Orientation of nitrous oxide on palladium(110) by STM

Electron spin changes during general anesthesia in Drosophila

We show that the general anesthetics xenon, sulfur hexafluoride, nitrous oxide, and chloroform cause rapid increases of different magnitude and time course in the electron spin content of Drosophila. With the exception of CHCl3, these changes are reversible. Anesthetic-resistant mutant strains of Drosophila exhibit a different pattern of spin responses to anesthetic. In two such mutants, the spin response to CHCl3 is absent. We propose that these spin changes are caused by perturbation of the electronic structure of proteins by general anesthetics. Using density functional theory, we show that general anesthetics perturb and extend the highest occupied molecular orbital of a nine-residue α-helix. The calculated perturbations are qualitatively in accord with the Meyer-Overton relationship and some of its exceptions. We conclude that there may be a connection between spin, electron currents in cells, and the functioning of the nervous system.

Adsorption of CO(2), CH(4), N(2)O, and N(2) on MOF-5, MOF-177, and zeolite 5A

Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of CO(2), CH(4), N(2)O, and N(2) on two newly discovered adsorbents, metal-organic frameworks MOF-5 and MOF-177 and one traditional adsorbent, zeolite 5A were determined to assess their efficacy for CO(2), CH(4), and N(2)O removal from air and separation of CO(2) from CH(4) in pressure swing adsorption processes. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetics data for CO(2), CH(4), N(2)O, and N(2) on all three adsorbents were measured volumetrically at 298K and gas pressures up to 800 Torr. Adsorption equilibrium capacities of CO(2) and CH(4) on all three adsorbents were determined gravimetrically at 298 K and elevated pressures (14 bar for CO(2) and 100 bar for CH(4)). The Henry's law and Langmuir adsorption equilibrium models were applied to correlate the adsorption isotherms, and a classical micropore diffusion model was used to analyze the adsorption kinetic data. The adsorption equilibrium selectivity was calculated from the ratio of Henry's constants, and the adsorbent selection parameter for pressure swing adsorption processes were determined by combining the equilibrium selectivity and working capacity ratio. Based on the selectivity and adsorbent selection parameter results, zeolite 5A is a better adsorbent for removing CO(2) and N(2)O from air and separation of CO(2) from CH(4), whereas MOF-177 is the adsorbent of choice for removing CH(4) from air. However, both MOF adsorbents have larger adsorption capacities for CO(2) and CH(4) than zeolite 5A at elevated pressures, suggesting MOF-5 and MOF-177 are better adsorbents for CO(2) and CH(4) storage. The CH(4) adsorption capacity of 22 wt.% on MOF-177 at 298K and 100 bar is probably the largest adsorption uptake of CH(4) on any dry adsorbents. The average diffusivity of CO(2), CH(4) and N(2)O in MOF-5 and MOF-177 is in the order of 10(-9) m(2)/s, as compared to 10(-11) m(2)/s for CO(2), CH(4) and N(2)O in zeolite 5A. The effects of gas pressure on diffusivity for different adsorabte-adsorbent systems were also investigated.

N2 emission in NO and N2O reduction on Rh(100) and Rh(110)

The angular distribution of desorbing N(2) was studied in both the thermal decomposition of N(2)O(a) on Rh(100) at 60-140 K and the steady-state NO (or N(2)O) + D(2) reaction on Rh(100) and Rh(110) at 280-900 K. In the former, N(2) desorption shows two peaks at around 85 and 110 K. At low N(2)O coverage, the desorption at 85 K collimates at about 66 degrees off normal towards the [001] direction, whereas at high coverage, it sharply collimates along the surface normal. In the NO reduction on Rh(100), the N(2) desorption preferentially collimates at around 71 degrees off normal towards the [001] direction below about 700 K, whereas it collimates predominantly along the surface normal at higher temperatures. At lower temperatures, the surface nitrogen removal in the NO reduction is due to the process of NO(a) + N(a) --> N(2)O(a) --> N(2)(g) + O(a). On the other hand, in the steady-state N(2)O + D(2) reaction on Rh(110), the N(2) desorption collimates closely along the [001] direction (close to the surface parallel) below 340 K and shifts to ca. 65 degrees off normal at higher temperatures. In the reduction with CO, the N(2) desorption collimates along around 65 degrees off normal towards the [001] direction above 520 K, and shifts to 45 degrees at 445 K with decreasing surface temperature. It is proposed that N(2)O is oriented along the [001] direction on both surfaces before dissociation and the emitted N(2) is not scattered by adsorbed hydrogen.

The collimation angle shift of desorbing product N2 in a steady-state N2O+CO reaction on Rh(110)

The angular distribution of desorbing product N2 was studied in N2O decompositions on Rh(110) in the temperature range of 60-700 K. The N2 desorption collimates along 62 degrees -68 degrees off normal toward either the [001] or [001] direction in a transient N2O decomposition below ca. 470 K or in the steady-state N2O+CO reaction above 540 K. In the steady-state reaction at the temperature from ca. 470 to 540 K, however, the collimation angle shifts from 62 degrees to 45 degrees with decreasing surface temperature. This angle shift is ascribed to the steric hindrance by coadsorbed CO because the N2 collimation in transient N2O decomposition at around 65 degrees is recovered in the range of 380-500 K by an abrupt CO pressure drop followed by the decrease in CO coverage. N2O is oriented along the [001] direction before dissociation. A scattering model of the nascent N2 by adsorbed CO is proposed, yielding smaller collimation angles.

Spatial distributions of desorbing products in steady-state NO and N2O reductions on Pd(110)

The angular and velocity distributions of desorbing product N(2) were examined over the crystal azimuth in steady-state NO+CO and N(2)O+CO reactions on Pd(110) by cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. At surface temperatures below 600 K, N(2) desorption in both reactions splits into two directional lobes collimated along 41 degrees -45 degrees from the surface normal toward the [001] and [001] directions. Above 600 K, the normally directed N(2) desorption is enhanced in the NO reduction. Each product desorption component, as well as CO(2), shows a fairly asymmetric distribution about its collimation axis. Two factors, i.e., the anisotropic site structures and the reactant orientation and movements, are operative to induce such asymmetry, depending on the product emission mechanism.

Kinetics and dynamics of N2 formation in a steady-state N2O + CO reaction on Pd(110)

The N(2)O decomposition kinetics and the product (N(2) and CO(2)) desorption dynamics were studied in the course of a catalyzed N(2)O+CO reaction on Pd(110) by angle-resolved mass spectroscopy combined with cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. The reaction proceeded steadily above 400 K, and the kinetics was switched at a critical CO/N(2)O pressure ratio. The ratio was about 0.03 at 450 K and reached approximately 0.08 at higher temperatures. Below it, the reaction was first order in CO, and negative orders above it. Throughout the surveyed conditions, the N(2) desorption sharply collimated along about 45 degrees off the normal toward the [001] direction. Desorbing N(2) showed translational temperatures in the range of 2000-5000 K. It is proposed that the decomposition proceeds in N(2)O(a) oriented along the [001] direction. On the other hand, the CO(2) desorption sharply collimated along the surface normal, showing a translational temperature of about 1600 K.

Inclined N2 desorption in N2O reduction by D2 and CO on Pd(110)

Inclined N2 desorption was examined in the course of a catalyzed N2O + D2 (or CO) reaction on Pd(110) by angle-resolved mass spectroscopy combined with cross-correlation time-of-flight techniques. N2 desorption collimated at around 45 degrees off the normal toward the [001] direction in the temperature range of 400-800 K. Its collimation angle and kinetic energy were insensitive to both the surface temperature and surface conditions throughout the kinetic transition. It is proposed that this peculiar N2 desorption is induced by the decomposition of N2O oriented along the [001] direction.