Application of novel SIMS technique for imaging the active sites of oxygen reduction at the SOFC cathode/electrolyte interfaces

The oxygen reduction active sites were visualized around the O₂/SOFC cathode/electrolyte triple phase boundaries (TPB) by the¹⁶O/¹⁸O exchange techniques and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis. The higher¹⁸O concentration is observed on the cathode top surfaces (La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃-mesh, Au-mesh, and Ag-porous), which suggested the promotion of oxygen adsorption and oxygen surface exchange at the cathode. The oxygen diffusion through the bulk of cathode occurred at the La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃-mesh and the Ag-porous cathodes, not at the Au-mesh cathode. On the YSZ surfaces after removing the cathode, the active sites for oxygen incorporation were analyzed by SIMS. The active sites for oxygen incorporation were at the La_0.9Sr_0.1MnO₃/YSZ interface as well as the TPB. On the other hand, the active sites for oxygen incorporation are limited to the TPB in the case of the Au-mesh removed YSZ surface. From the SIMS analysis, the expansion of the active sites for oxygen incorporation is less than a few μm from the TPB lines. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16–22, 2001.     

17O NMR chemical shifts versus structure relationships in oxiranes

Natural-abundance ¹⁷O NMR spectra have been measured for twenty one oxiranes. Their chemical shifts covering a 100 ppm range were interpreted in terms of the paramagnetic β- and diamagnetic γ-effects. In addition, through-space orbital interaction between the ethylenic π and the Walsh orbitals of the oxirane ring was suggested by a lowfield shift in norbornadiene $\text{exo}$-oxide.     

Crystal structures of V3S4 and V5S8

Crystal structures of the ordered phases of V₃S₄ and V₅S₈ were refined with single crystal data. Both are monoclinic. Chemical compositions, space groups and lattice constants are as follows: VS_1.47, $\text{I2}\text{m}$ (No. 12), a = 5.831(1), b = 3.267(1), c = 11.317(2)Å, β = 91.78(1)° and VS_1.64, $\text{F}\text{2}\text{m}$ (No. 12), a = 11.396(11), b = 6.645(7), c = 11.293(4), Å, β = 91.45(6)°. In both structures, short metal-metal bonds were found between the layers as well as within them. In comparison with the structure of Fe₇S₈, the stability of NiAs-type structure was discussed based on the detailed metal-sulfur distances.     

A new synthetic method for β-trimethylsilyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds employing 1-methoxy-3-phenylthio-3-trimethylsilyl-1-propene

A new synthetic method for functionally substituted β-trimethylsilyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds from 1-methoxy-3-phenylthio-3-trimethylsilyl-1-propene is described.     

Use of multi-coil parallel-gap resonators for co-registration EPR/NMR imaging

This article reports experimental investigations on the use of RF resonators for continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (cw-EPR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. We developed a composite resonator system with multi-coil parallel-gap resonators for co-registration EPR/NMR imaging. The resonance frequencies of each resonator were 21.8MHz for NMR and 670MHz for EPR. A smaller resonator (22mm in diameter) for use in EPR was placed coaxially in a larger resonator (40mm in diameter) for use in NMR. RF magnetic fields in the composite resonator system were visualized by measuring a homogeneous 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinooxy (4-hydroxy-TEMPO) solution in a test tube. A phantom of five tubes containing distilled water and 4-hydroxy-TEMPO solution was also measured to demonstrate the potential usefulness of this composite resonator system in biomedical science. An image of unpaired electrons was obtained for 4-hydroxy-TEMPO in three tubes, and was successfully mapped on the proton image for five tubes. Technical problems in the implementation of a composite resonator system are discussed with regard to co-registration EPR/NMR imaging for animal experiments.     

Modeling current–voltage relationships of mixed conducting cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells

In recent decades, high-temperature oxygen reduction reaction on mixed conducting cathodes were investigated intensively by many researchers. Computational approaches as well as electrochemical and spectroscopic studies have been made to elucidate the kinetics. Contribution of oxygen vacancy to the reaction rate was suggested in multiple reports, and plausible reaction pathways were proposed based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The picture of oxygen reduction reaction has become clearer in these years. However, there still is a discussion about a credible formula that represents the current–voltage relationships. Discrepancies are found among the reported data on the magnitude of the rate constant and on its dependencies on partial pressure and temperature. The difference is significant between a model electrode and a practical porous electrode. Comparison of the results suggests the existence of series reaction barriers, that is, the surface reaction and subsurface transport, which should be considered for consistent representation of the total electrode process.     

Scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate catalyzed aromatic nitration with inorganic nitrates and acetic anhydride

The rare earth metal(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (rare earth metal(III) triflate, RE(OTf)3) was found to be an efficient catalyst for aromatic nitration with carboxylic anhydride-inorganic nitrate as the nitrating agent. In the presence of a catalytic amount of RE(OTf)3, the nitration of substituted benzenes proceeded to afford the corresponding nitrobenzenes. Especially, scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (scandium(III) triflate, Sc(OTf)3) is the most active catalyst among our tested Lewis acids. It was also found that acetic anhydride-Al(NO3).9H2O is the most active nitrating agent in this system.     

Synthetic studies on the taxane skeleton: construction of eight-membered carbocyclic rings by the intramolecular B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

Construction of eight-membered carbocyclic rings via the intramolecular B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has been studied. This protocol proved its potency through the formation of the eight-membered ring possessing a quaternary carbon on its ring in high yield, affording promise of a new access to the eight-membered ring of Taxol. [reaction: see text]     

Trifluoroacetaldehyde: A useful industrial bulk material for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated amino compounds

The synthesis of various trifluoromethylated amino compounds was studied using trifluoroacetaldehyde, an industrial bulk material, as a starting compound. One general application of trifluoroacetaldehyde is the preparation of trifluoroethylamino derivatives via reductive amination reaction. This synthesis includes the formation of the corresponding N,O-acetal intermediates followed by their reduction using NaBH₄ or 2-picoline borane complex, affording the target trifluoroethylamino compounds in moderate to good yields (47-87%).Another general application of trifluoroacetaldehyde is the synthesis of chiral α-substituted trifluoroethylamino compounds. In this synthesis, trifluoroacetaldehyde was first converted into the chiral trifluoromethyl tert-butyl sulfinimine, which was subjected to 1,2-nucleophilic addition reactions across its CN double bond. The addition of phenyllithium afforded α-(phenyl)trifluoroethylamino derivative in 83% yield and with 96% de. Allylation and Reformatsky reactions produced the corresponding α-substituted trifluoroethylamino derivatives in 82 and 58% yields and with 90 and 91% de, respectively.