New Transition Metal Oxo‐Thiostannate: Synthesis,Characterization, and Investigation of its Photocatalytic Properties

The new transition metal oxo‐thiostannate {[Ni(cyclen)]₆[Sn₆S₁₂O₂(OH)₆]} · 2(ClO₄) · 19H₂O ( 1 ) was prepared under hydrothermal conditions using Na₄SnS₄ · 14H₂O and [Ni(cyclen)](ClO₄)₂ as reactants. In the crystal structure the rare [Sn₆S₁₂O₂(OH)₆]^10– anion is observed, which is composed of SnS₂O(OH)₃ and SnS₄O₂ octahedra, and SnS₄ tetrahedra sharing edges and corners. The anion is expanded by six Ni²⁺ centered complexes via Ni–S and Ni–OH bonds. The photocatalytic properties for the visible light driven hydrogen evolution reaction shows that 26.6 mmol · g^–1 H₂ were evolved after 3 h.     

RAPID STOMATAL RESPONSE TO RED LIGHT IN Zea mays

Gas exchange techniques were employed to study responses of stomatal conductance to pulses of red and blue light in the grass, Zea mays. Zea mays exhibited conductance increases following brief (< 1 min) pulses of either red or blue light, in contrast to other species (e.g. Commelina communis; Assmann, 1988, Plant Physiol. 87 , 226–231) that exhibit consistent conductance responses only to pulses of blue light. Red light pulses of 450 μmol m^?2s^?1 for x min or 225 μmol m^?2s^?1 for 2x min were used to probe the fluence dependence of the red light response. The red light-stimulated conductance increase was constant for a given fluence, and increased with increasing total fluence. The conductance response to red light was larger in field grown plants (maximum growth irradiance ? 1600 μmol m-²s^?l) than in plants raised in growth chambers (maximum growth irradiance ? 150 μmol m^?2s^?1).     

Room-Temperature Solid-State Transformation of Na4SnS4 ⋅ 14H2O into Na4Sn2S6 ⋅ 5H2O: An Unusual Epitaxial Reaction Including Bond Formation,Mass Transport,and Ionic Conductivity

A highly unusual solid-state epitaxy-induced phase transformation of Na₄SnS₄ ⋅ 14H₂O ( I ) into Na₄Sn₂S₆ ⋅ 5H₂O ( II ) occurs at room temperature. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations indicate an internal acid-base reaction to form [SnS₃SH]³⁻ which condensates to [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻. The reaction involves a complex sequence of O−H bond cleavage, S²⁻ protonation, Sn−S bond formation and diffusion of various species while preserving the crystal morphology. In situ Raman and IR spectroscopy evidence the formation of [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻. DFT calculations allowed assignment of all bands appearing during the transformation. X-ray diffraction and in situ ¹H NMR demonstrate a transformation within several days and yield a reaction turnover of ≈0.38 %/h. AIMD and experimental ionic conductivity data closely follow a Vogel-Fulcher-Tammann type T dependence with D(Na)=6×10⁻¹⁴ m² s⁻¹ at T=300 K with values increasing by three orders of magnitude from −20 to +25 °C.     

Room Temperature Synthesis of New Thiostannates by Slow Interdiffusion of Different Solvents

The new compounds [Ni(L₁)][Ni(L₁)Sn₂S₆]_n · 2H₂O ( I ) and [Ni(L₂)]₂[Sn₂S₆] · 4H₂O ( II ) containing the macrocyclic ligands L₁ (L₁ = 1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane) and L₂ (L₂ = 1,8-diethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane) were prepared at room temperature by overlaying an aqueous solution of Na₄SnS₄ · 14H₂O with the [Ni(L₁)](ClO₄)₂ complex dissolved in CH₃CN ( I ) or by overlaying a solution of the [Ni(L₂)](ClO₄)₂ complex dissolved in DMSO with an aqueous solution of Na₄SnS₄ · 14H₂O ( II ). The slow interdiffusion of the two solvents guarantees supersaturation in the interface region of the solvents so that crystallization of the compounds occurs. In the structure of I one Ni²⁺ cation has bonds to S^2– anions of the thiostannate anion thus generating chains along [100]. This cation is in an octahedral environment of four N atoms of L₁ and two S atoms of the [Sn₂S₆]^4– anion. The second [Ni(L₁)]²⁺ complex exhibits a square-planar coordination geometry. These [Ni(L₁)]²⁺ complexes and water molecules are located between the chains. In the structure of II isolated [Sn₂S₆]^4– anions and [Ni(L₂)]²⁺ cations are observed. The Ni²⁺ cations are fourfold coordinated by N atoms of the L₂ ligand and feature also a square planar environment.     

Directed Dehydration of Na4Sn2S6 ⋅ 5H2O Generates the New Compound Na4Sn2S6: Crystal Structure and Selected Properties

The new thiostannate Na₄Sn₂S₆ was prepared by directed crystal water removal from the hydrate Na₄Sn₂S₆ ⋅ 5H₂O at moderate temperatures. While the structure of the hydrate comprises isolated [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻ anions, that of the anhydrate contains linear chains composed of corner-sharing SnS₄ tetrahedra, a structural motif not known in thiostannate chemistry. This structural rearrangement requires bond-breakage in the [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻ anion, movements of the fragments of the opened [Sn₂S₆]⁴⁻ anion and Sn−S−Sn bond formation. Simultaneously, the coordination environment of the Na⁺ cations is significantly altered and the in situ formed NaS₅ polyhedra are joined by corner- and edge-sharing to form a six-membered ring. Time-dependent in situ X-ray powder diffraction evidences very fast rehydration into Na₄Sn₂S₆ ⋅ 5H₂O during storage in air atmosphere, but recovery of the initial crystallinity requires several days. Impedance spectroscopy demonstrates a mediocre room-temperature Na⁺ ion conductivity of 0.31 μS cm⁻¹ and an activation energy for ionic transport of E_a=0.75 eV.     

Investigation of perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer solutions by 19f NMR and DLS: Establishment of an accurate quantification protocol

Long side chain perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) aqueous solutions with various degrees of substitution and trifluoroacetic acid solutions were investigated by liquid ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to propose a new and efficient quantification protocol. These two examples were selected to respond to a specific need for quantification in fuel cell applications. Classical quantification revealed a systematic underestimation of the PFSA concentrations at room temperature, in contrast to small fluorinated molecules. Dynamic light scattering data suggested the presence of “NMR silent aggregates” up to 50 °C. These aggregates appeared as large particles of about 30 µm in diameter, resulting from the agglomeration of primary aggregates through hydrogen bonds. An increase of the measurement temperature to 80 °C was sufficient to take apart the secondary aggregates, and get the correct quantification. In parallel, a rapid ¹⁹F NMR quantification method was developed using a careful analysis of the Signal‐to‐Noise ratio. This new method provided, in at least a six decades range, an estimation of the PFSA concentration without the need for an external reference. This approach may be successfully applied to determine the fluorine atom content of any small molecule or polymer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2210–2222