Effects of Fe Ions, Ultraviolet Irradiation, and Heating on Microscopic Structures of Black Lacquer Films.

The chemical reaction between Fe and lacquer has been used to create the black color in lacquer coatings since ancient times. Here, the effects of Fe ion addition, UV irradiation, and heating on the microscopic structures of black lacquer films were investigated by using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). The EXAFS result indicated that heating and UV irradiation made the coordination structure of Fe3+ in the lacquer nonuniform, and that heating caused the greatest nonuniformity. The FT-IR, SAXS, and SANS results demonstrated that the microscopic structural changes in the black lacquer films were induced by both heating and UV irradiation, but the changes were different. Heating caused a substantial structural change on the nanoscale, and UV irradiation mainly caused changes in the molecular binding mode. The results provide important knowledge for analyzing archeological lacquer samples and for developing lacquer-based materials. This work also demonstrates the utility of the complementary use of XANES, EXAFS, FT-IR, SAXS, and SANS for nondestructive analysis of black lacquer in precious cultural relics.

High Proton Conductivity of Zinc Oxalate Coordination Polymers Mediated by a Hydrogen Bond with Pyridinium.

A novel metal-organic framework, (Hpy)2[Zn2(ox)3]·nH2O (n = 0, 1), having a pyridinium cation, was newly synthesized, and the crystal structures were determined. The hydrated compound shows a high proton conductivity of 2.2 × 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 298 K and 98% relative humidity. Single crystal XRD analysis revealed a rotational displacement factor for the hydrated pyridinium ring and elongated water site that is thought to cause the high proton conductivity.

Freeze-crosslinking approach for preparing carboxymethyl cellulose nanofiber/zirconium hydrogels as fluoride adsorbents.

Tough carboxymethylcellulose nanofibers (CMF)/zirconium (Zr) hydrogels were easily obtained by a freeze-crosslinking method, where Zr-containing HCl solution was added to frozen CMF sol and the mixture was allowed to thaw. The Zr content of the hydrogels increased with increasing Zr concentration in the initial HCl solution. Furthermore, the mechanical strength increased with increasing Zr content. The Young's modulus value was improved by approximately 6 times compared to the CMF hydrogel without Zr, i.e., from 4.5 kPa to 27.2 kPa. The hydrogel had a porous structure with a pore size of 133 ± 37 µm and a CMF-Zr sheet structure around the pores. The obtained CMF-Zr hydrogel exhibited high adsorptivity for fluoride. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) was estimated to be 24.1 mg g-1. This simple gelation method provides useful insights for the development of easy-to-handle hydrogel-based adsorbents.

Nanocellulose hydrogels formed via crystalline transformation from cellulose I to II and subsequent freeze cross-linking reaction.

We describe nanocellulose (NC) hydrogels formed from chemically unmodified NC by cellulose crystalline transformation and subsequent freeze cross-linking reaction. The freeze cross-linked NC hydrogel with macropores (~100 µm) was prepared by freezing a mixture of NC and NaOH (0.2 mol L-1), adding citric acid to the frozen mixture, and thawing it. Using NaOH and freezing together induced the crystalline transformation of NC from cellulose I to II via freeze concentration. After the crystalline transformation, cross-linking between the NC and CA in the freeze concentration layer provided a strong NC network structure, forming NC hydrogels with high mechanical strength. The structural changes in NC caused by NaOH, freezing, and freeze cross-linking on the angstrom to micrometer scale were investigated with FT-IR, SAXS, PXRD, and SEM. The freeze cross-linked NC hydrogel easily retained powder adsorbents in its inner space by mixing the NC-NaOH sol and the powder, and the hydrogel showed high removal efficiency for heavy metals. The results highlight the versatility of chemically unmodified celluloses in developing functional materials and suggest possible practical applications. This study also provides new insights into the efficient use of chemical reactions of cellulose under freezing conditions.

Synthesis of Azo-Bridged Ferrocene Oligomers and a Polymer and Electrochemical and Optical Analysis of Internuclear Electronic Interactions in Their Mixed-Valence States.

New azo-bridged ferrocene trimers, Fc-Fc'-N=N-Fc (2) and Fc-N=N-Fc'-N=N-Fc (3), where Fc and Fc' refer to (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)-) and Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4)-)(2), respectively, were obtained in the reaction of a mixture of lithioferrocene and 1,1'-dilithioferrocene with N(2)O. X-ray crystallography of azoferrocene (1) has determined that the Fe-Fe distance is 6.80 Å in the trans form. Cyclic voltammograms of 3 in aprotic solvents such as CH(2)Cl(2) or THF exhibit reversible 2e(-) and 1e(-) oxidation waves, indicating that the positive charge in the monocation is localized mostly on the terminal ferrocene unit (correspondingly, Fc(+)-N(2)-Fc'-N(2)-Fc) due to a strong electron-withdrawing effect of the azo group. This charge distribution in the mixed-valence state is supported by the characteristics of intervalence-transfer (IT) bands. An asymmetrical complex, 2, undergoes a three-step 1e(-) oxidation, and the two mixed-valence forms can be roughly expressed as Fc(+)-Fc'-N(2)-Fc and Fc(+)-Fc'-N(2)-Fc(+). The redox potentials and IT band characteristics of 1(+), 2(+), and 2(2+) depend markedly on the solvent. The solvent effect of the IT band on nu(max) cannot be interpreted only by the parameters in the Marcus-Hush theory, indicating that the nature of the solvent as donor or acceptor should be taken into account in the electron-exchange process in the mixed-valence states. More donating solvent affords higher IT and LMCT energy, indicating the hole-transfer mechanism. The reaction of 1,1'-dilithioferrocene and N(2)O gives a polymer composed of [-(Fc'-N=N-Fc')(0.6)-(Fc'-Fc')(0.4)-](n)().

Thermodynamics and mechanism studies on electrochemical removal of cesium ions from aqueous solution using a nanoparticle film of copper hexacyanoferrate.

Nanoparticle (NPs) film of copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF(III)) was developed for electrochemically cesium separation from wastewater. Different form the electro- or chemical deposited films, CuHCF(III) NPs were firstly covered with ferrocyanide anions, so that they can be well dispersed in water and formed ink. Then CuHCF(III) NPs can be uniformly coated by simple wet printing methods, so it is feasible to prepare NPs film of any sizes, or any patterns at low cost. This process provided a promising technology for preparing large scale electrodes for sequential removal of Cs from wastewater in the columns. Cs separation can be controlled by an electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) system. Effect of temperatures, and ionic strength on Cs removal was investigated. Thermodynamics results showed that Cs adsorption process was exothermic in nature and favored at low temperature. Ionic strength study indicated the CuHCF(III) film can selectively separate Cs in wide ionic strength range from 1 × 10(-4) to 1 × 10(-1) M Na(+). XPS results demonstrated that the electrochemical oxidation-reduction of Fe (II/III) made contributions to Cs separation.

Chemical speciation and association of plutonium with bacteria, kaolinite clay, and their mixture.

We investigated the interactions of Pu(VI) with Bacillus subtilis, kaolinite clay, and a mixture of the two to determine and delineate the role of the microbes in regulating the environmental mobility of Pu. The bacteria, the kaolinite, and their mixture were exposed to a 4 x 10(-4) M Pu(VI) solution at pH 5.0. The amount of Pu sorbed by B. subtilis increased with time, but had not reached equilibrium in 48 h, whereas equilibrium was attained in kaolinite within 8 h. After 48 h, the oxidation state of Pu in the solutions exposed to B. subtilis and the mixture had changed to Pu-(V), whereas the oxidation state of Pu associated with B. subtilis and the mixture was Pu(IV). Exudates released from B. subtilis reduced Pu(VI) to Pu(V). In contrast, there was no change in the oxidation state of Pu in the solution or on kaolinite after exposure to Pu(VI). Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry analysis indicated that most of the Pu in the mixture was associated with B. subtilis. These results suggest that Pu-(IV) is preferably sorbed to bacterial cells in the mixture and that Pu(VI) is reduced to Pu(V) and Pu(IV).

Synthesis of heterometal cluster complexes by the reaction of cobaltadichalcogenolato complexes with groups 6 and 8 metal carbonyls.

Metalladichalcogenolate cluster complexes [{CpCo(S2C6H4)}2Mo(CO)2] (Cp = eta(5)-C5H5) (3), [{CpCo(S2C6H4)}2W(CO)2] (4), [CpCo(S2C6H4)Fe(CO)3] (5), [CpCo(S2C6H4)Ru(CO)2(P(t)Bu3)] (6), [{CpCo(Se2C6H4)}2Mo(CO)2] (7), and [{CpCo(Se2C6H4)}(Se2C6H4)W(CO)2] (8) were synthesized by the reaction of [CpCo(E2C6H4)] (E = S, Se) with [M(CO)3(py)3] (M = Mo, W), [Fe(CO)5], or [Ru(CO)3(P(t)Bu3)2], and their crystal structures and physical properties were investigated. In the series of trinuclear group 6 metal-Co complexes, 3, 4, and 7 have similar structures, but the W-Se complex, 8, eliminates one cobalt atom and one cyclopentadienyl group from the sulfur analogue, 4, and does not satisfy the 18-electron rule. 1H NMR observation suggested that the CoW dinuclear complex 8 was generated via a trinuclear Co2W complex, with a structure comparable to 7. The trinuclear cluster complexes, 3, 4, and 7, undergo quasi-reversible two-step one-electron reduction, indicating the formation of mixed-valence complexes Co(III)M(0)Co(II) (M = Mo, W). The thermodynamic stability of the mixed-valence state increases in the order 4 < 3 < 7. In the dinuclear group 8 metal-Co complexes, 5 and 6, the CpCo(S2C6H4) moiety and the metal carbonyl moiety act as a Lewis acid character and a base character, respectively, as determined by their spectrochemical and redox properties. Complex 5 undergoes reversible two-step one-electron reduction, and an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study indicates the stepwise reduction process from Co(III)Fe(0) to form Co(III)Fe(-I) and Co(II)Fe(-I).

Synthesis, structure, and dissociation equilibrium of [Co(eta5-C5H5)(Se2C6H4)]2, a novel metalladiselenolene complex.

A (phenylenediselenolato)cobalt complex dimer, [Co(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))(Se(2)C(6)H(4))](2) (1), was synthesized by a reaction of carbonyl(eta(5)-cyclopentadienyl)diiodocobalt(III) ([Co(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))I(2)(CO)]) with poly(o-diselenobenzene). The structure of 1, determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, was found to be located in the space group of P2(1)/c (No. 14), with a = 9.3346(5) A, b = 11.6477(9) A, c = 10.2179(5) A, beta = 111.491(1) degrees, and Z = 2. Covalent Co-Se bonds bridge the metal centers. In solution, dimers and monomers coexist at equilibrium. The dissociation equilibrium constant of 1 in solution was evaluated by (1)H NMR spectra at several temperatures between 20 and 80 degrees C. Dissociation enthalpies/entropies were found to be 50/110, 60/120, and 88 kJ mol(-1)/200 J K(-1) mol(-1) in dimethyl sulfoxide-d(6), benzene-d(6), and chloroform-d(1), respectively.

Photoluminescent dinuclear lanthanide complexes with tris(2-pyridyl)carbinol acting as a new tetradentate bridging ligand.

A tripodal ligand, tris(2-pyridyl)carbinol, affords a novel tetradentate coordination mode in homodinuclear lanthanide complexes, which exhibit remarkably short distances between metal ions. The strong luminescences of Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes with the ligand demonstrate that the ligand has a suitable excited state for energy transfer from the ligand to the Eu(III) and Tb(III) centers, respectively.