Synthesis and Photocatalytic Property of Hectorite/(Pt,TiO2) and H4Nb6O17/(Pt,TiO2) Nanocomposites

Abstract

TiO₂ and Pt have been intercalated in hectorite and H₄Nb₆O₁₇. The height of TiO₂ and Pt pillars was less than 0.8 nm and the band gap energy of TiO₂ pillars was ca. 3.3 eV. Both hectorite/TiO₂ and H₄Nb₆O₁₇(Pt, TiO₂) were capable of hydrogen evolution following irradiation from a high pressure mercury are (λ > 290 nm) in the presence of methanol as a sacrificial hole acceptor and the hydrogen evolution was enhanced by co-incorporation of Pt, although hectorite and hectorite/Pt did not show photocatalytic activity. Incorporation of Pt or Pt and TiO₂ in the interlayer of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ has resulted in enhanced photo evolution of hydrogen, however, TiO₂ alone in the interlayer of H₄Nb₆O₁₇ showed adverse photocatalytic activity.     

Four-line method for correction of inter-element effects on excitation and ionization processes in atomic emission spectrometry in plasmas

A four-line method is described for correction of inter-element effects caused by variations of excitation temperatures and the degree of ionization in a plasma. Four lines with different upper-level energies in the atomic-ionic system are compared. The total number of atoms and ions is used as the response instead of the spectral intensity. Plasma torch symmetry is one of the most important factors for successful corrections. The correction method is demonstrated for the determination of manganese in a capacitively coupled plasma torch, where strontium interferes strongly.     

Green polymers from Geobacillus thermodenitrificans DSM465--candidates for molecularly imprinted materials

Novel molecular recognition materials were prepared from water soluble proteins from thermophile G. thermodenitrificans DSM465 by an alternative molecular imprinting method. Water soluble proteins from G. thermodenitrificans DSM465 were converted into the molecularly imprinted materials by adopting 9-EA as a print molecule. The molecularly imprinted protein membranes recognized As in preference to Gs. The adsorption isotherms led to the conclusion that molecular recognition sites toward As were constructed by the presence of 9-EA during the membrane preparation process. The affinity constant between As and the molecular recognition site thus constructed was determined to be 1.75 x 10(5) mol(-1) dm(3). The results obtained in the present study suggest that water soluble proteins from G. thermodenitrificans DSM465 is one of environmentally-friendly 'green' polymers to be converted into molecular recognition materials by applying an alternative molecular imprinting method.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carboxylation of benzene and other aromatic compounds with carbon monoxide under very mild conditions

Aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene, anisole, and naphthalene were carboxylated by palladium(II) acetate catalyst with carbon monoxide in the presence of potassium peroxodisulfate in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at room temperature under atmospheric pressure. The aromatic carboxylic acids were formed in good yields; for example, the carboxylation of benzene with carbon monoxide proceeds quantitatively under the optimal conditions.     

Mg/K2S2O8‐promoted direct carboxylation of saturated hydrocarbons with CO

Saturated hydrocarbons react with carbon monoxide in the presence of magnesium powder and potassium peroxodisulfate in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to afford the corresponding carboxylic acids as major products and alkyl trifluoroacetates as minor products in high yields. The use of equimolar amounts of magnesium (5 mmol) and K₂S₂O₈(5 mmol) is best for this reaction. Cyclohexane is carboxylated most effectively at 80 °C for 30 h using 50 atm CO, 3 ml of TFA and 1 mmol of cyclohexane, giving 80% conversion (95% conversion yield) based on cyclohexane. The reactivity of various saturated hydrocarbons has been determined by competitive reactions of equimolar amounts of cyclohexane (5 mmol) and another hydrocarbon (5 mmol). The order of decreasing reactivity obtained is cycloheptane > cyclohexane > cyclopentane > n‐propane > methane. Copyright ­© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction of arenes with iodine in the presence of potassium peroxodisulfate in trifluoroacetic acid. Direct and simple synthesis of diaryliodonium triflates

Diaryliodonium triflates have been directly prepared by reaction of arenes with elemental iodine in good yields by using K2S2O8 and TFA, followed by treatment with NaOTf. This procedure avoids the use of high temperature and severe reaction conditions.     

Synthesis and silica coating of calcia-doped ceria/mica nanocomposite by seeded polymerization technique

Calcia-doped ceria is of potential interest as an ultraviolet (UV) radiation blocking material in personal care products because of the excellent UV light absorption property and low catalytic ability for the oxidation of organic materials superior to undoped ceria. In order to reduce the oxidation catalytic activity further, calcia-doped ceria was coated with amorphous silica by means of seeded polymerization technique. Generally, nanoparticles of inorganic materials do not provide a good coverage for human skin because of the agglomeration of the particles. The platy particles are required to enhance the covering ability of inorganic materials. This can be accomplished by synthesis of calcia-doped ceria/mica nanocomposite with subsequent silica coating to control catalytic activity of calcia-doped ceria. Calcia-doped ceria/mica nanocomposite was prepared by soft solution chemical method followed by silica coating via seeded polymerization technique. Silica coated calcia-doped ceria/mica nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, XPS and FT-IR.