Alkylation of imidazole under ultrasound irradiation over alkaline carbons

N-Alkyl-imidazole has been synthesized by sonochemical irradiation of imidazole and 1-bromobutane using alkaline-promoted carbons (exchanged with the binary combinations of Na, K and Cs). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal analysis and N₂ adsorption isotherms. Under the experimental conditions, N-alkyl-imidazoles can be prepared with a high activity and selectivity. It is observed that imidazole conversion increases in parallel with increasing the basicity of the catalyst. The influence of the alkaline promoter, the reaction temperature, and the amount of catalyst on the catalytic activity has been studied. For comparison, the alkylation of imidazole has also been performed in a batch reactor system under thermal activation.     

Large amplitude bending motion in CsOH, studied through ab initio-based three-dimensional potential energy functions

The large-amplitude bending motion in CsOH, a ‘classical’ molecule whose microwave spectrum was first recorded in 1967, has been studied ab initio. The three-dimensional potential energy surface has been calculated at the RCCSD(T)_DK3/[QZP + g ANO-RCC (Cs, O, H)] level of theory and employed in MORBID calculations of the rotation-vibration energies and intensities. The ground electronic state is ¹Σ⁺ with the equilibrium structure r_e(Cs-O) = 2.3930 Å, r_e(O-H) = 0.9587 Å, and ∠_e(Cs-O-H) = 180.0°. The O-H moiety is bound to Cs by an ionic bond and the molecule can be described as Cs^δ+(OH)^δ-. Hence, the bending potential is shallow and gives rise to large-amplitude bending motion. The ro-vibrationally averaged structural parameters, determined as expectation values over MORBID wavefunctions, are 〈r(Cs-O)〉₀ = 2.3987 Å, 〈r(O-H)〉₀ = 0.9754 Å, and 〈∠(Cs-O-H)〉₀ = 163°. Although the averaged structure in the vibrational ground state is far from being linear, the Yamada-Winnewissi-linearity parameter for CsOH is γ₀≈-1.0, the value characteristic for a linear molecule.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of the BΣ-XΣ system of CN

The emission spectrum of the B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺ system of CN has been observed at high-resolution using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The rotational structure of a large number of bands involving vibrational levels v = 0-15 of both electronic states has been analyzed, and improved spectroscopic constants have been determined by combining the microwave and infrared measurements from previous studies. Improved spectroscopic constants for vibrational levels up to v″ = 18 in the X²Σ⁺ state and v′ = 19 in the B²Σ⁺ state have been determined by combining the measurements of the 16-13, 18-17, 18-18, 19-15, and 19-18 bands of Douglas and Routly [Astrophys. J. Suppl. 1 (1955) 295-318] and 17-14 and 17-16 bands of Ito et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 96 (1992) 4195] with our data. The band constants obtained have been used to estimate equilibrium ground state constants for CN.     

A study of the AΠ-XΣ and BΣ-XΣ band systems of scandium monosulfide, ScS, using Fourier transform emission spectroscopy and laser excitation spectroscopy

Emission spectra of the A²Π_3/2-X²Σ⁺ (0, 1), (0, 0), and (1, 0) bands and the B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺ (0, 1), (0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), and (3, 1) bands of ScS have been recorded in the 10 000-13 500 cm⁻¹ region at a resolution of 0.05 cm⁻¹ using a Fourier transform (FT) spectrometer. The A²Π_r-X²Σ⁺ (1, 0) band as well as the B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺ (0, 0) and (1, 0) bands have been recorded at high resolution (±0.001 cm⁻¹) by laser excitation spectroscopy using a supersonic molecular beam source. The FT spectral features range up to N = 148, while those recorded with the laser cover the “low-N” regions. The lines recorded with the laser exhibit splittings due to the ⁴⁵Sc (I = 7/2) magnetic hyperfine interactions, which are large (∼6.65 GHz) in the X²Σ⁺ state and much smaller in the B²Σ⁺ and A²Π states. The energy levels were modeled using a traditional ‘effective’ Hamiltonian approach, and improved spectroscopic constants were extracted and compared with previous determinations and theoretical predictions.     

The effect of non-contact heating (microwave irradiation) and contact heating (annealing process) on properties and performance of polyethersulfone nanofiltration membranes

In this work the effect of microwave irradiation on morphology and performance of polyethersulfone (PES) membranes was investigated. The membranes were prepared with 20 wt.% of PES by phase inversion method. N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and mixture of water and ethyl alcohol (90/10 vol.%) were employed as solvent and coagulant respectively. Polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP) with the concentration of 2 wt.% was selected as pore former. The effects of irradiation time (10, 30, 60, 90, 120 s) and microwave power (180, 360, 720 and 900 W) on structure and performance of membranes were studied. Increasing the irradiation time and power caused variation in permeate flux and ion rejection. Moreover, the effects of annealing processes (60, 70, 80 °C) were studied. Transmembrane pressure was selected around 1.5 MPa for all experiments. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) were employed to describe the surface morphology of the prepared membranes. The effect of microwave irradiation time in different power revealed alterations in membrane surface morphology and AFM images represented that surface parameters (such as surface roughness) have been changed. The membrane exhibited moderate rejection (47%) and low permeate flux (4.5 kg/m² h) at 80 °C for NaCl solution. The SEM images indicate that the dense skin layer is formed at 80 °C annealing.     

Fourier transform emission spectroscopy and ab initio calculations on WO

Emission spectra of WO have been observed in the 4000-35 000 cm⁻¹ region using a Fourier transform spectrometer. Molecules were produced by exciting a mixture of WCl₆ vapor and He in a microwave discharge lamp. A ³Σ⁻ state has been assigned as the ground state of WO based on a rotational analysis of the observed bands and ab initio calculations. After rotational analysis, a majority of strong bands have been classified into three groups. Most of the transitions belonging to the first group have an Ω = 0⁺ state as the lower state while the bands in the second group have an Ω′′ = 1 state as the lower state. These two lower states have been assigned as X0⁺ and X1 spin components of the X³Σ⁻ ground state of WO. The third group consists of additional bands interconnected by common vibrational levels involving some very low-lying states. The spectroscopic properties of the low-lying electronic states have been predicted from ab initio calculations. The details of the rotational analysis are presented and an attempt has been made to explain the experimental observations in the light of the ab initio results.     

Ultrasound assisted the preparation of 1-(4-nitrophenyl) imidazole under a new multi-site phase-transfer catalyst – Kinetic study

In this work, the nitroarylation of imidazole catalyzed by a new novel dual-site phase-transfer catalyst was carried out in an alkaline solution/imidazole in chlorobenzene two-phase medium with ultrasonic irradiation (40 kHz, 300 W). This new synthesized phase-transfer catalyst, N¹,N⁶-diethyl-N¹,N¹,N⁶,N⁶-tetraisopropylhexane-1,6-diaminium dichloride (MPTC), which possesses two-site activity, was obtained from the reaction of 1,6-dichlorohexane and N-ethyl-N-isopropylpropane-2-amine. The reaction of imidazole and alkali was carried out at the interface to generate sodium imidazole anion which can further react with MPTC form quaternary ammonium imidazole anion along with ultrasonic irradiation (40 kHz, 300 W). This ion-pair further react with 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene which is present in the organic phase to produce 1-(4-nitropheny) imidazole. The reaction follows a pseudo first-order rate law. Kinetics of the reactions such as effect of the catalysts, ultrasonic effect, agitation speed, temperature, alkaline concentration, amount of 4-nitrochlorobenzene and the solvent effect on the reaction rate were investigated in detail. Peculiar phenomenon for the dependence of the reaction rate on the amount of MPTC and ultrasonication are explained satisfactorily.     

Cesium redeposition artifacts during low energy ToF-SIMS depth profiling

H-terminated Si samples were preloaded with Cs by performing ToF-SIMS depth profiles (250 eV Cs⁺, 15 keV Ga⁺) until the steady state was reached both with and without a bias of +40 V applied to the ion extraction electrode. Xe⁺ depth profiles (350 eV Xe⁺, 15 keV Ga⁺) were obtained inside and around the Cs craters with and without applying the 40 V bias. The results indicate that the maximum of the Cs⁺ signal of the Xe⁺ depth profiles shifts to the surface if no bias is applied, either during the Cs⁺ sputtering or during the Xe⁺ sputtering (i.e., the profiles are broadest with both biases (Cs⁺ and Xe⁺) on and narrowest and closest to the surface if both biases are off). This effect can be explained by the electric field, caused by the bias, deflecting the sputtered low energy Cs⁺ ions back to the surface.     

Formation of GaAs1−xNx nanofilm on GaAs by low energy N2 implantation

Nitridation of GaAs (1 0 0) by N₂⁺ ions with energy E_i = 2500 eV has been studied by Auger- and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy under experimental conditions, when electrons ejected only by nitrated layer, without contribution of GaAs substrate, were collected. Diagnostics for quantitative chemical analysis of the nitrated layers has been developed using the values of NKVV Auger energies in GaN and GaAsN chemical phases measured in one experiment, with the accuracy being sufficient for separating their contributions into the experimental spectrum. The conducted analysis has shown that nanofilm with the thickness of about 4 nm was fabricated, consisting mainly of dilute alloy GaAs_1−xN_x with high concentration of nitrogen x ∼ 0.09, although the major part of the implanted nitrogen atoms are contained in GaN inclusions. It was assumed that secondary ion cascades generated by implanted ions play an important role in forming nitrogen-rich alloy.     

Auger electron spectroscopy of Au/NiOx contacts on p-GaN annealed in N2 and O2 + N2 ambients

We have designed a promising contact scheme to p-GaN. Au/NiO_x layers with a low concentration of O in NiO_x are deposited on p-GaN by reactive dc magnetron sputtering and annealed in N₂ and in a mixture of O₂ + N₂ to produce low resistivity ohmic contacts. Annealing has been studied of NiO_x layers with various contents of oxygen upon the electrical properties of Au/NiO_x/p-GaN. It has been found that the Au/NiO_x/p-GaN structure with a low content of oxygen in NiO_x layer provides a low resistivity ohmic contact even after subsequent annealing in N₂ or O₂ + N₂ ambient at 500 °C for 2 min.Auger depth profiles and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs reveal that while annealing in O₂ + N₂ ambient results in reconstruction of the initial deposited Au/NiO_x/p-GaN contact structure into a Au/p-NiO/p-GaN structure, annealing in N₂ brings about reconstruction into Au/p-NiO/p-GaN and Ni/p-NiO/p-GaN structures. Hence, in both cases, after annealing in N₂ as well as in O₂ + N₂ ambient, the ohmic properties of the contacts are determined by creation of a thin oxide layer (p-NiO) on the metal/p-GaN interface. Higher contact resistivities in the samples annealed in O₂ + N₂ ambient are most likely caused by a smaller effective area of the contact due to creation of voids.     

Investigation of ethene adsorption on Hmordenite and modified Hmordenite by frequency response method

The frequency response (FR) technique has been applied to study adsorption mechanism of ethene in parent Hmordenite (HMor) and the HMor (CuO/HMor, Cs⁺/HMor) which were modified by CuO and Cs⁺. The FR spectra of ethene in HMor, CuO/HMor and Cs⁺/HMor were recorded at temperatures between 252 and 273 K under the pressure of 0.2-30.0 Torr, and then those FR spectra were investigated. The results showed that two parallel adsorption processes exist in ethene/HMor system. Those two processes were attributed to adsorption process of ethene on proton acid sites (low frequency adsorption) and on hydrogen cation sites (high frequency adsorption); meanwhile the number of sites available for adsorption of ethene is 0.692 and 0.828 mmol g⁻¹, respectively. The number of adsorption sites in low frequency is increased by the introduction of CuO which is located among the proton acid sites but covered the hydrogen ion sites in high frequency. Chemical adsorption of ethene is the main sorption process in CuO/HMor. The number of adsorption sites in low frequency is decreased by the introduction of Cs⁺ which counteracted proton acid sites in low frequency. Physical adsorption is the main sorption process in Cs⁺/HMor channels. The optimum content of CuO for modification is 5% (weight/weight). Combining the FR spectra and other methods such as isotherms and Langmuir model, a thorough understanding of the ethene adsorption processes on zeolites can be achieved.     

New high-resolution analysis of the {ν1 + ν3} band of the NO2 isotopomer of nitrogen dioxide: Line positions and intensities

The high-resolution Fourier transform absorption spectrum of an isotopic sample of nitrogen dioxide, ¹⁵N¹⁶O₂, was recorded in the 3.4 μm region. Starting from the results of a previous study [Y. Hamada, J. Mol. Struct. 242 (1991) 367-377] a new analysis of the ν₁ + ν₃ band located at 2858.7077 cm⁻¹ has been performed. This new assignment concerns (1 0 1) energy levels involving rotational quantum numbers up to K_a = 10 and N = 54. Using a theoretical model which accounts for both the electron spin-rotation resonances within each vibrational state and the Coriolis interactions between the (1 2 0) and (1 0 1) vibrational states, the spin-rotation energy levels of the (1 0 1) vibrational state could be reproduced within their experimental uncertainty. In this way, the precise vibrational energy, rotational, spin-rotation, and coupling constants were achieved for the {(1 2 0), (1 0 1)} interacting states of ¹⁵N¹⁶O₂. Using these parameters and the transition moment operator which was obtained for the main isotopic species, ¹⁴N¹⁶O₂, a comprehensive list of the line positions and intensities was generated for the ν₁ + ν₃ band of ¹⁵N¹⁶O₂.     

Positive secondary Ion emission from Si1−xGex bombarded by O2

The positive secondary ion yields of B⁺ (dopant), Si⁺ and Ge⁺ were measured for Si_1−xGe_x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) sputtered by 5.5 keV ¹⁶O₂⁺ and ¹⁸O₂⁺. It is found that the useful yields of Ge⁺ and B⁺ suddenly drop by one order of magnitude by varying the elemental composition x from 0.9 to 1 (pure Ge). In order to clarify the role of oxygen located near surface regions, we determined the depth profiles of ¹⁸O by nuclear resonant reaction analysis (NRA: ¹⁸O(p,α)¹⁵N) and medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) spectrometry. Based on the useful yields of B⁺, Si⁺ and Ge⁺ dependent on x together with the elemental depth profiles determined by NRA and MEIS, we propose a probable surface structure formed by 5.5 keV O₂⁺ irradiation.     

An analysis of the rotational, fine and hyperfine effects in the (0, 0) band of the AΠ-XΣ transition of manganese monohydride, MnH

High-resolution (±0.003 cm⁻¹), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of a supersonic molecular beam sample of manganese monohydride, MnH, have been recorded in the 17500-17800 cm⁻¹ region of the (0, 0) band of the A⁷Π-X⁷Σ ⁺ system. The low-N branch features were modeled successfully by inclusion of the magnetic hyperfine mixings of spin components within a given low-N rotational level using a traditional ‘effective’ Hamiltonian approach. An improved set of spectroscopic constants has been extracted and compared with those from previous analyses. The optimum optical features for future optical Stark and Zeeman measurements are identified.     

Laser and Fourier transform emission spectroscopy of TaCl

The emission spectrum of TaCl has been recorded at high resolution in the 3000-35 000 cm⁻¹ region using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The bands were observed by microwave excitation of a mixture of TaCl₅ vapor and 3.0 Torr of He. Several TaCl bands have also been recorded using the laser ablation/molecular beam source at the University of New Brunswick. A rotational analysis of a number of bands has been obtained and the majority of the stronger bands have been classified into three groups with different lower state spectroscopic constants. The three lower states have been identified as having Ω″ = 0⁺, Ω″ = 2, and (tentatively) Ω″ = 3. The Ω″ = 0⁺ and Ω″ = 2 states are very close in energy and one of these two states is the ground state of TaCl.     

Determination of the rate of H + O2 + M → HO2 + M (M = N2, Ar, H2O) from ignition of syngas at practical conditions

In H₂ and H₂/CO oxidation, the H + O₂ + M termination step is one of the most important reactions at elevated pressures. With the recent, increased interest in synthetic fuels, an accurate assessment of its rate coefficient becomes increasingly important, especially for real fuel/air mixtures. Ignition delay times in shock-tube experiments at the conditions selected in this study are only sensitive to the rates of the title reaction and the branching reaction H + O₂ = OH + O, the rate of which is known to a high level of accuracy. The rate coefficient of the title reaction for M = N₂, Ar, and H₂O was determined by adjusting its value in a detailed chemical kinetics model to match ignition delay times for H₂/CO/O₂/N₂, H₂/CO/O₂/Ar, and H₂/CO/O₂/N₂/H₂O mixtures with fuel/air equivalence ratios of ? = 0.5, 0.9, and 1.0. The rate of H + O₂ + N₂ = HO₂ + N₂ was measured to be 2.7 (−0.7/+0.8) × 10¹⁵ cm⁶/mol² s for T = 916-1265 K and P = 1-17 atm. The present determination agrees well with the recent study of Bates et al. [R.W. Bates, D.M. Golden, R.K. Hanson, C.T. Bowman, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 3 (2001) 2337-2342], whose rate expressions are suggested herein for modeling the falloff regime. The rate of H + O₂ + Ar = HO₂ + Ar was measured to be 1.9 × 10¹⁵ cm⁶/mol² s for T = 932-965 K and P = 1.4 atm. The rate of H + O₂ + H₂O = HO₂ + H₂O was measured to be 3.3 × 10¹⁶ cm⁶/mol² s for T = 1071-1161 K and P = 1.3 atm. These are the first experimental measurements of the rates of the title reactions in practical combustion fuel/air mixtures.     

Blue-cathodoluminescent layers synthesis by high-dose N, C and B SiO2 implantation

Thermal silicon oxide layers have been implanted at 600 °C with N⁺+C⁺, N⁺+B⁺ and N⁺+C⁺+B⁺ ions. Two different implantation doses have been chosen in order to introduce peak concentrations at the projected range comparable to the SiO₂ density. Some pieces of the samples have been annealed in conventional furnace at 1200 °C for 3 h. After annealing, cathodoluminescence measurements show in all cases a main broad band centered at 460 nm (2.7 eV). High doses of C implantation give rise to an intensity attenuation. Phases formed in the oxides have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy before and after annealing. The spectra suggest that N incorporates as BN and probably as a ternary BCN phase in the triply implanted samples, while C seems to bond mainly with B. Boron is also bonded to O in B-O-Si configuration. Depth structure and quantitative composition of the films were deduced from fittings of the spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements.     

Stability and characterization of mesoporous molecular sieve using natural clay as a raw material obtained by microwave irradiation

Mesoporous molecular sieve was synthesized via microwave irradiation method, and using natural clay, sodium silicate and aluminum chloride as raw materials and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template agent under alkaline condition. The samples were characterized by various analytic and spectroscopic tools such as XRD, FT-IR, TEM, TG-DSC and N₂ physical adsorption, respectively. The results show that the synthesized sample has typical mesoporous structure and exhibits good mesoporous ordering. On the other hand, the as synthesized sample after calcination at 550 °C for 10 h has a surface area of 576.0 m²/g and an average pore size of 4.83 nm. Furthermore, the synthesized mesoporous molecular sieve still exhibits good mesoporous ordering after calcination at 750 °C for 3 h or hydrothermal treatment at 100 °C for 10 days.     

Fabrication of multilayered Ge nanocrystals embedded in SiOxGeNy films

Multilayered Ge nanocrystals embedded in SiO_xGeN_y films have been fabricated on Si substrate by a (Ge + SiO₂)/SiO_xGeN_y superlattice approach, using a rf magnetron sputtering technique with a Ge + SiO₂ composite target and subsequent thermal annealing in N₂ ambient at 750 °C for 30 min. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement indicated the formation of Ge nanocrystals with an average size estimated to be 5.4 nm. Raman scattering spectra showed a peak of the Ge-Ge vibrational mode downward shifted to 299.4 cm⁻¹, which was caused by quantum confinement of phonons in the Ge nanocrystals. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Ge nanocrystals were confined in (Ge + SiO₂) layers. This superlattice approach significantly improved both the size uniformity of Ge nanocrystals and their uniformity of spacing on the ‘Z’ growth direction.     

Effect of Ag substitution on the electromagnetic property and microwave absorption of LaMnO3

La_1−xAg_xMnO₃ perovskites with different doping Ag-content were prepared by the sol–gel method. The electromagnetic characteristics and microwave loss behavior of these ion-doped rare-earth manganites were studied in the 2–18 GHz frequency range. The microstructure and morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The complex permittivity spectra, the complex permeability spectra and microwave reflection loss were measured by a microwave vector network analyzer system. The XRD patterns show that the crystalline perovskite main phase ABO₃ is formed and impurity phases disappear when calcined at 1100 °C, and Ag metal as an impurity phase appears when excessive Ag⁺ is doped. The SEM image indicates that many of the La_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃ particles are fiber-like or ellipsoidal. Magnetic loss and dielectric loss coexist and cooperate in microwave attenuation by moderate substitution of Ag⁺ for La³⁺. The microwave absorption property of the La_0.85Ag_0.15MnO₃ sample is enhanced with the bandwidth below −10 dB at about 6 GHz and the peak value of reflection loss is near −25.0 dB at the layer thickness of 2 mm.