Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Solvent Free”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Efficient Polyester Hydrogenolytic Deconstruction via Tandem Catalysis

Using a mechanism-based solvent-free tandem catalytic approach, commodity polyester plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) are rapidly and selectively deconstructed by combining the two air- and moisture-stable catalysts, Hf(OTf) 4 and Pd/C, under 1 atm H 2 , affording terephthalic acid (or naphthalene dicarboxylic acid for PEN) and ethane (or butane for PBT) in essentially quantitative yield. This process is effective for both laboratory grade and waste plastics, and comingled polypropylene remains unchanged. Combined experimental and DFT mechanistic analyses indicate that Hf(OTf) 4 catalyzes a mildly exergonic retro-hydroalkoxylation reaction in which an alkoxy C-O bond is first cleaved, yielding a carboxylic acid and alkene, and this process is closely coupled to an exergonic olefin hydrogenation step, driving the overall reaction forward.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Non‐Flammable Ester Electrolyte with Boosted Stability Against Li for High‐Performance Li Metal Batteries

Abstract In traditional non‐flammable electrolytes a trade‐off always exists between non‐flammability and battery performance. Previous research focused on reducing free solvents and forming anion‐derived solid‐electrolyte interphase. However, the contribution of solvated anions in boosting the stability of electrolyte has been overlooked. Here, we resolve this via introducing anions into Li + solvation sheaths using anions with similar Gutmann donor number (DN) to that of solvents. Taking trimethyl phosphate fire‐retardant (DN=23.0 kcal mol −1 ) and NO 3 − (DN=22.2 kcal mol −1 ) as an example, NO 3 − is readily involved in the Li + solvation sheath and reduces the polarity of solvent. This results in boosted stability of electrolyte against Li. The developed non‐flammable electrolyte has low viscosity, high ionic conductivity and is low cost. The reversibility of Li‐Cu cell was improved to 99.49 % and the lifespan of practical LMBs was extended by >100 %.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2022

Selective Lanthanide-Organic Catalyzed Depolymerization of Nylon-6 to ϵ-Caprolactam

We report nylon-6 is selectively depolymerized to the parent monomer ϵ-caprolactam by the readily accessible and commercially available lanthanide trisamido catalysts Ln(N(TMS) 2 ) 3 (Ln = lanthanide). The depolymerization process is solvent-free, near quantitative, highly selective, and operates at the lowest Nylon-6 to ..epsilon..-caprolactam depolymerization temperature reported to date. The catalytic activity of the different lanthanide trisamides scales with the Ln 3+ ionic radius, and this process is effective with post-consumer Nylon-6 as well as with Nylon-6 + polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate mixtures. Experimental kinetic data and theoretical (DFT) mechanistic analyses suggest initial deprotonation of a Nylon terminal amido N-H bond, which covalently binds the catalyst to the polymer, followed by a chain-end back-biting process in which ϵ-caprolactam units are sequentially extruded from the chain end.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Biodegradable waterborne polyurethane-urea dispersion adhesives with high biocontent

Non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic wastes have become a leading environmental concern, and new efforts are underway to prepare biobased and biodegradable replacements. For this work, we have explored the preparation of adhesives suitable for use in consumer products, and here we report the development of waterborne, biodegradable adhesives from biobased monomers resulting in adhesives exceeding 70% biocontent. Using water as the polymer medium, viscosity challenges and the use of volatile organic solvents are avoided. Material properties of the polyurethane dispersions, resulting films, and laminates produced showed M w ranging between 56,000 and 124,000. Lastly, the biodegradability of films and laminates was evaluated. The resulting metrics indicate that the adhesives produced meet the desired mechanical and biodegradability targets, indicating that high renewability content solvent-free polyurethane dispersions are a viable solution for lamination adhesives.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Ambipolar Electrochemistry of Pre‐Intercalated Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene in Ionic Liquid Electrolyte

Abstract Cation intercalation with or without redox remains the dominant charge storage mechanism for two‐dimensional (2D) Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene. Anion‐based charge storage remains unexplored due to intrinsic negative surface charge of MXenes preventing spontaneous intercalation of anions and irreversible oxidation of Ti at anodic potentials in aqueous electrolytes. In this work, we report on the ambipolar electrochemical behavior of the Ti 3 C 2 T x in ionic liquid electrolyte over a 2.5 V electrochemically stable window. The experiments are conducted on a thin Ti 3 C 2 T x film current collector coated with an electroactive layer of small flakes (∼150 nm) of Ti 3 C 2 T x pre‐intercalated with 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis‐(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)‐imide (EMIM‐TFSI) ionic liquid. Couples of redox peaks with a very small potential separation during the voltage sweep are observed at high negative (−0.75 V vs. Ag wire) and high positive (+0.75 V vs. Ag wire) potentials. Our experimental electrochemical data combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest feasibility of pseudo‐intercalation of TFSI anions between Ti 3 C 2 T x flakes. This study provides a pathway for elucidating anion intercalation for different MXene chemistries in solvent‐free electrolytes, which can lead to development of MXene based energy storage devices with improved performance.

Electrochemistry↗
DOE OSTI2019

Aerobic Self-Esterification of Alcohols Assisted by Mesoporous Manganese and Cobalt Oxide

Aerobic self-esterification of primary alcohols catalyzed by mesoporous metal oxides (manganese and cobalt oxides) is reported under base and solvent free conditions. For a range of aliphatic alcohols, up to 90 % conversions to esters was achieved. The catalytic reaction is likewise applicable to neat aldehydes as substrates with yields of up to 86 %. High pressure batch reaction for ethanol to ethyl acetate led to 22 % yield. Isotope labeling studies indicated decarboxylation on the catalyst surface. Mechanistic and kinetic experiments implicate oxygen rebound and α-carbon removal as intermediate steps. Finally, mesoporous cobalt oxide showed about 20 % higher catalytic activity compared to mesoporous manganese oxide.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Hydrosilane σ‐Adduct Intermediates in an Adaptive Zinc‐Catalyzed Cross‐dehydrocoupling of Si−H and O−H Bonds

Abstract Three‐coordinate Ph BOX ZnR ( Ph BOX =phenyl‐(4,4‐dimethyl‐oxazolinato; R=Me: 2 a , Et: 2 b ) catalyzes the dehydrocoupling of primary or secondary silanes and alcohols to give silyl ethers and hydrogen, with high turnover numbers (TON; up to 10 7 ) under solvent‐free conditions. Primary and secondary silanes react with small, medium, and large alcohols to give various degrees of substitution, from mono‐ to tri‐alkoxylation, whereas tri‐substituted silanes do not react with MeOH under these conditions. The effect of coordinative unsaturation on the behavior of the Zn catalyst is revealed through a dramatic variation of both rate law and experimental rate constants, which depend on the concentrations of both the alcohol and hydrosilane reactants. That is, the catalyst adapts its mechanism to access the most facile and efficient conversion. In particular, either alcohol or hydrosilane binds to the open coordination site on the Ph BOX ZnOR catalyst to form a Ph BOX ZnOR(HOR) complex under one set of conditions or an unprecedented σ‐adduct Ph BOX ZnOR(H−SiR′ 3 ) under other conditions. Saturation kinetics provide evidence for the latter species, in support of the hypothesis that σ‐bond metathesis reactions involving four‐centered electrocyclic 2σ–2σ transition states are preceded by σ‐adducts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Influence of Peripheral Substituents on Fe(II) Spin State in Complexes with Tridentate Schiff‐Base Ligands

Abstract Six Fe(II) complexes with substituted 6‐((quinoline‐8‐ylimino)methyl)phenolates (R 2 qsal) were synthesized. X‐ray crystal structure determination for [Fe(R 2 qsal) 2 ], where R=F ( 1 ), Cl ( 2 ), Br ( 3 ), I ( 4 ), CF 3 /H ( 5 ), or CN/H ( 6 ), revealed mononuclear complexes that crystallize either solvent‐free in case of 1 , 5 , and 6 or as CH 2 Cl 2 solvates in the case of 2 , 3 , and 4 . Complexes 1 – 4 , which contain π‐donating substituents, exhibit only high‐spin (HS) state, as shown by crystal structure analysis and magnetic measurements. In contrast, complexes 5 and 6 , which contain electron‐withdrawing substituents, exist in the low‐spin (LS) state at lower temperatures but exhibit crossover to the HS state above 300 K. Electronic structure calculations show a good correlation between the relative energies of the LS and HS states and the experimentally observed behavior.

Gakiya‐Teruya, Miguel↗
DOE OSTI2019

An Ionomeric Renewable Thermoplastic from Lignin-Reinforced Rubber

An ionomeric, leathery thermoplastic with high mechanical strength is prepared by a new thermal processing method from a soft, melt-processable rubber. Compositions made by incorporation of equal-mass lignin, a renewable oligomeric feedstock, in an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber often yield weak rubbers with large lignin domains (1–2 µm). The addition of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) in such a composition based on sinapyl alcohol-rich lignin during a solvent-free synthesis induces a strong interfacial crosslinking between lignin and rubber phases. This compositional modification results in finely interspersed lignin domains (<100 nm) that essentially reinforce the rubbery matrix with a 10–22 °C rise in the glassy-to-rubbery transition temperature. The ion-modified polymer blends also show improved materials properties, like a 100% increase in ultimate tensile strength and an order of magnitude rise in Young's modulus. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations verify the morphology and dynamics of the ionomeric material. The computed result also confirms that the ionomers have glassy characteristics.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Central Role of Oxo Clusters in Zirconium‐Based Esterification Catalysis

Oxo clusters are a unique link between oxide nanocrystals and Metal‐Organic Frameworks (MOFs), representing the limit of downscaling each of the respective crystals. Herein, the superior catalytic activity of clusters, compared to zirconium MOF UiO‐66 and nanocrystals is shown. Focus is on esterification reactions given their general importance in consumer products and the challenge of converting large substrates. Oxo clusters have a higher surface‐to‐volume ratio than nanocrystals, rendering them more active. For large substrates, for example, oleic acid, MOF UiO‐66 has negligible catalytic activity while clusters provide almost quantitative conversion, a fact we ascribe to limited diffusion of large substrates through the MOF pores. Clusters do not suffer from limited mass transfer and we also obtain high conversion in solvent‐free reactions with sterically hindered alcohols (hexanol, 2‐ethyl hexanol, benzyl alcohol, and neopentyl alcohol). The cluster catalyst can be recovered and shows identical activity when reused. The structural integrity of the cluster is confirmed using X‐ray total scattering and pair distribution function analysis. Moreover, when homogeneous zirconium alkoxides are used as catalysts, the same oxo cluster is retrieved, showing that oxo clusters are the active catalytic species, even in previously assumed homogeneously catalyzed reactions.

Pulparayil Mathew, Jikson↗
DOE OSTI2023

First of Their Kind: Solar Cells with a Dry-Processed Perovskite Absorber Layer via Powder Aerosol Deposition and Hot-Pressing

Preparing halide perovskite films by solvent-free, powder-based processing approaches currently attracts more and more attention. However, working solar cells employing dry, powder-based halide perovskite thin films, have not been demonstrated so far. Herein, perovskite solar cells are presented where the absorber layer is prepared by transferring readily synthesized perovskite powders into a compact thin film using a fully dry-powder-processing concept. Compact thin films are deposited via an optimized powder aerosol deposition (PAD) process. Pressing at 120 °C further improves the morphology and the optoelectronic film properties. Integrating the perovskite films in a solar cell configuration results in fully working devices, with champion power conversion efficiencies of >6%. While the (optoelectronic) properties of the PAD-processed films are found to be comparable with their solution-processed counterparts, investigations of the solar cell stack suggest deterioration of the electron-transport layer properties due to the PAD process, and the presence of hydrates at the perovskite surface to be important factors that contribute to the limited solar cell efficiency. Herein, perspectives to overcome the identified limitations are outlined, emphasizing the high potential and realizability of efficient perovskite solar cells based on dry-powder-processing approaches in the future.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nano Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyzed green synthesis, cytotoxic activity, and molecular docking study of novel α-aminophosphonates

Green synthesis of a series of novel dialkyl (aryl substituted)(2-fluoro-4-((2-methylcarbamoyl)pyridine-4-yl)oxy)phenyl)amino)methyl)phosphonates is accomplished by a simple and an efficient one pot three component reaction of 3-(4-amino-3-fluorobenzyl)-N-methylbenzamide with different substituted aromatic aldehydes and dialkyl phosphite in the presence of nano Sb{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst under solvent free conditions at 40–50 °C to obtain the title compounds. Excellent isolated product yields are obtained (85–95%) with high purity within shorter reaction times (30–60 min). The title compounds are characterized by IR, {sup 1}H, {sup 13}C, {sup 31}P-NMR and mass spectral data. The synthesized compounds are screened for their anticell-proliferation activity on seven cell lines, Control cells–HEK293 (human embryonic kidney), DU-145 (human prostate adenocarcinoma), MCF-7 (human ER+/PR+/Her2− breast cancer), MDA-MB-231 (human ER−/PR−/Her2− breast cancer), Mia-Paca-2 (human pancreatic carcinoma), HeLa (human cervical cancer) cells as well as HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cancer cell lines using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay method. Docking studies were carried out for all these synthesized compounds against topoisomerase-II by using Auto dock method. Doxorubicin was taken as standard. Compounds 4a, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4h, 4i, 4k, and 4l exhibited higher cytotoxic activity than the standard doxorubicin. .

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Green synthesis, molecular docking, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of α-aminophosphonates

The naturally viable α-amino acid surrogates have been synthesised via Kabachnik–Fields reaction by the condensation of 2-aminothiazole with various aldehydes and dialkyl phosphites in the presence of Caffeine hydrogen sulfate (CHS) as eco-friendly and reusable catalyst under microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions. The title compounds were characterised by IR, {sup 1}H, {sup 13}C, {sup 31}P NMR and mass spectral data. All the synthesised (4a–j) compounds were screened for their insilico and in vitro studies. The results revealed that, out of all the titled compounds 4a, 4e, 4h and 4i have exhibited significant activity in terms of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, molecular docking studies were also carried out against Cox-2 with celocoxib as the standard. .

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Oxidation of Cyclohexene Catalyzed by Nanoporous Au(Ag) in Liquid Phase

Nanoporous gold with minor silver content has been identified as a new type of gold based catalyst for selective oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen in liquid. By oxidation of the leached nanoporous gold foils in ozone, the minor silver content was oxidized in this paper to form silver oxide nanoclusters on the surface of nanoporous gold. With further treatment in methanol, the surface silver oxide was reduced and surface alloy was formed on gold ligaments. Both nanoporous gold treated with ozone only and the one with ozone and then methanol are very active for selective oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen in liquid of cyclohexene with a turn-over-frequency (TOF) of 0.55–0.99 molecules per surface Au atom per second under a solvent-free and initiator- free condition. The total selectivity for production of 2-cyclohexene-1-one, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol, and cyclohexene oxide was increased from 57.5 % to 80.8 % by an additional treatment of nanoporous gold in methanol after activation in zone. Finally, the correlation of catalytic selectivity for the production of the three products and corresponding surface chemistry of ligament suggests that (1) the formed Au–Ag alloy surface is favorable for the formation of 2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2-cyclohexene-1-ol, and cyclohexene oxide and (2) the surface silver oxide is favorable for the production of cyclohexenyl hydroperoxide.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Biocompatible Polyurethane Scaffolds Prepared from Glycerol Monostearate-Derived Polyester Polyol

Biodegradable polyester polyol was synthesized from oleochemical glycerol monostearate (GMS) and glutaric acid under a non-catalyzed and solvent-free polycondensation method. The chemical structure of GMS-derived polyester polyol (GPP) was elucidated by FTIR, {sup 1}H and {sup 13}C NMR, and molecular weight of GPP was characterized by GPC. The synthesized GPP with acid value of 3.03 mg KOH/g sample, hydroxyl value of 115.72 mg KOH/g sample and M{sub n} of 1345 g/mol was incorporated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polycaprolactone diol (PCL diol) to produce a water-blown porous polyurethane system via one-shot foaming method. The polyurethanes were optimized by evaluating glycerol as a crosslinker, silicone surfactant and water blowing agent on tensile properties of polyurethanes. All polyurethanes underwent structural change, and crystalline hard segments of polyurethanes were shifted to higher temperature suggested that hard segments undergone re-ordering process during enzymatic treatment. In terms of biocompatibility, polyurethane scaffold produced by reacting 100% w/w of GPP with isophorone diisocyanate and additives showed the highest cells viability of 3T3 mouse fibroblast (94%, day 1), and MG63 human osteosarcoma (107%, day 1) and better cell adhesion as compared to reference polyurethane produced by only PEG and PCL diol (3T3 cell viability: 8%; MG63 cell viability: 2%). The current work demonstrated GPP synthesized from renewable and environmental friendly resources produced polyurethanes that allows improvement in physico-chemical, mechanical and biocompatibility properties. By blending with increasing content of GPP, the water-blown porous polyurethane scaffold has shown great potential as biomaterial for soft and hard tissue engineering.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Nanocomposites Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Bacterial Cellulose Acetylated by an α-Hydroxyacid Catalyzed Route

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposite films reinforced with acetylated bacterial cellulose nanoribbons were prepared by solvent casting. Acetylation of bacterial cellulose (BC) was performed by an innovative and sustainable direct solvent-free route catalyzed by citric acid. The effect of derivatization and its extent on the morphological, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites was analyzed. Data collected from the above studies showed that acetylation of BC nanoribbons clearly improved the nanofibers dispersion in the PLA matrix with respect to unmodified BC, which in turn resulted in increased transparency and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites produced.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Accelerated Weathering and UV Protection-Ability of Poly(lactic acid) Nanocomposites Containing Zinc Oxide Treated Halloysite Nanotube

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of zinc oxide treated halloysite nanotube (HNT-ZnO) on the properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposites. ZnO was immobilized on HNT using a solvent-free technique. PLA nanocomposites were prepared with different loading of HNT-ZnO (i.e., 3, 5 and 7 wt%) using melt compounding. The properties of the PLA/HNT-ZnO nanocomposites were investigated using tensile test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and UV–visible spectroscopy. In addition, the effects of accelerated weathering (duration 60 days) on the behaviour of PLA/HNT-ZnO nanocomposites were studied. It was found that HNT-ZnO is capable to enhance the reinforcing ability, thermal stability and UV barrier of PLA nanocomposites. The PLA/HNT-ZnO films showed less discoloration and chain scission, indicating its higher photo-stability as compared to PLA/HNT after exposed to accelerated weathering. In summary, this study provides a basis for further development of PLA/HNT-ZnO nanocomposites with desirable mechanical, thermal and UV protection properties for potential outdoor application.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Mononuclear gallium complexes with the redox-active dmp-bian ligand (dmp-bian is 1,2-bis[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene): synthesis and reactions with alkynes

The direct reduction of 1,2-bis[(2,6-dimethylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dmp-bian (1)) with gallium metal in toluene affords the solvent-free bis-ligand complex [(dmp-bian){sub 2}Ga] (2), in which two diimine ligands are in different oxidation states (radical-anionic and dianionic). The addition of phenylacethylene to the Ga–N–C moiety of the dianionic ligand of compound 2 gives the complex [(dmp-bian)Ga(HC=CPh)(dmp-bian)] (3), in which new Ga–C and C–C bonds are formed. The reaction of 2 with hex-1-yne produces the gallium dialkynyl complex [(dmp-bian)Ga(C≡C–Bu){sub 2}] (4), with the metal atom bonded to the dmp-bian radical anion. Paramagnetic compounds 2–4 were characterized by ESR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The known compound dmp-bian was structurally characterized for the first time.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗