Structure control in PMMA/silica hybrid nanoparticles by surface functionalization

Hydrophilic silica particles need to be hydrophobized to be encapsulated in a polymeric environment, which can be achieved by different methods. We report on the relationship between different hydrophobization techniques of silica and the final structure of poly(methyl methacrylate)/silica hybrid nanoparticles obtained by miniemulsion polymerization. Hydrophobization by cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTMA-Cl) uses the ionic interaction between the positively charged ammonium salt and the negatively charged silica surface, as shown by isothermal titration calorimetry. In this case, the interaction between polymer and silica surface needs to be enhanced, so 4-vinylpyridine (4-VP) was used as a co-monomer. Alternatively, the condensation reactions of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) were used to provide a covalent bond to the silica surface. The condensation reaction of the trimethoxysilane groups onto the silica surface was proven by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. Hybrid nanoparticles were successfully formed with silica particles functionalized with the different functionalization agents. However, the structure of the resulting hybrid particles (i.e., the distribution of the silica particles within the polymer matrix) depends on the agent. The MPS-functionalized silica particles copolymerize with poly(methyl methacrylate), leading to a fixation of the silica particles inside the polymer and to a homogeneous distribution. The CTMA-Cl- and ODTMS-functionalized silica particles cannot copolymerize, but aggregate at the interface, leading to a Janus-like structure.     

OH-radical formation by ultrasound in aqueous solution--Part II: Terephthalate and Fricke dosimetry and the influence of various conditions on the sonolytic yield

Terephthalate and Fricke dosimetry have been carried out to determine the sonolytic energy yields of the OH free radical and of its recombination product H2O2 in aqueous solutions under various operating conditions (nature of operating gas, power, frequency, temperature). For example, in the sonolysis of Ar-saturated terephthalate solutions at room temperature, a frequency of 321 kHz, and a power of 170 W kg-1, the total yield [G(.OH) + 2 G(H2O2)], equals 16 x 10(-10) mol J-1. This represents the total of .OH that reach the liquid phase from gas phase of the cavitating bubble. The higher the solute concentration, the lower the H2O2 production as more of the OH free radicals are scavenged, in competition with their recombination. Fricke dosimetry, in the absence and presence of Cu2+ ions, shows that the yield of H atom reaching the liquid phase is much lower, with G(H.) of the order of 3 x 10(-10) mol J-1. These sonolytic yields are smaller in solutions that are at the point of gas saturation, and increase to an optimum as the initial sonication-induced degassing and effervescence subsides. The probing of the sonic field has shown that the rate of sonolytic free-radical formation may vary across the sonicated volume depending on frequency and power input.     

Characterisation of alkyl amines at the water/air surface with the drop and bubble profile analysis tensiometry

Pendant drop and buoyant bubble methods have been used to study the surface characteristics of alkyl amines at the water/air surface. The investigated alkyl amines, triethylamine and octylamine, showed unusual changes in the surface tension as a function of time: an initially steep drop and a subsequent steady increase in the surface tension until a value close to the one of the pure water/air system was observed. This phenomenon is explained by the evaporation of the alkyl amines, for which several sets of experiments have been conducted with the pendant drop and buoyant bubble methods. Using an appropriate experimental protocol, the equilibrium adsorption behaviour of the two amines can be quantitatively measured.     

Influence of hydrostatic pressure and sound amplitude on the ultrasound induced dispersion and de-agglomeration of nanoparticles

In most applications, nanoparticles are required to be in a well-dispersed state prior to commercialisation. Conventional technology for dispersing particles into liquids, however, usually is not sufficient, since the nanoparticles tend to form very strong agglomerates requiring extremely high specific energy inputs in order to overcome the adhesive forces. Besides conventional systems as stirred media mills, ultrasound is one means to de-agglomerate nanoparticles in aqueous dispersions. In spite of several publications on ultrasound emulsification there is insufficient knowledge on the de-agglomeration of nanoparticulate systems in dispersions and their main parameters of influence. Aqueous suspensions of SiO2-particles were stressed up to specific energies EV of 10(4) kJ/m3 using ultrasound. Ultrasonic de-agglomeration of nanoparticles in aqueous solution is considered to be mainly a result of cavitation. Both hydrostatic pressure of the medium and the acoustic amplitude of the sound wave affect the intensity of cavitation. Furthermore, the presence of gas in the dispersion medium influences cavitation intensity and thus the effectiveness of the de-agglomeration process. In this contribution both, the influence of these parameters on the result of dispersion and the relation to the specific energy input are taken into account. For this, ultrasound experiments were carried out at different hydrostatic pressure levels (up to 10 bars) and amplitude values (64-123 microm). Depending on the optimisation target (time, energy input,...) different parameters limit the dispersion efficiency and result. All experimental results can be explained with the specific energy input that is a function of the primary input parameters of the process.     

Sonolysis of aqueous 4-nitrophenol at low and high pH

The sonolysis of 4-nitrophenol in argon-saturated aqueous solution has been studied at 321 kHz. In order to evaluate separately the effect of OH radicals that are formed in the cavitational bubble and part of which react in the aqueous phase with this substrate, radiolytic studies in N2O-saturated solutions were carried out for comparison. A detailed product study of the sonolysis of 4-nitrophenol solutions shows that at pH 10, where 4-nitrophenol is deprotonated (pKa = 7.1), its sonolytic degradation is fully accounted for by OH-radical-induced reactions in the aqueous phase. At this pH, the sonolytic yield of H2O2 resulting from OH radical recombination in the solution, measured as a function of the 4-nitrophenol concentration, is reduced in line with the scavenging capacity of the 4-nitrophenolate. In contrast, at pH 4 the formation of H2O2 is already fully suppressed when the solution is 7 x 10(-4) mol dm-3 in 4-nitrophenol, and oxidative-pyrolytic degradation predominates, as exemplified by the large yields of CO and CO2 which are accompanied by a large H2 yield. The basis of this difference in behavior is a hydrophobic enrichment of 4-nitrophenol (which is undissociated at pH 4) at the interface of the cavitational bubble by a factor of about 80. The pH dependence of the yields of the pyrolytic products reflects the hydrolytic equilibrium concentration of 4-nitrophenol. The paper also demonstrates that the complexity of this sonochemical system precludes its use a gauge to determine the temperature in the interior of the cavitational bubble.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structures of t‐Butyl‐Pyridine Adducts of ZnR2 (R = Me,i‐Pr,t‐Bu,Cp*)

Lewis acid‐base adducts of the general type R₂Zn(4‐tBuPy)_x (R = Me 1 , iPr 2 , tBu 3 , Cp* 4 ; x = 1, 2) were obtained in high yields from reactions of ZnR₂ with the Lewis base 4‐tBu‐Pyridine. Compounds 1 – 4 were characterized by multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C) and IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses, 1 and 4 also by X‐ray diffraction at single crystals.