Solar-driven electrochemically assisted semiconductor-catalyzed iodide ion oxidation. Enhanced efficiency by oxide mixtures

Oxidation of iodide ion from an air-saturated solution under natural sunlight (900±50 W m⁻²) on the surfaces of TiO₂, ZnO, Fe₂O₃, MoO₃ and CeO₂ enhances by 6 to 12-fold on application of a cathodic bias of −0.2 to −0.3 V (vs NHE) to the semiconductors; light, the semiconductor and dissolved oxygen are essential for iodine generation. The semiconductors under an anodic bias of +0.2 to +0.3 V (vs NHE) fail to oxidize iodide ion from air-saturated solution under sunlight. Under cathodic bias, semiconductor mixtures like TiO₂-ZnO, TiO₂-Fe₂O₃ and ZnO-Fe₂O₃ show enhanced photocatalytic activity, indicating improved charge separation in oxide mixtures. The mechanism of photocatalysis under cathodic bias is discussed.      

Subsolidus area of the system CdO - V2O5 - Fe2O3

Phase diagrams in the subsolidus area of the systems FeVO₄ - CdO and FeVO₄ - Cd₂V₂O₇ have been deduced using the results of XRD and DTA analyses. On the basis of these diagrams and some additional verifying research, a projection of the subsolidus area of the CdO - V₂O₅ - Fe₂O₃ system onto the plane that comprises the components’ concentration triangle has been presented. The H-type phase is the only phase formed in this system. It co-exists at equilibrium with other phases in six subsidiary subsystems.      

Phase relations up to the solidus line in the part of the Sb-Zn-O system

Phase relations up to the solidus line in part of the Sb-Zn-O system have been investigated over the entire concentration range of the α-Sb₂O₄-ZnO system in air (= 0.21 atm) using XRD and DTA/TG. The components of this system in air form ZnSb₂O₆ and Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂. The results allow division of the system into three subsystems, i.e. α-Sb₂O₄-ZnSb₂O₆; ZnSb₂O₆Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ and Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂-ZnO. The temperature ranges over which the ZnSb₂O₆ and Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ remain at equilibrium with other solid compounds depend on the gaseous atmosphere.      

Cadmium ions and cadmium sulphide particles in γ-titanium dihydrogen phosphate. Synthesis, thermal behaviour and X-ray characterization

Layered compounds with CdS particles supported on the ion-exchanger, γ-titanium dihydrogen phosphate, were prepared by the stepwise reaction of the ion-exchanger and cadmium solution, followed by reaction with H₂S gas. The CdS content on the ion-exchanger is dependent on the timeframe of the H₂S gas flow. The materials obtained were layered, as shown by the X-ray measurements that exhibit both precursor and CdS diffraction peaks. The thermal treatment of the material obtained gives evidence of its stability (≤ 320°C) before the CdS decomposition, which occurs in a single step.      

Reactivity of T-Nb2O5 or H-Nb2O5 towards V2O5. Synthesis in the solid state and properties of V4Nb18O55

The IR spectrum of V₄Nb₁₈O₅₅ has been compared with the IR spectra of selected niobates of known structures to show structural relations between these compounds. This comparison shows that V₄Nb₁₈O₅₅ has crystal structure related to T-Nb₂O₅, W16Nb18O94 and Ba₂NaNb₅O₁₅. On the other hand, reaction between V₂O₅ and H-Nb₂O₅ yields a solid solution of V₂O₅ in VNb₉O₂₅. It has been proposed two models of synthesized solid solution with formulas V_1+xNb_9-xO₂₅ or V_1+xNb₉O_25+5x/2.Independently of Nb₂O₅ polymorph, used for synthesis, the metastable compound VNbO5 cannot be synthesized in the solid state below 650°C      

Electrical and optical properties of a single Sb2Se3 nanorod

In this paper we present the methods to chemically synthesize the Sb₂Se₃ nanorods and study the electrical and optical properties of a single Sb₂Se₃ nanorod with an average size of 70 nm in diameter and a length of about 1 μm to 2 μm. The techniques we devised can immobilize and allocate a single nano-object on an electron beam (E-beam) patterned smart substrate. It can also overcome the limitation of the spatial resolution of conventional optical techniques (∼ 1 mm) to obtain optical spectroscopy in an individual nano-object less than 100 nm in size. We also demonstrate the techniques in using E-beam defined metallic coordination markers as electrodes to measure the conductance of a single Sb₂Se₃ nanorod.      

Thermal synthesis and characterization of Al χ La1-χ P3O9

New binary lanthanum-aluminum triphosphates were synthesized by thermal-condensation method from H₃PO₄, La₂O₃ and Al(OH)₃. These pigments could be potentially used as special inorganic pigments; their corrosion-inhibition properties were widely studied. Synthesis conditions were determined on the basis of DTA and TG measurements. The products were also characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Physical properties — density by pycnometric method, particle size distribution, oil number and critical pigment volume concentration (CPVC), pH and specific conductivity of their aqueous extracts were also determined.      

Reaction of bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfate with peroxides and oxides

Conclusions Bis(trimethylsilyl) sulfate when reached with Na₂O₂, BaO₂, PbO₂, V₂O₅, MnO₂, gives hexamethyldisiloxane and oxygen (50–80% yield), and the same product when reacted with the oxides of the Group Ib and IIb Metals (CuO, ZnO, CdO, HgO).Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2395–2397, October, 1978.     

2-pyrrolidone - capped Mn<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocrystals

Water-soluble Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals have been prepared through thermal decomposition in a high temperature boiling solvent, 2-pyrrolidone. The final product was characterized with XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR and Zeta Potential measurements. Average crystallite size was calculated as ∼15 nm using XRD peak broadening. TEM analysis revealed spherical nanoparticles with an average diameter of 14±0.4 nm. FTIR analysis indicated that 2-pyrrolidone coordinates with the Mn₃O₄ nanocrystals only via O from the carbonyl group, thus confining their growth and protecting their surfaces from interaction with neighboring particles.      

Macrocyclic host cyclophosphazenes from aminolysis of N3P3CI6 by bis-(2-ortho-aminophenoxyethyl)ether

Aminolysis of N₃P₃CI₆ by an oxodiamine, bis-(2-ortho-aminophenoxyethyl) ether, has been carried out under various experimental conditions and new products with different architectures have been obtained. The reaction in diethyl ether when using a Na₂CO₃-water interface process gives the mono-BINO as major product. Reaction on Al₂O₃/KOH leads to the spirocyclic compound, while, when the reaction is carried out in toluene in the presence of NEt₃, a mixture of mono- and di-BINO products are obtained. These new products have been characterized by IR, ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy.      

Synthesis of novel mesoporous Al2O3 microspheres with flower-like structure

Using glucose as a structuring additive and aluminium nitrate as the Al precursor, a novel kind of mesoporous Al₂O₃ microspheres with flower-like structure were synthesized hydrothermally at 180°C for 20 h. When the synthesis temperature was lowered to 140°C, the carambola-like Al₂O₃ can be synthesized. This approach is convenient and simple, and flower-like Ce-Al₂O₃ and La-Al₂O₃ spheres have also been prepared in this way. It may be applied to synthesize other metal oxides when suitable precursor salts are used. From an analysis of the experimental results, a mechanism for the formation of the flower-like Al₂O₃ spheres has been proposed and discussed.      

Density functional theory study of the photosensitization mechanisms of indigo

The triplet excited state properties and photosensitization mechanisms of indigo were investigated based on density functional theory calculations. The solvent effects on the photosensitization mechanisms of indigo have also been considered. The thermodynamic feasibility of the possible ¹O₂ and O₂·⁻-photogeneration pathways by triplet excited state indigo in different solvents was explored, in order to gain some deeper insights into the photosensitization characters of the dye.      

Low temperature synthesis and characterization of Mn3O4 nanoparticles

Heating hydrous manganese (II) hydroxide gel at 85 °C for 12 hours produces Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles. They were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The particle size estimated from the SEM and X-ray peak broadening is approximately 32 nm, showing them to be nanocrystalline. EPR measurements confirm a typical Mn²⁺signal with a highly resolved hyperfine structure.      

Supported H4SiW12O40 catalysts for α-pinene isomerization

The heterogeneous isomerization of α-pinene was studied at 100, 130 and 160°C using 10% supported H₄SiW₁₂O₄0 (SiW) on SiO₂, TiO₂ and HZSM-5. The effect of the reaction temperature and the concentration of the catalyst over the conversion of α-pinene and the selectivity of camphene, limonene and terpinolene had been monitored. The recovery, reuse and leaching effect of the catalysts were studied. Simple, environmentally friendly and economic methods for the synthesis of camphene and limonene were developed and optimized.      

The effect of substituents of immobilized Rh complexes on the asymmetric hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives

Using a modified Augustine’s method variously substituted Rh complexes were anchored on Al₂O₃ support. The prepared catalysts were characterized by spectroscopic methods and were applied in the hydrogenation of several acetophenone derivatives (p-CF₃-acetophenone, acetophenone, p-NH₂-acetophenone). Enantioselective C=O hydrogenations were observed with reasonable activity and selectivity on all heterogenized complexes, e.e. up to 80%. At the same time the immobilized samples showed the advantages of the heterogeneous systems: easy handling and recyclability.      

The binary system PbO - BiVO4

Phase equilibria established in the PbO - BiVO₄ system over the whole component concentration range up to 1000°C have been investigated. A phase diagram has been constructed using DTA and XRD.      

The effect of calcium substitution on the afterglow of Eu2+/Dy3+ doped Sr4Al14O25

The effect of calcium substitution on the afterglow of tetrastrontium aluminate phosphors (Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅:Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺) was investigated. A series of (Sr₁-_xCa_x)O⊎nAl₂O₃:Eu²⁺(1%), Dy³⁺(0.5%), with variation of calcium content (x = 0 − 1), were synthesized by a high temperature solid state reaction in a reducing atmosphere. The photoluminescence, persistent luminescence (afterglow), and lumen equivalents of these materials were studied and compared. It turned out that the afterglow properties of the phosphors were strongly dependent on the Sr/Ca ratio. As the Ca content increased, a phase transition and blue shift in emission spectra were observed.      

Synthesis of Co3O4 nanoparticles by oxidation-reduction method and its magnetic characterization

Without any surfactant, antiferromagnetic Co₃O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized successfully for the first time by means of an oxidation-reduction method with cobalt sulfate as starting material, which was oxidized to cobalt salt by NaNO₃ after alkalinizing with NaOH. Morphological, structural, spectroscopic and magnetic characterization of the product were done by SEM, TEM, XRD, and VSM, respectively. The average crystallite size (on the base of line profile fitting method), D and σ, is estimated as 30 ± 6 nm. Some anomalous magnetic properties and their enhanced effect have been observed in Co₃O₄ antiferromagnetic nanocrystallites, including a bias field, coercivity, permanent magnetic moments and an open loop. These phenomena are attributed to the unidirectional anisotropy which is caused by the exchange coupling between AFM and FM layers, the existence of the spin glass like surface spins of Co₃O₄ nanoparticles due to size effects and surface-area effect.      

Partition coefficients of ketones,phenols, aliphatic and aromatic acids,and esters in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-hexane/nitromethane

Liquid-liquid partition is used in sample preparation and in countercurrent and liquid-liquid chromatographic separations. Partition coefficients are widely used in toxicology, environmental, and analytical chemistry. The K _hn determination procedure for the n-hexane/nitromethane system was optimized and partition coefficients for 99 ketones, esters and trimethylsilyl derivatives of phenols, aliphatic and aromatic acids were determined. For 130 compounds, K _hn values were predicted using mathematical relationships between K _hn and other physicochemical and structural parameters.      

A green chemical route for the synthesis of Mn3O4 nanoparticles

A novel environmental friendly, room temperature route using an ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide ([BMIM]OH) for the synthesis of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles is presented. The product was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Phase purity was confirmed by XRD, and X-ray line profile fitting determined a crystallite size of 42 ± 11 nm. TEM analysis revealed various morphologies. EPR measurements have indicated the existence of long-range interactions, due to the wide range of particle sizes and morphologies observed.