Synthesis of high surface area nanometer magnesia by solid-state chemical reaction

Nanometer MgO samples with high surface area, small crystal size and mesoporous texture were synthesized by thermal decomposition of MgC₂O₄ · 2H₂O prepared from solid-state chemical reaction between H₂C₂O₄ · 2H₂O and Mg (CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O. Steam produced during the decomposition process accelerated the sintering of MgO, and MgO with surface area as high as 412 m² · g⁻¹ was obtained through calcining its precursor in flowing dry nitrogen at 520°C for 4 h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analysis. The as-prepared MgO was composed of nanocrystals with a size of about 4–5 nm and formed a wormhole-like porous structure. The MgO also had good thermal stability, and its surface areas remained at 357 and 153 m²·g⁻¹ after calcination at 600 and 800°C for 2 h, respectively. Compared with the MgO sample prepared by the precipitation method, MgO prepared by solid-state chemical reaction has uniform pore size distribution, surface area, and crystal size. The solid-state chemical method has the advantages of low cost, low pollution, and high yield, therefore it appears to be a promising method in the industrial manufacture of nanometer MgO. Translated from Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2006, 27(9): 793–798 (in Chinese)     

Gelled Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>HPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · 12H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O with amylose-g-sodium acrylate: heat storage performance,heat capacity and heat of fusion

A novel gelling method was studied to stabilize phase change material Na₂HPO₄ · 12H₂O with amylose grafted sodium acrylate. Gelled Na₂HPO₄ · 12H₂O shows stable heat storage performance prepared at optimized conditions: 2.7mass/mass% sodium acrylate, 0.4 mass/mass% amylose, 0.05–0.09 mass/mass% N, N′-methylenebisacrylamide, 0.05–0.09 mass/mass% K₂S₂O₈ and Na₂SO₃ (mass ratio 1:1), at 50 °C. Na₂HPO₄ · 12H₂O was dispersed in gel network as tiny crystals less than 0.1 mm. Melting points were in the range 35.4 ± 2 °C. Short-term thermal cycling proves the effectiveness of the novel method for eliminating phase separation in the gelled salt. Adiabatic calorimetric measurement of heat capacities shows two phase transitions, which correspond to melting of Na₂HPO₄ · 12H₂O and freezable bond water in gel, respectively. Heat of fusion of pure Na₂HPO₄ · 12H₂O was determined as 260.9 J g⁻¹. Distribution of extra water is: free water:freezable water:nonfreezing water = 0:0.85:0.15.     

Application of the Specific Ion Interaction Theory → the Solubility Product and First Hydrolysis Constant of Europium

The specific ion interaction theory (SIT) was applied to the first hydrolysis constants of Eu(III) and solubility product of Eu(OH)₃ in aqueous 2, 3 and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄ at 303.0 K, under CO₂-free conditions. Diagrams of pEu_aq versus pC_H were constructed from solubilities obtained by a radiometric method, the solubility product log₁₀ K_{sp, Eu(OH)3}^I {Eu(OH)_3(s) Eu_aq³⁺+ 3OH_aq⁻ } values were calculated from these diagrams and the results obtained are log₁₀ K_sp,Eu(OH)3^I = − 22.65 ± 0.29, −23.32 ± 0.33 and −23.70 ± 0.35 for ionic strengths of 2, 3 and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄, respectively. First hydrolysis constants {Eu_aq³⁺+H₂O Eu(OH)_(aq)²⁺+H⁺ } were also determined in these media by pH titration and the values found are log₁₀β_Eu,H^I = − 8.19 ± 0.15, −7.90 ± 0.7 and −7.61 ± 0.01 for ionic strengths of 2, 3, and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄, respectively. Total solubilities were estimated taking into account the formation of both Eu³⁺ and Eu(OH)²⁺ (7.7 < pC_H < 9) and the values found are: 1.4 × 10⁻⁶ mol⋅dm⁻³, 1.2 × 10⁻⁶ mol⋅dm⁻³ and 1.3 × 10⁻⁶ mol⋅dm⁻³, for ionic strengths of 2, 3 and 4 mol⋅dm⁻³ NaClO₄, respectively. The limiting values at zero ionic strength were extrapolated by means of the SIT from the experimental results of the present research together with some other published values. The results obtained are log₁₀ K_{sp, Eu(OH)3}^o = − 23.94 ± 0.51 (1.96 SD) and log₁₀β_Eu,H⁰ = − 7.49 ± 0.15 (1.96 SD).     

Rate constant for the reaction of bromine atoms with ethane: Kinetic and thermochemical implications

Relative-rate kinetic experiments were carried-out at T = 310 ± 3 K to determine rate constant ratios for the reactions of Br atoms with C₂H₆(1), CH₂ClBr(2) and neo-C₅H₁₂(3). Br atoms were produced by stationary photolysis of Br₂ and the consumption of the reactants was determined by gas-chromatography. k ₂/k ₁ = 1.174 ± 0.053 and k ₃/k ₁ = 0.458 ± 0.027 were determined (with 1σ precision given). The rate constant ratios were resolved to absolute k ₁ values, and k ₁(310 K) = (2.27 ± 0.30) × 10⁵ cm³ mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ was recommended. The recommended k ₁ was applied in a third law analysis providing Δ_f H ^o ₂₉₈(C₂H₅) = (122.0 ± 1.9) kJ mol⁻¹.     

Studies of dehydration kinetics of Li2SO4·H2O by the master plots method

The kinetics of Li₂SO₄·H₂O dehydration in static air atmosphere was studied on the basis of nonisothermal measurements by differential scanning calorimetry. Dehydration data were subjected to an integral composite procedure, which includes an isoconversional method, a master plots method and a model-fitting method. Avrami-Erofeev equation was found to describe all the experimental data in the range of conversion degrees from 0.1 to 0.9. The determined activation energy equals 65.45 kJ·mol⁻¹ with standard deviation ±0.47 kJ·mol⁻¹. The estimated value of parameter m in Avrami-Erofeev equation is 2.15 with standard deviation ±0.11. Also, the obtained pre-exponential factor is 7.79×10⁵ s⁻¹ with standard deviation ±0.55×10⁵ s⁻¹. The results show that the present integral composite procedure gives self-consistent kinetic parameters.     

Formation of different products during photo-catalytic reaction on TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> suspension in water with and without 2-propanol under diverse ambient conditions

Studies on photo-catalytic reduction of CO₂ using TiO₂ photo-catalyst (0.1%, w/v) as a suspension in water was carried out at 350 nm light. CO₂ from both commercially available source, as well as generated in situ through 2-propanol oxidation, was used for this study. The photolytic products such as hydrogen (H₂), carbon monoxide (CO) andmethane (CH₄) generated were monitored in TiO₂ suspended aqueous solution with and without a hole scavenger, viz., 2-propanol. Similar photolytic experiments were also carried out with varying ambient such as air, O₂, N₂ and N₂O. The yields of CO and CH₄ in all these systems under the present experimental conditions were found to be increasing with light exposure time. H₂ yield in N₂-purged systems containing 2-propanol was found to be more as compared to the without 2-propanol system. The rate of H₂ production in N₂-purged aqueous solutions containing 0.1% TiO₂ suspension were evaluated to be 0.226 and 5.8 μl/h, without and with 0.5 M 2-propanol, respectively. This confirmed that 2-propanol was an efficient hole scavenger and it scavenged photo-generated holes (h⁺), allowing its counter ion, viz., e⁻, to react with water molecule/H⁺ to yield more H₂. The formation of both CO and CH₄ in the photolysis of CO₂-purged aqueous solutions containing suspended TiO₂ in absence of 2-propanol reveal that the generation of CH₄ is taking place mainly through CO intermediate. In presence of air/O₂, the yield of H₂ in the system without 2-propanol was observed to be negligible as compared to the system containing 2-propanol in which low yield of H₂ was obtained with a formation rate of approx. 0.5 μl/h.     

Kinetics of the ?OH-radical initiated reactions of acetic acid and its deuterated isomers

Kinetics of the ^•OH-initiated reactions of acetic acid and its deuterated isomers have been investigated performing simulation chamber experiments at T = 300 ± 2 K. The following rate constant values have been obtained (± 1σ, in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k ₁(CH₃C(O)OH + ^•OH) = (6.3 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹³, k ₂(CH₃C(O)OD + ^•OH) = (1.5 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹³, k ₃(CD₃C(O)OH + ^•OH) = (6.3 ± 0.9) × 10⁻¹³, and k ₄(CD₃C(O)OD + ^•OH) = (0.90 ± 0.1) × 10⁻¹³. This study presents the first data on k ₂(CH₃C(O)OD + ^•OH). Glyoxylic acid has been detected among the products confirming the fate of the ^•CH₂C(O)OH radical as suggested by recent theoretical studies.     

Determination of the enthalpy of fusion of K<Subscript>3</Subscript>TaO<Subscript>2</Subscript>F<Subscript>4</Subscript> and KTaF<Subscript>6</Subscript>

Areas of fusion and crystallization peaks of K₃TaO₂F₄ and KTaF₆ were measured using the DSC mode of a high-temperature calorimeter (SETARAM 1800 K). On the basis of these quantities, considering the temperature dependence of the calorimeter sensitivity, values of the fusion enthalpy of K₃TaO₂F₄ at the fusion temperature of 1181 K of (43 ± 4) kJ mol⁻¹ and of KTaF₆ at the fusion temperature of 760 K of (8 ± 1) kJ mol⁻¹ were determined.     

Low-temperature heat capacity and standard enthalpy of formation of neodymium glycine perchlorate complex [Nd2(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O

Rare-earth perchlorate complex coordinated with glycine [Nd₂(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O was synthesized and its structure was characterized by using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), chemical analysis and elementary analysis. Its purity was 99.90%. Heat capacity measurement was carried out with a high-precision fully-automatic adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 369 K. A solid-solid phase transformation peak was observed at 256.97 K, with the enthalpy and entropy of the phase transformation process are 4.438 kJ mol⁻¹ and 17.270 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. There is a big dehydrated peak appears at 330 K, its decomposition temperature, decomposition enthalpy and entropy are 320.606 K, 41.364 kJ mol⁻¹ and 129.018 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The polynomial equations of heat capacity of this compound in different temperature ranges have been fitted. The standard enthalpy of formation was determined to be −8023.002 kJ mol⁻¹ with isoperibol reaction calorimeter at 298.15 K.     

Chromium(III) Hydroxide Solubility in the Aqueous K+-H+-OH?-CO2-HCO 3? -CO 32? -H2O System: A?Thermodynamic Model

Chromium(III)-carbonate reactions are expected to be important in managing high-level radioactive wastes. Extensive studies on the solubility of amorphous Cr(III) hydroxide solid in a wide range of pH (3–13) at two different fixed partial pressures of CO₂(g) (0.003 or 0.03 atm.), and as functions of K₂CO₃ concentrations (0.01 to 5.8 mol⋅kg⁻¹) in the presence of 0.01 mol⋅dm⁻³ KOH and KHCO₃ concentrations (0.001 to 0.826 mol⋅kg⁻¹) at room temperature (22±2 °C) were carried out to obtain reliable thermodynamic data for important Cr(III)-carbonate reactions. A combination of techniques (XRD, XANES, EXAFS, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, thermodynamic analyses of solubility data, and quantum mechanical calculations) was used to characterize the solid and aqueous species. The Pitzer ion-interaction approach was used to interpret the solubility data. Only two aqueous species [Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻ and Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻] are required to explain Cr(III)-carbonate reactions in a wide range of pH, CO₂(g) partial pressures, and bicarbonate and carbonate concentrations. Calculations based on density functional theory support the existence of these species. The log ₁₀ K° values of reactions involving these species [{Cr(OH)₃(am) + 2CO₂(g)⇌Cr(OH)(CO₃)₂²⁻+2H⁺} and {Cr(OH)₃(am) + OH⁻+CO₃²⁻ ⇌Cr(OH)₄CO₃³⁻}] were found to be −(19.07±0.41) and −(4.19±0.19), respectively. No other data on any Cr(III)-carbonato complexes are available for comparisons.     

Preparation and Optical Properties of Gold-Dispersed BaTiO3, PGO (Pb5Ge3O11) and PLT (Pb1-1.5xLaxTiO3) Thin Films by Sol-Gel Process

Gold-dispersed BaTiO₃, PGO and PLT thin films, which will be used for third-order nonlinear optical devices, were prepared by sol-gel process with spin-coating using HAuCl₄4H₂O, Ba(CH₃COO)₂, Ti[O(CH₂)₃CH₃]₄, Pb(CH₃COO)₂3H₂O, Ge[O-n-C₄H₉]₄, La(CH₃COO)₃1.5 H₂O as starting materials. The thin films were heat-treated in air at temperatures ranging from 400 to 800 for 1 h. The nonlinear optical property of these thin films was measured by the degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) method using a frequency-doubled Nd: YAG laser with 20 ps pulse duration. Third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ of gold-dispersed BaTiO₃, PGO and PLT thin films with 5 vol% of gold were 1.410⁻⁶ esu, 3.510⁻⁷ esu respectively. The large χ⁽³⁾ may be ascribed to the high dielectric constant of the films.     

Alkylation of salts ofN-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-N′-hydroxydiazeneN-oxides with alkyl halides and dimethyl sulfate

Salts ofN-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-N′-hydroxydiazeneN-oxides, RCH(OH)CH₂N(O)=NO⁻ M⁺ (R=Me, Prⁱ, or Bu^t; and M=Li, Na, K, Ag, NH₄, or Me₄N), were prepared. Their alkylation with alkyl halides R′X (X=Cl, Br, or I) and dimethyl sulfate was studied. Generally, alkylation afforded mixtures ofN-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-N′-alkoxydiazeneN-oxides RCH(OH)CH₂N(O)=NOR′ andO-alkyl-N-(β-hydroxyalkyl)-N-nitrosohydroxylamines RCH(OH)CH₂N(NO)OR′. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1996–2001, October, 1998.     

Electrochemical synthesis of Fe3O4-PB nanoparticles with core-shell structure and its electrocatalytic reduction toward H2O2

The Fe₃O₄-Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles with core-shell structure have been in situ prepared directly on a nano-Fe₃O₄-modified glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV). First, the magnetic nano-Fe₃O₄ particles were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Then, the properties of the Fe₃O₄-PB nanoparticles were characterized by CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and superconducting quantum interference device. The resulting core-shell Fe₃O₄-PB-modified electrode displays a dramatic electrocatalytic ability toward H₂O₂ reduction, and the catalytic current was a linear function with the concentration of H₂O₂ in the range of 1 × 10⁻⁷~5 × 10⁻⁴ mol/l. A detection limit of 2 × 10⁻⁸ (s/n = 3) was determined. Moreover, it showed good reproducibility, enhanced long-term stability, and potential applications in fields of magnetite biosensors.     

FTIR-ATR <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> observation on the efflorescence and deliquescence processes of Mg(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> aerosols

The efflorescence and deliquescence processes of Mg(NO₃)₂ aerosol particles deposited on ZnSe substrate have been investigated through in situ Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) technique at the molecular level. At relative humidity (RH) of ∼3%, Mg(NO₃)₂ particles existed as amorphous states. The amorphous Mg(NO₃)₂ particles were transformed into crystalline Mg(NO₃)₂ · nH₂O (n ≤ 5) with slight increasing of RH. Thermodynamically stable Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O crystals were gradually formed on the particle surface and started to be dissolved at the saturation point (∼53% RH). At the same time, a continuous phase transition from Mg(NO₃)₂ · nH₂O (n≤5) to Mg(NO₃)₂·6H₂O occurred on the particle surface. This led the solid particles to completely deliquesce at 76% RH, which was much higher than the saturation point of 53% RH. In the efflorescence process, Mg(NO₃)₂ droplets entered into the supersaturated region due to the gradual evaporation of water. Finally, amorphous particles were formed when RH decreased below 5%. In the FTIR-ATR spectra of the supersaturated Mg(NO₃)₂ droplets, the absorbance of the symmetric stretching vibration of NO ₃ ⁻ (v ₁- NO ₃ ⁻ ) clearly became stronger. It resulted from the continuous formation of solvent share ion pairs (SIPs), and even the contact ion pairs (CIPs) between Mg²⁺ and NO ₃ ⁻ . Supported by the Trans-Century Program Foundation for the Talents by the Ministry of Education of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20073004, 20473012, and 20673010), the 111 Project (B07012), and the State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry for Solid Surface of Xiamen University     

Preparation and characterization of nanotube Li-Ti-O by molten salt method

Nanotube Li-Ti-O compound with high surface (198.6 m²·g⁻¹) was prepared by a method involving the treatment of nanotube Na₂Ti₂O₅·H₂O in molten LiNO₃ and characterization by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectra (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG/DTG). Results show that the nanotube Li-Ti-O compound prepared by this method involves two crystal phases: spinel Li₂Ti₂O₄ and anatase Li_xTiO₂ (x < 0.1). Li⁺ exhibits different Li1s binding energy in the two crystal phases. In ambient air, the Li-Ti-O compound adsorbs water easily, and the chemically adsorbed water is difficult to remove below 400°C. Translated from Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2006, 22(12): 2135–2139 [译自: 无机化学学报]     

Nano Au/TiO2 hollow microsphere membranes for the improved sensitivity of detecting specific DNA sequences related to transgenes in transgenic plants

Gold nanoparticles (nano Au)/titanium dioxide (TiO₂) hollow microsphere membranes were prepared on the carbon paste electrode (CPE) for enhancing the sensitivity of DNA hybridization detection. The immobilization of nano Au and TiO₂ microsphere was investigated with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The hybridization events were monitored with EIS using [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− as indicator. The sequence-specific DNA of the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV35S) gene was detected with this DNA electrochemical sensor. The dynamic detection range was from 1.0×10⁻¹² to 1.0×10⁻⁸ mol/L DNA and a detection limit of 2.3×10⁻¹³ mol/L could be obtained. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the terminator of nopaline synthase (NOS) gene from the real sample of a kind of transgenic soybean was also satisfactorily detected. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20635020 and 20375020), Doctoral Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 20060426001) and Natural Science Foundation of Qingdao City (Grant No. 04-2-JZP-8)     

Thermochemical properties of the Fe-analogue of cryolite, Na3FeF6

Relative enthalpies for low-and high-temperature modifications of Na₃FeF₆ and for the Na₃FeF₆ melt have been measured by drop calorimetry in the temperature range 723–1318 K. Enthalpy of modification transition at 920 K, δ_trans H(Na₃FeF₆, 920 K) = (19 ± 3) kJ mol⁻¹ and enthalpy of fusion at the temperature of fusion 1255 K, δ_fusH(Na₃FeF₆, 1255 K) = (89 ± 3) kJ mol⁻¹ have been determined from the experimental data. Following heat capacities were obtained for the crystalline phases and for the melt, respectively: C _p(Na₃FeF₆, cr, α) = (294 ± 14) J (mol K)⁻¹, for 723 = T/K ≤ 920, C _p(Na₃FeF₆, cr, β) = (300 ± 11) J (mol K)⁻¹ for 920 ≤ T/K = 1233 and C _p(Na₃FeF₆, melt) = (275 ± 22) J (mol K)⁻¹ for 1258 ≤ T/K ≤ 1318. The obtained enthalpies indicate that melting of Na3FeF6 proceeds through a continuous series of temperature dependent equilibrium states, likely associated with the production of a solid solution.      

A kinetic study of the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-methionine by water soluble colloidal MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Aqueous solution of water soluble colloidal MnO₂ was prepared by Perez-Benito method. Kinetics of l-methionine oxidation by colloidal MnO₂ in perchloric acid (0.93 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.72 × 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³) has been studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction follows first-order kinetics with respect to [H⁺]. The first-order kinetics with respect to l-methionine at low concentration shifts to zero order at higher concentration. The effects of [Mn(II)] and [F⁻] on the reaction rate were also determined. Manganese (II) has sigmoidal effect on the rate reaction and act as auto catalyst. The exact dependence on [Mn(II)] cannot be explained due to its oxidation by colloidal MnO₂. Methionine sulfoxide was formed as the oxidation product of l-methionine. Ammonia and carbon dioxide have not been identified as the reaction products. The mechanism with the observed kinetics has been proposed and discussed.     

Adsorption of nitrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and their binary mixtures on aluminophosphate molecular sieves

Experimental isotherms describing the adsorption of pure N₂, CH₄ and CO in AlPO₄-11, AlPO₄-17, and AlPO₄-18 were determined using the volumetric method at 40°C and at 23°C (AlPO₄-11 only) over a pressure range up to 123 kPa, and subsequently fitted with the Langmuir or Freundlich equations, as well as the Flory-Huggins Vacancy Solution Theory equation. The capacities for the adsorbates investigated were found to depend on the geometry of the sieve pore size, as well as the molecular dimensions and the polority of the adsorbate involved. At 40°C and over the investigated pressure range, AlPO₄-11 and AlPO₄-17 adsorbed pure CH₄ in the highest amounts, while AlPO₄-18 had a slightly higher capacity for pure CO. The model parameters obtained by fitting the experimental pure-component isotherms permitted the prediction of binary adsorption information for the CO−N₂, CH₄−CO, and CH₄−N₂ gas mixtures at 101.3 kPa total pressure, using the Extended Langmuir Model, the Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory, and/or the Flory-Huggins Vacancy Solution Theory for mixtures. An explanation of the behaviour predicted by each model for each adsorption system is attempted.