Cooperative Ligands in Dissolution of Gold

Development of new, environmentally benign dissolution methods for metallic gold is driven by needs in the circular economy. Gold is widely used in consumer electronics, but sustainable and selective dissolution methods for Au are scarce. Herein, we describe a quantitative dissolution of gold in organic solution under mild conditions by using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. In the dissolution reaction, two thiol ligands, pyridine-4-thiol and 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, work in a cooperative manner. The mechanistic investigations suggest that two pyridine-4-thiol molecules form a complex with Au⁰ that can be oxidized, whereas the role of inexpensive 2-mercaptobenzimidazole is to stabilize the formed Au^I species through a ligand exchange process. Under optimized conditions, the reaction proceeds vigorously and gold dissolves quantitatively in two hours. The demonstrated ligand-exchange mechanism with two thiols allows to drastically reduce the thiol consumption and may lead to even more effective gold dissolution methods in the future.     

二氧化锰中Mn^2＋Mn^3＋Mn4^＋测定方法的研究及应用

研究了用选择性溶解法和计算法测定二氧化锰中Ｍｎ＾２＋、Ｍｎ＾３＋、Ｍｎ＾４＋，进而求得二氧化锰中的氧锰摩尔比，并且对这两种方法进行了比较。选择性溶解法能方便地测定Ｍｎ＾２＋、Ｍｎ＾３＋和Ｍｎ＾４＋，但需要严格控制其溶解条件，计算法则通过乙酰丙酮碘量法测定Ｍｎ＾３＋存在下的Ｍｎ＾４＋，有效地消除了Ｍｎ＾３＋的干扰，经过计算可以得到准确的结果，两者结果均与Ｘ射线衍射法谱图相吻合，对电容器阴极材料二氧化     

The electrochemistry of gold in acid aqueous solutions containing chloride ions

Results obtained with differently prepared gold electrodes in acid solutions containing chloride ion at temperatures ranging from 22 to 65°C are reported. Potentiostatic techniques and rotating disc electrodes were employed. The anodic dissolution, the onset of passivity and the cathodic deposition of the metal are investigated under different experimental conditions. The anodic dissolution of Au is discussed in terms of possible reaction mechanisms involving the participation of different adsorbed species. The onset of passivation is related to the depletion of chloride ion at the reaction interface. The experimental voltammograms can be reporduced by means of an equation which considers the diffusion of chloride ion, the activation polarization related to the dissolution of Au and the establishment of passivity.     

Reaction network governing diphosphine-protected gold nanocluster formation from nascent cationic platforms

We identify the reaction network governing gold monolayer protected cluster (MPC) formation during the reduction of Au(PPh(3))Cl and L(5) (L(5) = 1,5-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane) in solutions. UV-vis spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) monitored the formation of ligated Au(x): 6 ≤ x ≤ 12 clusters, which comprise the reaction intermediates and final products. Initially, predominantly [Au(2)L(5)(2)](2+) complexes form through dissolution of Au(PPh(3))Cl. These complexes control the reduction and nucleation reactions that form nascent phosphine-ligated Au(8) and Au(10) ionic clusters. [Au(10)L(5)(4)](2+) is an observed growth platform for ligated Au(11) and Au(12) clusters. The data for syntheses of Au : L(5) systems evidence that the nascent reaction products (t < 3 days) are less dependent on the chosen reducing agent (borane tert-butylamine complex or NaBH(4)); instead, after reduction ceases, subsequent solution phase processing provides greater control for tuning cluster nuclearity.     

负载型金催化剂催化乙醇选择氧化反应

选择不同氧化物(Al2O3,SiO2,TiO2,MgO)和H-ZSM-5分子筛作为载体,以尿素为沉淀剂,采用沉积-沉淀法制备了一系列负载型金催化剂.采用X射线衍射、电感耦合等离子体发射光谱、程序升温还原、NH3程序升温脱附和透射电镜等技术对催化剂样品进行了表征,并测定了催化剂对乙醇选择氧化反应的催化性能.选择Au/Al2O3催化剂,考察了金负载量、反应条件(温度、压力、时间)和添加剂对乙醇选择氧化反应的影响.结果表明,所制备的Au/Al2O3催化剂的金负载率较高,金粒子较小(3～4 nm)且分布均匀.载体对金催化剂催化乙醇氧化反应有显著影响,主要产物为乙醛、乙酸乙酯和缩醛.以TiO2为载体时,乙醇转化率较高.以Al2O3为载体时,乙酸乙酯选择性较高;少量碱性添加剂可抑制缩醛的生成,并可提高乙醇转化率和乙酸乙酯选择性.在优化的条件下,乙醇转化率可达4.7%,乙酸乙酯选择性可达93.5%.     

Understanding the dissolution of zeolites

Scientific knowledge of how zeolites, a unique classification of microporous aluminosilicates, undergo dissolution in aqueous hydrochloric acid solutions is limited. Understanding the dissolution of zeolites is fundamental to a number of processes occurring in nature and throughout industry. To better understand the dissolution process, experiments were carried out establishing that the Si-to-Al ratio controls zeolite framework dissolution, by which the selective removal of aluminum constrains the removal of silicon. Stoichiometric dissolution is observed for Type 4A zeolite in HCl where the Si-to-Al ratio is equal to 1.0. Framework silicon dissolves completely during Type 4A dissolution and is followed by silicate precipitation. However, for the zeolite analcime which has a Si-to-Al ratio of 2.0 dissolves non-stoichiometrically as the selective removal of aluminum results in partially dissolved silicate particles followed by silicate precipitation. In Type Y zeolite, exhibiting a Si-to-Al ratio of 3.0, there is insufficient aluminum to weaken the structure and cause silicon to dissolve in HCl. Thus, little or no precipitation is observed, and amorphous undissolvable silicate particles remain intact. The initial dissolution rates of Type Y and 4A zeolites demonstrate that dissolution is constrained by the number of available reaction sites, and a selective removal rate parameter is applied to delineate the mechanism of particle dissolution by demonstrating the kinetic influence of the Si-to-Al ratio. Zeolite framework models are constructed and used to undergird the basic dissolution mechanism. The framework models, scanning electron micrographs of partially dissolved crystals, and experimentally measured dissolution rates all demonstrate that a zeolite's Si-to-Al framework ratio plays a universal role in the dissolution mechanism, independent of framework type. Consequently, the unique mechanism of zeolite dissolution has general implications on how petroleum reservoir stimulation treatments should be designed.     

A surface adsorption/reaction mechanism for gold oxidation by copper(II) in ammoniacal thiosulfate solutions

Literature data for gold dissolution in ammoniacal copper(II) thiosulfate solutions is reinterpreted on the basis of adsorption and mixed potential theory. The dissolution reaction appears to take place via the adsorption of copper(II)-ammonia-thiosulfate onto the gold surface, forming the adsorbed species perpendicular to Au(S2O3)nCu(NH3)-(2n-2)p. Equilibrium constants for the formation of these species from Cu(NH3)(2+)m are in the range Kads=172-510 (molar units) for m=4, n=1 or 2, and p=2 or 3. These complexes decompose with a rate constant of kAu=1.7 x 10(-4)molm(-2)s(-1), to produce Au(S2O3)(3-)2 and Cu(NH3)+(3) or Cu(NH3)+(2), where the copper(I) complexes in solution are re-equilibrated to the more stable species Cu(S2O3)3-(2) and Cu(S2O2)5-(3).     

Efficient oxygen reduction on layers of ordered TiO2 nanotubes loaded with Au nanoparticles

Au nanoparticles dispersed over a self-organized nanotubular TiO₂ matrix can be used as a highly efficient catalyst system for the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction in aqueous solutions. For the same loading of Au nanoparticles, the nanotubular support provides a manifold increase in the reaction rate in comparison with a flat TiO₂ support, or a pure Au sheet electrode.     

酸化膨润土负载金催化剂用于CO氧化

用盐酸和硫酸对膨润土（Ben）进行改性处理,采用浸渍法（IMP）、沉积-沉淀法（DP）和阳离子吸附法(CA)制备改性膨润土负载的金催化剂,以CO氧化作为探针反应对催化剂的催化性能进行了研究,采用BET、XRD、TEM和TPD等对催化剂进行表征。 结果表明,经过简单的酸处理后的膨润土比表面积和孔体积有了大幅度的提高,硫酸酸化的膨润土作为载体较之盐酸酸化土更容易得到活性较高的金催化剂,XRD粒径计算结果和TEM观察结果证明,硫酸酸化的膨润土作为载体相比盐酸酸化土可以得到Au颗粒度更小的催化剂。 不同制备方法中,阳离子吸附法能较好的将Au负载于膨润土载体上,得到小颗粒的金催化剂,且在吸附48 h、450 ℃焙烧、150 ℃下H2还原的预处理条件下得到的催化剂活性最好。     

Effect of dioctyl sulfide on the kinetics of oxidative dissolution of gold nanoparticles in triton N-42 reverse micelles

The effect of additions of hydrophobic dioctyl sulfide (L) on the kinetics of dissolution of gold nanoparticles in the interaction with a dispersed aqueous hydrochloric solution of H₂O₂ in Triton N-42 reverse micelles (decane was the dispersion medium) was studied spectrophotometrically. The process consists of a two-stage oxidation Au⁰ → AuCl₂⁻ → AuCl₄⁻ at the surface of gold particles; the first stage occurs in two ways: a spontaneous reaction and an autocatalytic reaction involving AuCl₄⁻ ions. With small additions of L (c _L < c _Au), only spontaneous oxidation of Au(0) to Au(I) takes place because Au(I) is completely bound in an inert complex AuLCl. When unbound L is exhausted, the newly formed AuLCl is accumulated in micellar shells, changes the properties of the medium inside the micelles, and affects the rate constant of the autocatalytic reaction, which increases with increasing c _L. At high concentrations of L, the coagulation of particles occurs instead of their dissolution, because of the deterioration of the protective properties of micellar shells as a result of the ingression and accumulation of dioctyl sulfide molecules on account of selective adsorption on gold particles. The rate constants of all stages of dissolution and coagulation are determined.     

Selective dissolution of the silver component in colloidal Au and Ag multilayers: a facile way to prepare nanoporous gold film materials

Colloidal Au/Ag multilayer films were prepared by alternate assembly of Au nanoparticles with a size of 5 +/- 1.2 nm and Ag nanoparticles with a size of 10 +/- 2.4 nm by using 1,5-pentanedithiol as cross-linker. Nanoporous gold films with a ligament size of 26.7 +/- 4.6 nm were then prepared by selective dissolution of sacrificial templates of silver particles in colloidal Au/Ag multilayers. The complete dissolution of Ag particles in colloidal Au/Ag multilayers in a mixture solution of 3.0 mM HAuCl(4) and 3 M NaCl took place at room temperature without damage of the colloidal Au film. This method to prepare nanoporous gold films was further extended to the preparation of nanoporous gold nanotubes by depositing colloidal Au/Ag film on the inner wall of anodic aluminum oxides (AAO) followed by dissolution of colloidal Ag and removal of AAO templates.     

Photoinduced dissolution and redeposition of Au nanoparticles supported on TiO2

Au particles (mean size ca. 3 nm) supported on TiO(2) particles were irradiated by UV light (>300 nm) in aqueous solutions at 278 K. Photo-induced dissolution of Au nanoparticles followed by redeposition occurred in aqueous solutions containing halogen ions. The dissolution of Au nanoparticles yielded a Au(III) complex with a halogen ion; subsequent reduction of the Au(III) complex caused precipitation of larger Au particles on TiO(2).     

The kinetics and mechanism of dissolution of gold in solutions of thiocarbamide with an oxidizer

The kinetics and mechanism of dissolution of gold in solutions of thiocarbamide (T) in the presence of Fe₂(SO₄)₃ as an oxidizer were studied. The dependences of the rate of dissolution of gold on the concentration ratio between iron(III) and T and pH were determined, and optimum solution compositions for the dissolution of gold were found. The compositions of gold(I) complexes formed in the boundary double layer ([Au{(NH₂)₂C=S}₂]⁺) and in the bulk ([Au{(NH₂)₂C=S}₃]⁺) were determined. The diffusion and kinetic components of the overall reaction of gold dissolution in solutions of T in the presence of the oxidizer were obtained by the rotating disc method. The first-order rate constants at 278–333 K, k _Au = 3.5 × 10^?5?2.73 × 10^?4 s^?1, and the activation energies at 278–295 K (E _a = 13.4 kJ/mol, which is evidence that dissolution value characteristic of kinetically controlled reactions) were determined for the dissolution of gold in solutions of T. The composition of the adsorption sulfide-containing film on the surface of gold was studied by Auger electron spectroscopy. The film, which inhibited gold dissolution, consisted of gold(I) hydrosulfide (AuHS) and sulfide (Au₂S). The solubility products of these compounds and their solubilities in aqueous solutions were calculated.     

The electrochemistry of gold in acetonitrile solutions containing thiocyanate ions

Gold dissolves anodically in acetonitrile solutions containing dissolved NaSCN, at 25°C. The reaction yields Au(I) and Au(III) complex ion species which can be cathodically electroplated. The voltammetric experiments indicate that the anodic dissolution is preceded by a partial surface saturation with the intermediate initially discharged, followed by a diffusion controlled process which depends on the SCN^? ion concentration. The electrochemical behaviour of the anodic and cathodic processes is comparable to that of gold in aqueous solutions containing Au-complex ions.     

Electrochemical behavior of acidic acetonitrile solutions at platinum and gold electrodes

Hydrogen evolution reactions from acidic MeCN solutions were studied at Pt and Au electrodes. The acids studied were HCl and HPic in a wide range of concentrations. LiClO₄ and Et₄NClO₄ (0.4 M) were used as supporting electrolytes. Quasi steady state polarization curves show that the reaction is irreversible with a Tafel slope of 2 RT/F after diffusion polarization and pseudo-ohmic drop have been corrected. Non-stationary techniques reveal that the electrochemical reaction is preceded by a chemical reaction attributed to slow dissociation of ACN·2 HCl and ACN·3 HPic species. Equilibria and chemical rate constants for both species were evaluated by chronopotentiometry. The values obtained explain satisfactorily the results accomplished under potentiodynamic conditions. Data at the RDE confirm the existence of a previous chemical reaction. MeCN electroadsorption in the double layer potential region at Pt accounts for the solvent levelling effect towards H adsorption between Pt and Au. Furthermore, an inhibitory effect over hydrogen evolution and hydrogen oxidation is reported at more negative potentials at both Pt and Au electrodes.     

Three‐component polyaddition of diamines,carbon disulfide,and diacrylates in water

The three‐component polyaddition of diamines, carbon disulfide (CS₂), and diacrylates in water was successfully achieved without the use of a surfactant or catalyst. Appropriate reaction conditions (i.e., reaction temperature, reaction time, and CS₂ feed) enabled the polyaddition of 1,3‐di‐4‐piperidylpropane ( 1a ), CS₂, and 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate ( 2a ) to afford the corresponding poly(dithiourethane‐amine) containing 83% of dithiourethane units in 84% yield. Polyaddition of other monomers also proceeded under the optimum conditions to afford various poly(dithiourethane‐amine)s. Unsuccessful results for polyaddition in organic solvents such as toluene, tetrahydrofuran, and N,N‐dimethylformamide revealed that the polyaddition is accelerated in water. The obtained poly(dithiourethane‐amine)s adsorbed Au (III) efficiently under acidic conditions, due to the strong interaction of the thiocarbonyl sulfur in the dithiourethane unit with Au (III). The poly(dithiourethane‐amine)s also showed selective adsorption for Au (III) from a mixture of metal ions [Au (III), Fe (III), Mn (II), and Zn (II)], which indicates their potential utilization for the collection of gold. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 845–851, 2010     

Electrocatalytic mediation of oxidation of H2 at gold by chemisorbed states of anions

On Au, free surface atoms are not active for dissociative oxidation of the H₂ molecule but at potentials where anions are chemisorbed or complexes of partially discharged OH^(1−γ− with the chemisorbed anions arise, the H₂ molecule can be dissociated and consequently the H-atom electrochemically oxidized.This phenomenon is observed on Au (110), (100) single-crystal surfaces, and to a lesser degree on the (111) plane, as well as on polycrystalline Au. The rate of the reaction is proportional to the quantity of discharged species and is higher when the oxidation occurs by mediation by the complexes. The reaction is inhibited, however, by fully discharged OH. A microscopic surface-chemical model of the reaction is proposed and examined in relation to the experimental behaviour at the (110) plane in 0.01 M HClO₄.     

Polymer-Supported Poly(Ethylene Glycol) as a Phase-Transfer Catalyst for Cross-Aldol Condensation of Isobutyroaldehyde and Formaldehyde

Immobilized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG 600-PS) was used as an effective phase-transfer catalyst for the synthesis of hydroxypivaldehyde from isobutyraldehyde (IBA) and formaldehyde in the presence of an inorganic base. Studies on the influence of the parameters on the course of the reaction in a batch reactor showed that the use of the PEG 600-PS catalyst allowed one to obtain HPA with high efficiency (IBA conversion >96%, selectivity >98%) in a relatively short time and under mild conditions (2 h, 40 °C). The developed method enables easy separation of the post-reaction mixture by simple phase separation, and the immobilized catalyst can be separated by filtration and then used five times without a loss in its activity. The high activity and stability of the catalyst was also confirmed in a test carried out in a flow reactor.     

The anodic oxidation of gold + palladium alloys

The anodic oxidation of Au+Pd alloys has been studied in solutions of 1 M H₂SO₄ and 0.1 M K₂SO₄ by voltammetric methods. A linear relationship between oxide reduction maximum and bulk alloy composition, often used to determine the surface composition of homogeneous alloys, could be shown to hold only for alloys up to 60 at% gold. At higher gold content the Au oxide peak must be additionally evaluated. With continuous cycling in acid solution the anodic dissolution of Pd, especially from gold-rich places, leads to a rather heterogeneous surface. The O--chemisorption is not governed by a transfer mechanism from Pd to Au surface atoms. The alloys are able to absorb the oxygen species generated in the positive potential region; however, this ability decreases with increase of the gold content.     

Spectroscopic identification of the reaction intermediates in oxygen reduction on gold in alkaline solutions

Surface enhanced infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy with an attentuated total reflection configuration (ATR-SEIRAS) was used for the first time to identify the intermediates of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on gold electrodes. Our study employed a Au thin-film electrode in acidic and alkaline solutions. In alkaline solutions, a potential dependent band at 1268 cm(-1), which we assigned to the antisymmetric bending mode of OOH of adsorbed HO2-, was observed between 0.1 and -0.6 V versus Ag|AgCl, Cl-, exactly in the potential range where the ORR occurred. The assignment was supported by our isotope exchange experiment. The adsorbed HO2- is a reaction intermediate in the 4e- serial mechanism. In acidic solutions, there was only a very weak band at the same position, reflecting the fast protonation of HO2-. This finding may imply that the interaction between HO2- and Au surfaces is very weak in acidic solutions, in agreement with the observed 2e- reduction mechanism.