Molecular constants for the ã 3A2 state of formaldehyde

The 0⁺–0 and 1⁺–0 bands of the ā ³A₂X? ¹A₁ transition of formaldehyde have been reinvestigated using higher resolving power than was available in the earlier work of Raynes. The rotational analyses have been considerably extended, and improved molecular constants for the ā ³A₂ state have been obtained with the aid of a new triplet—singlet computer programme.^sSR branches of the K′ = 7K″ = 5 and K′ = 5K″ = 3 subbands have been observed in the 0⁺–0 band using 7m atm of absorbing gas. These results provide the first example of the observation of ΔK = ±2 transitions in triplet—singlet bands of a polyatomic molecule. The “perpendicular” transition moment is found to be about 10% of the “parallel” transition moment.     

On the empirical validity of koopmans’ theorem

The application of Koopmans' theorem is investigated within the context of the LCAO interpretation of a general SCF formalism. An empirical criterion for the validity of the assumption of identity of corresponding orbitals in the ion and parent system is discussed. Calculations on He, Li, Be and pyridine are reported.

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Zusammenfassung Die Gültigkeit von Koopmans' Theorem läßt sich mittels eines verallgemeinerten SCF-Formalismus prüfen. Ein Kriterium für das Zutreffen der Annahme, einander entsprechende Einteilchenzustände in Atom und Tochter-Ion seien identisch, wird in diesem Zusammenhang diskutiert. Die Rechnungen sind am Helium, Lithium, Beryllium und Pyridin durchgeführt worden.

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Résumé La validité du théorème de Koopmans dans un formalisme SCF général est étudiée au cadre d'une interprétation LCAO. Un critère empirique pour l'identité des orbitales de l'ion et du système père correspondant est discuté. Nous rapportons des calculs sur He, Li, Be et pyridine.

     

Oxygen reduction activity dependence on the mesoporous structure of imprinted carbon supports

Two mesoporous carbons (with 15 (CIC-15) and 26 nm (CIC-26) diameter pores) were synthesized using a silica colloid imprinting method, loaded with 10 wt.% Pt, and then evaluated (against Vulcan^? carbon (VC)) as oxygen reduction (ORR) catalysts for use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Both Pt/CICs reproducibly out-performed Pt/VC, with Pt/CIC-15 demonstrating higher ORR activity than Pt/CIC-26, despite its smaller pore size and lower surface area. Transmission electron tomography showed that the Pt nanoparticles (4–5 nm diameter) are fully deposited throughout the pores of the CICs and that the pore distribution in CIC-26 is partially ordered, while CIC-15 shows no ordering of its pores. Importantly, using the powerful imaging capabilities of transmission electron tomography, a first-time correlation is demonstrated between the ORR activity and the wall thickness of the carbon support materials. Pt/CIC-15 has significantly thicker walls, giving a lower measured electronic resistance, a lower ORR Tafel slope, and thus better performance overall compared to Pt/CIC-26.     

Effective Hamiltonian for polyatomic linear molecules

The leading terms of an effective Hamiltonian for a linear molecule in a given vibrational state are presented up to κ¹⁰T_v order of magnitude, whereby higher-order l-dependent terms such as $\text{H}\text{?}{}_{12.0}$, $\text{H}\text{?}{}_{8.0}$, and $\text{H}\text{?}{}_{8.2}$ have been neglected because in spectroscopic application they are of minor importance. This Hamiltonian therefore includes all those l-type interactions which could contribute to the fitting procedure, within a vibrational state where one or more bending vibrations are excited.     

Invariant combinations of coefficients in the rotational Hamiltonian

A general development of combinations of parameters in the asymmetric rotor Hamiltonian, which are independent of the coefficients of the contact transformation operators used in the reduction of that Hamiltonian, is given. These invariant combinations are obtained for a Hamiltonian containing up to eighth degree operators. The adaptation to the A and S forms of the Watson Hamiltonian and their utility in conversion of coefficients from one form to another is discussed.     

High performance PtRuIr catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes for the anodic oxidation of methanol

We report the formation of a new PtRuIr catalyst using an organic colloid synthesis method, involving acetone as the solvent, ethylene glycol as the reducing agent, citrate as a complexing agent and stabilizer, and multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT, diameter 8-10 nm) as the support. This catalyst has a very high real surface area and is highly active toward the oxidation of methanol, relevant to fuel cell applications. The Ir component appears to act as a promoter, and the splitting of the Pt(111) XRD feature into four peaks and the shift to larger d spacing reflect the high dispersion of the metallic components.     

Self-consistent-field theory for one-electron properties

The SCF-formalism is modified to include as constraints in the variational procedure physical quantities defined by one-electron operators. Introducing empirical values for the expectation values of these operators, pseudo-eigenvalue equations are obtained whose solution will lead to self-consistent orbitals which are constrained to achieve the chosen empirical values.

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Zusammenfassung Die SCF Methode ist abgewandelt, um als Nebenbedingung in der Variationsmethode physikalische Eigenschaften einzuschließen, die durch Ein-Elektron-Operatoren definiert sind. Durch Einführung von empirischen Werten für die Erwartungswerte dieser Operatoren erhält man Pseudo-Eigenwert-Gleichungen, deren Lösung zu SCF-Orbitalen führt, die die gewählten empirischen Werte geben.

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Résumé On a modifié le formalisme de champ auto-cohérent à fin de pouvoir introduire les valeurs de propriétés physiques comme conditions sécondaires dans la méthode de variation. La solution des équations à valeurs propres, qu'on y obtient, permet d'obtenir des orbitales qui donnent les valeurs empiriques choisies.

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This work has been supported in part by the National Research Council of Canada.     

Upper and lower bounds to eigenvalues

The variational method based on the Temple-Kato formulae is applied to the determination of bounds for some ^1,3 P(1s np) states of He.

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Zusammenfassung Die Variationsmethode, die auf der Temple-Kato Formel beruht, wird angewandt zur Bestimmung der Grenzen für einige ^1,3 P(1s np)-ZustÄnde des He.

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Résumé La méthode variationnelle basée sur la formulation de Temple-Kato est appliquée à la détermination de limites pour certains états ^1,3 P(1s np) de He.

     

The kinetics of charging and discharging of iridium oxide films in aqueous and non-aqueous media

Cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry have been used to investigate the kinetics of oxidation and reduction of electrochenucally generated Ir oxide films in H₂SO₄(aq), basic aqueous LiClO₄ solutions and LiClO₄ + acetonitrile solutions. In acidic aqueous solutions, the scan rate at which the main anodic peak potential begins to shift positively in cyclic voltammetry experiments has been used as a parameter to assess the charging and discharging kinetics of Ir oxide films grown under various conditions. In acidic and basic aqueous solutions, chronocoulometric measurements indicate that electron transport through the oxide is rate limiting for the main redox wave, whereas ion transport probably limits the charging/discharging kinetics in LiClO₄ + CH₃CN solutions. In this non-aqueous medium, it appears that ca. 35% of the oxide sites charge and discharge approximately an order of magnitude more rapidly than the remaining sites.     

A multi-technique study of compact and hydrous Au oxide growth in 0.1 M sulfuric acid solutions

The growth and reduction of compact (α-) and overlying hydrous (β-) oxide films on polycrystalline Au electrodes in aqueous 0.1 M H₂SO₄ solutions have been investigated using potentiostatic, cyclic voltammetry, ellipsometric and quartz crystal microbalance (QCMB) techniques. All α-oxide films, formed with time at constant potentials up to 2.6 V, or by multicycling of the potential, are non-hydrated in nature, even when covered by a thick β-oxide film. The α-oxide film composition is suggested to be AuO below 1.5 V, and a mixture of AuO+Au₂O₃ at potentials above this, becoming predominantly Au₂O₃ at very high potentials. Up to three monolayers of Au₂O₃ can be formed. When formed at constant potential, the β-oxide film becomes increasingly hydrated as it thickens with time of growth, with a mass to charge ratio and refractive index consistent with Au₂O₃·H₂O and later with Au₂O₃·2H₂O. In contrast, the β-oxide film formed by multicycling has a higher mass overall, and becomes less hydrated as it thickens with time, with a mass and refractive index consistent with Au₂O₃·10H₂O at short times, ranging to Au₂O₃·2H₂O as the film thickens.