Magnetic cobalt-zinc ferrite/PVAc nanocomposite: synthesis and characterization

Metal oxide nanoparticles are the subject of current interest because of their unusual optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. In this work, cobalt zinc ferrite ( $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} $ ) nanoparticles have been synthesized successfully through redox chemical reaction in aqueous solution. The synthesized $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} $ nanoparticles have been used for the preparation of homogenous polyvinyl acetate-based nanocomposite ( $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} /{\text{PVAc}} $ ) via in situ emulsion polymerization method. Structural, morphological and magnetic properties of the products were determined and characterized in detail by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD patterns of the $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} $ confirmed that the formed nanoparticles are single crystalline. According to TEM micrographs, the synthesized $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} $ nanoparticles had nano-needle morphology with an average particle size of 20 nm. The calculated coefficient of variation (CV) of nanoparticles diameters obtained by TEM micrographs was 16.77. The $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} $ nanoparticles were dispersed almost uniformly in the polymer matrix as was proved by SEM technique. The magnetic parameters of the samples, such as saturation magnetization (M _s) and coercivity (H _c) were measured, as well. Magnetization measurements indicated that the saturation magnetization of synthesized $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} /{\text{PVAc}} $ nanocomposites was markedly less than that of $ {\text{Co}}_{0.3} {\text{Zn}}_{0.7} {\text{Fe}}_{2} {\text{O}}_{4} $ magnetic nanoparticles. However, the nanocompoites exhibited super-paramagnetic behavior at room temperature under an applied magnetic field.     

Determination of equilibrium silver sulphate concentration in the system Cu-H2SO4-CuSO4-H2O-Ag2SO4-Ag as a function of composition

The value of the ratio \(\gamma _{{\text{Cu}}^{{\text{2 + }}} } /\gamma _{{\text{Ag}}^{\text{ + }} }^2 \) ( \(\gamma _{{\text{Cu}}^{{\text{2 + }}} } ,\gamma _{{\text{Ag}}^{\text{ + }} } \) -are the mean activity coefficients of copper and silver ions, respectively) was calculated from the measured emf of the cell $${\text{Cu(Hg)|H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{SO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{ (}}c_{\text{x}} {\text{)}} - {\text{CuSO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{ (}}c_{\text{y}} {\text{)|Hg}}_{\text{2}} {\text{SO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{, Hg}}$$ and the solubility of Ag₂SO₄ in H₂SO₄ (c _x) and CuSO₄ (c _y) solutions. The concentration of H₂SO₄ in the solution was varied from 0.5 to 2.1 mol dm^?3 that of CuSO₄ from 0.4 mol dm^?3 to saturation. The results were presented as a function: $$\frac{{\gamma _{{\text{Cu}}^{{\text{2 + }}} } }}{{\gamma _{{\text{Ag}}^{\text{ + }} }^2 }} = a_0 + a_1 c_{\text{x}} + a_2 c_{\text{y}} + a_3 c_{\text{x}}^{\text{2}} + a_4 c_{\text{x}} c_{\text{y}} + a_5 c_{\text{y}}^2 .$$ This function allows the estimation of the equilibrium silver ion concentration \(c_{{\text{Ag}}^{\text{ + }} }^{{\text{eq}}} \) in solutions containing both H₂SO₄ and CuSO₄ in the presence of metallic copper. The function is also very useful for the estimation of the \(c_{{\text{Ag}}^{\text{ + }} }^{{\text{eq}}} \) near a working copper electrode.     

The Effect of CO2 and H2O on the Kinetics of NO Reduction by CH4 Over Sr-Promoted La2O3

The influence of CO₂ and H₂O on the activity of 4% Sr-La₂O₃ mimics that observed with pure La₂O₃, and a reversible inhibition of the rate is observed. CO₂ causes a greater effect, with decreases in rate of about 65% with O₂ present and 90% in its absence, while with H₂O in the feed, the rate decreased around 35-40% with O₂ present or absent. The influence of these two reaction products on kinetic behavior can be described by assuming competitive adsorption on the surface, incorporating adsorbed CO₂ and H₂O in the site balance, and using rate expressions previously proposed for this reaction over Sr-promoted La₂O₃. In the absence of O₂, the rate expression is $$r_{N_2 } = \frac{{k'P_{{\text{NO}}} P_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } }}{{{\text{(1 + }}K_{{\text{NO}}} P_{{\text{NO}}} {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } P_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} } P_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} } {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} {\text{)}}^{\text{2}} }},$$ which yields a good fit to the experimental data and gives optimized equilibrium adsorption constants that demonstrate thermodynamic consistency. With O₂ in the feed, nondifferential changes in reactant concentrations through the reactor bed were accounted for by assuming integral reactor behavior and simultaneously considering both CH₄ combustion and CH₄ reduction of NO, which provided the following rate law for total CH₄ disappearance: $$(r_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } )_{\text{T}} = \frac{{k'_{{\text{com}}} P_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }^{{\text{0}}{\text{.5}}} + k'_{{\text{NO}}} P_{{\text{NO}}} P_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }^{{\text{0}}{\text{.5}}} }}{{{\text{(1 + }}K_{{\text{NO}}} P_{{\text{NO}}} {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } P_{{\text{CH}}_{\text{4}} } {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }^{{\text{0}}{\text{.5}}} P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }^{{\text{0}}{\text{.5}}} {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} } P_{{\text{CO}}_{\text{2}} } {\text{ + }}K_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} P_{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}} {\text{)}}^{\text{2}} }}.$$ The second term of this expression represents N₂ formation, and it again fit the experimental data well. The fitting constants in the denominator, which correspond to equilibrium adsorption constants, were not only thermodynamically consistent but also provided entropies and enthalpies of adsorption that were similar to values obtained with other La₂O₃-based catalysts. Apparent activation energies typically ranged from 23 to 28 kcal/mol with O₂ absent and 31-36 kcal/mol with O₂ in the feed. With CO₂ in the feed, but no O₂, the activation energy for the formation of a methyl group via interaction of CH₄ with adsorbed NO was determined to be 35 kcal/mol.     

[CuL(H2O)2]{[CuL][Fe(CN)6]}2·2H2O (L=3,10-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane): A Novel Three-Dimensional Coordination Polymer via H-Bonded Linkages of One-Dimensional Zigzag Chain

A complex with the formula [CuL(H₂O)₂]{[CuL][Fe(CN)₆]}₂·2H₂O, where L=3,10-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane, has been synthesized and crystallographically characterized. The structure is composed of a one-dimensional zigzag chain of $\left\{ {[{\text{CuL}}][{\text{Fe(CN)}}_{\text{6}} ]} \right\}_2^{2 - } $ units, and [CuL(H₂O)₂]²⁺ units. The one-dimensional zigzag chain extents through ${\text{Cu}}{\kern 1pt} - {\kern 1pt} {\text{CN}} - {\kern 1pt} {\text{Fe}}{\kern 1pt} - {\kern 1pt} {\text{CN}} - {\kern 1pt} {\text{Cu}}$ linkages. The adjacent two polymer chains are linked by the ${\text{O}}{\kern 1pt} - {\kern 1pt} {\text{H}}{\kern 1pt} \cdot \cdot \cdot {\kern 1pt} {\text{N}}{\kern 1pt} \equiv {\kern 1pt} {\text{C}}{\kern 1pt} - $ hydrogen bonding between [CuL(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and [Fe(CN)₆]^3?, forming a 3D supramolecular structure with inner hydrophilic channels. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show no exchange interaction between the Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions due to the longer ${\text{Cu}}{\kern 1pt} - {\kern 1pt} {\text{N}}$ (axial) bond length.     

Activity and selectivity of a {\text{Pd/}}\gamma {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}} catalytic membrane in the partial hydrogenation reactions of acetylene and 1,3-butadiene

A ${\text{Pd/}}\gamma {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$ membrane supported on a macroporous $\alpha {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$ tube was prepared by sol–gel processing and used in the partial hydrogenation of acetylene and 1,3-butadiene. The average pore diameter of the ${\text{Pd/}}\gamma {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$ membrane was 3.6 nm. The gases were separated by Knudsen diffusion. The activity and selectivity of the ${\text{Pd/}}\gamma {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$ membrane was compared to that of ${\text{Pd/}}\gamma {\text{ - Al}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{3}}$ catalysts used in a conventional packed bed reactor. The highest selectivity to the partially hydrogenated products occurred when the reactant was premixed with H₂ and was passed through the membrane wall.     

Hansen solubility parameters of cellulose acetate butyrate–poly(caprolactone) diol blend by inverse gas chromatography

The specific retention volumes, $ V_{\text{g}}^{0} $ , for adsorption of 21 solute probes on the solid surface of cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB)–poly(caprolactone) diol (PCLD) blend determined in the temperature range by inverse gas chromatography were used to evaluate Hansen solubility parameters (HSP). The effect of plasticizer, PCLD, on the HSP of CAB was investigated. The three components of HSP namely dispersive $ \delta_{2}^{\text{d}} $ , polar $ \delta_{2}^{\text{p}} $ , and hydrogen bonding $ \delta_{2}^{\text{h}} $ of the blend surface were compared with the CAB surface. The $ \delta_{2}^{\text{h}} $ of CAB was increased due to the addition of PCLD, while the change in the dispersive and polar components was found to be insignificant. The three HSP were decreasing linearly with increase of temperature for the blend as well as for pure CAB. The variation of HSP with weight fraction of CAB shown that the $ \delta_{2}^{\text{p}} $ was positively deviating from linearity whereas $ \delta_{2}^{\text{d}} $ and $ \delta_{2}^{\text{h}} $ were negatively deviating from linearity.     

Reaction in the silver zinc cell

An adiabatic calorimeter was used to measure the thermodynamics of the silver zinc cell. The charge and discharge reactions were shown to take place in two stages involving the production of argentous oxide and argentic oxide respectively. No thermal evidence was found to suggest the existence of a higher oxide of silver. The cell reactions were (1) $$2{\text{Ag + ZnO}} \leftrightharpoons {\text{Ag}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O + Zn, }}\Delta {\text{H = 158}} \cdot {\text{7 kJF}}^{ - {\text{1}}}$$ (2) $${\text{Ag}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O + ZnO}} \leftrightharpoons {\text{Ag}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}}_{\text{2}} {\text{ + Zn, }}\Delta {\text{H = 176}} \cdot 1{\text{ kJF}}^{ - {\text{1}}}$$ If the cell was left on open circuit for a long period, or the positive electrodes heated, reaction (2) was suppressed and the discharge took place via reaction (1), without any reduction in capacity.     

Polymerization of cyclohexene oxide by methyl-4-[bis(4-bromophenyl)amino]benzoate cation radical salts

Methyl-4-[bis(4-bromophenyl)amino]benzoate cation radical salts having non-nucleophilic anions such as $ {\text{SbF}}^{ - }_{6} $ , $ {\text{PF}}^{ - }_{6} $ and $ {\text{AsF}}^{ - }_{6} $ were newly prepared and found to be very active initiators for the polymerization of cyclohexene oxide at room temperature, in dichloromethane without any external stimulation. The effects of counter ion structure, salt and monomer concentration on the polymerization yield and molecular weight, and the mechanism of initiation are presented.     

Solid state ionics—the electrochemical analog memory cell with solid electrolyte

A new type analog memory cell with variable output voltage has been proposed and its performance examined. The cell construction is $$\begin{gathered} {\text{Ag|RbAg}}_{\text{4}} {\text{I}}_{\text{5}} {\text{|(Ag}}_{\text{2}} {\text{Se)}}_{{\text{0}} \cdot {\text{925}}} {\text{(Ag}}_{\text{3}} {\text{PO}}_{\text{4}} {\text{)}}_{{\text{0}} \cdot {\text{075}}} {\text{|RbAg}}_{\text{4}} {\text{I}}_{\text{5}} {\text{|Ag}} \hfill \\ {\text{ }} \uparrow \hfill \\ {\text{ Pt}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ in which (Ag₂Se)_0.925(Ag₃PO₄)_0.075 is a mixed conductor exhibiting high ionic and electronic conductivity at room temperature. The potential difference between the silver electrode and the platinum electrode depends on the silver activity in the mixed conductor, and it is changed by passing the current between one silver electrode and the platinum electrode. The output voltage of the cell is changed in the range of 150 to 0 mV. At open circuit, the memorized cell voltage decreased by only 1% over several hours.     

Conduction in Bi2O3-based oxide ion conductor under low oxygen pressure. II. Determination of the partial electronic conductivity

In order to investigate the partial electronic conduction in the high oxide ion conductor of the system Bi₂O₃-Y₂O₃ under low oxygen pressure, e.m.f. and polarization methods were employed. Although the electrolyte was decomposed when the \(P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) was lower than the equilibrium \(P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) of Bi, Bi₂O₃ mixture at each temperature, the ionic transport number was found to be close to unity above that \(P_{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}} }\) . The hole conductivity (σ _p) and the electron conductivity (σ _p) could be expressed as follows, $$\begin{gathered} \sigma _p \Omega cm = 5 \cdot 0 \times 10^2 \left( {P_{O_2 } atm^{ - 1} } \right)^{{1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 4}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 4}} \exp \left[ { - 106 kJ\left( {RT mol} \right)^{ - 1} } \right] \hfill \\ \sigma _p \Omega cm = 3 \cdot 4 \times 10^5 \left( {P_{O_2 } atm^{ - 1} } \right)^{ - {1 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {1 4}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 4}} \exp \left[ { - 213 kJ\left( {RT mol} \right)^{ - 1} } \right] \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ These values were much lower than the oxide ion conductivity under ordinary oxygen pressure.     

Facile Electrospinning Preparation and Up-Conversion Luminescence Performance of Y3Al5O12:Er3+, Yb3+ Nanobelts

Electrospinning technique was used to prepare $ {\text{PVP}}/\left[ {{\text{Y}}\left( {{\text{NO}}_{ 3} } \right)_{ 3} + {\text{Yb}}\left( {{\text{NO}}_{ 3} } \right)_{ 3} + {\text{Er}}\left( {{\text{NO}}_{ 3} } \right)_{ 3} + {\text{Al}}\left( {{\text{NO}}_{ 3} } \right)_{ 3} } \right] $ composite nanobelts and novel structures of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ (denoted as YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ for short) nanobelts have been successfully fabricated after calcination of the relevant composite nanobelts at 900 °C for 8 h. YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanobelts were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy. XRD analysis indicated that YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanobelts were cubic in structure with space group I_a3d. SEM analysis and histograms revealed that the width of YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanobelts was ca. 1.8 ± 0.37 μm under the 95 % confidence level, and the thickness was ca. 81.8 nm. Up-conversion emission spectra analysis manifested that YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanobelts respectively emitted strong green and red emissions centering at 522, 554 and 648 nm under the excitation of a 980-nm diode laser. The green emissions were assigned to the energy levels transitions of $ ^{ 2} {\text{H}}_{ 1 1/ 2} ,^{ 4} {\text{S}}_{ 3/ 2} \to^{ 4} {\text{I}}_{ 1 5/ 2} $ of Er³⁺ ions, and the red emission originated from the energy levels transition of $ ^{ 4} {\text{F}}_{ 9/ 2} \to ^{ 4} {\text{I}}_{{{\text{l5}}/ 2}} $ of Er³⁺ ions. The up-conversion luminescence of YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanobelts doped with various concentrations of Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ was studied and the optimum molar ratio of Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ was found to be 15:1. CIE analysis demonstrated that color-tuned luminescence can be obtained by adjusting doping concentrations of Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ ions, which could be applied in the fields of optical telecommunication and optoelectronic devices. The up-conversion luminescent mechanism and the formation mechanism of YAG:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺ nanobelts were also proposed.     

The role of sintering time on reversibility of Ni(s)—NiO(s) electrodes for high temperature solid oxide electrolyte galvanic cells

The reversibility of solid electrolyte galvanic cells such as $${\text{Mo/Ni(s)}}--{\text{NiO(s)/CSZ/Fe(s)}}--{\text{Fe}}_{{\text{1}}--\delta } {\text{O(s)/Mo}}$$ has been studied with respect to the sintering time of the active powders. Pellets from short (7h) and long (14h) sintering times have been prepared and assembled to give the above cells. Each of them has been thermally cycled and only the cells containing Ni(s)-NiO(s) electrodes prepared with a long sintering time give emf versus T curves which are independent of cycle. These values are in close agreement with the literature. For the cell reaction $${\text{NiO(s)}} + (1 - \delta ){\text{Fe(s) = Ni(s)}} + {\text{Fe}}_{1 - \delta } {\text{O(s)}}$$ the free energy change $$\Delta G = - (27.85 \pm 0.06) - (0.02157 \pm 0.00004)T{\text{ kJ mol}}^{ - {\text{1}}} $$ has been found in the temperature range 977–1350 K. To check the electrochemical reversibility, cyclic voltammetry has also been used. On the basis of these results and of SEM analysis of the electrode pellets, a mechanism is proposed whereby only at long sintering time would a triple phase contact at the electrode/electrolyte interface be produced.     

Surface characterization of cellulose acetate propionate by inverse gas chromatography

The purpose of this paper is to study the surface energetics of the polymer excipient cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) in the solid form. The net retention volumes, V _N, for n-alkanes and polar solutes have been measured in the temperature range 353.15–403.15 K by inverse gas chromatography. The dispersive surface free energy, $ \gamma_{\text{S}}^{\text{d}} $ , and Lewis acid–base parameters $ K_{\text{a}} $ and $ K_{\text{b}} $ , have been determined using V _N values. The $ \gamma_{\text{S}}^{\text{d}} $ values are decreased linearly with increase of temperature. The $ \gamma_{\text{S}}^{\text{d}} $ value at 353.15 K is 24.50 ± 1.54 mJ/m², and the temperature gradient was found to be ?0.287 mJ/m²/K¹. The $ K_{\text{a}} $ and $ K_{\text{b}} $ values are 0.410 ± 0.021 and 1.708 ± 0.388, respectively, which suggest that the CAP solid surface contain relatively more basic sites. The K _a and K _b values of CAP are compared with the similar values obtained on the cellulose acetate butyrate solid surface.     

Thermodynamic Properties of Sulfobetaine-Type Surfactants

Sulfobetaine-type surfactants containing a hydroxy group were synthesized by the reaction of long chain monoalkyl dimethyl tertiary amine with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid sodium salt. The structures were characterized by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS. Their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) in aqueous solution were determined by the plate method in the temperature rang from 298.15 to 328.15 K. The thermodynamic parameters of micellization ( $\Delta G_{\text{mic}}^{\theta}$ , $\Delta H_{\text{mic}}^{\theta}$ and $\Delta S_{\text{mic}}^{\theta}$ ) and surface adsorption ( $\Delta G_{\text{ad}}^{\theta}$ , $\Delta H_{\text{ad}}^{\theta}$ and $\Delta S_{\text{ad}}^{\theta}$ ) were calculated from CMC data. The results showed that the micellization and surface adsorption of these surfactants in aqueous solution was a spontaneous and entropy-driven process. The micellization and surface adsorption became easier when the alkyl chain length increased from 12 carbon atoms to 14. The enthalpy–entropy compensation of micellization and adsorption was investigated. The compensation temperature were found to be (311 ± 2) K for both micellization and adsorption. The $\Delta H_{\text{mic}}^{*}$ and $\Delta H_{\text{ad}}^{*}$ decreased, but the $\Delta S_{\text{mic}}^{*}$ and $\Delta S_{\text{ad}}^{*}$ increased with increasing the hydrophobic chain length from 12 to 14.     

Surface and Solution Properties of Amphiphilic Drug-Nonionic Surfactant Systems

A surface tension study was performed on mixed amphiphilic drug-nonionic surfactant systems. The drugs used were adiphenine hydrochloride and nortriptyline hydrochloride whereas surfactants were ethoxylated sorbitan esters and polyethylene oxide?Cpolypropylene oxide?Cpolyethylene oxide triblocks. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) and CMC^id (CMC at ideal mixing condition) values suggest nonideal and attractive interactions among the components. The micellar mole fraction $ (X_{ 1}^{\text{m}} ) $ values calculated using Rubingh??s model indicate predominance of the nonionic surfactant in micelle formation. The mole fraction of surfactant in mixed monolayer $ (X_{1}^{\sigma } ) $ values are greater than $ X_{ 1}^{\text{m}} $ values, indicating a greater contribution of surfactant in monolayer formation. Thermodynamic parameters, viz. Gibbs energy of micellization $ (\Updelta G_{\text{m}}^{\text{o}} ) $ , Gibbs energy of adsorption $ (\Updelta G_{\text{ad}}^{\text{o}} ) $ , and excess free energy of mixed micelles $ (\Updelta G_{\text{ex}}^{\text{m}} ) $ and monolayers $ (\Updelta G_{\text{ex}}^{\sigma } ) $ were also evaluated. All these values suggest stable mixed micelle and mixed monolayer formation.     

Positive polyacetylene electrodes in aqueous electrolytes

Polyacetylene films, contacted with platinum mesh, have been polarized anodically in aqueous H₂SO₄, HClO₄, HBF₄ and H₂F₂ of medium concentrations (30–70 wt%). Two oxidation peaks are observed, the equivalents of which are 1 $${\text{(1) 0}}{\text{.045 F mol}}^{ - {\text{1}}} {\text{ CH (2) 0}}{\text{.23 F mol}}^{ - {\text{1}}} {\text{ CH}}$$ The potential of the Process 1 decreases linearly with increasing acid concentration by 20–40 mV mol^?1 dm^?3, while the potential of Peak 2 exhibits normal Nernst behaviour (about + 60 mV decade^?1. Process 1 is partially reversible, while Process 2 is totally irreversible. From these findings for Process 1 we conclude the reversible insertion of anions into the polyacetylene host lattice, which is primarily oxidized to the polyradical cation, with the co-insertion of acid molecules HA to yield the insertion compound [(CH)⁺·yA^?·vyHA] _x y?4.5% andv=1.5 for H₂SO₄ and HClO₄. In the course of Process 2, the polymer is irreversibly oxidized according to $$( - ^ \cdot {\text{CH}} \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot ^ \oplus {\text{ CH}} - )_{x/2} + 2{\text{H}}_{\text{2}} {\text{O}} \to ( - \mathop {\text{C}}\limits_{\mathop \parallel \limits_{\text{O}} } \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \cdot \mathop {\text{C}}\limits_{\mathop \parallel \limits_{\text{O}} } - )_{x/2} + 6{\text{H}}^{\text{ + }} + 5e^ - $$ As this process occurs to some extent even in the potential region of Process 1, a continuous degradation of the host lattice occurs upon cycling.     

Formation and characterization of nanoporous structures on surface of LPD-derived GeO2 ceramic film

This work represents an idea of forming nanoporous structures on surface of a LPD (liquid phase deposition)-derived GeO₂ ceramic film by thermal reduction of GeO₂ under hydrogen atmosphere. SEM, XRD and Raman analyses show that well-defined nanopores with size in range of 10–100 nm have been formed on surface of GeO₂ film by annealing at 600 °C for 5–10 min. The pore formation process is furthered by structural defects which serve as active sites for the thermal reduction reaction. Fast phase transformation from hexagonal GeO₂ to tetragonal GeO₂ has occurred within the first 5 min of annealing. Green-yellow (2.32 eV) and violet (2.9 eV) photoluminescences originating from $ {\text{O}} {-} \mathop {\text{Ge}}\limits^{ \bullet \bullet } {-} {\text{O}} $ and ≡Ge–Ge≡ defects are observed in the film samples. The photoluminescence peak intensity decreases with increase of annealing time due to diminution of O/Ge ratio. The film annealed for 5 min exhibits a maximum green-yellow to violet PL peak ratio, which is related to generation of some new $ {\text{O}} {-} \mathop {\text{Ge}}\limits^{ \bullet \bullet } {-} {\text{O}} $ defects at the phase interface.     

Kinetic and Stability Studies of Ru/La2O3 Used in the Dry Reforming of Methane

The catalytic activity toward hydrogen production through the dry reforming of methane was determined for Ru supported on lanthanum oxide. The catalyst remained stable for more than 80 h in the 823–903 K temperature range and reactant partial pressure ratio ( $ {\text{P}}_{{{\text{CO}}{}_{2}}} /{\text{P}}_{{{\text{CH}}{}_{4}}} $ ) equal to unity. However, a significant deactivation was observed during the kinetic measurements when the catalyst was exposed to $ {\text{P}}_{{{\text{CO}}{}_{2}}} /{\text{P}}_{{{\text{CH}}{}_{ 4}}} > 1 $ at 823 K. In order to establish why the catalyst deactivated, the Ru reactivity in reductive and CO₂ rich atmospheres was studied by in situ LRS and XPS spectroscopies. The partial re-oxidation of metallic Ru could be one of the factors that produce the catalyst deactivation. To perform the kinetic measurements, the temperature range and the partial pressure ratios were selected within the window where the Ru catalyst was stable. The kinetic data and supporting spectroscopic evidence is consistent with a mechanism in which the metal and the oxide play key roles in decomposing the paraffin and activating the CO₂, respectively.     

The reaction thermodynamics of hydrogen sulfide decomposition into hydrogen and diatomic sulfur

To verify a hypothesis about the electronic state of diatomic gaseous sulfur formed during the low-temperature catalytic decomposition of hydrogen sulfide, we carried out some experiments to examine elemental sulfur dissociation. As shown, after heating at ～1000?K, elemental sulfur sealed in quartz ampoules with metal catalysts followed by quenching at room temperature did not produce any visible changes on solid sulfur. However, conversion of solid sulfur into gaseous diatomic sulfur can be realized via intermediate interaction of melted sulfur with hydrogen in the presence of Pt followed by decomposition of H₂S formed on the surface of the metal catalyst at room temperature. It is suggested that the conversion of the singlet sulfur atoms into the ground triplet state becomes feasible only on the surface of metal catalysts resulted from the dissociation of hydrogen sulfide into adsorbed atomic species.     

Micellization of Some Bile Salts in Binary Aqueous Solvent Mixtures

The micellization behavior of bile salts—sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate was studied in aqueous methanol, ethanol and ethylene glycol mixtures (10–20 % v/v) over a temperature range (300–320 K) by surface tension and conductivity methods. Critical micelle concentration, extent of counter ion binding (α), interfacial property (A _min, ζ_max, π-CMC, $ \Updelta G_{\text{ad}}^{ \circ } $ ) and thermodynamic parameters ( $ \Updelta G_{\text{m}}^{ \circ } $ , $ \Updelta H_{\text{m}}^{ \circ } $ , $ \Updelta S_{\text{m}}^{ \circ } $ ) for the micellization process are reported and discussed.