Pavla Čapková

Preparation and characterization of photoactive composite kaolinite/TiO2

Preparation of nanocomposite kaolinite/TiO(2), using hydrolysis of titanyl sulfate in the presence of kaolin was addressed. A variable (kaolin)/(titanyl sulfate) ratio has been used in order to achieve the desired TiO(2) content in prepared nanocomposites. Calcination of the composites at 600 °C led to the transformation of the kaolinite to metakaolinite and to origination of metakaolinite/TiO(2) composites. The prepared samples were investigated using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the UV-VIS region. Structural ordering of TiO(2) on the kaolinite particle surface was modeled using empirical force field atomistic simulations in the Material Studio modeling environment. Photodegradation activity of the composites prepared was evaluated by the discoloration of Acid Orange 7 aqueous solution.

Effects of DPH on DPPC−Cholesterol Membranes with Varying Concentrations of Cholesterol: From Local Perturbations to Limitations in Fluorescence Anisotropy Experiments

We have used atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to consider 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescent probes in a fluid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer with 5 and 20 mol % cholesterol (CHOL). We show that while DPH affects a number of membrane properties, the perturbations induced by DPH depend on the concentration of cholesterol in a membrane. For example, we find DPH to influence the mass density distribution of lipids across the membrane and to promote the ordering of acyl chains around the probe. Yet, these perturbations get relatively weaker for increasing cholesterol concentration. Meanwhile, we also find that the commonly used analysis in terms of the Brownian rotational diffusion (BRD) model with Legendre polynomials to interpret fluorescence anisotropy (FA) experiments is sensitive to the amount of cholesterol. For small concentrations of cholesterol, the analysis of FA turns out to yield a relatively good approximation of the correct orientational distribution of DPH. However, for a CHOL concentration of 20 mol %, we find that the FA analysis fails to yield the true orientational distribution of DPH, the disagreement being substantial. The results suggest that in highly ordered membrane domains, the view given by FA analysis using the BRD model is likely reliable in a qualitative sense, but the quantitative description deviates substantially from the correct one. The present results imply that FA studies for the orientational distribution of DPH should be interpreted with great care.

Polymer/clay nanocomposites based on MMT/ODA intercalates

Natural Na-montmorillonite (MMT) with the formula (Na0.67K0.01Ca0.02)(Al2.90Mg0.59 Fe3+ 0.49Ti0.01)(Si7.92Al0.08)O20(OH)4was intercalated with octadecylamine (C18H39N) (ODA) with varied MMT/ODA ratios. The basal spacings d(00l) of natural and intercalated Na-MMT with ODA were determined by XRD analysis. The set of basal diffractions: d(001) = 56 Å, d(002) = 28 Å, d(003) = 18 Å, d(004) = 14 Å, d(005) = 11 Å for the saturated Na-MMT/ODA intercalate indicates existence of highly ordered periodic structure with the ODA double-layer intercalated in the silicate interlayer spacing. Molecular modeling calculations were applied to the Na-MMT/ODA saturated intercalation system. Stable structure with d-spacing 53 Å has been calculated which is in a good agreement with the experimental data. Such structure gives good conditions for the organosilicate layered structure exfoliation and nanocomposite production. Na-MMT/ODA intercalates were compounded with polypropylene. In accordance with theoretical predictions, XRD analysis applied to compounded structures have proved that a high degree of the organoclay exfoliation was achieved.

Host-guest complementarity and crystal packing of intercalated layered structures.

Intercalated layered structures are analyzed in order to estimate the rules governing their crystal packing. An overview is given on structural types of layered intercalates based on various types of host structures and guest species. The factors describing the host–guest complementarity in intercalated layered structures like: the character of active sites, the host–guest and guest–guest interactions, the size of guests and topology of layers are investigated and their effect on crystal packing is illustrated on examples. Special attention will be paid to the conditions for the regular ordering of guests in the interlayer space, as the requirement of structure ordering is of great importance in design of intercalates for special applications, where one has to control the interlayer porosity or electronic properties of guest molecules etc. A method of structure analysis based on a combination of molecular modeling and experiments has been worked out for intercalates. Molecular modeling (force field calculations) in conjunction with experiments (diffraction methods and vibration spectroscopy) enables us to analyze the disordered intercalated structures, where the conventional diffraction analysis fails.

Structure determination of two intercalated compounds VOPO4·(CH2)4O and VOPO4·OH—(CH2)2—O—(CH2)2—OH; synchrotron powder diffraction and molecular modelling

The crystal structures of two intercalated compounds have been determined using a combination of synchrotron powder diffraction and molecular mechanics simulations: (1) vanadyl phosphate intercalated with tetrahydrofuran, VOPO(4).(CH(2))(4)O, and (2) vanadyl phosphate intercalated with diethylene glycol, VOPO(4).HO(CH(2))(2)O(CH(2))(2)OH. Both intercalates preserve the tetragonal space group P4/n, as found in the host structure VOPO(4).2H(2)O. (1): a = 6.208, c = 8.930 A, Z = 2, D(x) = 2.51 g cm(-3); (2): a = 6.223, c = 11.417 A, Z = 2, D(x) = 2.66 g cm(-3). Both intercalates exhibit the same type of orientational disorder in the arrangement of guest molecules, as observed in the same host compound intercalated with water. These two intercalates also exhibit, rather surprisingly, perfect ordering in layer stacking without the displacement disorder, characteristic of many intercalated layered structures. Thanks to this regularity in the arrangement of guests and layers, synchrotron powder diffraction could be used in the present structure determination. The present results also enabled the analysis of the effect of geometrical parameters characterizing the mutual host-guest complementarity and the effect of host-guest and guest-guest interaction on the crystal packing of intercalates.

Fluorescence of reduced charge montmorillonite complexes with methylene blue: Experiments and molecular modeling

The intensity of fluorescence of montmorillonites fully saturated by methylene blue (MB) is very poor due to energy dissipation in MB aggregates. A series of reduced charge montmorillonites (RCM) were prepared from Na-homoionic SWy and Ca homoionic SAz with the aim to decrease the MB aggregation. Fine tuning MB adsorption degree by charge reduction and MB concentration enabled controlled production of different dye species from aggregates via dimers to monomers. It was shown that the intensity of the fluorescence of low-loaded MB-RCM complexes is enhanced by several orders of magnitude with respect to dye-saturated original montmorillonites. XRD analyses, molecular modeling, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy revealed that low MB-loaded RCMs are very probably adsorbed mainly on the external montmorillonite surface as isolated dye molecules. Such a state cannot be achieved in the solid state without very careful tailoring of the host-guest interaction.

A simple molecular modeling method for the characterization of polymeric drug carriers

A simple molecular modeling method for the characterization of polymeric drug carriers is presented. Six biodegradable polymers have been investigated as drug carriers using molecular simulations: l-polylactide, d-polylactide, chitosan, polyglycolic acid, polyethylene glycol and cellulose. Cyclosporine A has been chosen as a model drug substance. Classical molecular dynamics and docking calculations were employed to model and predict polymer-drug interactions. These interactions have been analyzed by non-bond interaction energy and interaction parameter calculated using Flory-Huggins theory. Flexibility of polymer chains has been characterized by the change of gyration radius along the molecular dynamics trajectory. The relationship between mixing energy, chain length and chain flexibility has been revealed for each polymer/drug system.

Nitrogen vacancy and chemical bonding in substoichiometric vanadium nitride

The effect of the nitrogen vacancy on the bonding in the VNx crystal is investigated by means of the CNDO/2 cluster calculations. It is shown that the existence of the N vacancy leads to local lattice relaxation and rearrangement of the interatomic bonds in its neighbourhood. One of the most interesting results is the appearance of strong V-V bonds through the vacancy site. The presence of the vacancy leads to the lowering of the total energy of the cluster and stabilization of the defect phase.

Structure and stability of kaolinite/TiO2 nanocomposite: DFT and MM computations

AbstractThe adhesion of TiO2 (anatase structure) nanoparticles to kaolinite substrate was investigated using molecular modeling. Universal force field computation, density function theory computation, and a combination of both two approaches were used. This study enabled the adhesion energy for the TiO2/kaolinite nanocomposite to be estimated, and revealed the preferred orientation of the TiO2 nanoparticles on the kaolinite substrate. The results of all three levels of computation were compared in order to show that the accuracy of universal force field computations is sufficient in this context. The role of nanoparticle size and the importance of the nanoparticle–substrate bonding contribution are presented here and discussed. A comparison of the molecular modeling results with scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the results of the modeling were consistent with the experimental data, and that this approach can be used to help characterize nanocomposites of the nanoparticle/phyllosilicate substrate type. FigureDensity function theory computation, Universal force field computation and the combination of both two approaches are used to estimate adhesion energies for TiO2/kaolinite nanocomposite and to reveal the preferred orientation of TiO2 nanoparticles on the kaolinite substrate

Molecular simulations of montmorillonite intercalated with aluminum complex cations. Part I: Intercalation with [Al13O4(OH)(24+x)(H2O)(12−x)]((7−x)+)

AbstractThe structure of montmorillonite intercalated with [Al13O4(OH)24+x(H2O)12−x](7−x)+ cations (Al13(7− x)+ for short), where x = 0,2 an 4, has been studied using the Cerius2 modeling environment. The Crystal Packer module used in the present study takes into account only the nonbonded interactions between the silicate layer and the Keggin cations. Minimization of the total sublimation energy led to the following conclusions: the structure of the interlayer (that is, the orientation of Keggin cations and the basal spacing) depends on the charge of cations (that is, on the degree of hydrolysis, x). The values of basal spacings in the range 19.38–20.27 Å have been obtained, depending on the charge and arrangement of cations in the interlayer. The dominating contribution to the total sublimation energy comes from the electrostatic interactions. Translations of Al13(7−x)+ cations along the 2:1 layers give only small fluctuations of the total sublimation energy and basal spacings. No preference for the position of Al13(7− x)+ cations in the interlayer of montmorillonite was found during translation along the 2:1 layers. This result confirmed the inhomogeneous distribution of cations in the interlayer and turbostratic stacking of layers.