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AbstractSorbents are promising materials for applications in atmospheric water harvesting, thermal energy storage, and passive cooling, thereby addressing central challenges related to water scarcity and the global energy transition. Recently, hygroscopic hydrogel composites have emerged as high‐performance sorbents. However, many of these systems are fabricated with unsustainable and costly sorbent materials, which hinders their wide deployment. Here, the synthesis of high‐performance, cost‐efficient polyacrylamide hydrogels loaded with unprecedented amounts of calcium chloride is demonstrated. To this end, the swelling procedure of polyacrylamide hydrogels in aqueous calcium chloride solutions is optimized. The achievable salt loading in the hydrogel is characterized as a function of temperature, calcium chloride concentration in the swelling solution, and the hydrogel preparation conditions. The obtained hydrogel‐salt composites are shown to be stable under repeated sorption‐desorption cycling and enable water uptakes of 0.92 and 2.38 grams of water per gram of dry materials at 30% and 70% relative humidity, respectively. The resulting cost‐performance ratio substantially exceeds lithium chloride‐based systems. Further, the mechanistic insights on hydrogel salt interactions can guide the design of sustainable and low‐cost sorbent materials for future applications in water and energy.
Glycolide was polymerized in bulk by means of four different ROPPOC catalysts: tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct2), dibutyltin bis(pentafluoro-phenoxide) (BuSnOPF),zinc biscaproate (ZnCap), and zinc bis(pentafluoro-phenyl sulfide) (ZnSPF). The temperature was varied between 110 and 180°C and the time between 3 h and 7 days. For the few polyglycolides (PGAs) that were soluble extremely high molecular masses were obtained. The MALDI TOF mass spectra had all a low signal-to-noise ration and displayed the peaks of cyclic PGAs with a“saw-tooth pattern ”indicating formation of extended-ring crystallites in the mass range below m/z 2500. The shape of DSC curves varied considerably with catalyst and reaction conditions, whereas the long-distance values measured by SAXS were small and varied little with the polymeriza-tion conditions.
The Na salt of chloroacetic acid is condensed in suspension. Furthermore,glycolic acid is condensed in bulk or in concentrated solution by means of SnCl2 or 4-toluene sulfonic acid (TSA) as catalysts. The temperatures are varied from 160 to 200°C and the time from 1 to 5 days. Low molar mass cyclic poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) is detected by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI TOF) mass spectrometry in most PGAs. A predominance of certain cycles having an even number of repeat units is observed suggesting a thermodynamically favored formation of extended-ring crystals. Extremely high melting temperatures (up to 237.5°C)and high melting enthalpies are found for polycondensations with TSA in 1,2-dichlorobenzene.
Kemnitz et al. developed a fluorolytic route to access metal fluorides 2 such as AlF3 3 and MgF2 4 which possess a high surface area. In aluminium-based systems, the synthetic approach led to amorphous xerogels that can be further converted into Lewis superacids.3 Still, despite zirconium oxide being described as a stronger Lewis acid than other metal oxides 4 zirconium fluoride-based materials have only recently been reported or investigated. 6 In this work we extend the class of amorphous Lewis acidic heterogeneous catalysts to an amorphous ZrF4 that is active in C-F bond activation.
Amorphous materials play an important role in C-F bond activation but face the difficulty of limited available structural information by methods such as powder XRD and solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy especially if the nucleus is not abundant enough. Here, we present heterogeneous catalysts, active in C-F bond activation, where EXAFS allowed specifically elucidating the local structure, which would have not been possible elsewise.
Crystalline materials that exhibit reversible mechanical responses upon exposure to external stimuli have garnered significant attention owing to their potential applications in various fields. Herein, we report a crystal of (2Z,2′Z)-2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(3-(4-bromophenyl)acrylonitrile) (DSBr), which displays simultaneous elasto-plastic behaviour and reversible thermosalient effects. While elasto-plastic behaviour is attributed to underlying packing features, reversible thermosalient expansion is attributed to uniaxial expansion mediated by heat. Exceptional length increase and contraction upon cooling is due to the restorative nature of weak interactions through a cooperative effect. The cooperative movement of molecules is reflected in the unidirectional expansion of the habit plane. Thermosalient reversible expansion–contraction in elasto-plastic crystals have not been discussed in the literature so far. Detailed analysis reported herein provides a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanism of flexibility and thermosalient responses. This crystal's unique blend of reversible thermal expansion with flexibility holds substantial promise for applications in flexible thermal actuators.
This study investigates the mechanochemical reactions between AgBr 3-picolylamine and 4-picolylamine. The use of different stoichiometry ratios of the reagents allows [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n and [(AgBr)2(n-pica)]n to be obtained, and we report the new structures of [(AgBr)2(3-pica)]n and [(AgBr)2(4-pica)]n which are characterized by the presence of the following: (a) infinite inorganic chains, (b) silver atom coordinated only by bromide atoms and (c) argentophilic interactions. Furthermore, we studied the interconversion of [(AgBr)(n-pica)]n/[(AgBr)2(n-pica)]n by mechanochemical and thermal properties. The in situ experiments suggest that [(AgBr)(3-pica)]n is kinetically favoured while [(AgBr)2(3-pica)]n is converted into [(AgBr)(3-pica)]n only with a high excess of the ligand. Finally, the liquid nature of the ligands is not sufficient to assist the grinding process, and the complete reaction is observed with the addition of a small quantity of acetonitrile.
Here, we show that calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) can be directly, rapidly and reversibly converted to calcium sulfate hemihydrate (bassanite) in high salinity solutions (brines). The optimum conditions for the efficient production of bassanite in a short time (<5 min) involve the use of brines with c(NaCl) > 4 M and maintaining a temperature, T > 80 °C. When the solution containing bassanite crystals is cooled down to around room temperature, eventually gypsum is formed. When the temperature is raised again to T > 80 °C, bassanite is rapidly re-precipitated. This contrasts with the better-known behaviour of the bassanite phase in low-salt environments. In low-salinity aqueous solutions, bassanite is considered to be metastable with respect to gypsum and anhydrite, and therefore gypsum-to-bassanite conversion does not occur in pure water. Interestingly, the high-salinity transformation of gypsum-to-bassanite has been reported by many authors and used in practice for several decades, although its very occurrence actually contradicts numerical thermodynamic predictions regarding solubility of calcium sulfate phases. By following the evolution of crystalline phases with in situ and time-resolved X-ray diffraction/scattering and Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrated that the phase stability in brines at elevated temperatures was inaccurately represented in the thermodynamic databases. Most notably for c(NaCl) > 4 M, and T > 80 °C gypsum becomes readily more soluble than bassanite, which induces the direct precipitation of the latter from gypsum. The fact that these transformations are controlled by the solution provides extensive opportunities for precise manipulation of crystal formation. Our experiments confirmed that bassanite remained the sole crystalline phase for many hours before reverting into gypsum. This property is extremely advantageous for practical processing and efficient crystal extraction in industrial scenarios.
The 2-methoxyphenol units (G-units) in lignin are modified by demethylation and oxidation to provide the activated lignin as one part of an advanced biobased two-component (2K) adhesive system, which exhibits promising shear strengths in dry and underwater applications. The activation of lignin is straightforward and generates quinones via demethylation and periodate oxidation. These act as Michael acceptors and react smoothly with multi-thiol-star polymers to yield thiol-catechol connectivities (TCCs). The mussel-inspired material platform acts as a very robust and versatile adhesive, combining low-cost and readily available lignin with multi-thiols to achieve outstanding adhesion strengths of up to 15 MPa in dry application. In particular, the 2K system is compatible with the marine biological environment and shows no acute toxicity to sensitive organisms such as fish eggs. Thus, one possible application of this material could be an adhesive for setting temperature-resistant corals in damaged reefs.
AbstractThe high-temperature corrosion behaviors of the equimolar CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy and CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy were studied in a gas atmosphere consisting of a volumetric mixture of 10% H2O, 2% O2, 0.5% SO2, and 87.5% Ar at 800 °C for up to 96 h. Both alloys were initially single-phase fcc with a mean grain size of ~ 50 μm and a homogeneous chemical composition. The oxide layer thickness of CrMnFeCoNi increased linearly with exposure time while it remained constant at ~ 1 μm for CrCoNi. A Cr2O3 layer and minor amounts of (Co,Ni)Cr2O4 developed on the latter while three oxide layers were detected on the former, i.e., a thin and continuous chromium rich oxide layer at the oxide/alloy interface, a dense (Mn,Cr)3O4 layer in the center and a thick and porous layer of Mn3O4 and MnSO4 at the gas/oxide interface. Additionally, a few metal sulfides were observed in the CrMnFeCoNi matrix. These results were found to be in reasonable agreement with thermodynamic calculations.
Noble metal-free nanoparticles (NPs) based on multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) were synthesized using a one-step pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLALs) method for the electrochemical reduction of CO2. Laser ablation was performed in pure water or poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC)-containing an aqueous solution of Al8Cr17Co17Cu8Fe17Ni33 MPEA targets. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements combined with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping were used to characterize the structure and composition of the laser-generated MPEA nanoparticles (MPEA-NPs). These results confirmed the presence of a characteristic elemental distribution of a core-shell phase structure as the predominant NP species. The electrocatalytic performance of the laser-generated MPEA-NPs was characterized by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) demonstrating an enhanced electrocatalytic CO2 activity for PDADMAC-stabilized NPs. The findings of these investigations indicate that MPEAs have great potential to replace conventional, expensive noble metal electrocatalysts.
With 2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane (DSTL) and 2-stanna-1,3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzoxepane (SnBiPh) as catalysts ring-expansion polymerizations (REP) were performed either in 2 M solution using three different solvents and two different temperatures or in bulk at 140 and 120 ◦C. A kinetically controlled rapid REP up to weight average molecular masses (Mẃs) above 300 000 was followed by a slower degradation of the molecular masses at 140 ◦C, but not at 120 ◦C Furthermore, a low molecular mass cyclic poly(L-lactide) (cPLA) with a Mn around 16 000 was prepared by polymerization in dilute solution and used as starting material for ring-ring equilibration at 140 ◦C in 2 M solutions. Again, a decrease of the molecular mass was detectable, suggesting that the equilibrium Mn is below 5 000. The degradation of the molecular masses via RRE was surprisingly more effective in solid cyclic PLA than in solution, and a specific transesterification mechanism involving loops on the surface of crystallites is proposed. This degradation favored the formation of extended-ring crystallites, which were detectable by a “saw-tooth pattern” in their MALDI mass spectra.
A route to a ZrF4 catalyst active in room temperature Friedel–Crafts and dehydrofluorination reactions was developed via a fluorolytic sol–gel route, which was followed by a postfluorination step using a stream of CHClF2. The behaviour of different Zr(IV) precursors in a sol–gel reaction with anhydrous isopropanol/HF solution was investigated. The subsequent post-fluorination step was optimised in its temperature ramp and confirmed the necessity of a fluorination of the generated xerogels to obtain catalytic activity. The process is discussed in the context of the analysis of the materials using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The local structure of the amorphous catalyst was elucidated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS).
The usefulness of seven different Tin catalysts, Bismuth subsalicylate and Titan tetra(ethoxide) for the polycondensation of ethyl L-lactate (ELA) was examined at 150 °C/6 d. Dibutyltin bis(phenoxides) proved to be particularly effective. Despite the low reactivity of ELA, weight average molecular masses (Mw) up to 12 500 were found along with partial crystallization. Furthermore, polylactides (PLAs) of similar molecular masses were prepared via ELA-initiated ROPs of L-lactide by means of the four most effective polycondensation catalysts. The crystalline linear PLAs were annealed at 140 or 160 °C in the presence of these catalysts. The consequences of the transesterification reactions in the solid PLAs were studied by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI TOF) mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results indicate that polycondensation and formation of cycles proceed in the solid state via formation of loops on the surface of the crystallites. In summary, five different transesterification reactions are required to explain all results.
Calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4ᐧ0.5H2O), also known as bassanite, has been used as a precursor to produce gypsum (dihydrate, CaSO4ᐧ2H2O) for various construction and decorative purposes since prehistoric times. The main route to obtain hemihydrate is a thermal treatment of gypsum at temperatures typically between 150 °C and 200 °C to remove some of the structural water.
In this contribution, we introduce (Fig. 1) a more efficient and sustainable method (T < 100 °C) that enables the direct, rapid, and reversibly conversion of gypsum to bassanite using reusable high salinity aqueous solutions (brines with c[NaCl] > 4 M). The optimum conditions for the efficientproduction of bassanite in a short time (< 5 min) involve the use of brines with c(NaCl) > 4 M and maintaining a temperature, T > 80 °C. When the solution containing bassanite crystals is cooled down to around room temperature, eventually gypsum is formed. When the temperature is raised again to T > 80 °C, bassanite is rapidly re-precipitated. This contrasts with the typical behaviour of the bassanite phase in low salt environments.
Traditionally, hemihydrate is obtained through a solid state thermal treatment because bassanite is considered to be metastable with respect to gypsum and anhydrite in aqueous solutions, and therefore gypsum-to-bassanite conversion should not occur in water. Its very occurrence actually contradicts numerical thermodynamic predictions regarding solubility of calcium sulfate phases. By following the evolution of crystalline phases with in situ and time-resolved X-ray diffraction/scattering and Raman spectroscopy, we demonstrated that the phase stability in brines at elevated temperatures is inaccurately represented in the thermodynamic databases. Most notably for c(NaCl) > 4 M, and T > 80 °C gypsum becomes readily more soluble than bassanite, which induces the direct precipitation of the latter from gypsum. The fact that these transformations are controlled by the solution provides extensive opportunities for precise manipulation of crystal formation. Our experiments confirmed that bassanite remained the sole crystalline structure for many hours before reverting into gypsum. This property is extremely advantageous for practical processing and efficient crystal extraction in industrial scenarios.
Here, we elucidate nonclassical multistep crystallization pathways of transition metal phosphates from aqueous solutions. We followed precipitation processes of M-struvites, NH4MPO4·6H2O, and M-phosphate octahydrates, M3(PO4)2·8H2O, where M = Ni, Co, or NixCo1–x, by using in situ scattering and spectroscopy-based techniques, supported by elemental mass spectrometry analyses and advanced electron microscopy. Ni and Co phosphates crystallize via intermediate colloidal amorphous nanophases, which change their complex structures while agglomerating, condensing, and densifying throughout the extended reaction times. We reconstructed the three-dimensional morphology of these precursors by employing cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). We found that the complex interplay between metastable amorphous colloids and protocrystalline units determines the reaction pathways. Ultimately, the same crystalline structure, such as struvite, is formed. However, the multistep process stages vary in complexity and can last from a few minutes to several hours depending on the selected transition metal(s), their concentration, and the Ni/Co ratio.
Mechanochemistry has become a compelling method for producing (new) molecule s and mate-rials, but the inner workings of the milling jars remain a fascinating mystery. Advances in this field include tailor-made chemical systems and real-time revelations using techniques such as XRD and Raman spectroscopy.
This talk will discuss our recent progress in using X-ray diffraction and sophisticated spectros-copy to observe reactions in various material systems during ball milling and extrusion in real-time.
The complexity of mechanochemical reactions spans multiple scales and requires a holistic ap-proach. The categorisation of reactions by investigative methods precedes the exploration of real-time analysis that reveals macroscopic processes using synchrotron techniques.
During this exploration, one resounding realisation remains: We are on the threshold of under-standing. The complexity of mechanochemistry requires a collective effort, drawing on the ex-pertise of a diverse community. As we unravel the web of mechanochemical phenomena, we acknowledge the collaborative nature of this ongoing journey.
Synthesis of Li ion battery materials via ball milling has been a huge area of growth, leading to new high-capacity electrode materials, such as a number of promising disordered rocksalt (DRS) phases. In prior work, it was generally assumed that the synthesis was facilitated simply by local heating effects during the milling process. In this work, we show that ball milling Li2MoO4 leads to a phase transformation to the high pressure spinel polymorph and we report electrochemical data for this phase. This observation of the formation of a high pressure polymorph shows that local heating effects alone cannot explain the phase transformation observed (phenakite to spinel) and so indicates the importance of other effects. In particular, we propose that when the milling balls collide with the material, the resulting shockwaves exert a localised pressure effect, in addition to local heating. To provide further support for this, we additionally report ball milling results for a number of case studies (Li2MnO3, Li2SnO3, Nb2O5) which reinforces the conclusion that local heating alone cannot explain the phase transformations observed. The work presented thus provides greater fundamental understanding of milling as a synthetic pathway and suggests potential strategies to prepare such samples without milling (e.g., doping to create internal chemical pressure). In addition, we suggest that further research is needed into the effect of the use of milling as a route to smaller particles, since we believe that such milling may also be affecting the surface structure of the particles through the influence of the shockwaves generated.
Mechanochemistry emerges as a potent, environmentally friendly, and straightforward approach for crafting novel multicomponent crystal systems. Various milling parameters, including milling frequency, time, filling degree of the milling jar, ball diameter, vessel size, degree of milling ball filling, and material of jars, are recognized influencers on the mechanisms and rates of product formation. Despite the growing interest in mechanochemistry, there exists a gap in understanding the mechanistic aspects of mechanochemical reactivity and selectivity. To address this, diverse analytical methods and their combinations, such as powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and thermography, have been developed for real-time, in situ monitoring of mechanochemical transformations.
This discussion centers on our recent findings, specifically investigating the formation of (polymorphic) cocrystals and metal-organic frameworks. Through these studies, we aim to unravel the impact of milling parameters and reaction sequences on the formation mechanism and kinetics. Notably, in the mechanochemical chlorination reaction of hydantoin, normalizing kinetic profiles to the volume of the milling ball unequivocally demonstrates the conservation of milling reaction kinetics. In this ball-milling transformation, physical kinetics outweigh chemical factors in determining reaction rates. Attempting to interpret such kinetics solely through chemical terms poses a risk of misinterpretation. Our results highlight that time-resolved in situ investigations of milling reactions provide a novel avenue for fine-tuning and optimizing mechanochemical processes.
Investigating the mechanism and kinetics of the mechanochemical synthesis of multi-component systems
(2023)
Mechanochemistry is a promising and environmentally friendly approach for synthesizing (novel) multicomponent crystal systems. Various milling parameters, such as milling frequency, milling time, and ball diameter have been shown to influence the mechanisms and rates of product formation. Despite increasing interest in mechanochemistry, there is still limited understanding of the underlying reactivity and selectivity mechanisms.
Various analytical techniques have been developed to gain insight into the mechanochemical transformations, including powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray adsorption spectroscopy, NMR, Raman spectroscopy and thermography. Using these techniques, we have studied the formation of (polymorphic) cocrystals, organometallic compounds and salts, and elucidated the influence of milling parameters and reaction sequences on the formation mechanism and kinetics.
For example, our study of the mechanochemical chlorination reaction of hydantoin revealed that normalisation of the kinetic profiles to the volume of the grinding ball clearly showed that physical kinetics dominate the reaction rates in a ball-milling transformation. Attempts to interpret such kinetics in purely chemical terms risk misinterpretation of the results.
Our results suggest that time-resolved in situ investigation of milling reactions is a promising way to fine-tune and optimise mechanochemical processes.
Mechanochemistry emerges as a potent, environmentally friendly, and straightforward approach for crafting novel multicomponent crystal systems. Various milling parameters, including milling frequency, time, filling degree of the milling jar, ball diameter, vessel size, degree of milling ball filling, and material of jars, are recognized influencers on the mechanisms and rates of product formation. Despite the growing interest in mechanochemistry, there exists a gap in understanding the mechanistic aspects of mechanochemical reactivity and selectivity. To address this, diverse analytical methods and their combinations, such as powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and thermography, have been developed for real-time, in situ monitoring of mechanochemical transformations.
This discussion centers on our recent findings, specifically investigating the formation of (polymorphic) cocrystals and metal-organic frameworks. Through these studies, we aim to unravel the impact of milling parameters and reaction sequences on the formation mechanism and kinetics. Notably, in the mechanochemical chlorination reaction of hydantoin, normalizing kinetic profiles to the volume of the milling ball unequivocally demonstrates the conservation of milling reaction kinetics. In this ball-milling transformation, physical kinetics outweigh chemical factors in determining reaction rates. Attempting to interpret such kinetics solely through chemical terms poses a risk of misinterpretation. Our results highlight that time-resolved in situ investigations of milling reactions provide a novel avenue for fine-tuning and optimizing mechanochemical processes.
Use of the solvent-free mechanochemical method for a sustainable preparation of pharmaceuticals
(2023)
With the growing interest in environmental issues on the part of governments and institutions, pharmaceutical industries are asked to reduce their environmental footprint. Given the major impact related to the use of solvents, the development of methodologies less solvent demanding is nowadays even more urgent. In light of that, mechanochemistry would be a suitable solvent-free technology since it promotes the activation of the chemical reactions between (generally) solid materials via inputs of mechanical energy. Since such reactions may occur outside the kinetic and thermodynamic rules of conventional solution chemistry, the main limit of mechanochemistry is the poor mechanistic understanding of the solid-state transformations involved, which is still hindering a widespread use of the method, as well a scale-up to the industrial level. However, the development of methods for real-time monitoring of the mechanochemical reactions enables obtaining (in)accessible information on reaction intermediates, new products, or reaction time, thus getting closer to a better understanding of the mechanistic behaviour. With the rules of this chemistry becoming increasingly clear, the new reaction pathways of mechanochemistry wouldn’t represent a limit anymore, but an asset, that may lead to lot of opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry.
A crucial aspect of ensuring sustainable raw material utilization to meet global demand lies in the efficient recovery and reuse of critical elements and compounds. Phosphate, PO43-, and many transition metals e.g. Ni and Co are listed as critical raw materials (CRMs) due to their indispensable role in numerous industrial processes. However, these elements can also exert harmful environmental impacts, with phosphorus being a major contributor to anthropogenic eutrophication and transition metal ions acting as toxic pollutants, particularly in ground- and wastewaters. Typically, separate pathways have been considered to extract hazardous substances such as transition metals or phosphate, independently from each other. Here, we report the crystallization pathways of transition metal phosphate (TMP) compounds, M-struvite and M-phosphate octahydrate with M = Ni2+, Co2+, NixCo1-x2+, NH4MPO4∙6H2O, M3(PO4)2∙8H2O from aqueous solutions. The co-precipitation of these particular TMP compounds from industrial and agricultural wastewaters has high potential as a P- and 3d metal recovery route.
For efficient extraction and transformation of the TMPs, a comprehensive understanding of their nucleation and crystallization pathways from aqueous solutions is required. While the crystallization mechanisms of magnesium or calcium phosphate-bearing phases have been researched for many decades (e.g. struvite, apatite), investigations into TMP materials are relatively scarce and often focus on the adsorption of transition metals on the surface instead of their actual incorporation in minerals. In our study, we investigated in detail the precipitation process of several Co and Ni phosphates using ex- and in-situ spectroscopic-, spectrometric- and diffraction-/scattering-based techniques. We show that the crystallization behavior of TMPs, indeed deviates from a classical crystallization paradigm and follows a non-classical multi-step pathway. Our work extends the understanding of TMP crystallization by elucidating the formation of amorphous precursors preceding the final crystalline phase This time-dependent transition of the transition metal precursor phases can be observed by electron-imaging/tomography depicting a progressively changing amorphous solids until their ultimate reconfiguration to a crystal (Figure 1). Here, the two-metallic NixCo1-x-mixtures deviated anomalously in their reaction kinetics, crystallization outcome and participation of both metals from their pure endmembers. By measuring the crystallization with in-situ X-ray scattering and pH using a flow-through setup geometry, a complex prolonged interplay among nucleating entities e.g. and amorphous or crystalline solids could be observed in the metal phosphate mixtures reaching equilibrium after almost two and a half hours (Figure 2). Our results provide a holistic perspective on the crystallization behavior of transition metal phosphate phases, shedding light on their unique nucleation and growth kinetics involving structural and chemical transformations of the intermediate phases.
Mechanochemistry is an effective, environmentally benign, and facile method for the synthesis of new multicomponent crystal systems. Different milling parameters are known to affect the mechanisms and rates of product formation: milling frequency, milling time, filling degree of the milling jar, ball diameter and vessel size, degree of milling ball filling, and material of jars. The increasing interest in mechanochemistry is contrasted by a limited mechanistic understanding of the mechanochemical reactivity and selectivity.
Different analytical methods and their combinations have been developed for the time resolved in situ monitoring of mechanochemical transformations, including powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray adsorption spectroscopy, NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and thermography.
Here we will discuss our recent results investigating the formation of (poly-morphic) cocrystals[1,3], metal-organic compounds, and salts, thereby elucidating the influence of milling parameters and reaction sequences on the formation mechanism and kinetics. For the mechanochemical chlorination reaction of hydantoin normalizing the kinetic profiles to the volume of the milling ball showed clearly that milling reaction kinetics are conserved. Here physical kinetics dominate reaction rates in a ball-milling transformation. Attempting to interpret such kinetics in purely chemical terms risk misinterpreting the results.
Our results indicate that time-resolved in situ investigation of milling reactions offer a new approach to tune and optimize mechanochemical processes.
While a lage amount of research on high entropy alloys is oriented towards mechanical properties and the microstructural improvement it is also necessary to keep an eye on the environment that potential application materials will be submitted to. The Co-Cr-Fe-Ni based high entropy family has shown great potential over the years of high entropy research and some candidate alloys are chosen for an insight into their corrosion behaviour. Several atmospheres are studied, i.e. O2, H2O, SO2 and a mix thereof in argon as well as synthetic air. Just as for classic alloys, the chromium is the most important element in terms of protection agains further corrosion. The addition of manganese, as in case of the “Cantor alloy” CrMnFeCoNi, overpasses Cr when it comes to oxygen affinity and thus counteracts the layer formation of Cr2O3. Even without Mn, a temperature chosen too high will also affect the formation of the chromium oxide layer and spall it off, annulling its protective potential. We can also observe how trace elements influence the layer formation. These effects and their mechanisms will be discussed for the alloys CrFeNi, CoCrNi, CrMnFeCoNi and variations of Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 using a combination of electron microscopy, thermodynamic calculations and x-ray diffraction.
Metal-organic framework-based biocomposites (MOF-biocomposites) are promising materials for biosensing, biocatalysis, and delivery of biopharmaceuticals. One of the most studied MOFs for bioapplications is ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework 8) due to its high surface area, high thermal and chemical stability, and low cytotoxicity. The conventional synthesis of ZIF-8-biocomposites called biomimetic mineralization includes mixing selected biomolecules 2-methylimidazole, and soluble Zn2+ source in water.[3] Despite the high efficiency of the method, it does not allow for large-scale production and is restricted to hydrophilic biomolecules. Aimed at developing a scalable and versatile approach, we adapted our recently-reported ZIF-8 reactive extrusion for biocomposite production.
We selected bovine serum albumin (BSA) as an inexpensive model biomacromolecule for the preparation of biocomposites. The synthesis of BSA@ZIF-8 was performed using a twin-screw extruder ZE 12 HMI (Three-Tec Gmbh) at a mild temperature of 40 °C. Automatic volumetric feeder ZD 12B (Three-Tec GmbH) was used to supply the reagent mixture consisting of 2-methylimidazole, zinc source, and BSA. To initiate the reaction, a catalytic amount of EtOH was added using a peristaltic pump BT-L (Lead Fluid, China). Powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, and N2 adsorption were used to characterize the extrudates.
Highly crystalline and pure BSA@ZIF-8 with different BSA loadings was isolated after washing the extrudate with EtOH and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The EtOH feeding rate was optimized by following the protein encapsulation efficiency at a BSA mass fraction of 10%. A continuous extruder operation under optimized conditions showed good reproducibility and capability of producing biocomposites on the kilograms scale. These results provide highly valuable information for cheap and large-scale production of ZIF-8-based biocomposites. Due to the lack of restrictions on molecule size and solubility, our proof-of-concept study may significantly expand the selection of biomolecules for immobilization in ZIF-8, making the method applicable to various functional applications
We report the scale-up of a batch solid synthesis of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) for reactive extrusion. The crystalline product forms in the extruder directly under the mixture of solid 2-methylimidazole and basic zinc carbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of liquid. The process parameters such as temperature, liquid type, feeding rate, and linker excess were optimized using the setup specifically designed for in situ Raman spectroscopy. Highly crystalline ZIF-8 with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 1816 m2 g–1 was quantitatively prepared at mild temperature using a catalytic amount of ethanol and a small excess of the linker. Finally, we developed a simple and comprehensive approach to evaluating the environmental friendliness and scalability of metal–organic framework (MOF) syntheses in view of their large-scale production.
Optimizing the Green Synthesis of ZIF-8 by Reactive Extrusion Using In Situ Raman Spectroscopy
(2023)
ZIF-8 is a prominent member of the zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) subfamily of MOFs which possesses high thermal, chemical, and mechanical stabilities. Different routes have been explored to achieve the large-scale production of ZIF-8. However, these synthetic procedures are often inconsistent with the principles of sustainable chemical manufacturing. Aimed at developing scalable and greener production of ZIF-8, we adapted our previously reported in-batch „mix and wait“ synthesis[2] to continuous extrusion. To optimize the process, in-situ Raman spectroscopy was applied. Finally, we developed a simple and comprehensive approach to evaluating the environmental friendliness and scalability of MOF syntheses in view of their large-scale production.
The synthesis of ZIF-8 was performed using a twin-screw extruder ZE 12 HMI equipped with an automatic volumetric feeder ZD 12B (Three-Tec GmbH, Switzerland) and peristaltic pump BT-L (Lead Fluid, China). The process was monitored in six different zones using a Raman RXN1TM analyzer (Kaiser Optical Systems, France) with a non-contact probe head. PMMA screw-in parts, which are transparent to Raman laser radiation, were specially manufactured to provide the laser focus within the barrel. PXRD, TGA, N2 adsorption measurements, and SEM were used as complementary techniques to characterize the extrudates.
The batch ‘mix and wait’ synthesis of ZIF-8, consisting of bringing solid basic zinc carbonate and 2-methylimidazole in contact in a closed vial, was successfully adapted to reactive extrusion. The crystalline ZIF-8 continuously forms in the extruder under the mixing of solid reagents in the presence of a catalytic amounts of H2O or EtOH. The temperature, type of liquid, feeding rate, and excess of linker were optimized using in situ Raman spectroscopy. Pure and highly crystalline ZIF-8 was isolated at 40 °C by adding a catalytic amount of EtOH and a linker excess of 25%. The resulting material has excellent porosity with the BET surface area slightly exceeding that of the reference Basolite® Z1200 (1816 vs. 1734 m2 g–1). The reaction could yield ~ 3 kg d–1 assuming a continuous operation, with a space-time yield of ca. 67,000 kg m–3 d–1. The present method was compared to the published pathways based on Green Chemistry principles and proved to have the highest potential for large-scale production of ZIF-8.
Metal-organic framework-based biocomposites (MOF-biocomposites) are promising materials for biosensing, biocatalysis, and delivery of biopharmaceuticals. One of the most studied MOFs for bioapplications is ZIF-8 (zeolitic imidazolate framework 8) due to its high surface area, high thermal and chemical stability, and low cytotoxicity. The conventional synthesis of ZIF-8-biocomposites called biomimetic mineralization includes mixing selected biomolecules 2-methylimidazole, and soluble Zn2+ source in water. Despite the high efficiency of the method, it does not allow for large-scale production and is restricted to hydrophilic biomolecules. Aimed at developing a scalable and versatile approach, we adapted our recently-reported ZIF-8 reactive extrusion for biocomposite production.
We selected bovine serum albumin (BSA) as an inexpensive model biomacromolecule for the preparation of biocomposites. The synthesis of BSA@ZIF-8 was performed using a twin-screw extruder ZE 12 HMI (Three-Tec Gmbh) at a mild temperature of 40 °C. Automatic volumetric feeder ZD 12B (Three-Tec GmbH) was used to supply the reagent mixture consisting of 2-methylimidazole, zinc source, and BSA. To initiate the reaction, a catalytic amount of EtOH was added using a peristaltic pump BT-L (Lead Fluid, China). Powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FTIR, and N2 adsorption were used to characterize the extrudates.
Highly crystalline and pure BSA@ZIF-8 with different BSA loadings was isolated after washing the extrudate with EtOH and sodium dodecyl sulfate. The EtOH feeding rate was optimized by following the protein encapsulation efficiency at a BSA mass fraction of 10%. A continuous extruder operation under optimized conditions showed good reproducibility and capability of producing biocomposites on the kilograms scale. These results provide highly valuable information for cheap and large-scale production of ZIF-8-based biocomposites. Due to the lack of restrictions on molecule size and solubility, our proof-of-concept study may significantly expand the selection of biomolecules for immobilization in ZIF-8, making the method applicable to various functional applications
A cobalt(III) complex, [Co(L)3](DMF) (1) of Schiff base ligand HL, 2-((E)-(benzylimino)methyl)-4-bromophenol is prepared and single crystal X-ray structural analysis have also been performed. The structures of complex 1 showed hexa-coordinated mononuclear systems that adopt octahedral geometry. The complex has also exhibited the supramolecular networks through non-covalent interactions like H-bonding, C–Hπ stacking. Moreover, the complex 1 is very effective in the catalytic fixation of carbon dioxide in propergyl alcohols to produce α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates. The catalytic production of α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates have been carried out through carboxylative cyclization of propargyl alcohols using CO2 balloon of 1 atm pressure at 80 ◦C. Solvent free condition (green synthesis) made this catalytic protocol eco-friendly towards the environment. Utilizing various substrates of propargyl alcohols moderate to high percentage yield (62–95%) of respective α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates product have been isolated over this catalytic reaction. Besides, the theoretical calculations (DFT) was performed for the prediction of probable mechanism of the catalytic reaction
We show that mechanochemically driven polymorphic transformations can require extremely long induction periods, which can be tuned from hours to days by changing ball milling energy. The robust design and interpretation of ball milling experiments must account for this unexpected kinetics that arises from energetic phenomena unique to the solid state. Detailed thermal analysis, combined with DFT simulations, indicates that these marked induction periods are associated with processes of mechanical activation. Correspondingly, we show that the pre‐activation of reagents can also lead to marked changes in the length of induction periods. Our findings demonstrate a new dimension for exerting control over polymorphic transformations in organic crystals. We expect mechanical activation to have a much broader implication across organic solid‐state mechanochemistry.
Due to their favorable properties and high porosity, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have recently received much limelight for key technologies such as energy storage, optoelectronics, sensorics, and catalysis. Despite widespread interest in these materials, fundamental questions regarding the zinc coordination environment remain poorly understood. By focusing on zinc(II)2-methylimidazolate (ZIF-8) and its tetrahedrally coordinated analogues with Br-, Cl-, and H-substitution in the 2-ring position, we aim to clarify how variations in the local environment of Zn impact the charge distribution and the electronic properties of these materials. Our results from densityfunctional theory confirm the presence of a Zn coordinative bond with a large polarization that is quantitatively affected by different substituents on the organic ligand. Moreover, our findings suggest that the variations in the Zn coordination induced by the functionalization have a negligible effect on the electronic structure of the considered compounds. On the other hand, halogen terminations of the ligands lead to distinct electronic contributions in the vicinity of the frontier region which ultimately reduce the band gap size by a few hundred millielectron volts. Experimental results obtained from X-ray absorption spectroscopy (Zn K-edge) confirm the trends predicted by theory and, together with them, contribute to a better understanding of the structure−property relationships that are needed to tailor ZIFs for target applications.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are one of the most promising alternative green energy technologies that deliver high energy density without CO2 emissions. The proton conductivity of proton exchange membranes (PEM) contributes to the overall efficiency of a PEMFC. Materials being used as PEMs must exhibit high proton conductivity at the working conditions of the targeted PEMFC. To date, Nafion and Nafion-like polymers with acidic functionality are widely used as membrane materials due to their high proton conductivity in the range of 10-1 to 10-2 Scm-1 at higher relative humidity. However, these materials suffer from high costs, hazardous production process, and poor performance at high temperatures, limiting their versatility.
In this context, crystalline porous materials are recognized as promising proton conductors for the proton exchange membrane (PEM) in fuel cell technology, owing to their tunable framework structure. However, it is still challenging bulk synthesis for real-world applications of these materials. Herein, we present mechanochemical gram-scale synthesis of series of mixed ligand metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (MHOFs) using phenylene diphosphonic acid and 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid with different bipyridyl type of ligands, respectively. In all cases, the existence of extensive hydrogen bonds with amphiprotic uncoordinated phosphonate hydroxyl and oxygen atoms, the frameworks exhibited high proton conductivity. The study demonstrates the potential of green mechanosynthesis for preparations of framework-based proton conducting materials in bulk scale for green energy generation.
Energetic materials (explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, and gas generators; EM) release large amounts of energy when initiated by mechanical loading and have many technological applications including in energy storage and propulsion. The accidental initiation of an EM – particularly in the wrong setting – has the potential to be catastrophic. Unfortunately, there is little understood about what determines the sensitivity of a given EM. This poses severe restrictions on our ability to design new and safer EMs.
Aiming to better understand the initiation mechanisms of EMs, we here investigate the reactivity of simple, isomorphous azides (MN3 M=Li, Na). Both metal azides contain the same explosophoric azido anions, but differ significantly in their reactivity, presumably owing to different bonding interactions between the anion and the metal cation. This interaction offers a promising probe for X-ray spectroscopy and quantum chemical simulations. In noting that mechanical initiation results from mechanical impact – with high local pressures – we are particularly interested in identifying how this bonding interaction changes as a function of pressure.
This interaction offers a promising probe for X-ray spectroscopy and quantum chemical simulations. In noting that mechanical initiation results from mechanical impact – with high local pressures – we are particularly interested in identifying how this bonding interaction changes as a function of pressure.
Here we show results from DFT simulations that indicate a shift in electronic structure and changes in the metal-azide bond with increasing pressure, which is further investigated through experimental XAS spectra. Together, our results show promising insights into the behaviour of simple metal azide EMs.
Mechanochemistry has proven to be a highly effective method for the synthesis of organic compounds. We studied the kinetics of the catalyst-free Knoevenagel reaction between 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and malononitrile, activated and driven by ball milling. The reaction was investigated in the absence of solvents (neat grinding) and in the presence of solvents with different polarities (liquid-assisted grinding). The reaction was monitored using time-resolved in situ Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Our results indicate a direct relationship between solvent polarity and reaction kinetics, with higher solvent polarity leading to faster product (2-(4-nitrobenzylidone)malononitrile) formation. For the first time, we were able to isolate and determine the structure of an intermediate 2-(hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl)malononitrile based on PXRD data.
A round-robin study has been carried out to estimate the impact of the human element in small-angle scattering data analysis. Four corrected datasets were provided to participants ready for analysis. All datasets were measured on samples containing spherical scatterers, with two datasets in dilute dispersions and two from powders. Most of the 46 participants correctly identified the number of populations in the dilute dispersions, with half of the population mean entries within 1.5% and half of the population width entries within 40%. Due to the added complexity of the structure factor, far fewer people submitted answers on the powder datasets. For those that did, half of the entries for the means and widths were within 44 and 86%, respectively. This round-robin experiment highlights several causes for the discrepancies, for which solutions are proposed.
The Kemnitz et al. developed a fluorolytic route to access metal fluorides 1 such as AlF3 2 and MgF2 3 which possess a high surface area. In aluminium-based systems, the synthetic approach led to amorphous xerogels that can be further converted into Lewis superacids.2 Still, despite zirconium oxide being described as a stronger Lewis acid than other metal oxides4 zirconium fluoride-based materials have only recently been reported or investigated. In this work we extend the class of amorphous Lewis acidic heterogeneous catalysts to an amorphous ZrF4 that is active in C-F bond activation.
The precipitation of struvite, a magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MgNH₄PO₄ · 6H₂O) mineral, from wastewater is a promising method for recovering phosphorous. While this process is commonly used in engineered environments, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the formation of struvite crystals remains limited. Specifically, indirect evidence suggests the involvement of an amorphous precursor and the occurrence of multi-step processes in struvite formation, which would indicate non-classical paths of nucleation and crystallization. In this study, we use synchrotron-based in situ x-ray scattering complemented by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy to obtain new insights from the earliest stages of struvite formation. The holistic scattering data captured the structure of an entire assembly in a time-resolved manner. The structural features comprise the aqueous medium, the growing struvite crystals, and any potential heterogeneities or complex entities. By analysing the scattering data, we found that the onset of crystallization causes a perturbation in the structure of the surrounding aqueous medium. This perturbation is characterized by the occurrence and evolution of Ornstein-Zernike fluctuations on a scale of about 1 nm, suggesting a non-classical nature of the system. We interpret this phenomenon as a liquid-liquid phase separation, which gives rise to the formation of the amorphous precursor phase preceding actual crystal growth of struvite. Our microscopy results confirm that the formation of Mg-struvite includes a short-lived amorphous phase, lasting >10 s.
The lattice enthalpies and monotropic relationship of two dehydroepiandrosterone (DEHA) polymorphs (forms I and II) were evaluated through a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), isothermal solution microcalorimetry, and drop-sublimation Calvet microcalorimetry experiments. The standard molar enthalpy of transition between both forms was determined as ΔtrsHom (II→I, 298.15 K) = - 0.90 ± 0.07 kJ mol-1 and ΔtrsHom (II→I, 417.8 K) = - 1.7 ± 1.0 kJ mol- 1, from measurements of standard molar enthalpies of solution in dimethyl sulfoxide and enthalpies of fusion, respectively. Drop-sublimation Calvet microcalorimetry experiments on form I led to ΔsubHom (cr I, 298.15 K) = 132.0±3.3 kJ mol - 1. This result, when combined with the more precise ΔtrsHom (II→I) value obtained by solution calorimetry, afforded ΔsubHom (cr II, 298.15 K) = 131.1±3.3 kJ mol - 1. The overall data indicate that on enthalpic grounds form I is more stable than form II from 298.15 K up to fusion. This conclusion, and the fact that DSC experiments indicated that form I has also a considerably higher temperature fusion, namely, Tfus(cr I)= 422.5±0.2 K and Tfus(cr II) = 413.1±0.2 K, suggest that the two polymorphs are monotropically related.
Cyclic and linear poly(L-lactide)s by ring-expansion polymerization with Bu2SnO, Oct2SnO, and Bu2SnS
(2023)
To elucidate the usefulness of commercial Bu2SnO as catalyst for syntheses of linear and/or cyclic polylactides L-Lactide was polymerized in bulk with variation of the LA/Cat ratio, temperature and time. Based on a ring-expansion polymerization (REP) mechanism cyclic polylactides (PLAs) with weight average molecular weights in the range of 200,000–300,000 are obtained at the highest temperature (180 °C). Polymerizations at 150 °C yielded crystalline, mainly cyclic polylactides which, after annealing, showed high melting temperatures (up to 197.5 °C) and high crystallinities (>80%). Polymerization at 120 °C confirmed the trend towards more linear chains with lower temperatures but yielded extended-ring crystals showing a “saw-tooth pattern” in the mass spectra. Oct2SnO gave similar results as Bu2SnO. Bu2SnS proved a sluggish polymerization catalyst, but a good transesterification catalyst in solid PLA.
Zirconium vanadate (ZrV2O7) is a well-known negative thermal expansion (NTE) material that exhibits significant isotropic contraction over a broad temperature range (~150°C < T < 800°C). Therefore, it can be used to create composites with controllable expansion coefficients and prevent thermal stress, fatigue, cracking, and deformation at interfaces. We implement interdisciplinary research to analyze such material. We study the influence of the synthesis methods and their parameters on the sample's purity, crystallinity, and homogeneity. Moreover, we implement ab initio-based vibrational computations with partially treated anharmonicity in combination with experimental methods to follow temperature-induced structural changes and rationalize the negative thermal expansion in this material, including the influence of the local structure disorder.
Alcohol-initiated ROPs of L-Lactide were performed at 140 ◦C in bulk with variation of the initiator/catalyst ratio and time. Lower ratios favor the formation of cycles which upon annealing display a change of the MALDI mass peak distribution towards a new maximum with a “saw-tooth pattern” of the mass peaks representing the cycles.
Such a pattern was not observed for the mass peak of the linear chains. The coexistence of these patterns indicate that linear and cyclic poly (L-lactide)s (PLA) crystallize in separate crystals, and that the crystallites of the cycles are made up by extended rings. High Tm and ΔHm values confirm that these extended-ring crystallites represent a thermodynamically optimized form of PLA. Experiments with preformed cyclic and linear PLAs support this interpretation.
An amorphous Lewis-acidic zirconium chlorofluoride as HF shuttle: C–F bond activation and formation
(2023)
An exceptional HF transfer reaction by C–F bond activation of fluoropentane and a subsequent hydrofluorination of alkynes at room temperature is reported. An amorphous Lewis-acidic Zr chlorofluoride serves as heterogeneous catalyst, which is characterised by an eightfold coordination environment at Zr including chlorine atoms. The studies are seminal in establishing sustainable fluorine chemistry.
Mechanical flexibility in molecular crystals is a fascinating behavior with potential for developing advanced technologies. However, the phenomenon of mechanical bending is poorly understood. We explore for the first time the atomistic origin of elastic bending in a single component organic crystal using a combination of μ-focus synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ab initio simulation.
Crystallization is a complex phenomenon with farreaching implications for the production and formulation of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Understanding this process is critical for achieving control over key physicochemical properties that can affect, for example, the bioavailability and stability of a drug. In this study, we were able to reveal intricate and diverse dynamics of the formation of metastable intermediates of paracetamol crystallization varying with the choice of solvent. We demonstrate the efficacy of our novel approach utilizing an objective function-based non-negative matrix factorization technique for the analysis of time-resolved Raman
spectroscopy data, in conjunction with time-lapse photography.
Furthermore, we emphasize the crucial importance of integrating Raman spectroscopy with supplementary experimental instrumentation for the mathematical analysis of the obtained spectra.
The crystallization of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2, CH, portlandite) is a key process during the early stages of cement hydration. In the present work, we have revisited the formation of this mineral through nucleation and growth from supersaturated aqueous solutions, in the light of the currently emerging picture of multistage “non-classical” crystallization. To that end, we developed a titration-based assay, in which stock solutions of both relevant ions are added simultaneously into a reservoir, where supersaturation increases slowly at constant stoichiometry until nucleation occurs. This procedure allows both pre- and early post-nucleation phenomena to be analyzed quantitatively. Complementarily, the early stages of portlandite mineralization were probed by various advanced characterization techniques, including cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), in-situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of high-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS) data, and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). The experimental data show that the formation of calcium hydroxide starts with the association of ions into complexes and clusters, which subsequently coalesce to form amorphous nanoparticles – much like what has been observed in the case of calcium carbonate and other prominent minerals. Subsequently, these particles aggregate and build networks, which eventually transform into hexagonal Ca(OH)2 crystals. The presence of a soluble polycarboxylate – as a known inhibitor of portlandite crystallization – does not change the main characteristics of this multistep nucleation pathway, but it proved capable of significantly extending the lifetime of the amorphous intermediate phase and thus delaying the transition to the final crystalline phase. Our observations confirm the notion that “non-classical” crystallization is a much more common phenomenon than initially believed – and that, for minerals forming in aqueous environments, it may actually be the rule rather than the exception.
Zirconium vanadate (ZrV2O7) is a well-known negative thermal expansion (NTE) material which exhibits significant isotropic contraction over a broad temperature range (~150°C < T < 800°C). The linear thermal expansion coefficient of ZrV2O7 is −7.1×10-6 K-. Therefore, it can be used to create composites with controllable expansion coefficients and prevent destruction by thermal shock.
Material characterization, leading to application, requires pure, homogenous samples of high crystallinity via a reliable synthesis route. While there is a selection of described syntheses in the literature, it still needs to be addressed which synthesis route leads to truly pure and homogenous samples. Here, we study the influence of the synthesis methods (solid-state, sol-gel, solvothermal) and their parameters on the sample's purity, crystallinity, and homogeneity. The reproducibility of results and data obtained with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) were analyzed extensively. The sol-gel method proves superior to the solid-state method and produces higher-quality samples over varying parameters. Sample purity also plays an important role in NTE micro and macro-scale characterizations that explain the impact of porosity versus structural changes.
Moreover, we implement ab-initio-based vibrational computations with partially treated anharmonicity (quasi-harmonic approximation, temperature-dependent effective harmonic potentials) in combination with experimental methods to follow and rationalize the negative thermal expansion in this material, including the influence of the local structure disorder, microstructure, and defects. Khosrovani et al. and Korthuis et al., in a series of diffraction experiments, attributed the thermal contraction of ZrV2O7 to the transverse thermal motion of oxygen atoms in V-O-V linkages. In addition to previous explanations, we hypothesize that local disorder develops in ZrV2O7 crystals during heating.
We are working on the experimental ZrV2O7 development and discuss difficulties one might face in the process as well as high-quality sample significance in further investigation. The obtained samples are currently used in the ongoing research of structure analysis and the negative thermal expansion mechanism.