DFT mechanistic study of the H2‐assisted chain transfer copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene catalyzed by zirconocene complex

DFT computations have been performed to investigate the mechanism of H₂‐assisted chain transfer strategy to functionalize polypropylene via Zr‐catalyzed copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene (pMS). The study unveils the following: (i) propylene prefers 1,2‐insertion over 2,1‐insertion both kinetically and thermodynamically, explaining the observed 1,2‐insertion regioselectivity for propylene insertion. (ii) The 2,1‐inserion of pMS is kinetically less favorable but thermodynamically more favorable than 1,2‐insertion. The observation of 2,1‐insertion pMS at the end of polymer chain is due to thermodynamic control and that the barrier difference between the two insertion modes become smaller as the chain length becomes longer. (iii) The pMS insertion results in much higher barriers for subsequent either propylene or pMS insertion, which causes deactivation of the catalytic system. (iv) Small H₂ can react with the deactivated [Zr]?pMS?PP_n facilely, which displace functionalized pMS?PP_n chain and regenerate [Zr]? H active catalyst to continue copolymerization. The effects of counterions are also discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 576–585     

80.5 MeV/u碳离子诱发铜靶的放射性剩余产物测量

高能重带电粒子能直接穿透靶原子核外电子层,与原子核发生直接碰撞,发生散裂反应,产生一系列具有放射性的剩余产物核.重带电粒子诱发靶材放射性剩余核与辐射防护和人员安全有着密切联系,当前,大部分剩余核产额主要依靠蒙特卡罗粒子输运程序进行模拟计算,其准确程度亟需通过实验测量进行准确评估.本文利用能量为80.5 MeV/u的(12)^C⁶⁺粒子对薄铜靶开展了辐照实验与伽玛射线测量,结合伽玛谱学分析方法,得出了辐照产生的18种放射性剩余产物的初始活度和产生截面值,并与PHITS模拟结果进行对比.结果表明,PHITS模拟程序对放射性剩余核种类的估计具有较高可靠性,在其绝对产额方面,与实验测量仍具有较大偏差.     

Gradient structure of polypropylene composites filled with carbon black

Russian Chemical Bulletin - Gradient polymer composites were prepared by melt-mixing of carbon black and polypropylene in a compounder and subsequent hot pressing of pellets. The thermally treated...     

A Photoactivated Cu–CeO2 Catalyst with Cu-[O]-Ce Active Species Designed through MOF Crystal Engineering

Fully utilizing solar energy for catalysis requires the integration of conversion mechanisms and therefore delicate design of catalyst structures and active species. Herein, a MOF crystal engineering method was developed to controllably synthesize a copper–ceria catalyst with well-dispersed photoactive Cu-[O]-Ce species. Using the preferential oxidation of CO as a model reaction, the catalyst showed remarkably efficient and stable photoactivated catalysis, which found practical application in feed gas treatment for fuel cell gas supply. The coexistence of photochemistry and thermochemistry effects contributes to the high efficiency. Our results demonstrate a catalyst design approach with atomic or molecular precision and a combinatorial photoactivation strategy for solar energy conversion.     

Microelectromechanical Systems for Nanomechanical Testing: Electrostatic Actuation and Capacitive Sensing for High-Strain-Rate Testing

Experimental Mechanics - There have been relatively few studies on mechanical properties of nanomaterials under high strain rates, mainly due to the lack of capable nanomechanical testing devices....     

Compensation for the Influence of Fluctuations in the Distance to the Object During Noncontact Probing in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Radiophysics and Quantum Electronics - We propose and experimentally test a numerical method for correction of the influence of fluctuations in the distance to objects during noncontact probing in...     

Utilizing the Space‐Charge Region of the FeNi‐LDH/CoP p‐n Junction to Promote Performance in Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis

The modulation of electron density is an effective option for efficient alternative electrocatalysts. Here, p‐n junctions are constructed in 3D free‐standing FeNi‐LDH/CoP/carbon cloth (CC) electrode (LDH=layered double hydroxide). The positively charged FeNi‐LDH in the space‐charge region can significantly boost oxygen evolution reaction. Therefore, the j at 1.485 V (vs. RHE) of FeNi‐LDH/CoP/CC achieves ca. 10‐fold and ca. 100‐fold increases compared to those of FeNi‐LDH/CC and CoP/CC, respectively. Density functional theory calculation reveals OH^? has a stronger trend to adsorb on the surface of FeNi‐LDH side in the p‐n junction compared to individual FeNi‐LDH further verifying the synergistic effect in the p‐n junction. Additionally, it represents excellent activity toward water splitting. The utilization of heterojunctions would open up an entirely new possibility to purposefully regulate the electronic structure of active sites and promote their catalytic activities.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of the First Isolated Hydrogen‐Bridged Silanol–Silanolate Anions

We report on the first examples of isolated silanol–silanolate anions, obtained by utilizing weakly coordinating phosphazenium counterions. The silanolate anions were synthesized from the recently published phosphazenium hydroxide hydrate salt with siloxanes. The silanol–silanolate anions are postulated intermediates in the hydroxide‐mediated polymerization of aryl and alkyl siloxanes. The silanolate anions are strong nucleophiles because of the weakly coordinating character of the phosphazenium cation, which is perceptible in their activity in polysiloxane depolymerization.