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At least 181 records · Page 10

TiO 2 Nanoparticles Enabling Photocatalytic Desulfurization for C–C Coupling Reaction Using Visible Light

We uncover a surface-mediated mechanism for visible-light-driven photocatalytic desulfurization of thiols on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles under LED illumination (>420 nm). Combined diffuse reflectance, infrared, and cryogenic electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy verify the formation of a surface thiol–Ti charge-transfer complex that introduces visible-light absorption into an otherwise UV-active reaction system. Selective photoexcitation of this surface complex drives interfacial charge transfer, directly activating the adsorbed thiol and inducing C–S bond scission without the band gap excitation of TiO 2 . The resulting carbon-centered radical intermediates are intercepted by styrene to form C–C coupling products. These results uncover a distinct surface-mediated photocatalytic mechanism in which charge-transfer complex formation governs both light absorption and chemical activation, providing a mechanistic framework for extending visible-light reactivity to wide-bandgap metal oxide photocatalysts.

addition of carbon radical to vinyl groups↗

Mercury contamination study for flight system safety

The effects and prevention of possible mercury pollution from the failure of solar electric propulsion spacecraft using mercury propellant were studied from tankage loading of post launch trajector injection. During preflight operations and initial flight mode there is little danger of mercury pollution if proper safety precautions are taken. Any spillage on the loading, mating, transportation, or launch pad areas is obvious and can be removed by vacuum cleaning soil and chemical fixing. Mercury spilled on Cape Kennedy ground soil will be chemically complexed and retained by the sandstone subsoil. A cover layer of sand or gravel on spilled mercury which has settled to the bottom of a water body adjacent to the system operation will control and eliminate the formation of toxic organic mercurials. Mercury released into the earth's atmosphere through leakage of a fireball will be diffused to low concentration levels. However, gas phase reactions of mercury with ozone could cause a local ozone depletion and result in serious ecological hazards.

Gorzynski, C. S., Jr.↗

The structure of extruded NiAl

The deformation structure of Ni-rich NiAl extruded at 550 C has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy and by optical microscopy. Dislocations having a(100) Burgers vectors were found as complex networks, tangles, and prismatic loops. a(110) dislocations, which were rare, were concluded to arise from reactions of a(100) dislocations. Evidence of recovery and recrystallization was obtained. Extrusion was deemed to have been possible by the operation of (hko)(001) slip systems (often in plane strain flow) plus diffusion-assisted processes.

Baker, I.↗

Diffusion-Limited Kinetics in Reactive Systems

A proper representation of chemical kinetics is vital to understanding, modeling, and optimizing many important chemical processes. In liquid and surface phases, where diffusion is slow, the rate at which the reactants diffuse together limits the overall rate of many elementary reactions. Commonly, the textbook Smoluchowski theory is utilized to estimate effective rate coefficients in the liquid phase. On surfaces, modelers commonly resort to much more complex and expensive Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulations. Here, in this study, we extend the Smoluchowski model to allow the diffusing species to undergo chemical reactions and derive analytical formulas for the diffusion-limited rate coefficients for 3D, 2D, and 2D/3D interface cases. With these equations, we are able to demonstrate that when species react faster than they diffuse they can react orders of magnitude faster than predicted by Smoluchowski theory, through what we term “the reactive transport effect”. We validate the derived steady-state equations against particle Monte Carlo (PMC) simulations, KMC simulations, and non-steady-state solutions. Furthermore, using PMC and KMC simulations, we propose corrections that agree with all limits and the computed data for the 2D and 2D/3D interface steady-state equations, accounting for unique limitations in the associated derived equations. Additionally, we derive equations to handle couplings between diffusion-limited rate coefficients in reaction networks. We believe these equations should make it possible to run much more accurate mean-field simulations of liquids, surfaces, and liquid–surface interfaces accounting for diffusion limitations and the reactive transport effect.

Johnson, Matthew Sean↗

Extensional flow convecting a reactant undergoing a first order homogeneous reaction and diffusional mass transfer from a sphere at low to intermediate Peclet and Damkohler numbers

Forced convective diffusion-reaction is considered for viscous axisymmetric extensional convecting velocity in the neighborhood of a sphere. For Peclet numbers in the range 0.1 less than or equal to Pe less than or equal to 500 and for Damkohler numbers increasing with increasing Pe but in the overall range 0.02 less than or equal to Da less than or equal to 10, average and local Sherwood numbers have been computed. By introducing the eigenfunction expansion c(r, Theta) = Sum of c(n)(r)P(n)(cos Theta) into the forced convective diffusion equation for the concentration of a chemical species undergoing a first order homogeneous reaction and by using properties of the Legendre functions Pn(cos Theta), the variable coefficient PDE can be reduced to a system of N + 1 second order ODEs for the radial functions c(sub n)(r), n = 0, 1, 2,..., N. The adaptive grid algorithm of Pereyra and Lentini can be used to solve the corresponding 2(N + 1) first order differential equations as a two-point boundary value problem on 1 less than or equal to r less than or equal to r(sub infinity). Convergence of the expansion for a specific value of N can thus be established and provides 'spectral' behavior as well as the full concentration field c(r, Theta).

Shah, N. Y.↗

Kinetic Parameters and Diffusivity of Uranium in FLiNaK and ClLiK

Anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements at 773, 823, and 873 K were made of uranium trifluoride (UF 3 ) in lithium fluoride-sodium fluoride-potassium fluoride eutectic (FLiNaK) and uranium trichloride (UCl 3 ) in lithium chloride-potassium chloride eutectic (ClLiK). ASV data were used to estimate the charge transfer coefficients, exchange current densities, and activation energies of the uranium reactions. Charge transfer coefficients of both salt systems were within the range of 0.17 to 0.38. Exchange current densities in the fluoride and chloride salts were estimated within the range of 0.060 to 0.12 A cm -2 . Activation energy of uranium exchange current was 16.0 kJ mol -1 in the fluoride salt and 28.9 kJ mol -1 in the chloride salt. Kinetics of charge transfer were found to be faster in FLiNaK. Analyses of the CV data suggest the electrochemical system was diffusion controlled and irreversible in the chloride and fluoride salt mixtures. Diffusion coefficients of uranium in the range of temperatures were on the order of 10-5 cm 2 s -1 in both systems. Greater values of diffusivity in ClLiK are attributed to its lower density compared with FLiNaK. Activation energy of uranium diffusion in the fluoride and chloride salt mixtures were 53.4 and 89.4 kJ mol -1 , respectively.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Mapping structures and dynamics with frequency-correlated diffusion exchange

Understanding molecular motion in diffusion-driven complex environments is critical for designing sustainable materials and improving chemical processes. Here, we introduce a multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method that captures how molecular populations exchange across different dynamic regimes. By extending the modulated gradient spin-echo technique to include frequency-frequency correlations, our approach reveals diffusion pathways that are otherwise obscured in heterogeneous systems. Implemented on a unilateral NMR magnet, the method eliminates gradient pulsing constraints and accesses dynamics in the kilohertz regime. We apply this technique to swelling and acid-catalyzed deconstruction of cross-linked and linear polymers to observe how structural heterogeneity evolves over time. By linking molecular motion to topology and chemical state, we extract physical metrics such as fractal surface dimensionality and reaction wavefront velocity, properties inaccessible with standard diffusion measurements. This work expands the capabilities of NMR for probing soft matter, with implications for polymer recycling and materials design.

Fricke, Sophia N. [University of California, Berke↗

Interfacial reactions in high temperature metallic and intermetallic matrix composites - A status review

Interdiffusion and interdiffusion-related phenomena in metal and intermetallic matrix composites can be of crucial interest for the prolonged application of these systems at high temperature. The level of complication that these effects can have can vary significantly from system to system. Reviewed herein are recent efforts to address interdiffusion and reaction kinetics for both a simple system, the single phase W/Nb system, and more complex systems such as tungsten fiber reinforced superalloys (TFRS) and beryllide reinforced aluminides. Additionally, recent work on inhibiting interdiffusion in MMCs via ion-implanted diffusion barriers will be presented.

Tien, J. K.↗

The effect of gravity on the combustion synthesis of Ni-Al and Ni3Al-TiB2 composites from elements

Previous studies on the combustion synthesis of advanced materials indicate that combustion and structure formation mechanisms involve several stages including melting of reactants and products, spreading of the melt, droplet coalescence, diffusion and convection, buoyancy of solid particles, and densification of the liquid product. Most of these processes are affected by gravity. Conducting the combustion synthesis under microgravity conditions is expected to help elucidate the reaction mechanisms. Two systems were examined. The first involves Ni/AI cladded particles, which is an ideal system to examine the individual particle and liquid flow before combustion occurs. For comparison, elemental Ni and Al powders with the same stoichiometry as that of the cladded particles were also used in some experiments. The second system was the Ni3AITiB2 composite in which the Ni3AI (-delta H(sub f) = 153.1 kJ/mol) phase melts during reaction enabling us to examine settling of the liquid phase. The amount of liquid phase was controlled by varying the TiB2 (-delta H(sub f) = 323.8 kJ/mol) content which generates the additional heat. The overall reactions for the two systems can be expressed as follows. System 1: 4Ni + 2AI yields Ni3AI + NiA and System 2: 3Ni + Al + x (Ti + 2B) yields Ni3Al + x(TiB2). For the first system, pellets were pressed directly from the cladded particles, at green densities about 77 +/- 3% of theoretical value. For the second, the pellets were prepared by mixing the elemental reactant powders in the required stoichiometry by ball-milling and then pressing uniaxially at green densities about 70 +/- 3 percent of theoretical. The pellets were cylindrical in shape, 10 mm in diameter and length typically 20-30 mm. The pellet samples were reacted in UHP Argon (1 atm) using the experimental setup and procedure described previously. After reaction, the samples were sectioned axially in order to conduct the microstructural analysis in the longitudinal direction. The phase composition of the reacted product was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) along with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX).

Varma, Arvind↗

Transport-induced shifts in condensate dew-point and composition in multicomponent systems with chemical reaction

Partial heterogeneous condensation phenomena in multicomponent reacting systems are analyzed taking into consideration the chemical element transport phenomena. It is demonstrated that the dew-point surface temperature in chemically reactive systems is not a purely thermodynamic quantity, but is influenced by the multicomponent diffusion and Soret-mass diffusion phenomena. Several distinct dew-points are shown to exist in such systems and, as a result of transport constraints, the 'sharp' locus between two chemically distinct condensates is systematically moved to a difference mainstream composition.

Rosner, D. E.↗

Microscale Colocalization of Cascade Enzymes Yields Activity Enhancement

Colocalization of cascade enzymes is broadly discussed as a phenomenon that can boost the cascade reaction throughput, although a direct experimental verification is often challenging. This is mainly due to difficulties in establishing proper size regimes and in the analytical quantification of colocalization effect with adequate experimental systems and simulations. In this study, by taking advantage of reversible DNA-directed colocalization of enzymes on microspheres, we established a cascade system that can be used to directly evaluate the colocalization effect with exactly the same experimental settings except for the state of enzyme dispersion. In the regime of highly dilute microspheres of particular sizes, the colocalized cascade shows enhanced activity compared with the freely diffusing cascade, as evidenced by a shortened lag phase in the time-course production. Reaction-diffusion modeling reveals that the enhancement can be ascribed to the initial accumulation of intermediate substrate around the colocalized enzymes and is found to be carrier-size-dependent. Further, this work demonstrates the dependence of the colocalization effect of enzyme cascades on an interplay of nano-and microscales, lending theoretical support to the rational design of highly efficient multienzyme catalysts.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Theoretical aspects of tidal and planetary wave propagation at thermospheric heights

A simple semiquantitative model is presented which allows analytic solutions of tidal and planetary wave propagation at thermospheric heights. This model is based on perturbation approximation and mode separation. The effects of viscosity and heat conduction are parameterized by Rayleigh friction and Newtonian cooling. Because of this simplicity, one gains a clear physical insight into basic features of atmospheric wave propagation. In particular, we discuss the meridional structures of pressure and horizontal wind (the solutions of Laplace's equation) and their modification due to dissipative effects at thermospheric heights. Furthermore, we solve the equations governing the height structure of the wave modes and arrive at a very simple asymptotic solution valid in the upper part of the thermosphere. That 'system transfer function' of the thermosphere allows one to estimate immediately the reaction of the thermospheric wave mode parameters such as pressure, temperature, and winds to an external heat source of arbitrary temporal and spatial distribution. Finally, the diffusion effects of the minor constituents due to the global wind circulation are discussed, and some results of numerical calculations are presented.

Volland, H.↗

Extended kinetic lattice grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation method for transport of multicomponent ion mixtures through a model nanopore system

Abstract An extended version of the original kinetic lattice grand canonical Monte Carlo simulation method combined with mean field theory (KLGCMC/MF) ( J. Chem. Phys. 2007 , 127, 024706) is presented for the study of transport of multicomponent ion mixtures through a model nanopore. Comparison of the extended KLGCMC/MF (eKLGCMC/MF) simulation results with Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) calculations is also made to confirm the validity of the extended simulation approach. Unlike the original version of KLGCMC/MF simulation method that treats only a binary ionic solution with one cation and one anion species, this extended version can deal with a system that includes ternary ion mixtures. A diffusion probability algorithm is also added to the extended version of the simulation method to describe the inhomogeneous diffusivity of ions that is often observed in the ion permeation through nanopores. Both Legendre and Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind were tested as a basis set for the basis set expansion (BSE) method with which to calculate the reaction field energy in the eKLGCMC/MF simulation. It turned out that the Legendre polynomials perform better than the Chebyshev polynomials, and as a result, the Legendre polynomials were implemented in the current version of eKLGCMC/MF simulation algorithm. The presented eKLGCMC/MF simulation method with new features finds its potential applications in nanopore systems where the correlation between ion species with the same sign of charges plays a key role such as oscillating ion currents or anomalous mole fraction effects.

Choi, Inhyeok↗

The prediction of nozzle performance and heat transfer in hydrogen/oxygen rocket engines with transpiration cooling, film cooling, and high area ratios

An advanced engineering computational model has been developed to aid in the analysis and design of hydrogen/oxygen chemical rocket engines. The complete multi-species, chemically reacting and diffusing Navier-Stokes equations are modelled, finite difference approach that is tailored to be conservative in an axisymmetric coordinate system for both the inviscid and viscous terms. Demonstration cases are presented for a 1030:1 area ratio nozzle, a 25 lbf film cooled nozzle, and transpiration cooled plug-and-spool rocket engine. The results indicate that the thrust coefficient predictions of the 1030:1 nozzle and the film cooled nozzle are within 0.2 to 0.5 percent, respectively, of experimental measurements when all of the chemical reaction and diffusion terms are considered. Further, the model's predictions agree very well with the heat transfer measurements made in all of the nozzle test cases. The Soret thermal diffusion term is demonstrated to have a significant effect on the predicted mass fraction of hydrogen along the wall of the nozzle in both the laminar flow 1030:1 nozzle and the turbulent plug-and-spool rocket engine analysis cases performed. Further, the Soret term was shown to represent a significant fraction of the diffusion fluxes occurring in the transpiration cooled rocket engine.

Kacynski, Kenneth J.↗

Single and Dual-Solute Transport in Quaternary Ammonium-Functionalized Anion Exchange Membranes: Isolating the Impact of Water Volume Fraction

Membranes are essential components of photoelectrochemical CO 2 reduction cells (PEC-CRC), as they regulate solute transport and impact device efficiency. These cells are a promising approach for converting carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals. However, electrochemical reactions involve not just a single electrolyte; membrane transport typically includes multiple electrolytes. When a mixture of solutes is present, the presence of one solute in the membrane can impact the diffusion and sorption of other solutes. In complex systems where multiple solutes are diffusing simultaneously through a hydrated, dense polymer membrane, the resulting transport behavior is poorly understood. This study highlights the individual and two solute transport behavior of potassium formate, acetate, and bicarbonate ions in neutral membranes and quaternary ammonium-functionalized anion exchange membranes (AEMs) based on phenyl acrylate polymer backbones. By isolating the effect of water content, we emphasize how fixed charge density and solute-membrane interactions influence transport behavior. In neutral membranes, the diffusivity follows the order of potassium formate > potassium acetate > potassium bicarbonate. However, in AEMs, the order shifts due to changes in ion-membrane interactions, with potassium bicarbonate diffusivity surpassing that of potassium acetate. These results underscore the importance of ion exchange membranes and ion-membrane interaction in modulating transport properties, providing valuable insights for optimizing membranes in electrochemical applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Chromium versus Aluminum: Impact of Nickel Alloy Composition and Interfacial Kinetics on High-Temperature Passivating Oxide Formation

High-temperature corrosion resistance depends critically on the formation of a passivating surface oxide, which is highly sensitive to alloy composition and structure. Such details often elude experimental investigation, and simplified analytical models fail to provide a truly chemical view of passivating oxide evolution. Here, we explicitly compare the fundamental chemistry of Cr and Al as prototypical passivating elements in Ni alloys by directly simulating competing reaction and diffusion processes within the oxide film using kinetic Monte Carlo and density functional theory. We find that the origin and expression of passivating behavior during early-stage thermal oxidation are qualitatively different between the two alloy systems. Ni–Cr alloys feature a sudden onset of passivation associated with a sharp phase transition upon Cr enrichment that directly couples oxidation kinetics to phase transformation behavior. In contrast, Ni–Al alloys display more continuous oxide phase variation with Al enrichment, ultimately resulting in a lower composition threshold for passivation and a thinner passivating layer. In addition, we elucidate the nonobvious role of metal exchange within the alloy near the oxide boundary, which fundamentally alters film composition and passivating behavior. Furthermore, our results have key implications for engineering improved corrosion-resistant alloys, both in terms of compositional variation and processing.

Alloys↗

Diffusion in mixed solvents - On the viscosity question

Linear plots of reaction rate vs reciprocal of solvent viscosity are generally used as the classifying criteria for diffusion controlled reactions in fluid solutions and to determine reaction mechanisms in mixed hydroxylic solvents like glycerol and water. This paper presents data which shows that the above-mentioned criteria are insufficient in many cases where nonideal mixed solvent systems are used to increase solvent viscosity. Data correlations suggest that the excess functions determine the variation in reaction rate constants. Kinetic parameters are presented for sucrose-water and methanol-water solvent systems for a reaction involving Fe(CN)6 and zinc uroporphyrin.

Carapellucci, P. A.↗