Showing papers in "The Journal of Physical Chemistry in 2011"

Interactions of Perylene Bisimide in the One Dimensional Channels of Zeolite L

Abstract: Supramolecularly organized host guest systems have been prepared by inserting three perylene dyes with differing end substituents into the nanosized channels of zeolite L (ZL) by gas-phase adsorption under vacuum conditions. The end substituents allowed controlling the core-to-core distances of the molecules in the channels. The three perylene dyes investigated have very similar absorption and fluorescence spectra in diluted solutions, as well as fluorescence lifetimes ∼ 4 ns. Large ZL crystals in the size range of 1500−3000 nm in length and about 1000 nm in diameter as well as nanosized NZL crystals of about 30 nm in length and diameter were used as hosts. Different loadings have been investigated. The photophysical properties of the materials were analyzed as suspensions in refractive index matching solvents, such as toluene or ethyl benzoic acid ester; as bulk materials in glass ampules; and by means of time-, space-, and spectrally resolved single-crystal fluorescence microspectrocopy techniques. The inserted dyes can form J-aggregates if the structure of the perylene derivative allows for short distances between the electronic transition moments in an in-line arrangement. J-coupling was not seen for the molecules with substituents that keep them further apart. Aligned and stabilized J-aggregates in one-dimensional channels provide new options for preparing optical devices, where coherent exciton delocalization over nanometer-to-micrometer scales may result in efficient photonic wires. The exciton coupling can be controlled by varying the molecular tail groups.

Photocatalytic Oxidation of Organic Pollutants Catalyzed by an Iron Complex at Biocompatible pH Values: Using O2 as Main Oxidant in a Fenton-like Reaction

Abstract: A red iron(II) 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine complex ([FeII(dcbpy)3]) was investigated as an extraordinary Fenton catalyst capable of activating much more molecular O2 to mineralize organic pollutants in water at biocompatible pH values under visible irradiation. Eight representative organic pollutants were effectively degraded in the presence of this catalyst with high turnover number (368−2000). The flexible bifunctional coordination mode (N donor for ferrous ion and O donor for ferric form) devoted by the ligand dcbpy should be responsible for the preservation of iron(II/III) catalysis in such a neutral pH condition, whereas any substitution of the 4,4′-carboxylic groups in dcbpy by other groups such as ether, alcohol, nitroyl, or methyl groups resulted in nearly total loss of catalytic stability. More important, the present [FeII(dcbpy)3] catalyst can dramatically change the traditional role ofH2O2 as main oxidant in the general Fenton reaction and make molecular O2 become the main oxidant in the min...

Nanoporous Titania Gas Sensing Films Prepared in a Premixed Stagnation Flame

Abstract: We examine the conductometric CO sensing of TiO2 nanoparticle films prepared with a recently developed flame technique. Porous films of crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles were grown directly on interdigitated electrodes by repeatedly translating electrodes over a premixed stagnation flame doped with titanium tetraisopropoxide as the titanium precursor. Flame-deposited electrodes with particle diameter around 9 nm show enhanced sensitivity to CO by up to an order of magnitude compared to sensing films prepared using a commercial TiO2 powder with the particle diameter around 25 nm. A gas-surface model is used to examine chemical kinetic and equilibrium behaviors and explain the sensor responses. The analysis shows that the nature of the gas-surface reactions is similar between these films. The desirable feature of flame-deposited sensing film is attributed to the smaller particle size which provides a greater surface area and a more electrically sensitive conduit.

Ethylene Glycol Adsorption and Reaction over CeOX(111) Thin Films

Abstract: This study reports the interaction of ethylene glycol with well-ordered CeO{sub x}(111) thin film surfaces. Ethylene glycol initially adsorbs on fully oxidized CeO{sub 2}(111) and reduced CeO{sub 2-x}(111) through the formation of one C-O-Ce bond and then forms a second alkoxy bond after annealing. On fully oxidized CeO{sub 2}(111) both recombination of ethylene glycol and water desorption occur at low temperature leaving stable -OCH{sub 2}CH{sub 2}O- (ethylenedioxy) intermediates and oxygen vacancies on the surface. This ethylenedioxy intermediate goes through C-C bond scission to produce formate species which then react to produce CO and CO{sub 2}. The formation of water results in the reduction of the ceria. On a reduced CeO{sub 2-x}(111) surface the reaction selectivity shifts toward a dehydration process. The ethylenedioxy intermediate decomposes by breaking a C-O bond and converts into an enolate species. Similar to the reaction of acetaldehyde on reduced CeO{sub 2-x}(111), the enolate reacts to produce acetaldehyde, acetylene, and ethylene. The loss of O from ethylene glycol leads to a small amount of oxidation of the reduced ceria.

Combustion Chemistry: Important Features of the C 3 H 5 Potential Energy Surface, Including Allyl Radical, Propargyl + H 2 , Allene + H, and Eight Transition States

Abstract: The C(3)H(5) potential energy surface (PES) encompasses molecules of great significance to hydrocarbon combustion, including the resonantly stabilized free radicals propargyl (plus H(2)) and allyl. In this work, we investigate the interconversions that take place on this PES using high level coupled cluster methodology. Accurate geometries are obtained using coupled cluster theory with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations [CCSD(T)] combined with Dunning's correlation consistent quadruple-ζ basis set cc-pVQZ. The energies for these stationary points are then refined by a systematic series of computations, within the focal point scheme, using the cc-pVXZ (X = D, T, Q, 5, 6) basis sets and correlation treatments as extensive as coupled cluster with full single, double, and triple excitation and perturbative quadruple excitations [CCSDT(Q)]. Our benchmarks provide a zero-point vibrational energy (ZPVE) corrected barrier of 10.0 kcal mol(-1) for conversion of allene + H to propargyl + H(2). We also find that the barrier for H addition to a terminal carbon atom in allene leading to propenyl is 1.8 kcal mol(-1) lower than that for the addition to a central atom to form the allyl radical.

Computation of surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectra of particles at a surface through the Finite Element Method

Abstract: The finite element method (FEM) was used to solve the time-harmonic Maxwell equations to calculate full infrared (IR) absorption spectra of organic substances near particles adsorbed to a silicon/a...

Charge Transport in Molecularly Doped Polymers: Tests of the Correlated Disorder Model

Abstract: The correlated disorder model (CDM) has been proposed as a theory of charge transport in molecularly doped polymers (MDPs). Recently a test of the CDM was proposed: it was predicted that the dipolar disorder energy can be obtained from the slope of the log of the mobility versus square root of the electric field (the Poole-Frenkel or PF slope). We find that the dipolar disorder energy obtained from the experimental PF slopes are almost always larger than the theoretical predictions, especially for MDPs made from dopants with low dipole moments. In addition, the theory relates the dipolar disorder energy to the temperature T0 at which the electric field dependence of the mobility vanishes. We find that the observed T0 does appear to increase as the dipolar disorder increases but is in quantitative agreement (within 25 K) with the theoretical predictions for only a limited set of the measurements. We conclude that it appears that the CDM needs further development to be consistent with charge transport in or...