The effect of Co-60 gamma-rays on the crystal structure, melting and crystallization behavior of poly(butylene succinate)

The results obtained for poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) after Co-60 gamma-ray irradiation, studied by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM), revealed that the degree of crystallinity, melting temperature and enthalpy decreased with increasing irradiation dose, but that the crystal structure of PBS did not vary when compared to non-irradiated PBS. By using Scherrer equation, small changes occurred in the crystal sizes of L-020, L-110 and L-111. The spherulitic morphology of PBS was strongly dependent on irradiation dose and changed significantly at higher irradiation dosages. The crystallization kinetics of PBS indicated that the Avrami exponent (n) for irradiated PBS was reduced to 2.3, when compared to non-irradiated PBS (3.3).

Electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen at multi-walled carbon nanotubes and cobalt porphyrin modified glassy carbon electrode

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of oxygen in 0.1 M HAc-NaAc (pH 3.8) buffer solution. Further modification with cobalt porphyrin film on the MWNTs by adsorption, the resulted modified electrode showed more efficient catalytic activity to O-2 reduction. The reduction peak potential of O-2 is shifted much more positively to 0.12 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the peak current is increased greatly. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were used to characterize the material and the modified film on electrode surface. Electrochemical experiments gave the total number of electron transfer for oxygen reduction as about 3, which indicated a co-exist process of 2 electrons and 4 electrons for reduction of oxygen at this modified electrode. Meanwhile, the catalytic activities of the multilayer film (MVVNTs/CoTMPyP)(n) prepared by layer-by-layer method were investigated, and the results showed that the peak current of O-2 reduction increased and the peak potential shifted to a positive direction with the increase of layer numbers.

Effects of a surfactant on the electrocatalytic activity of cobalt hexacyanoferrate modified glassy carbon electrode towards the oxidation of dopamine

The cobalt hexacyanoferrate film (CoHCF) was deposited on the surface of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode with a potential cycling procedure in the presence and absence of the cationic surfactant, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), to form CoHCF modified GC (CoHCF/GC) electrode. It was found that CTAB would affect the growth of the CoHCF film, the electrochemical behavior of the CoHCF film and the electrocatalytic activity of the CoHCF/GC electrode towards the electrochemical oxidation of dopamine (DA). The reasons of the electrochemical behavior of CoHCF/GC electrode influenced by CTAB were investigated using FTIR and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The apparent rate constant of electrocatalytic oxidation of DA catalyzed by CoHCF was determined using the rotating disk electrode measurements.

Highly enhanced luminescence from single-crystalline C-60 center dot 1m-xylene nanorods

Single-crystalline C-60 center dot 1m-xylene nanorods with a hexagonal structure were successfully synthesized by evaporating a C-60 solution in m-xylene at room temperature. The ratio of the length to the diameter of the nanorods can be controlled in the range of approximate to 10 to over 1000 for different applications. The photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the nanorods is about 2 orders of magnitude higher than that for pristine C-60 crystals in air. Both UV and Raman results indicate that there is no charge transfer between C-60 and m-xylene. It was found that the interaction between C-60 and m-xylene molecules is of the van der Waals type. This interaction reduces the icosahedral symmetry of C-60 molecule and induces strong PL from the solvate nanorods.

The first synthesis of a water-soluble alpha-cyclodextrin/C-60 supramolecular complex using anionic C-60 as a building block

A novel supramolecular inclusion complex of alpha-CD/C-60 was synthesized using anionic C-60. The reaction progress was monitored in situ by visible and near-IR spectroscopy. The obtained complex was characterized by UV-vis, C-13 NMR, MALDI-TOF, and cyclic voltammetry. The induction and dispersion forces are considered to be the major driving forces for the formation of a resulting alpha-CD/C-60(.-) inclusion complex.

Preparation of cobalt hexacyanoferrate nanowires using carbon nanotubes as templates

A simple and convenient method for preparation of cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) nanowires by electrodeposition was reported. Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as templates to fabricate CoHCF nanowires. MWNTs could affect the size of CoHCF nanoparticles and made them grow on the sidewalls of carbon nanotubes during the process of electrodeposition. Thus CoHCF nanowires could be obtained by this method. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize these nanowires. These results showed the CoHCF nanowires could be easily and successfully obtained and it gave a novel approach to prepare inorganic nanowires.

Observation of a water-anion layer constructed from water tetramers and nitrate anions in the crystal host of a cobalt complex

A novel self-assembled layer consisting of water tetramers and nitrate anions has been observed in the [Co(1,10-phenanthroline)(2)(NO3)]center dot(NO)(3)center dot 4H(2)O complex. X-ray crystallography and FT-IR spectroscopy indicate that although the water tetramers exist in an energetically less stable uudd configuration, the anionic host environments may play an important role in the formation and stabilization of the water clusters.

Electron effect of p-substituent on iron(II) and cobalt(II) pyridinebisimine catalyst for ethylene polymerization

A series of 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron and cobalt complexes bearing p-substituent [2,6-(ArN=CMe)(2)C5H3N]-MCl2 (Ar=2,6-Me2C6H3, 2,4,6-Me3C6H2, 2,6-Me-2-4-BrC6H2, 2,6-Me-2-4-ClC6H2, 2,4-Me-2-6-BrC6H2, 2,4-Me-(2)-6-ClC6H2, while M=Fe, Co) have been synthesized and investigated as catalysts for ethylene polymerization in the presence of modified methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst. The electron effect and positions of the substitueni of pyridinebisimine ligands were observed to affect considerably catalyst activity and polymer property.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of dopamine at a cobalt hexacyanoferrate modified glassy carbon electrode prepared by a new method

A stable electroactive thin film of cobalt hexacyanoferrate (CoHCF) was electrochemically deposited on the surface of a glassy carbon (GC) electrode with a new and simple method. The cyclic voltammograms of the CoHCF Film modified GC (CoHCF/GC) electrode prepared by this method exhibit two pairs of well-defined redox peaks, at scan rates up to 200 mV s(-1). The advantage of this method is that it is easy to manipulate and to control the surface coverage of CoHCF on the electrode surface. The modified electrode shows good electrocatalytic activity towards the electrochemical reaction of dopamine (DA) in a 0.1 mol dm (3) KNO3 + phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0). The rate constant of the electrocatalytic oxidation of DA at the CoHCF/GC electrode is determined by employing rotating disk electrode measurements.

Improvement of mechanical property of polyimide blends with Co-60-irradiation

Radiation effects on polyimide blends' were studied at different irradiation temperatures and with different irradiation doses. The irradiation polyimides were the blends of linear polyimide (HQDPA/ODA) and 4-phenylethynyl phthalic anhydride end-capped oligomer polyimide. The tensile strength and the elongation at break of irradiated films were determined as the function of irradiation temperature and dose. Under proper conditions crosslinking reaction occurred when the polyimide blends were irradiated at high temperature. The mechanical properties of irradiated polyimide blends were found to be different from the linear polyimide.

Gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the plasma of methyl acrylate

The gas-phase ion-molecule reactions of C-60 with the plasma generated from methyl acrylate under self-chemical ionization conditions were studied by use of a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The adduct cation [C60C3H3O](+) and protonated molecular ion [C60H](+) were observed as the major product ions. The former adduct ion is formed by electrophilic reaction of C-60 with the ion [CH2=CHCO](+), a main fragment ion resulting from the methyl acrylate molecular ion [CH2=CHCOOCH3](+) through alpha cleavage. The latter ion is generated by proton transfer from protonated methyl acrylate to C-60. Semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations have been performed for the eight possible isomers of [C60C3H3O](+) at the Hartree-Fock level by use of the AMI method. The results show three types of cycloadducts as the most stable structures among the possible isomers.

Photoluminescence of aggregated C-60 in nano-size at room temperature

When the aggregation of C-60 is arranged in mono-dispersed state on the ITO substrate, the photoluminescence (PL) spectra are observed clearly. These emission peaks are attributed to recombination of self - trapped excitons, the zero-phonon exciton (R-0) and its phonon replicas.

Theoretical study on the mechanisms of some elementary reactions catalyzed by modified carbonyl cobalt

All structural geometries of intermediates, transition states and product are, optimized at HF/ LANL2DZ level under the effective core potential approximation. The potential energy profile for some elementary reactions of hydroformylation catalyzed by Co-2(CO)(6)(PH3)(2), consisting of carbonyl insertion, H-2 oxidative addition and aldehyde reductive elimination, are calculated, The transition states are further confirmed by having one and only one imaginary vibrational frequency, The activation energies of carbonyl insertion, H-2 oxidative addition and aldehyde reductive elimination are 54, 02, 134, 02 and 43. 44 kJ/mol, respectively.