Di-mu-chloro-bis({2-[(2-hydroxyethyl)iminomethyl]phenolato-kappa N-3,O,O '} nickel(II)) methanol solvate

The title compound, [Ni2Cl2(C9H10NO2)(2)]center dot CH3OH, is a dinuclear unit built up by two nickel(II) complexes, bridged by two Cl atoms. The coordination geometry around each Ni-II atom can be considered as distorted square-pyramidal, with the tridendate chelate Schiff base ligands coordinating in a trans conformation through their imine N atom and phenoxy and alkoxy O atoms.

Bis(1,4,7-trithiacyclononane-S,S ',S '')nickel(II) dibromide tetrahydrate

The Ni-II centre in the cation of the title compound, [Ni(C6H12S3)(2)]Br-2. 4H(2)O, occupies a crystallographic inversion centre and is octahedrally coordinated by six S-donors from two [9]aneS(3) ligands. Ni-S distances range from 2.3749 (16) to 2.4077 (15) Angstrom and S-Ni-S angles where both thia donors belong to the same ligand lie in a narrow range between 88.09 (5) and 88.67 (6)degrees. The water molecules participate in extensive hydrogen bonding with each other and with the Br- anions to form double chains with eight- and 12-membered hydrogen-bonded rings running along the crystallographic a direction.

Polynuclear metal complexes obtained from the task-specific ionic liquid betainium bistriflimide

The task-specific ionic liquid betainium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [Hbet][Tf2N], was used to dissolve metal oxides and hydroxides. The crystal structures of the resulting metal betaine bistriflimide complexes exhibit a rich structural variety. A trimeric structure was found for the cobalt(II) compound, [Co-3(bet)(8)(Hbet)(2)(H2O)(2)][Tf2N](9)[Hbet], a tetrameric structure for the manganese(II) and zinc(II) compound, [Mn-4(bet)(10)(H2O)(4)][Tf2N](8) and [Zn-4(bet)(10)(H2O)(2)][Tf2N](8), respectively, a pentameric structure for the nickel(II) compound, [Ni-5(bet)(12)(H2O)(6)][Tf2N](10), an oxo-hydroxo-cluster formation for the lead(II) compound, [(Pb4O)Pb(OH)(bet)(8)(Tf2N)3] [Tf2N](4)center dot MeOH, and a polymeric structure for the silver(I) compound, [Ag-2(bet)(2)(Tf2N)Ag-2(bet)(2)][Tf2N](3). The zwitterionic nature of the betaine ligand and the weakly coordinating ability of the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Tf2N]- anion facilitates the incorporation of metal ions into oligonuclear and polynuclear metal complexes.

Task-specific ionic liquid for solubilizing metal oxides

Protonated betaine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide is an ionic liquid with the ability to dissolve large quantities of metal oxides. This metal-solubilizing power is selective. Soluble are oxides of the trivalent rare earths, uranium(VI) oxide, zinc(II) oxide, cadmium( II) oxide, mercury( II) oxide, nickel( II) oxide, copper(II) oxide, palladium(II) oxide, lead(II) oxide, manganese( II) oxide, and silver( I) oxide. Insoluble or very poorly soluble are iron(III), manganese(IV), and cobalt oxides, as well as aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide. The metals can be stripped from the ionic liquid by treatment of the ionic liquid with an acidic aqueous solution. After transfer of the metal ions to the aqueous phase, the ionic liquid can be recycled for reuse. Betainium bis( trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide forms one phase with water at high temperatures, whereas phase separation occurs below 55.5 degrees C ( temperature switch behavior). The mixtures of the ionic liquid with water also show a pH-dependent phase behavior: two phases occur at low pH, whereas one phase is present under neutral or alkaline conditions. The structures, the energetics, and the charge distribution of the betaine cation and the bis( trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide anion, as well as the cation-anion pairs, were studied by density functional theory calculations.

Early-time Spitzer observations of the type II plateau supernova SN 2004dj

We present mid-infrared observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope of the nearby Type II-P supernova SN 2004dj at epochs of 89 - 129 days. We have obtained the first mid-IR spectra of any supernova apart from SN 1987A. A prominent [Ni II] 6.64 mu m line is observed, from which we deduce that the mass of stable nickel must be at least 2.2 x 10(-4) M-.. We also observe the red wing of the CO fundamental band. We relate our findings to possible progenitors and favor an evolved star, most likely a red supergiant, with a probable initial mass between similar to 10 and 15 M-..

SN 2004A: another type II-P supernova with a red supergiant progenitor

We present a monitoring study of SN 2004A and probable discovery of a progenitor star in pre-explosion Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images. The photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of SN 2004A show that it was a normal Type II-P which was discovered in NGC 6207 about two weeks after explosion. We compare SN 2004A to the similar Type II-P SN 1999em and estimate an explosion epoch of 2004 January 6. We also calculate three new distances to NGC 6207 of 21.0 +/- 4.3, 21.4 +/- 3.5 and 25.1 +/- 1.7 Mpc. The former was calculated using the Standard Candle Method (SCM) for SNe II-P, and the latter two from the brightest supergiants method (BSM). We combine these three distances with existing kinematic distances, to derive a mean value of 20.3 +/- 3.4 Mpc. Using this distance, we estimate that the ejected nickel mass in the explosion is 0.046(-0.017)(+0.031) M-circle dot. The progenitor of SN 2004A is identified in pre-explosion WFPC2 F814W images with a magnitude of m(F814W) = 24.3 +/- 0.3, but is below the detection limit of the F606W images. We show that this was likely a red supergiant (RSG) with a mass of 9(-2)(+3) M-circle dot. The object is detected at 4.7 sigma above the background noise. Even if this detection is spurious, the 5 sigma upper limit would give a robust upper mass limit of 12M(circle dot) for a RSG progenitor. These initial masses are very similar to those of two previously identified RSG progenitors of the Type II-P SNe 2004gd (8(-2)(+4) M circle dot) and 2005cs (9(-2)(+3) M-circle dot).

SN 2009N: linking normal and subluminous Type II-P Sne

We present ultraviolet, optical, near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2009N in NGC 4487. This object is a Type II-P supernova with spectra resembling those of subluminous II-P supernovae, while its bolometric luminosity is similar to that of the intermediate-luminosity SN 2008in. We created SYNOW models of the plateau phase spectra for line identification and to measure the expansion velocity. In the near-infrared spectra we find signs indicating possible weak interaction between the supernova ejecta and the pre-existing circumstellar material. These signs are also present in the previously unpublished near-infrared spectra of SN 2008in. The distance to SN 2009N is determined via the expanding photosphere method and the standard candle method as D = 21.6 ± 1.1 Mpc. The produced nickel-mass is estimated to be ∼0.020 ± 0.004 M⊙. We infer the physical properties of the progenitor at the explosion through hydrodynamical modelling of the observables. We find the values of the total energy as ∼0.48 × 1051 erg, the ejected mass as ∼11.5 M⊙, and the initial radius as ∼287 R⊙.

Activity and coke formation of nickel and nickel carbide in dry reforming: A deactivation scheme from density functional theory

Dry reforming is a promising reaction to utilise the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4. Nickel-based catalysts are the most popular catalysts for the reaction, and the coke formation on the catalysts is the main obstacle to the commercialisation of dry reforming. In this study, the whole reaction network of dry reformation on both flat and stepped nickel catalysts (Ni(111) and Ni(211)) as well as nickel carbide (flat: Ni3C(001); stepped: Ni3C(111)) is investigated using density functional theory calculations. The overall reaction energy profiles in the free energy landscape are obtained, and kinetic analyses are utilised to evaluate the activity of the four surfaces. By careful examination of our results, we find the following regarding the activity: (i) flat surfaces are more active than stepped surfaces for the dry reforming and (ii) metallic nickel catalysts are more active than those of nickel carbide, and therefore, the phase transformation from nickel to nickel carbide will reduce the activity. With respect to the coke formation, the following is found: (i) the coke formation probability can be measured by the rate ratio of CH oxidation pathway to C oxidation pathway (r(CH)/r(C)) and the barrier of CO dissociation, (ii) on Ni(111), the coke is unlikely to form, and (iii) the coke formations on the stepped surfaces of both nickel and nickel carbide can readily occur. A deactivation scheme, using which experimental results can be rationalised, is proposed.