Graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay and its decomposition to graphene-inorganic material nanocomposites

A graphite oxide-intercalated anionic clay (nickel zinc hydroxysalt) has been prepared using the aqueous colloidal dispersions of negatively charged graphite oxide sheets and aminobenzoate-intercalated anionic clay layers as precursors. When the two colloidal dispersions are reacted, the interlayer aminobenzoate ions are displaced from the anionic clay and the negatively charged graphite oxide sheets are intercalated between the positively charged layers of the anionic clay. The thermal decomposition of the intercalated solid at different temperatures yields graphene-metal oxide/metal nanocomposites. Electron microscopic analysis of the composites indicates that the nanoparticles are intercalated between the layers of graphite in many regions of these solids although the graphite layers are largely exfoliated and not stacked well together.     

Electrodeposition of layered manganese oxide nanocomposites intercalated with strong and weak polyelectrolytes

Multilayered manganese oxide nanocomposites intercalated with strong (poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride, PDDA) and weak (poly(allylamine hydrochloride), PAH) polyelectrolytes can be produced on polycrystalline platinum electrode in a thin film form by a simple, one-step electrochemical route. The process involves a potentiostatic oxidation of aqueous Mn2+ ions at around +1.0 V (vs Ag/AgCl) in the presence of polyelectrolytes. Fully charged PDDA polycations are accommodated tightly in the interlayer space by electrostatic interaction with negative charges on the manganese oxide layers, leading to an interlayer distance of 0.97 nm. The layered film prepared with PAH has a larger polymer content (PAH/Mn molar ratio of 0.98) than that (PDDA/Mn molar ratio of 0.43) made with PDDA because of the smaller charging degree of PAH, exhibiting a larger interlayer distance (1.19 nm). The interlayer PAH contains neutral (-NH2) and positively charged (-NH3(+)) amine groups, and the -NH3(+) groups are associated with Cl- (to generate -NH3(+) Cl- ion pairs) as well as the negatively charged manganese oxide layers. Both polyelectrolytes once incorporated were not ion exchanged with small cations in solution. The layered structure of PDDA/MnO(x) was collapsed during the reduction process in a KCl electrolyte solution, accompanying an expansion of the interlayer as a result of incorporation of K+ ions for charge neutrality. On the contrary, the layered PAH/MnO(x) film showed a good electrochemical response due to the redox reaction of Mn3+/Mn4+ couple with no change in the structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that, in this case, excess negative charges generated on the manganese oxide layers upon reduction can be balanced by the protons being released from the -NH3(+) Cl- sites in the interlayer PAH; the Cl- anions becoming unnecessary are inevitably excluded from the interlayer, and vice versa upon oxidation.     

Layered double hydroxide – montmorillonite – a new nano‐dimensional material

A new nano‐dimensional material, layered double hydroxide – montmorillonite (LDH‐MMT), has been synthesized by the formation of an LDH in the presence of MMT. The structure is studied using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analysis. The LDH‐MMT shows a novel layered structure containing negatively charged MMT layers and positively charged LDH layers with some sodium ions required to balance the charge. LDH‐MMT can be ion‐exchanged to obtain organically modified LDH‐MMT, and this material can be well‐dispersed in polystyrene. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comprehensive understanding of the anionic redox chemistry in layered oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) have demonstrated great application prospects in large-scale energy storage systems and low-speed electric vehicles due to the cost effectiveness and abundant resources. Layered transition-metal oxides are recognized as one of the most attractive sodium-ion storage cathode candidates by virtue of their high compositional diversity, environmental friendliness, ease of synthesis, and promising theoretical capacities. The practicability, however, is still limited by the fact that the energy densities of most Na-storage layered oxide cathodes solely using the conventional cationic redox are not comparable to those of the lithium-ion storage counterparts. Recently, the strategy of activating anionic redox(O^2-/O^n-) which is popular in Li-rich layered materials has been successfully applied in oxide cathodes of SIBs to promote the energy density to a new level. It is interesting to note that excess Na is not the prerequisite to induce anionic redox in sodium oxides, indicating a new mechanism underlying Na-ion materials. Herein, the latest advances on the anionic redox chemistry in layered oxide cathodes for SIBs,including the fundamental theories, triggering strategies, and applicable cathode materials, are comprehensively reviewed.Moreover, the challenges(mainly O₂ release) facing anionic redox are discussed, and the possible remedies are outlined for future developments toward a highly reversible oxygen usage. We believe that this review can provide a valuable guidance for the exploration of high-energy layered oxide cathode materials of SIBs.     

Anionic clays containing anti-inflammatory drug molecules: comparison of molecular dynamics simulation and measurements

Three representative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug molecules, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, and Indomethacin, have been intercalated within the galleries of an anionic clay, Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH). X-ray diffraction, IR and Raman vibrational spectroscopy and (13)C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR have been used to characterize the confined drug molecules, while molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to probe the interlayer structure, arrangement, orientation, and geometry of the intercalated species. All three drug molecules are arranged as bilayers in the interlamellar space of the anionic clay. But while the structure of the intercalated Ibuprofen is identical to that of the molecule outside the layers, spectroscopy as well as MD simulation shows that there is a change in the geometry of Diclofenac and Indomethacin upon confinement within the galleries of the LDH. The change in geometry of Diclofenac and Indomethacin upon intercalation is shown to originate from the electrostatic interaction between the electronegative chlorine atoms on the drug molecule and the positively charged metal hydroxide sheets of the anionic clay. It is shown that these changes in the geometry of the intercalated drug molecules allow for the observed interlayer spacing to be realized without the bilayers having to interdigitate, which would otherwise have been necessary if the structure of the drug molecules had remained identical to that outside the layers. Comparisons of experimental measurements with simulation have provided a more detailed understanding of the geometry and organization of flexible drug molecules confined in the anionic clay.     

Immobilization of anionic iron(III) porphyrins onto in situ obtained zinc oxide

A family of anionic iron(III) porphyrins (FePor) was immobilized onto zinc oxide (ZnO) obtained by the in situ hydrothermal decomposition of zinc hydroxide nitrate, a layered hydroxide salt. The immobilization probably occurred via the interaction between the anionic charges on the porphyrins and the positively charged surface of the ZnO, in slightly acidic to neutral pH. The resulting solids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRDP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) (solid samples), which confirmed the formation of ZnO and the immobilization of the FePor. The prepared materials were employed as catalysts for the heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of cyclooctene, cyclohexane, and n-heptane, using iodosylbenzene as the oxygen donor. Good catalytic results were achieved for all the substrates, and selectivity for the alcohol was verified during the oxidation of alkanes. The reuse capacity of the solid catalyst was also investigated.     

Intercalation of magnesium into a graphite-like layered material of composition BC2N

Magnesium was intercalated into a graphite-like layered material with an approximate composition of BC(2)N. The obtained material was a second-stage compound with a d-spacing of 0.367 nm for the intercalated layers. This is the first example of magnesium intercalation into a graphite-network-based material.     

Pb(3)F(5)NO(3), a cationic layered material for anion-exchange

Our research involves the development of new cationic materials for anion-based applications. We report the solvothermal synthesis and characterization of Pb(3)F(5)NO(3), a new layered lead fluoride material that, unlike the majority of layered and open-framework materials, is cationic in charge. The structure consists of polyhedral lead centers connected by doubly and triply bridging fluoride groups. We quantitatively exchanged the interlamellar nitrate groups of Pb(3)F(5)NO(3) for dichromate, under ambient aqueous conditions. Nuclear magnetic resonance and UV-vis spectroscopy show the reaction proceeds to 61.0% completion in several days. The material is also stable to 450 degrees C, which is vastly superior to organic resins that are still the standard for anion-exchange. The presence of extraframework anions also opens up other potentially unique anion-based properties, such as new catalytic reactions, anion intercalation, or growth of anionic clusters within the void spaces of the cationic material.     

Layer-by-layer assembly and spontaneous flocculation of oppositely charged oxide and hydroxide nanosheets into inorganic sandwich layered materials

Exfoliated oxide nanosheets such as Ti0.91O2 and Ca2Nb3O10 and layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets of Mg2/3Al1/3(OH)2 were restacked into inorganic sandwich layered materials. Sequential adsorption of these oppositely charged nanosheets from their colloidal suspensions yielded multilayer ultrathin films while their simple mixing produced lamellar flocculates. Eliminating carbonate ions from the reaction system was found to be essential for successfully achieving the sandwich structures. The flocculated materials as well as the films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and chemical analysis, which all supported the formation of the ordered sandwich structures. AFM observations revealed alternate dense tiling of LDH nanosheets and oxide nanosheets onto a substrate surface. UV-visible absorption spectra exhibited progressive enhancement of optical density due to oxide nanosheets as a function of deposition cycles, providing strong evidence for regular growth of multilayer films. The combinations of Mg2/3Al1/3(OH)2/Ti0.91O2 and Mg2/3Al1/3(OH)2/Ca2Nb3O10 produced XRD Bragg peaks having multilayer spacings of 1.2 and 2.0 nm, respectively. These basal spacing values are compatible with the sum of thickness of LDH nanosheets and corresponding oxide nanosheets. TEM images of flocculated samples displayed lamellar features with two different constituent layers appearing alternately.     

Normal and friction forces between mucin and mucin-chitosan layers in absence and presence of SDS

Employing the colloidal probe AFM technique we have investigated normal and friction forces between flat mica surfaces and silica particles coated with mucin and combined mucin-chitosan layers in presence and absence of anionic surfactant, SDS, in 30 mM NaCl solution. We have shown that the normal interactions between mucin coated mica and silica surfaces are dominated by long-range steric repulsion on both compression and decompression. Friction forces between such mucin layers are characterized by a low effective friction coefficient, mu(eff)=0.03+/-0.02, which is lower than the value of 0.13+/-0.02 observed when chitosan layers were adsorbed. Forces between combined mucin-chitosan layers have also been measured. Adsorption of chitosan on mucin results in considerable compaction of the layer, and development of attractive forces detectable on separation. Friction between mucin-chitosan layers in 30 mM NaCl solution is high, with mu(eff) approximately 0.4. Adsorption of additional mucin to this layer results in no improvement with respect to lubrication as compared to the mucin-chitosan layer, and mu(eff) approximately 0.4 is observed. We argue that the layers containing both mucin and chitosan are not strictly layered but rather strongly entangled. As a result attractive interactions between oppositely charged moieties of sialic acid residues from mucin and amine groups from chitosan residing on the opposing surfaces contribute to the increased friction. The effects of SDS on normal and friction forces between combined mucin-chitosan layers were also investigated. The relation between surface interactions and friction properties is discussed.     

Graphene and graphene oxide as effective adsorbents toward anionic and cationic dyes

In the present study, exfoliated graphene oxide (EGO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been used for the adsorption of various charged dyes such as methylene blue, methyl violet, rhodamine B, and orange G from aqueous solutions. EGO consists of single layer of graphite decorated with oxygen containing functional groups such as carboxyl, epoxy, ketone, and hydroxyl groups in its basal and edge planes. Consequently, the large negative charge density available in aqueous solutions helps in the effective adsorption of cationic dyes on EGO while the adsorption is negligible for anionic dyes. On the other hand, rGO that has high surface area does not possess as high a negative charge and is found to be very good adsorbent for anionic dyes. The adsorption process is followed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, while the material before and after adsorption has been characterized using physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Various isotherms have been used to fit the data, and kinetic parameters were evaluated. Raman and FT-IR spectroscopic data yield information on the interactions of dyes with the adsorbent.     

层状双金属氢氧化物的剥离方法及其应用

层状双金属氢氧化物(LDHs)是由带结构正电荷的片层和层间阴离子有序组装而成的层状无机化合物, 近期其剥离研究受到关注. 剥离后的LDHs纳米片可被看做“无机高分子”, 具有纳米尺度的开放结构, 既可作为理论研究模型, 又可作为新型基元组装功能复合纳米结构或材料, 具有显著的应用潜力. 本文对LDHs的剥离方法、剥离产物的表征方法及其应用研究现状进行了综述, 并对今后的研究方向进行了展望.     

Influence of stoichiometry and charge state on the structure and reactivity of cobalt oxide clusters with CO

Cationic and anionic cobalt oxide clusters, generated by laser vaporization, were studied using guided-ion-beam mass spectrometry to obtain insight into their structure and reactivity with carbon monoxide. Anionic clusters having the stoichiometries Co2O3(-), Co2O5(-), Co3O5(-) and Co3O6(-) were found to exhibit dominant products corresponding to the transfer of a single oxygen atom to CO, indicating the formation of CO 2. Cationic clusters, in contrast, displayed products resulting from the adsorption of CO onto the cluster accompanied by the loss of either molecular O 2 or cobalt oxide units. In addition, collision induced dissociation experiments were conducted with N 2 and inert xenon gas for the anionic clusters, and xenon gas for the cationic clusters. It was found that cationic clusters fragment preferentially through the loss of molecular O 2 whereas anionic clusters tend to lose both atomic oxygen and cobalt oxide units. To further analyze how stoichiometry and ionic charge state influence the structure of cobalt oxide clusters and their reactivity with CO, first principles theoretical electronic structure studies within the density functional theory framework were performed. The calculations show that the enhanced reactivity of specific anionic cobalt oxides with CO is due to their relatively low atomic oxygen dissociation energy which makes the oxidation of CO energetically favorable. For cationic cobalt oxide clusters, in contrast, the oxygen dissociation energies are calculated to be even lower than for the anionic species. However, in the cationic clusters, oxygen is calculated to bind preferentially in a less activated molecular O 2 form. Furthermore, the CO adsorption energy is calculated to be larger for cationic clusters than for anionic species. Therefore, the experimentally observed displacement of weakly bound O 2 units through the exothermic adsorption of CO onto positively charged cobalt oxides is energetically favorable. Our joint experimental and theoretical findings indicate that positively charged sites in bulk-phase cobalt oxides may serve to bind CO to the catalyst surface and specific negatively charged sites provide the activated oxygen which leads to the formation of CO 2. These results provide molecular level insight into how size, stoichiometry, and ionic charge state influence the oxidation of CO in the presence of cobalt oxides, an important reaction for environmental pollution abatement.     

Mucin-chitosan complexes at the solid-liquid interface: multilayer formation and stability in surfactant solutions

The adsorption of a biologically important glycoprotein, mucin, and mucin-chitosan complex layer formation on negatively charged surfaces, silica and mica, have been investigated employing ellipsometry, the interferometric surface apparatus, and atomic force microscopy techniques. Particular attention has been paid to the effect of an anionic surfactant sodium, dodecyl sulfate (SDS), with respect to the stability of the adsorption layers. It has been shown that mucin adsorbs on negatively charged surfaces to form highly hydrated layers. Such mucin layers readily associate with surfactants and are easily removed from the surfaces by rinsing with solutions of SDS at concentrations > or =0.2 cmc (1 cmc SDS in 30 mM NaCl is equal to 3.3 mM). The mucin adsorption layer is negatively charged, and we show how a positively charged polyelectrolyte, chitosan, associates with the preadsorbed mucin to form mucin-chitosan complexes that resist desorption by SDS even at SDS concentrations as high as 1 cmc. Thus, a method of mucin layer protection against removal by surfactants is offered. Further, we show how mucin-chitosan multilayers can be formed.     

Immobilization of anionic iron(III) porphyrins into ordered macroporous layered double hydroxides and investigation of catalytic activity in oxidation reactions

The first generation anionic iron(III) porphyrin [Fe(TSPP)] and the second generation anionic complexes [Fe(TDFSPP)], [Fe(TCFSPP)], and [Fe(TDCSPP)] were immobilized into three-dimensionally macroporous layered double hydroxide (3DM-LDH), using the direct reconstruction of 3DM-LDH from macroporous mixed oxides MOX or the anionic exchange on DDS intercalated 3DM-LDH. The macroporous layered double hydroxides were obtained at the surface of nanometric polystyrene spheres, which were synthesized by an inverse opal method. Polystyrene was removed after calcination in oxidizing atmosphere, nanostructured mixed oxides (3DM-MOX) were obtained, which after reconstruction give origin to macroporous layered double hydroxide (3DM-LDH). Following metalloporphyrin immobilization, the resulting materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–vis (glycerin mull) spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR), and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Results revealed that the complexes are either immobilized at the surface of the macroporous layered double hydroxide or intercalated between the layers, displacing some dodecylsufate anions. The obtained materials were investigated as catalysts for oxidation reactions, to find out whether they function as cytochrome P-450 models.     

Structural and textural evolution during folding of layers of layered double hydroxides

Layers of a layered double hydroxide, containing aluminum 4-fold coordinated, were partially folded in order to obtain a fibrous hydrotalcite-like compound. The hydrotalcite layers, in the presence of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate) after hydrothermal treatment for 2 weeks, acquire a mesoporous-like arrangement. The transformation was monitored by techniques sensitive to structural and textural properties. Results suggest that brucite-like layers can be joined throughout unsaturated coordinated aluminum, that is, tetrahedral aluminum which links through hydrogen bonds to form aluminum octahedrally coordinated. The fractal dimension parameter was very sensitive to evolution from layered to fibrous hydrotalcites.     

Adsorption of DNA onto anionic lipid surfaces

Currently self-assembled DNA delivery systems composed of DNA multivalent cations and anionic lipids are considered to be promising tools for gene therapy. These systems become an alternative to traditional cationic lipid–DNA complexes because of their low cytotoxicity lipids. However, currently these nonviral gene delivery methods exhibit low transfection efficiencies. This feature is in large part due to the poorly understood DNA complexation mechanisms at the molecular level. It is well-known that the adsorption of DNA onto like charged lipid surfaces requires the presence of multivalent cations that act as bridges between DNA and anionic lipids. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms behind such adsorption phenomenon still remain unclear. Accordingly a historical background of experimental evidence related to adsorption and complexation of DNA onto anionic lipid surfaces mediated by different multivalent cations is firstly reviewed. Next, recent experiments aimed to characterise the interfacial adsorption of DNA onto a model anionic phospholipid monolayer mediated by Ca^2 + (including AFM images) are discussed. Afterwards, modelling studies of DNA adsorption onto charged surfaces are summarised before presenting preliminary results obtained from both CG and all-atomic MD computer simulations. Our results allow us to establish the optimal conditions for cation-mediated adsorption of DNA onto negatively charged surfaces. Moreover, atomistic simulations provide an excellent framework to understand the interaction between DNA and anionic lipids in the presence of divalent cations. Accordingly,our simulation results in conjunction go beyond the macroscopic picture in which DNA is stuck to anionic membranes by using multivalent cations that form glue layers between them. Structural aspects of the DNA adsorption and molecular binding between the different charged groups from DNA and lipids in the presenceof divalent cations are reported in the last part of the study. Although this research work is far from biomedical applications, we truly believe that scientific advances in this line will assist, at least in part, in the rationaldesign and development of optimal carrier systems for genes and applicable to other drugs.     

Preparation of pillared layered antimony hydroxide and its flame retardancy in thermoplastic polyurethane

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this article, a pillared layered antimony hydroxide (Sb-LH) material has been prepared by the hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction,...     

Study of cationic substitution in Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>WO<Subscript>6</Subscript> and derived structures in the framework of the modular approach

The possibilities of substitution of lead, alkaline and rare earth, antimony, and tellurium cations for bismuth ions in the structure of the Bi₂WO₆ ferroelectric and compounds with more complicated derived structures have been studied. The trends in the formation of solid solutions are well described in the framework of the modular approach in which layers are treated as building units of crystal structures. The underlying existence criteria (electroneutrality, geometric and chemical compatibility of layers) formulated for simple (two-layer) structures can be easily extended to more complicated (multilayer) structures. On the basis of the results obtained, the existence of new series of layered bismuth oxohalides was predicted.     

Analytical application of surface-affinity polymerized vesicular membranes to trace metal analysis by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

The affinity of anionic polymerized vesicular membranes for metal cations in aqueous solutions is explored in terms of metal ion extraction and preconcentration. The method is based on the coordination of metal ions on the surface of charged polymerized vesicles via intra-vesicular complexes. These are causing changes in the selectivity, reactivity and inter-vesicular bridges which facilitate the aggregation of polymerized vesicles promoting phase separation. An analytical demonstration is shown by the optimization of the experimental conditions that enable the determination of antimony (III) in natural waters. The analytical features of the method including detection limits, precision and analytical recoveries from spiked natural water samples suggest that polymerized vesicular membranes can be a promising alternative to surfactant-mediated extractions of metal ions from aqueous matrices.