High-Resolution Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) - Hiroshima University

Prof. Masahiro Sadakane offers a collaboration using HR-ESI-MS using LTQ Orbitrap XL of Thermo Fisher Scientific (Resolution: ~ 100,000, Ionization methods: ESI, APCI, etc.). Because of high mass accuracy (less than 3 ppm), we can identify POM species present in solution.

Contact person: Masahiro Sadakane, Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Email. sadakane09@hiroshima-u.ac.jp

Single Crystal X-ray Diffraction - Osaka University

Prof. Tatsuhiro Kojima offers a collaboration by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation.

The following two beamlines are availabe:

1. BL02B1 beamline @ SPring-8 in Japan http://www.spring8.or.jp/ja/

Detector: PILATUS3 X CdTe 1M, Diffractometer: RIGAKU 1/4-chi goniometer (4-axis motor drive), Data reduction: Rapid Auto or CrysAlisPro, Wavelength: 0.4248 Å (fixed), Temperature 100 K~ 400 K

2. 2D beamline @ Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL) in South Korea http://pal.postech.ac.kr/paleng/

Detector: Rayonix MX225HS CCD area detector, Diffractometer: single-axis motor drive, Data reduction: HKL3000 or CrysAlisPro, Wavelength: 0.600~0.900 Å (variable), Temperature 100 K~ 400 K

Shorter wavelength (higher energy) X-rays reduce the effect of X-ray absorption by heavy elements such as W, Pt, Au, Ln and so on, which improves the determination of the parameters of lighter elements such as C, N, and O in a crystal structure. We can collect high quality data with high resolution, which is essential for the determination of severely disordered structures, solvent molecules and counter ions. Low divergent synchrotron radiation gives sharp peak separations even for large unit cell crystal systems. One data collection requires only 5∼15 min on average, which allows us to monitor dynamic structural change under external stimuli (UV light, temperature, and chemical reagent).

Recently we successfully determined the first example of self-assembly of cyclic hexamers of γ-cyclodextrin in the hexagonal cavities of metallosupramolecular framework. More than 700 independent atoms in an asymmetric unit were refined from the data collected at 2D beamline in PAL. Monoclinic C2, a = 48.570(8) Å, b = 28.050(8) Å, c = 52.051(10) Å, β = 97.93(4), V = 70235.6 Å3, R1 = 8.09 %. (Chem. Sci. In press. DOI: 10.1039/D0SC03925J)

Contact person: Tatsuhiro Kojima, Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Email. kojimat15@chem.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp

Photocatalysis and Photophysical Measurements - Newcastle University

*Dr. Elizabeth Gibson offers collaborations examining photophysical properties of POM-chromophore dyads for use in photocatalysis applications. We have facilities for measuring evolution of photoreduced/oxidised species in solution or on semiconductor films, detailed fluorescence/UV-vis absorption interrogation and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy for determining reaction meachnisms of light driven reactions. These studies naturally lend themselves to applications in dye-sensitised solar cells, which we also specialise in.

Contact person: Elizabeth Gibson, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (Chemistry), Newcastle University, United Kingdom, Email. elizabeth.gibson@newcastle.ac.uk