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John A Ripmeester

Publications and source records attributed to John A Ripmeester.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

(39)K NMR of solid potassium salts at 21 T: effect of quadrupolar and chemical shift tensors.

39K Solid State NMR spectra (static and magic angle spinning (MAS)) on a set of potassium salts measured at 21.14 T show that the chemical shift range for K(+) ions in diamagnetic salts is well in excess of 100 ppm contrary to previous assumptions that it was quite small. Inequivalent potassium sites in crystals can be resolved through differences in chemical shifts, with chemically similar sites showing differences of over 10 ppm. The quadrupolar coupling constants obtained from MAS and solid echo experiments on powders cover the range from zero for potassium in cubic environments in halides to over 3 MHz for the highly asymmetric sites in K2CO3. Although the quadrupolar effects generally dominate the 39K spectra, in several instances, we have observed subtle but significant contributions of chemical shift anisotropy with values up to 45 ppm, a first such observation. Careful analysis of static and MAS spectra allows the observation of the various chemical shift and quadrupole coupling tensor components as well as their relative orientations, thereby demonstrating that high-field 39K NMR spectroscopy in the solid state has a substantial sensitivity to the local environment with parameters that will be of considerable value in materials characterization and electronic structure studies.

Anisotropy↗
PubMed2007

Complex gas hydrate from the Cascadia margin.

Natural gas hydrates are a potential source of energy and may play a role in climate change and geological hazards. Most natural gas hydrate appears to be in the form of 'structure I', with methane as the trapped guest molecule, although 'structure II' hydrate has also been identified, with guest molecules such as isobutane and propane, as well as lighter hydrocarbons. A third hydrate structure, 'structure H', which is capable of trapping larger guest molecules, has been produced in the laboratory, but it has not been confirmed that it occurs in the natural environment. Here we characterize the structure, gas content and composition, and distribution of guest molecules in a complex natural hydrate sample recovered from Barkley canyon, on the northern Cascadia margin. We show that the sample contains structure H hydrate, and thus provides direct evidence for the natural occurrence of this hydrate structure. The structure H hydrate is intimately associated with structure II hydrate, and the two structures contain more than 13 different hydrocarbon guest molecules. We also demonstrate that the stability field of the complex gas hydrate lies between those of structure II and structure H hydrates, indicating that this form of hydrate is more stable than structure I and may thus potentially be found in a wider pressure-temperature regime than can methane hydrate deposits.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Hydrate kinetics study in the presence of nonaqueous liquid by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging.

The dynamics of methane hydrate growth and decomposition were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and imaging (MRI). Three well-known large molecule guest substances (LMGS) were used as structure H hydrate formers: 2,2-dimethylbutane (NH), methylcyclohexane (MCH), tert-butyl methyl ether (TBME). In addition, the impact of a non-hydrate former (n-heptane/nC7) was studied. The methane diffusion and hydrate growth were monitored by recording the 2H NMR spectra at 253 K and approximately 4.5 MPa for 20 h. The results revealed that methane diffuses faster in TBME and NH, slower in nC7, and slowest in MCH. The TBME system gives the fastest hydrate formation kinetics followed by NH, MCH, and nC7. The conversion of water into hydrate was also observed. The imaging study showed that TBME has a strong affinity toward ice, which is not the case for the NH and MCH systems. The degree of ice packing was also found to affect the LMGS distribution between ice particles. Highly packed ice increases the mass transfer resistance and hence limits the contact between LMGS and ice. It was also found that "temperature ramping" above the ice point improves the conversion significantly. Finally, hydrates were found to dissociate quickly within the first hour at atmospheric pressure and subsequently at a much slower rate. Methane dissolved in LMGS was also seen. The residual methane in hydrate phase and dissolved in LMGS phase explain the faster kinetics during hydrate re-formation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Symmetry-based recoupling of proton chemical shift anisotropies in ultrahigh-field solid-state NMR.

A two-dimensional NMR experiment for estimating proton chemical shift anisotropies (CSAs) in solid powders under magic-angle spinning conditions is demonstrated in which 1H CSAs are reintroduced with a symmetry-based recoupling sequence while the individual proton sites are resolved according to their isotropic chemical shifts by magic-angle spinning (MAS) or combined rotation and multiple pulse (CRAMPS) homonuclear decoupling. The experiments where carried out on an ultrahigh-field solid-state NMR instrument (900 MHz 1H frequency) which leads to increased resolution and reliability of the measured 1H CSAs. The experiment is expected to be important for investigating hydrogen bonding in solids.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

Critical guest concentration and complete tuning pattern appearing in the binary clathrate hydrates.

The concept of tuning phenomenon in binary hydrate systems has been suggested to enhance the gas storage capacity through molecular interactions. In this report, the existence of critical guest concentration (CGC) is investigated by means of spectroscopic methods. The existence of the critical guest concentration can act as a limiting factor in the application areas of binary hydrates. Therefore, it should be taken into account before applying this concept to application fields. In addition, further research on this concept using other hydrate systems is required to clarify the present findings.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Pseudopolymorphism of aliphatic amine/4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene inclusion compounds: supramolecular stabilization as a route to polar clusters and layers.

4-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene (4tBC4A) is a versatile host capable of forming a variety of 1:1 and 2:1 inclusion compounds typically stabilized through van der Waals interactions. Preliminary studies in our group have demonstrated that inclusion of n-butylamine in 4tBC4A results in a series of pseudopolymorphic inclusion compounds, including a new 3:1 inclusion motif. Using a combination of SCXRD, TGA, solid state NMR, and PXRD, we now elaborate upon the relationship between these pseudopolymorphs. We also demonstrate that larger amines demonstrate a similar degree of pseudopolymorphism, allowing for the production of customized materials using self-assembly guided by competing weak forces. Finally, we comment on the structural implications of the relative dominance such forces in the formation of calixarene-based supramolecular frameworks.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Molecular dynamics simulations of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with small guest molecules.

Classical molecular dynamics simulations were used to study p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene inclusion compounds with xenon, nitrogen, hydrogen, methane, and sulfur dioxide guest molecules. The calixarene units were taken to be rigid and the intermolecular molecular interactions were modeled as a sum of the van der Waals interactions with parameters from the AMBER force field and electrostatic interactions. Simulations of the high-density alpha phase and low-density beta0 phase of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene were used to test the force field. The predicted densities of the two phases were found to agree with experimental measurements at 173 K to within 5 %. Simulations were performed with guests placed inside the calixarene cages of the beta0 phase. Guest-host ratios of 1:1 to 1:4 were considered. Changes in the unit-cell volume and density of the phases with the addition of guest molecules and the inclusion energies for the guests were determined. Finally, the dynamics of the guest motion inside the cages were characterized by determining the root-mean-square displacements and velocity autocorrelation functions of the xenon and nitrogen guests.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Solid state NMR studies of photoluminescent cadmium chalcogenide nanoparticles.

Solid state (113)Cd, (77)Se, (13)C and (31)P NMR have been used to study a number of Cd chalcogenide nanoparticles synthesized in tri-n-octyl-phosphine (TOP) with different compositions and architectures. The pure CdSe and CdTe nanoparticles show a dramatic, size-sensitive broadening of the (113)Cd NMR line, which can be explained in terms of a chemical shift distribution arising from multiple Cd environments. From (13)C NMR, it has been discovered that TOP, or its derivatives such as TOPO (trioctylphosphine oxide), is rapidly moving about the surface of the nanoparticles, indicating that it is relatively weakly bound as compared to other materials used as surface ligands, such as hexadecylamine. (31)P NMR of the nanoparticles shows at least five species arising from coordination of the ligands to different surface sites. (113)Cd NMR of CdSeTe alloy and layered nanoparticles has provided crucial information which, in conjunction with results from other techniques (especially optical characterization), has made it possible to develop a detailed picture of the composition and structure of these materials: (i) a true CdSeTe homogeneous alloy nanoparticle, (ii) a nanoparticle segregated into an alloy core region rich in Te, with a CdSeTe (close to 1 : 1 Se : Te) alloy shell and (iii) a CdSe/CdTe/CdSe layered nanoparticle in which the CdTe layer contains a small amount of Se and which forms a Quantum Dot Quantum Well (QDQW) system. The results demonstrate that solid state NMR is a vital tool in the arsenal of characterisation techniques available for nanomaterials.

Alloys↗
PubMed2006

Micropores in crystalline dipeptides as seen from the crystal structure, He pycnometry, and 129Xe NMR spectroscopy.

Eight crystalline dipeptides were studied: AV (Ala-Val), VA (Val-Ala), AI (Ala-Ile), VV (Val-Val), IA (Ile-Ala), IV (Ile-Val), VI (Val-Ile), and LS (Leu-Ser) (all LL isomers). The first seven form an isostructural series (space group P6(1)), whereas LS has a different structure (P6(5)). All structures display H-bonded tubular assemblies of the dipeptide molecules resulting in open ultramicropores in the form of isolated one-dimensional (1D) channels. The total porosity of the materials ranges from 4 to 12% (micropore volume from 0.04 to 0.12 cm(3)/g). Calculations based on the crystal structures, He pycnometry, and solid-state (129)Xe NMR methods were used to obtain a comprehensive description of the geometry and properties of the micropores. The following order was established for the channel diameter: AV > VA > AI > VV > IA > IV > VI, with >5 A for AV and <4 A for VI; LS is close to AI. The observed sorption behavior cannot be described adequately based on the crystal structure and can only be understood if one takes into account the dynamics of the host matrix. The pores are chiral, with the center of the channel describing a right-handed helix (left-handed for LS). The following order was established for the channel helicity: VA > IA > IV > AV approximately AI approximately VV > VI > LS, with a helix diameter of approximately 2 A for VA, IA, and IV and approximately 1 A or less for the remaining dipeptides. A comparison of the dipeptides studied with other supramolecular materials is given and the potential for applications is discussed.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗
PubMed2006

Phototransformation of stilbene in van der Waals nanocapsules.

We have utilized para-hexanoylcalix[4]arene nanocapsules as hosts to carry out phototransformations of cis- and trans-stilbene. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies were performed to define precisely the location of encapsulated stilbenes inside the capsule and to analyze possible pathways of phototransformation. cis-Stilbene stacks as a pi-pi dimer located at the center of the capsule, whereas trans-stilbene does not form such a dimer. Irradiation of the crystalline inclusion complexes of each isomer of stilbene in the solid state leads to the appearance of the second isomer, and after prolonged photolysis, photodimerization also occurs. syn-Tetraphenylcyclobutane is formed as the major product of dimerization and its yield depends on the time and intensity of irradiation. In most cases, the single crystals of the complexes remain intact during irradiation; hence, the nanocapsules have the potential to serve as robust nanoreactors in the solid state. The confinement in the nanocapsules is sufficient to keep the reacting molecules together, although this is less restrictive than for trans-stilbene crystals, in which the molecules cannot achieve a favorable orientation for dimerization.

Calixarenes↗
PubMed2006

Effect of antifreeze proteins on the nucleation, growth, and the memory effect during tetrahydrofuran clathrate hydrate formation.

The inhibition activities of two antifreeze proteins (AFPs) on the formation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) clathrate hydrate have been tested. AFPs from fish (wfAFP) and insect (CfAFP) changed the morphology of growing THF hydrate crystals. Also, both AFPs showed higher activities in inhibiting the formation THF hydrate than a commercial kinetic inhibitor, poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). Strikingly, both AFPs also showed the ability to eliminate the "memory effect" in which the crystallization of hydrate occurs more quickly after the initial formation. This is the first report of molecules that can inhibit the memory effect. Since the homogeneous nucleation temperature for THF hydrate was measured to be 237 K, close to that observed for ice itself, the action of kinetic inhibitors must involve heterogeneous nucleation. On the basis of our results, we postulate a mechanism for heterogeneous nucleation, the memory effect and its elimination by antifreeze proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Synthesis and characterization of diverse coordination polymers. Linear and zigzag chains involving their structural transformation via intermolecular hydrogen-bonded, interpenetrating ladders polycatenane, and noninterpenetrating square grid from long, rigid N,N'-bidentate ligands: 1,4-bis[(x-pyridyl)ethynyl]benzene (x = 3 and 4).

The long, rigid ligands 1,4-bis[(3-pyridyl)ethynyl]benzene (L1) and 1,4-bis[(4-pyridyl)ethynyl]benzene (L2) were used in the synthesis of 10 new organic-inorganic coordination frameworks, each of them adopting different structural motifs. Synthesis, single-crystal X-ray structure determination, and spectroscopic and thermogravimetric analyses are presented. The reactions between M(NO3)2 x xH2O; M = Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II); x = 3-6 and Cu(hfac)2 x H2O [hfac = bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)] with L1 afforded the following one-dimensional zigzag chain structures: [Cd(C20H12N2)0.5(NO3)(CH3OH)]n (1, monoclinic, C2/c; a = 7.586(1) A, b = 23.222(1) A, c = 13.572(1) A, beta = 92.824(1), Z = 4); [{Cu(C20H12N2)(NO3)2(CH3OH)} x CH3OH]n (2, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1); a = 8.589(1) A, b = 15.766(1) A, c = 17.501(1) A, Z = 4); [Co(C20H12N2)2(NO3)2(H2O)2] (5, triclinic, P1; a = 7.493(1) A, b = 8.948(1) A, c = 14.854(1) A, alpha = 100.427(1), beta = 97.324(1), gamma = 110.901(1), Z = 1); [Cu(C20H12N2)(hfac)2]n (4, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 18.828(1) A, b = 14.671(1) A, c = 13.427(1) A, beta = 90.447(1) degrees, Z = 4). Moreover, the minority phase compound formed from Cu(NO3)2 x 3H2O and L1 yielded a metallocyclic chain structure, [Cu(C20H12N2)(NO3)]n (3, triclinic, P; a = 8.728(1) A, b = 10.018(1) A, c = 11.893(1) A, alpha = 109.991(1), beta = 97.109(1), gamma = 115.542(1), Z = 1). In addition to the dinuclear coordination complex 5, all other polymeric structures (1-4) from L1 are composed of interpenetrating 2D and 3D cross-linked zigzag chains via hydrogen-bonding interactions. The reactions between M(NO3)2 x xH2O; M = Cd(II), Cu(II), and Co(II); x = 3-6 and Cu(hfac)2 x H2O [hfac = bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)] and L2 were dependent on the nature of the metal center and resulted in the formation of four different interpenetrating and noninterpenetrating compounds (6-10): [Co(C20H12N2)1.5(NO3)2]n (6, triclinic, P; a = 14.172(1) A, b = 15.795(1) A, c = 18.072(1) A, alpha = 115.380(1), beta = 101.319(1), gamma = 93.427(2), Z = 4), which consists of T-shaped building blocks assembled into three-dimensional interpenetrating polycatenated ladders; [Cd(C20H12N2)2(NO3)2]n (7, monoclinic, I2/a; a = 11.371(1) A, b = 20.311(2) A, c = 15.240(2) A, beta = 100.201(2) degrees, Z = 4), which adopts a two-dimensional noninterpenetrating square-grid motif; [Cu(C20H12N2)(hfac)2]n (8, monoclinic, I2/a; a = 11.371(1) A, b = 20.311(2) A, c = 15.240(2) A, beta = 100.201(2) degrees, Z = 4), composed of three sets of distinct one-dimensional linear chains; [Cu(C20H12N2)(EtOH)(NO3)2] [Cu(C20H12N2)1.5(NO3)2] x 2EtOH (9, triclinic, P; a = 12.248(2) A, b = 13.711(3) A, c = 18.257(4) A, alpha = 108.078(4) degrees, beta = 97.890(4) degrees, gamma = 103.139(5) degrees, Z = 2) and [Cu(C20H12N2)(MeOH)(NO3)2] [Cu(C20H12N2)1.5(NO3)2] x 2MeOH (10, triclinic, P; a = 12.136(1) A, b = 13.738(2) A, c = 17.563(3) A, alpha = 107.663(3) degrees, beta = 94.805(4) degrees, gamma = 104.021(4) degrees, Z = 2). Both 9 and 10 stack into infinite interpenetrating ladders through bundles of infinite chains and are described in our preliminary communication.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels.

In this article, we report a detailed study of resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF) aerogels prepared under different processing conditions, [resorcinol]/[catalyst] (R/C) ratios in the starting sol-gel solutions, using continuous flow hyperpolarized (129)Xe NMR in combination with solid-state (13)C and two-dimensional wide-line separation (2D-WISE) NMR techniques. The degree of polymerization and the mobility of the cross-linking functional groups in RF aerogels are examined and correlated with the R/C ratios. The origin of different adsorption regions is evaluated using both coadsorption of chloroform and 2D EXSY (129)Xe NMR. A hierarchical set of Xe exchange processes in RF aerogels is found using 2D EXSY (129)Xe NMR. The exchange of Xe gas follows the sequence (from fastest to slowest): mesopores with free gas, gas in meso- and micropores, free gas with micropores, and, finally, among micropore sites. The volume-to-surface-area (V(g)/S) ratios for aerogels are measured for the first time without the use of geometric models. The V(g)/S parameter, which is related both to the geometry and the interconnectivity of the pore space, has been found to correlate strongly with the R/C ratio and exhibits an unusually large span: an increase in the R/C ratio from 50 to 500 results in about a 5-fold rise in V(g)/S.

Journal Article↗