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At least 703 records · Page 39

Structural Changes to the Gd‐DTPA Complex at Varying Ligand Protonation State

Abstract Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) is a chelating agent whose complex with the Gd 3+ ion is used in medical imaging. DTPA is also used in lanthanide‐actinide separation processes. As protonation of the DTPA ligand can facilitate dissociation of the Gd 3+ ion from the Gd‐DTPA complex, this work investigates the coordination structures of the aqueous Gd 3+ ion and its environment when chelated by DTPA in eight different DTPA protonation states. Both classical and ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are conducted to model the solvated complexes. Extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements of the Gd 3+ aqua ion, and the Gd‐DTPA complex at pH 1 and 11, are compared to EXAFS spectra predicted from the MD simulations to verify the accuracy of the MD structures. The findings of this work provide atomic‐level details into the fluctuating Gd‐DTPA complex environment as the DTPA ligand gradually detaches from the Gd 3+ ion with increased protonation.

Chemistry↗

Experiments with a prototype titanium hot cavity surface ionization source intended for electromagnetic separation of radioactive samarium and other lanthanide elements

This paper reports experimental results of a prototype titanium surface ionization source. For the first time, a lanthanide ion beam has been produced with a surface ionizer composed completely of titanium metal. Titanium does not readily activate with neutron irradiation. This offers the potential for inserting an ion source made of titanium directly into a reactor with a pre-loaded non-radioactive lanthanide target. This seamlessly integrates target irradiation with isotope separation, eliminating post irradiation sample manipulation. Samarium ion beam currents up to 960 nA have been produced in an off-line test bench equipped with rudimentary beam optics. This is a crucial step toward the development of an ionization source adopted for the electromagnetic isotope separator (EMIS) facility, which has been designed for high throughput separations of radioactive 153 Sm and other lanthanides of interest in the field of nuclear medicine. The ion current and important factors affecting the performance of the ion source, such as the ionizer temperature and thermal gradient, are discussed. Lastly, the experimental results are presented together with a discussion of future modifications to optimize the overall surface ionization source performance.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

An Exceptionally Stable Metal–Organic Framework Constructed from Chelate-Based Metal–Organic Polyhedra

In this paper, we report the rational design and synthesis of a new, water-stable metal-organic framework (MOF), Fe-HAF-1, constructed from supramolecular, Fe3+-hydroxamate-based polyhedra with mononuclear metal nodes. Owing to its chelate-based con-struction, Fe-HAF-1 displays exceptional chemical stability in organic and aqueous solvents over a wide pH range (pH 1-14), including in the presence of 5 M NaOH. Despite the charge-neutrality of the Fe 3+ -tris(hydroxamate) centers, Fe-HAF-1 crystals are negatively charged above pH 4. This unex-pected property is attributed to the formation of defects during crystallization that results in uncoordinated hydroxamate ligands or hydroxide-coordinated Fe centers. The anionic na-ture of Fe-HAF-1 crystals enables selective adsorption of pos-itively charged ions in aqueous solution, resulting in efficient separation of organic dyes and other charged species in a size-selective fashion. Fe-HAF-1 presents a new addition to a small group of chelate-based MOFs and provides a rare framework whose 3D connectivity is exclusively formed by metal-hydroxamate coordination.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Breaking a Lewis Acidity Trend for Rare Earths by Excited State Quenching

Facilitating different chemistries between the rare earth (RE = La–Lu, Sc, Y) ions is of significant interest for their separations. While the bulk of attention has been on maximizing the small differences in their ground state chemistry, interest is beginning to shift toward the differences in their electronic excited states. In this work, we demonstrate modulation of the photostationary state of an azobenzene derivative, Na 1 , via chelation to a series of RE III DO3A (DO3A = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) complexes. The extent of photoisomerization of 1 – follows the trend in REIII Lewis acidity with two exceptions: Sm III and Er III . UV–vis spectroscopy, titration experiments, and computational analysis show that these exceptions are a result of energy transfer rather than differences in ground state chemistry. Finally, these results open a pathway to differentiate REs by new photochemical means.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Templated synthesis enhances the cobalt adsorption capacity of a porous organic polymer

Divalent transition metals such as Co(II) are important targets for removal from water sources, due to their potential toxicity as well as their high value. In this study, we found that a series of porous organic polymers based on amide-linked tetraphenylmethane units are effective Co(II) ion adsorbents in aqueous solution. To increase the density of Co(II) binding sites, we then developed a templated synthesis in which the branched, rigid monomers are pre-assembled around Co(II) ions prior to polymerization. Furthermore, after polymer formation, the Co(II) template ions are removed to yield a material rich in Co(II) binding sites. Ion adsorption isotherms show that the Co(II)-templated material has an ion adsorption capacity significantly greater than those of the non-templated materials, highlighting the utility of a templated synthetic route. SEM and TEM images show the morphology of the templated polymer to be dramatically different from the non-templated polymers and to be similar in size and shape to the Co(II)–monomer precursors, emphasizing the role of the template ions in directing the formation of the resulting polymer. This guest-templated approach requires no functionalization of the generic monomer and represents a promising synthetic route to high-capacity ion adsorbents for water purification and aqueous separations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development of Structure–Property Relationships for Ammonium Transport through Charged Organogels

Ammonia is a promising carbon-free fuel, but current methods to produce ammonia are energy intensive. New methods are thereby needed, with one promising method being electrochemical nitrogen reduction cells. Efficient cell operation requires robust catalysts but also efficient membrane separators that permit the selective transport of ions while minimizing the transport of the products across the cell. Commercial membranes have an unknown morphology which makes designing improved cells challenging. To address this problem, we synthesized a series of membranes with controlled crosslinking density and chemical composition to understand their impact on ammonium transport. Higher crosslinking density led to lower ammonium permeability. At the highest crosslinking density, similar ammonium permeability was observed independent of the water volume fraction and hydrophobicity of the monomers. These results suggest new directions to develop membranes with reduced ammonium crossover to improve the efficiency of these electrochemical cells.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The mobility and diffusion of ions in gases

Experimental and theoretical aspects of the mobility and diffusion of ions in gases are studied in detail. Some of the subjects discussed include ion-ion interaction, boundary condition and ion and electron behavior. Also discussed in separate chapters are the problems of the diffusion coefficients and the afterglow techniques. Finally, a special chapter studies the kinetic theory of diffusion and mobility, stressing the low-, medium- and high-field theory.

Mcdaniel, E. W.↗

A computer controlled mass spectrometer system for investigating the decomposition of non-metallic materials under atmospheric conditions

A PDP 11/23 quadrupole mass spectrometer system was coupled to a nondiscriminating gas inlet system permitting gases at atmospheric pressure to be admitted into a high vacuum chamber containing the ion source of the mass spectrometer without separation of the gaseous components. The resolution of related software problems has resulted in a convenient computer-mass spectrometer system capable of generating masses, relative intensities and related data on the gaseous products resulting from the atmospheric thermal decomposition of nonmetallic materials.

Thompson, J. M.↗

Coupled bipolarons and optical phonons as a model for high-T(sub c) superconductors

The coherence length of the new high-temperature superconductors reaches very small value which is comparable to the dimensions of unit cell of these compounds. This means that a pair consists of two holes occupying the same site or two adjacent sites. Such a situation seems to be described by a model of the local-pairs (bipolarons). The origin of local-pairs may come not only from strong enough electron or hole-phonon interaction but also from other interactions. Independent of the specific nature of such local-pairs, they can undergo a Bose-like condensation to the superconducting state at a critical temperature which is usually much lower than the temperature of the pair formation. An interplay of ferroelectric and superconducting properties is considered within the model of hole-like local-pairs interacting with optical phonons. Therefore, researchers extend the usual local-pair Hamiltonian by including a direct interaction between the local-pairs and the optical phonons. These optical phonons are known to play an important role in the ferroelectric transition, if any, and they transform into an additional pseudo-acoustic branch at the ferroelectric critical temperature. (This is associated with nonzero electric polarization due to the existence of two separate lattices composed of negative and positive ions, respectively.)

Kasperczyk, J.↗

Coupled bipolarons and optical phonons as a model for high-Tc superconductors

The coherence length of the new high-temperature superconductors reaches a small value which is comparable to the dimensions of the unit cell of the compound. This means that a pair consists of two holes occupying the same site or two adjacent sites. Such a situation is described by a model of the local-pairs (bipolarons). The origin of local-pairs may come not only from strong enough electron or hole-phonon interaction but also from other interactions. Independent of the specific nature of such local-pairs, they can undergo a Bose-like condensation to the superconducting state at a critical temperature which is usually much lower than the temperature of the pair formation. An interplay of ferroelectric and superconducting properties is considered within the model of hole-like local-pairs interacting with optical phonons. Therefore, researchers extend the usual local-pair Hamiltonian by including a direct interaction between the local-pairs and the optical phonons. These optical phonons are known to play an important role in the ferroelectric transition and they transform into an additional pseudo-acoustic branch at the ferroelectric critical temperature. (This is associated with nonzero electric polarization due to the existence of two separate lattices composed of negative and positive ions, respectively.)

Kasperczyk, J.↗

Observation of fullerenes (C60-C70) associated with LDEF crater number 31

The presence of fullerenes in and around the LDEF crater number 31 is reported. This crater has a high C level associated with it, and is interpreted as having been produced by the impact of a C-rich micrometeoroid. Fullerenes are large 3-D C structures, among which the species C sub 60 (MW 720) and C sub 70 (MW 840) are preeminent. Fullerenes have several UV absorption bands, hence fullerenes should be detectable using UV laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We use a LIMA-2A instrument with pulsed UV laser (266 nm) to search for high mass C species associated with LDEF crater number 31. The mass range was 0 to 1200 amu. Low ablating laser power levels were used (less than or = 5 x 10 exp 7 W/sq. cm); 200 mass spectra were acquired and summed. We observed high mass signals near m/z 720, exhibiting 24 amu separation, which is characteristic of fullerenes. Alkali ion signals were also observed. Little or no C clusters of intermediate mass were observed. We interpret the signals around m/z 720 as fullerenes, mainly C sub 60+ with lower levels of C sub 70+. We propose that the mechanism that produces these signals is resonant multiphoton ionization (REMPI). This selective mechanism explains why low mass C cluster ions are not observed along with the fullerenes, since they have much higher ionization potentials. This finding is unexpected, since up to now the search for fullerenes in extraterrestrial materials has not been successful. We conclude that the fullerenes became associated with crater number 31 in space. Two alternative (and exciting) scenarios are being considered at this time: either the fullerenes were carried by the C-rich projectile that formed crater number 31, or the fullerenes formed upon impact with the LDEF. We show the results of experiments at the ARC Vertical Gun Facility, which may establish some constraints on the origin of the fullerenes.

Radicatidibrozolo, Filippo↗

Theoretical shell-model signatures in heavy-ion, coherent pion production

A comprehensive summary of a many-body, microscopic, particle-hole formalism is presented that describes coherent, subthreshold, pion production in peripheral, heavy-ion collisions. The formalism uses a new separable model transition interaction that produces Delta-hole states in either the projectile or target nucleus. Shell-model states described by harmonic oscillator functions are used in the calculation of Delta formation and decay and Lorentz-contraction effects of the nucleus not at rest are included. An analytical expression to lowest multipole order for the differential cross section is examined. The sensitivity of the theoretical results to the shell-model states is determined with preliminary shape results compared with data. The effects of higher multipoles are examined with attention paid to the second-order multipole value.

Maung, Khin M.↗

Effect of Branching on Rod-coil Polyimides as Membrane Materials for Lithium Polymer Batteries

This paper describes a series of rod-coil block co-polymers that produce easy to fabricate, dimensionally stable films with good ionic conductivity down to room temperature for use as electrolytes for lithium polymer batteries. The polymers consist of short, rigid rod polyimide segments, alternating with flexible, polyalkylene oxide coil segments. The highly incompatible rods and coils should phase separate, especially in the presence of lithium ions. The coil phase would allow for conduction of lithium ions, while the rigid rod phase would provide a high degree of dimensional stability. An optimization study was carried out to study the effect of four variables (degree of branching, formulated molecular weight, polymerization solvent and lithium salt concentration) on ionic conductivity, glass transition temperature and dimensional stability in this system.

Meador, Mary Ann B.↗

Free fatty acid separation and recovery using resin

The disclosure provides various methods for separating and recovering free fatty acids crude oil containing free fatty acids using certain ion-exchange resins to reduce the amount of free fatty acids in the crude oil to 3% or less such that the resultant oil is useable in downstream chemical processes. After separation and removal of the free fatty acids form the crude oil, the ion-exchange resin is reusable in further free fatty acid separation reactions.

Singh, Vijay↗

Phosphoric acid pre-treatment to tailor polybenzimidazole membranes for vanadium redox flow batteries

We repot vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) use ion-selective membranes for transporting ionic species while separating the positive and negative electrolytes. In this paper, we report phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole (PBI) membranes that yield high ionic selectivity and conductivity in VRFBs. The phosphoric acid pre-treatment swells the PBI matrix irreversibly and increases its sulfuric acid doping in VRFB electrolytes. The pre-treated membranes show comparable area resistance with Nafion-212 with better selectivity towards vanadium ions. A low resistance was obtained with a reduced membrane thickness, which can reduce the overall cost of materials. The VRFB using an optimized phosphoric acid pre-treated PBI membrane demonstrates coulombic, voltage, and energy efficiencies of 99.7, 90.3, and 90.0%, respectively, at 40 mA cm -2 while achieving ~40% higher discharge capacity compared to Nafion-212. Furthermore, the VRFB cell shows excellent cycling stability, i.e., only 6.8% or 0.068% per cycle capacity decay for 100 cycles while maintaining coulombic efficiency at >99.9% (98.5% coulombic efficiency for Nafion-212 with a capacity decay of 0.42% per cycle) proving the effectiveness of pre-treatment of phosphoric acid on PBI membranes.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗