Novel Lu3+ Carbon Paste Electrode Based on Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

A novel carbon paste ion selective electrode for determination of trace amount of lutetium was prepared. Modified (functionalized) multiwalled carbon nanotubes (f‐MWCNTs) were used for improvement of a lutetium carbon paste sensor response. MWCNTs have a good conductivity which helps the transduction of the signal in carbon paste electrode. In this work it is shown that introducing certain functional groups on MWCNTs can improve the electrode signals. The electrode composition of 20 % paraffin oil, 56 % graphite powder, 18 % ionophore and 6 % f‐MWCNTs showed the stable potential response to Lu³⁺ ions with the Nernstian slope of 21.1 (±0.3) mV decade^?1 over a wide linear concentration range of 1.0×10^?6–1.0×10^?1 mol L^?1. The electrode has fast response time (<15 s) and long term stability (about one month).     

Long-wavelength sensitization of TiO2 by ruthenium diimine compounds with low-lying π* orbitals

The role of low-lying π* orbitals in dye-sensitized solar cells based on mesoporous thin films of anatase TiO(2) nanocrystallites remains unknown. Herein we report three ruthenium compounds, cis-Ru(dcbq)(2)(NCS)(2), cis-Ru(dcbq)(bpy)(NCS)(2), and cis-Ru(dcb)(bq)(NCS)(2), where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine, dcb is 4,4'-(CO(2)H)(2)-2,2'-bipyridine, bq is 2,2'-biquinoline, and dcbq is 4,4'-(CO(2)H)(2)-2,2'-biquinoline, that were synthesized, characterized, and contrasted with the well-known N3 compound (i.e., cis-Ru(dcb)(2)(NCS)(2)) in dye-sensitized solar cells. These compounds maintain the same cis-Ru(NCS)(2) core with a systematic variation in the energy of the π* orbitals of the diimine ligand: bpy > dcb > bq > dcbq. The lowered π* orbitals resulted in enhanced red absorption relative to N3. With HCl pretreated TiO(2) in regenerative solar cells, sensitization from 400 to 900 nm was realized with cis-Ru(dcb)(bq)(NCS)(2) and global power conversion efficiencies as high as 6.5% were achieved under 1 sun of AM 1.5 irradiation. The energy conversion efficiency was found to be acutely sensitive to the presence of p-tert-butylpyridine (TBP) in a 0.5 M LiI/0.05 M I(2) acetonitrile electrolyte. Nanosecond transient absorption studies revealed that the addition of TBP decreased the excited-state injection yield for the compounds with biquinoline ligands. Spectro-electrochemical studies showed that the HCl pretreatment lowered the effective density of TiO(2) acceptor states and confirmed that the presence of TBP raised them toward the vacuum level. There was no spectroscopic data to support the hypothesis that the π* levels of the diimine ligand mediate back-electron transfer to the oxidized dye or the redox mediator was found.     

Chromium(III) Potentiometric Sensor Based on Para‐Tertiary‐Butyl Calix[4]arene

A new chromium(III) PVC membrane sensor incorporating p‐tertiary‐butyl calix[4]arene as ionophore, potassium tetrakis as additive and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as plasticizer was constructed. The electrode exhibited an excellent potentiometric response over a wide concentration range of 1.0×10^?7–1.0×10^?1 M with a Nernstian slope of 20±0.5 mV per decade. The detection limit was 5.0×10^?8 M. The electrode showed a better performance over a pH range of 3.0–8.0, and had a short response time of about <15 s.The electrode was successfully applied to potentiometric titration of Cr (III) with EDTA and for direct determination of chromium(III) in waste water.     

Degradation of a model naphthenic acid, cyclohexanoic acid, by vacuum UV (172 nm) and UV (254 nm)/H2O2

The mechanism of hydroxyl radical initiated degradation of a typical oil sands process water (OSPW) alicyclic carboxylic acid was studied using cyclohexanoic acid (CHA) as a model compound. By use of vacuum ultraviolet irradiation (VUV, 172 nm) and ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide UV(254 nm)/H(2)O(2), it was established that CHA undergoes degradation through a peroxyl radical. In both processes the decay of the peroxyl radical leads predominantly to the formation of 4-oxo-CHA, and minor amounts of hydroxy-CHA (detected only in UV/H(2)O(2)). In UV/H(2)O(2), additional 4-oxo-CHA may also have been formed by direct reaction of the oxyl radical with H(2)O(2). The oxyl radical can be formed during decay of the peroxyl-CHA radical or reaction of hydroxy-CHA with hydroxyl radical. Oxo- and hydroxy-CHA further degraded to various dihydroxy-CHAs. Scission of the cyclohexane ring was also observed, on the basis of the observation of acyclic byproducts including heptadioic acid and various short-chain carboxylic acids. Overall, the hydroxyl radical induced degradation of CHA proceeded through several steps, involving more than one hydroxyl radical reaction, thus efficiency of the UV/H(2)O(2) reaction will depend on the rate of generation of hydroxyl radical throughout the process. In real applications to OSPW, concentrations of H(2)O(2) will need to be carefully optimized and the environmental fate and effects of the various degradation products of naphthenic acids considered.     

Sonosynthesis of spiroindolines using functionalized SBA-15

Functionalized SBA-15 (immobilization of Pd on the modified SBA-15) has been used as an efficient catalyst for the preparation of spiroindolines by multi-component reactions of isatins, cyclic-1,3-diketones, and 6-amino-1,3-dimethyluracil under ultrasonic irradiation in water. The catalyst has been characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), N₂ adsorption analysis, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The advantages of this method include the reusability of the catalyst, low catalyst loading, excellent yields in short reaction times and easy separation of products, and use of ultrasonic irradiation as a valuable and powerful technology.