Fine pore mouth structure of molecular sieve carbon with GCMC-assisted supercritical gas adsorption analysis

N₂ adsorption isotherms of molecular sieve carbon were measured at 77 K and 303 K. The Ar adsorption isotherms of molecular sieve carbon samples were also measured at 303 K. The grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation technique was applied to calculate the N₂ and Ar adsorption isotherms at 303 K using the ultramicropore volume determined by H₂O adsorption. The comparative method of experimental and simulated isotherms of supercritical N₂ and Ar at 303 K gave the width of the micropore mouth of the molecular sieve carbon, which can be applied to the ultramicropore width determination for other noncrystalline porous solids.     

Evaluation of the porous structure development of chars from pyrolysis of rice straw: Effects of pyrolysis temperature and heating rate

The effects of pyrolysis temperature and heating rate on the porous structure characteristics of rice straw chars were investigated. The pyrolysis was done at atmospheric pressure and at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 °C under low heating rate (LHR) and high heating rates (HHR) conditions. The chars were characterized by ultimate analysis, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), helium density measurement and N₂ physisorption method. The results showed that temperature had obvious influence on the char porous characteristics. The char yield decreased by approximately 16% with increasing temperature from 600 to 1000 °C. The carbon structure shrinkage and pore narrowing occurred above 600 °C. The shrinkage of carbon skeleton increased by more than 22% with temperatures rising from 600 to 1000 °C. At HHR condition, progressive increases in porosity development with increasing pyrolysis temperature occurred, whereas a maximum porosity development appeared at 900 °C. The total surface area (S_total) and micropore surface area (S_micro) reached maximum values of 30.94 and 21.81 m²/g at 900 °C and decreased slightly at higher temperatures. The influence of heating rate on S_total and S_micro was less significant than that of pyrolysis temperature. The pore surface fractal dimension and average pore diameter showed a good linear relationship.     

CO2 adsorption on granular and monolith carbonaceous materials

We evaluated the CO₂ adsorption capacity on granular and monolith carbonaceous materials, obtained by chemical activation of African palm stones with H₃PO₄, ZnCl₂ and CaCl₂ solutions at different concentrations. Textural properties of the synthesized materials were analyzed using N₂ adsorption measurements at 77 K, the isotherms showed obtaining of materials microporous and moderately mesoporous, with surface areas between 161 and 1700 m²/g and pore volume between 0.09 and 0.64 cm³ g⁻¹. Were observed different behaviors for textural parameters in each series, associated with the activating agent used in the preparation. The materials obtained have a CO₂ adsorption capacity between ∼114 and 254 mg CO₂/g, at atmospheric pressure and 273 K. It was established that the total amount of CO₂ adsorbed under these experimental conditions is defined by the narrow micropore volume (V_n) and increased the total basicity of the materials.     

Supramolecular hybrid composites of metalloporphyrins and fullerene encapsulated in the ordered nano-channels of FSM-16 as oxygen carriers,and photo-catalysis for selective propene oxidation towards acetone

The planar oxomolybdenum(IV) and Fe(II) tetraphenylporphyrins (tpp) and fullerene C₆₀ are encapsulated by monolayer dispersion technique in the mesoporous ordered channels(2.7, 4.7 nm diameter) of FSM-16. They exhibit a stoichiometric adsorption of O₂ at 300 K and 50–250 Torr forming a 1:1 dioxygen complexes(ν(O–O)=928 and 1025 cm^-1) with Mo^IVO(tpp) and Fe^II(tpp) entrapped in FSM-16, although the Mo(=O) and Fe porphyrins are inactive for O₂ uptake in crystal and solution. The mesoporous cylindrical channels of FSM-16 act as the confined hydrophobic circumstances to accommodate isolated Mo and Fe porphyrins and prevent the irreversible formation of a paramagnetic μ-oxo dimer, similar to the picket-fenced porphyrin complexes such as Mo^IVO(tmp)=5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrin). The reversible removal of O₂ bound with the Mo and Fe porphyrins proceeds at 300 K by high-pressure Hg photoirradiation. The isotopic labeling tracer studies reveal that they are catalytically active for oxygen transfer via fullerene C₆₀ in the selective photo-oxidation of propene towards acetone at 303–393 K.     

Cluster-Mediated Water Adsorption on Carbon Nanopores

The adsorption isotherms of water at 303 K and N2 at 77 K on various kinds of porous carbons were compared with each other. The saturated amounts of water adsorbed on carbons almost coincided with amounts of N2 adsorption in micropores. Although carbon aerogel samples have mesopores of the great pore volume, the saturated amount of adsorbed water was close to the micropore volume which is much small than the mesopore volume. These adsorption data on carbon aerogels indicated that the water molecules are not adsorbed in mesopores, but in micropores only. The adsorption isotherms of water on activated carbon having micropores of smaller than 0.7 nm in width had no clear adsorption hysteresis, while the water adsorption isotherms on micropores of greater than 0.7 nm had a remarkable adsorption hysteresis above P/P0 = 0.5. The disappearance of the clear hysteresis for smaller micropores suggested that the cluster of water molecules of about 0.7 nm in size gives rise to the water adsorption on the hydrophobic micropores; the formation and the structure of clusters of water molecules were associated with the adsorption mechanism. The cluster-mediated pore filling mechanism was proposed with a special relevance to the evidence on the formation of the ordered water molecular assembly in the carbon micropores by in situ X-ray diffraction.     

Nanoporous carbon electrode from waste coffee beans for high performance supercapacitors

Activated carbon was produced from waste coffee grounds by treatment with ZnCl₂. Supercapacitor electrodes prepared from this coffee grounds carbon exhibited energy densities up to 20 Wh kg⁻¹ in 1 M H₂SO₄, and excellent stability at high charge–discharge rates. In a two-electrode cell a specific capacitance as high as 368 F g⁻¹ was observed, with rectangular cyclic voltammetry curves and stable performance over 10,000 cycles at a cell potential of 1.2 V and current load of 5 A g⁻¹. The good electrochemical performance of the coffee grounds carbon was attributed to a well developed porosity, with a distribution of micropores and mesopores 2–4 nm wide, and the presence of electrochemically active quinone oxygen groups and nitrogen functional groups. This work highlights the potential to utilize waste biomass to produce electrode materials for cost-effective energy storage systems.     

X-ray emission from LiTaO3 induced by thermal changes and structure analysis

X-ray emission from LiTaO₃ induced by the thermal changes from about 300–480 K has been investigated in a vacuum system. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis of LiTaO₃ was carried out at 269, 286, 303, 319, 337, 358, 381, 413, and 436 K, respectively, far below the phase transition (∼930 K). The relationship between the observed X-ray emission and the pyroelectric coefficient of LiTaO₃ is discussed.     

Molecular dynamics simulation on crystalline nucleation behaviour of a single chain touching a substrate surface II. Temperature dependence

Molecular dynamics simulation has been used in exploring the crystalline nucleation behaviour of a single chain touching a substrate surface at different temperatures. It shows that a polyethylene chain (980 CH₂) changed its overall shape from an isotropic coil to an oriented one nearly normal to the substrate surface of amorphous carbons at 200, 300, 400 and 500 K. Most repeats of the chain were getting ordered in a zigzag package for the first three temperatures, but not for the one at 500 K. It was found that the ordering rate was bothered by the substrate surface. The rate of forming the ordered package at 300 K is larger than that at 200 K and at 400 K, indicating the whole process simulated is nucleation dependent in nature.     

High-pressure phase equilibrium data for systems with carbon dioxide, α-humulene and trans-caryophyllene

The aim of this work is to report phase equilibrium data for the binary systems (CO₂ + α-humulene) and (CO₂ + trans-caryophyllene), and for the ternary system (CO₂ + α-humulene + trans-caryophyllene). Results from literature show that α-humulene and trans-caryophyllene are the main compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic characteristics attributed to the medicinal plant Cordia verbenacea D.C., hence giving importance to the phase behaviour investigation performed in this work. Phase equilibrium experiments were performed in a high-pressure, variable-volume view cell over the temperature range of T = (303 to 343) K and pressures up to 20 MPa. (Liquid + liquid) and (vapour + liquid + liquid) equilibrium were observed at T = 303 K, while (vapour + liquid) phase transitions were verified to occur from T = (313 to 343) K, for all systems studied. Thermodynamic modelling was performed using the Peng–Robinson equation of state and the classical quadratic mixing rules, with a satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated values.     

Effect of water content of ethylene glycol as electrolyte for synthesis of ordered titania nanotubes

Anodization of Ti using fluoride containing polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol or glycerol as electrolyte results in ordered arrays of TiO₂ nanotubes with a smooth surface and a very high aspect ratio. However, the reproducibility of the result is affected by many experimental parameters, notably the water content. In this investigation, anodizations of Ti foil in anhydrous ethylene glycol +0.2 wt% NH₄F solution (EG solution) with 0–1.0 wt% water additions were carried out at 20 V for 45 min in a dry-argon filled controlled-atmosphere glove box. It was observed that a minimum amount of 0.18 wt% of water addition was required to form a well ordered TiO₂ nanotubular arrays. When the anhydrous EG solution was reused for third time, ordered arrays of nanotubes started to form. When the water addition to the EG solution was more than 0.5 wt%, formation of ridges was observed on the nanotubes. XPS results showed presence of un-anodized Ti element in the anhydrous condition and presence of organic and (NH₄)₂TiF₆ type compounds in all the anodized samples in addition to the regular TiO₂ phase. The results underline the influence of water content and local pH condition to form the ordered nanotubular arrays.     

Synthesis of Co-containing mesoporous carbon foams using a new cobalt-oxo cluster as a precursor

A novel trinuclear cobalt-oxo cluster 2[Co₃O(Ac)₆(H₂O)₃]·H₂O (Co-OXO) has been obtained and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction and elemental analysis. The structure of Co-OXO displays 3D supramolecular networks through hydrogen bonds and generates boron nitride (bnn) topology. Co-OXO was further used as a precursor to synthesize Co-containing mesoporous carbon foams (Co-MCFs), which exhibit highly ordered mesostructure with specific surface area of 614 m² g^?1 and uniform pore size of 2.7 nm. Charge–discharge tests show that the specific discharge capacitance of Co-MCFs is 7% higher than that of the MCFs at the current density of 100 mA g^?1, and 26% higher than that of MCFs at the current density of 3 A g^?1. The electrochemical behaviors of Co-MCFs are obviously improved due to the improved wettability, increased graphitization degree and the pseudo-capacitance through additional faradic reactions arising from cobalt.     

Magnetic properties of nitric oxide adsorbed within channel crystals

The crystalline one-dimensional compounds, [M₂(bza)₄(pyz)]_n (bza = benzoate; pyz = pyrazine; M = Cu^II (1)) and [M₂(bza)₄(2-mpyz)]_n (2-mpyz = 2-methylpyrazine; M = Rh^II (2), Cu^II (3)), demonstrate gas absorbency of NO. The amounts of adsorbed NO gas are 0.61 for 1, 0.30 for 2, and 0.23 for 3 per M₂ unit at 195 K (800 Torr). The crystals of 1 adsorbed more NO molecules than did those of 2 and 3. The magnetic susceptibilities of the NO-inclusion crystals indicate that included NO molecules interact antiferromagnetically with neighboring guests without dimerization to N₂O₂. Magnetic behaviors indicated NO aggregation in the narrow 1D channels of 1–3 under unsaturated adsorption conditions.     

High pressure polymorphs of LiCoPO4 and LiCoAsO4

Olivine-LiCoXO₄ (X = P, As) compounds might transform to the denser spinel-type and Na₂CrO₄-type structures under pressure. In this work, the relative energetic stability of the three polymorphs and the pressure of the possible polymorphic transformations are investigated combining experiments and first principles calculations. Olivine-LiCoAsO₄ is predicted to transform to the Na₂CrO₄-like structure at 0.4 GPa and to the spinel structure at 5.8 GPa (0 K). Quenching HP/HT experiments show that olivine-LiCoAsO₄ treated at 6 GPa/1173 K transforms to the spinel-like structure. Computational results indicate that olivine-LiCoPO₄ transforms to the Na₂CrO₄-like form at around 4 GPa (0 K), the latter being the stable form till very high pressures (21.6 GPa). In good agreement with this, olivine-LiCoPO₄ when subjected to 6 GPa/1173 K and 15 GPa/1173 K is converted to the Na₂CrO₄-type polymorph. Crystallographic data of the new compound LiCoPO₄ within the Na₂CrO₄ structural type are provided.     

Phase equilibrium measurements of ternary systems formed by linoleic and linolenic acids in carbon dioxide/ethanol mixtures

This work reports phase equilibrium measurements for the ternary systems linoleic (acid + CO₂ + ethanol) and (linolenic acid + CO₂ + ethanol). The fatty acids present in the ternary systems were selected based on composition of banana peel oil extracted by supercritical CO₂ at 20 MPa and 313 K. The motivation of this research relies on the fact that these unsaturated fatty acids are recognized to play an important role in lowering blood pressure and serum cholesterol and because they are present in high concentrations in banana peel extract. Besides that, equilibrium data of these compounds are scarce in literature. The phase equilibrium experiments were performed using a high-pressure variable-volume view cell over the temperature range of (303 to 343) K and pressures up to 19 MPa. For both systems, only vapour–liquid phase transitions were visually recorded for all data measured.     

Density,viscosity, refractive index,excess molar enthalpy,viscosity, and refractive index deviations for the (1-butanol + 2-butanone) binary system at T = 303 K. A new adiabatic calorimeter for heat of mixing

Density, viscosity, refractive index, and heat of mixing measurements for {x₁ 1-butanol + (1 ? x₁) 2-butanone} at T = 303 K were made over the whole concentration range. Data of the binary mixture were further used to calculate the viscosity and refractive index deviations, and excess molar enthalpy. The excess or deviation properties were fitted with the Redlich–Kister polynomial relation to obtain their coefficients and standard deviations. The construction of an adiabatic calorimeter useful in the neighbourhood of room temperature is described. Its performance was checked by measuring the heat of mixing for {x₁ benzene + (1 ? x₁) cyclohexane} over the whole concentration range at T = 298 K. Experimental results are within a standard deviation of 9 J · mol^?1 of the accepted literature values.     

A room temperature ferrimagnet,vanadium[pentafluorophenyltricyanoethylene]2

The emergence of the soft ferrimagnet V[TCNE]₂ has sparked interest in the development of new radical anionic bridged magnets that are ordered above room temperature. Reversible one-electron acceptors 2-(phenyl)-1,1,2-tricyanoethylene, H₅PTCE, and 2-(pentafluorophenyl)-1,1,2-tricyanoethylene, F₅PTCE, are replacements for TCNE, giving magnets in reactions with V(CO)₆ that order at 215 K and 307 K, respectively. Both compounds exhibit hysteresis with small coercivities at 5 K which is typical of this class of compounds.     

Solubility of carbon dioxide,methane, and ethane in 1-butanol and saturated liquid densities and viscosities

A designed pressure–volume–temperature (PVT) apparatus has been used to measure the (vapor + liquid) equilibrium properties of three binary mixtures (methane +, ethane +, and carbon dioxide + 1-butanol) at two temperatures (303 and 323) K and at the pressures up to 6 MPa. The solubility of the compressed gases in 1-butanol and the saturated liquid densities and viscosities were measured. In addition, the density and viscosity of pure 1-butanol were measured at two temperatures (303 and 323) K and at the pressures up to 10 MPa. The experimental results show that the solubility of the gases in 1-butanol increases with pressure and decreases with temperature. The dissolution of gases in 1-butanol causes a decline in the viscosity of liquid phase. The saturated liquid density follows a decreasing trend with the solubility of methane and ethane. However, the dissolution of carbon dioxide in 1-butanol leads to an increase in the density of liquid phase. The experimental data are well correlated with Soave–Redlich–Kwong (SRK) and Peng–Robinson (PR) equations of state (EOSs). SRK EOS was slightly superior for correlating the saturated liquid densities.     

Ferromagnetism vs. antiferromagnetism of the dimorphic HoCrO4 oxide

This paper reports the specific conditions used in the preparation of the dimorphic phases of HoCrO₄ oxide. The scheelite form has been obtained from the room pressure stable HoCrO₄–zircon heated at 823 K at 40 kbar. The structures of both the polytypes have been refined from X-ray powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method. The zircon type of HoCrO₄ oxide crystallizes with tetragonal symmetry, S.G. I4₁/amd and lattice parameters a = 7.119(10) and c = 6.2557(5) Å; while the scheelite–HoCrO₄ derivative shows tetragonal symmetry, S.G. I4₁/a and lattice parameters a = 5.0017(1) and c = 11.2664(2) Å. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that both zircon and scheelite forms of HoCrO₄ oxide present a very different magnetic behaviour at low temperatures. The zircon form behaves as a ferromagnet with a Curie temperature of 17.6 K, while the scheelite form is antiferromagnetic with a Néel temperature of 7.6 K. A metamagnetic transition for the scheelite form with a critical field of 1 T at 2 K has been also observed. The changes in the sign of the interactions have been also analyzed by considering the possible super-exchange mechanisms and the differences found in the Ho–O–Cr distances and bond angles in going from zircon to scheelite structural type.     

Phase equilibrium measurements and modelling of ternary system (carbon dioxide + ethanol + palmitic acid)

This work reports phase equilibrium measurements for the ternary system (palmitic acid + ethanol + CO₂). The motivation of this research relies on the fact that palmitic acid is the major compound of several vegetable oils. Besides, equilibrium data for palmitic acid in carbon dioxide using ethanol as co-solvent are scarce in the literature. Phase equilibrium experiments were performed using a high-pressure variable-volume view cell over the temperature range of (303 to 343) K and pressures up to 20 MPa and mole fraction of palmitic acid from 0.0199 to 0.2930. Vapour–liquid and solid–fluid transitions were visually observed for the system studied. The Peng–Robinson equation of state, with the classical van der Waals quadratic mixing rule was employed for thermodynamic modelling of the system investigated with a satisfactory agreement between experimental and calculated values.