Effect of infiltration material on a LSM15/CGO10 electrochemical reactor in the electrochemical oxidation of propene

The effect of infiltrating on a La_0.85Sr_0.15MnO₃/Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 11-layer electrochemical reactor with CeO₂ and Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O_2?δ was studied in propene oxidation at open-circuit voltage and under polarization as a function of reaction temperature. This work outlined the importance of catalytic and electrochemical properties of infiltrated material on the ability to increase propene conversion under polarization with good faradaic efficiency. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to study the effect of infiltration material on electrode properties. The infiltration of a mixed ionic and electronic conductor, like Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O_2?δ , increased the electrode performance at low temperature but decreased the lifetime of the oxygen ion promoters on the catalyst/electrode surface, reducing the faradaic efficiency of the reaction. The infiltration of CeO₂ provided high propene conversion at open circuit and high effect of polarization associated with good faradaic efficiency, especially at low temperature.     

Impact of the Synergistic Collaboration of Oligothiophene Bridges and Ruthenium Complexes on the Optical Properties of Dumbbell‐Shaped Compounds

The linear and non‐linear optical properties of a family of dumbbell‐shaped dinuclear complexes, in which an oligothiophene chain with various numbers of rings (1, 3, and 6) acts as a bridge between two homoleptic tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complexes, have been fully investigated by using a range of spectroscopic techniques (absorption and luminescence, transient absorption, Raman, and non‐linear absorption), together with density functional theory calculations. Our results shed light on the impact of the synergistic collaboration between the electronic structures of the two chemical moieties on the optical properties of these materials. Experiments on the linear optical properties of these compounds indicated that the length of the oligothiophene bridge was critical for luminescent behavior. Indeed, no emission was detected for compounds with long oligothiophene bridges (compounds 3 and 4 , with 3 and 6 thiophene rings, respectively), owing to the presence of the ³π? π* state of the conjugated bridge below the ³MLCT‐emitting states of the end‐capping Ru^II complexes. In contrast, the compound with the shortest bridge ( 2 , one thiophene ring) shows excellent photophysical features. Non‐linear optical experiments showed that the investigated compounds were strong non‐linear absorbers in wide energy ranges. Indeed, their non‐linear absorption was augmented upon increasing the length of the oligothiophene bridge. In particular, the compound with the longest oligothiophene bridge not only showed strong two‐photon absorption (TPA) but also noteworthy three‐photon‐absorption behavior, with a cross‐section value of 4×10^?78 cm⁶ s² at 1450 nm. This characteristic was complemented by the strong excited‐state absorption (ESA) that was observed for compounds 3 and 4 . As a matter of fact, the overlap between the non‐linear absorption and ESA establishes compounds 3 and 4 as good candidates for optical‐power‐limiting applications.     

Numerical Investigation of Graphene as a Back Surface Field Layer on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell

This paper numerically explores the possibility of ultrathin layering and high efficiency of graphene as a back surface field (BSF) based on a CdTe solar cell by Personal computer one-dimensional (PC1D) simulation. CdTe solar cells have been characterized and studied by varying the carrier lifetime, doping concentration, thickness, and bandgap of the graphene layer. With simulation results, the highest short-circuit current (I_sc = 2.09 A), power conversion efficiency (η = 15%), and quantum efficiency (QE~85%) were achieved at a carrier lifetime of 1 × 10³ μs and a doping concentration of 1 × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ of graphene as a BSF layer-based CdTe solar cell. The thickness of the graphene BSF layer (1 μm) was proven the ultrathin, optimal, and obtainable for the fabrication of high-performance CdTe solar cells, confirming the suitability of graphene material as a BSF. This simulation confirmed that a CdTe solar cell with the proposed graphene as the BSF layer might be highly efficient with optimized parameters for fabrication.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed α‐Carbonylalkylarylation of Vinylarenes: Expedient Access to γ,γ‐Diarylcarbonyl and Aryltetralone Derivatives

We report a Ni‐catalyzed regioselective α‐carbonylalkylarylation of vinylarenes with α‐halocarbonyl compounds and arylzinc reagents. The reaction works with primary, secondary, and tertiary α‐halocarbonyl molecules, and electronically varied arylzinc reagents. The reaction generates γ,γ‐diarylcarbonyl derivatives with α‐secondary, tertiary, and quaternary carbon centers. The products can be readily converted to aryltetralones, including a precursor to Zoloft, an antidepressant drug.     

Crystal Structures of Cs+-Crown Ether Complexes Containing Polynuclear Mercury Iodide Anions

Reactions of CsI and HgI₂ with benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) and 15-crown-5 (15C5) in an ethanol-acetone mixture produced [Cs(B15C5)₂]₂[Hg₂I₆] (1) and {[Cs(15C5)]₂[Hg₂I₆]}_n (2), respectively. The structures of the two complexes are quite different. Molar ratios of Cs⁺ : crown ether are 1 : 2 in 1 and 1 : 1 in 2. Complex 1 consists of two Cs(B15C5) ₂ ⁺ cations and a Hg₂I ₆ ^2- anion. Cs⁺ lies between the two crown-5 ligands, resulting in a sandwich-type cation. Cationic Cs(B15C5) ₂ ⁺ and anionic Hg₂I ₆ ^2- are linked together by electrostatic interactions and the complex 1 is an ion pair compound. Complex 2 consists of infinite [Cs(15C5)]₂[Hg₂I₆] units. Each structural unit contains two Cs(15C5)⁺ cations and a Hg₂I ₆ ^2- anion. Cs⁺ is coordinated by five oxygen atoms of 15C5, three iodine atoms of Hg₂I ₆ ^2- , and an iodine atom of Hg₂I ₆ ^2- in an adjacent structural unit. The interactions between the Cs⁺ of Cs(15C5)⁺ and an I^– in Hg₂I ₆ ^2- from adjacent structural units polymerize the complex 2, resulting in a one-dimensional network structure. The anions of Hg₂I ₆ ^2- in both complexes are similar. The two mercury atoms are linked through two bridging iodine atoms and each mercury is also coordinated by two terminal iodines. Crystal data for 1: space group P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 12.253(4), b = 20.945(7), c = 16.110(6) Å, = 111.0(1)°, V = 3860 ų, Z = 4, R = 0.082 (R _w = 0.089). Crystal data for 2: space group P2₁/c (No. 14), a = 12.157(4), b = 8.546(4), c = 20.666(6) Å, = 91.54(3)°, V = 2146 ų, Z = 4, R = 0.034 (R _w = 0.048).     

Synthesis and structural studies of hydrazino-crown ethers and thermodynamic studies of their interaction with transition,and post-transition metal ions and methyl ammonium ion

Hydrazino-crown ethers have been synthesized in only 3 or 4 steps starting from 1,2-diacetylhydrazine. The X-ray crystal structure of protonated hydrazino-19-crown-7 (2) showed that one of the hydrazino nitrogen atoms was directed outside the ring cavity. A solvent methanol molecule is held in the cavity of the host ligand by three hydrogen bonds involving two hydrogen atoms bonded to nitrogens of the ligand and the alcohol hydrogen of the methanol. The logK values for the interaction of2 with CH₃NH ₊ ³ , Ag⁺, Pb²⁺, and Cd²⁺ were much less than those for the interaction of symmetrical triaza-l8-crown-6 (5) with the same cations. Hydrazino-crown2 reduced silver ions to silver metal when a solution of2 and silver ions in DMSO was allowed to stand for several days.     

A pyrrolo-tetrathiafulvalene cage: synthesis and X-ray crystal structure

[reaction: see text] A novel type of tetrathiafulvalene-cage 4 containing three monopyrrolo-tetrathiafulvalene units has been prepared employing a general and efficient synthetic approach. X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that the cage is able to accommodate solvent molecules within a cavity in the solid state.     

Calculations of atomic spin-orbit matrix elements in the unitary group approach

We present detailed closed-form expressions for the evaluation and numerical calculation of atomic spin-orbit matrix elements in the unitary group approach. A minicomputer implementation of the calculations is described.     

Studies on the rate of isotopic oxygen exchange between [Re(py)4O2]+ and solvent water

The rate of oxygen exchange between trans-[Re(py)₄O₂]⁺ and solvent water in pypyH⁺ buffer solution follows simple first-order kinetics and both oxygens are equivalent. The half-life for isotopic oxygen exchange is about 12 h at a pH of 5.0, 25°C, and [py] = 0.10 M. The observed rate constant for exchange increases with acidity, in the pH range 4 to 6, decreases with [py], and is nearly independent of ionic strength. A small but significant increase of k_obs occurs with increasing complex concentration. The rate of exchange follows the rate equation k_obs/2 = k₀ + k₁/[py] with k₀ = 1.4 × 10^?5(2) s^?1 and k₁ = 4.7 × 10^?7(1) M, s^?1 at 25°C. The activation parameters for the reaction at pH = 7.15 (predominately the k₀ term) are: ΔH* = +137.(1) kJ/M and ΔS* = +126.(1) J/MK. The pH effect and complex concentration effect are discussed in mechanistic terms. These results are compared to those found for [Re(en)₂O₂]⁺ and [Re(CN)₄O₂]^3?.