Water-induced formation of an alkali-ion dimer in cryptomelane nanorods

Tunneled metal oxides such as α-Mn₈O₁₆ (hollandite) have proven to be compelling candidates for charge-storage materials in high-density batteries. In particular, the tunnels can support one-dimensional chains of K⁺ ions (which act as structure-stabilizing dopants) and H₂O molecules, as these chains are favored by strong H-bonds and electrostatic interactions. In this work, we examine the role of water molecules in enhancing the stability of K⁺-doped α-Mn₈O₁₆ (cryptomelane). The combined experimental and theoretical analyses show that for high enough concentrations of water and tunnel-ions, H₂O displaces K⁺ ions from their natural binding sites. This displacement becomes energetically favorable due to the formation of K²⁺ dimers, thereby modifying the stoichiometric charge of the system. These findings have potentially significant technological implications for the consideration of cryptomelane as a Li⁺/Na⁺ battery electrode. Our work establishes the functional role of water in altering the energetics and structural properties of cryptomelane, an observation that has frequently been overlooked in previous studies.

Water displaces potassium ions and initiates the formation of a homonuclear dimer ion (K²⁺) in the tunnels of hollandite.     

A New Method of Testing and Evaluating the Quality of Refined Montan Wax: Digital Color and GC Fingerprint

To establish a new method of testing and evaluating the quality of refined montan wax (RMW), digital color and GC fingerprint technology were introduced and applied. CIE Lab color mode was used to digitize the exterior colors of RMW, and the score obtained through a fitting function was also used to reflect its quality. It is shown that they were in complete accord with the human visual perception trend. The GC fingerprint was used to characterize the internal chemical information of RMW, and the composition of its internal features was reflected through the relative retention time (RRT) and relative peak area (RPA) values. It is shown that there was a high degree of similarity between the fingerprints, while certain differences also existed. This can be used to implement effective application of RMW to aspects such as quality control, adulteration identification, and origin attributions.

     

Sensitive chemically amplified electrochemical detection of ruthenium tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) on tin-doped indium oxide electrode

Optimized combination of chemical agents was selected for sensitive electrochemical detection of dissolved ruthenium tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) (Ru-bipy). The detection was based on the chemical amplification mechanism, in which the anodic current of a redox-active analyte was amplified by a sacrificial electron donor in solution. On indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, electrochemical reaction of the analyte was reversible, but that of the electron donor was greatly suppressed. Several transition metal complexes, such as ferrocene and tris-(2,2′-bipyridine) complexes of osmium, iron and ruthenium, were evaluated as model analyte. A correlation between the amplified current and the standard potential of the complex was observed, and Ru-bipy generated the largest current. A variety of organic bases, acids and zwitterions were assessed as potential electron donor. Sodium oxalate was found to produce the largest amplification factor. With Ru-bipy as the model analyte and oxalate as the electron donor, the analyte concentration curve was linear up to 50 μM, with a lower detection limit of approximately 50 nM. Preliminary work was presented in which a Ru-bipy derivative was attached to bovine serum albumin and detected electrochemically. Although the combination of Ru-bipy, oxalate and ITO electrode has been used before for electrochemiluminescent detection of Ru-bipy and oxalate, as well as electrochemical detection of oxalate, its utility in amplified voltammetric detection of Ru-bipy as a potential electrochemical label has not been reported previously.     

A new molecular rectifier device and some research in its processing

Organic materials of D-π-A type MR-X (MR-1: p-dimethylaminophenylethenetrica-rbonitrile and MR-2: p-diphenylaminophenylethene tricarbonitrile) were designed and synthesized. The device with a sandwich structure shows good rectificative phenomena. The highest rectification ratio 10000 was achieved in device Cu/MR-1/Ag, and about 100 in other device M/MR-X/M (M: Cu, Ag). It has been found that rectificative phenomena exist only in the atmosphere-liquid interface region by means of liquid adsorption, and electric field could help form the oriented molecular film. __________ Translated from Journal of Fudan University (Natural Science), 2005, 44(4) (in Chinese)     

ON A PAIR OF NON-ISOMETRIC ISOSPECTRAL DOMAINS WITH FRACTAL BOUNDARIES AND THE WEYL-BERRY CONJECTURE

ＯＮＡＰＡＩＲＯＦＮＯＮＩＳＯＭＥＴＲＩＣＩＳＯＳＰＥＣＴＲＡＬＤＯＭＡＩＮＳＷＩＴＨＦＲＡＣＴＡＬＢＯＵＮＤＡＲＩＥＳＡＮＤＴＨＥＷＥＹＬＢＥＲＲＹＣＯＮＪＥＣＴＵＲＥＳＬＥＥＭＡＮ，Ｂ．Ｄ．ＣＨＥＮＨＵＡＭａｎｕｓｃｒｉｐｔｒｅｃ...     

YBa2Cu1-xCox(Cu1-yZny)2Oz体系的Co,Zn共同掺杂效应

本文报道通过对YBa₂Cu_1-xCo_x(Cu_1-yZn_y)₂O_z(0≤x,y≤0.1)体系晶体结构、氧含量、正常态电阻-温度关系、Hall效应以及超导临界温度等的综合测量,发现随着Co和Zn含量的增加,体系经历了从正交结构的超导金属向四方结构的非超导半导体的转变,超导临界温度T_c和载流子浓度n_h均迅速下降,Co 关键词：     

α,α′-二氧代烯酮环二氮代缩醛的NMR研究

报道了5种新的α，α′-二氧代烯酮环二氮代缩醛化合物的NMR谱，初步探讨了分子结构对化学位移的影响．