Synthesis and characterization of amorphous mesoporous silica using TEMPO-functionalized amphiphilic templates

Blatter Radical-Decorated Silica as a Prospective Adsorbent for Selective NO Capture from Air

Nitrogen oxides are adverse poisonous gases present in the atmosphere and having detrimental effects on the human health and environment. In this work, we propose a new type of mesoporous materials capable of capturing nitrogen monoxide (NO) from air. The designed material combines the robust Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 silica scaffold and ultrastable Blatter-type radicals acting as NO traps. Using in situ electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we demonstrate that NO capture from air is selective and reversible at practical conditions, thus making Blatter radical-decorated silica highly promising for environmental applications.

Solvent-free dynamic nuclear polarization enhancements in organically modified mesoporous silica

High-field dynamic nuclear polarization is a powerful tool for the structural characterization of species on the surface of porous materials or nanoparticles. For these studies the main source of polarization are radical-containing solutions which are added by post-synthesis impregnation of the sample. Although this strategy is very efficient for a wide variety of materials, the presence of the solvent may influence the chemistry of functional species of interest. Here we address the development of a comprehensive strategy for solvent-free DNP enhanced NMR characterization of functional (target) species on the surface of mesoporous silica (SBA-15). The strategy includes the partial functionalization of the silica surface with Carboxy-Proxyl nitroxide radicals and target Fmoc-Glycine functional groups. As a proof of principle, we have observed for the first time DNP signal enhancements, using the solvent-free approach, for 13C{1H} CPMAS signals corresponding to organic functionalities on the silica surface. DNP enhancements of up to 3.4 were observed for 13C{1H} CPMAS, corresponding to an experimental time save of about 12 times. This observation opens the possibility for the DNP-NMR study of surface functional groups without the need of a solvent, allowing, for example, the characterization of catalytic reactions occurring on the surface of mesoporous systems of interest. For 29Si with direct polarization NMR, up to 8-fold DNP enhancements were obtained. This 29Si signal enhancement is considerably higher than the obtained with similar approaches reported in literature. Finally, from DNP enhancement profiles we conclude that cross-effect is probably the dominant polarization transfer mechanism.

Antiferromagnetic ordering based on intermolecular London dispersion interactions in amphiphilic TEMPO ammonium salts

Antiferromagnetic coupling in TEMPO-based radicals can be enhanced via self-assembly through London dispersion interactions in amphiphilic solids. The synthesis, magnetic characterization, and three crystal structures of the solid radical ion salts (R-DMAT-n)X with various counterions X and alkyl chain lengths n are reported. Magnetic susceptibility and absolute EPR signal intensity measurements show singlet-triplet transitions in a number of cases, which is discussed in relation to the crystal structures. Antiferromagnetic ordering effects are sensitive to both the length of the alkyl chain and the counter anion.

Advanced Magnetic Resonance Techniques for the Structural Characterization of Aminoxyl Radicals and Their Inorganic-Organic Nanocomposite Systems

Electron and nuclear spins are extremely sensitive probes of their local structural and dynamic surroundings. Their Zeeman energy levels are modified by different types of local magnetic and electric fields created by their structural environment, which influence their magnetic resonance condition. For this reason, electron spin resonance (ESR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies have become extremely powerful tools of structural analysis, which are being widely used for the structural characterization of complex solids. Following a brief introduction into the basic theoretical foundations the most commonly used techniques and their application towards the structural characterization of paramagnetic solids based on aminoxyl radicals and their inorganic-organic nanocomposites will be described. Both ESR and NMR observables are useful for monitoring intermolecular interactions between unpaired electron spins, which are particularly important for the design of organically based ferromagnetic systems. ESR and NMR methods based on this effect can be used for monitoring the synthesis of polynitroxides and for evaluating the catalytic function of aminoxyl intercalation compounds. Finally, the sensitivity of ESR signals to motional dynamics can be exploited for characterizing molecule-surface interactions in nanocomposite systems. In the context of the latter work recently developed signal enhancement strategies are described, using polarization transfer from electron spins to nuclear spins for NMR spectroscopic detection.