Layer-by-layer multilayer films self-assembled from a rare-earth-containing poly-oxometalate Na-9[Eu(W5O18)(2)] and poly (allylamine hydrochloride) and their photoluminescent properties

Ultrathin multilayer films of a rare-earth-containing polyoxometalate Na-9[Eu(W5O18)(2)] (EW) and Poly (allyamine hydrochloride) (PAH) have been prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly from dilute aqueous solutions. The fabrication process of the EW/PAH multilayer films was followed by UV-vis spectroscopy and ellipsometry, which show that the deposition process is linear and highly reproducible from layer to layer. An average EW/PAH bilayer thickness of ca. 2.1 nm was determine,by ellipsometry. In addition, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of the EW/PAH film indicates that the film sufface is relatively uniform and smooth. The photoluminescent properties of these films were also investigated by fluoresence spectroscopy.

Morphological study on water-borne conducting polyaniline-poly(ethylene oxide) blends

Conducting polyaniline-poly(ethylene oxide) blends were prepared from their aqueous solutions. The blends displayed an electrical conductivity percolation threshold as low as 1.83 wt % of polyaniline loading. As demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy, polarized optical microscopy, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction studies, the conducting polyaniline took a fibrillar morphology in the blend, and it existed only in the amorphous phase of poly(ethylene oxide). A three-phase model combining morphological factors instead of a two-phase model was proposed to explain the low-conductivity percolation threshold.

Sol-gel-derived ceramic carbon composite electrode containing isopolymolybdic anions

A new class of polyoxomelalate (POM)-modified electrodes is fabricated by the sol-gel technique and demonstrated for nitrite sensing. The electrode material comprises an interconnected dispersion of graphite powder and a uniform dispersion of isopolymolybdic anions (Mo8O26) in a porous methylsilicate matrix. The chemically modified electrodes showed well-defined cyclic voltammograms with three reversible redox couples in acidic aqueous solutions because of the good physicochemical compatibility of Mo8O26 and the carbon ceramic matrix. The Mo8O26-modified electrodes show good stability and reproducibility, especially the renewal repeatability by simple polishing in the event of surface fouling. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMo12-doped carbon ceramic composite electrode based on sol-gel chemistry and its electrocatalytic reduction of bromate

A conductive carbon ceramic composite electrode (CCE) comprised of cc-type 1:12 phosphomolybdic acid (PMo12) and carbon powder in an organically modified silicate matrix was fabricated using a sol-gel method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and Osteryoung square-wave voltammetry. Osteryoung square-wave voltammograms of the modified electrode immersed in different acidic aqueous solutions present the dependence of current and redox potential on pH. The PMo12-doped CCE shows more reversible reaction kinetics, good stability and reproducibility, especially the renewal repeatability by simple polishing in the event of surface fouling or dopant leaching. Moreover, the modified electrode shows good catalytic activity for the electrochemical reduction of bromate.

Hydrogel of biodegradable cellulose derivatives. I. Radiation-induced crosslinking of CMC

Radiation crosslinking of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with a degree of substitution (DS) from 0.7 to 2.2 was the subject of the current investigation. CMC was irradiated in solid-state and aqueous solutions at various irradiation doses. The DS and the concentration of the aqueous solution had a remarkable affect on the crosslinking of CMC. Irradiation of CMC, even with a high DS, 2.2 in solid state, and a low DS, 0.7 in 10% aqueous solution, resulted in degradation. However, it was found that irradiation of CMC with a relatively high DS, 1.32, led to crosslinking in a 5% aqueous solution, and 20% CMC gave the highest gel fraction. CMC with a DS of 2.2 induced higher crosslinking than that with a DS of 1.32 at lower doses with the same concentration. Hence, it was apparent that a high DS and a high concentration in an aqueous solution were favorable for high crosslinking of CMC. It is assumed that; high radiation crosslinking of CMC was induced by the increased mobility of its molecules in water and by the formation of CMC radicals from the abstraction of H atoms from macromolecules in the intermediate products of water radiolysis. A preliminary biodegradation study confirmed that crosslinked CMC hydrogel can be digested by a cellulase enzyme. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Investigation of proton transfer across the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface by o-phenanthroline using glass micro/nano-pipets and cyclic voltammetry

Facilitated proton transfer across the water/1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) interface supported on the tips of micro- and nano-pipets by o-phenanthroline (Phen) was studied by using cyclic voltammetry. The formed micro- and nano-liquid/liquid interfaces functioned as micro- and nano-electrodes under certain experimental conditions. The dependence of the half-wave potentials on the aqueous solutions acidities was studied and the ratio of association constants between Phen and proton in the aqueous and DCE phases was calculated by the method proposed by Matsuda et al.. The standard rate constant (k(0)) and the transfer coefficient (alpha) evaluated by using nano-pipets were equal to 0.183 +/- 0.054 cm/s and 0.70 +/- 0.09, respectively.

Isotope effect in proton-transfer and association-dissociation reactions for butylamine by ultrasonic relaxation methods

Ultrasonic absorption coefficients were measured for butylamine in heavy water (D2O) in the frequency range from 0.8 to 220 MHz and at concentrations from 0.0278 to 2.5170 mol dm(-3) at 25 degrees C; two kinds of relaxation processes were observed. One was found in relatively dilute solutions (up to 0.5 mol dm(-3)), which was attributed to the hydrolysis of butylamine. In order to compare the results, absorption measurements were also carried out in light water (H2O). The rate and thermodynamic parameters were determined from the concentration dependence of the relaxation frequency and the maximum absorption per wavelength. The isotope effects on the diffusion-controlled reaction were estimated and the stability of the intermediate of the hydrolysis was considered while comparing it with the results for propylamine in H2O and D2O. Another relaxation process was observed at concentrations greater than 1 mol dm(-3) in D2O. In order to examine the solution characteristics, proton NMR measurements for butylamine were also carried out in D2O. The chemical shifts for the gamma- and delta-proton in butylamine molecule indicate the existence of an aggregate. From profiles of the concentration dependence of the relaxation frequency and the maximum absorption per wavelength of sound absorption, the source of the relaxation was attributed to an association-dissociation reaction, perhaps, associated with a hydrophobic interaction. The aggregation number, the forward and reverse rate constants and the standard volume change of the reaction were determined. It was concluded from a comparison with the results in H2O that the hydrophobic interaction of butylamine in D2O is stronger than that in H2O. Also, the isotope effect on this reaction was interpreted in terms of the solvent structure.

Electrochemical behavior of a series of undecatungstozincates monosubstituted by first-row transition metals, ZnW11M(H2O)O-39(n-) (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn)

The electrochemical behavior of a series of undecatungstozincates monosubstituted by first-row transition metals, ZnW11M(H2O)O-39(n-) (M=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn), was investigated systematically and comparably in aqueous solutions by electrochemical and in situ UV-visible-near-IR spectroelectrochemical methods. These compounds exhibit not only successive reduction processes of the addenda atoms (W) in a negative potential range, but some of them also involve redox reactions originating from the substituted transition metals (M) such as the reduction of Fe-III and Cu-II at less negative potentials and the oxidation of Mn-II at a more positive potential. Some interesting results and phenomena, especially of the transition metals, were found for the first time. Moreover, possible reaction mechanisms are proposed based on the experimental results.

Ultrasonic relaxation kinetics on fast deuteron transfer reaction

Propylamine has been selected to investigate the isotope effect of a fast deuteron transfer reaction by ultrasonic relaxation method. Ultrasonic absorption coefficients of propylamine in heavy water (D2O) at 25 degrees C in the concentration range from 0.0107 to 0.6300 mol dm(-3) have been measured by pulse and resonance methods over the frequency range from 0.8 to 220 MHz. A Debye-type single relaxation absorption has been observed in the solution. From the dependence of the ultrasonic relaxation parameters on the concentration and solution pH, the source of the observed relaxation has been attributed to a perturbation of the chemical equilibrium associated with the deuteron transfer reaction. The rate and equilibrium constants have been determined by the measurement of the deuteroxyl ion concentration dependence of the relaxation frequency. Also the standard volume change of the reaction has been determined from the concentration dependence of the maximum absorption per wavelength and the adiabatic compressibility has been calculated from the density and the sound velocity in the solution. These results have then been compared with those obtained for propylamine in light water (H2O). The forward rate constant is greater and the reverse rate constant is smaller in DO than in H2O. The standard volume change for deuteron transfer is greater than that for proton transfer reaction, and the adiabatic compressibility shows a similar trend. These data support an argument that there exists a stronger hydrogen bond in D2O than in H2O. The difference of the stability in the intermediate states, R-ND3+... OD- and R-NH3+... OH-, has also been considered from the results of the isotope effects.

Fabrication and characterization of heteropolyanion Langmuir-Blodgett films

The possibility of the formation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films with dimethyldioctadecylammonium (DODA) after the addition of cobalt(II)-substituted Dawson-type tungstodiphosphate anion (briefed as (H2O)(CoP2W17O618-)-P-11) in the subphase has been explored. Marked modifications of the compression isotherms are observed when this anion is dissolved in the subphase, which demonstrates that the polyanions interact with the monolayers. LB films have been readily obtained from this system. The adsorption Fourier transform IR (FT IR) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) have been used to investigate the morphological and molecular structure of the deposited film. The FT IR results showed the presence of the polyanion within the LB films, and the shift for its characteristic bands may be related to the presence of positively charged DODA. AFM measurement reveals that the LB films of DODA/(H2O)(CoP2W17O618)-P-II are regularly and uniformly deposited on the substrate. XRD experiments prove that the lamellar structure of the LB films of DODA/(H2O)(CoP2W17O618-)-P-II is well-defined. The LB films of DODA/(H2O)(CoP2W17O618-)-P-II immobilized onto an indium-oxide (ITO) glass, in aqueous solutions of pH 2.0-5.0, show quite facile redox reactions even for multilayers. All the experiments carried out in the present study suggest that the new materials of heteropolyanions can be formed by LB techniques and beneficial physicochemical properties of heteropolyanions can be maintained/enhanced through molecular-level design. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Potential-dependent adsorption/desorption of organic adsorbate at HOPG electrode and accompanying delamination of graphite surface

In situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy, alternating current voltammetry, and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance have been employed to follow the potential-dependent adsorption/desorption processes of nucleic acid bases on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode. The results show that (i) potential-dependent adsorption/desorption of nucleic acid bases on HOPG electrode was accompanied by delamination of the HOPG surface, and the delamination initiates from steps or kinks on the electrode surface, which provide highly active sites for adsorption; (ii) the delamination usually occurred when the electrode potential was changed or when the electrode was at potentials where the phase transition of adsorbate occurred. These results suggest that the surface stress resulting from the interaction between the substrate and adsorbate, as well as the interaction due to potential-induced surface charge distribution and the hysteresis of charge equilibrium are the main factors resulting in HOPG delamination. (C) 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S0013-4651(97)12-013-4. All rights reserved.

Catalysis of copper-containing transition metal hydrotalcite-like compounds in the phenol hydroxylation with hydrogen peroxide

Hydrotalcite-like compounds containing carbonate ion as the interlayer anion were prepared by coprecipitation under low supersaturation condition by mixing an aqueous solution of metal nitrates with an aqueous solutions of NaOH and Na2CO3, at room temperature, maintaining pH = 8-10 with vigorous stirring, Following the mixing, the resulting heavy slurry was aged at 353 K for 18 h with vigorous stirring, The precipitate was then filtered, washed several times with hot distilled water and dried in air at 353 K overnight, In this way, CuMI AlCO3-HTLcs and M-I AlCO3-HTLcs were synthesized and characterized by means of XRD and IR, The catalysis of the above mentioned HTLcs were investigated in the phenol hydroxylation with H2O2. The results indicated that all of the copper-containing HTLcs had a higher catalytic activity in the reaction, However, those catalysts that did not contain copper had no catalytic activity in this reaction, This means that copper was the active center in the phenol hydroxylation. Meanwhile, the mechanism was also proposed, which could be used to explain the main reason for higher activity for CuCuAlCO3-HTLcs in the phenol hydroxylation and the effect of Mg2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ on activity of CuMI AlCO3-HTLcs.

Electrochemical behavior of FAD at a gold electrode studied by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

The electrochemical behavior of flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD) at a gold electrode involving adsorption of the reduced form FADH(2) and desorption of the oxidized form FAD has been studied by using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). EQCM can present information not only about the electrochemical behavior but also about the mass changes on the electrode surface. The electrochemical properties and frequency shifts were investigated in FAD solutions at different pH values, concentrations and scan rates. Reversible voltammograms were observed when pH<4.5 and irreversible voltammograms were found when pH greater than or equal to 4.5. It is found to be a diffusion controlled process when the concentration of FAD is lower than 2x10(-4) moll(-1) (pH 1.5). On the contrary, at concentrations higher than 2x10(-4) moll(-1) (pH 1.5), it is found to be an adsorption controlled process.

Research on modified electrode of conducting polymer .2. Characteristics of polypyrrole film doped with heteropolyanions

Polypyrrole film electrode with Co(W2O7)(6)(10-) and CuW12O406- ions were synthesised in aqueous solutions, The electrode possesses a good stability and cyclic voltammetric behavior in weakly acidic or near neutral solutions, The redox of CuW12O406- ion can be catalysed by the polypyrrole film, The ESR measurement of the polypyrrole film with Co(W2O7)(6)(10-) and CuW12O406- ions indicates that the heteropolyanions not only play the role of neutralizing electricity in the polypyrrole film, contrasted with the film containing NO3-, but also Interact with the polypyrrole molecular chain to form some additive compound, The additive compound affects the electric structure elf the polypyrrole film and is unstable at more positive or more negative potentials.

In situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy investigation of renewing graphite surface accompanied by electrochemical reaction

In situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM) has been employed to follow the renewal process of a graphite electrode accompanied by flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) electrochemical reaction which involves adsorption of the reduced form (FADH(2)) and desorption of the oxidized form (FAD). The renewal process initiates from steps or kinks on the electrode surface, which provide high active sites for adsorption. This renewal depends on the working electrode potential, especially in the range near the FAD redox potential. Our experiment suggests that delamination of the graphite surface is caused by interaction between the substrate and adsorbed molecules. A simple model is proposed to explain this phenomenon.