Strong metal-support interaction in nickel/niobium pentoxide and nickel/titania catalysts

EXAFS studies of Ni/Nb20, and Ni/Ti02 catalysts reduced at 773 K show evidence for the presence of a short Ni-Nb (Ti) and a long Ni-Nb (Ti) bond. The results provide evidence for considerable structural reorganization of the support in the vicinity of the Ni particles.

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of the polyoxovanadate cluster Zn-2(NH2(CH2)(2)NH2)(5)]{Zn(NH2(CH2)(2)NH2)(2)}(2){V18O42(H2O)\ ]center dot xH(2)O (x similar to 12), possessing a layered structure

A hydrothermal reaction of a mixture of ZnCl2, V2O5, ethylenediamine and water gave rise to a layered poly oxovanadate material. clusters. These clusters, with all the vanadium ions in the +4 state, are connected together through Zn(NH2(CH2)(2)NH2)(2) linkers forming a two-dimensional structure. The layers are also separated by distorted trigonal bipyramidal [Zn-2(NH2(CH2)(2)NH2)(5)] complexes. The Structure, thus, presents a dual role for the Zn-ethylenediamine complex. The magnetic susceptibility studies indicate that the interactions between the V centres in I are predominantly antiferromagnetic in nature and the compound shows highly frustrated behaviour. The magnetic properties are compared to the theoretical calculations based oil the Heisenberg model, in addition to correlating to the structure. Crystal data for the complexes are presented.

Correlation of Oxygen Storage Capacity and Structural Distortion in Transition-Metal-, Noble-Metal-, and Rare-Earth-Ion-Substituted CeO2 from First Principles Calculation

Oxygen storage/release (OSC) capacity is an important feature common to all three-way catalysts to combat harmful exhaust emissions. To understand the mechanism of improved OSC for doped CeO2, we undertook the structural investigation by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H-2-TPR (temperature-programmed hydrogen reduction) and density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations of transition-metal-, noble-metal-, and rare-earth (RE)-ion-substituted ceria. In this report, we present the relationship between the OSC and structural changes induced by the dopant ion in CeO2. Transition metal and noble metal ion substitution in ceria greatly enhances the reducibility of Ce1-xMxO2-delta (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pd, Pt, Ru), whereas rare-earth-ion-substituted Ce(1-x)A(x)O(2-delta) (A = La, Y) have very little effect in improving the OSC. Our simulated optimized structure shows deviation in cation oxygen bond length from ideal bond length of 2.34 angstrom (for CeO2). For example, our theoretical calculation for Ce28Mn4O62 structure shows that Mn-O bonds are in 4 + 2 coordination with average bond lengths of 2.0 and 3.06 angstrom respectively. Although the four short Mn-O bond lengths spans the bond distance region of Mn2O3, the other two Mn-O bonds are moved to longer distances. The dopant transition and noble metal ions also affects Ce coordination shell and results in the formation of longer Ce-O bonds as well. Thus longer cation oxygen bonds for both dopant and host ions results in enhanced synergistic reduction of the solid solution. With Pd ion substitution in Ce1-xMxO2-delta (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) further enhancement in OSC is observed in H-2-TPR. This effect is reflected in our model calculations by the presence of still longer bonds compared to the model without Pd ion doping. The synergistic effect is therefore due to enhanced reducibility of both dopant and host ion induced due to structural distortion of fluorite lattice in presence of dopant ion. For RE ions (RE = Y, La), our calculations show very little deviation of bonds lengths from ideal fluorite structure. The absence of longer Y-O/La-O and Ce-O bonds make the structure much less susceptible to reduction.

Intermolecular Chelate Linkage Isomerism of the Hydroxyimino Group in the Nickel(II), Copper(II), and Palladium(II) Complexes of Quadridentate Schiff-base Ligands

The C-nitrosation of bivalent quadridentate β-imino ketone complexes of nickel(II), copper(II), and palladium(II), with nitrosating reagents has been investigated. The chemical analysis and spectroscopic results reveal that one of the α-CH groups of the coordinated lignad undergoes selective nitrosation forming mono(hydroxyimino) derivative. The hydroxyimino group introduced coordinates through either N- or O- atom to metal(II) by dislodging the carbonyl group already coordinated. This gives rise to two linkage isomers, one with N-bonded and the other with O-bonded hydroxyimino group in the case of nickel(II) (except for 1d) and palladium(II), and a single isomer with O-bonded hydroxyimino group in copper(II) complexes. The isomers obtained from 1b and 1i have been separated by column chromatography. In chloroform each of the isomers of nickel(II) isomerizes to give an equilibrium mixture of two isomers, but not those of copper(II) and palladium(II).

Controlled photoluminescence from self-assembled semiconductor-metal quantum dot hybrid array films

Thin films of hybrid arrays of cadmium selenide quantum dots and polymer grafted gold nanoparticles have been prepared using a BCP template. Controlling the dispersion and location of the respective nanoparticles allows us to tune the exciton-plasmon interaction in such hybrid arrays and hence control their optical properties. The observed photoluminescence of the hybrid array films is interpreted in terms of the dispersion and location of the gold nanoparticles and quantum dots in the block copolymer matrix.

Interaction of metal ions with nucleic acids and related compounds. II. Studies on Au(III)-nucleic acid system

The nature of interaction of Au(III) with nucleic acids was studied by using methods such as uv and ir spectrophotometry, viscometry, pH titrations, and melting-temperature measurements. Au(III) is found to interact slowly with nucleic acids over a period of several hours. The uv spectra of native calf-thymus DNA 9pH 5.6 acetate buffer containing (0.01M NaCIO4) showed a shift in λ max to high wavelengths and an increase in optical density at 260 nm. There was a fourfold decrease in viscosity (expressed as ηsp/c). The reaction was faster at pH 4.0 and also with denatured DNA (pH 5.6) and whole yeast RNA (pH 5.6). The order of preference of Au(III) (as deduced from the time of completion of reaction) for the nucleic acids in RNA > denatured DNA > DNA. The reaction was found to be completely reversible with respect KCN. Infrared spectra of DNA-Au(III) complexes showed binding to both the phosphate and bases of DNA. The same conclusions were also arrived at by melting-temperature studies of Au(III)-DNA system. pH titrations showed liberation of two hydroxylions at r = 0.12 [r = moles of HAuCl4 added per mole of DNA-(P)] and one hydrogen ion at r = 0.5. The probable binding sites could be N(1)/N(7) of adenine, N(7) and/or C(6)O of guanine, N(3) of cytosine and N(3) of thymine. DNAs differing in their (G = C)-contents [Clostridium perfingens DNA(G = C, 29%), salmon sperm DNA (G + C, 42%) and Micrococcus lysodeikticus DNA(G + C, 29%), salmon sperm DNA (G = C, 72%)] behaved differently toward Au(III). The hyperchromicity observed for DNAs differing in (G + C)-content and cyanide reversal titrations indicate selectivity toward ( A + T)-rich DNA at lw values of r. Chemical analysis and job's continuous variation studies indicated the existence of possible complexes above and below r = 1. The results indicate that Au(III) ions probably bind to hte phosphate group in the initial stages of the reaction, particularly at low values of r, and participation of the base interaction also increases. Cross-linking of the two strands by Au(III) may take place, but a complete collapse of the doulbe helix is not envisaged. It is probable that tilting of the bases or rotaiton of the bases around the glucosidic bond, resulting in a significant distrotion of the double helix, might take place due to binding of Au(III) to DNA.

Support-Dependent Activity of Noble Metal Substituted Oxide Catalysts for the Water Gas Shift Reaction

The water gas shift reaction was carried out over noble metal ion substituted nanocrystalline oxide catalysts with different supports. Spectroscopic studies of the catalysts before and after the reaction showed different surface phenomena occurring over the catalysts. Reaction mechanisms were proposed based upon the surface processes and intermediates formed. The dual site mechanism utilizing the oxide ion vacancies for water dissociation and metal ions for CO adsorption was proposed to describe the kinetics of the reaction over the reducible oxides like CeO2. A mechanism based on the interaction of adsorbed CO and the hydroxyl group was proposed for the reaction over ZrO2. A hybrid mechanism based on oxide ion vacancies and surface hydroxyl groups was proposed for the reaction over TiO2. The deactivation of the catalysts was also found to be support dependent. Kinetic models for both activation and deactivation were proposed. (C) 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 56: 2662-2676, 2010

Doping Transition Metal (Mn or Cu) Ions in Semiconductor Nanocrystals

Following growth doping strategy and using dopant oxides nanocrystals as dopant sources, we report here two different transition-metal ions doped in a variety of group II-VI semiconductor nanocrystals. Using manganese oxide and copper oxide nanocrystals as corresponding dopant sources, intense photoluminescence emission over a wide range of wavelength has been observed for different host nanocrystals. Interestingly, this single doping strategy is successful in providing such highly emissive nanocrystals considered here, in contrast with the literature reports that would suggest synthesis strategies to be highly specific to the particular dopant, host, or both. We investigate and discuss the possible mechanism of the doping process, supporting the migration of dopant ions from dopant oxide nanocrystals to host nanocrystals as the most likely scenario.

Electrophilic Substitution Reactions of Copper(II) Acetylacetoneimine Complexes with Arene Diazonium Ions

Copper(II) complexes of ethylene/propylene-bis(acetylacetoneimine), Cu(baen) or Cu(bapn), react quickly and quantitatively in aqueous methanol at the methine position with arene diazonium ions in a stepwise manner to yield mono- and di-substituted copper(II) complexes. All the complexes are paramagnetic with μeff∼1.88 B.M. In all the complexes the diazo substituted part of the ligand coordinates to the metal through the agr-nitrogen of the azo group and the imine nitrogen, forming glyoxaliminearylhydrazone type of ligand system. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, electronic, esr, ir and mass spectroscopic methods.

Metallacarboranes: Toward Promising Hydrogen Storage Metal Organic Frameworks

Using first principles calculations, we show the high hydrogen storage capacity of metallacarboranes, where the transition metal (TM) atoms can bind up to 5 H-2-molecules. The average binding energy of similar to 0.3 eV/H favorably lies within the reversible adsorption range. Among the first row TM atoms, Sc and Ti are found to be the optimum in maximizing the H-2 storage (similar to 8 wt %) on the metallacarborane cluster. Being an integral part of the cage, TMs do not suffer from the aggregation problem, which has been the biggest hurdle for the success of TM-decorated graphitic materials for hydrogen storage. Furthermore, the presence of carbon atom in the cages permits linking the metallacarboranes to form metal organic frameworks, which are thus able to adsorb hydrogen via Kubas interaction, in addition to van der Waals physisorption.