γ-Alumina-supported Pt cluster: controlled loading, geometrical structure, and size-specific catalytic activity for carbon monoxide and propylene oxidation.

Although Pt is extensively used as a catalyst to purify automotive exhaust gas, it is desirable to reduce Pt consumption through size reduction because Pt is a rare element and an expensive noble metal. In this study, we successfully loaded a Pt cluster on γ-alumina (γ-AlO) (Pt/γ-AlO) using [Pt(CO)(PPh)]Cl ( = 1, 2) as a precursor. In addition, we demonstrated that Pt is not present in the form of an oxide in Pt/γ-AlO but instead has a framework structure as a metal cluster.

Halopiger thermotolerans sp. nov., a thermo-tolerant haloarchaeon isolated from commercial salt.

Three thermo-tolerant halophilic archaeal strains, SR-441T, SR-412 and SR-188, were isolated from commercial salt samples. Cells were non-motile pleomorphic rod-shaped, and stained Gram-negative. Colonies were pink-pigmented.

Natronoarchaeum philippinense sp. nov., a haloarchaeon isolated from commercial solar salt.

A Gram-staining-negative, pleomorphic, aerobic, halophilic archaeon, designated strain 294-194-5(T), was isolated in Japan from commercial solar salt imported from the Philippines. Colonies of strain 294-194-5(T) were translucent and red. Strain 294-194-5(T) was able to grow at 20-50 °C (optimum, 37-45 °C), with 14-30 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 18 %), and at pH 6.

Soft- and reactive-landing of Cr(aniline)2 sandwich complexes onto self-assembled monolayers: separation between functional and binding sites.

Soft- and reactive-landing of gas-phase synthesized cationic Cr(aniline)(2) complexes onto self-assembled monolayers of methyl-terminated (CH(3)-SAM) and carboxyl-terminated (COOH-SAM) organothiolates coated on gold were performed at hyperthermal collision energy (5-20 eV). The properties of the Cr(aniline)(2) complexes on the SAM surfaces were characterized using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), together with theoretical calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). For the CH(3)-SAM, the Cr(aniline)(2) complexes were embedded inside the SAM matrix in a neutral charge state, keeping a sandwich structure.

Halostagnicola alkaliphila sp. nov., an alkaliphilic haloarchaeon from commercial rock salt.

A Gram-negative, pleomorphic, aerobic, haloalkaliphilic archaeon, strain 167-74(T), was isolated from commercial rock salt imported into Japan from China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities showed that strain 167-74(T) is closely related to Halostagnicola larsenii XH-48(T) (98.3 %) and Halostagnicola kamekurae 194-10(T) (97.

Halostagnicola kamekurae sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon from solar salt.

A novel extremely halophilic archaeon, strain 194-10(T), was isolated from a solar salt sample imported into Japan from the Philippines. Strain 194-10(T) was pleomorphic, neutrophilic and mesophilic and required at least 10 % (w/v) NaCl but no MgSO(4) . 7H(2)O for growth; it exhibited optimal growth at 15 % (w/v) NaCl and 60 mM MgSO(4) .

Halarchaeum acidiphilum gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately acidophilic haloarchaeon isolated from commercial solar salt.

A novel halophilic archaeon, strain MH1-52-1(T), was isolated from solar salt imported from Australia. Cells were pleomorphic, non-motile and Gram-negative. Strain MH1-52-1(T) required at least 3.

Room-temperature isolation of V(benzene)2 sandwich clusters via soft-landing into n-alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers.

The adsorption state and thermal stability of V(benzene)2 sandwich clusters soft-landed onto a self-assembled monolayer of different chain-length n-alkanethiols (Cn-SAM, n = 8, 12, 16, 18, and 22) were studied by means of infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The IRAS measurement confirmed that V(benzene)2 clusters are molecularly adsorbed and maintain a sandwich structure on all of the SAM substrates. In addition, the clusters supported on the SAM substrates are oriented with their molecular axes tilted 70-80 degrees off the surface normal.

Soft-landing isolation of vanadium-benzene sandwich clusters on a room-temperature substrate using n-alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayer matrixes.

Gas-phase synthesized vanadium-benzene 1:2 (VBz(2)) sandwich clusters were size-selectively deposited onto bare gold and long-chain n-alkanethiolate [-S-(CH(2))(n-1)-CH(3); n = 16, 18, and 22] self-assembled monolayer (SAM)-coated gold substrates under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. Investigation of the resulting deposited clusters was performed by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). The IR frequencies of the soft-landed VBz(2) clusters show excellent agreement with the fundamentals reported in IR data of VBz(2) in an argon matrix.