Characterization of CO2 Plasma and Interactions with Polypropylene Film

The interactions between CO₂ plasma, less degrading than O₂ plasma, and polymeric surfaces are studied. CO₂ discharge and the relationships between the density of plasma reactive species are analyzed by optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The optical emission spectrum was identified and five principal systems of carbon monoxide were assigned: the 4th and 3rd positive systems, Angstrom and 3A systems. Other systems dealing with ionized species CO⁺ ₂ and CO⁺ were also found. Mass spectrometry showed that the carbon monoxide and atomic oxygen were created through CO₂ dissociation by electronic impact. The detected molecular oxygen coming from the atomic oxygen recombination was associated with the power. The study of plasma/polymer interface showed the consumption of ionized species, the appearance of atomic hydrogen due to methyl groups transformation into exomethylene groups onto the polypropylene surface, and a degradation mechanism dependent on atomic oxygen density in the plasma phase.     

Effects of hydroxyl radicals and oxygen species on the 4-chlorophenol degradation by photoelectrocatalytic reactions with TiO2-film electrodes

The supported nano-TiO₂ electrode was prepared by sol–gel and hydrothermal method, and the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) under UV irradiation has been investigated to reveal the roles of hydroxyl radicals and dissolved oxygen species for TiO₂-assisted photocatalytic reactions. The degradation kinetics, the formation and decay of intermediates, the isotopic tracer experiments with H₂O¹⁸, the removal yield of total organic carbon and the formation of active radical species in the presence of oxygen or not were examined by HPLC, GC–MS, TOC and spin-trap ESR spectrometry. It was found that most of OH radicals in the primary hydroxylated intermediates derived from the oxidation of adsorbed H₂O or HO⁻ by photo-holes in the electrochemically assisted TiO₂ photocatalytic system. It also indicates that the enhancement in the separation efficiency of photogenerated charges by applying a positive bias (+0.5 V vs SCE) has little role in the following decomposition and mineralization of these hydroxylated intermediates in the absence of oxygen. According to above experimental results, the pathway of 4-CP photocatalytic degradation was deduced initially. Due to the combined effect of OH radicals and dissolved oxygen species, the hydroxylated 4-chlorphenol, via cis, cis-3-chloromuconic acid, was decomposed into low molecular weight acid and CO₂.     

Kinetic Features of the Formation of Gaseous Products upon Oxygen-Plasma Surface Treatment of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Poly(ethylene terephthalate), and Polyimide Films

The results of measurements of the rates of mass loss, formation of gaseous products, and oxygen consumption during the surface treatment of polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polyimide films in a low-pressure oxygen plasma are reported. It was shown that CO₂ and H₂O were produced in the same process involving O(³ P) atoms for all polymers, and the kinetic characteristics of the process were determined. The specific features of the plasma-enhanced oxidative degradation associated with the chemical composition of repeating units of these materials are discussed.     

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.     

"Decoking" of a "coked" zeolite catalyst in a glow discharge

'Decoking' of a 'coked' zeolite catalyst in a glow discharge in oxygen is investigated. The 'decoking' process involves reactions of atomic oxygen (O atoms) with 'coke' and yields gases such as CO, CO₂ as well as other gaseous products that could be easily pumped out.Three different modes of discharge were investigated including a static mode, a flowing-gas mode, and a periodic-purge mode where the oxygen and other gaseous products of the discharge were replaced by fresh O₂ gas after short but regular intervals of time. In some cases, additional heating was also used to provide base temperatures of the order of 100 °C to facilitate penetration of oxygen atoms into the inner layers and cages of the zeolite catalyst.This paper presents some results of spectroscopic analytical techniques used to monitor the atomization of oxygen, oxidation of 'coke', and to confirm the process of 'decoking'. More specifically, radiation emission on the 3 s ⁵S– 3p ⁵P transitions of O around 777.2–777.5 nm were selected for monitoring the atomization of O₂. On the other hand, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the amount of residual carbon and extent of 'decoking'. Furthermore, evolution of CO and CO₂ gases as a function of time was systematically monitored in real time. For CO, the 451.1 nm band head belonging to the B¹ - A¹ bands of the Angstrom system of the CO spectrum was used, while for CO₂, the band head at 353.4 nm belonging to the CO₂⁺ spectrum was used. The rates of evolution of CO and CO₂ were related to the rate of 'decoking' of the catalyst. It is noted that in the periodic-purge mode, about 63% of the total yield of CO from a given sample of the catalyst appears in the first 3-min exposure to discharge whereas it takes up to 15 min to remove nearly 94% of the removable carbon under our experimental conditions.     

Thermal analysis in the synthesis and crystal formation of oxides

Vapour phase treatment at elevated temperatures with an activating agent is an effective method of synthesis and purposeful modification of amorphous and fine-grained crystalline substances. In the systems amorphous silica-quartz and amorphous Al(OH)₃ -crystalline-Al₂O₃ different forms of bound water are of prime importance. DTA, TG, DSC, NMR¹H,²⁹Si,²⁷Al, IR spectroscopy, electron- and optical microscopy methods have been used. The interaction of water molecules with the base skeleton and with hydroxide groups on the surface and in the bulk of the silica is of primary significance for modification of the silica structure. The proportion of different forms of the bound water determines the integral evaporation enthalpy of water. Various properties of silica are determined by weak bound water in the surface layer of the material. In the sequence Al(OH)₃ —-Al₂O₃ the structure transformation is observed according to the following scheme:-Al(OH)₃ —-AlOOH- -Al₂O₃, which takes place during the vapour phase treatment with activator.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Dampfphasenbehandlung bei höheren Temperaturen mit einem Aktivierungsmittel ist eine effektive Methode zur Synthese und zielgerichteten Modifizierung von amorphen und feinkörnigen kristallinen Substanzen. In den Systemen amorphes Siliziumdioxid-Quarz sowie amorphes Al(OH)₃-kristallines-Al₂O₃ hat verschiedenartig gebundenes Wasser eine primäre Bedeutung. Bei den Untersuchungen kamen DTA, TG, DSC,¹H-,²⁹Si-,²⁷Al-NMR, IR-Spektroskopie sowie Elektronen- und optische Mikroskopie zur Anwendung. Die Wechselwirkung von Wassermolekülen mit dem Grundgerüst und mit Hydroxidgruppen an der Oberfläche und im Innern von Silika ist für die Modifizierung der Silikastruktur von primärer Bedeutung. Der Anteil der verschiedenartig gebundenen Wasserformen bestimmt die vollständige Verdampfungsenthalpie des Wassers. Die verschiedenen Eigenschaften von Silika werden durch schwach gebundenes Wasser in der Oberflächenschicht der Substanz bestimmt. Die Umwandlung Al(OH)₃ —-Al₂O₃ durchläuft folgendes Schema:-Al(OH)₃--AlOOH--Al₂O₃, nach dem der Vorgang bei der Gasphasenbehandlung mit Aktivator abläuft.

     

In situ FT-IR spectroscopic study on the conformational changes of isotactic polypropylene in the presence of supercritical CO2

The conformational changes of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) under supercritical CO₂ condition with different pressure and temperature have been carefully studied by in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Analysis of the corresponding spectra shows that the conformational ordering by supercritical CO₂ results in the intensity enhancement of the regularity bands of iPP. Due to the high CO₂ concentration and strong intermolecular interaction, iPP can reach an equilibrium state in a short time at high CO₂ pressure. The equilibrium time increases with soaking temperature. After supercritical CO₂ treatment, two mechanisms, the formation of short helix from amorphous phase and the extension of short helix into long one, happen simultaneously. The latter mechanism undergoes quickly at the beginning of induced conformational changes and then slows down, resulting in the slight increase of crystallinity. At the same time, the conformational ordering in amorphous phase happens continuously until a thermodynamic equilibrium. In summary, in the presence of supercritical CO₂, the conformational ordering of iPP chains occurs exclusively in the amorphous region, with no impact on the crystal part.     

New Ion Conductor of (Ba1−xLax)2In2O5+x

The structural characterization, thermogravimetric analysis and electrical properties for solid solution system, (Ba_1–xLa_x)₂In₂O_5+x with perovskite-type structure were investigated. X-ray diffraction showed that the orthorhombic phase was in the range of 0.0<x0.3, the tetragonal phase 0.3<x0.5, and the cubic phase 0.5<x. The sharp transition of electrical conductivity shifted to a lower temperature with increasing x and disappeared at the phase boundary between the orthorhombic and tetragonal phases. This perovskite-related oxide exhibited a pure oxide-ion conduction over the oxygen partial pressure range of 1 atm to 10^–3.5 atm, and the electrical conductivity reached the value of 1.610^–1 (S cm^–1) at 1073 K, which was nearly equal to that of the yttria stabilized zirconia. These properties were successfully explained in terms of disordered oxygen ions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

H2-induced CO adsorption and dissociation over Co/Al2O3 catalyst

The activation of adsorbed CO is an important step in CO hydrogenation. The results from TPSR of pre-adsorbed CO with H2 and syngas suggested that the presence of H2 increased the amount of CO adsorption and accelerated CO dissociation. The H2 was adsorbed first, and activated to form H＊ over metal sites, then reacted with carbonaceous species. The oxygen species for CO2 formation in the presence of hydrogen was mostly OH^＊, which reacted with adsorbed CO subsequently via CO^＊＋OH^＊ → CO2^＊＋H^＊; however, the direct CO dissociation was not excluded in CO hydrogenation. The dissociation of C-O bond in the presence of H2 proceeded by a concerted mechanism, which assisted the Boudourd reaction of adsorbed CO on the surface via CO^＊＋2H^＊ → CH^＊＋OH^＊. The formation of the surface species （CH） from adsorbed CO proceeded as indicated with the participation of surface hydrogen, was favored in the initial step of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.     

g-C3N4/Bi2O2CO32D纳米片复合材料的制备及可见光催化性能研究

采用自组装和化学沉淀法分别制得两种可见光驱动复合材料石墨相氮化碳/碳酸氧铋(g-C_3N_4/Bi_2O_2CO_3).采用X射线衍射光谱(XRD),紫外可见光谱、扫描电镜(SEM)、N_2吸附、电化学阻抗谱(EIS)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等分析手段对制备的催化剂进行了表征.结果表明,制备方法对纳米复合材料的晶相、形态及光学性能没有影响,但是影响g-C_3N_4和Bi_2O_2CO_3之间的相互作用力,导致光生电子-空穴对的分离速率存在显著差异.以可见光驱动苯酚和罗丹明B的降解实验为探针反应检测催化剂的光催化性能.实验结果表明自组装法得到的异质结催化剂中相互作用力更强,催化效果最高.O_2-是罗丹明B降解反应的主要活性物种,染料的光敏化、Bi_2O_2CO_3与g-C_3N_4综合效应,导致光生载流子电荷分离效率更高.     

In situ and Real-Time Monitoring of Plasma-Induced Etching of PET and Acrylic Films

Residual gas analysis (RGA) and optical emission spectroscopy have been evaluated as potential in situ techniques for the detection of plasma-induced polymer surface etching. The detection is based on the measurement of CO and CO₂ species formed in the gas phase following oxidation of the etching fragments released from the polymer surface. Experiments were performed on poly(ethylene terephthalate) and UV-cured acrylic (tripropylene glycol diacrylate) films exposed to O₂ RF (13.56 MHz) plasmas. A linear correlation is obtained between the formation of CO and the polymer etching rate over the entire experimental range, but discrepancies appear for the formation of CO₂ at high treatment powers (etching rate > 1.0 g/min.cm²). This behavior is attributed to a deficit of oxidizing agents relative to the generation of etching fragments. The results suggest that both RGA and optical emission spectroscopy can be used to monitor in situ and in real-time the etching of polymer surfaces during plasma treatment.     

Oxidation of polypropylene in benzene solution

The oxidation of both amorphous and crystalline polypropylene in benzene solution was studied at 100–130°C. tert-Butyl peroxide was used as an initiator. The kinetic behavior of the amorphous and crystalline forms differs slightly; the oxidation rate of the amorphous type is slower for a given polymer and initiator concentration. The oxidation rate of solutions of the crystalline form can be simply described by the expression: R₀ = 1.87 × 10¹³ exp {?29,000/RT} [t-Bu₂O₂]^0.58[polypropylene]^0.73, mole/l.-min. Product analyses of the oxidized solutions are incomplete, but the results do show that only ～40% of the absorbed oxygen is present as hydroperoxide. Further, much of the hydroperoxide is present in low molecular weight polar fragments which are acetone-soluble. These results show that oxidized polypropylene cannot be regarded simply as “polypropylene hydroperoxide” with repeating hydroperoxide groups attached to the polymer chain in 1,3,5… (tertiary) positions.     

Silica Dissolution-Redeposition in Gels and Aerogels

Silica dissolution-redeposition phenomenon is investigated on a microscopic scale using Small Angle Xray Scattering (SAXS) method. The changes occurring in the microtexture are different according to the procedure used to dry the gels. A xerogel, a CO₂ supercritically dried aerogel and an alcohol supercritically dried aerogel were compared. Silica does not dissolve in CO₂ supercritical. The transformation of heat treated gels into CO₂ supercritically dried aerogels is demonstrated as having minor effect on the microtexture. SAXS data show oscillations around Porod law I(Q) Q ^–4 where Q is the wave vector. The oscillations are more pronounced for alcohol dried aerogel than for xerogel or CO₂ dried aerogel. These oscillations are related to curvatures of the surface i.e. the surface roughness. It was found that according to silica dissolution extent, the solid network surface was continuously smoothened in alcohol supercritically dried aerogel. The average chord length of the solid phase is shifted to larger values while the distribution seems to be more narrow. This effect does not give rise to the formation of closed pores.     

Planar and tubular perovskite-type membrane reactors for the partial oxidation of methane to syngas

Dense planar and tubular oxygen separation membranes of La_0.6Ca_0.4Fe_0.75Co_0.25O_3– were investigated as reactors for the partial oxidation (POX) of methane to syngas. Their permeation properties were measured in an air/argon pO₂ gradient as a function of temperature. At 900 °C, the oxygen flux through a 1.26-mm-thick membrane was 0.075 mol/cm²·s and through a 0.25-mm-thick tube, 0.24 mol/cm²·s.For the POX measurements, a catalyst was added to the membrane and methane was introduced on the argon side. This resulted in a gradual increase of the oxygen flux with increasing concentration of methane, reaching 2 mol/cm²·s at 900 °C with pure methane. For the planar reactor, the CO selectivity reached 99% and the CH₄ conversion 75% at 918 °C with pure methane. For the tubular reactor, the CO selectivity and CH₄ conversion were 83 and 99%, respectively, under the same conditions. After 1,400 h of operation in a tubular POX reactor, the membrane was examined revealing phase demixing and local decomposition.Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

Microstructure Control of RF and Carbon Aerogels Prepared by Sol-Gel Process

A novel sol–gel process has been successfully developed for preparing strontium bismuth tantalate (SrBi₂Ta₂O₉, known as SBT) with ethylene alcohol as a solvent and acetic acid as a catalyst. The size of phase-pure SBT nanoparticles could be 4 nm in diameter by avoiding the formation of the fluorite phase at the low temperatures (550–600C). The behavior of the crystallization in SBT is investigated by XRD, TG-DTA, FT-IR and TEM. The nanoparticle size as a function of the annealing temperature is also investigated. By fitting the Arrhenius curve, we obtain the crystalline and vitreous growth activation energies, i.e, E_a1 = 0.709 eV and E_a2 = 0.093 eV. The two other fitting parameters, transition temperature T₀ = 814 K (541C) and transition width = 0.022, directly show the behavior of the phase transition from vitreous phase to crystalline phase.     

NOx-Sorbing Metal Oxides, MnOx–CeO2. Oxidative NO Adsorption and NOx–H2 Reaction

(n)MnO_x–(1–n)CeO₂ binary oxides have been studied for the sorptive NO removal and subsequent reduction of NO_x sorbed to N₂ at low temperatures (150 °C). The solid solution with a fluorite-type structure was found to be effective for oxidative NO adsorption, which yielded nitrate (NO^– ₃) and/or nitrite (NO^– ₂) species on the surface depending on temperature, O₂ concentration in the gas feed, and composition of the binary oxide (n). A surface reaction model was derived on the basis of XPS, TPD, and DRIFTS analyses. Redox of Mn accompanied by simultaneous oxygen equilibration between the surface and the gas phase promoted the oxidative NO adsorption. The reactivity of the adsorbed NO_x toward H₂ was examined for MnO_x–CeO₂ impregnated with Pd, which is known as a nonselective catalyst toward NO–H₂ reaction in the presence of excess oxygen. The Pd/MnO_x–CeO₂ catalyst after saturated by the NO uptake could be regenerated by micropulse injections of H₂ at 150 °C. Evidence was presented to show that the role of Pd is to generate reactive hydrogen atoms, which spillover onto the MnO_x–CeO₂ surface and reduce nitrite/nitrate adsorbing thereon. Because of the lower reducibility of nitrate and the competitive H₂–O₂ combustion, H₂–NO reaction was suppressed to a certain extent in the presence of O₂. Nevertheless, Pd/MnO_x–CeO₂ attained 65% NO-conversion in a steady stream of 0.08% NO, 2% H₂, and 6% O₂ in He at as low as 150 °C, compared to ca. 30% conversion for Pd/–Al₂O₃ at the same temperature. The combination of NO_x-sorbing materials and H₂-activation catalysts is expected to pave the way to development of novel NO_x-sorbing catalysts for selective deNO_x at very low temperatures.     

Crystal structure and characterization of Rb2Ca[B4O5(OH)4]2·8H2O

Dirubidium calcium tetraborate octahydrate, Rb₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O, was prepared by reaction of Rb-borate aqueous solution with CaCl₂ and it's structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell parameters, Z=4, The structure contains alternate layers of [B₄O₅(OH)₄]²⁻ polyanions separated by water molecules and Rb, Ca cations. The isolated [B₄O₅(OH)₄]²⁻ is constructed from two BO₃(OH) tetrahedron groups and two BO₂(OH) triangular groups joined at common oxygen atoms. The two BO₃(OH) tetrahedron groups are further linked by means of an oxygen bridge across the ring. The Ca²⁺ ion displays seven coordination, while the two non-equivalent Rb⁺ ions display nine and seven coordination, respectively. Infrared and Raman (4000-400 cm⁻¹) spectra of Rb₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O were recorded at room temperature and analyzed. Fundamental vibrational modes were identified and band assignments were made. The dehydration of this hydrated mixed borate occurs in one step and leads to an amorphous phase which undergoes a crystallization.     

Thermal stability of the β″ phase in the ZrO2-Zr3N4 system

Annealing of ZrO₂ in a nitrogen atmosphere leads to a nitrogen containing phase called phase having a trigonally distorted fluorite structure with ordered anion vacancies. DTA/TG investigations indicated that the phase decomposes intom-ZrO₂ above 500C releasing nitrogen during the reaction with oxygen. Prevention of oxygen uptake by use of closed tantalum tubes instead of open platinum crucibles enabled the detection of a new reversible phase transition at 965C. The thermoanalytical results have been confirmed by high temperature-X-ray investigation.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Roger Blachnik on the occasion of his 60^th birthday     

The Role of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Atmosphere and Physics on Polypropylene Surface Treatment

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is the discharge involved in corona treatment, widely used in industry to increase the wettability or the adhesion of polymer films or fibers. Usually DBD's are filamentary discharges but recently a homogeneous glow DBD has been obtained. The aim of this paper is to compare polypropylene surface transformations realized with filamentary and glow DBD in different atmospheres (He, N₂, N₂ + O₂ mixtures) and to determine the relative influence of both the discharge regime and the gas nature, on the polypropylene surface transformations. From wettability and XPS results it is shown that the discharge regime can have a significant effect on the surface transformations, because it changes both the ratio of electrons to gas metastables, and the space distribution of the plasma active species. This last parameter is important at atmospheric pressure because the mean free paths are short (m). These two points explain why in He, polypropylene wettability increase is greater by a glow DBD than by a filamentary DBD. In N₂, no significant effect of the discharge regime is observed because electrons and metastables lead to the same active species throughout the gas bulk. The specificity of a DBD in N₂ atmosphere compared to an atmosphere containing oxygen is that it allows very extensive surface transformations and a greater increase of the polypropylene surface wettability. Indeed, even in low concentration and independently of the discharge regime, when O₂ is present in the plasma gas, it controls the surface chemistry and degradation occurs.     

Accumulation of host—guest ion complexes with different counterions at the water—supercritical CO2 interface: a molecular dynamics study

The behavior of ion complexes at the water—supercritical carbon dioxide interface was considered by molecular dynamics simulations. The following complexes were studied: Cs⁺calix[4]crown-6, K⁺222 cryptate with chloride or dicarbollide (CCD^–) counterions, the Sr²⁺18C6 complex with the picrate (Pic^–) or perfluorooctanoate (PFO^–) counterions, and the Cl^–Tet ⁴⁺ complex with chloride counterions (Tet ⁴⁺ is a tetrahedral tetraammonium cation). The simulations demonstrate the analogy between aqueous interfaces with organic immiscible liquids and the CO₂ phase. Water and supercritical CO₂ are poorly miscible and form an interface. Most of the complexes are accumulated at the interface, instead of diffusing into the organic phase in which they should be more soluble. In addition, marked counterion effects are observed. The CCD^–, Pic^–, and PFO^– anions are surface active and are concentrated at the interface, but show different relationships with the complexes. The formation of ion pairs is precluded by the very hydrophobic CCD^– anions, which promote the extraction of cryptates as separated ion pairs to the CO₂ phase. Conversely, the extraction of the Sr²⁺ ions with 18C6 proceeds via a co-complexation mechanism, including the formation of the Sr18C6(PFO)₂, complex having a CO₂ affinity. The mechanism of assisted ion transfer to the CO₂ phase is discussed.