Alkyl‐chain disorder in tetraisohexylammonium bromide

Tetraisohexylammonium bromide [systematic name: tetrakis(4‐methylpentyl)azanium bromide], C₂₄H₅₂N⁺·Br⁻, is a powerful structure II clathrate hydrate crystal‐growth inhibitor. The crystal structure, in the space group P3₂21, contains one ammonium cation and one bromide anion in the asymmetric unit, both on general positions. At 100 K, the ammonium cation exhibits one ordered isohexyl chain and three disordered isohexyl chains. At 250 K, all four isohexyl chains are disordered. In an effort to reduce the disorder in the alkyl chains, the crystal was thermally cycled, but the disorder remained, indicating that it is dynamic in nature.     

Two solid phases of pyrimidin‐1‐ium hydrogen chloranilate monohydrate determined at 225 and 120 K

The crystal structures of two solid phases of the title compound, C₄H₅N₂⁺·C₆HCl₂O₄⁻·H₂O, have been determined at 225 and 120 K. In the high‐temperature phase, stable above 198 K, the transition temperature of which has been determined by ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance and differential thermal analysis measurements, the three components are held together by O—H...O, N...H...O, C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a centrosymmetric 2+2+2 aggregate. In the N...H...O hydrogen bond formed between the pyrimidin‐1‐ium cation and the water molecule, the H atom is disordered over two positions, resulting in two states, viz. pyrimidin‐1‐ium–water and pyrimidine–oxonium. In the low‐temperature phase, the title compound crystallizes in the same monoclinic space group and has a similar molecular packing, but the 2+2+2 aggregate loses the centrosymmetry, resulting in a doubling of the unit cell and two crystallographically independent molecules for each component in the asymmetric unit. The H atom in one N...H...O hydrogen bond between the pyrimidin‐1‐ium cation and the water molecule is disordered, while the H atom in the other hydrogen bond is found to be ordered at the N‐atom site with a long N—H distance [1.10 (3) Å].     

A response-function approach to the direct calculation of the transition-energy in a multiple-cluster expansion formalism

Approximate limiting collision induced dissociation (CID) probabilities are calculated as a function of the vibrational energy and temperature for HCl, HF and O₂, infinitely diluted in an inert gas, by assuming that only the molecules with an energy that is within kT below the threshold dissociate and do so with unit probability. Rotational energy is explicitly included in defining the threshold for dissociation. At the lowest temperatures of our calculations (2500 K for HCl and HF, 3500 K for O₂) the agreement between the calculated CID probabilities and those obtained by us earlier in fitting the experimental dissociation rates is quite remarkable for HCl and HF and satisfactory for O₂ at all vibrational energies. It is therefore argued that the ladder climbing model and the weak bias model for diatomic dissociation are not different in principle if rotational energy is properly accounted for.     

Theoretical study of the solvation of nitrogen. Two different approaches

Two different approaches were used for a theoretical study of the solvation of N₂, with HF, H₂O, NH₃, CH₄ as solvents. In the first approach, the contour maps of orientationally optimized interaction energy between N₂ and one solvent molecule were computed by fast semiempirical methods (Extended Hückel and CNDO/2) in order to find a reliable but not too expensive calculation method for solvation models. In the case of the N₂-H₂O system, anab initio map was also evaluated for comparison. The second approach is based on the building up of clusters with one molecule of N₂ surrounded by a number (2 to 8) of solvent molecules and finding the structure of such clusters by energy minimization. From the structures obtained it results that they are determined mainly by steric factors, so that clusters optimized by means of different methods are similar, despite the remarkable differences in the maps.     

Theoretical study of reactions of N2O with NO and OH radicals

The reactions of N₂O with NO and OH radicals have been studied using ab initio molecular orbital theory. The energetics and molecular parameters, calculated by the modified Gaussian-2 method (G2M), have been used to compute the reaction rate constants on the basis of the TST and RRKM theories. The reaction N₂O + NO → N₂ + NO₂ (1) was found to proceed by direct oxygen abstraction and to have a barrier of 47 kcal/mol. The theoretical rate constant, k₁ = 8.74 × 10⁻¹⁹ × T^2.23 exp (−23,292/T) cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, is in close agreement with earlier estimates. The reaction of N₂O with OH at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure is slow and dominated by association, resulting in the HONNO intermediate. The calculated rate constant for 300 K ≤ T ≤ 500 K is lower by a few orders than the upper limits previously reported in the literature. At temperatures higher than 1000 K, the N₂O + OH reaction is dominated by the N₂ + O₂H channel, while the HNO + NO channel is slower by 2–3 orders of magnitude. The calculated rate constants at the temperature range of 1000–5000 K for N₂O + OH → N₂ + O₂H (2A) and N₂O + OH → HNO + NO (2B) are fitted by the following expressions: in units of cm³ molecule ⁻¹s⁻¹. Both N₂O + NO and N₂O + OH reactions are confirmed to enhance, albeit inefficiently, the N₂O decomposition by reducing its activation energy. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermodynamics of dissolved nitrogen,nitrous oxide,and ammonia in perfluorodecalin

The solubility of N₂, N₂O, and NН₃ is studied in different organic solvents. The best dissolution (0.27 ppm) is found to be for N₂O in perfluorodecalin at 291 K and a pressure of 99 kPa. The dependence of N₂O solubility in perfluorodecalin on pressure is studied at 291 K. The Gibbs energy of the solubility of nitrogen, nitrous oxide, and ammonia in perfluorodecalin is calculated.     

Infrared and Raman spectral interpretations of the ferroelectric phases of NaH3(SeO3)2 and NaD3(SeO3)2

The infrared and Raman spectra of NaH₃(SeO₃)₂ and NaD₃(SeO₃)₂ have been recorded from 24 to 300°K. The interpretation, assignments, and analysis of the spectral studies are presented on the paraelectric α phase (proton disordered), ferroelectric β phase (proton ordered) and ferroelectric γ phase (proton ordered). A discussion of a newly proposed proton-triggered phase transition mechanism and a possible origin of the hydrogen-bonded OH stretching region of KH₂PO₄-type ferroelectrics is given.     

Vibrational excitation of deuterium fluoride and hydrogen fluoride by atomic and diatomic species

The vibrational excitation of HF and DF and the energy transfer efficiencies for various collision partners were investigated over the temperature and pressure ranges of 1400°K to 4100°K and 0.1 to 0.3 atm, respectively. The extent of excitation was determined as a function of time by continuously monitoring the infrared emission intensity at the center of the 1–0 vibration-rotation band of the molecule. Collisional efficiencies of HF, N₂, O₂, F, Cl, and DF in relaxing HF and of DF, HF, and N₂ in relaxing DF are reported. A comparison with relaxation data for pure HF taken at lower temperature suggests that long-range attractive forces are mechanistically of major importance in the relaxation process. The relatively high efficiency of atomic chlorine in relaxing HF, i.e., (τP)_HF–HF/(τP)_HF–C1 ≥ 5 at 3000°K is discussed in terms of our previous result for atomic fluorine, i.e., (τP)_HF–HF/(τP)_HF–F = 18.     

Tetra­allyl (2,2′‐bipyridyl)‐rac‐3,3,7,7‐tetra­methyl‐trans‐5‐palladatricyclo[4.1.0.02,4]­heptane‐1,2,4,6‐tetra­carboxyl­ate above and below the phase‐transition temperature of 194 K

The crystal structure of the title compound, (2,2′‐bipyridyl‐κ²N,N′)(tetra­allyl 3,3,3′,3′‐tetra­methyl‐1,1′‐bi­cyclo­propane‐1,1′,2,2′‐tetra­carboxyl­ato‐κ²C²,C^2′)­palladium(II), [Pd(C₂₆H₃₂­O₈)(C₁₀­H₈­N₂)], is disordered above 194 K. A doubling of the unit cell is observed on cooling. The structure at 143 K contains two ordered mol­ecules related by a pseudo‐translation vector of approximately (0.44,0.00,0.50) or a pseudo‐inversion center at approximately (0.22,0.00,0.25). Weak intermolecular C—H?O interactions are enhanced in the low‐temperature structure.     

Vibrational deactivation of HF(υ = 1) in the H2O + HF dimer: HF(υ = 1) + H2O(000) → HF(υ = 0) + H2O(001) + ΔE

The vibration-vibration energy transfer in the near-resonant collision HF(υ = 1) + H₂O(000) → HF(υ = 0) + H₂O(001) + ΔE = 205 cm^?1 has been investigated on the basis of the model of the nonrigid H₂O-HF dimer formation for temperatures not greatly higher than room temperature. The energy mismatch ΔE is considered to be removed by the slow translational motion of two molecules in the complex about their equilibrium separation. A strong negative temperature dependence of the energy exchange rate is shown between 300 and 500 K.     

SiO2-TiO2 membranes by the sol-gel process

The use of membranes for gas separation represents an important alternative from the viewpoint of energy conservation in industrial separation processes. Polymeric Si-Ti sols prepared from titanium isopropoxide (Ti(OPrⁱ)₄) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were used to deposit membranes on α-Al₂O₃ supports. Acetylacetone (2,4 pentanedione, acacH) and isoeugenol (2-methoxy-4-propenylphenol, isoH) were employed separately to chelate the Ti precursor in order to slow down the chemical reactivity, avoiding precipitation. The radial distribution functions (RDF) of the gels aging at room temperature were obtained. The xerogels were studied by Thermal Gravimetric (TGA) and Differential Thermal (DTA) Analysis in air. The Microporosity of the solids calcined at 773 K was determined by N₂-adsorption at 77 K. The membrane thickness was determined from SEM photographs. Preliminary permeance results of the supported membranes on commercial alumina support were obtained for He, N₂ and CO₂ in a single gas equipment. At 773 K the separation factors α(He/CO₂) and α(N₂/CO₂) for both membranes exceeds the theoretical Knudsen limit.     

Crystal structure,infrared and raman spectra of tripotassium trisaccha-rinate dihydrate,K<Subscript>3</Subscript>(C<Subscript>7</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>S)<Subscript>3</Subscript>·2H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The crystal structure of tripotassium trisaccharinate dihydrate, K₃(C₇H₄NO₃S)₃·2H₂O, is triclic, space group\(P \bar 1, Z = 2\). It consists of three crystallographically independent potassium and saccharinato ions as well as two structurally different water molecules. Potassium coordination polyhedra are irregular, with K1 and K3 six-coordinated and the third one K2 seven-coordinated. The K?O distances range from 2.652(9) to 3.100(2) Å(mean: 2.790 Å) whereas the K?N distance is 3.025(3) Å. The water molecules W2 is disordered over three positions with occupancies of approximately 0.6, 0.2 and 0.2. The hydrogen atom (H1W1) of the ordered water molecule (O1W) is hydrogen bonded to the sulfonyl oxygen atom (O11) (R(O...O)=2.976(3) Å), whereas the other hydrogen atom (H2W1) is bifurcated to the carbonyl oxygen atom (O13) (R(O...O)=2.851(3) Å) and the disordered water molecules (O23W) (R(O...O)=3.067(12) Å). The carbonyl oxygens (O13, O23 and O33) and one of the disordered water molecules (O22W) are involved in C?H...O hydrogen bonds (R(C?H...O)=3.027(4)–3.304(9) Å). Structural characteristics of the studied compound are compared with the analogous trisodium trisaccharinate dihydrate and dipotassium sodium trisaccharinate monohydrate. Infrared and Raman spectra of the title compound have been analyzed in relation to the structure, and compared with the spectra of trisodium trisaccharinate dihydrate.     

Theoretical Study of Weakly Bound Dimers between Hydrogen Fluoride and Some Polar Molecules

Weakly bound linear and bent dimers, FH—X (where X = CO, OC, CNH, NCH, N₂O and ON₂), are investigated using the DFT B3LYP and ab initio MP2 methods with the same basis sets (6–311++G(3df,2pd)). The strengths of the H—C or H—N H‐bonds in dimers FH—CO, FH—CNH, and FH—N₂O are compared with those of the H—O or H—N H‐bonds in dimers FH—OC, FH—NCH, and FH—ON₂. The results obtained for the H‐bond distances, the elongation effect of the HF bond, the red shift of the HF stretching frequency, and the energy difference between the dimer and the charge transfer reveal that the H‐bonds of the first group of dimers are stronger than those of the second. The Gibbs energies calculated for the six dimer formations indicate that the weakly bound dimers are unstable at room temperature (T = 298 K) (FH—X's → FH + X's, ΔG < 0).     

l‐Histidyl‐l‐serine 3.7‐hydrate: water channels in the crystal structure of a polar dipeptide

Dipeptides may form nanotubular structures with pore diameters in the range 3.2–10 Å. These compounds normally contain at least one and usually two hydrophobic residues, but l ‐His‐l ‐Ser hydrate, C₉H₁₄N₄O₄·3.7H₂O, with two hydrophilic residues, forms large polar channels filled with ordered as well as disordered water molecules.     

Measurement of the rotational energy distribution of ground state N+2 ions from H+2N2 collisions by laser-induced fluorescence

The rotational energy distribution of ground state N⁺₂ ions produced by interaction of a principally H⁺₂ ion beam with N₂ has been measured at projectile ion energies of 10 and 2.5 keV by observation of the laser induced fluorescence in the N⁺₂ first negative system (0, 0) band. At 10 keV, the rotational energy distribution is Boltzmann (432 K), due to heating of the gas by the intense ion beam. At 2.5 keV, rotational excitation is definitely observed.     

Atomistic simulation for disordered TbCu7-type compounds SmCo7 and Sm(Co,T)7 (T = Ti,Ga, Si,Cu, Hf,Zr)

The computational evolution from ordered SmCo₅ (CaCu₅-type) compound to disordered SmCo₇ (TbCu₇-type) compound has been implemented in this work. Based on statistical simulation, both the phase stabilities and the lattice constants of the calculated SmCo₇ series are in good agreement with experiments and a sort of 3g layer twisting deformation is observed. The calculated site preferences and lattice constants of the disordered ternary SmCo_7?xT_x (T = Ti, Ga, Si, Cu, Hf, Zr) are also in consonance with experimental data. SmCo₇'s natural structure selection has also been investigated and understood on the basis of phase stability and cohesive energy. This work lays a foundation for further first principles studies on the magnetic properties of disordered TbCu₇-type high-temperature permanent magnets.     

Pore accessibility of N2 and Ar in disordered nanoporous solids: theory and experiment

Recently (Nguyen and Bhatia, J. Phys. Chem. C 111:2212–2222, 2007) we have proposed a new algorithm utilising cluster analysis principles to determine pore network accessibility of a disordered material. The algorithm was applied to determine pore accessibility of the reconstructed molecular structure of a saccharose char, obtained in our recent work using hybrid reverse Monte Carlo simulation (Nguyen et al., Mol. Simul. 32:567–577, 2006). The method also identifies kinetically closed pores not accessed by adsorbate molecules at low temperature, when their low kinetic energy cannot overcome the potential barrier at the mouths of pores that can otherwise accommodate them. In the current work, the results are validated by transition state theory calculations for N₂ and Ar adsorption, showing that N₂ can equilibrate in narrow micropores at practical time scales at 300 K, but not at 77 K. Large differences between time scales for micropore entry and exit are predicted at low temperature for N₂, the latter being smaller by over three orders of magnitude. For N₂ at 77 K the time constant for pore entry exceeds 3 hr., while for exit it is 134 days. At 300 K these values are smaller than 1 μs, indicating good accessibility at this temperature. These results are verified by molecular dynamics simulations, which reveal that while N₂ molecules enter and leave all pores frequently at 300 K, entry and exit events for apparently inaccessible pores are absent at 77 K. For Ar at 87 K better accessibility is evident for the saccharose char compared to N₂ at 77 K. This finding is now experimentally shown in this work by comparison of pore size distributions obtained from experimental nitrogen adsorption isotherms of nitrogen and argon at 77 K and 87 K.     

煤炭燃烧过程中N2O消除反应机理的密度泛函理论研究

用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法对煤炭燃烧过程中N₂O的消除反应进行研究。选用6-311++G**和aug-cc-pVTZ基组,优化了反应通道上反应物、过渡态和产物的几何构型。预测了它们的热力学性质(总能量、焓、熵和吉布斯自由能)及其随温度的变化。预测N₂O+CO反应的活化能为200 kJ·mol^-1,与实验值193±8 kJ·mol^-1较一致。计算了500~1 800 K 温度范围的反应速率常数。在N₂O的分解中,N₂O与H和CN自由基的反应为动力学优先进行的反应,其活化能为50~55 kJ·mol^-1。在B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ level水平下,N₂O+CN反应是热力学最有利的自发反应,其吉布斯自由能变化为-407 kJ·mol^-1。     

Order and disorder in Ca2ND0.90H0.10-A structural and thermal study

The structure of calcium nitride hydride and its deuterided form has been re-examined at room temperature and studied at high temperature using neutron powder diffraction and thermal analysis. When synthesised at 600 °C, a mixture of both ordered and disordered Ca₂ND_0.90H_0.10 phases results. The disordered phase is the minor component and has a primitive rocksalt structure (spacegroup Fm3m) with no ordering of D/N on the anion sites and the ordered phase is best described using the rhombohedral spacegroup R-3m with D and N arranged in alternate layers in (111) planes. This mixture of ordered and disordered phases exists up to 580 °C, at which the loss of deuterium yields Ca₂ND_0.85 with the disappearance of the disordered phase. In the new ordered phase there exists a similar content of vacancies on both anion sites; to achieve this balance, a little N transfers onto the D site, whereas there is no indication of D transferring onto the N-sites. These observations are thought to indicate that the D/N ordering is difficult to achieve with fully occupied anion sites. It has previously been reported that Ca₂ND has an ordered cubic cell with alternating D and N sites in the [100] directions [1]; however, for the samples studied herein, there were clearly two coexisting phases with apparent broadening/splitting of the primitive peaks but not for the ordered peaks. The rhombohedral phase was in fact metrically cubic; however, all the observed peaks were consistent with the rhombohedral unit cell with no peaks requiring the larger ordered cubic unit cell to be utilised. Furthermore this rhombohedral cell displays the same form of N-D ordering as the Sr and Ba analogues, which are metrically rhombohedral.     

Formation mechanisms of Si3N4 and Si2N2O in silicon powder nitridation

Commercial silicon powders are nitrided at constant temperatures (1453 K; 1513 K; 1633 K; 1693 K). The X-ray diffraction results show that small amounts of Si₃N₄ and Si₂N₂O are formed as the nitridation products in the samples. Fibroid and short columnar Si₃N₄ are detected in the samples. The formation mechanisms of Si₃N₄ and Si₂N₂O are analyzed. During the initial stage of silicon powder nitridation, Si on the outside of sample captures slight amount of O₂ in N₂ atmosphere, forming a thin film of SiO₂ on the surface which seals the residual silicon inside. And the oxygen partial pressure between the SiO₂ film and free silicon is decreasing gradually, so passive oxidation transforms to active oxidation and metastable SiO(g) is produced. When the SiO(g) partial pressure is high enough, the SiO₂ film will crack, and N₂ is infiltrated into the central section of the sample through cracks, generating Si₂N₂O and short columnar Si₃N₄ in situ. At the same time, metastable SiO(g) reacts with N₂ and form fibroid Si₃N₄. In the regions where the oxygen partial pressure is high, Si₃N₄ is oxidized into Si₂N₂O.