Inelastic Neutron Scattering Study of Phonon Density of States of Iodine Oxides and First-Principles Calculations

Iodine oxides I2Oy (y = 4, 5, 6) crystallize into atypical structures that fall between molecular- and framework-base types and exhibit high reactivity in an ambient environment, a property highly desired in the so-called "agent defeat materials". Inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed to determine the phonon density of states of the newly synthesized I2O5 and I2O6 samples. First-principles calculations were carried out for I2O4, I2O5, and I2O6 to predict their thermodynamic properties and phonon density of states. Comparison of the INS data with the Raman and infrared measurements as well as the first-principles calculations sheds light on their distinctive, anisotropic thermomechanical properties.

A gas-to-particle conversion mechanism helps to explain atmospheric particle formation through clustering of iodine oxides

Emitted from the oceans, iodine-bearing molecules are ubiquitous in the atmosphere and a source of new atmospheric aerosol particles of potentially global significance. However, its inclusion in atmospheric models is hindered by a lack of understanding of the first steps of the photochemical gas-to-particle conversion mechanism. Our laboratory results show that under a high humidity and low HO_x regime, the recently proposed nucleating molecule (iodic acid, HOIO₂) does not form rapidly enough, and gas-to-particle conversion proceeds by clustering of iodine oxides (I_xO_y), albeit at slower rates than under dryer conditions. Moreover, we show experimentally that gas-phase HOIO₂ is not necessary for the formation of HOIO₂-containing particles. These insights help to explain new particle formation in the relatively dry polar regions and, more generally, provide for the first time a thermochemically feasible molecular mechanism from ocean iodine emissions to atmospheric particles that is currently missing in model calculations of aerosol radiative forcing.

“How iodine-bearing molecules contribute to atmospheric aerosol formation is not well understood. Here, the authors provide a new gas-to-particle conversion mechanism and show that clustering of iodine oxides is an essential component of this process while previously proposed iodic acid does not play a large role.”

Synthesis of metal iodates from an energetic salt

Iodine containing oxidizers are especially effective for neutralizing spore forming bacteria by generating iodine gas as a long-lived bactericide. Metal iodates have been shown to be strong oxidizers when combined with aluminum fuel particles for energy generating applications. One method to produce metal iodates in situ is by using metal oxides and an energetic salt: aluminum iodate hexahydrate (Al(H₂O)₆(IO₃)₃(HIO₃)₂), which is called AIH. In this study, the thermal stability and reactivity of AIH with metal oxides commonly used in energetic formulations was investigated. Three metal oxides: bismuth(iii) oxide (Bi₂O₃), copper(ii) oxide (CuO), and iron(iii) oxide (Fe₂O₃) were investigated because of their different oxygen release properties. Each metal oxide powder was combined with AIH powder. Thermal stability and reactivity were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and reactive properties calculated to supplement experimental observations. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) was also used to identify the product species at various stages of heating corresponding to exothermic activity. Results show that AIH decomposition is entirely endothermic but, with the addition of metal oxide powder to AIH, exothermic reactions transform metal oxides into more stable metal iodates. This analysis provides an understanding of the compatibility of AIH with metal oxides and contributes to the development of novel energetic composites that have the advantages of both thermal and biocidal mechanisms for spore neutralization.

Iodine containing oxidizers are especially effective for neutralizing spore forming bacteria by generating iodine gas as a long-lived bactericide.

VUV photoionization aerosol mass spectrometric study on the iodine oxide particles formed from O3-initiated photooxidation of diiodomethane (CH2I2)

IOPs formed from O₃-initiated photooxidation of CH₂I₂ were investigated based on the combination of a thermal desorption/tunable vacuum ultraviolet time-of-flight photoionization aerosol mass spectrometer with a flow reactor for the first time.

The development and deployment of a ground-based, laser-induced fluorescence instrument for the in situ detection of iodine monoxide radicals

High abundances of iodine monoxide (IO) are known to exist and to participate in local photochemistry of the marine boundary layer. Of particular interest are the roles IO plays in the formation of new particles in coastal marine environments and in depletion episodes of ozone and mercury in the Arctic polar spring. This paper describes a ground-based instrument that measures IO at mixing ratios less than one part in 10(12). The IO radical is measured by detecting laser-induced fluorescence at wavelengths longer that 500 nm. Tunable visible light is used to pump the A(2)Π3/2 (v(') = 2) ← X(2)Π3/2 (v(″) = 0) transition of IO near 445 nm. The laser light is produced by a solid-state, Nd:YAG-pumped Ti:Sapphire laser at 5 kHz repetition rate. The laser-induced fluorescence instrument performs reliably with very high signal-to-noise ratios (>10) achieved in short integration times (<1 min). The observations from a validation deployment to the Shoals Marine Lab on Appledore Island, ME are presented and are broadly consistent with in situ observations from European Coastal Sites. Mixing ratios ranged from the instrumental detection limit (<1 pptv) to 10 pptv. These data represent the first in situ point measurements of IO in North America.

Atmospheric chemistry of CF3O2: a theoretical study on mechanisms and pathways of the CF3O2 + IO reaction

The mechanisms and reaction pathways for the CF3O2 + IO reaction have been investigated by quantum chemistry methods. It has been found that the title reaction takes place on both the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES). On the singlet PES, the most important products include CF3OOOI, CF3OOIO, CF3OIO2, and CF2O + FIO2, while other products such as CF2O + FOIO, CF2O + FOOI, CF3OOI + O((3)P), CF3OI + O2 ((1)Δ and (3)Σ), and CF3O + OIO are negligible due to high barriers or unstable formations. On the triplet PES, CF3O + OIO is the dominant product with a lower barrier. As for FIO2 and it isomers, the most stable one is FIO2. TDDFT (Time Dependent Density Functional Theory) calculation indicates that CF3OOOI, CF3OOIO and CF3OIO2 undergo photolysis easily under sunlight. Moreover, a minor contribution relative to hydrogen is found in the CX3O2 + IO (X = H and F) reactions.

Intricacies of Describing Weak Interactions Involving Halogen Atoms within Density Functional Theory

In this work we assess the performance of different dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT) approaches (M06, M06-2X, DFT-D3, and DCACP) in reproducing high-level wave function based benchmark calculations on the weakly bound halogen dimers X2···X2 and X2···Ar (for X = F, Cl, Br, and I), as well as the prototype halogen bonded complexes H3CX···OCH2 (X = Cl, Br, I). In spite of the generally good performance of all tested methods for weakly bound systems, their performance for halogen-containing compounds varies largely. We find maximum errors in the energies with respect to the CCSD(T) reference values of 0.13 kcal/mol for DCACP, 0.22 kcal/mol for M06-2X, 0.47 kcal/mol for BLYP-D3, and 0.77 kcal/mol for M06. The root-mean-square deviations are 0.13 kcal/mol for DCACP and M06-2X, 0.44 kcal/mol for M06, and 0.51 kcal/mol for BLYP-D3.

Coastal iodine emissions: part 2. Chamber experiments of particle formation from Laminaria digitata-derived and laboratory-generated I₂

Laboratory studies into particle formation from Laminaria digitata macroalgae were undertaken to elucidate aerosol formation for a range of I(2) (0.3-76 ppb(v)) and O(3) (<3-96 ppb(v)) mixing ratios and light levels (E(PAR) = 15, 100, and 235 μmol photons m(-2) s(-1)). No clear pattern was observed for I(2) or aerosol parameters as a function of light levels. Aerosol mass fluxes and particle number concentrations, were, however, correlated with I(2) mixing ratios for low O(3) mixing ratios of <3 ppb(v) (R(2) = 0.7 and 0.83, respectively for low light levels, and R(2) = 0.95 and 0.98, respectively for medium light levels). Additional experiments into particle production as a function of laboratory-generated I(2), over a mixing ratio range of 1-8 ppb(v), were conducted under moderate O(3) mixing ratios (∼24 ppb(v)) where a clear, 100-fold or greater, increase in the aerosol number concentrations and mass fluxes was observed compared to the low O(3) experiments. A linear relationship between particle concentration and I(2) was found, in reasonable agreement with previous studies. Scaling the laboratory relationship to aerosol concentrations typical of the coastal boundary layer suggests a I(2) mixing ratio range of 6-93 ppt(v) can account for the observed particle production events. Aerosol number concentration produced from I(2) is more than a factor of 10 higher than that produced from CH(2)I(2) for the same mixing ratios.

Ab initio study of hydroxyl torsional barriers and molecular properties of mono- and di-iodotyrosine

Phenol rings with one or two iodine atoms bonded to ortho carbons are the essential organic source of iodine for living organisms. The salvage of this halogen fundamental for a variety of biological functions is accomplished through enzymatic processes that rely on recognition of mono- and di-iodotyrosine (MIT and DIT, respectively). Ab initio quantum calculations are used to investigate molecular properties of MIT and DIT associated with their recognition by cognate proteins. Energies, electron density properties, atomic charges, and electrostatic potentials are analyzed in relation with the presence of one or two iodine atoms and internal rotation of hydroxyl hydrogen. The formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond at some conformations has little effect on the properties that might affect the recognition and further deiodination of MIT and DIT. Polarizability of iodine and the reactive nature of iodinated tyrosines as nucleophilic targets are the essential features revealed in this work.

Studies of the Formation and Growth of Aerosol from Molecular Iodine Precursor

The formation and growth of iodine oxide particles (IOPs), originating from molecular iodine precursor, has been studied at room temperature as a function of water vapour, and sulphuric and oxalic acid vapours. A linear variation in total IOP mass was observed over a wide range of iodine atom production rates under both dry and humid formation conditions. Particle formation was also observed in the absence of ozone, and was found to be temperature sensitive, with elevated temperatures resulting in reduced particle number and mass. Electronic structure calculations are used to show that particle formation is initiated by polymerization of I2O4 with I2O3, or with itself. Formation of IOPs in humid conditions results in lower numbers and smaller particles than formed in the absence of water vapour, because H2O forms relatively stable complexes with molecules such as I2O3 and I2O4, inhibiting their polymerization. Addition of H2O to particles formed under dry conditions shows the collapse of fractal-like, aggregate particle structures. The uptake of sulphuric acid vapour onto humidified particles was studied over a wide range of relative humidity (RH) at room temperature, with the calculated accommodation coefficient (α) for this process increasing with RH to a value of 0.75±0.05 at RH = 90%. In contrast, growth of particles exposed to oxalic acid vapour was not observed on the experimental timescales employed, indicating an upper limit for α of 10−3.