High Mobility Ions in Cycloalkanes. Transient Dc Conductivity

Further studies of a simple atomistic model of silica: Thermodynamic stability of zeolite frameworks as silica polymorphs

We have applied our previously reported model of silica based on low coordination and strong association [J. Chem. Phys. 121, 8415 (2004)], to the calculation of phase stability of zeolite frameworks SOD, LTA, MFI, and FAU as silica polymorphs. We applied the method of Frenkel and Ladd for calculating free energies of these solids. Our model predicts that the MFI framework structure has a regime of thermodynamic stability at low pressures and above approximately 1400 K, relative to dense phases such as quartz. In contrast, our calculations predict that the less dense frameworks SOD, LTA, and FAU exhibit no regime of thermodynamic stability. We have also used our model to investigate whether templating extends the MFI regime of thermodynamic stability to lower temperatures, by considering templates with hard-sphere repulsions and mean-field attractions to silica. Within the assumptions of our model, we find that quartz remains the thermodynamically stable polymorph at zeolite synthesis temperatures (approximately 400 K) unless unphysically large template-silica attractions are assumed. These predictions suggest that some zeolites such as MFI may have regimes of thermodynamic stability even without template stabilization.

Reactivity between Biphenyl and Precursor of Solvated Electrons in Tetrahydrofuran Measured by Picosecond Pulse Radiolysis in Near-Ultraviolet, Visible, and Infrared

The initial decrease of solvated electrons in tetrahydrofuran (THF) upon addition of biphenyl was investigated by picosecond pulse radiolysis. Transient absorption spectra derived from the biphenyl radical anion (centered at 408 and 655 nm) and solvated electrons of THF (infrared) were successfully measured in the wavelength region from 400 to 900 nm by the extension of a femtosecond continuum probe light to near-ultraviolet using a second harmonic generation of Ti:sapphire laser and a CaF2 plate. From the analysis of kinetic traces at 1300 nm considering the overlap of primary solvated electrons and partial biphenyl radical anion, C37, which is defined by the solute concentration to reduce the initial yield of solvated electrons to 1/e, was found to be 87 +/- 3 mM. The rate constant of solvated electrons with biphenyl was determined as 5.8 +/- 0.3 x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1). We demonstrate that the kinetic traces at both 408 nm mainly due to biphenyl radical anion and 1300 nm mainly due to solvated electrons are reproduced with high accuracy and consistency by a simple kinetic analysis. Much higher concentrations of biphenyl (up to 2 M) were examined, showing further increase of the initial yield of biphenyl radical anion accompanying a fast decay component. This observation is discussed in terms of geminate ion recombination, scavenging, delayed geminate ion recombination, and direct ionization of biphenyl at high concentration.

Degenerate Electron Exchange Reaction of n-Alkane Radical Cations in Solution

The degenerate electron exchange (DEE) reaction involving radical cations (RCs) of n-nonane, n-dodecane, and n-hexadecane in n-hexane solution was studied over the temperature range 253-313 K using the method of time-resolved magnetic field effect in recombination fluorescence of spin-correlated radical ion pairs. In the dilute solutions the rate constant of DEE was found to be 200 times slower than the diffusion limit. Using n-nonane as an example, we showed that two reasons are responsible for the low value of the RC self-exchange rate: (1) conformational variability of molecules and RCs and (2) the activation barrier of DEE reaction. The calculations of the reaction enthalpy performed by the B3LYP/6-31G(d) method indicated that electron transfer can be effective only upon collision of RC with a neutral molecule either in the all-trans conformation or in the conformation differing from the latter by rotation of the end ethyl fragment. The activation barrier of the DEE reaction was estimated using the reorganization energy of the internal degrees of freedom calculated at the B3LYP level and was found to be about 6 kcal/mol. A possible influence of the interaction between RC and a neutral molecule in an encounter complex on DEE rate constant is also discussed.

Conductivity of solvated electrons in hexane investigated with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

We present investigations of the transient photoconductivity and recombination dynamics of quasifree electrons in liquid n-hexane and cyclohexane performed using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Quasifree electrons are generated by two-photon photoionization of the liquid using a femtosecond ultraviolet pulse, and the resulting changes in the complex conductivity are probed by a THz electromagnetic pulse at a variable delay. The detection of time-domain wave forms of the THz electric field permits the direct determination of both the real and the imaginary part of the conductivity of the electrons over a wide frequency range. The change in conductivity can be described by the Drude model, thus yielding the quasifree electron density and scattering time. The electron density is found to decay on a time scale of a few hundred picoseconds, which becomes shorter with increasing excitation density. The dynamics can be described by a model that assumes nongeminate recombination between electrons and positive ions. In addition, a strong dependence of the quasifree electron density on temperature is observed, in agreement with a two-state model in which the electron may exist in either a quasifree or a bound state.