Optical absorption and EPR studies on tenorite mineral

Optical absorption and EPR studies of the mineral tenorite, a cupric oxide which originated from Mexico and contains 54.40 wt% of CuO. EPR spectral results indicate two Cu(II) closely interacting ions to give a d² type structure. The calculated spin Hamiltonian at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature is g = 2.160 and D = 125 G. The intensity of resonance line is not the same in low and high field regions. The optical absorption spectrum is due to Cu(II) in which three sets of energies indicating Cu(II) in two independent tetragonal C_4v symmetry, in addition to d² structure of octahedral coordination. The octahedral and tetragonal field parameters are compared with those reported for several other copper containing minerals.     

The removal of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions onto natural sepiolite

The adsorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solutions onto natural sepiolite has been studied using a batch adsorber. The parameters that affect the uranium (VI) sorption, such as contact time, solution pH, initial uranium(VI) concentration, and temperature, have been investigated and optimized conditions determined. Equilibrium isotherm studies were used to evaluate the maximum sorption capacity of sepiolite and experimental results showed this to be 34.61 mg · g^?1. The experimental results were correlated reasonably well by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the isotherm parameters (Q_o and b) were calculated. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔH° = ?126.64 kJ · mol^?1, ΔS° = ?353.84 J · mol^?1 · K^?1, ΔG° = ?21.14 kJ · mol^?1) showed the exothermic heat of adsorption and the feasibility of the process. The results suggested that sepiolite was suitable as sorbent material for recovery and adsorption of uranium (VI) ions from aqueous solutions.     

Electrical properties of a novel fluorinated polycarbonate

The relative permittivity, loss and dielectric strength have been measured for a polycarbonate-based material, tetraaryl bisphenol A polycarbonate, that has been fluorine substituted (DiF p-TABPA-PC). The new material has a glass transition temperature, T_g = 489 K, that is higher than that for either conventional bisphenol A polycarbonate (BPA-PC) for which T_g = 421 K or for a copolymer of tetraaryl bisphenol A (TABPA) and bisphenol A (BPA) (TABPA-BPA-PC) for which T_g = 464 K. In addition, the dielectric strength of DiF p-TABPA-PC is almost identical to that for purified BPA-PC and slightly larger than the value for TABPA-BPA-PC. The relative permittivity and loss measurements were carried out from 10 to 10⁵ Hz over a wide temperature range and at pressures up to 0.25 GPa. Variable temperature results for the α relaxation and both temperature and pressure results for the γ relaxation regions are reported. The α relaxation exhibits standard behavior. The γ relaxation exhibits unusual characteristics such as a strong increase in peak height as temperature increases and a strong decrease in peak height with increasing pressure. The data for the γ relaxation have been analyzed using several formulations. Expressions for the peak height and peak position based on a two state (inequivalent well) model and the resulting parameters are discussed in terms of the insight they provide into the molecular mechanisms responsible for the sub-T_g relaxation. Ab initio SCF results for a related model compound are presented. Finally, the real part of the relative permittivity for the new polymer is about 10% higher than for BPA-PC.     

True detection limits in an experimental linearly heteroscedastic system. Part 1

Using a lab-constructed laser-excited filter fluorimeter deliberately designed to exhibit linearly heteroscedastic, additive Gaussian noise, it has been shown that accurate estimates may be made of the true theoretical Currie decision levels (Y_C and X_C) and true Currie detection limits (Y_D and X_D) for the detection of rhodamine 6 G tetrafluoroborate in ethanol. The obtained experimental values, for 5% probability of false positives and 5% probability of false negatives, were Y_C = 56.1 mV, Y_D = 125. mV, X_C = 0.132 μg/mL and X_D = 0.294 μg/mL. For 5% probability of false positives and 1% probability of false negatives, the obtained detection limits were Y_D = 158. mV and X_D = 0.372 μg/mL. These decision levels and corresponding detection limits were shown to pass the ultimate test: they resulted in observed probabilities of false positives and false negatives that were statistically equivalent to the a priori specified values.     

Dual-signal anodic stripping voltammetric determination of trace arsenic(III) at a glassy carbon electrode modified with internal-electrolysis deposited gold nanoparticles

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with internal-electrolysis deposited gold nanoparticles (AuNPs_ied) was applied to sensitively and selectively detect As(III) by anodic stripping linear sweep voltammetry (ASLSV). The AuNPs_ied/GCE was prepared based on the redox replacement reaction between a supporting-electrolyte-free aqueous HAuCl₄ and a copper sheet in saturated KCl separated by a salt bridge. Under optimum conditions (0.5 M aqueous H₂SO₄, 300-s preconcentration at − 0.4 V), the ASLSV peak current for the As(0)–As(III) oxidation responded linearly to As(III) concentration from 0.02 to 3 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.9 nM (0.07 μg L^− 1) (S/N = 3), while that for the As(III)–As(V) oxidation was linear with As(III) concentration from 0.02 to 1 μM with a LOD of 4 nM (0.3 μg L^− 1) (S/N = 3). An appropriate high-scan-rate for ASLSV can enhance both the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. This method was applied for analyses of As(III) in real water samples.     

Diffusion coefficients of nickel chloride in aqueous solutions of lactose at T = 298.15 K and T = 310.15 K

Binary mutual diffusion coefficients (interdiffusion coefficients) of nickel chloride in water at T = 298.15 K and T = 310.15 K, and at concentrations between (0.000 and 0.100) mol · dm^?3, using a Taylor dispersion method have been measured. These data are discussed on the basis of the Onsager–Fuoss and Pikal models. The equivalent conductance at infinitesimal concentration of the nickel ion in these solutions at T = 310.15 K has been estimated using these results. Through the same technique, ternary mutual diffusion coefficients (D₁₁, D₂₂, D₁₂, and D₂₁) for aqueous solutions containing NiCl₂ and lactose, at T = 298.15 K and T = 310.15 K, and at different carrier concentrations were also measured. These data permit us to have a better understanding of the structure of these systems and the thermodynamic behaviour of NiCl₂ in different media.     

Catalytic cyclopropanation of olefins using copper(I) diphosphinoamines

Catalytic cyclopropanation reactions of olefins with ethyl diazoacetate were carried out using copper(I) diphosphinoamine (PPh₂)₂N(R) (R = ⁱPr, H, Ph and –CH₂–C₆H₄–CHCH₂) complexes at 40 °C in chloroform. High yields of the cyclopropanes were obtained in all cases. The rate of the reaction was influenced by the nuclearity of the complex and the binding mode of the ligand which was either bridging or chelating. Comparison of isostructural complexes shows that the rate follows the order R = ⁱPr > H > Ph, where R is the substituent on the N. However, cyclopropane formation versus dimerization of the carbene, and trans to cis ratios of cyclopropane was similar in all cases. The nearly identical selectivity for different products formed was indicative of a common catalytic intermediate. A labile “copper–olefin” complex which does not involve the phosphine or the counterion is the most likely candidate. The differences in the reaction rates for different complexes are attributed to differences in the concentration of the catalytically active species which are in equilibrium with the catalytically inactive copper–phosphinoamine complex. To test the hypothesis a diphosphinoamine polymer complexed to copper(I) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst. Leaching of copper(I) and deactivation of the catalyst confirmed the proposed mechanism.     

Application of vapour phase calibration method for determination of sorption of gases and VOC in polydimethylsiloxane membranes

Equilibrium sorption of oxygen, carbon dioxide, ethylene, dimethyl sulphide, trichloroethylene and toluene in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at 30 °C is reported. Sorption isotherms of all compounds are well described by Henry’s law within the concentration intervals studied (0.008–257 g m⁻³). Vapour phase calibration (VPC), a static headspace method, was applied instead of the usual gravimetric and barometric sorption methods. Simple, rapid and reliable determination of air-PDMS partition coefficients (S) varying between 1 and 900 (g m⁻³/g m⁻³) was achieved by this method. Solubility of toluene in PDMS was the best of all tested compounds, followed by trichloroethylene, dimethyl sulphide, ethylene, carbon dioxide and oxygen. This observed sequence can be explained by the penetrant condensability, expressed by its critical temperature (T_c). Only for ethylene, a higher solubility is measured than expected from the correlation between S and T_c. This is caused by the relative high interaction of ethylene with the polymer. The Flory–Rehner interaction parameter, χ, for ethylene was calculated 0.004 while the χ values of the other compounds varied between 0.37 and 0.80. The solubility coefficients are shown to be independent on relative air humidity. For the compounds and concentration levels studied, the sorption of dimethyl sulphide is unaffected by the simultaneous sorption of other VOC. This non-competitive behaviour is consistent with the linear partition mechanism.     

Diffusion of levodopa in aqueous solutions of hydrochloric acid at 25 °C

Ternary mutual diffusion coefficients (D₁₁, D₂₂, D₁₂ and D₂₁) measured by the Taylor dispersion method are reported for aqueous solutions of {levodopa (l-dopa) + HCl} solutions at 25 °C and HCl concentrations up to 0.100 mol · dm⁻³. The coupled diffusion of l-dopa (1) and HCl (2) is significant, as indicated by large negative cross-diffusion coefficients. D₂₁, for example, reaches values that are larger than D₁₁, the main coefficient of l-dopa. Combined Fick and Nernst–Planck equations are used to analyze the proton coupled diffusion of l-dopa and HCl in terms of the binding of H⁺ ions to l-dopa and ion migration in the electric field generated by l-dopa and HCl concentration gradients.     

Low-dimensional quantum magnetic systems: Synthesis,structure and magnetic behavior of (2,5-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride and synthesis and magnetic behavior of bis(2,6-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride

The synthesis, X-ray structure and magnetic susceptibility of (2,5-dimethylpyrazine)copper(II) chloride (1), and the synthesis and magnetic susceptibility of (2,6-dimethylpyrazine)₂copper(II) chloride (2), are reported. Compound 1 crystallizes in the space group P2₁/c as a coordination polymer of Cu(II) ions bridged by 2,5-methylpyrazine. The resulting chains are magnetically linked via short chloride–chloride contacts. The magnetic susceptibility responds as a uniform Heisenberg chain (2J/k = −20(5) K) with a phase transition to three dimensional order near 5 K. Susceptibility data for compound 2 show that the compound is a linear chain coordination polymer with the copper ions linked by bihalide bridges. A fit to the model for a uniform Heisenberg chain yields 2J = −22.7(2) K.     

Determination of zinc and copper in human hair by slurry sampling employing sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The present work proposes a direct method based on slurry sampling for the determination of zinc and copper in human hair samples by multi-element sequential flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The slurries were prepared by cryogenic grinding and sonication of the samples. The optimization step was performed using univariate methodology and the factors studied were: nature and concentration of the acid solution, amount sample/slurry volume, sonication time, and particle size. The established experimental conditions are the use of a sample mass of 50 mg, 2 mol L^− 1 nitric acid solution, sonication time of 20 min and slurry volume of 10 mL. Adopting the optimized conditions, this method allows the determination of zinc and copper with detection limits of 88.3 and 53.3 ng g^− 1, respectively, and precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.7% and 1.6% (both, n = 10) for contents of zinc and copper of 100.0 and 33.3 μg g^− 1, respectively. The accuracy was checked and confirmed by analysis of two certified reference materials of human hair. The procedure was applied for the determination of zinc and copper in two human hair samples. The zinc and copper contents varied from 100.0 to 175.6 and from 3.2 to 32.8 μg g^− 1, respectively. These samples were also analyzed after complete digestion in a closed system and determination by FAAS. The statistical comparison by t-test (95% confidence level) showed no significant difference between these results.     

Electronic structure and Raman spectroscopy study of dibarium magnesium orthoborate,Ba2Mg(BO3)2

The samples of dibarium magnesium orthoborate Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were synthesized by solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Raman spectra of the samples were collected. Electronic structure and vibrational spectroscopy of Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were systematically investigated by first principle calculation. A direct band gap of 4.4 eV was obtained from the calculated electronic structure results. The top valence band is constructed from O 2p states and the low conduction band mainly consists of Ba 5d states. Raman spectra for Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ polycrystalline were obtained at ambient temperature. The factor group analysis results show the total lattice modes are 5E_u + 4A_2u + 5E_g + 4A_1g + 1A_2g + 1A_1u, of which 5E_g + 4A_1g are Raman-active. Furthermore, we obtained the Raman active vibrational modes as well as their eigenfrequencies using first-principle calculation. With the assistance of the first-principle calculation and factor group analysis results, Raman bands of Ba₂Mg(BO₃)₂ were assigned as E_g (42 cm⁻¹), A_1g (85 cm⁻¹), E_g (156 cm⁻¹), E_g (237 cm⁻¹), A_1g (286 cm⁻¹), E_g (564 cm⁻¹), A_1g (761 cm⁻¹), A_1g (909 cm⁻¹), E_g (1165 cm⁻¹). The strongest band at 928 cm⁻¹ in the experimental spectrum is assigned to totally symmetric stretching mode of the BO₃ units.     

Magnetic and theoretical characterization of a ferromagnetic Mn(III) dimer

Reaction of 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane (H₃thme) with the complex [Mn₂O₂(bpy)₄](ClO₄)₃ produces the dimeric species [Mn₂(Hthme)₂(bpy)₂](ClO₄)₂ in high yield. Magnetic measurements in the temperature range 1.8–300 K and in fields up to 7 T reveal weak ferromagnetic exchange between the metal centres with J = +2.13 cm⁻¹. A fit of the magnetization data, assuming only the ground state is populated, gives S = 4, g = 1.71 and D = −0.65 cm⁻¹. Low temperature single crystal measurements suggest the co-existence of SMM behaviour and strong intermolecular interactions. Density functional calculations also support a weak exchange interaction between the Mn ions.     

Cationic concentration effects on electron beam cured of carbon-epoxy composites

Electron beam (e-beam) curing is a technology that offers advantages over the thermal curing process, that usually requires high temperature and are time-consuming. E-beam curing is faster and occurs at low temperatures that help reduce residual mechanical stresses in a thermoset composite. The aim of the present study is to analyze the effects of cationic initiator (diaryliodonium hexafluoroantimonate) ranged from 1 to 3 wt% in DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) epoxy resin when cured by a 1.5 MeV electron beam. The specimens were cured to a total dose of 200.4 kGy for 40 min. Analyses by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) show that the e-beam irradiated samples with 2 wt% cationic initiator were 96% cured obtained a glass transition temperature (tan δ) of 167 °C. The same epoxy resin, thermally cured for 16 h with an anhydride hardener, reached a T_g (tan δ) of 136 °C. So, the irradiated sample had its T_g increased approximately 20% and the curing process was much less time consuming.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance and optical studies of Cu2+ doped bis(thiourea)cadmium chloride single crystal

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical studies have been carried out on Cu²⁺ doped bis(thiourea)cadmium chloride single crystal, which belongs to a potential semi-organic non-linear material, at room temperature. The spin Hamiltonian parameters were determined as g_xx = 2.04331, g_yy = 2.04373, g_zz = 2.05750 and A_xx = 91G, A_yy = 115G, A_zz = 136G. These parameters suggest that the spectroscopic splitting parameter g and hyperfine splitting parameter A exhibit rhombic symmetry. The optical study reveals that the non-linear optical property of the host lattice has been enhanced due to Cu²⁺ doping.     

Photo- and chemically-produced phylloquinone biradicals: EPR and ENDOR study

Phylloquinone biradical triplet species were generated by 300 nm irradiation of frozen (77 K) solutions or by treatment with AlCl₃. The shape of the (Δm_s=1) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of the triplet is axially symmetric (E=0) with D=19±0.5 mT for photo-induced and D=11.2±0.5 mT for chemically induced radicals. A half-field signal (Δm_s=2) in the region of g≈4 was detected in both cases, confirming its assignment as a triplet. An additional line arising at the center of the (Δm_s=1) signal with g=2.0048±0.0002 was assigned to the phylloquinone radical anion (PhQ⁻). Electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) measurements of the triplet revealed the sign of the D parameter. For photo-generated radicals it appeared to be negative, which is the characteristic of radical dimers with well-separated partners (biradicals). Spin–spin distances of 5.3 and 6.3 Å, respectively, were estimated from the D parameter of photo-generated and chemically prepared phylloquinone biradicals.     

Excess thermodynamic properties of binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylacetamide with water or water-d2 at temperatures from 277.13 K to 318.15 K

Densities of binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) with water (H₂O) or water-d₂ (D₂O) were measured at the temperatures from T=277.13 K to T=318.15 K by means of a vibrating-tube densimeter. The excess molar volumes V_m^E, calculated from the density data, are negative for the (H₂O + DMA) and (D₂O + DMA) mixtures over the entire range of composition and temperature. The V_m^E curves exhibit a minimum at x(DMA)≅0.4. At each temperature, this minimum is slightly deeper for the (D₂O + DMA) mixtures than for the corresponding (H₂O + DMA) mixtures. The difference between D₂O and H₂O systems becomes smaller when the temperature increases. The V_m^E results were correlated using a modified Redlich–Kister expansion. The partial molar volume of DMA plotted against x(DMA) goes through a sharp minimum in the water-rich region around x(DMA)≅0.08. This minimum is more pronounced the lower the temperature and is deeper in D₂O than in H₂O at each temperature. Again, the difference becomes smaller as the temperature increases. The excess expansion factor α^E plotted against x(DMA) exhibit a maximum in the water rich region of the mole fraction scale. At each temperature, this maximum is higher for the (D₂O + DMA) mixtures than for the corresponding (H₂O + DMA) mixtures, and the difference becomes smaller as the temperature increases. At its maximum, α^E can be even more than 25 per cent of total value of the cubic expansion coefficient α in the (H₂O + DMA) and (D₂O + DMA) mixtures.     

Investigation of the phonon band gap effect on Raman-active optical phonons in SrMoO4 crystal

The phonon dispersions of SrMoO₄ crystal are calculated using the lattice dynamical calculations approach. Spontaneous Raman spectra in the SrMoO₄ were measured in the temperature range from 10 K to 295 K, and the temperature dependence of the linewidth of the B_g (95 cm⁻¹) and A_g (888 cm⁻¹) Raman modes was analyzed using the lattice dynamical perturbative approach. We found that different behaviors of these two modes in the case of temperature broadening could be attributed to the large energy band gap in the phonon spectrum resulting in different anharmonic interactions. The calculated temperature dependence of the linewidth of A_g (888 cm⁻¹) mode was well accounted for the experimental one by including both down-conversion by the cubic term and the dephasing by quartic term. The dephasing processes are increased only at high temperatures and the effect of dephasing is related to the size of a large phonon band gap.     

Jahn–Teller coupling and the influence of strain in Tg and Eg ground and excited states – A ligand field and DFT study on halide MIIIX6 model complexes [M = TiIII–CuIII; X = F−, Cl−]

In contrast to well established experimental results of vibronic coupling effects in octahedral dⁿ complexes with E_g ground states (Cu²⁺, Ag²⁺; Cr²⁺, Mn³⁺ etc.), not much useful material is available for the Jahn–Teller (JT) effect in orbital triplet ground states. The present study is concerned with this deficiency, providing data for octahedral halide model complexes with 3dⁿ cations – in particular for Ti^III, V^III and high-spin Co^III, Ni^III with T_2g and T_1g ground states, which involve, to first-order, solely splitting of the π-antibonding t_2g MOs. Besides experimental results – structural and spectroscopic, mainly from d–d spectra – data from computations are needed for a quantitative treatment of the T_g ? (?_g + τ_2g) vibronic interaction as well as in the E_g ? ?_g coupling case (Mn^III, low-spin Ni^III); DFT was the method of choice, if only critically selected outcomes are utilised. The theoretical bases of the treatment are the dⁿ ligand field matrices in O_h, extended by the inclusion of lower-symmetry distortion parameters, and the conventional theory of vibronic coupling. Caution is needed when classifying the effects of interelectronic repulsion; DFT does not reproduce the magnitudes of the Racah parameters B, C, as deduced from the d–d spectra, properly – the presumed reasons are analysed. DFT even allows one to deduce reliable vibronic coupling constants via the analysis of orbitally degenerate excited states (Cr^III, ⁴A_2g ground state). The group-theoretical analysis of the interaction with the JT-active ?_g and τ_2g modes yields D_4h, D_3d and D_2h as the possible distortion symmetries in the case of a T_g ground state. The DFT-calculations give clear evidence, that the D_4h stationary points represent the absolute minima in the T_g ? (?_g + τ_2g) potential surface – in agreement with experiment, where available. For the first time, vibronic coupling constants, characterising JT splitting of ground and excited T_g states, can be presented for trivalent 3dⁿ cations in octahedral halide ligand fields. They turn out to be smaller by a factor of almost 3 in comparison to those, which determine the coupling in σ-antibonding e_g MOs.The tetragonal splitting of T_g states is typically only small, around 0.1 eV, and suggests that strain influences from a specific ligand arrangement and/or the presence of different ligands may modify the potential surface considerably. We have studied such effects via compounds A^IM^IIIF₄, where an elastic strain induced by the host structure, and a binding strain, due to the simultaneous existence of (largely) terminal and of bridging ligands, are active. A novel strain model, in its interplay with JT coupling, is proposed and applied – using energies from the d–d spectra, structural results and data from DFT.Chloride complexes are only known for Ti^III to Fe^III; the rather small electronegativity already of Co^III suggests a reducing ligand-to-metal (3dⁿ) electron transfer for n ≥ 6. Similarly, the low-lying ligand-to-metal charge transfer bands in the d–d spectra of the Cu^IIIF₆^3? complex and the reduced T_g ? ?_g coupling strength suggest a pronounced covalency of the Cu^III–F, and, even more distinctly, of the Cu^III–O bond, which is of interest for superconductivity. The Ni^IIIF₆^3? polyhedron possesses a low-spin configuration in the elpasolite structure. The spectroscopic evidence and the DFT data indicate, that the minimum positions of the alternative _a²A_1g(_a²E_g) and _a⁴A_2g (_a⁴T_1g) potential curves are only ≤0.02 eV apart, giving rise to interesting high-spin/low-spin phenomena. It is the strong E_g ? ?_g as compared to the T_1g ? ?_g coupling, which finally stabilises a spin-doublet ground state in D_4h.We think, that the selected class of solids is unique particularly for the study of Jahn–Teller coupling in T ground states, with model character for other systems. In our overview a procedure is sketched, which uses reliable computational results (here from DFT) for supplementing incomplete experimental data, and presents – on a semiquantitative scale – convincing statements, consistent with chemical intuition. It is also a pleading for ligand field theory, which rationalises d-d spectra in terms of chemical bonding; though the latter spectra provide frequently only rather coarse information, their assistance in the energy analysis is crucial.     

Diffusion of ferrocene methanol in super-cooled aqueous solutions using cylindrical microelectrodes

The diffusion of ferrocene methanol in super-cooled aqueous solutions containing sucrose has been studied, using disk and cylindrical microelectrodes, over a wide viscosity range. The solution viscosity and the reduced temperature T/T_g (T_g being the glass transition temperature) were varied by changing the sucrose concentration and the temperature of the system. The voltammetric limiting current obtained with a disk microelectrode and the i(t) response on a cylindrical microelectrode after a potential step were used to determine diffusion coefficients from 7 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹ down to 2 × 10⁻¹¹ cm² s⁻¹. The electrochemical procedure described in this work allows a simple and accurate measurement of the dynamics of electroactive solutes in glass-forming liquids.