Measurement and modeling of the surface potential evolution of hydrated cement pastes as a function of degradation

Hydrated cement pastes (HCP) have a high affinity with a lot of (radio)toxic products and can be used as waste confining materials. In cementitious media, elements are removed from solution via (co)precipitation reactions or via sorption/diffusion mechanisms as surface complexation equilibria. In this study, to improve the knowledge of the surface charge evolution vs the degradation of the HCP particles, two cements have been studied: CEM-I (ordinary Portland cement, OPC) and CEM-V (blast furnace slag and fly ash added to OPC). Zeta potential measurements showed that two isoelectric points exist vs HCP leaching, i.e., pH. Zeta potential increases from -17 to +20 mV for pH 13.3 to pH 12.65 (fresh HCP states) and decreases from 20 to -8 mV for pH 12.65 to 11 (degraded HCP states). The use of a simple surface complexation model of C-S-H, limited in comparison with the structural modeling of C-S-H in literature, allows a good prediction of the surface potential evolution of both HCP. Using this operational modeling, the surface charge is controlled by the deprotonation of surface sites (>SO(-)) and by the sorption of calcium (>SOCa(+)), which brings in addition a positive charge. The calcium concentration is controlled by portlandite or calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) solubilities.     

Measuring the momentum of a nanomechanical oscillator through the use of two tunnel junctions

We propose a way to measure the momentum p of a nanomechanical oscillator. The p detector is based on two tunnel junctions in an Aharonov-Bohm-type setup. One of the tunneling amplitudes depends on the motion of the oscillator, the other one not. Although the coupling between the detector and the oscillator is assumed to be linear in the position x of the oscillator, it turns out that the finite-frequency noise output of the detector will in general contain a term proportional to the momentum spectrum of the oscillator. This is a true quantum phenomenon, which can be realized in practice if the phase of the tunneling amplitude of the detector is tuned by the Aharonov-Bohm flux Phi to a p-sensitive value.     

Monte Carlo computer simulations and electron microscopy of colloidal cluster formation via emulsion droplet evaporation

We consider a theoretical model for a binary mixture of colloidal particles and spherical emulsion droplets. The hard sphere colloids interact via additional short-ranged attraction and long-ranged repulsion. The droplet-colloid interaction is an attractive well at the droplet surface, which induces the Pickering effect. The droplet-droplet interaction is a hard-core interaction. The droplets shrink in time, which models the evaporation of the dispersed (oil) phase, and we use Monte Carlo simulations for the dynamics. In the experiments, polystyrene particles were assembled using toluene droplets as templates. The arrangement of the particles on the surface of the droplets was analyzed with cryogenic field emission scanning electron microscopy. Before evaporation of the oil, the particle distribution on the droplet surface was found to be disordered in experiments, and the simulations reproduce this effect. After complete evaporation, ordered colloidal clusters are formed that are stable against thermal fluctuations. Both in the simulations and with field emission scanning electron microscopy, we find stable packings that range from doublets, triplets, and tetrahedra to complex polyhedra of colloids. The simulated cluster structures and size distribution agree well with the experimental results. We also simulate hierarchical assembly in a mixture of tetrahedral clusters and droplets, and find supercluster structures with morphologies that are more complex than those of clusters of single particles.     

Structure and dynamics of binary and ternary lanthanide(III) and actinide(III) tris[4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedione] (TTA)-tributylphosphate (TBP) complexes. Part 3, the structure, thermodynamics and reaction mechanisms of 8- and 9-coordinated binary and ternary Y-TTA-TBP complexes studied by quantum chemical methods

Possible mechanisms for intermolecular exchange between coordinated and solvent water in the complexes Y(TTA)(3)(OH(2))(2) and Y(TTA)(3)(TBP)(OH(2)) and intermolecular exchange between free and coordinated HTTA in Y(TTA)(3)(OH(2))(HTTA) and Y(TTA)(3)(TBP)(HTTA) have been investigated using ab initio quantum chemical methods. The calculations comprise both structures and energies of isomers, intermediates and transition states. Based on these data and experimental NMR data (Part 2) we have suggested intimate reaction mechanisms for water exchange, intramolecular exchange between structure isomers and intermolecular exchange between free HTTA and coordinated TTA. A large number of isomers are possible for the complexes investigated, but only some of them have been investigated, in all of them the most stable geometry is a more or less distorted square anti-prism or bicapped trigonal prism; the energy differences between the various isomers are in general small, less than 10 kJ mol(-1). 9-coordinated intermediates play an important role in all reactions. Y(TTA)(3)(OH(2))(3) has three non-equivalent water ligands that can participate in ligand exchange reactions. The fastest of these exchanging sites has a QM activation energy of 18.1 kJ mol(-1), in good agreement with the experimental activation enthalpy of 19.6 kJ mol(-1). The mechanism for the intramolecular exchange between structure isomers in Y(TTA)(3)(OH(2))(2) involves the opening of a TTA-ring as the rate determining step as suggested by the good agreement between the QM activation energy and the experimental activation enthalpy 47.8 and 58.3 J mol(-1), respectively. The mechanism for the intermolecular exchange between free and coordinated HTTA in Y(TTA)(3)(HTTA) and Y(TTA)(3)(TBP)(HTTA) involves the opening of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in coordinated HTTA followed by proton transfer to coordinated TTA. This mechanism is supported by the good agreement between experimental activation enthalpies (within parenthesis) and calculated activation energies 68.7 (71.8) and 35.3 (38.8) kJ mol(-1). The main reason for the difference between the two systems is the much lower energy required to open the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the latter. The accuracy of the QM methods and chemical models used is discussed.     

The hydration of the scandium(III) ion in aqueous solution and crystalline hydrates studied by XAFS spectroscopy, large-angle X-ray scattering and crystallography

The structures of the hydrated scandium(III) ion and of the hydrated dimeric hydrolysis complex, [Sc2(mu-OH)2]4+, in acidic aqueous solutions have been characterized by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and large-angle X-ray scattering (LAXS) methods. Comparisons with crystalline reference compounds containing hydrated scandium(III) ions in well characterized six-, seven- and eight-coordinated polyhedra have been used to evaluate the coordination numbers and configurations in aqueous solution. In strongly acidic aqueous solution the structure of the hydrated scandium(III) ion is found to be similar to that of the eight-coordinated scandium(III) ion with distorted bicapped trigonal prismatic coordinating geometry in the crystalline [Sc(H2O)(8.0)](CF3SO3)3 compound. The EXAFS data reveal for the solution, as for the solid, a mean Sc-O bond distance of 2.17(1) Angstrom to six strongly bound prism water molecules, 2.32(4) Angstrom to one capping position, with possibly another capping position at about 2.5 Angstrom. The LAXS study supports this structural model and shows furthermore a second hydration sphere with approximately 12 water molecules at a mean Sc...O(II) distance of 4.27(3) Angstrom. In less acidic concentrated scandium(III) aqueous solutions, the dimeric hydrolysis product, [Sc2(mu-OH)2(H2O)10]4+, is the predominating species with seven-coordinated scandium(III) ions in a double hydroxo bridge and five terminal water molecules at a mean Sc-O bond distance of 2.145 Angstrom. Hexahydrated scandium(III) ions are found in the crystal structure of the double salt [Sc(H2O)6][Sc(CH3SO3)6], which crystallizes in the trigonal space group R3[combining macron] with Z = 6 and the unit cell dimensions a = 14.019(2) and c = 25.3805(5) Angstrom. The Sc-O distances in the two crystallographically unique, but nearly identical, [Sc(H2O)6]3+ entities (both with 3[combining macron] imposed crystallographic symmetry) are 2.085(6) and 2.086(5) Angstrom, while the mean Sc-O distance in the near octahedral [Sc(OSO2CH3)6]3- entities (with three-fold symmetry) is 2.078 Angstrom.     

Structure, equilibrium and ligand exchange dynamics in the binary and ternary dioxouranium(VI)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid-fluoride system: A potentiometric, NMR and X-ray crystallographic study

The structure, thermodynamics and kinetics of the binary and ternary uranium(VI)-ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetate (in the following denoted EDDA) fluoride systems have been studied using potentiometry, 1H, 19F NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The UO2(2+)-EDDA system could be studied up to -log[H3O+] = 3.4 where the formation of two binary complexes UO2(EDDA)(aq) and UO2(H3EDDA)3+ were identified, with equilibrium constants logbeta(UO2EDDA) = 11.63 +/- 0.02 and logbeta(UO2H3EDDA3+) = 1.77 +/- 0.04, respectively. In the ternary system the complexes UO2(EDDA)F-, UO2(EDDA)(OH)- and (UO2)2(mu-OH)2(HEDDA)2F2(aq) were identified; the latter through 19F NMR. 1H NMR spectra indicate that the EDDA ligand is chelate bonded in UO2(EDDA)(aq), UO2(EDDA)F- and UO2(EDDA)(OH)- while only one carboxylate group is coordinated in UO2(H3EDDA)3+. The rate and mechanism of the fluoride exchange between UO2(EDDA)F- and free fluoride was studied by 19F NMR spectroscopy. Three reactions contribute to the exchange; (i) site exchange between UO2(EDDA)F- and free fluoride without any net chemical exchange, (ii) replacement of the coordinated fluoride with OH- and (iii) the self dissociation of the coordinated fluoride forming UO2(EDDA)(aq); these reactions seem to follow associative mechanisms. (1)H NMR spectra show that the exchange between the free and chelate bonded EDDA is slow and consists of several steps, protonation/deprotonation and chelate ring opening/ring closure, the mechanism cannot be elucidated from the available data. The structure (UO2)2(EDDA)2(mu-H2EDDA) was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and contains two UO2(EDDA) units with tetracoordinated EDDA linked by H2EDDA in the "zwitterion" form, coordinated through a single carboxylate oxygen from each end to the two uranium atoms. The geometry of the complexes indicates that there is no geometric constraint for an associative ligand substitution mechanism.     

Stacking interactions as the principal design element in acyl-transfer catalysts

The conformational properties and the stability of acylpyridinium intermediates formed in pyridine-catalyzed acylation reactions have been studied at the SCS-MP2(FC)/6-311 +G(d,p)//MP2(FC)/ 6-31G(d) level of theory. It has been shown that stacking interactions can play a decisive role in the stability as well as the conformational preferences of these transient intermediates.     

A theoretical study of the fluoride exchange between UO2F+(aq) and UO2 2+(aq)

Experimental data on the thermodynamics and reaction mechanism of the inner-sphere fluoride exchange reaction U17O2(2+) + UO2F+ <==> U17O2F+ + UO2(2+) have been compared with different intimate reaction mechanisms using quantum chemical methods. Two models have been tested that start from the outer sphere complexes, (H2O)[U(A)O2F(OH2)4+]...[U(B)O2(OH2)5(2+)] and [U(A)O2F(OH2)4+]...[U(B)O2(OH2)5(2+)]; the geometry and energies of the intermediates and transition states along possible reaction pathways have been calculated using different ab initio methods, SCF, B3LYP and MP2. Both the experimental data and the theoretical results suggest that the fluoride exchange takes place via the formation and breaking of a U-F-U bridge that is the rate determining step. The calculated activation enthalpy DeltaH( not equal) = 30.9 kJ mol(-1) is virtually identical to the experimental value 31 kJ mol(-1); however this agreement may be a coincidence as we do not expect a larger accuracy than 10 kJ mol(-1) with the methods used. The calculations show that the fluoride bridge is formed as an insertion of U(A)O2)F(OH2)4+ into U(B)O2(OH2)5(2+) followed by a subsequent transfer of water from the first to the second coordination sphere of U(B).     

Electrophysiological correlates of associative learning in smokers: a higher-order conditioning experiment

Background  

Classical conditioning has been suggested to play an important role in the development, maintenance, and relapse of tobacco smoking. Several studies have shown that initially neutral stimuli that are directly paired with smoking are able to elicit conditioned responses. However, there have been few human studies that demonstrate the contribution of higher-order conditioning to smoking addiction, although it is assumed that higher-order conditioning predominates learning in the outside world. In the present study a higher-order conditioning task was designed in which brain responses of smokers and non-smokers were conditioned by pairing smoking-related and neutral stimuli (CS1_smoke and CS1_neutral) with two geometrical figures (CS2_smoke and CS2_neutral). ERPs were recorded to all CSs.