Chronovoltammetry of electrolytic molybdenum oxides at the electrochemical intercalation/deintercalation of lithium ions

Chemical diffusion coefficients of lithium ions in processes of electrochemical intercalation/deintercalation in electrolytic molybdenum oxides and the parameter of interaction between the intercalated particles (g) have been obtained by the following methods: the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), the potential relaxation technique after current interruption (PRT), and the potential intermittent titration technique (PITT). In the potential range 2.40–1.40 V the values of of the order of 10^–11–10^–13 cm²/s have been obtained for Mo₄O₁₁ oxide. Intercalation/deintercalation was realized in one phase when g>4.Presented at the 3rd International Meeting on Advanced Batteries and Accumulators, 16–20 June 2002, Brno, Czech Republic     

Full factorial design applied to intercalation of amines in lamellar titanium phenylphosphonate and titanium phenylarsonate

The intercalation of amines into titanium phenylphosphonate M(O₃PC₆H₅)₂ and titanium phenylarsonate M(O₃AsC₆H₅)₂ was investigated through batch and back-titration processes. Amine insertion in both layered lamellar inorganic matrices, measured by the number of moles of intercalated agent, was optimized using a complete factorial design based on two levels and four factors. The effects of solvent, ethanol and acetonitrile, neutral organic base, ethyl and propylamines, H₃C(CH₂)_nNH₂ (n=1, 2), and material mass, 30 and 40 mg, on amine insertion in both lamellar inorganic matrices was optimized using a full factorial design. Important positive effect values, 0.40×10⁻³ and 0.69×10⁻³ mol g⁻¹ were observed for inorganic material and solvent whereas a negative effect, −0.33×10⁻³ mol g⁻¹ was observed for material mass. Two significant but less important binary interactions were also observed. The use of either ethyl or propylamine does not appear to affect the quantity of amine insertion. Recommended experimental conditions for maximum amine insertion obtained from this factorial design are 30 mg of titanium phenylarsonate in acetonitrile solvent using either of the studied amines.     

Host hydrated barium phenylphosphonate/guest heterocyclic amine intercalation energetics by calorimetric titration

The heterocyclic amines 2,6-lutidine, pyrazine, piperazine and piperidine were intercalated into layered crystalline hydrated barium phenylphosphonate, Ba(HO₃PC₆H₅)₂·H₂O, through a batch method in ethanolic solution, to give the maximum amounts 0.39, 0.82, 2.80 and 5.50 mmol g⁻¹, respectively. The original host interlayer distance (d) of 1532 pm increased after intercalation for piperazine (1752 pm) and piperidine (2112 pm) molecules, while for 2,6-lutidine and pyrazine molecules d values were maintained. The enthalpy of intercalation gave −5.60 ± 0.10, −1.00 ± 0.02, −9.55 ± 1.00 and −30.70 ± 0.68 kJ mol⁻¹ for the sequence of heterocyclic amines. The Gibbs free energies are negative and entropies are positive for intercalation.     

Thermochemical data for n-alkylmonoamine intercalation into crystalline lamellar zirconium phenylphosphonate

Layered crystalline zirconium phenylphosphonate, Zr(O₃PC₆H₅)₂, changed its interlamellar distance of 1481 pm after intercalation of n-alkylmonoamines, CH₃---(CH₂)_n---NH₂ (n=0–6). The infrared spectra of the precursor host and the corresponding intercalated compounds presented vibrations associated with PO₃ groups in the 1163–1039 cm⁻¹ range and additional bands related to C---H stretching bands in the 2950–2850 cm⁻¹ interval were observed after amine insertion. The thermogravimetric curves showed a mass loss assigned to the phenyl group; however, the amine intercalated fraction was not quantitatively determined. A peak in the ³¹P NMR spectrum centered at −6 ppm for the host was observed. The surface area was 42.0±0.2 m² g⁻¹ and the scanning electron micrograph gave images consistent with lamellar structural features. The layered compound was calorimetrically titrated with amine in ethanol, requiring three independent operations: (i) titration of matrix with amine, (ii) matrix salvation, and (iii) dilution of the amine solution. From those thermal effects the variation in enthalpy was calculated as: −41±1.00,−33.28±0.50,−34.40±0.80,−10.40±0.40,−12.40±0.42,−16.10±0.08 and −7.0±0.04 kJ mol⁻¹, for n=0–6, respectively. The exothermic enthalpic values reflected a favorable energetic process of amine–host intercalation in ethanol. The negative Gibbs free energy results supported the spontaneity of all these intercalation reactions. The positive favorable entropic values, as carbon chain size increased, are in agreement with the free solvent molecules in the medium, as the amines are progressively bonded to the crystalline lamellar inorganic matrix at the solid/liquid interface.     

Thermochemistry of n-alkylamines interaction with ETS-10 titaniunsilicate

According to the data from calorimetric adsorption of methylamine, under the best experimental conditions, 10 mg ETS-10 was saturated with 20 μl portions of an aqueous solution of methylamine at 0.05 mol dm⁻³ concentration corresponding to 0.490 mmol of methylamine per gram of solid. From calorimetric titration data, the thermodynamic values of ΔH, ΔG and ΔS were calculated, showing favourable n-alkylamine-ETS-10 interactions, from which the most favourable occurs for n-butylamine. The adsorption of these bases did not affect the structure of the titaniunsilicate as the XRD profile of ETS-10 is not altered. The FTIR spectra showed that with the increase in the amine mass the bands corresponding to the symmetric and asymmetric deformations at 1390 and 1467 cm⁻¹ increase in intensity along with the NH₂ deformation at 1530 cm⁻¹ as expected. The thermogravimetry shows two mass losses for ETS-10 that correspond to physisorbed water and water in smaller channels and cavities. After methylamine adsorption, the same behaviour was observed, however for butyl- and pentylamine three other mass losses were observed corresponding to decomposition and/or release of n-alkylamines.     

Adsorption of arsenic(III) into modified lamellar Na-magadiite in aqueous medium—Thermodynamic of adsorption process

Synthetic Na-magadiite sample was used for organofunctionalization process with N-propyldiethylenetrimethoxysilane and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide, after expanding the interlayer distance with polar organic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The resulted materials were submitted to process of adsorption with arsenic solution at pH 2.0 and 298±1 K. The adsorption isotherms were adjusted using a modified Langmuir equation with regression nonlinear; the net thermal effects obtained from calorimetric titration measurements were adjusted to a modified Langmuir equation. The adsorption process was exothermic (Δ_intH=−4.15-5.98 kJ mol⁻¹) accompanied by increase in entropy (Δ_intS=41.32-62.20 J k⁻¹ mol⁻¹) and Gibbs energy (Δ_intG=−22.44−24.56 kJ mol⁻¹). The favorable values corroborate with the arsenic (III)/basic reactive centers interaction at the solid-liquid interface in the spontaneous process.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and optical investigation of the new phosphates: Na7Mg13Ln(PO4)12 (Ln=La, Eu)

Two new isostructural rare earth phosphates Na₇Mg₁₃Ln(PO₄)₁₂ (Ln=La, Eu) have been synthesized and investigated by X-ray diffraction and optical measurements. They crystallize in the orthorhombic system with the Cmc2₁ space group (Z=4). The crystal structure exhibits a new type of framework built up from LnO₈ (Ln=La, Eu), MO₆ (M=0.5Mg+0.5Na) and MgO_x (x=5, 6) polyhedra and PO₄ tetrahedra linked by common corner, edge or face. It can be described in terms of [Mg₄MP₄O₂₂]_∞ layers stacked along the a direction. These layers are interconnected by [Mg₄LnP₄O₃₆]_∞ undulating chains spreading along the b direction. This framework delimits 6 distinct cavities occupied by Na⁺ cations. The results of the optical study of Na₇Mg₁₃La_1−xEu_x(PO₄)₁₂ (x=0, 0.02, 0.1, 1) reveal the presence of two different Eu³⁺ ion environments whereas the X-ray study predicts the existence of only one Eu site. This difference can be explained by the possible presence of the europium element in the sodium sites with small occupancies which cannot be detected by the X-ray structural determination.     

VNb9O25−δ—Synthesis, electrical conducting behaviour and density functional theory (DFT) calculation

In order to investigate the influence of the oxygen partial pressure (p(O₂)) on the electrical conductivity, VNb₉O₂₅ was prepared by thermal decomposition of freeze-dried oxalate precursors and by a solid state reaction of V₂O₅/Nb₂O₅ mixtures. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, grain size analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical conductivity of the n-type semiconductor VNb₉O_25−δ can be interpreted as an activated hopping process with a preferred localisation of charge carriers at V(IV) centres. The electronic structure of VNb₉O_25−δ was calculated within the framework of the local density approximation (LDA) to DFT. Partial reduction of V(V) centres causes localised vanadium states to appear inside the band gap. The calculated activation energy values are in good agreement with the experimental ones.     

Physical and optical properties of the quaternary sulfides SrCu2MS4 and EuCu2MS4 (M=Ge and Sn)

Four quaternary sulfides SrCu₂MS₄ and EuCu₂MS₄ (M=Ge and Sn) were prepared from a thoroughly ground mixture of EuS or SrS, Cu, or Sn, and S in stoichiometric proportions. Electrical conductivity measurements on pressed pellets showed that all the phases are semiconductors. The optical band gaps were assessed at 2.8 eV for SrCu₂GeS₄, 2.1 eV for SrCu₂SnS₄, 2.2 eV for EuCu₂SnS₄, and 1.6 eV for EuCu₂GeS₄. Both Sr-based compounds present a temperature-independent paramagnetism, of about +135×10⁻⁶ and +92×10⁻⁶ emu/mol, for SrCu₂SnS₄ and SrCu₂GeS₄, respectively. In the case of the europium compounds, they follow a Curie-Weiss dependence above 1.8 K (EuCu₂GeS₄) and above 4 K (for EuCu₂SnS₄), with values of the magnetic effective moment μ_eff and the Curie-Weiss temperature Θ, equal to 6.27 μ_B and −2.8 K for EuCu₂GeS₄, and 6.81 μ_B and +0.7 K, for EuCu₂SnS₄. The experimental magnetic moments confirm that the europium ion is in divalent state, similar to Sr in the related compounds.     

Solubilities of carbon dioxide in 2-methoxyethyl acetate, 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate and 3-methoxybutyl acetate

The solubilities of CO₂ in 2-methoxyethyl acetate, 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate, and 3-methoxybutyl acetate were measured by isothermal synthesis method under pressures up to 1.2 MPa and at temperatures ranging from (293.15 to 333.15) K. Henry’s constant was calculated based on experimental data regression. The solubilities of CO₂ were found to increase with decreased temperature and increased the methyl group to the molecular structure of the absorbent. Henry’s constant and volumetric solubility of selected absorbents at T = 298.15 K were compared with those of commercial absorbents and common solvents. 3-Methoxybutyl acetate showed the best performance by mole fraction, and 2-methoxyethyl acetate behaved the best by volumetric fraction. Based on Henry’s constant, thermodynamic properties such as Gibbs free energy of solution, enthalpy of solution, and absorption entropy of solution were determined. These properties are very essential for designing an absorption process.     

Trivalent Cation Substitution Effect into Layered Double Hydroxides Co2Fey Al1−y(OH)6Cl·nH2O: Study of the Local Order: Ionic Conductivity and Magnetic Properties

A series of layered double hydroxide materials of composition Co₂Fe_yAl_1−y(OH)₆Cl·nH₂O (0≤y≤1) was prepared via chimie douce. The crystalline parameter related to the cation to cation distance obeys the expected variation, showing that the substitution is effective over the entire range. Local order around Co and Fe cations is studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Moduli of the Fourier transform at the Fe K-edge are superimposable, in agreement with an ordered model, although present in small domains since no superlattice is depicted. The ionic resistivity of the samples is highly dependent on the water molecule content. The conductivity is found to be thermally assisted, and the variation of the slope in the Arrhenius diagram is explained by a Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher-type behavior. Magnetic susceptibility measurements support the proposed cation composition and indicate the onset of local magnetic order at low temperature (below 10 K). The inter-sheet distance influences the magnetic response at low temperature, showing the presence of weak interactions between lamellae.     

Electrochemical intercalation of hydrated cations derived from primary amines into 2H-NbS<Subscript>2</Subscript>

We report the electrochemical intercalation of three cations derived from amines with different chain length, into the layered compound 2H-NbS₂. The intercalation processes were accompanied by ex situ and in situ X-ray diffraction. For in situ analysis, an electrochemical cell was designed for the purpose. The X-ray diffraction experiments show that the intercalation is a complex process, which involves stacking faults and the formation of stages. When the cations are removed, no changes in the final interplanar basal distances occur, suggesting that there are ideal concentrations of intercalated ions that stabilize the phases. Also, based on the X-ray diffraction results we propose a steric arrangement for the hydrated cations into the van der Waals gaps.     

复盐K2Mg(IO3)4 2H2O的热力学性质

由于碱金属碘酸盐晶体在电学性质的利用上有重要价值和发现碘酸盐晶体非线性性质［‘］，七十年代以来，Vinogradov等对碘酸盐-碘酸-水系统发生了极大的兴趣，做了大量研究工作［’－‘］，发现在碘酸盐．碘酸一水三元体系里有碘酸盐复盐K2M（IO3）4·2H2O（M＝Mn2＋、Co2＋、N     

Template-directed synthesis of macrocyclic aminopyridines: azacalix[n](2,6)pyridines (n = 3, 4)

Template-induced synthetic routes for azacalix[n](2,6)pyridines (n = 3, 4) have been elaborated. The proton and nickel ion served as the efficient template for the cyclization reactions, and the presence of the templates preferentially afforded the cyclic trimers and tetramers in moderate to good yields, respectively. The compatibility of the cyclic tetramer with nickel ion was also confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

Preparation of porous TiO2/silica composites without any surfactants

TiO₂-SiO₂ composites, with high specific surface area (up to 308 m²/g), large pore volume, and narrow distribution with average pore sizes of 3.2 nm, have been synthesized from wollastonite and titanium sulfate in the absence of any surfactants. Calcium sulfate, a microsolubility salt, plays an important role in the formation of pores in this porous TiO₂/silica composite. The microstructure and chemical composition of composite were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) and N₂ adsorption and desorption analysis. The as-prepared porous titanium dioxide-silicon dioxide composites with high specific surface area and well-crystallized anatase contents were used as an efficient photocatalyst.     

Mechanical Properties and Chemical Resistance of Short Tamarind Fiber/Unsaturated Polyester Composites: Influence of Fiber Modification and Fiber Content

In the present work, tamarind fibers were extracted from ripened fruits by the water retting process. Using these fibers as reinforcement and unsaturated polyester as matrix, composite samples were prepared by the hand lay-up technique. The effect of chemical surface treatments (alkali and silane) of tamarind fibers on the mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and interfacial bonding was studied. The mechanical properties of the composites with surface modified fibers were found to be higher than those with unmodified fibers. Morphological studies indicated improvement of interfacial bonding by alkali and silane coupling agent treatments of the fibers. The composites were found to be resistant to many chemicals.     

Preparation and properties of aramid/layered silicate nanocomposites by solution intercalation technique

Polymer—clay nanocomposites were synthesized from aromatic polyamide and organoclay using the solution intercalation technique. Polyamide chains were produced through the reaction of 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) in N, N′‐dimethyl acetamide, using stoichiometry yielding chains with carbonyl chloride end groups. The intercalation of sodium montmorillonite (Na‐MMT) was carried out using p‐phenylene diamine as a swelling agent through an ion exchange reaction. Different concentrations of organoclay were blended with the polyamide solution for complete dispersion of clay throughout the matrix. The resulting composite films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mechanical testing, thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and water absorption measurements. The XRD pattern and morphology of the nanocomposites revealed the formation of exfoliated and intercalated clay platelets in the matrix. The film containing a small amount of clay was semitransparent and had a tensile strength of the order of 70 MPa (relative to the 52 MPa of the pure aramid). Thermal decomposition temperatures were in the range of 300–450°C and the weight of the samples remaining after heating to 900°C was found to be roughly proportional to the clay loading. DSC showed a systematic increase in the glass transition temperature with increase in clay content. Water absorption of the pristine aramid film was rather high (5.7%), which reduced upon loading of organoclay. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Convergent synthesis of trans-fused 6/n/6/6 (n=7, 8) tetracyclic ether system via α-cyano ethers

A convergent method for synthesizing 6/n/6/6 (n=7, 8) tetracyclic ether system via two-rings construction of the central n/6 ring system was developed. The key steps of the present synthesis involve a ring-closing metathesis reaction for the construction of the seven- and eight-membered rings, and reductive etherification for the tetrahydropyrans. Unification of the two fragments through acetal formation, followed by regioselective cleavage of the acetal using TMSCN/TMSOTf in the presence of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, afforded the α-cyano ether, of which the nitrile group was manipulated to give the precursors of the ring-closing reactions.     

Structural, thermodynamic and optical properties of MgF2 studied from first-principles theory

A detailed theoretical study of structural, electronic, elastic, thermodynamic and optical properties of rutile type MgF₂ has been carried out by means of first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations using plane wave pseudo-potentials within the local density approximation and generalized-gradient approximation for the exchange and correlation functionals. The calculated ground state properties and elastic constants agree quite well with experimental values. From the calculated elastic constants we conclude that MgF₂ is relatively hard when compared to other alkaline-earth fluorides and ductile in nature. The thermodynamic properties such as heat capacity, entropy, free energy, phonon density of states and Debye temperatures are calculated at various temperatures from the lattice dynamical data obtained through the quasi-harmonic Debye model. From free energy and entropy it is found that the system is thermodynamically stable up to 1200 K. The imaginary part of the calculated dielectric function ε₂(ω) could reproduce the six prominent peaks which are observed in experiment. From the calculated ε(ω), other optical properties such as refractive index, reflectivity and electron energy-loss spectrum are obtained up to the photon energy range of 30 eV.     

Preparation of glycoluril monomers for expanded cucurbit[n]uril synthesis

Glycoluril derivatives bearing free ureidyl groups (1) and bis(cyclic ethers) (2) are the fundamental building blocks for the synthesis of cucurbituril, its derivatives, and its congeners. The known derivatives of 1 and 2 fall into two main classes—those bearing alkyl or aryl functional groups on their convex face. In this paper we present a third class of glycolurils, namely those bearing substituents that are electron withdrawing in character. This class of compounds carries carboxylic acid derived functional groups on their convex face and are derived from diesters 1e and 2e. An improved synthesis of 1e and 2e is reported and their modification described. For example, 1e and 2e are converted into secondary amides (10-15) by heating in solutions of the neat primary amines. The secondary amides can be transformed into imides (19-22, 24, 25) by heating with PTSA in ClCH₂CH₂Cl. The isolation of these compounds in pure form in high yields is accomplished by simple and scalable washing or recrystallization procedures. We also present the X-ray crystallographic characterization of bis(cyclic ethers) 2e, 8, and 22. We anticipate that the ready availability of ester, carboxylate, acid, secondary amide, imide, and tertiary amide derivatives of 1 and 2 will expand the scope of the synthesis of cucurbituril derivatives by providing a new class of building blocks with electron withdrawing substituents.