Electrocatalysis on gold nanostructures: Is the {1 1 0} facet more active than the {1 1 1} facet?

The anisotropic electrocatalytic properties of gold nanobelts and nanoplates enclosed by either {1 1 0} or {1 1 1} facets were studied. Different strategies were used to synthesize these materials. It was found that the {1 1 0} surface of gold does not necessarily show a higher electrocatalytic activity than the {1 1 1} surface. The {1 1 0} surface of gold is more active than the {1 1 1} surface for glucose oxidation in both, neutral and alkaline media. However, for methanol oxidation in alkaline solution, the {1 1 0} surface shows a lower activity than the {1 1 1} surface, which is contrary to the general belief that {1 1 0} facet is the most active surface among the three basal planes. The possible mechanisms are discussed.     

A new accurate calorimetric method for the enthalpy of fusion measurements up to 1000 °C

A new metrological approach is proposed by the Laboratoire National de Metrologie et d’Essais to lower the uncertainty of measurements of enthalpy of fusion from 23 to 1000 °C. It consists, as in our previous works, in putting the studied sample inside a calibration crucible and in performing the heat calibration of the calorimeter by electrical substitution at two temperatures before and after the temperature of fusion of the sample during the same low-rate heating run. The novelty lies in the “electrical compensation” of the endothermic reaction of fusion. The quantification of the electrical energy needed to melt the sample, which can be measured with high accuracy, and the integrated remaining heat flow rate divided by the calibration factor (sensitivity) of the calorimeter at the temperature of fusion, leads to the determination of the enthalpy of fusion of the sample with low uncertainty. This methodology reduces the influence of the uncertainty component associated with the area of the peak of fusion by comparison with the former procedure when no electrical compensation was applied. The relative expanded uncertainty (k = 2) associated with the enthalpy of fusion measurements, performed using this facility and this new procedure, has been assessed to be < 0.2% for tin and indium and to be about 0.3% in the case of silver.

     

P, ρ, and T measurements of the (limonene + β-pinene) mixtures

The density, ρ, and two derived properties, isothermal compressibility, κ_T, and the coefficient of cubic expansion, α_P, were obtained for the mixtures of 1-methyl-4-(1-methylethenyl)-cyclohexene, known as limonene, and (1S,5S)-6,6-dimethyl-2-methylenebibyclo[3.1.1]heptane, known as β-pinene, for nine different compositions and the pure components at five pressures from 20 MPa to 40 MPa and six temperatures from 283.15 K to 358.15 K. The experimental uncertainty for ρ, κ_T, and α_P were respectively ±0.5 kg · m⁻³, ±14 TPa⁻¹, and ±0.005k K⁻¹, with k = 2 for all of them. Density behaviour with temperature and pressure was as expected. The values of α_P and κ_T increase with temperature and decrease with increasing pressure. Two different equations of state, conventional SAFT and PC-SAFT, were applied to predict the densities of the mixture. The best predictions were achieved with PC-SAFT.     

Measurements of the critical parameters for {xNH3 + (1 − x)H2O} with x = (0.9098, 0.7757, 0.6808)

Measurements of the critical parameters for {xNH₃ + (1 ? x)H₂O} with x = (0.9098, 0.7757, 0.6808) were carried out by using a metal-bellows variable volumometer with an optical cell. The expanded uncertainties (k = 2) in temperature, pressure, density, and composition measurements have been estimated to be less than 3.2 mK, 3.2 kPa, 0.3 kg · m^?3, and 8.8 · 10^?4, respectively. In each mole fraction, the critical temperature T_c was first determined on the basis of the intensity of the critical opalescence. The critical pressure p_c and critical density ρ_c were then determined as the point at which the meniscus disappears on the isotherm at T = T_c. The expanded uncertainties (k = 2) in the present critical parameters have also been estimated. Comparisons of the present values with the literature data as well as the calculated values afforded using the equation of state are also presented.     

Phosphasilaallenes >Si = C = P− and phosphagermaallenes >Ge = C = P−

Phosphasilaallene Tip(Ph)Si = C = PMes* (Tip = 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl, Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl) and phosphagermaallene Mes₂Ge = C = PMes* (Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) have been obtained by dehalogenation of their corresponding dihalophosphametallapropenes > E(X)-C(X′) = P? by tert-butyllithium. They dimerize above ?40 °C by a cycloaddition involving two E = C double bonds or the E = C and the P = C double bonds but can be characterized at low temperature by trapping reactions and by low field shifts in ³¹P, ²⁹Si and particularly ¹³C NMR for the sp carbon atom. Owing to a small increase in the steric hindrance, phosphagermaallene Tip(t-Bu)Ge = C = PMes* can be stabilized and isolated. The Ge = C double bond undergoes nearly quantitative [2 + 1] cycloadditions with chalcogens and [2 + 2] cycloadditions with aldehydes or ketones. The surprisingly stable lithiochlorosilane R(Cl₂)Si-C(Li) = PMes* (R = 9-methylfluorenyl) behaves as a synthetic equivalent of the phosphasilaallene R(Cl)Si = C = PMes*. With two alkyl groups (t-Bu) on the germanium atom, the phosphagermaallene t-Bu₂Ge = C = PMes* is not obtained but its formal dimers 1,3-digermacyclobutanes have been isolated.     

Thermally-driven processes on rutile TiO2(1 1 0)-(1 × 1): A direct view at the atomic scale

The technological importance of TiO₂ has led to a broad effort aimed at understanding the elementary steps that underlie catalytic and photocatalytic reactions. The most stable surface, rutile TiO₂(1 1 0), in particular, has became a prototypical model for fundamental studies of TiO₂. In this critical review we have selected oxygen, water, and alcohols to evaluate recent progress relevant for applications in the areas of water splitting and oxidation of organic contaminants. We first focus on the characterization of defects and the distribution of excess charge that results from their formation. The subsequent section concentrates on the role of individual surface sites and the effect of available charge in the adsorption processes. The discussion of adsorbate dynamics follows, providing models for intrinsic and extrinsic diffusion processes as well as rotational dynamics of anchored alkoxy species. The final section summarizes our current understanding of TiO₂(1 1 0) catalyzed reactions between water, oxygen, and their dissociation products.     

Phase behaviour of the ternary system {poly(ε-caprolactone) + carbon dioxide + dichloromethane}

Recently, production of biocompatible and biodegradable polymer microparticles has been a matter of growing interest in pharmaceutical and food areas such as drug or active compounds delivery. To conduct production of microparticles, polymeric particle coating, impregnation of active compounds in polymeric films, the knowledge of phase behaviour involving the biodegradable polymer in supercritical carbon dioxide in the presence of a modifier may be needed to allow developing new industrial applications. In this sense, the aim of this work was to investigate the phase behaviour of the ternary system formed by the biodegradable polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) in (carbon dioxide + dichloromethane). Experimental phase transition (bubble and cloud point) values were obtained by applying the static-synthetic method using a variable-volume view cell over the temperature range of (303 to 343) K and pressures up to 21 MPa, in the CO₂ overall composition range of (25–46) wt%, while polymer concentrations studied were (1, 3, 5, and 7) wt%. For the system investigated, depending on the polymer concentration, vapour–liquid, liquid–liquid, and vapour–liquid–liquid phase transitions were verified.     

Protonation thermodynamics of some aminophenol derivatives in NaCl(aq) (0 ⩽ I ⩽3 mol · kg−1) at T = 298.15 K

The acid–base properties of four aminophenol derivatives, namely m-aminophenol (L1), 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene (L2), 2-amino-5-ethylphenol (L3) and 5-amino-4-chloro-o-cresol (L4), are studied by potentiometric and titration calorimetric measurements in NaCl_(aq) (0 ? I ? 3 mol · kg^?1) at T = 298.15 K. The dependence of the protonation constants on ionic strength is modelled by the Debye–Hückel, SIT (Specific ion Interaction Theory) and Pitzer equations. Therefore, the values of protonation constants at infinite dilution and the relative interaction coefficients are calculated. The dependence of protonation enthalpies on ionic strength is also determined. Distribution (2-methyl-1-propanol/aqueous solution) measurements allowed us to determine the Setschenow coefficients and the activity coefficients of neutral species. Experimental results show that these compounds behave in a very similar way, and common class parameters are reported, in particular for the dependence on ionic strength of both protonation constants and protonation enthalpies.     

Measurement and correlation of the (p, ρ, T) relation of liquid cyclohexane,toluene, and ethanol in the temperature range from 233.15 K to 473.15 K at pressures up to 30 MPa for use as density reference liquids

Comprehensive (p, ρ, T) measurements on cyclohexane, toluene, and ethanol were carried out in the homogeneous liquid phase for temperatures from 233.15 K to 473.15 K at pressures up to 30 MPa. The measurements were performed by using an accurate single-sinker densimeter based on the Archimedes’ buoyancy principle. The total uncertainty of the measurements in density was estimated to be 0.015% (level of confidence 95%). Based on the experimental results, accurate correlation equations for the density of the three liquids have been established; their uncertainty is 0.020%. Comparisons with previous results of other experimentalists and with values calculated from current equations of state are presented. In this context it is also shown that the density of a liquid can vary slightly depending on the batch of the liquid used for the measurements. The purpose of this work was to provide accurate correlation equations for the densities of the three selected liquids so that these liquids can be used as density reference liquids for the calibration of densimeters and, in particular, for the calibration of vibrating-tube densimeters.     

Investigation of the LiCo1−xMgxPO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1)–graphitic carbon foam composites

LiCo_1−xMg_xPO₄–graphitic carbon foam (LCMP–GCF with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) composites are prepared by Pechini-assisted sol-gel method and annealed with the 2-steps annealing process (T = 300 °C for 5 min in flowing air, then at T = 730 °C for t = 12 h in flowing nitrogen). The XRD analysis, performed on powders reveals LiCoPO₄ as major crystalline phase, Co₂P and Co₂P₂O₇ as secondary phases. The morphological investigation revealed the formation and growth of microcrystalline “islands” which consist of acicular crystallites with different dimensions (typically 5–50 μm). By addition of Mg-ions, CV-curves of LCMP–GCF composites show a decrease of the surface between anodic and cathodic sweeps by cycling and a stark contribution of faradaic processes due to the graphitic structured foam. The electrochemical measurements, at a discharge rate of C/10 at room temperature, show the decrease of the discharge specific capacity from 100 mAh g⁻¹ for x = 0.0 to ∼35 mAh g⁻¹ for 0.025 ≤ x ≤ 0.05, then an increase to 69 mAh g⁻¹ for x = 0.1. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data reveal a decrease of the electrical resistance and the improvement of the Li-ion conductivity at high Mg-ions content into the LiCoPO₄ phase (x ≥ 0.025).     

(Vapour + liquid) equilibria for the binary mixtures (cis-pinane + α-pinene) and (cis-pinane + 1-butanol)

The isothermal and isobaric (vapour + liquid) equilibria for (cis-pinane + α-pinene) and (cis-pinane + 1-butanol) measured with an inclined ebulliometer are presented. The experimental results are analysed using the UNIQUAC equation with the temperature-dependence binary parameters with satisfactory results. Experimental vapour pressures of cis-pinane are also included.