Thermal analysis of tributylammonium montmorillonite and laponite

Montmorillonite and Laponite loaded with different amounts of tributylammonium cations (TBAH⁺), up to 40 and 30 mmol, respectively, per 100 g clay, were studied by thermo-XRD-analysis. TBAH-smectites heated at 300 and 420°C exhibited basal spacings of 1.30 and 1.24 nm, attributed to smectite tactoids with low- and high-temperature-stable monolayer charcoals, respectively in the interlayers. DTA-EGA and TG of the TBAH-smectites showed four stages of mass loss labeled A, B, C and D. Stage A below 250°C, accompanied by an endothermic DTA peak, resulted from the dehydration of the clay. Mass loss stages B, C and D, at 250–380, 380–605°C and above 605°C, respectively, accompanied by exothermic DTA peaks, were due to three oxidation steps of the organic matter. In mass loss stage B (first oxidation step) mainly organic hydrogen was oxidized to H2O whereas carbon and nitrogen formed low- and high-temperature-stable charcoals. In stages C and D (second and third oxidation steps) low- and high-temperature- stable charcoals were oxidized, respectively. Dehydroxylation of the smectites occurred together with the second and third oxidation steps. Thermal mass loss at each step was calculated from the TG curves showing that in montmorillonite the percentage of high-temperature-stable charcoal from total charcoal decreased with higher TBAH⁺ loadings of the clay whereas in Laponite this percentage increased with higher loadings of the clay.     

Synthesis of Size‐Controlled Ag@Co@Ni/Graphene Core–Shell Nanoparticles for the Catalytic Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane

Size‐controlled Ag_0.04@Co_0.48@Ni_0.48 core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by employing graphene (rGO) with different reduction degrees as supports. The number of C?O and C? O functional groups on the surface of rGO might play a major role in controlling the particle size. The strong steric‐hindrance effect of C?O resulted in the growth of large particles, whereas C? O contributed to the formation of small particles. The particle size of Ag_0.04@Co_0.48@Ni_0.48 NPs supported on rGO with different reduction degrees decreased as the number of C?O functional groups decreased. The decrease in the particle size probably led to the increase in the catalytic activity towards the hydrolysis of ammonia borane (AB). The enhanced catalytic activity largely stemmed from the increasing active sites on the surface of catalysts owing to the decreasing particle size.     

Solid phase modification of carbon nanotubes with anthraquinone and nitrobenzene functional groups

A new solid phase modification method is developed for chemical attachment of anthraquinone (AQ) and nitrobenzene (NB) functional groups to surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through aminomethyl benzene (− C₆H₄CH₂NH −) linker. The benzyl amine linker was spontaneously grafted onto the CNTs by refluxing in the C₆H₄CH₂NHBoc diazonium salt at 60 °C in acetonitrile solution. After the removal of the Boc protecting group, AQ and NB groups were attached to the benzyl amine linker by solid-phase amide coupling. The grafted CNTs were characterized using FTIR and cyclic voltammetry techniques, surface coverage and stability of the tethered functional groups was evaluated. The dispersion of modified CNTs is significantly improved in organic solvent and the surface loading reaches up to 0.20 mmol/g for both anthraquinone and nitrobenzene.     

吸附在活性炭上的苯和环己烷的NMR弛豫研究

被吸附分子的NMR弛豫测量可以提供该分子的运动和吸附状态等信息。近来证明,多孔固体中被吸附物的自旋晶格弛豫的测量(T_1)是孔径大小和孔结构分析及多孔物质渗透性能测量的有力工具这是基于靠孔壁近的分子比远离固体表面的分子自旋晶格弛豫     

Influence of combustion conditions on hydrophilic properties and microstructure of flame soot

Previous studies suggest that structure and reactivity of soot depend on combustion conditions like the fuel/oxygen ratio and nature of fuels. However, the essence of how combustion conditions affect physical and chemical properties of soot is still an open question. In this study, soot samples were prepared by combusting toluene, n-hexane, and decane under controlled conditions, and their hydrophilic properties, morphology, microstructure, content of volatile organic compounds, and functional groups were characterized. The hydrophilicity of n-hexane and decane flame soot increased with decreasing fuel/oxygen ratio, while it almost did not change for toluene flame soot. Fuel/oxygen ratio had little effect on the morphology of aggregates and the graphite crystallite size. The primary particle size and the content of volatile organic compounds on soot decreased with decreasing fuel/oxygen ratio. Less hydrophobic groups (C-H) and more hydrophilic groups (C═O) were observed on lean n-hexane and decane flame soot than that on the corresponding rich flame soot. Volatile organic compounds had little effect on the hydrophilicity of soot while the hydrophilicity correlated linearly with the ratio of C═O content to C-H content. The hydrophilic functional groups were found to be mainly located at graphene layer edges and on surface graphene layers in soot.     

Room‐Temperature Arylation of Thiols: Breakthrough with Aryl Chlorides

The formation of aryl C−S bonds is an important chemical transformation because aryl sulfides are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically active molecules and organic materials. Aryl sulfides have traditionally been synthesized through the transition‐metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl halides with thiols. However, the aryl halides used are usually bromides and iodides; readily available, low‐cost aryl chlorides often not reactive enough. Furthermore, the deactivation of transition‐metal catalysts by thiols has forced chemists to use high catalyst loadings, specially designed ligands, high temperatures, and/or strong bases, thus leading to high costs and the incompatibility of some functional groups. Herein, we describe a simple and efficient visible‐light photoredox arylation of thiols with aryl halides at room temperature. More importantly, various aryl chlorides are also effective arylation reagents under the present conditions.     

Room-Temperature Arylation of Thiols: Breakthrough with Aryl Chlorides

The formation of aryl C−S bonds is an important chemical transformation because aryl sulfides are valuable building blocks for the synthesis of biologically and pharmaceutically active molecules and organic materials. Aryl sulfides have traditionally been synthesized through the transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides with thiols. However, the aryl halides used are usually bromides and iodides; readily available, low-cost aryl chlorides often not reactive enough. Furthermore, the deactivation of transition-metal catalysts by thiols has forced chemists to use high catalyst loadings, specially designed ligands, high temperatures, and/or strong bases, thus leading to high costs and the incompatibility of some functional groups. Herein, we describe a simple and efficient visible-light photoredox arylation of thiols with aryl halides at room temperature. More importantly, various aryl chlorides are also effective arylation reagents under the present conditions.     

Chemical Functionalisation and Photoluminescence of Graphene Quantum Dots

Chemical modification of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can influence their physical and chemical properties; hence, the investigation of the effect of organic functional groups on GQDs is of importance for developing GQD–organic hybrid materials. Three peripherally functionalised GQDs having a third‐generation dendritic wedge (GQD‐ 2 ), long alkyl chains (GQD‐ 3 ) and a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane group (GQD‐ 4 ) were prepared by the Cu^I‐catalysed Huisgen cycloaddition reaction of GQD‐ 1 with organic azides. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that reduction occurred on the surfaces of GQD‐ 1 – 4 and on the five‐membered imide rings at the periphery, and this suggested that the functional groups distort the periphery by steric interactions between neighbouring functional groups. The HOMO–LUMO bandgaps of GQD‐ 1 – 4 were estimated to be approximately 2 eV, and their low‐lying LUMO levels (<?3.9 eV) were lower than that of phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester, an n‐type organic semiconductor. The solubility of GQD‐ 1 – 4 in organic solvents depends on the functional groups present. The functional groups likely cover the surfaces and periphery of the GQDs, and thus increase their affinity for solvent and avoid precipitation. Similar to GQD‐ 2 , both GQD‐ 3 and GQD‐ 4 emitted white light upon excitation at 360 nm. Size‐exclusion chromatography demonstrated that white‐light emission originates from the coexistence of differently sized GQDs that have different photoluminescence emission wavelengths.     

Attachment of styrene and phenylacetylene on Si(111)-7 x 7: the influence of substitution groups on the reaction mechanism and formation of pi-conjugated skeletons

The interactions of styrene and phenylacetylene and their isotope substitutions with a Si(111)-7 x 7 surface have been studied as model systems to mechanistically understand the chemical binding of conjugated pi-electron systems to di-radical-like silicon dangling bonds of the adjacent adatom-rest atom pair. Vibrational studies show that styrene mainly binds to the surface through a diradical reaction involving both the external C=C and its conjugated internal C=C of the phenyl ring with an adjacent adatom-rest atom pair, forming a 5-ethylidene-1,3-cyclohexadiene-like skeleton. On the other hand, phenylacetylene was shown to be covalently attached to Si(111)-7 x 7 through the external C[triple bond]C, forming a styrene-like conjugation system. These experimental results are consistent with density functional theory calculations. The different binding mechanisms for styrene and phenylacetylene clearly demonstrate that reaction channels for multifunctional organic molecules are strongly dependent on the chemical and physical properties of the functional groups. The resulting pi-electron conjugation structures may possibly be employed as intermediates for further organic syntheses and fabrication of multilayer organic films on semiconductor surfaces.     

Native surface structure of natural soil particles determined by combining atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

A procedure was developed for handling natural soil particles and probing their native surface structure by atomic force microscopy (AFM) under water. This procedure was used to investigate the nanometer scale organisation of organic matter at the surface of sand particles taken from three soil horizons. The latter were selected for the contrasted properties of their organic matter, namely Podzol E and Bh horizons and a Cambisol A–B horizon. The presence of an adsorbed layer was visualised at the surface of Podzol Bh and Cambisol particles in the form of aggregated structures that interacted with the AFM probe. Surface analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) confirmed the carbonaceous nature of this adsorbed layer. Displacement of organic matter by the scanning probe was directly evidenced for Podzol Bh sand particles. Such displacement was not observed for Cambisol particles. A dramatic effect of drying on the concentration, nanometer scale distribution and properties of the adsorbed organic matter was clearly demonstrated by combining AFM imaging and XPS analysis. The procedure developed here gives access to direct, nanoscale information of the surface structure of sand particles and offers promising prospects for the characterisation of other environmentally-relevant particles in native conditions.     

Differences in coating mechanism of structurally different aluminosilicates observed through the thermal analysis

Systematic modification of three structurally different minerals (zeolite, mica, and vermiculite) was carried out with the aim of determining the modification mechanism and exposing the hydrophobic surface that can be used as a sorbent for many organic compounds. Mechanism of modification with cationic surfactant depends strongly on the mineral type. In order to identify the influence of aluminosilicates structural differences on the modification process, adsorption experiments with organic matter and water vapor, supplemented with the DTA/TG analysis, were performed. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) value was 1454?>?560?>?28 meq kg^?1 for zeolite (clinoptilolite), vermiculite, and mica (muscovite), respectively. Despite its CEC value, vermiculite adsorbed three times the amount of organic matter than did clinoptilolite due to the porous structure of zeolite, which acted to limit the adsorption only on the external exchangeable cations. If the loading amount is equal to the CEC or the external cation exchange capacity for clinoptilolite (ECEC?≈?10% CEC), the monolayer will form while mineral surface will have hydrophobic character. Only one active center exists at the surface of the clinoptilolite that was identified by DTA curves with a sharp and defined peak around 300 °C and by the mass loss at the TG diagrams. Two significant and equal active centers were observed in vermiculite, one for the exchange of the surface cations and the other for the interlayer cations and H₂O molecules. Muscovite CEC is negligible, and due to the absence of any other functional groups, the modification of this mineral was impossible.     

Effect of surface oxygen complexes of sugar charcoal on the half cell potential of carbon-nickel ferrite electrodes

Carbon-nickel ferrite electrodes were prepared by pressing equal amounts of charcoals and nickel ferrite using ABS polymer (in acetone + benzene) as binder on a steel mesh. The half cell potentials reported were measured with reference to saturated calomel electrode. The electrolyte used was 4-N potassium hydroxide and fuel used was methanol. The surface oxygen complexes on the charcoals were varied (i) by heat-treating the sugar charcoal in vacuum at 400, 750 and 1000° C and (ii) by boiling in 4N.HNO₃ for different intervals of time. Half cell potential measured increases with the increase of oxygen content of the charcoals. The oxygen complex which is disposed off as carbon dioxide imparts polarity to the charcoal surface, and is largely responsible for the increase in potential.     

The versatile surface properties of poly(cyclopentadiene)-modified silica particles (PCPD–silica): XPS and electrokinetic studies

Surface properties of poly(cyclopentadiene)–silica hybrid particles (PCPD–silica) were studied by means of XPS and electrokinetic measurements. The surfaces of PCPD–silica particles exhibit two different areas with different properties: bare silica holes and PCPD patches. The PCPD chains contain different functional groups such as alcohol and carbonyl groups that were identified by XPS. The PCPD chains are grafted covalently onto the silica surface via Si–O–C bonds created by the reaction of silanol groups and active PCPD chains. The amount of Si–O–C was examinated by means of XPS. The Brønsted acidity of the residual silanol groups was determined by means of electro-kinetic measurements. It was found that the pK _a values of the residual silanol groups increase with increasing polymer content on the particle surface. The surface acceptor strengths of the hybrid particles in non-aqueous liquids were investigated by the solvatochromic indicator bis(1,10-phenanthroline)-cis-dicyano-iron-II in 1,2-dichloroethane.     

Changes in commercial wood charcoals by thermal treatments

As a continuation of a recent study of commercial wood charcoals as far as their potential production of carbon adsorbents is concerned, we have studied the influence of the final heating temperature (T) as carbonization variable in the range 250–1000 °C on the yield and on the characteristics of granular chars prepared from two very different charcoals: a holm-oak charcoal manufactured by partial combustion in a charcoal kiln and an eucalyptus charcoal industrially manufactured in a continuous furnace. Our study also includes the changes produced in both charcoals heated at 250 °C in air for 24 h, and their influences on the adsorption of water vapour at 25 °C. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetry, chemical analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, densimetric measurements and mercury porosimetry. T affects the char yield, the chemical composition and the porosity of each char series differently. In particular, the total open pore volumes (to helium) of the starting charcoals, 0.475 and 1.044 cm³ g⁻¹, increase to 0.872 and 1.293 cm³ g⁻¹ heating up to 1000 and 500 °C, respectively. The changes by carbonization are mainly due to devolatilization; moreover, a moderate structural shrinkage occurs heating the eucalyptus charcoal at T > 500 °C. Concerning the air treatments, the yields do not present a significant difference; carbonyl groups are formed and the resulting pore structures depend on the starting charcoals. Water adsorption is larger for the eucalyptus carbons (approximately type V isotherms) than for the holm-oak carbons (type II isotherms).     

Multifunctional hybrids by combining ordered mesoporous materials and macromolecular building blocks

This critical review presents and discusses the recent advances in complex hybrid materials that result from the combination of polymers and mesoporous matrices. Ordered mesoporous materials derived from supramolecular templating present high surface area and tailored pore sizes; pore surfaces can be further modified by organic, organometallic or even biologically active functional groups. This permits the creation of hybrid systems with distinct physical properties or chemical functions located in the framework walls, the pore surface, and the pore interior. Bringing polymeric building blocks into the game opens a new dimension: the possibility to create phase separated regions (functional domains) within the pores that can behave as "reactive pockets" of nanoscale size, with highly controlled chemistry and interactions within restricted volumes. The possibilities of combining "hard" and "soft" building blocks to yield these novel nanocomposite materials with tuneable functional domains ordered in space are potentially infinite. New properties are bound to arise from the synergy of both kinds of components, and their spatial location. The main object of this review is to report on new approaches towards functional polymer-inorganic mesostructured hybrids, as well as to discuss the present challenges in this flourishing research field. Indeed, the powerful concepts resulting from the synergy of sol-gel processing, supramolecular templating and polymer chemistry open new opportunities in the design of advanced functional materials: the tailored production of complex matter displaying spatially-addressed chemistry based on the control of chemical topology. Breakthrough applications are expected in the fields of sustainable energy, environment sensing and remediation, biomaterials, pharmaceutical industry and catalysis, among others (221 references).     

介孔碳担载的 Co-Mo 和 Ni-Mo 加氢脱硫催化剂

 自制介孔碳 (CMC) 具有比传统活性碳 (AC) 更大的比表面积、孔径和孔体积, 以其为载体, 在浸渍液中加入螯合剂, 采用等量浸渍法制备了 Co-Mo/CMC 和 Ni-Mo/CMC 催化剂, 分别用于模型汽油和柴油加氢脱硫反应. 结果表明, Co-Mo/CMC 和 Ni-Mo/CMC 催化剂具有比 Co-Mo/AC 催化剂更好的织构性质和加氢脱硫活性. 在模型汽油的加氢脱硫反应中, Co-Mo/CMC 催化剂活性比工业催化剂 Co-Mo/Al2O3 高得多; 而在模型柴油的加氢脱硫反应中, Ni-Mo/CMC 催化剂活性也比工业催化剂 FH-98 高得多.     

碳催化剂在催化反应中的应用

由于碳材料表面存在缺陷,可生成具有不同性能的活性位,因此可催化不同的热催化反应.我们首先介绍了单质碳材料的表面结构化学:其表面活性位主要为含杂原子官能团;然后对其可催化的反应进行了介绍:碳单质材料可催化选择性氧化反应、高级氧化反应、还原反应、烷烃活化反应、酸催化反应、电催化还原和氧化反应等.对碳单质催化剂的制备方法、所...     

过渡金属硫化物催化剂上SO2的还原

 对系列过渡金属硫化物催化剂上CO还原SO2的反应进行了研究．结果表明，FeS的催化性能最好，而MnS的催化性能最差，其他几种催化剂的活性顺序依次为CoS＞CuS＞NiS．催化剂的活性与硫化物自身的氧化还原能力、所具有的晶相结构及其同SO2的吸附键合作用力有密切的关系．在硫化物催化剂上，SO2还原的反应机理很可能是贫、富含硫化合物的交替作用机理．     

Biomimetic studies on selenoenzymes: modeling the role of proximal histidines in thioredoxin reductases

The roles of built-in thiol cofactors and the basic histidine (His) residues in the active site of mammalian thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs) are described with the help of experimental and density functional theory calculations on small-molecule model compounds. The reduction of selenenyl sulfides by thiols in selenoenzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and TrxR is crucial for the regeneration of the active site. Experimental as well as theoretical studies were carried out with model selenenyl sulfides to probe their reactivity toward incoming thiols. We have shown that the nucleophilic attack of thiols takes place at the selenium center in the selenenyl sulfides. These thiol exchange reactions would hamper the regeneration of the active species selenol. Therefore, the basic His residues are expected to play crucial roles in the selenenyl sulfide state of TrxR. Our model study with internal amino groups in the selenenyl sulfide state reveals that the basic His residues may play important roles by deprotonating the thiol moiety in the selenenic acid state and by interacting with the sulfur atom in the selenenyl sulfide state to facilitate the nucleophilic attack of thiol at sulfur rather than at selenium, thereby generating the catalytically active species selenol. This model study also suggests that the enzyme may use the internal cysteines as cofactors to overcome the thiol exchange reactions.     

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Leaf Extract as a Green Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in Acidic Solution: Electrochemical,Functional and Molecular Analysis

An extract of cucumber leaves (ECSL) was prepared as a green corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel. Its carbon steel corrosion inhibition performance against 0.5 mol L⁻¹ H₂SO₄ was investigated using electrochemical methods and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its composition was analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC−MS). Quantum chemical calculations and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) were conducted to elucidate the adsorption mechanism of the inhibitor molecules on the carbon steel surface. The results indicated that the inhibition efficiency increases with its increasing concentration. The extract acted as a mixed type corrosion inhibitor, and its inhibition properties were ascribed to the geometric coverage effect induced by its adsorption on the metal surface in accordance with Langmuir’s law. The active components in the extract were identified as mainly organic compounds with functional groups such as aromatic moieties and heteroatoms. The inhibition activities of ECSL are delivered through the ability of the active components to adsorb on the metal surface through their functional groups to form a protective layer which hinders the contact of aggressive substances with carbon steel and thus suppresses its corrosion. This research provides an important reference for the design of green corrosion inhibitors based on plant waste materials.