Porous xerogels with a bifunctional surface layer of the composition ≡Si(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>SH/≡Si(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The sol-gel method with ethanol as a solvent and fluoride ion as a catalyst was used to prepare polysiloxane xerogels containing both 3-mercaptopropyl and n-propyl groups in the surface layer. An increase in the relative amount of n-propyltriethoxysilane in the initial reaction solution was found to result in the formation of xerogels with developed porous structures, which was accompanied by an increase in the specific surface area from 370 to 550 m²/g; simultaneously, other porous structure parameters such as sorption volume and pore size exhibited a tendency to increase. Atomic-force microscopy was used to show that the xerogels synthesized comprised aggregates of mean size 30 nm. An analysis of the IR and ¹³C cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR data led us to conclude that the surface layer of bifunctional xerogels contained not only 3-mercaptopropyl and n-propyl groups but also silanol groups, part of nonhydrolyzed alkoxy groups, and H-bonded water molecules. The ²⁹Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectra revealed the presence of structural units of the compositions T¹ [(≡SiO)Si(OR’)₂(CH₂CH₂CH₃) and/or (≡SiO)Si(OR’)₂(CH₂)₃SH, R’ = H, OCH₃, or OC₂H₅], T² [(≡SiO)₂Si(OR’)(CH₂CH₂CH₃) and (≡SiO)₂Si(OR’)(CH₂)₃SH], and T³ [(≡SiO)₃SiCH₂CH₂CH₃ and (≡SiO)₃Si(CH₂)₃SH] in the xerogels synthesized.     

Phenyl(trimethylsiloxy)fluorosiloxanes PhSi(OSiMe<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>F<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>

The siloxane bond splitting reaction in hexamethyldisiloxanes PhSiCl _n F_3?n was studied.     

DFT study on oxidation of HS(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis> </Subscript>SH (<Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis> = 1–8) in oxidative desulfurization

Density functional theory was employed for calculation of HS(CH₂)_mSH (m = 1–8) and its derivatives at B3LYP method at 6-31++g (d,p) level. Using eigenvalues of LUMO and HOMO for HS(CH₂)_mSH, the standard electrode potentials were estimated by a stepwise multiple regression techniques (MLR), and obtained as E° = 1.500 + 7.167 × 10^–3 HOMO–0.229 LUMO with high correlation coefficients of 0.973 and F values of 43.973.     

Electronic peltier effect in Li<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Cu<Subscript>(2 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>) − δ</Subscript>S

Temperature dependences of the Peltier coefficient are studied in the temperature range of 300–700 K under variation of the composition of the Li _x Cu_{(2 − x) − δ}S samples. The obtained values of the Peltier coefficient of the Li_0.05Cu_{1.95 − δ}S samples with a different copper content are within the range of 0.1–0.4 J/A, which is somewhat higher than the similar parameters of bismuth telluride, the basic material of semiconductor coolers.     

Derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">closo</Emphasis>-decaborate anion [B<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>10</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">exo</Emphasis>-polyhedral substituents

Methods of introducing functional groups into the [B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ anion based on electrophilic, radical, or nucleophilic substitution for exo-polyhedral hydrogen atoms have been surveyed. Special attention has been focused on nucleophilic substitution reactions promoted by acids, including protonic acids, anhydrous hydrogen halides, metal halides, and carbocations. In addition, methods of tailored functionalization of the substituents in the cluster have been described.     

Novel crystal modification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">fac</Emphasis>-triamminetrinitrorhodium(III) — β-<Emphasis Type="Italic">fac</Emphasis>-[Rh(NO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>]

The paper describes the preparation techniques for β-fac-[Rh(NO₂)₃(NH₃)₃]. The complex crystallizes as colorless prisms belonging to the monoclinic crystal system. Crystal data: a = 6.6338(2) Å, b = 11.0627(3) Å, c = 11.5314(3) Å; β = 96.608(1)°, V = 840.64(4) ų, space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, d_calc = 2.308 g/cm³. The structure is molecular and contains neutral complex molecules having the fac configuration. Crystal chemical analysis of the complex in comparison to α-fac-[Rh(NO₂)₃(NH₃)₃] is performed.     

The crystal structures of chiral (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>) (C<Subscript>8</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript>N)<Subscript>2</Subscript>·CuCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Two opposite configuration (R/S) of chiral complexes (C₈H₁₁N)₂·CuCl₂ were obtained from the reaction of chiral d(+)/l(−)-α-ethylphenyl amine with copper chloride (II) in dry ethanol. The crystal structures of 1a and 1b were characterized by IR, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography.     

Transformations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">gem</Emphasis>-dibromoarylcyclopropanes under nitrosation conditions on treatment with NOCl·(SO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>

The reaction of 2-aryl-1,1-dibromocyclopropanes with adduct NOCl·(SO₃) _n leading to 3-aryl-5-bromoisoxazoles as a result of nitrosation—heterocyclization of the cyclopropane ring was studied. The reaction is accompanied with electrophilic aromatic bromination. The mechanism of the transformation was discussed, the optimal reaction conditions to enhance the reaction selectivity were developed.     

Crystal structures of [<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>(Еn)<Subscript>3</Subscript>](ReO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> = Ni,Zn)

The structures of two isostructural phases of [M(Еn)₃](ReO₄)₂ (M = Ni, Zn; Еn is ethylenediamine) are studied. The crystal structures belong to the triclinic system, but demonstrate a pseudohexagonal packing motif. It is shown that the product of thermal decomposition of [Zn(Еn)₃](ReO₄)₂ (hydrogen atmosphere, 400 °C) is a homogeneous mixture of nanocrystalline zinc and rhenium powders with coherent scattering regions of ~30 nm.     

Fast evaluation of molecular auxiliary functions <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis><Subscript>α</Subscript> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> by analytical relations

Analytical relations through the initial values are derived for the molecular auxiliary functions A _α (x) and B _n (x), where α =n+ɛ, 0⩽ ɛ < 1 and n=0,1,2,.... These relations are useful in the fast calculation of multicenter molecular integrals over integer and noninteger n Slater type orbitals. It is shown that the formulas obtained are numerically stable for all values of n,ɛ and x.PACS No: 31.15.+q, 31.20.EjAMS subject classification: 81-V55, 81-V45     

TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>N<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> nanocomposite and its acetaldehyde photodecomposition ability

Nitrogen-doped titania was coupled with the commercial titania nanoparticles by mechanical milling in liquid medium. The as-prepared nanocomposites (TiO₂/TiO_2−x N _y ) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area, UV–Vis spectroscopy, chemiluminescence, and acetaldehyde decomposition activity techniques. When a small amount of nitrogen-doped titania was added into the commercial titania, higher intensity and longer lifetime of ¹O₂ was observed, and the photocatalytic activity was efficiently improved. The TiO_2−x N _y acts as the acceptor of photoinduced holes. The recombination of the electron-hole was effectively depressed by the heterogeneous electron transfer. This could be an effective way to obtain highly active photocatalysts.     

Transport and structural properties of compounds (1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>)CsHSO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis>KH<Subscript>2</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The homogeneous substitution of cations (K⁺) and anions (H₂PO₄⁻) for CsHSO₄ is performed. The dependences of protonic conductivity and structure of (1 − x)CsHSO₄-xKH₂PO₄ (x = 0.05–0.9) compounds on the composition are studied. It is found that the introduction of KH₂PO₄ leads to the formation of a new highly conductive phase. At small amounts of introduced KH₂PO₄ (x = 0.05), a mixed salt forms; its low-temperature conductivity is by more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of the source salts. The thermal behavior of mixed salt (1 − x)CsHSO₄-xKH₂PO₄ of various compositions and the peculiarities of crystal structure are studied. The structural parameters of the salt at x = 0.05–0.5 are close to those of Cs₃(HSO₄)₂(H₂PO₄). At higher x, another phase forms, whose structure has yet to be determined. The thermal stability of the salt decreases with increasing fraction of KH₂PO₄ introduced. The conductivity of the composites based on the mixed salt and silicon dioxide (1 − y){xKH₂PO₄-(1 − x)CsHSO₄}-ySiO₂ (x = 0.05, 0.1; y = 0.1–0.7) is studied. It is shown that, in the low-temperature range, the conductivity of composite systems increases within an order of magnitude, passes through a maximum, and, then, decreases at y > 0.5 due to the percolation effect.     

Transport and thermal characteristics of Cs<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Rb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>H<Subscript>2</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The transport and thermal properties of Cs_{1 − x} Rb _x H₂PO₄ in a wide range of compositions were studied. The binary salts Cs_{1 − x} Rb _x H₂PO₄ (x = 0–0.9) contain solid solutions with a structure of CsH₂PO₄. The binary salts were synthesized by mechanically mixing the starting components and growing crystals by isothermal evaporation from aqueous solutions. The properties of Cs_{1 − x} Rb _x H₂PO₄ salts obtained by different procedures were found to differ considerably. At higher rubidium contents in compounds obtained by mechanical mixing, the superionic transition temperature rose insignificantly, the high-temperature phase conductivity decreased twofold, the low-temperature conductivity increased within the limits of the order of magnitude, and the system of hydrogen bonds was slightly weakened. In Cs_{1 − x} Rb _x H₂PO₄ crystals grown from solutions, the temperature of the superionic transition decreased along with its slowing down, and the low-temperature conductivity increased by more than three orders of magnitude because of the higher contents of residual acid aqueous centers in the structure of the salt. These systems are characterized by increased thermal stability.     

Density Functional Theory Study of the Ionic Liquid [emim]OH and Complexes [emim]OH(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>=1,2)

In this work, the structure of the ionic liquid [emim]OH and the influence of water molecules on this ionic liquid were studied by the DFT theory at the B3LYP/6-311++G** level. The calculation results indicate that [emim]OH cannot exist in the form of ion pairs, rather it is inclined to exist the form of water and imidazole carbene. Further studies showed that water mainly influences the anion: it can disperse the negative charge of the O atom of the OH⁻ anion and form hydroxyl–water clusters with the anion. When there are two water molecules in the ionic liquid, the system is most likely to exist in the form of ion-pairs that are composed of hydroxyl–water clusters and cations. Configurations formed near the C₂-H fragment of imidazole were favored, and hydrogen bonding interaction plays an important role in the ionic liquid system.     

Sol-Gel Synthesis and Properties of Y<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ba<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>FeO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Nanocrystals

The sol-gel method was used to prepare Y_1–xBa_xFeO₃ (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2) nanocrystals. The influence of the dopant content on the particle size and magnetic properties of yttrium ferrite was examined.     

Potassium-conducting solid electrolytes in K<Subscript>1 − 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>GaO<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

New solid electrolytes with a high conductivity by K⁺ ions in the K_{1 − 2x} Sr _x GaO₂ system are synthesized and studied. It is found that the introduction of Sr²⁺ ions into potassium monogallate leads to the formation of solid solutions with KGaO₂ structure in a wide range of additive concentration. These solid solutions exhibit a high conductivity; the conductivity increases monotonically with increasing concentration of strontium within the single-phase range. The electrical characteristics are related to the electrolyte structure. The results are compared with the earlier data for the gallate solid electrolytes with the additives of four-charged cations and the systems based on potassium monoferrite and monoaluminate.     

High-temperature ion transport in La<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>FeO<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript>

The conductivity of the entire solid solution La_1–xSr_xFeO_3–, where x=0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9, in the oxygen partial pressure range 10^–19 to 0.5 atm and temperatures between 750 and 950 °C is reported. The analysis of the isothermal pressure dependences of the conductivity reveal that the lanthanum-strontium ferrites can be characterized as mixed ion-electron conductors in the low-oxygen pressure/high-oxygen deficiency limit. The partial contribution to conductivity from oxygen ions increases with strontium content and attains a maximal value at x=0.5. Further increase in doping results in the development of oxygen vacancy ordering phenomena and deterioration of the conducting properties.Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

Thermal analysis of the Ce<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Tb<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> pigments

Compounds based on CeO₂ were synthesized as high-temperature environment-friendly inorganic pigments with interesting hues. The pigments have been synthesized by using the solid state reaction in the temperature range from 1,300 to 1,600 °C. The host lattice of these pigments is CeO₂ that is doped by terbium ions. The incorporation of doped ions provides interesting orange colours after application into ceramic glaze. The goal was to develop conditions for the synthesis of these compounds and to determine the influence of calcination temperature on their colouring effects. The simultaneous TG-DTA measurements were used for determination of the temperature region of the pigment formation and thermal stability of pigments. The pigments were also evaluated from the standpoint of their structure and particle sizes.     

Ionic conduction of Li<Subscript>8 − 2<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Mg<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>ZrO<Subscript>6</Subscript> solid solutions

A boundary of existence of solid solutions in the Li_8−2x Mg _x ZrO₆ system is found to be 7 mol % MgO. The transport properties of Li_{8 − 2x} Mg _x ZrO₆ solid solutions (the electronic component of total conductivity, the temperature and concentration dependences of conductivity and activation energy) are studied. It is supposed that, for Li₈ZrO₆ phase and solid solution based on it, an abrupt change of conductivity in the temperature range from 663 to 713 K is caused by the transition of electrolyte into the superionic state.