No description available.

No description available.

xix, 141 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The constant drive to improve material properties has recently led researchers towards metastable nanostructured materials, increasing the need for new synthetic pathways capable of rationally accessing targeted compounds. A method is demonstrated for using physical vapor deposition to create elementally modulated precursors targeting specific compounds. Controlling the modulation length scale of the precursor allows entire families of misfit layered compounds to be synthesized with atomic level control of the structure. Over 100 new misfit layered compounds were synthesized in the [(BiSe) 1.10 ] m (NbSe 2 ) n , [(PbSe) 1.10 ] m (NbSe 2 ) n , [(PbSe) 1.00 ] m (MoSe 2 ) n , and [(SnSe) 1.10 ] m (MoSe 2 ) n , families. The three-dimensional structures of these compounds are examined. These materials are shown to form turbostratically disordered sheets of transition metal dichalcogenide layers interwoven between blocks of rock salt layers. These layers have very small in-plane grain sizes on the order of 10 mn. The interfaces between these layers lack any epitaxial relationship and yet are atomically abrupt and indicate no strain present. The unique metastable structures lead to fascinating properties in these compounds. The turbostratic disorder leads to extremely low thermal conductivity perpendicular to the layering. Thermal conductivities as low as 0.07 W/m/K were measured. Because of the flexible chemistries, a wide range of electrical properties are accessible in these materials, with electrical conductivities ranging from metallic to semiconducting and carrier concentrations ranging from 10 17 to 10 21 cm -3 . Despite the small grain sizes, respectable mobilities have also been measured, up to 21 cm 2 V -1 s -1 . This work consists, in part, of previously published and coauthored material. / Committee in charge: James Hutchison, Chairperson, Chemistry; David Johnson, Advisor, Chemistry; David Tyler, Member, Chemistry; Geraldine Richmond, Member, Chemistry; Richard Taylor, Outside Member, Physics

Les travaux de recherche portent sur un procédé d’élaboration par pressage de joints en vermiculite et sur l’étude de la structure multiéchelle et les propriétés d’étanchéité des joints. La vermiculite a été traitée aux ultrasons pour obtenir des poudres. Des joints ont été élaborés à partir des poudres de vermiculite. Les pores interparticulaires du joint sont connectés et orientés préférentiellement d’après les observations par MEB. Leur dimension mesurée par porosimétrie mercure diminue avec l’augmentation de pression.Les propriétés d’étanchéité ont été étudiées aux températures inférieures à 800°C en mesurant les taux de fuites à l’hélium, ainsi que les taux d’écrasement et de décompression. La fuite comprend deux composantes : la fuite de contact déterminée par l’interface entre les joints et la bride, et la fuite de perméabilité liée à la porosité des joints. / Vermiculite gasket materials were obtained from powders obtained by sonication of vermiculite. The materials were formed of oriented stacked vermiculites platelets. The porous structure characterized by mercury porosimetry, SEM observations, was described. Vermiculite gaskets obtained by pressing powders, were studied for their sealing properties: leak rate and elastic resiliency.

In the first section of the thesis graphitic carbon nitride was for the first time synthesised using the high-temperature condensation of dicyandiamide (DCDA) – a simple molecular precursor – in a eutectic salt melt of lithium chloride and potassium chloride. The extent of condensation, namely next to complete conversion of all reactive end groups, was verified by elemental microanalysis and vibrational spectroscopy. TEM- and SEM-measurements gave detailed insight into the well-defined morphology of these organic crystals, which are not based on 0D or 1D constituents like known molecular or short-chain polymeric crystals but on the packing motif of extended 2D frameworks. The proposed crystal structure of this g-C3N4 species was derived in analogy to graphite by means of extensive powder XRD studies, indexing and refinement. It is based on sheets of hexagonally arranged s-heptazine (C6N7) units that are held together by covalent bonds between C and N atoms. These sheets stack in a graphitic, staggered fashion adopting an AB-motif, as corroborated by powder X-ray diffractometry and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. This study was contrasted with one of many popular – yet unsuccessful – approaches in the last 30 years of scientific literature to perform the condensation of an extended carbon nitride species through synthesis in the bulk. The second section expands the repertoire of available salt melts introducing the lithium bromide and potassium bromide eutectic as an excellent medium to obtain a new phase of graphitic carbon nitride. The combination of SEM, TEM, PXRD and electron diffraction reveals that the new graphitic carbon nitride phase stacks in an ABA’ motif forming unprecedentedly large crystals. This section seizes the notion of the preceding chapter, that condensation in a eutectic salt melt is the key to obtain a high degree of conversion mainly through a solvatory effect. At the close of this chapter ionothermal synthesis is seen established as a powerful tool to overcome the inherent kinetic problems of solid state reactions such as incomplete polymerisation and condensation in the bulk especially when the temperature requirement of the reaction in question falls into the proverbial “no man’s land” of classical solvents, i.e. above 250 to 300 °C. The following section puts the claim to the test, that the crystalline carbon nitrides obtained from a salt melt are indeed graphitic. A typical property of graphite – namely the accessibility of its interplanar space for guest molecules – is transferred to the graphitic carbon nitride system. Metallic potassium and graphitic carbon nitride are converted to give the potassium intercalation compound, K(C6N8)3 designated according to its stoichiometry and proposed crystal structure. Reaction of the intercalate with aqueous solvents triggers the exfoliation of the graphitic carbon nitride material and – for the first time – enables the access of singular (or multiple) carbon nitride sheets analogous to graphene as seen in the formation of sheets, bundles and scrolls of carbon nitride in TEM imaging. The thus exfoliated sheets form a stable, strongly fluorescent solution in aqueous media, which shows no sign in UV/Vis spectroscopy that the aromaticity of individual sheets was subject to degradation. The final section expands on the mechanism underlying the formation of graphitic carbon nitride by literally expanding the distance between the covalently linked heptazine units which constitute these materials. A close examination of all proposed reaction mechanisms to-date in the light of exhaustive DSC/MS experiments highlights the possibility that the heptazine unit can be formed from smaller molecules, even if some of the designated leaving groups (such as ammonia) are substituted by an element, R, which later on remains linked to the nascent heptazine. Furthermore, it is suggested that the key functional groups in the process are the triazine- (Tz) and the carbonitrile- (CN) group. On the basis of these assumptions, molecular precursors are tailored which encompass all necessary functional groups to form a central heptazine unit of threefold, planar symmetry and then still retain outward functionalities for self-propagated condensation in all three directions. Two model systems based on a para-aryl (ArCNTz) and para-biphenyl (BiPhCNTz) precursors are devised via a facile synthetic procedure and then condensed in an ionothermal process to yield the heptazine based frameworks, HBF-1 and HBF-2. Due to the structural motifs of their molecular precursors, individual sheets of HBF-1 and HBF-2 span cavities of 14.2 Å and 23.0 Å respectively which makes both materials attractive as potential organic zeolites. Crystallographic analysis confirms the formation of ABA’ layered, graphitic systems, and the extent of condensation is confirmed as next-to-perfect by elemental analysis and vibrational spectroscopy. / Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Synthese und Charakterisierung neuer Allotropen und Nanostrukturen von Karbonitriden und berührt einige ihrer möglichen Anwendungen. Alle gezeigten, ausgedehnten, kovalent verbundenen Karbonitridgerüste wurden in einem ionothermalen Syntheseprozess – einer Hochtemperaturbehandlung in einem eutektischen Salzgemisch als ungewöhnlichem Lösungsmittel – aus einfachen Präkursormolkülen erzeugt. Der Kondensationsmechanismus folgt einer temperaturinduzierten Deaminierung und Bildung einer ausgedehnten, aromatischen Einheit; des dreifach substituierten Heptazines. Die Dissertation folgt vier übergreifenden Themen, beginnend mit der Einleitung in Karbonitridsysteme und der Suche nach einem Material, welches einzig aus Kohlenstoff und Stickstoff aufgebaut ist – einer Suche, die 1834 mit den Beobachtungen Justus von Liebigs „über einige Stickstoffverbindungen“ begann. Der erste Abschnitt zeigt die erfolgreiche Synthese von graphitischem Karbonitrid (g-C3N4); einer Spezies, welche auf Schichten hexagonal angeordneter s-Heptazineinheiten beruht, die durch kovalente Bindungen zwischen C- und N-Atomen zusammengehalten werden, und welche in einer graphitischen, verschobenen Art und Weise gestapelt sind. Der zweite Abschnitt berührt die Vielfalt von Salzschmelzensystemen, die für die Ionothermalsynthese geeignet sind und zeigt auf, dass die bloße Veränderung der Salzschmelze eine andere Kristallphase des graphitischen Karbonitrides ergibt – das g-C3N4-mod2. Im dritten Abschnitt wird vom Graphit bekannte Interkallationschemie auf das g-C3N4 angewendet, um eine Kalliuminterkallationsverbindung des graphitischen Karbonitirdes zu erhalten (K(C6N8)3). Diese Verbindung kann in Analogie zum graphitischen System leicht exfoliiert werden, um Bündel von Karbonitridnanoschichten zu erhalten, und weist darüberhinaus interessante optische Eigenschaften auf. Der vierte und letzte Abschnitt handelt von der Einführung von Aryl- und Biphenylbrücken in das Karbonitridmaterial durch rationale Synthese der Präkursormoleküle. Diese ergeben die heptazinbasierten Frameworks, HBF-1 und HBF-2 – zwei kovalente, organische Gerüste.

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es gelungen, ein Siliciumsubnitrid der Summenformel Si2N chemisch und strukturell zu charakterisieren. Die braune, metastabile Verbindung ist über eine topotaktische Reaktion aus der Zintl-Phase Calciumdisilicid und Ammoniumbromid im molaren Verhältnis 1:2 zugänglich. Charakteristisch für das Siliciumsubnitrid sind eine schichtartige Morphologie und perfekte Spaltbarkeit parallel zu den Schichten. Thermoanalytische und röntgenografische Untersuchungen belegen, dass die Reaktion im Temperaturbereich 165°- 350°C abläuft. Beim Einsatz pulverförmiger Eduktmischungen wird das Siliciumsubnitrid als röntgenamorphes Pulver im mikroskopischen Gemisch mit kristallinem CaBr2 erhalten. Die Abtrennung des Calciumbromids gelingt bisher nur unvollständig. Mit spektroskopischen Methoden (NMR, IR und Raman) konnten die Baueinheiten im Siliciumsubnitrid identifiziert werden. Stickstoff liegt im Siliciumsubnitrid in Form einer trigonalen [N(Si)3]-Koordination vor. Über REDOR-NMR-Experimente wurde belegt, dass das Subnitrid zwei unterschiedliche Siliciumspezies, eine [Si(Si4)]- und eine [Si(Si,N3)]-Umgebung, enthält. Ergebnisse elektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchungen (REM, TEM) sind mit der Bildung des Siliciumsubnitrids über eine topotaktische Reaktion im Sinne des Erhalts schichtartiger Strukturverbände aus dem Calciumdisilicid vereinbar. Im Transmissionselektronenmikroskop werden extrem dünne Schichten beobachtet. Beugungsexperimente (SAD) an partiell geordneten Bereichen zeigen den Erhalt eines hexagonalen Reflexmusters. Die topotaktische Reaktion wurde auch mit CaSi2-Einkristallen durchgeführt, deren Oberflächen durch Aufsublimation mit Ammoniumbromid belegt waren. Die Untersuchung von Edukt und Produkt mit Röntgen-Einkristallbeugungsmethoden deutet auf weitgehende Erhaltung einer periodischen Struktur während der topotaktischen Reaktion hin. Die neue Verbindung kann durch elektrisch neutrale Schichtpakete von etwa 650 pm beschrieben werden.

Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit ist es gelungen, ein Siliciumsubnitrid der Summenformel Si2N chemisch und strukturell zu charakterisieren. Die braune, metastabile Verbindung ist über eine topotaktische Reaktion aus der Zintl-Phase Calciumdisilicid und Ammoniumbromid im molaren Verhältnis 1:2 zugänglich. Charakteristisch für das Siliciumsubnitrid sind eine schichtartige Morphologie und perfekte Spaltbarkeit parallel zu den Schichten. Thermoanalytische und röntgenografische Untersuchungen belegen, dass die Reaktion im Temperaturbereich 165°- 350°C abläuft. Beim Einsatz pulverförmiger Eduktmischungen wird das Siliciumsubnitrid als röntgenamorphes Pulver im mikroskopischen Gemisch mit kristallinem CaBr2 erhalten. Die Abtrennung des Calciumbromids gelingt bisher nur unvollständig. Mit spektroskopischen Methoden (NMR, IR und Raman) konnten die Baueinheiten im Siliciumsubnitrid identifiziert werden. Stickstoff liegt im Siliciumsubnitrid in Form einer trigonalen [N(Si)3]-Koordination vor. Über REDOR-NMR-Experimente wurde belegt, dass das Subnitrid zwei unterschiedliche Siliciumspezies, eine [Si(Si4)]- und eine [Si(Si,N3)]-Umgebung, enthält. Ergebnisse elektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchungen (REM, TEM) sind mit der Bildung des Siliciumsubnitrids über eine topotaktische Reaktion im Sinne des Erhalts schichtartiger Strukturverbände aus dem Calciumdisilicid vereinbar. Im Transmissionselektronenmikroskop werden extrem dünne Schichten beobachtet. Beugungsexperimente (SAD) an partiell geordneten Bereichen zeigen den Erhalt eines hexagonalen Reflexmusters. Die topotaktische Reaktion wurde auch mit CaSi2-Einkristallen durchgeführt, deren Oberflächen durch Aufsublimation mit Ammoniumbromid belegt waren. Die Untersuchung von Edukt und Produkt mit Röntgen-Einkristallbeugungsmethoden deutet auf weitgehende Erhaltung einer periodischen Struktur während der topotaktischen Reaktion hin. Die neue Verbindung kann durch elektrisch neutrale Schichtpakete von etwa 650 pm beschrieben werden.

O presente trabalho trata da preparação e da caracterização de sistemas contendo tetrassulfoftalocianinas de Co(II) (CoPcTs) e Fe(III) (FePcTs) intercaladas ou somente adsorvidas externamente em matrizes de hidróxidos duplos lamelares (HDLs). Foram sintetizados materiais com composições variadas e empregando-se diferentes métodos de síntese visando, principalmente, o isolamento de materiais com microporosidade intracristalina e/ou com um baixo grau de agregação da ftalocianina. Técnicas de caracterização textural (difração de raios-X e medidas de área superficial) e espectroscópicas (vibracional na região do infravermelho, eletrônica no UV/visível, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica e absorção de raios-X), além das análises elementar (C, H, N e metais) e termogravimétrica foram utilizadas para a caracterização dos sólidos sintetizados. Avaliaram-se os materiais como catalisadores na reação de oxidação do 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol e do catecol, utilizando O2ou H2O2 como oxidantes. Nos materiais isolados contendo a CoPcTs intercalada em HDLs com composição MgxAl (x = 2, 3 e 4) e ZnxAl (x = 4 e 5), a ftalocianina está orientada perpendicularmente às lamelas do HDL, independentemente do método de síntese e da composição dos HDLs utilizados. Adicionalmente, constatou-se que a CoPcTs intercalada está altamente agregada e que os materiais não possuem microporosidade. Porém, a diminuição da densidade de carga do HDL provoca uma pequena diminuição na agregação da CoPcTs. Sob determinada condição sintética, a CoPcTs intercalada nos HDLs ZnxAl sofre o processo de enxertia através dos grupos sulfônicos. Quando testados como catalisadores na oxidação do 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol, os materiais contendo a CoPcTs intercalada e enxertada apresentaram reatividade inexpressiva, que pode ser devida ao acesso restrito do substrato ao sítio ativo na região interlamelar. Estudos de adsorção da FePcTs em HDLs MgxAl na forma carbonato, investigados por espectroscopia eletrônica UV/Visível in situ, mostraram uma elevada tendência de agregação da ftalocianina na superfície dos HDLs. Os espectros eletrônicos indicaram também que diferentes espécies derivadas da FePcTs são formadas durante o processo de adsorção nos HDLs e que a densidade de carga influencia o tipo de espécie adsorvida: há predominância de um dímero do tipo µ-oxo nos HDLs Mg2Al e Mg3Al e do dímero (FePcTs)2 no HDL Mg4Al. Os espectros de absorção de raios-X (XANES) da FePcTs adsorvida nos HDLs MgxAl mostraram que as espécies adsorvidas apresentam geometria piramidal de base quadrada (C4v) e/ou octaédrica (Oh), corroborando com os dados de espectroscopia no UV/Visível. Já os espectros de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica mostraram que a ftalocianina de Fe(III) quando adsorvida nos HDLs gera uma mistura de espécies com configuração de baixo spin e alto spin e, também, elevada distorção rômbica. A FePcTs adsorvida nos HDLs MgxAl apresentou estabilidade e reatividade catalítica superior quando comparada com a ftalocianina livre na oxidação dos fenóis. A ftalocianina adsorvida na superfície externa do HDL deve favorecer o acesso do substrato ao sítio ativo. Uma correlação entre os estudos de adsorção e os resultados dos testes catalíticos mostrou que a espécie dimérica do tipo µ-oxo pode ser a espécie mais ativa na oxidação dos fenóis. Nestes sistemas, as camadas positivas do HDL devem provocar um enfraquecimento da ligação O-H do fenol, facilitando a sua desprotonação (uma das etapas do mecanismo de oxidação). Este último efeito pareceu atuante, pois foram observadas reatividades crescentes dos catalisadores à medida que se aumentava a densidade de carga do HDL. Estes resultados indicaram que existe um efeito cooperativo nos HDLs MgxAl contendo a FePcTs adsorvida, mostrando que o HDL não atua como um suporte inerte nos processos estudados. / The present work describes the preparation and characterization of materials containing Co(II) and Fe(III) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines (CoPcTs and FePcTs, respectively) intercalated or adsorbed on layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Different compositions and synthetic methods were used to isolate materials with microporosity and/or the phthalocyanine in a low aggregation degree. X-ray diffraction analysis, surface area measurements, spectroscopic techniques (infrared, UV/visible and X-ray absorption), elemental analysis and thermogravimetry were used to characterize the solids. The materials were tested as catalysts in the 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol and catechol oxidation, using O2 or H2O2 as oxidants. In the materials prepared by intercalation of the CoPcTs in MgxAl (x = 2, 3 and 4) and ZnxAl (x = 4 and 5) LDHs, the phthalocyanine is perpendicularly orientated related to the LDH layers, regardless of synthetic method or LDH composition used. In addition, it was observed that the intercalated phthalocyanine is aggregated and the solids do not have microporous. However, the aggregation degree of the phthalocyanine is slightly lower when the LDH charge density decreases. Under a particular synthetic conditions the CoPcTs intercalated in the LDH ZnxAl is grafted through the sulfonic groups. Catalytic tests uisng this material in the 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol oxidation showed a neglectful reactivity, which confirms the aggregation of the intercalated CoPcTs, thus avoiding that the substrate accesses the reactive center. In an adsorption study carried by monitoring in situ the FePcTs UV/Vis electronic spectra during its addition to LDH suspensions, a strong tendency of aggregation was observed for the FePcTs. In addition, different FePcTs species are formed during the adsorption process on the LDHs, which is influenced by the LDH charge density: the µ-oxo complex is the main species adsorbed on the Mg2Al and Mg3Al LDHs, whereas for Mg4Al the non oxo-bridged dimeric complex prevailed. X-ray absorption spectra (XANES) of the adsorbed FePcTs on the MgxAl LDHs showed that the species present a square-pyramidal (C4v) and/or an octahedral (Oh) symmetry, in agreement with the UV/visible spectroscopic data. EPR spectra of these samples showed that the FePcTs adsorbed on the LDHs leads to a mixture of Fe(III) high and low spin species along with a strong rhombic distortion. The FePcTs adsorbed on the MgxAl LDHs showed an enhanced catalytic activity and longevity in the phenols oxidation compared to the homogeneous counterpart. The phthalocyanine on the LDH external surfaces allows the access of the substrate to the reactive metal center. A correlation between the adsorption study and the catalytic tests pointed that the FePcTs µ-oxo complex may be the active species in the oxidation of phenols. Furthermore, the positive charge of LDH layers may weaken the O-H bonding in the phenol molecules making them more easily ionized (one step of the phenol oxidation mechanism). This feature seems to be effective because higher activities of the catalysts were observed along with increasing charge density of the LDHs. These results indicated that a cooperative effect takes place in the materials containing the FePcTs adsorbed on the MgxAl LDHs, showing that LDH do not act as an inert support in the studied catalytic reactions.

O presente trabalho trata da preparação e da caracterização de sistemas contendo tetrassulfoftalocianinas de Co(II) (CoPcTs) e Fe(III) (FePcTs) intercaladas ou somente adsorvidas externamente em matrizes de hidróxidos duplos lamelares (HDLs). Foram sintetizados materiais com composições variadas e empregando-se diferentes métodos de síntese visando, principalmente, o isolamento de materiais com microporosidade intracristalina e/ou com um baixo grau de agregação da ftalocianina. Técnicas de caracterização textural (difração de raios-X e medidas de área superficial) e espectroscópicas (vibracional na região do infravermelho, eletrônica no UV/visível, ressonância paramagnética eletrônica e absorção de raios-X), além das análises elementar (C, H, N e metais) e termogravimétrica foram utilizadas para a caracterização dos sólidos sintetizados. Avaliaram-se os materiais como catalisadores na reação de oxidação do 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol e do catecol, utilizando O2ou H2O2 como oxidantes. Nos materiais isolados contendo a CoPcTs intercalada em HDLs com composição MgxAl (x = 2, 3 e 4) e ZnxAl (x = 4 e 5), a ftalocianina está orientada perpendicularmente às lamelas do HDL, independentemente do método de síntese e da composição dos HDLs utilizados. Adicionalmente, constatou-se que a CoPcTs intercalada está altamente agregada e que os materiais não possuem microporosidade. Porém, a diminuição da densidade de carga do HDL provoca uma pequena diminuição na agregação da CoPcTs. Sob determinada condição sintética, a CoPcTs intercalada nos HDLs ZnxAl sofre o processo de enxertia através dos grupos sulfônicos. Quando testados como catalisadores na oxidação do 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol, os materiais contendo a CoPcTs intercalada e enxertada apresentaram reatividade inexpressiva, que pode ser devida ao acesso restrito do substrato ao sítio ativo na região interlamelar. Estudos de adsorção da FePcTs em HDLs MgxAl na forma carbonato, investigados por espectroscopia eletrônica UV/Visível in situ, mostraram uma elevada tendência de agregação da ftalocianina na superfície dos HDLs. Os espectros eletrônicos indicaram também que diferentes espécies derivadas da FePcTs são formadas durante o processo de adsorção nos HDLs e que a densidade de carga influencia o tipo de espécie adsorvida: há predominância de um dímero do tipo µ-oxo nos HDLs Mg2Al e Mg3Al e do dímero (FePcTs)2 no HDL Mg4Al. Os espectros de absorção de raios-X (XANES) da FePcTs adsorvida nos HDLs MgxAl mostraram que as espécies adsorvidas apresentam geometria piramidal de base quadrada (C4v) e/ou octaédrica (Oh), corroborando com os dados de espectroscopia no UV/Visível. Já os espectros de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica mostraram que a ftalocianina de Fe(III) quando adsorvida nos HDLs gera uma mistura de espécies com configuração de baixo spin e alto spin e, também, elevada distorção rômbica. A FePcTs adsorvida nos HDLs MgxAl apresentou estabilidade e reatividade catalítica superior quando comparada com a ftalocianina livre na oxidação dos fenóis. A ftalocianina adsorvida na superfície externa do HDL deve favorecer o acesso do substrato ao sítio ativo. Uma correlação entre os estudos de adsorção e os resultados dos testes catalíticos mostrou que a espécie dimérica do tipo µ-oxo pode ser a espécie mais ativa na oxidação dos fenóis. Nestes sistemas, as camadas positivas do HDL devem provocar um enfraquecimento da ligação O-H do fenol, facilitando a sua desprotonação (uma das etapas do mecanismo de oxidação). Este último efeito pareceu atuante, pois foram observadas reatividades crescentes dos catalisadores à medida que se aumentava a densidade de carga do HDL. Estes resultados indicaram que existe um efeito cooperativo nos HDLs MgxAl contendo a FePcTs adsorvida, mostrando que o HDL não atua como um suporte inerte nos processos estudados. / The present work describes the preparation and characterization of materials containing Co(II) and Fe(III) tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines (CoPcTs and FePcTs, respectively) intercalated or adsorbed on layered double hydroxides (LDHs). Different compositions and synthetic methods were used to isolate materials with microporosity and/or the phthalocyanine in a low aggregation degree. X-ray diffraction analysis, surface area measurements, spectroscopic techniques (infrared, UV/visible and X-ray absorption), elemental analysis and thermogravimetry were used to characterize the solids. The materials were tested as catalysts in the 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol and catechol oxidation, using O2 or H2O2 as oxidants. In the materials prepared by intercalation of the CoPcTs in MgxAl (x = 2, 3 and 4) and ZnxAl (x = 4 and 5) LDHs, the phthalocyanine is perpendicularly orientated related to the LDH layers, regardless of synthetic method or LDH composition used. In addition, it was observed that the intercalated phthalocyanine is aggregated and the solids do not have microporous. However, the aggregation degree of the phthalocyanine is slightly lower when the LDH charge density decreases. Under a particular synthetic conditions the CoPcTs intercalated in the LDH ZnxAl is grafted through the sulfonic groups. Catalytic tests uisng this material in the 2,6-di-terc-butilfenol oxidation showed a neglectful reactivity, which confirms the aggregation of the intercalated CoPcTs, thus avoiding that the substrate accesses the reactive center. In an adsorption study carried by monitoring in situ the FePcTs UV/Vis electronic spectra during its addition to LDH suspensions, a strong tendency of aggregation was observed for the FePcTs. In addition, different FePcTs species are formed during the adsorption process on the LDHs, which is influenced by the LDH charge density: the µ-oxo complex is the main species adsorbed on the Mg2Al and Mg3Al LDHs, whereas for Mg4Al the non oxo-bridged dimeric complex prevailed. X-ray absorption spectra (XANES) of the adsorbed FePcTs on the MgxAl LDHs showed that the species present a square-pyramidal (C4v) and/or an octahedral (Oh) symmetry, in agreement with the UV/visible spectroscopic data. EPR spectra of these samples showed that the FePcTs adsorbed on the LDHs leads to a mixture of Fe(III) high and low spin species along with a strong rhombic distortion. The FePcTs adsorbed on the MgxAl LDHs showed an enhanced catalytic activity and longevity in the phenols oxidation compared to the homogeneous counterpart. The phthalocyanine on the LDH external surfaces allows the access of the substrate to the reactive metal center. A correlation between the adsorption study and the catalytic tests pointed that the FePcTs µ-oxo complex may be the active species in the oxidation of phenols. Furthermore, the positive charge of LDH layers may weaken the O-H bonding in the phenol molecules making them more easily ionized (one step of the phenol oxidation mechanism). This feature seems to be effective because higher activities of the catalysts were observed along with increasing charge density of the LDHs. These results indicated that a cooperative effect takes place in the materials containing the FePcTs adsorbed on the MgxAl LDHs, showing that LDH do not act as an inert support in the studied catalytic reactions.

Topological insulators (TIs) are semiconductors with protected electronic surface states that allow dissipation-free transport. TIs are envisioned as ideal materials for spintronics and quantum computing. In Bi14Rh3I9, the first weak 3D TI, topology presumably arises from stacking of the intermetallic [(Bi4Rh)3I]2þ layers, which are predicted to be 2D TIs and to possess protected edge-states, separated by topologically trivial [Bi2I8]2+ octahedra chains. In the new layered salt Bi12Rh3Cu2I5, the same intermetallic layers are separated by planar, i.e., only one atom thick, [Cu2I4]2- anions. Density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations show that the compound is a weak 3D TI, characterized by Z2 ¼ ð0; 0001Þ, and that the topological gap is generated by strong spin–orbit coupling (Eg,calc.~ 10 meV). According to a bonding analysis, the copper cations prevent strong coupling between the TI layers. The calculated surface spectral function for a finite-slab geometry shows distinct characteristics for the two terminations of the main crystal faces 〈001〉, viz., [(Bi4Rh)3I]2þ and [Cu2I4]2-. Photoelectron spectroscopy data confirm the calculated band structure. In situ four-point probe measurements indicate a highly anisotropic bulk semiconductor (Eg,exp.¼ 28 meV) with pathindependent metallic conductivity restricted to the surface as well as temperatureindependent conductivity below 60 K.