Implantation of Nafion (R) ionomer into polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan composites to form novel proton-conducting membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

A series of cost-effective, proton-conducting composite membranes, comprising of Nafion (R) ionomer, chitosan (CS). and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), is successfully prepared. By taking advantage of the strong electrostatic interactions between Nafion (R) ionomer and CS component, Nafion ionomer is effectively implanted into the PVA/CS composite membranes, and improves proton conductivity of the PVA/CS composite membranes. Furthermore, this effect dramatically depends on the composition ratio of PVA/CS, and the optimum conductivity is obtained at the PVA/CS ratio of 1:1. The developed composite membranes exhibit much lower methanol permeability compared with the widely used Nafion (R) membrane, indicating that these novel membranes have great potential for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).

Monooxychlorophosphine as a novel and efficient ligand for palladium-catalyzed suzuki-miyaura cross-coupling of aryl chlorides

A new sterically hindered monooxychlorophosphine was synthesized and the complex generated in situ from its reaction with Pd-2(dba)(3) promoted the Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of arylboronic acids with aryl chlorides in good yields.

Study of carbon-supported Au catalyst as the cathodic catalyst in a direct formic acid fuel cell prepared using a polyvinyl alcohol protection method

In this paper, it is reported for the first time that a carbon-supported Au (Au/C) catalyst for the cathodic catalyst in a direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) was prepared using a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protection method. The results indicated that for oxygen reduction, the electrocatalytic activity of the Au/C catalyst prepared with the PVA protection method is much better than that of a Au/C catalyst prepared with the pre-precipitation method. This is due to the small average size and low relative crystallinity of the An particles in the Au/C catalyst prepared by the PVA protection method, compared to that of the Au/C catalyst prepared by the pre-precipitation method, illustrating that the average size and the relative crystallinity of the ALL particles has an effect on the electrocatalytic activity of the Au/C catalyst for oxygen reduction. In addition, because An has no electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of formic acid, the Au/C catalyst possesses a high formic acid tolerance. After the electrocatalytic activity of the Au/C catalyst for the oxygen reduction is improved, it is suitable to be used as the cathodic catalyst in DFAFC.

Syntheses and crystal structures of bis(tetrahydrofurfurylindenyl) lanthanocene chlorides (C4H7OCH2C9H6)(2)LnCl (Ln = La, Lu)

Reaction of two equivalents of tetrahydrofurfuryl indenyl lithium with anhydrous lanthanide trichlorides in THF afforded bis(tetrahydrofurfurylindenyl) lanthanide chlorides (C4H7OCH2C9H6)(2)LnCl, Ln=La(l), Pr(2), Lu(3). Complexes I and 3 are characterized by single-crystal analysis. The results of crystal structural determination reveal that they are 9-coordinate monomeric intramolecular complexes with a trans arrangement of both the sidearms and indenyl rings in the solid state. The effects of rare earth ionic radii on the structures Of (C4H7OCH2C9H6)(2)LnCl are discussed.

Synthesis and crystal structure of bis(tetrahydrofurfurylindenyl) lanthanide chlorides

Lanthanocene chlorides (C4H7OCH2C9H6)(2)LnCl[Ln=Y(1); Ln=Gd(2)] were synthesized by the reaction of tetrahydrofurfurylindenyl lithium(in situ) with corresponding anhydrous lanthanide chorides in THF. The crystal structures of these two complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction and they were unsolvated monomeric complexes. They were stable in the air for several hours. Complexes 1 and 2 belong to the same crystal system (orthorhombic) and space group(P2(1)2(1)2(1)). The unit cell dimensions of complex 1 were a=1.042 52(9) nm, b=1.47455(12) nm, c=1.497 99(13) nm, Z=4, D-c=1.508 g/cm(3); The unit cell dimensions of complex 2 were a=1.037 01(10) nm, b=1.472 33(12) nm, c=1.513 54(14) nm, Z=4, D-c=1.699 g/cm(3). They have the same structure and different space configurations. The central metal atom is coordinated by two indenyl, two oxygen of the tetrahydrofurfuryl and one chlorine atom to form a distorted trigonal bipyramid.

Syntheses and crystal structures of bis(tetrahydrofurfurylindenyl) lanthanocene chlorides (C4H7OCH2C9H6)(2)LnCl (Ln = Nd, Sm, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb)

Reaction of anhydrous lanthanide trichlorides with tetrahydrofurfuryl indenyl lithium in THF afforded bis(tetrahydrofurfurylindenyl) lanthanocene chlorides complexes (C4H7OCH2C9H6)(2) LnCl, Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Dy (3), Ho (4), Er (5), Yb (6). The X-ray crystallographic structures of all the six complexes were determined and these indicate that they are unsolvated nine-coordinate monomeric complexes with a trans arrangement of both the sidearm and indenyl rings in the solid state. They belong to the same crystal system (orthorhombic) and space group (P2(1)2(1)2(1)) with the same structure. Especially, they are more stable to air and moisture than the corresponding unsubstituted indenyl lanthanide complexes.

Acid-stable amperometric soybean peroxidase biosensor based on a self-gelatinizable grafting copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol and 4-vinylpyridine

A peroxidase was extracted from Chinese soybean seed coat, and its thermostability and acid-stability were characterized. This peroxidase was immobilized into a self-gelatinizable grafting copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol with 4-vinylpyridine(PVA-g-PVP) to construct an acid-stable hydrogen peroxide biosensor. The effect of pH was studied for optimum analytical performances by amperometric and spectro-photometric methods, also the K-m(app) and the stability of the soybean peroxidase-based biosensor are discussed. At pH 3.0, the soybean peroxidase maintained its bioactivity and the enzyme electrode had a linear range from 0.01 to 6.2 mM with a detection limit of 1.0 x 10(-7) M. In addition, the main characteristics of different hydrogen peroxide sensors were compared.

Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic activity of propionamide complexes of rare earth chlorides

Propionamide complexes of rare earth chlorides were synthesized, Formula of the complexes is LnCl(3). 3BA. The ligand is shown to behave as a normal amide donor With the oxygen of the carbonyl group coordinated to the metal ions. Binary system composed Elf propionamide and aluminum alkyl shows higher activity and stereospecificity for butadiene polymerization. The cis-1,4 content of polybutadiene is more than 98%.

STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF POLYVINYL-ALCOHOL AMIDOXIME CHELATE FIBER

Polyvinyl alcohol amidoxime (PVAAO) chelate fiber prepared in our laboratory is a good adsorbent. Comparing with other adsorbents, it has many advantages, such as higher hydrophilicity, better adsorbability and easier synthesis. In this work, the synthesi

THE COMPATIBILITY AND CRYSTALLIZATION OF THE MIXTURES OF POLY (TETRAHYDROFURAN-b-METHYL METHACRYLATE) DIBLOCK COPOLYMER WITH POLYVINYL CHLORIDE HOMOPOLYMER

The compatibility and crystallization behaviour of the mixtures of poly (tetrahydrofuran-methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer (PTHF-b-PMMA) with polyvinyl chloride has been studied. We found that the compatibility of these blends, in which there is special interaction between the homopolymer and the PMMA block of the copolymer, is much better than that of the AB/A type blends; and that the crystallization rate and crystallinity of PTHF microdomain changed greatly due to the swollen by PVC homopolymer. In this paper, these changes in cryatallization are well explained according to the theories of block copolymer blends and the density gradient model presented by JIANG Ming.

DIELS-ALDER REACTIONS CATALYZED BY LANTHANIDE CHLORIDES

Lanthanide chlorides have been found to catalyze the Diels-Alder synthesis of 2-butoxy-3, 4-dihydro-2H-pyran and several norbornene derivatives under mild conditions. In particular, the heavier lanthanide chlorides are very active catalysts for some (4 + 2) cycloaddition reactions. The catalyst activities and selectivities generally increase with increasing atomic number of the rare earth elements.

DIELS-ALDER REACTION CATALYZED BY RARE-EARTH CHLORIDES

Rare earth chlorides were used to catalyze the synthesis of 2-butoxy-3, 4-dihydro-2H-pyran using equimolar acrolein and vinyl butyl either. The cycloadduct is unstable which undergoes catalytic ring opening oligomerization. The way to stabilize the cyclo adduct has been studied, thus high yields of 90-95% were obtained.