Characterization of Germanium Nanoparticles from Arylgermanium Trihydrides.

Germanium is a promising basis for nanomaterials due to its low toxicity and valuable optical and electronic properties. However, germanium nanomaterials have seen little research compared to other group 14 elements due to unpredictable chemical behavior and high costs. Here, we report the dehydrocoupling of o-tolylgermanium trihydride to amorphous nanoparticles. The reaction is facilitated through reflux at 162 °C and can be accelerated with an amine base catalyst. Through cleavage of both H2 and toluene, new Ge-Ge bonds form. This results in nanoparticles consisting of crosslinked germanium with o-tolyl termination. The particles are 2-6 nm in size and have masses above approximately 3500 Da. The organic substituents are promising for further functionalization. Combined with strong absorption up to 600 nm and moderate solubility and air stability, there are numerous possibilities for future applications.

Density-dependent microbial calcium carbonate precipitation by drinking water bacteria via amino acid metabolism and biosorption.

Drinking water plumbing systems appear to be a unique environment for microorganisms as they contain few nutrients but a high mineral concentration. Interactions between mineral content and bacteria, such as microbial calcium carbonate precipitation (MCP) however, has not yet attracted too much attention in drinking water sector. This study aims to carefully examine MCP behavior of two drinking water bacteria species, which may potentially link scaling and biofouling processes in drinking water distribution systems. Evidence from cell density evolution, chemical parameters, and microscopy suggest that drinking water isolates can mediate CaCO3 precipitation through previously overlooked MCP mechanisms like ammonification or biosorption. The results also illustrate the active control of bacteria on the MCP process, as the calcium starts to concentrate onto cell surfaces only after reaching a certain cell density, even though the cell surfaces are shown to be the ideal location for the CaCO3 nucleation.

Alkaline Ethanol Oxidation Reaction on Carbon Supported Ternary PdNiBi Nanocatalyst using Modified Instant Reduction Synthesis Method.

Direct ethanol fuel cells (DEFC) still lack active and efficient electrocatalysts for the alkaline ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). In this work, a new instant reduction synthesis method was developed to prepare carbon supported ternary PdNiBi nanocatalysts with improved EOR activity. Synthesized catalysts were characterized with a variety of structural and compositional analysis techniques in order to correlate their morphology and surface chemistry with electrochemical performance. The modified instant reduction synthesis results in well-dispersed, spherical Pd85Ni10Bi5 nanoparticles on Vulcan XC72R support (Pd85Ni10Bi5/C(II-III)), with sizes ranging from 3.7 ± 0.8 to 4.7 ± 0.7 nm. On the other hand, the common instant reduction synthesis method leads to significantly agglomerated nanoparticles (Pd85Ni10Bi5/C(I)). EOR activity and stability of these three different carbon supported PdNiBi anode catalysts with a nominal atomic ratio of 85:10:5 were probed via cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry using the rotating disk electrode method. Pd85Ni10Bi5/C(II) showed the highest electrocatalytic activity (150 mA⋅cm-2; 2678 mA⋅mg-1) with low onset potential (0.207 V) for EOR in alkaline medium, as compared to a commercial Pd/C and to the other synthesized ternary nanocatalysts Pd85Ni10Bi5/C(I) and Pd85Ni10Bi5/C(III). This new synthesis approach provides a new avenue to developing efficient, carbon supported ternary nanocatalysts for future energy conversion devices. Graphical AbstractThe modified instant reduction method for synthesis of ternary Pd85Ni10Bi5/C(II) nanocatalyst using Vulcan XC72R as carbon support initiates an agglomeration reduction, provides low average particle size, and enables enhanced activity for the alkaline ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) compared to the common instant reduction method and to a commercial Pd/C catalyst.

A Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering Study of the Dynamics of Electrically Constrained Water.

We have measured the quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) of an electrohydrodynamic liquid bridge formed between two beakers of pure water when a high voltage is applied, a setup allowing to investigate water under high-voltage without high currents. From this experiment two proton populations were distinguished: one consisting of protons strongly bound to oxygen atoms (immobile population, elastic component) and a second one of quasi-free protons (mobile population, inelastic component) both detected by QENS. The diffusion coefficient of the quasi-free protons was found to be D = (26 ± 10) × 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1) with a jump length lav ∼ 3 Å and an average residence time of τ0 = 0.55 ± 0.08 ps. The associated proton mobility in the proton channel of the bridge is ∼9.34 × 10(-7) m(2) V(-1) s(-1), twice as fast as diffusion-based proton mobility in bulk water. It also matches the so-called electrohydrodynamic or "apparent" charge mobility, an experimental quantity which so far has lacked molecular interpretation. These results further corroborate the proton channel model for liquid water under high voltage and give new insights into the molecular mechanisms behind electrohydrodynamic charge transport phenomena and delocalization of protons in liquid water.

Preparation and Characterization of Chromium(III)-Activated Yttrium Aluminum Borate: A New Thermographic Phosphor for Optical Sensing and Imaging at Ambient Temperatures.

A new thermographic phosphor based on chromium(III)-doped yttrium aluminum borate (YAB) is obtained as single crystals by high temperature flux growth and as a microcrystalline powder via solution combustion synthesis. The phosphor is excitable both in the blue (lambda(max) 422 nm) and in the red part of the spectrum (lambda(max) 600 nm) and shows bright NIR emission. The brightness of the phosphor is comparable to that of a well-known lamp phosphor Mn(IV)-doped magnesium fluorogermanate. At ambient temperatures, the Cr(III)-doped YAB shows high temperature dependence of the luminescence decay time, which approaches 1% per deg. The material shows no decrease in luminescence intensity at higher temperatures. The new phosphor is particularly promising for applications in temperature-compensated optical chemosensors (including those based on NIR-emitting indicators) and in pressure-sensitive paints.

Rational design of manganese-micro-azido 3D compounds by using diazines as co-ligands: synthesis, structure and magnetic behaviour.

The syntheses, structural characterization, and magnetic behaviour of three new 3D manganese(II) complexes with the empirical formulae [Mn(N3)2(5-Brpym)]n (1), [Mn(N3)2(Mepyz)]n (2) and [Mn(N3)2(2-acpy)]n (3), (5-Brpym=5-bromopyrimidine, Mepyz=methylpyrazine, 2-acpy=2-acetylpyridine), are reported. In 1, each manganese atom is linked to the four nearest neighbours by only end-to-end azido bridges, forming square layers. These layers are further connected to 3D networks by the N,N'-bridging ligand. In 2, Mn2(micro(1,1)-N3)2 subunits are connected to the four nearest neighbours by end-to-end azido bridges to form a 3D Mn-azido-sublattice. The Mn2(micro(1,1)-N3)2 subunits are further linked by pairs of N,N'-bridging Mepyz ligands to form 1D ribbons extended along the c-axis of the unit cell. The Mepyz pairs show pi-pi-interactions. In 3, the only end-to-end azido bridges form a diamondoid-like 3D Mn-azido-sublattice. The magnetic properties of 1-3 are reported. At high temperatures, the plots of chiM or chiMTvs.T for can be fitted as a homogeneous 2D system with J=-5.4 cm(-1), g=2.05. Also, at high temperatures the plots of chiM or chiMTvs.T for compound can be fitted with the simple cubic expansion series with J=-1.6 cm(-1), g=2.04. Compound 1 shows spontaneous magnetization below Tc=45 K, which corresponds to the presence of spin-canted antiferromagnetism, whereas 2 and 3 do not show spontaneous magnetization up to 2 K.

Five new manganese-mu-azido 2D compounds synthesized in aqueous hydrazoic acid from pyrazine derivatives.

The syntheses, structural characterization, and magnetic behavior of five new 2D manganese(II) complexes with empirical formulas [Mn(N(3))(2)(2,6-DiMepyz)(H(2)O)](n)() (1), [Mn(N(3))(2)(Etpyz)(H(2)O)](n)() (2), [Mn(N(3))(2)(H(2)O)(2)](n)()(2,3-DiMepyz)(n)() (3), [Mn(N(3))(2)(Clpyz)(2)](n)() (4), and [Mn(N(3))(2)(Ipyz)(2)](n)() (5) (pyz = pyrazine (1,4-diazine)) are reported. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with unit cell parameters a = 7.513(4) A, b = 17.438(7) A, c = 8.404(4) A, beta = 94.53(4) degrees , and Z = 4. 2 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P, with unit cell parameters a = 7.386(2) A, b = 8.434(2) A, c = 9.442(3) A, alpha = 71.82(2) degrees , beta = 72.08(2) degrees , gamma = 88.54(2) degrees , and Z = 2. 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with unit cell parameters a = 20.438(7) A, b = 7.711(2) A, c = 7.457(2) A, beta = 93.76(3) degrees , and Z = 4. 4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca, with unit cell parameters a = 8.600(2) A, b = 13.440(4) A, c = 24.083(7) A, and Z = 8. 5 crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca, with unit cell parameters a = 8.521(2) A, b = 13.787(3) A, c = 26.237(5) A, and Z = 8. The compounds 1-5 have only azido bridging ligands. In 1-3 each manganese atom is linked to the four nearest neighbors by only end-to-end azido bridges, forming square layers. 4 and 5 show alternating end-to-end and end-on azido bridges between manganese atoms. The magnetic properties of 1-5 are reported. At high temperatures the plots of chi(M) or chi(M)T vs T for the 1-3 compounds can be fitted as homogeneous 2D systems with J = -4.9, -4.4, and -3.9 cm(-)(1) for 1-3, respectively. For 1, 3, and 5 magnetic ordering and spontaneous magnetizations is achieved below T(c) = 35, 29, and 22 K, respectively, whereas 2 and 4 do not show spontaneous magnetization up to 2 K.