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At least 1,189 records · Page 66
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Surface Hydration of Porous Nickel Hydroxides Facilitates the Reversible Adsorption of CO 2 from Ambient Air

Direct air capture (DAC) under humid ambient conditions typically requires the use of organic components, with sorbents that are purely inorganic in composition for the most part operating hundreds of degrees above room temperature. In this work, we report porous metal hydroxides as a novel class of water-tolerant, oxidatively and hydrothermally stable low-temperature sorbents that exhibit competitive DAC working capacities of 1.25 mmol/g over 5 consecutive temperature swing adsorption–desorption cycles in the presence of steam and oxygen. Aqueous miscible organic solvent treatments are used to create highly porous structures with surface areas exceeding 700 m 2 /g that capture CO 2 in the form of bicarbonates under dry conditions, and carbonates under wet conditions. Water exerts a facilitative rather than an inhibiting effect on CO 2 binding, and the presence of hydrating multilayers serves to stabilize carbonate species akin to moisture swing adsorbents except for the fact that solvation results in a remarkable (upto 10-fold) increase, not decrease, in DAC capacity. High-valent doping with cerium is used to improve DAC capacities by amplifying surface basicity, evidencing porous nickel hydroxides specifically (and porous metal hydroxides more generally) as a novel class of robust, earth-abundant DAC sorbents.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2010

Free Energies for Degradation Reactions of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane from ab initio Electronic Structure Theory

Electronic structure methods were used to calculate the gas-phase and aqueous phase reaction energies for reductive dechlorination (i.e. hydrogenolysis), reductive Beta-elimination, dehydrochlorination, and nucleophilic substitution by OH- of 1,2,3-trichloropropane. The thermochemical properties Delta Hof(298.15K), So(298.15K,1 bar), and Delta GS(298.15K, 1 bar) were calculated by using ab initio electronic structure calculations, isodesmic reactions schemes, gas-phase entropy estimates, and continuum solvation models for 1,2,3-trichloropropane and several likely metabolites. On the basis of these thermochemical estimates, together with a Fe(II)/Fe(III) chemical equilibrium model for natural reducing environments, all of the reactions studied were predicted to be very favorable in the standard state and under a wide range of pH conditions. The most favorable reaction was reductive Beta-elimination (Delta Gorxn ≈ -32 kcal/mol), followed closely by reductive dechlorination (Delta Gorxn ≈ -27 kcal/mol), dehydrochlorination (Delta Gorxn ≈ -27kcal/mol), and nucleophilic substitution by OH- (Delta Gorxn ≈ -25 kcal/mol). For both reduction reactions studied, it was found that the first electron-transfer step, yielding the intermediate CH2-CHCl-CH2Cl , and CH2Cl-CH-CH2Cl species, was not favorable in the standard state (Delta Gorxn ≈ +15 kcal/mol) and was predicted to occur only at relatively high pH values. This result suggests that reduction by natural attenuation is unlikely.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2010

Probing the hydration structure of polarizable halides: a multi-edge XAFS and molecular dynamics study of the iodide anion.

A comprehensive analysis of the H2O structure about aqueous iodide (I-) is reported from molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements. XAFS spectra from the iodide K-, L1-, and L3- edges were co-refined to establish the complete structure of the first hydration shell about aqueous I-. The results show approximately 6.3 water molecules located at I-H and I-O distances of 2.65 Å and 3.50 Å, respectively. Whereas the I-O bond is moderately disordered (Debye Waller factor, σ2 = 0.017 Å2) due to the relatively low charge-to-ion radius ratio, the I-H interaction shows even higher disorder (σ2 = 0.036 Å2) due to the variable angular orientation of water at the ion surface. Molecular dynamics simulations employing both DFT (+dispersion) and classical potentials generate quite similar structures and they both agree to a large extent with the structure from the experimental XAFS. However the DFT-MD simulations provide a description of molecular structure that is more consistent with the XAFS experiment data. We employ a molecular anaylsis in which we incrementally evaluate the structural contributions from each of the nearest-neighbor water molecules about the iodide to provide a clear picture of the hydrated structure. For the DFT description of molecular interaction, a water molecule in the first shell has more freedom to rotate about the O atom when compared to motions resulting from a classical potential. Further, the hydrogen bonding of first-shell water with the second shell water establishes an strong ordering of the water about I- surface leading to characteristic O-I-O angles of 79 and 142°. This ordering, in addition to the higher coordination number leads to a more symmetric solvation from the DFT-MD configurations relative to the classical potential simulation.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2010

[CuCln](2-n) Ion-Pair Species in 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquid-Water Mixtures: Ultraviolet-Visible, X-ray Absorbtion Fine Structure, and Density Functional Theory Characterization

We report details of the coordination environment about Cu(II) in a pure ionic liquid, 1- ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIM]Cl) and in mixtures containing varying amounts of water from 0-100% of the [EMIM]Cl. There are many stages in the ion pairing of the divalent cation, Cu(II) including the contact ion pairing of Cu2+ with multiple Cl- to form various CuCln (2-n) polyanions. Thereis also the subsequent solvation and ion pairing of the polychlorometallate anion with the EMIM+ cation. Using a combination of x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and electronic structure calculations (TDDFT) we are able to follow the detailed structural changes about Cu(II). Ion pair formation is strongly promoted in [EMIM]Cl by the low dielectric constant and by the extensive breakdown of the water hydrogen bond network in [EMIM]Cl/water mixtures. In the [EMIM]Cl solvent the CuCl4 2- species dominates and it’s geometry is quite similar to gas-phase structure. These results are important in understanding catalysis and separation processes involving transition metals in ionic liquid systems.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2010

Molecular mechanism of CO2 and SO2 molecules binding to the air/liquid interface of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid: A Molecular dynamics study with polarizable potential models

Molecular dynamics simulations with many-body interactions were carried out to understand the bulk and interfacial absorption of gases in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIMBF4). A new polarizable molecular model was developed for BMIMBF4, which was found to give the correct liquid density, but also had good agreement with experiment for its surface tension and X-ray reflectivity. The potential of mean force of CO2 and SO2 were calculated across the air-BMIMBF4 interface, and the bulk free energies were calculated with the free energy perturbation method. A new polarizable model was also developed for CO2. The air-BMIMBF4 interface had enhanced BMIM density, which was mostly related to its butyl group, followed by enhanced BF4 density a few angstroms towards the liquid bulk. The density profiles were observed to exhibit oscillations between high BMIM and BF4 density, indicating the presence of surface layering induced by the interface. The potential of mean force for CO2 and SO2 showed more negative free energies in regions of enhanced BF4 density, while more positive free energies in regions of high BMIM density. Moreover, these gases showed free energy minimums at the interface, where the BMIM alkyl groups were found to be most prevalent. Our results show the importance of ionic liquid interfacial ordering for understanding gas solvation in them. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

CH 2 Cl 2 + OH - Reaction in Aqueous Solution: A Combined Quantum Mechanical and Molecular Mechanics Study

The CH 2 Cl 2 + OH - reaction in aqueous solution was investigated using combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics approach. We present analysis of the reactant, transition, and product state structures, and calculate the free energy reaction profile through the CCSD(T) level of the theory for the reactive region. Our results show that the aqueous environment has a significant impact on the reaction process raising the reaction barrier by ~17 kcal/mol and the reaction energy by ~20 kcal/mol. While solvation effects play a predominant role, we also find sizable contributions from solvent-induced polarization effects.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2011

Modeling the Nanophase Structural Dynamics of Phenylated Sulfonated Poly Ether Ether Ketone Ketone (Ph-SPEEKK) Membranes as a Function of Hydration

Solvated phenylated sulfonated poly ether ether ketone ketone (Ph-SPEEKK) membranes in the presence of hydronium ions were modeled by classical molecular dynamics simulations. The characterization of the nanophase structure and dynamics of such membranes was carried out as a function of the water content lambda, where lambda is the number of water molecules per sulfonate group, for lambda values of 3.5, 6, 11, 25, and 40. Analysis of pair correlation functions supports the experimental observation of membrane swelling upon hydration as well the increase in water and hydronium ion diffusion with increasing lambda. While the average number of hydrogen bonds between hydronium ions and sulfonate groups is dramatically affected by the hydration level, the average lifetime of the hydrogen bonds remains essentially constant. The membrane is found to be relatively rigid and its overall flexibility shows little dependence on water content. Compared to Nafion, water and ion diffusion coefficients are considerably smaller at lower hydration levels and room temperature. However, at higher lambda values of 25 and 40 these coefficients are comparable to those in Nafion at a lambda value of 16. This study also shows that water diffusion in Ph-SPEEKK membranes at low hydration levels can be significantly improved by raising the temperature with important implications for proton conductivity.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2011

Electrochemical Windows of Sulfone-Based Electrolytes for High-Voltage Li-Ion Batteries

Further development of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries requires electrolytes with electrochemical windows greater than 5 V. Sulfone-based electrolytes are promising for such a purpose. Here we compute the electrochemical windows for experimentally tested sulfone electrolytes by different levels of theory in combination with various solvation models. The MP2 method combined with the polarizable continuum model is shown to be the most accurate method to predict oxidation potentials of sulfone-based electrolytes with mean deviation less than 0.29 V. Mulliken charge analysis shows that the oxidation happens on the sulfone group for ethylmethyl sulfone and tetramethylene sulfone, and on the ether group for ether functionalized sulfones. Large electrochemical windows of sulfone-based electrolytes are mainly contributed by the sulfone group in the molecules which helps lower the HOMO level. This study can help understand the voltage limits imposed by the sulfone-based electrolytes and aid in designing new electrolytes with greater electrochemical windows.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanics Study of the SN2 Reaction of CH3Cl+OH- in Water

The SN2 mechanism for the reaction of CH3Cl + OH- in aqueous solution was investigated using combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics methodology. We analyzed structures of reactant, transition and product states along the reaction pathway. The free energy profile was calculated using the multi-layered representation with the DFT and CCSD(T) level of theory for the quantum-mechanical description of the reactive region. Our results show that the aqueous environment has a significant impact on the reaction process. We find that solvation energy contribution raises the reaction barrier by ~18.9 kcal/mol and the reaction free energy by ~24.5 kcal/mol. The presence of the solvent also induces perturbations in the electronic structure of the solute leading to an increase of 3.5 kcal/mol for the reaction barrier and a decrease of 5.6 kcal/mol for the reaction free energy respectively. Combining the results of two previous calculation results on CHCl3 + OH- and CH2Cl2 + OH- reactions in water, we demonstrate that increase in the chlorination of the methyl group (from CH3Cl to CHCl3) is accompanied by the decrease in the free energy reaction barrier, with the CH3Cl + OH- having the largest barrier among the three reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Oxidation Potentials of Functionalized Sulfone Solvents for High-Voltage Li-Ion Batteries: A Computational Study

New electrolytes with large electrochemical windows are needed to meet the challenge for high-voltage Li-ion batteries. Sulfone as an electrolyte solvent boasts of high oxidation potentials. Here we examine the effect of multiple functionalization on sulfone's oxidation potential. We compute oxidation potentials for a series of sulfone-based molecules functionalized with fluorine, cyano, ester, and carbonate groups by using a quantum chemistry method within a continuum solvation model. We find that multifunctionalization is a key to achieving high oxidation potentials. This can be realized through either a fluorether group on a sulfone molecule or sulfonyl fluoride with a cyano or ester group.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Localized high-concentration electrolytes get more localized through micelle-like structures

Liquid electrolytes in batteries are typically treated as macroscopically homogeneous ionic transport media despite having a complex chemical composition and atomistic solvation structures, leaving a knowledge gap of the microstructural characteristics. Here, we reveal a unique micelle-like structure in a localized high-concentration electrolyte, in which the solvent acts as a surfactant between an insoluble salt in a diluent. The miscibility of the solvent with the diluent and simultaneous solubility of the salt results in a micelle-like structure with a smeared interface and an increased salt concentration at the centre of the salt–solvent clusters that extends the salt solubility. These intermingling miscibility effects have temperature dependencies, wherein a typical localized high-concentration electrolyte peaks in localized cluster salt concentration near room temperature and is used to form a stable solid–electrolyte interphase on a Li metal anode. Importantly, these findings serve as a guide to predicting a stable ternary phase diagram and connecting the electrolyte microstructure with electrolyte formulation and formation protocols of solid–electrolyte interphases for enhanced battery cyclability.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2011

Identification of a haloalkaliphilic and thermostable cellulase with improved ionic liquid tolerance

Some ionic liquids (ILs) have been shown to be very effective solvents for biomass pretreatment. It is known that some ILs can have a strong inhibitory effect on fungal cellulases, making the digestion of cellulose inefficient in the presence of ILs. The identification of IL-tolerant enzymes that could be produced as a cellulase cocktail would reduce the costs and water use requirements of the IL pretreatment process. Due to their adaptation to high salinity environments, halophilic enzymes are hypothesized to be good candidates for screening and identifying IL-resistant cellulases. Using a genome-based approach, we have identified and characterized a halophilic cellulase (Hu-CBH1) from the halophilic archaeon, Halorhabdus utahensis. Hu-CBH1 is present in a gene cluster containing multiple putative cellulolytic enzymes. Sequence and theoretical structure analysis indicate that Hu-CBH1 is highly enriched with negatively charged acidic amino acids on the surface, which may form a solvation shell that may stabilize the enzyme, through interaction with salt ions and/or water molecules. Hu-CBH1 is a heat tolerant haloalkaliphilic cellulase and is active in salt concentrations up to 5 M NaCl. In high salt buffer, Hu-CBH1 can tolerate alkali (pH 11.5) conditions and, more importantly, is tolerant to high levels (20percent w/w) of ILs, including 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim]Cl). Interestingly, the tolerances to heat, alkali and ILs are found to be salt-dependent, suggesting that the enzyme is stabilized by the presence of salt. Our results indicate that halophilic enzymes are good candidates for the screening of IL-tolerant cellulolytic enzymes.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Structure and Stability of Hexa-Aqua V(III) Cations in Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Electrolytes

The Vanadium (III) cation structure in mixed acid based electrolyte solution from vanadium redox flow batteries were studied by 17O and 35/37Cl Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) based computational modeling. Both computational and experimental results reveals that the V(III) species can complex with counter anions (sulfate/chlorine) 10 depend on the composition of its solvation sphere. By analyzing the powder precipitate it was found that the formation of sulfate complexed V(III) species is the crucial process in the precipitation reaction. The precipitation occurs through nucleation of neutral species formed through deprotonation and ion-pair formation process. However, the powder precipitate shows a multiphase nature which warrants multiple reaction pathways for precipitation reaction.

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

Radiation-induced reaction kinetics of Zn 2+ with e S - and Cl 2 ˙ - in Molten LiCl–KCl eutectic at 400–600 °C

We report molten chloride salts are currently under consideration as combined coolant and liquid fuel for next-generation molten salt nuclear reactors. Unlike complementary light-water reactor technologies, the radiation science underpinning molten salts is in its infancy, and thus requires a fundamental mechanistic investigation to elucidate the radiation-driven chemistry within molten salt reactors. Here we present an electron pulse radiolysis kinetics study into the behaviour of the primary radiolytic species generated in molten chloride systems, i.e., the solvated electron (e S - ) and di-chlorine radical anion (Cl 2 ˙- ). We examine the reaction of e S - with Zn 2+ from 400–600 °C (E a = 30.31 ± 0.09 kJ mol -1 ), and the kinetics and decay mechanisms of Cl 2 ˙- in molten lithium chloride-potassium chloride (LiCl–KCl) eutectic. In the absence of Zn 2+ , the lifetime of e S - was found to be dictated by residual impurities in ostensibly “pure” salts, and thus the observed decay is dependent on sample history rather than being an intrinsic property of the salt. The decay of Cl 2 ˙- is complex, owing to the competition of Cl 2 ˙- disproportionation with several other chemical pathways, one of which involves reduction by radiolytically-produced Zn + species. Overall, the reported findings demonstrate the richness and complexity of chemistry involving the interactions of ionizing radiation with molten salts.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2010

Photodissociation of nitromethane cluster anions

Three types of anionic fragments are observed in the photodissociation of nitromethane cluster anions, (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub n}{sup -}, n=1-6, at 355 nm: NO{sub 2}{sup -}(CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub k}, (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub k}{sup -}, and OH{sup -} (k<n). The fragmentation trends are consistent with the parent clusters containing a monomer-anion core, CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}{sup -}, solvated by n-1 neutral nitromethane molecules. The NO{sub 2}{sup -}(CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub k} and OH{sup -} fragments formed from these clusters are described as core-dissociation products, while the (CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}){sub k}{sup -} fragments are attributed to energy transfer from excited CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}{sup -} into the solvent network or a core-dissociation--recombination (caging) mechanism. As with other cluster families, the fraction of caged photofragments shows an overall increase with increasing cluster size. The low-lying A{sup 2}A{sup '} and/or B{sup 2}A{sup '} electronic states of CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}{sup -} are believed responsible for photoabsorption leading to dissociation to NO{sub 2}{sup -} based fragments, while the C{sup 2}A{sup ''} state is a candidate for the OH{sup -} pathway. Compared to neutral nitromethane, the photodissociation of CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}{sup -} requires lower energy photons because the photochemically active electron occupies a high energy {pi}{sup *} orbital (which is vacant in the neutral). Although the electronic states in the photodissociation of CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2} and CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2}{sup -} are different, the major fragments, CH{sub 3}+NO{sub 2} and CH{sub 3}+NO{sub 2}{sup -}, respectively, both form via C-N bond cleavage.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Oxygen cluster anions revisited: Solvent-mediated dissociation of the core O{sub 4}{sup -} anion

The electronic structure and photochemistry of the O{sub 2n}{sup -}(H{sub 2}O){sub m}, n= 1-6, m= 0-1 cluster anions is investigated at 532 nm using photoelectron imaging and photofragment mass-spectroscopy. The results indicate that both pure oxygen clusters and their hydrated counterparts with n{>=} 2 form an O{sub 4}{sup -} core. Fragmentation of these clusters yields predominantly O{sub 2}{sup -} and O{sub 2}{sup -}{center_dot}H{sub 2}O anionic products, with the addition of O{sub 4}{sup -} fragments for larger parent clusters. The fragment autodetachment patterns observed for O{sub 6}{sup -} and larger O{sub 2n}{sup -} species, as well as some of their hydrated counterparts, indicate that the corresponding O{sub 2}{sup -} fragments are formed in excited vibrational states (v {>=} 4). Yet, surprisingly, the unsolvated O{sub 4}{sup -} anion itself does not show fragment autodetachment at 532 nm. It is hypothesized that the vibrationally excited O{sub 2}{sup -} is formed in the intra-cluster photodissociation of the O{sub 4}{sup -} core anion via a charge-hopping electronic relaxation mechanism mediated by asymmetric solvation of the nascent photofragments: O{sub 4}{sup -}{yields} O{sub 2}{sup -}(X{sup 2}{Pi}{sub g}) + O{sub 2}(a{sup 1}{Delta}{sub g}) {yields} O{sub 2}(X{sup 3}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup -}) + O{sub 2}{sup -}(X{sup 2}{Pi}{sub g}). This process depends on the presence of solvent molecules and leads to vibrationally excited O{sub 2}{sup -}(X{sup 2}{Pi}{sub g}) products.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2012

Development of double-decker pulse radiolysis

Double-decker pulse radiolysis (DDPR), which utilizes double-decker electron beams, was investigated to develop a new pulse radiolysis with a high time resolution. The double-decker electron beams were generated by injecting two UV pulses into a photocathode radio-frequency gun. In the pulse radiolysis, one electron beam was used as a pump beam, and the other was converted to a probe pulse. Finally, as its first application, the DDPR was successfully used for observing solvated electrons in water, with a 10%-90% rise time of 8.6 ps.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗