Oxidation of elemental gold in alcohol solutions

Gold is designated as the noblest metal because of its chemical inertness. It is known to dissolve in cyanide solutions in the presence of air or H2O2 or in halogen-containing solutions, aqua regia being the most famous example. Herein, we report a unique thiol, especially 4-pyridinethiol (4-PS), assisted dissolution of Au in alcohol solutions. Although dissolution was found to be very selective for pyridinethiols, such a phenomenon is astonishing since thiols are commonly used as etch resists for Au and even 4-PS is extensively used as a surface modifier for Au. To gain further understanding of the dissolution process, the influence of the reaction conditions was extensively studied. On the basis of the obtained results, a mechanism for the dissolution reaction is proposed. Fascinatingly, by tuning of the reaction conditions, this phenomenon can be applied in selective preparation of self-supporting nanometer-thick Au foils.     

Grafting of hydroxymethylacrylamide and acrylic acid copolymer onto polyvinylidene fluoride membrane by supercritical carbon dioxide and its application in dye separation

We report a thermally induced graft copolymerization of acrylic acid and N‐hydroxymethylacrylamide onto polyvinylidene fluoride microporous membrane by using supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent and carrier agent. The effects of monomer mole ratio, pressure, reaction temperature, time, and initiator concentration on the degree of grafting were investigated. The morphology of the grafted membrane was studied via scanning electron microscopy. Attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction proved the existence of grafting monomers. The results of contact angle measurement and water filtration at different pH levels indicated pronounced pH‐sensitive behavior and increased hydrophilicity of the polyvinylidene fluoride grafted membrane. In particular, the grafted membrane was applied to the removal of methylene blue with a relative rejection of 98.1% compared with 30.5% of rejection observed from the pristine polyvinylidene fluoride membrane. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile synthesis of polyoxometalate-thionine composite via direct precipitation method and its photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine B under visible light

(TH)(3)PW(12) (TH=thionine, PW(12)=PW(12)O(40)(3-)) composite was prepared by direct precipitation of TH and PW(12). The (TH)(3)PW(12) was characterized via UV-vis spectrum, FT-IR, SEM, and BET surface area. PW(12) was intact during the precipitation process. The composite has a bar-like shape and relatively large surface area (Langmuir surface of (TH)(3)PW(12) was 31.59 m(2)g(-1), BET surface was 20.26 m(2)g(-1)). Using the material as the photocatalyst, rhodamine B (RhB) was efficiently bleached and mineralized under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm). The kinetics of the photodecomposition follow the first-order reaction. The (TH)(3)PW(12) catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction system and has good stability for reuse.     

Mixed-phase PdRu bimetallic structures with high activity and stability for formic acid electrooxidation

Aiming at investigating the effect of structure on electrocatalytic properties, Pd(50)Ru(50) nanoparticles (NPs) with three different structures were carefully designed in a one-pot polyol process for application in formic acid electrooxidation. The three structures are: (1) single-phase PdRu nanodendrites (denoted as PR-1), (2) a mixed-phase mixture of PdRu nanodendrites and monometallic Ru NPs (denoted as PR-2), and (3) a mixed-phase mixture of monometallic Pd and Ru NPs (denoted as PR-3). From PR-1 to PR-3, the structure was varied from single-phase to mixed-phase. The relative position of Ru was altered from completely Pd-connected (PR-1), to a mixture of Pd-connected and monometallic (PR-2), and completely monometallic (PR-3). All PdRu NPs outperform the commercial Pd/C. PR-2 exhibits the highest peak current density, but its stability is slightly lower than that of PR-3. When both the current density and the durability are taken into consideration, PR-2 is the best choice of catalyst for formic acid oxidation. It indicates that both the Pd-connected Ru NPs and monometallic Ru NPs in the mixed-phase PR-2 are essential to improve the electrocatalytic properties. Our study also illustrates that the electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) and hydrogen storage capacity of the as-prepared PdRu NPs are greatly enhanced after several hundred scans in formic acid, indicating the possibility for highly restorable catalysts in direct formic acid fuel cells.     

Young children's recognition of quantitative relations in mathematically unspecified settings

Children have been found to be able to reason about quantitative relations, such as non-symbolic proportions, already by the age of 5 years. However, these studies utilize settings in which children were explicitly guided to notice the mathematical nature of the tasks. This study investigates children's spontaneous recognition of quantitative relations on mathematically unspecified settings. Participants were 86 Finnish-speaking children, ages 5–8. Two video-recorded tasks, in which participants were not guided to notice the mathematical aspects, were used. The tasks could be completed in a number of ways, including by matching quantitative relations, numerosity, or other aspects. Participants’ matching strategies were analyzed with regard to the most mathematically advanced level utilized. There were substantial differences in participants’ use of quantitative relations, numerosity and other aspects in their matching strategies. The results of this novel experimental setting show that investigating children's spontaneous recognition of quantitative relations provides novel insight into children's mathematical thinking and furthers the understanding of how children recognize and utilize mathematical aspects when not explicitly guided to do so.     

A Supramolecular Hydrogen‐Bonded Network as a Diffusion Barrier for Metal Adatoms

Confined in a molecular corral : A supramolecular network changes the mechanism by which underpotential deposition (UPD) of copper proceeds on a gold electrode modified by a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM). Lateral diffusion of Cu adatoms is suppressed between adjacent cells of a network/SAM hybrid structure. Instead, UPD occurs by direct deposition into the SAM filled pores of the network, where the Cu adatoms are confined.

     

The 2ν8 Band of CH3CN

The overtone band 2ν⁰₈ of CH₃CN around 720 cm⁻¹ has been measured on a Bruker Fourier transform spectrometer at a resolution of 0.003 cm⁻¹. Only the parallel band was observed, but due to the l(2, 2) resonance, ΔK = −2 lines leading to the v₈ = 2, l₈ = −2 levels with K = 1-3 could be seen. More information for the l₈ = ±2 component of the vibrational state v₈ = 2 was evaluated from the hot band 2ν^±2₈ - ν^±1₈. Altogether more than 1000 lines were assigned. In the fit pure rotational lines from literature were also combined. Among the results the anomalous A₀ - A′ values 4.6722(13) × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ for the 2ν⁰₈ band and 7.0324(32) × 10⁻³ cm⁻¹ for the 2ν^±2₈ band are striking.     

Negative gastrointestinal contrast enhancement and image distortion induced by superparamagnetic particles at 0.02 Tesla

Gastrointestinal contrast enhancement and image distortion induced by superparamagnetic particles were evaluated in vitro and in rabbits at 0.02 Tesla. Test tubes containing 0.01–1.0 mg particles/ml were imaged in an oil or water bath in order to demonstrate the concentration-dependent signal void and image distortion in vitro at several pulse sequences. The lowest concentration of particles tested clearly decreased the signal intensity. Image distortion was observed when the concentration exceeded 0.07 mg/ml and was more pronounced on the T₂-weighted images. The in vitro T₂ relaxation time decreased from 122 ms to 56 ms with an increase in the particle concentration from 0.01 to 0.06 mg/ml. A loss of the GI-tract signal was observed in rabbits after the administration of 1 mg particles/kg, given as a 0.03 mg/ml suspension. At a dose of 20 mg/kg (0.6 mg/ml suspension) significant image distortion was observed.     

Development of a solid-phase extraction method for simultaneous extraction of adipic acid, succinic acid and 1,4-butanediol formed during hydrolysis of poly(butylene adipate) and poly(butylene succinate)

A solid-phase extraction (SPE) method was developed for the simultaneous extraction of dicarboxylic acids and diols formed during hydrolysis of poly(butylene succinate), PBS, and poly(butylene adipate), PBA. Four commercial non-polar SPE columns, three silica based: C8, C18, C18 (EC), and one resin based: ENV+, were tested for the extraction of succinic acid, adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol, the expected final hydrolysis products of PBS and PBA. ENV+ resin was chosen as a solid-phase, because it displayed the best extraction efficiency for 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid. Linear range for the extracted analytes was 1-500 ng/microl for adipic acid and 2-500 ng/microl for 1,4-butanediol and succinic acid. Detection and quantification limits for the analytes were between 1-2 and 2-7 ng/microl, respectively, and relative standard deviations were between 3 and 7%. Good repeatability and low detection limits made the developed SPE method and subsequent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis a sensitive tool for identification and quantification of hydrolysis products at early stages of degradation.     

Potentiometric sensors based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with sulfonated calix[4]arene and calix[4]resorcarenes

Potentiometric ion sensors have been prepared by galvanostatic electrosynthesis of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with p-sulfonated calix[4]arene (C[4]S) and p-methylsulfonated calix[4]resorcarenes (R_n[4]S) with alkyl substituents of different chain length (R₁=CH₃; R₂=C₂H₅; R₃=C₆H₁₃). The bowl-shape of these doping ions makes them suitable as ionic recognition sites, and their bulky character is expected to prevent them from leaching out of the conducting polymer membrane. For comparison, sensors based on PEDOT doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVS) were also constructed. The resulting GC/PEDOT electrodes were conditioned in 0.01 mol L^–1 AgNO₃ and their performance as Ag⁺ ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) studied. Results reveal that selectivity and lifetime of the electrodes is affected by the doping anion structure, although all electrodes show selectivity towards Ag⁺ ions. Interaction of Ag⁺ with sulfur atoms present in the conducting polymer backbone is considered to be the main reason for this behavior. A second set of electrodes was constructed and conditioned in 0.1 mol L^–1 KCl. These electrodes were tested in chloride solutions of quaternary ammonium cations, showing that C[4]S and R₂[4]S exhibit significant sensitivity towards pyridinium.Dedicated to Professor György Horányi on the occasion of his 70th birthday in recognition of his outstanding contributions to electrochemistry