Imaging of Oxygen Diffusion in Individual Platinum/Ce2Zr2Ox Catalyst Particles During Oxygen Storage and Release

The spatial distribution of Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ in each particle of Ce₂Zr₂O_x in a three‐way conversion catalyst system was successfully imaged during an oxygen storage/release cycle by scanning X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) using hard X‐ray nanobeams. For the first time, nano‐XAFS imaging visualized and identified the modes of non‐uniform oxygen diffusion from the interface of Pt catalyst and Ce₂Zr₂O_x support and the active parts in individual catalyst particles.     

A Tin Analogue of Carbenoid: Isolation and Reactivity of a Lithium Bis(imidazolin‐2‐imino)stannylenoid

The lithium bis(imino)stannylenoid (NIPr)₂Sn(Li)Cl ( 1 ; NIPr=bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)imidazolin‐2‐imino) was prepared by the reaction of LiNIPr with 0.5 equiv of SnCl₂?diox (diox=1,4‐dioxane) and the ambiphilic character of the compound was demonstrated by investigations into its reactivity. Treatment of 1 with I₂ or MeI yielded the oxidative addition products (NIPr)₂SnI₂ and (NIPr)₂Sn(Me)I, respectively. In contrast, the reaction of 1 with one equivalent of Me₃SiCl resulted in the formation of Me₃SiNIPr and the chlorostannylene dimer [NIPrSnCl]₂. Moreover, the substitution reaction of compound 1 with MeLi led to the formation of the methyl‐substituted stannate (NIPr)₂Sn(Li)Me.     

Application to Photocatalytic H2 Production of a Whole‐Cell Reaction by Recombinant Escherichia coli Cells Expressing [FeFe]‐Hydrogenase and Maturases Genes

A photocatalytic H₂ production system using an inorganic–bio hybrid photocatalyst could contribute to the efficient utilization of solar energy, but would require the development of a new approach for preparing a H₂‐forming biocatalyst. In the present study, we constructed a recombinant strain of Escherichia coli expressing the genes encoding the [FeFe]‐hydrogenase and relevant maturases from Clostridium acetobutylicum NBRC 13948 for use as a biocatalyst. We investigated the direct application of a whole‐cell of the recombinant E. coli. The combination of TiO₂, methylviologen, and the recombinant E. coli formed H₂ under light irradiation, demonstrating that whole cells of the recombinant E. coli could be employed for photocatalytic H₂ production without any time‐consuming and costly manipulations (for example, enzyme purification). This is the first report of the direct application of a whole‐cell reaction of recombinant E. coli to photocatalytic H₂ production.     

Crystal structure of friction-transferred poly(2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene)

Poly(2,5-dioctyloxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (DOPPV) was found to form a highly oriented film by a friction-transfer technique. Structural investigation of friction-transferred DOPPV was studied by means of polarized ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectroscopy, polarized photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and synchrotron-sourced grazing incident X-ray diffraction (GIXD) analysis. The polarized UV-vis absorption and PL spectra indicate clear axial alignment. DOPPV backbones in friction-transferred film are highly aligned along the drawing direction of the friction-transfer. Further information of the molecular arrangement in friction-transferred DOPPV film was investigated by both the out-of-plane and the in-plane GIXD analyses with synchrotron source. The DOPPV molecules in friction-transferred films were perfectly arranged three-dimensionally: the backbones aligned along the drawing direction of friction-transfer, the alkyl side chains lay in the film plane, and the planar backbones were arranged parallel to the film surface. Additionally, two neighboring DOPPV molecules along the direction of inter-backbones separation by alkyl side chains were found to be shifted with respect to one another by the mean distance of half of a monomeric repeat.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of CO and CN bonds via heterolysis of H2 mediated by metal-sulfur bonds of rhodium and iridium thiolate complexes

Coordinatively unsaturated rhodium and iridium complexes having a bulky thiolate, [Cp∗M(PMe₃)(SDmp)](BAr^F₄) (1a: M = Rh; 1b: M = Ir; Dmp = 2,6-(mesityl)₂C₆H₃, Ar^F = 3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃), catalyzed the hydrogenation of benzaldehyde, N-benzylideneaniline, and cyclohexanone, under 1 atm of H₂ at low temperatures. In these catalytic reactions, the M-H/S-H complexes [Cp∗M(PMe₃)(H)(HSDmp)](BAr^F₄) (2a: M = Rh; 2b: M = Ir) generated via H₂ heterolysis by 1a or 1b were suggested to transfer both M-H hydride and S-H proton to substrates. The catalytic reactions were terminated by the dissociation of H-SDmp from the metal centers of 2a and 2b that occurs at ambient temperature under H₂ atmosphere.     

Self-organized domain microstructures in a plate-like particle suspension subjected to rapid simple shear

The evolution of the microstructure and rheological properties of plate-like particle suspensions subjected to rapid simple shear is studied numerically. In response to the shear-induced strain, particles in the suspensions rearrange to form a steady-state microstructure, and the suspension viscosity reaches a steady value. Under this condition, the microstructure is composed of two domains having different particle fractions and particle orientations. In the matrix (particle-poor) and cluster (particle-rich) domains, the particles’ long axes are oriented subparallel to the shear plane and normal to the maximum compressive principal direction, respectively. A higher particle concentration and friction coefficient enhance the development of cluster domains relative to matrix domains leading the intensity of the preferred particle orientation to decrease and the number of contacting particles, the aspect ratio of clusters, the inter-particle force, and the suspension viscosity to increase. The domain microstructure is governed by two factors: (1) geometric relations between the particle orientation and the maximum compressive axes and (2) the magnitude of particle–fluid and particle–particle interactions. The first factor results in the coupling of the particle orientation and the local fraction of particles, which is an important character of the domain microstructure. The second factor controls the relative development of the cluster and matrix domains through the change in the particles’ rotational behavior. Our results suggest that the microstructure of plate-like suspensions subjected to rapid shear is predictable in terms of the cluster stability, which has important implications for the kinematics of flow-related microstructures in nature and manufacturing.     

Long-term stability of sulfated hydrous titania-based electrolyte for water electrolysis

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The long-term stability in water was investigated for an inorganic proton conductor based on sulfated hydrous titania electrolyte in water electrolysis....     

Reduction of thermal fluctuations in a cryogenic laser interferometric gravitational wave detector

The thermal fluctuation of mirror surfaces is the fundamental limitation for interferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors. Here, we experimentally demonstrate for the first time a reduction in a mirror's thermal fluctuation in a GW detector with sapphire mirrors from the Cryogenic Laser Interferometer Observatory at 17 and 18 K. The detector sensitivity, which was limited by the mirror's thermal fluctuation at room temperature, was improved in the frequency range of 90 to 240 Hz by cooling the mirrors. The improved sensitivity reached a maximum of 2.2×10(-19) m/√Hz at 165 Hz.