An X‐ray absorption spectroscopic study of carbon monoxide‐adsorbed Cu surface

Adsorption/interaction of Carbon monoxide (CO) on a catalytic surface is the key step in electrochemical conversion of CO2 for environmental consideration. Copper (Cu) is known to be the most efficient catalyst for this purpose. Thus, this paper investigates effects of CO adsorption on the electronic/atomic state of polycrystalline Cu surface by using x‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) tells that the Cu K‐edge shift +0.2 eV on adsorbing CO. Extended x‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis informs that CO adsorption disturbs Cu surface, i.e. increase of Cu‐Cu bonding distance and decrease of the coordination number of the first nearest neighbor. Both the results of XANES and EXAFS imply decrease of d‐electron density of Cu on the adsorption. Demonstrated is that XAS is very useful in studying the surface phenomena of a catalyst but requires further efforts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mpp7 controls regioselective Knoevenagel condensation during the biosynthesis of Monascus azaphilone pigments

Targeted inactivation of the mpp7 gene in the Monascus azaphilone pigment (MAzP) biosynthetic gene cluster resulted in the accumulation of monasfluol A (7) and B (8), of which the latter was a novel compound, and the abolition of the main MAzPs. It is thus proposed that 7 and 8 are the products of non-enzymatic Knoevenagel condensation followed by a reduction and that Mpp7 assists in regioselective Knoevenagel aldol condensation during MAzP biosynthesis.     

Thieno[2,3-a]carbazole-based donor–π–acceptor organic dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

New donor–π–acceptor organic dyes K-1 and K-2 containing thieno[2,3-a]carbazole as an electron donor were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Photophysical and electrochemical properties of K-dyes were investigated. DSCs based on K-dyes showed a high conversion efficiency of 6.6–6.7% with a J_sc of 12.40–12.49 mA cm⁻² and a V_oc of 0.70–0.71 V. The molecular geometry calculation indicated that the existence of thienocarbazole donor in K-dyes enhanced the molecular planarity compared to the carbazole analogue dye MK-3. As a result, DSCs based on K-dyes showed high IPCEs, perhaps due to efficient intramolecular charge transfer and electron injection from excited dye to TiO₂ conduction band.     

Theoretical Study of Xanthenone and Phenothiazine Derivatives for Blue TADF Emitter

Two novel thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials (PTZ-XTN and 2PTZ-XTN), with phenothiazine (PTZ) as an electron donor and xanthenone derivatives (XTN) as electron acceptors, were designed and theoretically investigated as blue OLED emitters. We used density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations to determine the electron distribution of HOMO and LUMO and the energy of the lowest singlet (S₁) and the lowest triplet (T₁) excited states. The large dihedral angle between the electron donor and the electron acceptor imparted a small spatial overlap between HOMO and LUMO in all the materials. This charge separation of the HOMO and LUMO leads to a small energy gap between the S₁ state and T₁ state, thereby leading to TADF emission. Among the materials studied, PTZ-XTN has the most suitable properties for a blue TADF OLED emitter, even though 2PTZ-XTN has the smallest energy gap between the S₁ and T₁ states.     

Microwave Enhanced Knoevenagel Condensation of Malonic Acid on Basic Alumina

Abstract: An improved Knoevenagel condensation of malonic acid and aldehydes can be achieved by microwave irradiation over alumina. A number of diacids were prepared in good yields in very short reaction times.     

Preparation of Microspheres by an Emulsification‐Condensation Method

Microspheres were prepared using N‐methylolurea‐dodecylamine conjugate (MU‐DOA), an emulsifiable and self‐condensaible oil. MU was prepared by reacting urea and formaldehyde at 70°C in alkali conditions and then conjugating it to DOA by a condensation reaction. The MU‐DOA conjugate was emulsified in distilled water without an emulsifier, and then the oil droplets were hardened to obtain microspheres by a self‐condensation reaction among methylols of the conjugate. The reactions of each step, e.g., the preparation of MU, the conjugation of MU and DOA, and the self‐condensation of emulsified oil, were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. On scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the microspheres formed by the self‐condensation of the emulsified MU‐DOA were shown as spherical and less than 30 µm in diameter. The phase transition temperatures of DOA, MU‐DOA, and MU‐DOA microspheres were 30.3°C, 21.1°C, and 20.1°C, respectively. The lower transition temperature of MU‐DOA is probably due to the bulky MU, which could reduce the intermolecular interaction of MU‐DOA. Zeta potentials of the microspheres decreased from positive to negative value as pH increased from 3.5 to 10.5. The deprotonation of the amines of MU‐DOA would be responsible for that result.     

Electrochemical carbon dioxide and bicarbonate reduction on copper in weakly alkaline media

The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ on copper is an intensively studied reaction. However, there has not been much attention for CO₂ reduction on copper in alkaline electrolytes, because this creates a carbonate buffer in which CO₂ is converted in HCO₃ ^? and the pH of the electrolyte decreases. Here, we show that electrolytes with phosphate buffers, which start off in the alkaline region and, after saturation with CO₂, end up in the neutral region, behave differently compared to CO₂ reduction in phosphate buffers which starts off in the neutral region. In initially alkaline buffers, a reduction peak is observed, which is not seen in neutral buffer solutions. In contrast with earlier literature reports, we show that this peak is not due to the formation of a CO adlayer on the electrode surface but due to the production of formate via direct bicarbonate reduction. The intensity of the reduction peak is influenced by electrode morphology and the identity of the cations and anions in solution. It is found that a copper nanoparticle-covered electrode gives a rise in intensity in comparison with mechanically polished and electropolished electrodes. The peak is observed in the SO₄ ^2?-, ClO₄ ^?-, and Cl^?- containing electrolytes, but the formate-forming peak is not seen with Br^? and I^?.     

Sensitive determination of fluoride in biological samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry after derivatization with 2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometric method was developed in this study in order to determine fluoride in plasma and urine after derivatization with 2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene. 2-Fluoronaphthalene was chosen as the internal standard. The derivatization of fluoride was performed in the biological sample and the best reaction conditions (10.0 mg mL⁻¹ of 2-(bromomethyl)naphthalene, 1.0 mg mL⁻¹ of 15-crown-5-ether as a phase transfer catalyst, pH of 7.0, reaction temperature of 70 °C, and heating time of 70 min) were established. The organic derivative was extracted with dichloromethane and then measured by a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Under the established condition, the detection limits were 11 μg L⁻¹ and 7 μg L⁻¹ by using 0.2 mL of plasma or urine, respectively. The accuracy was in a range of 100.8–107.6%, and the precision of the assay was less than 4.3% in plasma or urine. Fluoride was detected in a concentration range of 0.12–0.53 mg L⁻¹ in six urine samples after intake of natural mineral water containing 0.7 mg L⁻¹ of fluoride.     

Structural and magnetic study of bulk glassy Fe72 − x Co x B20Si4Nb4 alloys

The influence of the partial replacement of Fe by Co on the structural and magnetic properties of bulk-type glassy Fe_72???x Co _x B₂₀Si₄Nb₄ (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35) alloys has been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) magnetic measurements and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Results show that the successive Co addition: (1) does not affect the mass density of the studied alloys, (2) affects appreciably the super cooled region, (3) modifies the magnetic properties, exhibiting soft magnetic behavior, (4) modifies the spin texture and disorder within the studied specimens.