Silicone‐urethane membranes for lithium batteries. Part 1. Moisture‐cured poly(siloxane‐urethane‐urea) elastomers containing polyethylene oxide (PEO) segments – synthesis and characterization as potential membrane materials

Poly(siloxane‐urethane‐urea) elastomers containing both polysiloxane and polyethylene oxide (PEO) segments in the polymer chain were obtained by moisture‐curing of NCO‐terminated poly(siloxane‐urethane) prepolymers synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate and mixtures of polyoxyethylene diols and polysiloxane diols with various molecular weights. Mechanical properties of the moisture‐cured films and their swelling ability in solvent mixtures commonly used in lithium batteries were investigated, and it was found that they were greatly influenced by PEO content in the polymer. PEO content in the polymer was also found to affect very much the electric conductivity of the films after immersion in lithium salt solution in ethylene carbonate–dimethyl carbonate solvent mixture. At high contents of PEO in the polymer chain specific conductivities of the films in a range of 10^?3, Scm^?1 could be achieved at room temperature. Based on the results of Scanning Electron Microscopy with X‐ray Analysis (SEM/EDS) investigations and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and small‐angle X‐ray scattering studies, it could be anticipated that the reason for good conductivity of the films might be their specific supramolecular structure that potentially facilitated lithium ion mobility. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Transition Products in Substitutional Photochemistry of [Mo(CN)8]4− – Theoretical Approach. X-ray Crystal Structure of (AsPh4)[W(bpy)(CN)6]

The single crystal X-ray structure of (AsPh₄)[W(bpy)(CN)₆] is described. The structure of octa- and hepta-coordinated intermediates of substitutional photolysis of [Mo(CN)₈]⁴⁻ ion in aqueous media were determined by performing semi-empirical calculations. On the basis of obtained results as well as on empirical data the photolysis scheme has been postulated.     

Coadsorption of Cd(II) and oxalate ions at the TiO2/electrolyte solution interface

The study of the adsorptions of cadmium and oxalate ions at the titania/electrolyte interface and the changes of the electrical double layer (edl) structure in this system are presented. The adsorption of cadmium or oxalate ions was calculated from an uptake of their concentration from the solution. The concentration of Cd(II) or oxalate ions in the solution was determined by radiotracer method. For labeling the solution 14C and 115Cd isotopes were used. Coadsorption of Cd(II) and oxalic ions was determined simultaneously. Besides, the main properties of the edl, i.e., surface charge density and zeta potential were determined by potentiometer titration and electrophoresis measurements, respectively. The adsorption of cadmium ions increases with pH increase and shifts with an increase of the initial concentration of Cd(II) ions towards higher pH values. The adsorption process causes an increase of negatively charged sites on anatase and a decrease of the zeta potential with an increase of initial concentration of these ions. The adsorption of oxalate anions at the titania/electrolyte interface proceeds through the exchange with hydroxyl groups. A decrease of pH produces an increase of adsorption of oxalate ions. The processes of anion adsorption lead to increase the number of the positively charged sites at the titania surface. However, specific adsorption of bidenate ligand as oxalate on one surface hydroxyl group may form inner sphere complexes on the metal oxide surface and may overcharge the compact part of the edl. The presence of oxalate ions in the system affects the adsorption of Cd(II) ions on TiO2, increasing the adsorption at low pH range and decreasing the adsorption at high pH range. Using adsorption as a function of pH data, some characteristic parameters of adsorption envelope were calculated.     

New method to measure packing densities of self-assembled thiolipid monolayers

For a monolayer of 2,3-di-phytanyl-sn-glycerol-1-tetraethylene glycol-D,L-a-lipoic acid ester lipid (DPTL) self-assembled (SAM) at a gold electrode surface we propose a new method to determine the charge number per adsorbed molecule and the packing density (area per molecule) in the monolayer. The method relies on chronocoulometry to measure the charge density at the SAM covered gold electrode surface. Two series of measurements have to be performed. In the first series, charge densities are measured for a monolayer transferred from the air-solution to the metal-solution interface using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. This series of measurements allows one to determine charge numbers per adsorbed DPTL molecule. The second series is performed using a gold electrode covered with a self-assembled monolayer. The charge densities obtained in this series are then used to calculate the packing density with the help of charge numbers per adsorbed DPTL determined in the first series. The area per adsorbed molecule determined by the new method was compared to the area per molecule determined by the popular reductive desorption method. The molecular area determined with the new method is about 20% larger than the area calculated from the van der Waals model, which is a physically reasonable result. In contrast, the popular reductive desorption method gives an area per molecule 20% lower than the minimum estimated based on a van der Waals model. This is a physically unreasonable result. It is also shown that the charge numbers per adsorbed molecule depend on the electrode potential and may assume values smaller than the number of electrons participating in the reductive desorption step. An explanation of the origin of the "partial charge numbers" is provided. We recommend the new method be used in future studies of thiol adsorption at metal surfaces.     

Influence of the electric field on a bio-mimetic film supported on a gold electrode

A model biological membrane was formed by fusion of mixed cholesterol and DMPC (dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine) phospholipid vesicles onto a gold-coated quartz support. The gold surface was charged and the influence of the charge at the solid support on the structure and integrity of the phospholipid bilayer was investigated using the specular reflection of neutrons and electrochemical measurements. When the surface charge density is close to zero, the lipid vesicles fuse directly on the surface to form a bilayer with a small number of defects and hence low water content. When the support's surface is negatively charged the film swells and incorporates water due to the field driven poration of the membrane. When the charge density is more negative then -8 microC cm(-2) the bilayer is detached from the metal surface. However, it remains in close proximity to the metal electrode, suspended on a thin cushion of water. The film thicknesses, calculated from neutron reflectivity, have allowed us to determine the tilt angle of the lipid molecules as a function of the support's charge density. The lipid molecules are tilted 55 degrees from the surface normal at zero charge density but become significantly more perpendicular (30 degrees tilt angle) at charge densities more negative than -8 microC cm(-2). The tilt angle measurements are in very good agreement with previous IR studies. This paper describes the highlights of a more in-depth study which is fully described in [1].     

The transitional isoelectric focusing process

The transitional isoelectric focusing (IEF) process (the course of pH gradient formation by carrier ampholytes (CAs) and the correlation of the focusing time with CA concentration) were investigated using a whole-column detection capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) system. The transitional double-peak phenomenon in IEF was explained as a result of migration of protons from the anodic end and hydroxyl ions from the cathodic end into the separation channel and the higher electric field at both acidic and basic sides of the separation channel. It was observed that focusing times increase logarithmically with CA concentration under a constant applied voltage. The correlation of focusing time with CA concentration was explained by the dependence of the charge-transfer rate on the amount of charged CAs within the separation channel during focusing.     

Study of the Complexation of Octakis(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene with Benzene Derivatives by the RP HPLC Method

Stability constants of the host–guest complexes of octakis(diethoxyphosphoryloxy) tetramethylcalix[4]resorcinarene (RA) with different benzene derivatives (alkyl benzenes, halogenated benzenes, substituted aldehydes, phenols and benzoic acids) were determined by the reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC) method (Separon SGX C 18, UV detector at 254 nm and acetonitrile-water, 86 : 14, v/v, as mobile phase) from the relationship between the aromatic guest capacity factors and the RA host concentration in the mobile phase. The constants are within the range 17–596 M^–1, dependent on the size, nature, position and quantity of the substituents in the benzene ring of the guest molecules.     

New 2+2, 3+3 and 4+4 macrocycles derived from 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2,6-diformylpyridine

Two new Schiff base macrocycles - a 4+4 condensation product and a meso-type 2+2 condensation product - were obtained in a reaction of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2,6-diformylpyridine. Reduction of these compounds led to the corresponding 4+4 and 2+2 macrocyclic amines. The macrocycles were characterised by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The symmetry and stereochemistry of these macrocycles, as well as of new 3+3 and 4+4 diastereomers identified in solution, has been established. X-Ray structures of the 2+2 and 4+4 Schiff base macrocycles confirm the configurations determined on the basis of spectroscopic investigations. The crystal structures reveal that the centres of the square-shaped 4+4 macrocycles form channels as a result of columnar stacking.     

Adsorption of water vapour from humid air by selected carbon adsorbents

The water uptake by carbon molecular sieves (CMS) and graphitized carbons, all of which are used to determine volatile organic compounds in air, was investigated using a direct experimental approach. CMS, e.g. Carboxen 1002, Carboxen 1003 and Anasorb CMS adsorb substantial amounts of water, in the range 400 to 450 mg per gram of adsorbent. Graphitized carbons, e.g. Carbrogaph 5TD and Carbopack X show low water trapping, less than 30 mg g(-1) and Carbopack Y as little as 5 mg g(-1) or less. The water sorption capacity for graphitized carbons is strongly dependent on the relative humidity (RH). The change of RH from 95 to 90% decreases the amount of adsorbed water by more than a factor of 2. Two different water adsorption mechanisms are operative: adsorption on polar centers and micropore volume filling. For graphitized carbons and CMS at low RH, adsorption on polar centers is involved. For CMS, once the threshold value of relative humidity (RHth) is surpassed, micropore volume filling becomes predominant. RHth is 44 +/- 3 and 42 +/- 3% for Carboxen 1002 and 1003, respectively, and 32 +/- 3% for Anasorb CMS. The CMS mass in the trap was found not to affect the mass of retained water under condition of incomplete saturation of adsorbent bed with water. Thus, the restrictions commonly imposed on the CMS mass are not necessary. The dry purging technique is suggested to remove adsorbed water. Carbograph 5TD and Carbopack X require only a few hundred ml of dry air to remove adsorbed water entirely. Water can also be purged out from CMS; however, much larger volumes of dry air are needed.     

Divergent coordination mode of magnesium and zinc alkyls supported by the bifunctional pyrrolylaldiminato ligand

The first magnesium and zinc alkyls derived from N-(iso-propyl)-pyrrolylaldimine have been synthesised and structurally characterised: both tBuM(N,N')-type compounds exist as three-coordinate monomers in benzene solution, but in the solid state the magnesium complex is a centrosymmetric dimer with Mg2(mu-N)2 bridges, whereas the zinc complex is a Zn...pi bonded dimer with a pi-coordinated pyrrole unit.