH₄Cl solutions. Onsager limiting law behavior is approached by Cl^– at NH₄Cl concentrations in the 0.05–0.1M region but at much lower concentrations by Na⁺.     

Synthesis and properties of the double perovskites La2NiVO6, La2CoVO6, and La2CoTiO6

The double perovskites La₂CoVO₆, La₂CoTiO₆, and La₂NiVO₆, are described. Rietveld fitting of neutron and powder X-ray diffraction data show La₂NiVO₆ and La₂CoVO₆ to have a disordered arrangement of B-cations whereas La₂CoTiO₆ shows ordering of the B-cations (with ∼5% Co/Ti inversion). Curie-Weiss fits to the linear region of the 1/χ plots reveal Weiss temperatures of −107, −34.8, and 16.3 K for La₂CoVO₆, La₂CoTiO₆, and La₂NiVO₆, respectively, and magnetic transitions are observed. La₂CoTiO₆ prepared by our method differs from material prepared by lower-temperature routes. A simple antiferromagnetic spin model is consistent with the data for La₂CoTiO₆. These compounds are semiconductors with bandgaps of 0.41 (La₂CoVO₆), 1.02 (La₂CoTiO₆) and 0.45 eV (La₂NiVO₆).