A laser-induced fluorescence study of the jet-cooled nitrous oxide cation (N2O+)

Laser-induced fluorescence and wavelength resolved emission spectra of the A? (2)Σ(+) - X? (2)Π(i) electronic transition of the jet-cooled nitrous oxide cation have been recorded. The ions were produced in a pulsed electric discharge at the exit of a supersonic expansion using a precursor mixture of N(2)O in high pressure argon. Both spin-orbit components of the 0(0) (0) band were studied at high resolution and rotationally analyzed to provide precise molecular constants for the combining states. Emission spectra were obtained by laser excitation of the 0(0) (0), 2(0) (1), 3(0) (1), and 2(0) (2) absorption bands, providing extensive data on the ground state bending, stretching, and combination vibrational levels. These data were fitted to a Renner-Teller model including spin-orbit, anharmonic, and Fermi resonance terms. The observed energy levels and fitted parameters were found to be comparable to those in the literature predicted from an ab initio potential energy surface.     

Mechanism of N2O reduction by the mu4-S tetranuclear CuZ cluster of nitrous oxide reductase

Reaction thermodynamics and potential energy surfaces are calculated using density functional theory to investigate the mechanism of the reductive cleavage of the N-O bond by the mu(4)-sulfide-bridged tetranuclear Cu(Z) site of nitrous oxide reductase. The Cu(Z) cluster provides an exogenous ligand-binding site, and, in its fully reduced 4Cu(I) state, the cluster turns off binding of stronger donor ligands while enabling the formation of the Cu(Z)-N(2)O complex through enhanced Cu(Z) --> N(2)O back-donation. The two copper atoms (Cu(I) and Cu(IV)) at the ligand-binding site of the cluster play a crucial role in the enzymatic function, as these atoms are directly involved in bridged N(2)O binding, bending the ligand to a configuration that resembles the transition state (TS) and contributing the two electrons for N(2)O reduction. The other atoms of the Cu(Z) cluster are required for extensive back-bonding with minimal sigma ligand-to-metal donation for the N(2)O activation. The low reaction barrier (18 kcal mol(-)(1)) of the direct cleavage of the N-O bond in the Cu(Z)-N(2)O complex is due to the stabilization of the TS by a strong Cu(IV)(2+)-O(-) bond. Due to the charge transfer from the Cu(Z) cluster to the N(2)O ligand, noncovalent interactions with the protein environment stabilize the polar TS and reduce the activation energy to an extent dependent on the strength of proton donor. After the N-O bond cleavage, the catalytic cycle consists of a sequence of alternating protonation/one-electron reduction steps which return the Cu(Z) cluster to the fully reduced (4Cu(I)) state for future turnover.     

Fractionation factors for stable isotopes of N and O during N2O reduction in soil depend on reaction rate constant

Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is a major greenhouse gas that is mainly produced but also reduced by microorganisms in soils. We determined factors for N and O isotope fractionation during the reduction of N(2)O to N(2) in soil in a flow-through incubation experiment. The absolute value of the fractionation factors decreased with increasing reaction rate constant. Reaction rates constants ranged from 1.7 10(-4) s(-1) to 4.5 10(-3) s(-1). The minimum, maximum and median of the observed fractionation factors were for N -36.0 per thousand, -1.0 per thousand and -9.3 per thousand and for O -74.0 per thousand, -6.9 per thousand and -26.3 per thousand, respectively. The ratio of O isotope fractionation to N isotope fractionation was 2.4 +/- 0.3 and it was independent from the reaction rate constants. This leads us to conclude that fractionation factors are variables while their ratio in this particular reaction might be a constant.     

Rate constant for the reaction of O with H2 at high temperature by resonance absorption measurements of O atoms

Resonance Absorption Spectroscopy (ARAS) has been used to measure O‐atom concentration behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 2690–3360 K at total pressures of about 250 kPa and using mixtures of N₂O and H₂ highly diluted in Ar. For the chosen experimental conditions, only a few elementary reactions exerted an appreciable influence on the O‐atom profile so that the rate coefficient k₂ for the reaction O + H₂ → OH + H, directly responsible for the oxygen atom concentration decrease could be deduced by comparison between the experiment and computed simulation. In the actual temperature range we found: k₂(cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 9.25 × 10¹⁴ exp(−9740/T(K)), with a percentage standard deviation of 8%. The influence of experimental uncertainties is discussed. This rate constant is compared with those reported previously in the literature. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 32: 686–695, 2000     

Activation of N2O reduction by the fully reduced micro4-sulfide bridged tetranuclear Cu Z cluster in nitrous oxide reductase

The tetranuclear CuZ cluster catalyzes the two-electron reduction of N2O to N2 and H2O in the enzyme nitrous oxide reductase. This study shows that the fully reduced 4CuI form of the cluster correlates with the catalytic activity of the enzyme. This is the first demonstration that the S = 1/2 form of CuZ can be further reduced. Complementary DFT calculations support the experimental findings and demonstrate that N2O binding in a bent mu-1,3-bridging mode to the 4CuI form is most efficient due to strong back-bonding from two reduced copper atoms. This back-donation activates N2O for electrophilic attack by a proton.     

Fixation of nitrous oxide (N2O) by 1, 4, 2, 5‐diazadiborinine: A DFT study

The role of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in stratospheric ozone depletion and as a greenhouse gas has inspired the scientific community across the globe in understanding the capture, activation, and decomposition of it. Very recently people have started fixing N₂O using frustrated Lewis pairs. In this study, we have tried to analyze the fixation of N₂O by 1,4,2,5‐diazadiborinine by applying various computational tools and techniques associated with density functional theory. 1,4,2,5‐Diazadiborinine is taken as the fixing agent because of the ambiphilic nature of the two boron centers within it as reported by Wang et al. There are three possible ways of binding of N₂O within it as observed in this study. A free energy surface is also generated for the three possible paths representing their thermochemical as well as kinetic stability. The fixation of N₂O may become possible using this species as demonstrated by the current results. The nature of bonding between them is also explored through NBO, EDA, and electron density analyses.     

Effects of hydrogen at high temperature on ZnAl2O4 and Sn−ZnAl2O4

ZnAl₂O₄ and Sn?ZnAl₂O₄ were synthesized by coprecipitation, sol-gel and impregnation methods. These materials were calcined and treated in H₂ at 1073 K. Thermal analysis (DTA and TG), nitrogen physisorption (BET method), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used as characterization techniques. H₂ treatment promoted Al_xZn_y crystallization in the coprecipitated and impregnated samples. When tin was added to zinc aluminate, the tin acted as a protective shell against high-temperature reduction, independently of the preparation technique.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the reaction of the ethynyl radical with nitrous oxide, C2H + N2O

We investigated the rate constants and reaction mechanism of the gas phase reaction between the ethynyl radical and nitrous oxide (C(2)H + N(2)O) using both experimental methods and electronic structure calculations. A pulsed-laser photolysis/chemiluminescence technique was used to determine the absolute rate coefficient over the temperature range 570 K to 836 K. In this experimental temperature range, the measured temperature dependence of the overall rate constants can be expressed as: k(T) (C(2)H + N(2)O) = 2.93 × 10(-11) exp((-4000 ± 1100) K/T) cm(3) s(-1) (95% statistical confidence). Portions of the C(2)H + N(2)O potential energy surface (PES), containing low-energy pathways, were constructed using the composite G3B3 method. A multi-step reaction route leading to the products HCCO + N(2) is clearly preferred. The high selectivity between product channels favouring N(2) formation occurs very early. The pathway corresponds to the addition of the terminal C atom of C(2)H to the terminal N atom of N(2)O. Refined calculations using the coupled-cluster theory whose electronic energies were extrapolated to the complete basis set limit CCSD(T)/CBS led to an energy barrier of 6.0 kcal mol(-1) for the entrance channel. The overall rate constant was also determined by application of transition-state theory and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) statistical analyses to the PES. The computed rate constants have similar temperature dependence to the experimental values, though were somewhat lower.     

Surface properties of Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts for N2O decomposition and reduction by H2

The surface properties of bimetallic Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts with variable Ni/Ni + Pt atomic ratio (0.75, 0.50, and 0.25) were studied using N2O decomposition and N2O reduction by hydrogen reactions as probes. Catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of the silica support with aqueous solutions of the metal precursors to a total metal loading of 2 wt %. For both model reactions, Pt/SiO2 catalyst was substantially more active than Ni/SiO2 catalyst. Mean particle size by TEM was about the same (in the range 6-8 nm) for all catalysts and truly bimetallic particles (more than 95%) were evidenced by EDS in the Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts. CO adsorption on the bimetallic catalysts showed differences in the linear CO absorption band as a function of the Ni/Pt atomic ratio. Bimetallic Ni-Pt/SiO2 catalysts showed, for the N2O decomposition, a catalytic behavior that points out an ensemble-size sensitive behavior for Ni-rich compositions. For the N2O + H2 reaction, the bimetallic catalysts were very active at low temperature. The following activity order at 300 K was observed: Ni75Pt25 > Ni25Pt75 approximately Ni50Pt50 > Pt. TOF values for these catalysts increased 2-5 times compared to the most active reference catalyst (Pt/SiO2). The enhancement of the activity in the Ni75Pt25 bimetallic catalysts is explained in terms of the presence of mixed Ni-Pt ensembles.     

Thermal decomposition rate of N2O5 measured by cavity ring‐down spectroscopy

The thermal decomposition rate of N₂O₅ in 760 Torr of air as a function of temperature between 314 and 348 K has been investigated using the technique of pulsed laser cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) detection of NO₃ radicals at 662 nm. The Arrhenius expression of the thermal decomposition rates determined by the CRDS experiments, which is incorporated with literature values down to 263 K, is given by 1.36 × 10¹⁵ exp{(−11300 ± 200)/T} s⁻¹ over the temperature range 263–348 K. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 679–684, 2008     

Kinetics of hydrogen sulfide decomposition in a DBD plasma reactor operated at high temperature

The present study investigates the kinetics of hydrogen sulfide（H₂S） decomposition into hydrogen and sulfur carried out in a nonthermal plasma dielectric barrier discharge（NTP-DBD） reactor operated at～430 K for in situ removal of sulfur condensed inside the reactor walls. The dissociation of H₂S was primarily initiated by the excitation of carrier gas（Ar） through electron collisions which appeared to be the rate determining step.The experiments were carried out with initial concentration of H₂S varied between 5 and 25 vol%at 150 mL/min（at standard temperature and pressure） flow rate in the input power range of 0.5 to 2 W.The reaction rate model based on continuous stirred tank reactor（CSTR） model failed to explain the global kinetics of H₂S decomposition,probably due to the multiple complex reactions involved in H₂S decomposition,whereas Michaelis-Menten model was satisfactory.Typical results indicated that the reaction order approached zero with increasing inlet concentration.     

The decomposition of dimethyl peroxide and the rate constant for CH3O + O2 → CH2O + HO2

The decomposition of dimethyl peroxide (DMP) was studied in the presence and absence of added NO₂ to determine rate constants k₁ and k₂ in the temperature range of 391–432°K: The results reconcile the studies by Takezaki and Takeuchi, Hanst and Calvert, and Batt and McCulloch, giving log k₁(sec^?1) = (15.7 ± 0.5) - (37.1 ± 0.9)/2.3 RT and k₂ ≈ 5 × 10⁴M^?1· sec^?1. The disproportionation/recombination ratio k_7b/k_7a = 0.30 ± 0.05 was also determined: When O₂ was added to DMP mixtures containing NO₂, relative rate constants k₁₂/k_7a were obtained over the temperature range of 396–442°K: A review of literature data produced k_7a = 10^9.8±0.5M^?1·sec^?1, giving log k₁₂(M^?1·sec^?1) = (8.5 ± 1.5) - (4.0 ± 2.8)/2.3 RT, where most of the uncertainty is due to the limited temperature range of the experiments.     

Theoretical study of N2O reduction by CO in Fe-BEA Zeolite.

Quantum mechanical (QM) and QM/molecular mechanics (MM) studies of the full catalytic cycle of N(2)O reduction by CO in Fe-BEA zeolite, that is, oxidation of BEA-Fe by N(2)O and reduction of BEA-Fe-alphaO by CO, is presented. A large QM cluster, representing half of the channel of the BEA zeolite, is used. The contribution of the MM embedding to the calculated activation energies is found to be negligible. The minimum-energy paths for N(2)O decomposition and reduction with CO are calculated using the nudged elastic band (NEB) method. Calculated and experimental activation energies are in good agreement. The two possible orientations for the gaseous molecules adsorbing on the Fe site that are found lead to different activation energies.     

商用氧化铟锡玻璃:室温高效还原氮气的催化剂电极

NH₃作为一种必需的活化氮源,在化肥、染料、爆炸物和药物等的制造中起到了关键作用;同时,它也是一种在交通运输领域具有吸引力的无碳能源载体.工业上生产氨气使用典型的哈伯-博世工艺,但是此工艺涉及大量的能源消耗和碳排放,给环境带来巨大的压力.电化学氮还原反应(NRR)能够在温和环境下实现环境友好、节能的氨合成,但此过程需要高效的电催化剂.高效的NRR催化剂(Au、Ag、Pd和Ru)储量少、成本高,阻碍了它的实际应用.因此,设计和开发由地球上丰富的元素制成的具有成本效益的催化剂来代替NRR催化剂意义重大.本课题组最近的研究(Chem.Commun.,2018,54,12966-12969)表明,SnO2在环境条件下具有电催化氧化活性,但其低电导率限制了其性能,可通过氟掺杂或石墨烯杂化予以解决.氧化铟锡(ITO)作为一种含SnO2的材料,导电性好,可望用于NRR的高效电催化剂中.因此,本文采用商用氧化铟锡玻璃(ITO/G)作为催化剂电极,在温和环境条件下进行N₂-NH₃的电化学转化,并呈现出对生成氨气有较高的选择性.XRD和XPS结果表示,商用ITO/G中存在In,Sn和O元素;SEM显示ITO/G具有清晰的纳米薄膜结构和267 nm的截面厚度;相应的EDX谱图显示In,Sn和O元素分布均匀,且原子比为32.11:3.16:64.74.采用紫外-可见光谱及线性扫描伏安和恒电位极化等电化学测试研究了商用ITO/G的NRR活性.在0.5 M LiClO4电解液中测试时,于-0.40 V vs.RHE条件下,ITO/G的NH₃产率为1.06×10^-10 mol s^-1 cm^-2,其法拉第效率为6.17%.15N同位素标记实验证实了所测到的NH₃是由ITO/G催化的N₂电还原反应生成的.利用第一性原理计算探讨了在ITO催化剂上可能的NRR反应机理,确定了ITO催化剂的NRR活性位点、N₂化学吸附活性位点以及NRR的反应途径.此外,24 h恒电位(-0.40 V vs.RHE)极化测试和2 h恒电位极化(-0.40 V vs.RHE)测试后的XRD和SEM结果表明,该催化剂具有较高的电化学稳定性.综上所述,商用ITO/G用作在环境条件下将N₂转化为NH₃的有效催化剂电极,将为开发人工固定氮气的ITO基纳米结构提供一种研究途径.     

Much improved upper limit for the rate constant for the reaction of O2+ with N2

The rate constant for the reaction of O2+ with N2 to produce NO+ plus NO has been measured at 423, 523, and 623 K in a turbulent ion flow tube. Much improved upper limits for this reaction at the three temperatures are 2, 4, and 10x10(-21) cm3 s-1, respectively. These results should render this reaction irrelevant when modeling all plasmas involving atmospheric gases.     

Nonpolar nitrous oxide dimer: observation of combination bands of (14N2O)2 and (15N2O)2 involving the torsion and antigeared bending modes

Spectra of the nonpolar nitrous oxide dimer in the region of the N(2)O ν(1) fundamental band were observed in a supersonic slit-jet apparatus. The expansion gas was probed using radiation from a quantum cascade or a tunable diode laser, with both lasers employed in a rapid-scan signal averaging mode. Four bands were observed and analyzed: new combination bands involving the intermolecular conrotation of the monomers (A(g) antigeared bend) for ((14)N(2)O)(2) and ((15)N(2)O)(2), the previously reported torsional combination band for ((14)N(2)O)(2) with improved signal-to-noise ratio, and the same torsional combination band for ((15)N(2)O)(2). The resulting frequencies for the intermolecular antigeared mode are 96.0926(1) and 95.4912(1) cm(-1) for ((14)N(2)O)(2) and ((15)N(2)O)(2), respectively. This is the third of the four intermolecular frequencies which has now been measured experimentally, the others being the out-of-plane torsion and the geared bend modes. Our experimental results are in good agreement with two recent high level ab initio theoretical calculations.     

An evolved gas analysis study of the reduction of nickel oxide by hydrogen

The reduction of NiO by H₂ was followed by conventional thermogravimetry and a new evolved gas analysis approach which follows the course of the reaction by measuring the H₂O content of the gas stream. Excellent correspondence is observed between the two techniques for simultaneous measurements. Heating rates between 0.5 and 10° min^–1 shift the temperature of the reaction as does changing the surface area of the NiO. These shifts are discussed in terms of the Neel temperature (T _N) of NiO and the thermal history of the sample. No correlation between reaction rate andT _N is observed under dynamic conditions. Preheating the sample in vacuum at 130° has a marked effect on shape of the DTG and EGA curves.

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Zusammenfassung Die Reduktion von NiO durch H₂ wurde durch konventionelle Thermogravimetrie und eine neue Analyse des entwickelten Gases untersucht, welche den Reaktions-ablauf durch Messung des H₂O-Gehalts des Gasstromes verfolgt. Eine ausgezeichnete Übereinstimmung beider Techniken wird bei simultanen Messungen beobachtet. Aufheizgeschwindig keiten zwischen 0.5 und 10° min^–1 verschieben die Temperatur der Reaktion und verändern die Oberfläche des NiO. Diese Verschiebungen werden auf Grund der Neel-Temperatur (T _N) des NiO und der thermischen Vergangenheit der Probe erörtert. Unter dynamischen Bedingungen wird keine Korrelation zwischen der Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit undT _N beobachtet. Das Vorwärmen der Probe im Vakuum bei 130° zeigt einen deutlichen Einfluß auf die Form der DTG und EGA Kurven.

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() ( ), H₂O . . 0.5 10° , . (T _N) . T _N. 130° - -.

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Presented at the 11th Annual NATAS Meeting, New Orleans, LA, Oct. 19–21, 1981.

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The authors are grateful to Mr. F. Schrey for measurements of the surface area.     

Photocatalytic deoxygenation of N–O bonds with rhenium complexes: from the reduction of nitrous oxide to pyridine N-oxides

The accumulation of nitrogen oxides in the environment calls for new pathways to interconvert the various oxidation states of nitrogen, and especially their reduction. However, the large spectrum of reduction potentials covered by nitrogen oxides makes it difficult to find general systems capable of efficiently reducing various N-oxides. Here, photocatalysis unlocks high energy species able both to circumvent the inherent low reactivity of the greenhouse gas and oxidant N₂O (E⁰(N₂O/N₂) = +1.77 V vs. SHE), and to reduce pyridine N-oxides (E_1/2(pyridine N-oxide/pyridine) = −1.04 V vs. SHE). The rhenium complex [Re(4,4′-tBu-bpy)(CO)₃Cl] proved to be efficient in performing both reactions under ambient conditions, enabling the deoxygenation of N₂O as well as synthetically relevant and functionalized pyridine N-oxides.

A rhenium-based photocatalyst enables the deoxygenation of several compounds containing N–O bonds, such as N₂O and pyridine N-oxides.     

O2 reduction to H2O by the multicopper oxidases

In nature the four electron reduction of O2 to H2O is carried out by Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) and the multicopper oxidases (MCOs). In the former, Cytochrome c provides electrons for pumping protons to produce a gradient for ATP synthesis, while in the MCOs the function is the oxidation of substrates, either organic or metal ions. In the MCOs the reduction of O2 is carried out at a trinuclear Cu cluster (TNC). Oxygen intermediates have been trapped which exhibit unique spectroscopic features that reflect novel geometric and electronic structures. These intermediates have both intact and cleaved O-O bonds, allowing the reductive cleavage of the O-O bond to be studied in detail both experimentally and computationally. These studies show that the topology of the TNC provides a unique geometric and electronic structure particularly suited to carry out this key reaction in nature.