Effects of solution viscosity on heterogeneous electron transfer across a liquid/liquid interface

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is employed to investigate the effect of solution viscosity on the rate constants of electron transfer (ET) reaction between potassium ferricyanide in water and 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) in 1,2-dichloroethane. Either tetrabutylammonium (TBA(+)) or ClO4- is chosen as the common ion in both phases to control the interfacial potential drop. The rate constant of heterogeneous ET reaction between TCNQ and ferrocyanide produced in-situ, k(12), is evaluated by SECM and is inversely proportional to the viscosity of the aqueous solution and directly proportional to the diffusion coefficient of K4Fe(CN)(6) in water when the concentration of TCNQ in the DCE phase is in excess. The k(12) dependence on viscosity is explained in terms of the longitudinal relaxation time of the solution. The rate constant of the heterogeneous ET reaction between TCNQ and ferricyanide, k(21), is also obtained by SECM and these results cannot be explained by the same manner.

Electrochemical recognition of alkali metal ions at the micro-water 1,2-dichloroethane interface using a calix[4]arene derivative

In this paper, a calix[4]arene derivative, 5,11,17,23-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetra-(ethanoxycarbonyl)-methoxy-calix[4]arene (L), is investigated as a host to recognize alkali metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+) at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). Well-defined cyclic voltammograms are obtained at the micro- and nano-water \ 1,2-dichloroethane (W \ DCE) interfaces supported at micro- and nano-pipets.

Studies on charge transfer across the micro-liquid/liquid interface supported at a double-barrel micropipette

In this paper, the charge transfer across the micro-liquid/liquid interface supported at the orifice of a double-barrel micropipette, namely, a theta-pipette, is reported. Simple ion transfer(TMA(+)), facilitated ion transfer (potassium ion transfer facilitated by DB18C6), and electron transfer (ferrocene and ferri/ferrocyanide system) have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The experimental results show that a very thin aqueous film, linking both barrels filled with the aqueous solution and the organic solution respectively, can spontaneously be formed on the outer glass surface of such a double-barrel micropipette to construct a micro-liquid/liquid interface, which provides the asymmetry of diffusion field. Such device is demonstrated experimentally which can be employed as one of the simplest electrochemical cells to investigate the charge transfer across the liquid/liquid interface.

Facilitated ion transfer across the micro-liquid /liquid interface supported at the tip of a silanized micropipette

Glass micropipettes with silanized inner walls can be filled with an organic solvent for voltammetric measurements in an aqueous solution. This arrangement was employed to investigate systematically the mechanism of facilitated potassium ion transfer by an ionophore dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) across a micro-water/1.2-dichloroethane(W/DCE) interface supported at the tip of a silanized micropipette. Our experimental results verify that this facilitated ion transfer across the liquid/liquid interface did occur by an interfacial complexation-dissociation process (TIC-TID mechanism). The ratio of the diffusion coefficient of DB18C6 to that of its complexed ion in the DCE phase was calculated to be 1.74 +/- 0.07.

Charge transfer across the water/nitrobenzene interface by three-electrode system

A droplet of aqueous solution containing a certain molar ratio of redox couple is first attached onto a platinum electrode surface, then the resulting drop electrode is immersed into the organic solution containing very hydrophobic electrolyte. Combined with reference and counter electrodes, a classical three-electrode system has been constructed, Ion transfer (IT) and electron transfer (ET) are investigated systematically using three-electrode voltammetry. Potassium ion transfer and electron transfer between potassium ferricyanide in the aqueous phase and ferrocene in nitrobenzene are observed with potassium ferricyanide/potassium ferrocyanide as the redox couple. Meanwhile, the transfer reactions of lithium, sodium, potassium, proton and ammonium ions are obtained with ferric sulfate/ferrous sulfate as the redox couple. The formal transfer potentials and the standard Gibbs transfer energy of these ions are evaluated and consistent with the results obtained by a four-electrode system and other methods.

Major, minor and trace-elemental contents analysis in northeast soybeans by ICP-AES

Major, minor and trace elemental contents in northeast China soybeans were determined by using inductively, coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Three different sample digestion methods including two wet digestions, HNO3-HClO4 and HNO3-H2SO4 and a dry ash method were compared. Owing to the high oil content in soybeans, long time is needed and access acid should be added, with mixed acid digestion methods, which may result in higher sample blank. Therefore, the dry ask method would be more proper for the pre-treatment of soybean samples. Potassium and phosphorus are major elements in soybeans, so the effect of potassium and phosphorus on the other elements was investigated. Results showed that the potassium and phosphorus did not affect the determination. of other trace elements. There are not significant differences in trace elemental contents for the eleven northeast China soybeans.

First synthesis of single and mixed alpha-oxo ketene dithioacetals from active methenyl precursors

beta-Dioxodithioate were produced easily from active methenyl precursors, carbondisulfide and RX with potassium carbonate as base. By a selective basic assistant cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond at the beta-dicarbonyl unit of beta-dioxodithioate and the subsequent alkylation with RX/R'X in situ, single or mixed alpha-oxo ketene dithioacetals were, obtained in good yields.

Systematic investigation of alkali metal ion transfer across the micro- and nano-water/1,2-dichloroethane interfaces facilitated by dibenzo-18-crown-6

Facilitated alkali metal ion (M+= Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) transfers across the micro- and nano-water/1,2-dichloroethane (W/DCE) interfaces supported at the tips of micro- and nanopipets by dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) have been investigated systematically using cyclic voltammetry. The theory developed by Matsuda et al. was applied to estimate the association constants of DB18C6 and M+ in the DCE phase based on the experimental voltammetric results. The kinetic measurements for alkali metal ion transfer across the W/DCE interface facilitated by DB18C6 were conducted using nanopipets or-submicropipets, and the standard rate constants (k(0)) were evaluated by analysis of the experimental voltammetric data. They increase in the following order: k(Cs+)(0) < k(Li+)(0) < k(Rb+)(0) < k(Na+)(0) < k(K+)(0), which is in accordance with their association constants except Cs+ and Li+.

UV-Vis and surface photovoltage spectra of Fe2O3/polystyrene composite microspheres

Fe2O3 sol with the particle diameter of 3-5 nm was flocculated by the addition of SDS, and the flocculate formed was redispersed by the further addition of that surfactant. Thus the surfactant bilayer was formed on the surface of Fe2O3. The emulsion polymerization of styrene (St) adsolubilized oil the surfactant adsorbed bilayer was carried out by initiator potassium persulfate (KPS). The UV-Vis and surface photovoltage spectra (SPS) indicate that the Fe2O3 particles were encapsulated in polystyrene(PSt) successfully.

Investigation of ion transfer across the micro-water/nitrobenzene interface facilitated by a fullerene derivative

A functionalized fullerene derivative containing a monoaza-18-crown-6 moiety was investigated by facilitated ion (such as Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) transfer across the micro-water/nitrobenzene interface supported at the tip of a micropipet. The current responses were detected by cyclic voltammetry and Osteryoung square wave voltammetry, which demonstrated that the facilitated ion transfer does occur by an interfacial complexation-dissociation process. The diffusion coefficient of this compound in nitrobenzene was approximately (5.90 +/- 0.04) x 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1), which is 1 order of magnitude less than other common ionophores due to the large size of the molecule. The selectivity of this molecule toward the metal ions followed the sequence Na+ > Li+ > K+ > NH4+ > Ca2+ similar to Mg2+. In addition, this compound was also easy to form film at the water/nitrobenzene interface to inhibit the simple ion transfer of tetramethylammonium ion. However, the adsorption of this ionophore has less influence on the facilitated metal ion transfer.

Novel macrocyclic precursors of poly{aryl ether ketone (sulfone)} containing hexafluoroisopropylidene units: Synthesis, characterization, and polymerization

Cyclic oligomers containing hexafluoroiso-propylidene(HFIP) units were prepared in excellent yields by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction of 4,4(7)- (hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphenol with difluoro-monomers in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate under pseudo high dilution conditions. A combination of GPC, MALDI-TOF MS and NMR analysis confirmed the structure of the cyclic oligomers. All macrocyclic oligomers are crystalline and undergo facile melt polymerization to give high molecular weight fluorinated polyethers.

Synthesis and thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour of novel poly(aryl ether ketone)s with a lateral methoxy group

Novel poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing a lateral methoxy group were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reactions of 4,4'-biphenol and methoxyhydroquinone with 1,4-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene in a sulfolane solvent in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. Their thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were characterized by a variety of experimental techniques, e.g. differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy and temperature-dependent FTIR. Thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour was observed in the copolymers containing 30-80 mol-% mexthoxyhydroquinone. Both melting (T-m) and isotropization (T-i) transitions appeared in the DSC curves. The polarized light microscopy study of the liquid crystalline copolymers suggested their ordered smectic structures. As expected, the copolymers had lower melting transitions than the biphenol-based homopoly(aryl ether ketone)s because of the copolymerization effect of the crystal-disrupting monomer methoxyhydroquinone.

Amperometric enzyme electrode for the determination of hydrogen peroxide based on sol-gel/hydrogel composite film

A new type of organic-inorganic composite material was prepared by sol-gel method, and a peroxidase biosensor was fabricated by simply dropping sor-gel-peroxidase mixture onto glassy carbon electrode surface. The sol-gel composite film and enzyme membrane were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and EQCM, the electrochemical behavior of the biosensor was studied with potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) as a mediator, and the effects of pH and operating potential were explored for optimum analytical performance by using amperometric method. The response time of the biosensor was about 10 s; the linear range was up to 3.4 mM with a detection limit of 5 x 10(-7) M. The sensor also exhibited high sensitivity (15 mu A mM(-1)) and good long-term stability. In addition, the performance of the biosensor was investigated using flow injection analysis (FIA), and the determination of hydrogen peroxide in real samples was discussed. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Gas and water vapor transport through a series of novel poly(aryl ether sulfone) membranes

The permeation behavior of water vapor, H-2, CO2, O-2, N-2, and CH4 gases in a series of novel poly(aryl ether sulfone)s has been examined over a temperature range of 30-100 degreesC. These polymers include four alkyl-substituted cardo poly(aryl ether sulfone)s and four intermolecular interaction enhanced poly(aryl ether sulfone)s. Their water vapor and gas transport properties were compared to the unmodified cardo poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PES-C). It was found that the bulky alkyl substituents on the phenylene rings were advantageous for gas permeability, while the intermolecular hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds resulted in a considerable increase in gas permselectivity. The causes of the trend were interpreted according to free volume, interchain distance, and glass transition temperature, together with the respective contribution of gas solubility and diffusivity to the overall permeability. Of interest was the observation that IMPES-L, which simultaneously bears bulky isopropyl substituent and pendant carboxylic groups, displayed 377% higher O-2 permeability and 5.3% higher O-2/N-2 permselectivity than PES-C. Furthermore, sodium salt form PES-Na+ and potassium salt form PES-K+ exhibited water vapor permeability twice as high as PES-C and H2O/N-2 selectivity in 10(5) order of magnitude.