Structural evolution of calcium-exchanged (NH4)2SiF6-dealuminated Y zeolite after various chemical treatments

The structural evolution of Y zeolite (Si/Al 2.17) weakly dealuminated by hexafluorosilicate (Si/Al 3.13), denoted Y_D, and exchanged with calcium (CaY_D), has been studied after acid–base treatments at 80 °C close to the cation exchange conditions. The stability of the samples was followed by X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR of ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al; Y_D zeolite was completely destroyed by treatment with acid pH 2.5 and suffered serious degradation on treatment with alkali at pH 11.8. The introduction of calcium improved the stability of the zeolite in acid and base. In acid CaY_D was not destroyed until pH 1. At pH 2, silicon and aluminium were extracted and an amorphous phase was formed. Base treatment at pH 13 did not affect the calcium-exchanged zeolite.     

Low-temperature heat capacity and standard enthalpy of formation of neodymium glycine perchlorate complex [Nd2(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O

Rare-earth perchlorate complex coordinated with glycine [Nd₂(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O was synthesized and its structure was characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), chemical analysis and elementary analysis. Its purity was 99.90%. Heat capacity measurement was carried out with a high-precision fully-automatic adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 369 K. A solid-solid phase transformation peak was observed at 256.97 K, with the enthalpy and entropy of the phase transformation process are 4.438 kJ mol⁻¹ and 17.270 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. There is a big dehydrated peak appears at 330 K, its decomposition temperature, decomposition enthalpy and entropy are 320.606 K, 41.364 kJ mol⁻¹ and 129.018 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The polynomial equations of heat capacity of this compound in different temperature ranges have been fitted. The standard enthalpy of formation was determined to be −8023.002 kJ mol⁻¹ with isoperibol reaction calorimeter at 298.15 K.     

Preparation and Electrical Properties of Lnx(SiO4)6O(1.5x?12) (Ln: Nd, La) with Apatite Structure

In this study, Ln_x(SiO₄)₆O_(1.5x–12) (Ln: Nd, La) materials as electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) were prepared by the sol-gel process. It has been reported that the apatite structure of Ln_x(SiO₄)₆O_(1.5x–12) shows higher ionic conductivity than yttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide at the working temperature of the SOFC. Ln₁₀(SiO₄)₆O₃ is a major component of the Ln_x(SiO₄)₆O_(1.5x–12) system. Ln₁₀(SiO₄)₆O₃ consists of Ln_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂ and a small amount of Ln₂SiO₅. It has been proposed that the ionic conductivity of Ln_x(SiO₄)₆O_(1.5x–12) decreases with increasing Ln₂SiO₅ with non-apatite structure. The object of the present study was to bring about this decrease by generating Ln₂SiO₅ in the system.Precursor solutions for synthesis of the powder were prepared using tetraethoxysilane (Si(OC₂H₅)₄) and neodymium acetate monohydrate (Nd(CH₃COO)₃·H₂O) or lanthanum acetate monohydrate (La (CH₃COO)₃·H₂O) as raw materials and acetic acid (CH₃COOH), 2-methoxyethanol (C₂H₅OCH₂CH₂OH), and triethanolamine (N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃) as solvents. To obtain the powder, the solution was dried and heat-treated at 600 °C for 2 h. Disks made from the powder were heat-treated at temperatures between 1100 and 1500 °C for 10 h. The results of an XRD investigation indicate that almost all diffraction peaks of these samples could be assigned to Ln_9.33(SiO₄)₆O₂. The sample with x = 10.00 included a small amount of Ln₂SiO₅. The ionic conductivity of this latter sample was higher than that of other samples with similar values of x (x = 9.33 and 10.67).     

Refinement of the (NH4)2Na[Rh(NO2)6] Crystal Structure

The crystal structure of (NH₄)₂Na[Rh(NO₂)₆] previously studied only from the data on polycrystals is refined. The selection of the Fm-3 space group is shown to be unambiguous. Geometrical characteristics of the complex [Rh(NO₂)₆]^3s-anion are: Rh—N 2.051 ?, N-O 1.237 ?, ∠O-N-O 119.0°.     

Mutual solubility of components in the systems (R4N)2[Nd(NO3)5]-decane-n-octanol (n-butanol, n-decanol, cyclohexanol) at different temperatures

The influence of the reactant ratio on the specific surface area, total pore volume, and mean pore diameter of mesoporous silicon dioxide prepared by the sol-gel method was examined. The optimal reactant ratio for preparing the material with a high specific surface area was determimed. Original Russian Text ? A.K. Pyartman, V.A. Keskinov, P.V. Zaitsev, 2009, published in Zhurnal Prikladnoi Khimii, 2009, Vol. 82, No. 1, pp. 14–18.     

Sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films and their gas sensing response

A new sol-gel synthesis procedure of stable calcium copper titanate (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂—CCTO) precursor sols for the fabrication of porous films was developed. The composition of the sol was selected in order to avoid the precipitation of undesired phases; ethanol was used as solvent, acetic acid as modifier and poly(ethyleneglycol) as a linker agent. Films deposited by spin-coating onto oxidized silicon substrates were annealed at 700 °C. The main phase present in the samples, as detected by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, was CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that mesoporous structures, with thicknesses between 200 and 400 nm, were developed as a result of the processing conditions. The films were tested regarding their sensibility towards oxygen and nitrogen at atmospheric pressure using working temperatures from 200 to 290 °C. The samples exhibited n-type conductivity, high sensitivity and short response times. These characteristics indicate that CCTO mesoporous structures obtained by sol-gel are suitable for application in gas sensing.     

Heterometallic (ZrIII)2—Al hydrides [(Cp2Zr)2(μ-H)](μ-H)2AlX2 (X = Cl or Br): preparative synthesis and reactivity. Molecular structure of [(Cp2Zr)2(μ-Cl)](μ-H)2AlCl2

A procedure was developed for the synthesis of trinuclear cyclic (Zr^III)₂—Al hydrides [(Cp₂Zr)₂(μ-H)](μ-H)₂AlX₂ (X = Cl (1a) or Br (1b)). These complexes were prepared in 60–65% yields by the reaction of Cp₂ZrX₂ with LiAlH₄ in the presence of CoBr₂ and tolane. The structures of complexes 1a and 1b and iodide 1c (X = I) were studied by NMR spectroscopy in solvents of different basicities (toluene, THF, and pyridine). Complex 1a is unsolvated and monomeric in all solvents; complex 1b, in toluene and THF; complex 1c, in toluene only. At room temperature, complex 1a does not catalyze hydrogenation of hex-1-ene and does not react with tolane, but reacts with the latter at high temperature to give bis(η⁵-cyclopentadienyl)-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylzirconacyclopentadiene. The reaction of equivalent amounts of complex 1a and HCl produces the [(Cp₂Zr)₂(μ-Cl)](μ-H)₂AlCl₂ complex. The structure of the latter was established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2418–2423, November, 2005.     

Non-equivalent water molecules in [Ni(H2O)6](ClO4)2 and in [Ni(D2O)6](ClO4)2 in the thermogravimetric investigations

The thermal decomposition of [Ni(H₂O)₆](ClO₄)₂ and [Ni(D₂O)₆](ClO₄)₂ were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and simultaneous differential thermal analysis (SDTA) at a constant heating rate. The gaseous products of the decomposition were on-line identified by a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS). In both cases the process of decomposition starts at ca. 410 K and is connected with removal of water molecules in a stepwise way; at the beginning the first water molecule is lost, then the second and at higher temperature the third one. The rest of the water molecules are lost in the temperature region of ClO₄⁻ decomposition. The energy of activation of the process was calculated in both cases.     

Synthesis and structure of the cadmium(II) complex [Cd2(Ph(NH2)2)5(DMFA)4](B10H10)2

A new binuclear cadmium(II) complex with neutral ligands, 1,2-diaminobenzene (DMB) and dimethylformamide (DMF), [Cd₂(Ph(NH₂)₂)₅(DMFA)₄](B₁₀H₁₀)₂, was synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 26.198(3) ?, b = 12.742(3) ?, c = 21.658(3) ?, β = 119.985(10)°, Z = 8, space group C2/c. The distorted octahedral environment of Cd is formed by four nitrogen atoms of three DAB molecules and two oxygen atoms of DMF molecules. Three independent DAB molecules perform different functions: one chelates the Cd atom, another is linked to cadmium as a monodentate ligand, and the third one bridges two Cd atoms, thus forming the dimer. The amino groups of the DAB molecules are involved in the N-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds and in N-H⋯B and N-H⋯H-B specific interactions with the cluster boron anion. Original Russian Text ? E.A. Malinina, V.V. Drozdova, L.V. Goeva, I.N. Polyakova, N.T. Kuznetsov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 922–926.     

Synthesis, molecular structure, and catalytic activity of borohydride complexes [(Me3Si)2NC(NPri)2]2Nd(BH4)2Li(thf)2 and [(Me3Si)2NC(NPri)2]2Sm(BH4)2Li(thf)2

The reactions of lanthanide tris(borohydrides) Ln(BH₄)₃(thf)₃ (Ln = Sm or Nd) with 2 equiv. of lithium N,N′-diisopropyl-N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)guanidinate in toluene produced the [(Me₃Si)₂NC(NPrⁱ)₂]Ln(BH₄)₂Li(thf)₂ complexes (Ln = Sm or Nd), which were isolated in 57 and 42% yields, respectively, by recrystallization from hexane. X-ray diffraction experiments and NMR and IR spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the reactions afford monomeric ate complexes, in which the lanthanide and lithium atoms are linked to each other by two bridging borohydride groups. The complexes exhibit catalytic activity in polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 441–445, March, 2007.     

Crystal structure and electrical conductivity of cubic fluorite-based (YO1.5) x (WO3)0.15(BiO1.5)0.85- x (0?≤ ?x ≤?0.4) solid solutions

(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.85 exhibits a tetragonal structure derived from the fluorite subcell. The electrical conductivity of (WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.85 is lower than that of Y₂O₃-doped Bi₂O₃. The structure and electrical conductivity of samples formulated as (YO_1.5) _x (WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_{0.85- x} (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) were investigated. The as-sintered (YO_1.5)_0.1(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.75 exhibited a single cubic structure that is isostructural with δ-Bi₂O₃. For x = 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4, the as-sintered samples consisted of a cubic fluorite structure and rhombohedral Y₆WO₁₂. After heat treatment at 600 °C for 200 h, the cubic structures are stable for x = 0.1, 0.3, and 0.4. A transformation from cubic to rhombohedral phase after heat treatment at 600 °C for 200 h was observed in the sample originally formulated as (YO_1.5)_0.2(WO₃)_0.15(BiO_1.5)_0.65.     

Anion effect on the thermolysis of double complexes [Co(NH3)6][Fe(CN)6] and [Co(NH3)6]4[Fe(CN)6]3

The thermolysis of complexes [Co(NH₃)₆][Fe(CN)₆] and [Co(NH_{3 6}]₄[Fe(CN)₆]₃ under an air or hydrogen atmosphere at 200, 350, and 500°C is studied. The composition and properties of thermolysis products are determined. The oxidative thermolysis yields mixtures of oxides of the central metals; the reductive thermolysis yields intermetallic compounds CoFe. The density of the complexes and the specific surface area of the intermetallic compounds are measured. Average particle sizes are calculated. The morphology and dispersion of the powders are dictated by the shape and density of the crystals of the precursor double salts and the thermolysis temperature. The thermolysis chemism in the oxidative and reductive atmospheres is discussed in the context of the nature of the complex anion. Original Russian Text ? S.I. Pechenyuk, D.P. Domonov, D.L. Rogachev, A.T. Belyavskii, 2007, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 52, No. 7, pp. 1110–1115.     

Inclusion compounds of cystostatic active (C5H5)2VCl2 and (CH3C5H4)2VCl2 with α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrines: Synthesis, EPR study and microbiological behavior toward Escherichia coli

The inclusion of vanadocene dichloride (VDC) and 1,1′-dimethyl vanadocene dichloride (MeVDC) into cyclodextrines (α-CD, β-CD and γ-CD) was studied by EPR spectroscopy. It was found that VDC and MeVDC with β-CD and γ-CD form true inclusion compounds, but with α-CD, VDC and MeVDC gave only fine dispersion mixtures. The inclusion was validated by anisotropic EPR spectra of solid samples. In addition, the antimicrobial was validated by anisotropic EPR spectra of solid samples. In addition, the antimicrobial behavior (against E. coli) of each of the complexes was determined. It was established that not only did VDC and MeVDC cause elongation of E. coli, but also the new vanadocene inclusion complexes were effective in this regard.     

Pt/SiO2 catalysts obtained by the sol-gel method. Influence of the pH of gelation on the surface and catalytic properties

Pt/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by impregnation and sol-gel method from a platinum acetylacetonate precursor have been studied. The pH was varied in the range of 3–9. Important changes in the surface area and pore distribution were found. High metal dispersity was found in all the catalysts, being lower at pH 9.     

Reaction of neodymium diiodide with methanol in acetonitrile. Structure of the cluster [Nd4(μ2-I)1.1(μ3-I)(μ2-OMe)4.9(μ4-O)(MeCN)12]I3

The reaction of neodymium diiodide NdI₂ with excess methanol in acetonitrile produced the tetranuclear neodymium cluster [Nd₄(μ₂-I)_1.1(μ₃-I)(μ₂-OMe)_4.9(μ₄-O)(MeCN)₁₂]I₃ (1). In the latter, the isomorphic substitution of one methoxy group by an I⁻ anion with site occupancies (%) of 90 and 10, respectively, was observed. Due to the isomorphic substitution in the crystal, cluster 1 can be considered as a superposition of two complexes, [Nd₄(μ₂-I)(μ₃-I)(μ₂-OMe)₅(μ₄-O)(MeCN)₁₂]I₃ and [Nd₄(μ₂-I)₂(μ₃-I)(μ₂-OMe)₄(μ₄-O)(MeCN)₁₂]I₃. The characteristic feature of cluster 1 is that the center of the Nd₄ cage is occupied by the μ₄-coordinated O²⁻ anion, which is indicative of the partial O-C bond cleavage in methanol. The reaction of NdI₂ with an equimolar amount of MeOH in an acetonitrile solution produced methoxide NdI₂(OMe)(MeCN)₄ in 49% yield. Dedicated to Professor W. J. Evans on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1894–1897, October, 2007.     

A novel three-dimensional malonate-bridged complex {[Cu4(4,4′- bpy)8(mal)2(H2O)4](ClO4)2(H2O)4(CH3OH)2}n

A novel malonate-bridged copper (II) compound of formula {[Cu₄(4,4′-bpy)₈(mal)₂(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₂(H₂O)₄(CH₃OH)₂}_n (4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine; mal = malonate dianion) has been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. This compound exhibits a novel three-dimensional network being composed of Cu-4,4′-bipyridine layers which are pillared by malonate bridge ligands. The copper(II) ions has two different coordination environment.     

Ruthenium-mediated Selective Aromatic Thiolation in the Complex [RuII{o-S—C6H4-(p-R-)—N=N—C3H2NN(1)—R′}2]. Synthesis, Spectroscopic, e.p.r., Electro-chemical Characterization and Spectro-electrochemical Correlation

The reaction of ctc-[Ru(RaaiR′)₂Cl₂] (3a–3i) [RaaiR′=1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole, p-R—C₆H₄—N=N— C₃H₂NN(1)—R′, R=H, OMe, NO₂, R′=Me, Et, Bz] with KS₂COR′′ (R′′=Me, Et, Pr, Bu or CH₂Ph) in boiling dimethylformamide afforded [Ru^II{o-S—C₆H₄(p-R-)—N=N—C₃H₂NN(1)—R′}₂] (4a–4i), where the ortho-carbon atom of the pendant phenyl ring of both ligands has been selectively and directedly thiolated. The newly formed tridentate thiolate ligands are bound in a meridional fashion. The solution electronic spectra exhibit a strong MLCT band near 700 nm and near 550 nm, respectively in DCM. The molecular geometry of the complexes in solution has been determined by H n.m.r. spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammograms show a Ru(II)/Ru(III) couple near 0.4 V and an irreversible oxidation response near 1.0 V due to oxidation of the coordinated thiol group, along with two successive reversible ligand reductions in the range −0.80–0.87 V (one electron), −1.38–1.42 V (one electron). Coulometric oxidation of the complexes at 0.6 V versus SCE in CH₂Cl₂ produced an unstable Ru(III) congener. When R=Me the presence of trivalent ruthenium was proved by a rhombic e.p.r. spectrum having g₁=2.349, g₂=2.310.     

Structural investigations of sol-gel-derived LiYF4 and LiGdF4 powders

A soft synthesis route based on the sol-gel process was used for preparing rare-earth tetrafluoride powders from alkoxide precursors. In-situ fluorination was performed by decomposition of a fluorine containing organic compound named 1,1,1-trifluoro-5-methyl-2,4-hexanedione when sintering the as-prepared xerogel to produce crystallized samples. Both to insure complete departure of organic residues as well as to avoid any oxidation into oxyfluoride, annealing treatment was carried out under fluorine atmosphere. Free-oxygen content of resulting samples was evidenced by infrared and Raman spectroscopies. X-ray absorption spectroscopies (XAS) and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies showed that samples heat treated at 300 °C are already crystallized but for a full crystallization in LiGdF₄ and LiYF₄ a thermal treatment at 550 °C is needed. Temperature dependence of powder morphology was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Structure and Thermal Properties of [Rh(NH3)5Cl](WO4)x(MoO4)1s-x (x = 0, 0.5, 1)

The isostructurality of [Rh(NH₃)₅Cl](WO₄) _x (MoO₄)_1s-x (x = 0, 0.5, 1) complex salts is shown, and their thermal properties are compared. In a hydrogen atmosphere, transformations begin at T ∼ 200°C. According to the powder XRD data, the phase composition of the end products is markedly different. For the Rh—Mo system, the dependence (V/Z) of the atomic volume on the composition is presented. The thermal decomposition product [Rh(NH₃)₅Cl](MoO₄) (T _fin = 800°C) is shown to be the disordered Mo_0.5Rh_0.5 solid solution (a = 2.757(2) ?, c = 4.428(4) ?, P6₃/mmc space group).     

Structure, Microstructure, and Mixed Conduction of [(ZrO2)0.92(Y2O3)0.08]0.9(TiO2)0.1

[(ZrO₂)_0.92(Y₂O₃)_0.08]_0.9(TiO₂)_0.1 (titania-doped yttria stabilized circonia, 10TiYSZ) samples were prepared by solid state reaction from mixtures of 8 mol% yttria-doped ZrO₂ (YSZ) and TiO₂ and characterized in terms of structure, microstructure, and electrical properties. [(ZrO₂)_0.97(Y₂O₃)_0.03]_0.9(TiO₂)_0.1 (titania-doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline, 10TiTZP) was also prepared for comparison in some specific studies. Ionic transport properties were measured by impedance spectroscopy in air as a function of temperature. DC techniques including electromotive force (EMF) and Ion Blocking measurements (IB) were carried out in order to determine the electronic contribution to the total conductivity. The addition of titania to YSZ induces the tetragonal zirconia phase formation, thus [(ZrO₂)_0.92(Y₂O₃)_0.08]_0.9(TiO₂)_0.1 is a composite material and is constituted by two solid solutions, titania-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (67.7 mole fraction) and titania-doped tetragonal zirconia (32.3 mole fraction). A decrease in bulk ionic conductivity, of one order of magnitude, when TiO₂ is added to YSZ is observed in the whole temperature range. Furthermore, in the bulk conductivity vs the reciprocal of the temperature plot, a bending (from 550°C to higher temperatures) toward higher activation energies was detected. The bending could indicate the existence mainly of Ti⁴⁺-Vö associated pairs with an association energy of 0.43±0.02 eV. It could mean that Ti-O bonds become stronger and shorter and could produce the formation of microdomains of a ZrTiO₄-like structure. The addition of titanium is effective in increasing the electronic conductivity under reducing conditions. Conductivity as a function of Po₂ and IB results cannot be related to the formation of small polarons during the reduction process. Furthermore, according to the calculations based on the small polaron theory, inconsistent values for the radius of a small polaron (r_p) are obtained in both 10TiYSZ and 10TiTZP. However, large polarons can explain the transport properties in these materials under reducing conditions in agreement with the experimental data.