Physical and electrochemical characterizations of PtRu/C catalysts by spray pyrolysis for electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol

In this paper, it was reported that the carbon-supported Pt-Ru(Pt-Ru/C) catalyst used as the anodic catalyst in the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) was synthesized with a two-step spray pyrolysis (SP) method using the Pt and Ru metal salt as the precursors and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with the different molecular weights (Mw= 200,600,and 1000 analytical reagent) as cosolvent. PEG as a cosolvent plays a crucial role in producing PtRu/C catalysts. It was found that the Mw of PEG could affect the electrocatalytic activity of Pt-Ru and the morphology of the Pt-Ru particles in the Pt-Ru/C catalysts prepared with this method. When the Mw of PEG is 600, the Pt-Ru particles in the Pt-Ru/C catalyst prepared with this method possess the small average size, narrow size distribution, uniform dispersion, and high electrochemically active specific surface area. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt-Ru/C catalyst prepared with this method using the cosolvent PEG with Mw = 600 for the methanol oxidation is much higher than that of the commercial E-TEK Pt-Ru/C catalyst. Therefore, the two-step SP method is an excellent method for the preparation of the Pt-Ru/C catalyst used in DMFCs.

Discrimination of herbal medicines by molecular spectroscopy and chemical pattern recognition

The molecular spectroscopy (including near infrared diffuse reflection spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy) with OPUS/Ident software was applied to clustering ginsengs according to species and processing methods. The results demonstrate that molecular spectroscopic analysis could provide a rapid, nondestructive and reliable method for identification of Chinese traditional medicine. It's found that the result of Raman spectroscopic analysis was the best one among these three methods. Comparing with traditional methods, which are laborious and time consuming, the molecular spectroscopic analysis is more effective.

Mossbauer spectroscopy and chemical bonds in BaFe12O19 hexaferrite

Barium hexaferrite was synthesized by chemical co-precipitation. Its Mossbauer spectra were obtained. A semi-empirical model, based on the Phillips theory of bonding, has been developed for quantitative explanation of the Mossbauer isomer shifts of Fe ions in BaFe12O19 crystals. The results show that, using the relationship between isomer shifts and covalency, the site assignments in hexaferrites will be resolved easily. This paper provides a powerful tool for studying other members of the hexagonal ferrimagnetic oxides family.

Progress in the chemistry of spirodilactone and its derivations

Spirodilactones are a series of compounds with the structures of spiro-carbon and lactone which result in the special physical and chemical characters of Spirodilactones, In this paper the advance in the methods of synthesis, derivative reaction, chrial resolution, polymer synthesis of the most representative aspects for spirodi-gamma -butylactone and its derivations , were summarized described.

Studies on the energy band structures and chemical bond properties of LaX(X=N, P, As, Sb) crystals

The energy band structures of LaX(X=N, P, As, Sb) crystals have been studied by using LMTO-ASA method. The calculated energy gaps of these crystals are 2. 30 eV for LaN, 2. 05 eV for LaP, 1. 66 eV for LaAs and 1. 34 eV for LaSb. The results are in good agreement with experimental data, At the same time, using these calculated results of energy band structures of these crystals, the chemical bond properties have been analyzed and calculated, The covalency values of these crystals are 26.15% for LaN, 32.54% for LaP, 33.30% for LaAs and 36.49% for LaSb, which agree satisfactorily with the calculated ones by using PV (Phillips-Vechten) theory.

Synthesis and chemical properties of [Z]-1-[2-(triaryl stannyl)vinyl]cyclooctanol

The compounds of [Z]-1-[2-(triphenyl stannyl) vinyl] cyclooctanol (1) and [Z]-1-[2-(tri-p-tolyl stannyl) vinyl] cyclooctanol (2) were synthesized by the reactions of triphenyltin hydride and tri-p-tolyltin hydride with 1-ethynyl cyclooctanol. The crystal structure of compound 1 was determined. The reactions of compound 1 and 2 with IC1, Br-2, I-2 formed nine organotin halides. The organotin oxide or hydroxide were prepared by the reactions of [Z]-1-[2-(phenyl dibromo stannyl) vinyl] cyclooctanol (6) and [Z]-1-[2-(diphenyl monobromo stannyl) vinyl] cyclooctanol (5) with KOH. Three complexes were obtained by the reactions of [Z]-1-[2-(phenyl diiodide stannyl) vinyl] cyclooctanol (8) with three ligands (2,2'-bipyridyl,5-nitro-1,10-phenanthroline,8-Hydroxyquinoline). The sixteen new compounds synthesized in this paper were characterized by means of elemental analysis, IR, H-1 NMR. The reaction mechanism of triphenyltin hydride and tri-p-tolyltin hydride with 1-ethynyl cyclooctanol were also proposed.

STUDY ON STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY-RELATIONSHIPS OF ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS - 3 NEW TOPOLOGICAL INDEXES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

In this paper, three new topological indices, A(x1), A(x2), and A(x3), have been developed for use in multivariate analysis in structure-property relationship (SPR) and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. Good results have been obtained by using them to predict the physical and chemical properties and biological activities of some organic compounds.

CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE AND THERMODYNAMIC PARAMETERS OF NYLON-1010

WAXD, SAXS, FTIR, DSC and density techniques have been used to investigate the crystal structure, crystal density rho(c), amorphous density rho(a), equilibrium heat of fusion DELTAH(m)degrees and equilibrium melting temperature T(m)degrees. By extrapolating the straight lines in the FTIR absorbance against density plot to zero intensity, rho(c) and rho(a) were estimated to be 1.098 and 1.003 g/cm3 respectively. The rho(c) obtained was too low in value. From X-ray diffraction patterns of uniaxially oriented fibres, the crystal structure of Nylon-1010 was determined. The Nylon-1010 crystallized in the triclinic system, with lattice dimensions: a = 4.9 angstrom, b = 5.4 angstrom, c = 27.8 angstrom, alpha = 49-degrees, beta = 77-degrees, gamma = 63.5-degrees. The unit cell contained one monomeric unit, the space group was P1BAR, and the correct value of rho(c) was 1.135 g/cm3. The degree of crystallinity of the polymer was determined as about 60% (at RT) using Ruland's method. SAXS has been used to investigate the crystalline lamellar thickness, long period, transition zone, the specific inner surface and the electron density difference between the crystalline and amorphous regions for Nylon-1010. The analysis of data was based upon a one-dimensional electron-density correlation function. DELTAH(m)degrees was estimated to be 244.0 J/g by extrapolation of DELTAH(m)degrees in the plot of heat of fusion against specific volume of semicrystalline specimens to the completely crystalline condition (V(sp)c = 1/rho(c)). Owing to the ease of recrystallization of melt-crystallized Nylon-1010 specimens, the well-known Hoffman's T(m)-T(c) method failed in determining T(m)degrees and a Kamide double extrapolation method was adopted. The T(m)degrees value so obtained was 487 K.

GLASS-TRANSITION TEMPERATURE AND MOLECULAR-PARAMETERS OF POLYMER

A new relationship, which correlates the glass transition temperature (T(g)) with other molecular parameters, is developed by using Flory's lattice statistics of polymer chain and taking the dynamic segment as the basic statistical unit. The dependences of T(g) on the chain stiffness factor (sigma-2), dynamic stiffness factor (beta = -d ln-sigma-2/dT) and molecular weight of polymer are discussed in detail based on the theory. The theory is compared with experimental data for many linear polymers and good agreement is obtained. It is shown that T(g) is essentially governed by the chain stiffness factor at T(g). Moreover, a simple correlation between the parameter K(g) of the Fox-Flory equation (T(g) = T(g)infinity - K(g)/M(n)) and other molecular parameters is deduced. The agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental measurements of K(g) has been found to be satisfactory for many polymers.

ELECTRONIC-STRUCTURE AND CHEMICAL BONDING OF EUROPIUM NITRATE COMPLEX WITH AZACROWN (2, 2)

The electronic structure and bond character of europium nitrate complex with azacrown (2, 2)(1, 7, 10, 16-tetraoxa-4, 13-diazacyclooctadecane), [Eu(NO_3)_2(2, 2)] NO_3, have been studied by means of XPS and INDO method. The data of electronic binding energies and charge distribution of atoms in the complex showed that chemical shift of less electronegative nitrogen N1s binding energy was larger than that of more electronegative oxygen O1s binding energy in coordinating atoms, and that charge transfer from N...

DRY-WEIGHT AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION (CHN) IN RELATION TO POPULATION-DENSITY OF CULTIVATED TISBE-HOLOTHURIAE (COPEPODA, HARPACTICOIDA)

CARBON

Distribution of calcifying and silicifying phytoplankton in relation to environmental and biogeochemical parameters during the late stages of the 2005 North East Atlantic Spring Bloom

The late stage of the North East Atlantic (NEA) spring bloom was investigated during June 2005 along a transect section from 45 to 66 degrees N between 15 and 20 degrees W in order to characterize the contribution of siliceous and calcareous phytoplankton groups and describe their distribution in relation to environmental factors. We measured several biogeochemical parameters such as nutrients, surface trace metals, algal pigments, biogenic silica (BSi), particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) or calcium carbonate, particulate organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (POC, PON and POP, respectively), as well as transparent exopolymer particles (TEP). Results were compared with other studies undertaken in this area since the JGOFS NABE program. Characteristics of the spring bloom generally agreed well with the accepted scenario for the development of the autotrophic community. The NEA seasonal diatom bloom was in the late stages when we sampled the area and diatoms were constrained to the northern part of our transect, over the Icelandic Basin (IB) and Icelandic Shelf (IS). Coccolithophores dominated the phytoplankton community, with a large distribution over the Rockall-Hatton Plateau (RHP) and IB. The Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) region at the southern end of our transect was the region with the lowest biomass, as demonstrated by very low Chla concentrations and a community dominated by picophytoplankton. Early depletion of dissolved silicic acid (DSi) and increased stratification of the surface layer most likely triggered the end of the diatom bloom, leading to coccolithophore dominance. The chronic Si deficiency observed in the NEA could be linked to moderate Fe limitation, which increases the efficiency of the Si pump. TEP closely mirrored the distribution of both biogenic silica at depth and prymnesiophytes in the surface layer suggesting the sedimentation of the diatom bloom in the form of aggregates, but the relative contribution of diatoms and coccolithophores to carbon export in this area still needs to be resolved.

Short-term effect of targeted placements of sheep excrement on grassland in inner mongolia on soil and plant parameters

Grazing animal excrement plays an important role in nutrient cycling and redistribution in grazing ecosystems, due to grazing in large areas and return in small areas. To elucidate the changes to the soil and pasture caused by sheep urine, fresh dung, and compost patches, a short- term field experiment using artificially placed pats was set up in the autumn of 2003 in the Inner Mongolian steppe. Urine application significantly increased soil pH during the first 32 days in soil layers at depths of both 0 - 5 cm and 5 - 15 cm. Rapid hydrolysis of urea gave large amounts of urine- nitrogen ( N) as ammonium ( NH4+) in soil extracts and was followed by apparent nitrification from day 2. Higher inorganic N content in the urine- treated soil was found throughout the experiment compared with the control. No significant effects of sheep excrement on soil microbial carbon ( C) and soil microbial N was found, but microbial activities significantly increased compared with the control after application of sheep excrement. Forty- six percent of dung- N and 27% of compost- N were transferred into vegetation after the experiment. The results from this study suggest that large amounts of nutrients have been lost from the returned excrement patches in the degraded grassland of Inner Mongolia, especially from sheep urine- N.