How CO2 Interacts with Carboxylic Acids: A Rotational Study of Formic Acid–CO2

The rotational spectra of the 1:1 formic acid–carbon dioxide molecular complex and of its monodeuterated isotopologues are analysed in the 6.5–18.5 and 59.6–74.4 GHz frequency ranges using a pulsed jet Fourier transform microwave spectrometer and a free‐jet absorption millimetre wave spectrometer, respectively. Precise values of the rotational and quartic centrifugal distortion constants are obtained from the measured frequencies, and quadrupole coupling constants are determined from the deuterium hyperfine splittings. Structural parameters are estimated from the moments of inertia and their differences among isotopologues: the complex has a planar structure with the two subunits held together by a HC(O)OH???O=C ? O (2.075 Å) and a HC(OH)O???CO₂ (2.877 Å) interactions. The ab initio intermolecular binding energy, obtained at the counterpoise corrected MP2/aug‐cc‐pVTZ level of calculation, is D_e=17 kJ mol^?1.     

DNA–Polymer Nanostructures by RAFT Polymerization and Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly

Nanostructures derived from amphiphilic DNA–polymer conjugates have emerged prominently due to their rich self‐assembly behavior; however, their synthesis is traditionally challenging. Here, we report a novel platform technology towards DNA–polymer nanostructures of various shapes by leveraging polymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) for polymerization from single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA). A “grafting from” protocol for thermal RAFT polymerization from ssDNA under ambient conditions was developed and utilized for the synthesis of functional DNA–polymer conjugates and DNA–diblock conjugates derived from acrylates and acrylamides. Using this method, PISA was applied to manufacture isotropic and anisotropic DNA–polymer nanostructures by varying the chain length of the polymer block. The resulting nanostructures were further functionalized by hybridization with a dye‐labelled complementary ssDNA, thus establishing PISA as a powerful route towards intrinsically functional DNA–polymer nanostructures.     

Synthesis of dense poly(acrylic acid) brushes and their interaction with amine-functional silsesquioxane nanoparticles

Poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte brushes were synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of tert-butyl acrylate on planar gold surfaces and subsequent hydrolysis. Three types of monolayers with different numbers of thiol binding sites per initiating unit were used. The binding strength to the gold surface turned out to be of crucial importance for the formation of uniform brush layers after acidic hydrolysis. The monolayers and polymer brushes were characterized by ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Their interaction with [(diglycidylamino)propyl]silsesquioxane nanoparticles at various pH values was studied by surface plasmon resonance.     

Noniterative Doubles Corrections to the Random Phase and Higher Random Phase Approximations: Singlet and Triplet Excitation Energies

The second-order noniterative doubles-corrected random phase approximation (RPA) method has been extended to triplet excitation energies and the doubles-corrected higher RPA method as well as a shifted version for calculating singlet and triplet excitation energies are presented here for the first time. A benchmark set consisting of 20 molecules with a total of 117 singlet and 71 triplet excited states has been used to test the performance of the new methods by comparison with previous results obtained with the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA) and the third order approximate coupled cluster singles, doubles and triples model CC3. In general, the second-order doubles corrections to RPA and HRPA significantly reduce both the mean deviation as well as the standard deviation of the errors compared to the CC3 results. The accuracy of the new methods approaches the accuracy of the SOPPA method while using only 10–60% of the calculation time. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Computational Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Impact of the Chlorination of Lithium Argyrodites on the Electrolyte/Cathode Interface in Solid-State Batteries

Lithium argyrodite-type electrolytes are regarded as promising electrolytes due to their high ionic conductivity and good processability. Chemical modifications to increase ionic conductivity have already been demonstrated, but the influence of these modifications on interfacial stability remains so far unknown. In this work, we study Li₆PS₅Cl and Li_5.5PS_4.5Cl_1.5 to investigate the influence of halogenation on the electrochemical decomposition of the solid electrolyte and the chemical degradation mechanism at the cathode interface in depth. Electrochemical measurements, gas analysis and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry indicate that the Li_5.5PS_4.5Cl_1.5 shows pronounced electrochemical decomposition at lower potentials. The chemical reaction at higher voltages leads to more gaseous degradation products, but a lower fraction of solid oxygenated phosphorous and sulfur species. This in turn leads to a decreased interfacial resistance and thus a higher cell performance.     

Pair Distribution Function from Liquid Jet Nanoparticle Suspension using Femtosecond X-ray Pulses

X-ray scattering data measured on femtosecond timescales at the SACLA X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facility on a suspension of HfO₂ nanoparticles in a liquid jet were used for pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. Despite a non-optimal experimental setup resulting in a modest Q_max of ~8 Å⁻¹, a promising PDF was obtained. The main features were reproduced when comparing the XFEL PDF to a PDF obtained from data measured at the PETRA III synchrotron light source. Refining structural parameters such as unit cell dimension and particle size from the XFEL PDF provided reliable values. Although the reachable Q_max limited the obtainable information, the present results indicate that good quality PDFs can be obtained on femtosecond timescales if the experimental conditions are further optimized. The study therefore encourages a new direction in ultrafast structural science where structural features of amorphous and disordered systems can be studied.     

Determination of zinc O,O′-dialkyl dithiophosphate lubricant additives via the corresponding methyl and p-nitrobenzylic ester derivatives using GC-MS, GC-NPD and HPLC-MS

 A quantitative fingerprinting of automotive lubricants with respect to zinc dialkyl dithiophosphates (ZDP), major anti-wear/antioxidant additives, is presented. ZDPs in lubricant solutions are converted into the corresponding methyl and p-nitrobenzylic esters, respectively. After removal of the lubricant matrix the methyl esters are submitted to gas chromatography (GC). Mass spectrometric detection (MS) and comparison with reference methyl esters enable the characterisation of practical ZDP mixtures with respect to alkyl chain length and isomery of the single components. Overall recovery rates are higher than 90% and phosphorus-selective detection (NPD) allows a quantitative determination down to 0.1 pg/μl. The p-nitrobenzylic esters may be analysed by HPLC. Identification and quantification is performed by on-line HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS (APCI) with a determination limit of 20 pg/μl. The ZDP quantification via the methyl esters is applied to seven lubricants from the German market. The method is applicable to used oils allowing the monitoring of ZDP consumption during engine operation. Received: 22 March 1996/Revised: 19 June 1996/Accepted: 21 June 1996