Publications

Abstract This work presents a comprehensive study exploring the thermodynamics of the solid phase of a series of phenylimidazoles, encompassing experimental measurements of heat capacity, volatility, and thermal behavior. The influence of successive phenyl group insertions on the imidazole ring on thermodynamic properties and supramolecular behavior was thoroughly examined through the evaluation of 2-phenylimidazole (2-PhI), 4-phenylimidazole (4-PhI), 4,5-diphenylimidazole (4,5-DPhI), and 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole (2,4,5-TPhI). Structural correlations between molecular structure and thermodynamic properties were established. Furthermore, the investigation employed UV-vis spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Additive effects arising from the introduction of phenyl groups were found through the analysis of the solid-liquid and solid-gas equilibria, as well as heat capacities. A good correlation emerged between the thermodynamic properties of sublimation and the molar volume of the unit cell, evident across 2-PhI, 4,5-DPhI, and 2,4,5-TPhI. In contrast to its isomer 2-PhI, 4-PhI exhibited greater cohesive energy due to the stronger N-HN intermolecular interactions, leading to the disruption of coplanar geometry in the 4-PhI molecules. The observed higher entropies of phase transition (fusion and sublimation) are consistent with the higher structural order observed in the crystalline lattice of 4-PhI.

Abstract Herein, we report the thermal behavior and high-precision heat capacity values, at T = 298.15 K, and in the range from 283 to 363 K, for several protic ionic liquids (PILs), derived from the 1:1 liquid mixtures of the organic superbases 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) with some carboxylic acids (propionic, butyric, hexanoic and octanoic). Glass transition, T g , crystallization, T c , cold- crystallization, T cc , and melting, T m , temperatures were determined for the PILs studied, showing marked differences with the base - T g is lower for all DBN PILs, and no T m , T c , and T cc could be obtained for the DBU PILs. The standard molar heat capacities, C 0 p , m , were obtained with an uncertainty of less than +/- 0.3 % and their dependence on the base and on the acid's chain length was studied in detail. The C 0 p , m of the DBU PILs were found to be significantly higher than those of the corresponding DBN PILs, which corroborates the greater ionic character of DBU PILs. The heat capacity data suggested the existence of a trend-shift with the chain length of the carboxylic acid. Similar to aprotic ionic liquids, the shift occurs around n = 5 (pentanoic acid) and suggests the existence of some degree of nanostructuration into polar and non-polar domains in PILs with larger acids. Moreover, PILs can display abnormally high excess heat capacities, resulting from the formation of an ionic mixture from neutral species. Analysis of the calculated excess heat capacities indicates that PILs tend to become less ionic as the temperature increases, which goes in accordance with the acid-base equilibrium shift.

Abstract <jats:p>Fullerenes are reactive as dienophiles in Diels–Alder reactions. Their distinctive molecular shape and properties result in interesting and sometimes elusive reaction patterns. Herein, to contribute to the understanding of fullerene reactivity, we evaluate the energies of reactions for Diels–Alder cycloadditions of C60, C70, and IC60MA with anthracene (Ant), by means of DFT computational analysis in vacuum and solution. The methods used showed little differentiation between the reactivity of the different fullerenes. The C70-Ant adducts where addition takes place near the edge of the fullerene were found to be the most stable regioisomers. For the IC60MA-Ant adducts, the calculated energies of reaction increase in the order: equatorial &gt; trans-3 &gt; trans-2 ≈ trans-4 ≈ trans-1 &gt; cis-3 &gt; cis-2. The change in the functional suggests the existence of stabilizing dispersive interactions between the surface of the fullerene and the addends. HOMA (harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity) analysis indicated an increase in aromaticity in the fullerene hexagons adjacent to the bonded addend. This increase is bigger in the rings of bisadduct isomers that are simultaneously adjacent to both addends, which helps explain the extra stability of the equatorial isomers. Solvation by m-xylene decreases the exothermicity of the reactions studied but has little distinguishing effect on the possible isomers. Thermal corrections reduce the exothermicity of the reactions by ~10 kJ∙mol−1.</jats:p>

Abstract This work reports a comprehensive experimental evaluation of the solid-liquid-gas phase equilibria for five representative phenylene-thiophene co-oligomers (3-ring aromatic compounds having both phenyl and thienyl units). The melting temperatures and corresponding standard molar enthalpies and entropies of fusion were measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The equilibrium vapor pressures of the crystalline solids as a function of temperature were measured by a combined Knudsen/quartz-crystal effusion method, with the consequent derivation of the standard molar enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs energies of sublimation. The thermodynamic properties of vaporization were estimated from the fusion and sublimation data. The results were analyzed together with the literature data for the corresponding phenylene and thiophene homo-oligomers. The thermodynamic properties of fusion and sublimation exhibited a dependence on ring identity and position that cannot be adequately described by a simple group additivity reasoning. The plot of the Gibbs energy of sublimation as a function of the number of thienyl rings in the co-oligomer showed the existence of two series. Terminal 3-thienyl rings and a linear molecular shape were found to be consistent factors contributing to the stabilization of the crystal phase. The higher melting temperatures and lower volatilities of crystalline 3-thienyl compounds were tentatively explained by the ability of these rings to maximize intermolecular C-H & BULL;& BULL;& BULL;pi interactions independently of the sulfur position. The optical energy gaps, as measured by UV-vis in solution, were found to lie within the values for typical organic semiconductors (< 4 eV) and to decrease for co-oligomers containing more 2-thienyl units, following the increased ring-ring planarity of the molecules. The surface morphology of vapor-deposited thin films suggests a stronger tendency of the co-oligomers, if compared to their corresponding homo-oligomers p-terphenyl and terthiophene, to form less amorphous films.

Abstract We report a study on the energetics and structural properties of gallic (1) and ellagic (2) acids. The experimental values of standard enthalpy of formation in solid state at 298.15 K, Delta H-f(m)0 (cd) of 1 as (-985.0 +/- 2.9 kJ.mol(-1)) and 2 as (-1377.9 +/- 4.7 kJ.mol(-1)) have been determined. The vapour pressure of 1 have been measure by Knudsen effusion methodology and the derived enthalpy of sublimation, Delta H-g(cd)m(0). was combined with the Delta H-f(m)0 (cd) in order to derive its gas-phase enthalpy of formation, Delta(f) H-m(0)(1,g) = -835.7 +/- 4.0 kJ.mol(-1). Quantum chemical calculations, at DFT (M05-2X) and composite ab initio Gn (n = 3, 4) levels of theory, provided the consistency of the experimental results and a plausible estimation of Delta H-f(m)0 (g) of 2 as (-1128.6 +/- 6.4 kJ.mol(-1)), which was deduced from the isodesmic-reactions methodology. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract This work aims to provide reliable heat capacities for ethylene glycol and selected oligo(ethylene glycol)s (diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, pentaethylene glycol, and hexaethylene glycol), which are industrially important chemicals produced on a large scale. Besides, new data extend the database needed for a better understanding of complex behavior of compounds capable of forming hydrogen bonds. Isobaric heat capacities of ethylene glycols were measured with a Tian-Calvet-type calorimeter in the temperature range of 260 to 358 K. The phase behavior was investigated with a heat-flux differential scanning calorimeter. A simple additive estimation method for liquid heat capacity of oligo(ethylene glycol)s was developed and tested through comparison with newly measured liquid heat capacities of polyethylene glycols 400 and 600.

Abstract This paper reports thermodynamic properties of phase transitions of 2,4,6-trichloro and 2,4,6-tribromo anisoles and of 2,4,6-tribromophenol. The vapor pressures of both crystalline and liquid phases (including supercooled liquid) of the three compounds were measured, respectively, in the temperature ranges T = (297.1 to 368.3) K, T = (330.7 to 391.7) K, and T = (336.5 to 401.7) K, using a static method based on capacitance diaphragm manometers. Moreover, the sublimation vapor pressures of 2,4,6-tribromophenol were also measured in the temperature interval (307.2 to 329.2) K, using a Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique. The standard molar enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs energies of sublimation and of vaporization, at reference temperatures, were derived from the experimental results as well as the (p,T) values of the triple point of each compound. The temperatures and molar enthalpies of fusion of the three benzene derivatives were determined using differential scanning calorimetry and were compared with the values derived indirectly from the vapor pressure measurements. The thermodynamic results were discussed together with the available literature data for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. To help rationalize the phase behavior of these substances, the crystallographic structure of 2,4,6-tribromophenol was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Abstract Oxidative treatment of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT's) was done by chemical functionalization by using the mixture acid, which is a mixture of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3). Functionalization was governed by four parameters namely mixture acid concentration, temperature(T), time of heating(t) and the amount of MWCNTs used. After functionalization, functionalized MWCNT's were then diluted in dimethylformamide (DMF) to analyse the percentage of soluble MWCNT's. Also, by increasing the time of functionalization, it was observed that overall yield decreases but the percentage of functionalized product inside the yield quantity remains the same. Material characterization was also carried out at several steps to validate this theory. Chemical functionalization of MWCNT's is generally significant for the manufacturing of polymerbased nanocomposites. Oxidative treatment enhances the dispersion and interfacial bonding within the epoxy matrix. In this research work, a bio-based epoxy resin was selected for the manufacturing of nanocomposite samples with various concentrations of pristine and functionalized MWCNTs. Mechanical and electrical characterization was finally carried out to increase the knowledge on the interaction of MWCNT's with the selected green epoxy matrix system and their influence on the original properties of the resin. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Abstract Chemical functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is important from the view point of polymer based composite manufacturing. As pristine MWCNTs has certain disadvantage such as they have lower dispersion, they are hydrophobic and are not readily soluble in a solvent, these characteristics makes them unreliable candidate for most of the industrial applications. By doing chemical functionalization of MWCNTs, these shortcomings can be overcome, and the MWCNTs can be used as a filler in composite manufacturing. This has the advantage of better nanofillers’ dispersion and provide the better interfacial bonding. In this study, MWCNTs are functionalized by the carboxylic group, chemical functionalization of MWCNTs is an optimization problem, governed by parameters like mixture acid concentration, temperature, time of heating and amount of MWCNTs used. Material characterization of MWCNTs is done and test specimens are manufactured according to different concentrations of MWCNTs within a bio-based epoxy resin. Mechanical properties are then compared according to different concentrations. These mechanical and material characterizations increase the understanding of chemical functionalization by carboxylic group and the influence of the concentration of MWCNTs dispersed within the bio-based resin matrix.

Abstract Herein, we present experimental evidence that protic ionic liquids (PILs), derived from 1:1 liquid mixtures of the organic superbases 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene (DBN) and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) with carboxylic acids, form azeotropic mixtures with acid/base molar fractions different from 1:1. The ability of the carboxylic acids to form strong hydrogen bonds with the PIL ion pair leads to an azeotropic composition richer in the acid component. The results show that the azeotropic composition is ruled by the extent of acid-base equilibrium and the relative volatility of the neutral species in the PIL medium. The PILs show marked negative deviations from Raoult's Law with the stronger superbase (DBU) leading to an azeotropic composition closer to the equimolar 1:1 ratio.