Interaction of active particles of oxygen plasma with polypropylene

Changes in the chemical composition of surface were studied and the rates of formation of gaseous degradation products during polypropylene treatment in oxygen plasma and its flowing afterglow were determined by means of attenuated total internal reflectance IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. It was found that surface oxidation at minimal degradation rates is reached upon the joint action of O₂(a ¹Δ _g ) molecules and ground-state oxygen molecules, whereas O(³ P) atoms participate in both oxidation processes and the processes of degradation of oxygen-containing groups leading to the formation of gaseous products. It was shown that only the action of plasma leads to the formation of vinyl and vinylidene double bonds, which disappear in reactions with O₂(a ¹Δ _g ) molecules and O(³ P) atoms.     

Investigation of composition and chemical state of elements in iron boride by the method of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The composition and chemical state of iron and boron in the surface layer of iron boride under different kinds of pretreatment of samples have been investigated by the method of X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. It has been found that in the initial sample there is oxygen chemically combined with iron and boron atoms. Upon heating (450°C) in hydrogen, in argon, and in vacuo there occurs removal of oxygen only from iron atoms (no pure iron was found to be formed). Boron oxidizes and there probably appears a new surface combination of boron with oxygen in which the bonding energy of 1s electrons is higher than that in B₂O₃. Treatment of the iron boride surface with argon ions and with protons ensures uniform removal of oxygen from iron and boron atoms. It has been found that thermal treatment of iron boride leads to depletion of iron atoms from the sample surface layer, and pickling with argon ions and with protons leads to strong enrichment. Iron boride samples subjected to Ar⁺ and H⁺ bombardment tend to undergo significant oxidation when subsequently exposed to air at room temperature.     

State of active components on the surface of the PdCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-CuCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>/γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst for the low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide

The state of the active constituents of the freshly prepared PdCl₂-CuCl₂/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst for the low-temperature oxidation of the carbon monoxide by molecular oxygen was studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and diffuse reflectance IR Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). It was shown that copper in the form of a crystalline phase of Cu₂Cl(OH)₃ with the structure of the mineral paratacamite and palladium chloride in an amorphous state occurred on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃. According to XAS data, the local environment of palladium consisted of four chlorine atoms, which formed a flat square with an increased distance between palladium and one of the chlorine atoms. The evolution of the local environments of copper and palladium upon a transition from the initial salts to the impregnating solutions and chlorides on the surface of γ-Al₂O₃ was considered. The role of γ-Al₂O₃ in the formation of the Cu₂Cl(OH)₃ phase was discussed. It was found by the DRIFTS method that linear (2114 cm⁻¹) and bridging (1990 and 1928 cm⁻¹) forms of coordinated carbon monoxide were formed upon the adsorption of CO on the catalyst surface. The formation of CO₂ upon the interaction of coordinated CO with atmospheric oxygen was detected. Active sites including copper and palladium were absent from the surface of the freshly prepared catalyst.     

A spontaneous solid-state NO donor to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria

This study substantiates the chemical origin of a free-radical-driven antibacterial effect at the surface of biomedical silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) in comparison with the long-known effect of oxygen reduction by oxidized TiO₂ at the surface of biomedical titanium alloys. Similar to the antibacterial effect exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS; i.e., superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen, and hydrogen peroxide) from TiO₂, reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitric oxide (NO), and peroxynitrite (^?OONO) in Si₃N₄, severely affect bacterial metabolism and lead to their lysis. However, in vitro experiment with gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis, henceforth) revealed that ROS and RNS promoted different mechanisms of lysis. Fluorescence microscopy of NO radicals and in situ time-lapse Raman spectroscopy revealed different metabolic responses of living bacteria in contact with different substrates. After 48 h, the DNA of bacteria showed complete destruction on Si₃N₄, while carbohydrates of the peptidoglycan membrane induced bacterial degradation on Ti-alloy substrates. Different spectroscopic fingerprints for bacterial lysis documented the distinct effects of RNS and ROS. Spontaneously activated in aqueous environment, the RNS chemistry of Si₃N₄ proved much more effective in counteracting bacterial proliferation as compared to ROS formed on TiO₂, which requires external energy (photocatalytic activation) to enhance effectiveness. Independent of surface topography, the antibacterial effect observed on Si₃N₄ substrates is due to its unique kinetics ultimately producing NO and represents a new intriguing avenue to fight bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics.     

Oxidative thermolysis of Mn(acac)3 on the surface of γ-alumina support

Precipitated γ-alumina support was decorated with Mn(acac)₃ by incipient wetness impregnation with toluene solutions containing Mn(acac)₃ in amount equivalent to loading of 0.35, 0.74, 1.38, 2.38 and 3.50 Mn(acac)₃ moleculs per nm² of the support. In order to evaluate the mechanism of Mn(acac)₃ interaction with the surface of γ-alumina support and subsequent transformations of the supported Mn(acac)₃ species, oxidative thermolysis of Mn(acac)₃/Al₂O₃ samples in air was studied by diffuse reflectance FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and XRD. It has been found out that decoration of γ-Al₂O₃ support with Mn(acac)₃ results in the formation of surface bound Mn(acac)_3−x species when Mn(acac)₃ loading does not exceed 1.38 Mn(acac)₃/nm². At higher Mn(acac)₃ loading the formation of the supported bulk-like Mn(acac)₃ species also occurs. The interaction of Mn(acac)₃ molecules with the support surface occurs via substitution of acetylacetonate ligand(s) with the oxygen atom of surface hydroxyl group(s) accompanied by elimination of acetylacetone molecules. The evolved acetylacetone reacts with the alumina surface that results in the formation of surface Al(acac)_3−x species. The oxidative thermolysis of Mn(acac)_3−x species on the surface of γ-alumina proceeds via partial elimination of acetylacetonate ligands and partial oxidation of the remaining ligands without destruction of their cyclic structure within 425-550 K. The complete oxidative destruction of acetylacetonate ligands takes place within 600-700 K and results in the formation of manganese oxide species on the alumina surface. The dispersed surface manganese oxide species originate upon the oxidative thermolysis of the surface bound Mn(acac)_3−x species while crystalline Mn₂O₃ phase results from the supported bulk-like Mn(acac)₃ species.     

Oxidation of the polycrystalline gold foil surface and XPS study of oxygen states in oxide layers

Gold oxide films obtained on the surface of polycrystalline gold foil upon oxidation by oxygen activated by a high-frequency discharge have been studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. High-frequency O₂ activation affords oxide films more than 3–5 nm thick. As follows from Au4f spectra, the surface gold atoms are oxidized to the oxidation state +3. The O1s spectra have a composite shape and are decomposed into four components that characterize nonequivalent states of oxygen in the resulting oxide films. It is assumed that the two major oxygen states (E _b(O1s) = 529.0 and 530.0 eV) correspond to the oxygen atoms in two-and three-dimensional gold oxide Au₂O₃, respectively. The oxygen states characterized by the higher binding energies (E _b(O1s) = 531.8 and 535.2 eV) likely correspond to molecular oxygen in peroxide and superoxide groups, respectively.     

Oxidation of sulfites on vanadium-molybdenum oxides

The low temperature emission of ¹O₂ singlet oxygen from xV₂O₅ · yMoO₃ binary oxides is investigated by means of flash desorption. Conditions for the generation of ¹O₂ on their surfaces are determined, along with the correlation between the amount of ¹O₂ and the degree of NaHSO₃ conversion in the oxidation reaction. It is shown that on the surface of oxides there are oxygen species that upon decomposition produce ¹O₂ involved in the oxidation of HSO ₃ ^? .     

Trapped interfacial redox introduces reversibility in the oxygen reduction reaction in a non-aqueous Ca2+ electrolyte

Electrochemical investigations of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) have been conducted in a Ca²⁺-containing dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte. While the ORR appears irreversible, the introduction of a tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAClO₄) co-salt in excess concentrations results in the gradual appearance of a quasi-reversible OER process. Combining the results of systematic cyclic voltammetry investigations, the degree of reversibility depends on the ion pair competition between Ca²⁺ and TBA⁺ cations to interact with generated superoxide (O₂⁻). When TBA⁺ is in larger concentrations, and large reductive overpotentials are applied, a quasi-reversible OER peak emerges with repeated cycling (characteristic of formulations without Ca²⁺ cations). In situ Raman microscopy and rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) experiments revealed more about the nature of species formed at the electrode surface and indicated the progressive evolution of a charge storage mechanism based upon trapped interfacial redox. The first electrochemical step involves generation of O₂⁻, followed primarily by partial passivation of the surface by Ca_xO_y product formation (the dominant initial reaction). Once this product matrix develops, the subsequent formation of TBA⁺--O₂⁻ is contained within the Ca_xO_y product interlayer at the electrode surface and, consequently, undergoes a facile oxidation reaction to regenerate O₂.

An interlayer product of oxygen reduction with Ca²⁺/TBA⁺ yields a quasi-reversible oxygen evolution reaction by inducing a trapped interfacial redox process.     

Spin-orbit coupling effects in the gas-phase reaction Se + O2

The potential energy surface sections of the ground and excited states of the SeOO (C _s ) superoxo complex have been constructed on the basis of spin-orbit coupling calculations. The activation barriers to the forward and reverse reactions??superoxide SeOO ? peroxide Se(O₂) ? dioxide SeO₂??have been calculated. Changes in the spectral and spin properties of oxygen (zero-field splitting) and possible channels of formation of active forms of ¹O₂ oxygen (¹?? _g , ¹?? _g ⁺ ) upon dissociation of excited states of selenium oxo complexes have been scrutinized.     

Experimental study of intermediates and wave phenomena in co oxidation on platinum metal (Pt,Pd) surfaces

The mechanism of catalytic CO oxidation on Pt(100) and Pd(110) single-crystal surfaces and on Pt and Pd sharp tip (～10³ Å) surfaces has been studied experimentally by temperature-programmed reaction, temperature desorption spectroscopy, field electron microscopy, and molecular beam techniques. Using the density functional theory the equilibrium states and stretching vibrations of oxygen atoms adsorbed on the Pt(100) surface have been calculated. The character of the mixed adsorption layer was established by high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy—molecular adsorption (O_2ads, CO_ads) on Pt(100)-hex and dissociative adsorption (O_ads, CO_ads) on Pt(100)-(1×1). The origin of kinetic self-oscillations for the isothermal oxidation of CO in situ was studied in detail on the Pt and Pd tips by field electron microscopy. The initiating role of the reversible phase transition (hex) ? (1 × 1) of the Pt(100) nanoplane in the generation of regular chemical waves was established. The origination of self-oscillations and waves on the Pt(100) nanoplane was shown to be caused by the spontaneous periodical transition of the metal from the low-active state (hex) to the highly active catalytic state (1 × 1). A relationship between the reactivity of oxygen atoms (O_ads) and the concentration of CO_ads molecules was revealed for the Pd(110) surface. Studies using the isotope label ¹⁸O_ads demonstrated that the low-temperature formation of CO₂ at 150 K is a result of the reaction of CO with the highly reactive state of atomic oxygen (O_ads). The possibility of the low-temperature oxidation of CO via interaction with the so-called “hot” oxygen atoms (O_hot) appearing on the surface at the instant of dissociation of O_2ads molecules was studied by the molecular beam techniques.     

Surface properties and performance for VOCs combustion of LaFe1−yNiyO3 perovskite oxides

LaFeO₃, LaNiO₃ and substituted LaFe_1−yNi_yO₃ (y=0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) perovskites were synthesized by the citrate method and used in the catalytic combustion of ethanol and acetyl acetate. Chemical composition was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and specific areas from nitrogen adsorption isotherms. Structural details and surface properties were evaluated by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), temperature-programmed desorption of oxygen (O₂-TPD) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Characterization data revealed that total insertion of nickel in the LaFeO₃ takes place for substitution y=0.1. However, NiO segregation occurs to some extent, specifically at higher substitutions (y>0.1). The catalytic performance of these perovskites was evaluated in the combustion of acetyl acetate and ethanol. Among these molecules, ethanol exhibited the lowest ignition temperature, and the catalytic activity expressed as intrinsic activity (mol m⁻² h⁻¹) was found to increase substantially with the nickel substitution. These results can be explained in terms of the cooperative effect of a LaFe_1−yNi_yO₃ and NiO phases, whose relative concentration determines the oxygen activation capability and hence their reactivity.     

Surface analysis of mixed-conducting ferrite membranes by the conversion-electron Mössbauer spectroscopy

Conversion-electron Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis of iron surface states in the dense ceramic membranes made of ⁵⁷Fe-enriched SrFe_0.7Al_0.3O_3−δ perovskite, shows no traces of reductive decomposition or carbide formation in the interfacial layers after operation under air/CH₄ gradient at 1173 K, within the limits of experimental uncertainty. The predominant trivalent state of iron cations at the membrane permeate-side surface exposed to flowing dry methane provides evidence of the kinetic stabilization mechanism, which is only possible due to slow oxygen-exchange kinetics and enables long-term operation of the ferrite-based ceramic reactors for natural gas conversion. At the membrane feed-side surface exposed to air, the fractions of Fe⁴⁺ and Fe³⁺ are close to those in the powder equilibrated at atmospheric oxygen pressure, suggesting that the exchange limitations to oxygen transport are essentially localized at the partially reduced surface.     

Synthesis and characterization of the reduction properties of cobalt-substituted lanthanum orthoferrites

Perovskite-related materials of composition LaFe_1−xCo_xO₃ have been prepared by conventional calcination methods. The temperature programmed reduction profiles indicate that the incorporation of cobalt renders the materials more susceptible to reduction when treated in a flowing mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. The reduction processes have been examined by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and Fe K-edge-, Co K-edge- and La L_III-edge XANES and EXAFS. The results show that in iron-rich systems the limited reduction of iron and cobalt leads to the segregation of discrete metallic phases without destruction of the perovskite structure at temperatures up to 1200°C. In materials where x?ca.0.5 the reduction of Co³⁺ to Co⁰ precedes complete reduction of Fe³⁺ and the segregation of alloy and metal phases is accompanied by destruction of the perovskite structure.     

Chemisorbed Oxygen Species over the (110) Face of SnO2

The electronic states of chemisorbed oxygen species on the (110) face of SnO₂ and their variations caused by heat treatments and/or O₂ exposure have been investigated. The reactivities of the chemisorbed oxygen species for methane oxidations were also examined.Four different chemisorbed oxygen species (O₂ ^2-, O_2-, O^-, O_b) were observed, in addition to the lattice oxygen (O^2-), on the surface of the stabilized (110) surface of SnO₂ after O₂ exposure. The O_b species was assumed to be the bridging oxygen at the topmost layer of the SnO₂ (110) surface having no neighboring oxygen vacancies. The electronic state of O_b was converted to O^- upon CH₄ exposure at 473 K by coupling with newly produced vacancies at the bridging site of the SnO₂ (110) surface.     

XPS studies on the gold oxide surface layer formation

The initial stage of gold oxide layer formation on the gold electrode surface was investigated in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of pure gold and the anodically polarized gold electrode surface were compared quantitatively. It was found that gold anodic polarization in the E range from ∼1.3 to 2.1 V causes increase in intensity of the XPS spectra at an electron binding energy ε_b=85.9 eV for gold and at ε_b=530 eV for oxygen. These ε_b values correspond to Au³⁺ and O²⁻ oxidation states in hydrous or anhydrous gold oxide. The larger the amount of the anodically formed surface substance the higher is the intensity of the spectrum at the ε_b values mentioned above. It was concluded that gold anodic oxidation, yielding most likely an Au(III) hydroxide surface layer, takes place in the E range of the anodic current wave beginning at E≈1.3 V. At E_B=1.7 V (the potential of the Burshtein minimum) the stationary surface layer consists of 2.5 to 3 molecular layers of Au(OH)₃. The theoretical amount of charge required for the reduction of one molecular layer of Au(OH)₃ is ∼0.15 mC cm⁻², since the Au(OH)₃ molecule is planar and occupies about four atomic sites on the electrode surface.     

Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate bound to titania and complexed to molybdenum dioxido as a bidentate N,N′-ligand. Direct comparison with a bipyridyl analog in a photocatalytic arylalkane oxidation by O2

Bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate, well known as a tridentate N,N,O ligand, was bound to MoO₂Cl₂ in a bidentate N,N manner by anchoring covalently, at first, the ligand onto a titanium oxide surface, followed by its complexation with the molybdenum dioxo entity. It was fully characterized by ¹³CPMAS NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy. The tethered complex was directly compared with an analogous bipyridyl species in the catalytic ethylbenzene oxidation by O₂ at room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and under visible light. The bis(pyrazol-1-yl) catalyst exhibited a significant initial higher oxygen atom transfer (OAT) capability, well in accord with its electron donating property. It was, unfortunately, hampered by a premature leaching phenomenon, totally absent in the comparable bipyridyl system.     

Thermoemission of singlet oxygen and chemical structure of copper oxides

Thermal treatment of copper oxides (CuO, Cu₂O) is accompanied by large-scale emission of singlet oxygen molecules (¹Σ⁺ _g ). Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) and electronic and IR spectroscopy were used to show that the thermoemission of electronically excited molecules results from dark generation of electronically excited states which contain in their structure isolated metal-metal bonds and oxygen associates. The anomalous diamagnetic response of the samples and reduced thermoemission activity (Cu₂O) are associated with cooperative interaction of electronically excited states.     

Infrared spectroscopic evidence of the Mg3O3 molecule formed by reaction of magnesium and oxygen atoms in inert gas matrices at 20.4°K

The reaction of magnesium and oxygen atoms in argon, krypton, xenon and oxygen matrices at 20.4° K was studied by infrared spectroscopy between 200 and 4000 cm^?1. The appearance of a band in the magnesium-oxygen stretching region, reproducible in all the matrices, indicates that reaction takes place. Oxygen-13 isotopic substitution suggests that the absorption is due to Mg₃O₃, whose formation is supported by the crystal structure of the solid phase. The force constants are calculated as f_R = 2.3 mdyne/Å and F_?/R² = 0.44 mdyne/Å assuming a planar six-membered ring of alternate magnesium and oxygen atoms with bond angles O-Mg-O 100° and Mg-O-Mg 140°.     

EPR and Raman investigations into anionic redox chemistry of nanoporous 12CaO·7Al2O3 interacting with O2, H2 and N2O

EPR and Raman spectroscopy jointed with temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and oxidation (TPO) were used to elucidate of the anionic redox processes occurring during the interaction of dioxygen, nitrous oxide and dihydrogen with nanoporous 12CaO·7Al₂O₃. The results showed that hydrogen and oxygen enter the mayenite cages following a dissociative pathway involving hydride, hydroxyl and peroxide intermediates, respectively. Generation and annihilation of the cage O ₂ ⁻ and O⁻ radicals upon oxidative and reductive treatments, confined to the near to the surface region, were found to be reversible. The key intermediates of this process were identified and a detailed mechanism of the surface and cage reactions was proposed.     

Mixed conductivity, oxygen permeability and redox behavior of K2NiF4-type La2Ni0.9Fe0.1O4+δ

The total conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ with K₂NiF₄-type structure, studied in the oxygen partial pressure range from 10⁻⁵ to 0.5 atm at 973-1223 K, were analyzed in combination with the steady-state oxygen permeability, oxygen non-stoichiometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy data in order to examine the electronic and ionic transport mechanisms. Doping of La₂NiO_4+δ with iron was found to promote hole localization on nickel cations due to the formation of stable Fe³⁺ states, although the electrical properties dominated by p-type electronic conduction under oxidizing conditions exhibit trends typical for both itinerant and localized behavior of the electronic sublattice. The segregation of metallic Ni on reduction, which occurs at oxygen chemical potentials close to the low-p(O₂) stability boundary of undoped lanthanum nickelate, is responsible for the high catalytic activity towards partial oxidation of methane by the lattice oxygen of La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ as revealed by thermogravimetry and temperature-programmed reduction in dry CH₄-He flow at 573-1173 K. A model for the oxygen permeation fluxes through dense La₂Ni_0.9Fe_0.1O_4+δ ceramics, limited by both bulk ionic conduction and surface exchange kinetics, was proposed and validated.