Growth limits in platinum oxides formed on Pt-skin layers on Pt-Co bimetallic nanoparticles

The dynamical oxidation processes of Pt-skin layers on Pt(3)Co were investigated in situ and in real-time by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy combined with electrochemical measurements. Growth limit behaviors and the suppression of higher-order formation of surface oxides were observed, and these might explain the highly durable nature of Pt-skin layers.     

Conformational reduction of DOPA in the gas phase studied by laser desorption supersonic jet laser spectroscopy

The conformational reduction in catecholamine neurotransmitters was studied by resonance enhanced multi photon ionization (REMPI), ultraviolet-ultraviolet (UV-UV) hole burning and infrared (IR) dip spectroscopy with applying a laser desorption supersonic jet technique to DOPA, which is one of the catecholamine neurotransmitters and has one more phenolic OH group than tyrosine. It is concluded that DOPA has a single observable conformer in the gas phase at low temperature. Quantum chemical calculations at several levels with or without the dispersion correction were also carried out to study stable conformations. From the comparison between the computational IR spectra and the experimental ones, the most stable structure was determined. It is strongly suggested that the conformational reduction is caused by electrostatic interactions, such as a dipole-dipole interaction, between the chain and OH groups.     

Synergic extraction of metals with α-acyl-d-camphor and optically active lewis bases

Solvent extraction of europium (III), zinc (II) cobalt (II) with α-acyl-d-camphor and optically active isomers of quinine and quinidine was studied in order to obtain information on chirality recognition based on adduct formation between a chiral metal chelate and optically active isomers. It was possible to differentiate clearly between the adduct formation of quinine and that of quinidine in the synergic extraction of cobalt and europium with 3-heptafluorobutyryl- d-camphor and cobalt with 3-trifluoroacetyl-d-camphor.     

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of multicomponent systems

A general formalism of nonequilibrium thermodynamics of multicomponent fluids is given. Reversible parts of balance equations for the extensive variables are constructed in such a way that the growth rate of the extensive variables are related to their conjugate intensive parameters in an antisymmetric manner. This enables us to give the balance equation for the diffusional flow which plays an important role in the study of superfluidity and complex fluids.     

A universal peroxyoxalate-chemiluminescence detection system for mobile phases of differing pH.

A universal peroxyoxalate-chemiluminescence detection system for high performance liquid chromatography, available for a variety of mobile phases, has been developed. The system consisted of a dual-head short-stroke pump and a chemiluminescence detector. The standard conditions using bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO) as aryl oxalate were as follows. The first postcolumn solution was the mixture of 0.5 M imidazole-nitric acid (pH 7.5) and acetonitrile (1:4, v/v). The second was acetonitrile containing TCPO-hydrogen peroxide. These two solutions were delivered by the two pump-heads. After the pH of the column eluate was adjusted to the optimum range (6.5-7.5) by the first postcolumn solution, the solution was mixed with the second postcolumn solution. After flowing through a reaction coil, the chemiluminescence of the mixture was monitored. Using this system, a high sensitivity (fmol level) was obtained for perylene as an analyte with mobile phases having different pH values (2.0-8.0). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons became detectable to a high sensitivity even after the column separation using an acidic mobile phase. The detection sensitivity of nitrated pyrenes after on-line electrochemical reduction using an acidic mobile phase was also increased. This system might be available for other aryl oxalates by some modifications of the postcolumn solutions.