| 1. |
- Guo, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Reversible Structural Isomerization of Nature's Water Oxidation Catalyst Prior to O-O Bond Formation
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 144:26, s. 11736-11747
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Photosynthetic water oxidation is catalyzed by a manganese-calcium oxide cluster, which experiences five "S-states" during a light-driven reaction cycle. The unique "distorted chair"-like geometry of the Mn4CaO5(6)cluster shows structural flexibility that has been frequently proposed to involve "open" and "closed"-cubane forms from the S1 to S3states. The isomers are interconvertible in the S1 and S2states, while in the S3state, the open-cubane structure is observed to dominate inThermosynechococcus elongatus (cyanobacteria) samples. In this work, using density functional theory calculations, we go beyond the S3+Yzstate to the S3nYz•→ S4+Yzstep, and report for the first time that the reversible isomerism, which is suppressed in the S3+Yzstate, is fully recovered in the ensuing S3nYz•state due to the proton release from a manganese-bound water ligand. The altered coordination strength of the manganese-ligand facilitates formation of the closed-cubane form, in a dynamic equilibrium with the open-cubane form. This tautomerism immediately preceding dioxygen formation may constitute the rate limiting step for O2formation, and exert a significant influence on the water oxidation mechanism in photosystem II.
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| 4. |
- Younesi, Reza, et al.
(författare)
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Li-O-2 Battery Degradation by Lithium Peroxide (Li2O2): A Model Study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Chemistry of Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5002 .- 0897-4756. ; 25:1, s. 77-84
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The chemical stability of the Li-O-2 battery components (cathode and electrolyte) in contact with lithium peroxide (Li2O2) was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS is a versatile method to detect amorphous as well as crystalline decomposition products of both salts and solvents. Two strategies were employed. First, cathodes including carbon, alpha-MnO2 catalyst, and Kynar binder (PVdF-HFP) were exposed to Li2O2 and LiClO4 in propylene carbonate (PC) or tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) electrolytes. The results indicated that Li2O2 degrades TEGDME to carboxylate containing species and that the decomposition products, in turn, degraded the Kynar binder. The alpha-MnO2 catalyst was unaffected. Second, Li2O2 model surfaces were kept in contact with different electrolytes to investigate the chemical stability and also the resulting surface layer on Li2O2. Further, the XPS experiments revealed that the Li salts such as LiPF6, LiBF4, and LiC!
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| 5. |
- Maurina Morais, Eduardo, 1989, et al.
(författare)
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Solvent-free synthesis of protic ionic liquids. Synthesis, characterization and computational studies of triazolium based ionic liquids
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Liquids. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-7322. ; 360
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A series of triazolium and imidazolium based protic ionic liquids were synthesized using a solvent-free method designed to address several limitations encountered with other commonly used methods. Using this method, pure (98–99% m/m) and dry (128–553 ppm of water) protic ionic liquids were synthesized (in a laboratory scale) without the need for purification methods that require heating the ionic liquid, hence avoiding the common issue of thermal decomposition. This method was also designed to allow for the accurate measurement of acid and base, and for the controlled mixing of both compounds, which is essential to avoid producing impure protic ionic liquids with excess of either acid or base. The system is constructed of only glass and chemically resistant polymer (PTFE and PVDF) parts, which avoid other contaminants that can result from unwanted reactions involving the reagents with common laboratory tools (metallic objects, paper, plastic, etc.). This process is described in detail in the paper as well as in a video. The resulting ionic liquids were carefully analyzed by spectroscopic and thermal methods designed to avoid water absorption, which is known to affect their properties. To complement this experimental characterization, computational chemistry tools were used to assess the ionic liquids’ properties, as well as to assign vibrational modes.
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| 6. |
- Sauer, Christopher, 1993
(författare)
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Green Aromatics: Catalytic Valorisation of bio-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran over Zeolites and Zeotypes
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis discusses the use of biomass as a potentially green feedstock for the chemical industry in the urgent shift away from fossil resources. I elaborate on reasons why we cannot afford to burn virgin biomass for energy production, among them a variety of ecosystem services that forests and other lands provide. In addition, the utilisation of biomass should be focused on products that sequester and lock away carbon for more extended periods, e.g. timber, materials and chemicals. In particular, biomass can be used as an alternative "carbon neutral" feedstock for the chemical industry, where we can preserve the already existing chemical complexity in the bio-based molecules. One example is the upgrading of furans to benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) aromatics with the help of zeolite catalysis. These aromatics are important commodity chemicals, where the shift to a bio-based resource could make use of already existing knowledge, catalyst and production infrastructure. However, research is necessary to understand these new feedstock molecules and their interaction with the catalysts and to enable the design of applicable catalysts. In order to study the interaction of the furans, in particular 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-dmf), I describe and discuss the development of an analytical methodology that utilises infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry for the on-line identification and quantification of product molecules during catalytic reactions. This on-line analysis method is then applied to the catalytic conversion of 2,5-dmf to aromatics over a range of zeolite and zeotype catalysts. In-depth studies with ammonia as a probe molecule of the catalytic active acid sites, as well as temperature programmed experiments with ammonia and 2,5-dmf give insights into product distribution, selectivity changes and deactivation of the catalyst. For example, olefins and aromatics are initially preferred products, while with increasing time on stream, the isomerisation of 2,5-dmf becomes dominant. The incorporation of Ga into the zeotype framework, resulting in a Ga-Silicate, shows how targeted catalyst design can increase overall aromatics production. This catalyst is also suitable for selective isomerisation of 2,5-dmf to 2,4-dimethylfuran, which has a rare substitution pattern. Finally, itwas found that the most valuable of BTX, p -xylene, can be produced more selectively when 2,5-dmf is pre-adsorbed onto zeolite ZSM-5 and then released during a temperature programmed product desorption.
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| 8. |
- Lewin, Erik, 1979-
(författare)
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Design of carbide-based nanocomposite coatings
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis research on synthesis, microstructure and properties of carbide-based coatings is reported. These coatings are electrically conducting, and can be tailored for high hardness, low friction and wear, along with load-adaptive behaviour. Tailoring these properties is achieved by controlling the relative phase content of the material. Coatings have been synthesised by dc magnetron sputtering, and their structures have been characterised, mainly by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.It has been shown that nanocomposites comprising of a nanocrystalline transition metal carbide (nc-MeCx, Me = Ti, Nb or V) and an amorphous carbon (a-C) matrix can result in low contact resistance in electrical contacts. Such materials also exhibit low friction and high resistance to wear, making them especially suitable for application in sliding contacts. The lowest contact resistance is attained for small amounts of the amorphous carbon phase.It has been shown that specific bonding structures are present in the interface between nc-TiCx and the a-C phases in the nanocomposite. It was found in particular that Ti3d and C2p states are involved, and that considerable charge transfer occurs across the interface, thereby influencing the structure of the carbide.Further design possibilities were demonstrated for TiCx-based nanocomposites by alloying them with weakly carbide-forming metals, i.e., Me = Ni, Cu or Pt. Metastable supersaturated solid solution carbides, (T1-xMex)Cy, were identified to result from this alloying process. The destabilisation of the TiCx-phase leads to changes in the phase distribution in the deposited nanocomposites, thus providing further control over the amount of carbon phase formed. Additional design possibilities became available through the decomposition of the metastable (Ti1-xMex)Cy phase through an appropriate choice of annealing conditions, yielding either more carbon phase or a new metallic phase involving Me. This alloying concept was also studied theoretically for all 3d transition metals using DFT techniques.It has also been demonstrated that Ar-ion etching (commonly used in the analysis of carbide based nanocomposites) can seriously influence the result of the analysis, especially for materials containing metastable phases. This implies that more sophisticated methods, or considerable care are needed in making these analyses, and that many of the earlier published results could well be in error.
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| 9. |
- Lewin, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Industrialisation Study of Nanocomposite nc-TiC/a-C Coatings for Electrical Contact Applications
- 2009
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Ingår i: Plasma Processes and Polymers. - : WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. - 1612-8850. ; 6:S1, s. S928-S934
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nanocomposite nc-TiC/a-C coatings were prepared by non-reactive magnetron sputtering in industrial scale equipment, under varying deposition conditions in order to investigate upscaling and possible industrialisation. The coatings were found to have similar microstructure and performance compared to previous laboratory scale experiments. The samples were characterised with XRD, XPS and SEM as well with ball-on-disc, nanoindentation and electrical measurements. Coatings containing a small fraction of a-C matrix phase were found to have promising both electrical properties (rho < 400 mu Omega cm and contact resistances down to 0.34 m Omega at 40 N) and tribological properties (f < 0.3 for 10 000 laps).
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| 10. |
- Rahm, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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The Molecular Surface Structure of Ammonium and Potassium Dinitramide : A Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Study
- 2011
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Ingår i: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 115:21, s. 10588-10596
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy (VSFS) and quantum chemical modeling have been employed to investigate the molecular surface structure of ammonium and potassium dinitramide (ADN and KDN) crystals. Identification of key vibrational modes was made possible by performing density functional theory calculations of molecular clusters. The surface of KDN was found to be partly covered with a thin layer of the decomposition product KNO3, which due to its low thickness was not detectable by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. In contrast, ADN exhibited an extremely inhomogeneous surface, on which polarized dinitramide anions were present, possibly together with a thin layer of NH4NO3. The intertwined use of theoretical and experimental tools proved indispensable in the analysis of these complex surfaces. The experimental verification of polarized and destabilized dinitramide anions stresses the importance of designing surface-active polymer support, stabilizers, and/or coating agents, in order to enable environmentally friendly ADN-based solid-rocket propulsion.
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