Icosahedral gold cage clusters: M@Au12- (M=V, Nb, and Ta)

We report the observation and characterization of a series of stable bimetallic 18-valence-electron clusters containing a highly symmetric 12-atom icosahedral Au cage with an encapsulated central heteroatom of Group VB transition metals, M@Au(12) (-) (M=V,Nb,Ta). Electronic and structural properties of these clusters were probed by anion photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Characteristics of the M@Au(12) (-) species include their remarkably high binding energies and relatively simple spectral features, which reflect their high symmetry and stability. The adiabatic electronic binding energies of M@Au(12) (-) were measured to be 3.70+/-0.03, 3.77+/-0.03, and 3.76+/-0.03 eV for M=V, Nb, and Ta, respectively. Comparison of density-functional calculations with experimental data established the highly symmetric icosahedral structures for the 18-electron cluster anions, which may be promising building blocks for cluster-assembled nanomaterials in the form of stoichiometric [M@Au(12) (-)]X(+) salts.     

Recognition of single nucleotide polymorphisms using scanning potential hairpin denaturation

Conventional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assays, which based their detection on the stringency or temperature of the washing buffers, have encountered difficulties to distinguish a single base pair mismatch from a perfect match. In this study, scanning potential hairpin denaturation (SPHD) has been developed to detect SNP in a sensitive and reliable manner. Combined with hairpin oligonucleotide probes, scanning surface electric potential was used to induce a dissociation of double-stranded DNA around a unique "melting potential" (Vm), and it generated a high-contrast SNP recognition signal. A 21 base pair p53 gene segment was used to test this novel method. A single nucleotide mismatch to the hairpin probes caused an average of 400-800 mV difference in melting potential against the perfect match, while the error of this assay was lower than 20 mV. Experiments demonstrated that the hairpin stem was critical to the method. The concept of scanning potential hairpin denaturation could also be used extensively in different areas of nucleotide hybridization based assays.     

Influences of permeation of vanadium ions through PVDF-g-PSSA membranes on performances of vanadium redox flow batteries

The preparation and physical characterization of a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PVDF-g-PSSA) membrane prepared by a solution-grafting method were described. These membranes exhibited high conductivity with a value 3.22 x 10(-2) S/cm at 30 degrees C. ICP studies revealed that the PVDF-g-PSSA membrane showed dramatically lower vanadium ion permeability compared to Nafion 117. Trivalent vanadium ions had the highest permeability through all these membranes in contrast to pentavalent vanadium ions with the lowest. The VRB with the low-cost PVDF-g-PSSA membrane exhibited a higher performance than that with Nafion 117 under the same operating conditions, and its energy efficiency reached 75.8% at 30 mA/cm(2). The performance of VRB with the PVDF-g-PSSA membrane can be maintained after more than 200 cycles at a current density of 60 mA/cm(2).     

An extended two‐dimensional copper–molybdate compound with mixed dicarboxyl and organodiamine ligands

The title complex, poly[di‐μ₃‐oxo‐hepta‐μ₂‐oxo‐tetra­oxo­bis(1,10‐phenanthroline)‐μ₄‐terephthalato‐dicopper(II)­tetra­molybdate(VI)], [Cu₂Mo₄(C₈H₄O₄)O₁₃(C₁₂H₈N₂)₂], represents a novel two‐dimensional copper–molybdate compound with mixed ligands. Tetra­nuclear molybdenum oxide clusters are joined through corner‐sharing into a ribbon‐like chain, with [Cu(phen)]²⁺ (phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline) complexes grafted onto either side. The terephthalate ligand lies about an inversion centre and links these chains to form a layer via Cu—O and Mo—O bonds. Face‐to‐face π–π stacking inter­actions between adjacent phen ligands stabilize the structure.     

Synthesis,structures and properties of two novel copper(II) complexes with hydrogen bonding supramolecular networks

Two novel complexes, [Cu(HL)₂(H₂O)]₂(OH)₂(ClO₄)₂·1.5H₂O (1) and [Cu(HL)₂]Cl₂·4H₂O (2), have been prepared by reacting copper salts with the 4-amino-3-ethyl-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (HL) ligand in neutral solution and in HCl (6 mol L^–1) medium, respectively. They were characterized by FT-IR and u.v.–vis. spectra, and the structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. In both complexes, the triazole ligand chelated the metal ions through the amine and thione substituents on the five-membered ring. Complex (1) has a square-pyramidal copper(II) ion coordinated by two triazole ligands and one water molecule. Unlike (1), the Cu²⁺ ion in (2) displays its characteristic Jahn–Teller distortion with the distance of the Cl^– anions to metal ion further away than that of the triazole ligands. The most intriguing structural features of the title complexes are that the HL ligands chelate copper(II) ions through the N(1) and S(1) atoms, in a cis mode in (1) and a trans mode in (2). In both cases, self-assembled crystals, by supramolecular contacts simultaneously, form two multi-dimensional frameworks.     

用双表面活性剂为共模板合成中孔分子筛MCM-48

利用水热法以非离子表面活性剂聚乙二醇辛基苯基醚和阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵为共模板合成了中孔分子筛MCM-48.实验中发现利用较强的范德华力和氢键,聚乙二醇辛基苯基醚可在很大程度上降低合成MCM-48所需阳离子表面活性剂的用量,且利于制备有序性好、骨架聚合度高、稳定性好的MCM-48.通过调节聚乙二醇辛基苯基醚与十六烷基三甲基溴化铵的比例,可得到不同物相结构的分子筛.     

ESR Studies on a Friedel‐Crafts Alkylation Reaction in [bmim]Cl‐AlCl3 Ionic Liquid

The paramagnetic complexes formed in Friedel‐Crafts alkylation reaction systems are invistigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, in room temperature ionic liquids system 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl‐limidazolium chloride‐aluminium chloride ([bmim]Cl‐AlCl₃). The results indicate that ESR spectra observed are due to polycyclic aromatic radical cations formed from their parent hydrocarbons. ESR spectrum of spin adduct is obtained in an ionic liquid system composed of [bmim]Cl‐AlCl₃. In acidic solution the ¹⁴N hyperfine coupling constant of 4‐oxo‐TEMPO, 2.15 mT, is appreciably larger due to an adduct formed with AlCl₃.     

In search of covalently bound tetra- and penta-oxygen species: a photoelectron spectroscopic and Ab initio investigation of MO4- and MO5- (M = Li,Na, K,Cs)

Although neutral and ionic O4(0/-/+) species have been observed experimentally and considered for energetic materials, O4(2-) and O5(2-) dianions have not yet been explored. O4(2-) is valent isoelectronic to the well-known ClO3- and SO3(2-) anions, and O5(2-) is valent isoelectronic to ClO4- and SO4(2-). All are stable, common anions in solutions and inorganic salts. In this article, we explore the possibility of making covalently bound O4(2-) and O5(2-) species stabilized in the forms of M+O4(2-) and M+O5(2-) (M = Li, Na, K, Cs) in the gas phase. Laser vaporization experiments using M-containing targets and an O2-seeded carrier gas yielded very intense mass peaks corresponding to MO4- and MO5-. To elucidate the structure and bonding of the newly observed MO4- and MO5- species, we measured their photoelectron spectra and then compared them with ab initio calculations and the spectra of ClO3-, Na+SO3(2-), ClO4-, and Na+SO4(2-). Careful analyses of the experimental and ab initio results showed, however, that the observed species are of the forms, O2-M+O2- and O2-M+O3-. The more interesting M+O4(2-) and M+O5(2-) species were found to be higher-energy isomers, but they are true minima on the potential energy surfaces, which suggests that it might be possible to synthesize bulk materials containing covalently bound tetra- and pentatomic oxygen building blocks.     

Reversible wettability of a chemical vapor deposition prepared ZnO film between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity

A superhydrophobic ZnO thin film was fabricated by the Au-catalyzed chemical vapor deposition method. The surface of the film exhibits hierarchical structure with nanostructures on sub-microstructures. The water contact angle (CA) was 164.3 degrees, turning into a superhydrophilic one (CA < 5 degrees) after UV illumination, which can be recovered through being placed in the dark or being heated. The film was attached tightly to the substrate, showing good stability and durability. The surface structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.     

Preparation and characterization of sulfated zirconia (SO4/ZrO2)/Nafion composite membranes for PEMFC operation at high temperature/low humidity

Fine particle superacidic sulfated zirconia (SO₄²⁻/ZrO₂, S-ZrO₂) was synthesized by ameliorated method, and composite membranes with different S-ZrO₂ contents were prepared by a recasting procedure from a suspension of S-ZrO₂ powder and Nafion solution. The physico-chemical properties of the membranes were studied by ion exchange capacity (IEC) and liquid water uptake measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetry–mass spectrometry (TG–MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that the IEC of composite membrane increased with the content of S-ZrO₂, S-ZrO₂ was compatible with the Nafion matrix, the incorporation of the S-ZrO₂ could increase the crystallinity and also improve the initial degradation temperature of the composite membrane. The performance of single cell was the best when the S-ZrO₂ content was 15 wt.%, and achieved 1.35 W/cm² at 80 °C and 0.99 W/cm² at 120 °C based on H₂/O₂ and at a pressure of 2 atm, the performance of the single cell with optimized S-ZrO₂ was far more than that of the Nafion at the same condition (e.g. 1.28 W/cm² at 80 °C, 0.75 W/cm² at 120 °C). The 15 wt.% S-ZrO₂/Nafion composite membrane showed lower fuel cell internal resistance than Nafion membranes at high temperature and low relative humidity (RH).