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Benny C Chan

Publications and source records attributed to Benny C Chan.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Three new phases in the K/Cu/Th/S system: KCuThS3, K2Cu2ThS4, and K3Cu3Th2S7.

Synthetic exploration of K/Cu/Th/S quaternary phase space has yielded three new compounds: KCuThS3 (I), K2Cu2ThS4 (II), and K3Cu3Th2S7 (III). All three phases are semiconductors with optical band gaps of 2.95, 2.17, and 2.49 eV(I-III). Compound I crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm with a = 4.076(1) A, b = 13.864(4) A, and c = 10.541(3) A. Compound II crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m with a = 14.522(1) A, b = 4.026(3) A, and c = 7.566(6) A; beta = 109.949(1) degrees . Compound III crystallizes in orthorhombic space group Pbcn with a = 4.051(2) A, b = 14.023(8) A, and c = 24.633(13) A. The compounds are all layered materials, with each layer composed of threads of edge-sharing ThS6 octahedra bridged by CuS4 tetrahedral threads of varying dimension. The layers are separated by well-ordered potassium ions. The relatively wide range of optical band gaps is attributed to the extent of the CuS4 motifs. As the dimension of the CuS4 chains increases, band gaps decrease in the series. All materials were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, microprobe chemical analysis, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIR-UV).

Journal Article↗

Synthesis and characterization of two quaternary thorium chalcophosphates: Cs4Th2P6S18 and Rb7Th2P6Se21.

Two new thorium chalcophosphates have been synthesized by the reactive flux method and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance, and Raman spectroscopy: Cs4Th2P6S18 (I); Rb7Th2P6Se21 (II). Compound I crystallizes as colorless blocks in the triclinic space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 12.303(4) A, b = 12.471(4) A, c = 12.541(4) A, alpha = 114.607(8) degrees, beta = 102.547(6) degrees, gamma = 99.889(7) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure consists of (Th2P6S18)(4-) layers separated by layers of cesium cations and only contains the (P2S6)(4-) building block. Compound II crystallizes as red blocks in the triclinic space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 11.531(3) A, b = 12.359(4) A, c = 16.161(5) A, alpha = 87.289(6) degrees, beta = 75.903(6) degrees, gamma = 88.041(6) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure consists of linear chains of (Th2P6Se21)(7-) separated by rubidium cations. Compound II contains both the (PSe4)(3-) and (P2Se6)(4-) building blocks. Both structures may be derived from two known rare earth structures where a rare earth site is replaced by an alkali or actinide metal to form these novel structures. Optical band gap measurements show that compound I has a band gap of 2.8 eV and compound II has a band gap of 2.0 eV. Solid-state Raman spectroscopy of compound I shows the vibrations expected for the (P2S6)(4-) unit. Raman spectroscopy of compound II shows the vibrations expected for both (PSe4)(3-) and (P2Se6)(4-) units. Our work shows the remarkable diversity of the actinide chalcophosphate system and demonstrates the phase space is still ripe to discover new structures.

Journal Article↗

Synthesis and characterization of AU2Se6 (A = K, Cs).

Two new ternary uranium selenides, AU(2)Se(6) (A = K, Cs), were prepared using the reactive flux method. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was performed on single crystals. The compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic Immm space group, Z = 2. CsU(2)Se(6) has cell parameters of a = 4.046(2) A, b = 5.559(3) A, and c = 24.237(12) A. KU(2)Se(6) has cell parameters of a = 4.058(3) A, b = 5.556(4) A, and c = 21.710(17) A. The compounds are isostructural to the previously reported KTh(2)Se(6). The two-dimensional layered structure is related to ZrSe(3) with the alkali metals residing in the interlayer space. The oxidation states of uranium and selenium were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Uranium was found to be tetravalent, while selenium was found to be in two oxidation states, one of which is -2. The other oxidation state is similar to that found in a polyselenide network. While this structure is known, our work examines how the structure changes through the transactinide series.

Journal Article↗

Split-pool method for synthesis of solid-state material combinatorial libraries.

The synthesis and analysis of inorganic material combinatorial libraries by the split-pool bead method were demonstrated at the proof-of-concept level. Millimeter-size spherical beads of porous gamma-alumina, a commonly used support material for heterogeneous catalysts, were modified with Al(13)O(4)(OH)(24)(H(2)O)(12)(7+) cations in order to promote irreversible adsorption of the anionic fluorescent dyes Cascade Blue, Lucifer Yellow, and Sulforhodamine 101. The compositions of individual beads were easily determined through three split-pool cycles using a conventional fluorescence plate reader. Small split-pool material libraries were made by adsorbing noble metal salts (H(2)PtCl(6), H(2)IrCl(6), and RhCl(3)) into the beads. Analysis of these beads by micro-X-ray fluorescence showed that quantitative adsorption of metal salts without cross-contamination of beads could be achieved at levels (0.3 wt % metal loading) relevant to heterogeneous catalysis. The method offers the potential for synthesis of rather large libraries of inorganic materials through relatively simple benchtop split-pool chemistry.

Journal Article↗

Directed-sorting method for synthesis of bead-based combinatorial libraries of heterogeneous catalysts.

The synthesis and analysis of inorganic material combinatorial libraries by a directed-sorting, split-pool bead method was demonstrated. Directed-sorting, split-pool, metal-loaded libraries were synthesized by adsorbing metal salts (H2PtCl6, SnCl2, CuCl2, and NiCl2) and metal standards (Pt, Cu, Ni in HCl) onto 2-mg porous gamma-alumina beads in 96- or 384-well plates. A matrix algorithm for the synthesis of bead libraries treated each bead as a member of a row or column of a given matrix. Computer simulations and manual tracking of the sorting process were used to assess library diversity. The bead compositions were analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The metal-loaded beads were analyzed by laser-activated membrane introduction mass spectroscopy (LAMIMS) for catalytic activity using methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation to toluene as a probe reaction. The catalytic activity of individual beads that showed minimal (approximately 20% of that of Pt on alumina) to high conversion could be determined semiquantitatively by LAMIMS. This method, therefore, provides an alternative to screening using microreactors for reactors that employ catalysts in the form of beads. The directed-sorting method offers the potential for synthesis of focused libraries of inorganic materials through relatively simple benchtop split-pool chemistry.

Catalysis↗