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Title: Formation of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) on ZnO at room temperature: Implications for the fundamental model of EPFR generation

Journal Article · · Chemical Physics Letters
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2]
  1. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
  2. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States). Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
  3. Dominican Univ. of California, San Rafael, CA (United States). Dept. of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) have significant environmental and public health impacts. Here, we demonstrate that EPFRs formed on ZnO nanoparticles provide two significant surprises. First, EPR spectroscopy shows that phenoxy radicals form readily on ZnO nanoparticles at room temperature, yielding EPR signals similar to those previously measured after 250°C exposures. Vibrational spectroscopy supports the conclusion that phenoxy-derived species chemisorb to ZnO nanoparticles under both exposure temperatures. Second, DFT calculations indicate that electrons are transferred from ZnO to the adsorbed organic (oxidizing the Zn), the opposite direction proposed by previous descriptions of EPFR formation on metal oxides.

Research Organization:
Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012432; P42 ES013648-03; AC0500OR22725
OSTI ID:
1463081
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1397620
Journal Information:
Chemical Physics Letters, Vol. 670, Issue C; ISSN 0009-2614
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 27 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science