Electrochemical characterization of negative electrodes consisting of surface-modified Zr0.9Ti0.1(Ni1.1Co0.1Mn0.5V0.2Cr0.1)x Laves-phase alloys

Laves-phase hydrogen storage alloy has a high potential for use as negative electrode material as alternative for the misch-metal-based material. In order to improve the energy density and the rate capability of negative electrode, chemical and mechanical modification of Lavesphase alloy with different stoichiometric ratios was carried out. Discharge capacity and high-rate dischargeabilty was evaluated by electrochemical methods and the characterization of Laves-phase alloy was made by X-ray diffraction, SEM observation and PCT measurement. The best result in discharge capacity could be obtained for stoichiometric Laves-phase alloy with a composition of Zr_0.9Ti_0.1Ni_1.1Co_0.1Mn_0.5V_0.2Cr_0.1 by boiling in 10 M KOH solution. On the other hand, the high-rate dischargeability was increased remarkably by introducing mechanical grinding before alkali treatment. The cause for improved performance was discussed on the basis of thermodynamic stability of metal hydride and changes in crystal structure and surface morphology influencing on diffusion coefficient and diffusion path length of hydrogen.     

Polymerization of allyl esters of unsaturated acids. V. Cyclopolymerization of methyl allyl fumarate

The kinetics of radical polymerization of methyl allyl fumarate (MAF) is discussed in terms of cyclopolymerization and compared with the polymerization results of methyl allyl maleate (MAM) as a cis isomer. In the polymerization of MAF, the rate and degree of polymerization were quite enhanced compared with MAM, and gelation occurred at low conversion. The content of the unreacted allylic double bonds of the MAF polymer was quite large; whereas those of the unreacted fumaric double bonds and the cyclic structural units showed reverse tendencies. Only a slight presence of a five-membered ring was observed in the MAF polymer. The cyclization constants K_A and K_V, the ratios of the rate constants of the unimolecular cyclization reaction to those of the bimolecular propagation reaction of the uncyclized allylic and fumaric radicals, were estimated to be 2.73 and 1.48 mole/liter, respectively. These values suggest the great difference in the cyclopolymerization behavior between two isomeric monomers. These results are discussed in detail in connection with the high reactivity of the fumaric double bond compared to the maleic double bond. In addition, the formation mode and the sequence distribution of the structural units of the polymer produced are discussed on the basis of these analytical results. Thus, for the MAF polymer obtained in the bulk polymerization, about 60% of the cyclic structure can be formed via the intramolecular attack of the uncyclized fumaric radical on the allylic double bond, as opposed to the case of MAM via the predominant intramolecular attack (ca. 90%) of the uncyclized allylic radical on the maleic double bond; these results and the low probability for the succession of cyclic structures and the rather high probability of a vinyl-to-vinyl addition are presented.     

Synthesis of substituted polymethylenes by radical polymerization of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkylfumaramides and their characterization

Radical polymerization of N,N,N′,N′-tetraalkylfumaramides (TRFAm) bearing methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, and isobutyl groups as N-substituents (TMFAm, TEFAm, TnPFAm, TIPFAm, and TIBFAm, respectively) was investigated. In the polymerization of TEFAm initiated with 1,1′-azobiscyclohexane-1-carbonitrile (ACN) in benzene, the polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed as follows: R_p = k [ACN]^0.28 [TEFAm]^1.26, and the overall activation energy was 102.1 kJ/mol. The introduction of a bulky alkyl group into N-substituent of TRFAm decreased the R_p in the following order: TMFAm > TEFAm > TnPFAm > TIBFAm > TIPFAm ～ 0. The relative reactivities of these monomers were also investigated in radical copolymerization with styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). In copolymerization of TRFAm (M₂) with St (M₁), monomer reactivity ratios were determined to be r₁ = 1.07 and r₂ = 0.20 for St–TMFAm, and r₁ = 1.88 and r₂ = 0.11 for St–TEFAm, from which Q₂ and e₂ values were estimated to be 0.35 and 0.44 for TMFAm, and 0.19 and 0.47 for TEFAm, respectively. The other TRFAm were also copolymerized with St, but copolymerization with MMA gave polymers containing a small amount of TRFAm units. The polymer from TRFAm consists of a less-flexible poly(N,N-dialkylaminocarbonylmethylene) structure. The solubility and thermal property of the polymers were also investigated.     

Electrochemical synthesis of a polypyrrole thin film with supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent

A conductive polypyrrole (PPy) film was successfully synthesized in a homogeneous supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)/acetonitrile (AN) system. The occurrence of a homogeneous supercritical state was confirmed by observations of the phase behavior of the system through a high-pressure cell with a viewing window. The concentration of a supporting electrolyte, tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6), significantly changed the phase behavior of the scCO2/AN system. The polymerization rate of the film in that system decreased with further addition of CO2. This result suggested that the low viscosity of scCO2 did not play an important role in improving the growth rate of the PPy film. The low polymerization rate might have been due to the electron-transfer resistance arising from the low dielectric constant of scCO2/AN mixture. The roughness of the film prepared in the homogeneous scCO2/AN system was 1/10 that synthesized in AN itself as a solvent. The slow growth of film and the high diffusion rate of the monomer seemed to account for the smooth flat film formation.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler

To mitigate CO₂ discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO₂ fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows.

Synthesis and nanostructure of strong polyelectrolyte brushes in amphiphilic diblock copolymer monolayers on a water surface

We synthesized an ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(hydrogenated isoprene)-b-poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PIp-h2-b-PSS), by living anionic polymerization, and the nanostructure of its monolayer spread on a water surface was directly investigated by the in situ X-ray reflectivity technique. The monolayer of the diblock copolymer on a water surface had a smooth hydrophobic PIp-h2 layer on water and a "carpet"/polymer brush double layer in a hydrophilic sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa) layer under the water. The surface pressure dependence and PSSNa chain length dependence of the PIp-h2 layer thickness and the brush nanostructure were quantitatively studied. The effect of salt concentration in the subphase was also investigated in aqueous solutions containing 0-2 M NaCl. The salt effect on monolayer structure occurred at around 0.2 M. The thickness of the PSS brush layer decreased at salt concentrations above 0.2 M, while no structural change was observed below 0.2 M. This critical salt concentration is thought to be related to the balance of ionic concentrations inside the brush and in bulk solution.     

Separation of stereoisomers of some terpene derivatives by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography using beta-cyclodextrin derivative columns

Gas chromatographic separations of the stereoisomers of menthol derivatives, important intermediates in the synthesis of physiologically active natural products, were carried out on several substituted beta-cyclodextrin (CD) columns, including per-O-methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (PME-beta-CD), heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-CD (DIAC-6-TBDS-beta-CD), and heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-CD (DIME-6-TBDS-beta-CD) as chiral stationary phases (CSPs). With the DIME-6-TBDS-beta-CD column, a separation of the Z- and E-isomers of methylidenementhol was accomplished; no separation was achieved with the other columns. The stereoisomers of methylidenementhol and the corresponding tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBS) ether were separated on both the beta-CD and the heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (TME-beta-CD) columns by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a mobile phase involving acetonitrile and H(2)O. For the separation of the Z- and E-isomers of methylidenementhol, the TME-beta-CD column was superior. In contrast, the beta-CD column was preferable in the case of the corresponding TBS ether.     

Surface treatment of silicon carbide using TiO2(IV) photocatalyst

Silicon carbide (SiC) and diamond were decomposed to CO(2)(g) by the photocatalysis with TiO(2) at room temperature, although the decomposition rate of diamond was very slow. According to the XPS spectra of Si2p on the SiC surface, SiO(2) was simultaneously formed on the surface by the TiO(2) photocatalysis. The thickness of the SiO(2) formed on the SiC surface during the photocatalytic oxidation for 1 h was estimated to be about 40 A from the depth profile of the XPS spectra using Ar etching. The SiC surface was oxidized by the TiO(2) photocatalysis even under the condition without a direct contact with the TiO(2). This indicates that the photocatalytic oxidation of the SiC occurs due to active oxygen species photogenerated on the TiO(2) surface, but not by hole produced in the valence band of the TiO(2). Moreover, a remote surface treatment system using the quartz beads coated with TiO(2) was developed for the SiC surface oxidation. Consequently, the TiO(2) photocatalysis will be very useful for the surface treatment of SiC such as photopatterning without defects and damage to the substrate because the photocatalytic reaction is carried out under mild conditions.     

Fluorometric quantification of total d-gluconate by a flow-injection system using an immobilized-enzyme reactor

A method for the quantification of total d-gluconate by flow-injection analysis was developed using an immobilized-enzyme reactor and fluorescence detection. d-Gluconate was quantified using co-immobilized gluconate kinase (GK) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGDH) reactor. d-Gluconate was phosphorylated to 6-phospho-d-gluconate by GK in the presence of ATP, and then the 6-phospho-d-gluconate produced was oxidized by PGDH with NADP⁺. The NADPH produced by the GK-PGDH reactor was monitored fluorometrically at 455 nm (excitation at 340 nm). A linear relationship between the responses and concentrations of d-gluconate was obtained in the ranges of 1.0 × 10⁻⁶–1.6 × 10⁻⁴ M. The relative standard deviation for 10 successive injections was 0.57% at the 0.1 mM level. This analytical method was applied to the quantification of d-gluconate in honeys, vinegars and noble rot wines, and the results showed good agreement with those obtained using the conventional F-kit method.