Intercalation in layered metal-organic frameworks: reversible inclusion of an extended π-system

We report the synthesis of layered [Zn(2)(bdc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] and [Cu(2)(bdc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (bdc = benzdicarboxylate) metal-organic frameworks (MOF) carried out using the liquid-phase epitaxy approach employing self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modified Au-substrates. We obtain Cu and Zn MOF-2 structures, which have not yet been obtained using conventional, solvothermal synthesis methods. The 2D Cu(2+) dimer paddle wheel planes characteristic for the MOF are found to be strictly planar, with the planes oriented perpendicular to the substrate. Intercalation of an organic dye, DXP, leads to a reversible tilting of the planes, demonstrating the huge potential of these surface-anchored MOFs for the intercalation of large, planar molecules.     

Dielectric response and kohn effect in strong magnetic fields

The dielectric polarization of an electron gas in strong magnetic field is calculated in the random phase approximation for finite temperatures and finite impurity concentrations. For parameter values typical for semiconductors a remarkable enhancement of the dielectric response at critical wave lengths and, consequently, of the Kohn anomaly has been found.     

Curvature‐dependent adsorption of water inside and outside armchair carbon nanotubes

The curvature dependence of the physisorption properties of a water molecule inside and outside an armchair carbon nanotube (CNT) is investigated by an incremental density‐fitting local coupled cluster treatment with single and double excitations and perturbative triples (DF‐LCCSD(T)) study. Our results show that a water molecule outside and inside (n, n) CNTs (n = 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10) is stabilized by electron correlation. The adsorption energy of water inside CNTs decreases quickly with the decrease of curvature (increase of radius) and the configuration with the oxygen pointing toward the CNT wall is the most stable one. However, when the water molecule is adsorbed outside the CNT, the adsorption energy varies only slightly with the curvature and the configuration with hydrogens pointing toward the CNT wall is the most stable one. We also use the DF‐LCCSD(T) results to parameterize Lennard‐Jones (LJ) force fields for the interaction of water both with the inner and outer sides of CNTs and with graphene representing the zero curvature limit. It is not possible to reproduce all DF‐LCCSD(T) results for water inside and outside CNTs of different curvature by a single set of LJ parameters, but two sets have to be used instead. Each of the two resulting sets can reproduce three out of four minima of the effective potential curves reasonably well. These LJ models are then used to calculate the water adsorption energies of larger CNTs, approaching the graphene limit, thus bridging the gap between CNTs of increasing radius and flat graphene sheets. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Self‐assembled silane monolayers: an efficient step‐by‐step recipe for high‐quality,low energy surfaces

Organosilane self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) are commonly used for modifying a wide range of substrates. Depending on the end group, highly hydrophobic or hydrophilic surfaces can be achieved. Silanization bases on the adsorption, self‐assembly and covalent binding of silane molecules onto surfaces and results in a densely packed, SAM. Following wet chemical routines, the quality of the monolayer is often variable and, therefore, unsatisfactory. The process of self‐assembly is not only affected by the chemicals involved and their purity but is also extremely sensitive to ambient parameters such as humidity or temperature and to contaminants. Here, a reliable and efficient wet‐chemical recipe is presented for the preparation of ultra‐smooth, highly ordered alkyl‐terminated silane SAMs on Si wafers. The resulting surfaces are characterized by means of atomic force microscopy, X‐ray reflectometry and contact angle measurements. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combining Theory and Experiment to Characterize the Voltammetric Behavior of Nickel Anodes in the Simons Process

The Simons process, otherwise known as the electrochemical fluorination (ECF) method, is widely used in industry to electrolytically synthesize chemicals for various purposes. Even to this day, the exact mechanism of the ECF reaction remains unknown, but is believed to involve the formation of an anodic nickel fluoride film with highly oxidized nickel centers. In this study, experiments and density functional theory calculations are combined to characterize the initial anodic peak occurring at potentials typically required in an ECF cell. NiF₂ is believed to form a passivating layer at low potentials. The calculations show that a potential of +3.1 V is required to oxidize surface Ni²⁺ centers to Ni³⁺. This is in good agreement with the measured anodic peak at +3.57 V.     

Fe-site substitution effect on the structural and magnetic properties in SrFeO2

We investigated the Fe-site substitution effect on the structural and magnetic properties of the infinite layer iron oxide Sr(Fe(1-x)M(x))O(2) (M = Co, Mn) using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and (57)Fe Mo?ssbauer spectroscopy. Both systems have a similar solubility limit of x ≈ 0.3, retaining the ideal infinite layer structure with a space group of P4/mmm. For the Fe-Co system, both in-plane and out-of-plane axes decrease linearly and only slightly with x, reflecting the ionic radius difference between Fe(2+) and Co(2+). For the Fe-Mn system the lattice evolution also follows Vegard's law but is anisotropic: the in-plane axis increases, while the out-of-plane decreases prominently. The magnetic properties are little influenced by Co substitution. On the contrary, Mn substitution drastically destabilizes the G-type magnetic order, featured by a significant reduction and a large distribution of the hyperfine field in the Mo?ssbauer spectra, which suggests the presence of magnetic frustration induced presumably by a ferromagnetic out-of-plane Mn-Fe interaction.     

On the physisorption of water on graphene: a CCSD(T) study

The electronic structure of the zero-gap two-dimensional graphene has a charge neutrality point exactly at the Fermi level that limits the practical application of this material. There are several ways to modify the Fermi-level-region of graphene, e.g. adsorption of graphene on different substrates or different molecules on its surface. In all cases the so-called dispersion or van der Waals interactions can play a crucial role in the mechanism, which describes the modification of electronic structure of graphene. The adsorption of water on graphene is not very accurately reproduced in the standard density functional theory (DFT) calculations and highly-accurate quantum-chemical treatments are required. A possibility to apply wavefunction-based methods to extended systems is the use of local correlation schemes. The adsorption energies obtained in the present work by means of CCSD(T) are much higher in magnitude than the values calculated with standard DFT functional although they agree that physisorption is observed. The obtained results are compared with the values available in the literature for binding of water on the graphene-like substrates.     

Estimating Kinetic Parameters for the Spontaneous Polymerization of Glycidol at Elevated Temperatures

The ring‐opening polymerization of glycidol at elevated temperatures is investigated. To improve the synthesis of dendritic polyether polyols, experiments are carried out without initiator to identify the influence of thermal side reactions. This results in a step‐growth polymerization caused by the spontaneous combination of monomers. Kinetic parameters of the side reactions are estimated by fitting simulated number‐ and weight‐average molecular weights to the experimental values measured at different reaction times during the polymerization. The reactions are conducted at three different temperatures of 90, 105, and 120 °C. It is shown that thermal side reactions lead to high dispersities of the final product and are highly sensitive to the reactor operating temperature.

     

In situ observation of maghemite nanoparticle adsorption at the water/gas interface

The adsorption of (maghemite) nanoparticles at the aqueous solution/gas interface was investigated by x-ray reflectivity. Two different concentrations (0.07 g/L and 0.7 g/L) were probed. The x-ray reflectivities indicate the adsorption of nanoparticles at the liquid surface for the highly concentrated solution, while no nanoparticle adsorption could be detected at the surface of the low concentrated solution within several hours. The vertical electron density profile of the high concentration solution/gas interface indicates the formation of a low ordered monolayer of nanoparticles occupying only 6% of the interfacial region.