Short range order at the amorphous TiO(2)-water interface probed by silicic acid adsorption and interfacial oligomerization: an ATR-IR and 29Si MAS-NMR study

Adsorption and oligomerization of H(4)SiO(4) at the amorphous TiO(2)-aqueous interface were studied using in situ Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared (ATR-IR) and ex situ solid state (29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The ATR-IR spectra indicate that a monomeric silicate species is present at low silicate surface concentration (Γ(Si)). Above a threshold Γ(Si) linear silicate oligomers are formed and these oligomers dominate the surface at high Γ(Si). Interestingly the ATR-IR spectra of H(4)SiO(4) on the TiO(2) surface are very similar to those previously observed on the poorly ordered iron oxide phase ferrihydrite. The (29)Si NMR spectrum of silicate on the TiO(2) surface shows the presence of Si in three states with chemical shifts corresponding to isolated monomers (Q(0)), the ends of linear oligomers (Q(1)) and the middle of linear oligomers (Q(2)). The ratio of the area of the Q(1) and Q(2) peaks was ≈2:1 which is consistent with the proposed formation of linear silicate trimers by insertion of a solution H(4)SiO(4) between adjacent suitably orientated adsorbed silicate monomers. A structural interpretation indicates that the observed interfacial silicate oligomerization behavior is a general phenomenon whereby bidentate silicate monomers on oxide surfaces are disposed towards forming linear oligomers by condensation reactions involving their two terminal Si-OH groups. The high surface curvature of nanometer sized spheres inhibits the formation of interfacial silicates with a higher degree of polymerization.     

Effect of the Mixture Composition on Shear and Extensional Rheology of Recycled PET and ABS Nanocomposites

Summary: Recycled PET as well as ABS - organomodified montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared via melt compounding in a counter-rotating twin screw extruder. The topological changes in polymer matrices as dependency on clay modification have been evaluated from dynamic experiments in the shear flow using low amplitude oscillatory measurements. Flow characteristics of all studied organoclay nanocomposites showed shear-thinning behavior at low frequencies. Filling of PET with some organoclays led to degradation reactions, which were reflected by lower magnitudes of viscosity and storage modulus in the range of higher frequencies as compared to unfilled polymer matrix. On the contrary, no degradation during the processing of different organoclays with recycled ABS has been observed.     

Structural study of six cycloalkylammonium cinnamate salt structures featuring one‐dimensional columns and two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks

Six ammonium carboxylate salts, namely cyclopentylammonium cinnamate, C₅H₁₂N⁺·C₉H₇O₂⁻, (I), cyclohexylammonium cinnamate, C₆H₁₄N⁺·C₉H₇O₂⁻, (II), cycloheptylammonium cinnamate form I, C₇H₁₆N⁺·C₉H₇O₂⁻, (IIIa), and form II, (IIIb), cyclooctylammonium cinnamate, C₈H₁₈N⁺·C₉H₇O₂⁻, (IV), and cyclododecylammonium cinnamate, C₁₂H₂₆N⁺·C₉H₇O₂⁻, (V), are reported. Salts (II)–(V) all have a 1:1 ratio of cation to anion and feature three N⁺—H...O⁻ hydrogen bonds forming one‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded columns consisting of repeating R₄³(10) rings, while salt (I) has a two‐dimensional network made up of alternating R₄⁴(12) and R⁶₈(20) rings. Salt (III) consists of two polymorphic forms, viz. form I having Z′ = 1 and form II with Z′ = 2. The latter polymorph has disorder of the cycloheptane rings in the two cations, as well as whole‐molecule disorder of one of the cinnamate anions. A similar, but ordered, Z′ = 2 structure is seen in salt (IV).     

Rietveld refinement of the cocrystal 2,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid–N′‐(propan‐2‐ylidene)nicotinohydrazide (1/1)

A further example of using a covalent‐bond‐forming reaction to alter supramolecular assembly by modification of hydrogen‐bonding possibilities is presented. This concept was introduced by Lemmerer, Bernstein & Kahlenberg [CrystEngComm (2011), 13 , 55–59]. The title structure, C₉H₁₁N₃O·C₇H₆O₄, which consists of a reacted niazid molecule, viz.N′‐(propan‐2‐ylidene)nicotinohydrazide, and 2,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid, was solved from powder diffraction data using simulated annealing. The results further demonstrate the relevance and utility of powder diffraction as an analytical tool in the study of cocrystals and their hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Shear modulus determination in model hydrogels by means of elongated magnetic nanoprobes

The mechanical characterization of complex soft matter by quasi-static magnetometry using nanoscopic magnetic probes is demonstrated for model hydrogels doped with two types of elongated magnetic nanoparticles. Chemically crosslinked poly(acrylamide) (PAAm) hydrogels serve as the matrix in which nickel nanorods or weakly magnetized hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) ellipsoids are embedded as local probes. We investigated the swelling behavior of the ferrogels in order to verify that their equilibrium swelling degree in water is not influenced by the probes, shows a good correlation with the Frenkel–Flory–Rehner model. The proposed magnetomechanical method relies on a correlation between the shear modulus of the PAAm hydrogel matrix and the coercive fields of the corresponding isotropic ferrogels. By extending the Stoner–Wohlfarth model for single-domain blocked magnetic particles by a term for particle rotation in an elastic matrix, information on the shear modulus of the matrix can be obtained. Comparison of the results with the expected relation from rubber elasticity theory illustrates both the general potential as well as the limits of the approach. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Sol–gel synthesis of sodium and lithium based materials

Sodium and lithium cobaltates are important materials for thermoelectric and battery applications due to their large thermoelectric power and ability to (de-) intercalate the alkali metal. For these applications, phase pure materials with controlled microstructure are required. We report on the sol?Cgel synthesis of sodium- and lithium-based materials by using acetate precursors. The produced Na_2/3CoO₂, Li(Ni_1/3Mn_1/3Co_1/3)O₂, and Li(Ni_1/2Co_1/2)O₂ powders are phase pure with grain sizes below 1???m. X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive spectral analyses show that the cation stoichiometry is preserved in the lithium-based compounds. Despite the low temperatures, the sodium content is reduced by 1/3 as compared to the initial value. Chemical phases of the investigated powders are formed in the sol?Cgel route at temperatures typically 100?C200?K lower than those used in the conventional solid-state synthesis of these materials. The suggested sol?Cgel synthesis is a low temperature process suited for production of phase pure and homogeneous materials with volatile cations.     

The interaction of cationic polymers with human hair

We present a combination of electrochemical methods, i.e. polyelectrolyte titration and streaming potential measurement, and AFM to characterise the adsorption and desorption behaviour and the morphology of a set of polyquaternium polymers on human hair. Specific charge density and molar mass are correlated to the amount of adsorbed polymer and the ease of desorption. Results are in line with a simple model of coulombic interaction between hair and polymer and are interpreted on this basis.