Triarylphosphine-stabilized platinum nanoparticles in three-dimensional nanostructured films as active electrocatalysts

Ligand-stabilized platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) can be used to build well-defined three-dimensional (3-D) nanostructured electrodes for better control of the catalyst architecture in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Platinum NPs of 1.7 +/- 0.5 nm diameter stabilized by the water-soluble phosphine ligand, tris(4-phosphonatophenyl)phosphine (TPPTP, P(4-C6H4PO3H2)3), were prepared by ethylene glycol reduction of chloroplatinic acid and subsequent treatment of the isolated nanoparticles with TPPTP. The isolated TPPTP-stabilized Pt NPs were characterized by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P and 195Pt NMR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The negatively charged TPPTP-Pt NPs were electrostatically deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with protonated 4-aminophenyl functional groups (APh). Multilayers were assembled via electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition with cationic poly(allylamine HCl) (PAH). These multilayer films are active for the key hydrogen fuel cell reactions, hydrogen oxidation (anode) and oxygen reduction (cathode). Using a rotating disk electrode configuration, fully mass-transport limited kinetics for hydrogen oxidation was obtained after 3 layers of TPPTP-Pt NPs with a total Pt loading of 4.2 microg/cm2. Complete reduction of oxygen by four electrons was achieved with 4 layers of TPPTP-Pt NPs and a total Pt loading of 5.6 microg/cm2. A maximum current density for oxygen reduction was reached with these films after 5 layers resulting in a mass-specific activity, i(m), of 0.11 A/mg(Pt) at 0.9 V. These films feature a high electrocatalytic activity and can be used to create systematic changes in the catalyst chemistry and architecture to provide insight for building better electrocatalysts.     

Self-assembled monolayers based on phenanthroline-gold(111) bonding

The self-assembly of long-alkyl-chain substituted phenanthroline derivatives on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) and gold(111) is compared. Whereas the adsorption on HOPG is controlled by the affinity of alkyl chains for the substrate, which leads to flat-lying adsorbed molecules, alignments of upright-oriented molecules are formed on gold(111). This situation is explained by the bonding of chelating species with gold(111) surfaces and by the pi-stacking interaction between conjugated moieties. This intermediate situation between strong thiol-like chemical bonding and the weak n-alkane-like physical adsorption opens the route toward laterally organized functional molecular assemblies.     

Canopy spectral invariants. Part 1: A new concept in remote sensing of vegetation

The concept of canopy spectral invariants expresses the observation that simple algebraic combinations of leaf and canopy spectral reflectance become wavelength independent and determine two canopy structure specific variables - the recollision and escape probabilities. These variables specify an accurate relationship between the spectral response of a vegetation canopy to incident solar radiation at the leaf and the canopy scale. They are sensitive to important structural features of the canopy such as forest cover, tree density, leaf area index, crown geometry, forest type and stand age. This paper presents the mathematical basis of the concept which is linked to eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the three-dimensional radiative transfer equation.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Palladium(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes Containing Water-Soluble Hybrid Phosphine-Phosphonate Ligands

Water-soluble phosphonate-functionalized triaryl phosphine ligands Na(2)[Ph(2)P(4-C(6)H(4)PO(3))].1.5H(2)O (4a), Na(2)[Ph(2)P(3-C(6)H(4)PO(3))].2H(2)O (4b), and Na(2)[Ph(2)P(2-C(6)H(4)PO(3))].2H(2)O (4c), were prepared in 54-56% yields by the transesterification and hydrolysis of the appropriate phosphonic acid diethyl ester precursors. The solubilities of 4a-c in water are compared and the spectroscopic properties studied in detail. The crystal structure of Na(2)[Ph(2)P(4-C(6)H(4)PO(3))(H(2)O)(3)(CH(3)OH)].CH(3)OH (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 6.4457(8) ?, b = 8.1226(8) ?, c = 46.351(3) ?, beta = 92.902(8) degrees, Z = 4) shows a dimeric association via two bridging water molecules and four sodium ions. Reaction of 4a with PtCl(2)(PPh(3))(2) in a biphasic H(2)O/CH(2)Cl(2) mixture gives cis- and trans-Na(4)[PtCl(2){Ph(2)P(4-C(6)H(4)PO(3))}(2)]. 3H(2)O. Palladium dichloride and 4a in H(2)O/benzene catalyzes the carbonylation of benzyl chloride to give phenylacetic acid (91%).     

Azo supramolecules on Au(111) with controlled size and shape

Using a subtle balance between weak intermolecular C-H...N hydrogen bonds and molecule-surface interactions, supramolecules of azobenzene-related molecules on Au surfaces were prepared. For analysis, modeling based on first-principles calculations was performed.     

A rigid sublimable naphthalenediimide cyclophane as model compound for UHV STM experiments

The design, synthesis and characterization of a rigid naphthalenediimide cyclophane as a model compound for ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) STM experiments are described together with first self-assembly investigations on an Au(111) substrate displaying the formation of densely packed parallel rows of molecules.     

Effect of bond-length alternation in molecular wires

Current-voltage (I-V) characteristics for metal-molecule-metal junctions formed from three classes of molecules measured with a simple crossed-wire molecular electronics test-bed are reported. Junction conductance as a function of molecular structure is consistent with I-V characteristics calculated from extended Hückel theory coupled with a Green's function approach, and can be understood on the basis of bond-length alternation.