Presence Of Ammonium Cations Research Articles

Proton Conductivity in a Metal-Organic Cube-Based Framework and Derived Hydrogel with Tubular Morphology.

The hydrogels, formed by self-assembly of predesigned, discrete metal-organic cubes (MOCs), have emerged as a new type of functional soft material whose diverse properties are yet to be explored. Here, we explore the proton conductivity of a MOC-based supramolecular porous framework {(Me2NH2)12[Ga8(ImDC)12]·DMF·29H2O} (1) (ImDC = 4,5-imidazole dicarboxylate) and derived hydrogel (MOC-G1). The intrinsic charge-assisted H-bonded (between anionic MOC {[Ga8(ImDC)12]12-} and dimethylammonium cations) framework 1 exhibits an ambient condition proton conductivity value of 2.3 × 10-5 S cm-1 (@40% RH) which increases with increasing temperature (8.2 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 120 °C and 40% RH) and follows the Grotthuss type of mechanism of proton conduction. Self-assembly of the MOCs in the presence of ammonium cations, as molecular binders, resulted in a hydrogel (MOC-G1) that shows directional H-bonded 1D nanotubular morphology. While guest water molecules are immensely important in deciding the proton conductivity of both 1 and MOC-G1, the presence of additional proton carriers, such as DMA and ammonium cations, resulted in at least 1 order increment in the proton conductivity of the latter (1.8 × 10-2 S cm-1) than the former (1.4 × 10-3 S cm-1) under 25 °C and 98% RH condition. The values of proton conductivity of 1 and MOC-G1 are comparable with those of the best proton conduction reports in the literature. This work may pave the way for the development of proton conductors with unique architecture and conductivity requisite for the state-of-the-art technologies by selecting appropriate MOC and molecular binders.

Stability of Highly Soluble Ferrocyanides at Neutral pH for Energy Dense Flow Batteries

Ferro- and ferricyanides are among the most employed positive electrolyte materials in aqueous flow battery research but the limited solubility of commonly available sodium and potassium salts is a critical factor limiting application at scale. We systematically study the cation dependent solubility of these materials and, importantly, the cation dependent stability of the anion in aqueous solution. For Li4Fe(CN)6 we report a maximum solubility of 2.3 M and show stable cycling of a 2 M symmetric cell (54 Ah L−1) over 200 days, and also demonstrate solubilities of 1.6 M for ammonium and calcium salts. Importantly, we observe cation dependent electrolyte stability in long-term experiments and investigate the pronounced anion decomposition observed in presence of ammonium cations.[1] While achieving high solubilities leads to increased energy densities, concentrated electrolytes present many challenges such as high osmotic strength and high viscosity. This is particularly pronounced in electrolytes that employ ions with high charge states such as ferrocyanide. Furthermore, the selected cation needs to be compatible with the membrane in the cell.[2] We thus outline several often neglected design aspects that must be considered when developing new active materials for aqueous flow batteries. [1] Reber, D., Thurston, J.R., Becker, M., Marshak, M.P., Stability of highly soluble ferrocyanides at neutral pH for energy dense flow batteries, Cell. Rep. Phys. Sci. 2022, 4, 101215 [2] Waters, S.E., Thurston, J.R., Armstrong, R.W., Robb, B.H., Marshak, M.P., Reber, D., Holistic design principles for flow batteries: Cation dependent membrane resistance and active species solubility J. Power Sources 2022, 520, 230877

Stability of highly soluble ferrocyanides at neutral pH for energy-dense flow batteries

Ferrocyanides and ferricyanides are among the most employed positive electrolyte materials in aqueous flow battery research, but the limited solubility of commonly available sodium and potassium salts is a critical factor limiting application at scale. Here, we systematically study the cation-dependent solubility of these materials and, importantly, the cation-dependent stability of the anion in aqueous solution. For Li4Fe(CN)6, we report a maximum solubility of 2.3 M and show stable cycling of a 2 M symmetric cell, corresponding to electrolyte capacities of 54 Ah L−1, over 200 days. We also demonstrate solubilities of 1.6 M for ammonium and calcium salts and investigate the pronounced anion decomposition observed in the presence of ammonium cations. Our observations lead to a discussion of challenges associated with the osmotic strength of concentrated electrolytes that employ ions with high charge states, such as ferrocyanide.

Rhodium-Iodide Complex on a Catalytically Active SiO2 Surface for One-Pot Hydrosilylation-CO2 Cycloaddition.

In this study, a novel Rh-iodide complex was synthesized through a surface reaction between an immobilized Rh cyclooctadiene complex and alkylammonium iodide (N+ I- ) on SiO2 . In the presence of ammonium cations, the SiO2 -supported Rh-iodide complex could be effectively used for the one-pot synthesis of various silylcarbonate derivatives starting from epoxy olefins, hydrosilanes, and CO2 . The maximum turnover numbers (TONs) for the hydrosilylation reaction and the CO2 cycloaddition were 7600 (Rh) and 130 (N+ I- ), respectively. The catalyst exhibited much higher performance for hydrosilylation than solely the Rh complex on SiO2 . The mechanism of the Rh-catalyzed hydrosilylation reaction and the local structure of Rh, which is affected by the co-immobilized N+ I- , were investigated by using Rh and I K-edge XAFS and XPS. Analysis of the XAFS profiles indicated the presence of a Rh-I bond. The Rh unit was in its electron-rich state. Curve-fitting analysis of the Rh K-edge EXAFS profiles suggests dissociation of the cycloocta-1,5-diene (COD) ligand from the Rh center. Results from spectroscopic and kinetic analyses revealed that the high activity of the catalyst (during hydrosilylation) could be attributed to a decrease in steric hindrance and the electron-rich state of the Rh. The decrease in the steric hindrance could be attributed to the absence of COD, and the electron-rich state promoted the oxidative addition of Si-H. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a one-pot silylcarbonate synthesis as well as a determination of a novel surface Rh-iodide complex and its catalysis.

Snapshots of Ce70 Toroid Assembly from Solids and Solution.

Crystallization at the solid-liquid interface is difficult to spectroscopically observe and therefore challenging to understand and ultimately control at the molecular level. The Ce70-torroid formulated [CeIV70(OH)36(O)64(SO4)60(H2O)10]4-, part of a larger emerging family of MIV70-materials (M = Zr, U, Ce), presents such an opportunity. We elucidated assembly mechanisms by the X-ray scattering (small-angle scattering and total scattering) of solutions and solids as well as crystallizing and identifying fragments of Ce70 by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Fragments show evidence for templated growth (Ce5, [Ce5(O)3(SO4)12]10-) and modular assembly from hexamer (Ce6) building units (Ce13, [Ce13(OH)6(O)12(SO4)14(H2O)14]6- and Ce62, [Ce62(OH)30(O)58(SO4)58]14-). Ce62, an almost complete ring, precipitates instantaneously in the presence of ammonium cations as two torqued arcs that interlock by hydrogen boding through NH4+, a structural motif not observed before in inorganic systems. The room temperature rapid assemblies of both Ce70 and Ce62, respectively, by the addition of Li+ and NH4+, along with ion-exchange and redox behavior, invite exploitation of this emerging material family in environmental and energy applications.

Selective Ammonium Nitrate Recognition by a Heteroditopic Macrotricyclic Ion-Pair Receptor

The heteroditopic macrotricyclic molecular receptor 1, which bears a tripodal anion binding domain and 4,10,16-triaza-18-crown-6 cation recognition domain, proves to be an effective ion-pair receptor. In the absence of the cobound cation (TBA(+) salts) receptor 1 preferably binds nitrate and nitrite over other anions, including basic anions such as acetate or dihydrogenphosphate. Ammonium cation binding by the 4,10,16-triaza-18-crown-6 subunit significantly enhances the strength of the nitrate and nitrite complexation at the triamide recognition site of the receptor. In the presence of ammonium cations, the association constants of nitrate binding reach an impressive value of 1050 M(-1) in highly polar DMSO-d6. Interestingly, the binding of other anions such as chloride and bromide is not enhanced in the presence of a cobound NH4(+) cation. The increased affinity of [1·NH4(+)]PF6(-) for anionic species is attributed to a strong cooperative effect that arises from the properly positioned binding sites in the receptor 1 cavity, thus allowing for the formation of the ion pair. Under liquid/liquid conditions, receptor 1 is able to extract NH4NO3 from an aqueous to an organic phase, as inferred from (1)H NMR spectroscopic and nitrite/nitrate colorimetric analyses.

1H and 23Na MAS NMR spectroscopy of cationic species in CO2 selective alkaline earth metal porous silicoaluminophosphates prepared via liquid and solid state ion exchange

The location of extraframework cations in Sr2+ and Ba2+ ion-exchanged SAPO-34 was estimated by means of 1H and 23Na MAS NMR spectroscopy and spectral deconvolution. Incorporation of the alkaline earth metal cations onto the SAPO framework was achieved via liquid state ion exchange, coupled partial detemplation/solid-state ion exchange, and combination of both techniques. MAS NMR revealed that the level of ion exchange was limited by the presence of protons and sodium cations near hexagonal prisms (site SI), which are relatively difficult to exchange with the alkaline earth metal due to steric and charge repulsion criteria. In addition, the presence of ammonium cations in the supercages facilitated the exchange of otherwise tenacious hydrogen as corroborated by unit cell compositional data as well as enhanced CO2 adsorption at low partial pressures. The extraframework ammonium species were produced from partial detemplation of the structure-directing agent employed for the SAPO-34 synthesis, tetraethylammonium.

Clustering of nucleobases with alkali metals studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: implications for mechanisms of multistrand DNA stabilization.

Self-clustering of the five common nucleobases was investigated by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and shown to provide insight into the non-covalent interactions between identical bases. Alkali and ammonium cations significantly increase self-aggregation of the nucleobases and lead to the formation of uniquely stable magic number clusters. Sodium adducts of guanine, thymine and uracil preferentially take the form of tetrameric (quartet) clusters. This gas-phase result correlates with previously reported solution-phase data on sodium cation stabilized guanosine, thymine and uracil quartet structures believed to be responsible for telomere stabilization. In the presence of potassium, cesium or ammonium cations, pentameric magic number clusters are formed from thymine and uracil, while in solution the nucleoside isoguanosine yields clusters of this favored size. The formation of magic number metaclusters occurs for thymine and uracil in the presence of ammonium cations. These doubly charged 10- and 15-mers are tentatively attributed to the formation of pentamer/ammonium cation/ pentamer sandwich structures.

AFM nanolithography on a mixed LB film of hexadecylamine and palmitic acid

An evenly mixed Langmuir film of hexadecylamine (HDA) and palmitic acid (PA) was prepared on the air–water interface and transferred to a Si substrate for the fabrication of nano-sized patterns. Vibrational spectrum of the transferred film shows that all acid groups of PAs were deprotonated and amine groups of HDAs were protonated by an acid–base reaction. The effect of mixing ratios in atomic force microscopy anodization lithography on the mixed films was investigated in terms of the line width of the protruded pattern. While the line width fabricated on PA film was 221 nm, the width on the mixed film was reduced to 84 nm under the same lithographic conditions. It is believed that the phenomenon was originated from the mixed structure from the interaction of HDA and PA. The chemical composition difference caused by the presence of ammonium cation in resist resulted in reducing the line width fabricated in the mixed Langmuir–Blodgett film.

A stable mixed disulfide between thioredoxin reductase and its substrate, thioredoxin: preparation and characterization.

The flavoenzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrR) catalyzes the reduction of the small redox protein thioredoxin (Tr) by NADPH. It has been proposed that a large conformational change is required in catalysis by TrT in order to visualize a complete pathway for reduction of equivalents. The proposal is based on the comparison of the crystal structures of TrR and glutathione reductase, the latter being a well-understood member of the enzyme family [Waksman, G., et al. (1994) J. Mol. Biol. 236, 800-816]. Bound NADPH is perfectly positioned for electron transfer to the FAD in glutathione reductase, but in TrR, these two components are 17 angstroms apart. In order to provide evidence for the proposed conformational change, a complex between TrR and its substrate Tr involving a mixed disulfide between TrR and Tr was prepared. The redox active disulfide of TrR is composed of Cys135 and Cys138, and the redox active disulfide of Tr is made up of Cys32 and Cys35. The complex C135S-C32S is prepared from forms of TrR and Tr altered by site-directed mutagenesis where Cys138 and Cys35 are remaining in TrR and Tr, respectively. The purified C135S-C32S presents a band on a nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis responding to a molecular weight sum of one subunit of TrR and one of Tr. Several observations indicate that C135S-C32S can adopt only one conformation. It was reported previously that TrR C135S can form a charge transfer complex in the presence of ammonium cation in which the donor is the remaining thiolate of Cys138 [Prongay, A.J., et al., (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 2656-2664], while titration of C135S-C32S with NH4Cl does not induce charge transfer, presumably because Cys138 is participating in the mixed dissulfide. Reduction of C135S-C32S with dithiothreitol (DTT) results in a decrease of epsilon454 to a value similar to that of TrR C135S, and subsequent NH4Cl titration leads to charge transfer complex formation in the nascent TrR C135S. Reductive titrations show that approximately 1 equiv of sodium dithionite or NADPH is required to fully reduce C135S-C32S, and treatment with NH4Cl and DTT demonstrates that the mixed disulfide between Cys138 of TrR C135S and Cys35 of TrC32S that locks the structure in a conformation where FAD can be reduced by NADPH, but electrons cannot flow from FADH2 to the mixed disulfide bond.