1. |
- Guo, Y., et al.
(author)
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Reversible Structural Isomerization of Nature's Water Oxidation Catalyst Prior to O-O Bond Formation
- 2022
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In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 144:26, s. 11736-11747
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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2. |
- Le Breton, Michael, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Chlorine oxidation of VOCs at a semi-rural site in Beijing: significant chlorine liberation from ClNO2 and subsequent gas- and particle-phase Cl-VOC production
- 2018
-
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 18:17, s. 13013-13030:18, s. 13013-13030
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nitryl chloride (ClNO2) accumulation at night acts as a significant reservoir for active chlorine and impacts the following day's photochemistry when the chlorine atom is liberated at sunrise. Here, we report simultaneous measurements of N2O5 and a suite of inorganic halogens including ClNO2 and reactions of chloride with volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs) in the gas and particle phases utilising the Filter Inlet for Gas and AEROsols time-of-flight chemical ionisation mass spectrometer (FIGAERO-ToF-CIMS) during an intensive measurement campaign 40 km northwest of Beijing in May and June 2016. A maximum mixing ratio of 2900 ppt of ClNO2 was observed with a mean campaign nighttime mixing ratio of 487 ppt, appearing to have an anthropogenic source supported by correlation with SO2, CO and benzene, which often persisted at high levels after sunrise until midday. This was attributed to such high mixing ratios persisting after numerous e-folding times of the photolytic lifetime enabling the chlorine atom production to reach 2.3 x 10(5) molecules cm(-3) from ClNO2 alone, peaking at 09:30 LT and up to 8.4 x 10(5) molecules cm(-3) when including the supporting inorganic halogen measurements. Cl-VOCs were observed in the particle and gas phases for the first time at high time resolution and illustrate how the iodide ToF-CIMS can detect unique markers of chlorine atom chemistry in ambient air from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. Their presence and abundance can be explained via time series of their measured and steady-state calculated precursors, enabling the assessment of competing OH and chlorine atom oxidation via measurements of products from both of these mechanisms and their relative contribution to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation.
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3. |
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4. |
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5. |
- Mohr, Claudia, et al.
(author)
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Molecular identification of organic vapors driving atmospheric nanoparticle growth
- 2019
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Particles formed in the atmosphere via nucleation provide about half the number of atmospheric cloud condensation nuclei, but in many locations, this process is limited by the growth of the newly formed particles. That growth is often via condensation of organic vapors. Identification of these vapors and their sources is thus fundamental for simulating changes to aerosol-cloud interactions, which are one of the most uncertain aspects of anthropogenic climate forcing. Here we present direct molecular-level observations of a distribution of organic vapors in a forested environment that can explain simultaneously observed atmospheric nanoparticle growth from 3 to 50nm. Furthermore, the volatility distribution of these vapors is sufficient to explain nanoparticle growth without invoking particle-phase processes. The agreement between observed mass growth, and the growth predicted from the observed mass of condensing vapors in a forested environment thus represents an important step forward in the characterization of atmospheric particle growth.
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6. |
- Li, J. J., et al.
(author)
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Characterization of Aerosol Aging Potentials at Suburban Sites in Northern and Southern China Utilizing a Potential Aerosol Mass (Go:PAM) Reactor and an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer
- 2019
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-897X .- 2169-8996. ; 124:10, s. 5629-5649
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aerosol mass spectrometry was used to characterize submicron aerosols before and after aging in a Gothenburg Potential Aerosol Mass (Go:PAM) reactor at two suburban sites in China, one in northern China at Changping (CP), Beijing, and a second in southern China at Hong Kong (HK). Organic aerosol (OA) dominated in the ambient nonrefractory particulate matter <1m (NR-PM1) for both CP (42-71%) and HK (43-61%), with a large contribution from secondary OA factors that were semivolatile oxygenated (SVOOA) and low-volatility oxygenated (LVOOA). Under constant OH exposure, OA enhancement (78-98%) dominated the NR-PM1 mass increment at both sites, while nitrate was enhanced the most among the inorganic species (7-9%). Overall, the CP site exhibited higher OA oxidation potential and more enhancement of SVOOA than LVOOA (7.5 vs. 2.7g/m(3)), but the reverse was observed in HK (0.8 vs. 2.6g/m(3)). In CP, more enhancement of the less oxygenated SVOOA suggests that aerosol aging was more sensitive to the abundant locally emitted primary OA and volatile organic compound precursors. On the contrary, the more formation of the highly oxidized LVOOA in HK indicates that aerosol aging mainly escalated the degree of oxygenation of OA as ambient aerosol was already quite aged and there was a lack of volatile organic compound precursors. The comparative measurements using the same oxidation system reveal distinct key factors and mechanisms that influence secondary aerosol formation in two suburban locations in China, providing scientific insights to assist formulation of location-specific mitigation measures of secondary pollution. Plain Language Summary Atmospheric submicron particles have significant impacts on the climate and human health. A large part of these particles are formed secondarily through successive aging of primary emissions. To study such aging processes, we used a reactor that can provide highly oxidizing conditions to simulate the oxidation of ambient aerosols at accelerated rates. An online mass spectrometer was connected after the reactor to measure changes in aerosol mass concentration and chemical composition between the ambient samples and the oxidized ones. We presented the first comparative measurements of the aging potentials of ambient aerosols in two suburban sites in northern and southern China (Changping District in Beijing, and Hong Kong). Results showed that generally aerosols at the Changping site had higher aging potentials after passing through the oxidation reactor, probably due to more local emissions of precursors, while air masses in Hong Kong were already in a higher oxidation state with lower aging potentials, mainly because of strong impacts from long-range transported pollution sources. Distinct aerosol aging pathways related to different ambient precursors were observed at the two sites. Understanding of the different characteristics of aerosol aging processes can lead to advances in air quality modeling and pollution management.
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7. |
- Halldin Stenlid, Joakim, 1987-
(author)
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Computational Studies of Chemical Interactions: Molecules, Surfaces and Copper Corrosion
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The chemical bond – a corner stone in science and a prerequisite for life – is the focus of this thesis. Fundamental and applied aspects of chemical bonding are covered including the development of new computational methods for the characterization and rationalization of chemical interactions. The thesis also covers the study of corrosion of copper-based materials. The latter is motivated by the proposed use of copper as encapsulating material for spent nuclear fuel in Sweden.In close collaboration with experimental groups, state-of-the-art computational methods were employed for the study of chemistry at the atomic scale. First, oxidation of nanoparticulate copper was examined in anoxic aqueous media in order to better understand the copper-water thermodynamics in relation to the corrosion of copper material under oxygen free conditions. With a similar ambition, the water-cuprite interface was investigated with regards to its chemical composition and reactivity. This was compared to the behavior of methanol and hydrogen sulfide at the cuprite surface.An overall ambition during the development of computational methods for the analysis of chemical bonding was to bridge the gap between molecular and materials chemistry. Theory and results are thus presented and applied in both a molecular and a solid-state framework. A new property, the local electron attachment energy, for the characterization of a compound’s local electrophilicity was introduced. Together with the surface electrostatic potential, the new property predicts and rationalizes regioselectivity and trends of molecular reactions, and interactions on metal and oxide nanoparticles and extended surfaces.Detailed atomistic understanding of chemical processes is a prerequisite for the efficient development of chemistry. We therefore envisage that the results of this thesis will find widespread use in areas such as heterogeneous catalysis, drug discovery, and nanotechnology.
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8. |
- Wu, R. R., et al.
(author)
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Molecular composition and volatility of multi-generation products formed from isoprene oxidation by nitrate radical
- 2021
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 21:13, s. 10799-10824
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Isoprene oxidation by nitrate radical (NO3) is a potentially important source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). It is suggested that the second or later-generation products are the more substantial contributors to SOA. However, there are few studies investigating the multi-generation chemistry of isoprene-NO3 reaction, and information about the volatility of different isoprene nitrates, which is essential to evaluate their potential to form SOA and determine their atmospheric fate, is rare. In this work, we studied the reaction between isoprene and NO3 in the SAPHIR chamber (Julich) under near-atmospheric conditions. Various oxidation products were measured by a high-resolution time-offlight chemical ionization mass spectrometer using Br as the reagent ion. Most of the products detected are organic nitrates, and they are grouped into monomers (C-4 and C-5 products) and dimers (C-10 products) with 1-3 nitrate groups according to their chemical composition. Most of the observed products match expected termination products observed in previous studies, but some compounds such as monomers and dimers with three nitrogen atoms were rarely reported in the literature as gas-phase products from isoprene oxidation by NO3. Possible formation mechanisms for these compounds are proposed. The multi-generation chemistry of isoprene and NO3 is characterized by taking advantage of the time behavior of different products. In addition, the vapor pressures of diverse isoprene nitrates are calculated by different parametrization methods. An estimation of the vapor pressure is also derived from their condensation behavior. According to our results, isoprene monomers belong to intermediate-volatility or semi-volatile organic compounds and thus have little effect on SOA formation. In contrast, the dimers are expected to have low or extremely low volatility, indicating that they are potentially substantial contributors to SOA. However, the monomers constitute 80% of the total explained signals on average, while the dimers contribute less than 2 %, suggesting that the contribution of isoprene NO3 oxidation to SOA by condensation should be low under atmospheric conditions. We expect a SOA mass yield of about 5% from the wall-loss- and dilution-corrected mass concentrations, assuming that all of the isoprene dimers in the low- or extremely low-volatility organic compound (LVOC or ELVOC) range will condense completely.
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9. |
- Brownwood, B., et al.
(author)
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Gas-Particle Partitioning and SOA Yields of Organonitrate Products from NO3-Initiated Oxidation of Isoprene under Varied Chemical Regimes
- 2021
-
In: Acs Earth and Space Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2472-3452. ; 5:4, s. 785-800
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Alkyl nitrate (AN) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from the reaction of nitrate radicals (NO3) with isoprene were observed in the Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction (SAPHIR) chamber during the NO(3)Isop campaign in August 2018. Based on 15 day-long experiments under various reaction conditions, we conclude that the reaction has a nominally unity molar AN yield (observed range 90 +/- 40%) and an SOA mass yield of OA + organic nitrate aerosol of 13-15% (with similar to 50 mu g m(-3) inorganic seed aerosol and 2-5 mu g m-3 total organic aerosol). Isoprene (5-25 ppb) and oxidant (typically similar to 100 ppb O-3 and 5-25 ppb NO2) concentrations and aerosol composition (inorganic and organic coating) were varied while remaining close to ambient conditions, producing similar AN and SOA yields under all regimes. We observe the formation of dinitrates upon oxidation of the second double bond only once the isoprene precursor is fully consumed. We determine the bulk partitioning coefficient for ANs (K-p similar to 10(-3) m(3) mu g(-1)), indicating an average volatility corresponding to a C-5 hydroxy hydroperoxy nitrate.
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10. |
- Maurina Morais, Eduardo, 1989, et al.
(author)
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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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In: Journal of Molecular Liquids. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-7322. ; 360
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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11. |
- Guo, Y. D., et al.
(author)
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Identification of highly oxygenated organic molecules and their role in aerosol formation in the reaction of limonene with nitrate radical
- 2022
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 22:17, s. 11323-11346
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nighttime NO3-initiated oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) such as monoterpenes is important for the atmospheric formation and growth of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which has significant impact on climate, air quality, and human health. In such SOA formation and growth, highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOM) may be crucial, but their formation pathways and role in aerosol formation have yet to be clarified. Among monoterpenes, limonene is of particular interest for its high emission globally and high SOA yield. In this work, HOM formation in the reaction of limonene with nitrate radical (NO3) was investigated in the SAPHIR chamber (Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction chamber). About 280 HOM products were identified, grouped into 19 monomer families, 11 dimer families, and 3 trimer families. Both closed-shell products and open-shell peroxy radicals (RO2 center dot) 2 were observed, and many of them have not been reported previously. Monomers and dimers accounted for 47% and 47% of HOM concentrations, respectively, with trimers making up the remaining 6 %. In the most abundant monomer families, C10H15-17NO6-14, carbonyl products outnumbered hydroxyl products, indicating the importance of RO2 center dot termination by unimolecular dissociation. Both RO2 center dot autoxidation and alkoxy-peroxy pathways were found to be important processes leading to HOM. Time-dependent concentration profiles of monomer products containing nitrogen showed mainly second-generation formation patterns. Dimers were likely formed via the accretion reaction of two monomer RO2 center dot , and HOM-trimers via the accretion reaction between monomer RO2 center dot and dimer RO2 center dot. Trimers are suggested to play an important role in new particle formation (NPF) observed in our experiment. A HOM yield of 1.5%(+1.7%)(-0.7%) was estimated considering only first-generation products. SOA mass growth could be reasonably explained by HOM condensation on particles assuming irreversible uptake of ultra-low volatility organic compounds (ULVOCs), extremely low volatility organic compounds (ELVOCs), and low volatility organic compounds (LVOCs). This work provides evidence for the important role of HOM formed via the limonene +NO3 reaction in NPF and growth of SOA particles.
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12. |
- Younesi, Reza, et al.
(author)
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Li-O-2 Battery Degradation by Lithium Peroxide (Li2O2): A Model Study
- 2013
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In: Chemistry of Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1520-5002 .- 0897-4756. ; 25:1, s. 77-84
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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13. |
- Sauer, Christopher, 1993
(author)
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Green Aromatics: Catalytic Valorisation of bio-derived 2,5-dimethylfuran over Zeolites and Zeotypes
- 2022
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)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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14. |
- Sun, Bing, et al.
(author)
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Ion transport in polycarbonate based solid polymer electrolytes : experimental and computational investigations
- 2016
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In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 18:14, s. 9504-9513
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Among the alternative host materials for solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), polycarbonates have recently shown promising functionality in all-solid-state lithium batteries from ambient to elevated temperatures. While the computational and experimental investigations of ion conduction in conventional polyethers have been extensive, the ion transport in polycarbonates has been much less studied. The present work investigates the ionic transport behavior in SPEs based on poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and its co-polymer with epsilon-caprolactone (CL) via both experimental and computational approaches. FTIR spectra indicated a preferential local coordination between Li+ and ester carbonyl oxygen atoms in the P(TMC20CL80) co-polymer SPE. Diffusion NMR revealed that the co-polymer SPE also displays higher ion mobilities than PTMC. For both systems, locally oriented polymer domains, a few hundred nanometers in size and with limited connections between them, were inferred from the NMR spin relaxation and diffusion data. Potentiostatic polarization experiments revealed notably higher cationic transference numbers in the polycarbonate based SPEs as compared to conventional polyether based SPEs. In addition, MD simulations provided atomic-scale insight into the structure-dynamics properties, including confirmation of a preferential Li+-carbonyl oxygen atom coordination, with a preference in coordination to the ester based monomers. A coupling of the Li-ion dynamics to the polymer chain dynamics was indicated by both simulations and experiments.
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15. |
- Schyman, Patric, et al.
(author)
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Hydrogen Abstraction from Deoxyribose by a Neighbouring Uracil-5-yl Radical
- 2007
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In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 9, s. 5975-5979
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hydrogen abstraction from the C1 and C2 positions of deoxyadenosine by a neighbouring uracil-5-yl radical in the 5-AU-3 DNA sequence is explored using DFT. This hydrogen abstraction is the first step in a sequence leading to single or double strand break in DNA. The uracil-5-yl radical can be the result of photolysis or low-energy electron (LEE) attachment. If the radical is produced by photolysis the neighbouring adenine will become a cation radical and if it is produced by LEE the adenine will remain neutral. The hydrogen abstraction reactions for both cases were investigated. It is concluded that it is possible for the uracil-5-yl to abstract hydrogen from C1 and C2. When adenine is neutral there is a preference for the C1 site and when the adenine is a radical cation the C2 site is the preferred. If adenine is positively charged, the rate-limiting step when abstracting hydrogen from C1 is the formation of an intermediate crosslink between uracil and adenine. This crosslink might be avoided in dsDNA, making C1 the preferred site for abstraction.
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16. |
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17. |
- Le Breton, Michael, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Online gas- and particle-phase measurements of organosulfates, organosulfonates and nitrooxy organosulfates in Beijing utilizing a FIGAERO ToF-CIMS
- 2018
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 18:14, s. 10355-10371
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) utilizing the Filter Inlet for Gas and Aerosol (FIGAERO) was deployed at a regional site 40 km north-west of Beijing and successfully identified and measured 17 sulfur-containing organics (SCOs are organo/nitrooxy organosulfates and sulfonates) with biogenic and anthropogenic precursors. The SCOs were quantified using laboratory-synthesized standards of lactic acid sulfate and nitrophenol organosulfate (NP OS). The variation in field observations was confirmed by comparison to offline measurement techniques (orbitrap and high-performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) using daily averages. The mean total (of the 17 identified by CIMS) SCO particle mass concentration was 210 +/- 110 ng m(-3) and had a maximum of 540 ng m(-3), although it contributed to only 2 +/- 1% of the organic aerosol (OA). The CIMS identified a persistent gas-phase presence of SCOs in the ambient air, which was further supported by separate vapour-pressure measurements of NP OS by a Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometer (KEMS). An increase in relative humidity (RH) promoted partitioning of SCO to the particle phase, whereas higher temperatures favoured higher gas-phase concentrations. Biogenic emissions contributed to only 19% of total SCOs measured in this study. Here, C10H16NSO7, a monoterpene-derived SCO, represented the highest fraction (10 %) followed by an isoprene-derived SCO. The anthropogenic SCOs with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and aromatic precursors dominated the SCO mass loading (51 %) with C11H11SO7, derived from methyl naphthalene oxidation, contributing to 40 ng m(-3) and 0.3% of the OA mass. Anthropogenic-related SCOs correlated well with benzene, although their abundance depended highly on the photochemical age of the air mass, tracked using the ratio between pinonic acid and its oxidation product, acting as a qualitative photochemical clock. In addition to typical anthropogenic and biogenic precursors the biomass-burning precursor nitrophenol (NP) provided a significant level of NP OS. It must be noted that the contribution analysis here is only representative of the detected SCOs. There are likely to be many more SCOs present which the CIMS has not identified. Gas- and particle-phase measurements of glycolic acid suggest that partitioning towards the particle phase promotes glycolic acid sulfate production, contrary to the current formation mechanism suggested in the literature. Furthermore, the HSO4 center dot H2SO4- cluster measured by the CIMS was utilized as a qualitative marker for acidity and indicates that the production of total SCOs is efficient in highly acidic aerosols with high SO42- and organic content. This dependency becomes more complex when observing individual SCOs due to variability of specific VOC precursors.
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18. |
- Lutz, Anna, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Gas to Particle Partitioning of Organic Acids in the Boreal Atmosphere
- 2019
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In: Acs Earth and Space Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2472-3452. ; 3:7, s. 1279-1287
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Gas to particle partitioning of carboxylic acids was investigated using a high-resolution chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (HR-CI-ToF-MS) with the filter inlet for gases and aerosol (FIGAERO). Specifically, the partitioning coefficients of 640 components with unique molecular composition were calculated from an assumed linear relationship between [particle]/[gas] versus the mass of the organic fraction (M-org) according to Raoult's law, i.e., equilibrium phase partitioning. We demonstrate that, using the full data set, most of the compounds do not follow a linear relationship. This is especially the case for low- and high-molecular-weight species. Using a subset of the data, with concurrent low sulfate ambient observations ([SO42- < 0.4 mu g m(-3)), the relationship improved significantly and K-i could be derived from the slope of a linear regression to the data. The 100 species with the highest R-2 (>= 0.7) of this regression are presented. The restrictions during high sulfate conditions can be explained by changes in either the equilibrium conditions (e.g., the activity coeffient, gamma(i)) or uptake kinetics (mass transfer limitation). This study demonstrates that partitioning of compounds in the complex ambient atmosphere follows ideal Raoult's law for some limited conditions and stresses the need for studies also in more polluted environments.
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19. |
- Dunér, Gunnar, et al.
(author)
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Surface-confined photopolymerization of pH-responsive acrylamide/acrylate brushes on polymer thin films
- 2008
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In: Langmuir. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0743-7463 .- 1520-5827. ; 24:14, s. 7559-7564
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dynamic acrylamide/acrylate polymeric brushes were synthesized at gold-plated quartz crystal surfaces. The crystals were initially coated with polystyrene-type thin films, derivatized with photolabile iniferter groups, and subsequently subjected to photoinitiated polymerization in acrylamide/acrylate monomer feeds. This surface-confined polymerization method enabled direct photocontrol over the polymerization, as followed by increased frequency responses of the crystal oscillations in a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). The produced polymer layers were also found to be highly sensitive to external acid/base stimuli. Large oscillation frequency shifts were detected when the brushes were exposed to buffer solutions of different pH. The dynamic behavior of the resulting polymeric brushes was evaluated, and the extent of expansion and contraction of the films was monitored by the QCM setup in situ in real time. The resulting responses were rapid, and the effects were fully reversible. Low pH resulted in full contractions of the films, whereas higher pH yielded maximal expansion in order to minimize repulsion around the charged acrylate centers. The surfaces also proved to be very robust because the responsiveness was reproducible over many cycles of repeated expansion and contraction. Using ellipsometry, copolymer layers were estimated to be similar to 220 nm in a collapsed state and similar to 340 nm in the expanded state, effectively increasing the thickness of the film by 55%.
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20. |
- Wang, Y. J., et al.
(author)
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The formation of nitro-aromatic compounds under high NOx and anthropogenic VOC conditions in urban Beijing, China
- 2019
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 19:11, s. 7649-7665
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs), as important contributors to the light absorption by brown carbon, have been widely observed in various ambient atmospheres; however, their formation in the urban atmosphere was little studied. In this work, we report an intensive field study of NACs in summer 2016 at an urban Beijing site, characterized by both high-NO(x)and anthropogenic VOC dominated conditions. We investigated the factors that influence NAC formation (e.g., NO2, VOC precursors, RH and photolysis) through quantification of eight NACs, along with major components in fine particulate matter, selected volatile organic compounds, and gases. The average total concentration of the quantified NACs was 6.63 ng m(-3), higher than those reported in other summertime studies (0.14-6.44 ng m(-3)). 4-Nitrophenol (4NP, 32.4 %) and 4-nitrocatechol (4NC, 28.5 %) were the top two most abundant NACs, followed by methyl-nitrocatechol (MNC), methyl-nitrophenol (MNP), and dimethyl-nitrophenol (DMNP). The oxidation of toluene and benzene in the presence of NOx was found to be a more dominant source of NACs than primary biomass burning emissions. The NO2 concentration level was found to be an important factor influencing the secondary formation of NACs. A transition from low- to high-NOx regimes coincided with a shift from organic- to inorganic-dominated oxidation products. The transition thresholds were NO2 similar to 20 ppb for daytime and NO2 similar to 25 ppb for nighttime conditions. Under low-NOx conditions, NACs increased with NO2, while the NO3 concentrations and (NO3-)/NACs ratios were lower, implying organic-dominated products. Under high-NOx conditions, NAC concentrations did not further increase with NO2, while the NO3- concentrations and (NO3-)/NACs ratios showed increasing trends, signaling a shift from organic- to inorganic-dominated products. Nighttime enhancements were observed for 3M4NC and 4M5NC, while daytime enhancements were noted for 4NP, 2M4NP, and DMNP, indicating different formation pathways for these two groups of NACs. Our analysis suggested that the aqueous-phase oxidation was likely the major formation pathway of 4M5NC and 3M5NC, while photo-oxidation of toluene and benzene in the presence of NO2 could be more important for the formation of nitrophenol and its derivatives. Using the (3M4NC+4M5NC) / 4NP ratios as an indicator of the relative contribution of aqueous-phase and gas-phase oxidation pathways to NAC formation, we observed that the relative contribution of aqueous-phase pathways increased at elevated ambient RH and remained constant at RH > 30 %. We also found that the concentrations of VOC precursors (e.g., toluene and benzene) and aerosol surface area acted as important factors in promoting NAC formation, and photolysis as an important loss pathway for nitrophenols.
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21. |
- Bannan, T. J., et al.
(author)
-
A method for extracting calibrated volatility information from the FIGAERO-HR-ToF-CIMS and its experimental application
- 2019
-
In: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1867-1381 .- 1867-8548. ; 12:3, s. 1429-1439
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols (FIGAERO) is an inlet specifically designed to be coupled with the Aerodyne High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-CIMS). The FIGAERO-HR-ToF-CIMS provides simultaneous molecular information relating to both the gas- and particle-phase samples and has been used to extract vapour pressures (VPs) of the compounds desorbing from the filter whilst giving quantitative concentrations in the particle phase. However, such extraction of vapour pressures of the measured particle-phase components requires use of appropriate, well-defined, reference compounds. Vapour pressures for the homologous series of polyethylene glycols (PEG) ((H-(O-CH 2 CH 2 ) n -OH) for n = 3 to n = 8), covering a range of vapour pressures (VP) (10 -1 to 10 -7 Pa) that are atmospherically relevant, have been shown to be reproduced well by a range of different techniques, including Knudsen Effusion Mass Spectrometry (KEMS). This is the first homologous series of compounds for which a number of vapour pressure measurement techniques have been found to be in agreement, indicating the utility as a calibration standard, providing an ideal set of benchmark compounds for accurate characterization of the FIGAERO for extracting vapour pressure of measured compounds in chambers and the real atmosphere. To demonstrate this, single-component and mixture vapour pressure measurements are made using two FIGAERO-HR-ToF-CIMS instruments based on a new calibration determined from the PEG series. VP values extracted from both instruments agree well with those measured by KEMS and reported values from literature, validating this approach for extracting VP data from the FIGAERO. This method is then applied to chamber measurements, and the vapour pressures of known products are estimated. © 2019 Author(s).
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22. |
- Le Breton, Michael, 1986, et al.
(author)
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Application of a FIGAERO ToF CIMS for on-line characterization of real-world fresh and aged particle emissions from buses
- 2019
-
In: Aerosol Science and Technology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0278-6826 .- 1521-7388. ; 53:3, s. 244-259
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. On-line chemical characterization of real-world particle emissions from 13 transit buses was performed using a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (CIMS) equipped with a filter inlet for gases and aerosols (FIGAERO). In addition to the fresh emissions the emissions were artificially aged using a potential aerosol mass reactor (Go:PAM). The buses studied were running on different fuel types (diesel, compressed natural gas, and rapeseed methyl ester) and exhaust after-treatment systems (selective catalytic reduction (SCR), exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), and a three-way catalyst). When evaluating emissions from passing exhaust plumes using the FIGAERO ToF-CIMS, two technical features were highlighted from this work, the use of high mass calibrants and the factor enhancement method to be able to filter important compounds from mass spectra including hundreds of species. Here, acetate was used as the reagent ion to enable detection of highly oxygenated species in the exhaust particle emissions with potential high toxicity and/or secondary organic aerosol formation (SOA) potential. The acetate ionization scheme accounted for 4% to 46% of the total emitted particulate mass through identification of 61 species in the spectra. For aged emission the various fuel types provided overlapping species that could explain up to 19% of the aged emissions. This is hypothesized to come from the oxidation of engine lubrication oil, thus a common source for various fuels which was further supported by laboratory measurements. Specific markers from the SCR technology, such as urea oxidation products and further byproducts from hydrolysis were identified and attributed to reactions of isocyanic acid.
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23. |
- Donahue, N. M., et al.
(author)
-
Aging of biogenic secondary organic aerosol via gas-phase OH radical reactions
- 2012
-
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 109:34, s. 13503-13508
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Multiple Chamber Aerosol Chemical Aging Study (MUCHACHAS) tested the hypothesis that hydroxyl radical (OH) aging significantly increases the concentration of first-generation biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA). OH is the dominant atmospheric oxidant, and MUCHACHAS employed environmental chambers of very different designs, using multiple OH sources to explore a range of chemical conditions and potential sources of systematic error. We isolated the effect of OH aging, confirming our hypothesis while observing corresponding changes in SOA properties. The mass increases are consistent with an existing gap between global SOA sources and those predicted in models, and can be described by a mechanism suitable for implementation in those models.
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24. |
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25. |
- Zhao, D. F., et al.
(author)
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Size-dependent hygroscopicity parameter (κ) and chemical composition of secondary organic cloud condensation nuclei
- 2015
-
In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 1944-8007. ; 42:24
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Secondary organic aerosol components (SOA) contribute significantly to the activation of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the atmosphere. The CCN activity of internally mixed submicron SOA particles is often parameterized assuming a size-independent single-hygroscopicity parameter κ. In the experiments done in a large atmospheric reactor (SAPHIR, Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction chamber, Jülich), we consistently observed size-dependent κ and particle composition for SOA from different precursors in the size range of 50nm–200nm. Smaller particles had higher κ and a higher degree of oxidation, although all particles were formed from the same reaction mixture. Since decreasing volatility and increasing hygroscopicity often covary with the degree of oxidation, the size dependence of composition and hence of CCN activity can be understood by enrichment of higher oxygenated, low-volatility hygroscopic compounds in smaller particles. Neglecting the size dependence of κ can lead to significant bias in the prediction of the activated fraction of particles during cloud formation.
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26. |
- Ning, Zhijun, et al.
(author)
-
Role of surface ligands in optical properties of colloidal CdSe/CdS quantum dots.
- 2011
-
In: Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9084 .- 1463-9076. ; 13:13, s. 5848-54
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In order to study the role of surface ligands in determining optical properties of colloidal quantum dots (QDs), we have selectively fabricated and studied CdSe/CdS core-shell QDs with strongly confined electron and hole states attached with commonly used surface ligands. Optical properties, viz. absorption and fluorescence of these QDs, are characterized from which salient changes have been observed for different ligand substitutions which, through theoretical analysis, can be associated with electronic structure properties of the QD-ligand composite systems, in particular localization of wave functions of electrons and holes in the QDs and the band matching of the HOMO-LUMO gap of the ligands. The findings can be utilized to facilitate the understanding and optimization of properties of QD biomarkers with functionalizing surface ligands for targeting cellular objects.
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27. |
- Rahm, Martin, et al.
(author)
-
The Molecular Surface Structure of Ammonium and Potassium Dinitramide : A Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Study
- 2011
-
In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1932-7447 .- 1932-7455. ; 115:21, s. 10588-10596
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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28. |
- Hallquist, Mattias, 1969, et al.
(author)
-
Photochemical smog in China: scientific challenges and implications for air-quality policies
- 2016
-
In: National Science Review. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2095-5138 .- 2053-714X. ; 3:4, s. 401-403
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In large areas of China severe air pollution events pose a significant threat to human health, ecosystems and climate. Current reduction of primary emissions will also affect secondary pollutants such as ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM), but the magnitude of the effects is uncertain. Major scientific challenges are related to the formation of O3 and secondary particulate matter including Secondary Organic Aerosols (SOA). Large uncertainties also remain regarding the interactions of soot, SOA and O3 under the influence of different SO2, NOX and VOC concentrations. To improve the understanding of these secondary atmospheric interactions in China, scientific areas of central importance for photochemically induced air pollutants have been identified. In addition to the scientific challenges, results from research need to be synthesized across several disciplines and communicated to stakeholders affected by air pollution and to policy makers responsible for developing abatement strategies. Development of these science-policy interactions can benefit from experience gained under the UN ECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP)
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29. |
- Wang, Y. J., et al.
(author)
-
The secondary formation of organosulfates under interactions between biogenic emissions and anthropogenic pollutants in summer in Beijing
- 2018
-
In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 18:14, s. 10693-10713
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Organosulfates (OSs) with ambiguous formation mechanisms are a potential source of "missing secondary organic aerosol (SOA)" in current atmospheric models. In this study, we chemically characterized OSs and nitrooxy-OSs (NOSs) formed under the influence of biogenic emissions and anthropogenic pollutants (e.g., NOx, SO42-) in summer in Beijing. An ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source was applied to examine the overall molecular composition of S-containing organics. The number and intensities of S-containing organics, the majority of which could be assigned as OSs and NOSs, increased significantly during pollution episodes, which indicated their importance for SOA accumulation. To further investigate the distribution and formation of OSs and NOSs, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was employed to quantify 10 OSs and 3 NOS species. The total concentrations of quantified OSs and NOSs were 41.4 and 13.8 ng m(-3), respectively. Glycolic acid sulfate was the most abundant species among all the quantified species, followed by monoterpene NOSs (C10H16NO7S-). The total concentration of three isoprene OSs was 14.8 ng m(-3) and the isoprene OSs formed via the HO2 channel were higher than those formed via the NO/NO2 channel. The OS concentration coincided with the increase in acidic sulfate aerosols, aerosol acidity, and liquid water content (LWC), indicating the acid-catalyzed aqueousphase formation of OSs in the presence of acidic sulfate aerosols. When sulfate dominated the accumulation of secondary inorganic aerosols (SIAs; sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium; SO42-/SIA > 0.5), OS formation would obviously be promoted as the increasing of acidic sulfate aerosols, aerosol LWC, and acidity (pH < 2.8). Otherwise, acid-catalyzed OS formation would be limited by lower aerosol acidity when nitrate dominated the SIA accumulation. The nighttime enhancement of monoterpene NOSs suggested their formation via the nighttime NO3-initiated oxidation of monoterpene under high-NOx conditions. However, isoprene NOSs are presumed to form via acid-catalyzed chemistry or reactive uptake of oxidation products of isoprene. This study provides direct observational evidence and highlights the secondary formation of OSs and NOSs via the interaction between biogenic precursors and anthropogenic pollutants (NOx, SO2, and SO42-). The results imply that future reduction in anthropogenic emissions can help to reduce the biogenic SOA burden in Beijing or other areas impacted by both biogenic emissions and anthropogenic pollutants.
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30. |
- Hahlin, Maria, et al.
(author)
-
Electronic and molecular structures of organic dye/TiO2 interfaces for solar cell applications : a core level photoelectron spectroscopy study
- 2010
-
In: Physical Chemistry, Chemical Physics - PCCP. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 12:7, s. 1507-1517
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The electronic and molecular properties of three organic dye molecules with the general structure donor-linker-anchor have been investigated using core level photoelectron spectroscopy (PES). The molecules contain a diphenylaniline donor unit, a thiophene linker unit, and cyanoacrylic acid or rhodanine-3-acetic acid anchor units. They have been investigated both in the form of a multilayer and adsorbed onto nanoporous TiO2 and the experimental results were also compared with DFT calculations. The changes at the dye-sensitized TiO2 surface due to the modification of either the donor unit or the anchor unit was investigated and the results showed important differences in coverage as well as in electronic and molecular surface properties. By measuring the core level binding energies, the sub-molecular properties were characterized and the result showed that the adsorption to the TiO2 influences the energy levels of the sub-molecular units differently.
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31. |
- Damas, Giane Benvinda, et al.
(author)
-
Carbon dioxide reduction mechanism on Ru-based electrocatalysts [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) : insights from first-principles theory
- 2021
-
In: Sustainable Energy & Fuels. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2398-4902. ; 5:23, s. 6066-6076
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Solar fuel production through the so-called artificial photosynthesis has attracted a great deal of attention to the development of a new world energy matrix that is renewable and environmentally friendly. This process is characterized by light absorption with enough photon energy to generate conduction electrons, which drive the carbon dioxide reduction to produce organic fuels. It is also common to couple Ru-complex electrocatalysts to form a more efficient and selective hybrid system for this application. In this work, we have undertaken a thorough investigation of the redox reaction mechanism of Ru-based electrocatalysts by means of density functional theory (DFT) methods under the experimental conditions that have been previously reported. More specifically, we have studied the electrochemistry and catalytic activity of the [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) coordination complex. Our theoretical assessment supports the following catalytic cycle: (i) [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) is transformed into [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)](0) upon two-electron reduction and CO release; (ii) [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)](0) is protonated to form the [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)H](+) hydride complex; (iii) CO2 is activated by the hydride complex through an electrophilic addition to form the [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(OCHO)](+) intermediate; (iv) the resulting formic acid ligand is released in solution; and, finally, (v) the CO ligand is reattached to the complex to recover the initial [Ru(bpy)(2)(CO)(2)](2+) catalyst.
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32. |
- Maurina Morais, Eduardo, 1989
(author)
-
Synthesis of protic ionic liquids. Challenges and solutions for the synthesis of pure compounds.
- 2022
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The urgent need to diversify our energy matrix is responsible for a renewed interest in fuel cell technology, which can use hydrogen gas, a renewable green fuel, as an energy source. This technology is currently a commercially available option, however, it still requires technological improvements before it can be widely used for different applications. One way this technology could potentially be improved is by increasing its temperature range of operation by developing new, anhydrous proton conducting materials. Protic ionic liquids, which are organic salts with low melting temperatures, are interesting candidates for this application, since they can conduct protons in the operational conditions of fuel cells and without the need of water. These compounds can be synthesized by a simple acid-base neutralization reaction, but certain considerations must be taken in order to obtain high quality (dry and pure) protic ionic liquids. In this thesis, 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 consists of only glass and chemically resistant polymer(PTFE and PVDF) parts, which avoids other contaminants that can result from unwanted reactions involving the reagents with common laboratory tools (metallic objects, paper, plastic, etc.). The resulting ionic liquids were carefully analyzed by spectroscopic and thermal analysis 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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33. |
- Sznitko, L., et al.
(author)
-
Low-threshold stimulated emission from lysozyme amyloid fibrils doped with a blue laser dye
- 2015
-
In: Applied Physics Letters. - : AIP Publishing. - 0003-6951 .- 1077-3118. ; 106:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2015 AIP Publishing LLC. Amyloid fibrils are excellent self-assembling nanotemplates for organic molecules such as dyes. Here, we demonstrate that laser dye-doped lysozyme type fibrils exhibit significantly reduced threshold for stimulated emission compared to that observed in usual matrices. Laser action was studied in slab planar waveguides of the amyloids doped with Stilbene 420 laser dye prepared using a film casting technique. The lowering of the threshold of stimulated emission is analyzed in the context of intrinsic structure of the amyloid nanotemplates, electrostatic interaction of different microstructures with dye molecules, as well as material properties of the cast layers. All these factors are considered to be of importance for introducing gain for random laser operation.
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34. |
- Antonsen, Simen, et al.
(author)
-
Atmospheric Chemistry of tert-butylamine and AMP
- 2017
-
In: Energy Procedia. Volume 114, 2017, Pages 1026-103213th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT 2016; Lausanne; Switzerland; 14 November 2016 through 18 November 2016. - : Elsevier BV. - 1876-6102.
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2017 The Authors. The atmospheric chemistry of (CH 3 ) 3 CNH 2 (tert-butylamine, tBA) and (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 OH)CNH 2 (2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, AMP) has been studied by quantum chemistry methods and in photo-oxidation experiments in the EUPHORE chamber in Valencia (Spain). Aerosol formation and composition has been quantified. Yields of nitramines and other products in the photo-oxidations have been determined and complete photo-oxidation schemes including branching between the major reaction routes have been obtained. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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35. |
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36. |
- Liu, Yanfeng, et al.
(author)
-
In Situ Optical Spectroscopy Demonstrates the Effect of Solvent Additive in the Formation of All-Polymer Solar Cells
- 2022
-
In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7185. ; 13:50, s. 11696-11702
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 1-Chloronaphthalene (CN) has been a common solvent additive in both fullerene- A nd nonfullerene-based organic solar cells. In spite of this, its working mechanism is seldom investigated, in particular, during the drying process of bulk heterojunctions composed of a donor:acceptor mixture. In this work, the role of CN in all-polymer solar cells is investigated by in situ spectroscopies and ex situ characterization of blade-coated PBDB-T:PF5-Y5 blends. Our results suggest that the added CN promotes self-aggregation of polymer donor PBDB-T during the drying process of the blend film, resulting in enhanced crystallinity and hole mobility, which contribute to the increased fill factor and improved performance of PBDB-T:PF5-Y5 solar cells. Besides, the nonradiative energy loss of the corresponding device is also reduced by the addition of CN, corresponding to a slightly increased open-circuit voltage. Overall, our observations deepen our understanding of the drying dynamics, which may guide further development of all-polymer solar cells.
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37. |
- Tejero, Ismael, et al.
(author)
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Theoretical modeling of hydroxyl-radical-induced lipid peroxidation reactions
- 2007
-
In: Journal of Physical Chemistry B. - : American Chemical Society. - 1520-6106 .- 1520-5207. ; 111:20, s. 5684-5693
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The OH-radical-induced mechanism of lipid peroxidation, involving hydrogen abstraction followed by O2 addition, is explored using the kinetically corrected hybrid density functional MPWB1K in conjunction with the MG3S basis set and a polarized continuum model to mimic the membrane interior. Using a small nonadiene model of linoleic acid, it is found that hydrogen abstraction preferentially occurs at the mono-allylic methylene groups at the ends of the conjugated segment rather than at the central bis-allylic carbon, in disagreement with experimental data. Using a full linoleic acid, however, abstraction is correctly predicted to occur at the central carbon, giving a pentadienyl radical. The Gibbs free energy for abstraction at the central C11 is 8 kcal/mol, compared to 9 kcal/mol at the end points (giving an allyl radical). Subsequent oxygen addition will occur at one of the terminal atoms of the pentadienyl radical fragment, giving a localized peroxy radical and a conjugated butadiene fragment, but is associated with rather high free energy barriers and low exergonicity at the CPCM-MPWB1K/MG3S level. The ZPE-corrected potential energy surfaces obtained without solvent effects, on the other hand, display considerably lower barriers and more exergonic reactions.
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38. |
- Meng, X. X. Y., et al.
(author)
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Humidity-Dependent Phase State of Gasoline Vehicle Emission-Related Aerosols
- 2021
-
In: Environmental Science & Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 55:2, s. 832-841
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The phase states of primarily emitted and secondarily formed aerosols from gasoline vehicle exhausts were investigated by quantifying the particle rebound fraction (f). The rebound behaviors of gasoline vehicle emission-related aerosols varied with engines, fuel types, and photochemical aging time, showing distinguished differences from biogenic secondary organic aerosols. The nonliquid-to-liquid phase transition of primary aerosols emitted from port fuel injection (PFI) and gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles started at a relative humidity (RH) = 50 and 60%, and liquefaction was accomplished at 60 and 70%, respectively. The RH at which f declined to 0.5 decreased from 70 to 65% for the PFI case with 92# fuel, corresponding to the photochemical aging time from 0.37 to 4.62 days. For the GDI case, such RH enhanced from 60 to 65%. Our results can be used to imply the phase state of traffic-related aerosols and further understand their roles in urban atmospheric chemistry. Taking Beijing, China, as an example, traffic-related aerosols were mainly nonliquid during winter with the majority ambient RH below 50%, whereas they were mostly liquid during the morning rush hour of summer, and traffic-related secondary aerosols fluctuated between nonliquid and liquid during the daytime and tended to be liquid at night with increased ambient RH.
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39. |
- Karlsson, Rasmus, 1987-
(author)
-
Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Electrode and Electrolyte Processes in Industrial Electrosynthesis
- 2015
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Heterogeneous electrocatalysis is the usage of solid materials to decrease the amount of energy needed to produce chemicals using electricity. It is of core importance for modern life, as it enables production of chemicals, such as chlorine gas and sodium chlorate, needed for e.g. materials and pharmaceuticals production. Furthermore, as the need to make a transition to usage of renewable energy sources is growing, the importance for electrocatalysis used for electrolytic production of clean fuels, such as hydrogen, is rising. In this thesis, work aimed at understanding and improving electrocatalysts used for these purposes is presented.A main part of the work has been focused on the selectivity between chlorine gas, or sodium chlorate formation, and parasitic oxygen evolution. An activation of anode surface Ti cations by nearby Ru cations is suggested as a reason for the high chlorine selectivity of the “dimensionally stable anode” (DSA), the standard anode used in industrial chlorine and sodium chlorate production. Furthermore, theoretical methods have been used to screen for dopants that can be used to improve the activity and selectivity of DSA, and several promising candidates have been found. Moreover, the connection between the rate of chlorate formation and the rate of parasitic oxygen evolution, as well as the possible catalytic effects of electrolyte contaminants on parasitic oxygen evolution in the chlorate process, have been studied experimentally.Additionally, the properties of a Co-doped DSA have been studied, and it is found that the doping makes the electrode more active for hydrogen evolution. Finally, the hydrogen evolution reaction on both RuO2 and the noble-metal-free electrocatalyst material MoS2 has been studied using a combination of experimental and theoretically calculated X-ray photoelectron chemical shifts. In this way, insight into structural changes accompanying hydrogen evolution on these materials is obtained.
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40. |
- Arvidsson, Adam, 1990
(author)
-
Partial methane oxidation from electronic structure calculations
- 2017
-
Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Investigating catalytic reactions with computational methods is a powerful approach to understand fundamental aspects of catalytic reactions and find ways to guide catalytic design. Partial methane oxidation is one example of a reaction with intriguing challenges, where a detailed atomistic approach may help to unravel the bottlenecks of this, as of yet, inefficient reaction. Although methane only needs one oxygen atom for conversion to methanol, the direct oxidation is difficult; it is in fact so difficult that at many oil extraction sites, the methane that inevitably accompanies the crude oil is flared into carbon dioxide and water as gas-phase methane is too inconvenient to store and transport.The main challenge with partial oxidation of methane is to selectively control the oxidation and steer it towards methanol and prevent over-oxidation to CO2. There exist natural enzymes that can partially oxidize methane to methanol at ambient pressure and temperature, although very slowly. One inorganic analogue to these naturally occurring enzymes are zeolites, a porous material that can readily be synthesized and that have been shown to convert methane to methanol at ambient conditions with a high selectivity (>90 %). This has been realized for zeolites ion-exchanged with different metals, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, and copper. Although there have been many attempts to determine the active site for the reaction, there is still no consensus. One candidate that has been put forth is a [Cu-O-Cu]2+ motif experimentally characterized in the ZSM-5 zeolite. In this thesis, partial oxidation of methane is investigated, focusing on this dimer motif. By combining density functional theory calculations with microkinetic modelling, the catalytic performance of the dimer motif is investigated with a simple reaction mechanism for copper, but also with the copper atoms exchanged with nickel, cobalt, iron, silver, or gold. From these results, it is clear that this particular dimer site is a relevant candidate only for copper, and can be excluded in the continued search for active sites in nickel, cobalt, and iron ion-exchanged ZSM-5.To further understand how methanol is formed and interacts with Cu-ZSM-5, experimental and calculated infrared frequencies are compared for methanol and other adsorbates. The partial oxidation of methane is also studied for other systems with oxidants other than oxygen. In particular, methane oxidation with H2S to CH3SH and H2 is explored on molybdenum sulfide clusters.
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41. |
- van den Bossche, Maxime, 1989
(author)
-
Methane oxidation over palladium oxide. From electronic structure to catalytic conversion
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Understanding how catalysts work down to the atomic level can provide ways to improve chemical processes on which our contemporary economy is heavily reliant. The oxidation of methane is one such example, which is important from an environmental point of view. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and natural and biogas vehicles need efficient catalysts to prevent slip of uncombusted fuel into the exhaust. Commercial catalysts for methane oxidation are often based on palladium or platinum. Metallic palladium, however, is easily converted to palladium oxide when the engine is operated at oxygen rich conditions. In this thesis, various aspects of complete methane oxidation over PdO(101) are investigated with computational methods based on density functional theory (DFT). PdO(101) is the active surface for methane oxidation, and firstly, the reaction intermediates CO and H are studied in detail. Possible pathways for H2 adsorption, dissociation and eventual water formation are investigated, in connection to core-level spectroscopy experiments. Similarly, the adsorption configurations for carbon monoxide on clean and oxidized palladium are examined with a combination of DFT calculations, core-level and infrared spectroscopy. Secondly, a detailed kinetic model is constructed that describes the catalytic conversion of CH4 to CO2 and H2O over PdO(101). This is done in a first-principles microkinetics framework, where the kinetic parameters are obtained by applying density functional and transition state theory. The kinetic model provides a fundamental understanding of findings from reactor experiments, such as the rate limiting steps and poisoning behaviour, and shows qualitatively different behaviour of adsorbates on oxide as compared to metal surfaces. Lastly, limitations of the commonly used class of generalized gradient functionals are illustrated in the computation of several properties of adsorbates on metal oxide surfaces. These include core-level shifts and thermodynamic and reactive properties of adsorbates on the PdO(101) surface. Similarly, the description of several molecular and cooperative adsorption processes are also found to be sensitive to the applied exchange-correlation functional on the BaO(100), TiO2(110) and CeO2(111) surfaces.
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42. |
- Ye, Chen, et al.
(author)
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Optimizing photon upconversion by decoupling excimer formation and triplet triplet annihilation
- 2020
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In: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9076 .- 1463-9084. ; 22:3, s. 1715-1720
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Perylene is a promising annihilator candidate for triplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion, which has been successfully used in solar cells and in photocatalysis. Perylene can, however, form excimers, reducing the energy conversion efficiency and hindering further development of TTA-UC systems. Alkyl substitution of perylene can suppress excimer formation, but decelerate triplet energy transfer and triplet-triplet annihilation at the same time. Our results show that mono-substitution with small alkyl groups selectively blocks excimer formation without severly compromising the TTA-UC efficiency. The experimental results are complemented by DFT calculations, which demonstrate that excimer formation is suppressed by steric repulsion. The results demonstrate how the chemical structure can be modified to block unwanted intermolecular excited state relaxation pathways with minimal effect on the preferred ones.
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43. |
- Londero, Elisa, 1982, et al.
(author)
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Desorption of n-alkanes from graphene: a van der Waals density functional study
- 2012
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In: Journal of Physics Condensed Matter. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-8984 .- 1361-648X. ; 24:42, s. 424212-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A recent study of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) measurements of small linear alkane molecules (n-alkanes, with formula CNH2N+2) from C(0001) deposited on Pt(111) shows a linear relationship of the desorption energy with increasing n-alkane chain length N. We here present a van der Waals density functional study of the desorption barrier energy of the ten smallest n-alkanes (of carbon chain length N = 1–10) from graphene. We find linear scaling with N, including a non-zero intercept with the energy axis, i.e. an offset at the extrapolation to N = 0. This calculated offset is quantitatively similar to the results of the TPD measurements. From further calculations of the polyethylene polymer we offer a suggestion for the origin of the offset.
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44. |
- Bushnell, Eric A. C., et al.
(author)
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The first branching point in porphyrin biosynthesis : a systematic docking, molecular dynamics and quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical study of substrate binding and mechanism of uroporphyrinogen-III decarboxylase
- 2011
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In: Journal of Computational Chemistry. - New York : John Wiley & Sons. - 0192-8651 .- 1096-987X. ; 32:5, s. 822-834
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In humans, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase is intimately involved in the synthesis of heme, where the decarboxylation of the uroporphyrinogen-III occurs in a single catalytic site. Several variants of the mechanistic proposal exist; however, the exact mechanism is still debated. Thus, using an ONIOM quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical approach, the mechanism by which uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase decarboxylates ring D of uroporphyrinogen-III has been investigated. From the study performed, it was found that both Arg37 and Arg50 are essential in the decarboxylation of ring D, where experimentally both have been shown to be critical to the catalytic behavior of the enzyme. Overall, the reaction was found to have a barrier of 10.3 kcal mol−1 at 298.15 K. The rate-limiting step was found to be the initial protontransfer from Arg37 to the substrate before the decarboxylation. In addition, it has been found that several key interactions exist between the substrate carboxylate groups and backbone amides of various activesite residues as well as several other functional groups.
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45. |
- Erdtman, Edvin, et al.
(author)
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Theoretical study of 5-aminolevulinic acid tautomerization : a novel self-catalyzed mechanism
- 2008
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In: Journal of Physical Chemistry A. - Washington DC : American Chemical Society. - 1089-5639 .- 1520-5215. ; 112:18, s. 4367-4374
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 5-Aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) is the key synthetic building block in protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), the heme chromophore in mitochondria. In this study density functional theory calculations were performed on the tautomers of 5ALA and the tautomerization reaction mechanism from its enolic forms (5-amino-4-hydroxypent-3-enoic acid and 5-amino-4-hydroxypent-4-enoic acid) to the more stable 5ALA. The hydrated form 5-amino-4,4-dihydroxypentanoic acid was also studied. The lowest energy pathway of 5ALA tautomerization is by means of autocatalysis, in that an oxygen of the carboxylic group transfers the hydrogen atom as a "crane", with an activation energy of similar to 15 kcal/mol. This should be compared to the barriers of about 35 kcal/mol for water assisted tautomerization, and 60 kcal/mol for direct hydrogen transfer. For hydration of 5ALA, the water catalyzed activation barrier is found to be similar to 35 kcal/mol, approximately 5 kcal/mol lower than direct hydration.
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46. |
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47. |
- Laarz, Eric, et al.
(author)
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Colloidal processing of Al2O3-based composites reinforced with TiN and TiC particulates, whiskers and nanoparticles
- 2001
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In: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. - 0955-2219 .- 1873-619X. ; 21:8, s. 1027-1035
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A colloidal processing route has been developed for the preparation of dense and homogeneous Al2O3–TiN/TiC composites. The dispersion and rheological properties of mixtures of TiN or TiC particulates and Al2O3 particles were investigated using electrokinetics and steady-shear rheology. We found that well-dispersed aqueous suspensions with low viscosity could be prepared by adding a poly(acrylic acid) dispersant and controlling pH in the alkaline range. This processing scheme was also suitable for preparation of whisker and nanoparticle composite suspensions. The alumina-based composite suspensions with a secondary-phase concentration of 25 vol.% were freeze-granulated and hot-pressed, and the resulting bodies were fully densified with well-dispersed secondary phases. Homogeneous Al2O3–TiN nanoparticle composites could only be prepared with additions of up to 5 vol.% nanoparticles; higher additions resulted in agglomeration and subsequent grain growth of the nanoparticles.
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48. |
- Zhang, Ru Bo, et al.
(author)
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Theoretical studies of damage to 3'-uridine monophosphate induced by electron attachment
- 2008
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In: Chemistry - A European Journal. - Weinheim : Wiley-VCH-Verl.. - 0947-6539 .- 1521-3765. ; 14:9, s. 2850-2856
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Low-energy electrons (LEE) are well known to induce nucleic acid damage. However, the damage mechanisms related to charge state and structural features remain to be explored in detail. In the present work, we have investigated the N1-glycosidic and C3'-O(P) bond ruptures of 3'-UMP (UMP=uridine monophosphate) and the protonated form 3'-UMPH with -1 and zero charge, respectively, based on hybrid density functional theory (DFT) B3 LYP together with the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The glycosidic bond breakage reactions of the 3'UMP and 3'UMPH electron adducts are exothermic in both cases, with barrier heights of 19-20 kcal mol(-1) upon inclusion of bulk solvation. The effects of the charge state on the phosphate group are marginal, but the C2'-OH group destabilizes the transition structure of glycosidic bond rupture of 3'-UMPH in the gas phase by approximately 5.0 kcal mol(-1). This is in contrast with the C3'-O(P) bond ruptures induced by LEE in which the charge state on the phosphate influences the barrier heights and reaction energies considerably. The barrier towards C3'-O(P) bond dissociation in the 3'UMP electron adduct is higher in the gas phase than the one corresponding to glycosidic bond rupture and is dramatically influenced by the C2'-OH group and bulk salvation, which decreases the barrier to 14.7 kcal mol(-1). For the C3'-O(P) bond rupture of the 3'UMPH electron adduct, the reaction is exothermic and the barrier is even lower, 8.2 kcal mol(-1), which is in agreement with recent results for 3'-dTMPH and 5'-dTMPH (dTMPH=deoxythymidine monophosphate). Both the Mulliken atomic charges and unpaired-spin distribution play significant roles in the reactions
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49. |
- Marcellini, Moreno, et al.
(author)
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Transient isomers in the photodissociation of bromoiodomethane
- 2018
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In: Journal of Chemical Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-9606 .- 1089-7690. ; 148:13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The photochemistry of halomethanes is fascinating for the complex cascade reactions toward either the parent or newly synthesized molecules. Here, we address the structural rearrangement of photodissociated CH2IBr in methanol and cyclohexane, probed by time-resolved X-ray scattering in liquid solution. Upon selective laser cleavage of the C-I bond, we follow the reaction cascade of the two geminate geometrical isomers, CH2I-Br and CH2Br-I. Both meta-stable isomers decay on different time scales, mediated by solvent interaction, toward the original parent molecule. We observe the internal rearrangement of CH2Br-I to CH2I-Br in cyclohexane by extending the time window up to 3 mu s. We track the photoproduct kinetics of CH2Br-I in methanol solution where only one isomer is observed. The effect of the polarity of solvent on the geminate recombination pathways is discussed. Published by AIP Publishing.
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50. |
- Wang, H. C., et al.
(author)
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Efficient N2O5 uptake and NO3 oxidation in the outflow of urban Beijing
- 2018
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In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1680-7316 .- 1680-7324. ; 18:13, s. 9705-9721
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nocturnal reactive nitrogen compounds play an important role in regional air pollution. Here we present the measurements of dinitrogen pentoxide (N2O5) associated with nitryl chloride (ClNO2) and particulate nitrate (pNO(3)(-)) at a suburban site of Beijing in the summer of 2016. High levels of N2O5 and ClNO2 were observed in the outflow of the urban Beijing air masses, with 1 min average maxima of 937 and 2900 pptv, respectively. The N2O5 uptake coefficients, gamma, and ClNO2 yield, f, were experimentally determined from the observed parameters. The N2O5 uptake coefficient ranged from 0.012 to 0.055, with an average of 0.034 +/- 0.018, which is in the upper range of previous field studies reported in North America and Europe but is a moderate value in the North China Plain (NCP), which reflects efficient N2O5 heterogeneous processes in Beijing. The ClNO2 yield exhibited high variability, with a range of 0.50 to unity and an average of 0.73 +/- 0.25. The concentration of the nitrate radical (NO3) was calculated assuming that the thermal equilibrium between NO3 and N2O5 was maintained. In NOx-rich air masses, the oxidation of nocturnal biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) was dominated by NO3 rather than O-3. The production rate of organic nitrate (ON) via NO3 + BVOCs was significant, with an average of 0.10 +/- 0.07 ppbvh(-1). We highlight the importance of NO3 oxidation of VOCs in the formation of ON and subsequent secondary organic aerosols in summer in Beijing.
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