Characterizing Cation Chemistry for Anion Exchange Membranes-A Product Study of Benzylimidazolium Salt Decompositions in the Base.

Imidazolium functionality has played a prominent role in research on anion exchange membranes for use in alkaline electrochemical devices. Base stability and degradation of these materials has been much studied, but in many instances, product pathways have not been thoroughly delineated. We report an NMR study of base-induced decomposition products from three benzylimidazolium salts bearing varying extents of methyl substitution on the imidazolium ring.

On the anomalous adsorption of [Pd(edta)]2- at the water/Goethite interface: spectroscopic evidence for two types of surface complexes.

The structure of palladium(II) ethylenediaminetetraacetate (edta) in aqueous solutions and its adsorption on the surface of goethite (alpha-FeOOH) were studied using extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The obtained results show that in aqueous solutions, Pd-edta exists as a 1:1 complex, [Pd(edta)]2-, with edta acting as a quadridentate ligand. On the surface of goethite, [Pd(edta)]2- forms two different types of complexes over a pH range of 3.

Metal corroles as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction.

The rotating ring disk electrode method has been used to study O2 electroreduction with metal corroles. Catalysis begins at potentials that are 0.5-0.

Electrocatalytic reduction of ROOH by iron porphyrins.

Electrocatalytic reduction of a series of chemical oxidants of different power (tert-butyl hydroperoxide, potassium peroxomonosulfate, peracetic acid, and m-chloroperbenzoic acid) at iron-porphyrin-modified graphite electrodes is studied in buffered aqueous solutions by rotating disk and ring-disk voltammetry. Both ferric and ferrous porphyrins are catalytically active. Turnover of ferric catalysts is slower than that of the ferrous analogues and involves competing catalytic reduction and disproportionation.