Ring-Opening Copolymerization of 2,2-Dimethyltrimethylene Carbonate and ε-Caprolactone Using Rare Earth Aryloxides Substituted by Various Alkyl Groups

A variety of single component rare earth aryloxides substituted by various alkyl groups [Ln(OAr)₃] such as methyl, isopropyl, tert‐butyl have been surveyed in the ring‐opening copolymerization of 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (DTC) and ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL). It was worthwhile to note that activity of the catalyst varied with both the ligands' structure and the number of alkyl groups on phenyl ring. The stronger ability of electron‐donation of alkyl groups on phenyl ring, and the more numbers of alkyl groups on phenyl ring, the higher catalytic activity. The experimental results show that lanthanum tris(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenolate) [La(OTTBP)₃] exhibits highest activity in all lanthanum aryloxides. ¹H NMR spectral data of copolymer obtained showed that the polymerization mechanism is in agreement with the coordination insertion mechanism.     

Realignment of Nanocrystal Aggregates into Single Crystals as a Result of Inherent Surface Stress

Crystallization by particle attachment is widely observed in both natural and synthetic environments. Although this form of nonclassical crystallization is generally described by oriented attachment, random aggregation of building blocks to give single‐crystal products is also observed, but the mechanism of crystallographic realignment is unknown. We herein reveal that random attachment during aggregation‐based growth initially produces a nonoriented growth front. Subsequent evolution of the orientation is driven by the inherent surface stress applied by the disordered surface layer and results in single‐crystal formation by grain‐boundary migration. This mechanism is corroborated by measurements of orientation rate versus external stress, which demonstrated a predictive relationship between the two. These findings advance our understandings about aggregation‐based growth via nanocrystal blocks and suggest an approach to material synthesis that takes advantage of stress‐induced coalignment.     

Freezing points,osmotic coefficients,and activity coefficients of some salts in ethylene carbonate: A high dielectric constant solvent without hydrogen bonding

The freezing points, conductivities, and densities of NaI, KI, CsI, Bu₄NCl, Bu₄NBr, Bu₄NI, Et₄NBr, and Pr₄NBr (where Et = ethyl, Pr = propyl, and Bu =n-butyl) in ethylene carbonate have been measured. Osmotic and activity coefficients were calculated from the results. All of the salts studied are strong electrolytes. The trends in the osmotic coefficients of the alkali metal iodides are NaI>KI>CsI, showing that Na⁺ is more solvated by ethylene carbonate than Cs⁺. For the tetraalkylammonium halides, the order of osmotic coefficients are Et₄NBrPr₄NBrBu₄NCl>Bu₄NBr>Bu₄NI. This is the same order as observed in two other high-dielectric-constant solvents, water andN-methylacetamide. The results indicate that the smaller anions are more solvated than the larger anions in ethylene carbonate in contrast to the usual behavior of dipolar aprotic (basic) solvents, such as dimethyl sulfoxide.     

Conductance of tetraalkylammonium salts in propylene carbonate at 25°C

Conductance measurements of 12 quaternary ammonium salts in propylene carbonate (PC) have been made at 25°C. The cations were either tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, or tetra-n-butylammonium, and the concentrations of salt varied from about 2×10^–4 to 5×10^–3 M. The data were analyzed by the equation of Pitts. The results showed that the benzoate, nitrobenzoate, and pentachlorophenolate salts are completely dissociated. The nitrophenolate, chlorophenolate, methylsulfonate, and nitrate salts are only slightly associated (K _A from 2.5 to 6.5), while the acetate, phenylacetate, and nitrophenolate salts display somewhat more extensive association, with ionpair association constants from 17 to 45. Limiting molar conductances for the anions were derived. The factors affecting ionic mobilities in this dipolar aprotic solvent are discussed.On leave 1973–1975 from the University of Gdask, Poland.     

Tubular Structures of Calcium Carbonate: Formation,Characterization, and Implications in Natural Mineral Environments

Chemical gardens are self-assembled tubular precipitates formed by a combination of osmosis, buoyancy, and chemical reaction, and thought to be capable of catalyzing prebiotic condensation reactions. In many cases, the tube wall is a bilayer structure with the properties of a diaphragm and/or a membrane. The interest in silica gardens as microreactors for materials science has increased over the past decade because of their ability to create long-lasting electrochemical potential. In this study, we have grown single macroscopic tubes based on calcium carbonate and monitored their time-dependent behavior by in situ measurements of pH, ionic concentrations inside and outside the tubular membranes, and electrochemical potential differences. Furthermore, we have characterized the composition and structure of the tubular membranes by using ex situ X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. Based on the collected data, we propose a physicochemical mechanism for the formation and ripening of these peculiar CaCO₃ structures and compare the results to those of other chemical garden systems. We find that the wall of the macroscopic calcium carbonate tubes is a bilayer of texturally distinct but compositionally similar calcite showing high crystallinity. The resulting high density of the material prevents macroscopic calcium carbonate gardens from developing significant electrochemical potential differences. In the light of these observations, possible implications in materials science and prebiotic (geo)chemistry are discussed.     

Thermophysical properties for (diethyl carbonate + p-xylene + octane) ternary system

The density and speed of sound of the ternary mixture (diethyl carbonate + p-xylene + octane) have been measured at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range T = (288.15 to 308.15) K. Besides, surface tension has been also determined for the same mixture at T = 298.15 K. The experimental measurements have allowed the calculation of the corresponding derived properties: excess molar volumes, excess isentropic compressibilities, and surface tension deviations. Excess properties have been correlated using Nagata and Tamura equation and correlation for the surface tension deviation has been done with the Cibulka equation. Good accuracy has been obtained. Based on the variations of the derived properties values with composition, a qualitative discussion about the intermolecular interactions was drawn.     

Carbon K‐edge spectra of carbonate minerals

Carbon K‐edge X‐ray spectroscopy has been applied to the study of a wide range of organic samples, from polymers and coals to interstellar dust particles. Identification of carbonaceous materials within these samples is accomplished by the pattern of resonances in the 280–320 eV energy region. Carbonate minerals are often encountered in the study of natural samples, and have been identified by a distinctive resonance at 290.3 eV. Here C K‐edge and Ca L‐edge spectra from a range of carbonate minerals are presented. Although all carbonates exhibit a sharp 290 eV resonance, both the precise position of this resonance and the positions of other resonances vary among minerals. The relative strengths of the different carbonate resonances also vary with crystal orientation to the linearly polarized X‐ray beam. Intriguingly, several carbonate minerals also exhibit a strong 288.6 eV resonance, consistent with the position of a carbonyl resonance rather than carbonate. Calcite and aragonite, although indistinguishable spectrally at the C K‐edge, exhibited significantly different spectra at the Ca L‐edge. The distinctive spectral fingerprints of carbonates provide an identification tool, allowing for the examination of such processes as carbon sequestration in minerals, Mn substitution in marine calcium carbonates (dolomitization) and serpentinization of basalts.     

Cs2 CO3共蒸阴极对有机电致发光器件性能的影响

研究了碳酸铯(Cs2CO3)掺杂8-羟基喹啉铝(Alq3)作为电子注入层对有机电致发光器件性能的影响。结果表明,与常用的Cs2CO3超薄层作电子注入层相比,Cs2CO3∶Alq3共蒸阴极对器件效率和亮度有很大提高,器件电流效率从3.1 cd/A(Cs2CO31 nm/Al)提高到6.5 cd/A(Cs2CO33%∶Alq3/Al)。器件性能的提高归因于Cs2CO3∶Alq3共蒸阴极比单层Cs2CO3阴极具有更好的电子注入能力和电子传输性能。薄膜形貌表明,共蒸阴极能有效降低Alq3表面粗糙度,有助于提高器件发光性能及寿命。     

Synthesis and application of silica and calcium carbonate nanoparticles in the reduction of organics from refinery wastewater

Oil refinery is one of the fast growing industries across the globe and it is expected to progress in the near future. The worldwide increase in the generation of refinery wastewater along with strict environmental regulations in the discharge of industrial effluent, persistent efforts have been devoted to recycle and reuse the treated water. The wastewater from the refining operation leads to serious environmental threat to the ecosystem. Therefore, this study aimed to synthesize silica (SiO₂) and calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO₃) in the reduction of organics from refinery wastewater. The synthesized nanoparticles were employed in the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from refinery wastewater by studying the influence of solution pH, contact time, dosage of nanoparticles and stirring speed on adsorption performance. From the batch experimental studies, the optimized processing conditions for the reduction of COD using SiO₂ nanoparticles are pH 4.0, dosage 0.5 g, stirring speed 125 rpm and 90 min stirring time, and the corresponding values for CaCO₃ nanoparticles are pH 8.0, dosage 0.4 g, stirring speed 100 rpm and 90 min stirring time. The study demonstrates that SiO₂ and CaCO₃ nanoparticles have a promising future in the reduction organics from refinery wastewater in different pH regimes.     

二氧化碳间接转化制化学品的研究进展

二氧化碳直接利用较为困难, 因此先将其转化为环碳酸酯等二氧化碳衍生物, 进而间接转化为其它化学品是实现二氧化碳资源化利用的重要手段之一, 具有良好的应用前景. 本文综合评述了二氧化碳转化为环碳酸酯继而间接利用的近期研究进展, 重点介绍了环碳酸酯的加氢反应、 醇解反应和氨解反应中的均相和多相催化体系, 对反应机理进行了阐述, 并展望了该领域仍待解决的问题和发展前景.