Potentiometric titration of hydrogen peroxide with an electropolished stainless steel electrode

The preparation and use of a stainless steel indicator electrode in the accurate potentiometric titration of aqueous hydrogen peroxide are described. The results agree excellently with those obtained by a standard colorimetric weight-titration procedure. The nature of the titration curves, potential changes and the factors affecting them are discussed. Rapid potentiometric titrations directly to the equivalence-point potential are possible, owing to the nature of the titration curve.     

Effects of chain length and heat treatment on the nanotribology of alkylsilane monolayers self-assembled on a rough aluminum surface

The conformational order of alkylsilane monolayers self-assembled on a rough aluminum surface is affected by the molecular chain length and the thermal history of the sample. These monolayers have been characterized by grazing angle FTIR spectroscopy. Tribological mechanisms were explored using initial molecular conformation order, sliding distance, normal load, and substrate compliance as experimental variables. Results indicate that the initial conformational disorder of the molecules determines the level of friction at the commencement of sliding. Adverse changes in dynamic friction and monolayer life during sliding are not thermally induced but are related to substrate roughness and local plasticity. Plastic deformation reduces the spatial density of the alkylsilane monolayer and is accentuated by an increase in the normal load.     

Thermodynamics of 2,2′-dipyridinium ion and its iron(II) complex in methanol—water mixture at 25°C

The enthalpies of formation of the 2,2′-dipyridinium ion and the 2,2′-dipyridyl-iron(II) complex in methanol—water media at 25°C have been determined by caloriumetry. The entropy-changes have been calculated combining the enthalpy values with the corresponding free-energy changes previously reported. The role of solvents on the thermodynamic parameters has been discussed.     

Studies on adsorption of 5-amino tetrazole on silver nanoparticles by SERS and DFT calculations

The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies of 5-amino tetrazole (5AT), a tetrazole derivative, in aqueous silver sol at pH approximately 9 and on deposited colloidal silver films were carried out and compared with the normal Raman spectrum of the molecule. The experimentally observed Raman bands along with their corresponding infrared bands were assigned based on the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The significant changes evidenced between the SERS and the normal Raman spectra combined with the theoretical data obtained for Ag-5AT system demonstrated that the molecule is adsorbed on colloidal Ag particles through the lone pair of electrons of the nitrogen atom. The contribution of the chemical mechanism for the SERS enhancement was proved by the behavior of the electronic absorption spectrum of the Ag colloid upon addition of 5AT. This is further supported by the theoretical calculations that show that the favorable interaction of the frontier orbitals localized on Ag(+) and the negatively charged nitrogen from the tetrazole ring leads to the formation of the stable (up to 130 kJ mol(-1)) charge-transfer complex. The orientation of the adsorbed species with respect to the metal surface was also predicted by applying the "surface selection rule". In addition, the feasibility of the formation of the polymeric species has also been discussed.     

Studies of carbazole-based polyarylates

A low temperature solution condensation method with pyridine as acceptor-catalytic reagent was applied to the synthesis of polyarylates from carbazole and bisphenol A/phenolphthalein. The polyarylates were classified with respect to their structure, thermal stability, and dielectric behavior.     

Near-barrier fission of the system12C+232Th

The fission fragment angular distributions for the system¹²C +²³²Th have been measured in the energy range 0.97<>_c.m./V_B<1.22. the=" measured=" anisotropies=" have=" been=" compared=" with=" the=" predictions=" of=" the=" standard=" saddle=" point=" statistical=" model,=" using=" the=" second=" moment=" of=" the=" compound=" nucleus=" spin=" distribution=">l² deduced from a Wong model fit to the fission excitation function. While the measured anisotropies agree with the standard saddle point statistical model for E_c.m./V_B>1.05, they are abnormally large at lower energies. This is also true for the existing measurements of¹⁶O and¹⁹F +²³²Th systems. Since for this system pre-equilibrium fission contributions are not expected, this anomaly indicates strong channel coupling effects leading to an increase in l² at sub-barrier energies.The authors thank Drs. R.K. Choudhury and A. Saxena for useful discussions, Dr. R.J. Singh for making the thorium target and the Pellectron operation staff for excellent operation of the machine.