Tin Oxide Nanoparticles and SnO2 /SiO2 Hybrid Materials by Twin Polymerization Using Tin(IV) Alkoxides.

Twin polymerization was used to prepare composite materials composed of SnO2 nanoparticles entrapped in a polymer matrix. Novel, well-defined tin-containing molecular precursors, so-called twin monomers, were synthesized by transesterification starting from Sn(OR)4 (R=tBu, tAm) to give Sn(OCH2 C4 H3 O)4 (1), [Sn(OCH2 C4 H3 S)4 ⋅HOCH2 C4 H3 S]2 (2), [Sn(OCH2 -2-OCH3 C6 H4 )4 ⋅HOCH2 -2-OCH3 C6 H4 ]2 (3), [Sn(OCH2 -2,4-(OCH3 )2 C6 H3 )4 ⋅HOCH2 -2,4-(OCH3 )2 C6 H3 ]2 (4), 2,2'-spirobi[4H-1,3,2-benzodioxastannine] (5), 2,2'-spirobi[6-methylbenzo(4H-1,3,2)-dioxastannine] (6), and 2,2'-spirobi[6-methoxybenzo(4H-1,3,2)dioxastannine] (7). 13 C and 119 Sn NMR spectroscopy in the solid state and in solution as well as IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis were used to characterize the tin alkoxides. The molecular structures of compounds 2 and 3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The moisture sensitivity of the tin(IV) alkoxides was demonstrated by the formation of the tin oxocluster [Sn3 (µ3 -O)(µ2 -OH)(µ2 -OCH2 C4 H3 S)3 (OCH2 C4 H3 S)6 (HOCH2 C4 H3 S)]2 (2 a), a hydrolysis product of compound 2. Polymerization reactions in the melt (for 1 and 5) and in solution (for 2-4) resulted in cross-linked nanocomposites of the type polymer/SnO2 . Subsequent oxidation of the composites gave SnO2 with BET surface areas up to 178 m2 g-1 . Simultaneous twin polymerization of compounds 5-7 with the silicon derivative 2,2'-spirobi[4H-1,3,2-benzodioxasiline] resulted in the formation of polymer/SnO2 /SiO2 hybrid materials. Oxidation gave porous materials with SnO2 nanoparticles embedded in a silica network with BET surface areas up to 378 m2 g-1 . The silica acts as a crystal growth inhibitor, which prevents sintering of the SnO2 nanoparticles 20-32 nm in size.

VUV Fourier-transform absorption study of the Lyman and Werner bands in D2.

An extensive survey of the D(2) absorption spectrum has been performed with the high-resolution VUV Fourier-transform spectrometer employing synchrotron radiation. The frequency range of 90,000-119,000 cm(-1) covers the full depth of the potential wells of the B (1)Σ(u)(+), B' (1)Σ(u)(+), and C (1)Π(u) electronic states up to the D(1s) + D(2l) dissociation limit. Improved level energies of rovibrational levels have been determined up to respectively v = 51, v = 13, and v = 20. Highest resolution is achieved by probing absorption in a molecular gas jet with slit geometry, as well as in a liquid helium cooled static gas cell, resulting in line widths of ≈0.35 cm(-1). Extended calibration methods are employed to extract line positions of D(2) lines at absolute accuracies of 0.03 cm(-1). The D (1)Π(u) and B'' (1)Σ(u)(+) electronic states correlate with the D(1s) + D(3l]) dissociation limit, but support a few vibrational levels below the second dissociation limit, respectively, v = 0-3 and v = 0-1, and are also included in the presented study. The complete set of resulting level energies is the most comprehensive and accurate data set for D(2). The observations are compared with previous studies, both experimental and theoretical.

Langmuir monolayers of straight-chain and branched hexadecanol and eicosanol mixtures.

Langmuir monolayers of straight-chain and branched hexadecanol and eicosanol mixtures were previously studied using surface pressure- area isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy, and interfacial rheology. In this paper, we investigate the structure of these fatty alcohol mixtures using these previous results together with X-ray diffraction and reflectivity measurements, which provide a better understanding of the structure of the monolayer in terms of the phase segregation and location of branched chains. For eicosanol below 25 mN/m, the branched chains are incorporated into the monolayer, yet they are phase-separated from the straight chains. At higher surface pressures, the branched chains are expelled from the monolayer and presumably form micelles or some other aggregate in the subphase. In contrast, the hexadecanol branched chains are not present in the monolayer at any surface pressure. These behaviors are interpreted with the help of the X-ray measurements and density profiles, and are explained in terms of straight-chain flexibility. We will discuss the effect of the monolayer structure on the surface shear viscosity. These studies provide a deeper understanding of the structure and behavior of amphiphilic mixtures, and will ultimately aid in developing models for lipids, micelle formation, and other important biological functions.

Interfacial rheology and structure of straight-chain and branched fatty alcohol mixtures.

Langmuir monolayers of mixtures of straight-chain and branched molecules of hexadecanol and eicosanol were studied using surface pressure-area isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy, and interfacial rheology measurements. For hexadecanol mixtures below 30% branched molecules, the isotherms show a lateral shift to a decreasing area proportional to the fraction of straight chains. Above a 30% branched fraction, the isotherms are no longer identical in shape. The surface viscosities of both straight and mixed monolayers exhibit a maximum in the condensed untilted LS phase at pi = 20 mN/m. Adding branched chains results in a nonmonotonic increase in surface viscosity, with the maximum near 12% branched hexadecanol. A visualization of these immiscible monolayers using Brewster angle microscopy in the liquid condensed phase shows the formation of discrete domains that initially increase in number density and then decrease with increasing surface pressure. Eicosanol mixtures exhibit different rheological and structural behavior from hexadecanol mixtures. The addition of branched chains results in a lateral shift to increasing area, proportional to the fraction and projected area of both straight and branched chains. A phase transition is seen for all mixtures, including pure straight chains, at pi = 15 mN/m up to 50% branched chains. A second transition is seen at pi = 25 mN/m when the isotherms cross over. Above this transition, the isotherms shift in the reverse direction with increasing branched fraction. The surface viscosities of both straight and mixed monolayers show a maximum in the L2' phase near pi = 5 mN/m. The surface viscosity is constant for low branched fractions and decays beyond 15% branched chains.