X-ray diffraction study on the thermal expansion behavior of cellulose Iβ and its high-temperature phase

Oriented films of cellulose prepared from algal cellulose were hydrothermally treated to convert them into highly crystalline cellulose Iβ. The lateral thermal expansion behavior of the prepared cellulose Iβ films was investigated using X-ray diffraction at temperatures from 20 to 300 °C. Cellulose Iβ was transformed into the high-temperature phase when the temperature was above 230 °C, allowing the lateral thermal expansion coefficient of cellulose Iβ and its high-temperature phase to be measured. For cellulose Iβ, the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of the a- and b-axes were α_a = 9.8 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹ and α_b = 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹, respectively. This anisotropic thermal expansion behavior in the lateral direction is ascribed to the crystal structure and to the hydrogen-bonding system of cellulose Iβ. For the high-temperature phase, the anisotropy was more conspicuous, and the TECs of the a- and b-axes were α_a = 19.8 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹ and α_b = −1.6 × 10⁻⁵ °C⁻¹, respectively. Synchrotron X-ray fiber diffraction diagrams of the high-temperature phase were also recorded at 250 °C. The cellulose high-temperature phase is composed of a two-chain monoclinic unit cell, a = 0.819 nm, b = 0.818 nm, c (fiber repeat) = 1.037 nm, and γ = 96.4°, with space group = P2₁. The volume of this cell is 4.6% larger than that of cellulose Iβ at 30 °C.     

Interactions of the complete cellobiohydrolase I from Trichodera reesei with microcrystalline cellulose Iβ

We describe the construction of a model complex of the cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I) cellulase from Trichoderma reesei bound to a cellulose microfibril in an aqueous environment for use in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Preliminary characterization from the initial phases of an MD simulation of this complex is also described. The linker sequence between the two globular domains was found to be quite flexible, and the oligosaccharides bound to this linker were found to prefer to be splayed like the spokes in a wheel due to their hydration requirements. The overall conformations of the two globular domains remained stable in the simulations, although both underwent changes in their orientations.     

Iα → Iβ transition of cellulose under ultrasonic radiation

Aqueous suspensions of dispersed Glaucocystis cellulose microfibrils were sonicated at 4 °C for 3 h, using 24 kHz ultrasonic waves. This treatment induced a variety of ultrastructural defects, as the microfibrils became not only shortened, but also presented substantial damage materialized by kinks and subfibrillation. Upon analysis by X-ray diffraction and ¹³C solid-state NMR spectroscopy, it was found that the initial sample that contained 90 % of cellulose I_α allomorph became, to a large extent, unexpectedly converted into the I_β phase, while the loss of crystallinity was only moderate during the sonication treatment.     

Anisotropy of the elastic properties of crystalline cellulose Iβ from first principles density functional theory with Van der Waals interactions

In spite of the significant potential of cellulose nanocrystals as functional nanoparticles for numerous applications, a fundamental understanding of the mechanical properties of defect-free, crystalline cellulose is still lacking. In this paper, the elasticity matrix for cellulose I_β with hydrogen bonding network A was calculated using ab initio density functional theory with a semi-empirical correction for van der Waals interactions. The computed Young’s modulus is found to be 206 GPa along [001] (c-axis), 98 GPa along [010] (b-axis), and 19 GPa along [100] (a-axis). Full compliance matrices are reported for 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 % applied strains Color contour surfaces that show variations of the Young’s modulus and average Poisson’s ratio with crystallographic direction revealed the extreme anisotropies of these important mechanical properties. The sensitivity of the elastic parameters to misalignments in the crystal were examined with 2D polar plots within selected planes containing specific bonding characteristics; these are used to explain the substantial variability in the reported experimental Young’s moduli values. Results for the lattice directions [001], [010] and [100] are within the range of reported experimental and other numerical values.     

Relative susceptibility of the Iα and Iβ phases of cellulose towards acetylation

The relative reactivity of the I and I phases of Valonia cellulose toward partial homogeneous acetylation was investigated by FT-IR and CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. At the beginning of the acetylation and when only partial reaction was achieved, it was found that the reactivity of the I phase was substantially higher than that of the corresponding I component. At a later stage of acetylation, the difference in reactivity between the two phases was less pronounced. In correlation with previous ultrastructural observations (Sassi and Chanzy, 1995), it can be concluded that at equivalent accessibility, the I phase of cellulose is indeed more reactive toward acetylation than the I phase. The homogeneous acetylation of cellulose is essentially a surface reaction that affects only the accessible parts located at the surface of the microfibrils. The decrease in the rate of I phase disappearance with acetylation time confirms therefore that the microstructure of Valonia is made of domains that are distributed throughout the thickness of its microfibrils.     

Effect of microfibril twisting on theoretical powder diffraction patterns of cellulose Iβ

Previous studies of calculated diffraction patterns for cellulose crystallites suggest that distortions that arise once models have been subjected to molecular dynamics (MD) simulation are the result of both microfibril twisting and changes in unit cell dimensions induced by the empirical force field; to date, it has not been possible to separate the individual contributions of these effects. To provide a better understanding of how twisting manifests in diffraction data, the present study demonstrates a method for generating twisted and linear cellulose structures that can be compared without the bias of dimensional changes, allowing assessment of the impact of twisting alone. Analysis of unit cell dimensions, microfibril volume, hydrogen bond patterns, glycosidic torsion angles, and hydroxymethyl group orientations confirmed that the twisted and linear structures collected with this method were internally consistent, and theoretical powder diffraction patterns for the two were shown to be effectively indistinguishable. These results indicate that differences between calculated patterns for the crystal coordinates and twisted structures from MD simulation can result entirely from changes in unit cell dimensions, and not from microfibril twisting. Although powder diffraction patterns for models in the 81-chain size regime were shown to be unaffected by twisting, suggesting that a modest degree of twist is not inconsistent with available crystallographic data, it may be that other diffraction techniques are capable of detecting this structural difference. Until such time as definitive experimental evidence comes to light, the results of this study suggest that both twisted and linear microfibrils may represent an appropriate model for cellulose Iβ.     

Archaeological pottery from Nasca culture studied by Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy combined with X-ray diffraction

In the present paper, we report on a study of archaeological fragments from Nasca ceramics using Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD). By combining results obtained by these methods it is possible to quantitatively determine the paints composition, temperature and environment during the firing. The samples were collected from the Ceremonial Centre of Cahuachi in Southern coast of Peru. Raman spectroscopy allows us to determine the composition of the different pigments used in the preparation of Nasca ceramic. The results show that the composition of the white pigments is formed by rutile and anatase while the black and red pigments are formed by amorphous carbon and hematite, respectively. The Mössbauer spectra were measured at room temperature (RT) and show the presence of components associated with Fe³⁺ indicating an oxidizing environment during the manufacturing process of the ceramic. The analysis is complemented by data obtained by X-ray diffraction suggesting firing temperatures around 950 °C, in agreement with Raman measurements.     

Localization of Iα and Iβ phases in algal cellulose revealed by acid treatments

Highly crystalline I-rich type Cladophora cellulose, which had been kept in never-dried condition, was treated in 60wt% sulfuric acid at 100°C, for 1–48h. The cellulose microcrystals thus obtained were analysed by X-ray diffractometry, FT-IR, and transmission electron microscopy. The I component was found to be more degraded than the I component. The cellulose I/I ratios of the samples acid-treated for 0, 24, and 48 h were about 8:2, 6:4, and 4:6, respectively. After the acid treatment, the microcrystals became narrower in width, and very sharp at their ends. These results indicate that the I phase is mostly located at the surface of the microcrystals, which is morphologically more susceptible to the acid treatment.     

Tensile strength of Iβ crystalline cellulose predicted by molecular dynamics simulation

The mechanical properties of Iβ crystalline cellulose are studied using molecular dynamics simulation. A model Iβ crystal is deformed in the three orthogonal directions at three different strain rates. The stress–strain behaviors for each case are analyzed and then used to calculate mechanical properties. The results show that the elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, yield stress and strain, and ultimate stress and strain are highly anisotropic. In addition, while the properties that describe the elastic behavior of the material are independent of strain rate, the yield and ultimate properties increase with increasing strain rate. The deformation and failure modes associated with these properties and the relationships between the material’s response to tension and the evolution of the crystal structure are analyzed.     

Four transition metal complexes constructed with mixed mercaptotetrazole and 4,4′-bipyridine ligands

Based on 5-mercapto-1H-tetrazole-1-methanesulfonic acid disodium salt (Na₂mtms) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bpy) as ligands, four new transition metal complexes, namely {[Cd₂(mtms)(bpy)₂(OAc)₂]·H₂O} _n (1), {[Cd(mtms)(bpy)₂(H₂O)₂]₂·bpy·4H₂O} _n (2), {[Zn₂(μ ₂-OH)(mtms)(bpy)₃(H₂O)]·ClO₄·H₂O} _n (3), and {[Co(mtms)₂(bpy)(H₂O)₂]·[Co(bpy)₂(H₂O)₄]·H₂O} _n (4), have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 features a pillared-layer coordination architecture linked by acetate, mtms, and bridging bpy ligands. Complex 2 has a 1D polymeric structure with [Cd(mtms)(bpy)₂(H₂O)₂] as the repeating unit; these infinite chains are further connected into a 3D supramolecular framework through π–π stacking of bpy ligands. In complex 3, the mtms ligand combined with μ ₂-OH bridges two Zn atoms to form a dimer structure, which is different from that of complex 2. Complex 4 shows a 3D supramolecular network containing infinite [Co(mtms)₂(bpy)(H₂O)₂]^2? anionic chains and free [Co(bpy)₂(H₂O)₄]²⁺ cationic components. The luminescence properties of 1 and 2 and the electrochemical properties of 3 are reported.     

Structure of β-SrRh2O4 from X-ray and neutron powder diffraction

β-SrRh₂O₄, a novel high temperature phase, is prepared as black powder by solid state reaction of SrCO₃ with Rh in air. The compound crystallises in the space group P63c, Z = 1, with a = 3.0626(2) Å and c = 11.3996(7) Å. The structure consists of Cd1₂-type layers of edge sharing RhO₆ octahedra with an AABB oxygen layer sequence. Strontium is found in partial occupation of both available interlayer sites, in trigonal prismatic coordination.     

VOPO4·H2O: a stacking faults structure studied by X-ray powder diffraction and DFT-D calculations

The dehydration process of VOPO(4)·2H(2)O occurs in two steps corresponding to successive elimination of the two crystallographically distinct water molecules. The intermediate phase VOPO(4)·H(2)O has been stabilized for X-ray powder diffraction studies. The resulting data suggest a tetragonal cell (a = 6.2203(2) ? and c = 6.18867(7) ?), but an important anisotropy in the line broadening points out the necessity of considering a not perfectly organized structure. Because of the layered structure of this compound, density functional theory calculations including dispersion corrections have been carried out to evaluate the possible presence of stacking faults. The results of these calculations give information about the nature of the translations and their probabilities using a Boltzmann distribution. DIFFaX+ simulations of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern have been carried out using the results of the theoretical calculations and confirm the presence and nature of stacking faults.     

Simulating infrared spectra and hydrogen bonding in cellulose Iβ at elevated temperatures

We have modeled the transformation of cellulose Iβ to a high temperature (550 K) structure, which is considered to be the first step in cellulose pyrolysis. We have performed molecular dynamics simulations at constant pressure using the GROMOS 45a4 united atom forcefield. To test the forcefield, we computed the density, thermal expansion coefficient, total dipole moment, and dielectric constant of cellulose Iβ, finding broad agreement with experimental results. We computed infrared (IR) spectra of cellulose Iβ over the range 300-550 K as a probe of hydrogen bonding. Computed IR spectra were found to agree semi-quantitatively with experiment, especially in the O-H stretching region. We assigned O-H stretches using a novel synthesis of normal mode analysis and power spectrum methods. Simulated IR spectra at elevated temperatures suggest a structural transformation above 450 K, a result in agreement with experimental IR results. The low-temperature (300-400 K) structure of cellulose Iβ is dominated by intrachain hydrogen bonds, whereas in the high-temperature structure (450-550 K), many of these transform to longer, weaker interchain hydrogen bonds. A three-dimensional hydrogen bonding network emerges at high temperatures due to formation of new interchain hydrogen bonds, which may explain the stability of the cellulose structure at such high temperatures.     

A novel two-dimensional silver(I) saccharinato coordination polymer constructed from weak Ag?C interactions: Synthesis, IR spectra and X-ray structure

A new dinuclear silver(I)-saccharinato (sac) complex with acetonitrile (MeCN), [Ag₂(sac)₂(MeCN)₂]_n has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The silver(I) ions are doubly bridged by two sac ligands, leading to a short argentophilic contact of 2.9074(3) Å. Each silver(I) ion exhibits a square-planar coordination geometry including the Ag-Ag bonds. The individual dimeric molecules are extended into a two-dimensional layered structure by weak Ag?C_sac (η²) interactions of ca. 3.2 Å. These interactions were discussed and compared with those found in the first silver(I)-sac complex [Ag(sac)]_n.     

Quantum mechanical calculations on cellulose–water interactions: structures,energetics, vibrational frequencies and NMR chemical shifts for surfaces of Iα and Iβ cellulose

Periodic and molecular cluster density functional theory calculations were performed on the Iα (001), Iα (021), Iβ (100), and Iβ (110) surfaces of cellulose with and without explicit H₂O molecules of hydration. The energy-minimized H-bonding structures, water adsorption energies, vibrational spectra, and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts are discussed. The H-bonded structures and water adsorption energies (ΔE_ads) are used to distinguish hydrophobic and hydrophilic cellulose–water interactions. O–H stretching vibrational modes are assigned for hydrated and dry cellulose surfaces. Calculations of the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts for the C4 and C6 surface atoms demonstrate that these δ¹³C4 and δ¹³C6 values can be upfield shifted from the bulk values as observed without rotation of the hydroxymethyl groups from the bulk tg conformation to the gt conformation as previously assumed.     

Dinuclear and polynuclear silver(I) saccharinate complexes with 1,3-diaminopropane and N-methylethylenediamine constructed from Ag?C interactions

New dinuclear and polynuclear Ag(I) complexes with the formula of [Ag₂(sac)₂(pen)₂] (1) and [Ag₂(sac)₂(nmen)]_n (2), (sac = saccharinate, pen = 1,3-diaminopropane, nmen = N-methylethylenediamine) have been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy and thermal (TG/DTG, DTA) analysis. In addition, their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In 1, Ag(I) ions are doubly bridged by two pen ligands, besides pen ligands exhibit an interesting coordination mode by binding bridging ligand. Sac ligands connect to silver atom through its imino N atom. Furthermore, each Ag(I) ion exhibits a T-shaped coordination geometry. In 2, Ag(I) coordination environment is again T-shaped, including weak Ag-Ag bonds. The sac exhibits bidentate bringing mode, involving its imino nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms, besides, bridging of Ag(I) centres by sac ligands results in argentophilic contacts. The polymeric units are assembled into two-dimensional networks by hydrogen bonds, C-H?π stacking interactions, weak Ag?C_sac (η²) and Ag?O interactions.     

Zwitterionic copper(I) π-complexes with monosubstituted alkynes. Synthesis and X-ray diffraction study of a π-complex of copper(I) chloride with 4-ethynyl-4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinium chloride

The first mononuclear π-complex of copper(I) chloride with monosubstituted alkyne of the formula [(C₉H₁₆NH₂(OH)C≡CH)CuCl₂] was obtained in the system CuCl-HCl-H₂O-(C₉H₁₆NH₂(OH)C≡CH)Cl (C₉H₁₆NH ₂ ⁺ (OH)C≡CH is the 4-ethynyl-4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinium cation) and studied by single-crystal X-ray and X-ray powder diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic: a = 16.868(8) Å, b = 13.177(8) Å, c = 13.32(1) Å, γ = 103.50(4)°, space group P2₁/b, Z = 8. The structure of the complex contains two crystallographically independent zwitterionic entities of the formula [(C₉H₁₆NH₂(OH)C≡CH)CuCl₂], which result from π-coordination of the potential π-bidentate bond C≡C of the organic cation to one Cu(I) atom of the inorganic anion CuCl ₂ ^? . The distances Cu-m (m is the midpoint of the C≡C bond) are 1.91(2) Å. Along with weak intermolecular hydrogen bonds ≡CH...Cl and intramolecular contacts OH...Cl, the structure is stabilized by a directed ionic interaction through strong NH...Cl bonds.