Electrochemical properties of Li(Li(1−x)/3CoxMn(2−2x)/3)O2 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) solid solutions prepared by poly-vinyl alcohol (PVA) method

The whole range of solid solutions Li(Li_(1−x)/3Co_xMn_(2−2x)/3)O₂ (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 1) was firstly synthesized by an aqueous solution method using poly-vinyl alcohol as a synthetic agent to investigate their structure and electrochemical properties. X-ray diffraction results indicated that the synthesized solid solutions showed a single phase without any detectable impurity phase and have a hexagonal structure with some additional peaks caused by monoclinic distortion, especially in the solid solutions with a low Co amount. In the electrochemical examination, the solid solutions in the range between 0.2 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.9 showed higher discharge capacity and better cyclability than LiCoO₂ (x = 1) on cycling between 2.0 and 4.6 V with 100 mA g⁻¹ at 25 °C. For example, Li(Li_0.2Co_0.4Mn_0.4)O₂ (x = 0.4) exhibited a high discharge capacity of 180 mA h g⁻¹ at the 50th cycle. By synthesizing the solid solution between Li₂MnO₃ and LiCoO₂, the electrochemical properties of the end members were improved.     

Paramagnetic resonance and non-resonant microwave absorption in iron niobate

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of FeNbO₄ powder samples in monoclinic phase (wolframite-type) at X-band (8.8–9.8 GHz), in the 90–300 K temperature range, is presented. For all the temperatures, the EPR spectrum shows a single line associated with Fe³⁺ ions. Changes in the lineshape of the EPR spectrum, which can be attributed to Fe²⁺ ions, are detected at low temperatures. This behavior can be ascribed to a strong magnetic dipolar interaction between Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. The non-resonant microwave absorption techniques: magnetically-modulated microwave absorption spectroscopy (MAMMAS) and low-field microwave absorption spectroscopy (LFMAS), were used for a further knowledge on this material. MAMMAS response suggests also the presence of Fe²⁺ ions, that originates a change in microwave absorption regime for T < T_p (=140 K), associated with the presence of short-range magnetic correlations. LFMAS spectra showed a linear behavior with positive slope and non-hysteretic traces. The profiles obtained by plotting the slope vs. temperature of the LFMAS line are similar to those detected by the MAMMAS technique, confirming that both types of measurement show the same processes of absorption.     

Apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous adonitol,dulcitol, glycerol,meso-erythritol,myo-inositol,d-sorbitol,and xylitol at temperatures from (278.15 to 368.15) K and at the pressure 0.35 MPa

Apparent molar volumes V_ϕ were determined for aqueous adonitol, dulcitol, glycerol, meso-erythritol, myo-inositol, d-sorbitol, and xylitol at temperatures from (278.15 to 368.15) K and at the pressure 0.35 MPa, and apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ of the same solutions were determined at temperatures from (278.15 to 363.15) K at the same pressure. Molalities m/(mol · kg⁻¹) of the solutions were in the range (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 3.2) for adonitol, (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 0.15) for dulcitol, (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 5.0) for glycerol, (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 3.0) for meso-erythritol, (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 0.5) for myo-inositol, (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 2.0) for d-sorbitol, and (0.02 ⩽ m ⩽ 2.7) for xylitol. A vibrating tube densimeter was used to obtain solution densities and a fixed-cell temperature scanning calorimeter was used to obtain heat capacities. Values of V_ϕ and C_p,ϕ for these sugar alcohols are discussed relative to one another and compared to values from the literature, where available.     

EPR investigation of some traditional oriental irradiated spices

The 9.50 GHz electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of unirradiated and ⁶⁰Co γ-ray irradiated cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum L. Maton, Zingiberaceae), ginger ((Zingiber officinale Rosc., Zingiberaceae), and saffron (Crocus sativus L., Iridaceae) have been investigated at room temperature. All unirradiated spices presented a weak resonance line with g-factors around free-electron ones. After γ-ray irradiation at an absorbed dose of up to 11.3 kGy, the presence of EPR spectra whose amplitude increase monotonously with the absorbed dose has been noticed with all spices. A 100 °C isothermal annealing of 11.3 kGy irradiated samples has shown a differential reduction of amplitude of various components that compose initial spectra, but even after 3.6 h of thermal treatment, the remaining amplitude represents no less then 30% of the initial ones. The same peculiarities have been noticed after 83 days storage at room temperature but after 340 days storage at ambient conditions only irradiated ginger displays a weak signal that differs from those of unirradiated sample. All these factors could be taken into account in establishing at which extent the EPR is suitable to evidence any irradiation treatment applied to these spices.     

Operando soft x-ray emission spectroscopy of LiMn2O4 thin film involving Li–ion extraction/insertion reaction

We developed an electrochemical in situ cell for soft x-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) to accurately investigate the redox reaction and electronic structure of transition metals in the cathode materials for Li–ion battery. The in situ cell consists of a Li–metal counter electrode, an organic electrolyte solution, and a cathode on a membrane window which separates the liquid electrolyte from high vacuum and can pass the incoming and emitted photons. In this study, the Mn 3d electronic structure of LiMn₂O₄ thin-film electrode was clarified by the operando XES. At the charged state, the XES spectrum changed significantly from the open-circuit-voltage (OCV) state, suggesting oxidation of the Mn^3 + component through Li–ion extraction. Upon discharge up to 3.0 V vs. Li/Li⁺, the XES spectrum almost returned to its profile at the OCV state with small difference, indicating the valence change of Mn: Mn^3.6 + → Mn^4 + → Mn^3.3 + corresponding to the OCV, charged, and discharged states.     

Comparison of the electrochemical properties of metallic layered nitrides containing cobalt,nickel and copper in the 1 V–0.02 V potential range

We report the first example of an intercalation compound based on the nitrogen framework in which lithium can be intercalated and deintercalated. A comparison of the structural and electrochemical properties of the ternary lithium cobalt, nickel and copper nitrides is performed. Vacancy layered structures of ternary lithium nitridocobaltates Li_3−2xCo_xN and nitridonickelates Li_3−2xNi_xN with 0.10 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.44 and 0.20 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.60, respectively, are proved to reversibly intercalate Li ions in the 1 V–0.02 V potential range. These host lattices can accommodate up to 0.35 Li ion par mole of nitride. Results herein obtained support Li insertion in vacancies located in Li₂N⁻ layers while interlayer divalent cobalt and nickel cations are reduced to monovalent species. No structural strain is induced by the insertion–extraction electrochemical reaction which explains the high stability of the capacity in both cases. For the Li_1.86Ni_0.57N compound, a stable faradaic yield of 0.30 F/mol, i.e. 130 mAh/g, is maintained at least for 100 cycles. Conversely, the ternary copper nitrides corresponding to the chemical composition Li_3−xCu_xN with 0.10 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.40 do not allow the insertion reaction to take place due to the presence of monovalent copper combined with the lack of vacancies to accommodate Li ions. In the latter case, the discharge of the lithium copper nitrides is not reversible.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous l-methionine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.0125 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of l-methionine,methioninium chloride,and sodium methioninate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of l-methionine, l-methionine plus equimolal HCl, and l-methionine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.0125 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0 as solubilities allowed, and at p = 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic l-methionine. We integrated these results in an iterative algorithm using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for methioninium chloride {H₂Met⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and for sodium methioninate {Na⁺Met⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. Values are given for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous l-methionine as functions of T and m.     

Synthesis,structural characterizations,spectroscopic and magnetic properties of MnII and MnIII complexes with an unprecedented bridging coordination mode of 2-salicylichydrazono-1,3-dithiolane ligand

Two new complexes [Mn^III(HL)₂(acac)] and [Mn^II(HL)₂]_n have been obtained by reacting manganese(III) acetylacetonate monohydrate or manganese(II) chloride monohydrate with 2-salicylichydrazono-1,3-dithiolane ligand (H₂L). Both compounds have been fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. In the solid state, the molecular packing are described and discussed in term of weak H-bonds and short contacts. The unprecedented bridging coordination mode of this ligand lead to the first 2-salicylichydrazono-1,3-dithiolane-bridged coordination polymer [Mn^II(HL)₂]_n. The EPR spectrum of this compound was obtained with g ≈ 2.07, corresponding to a manganese ion (+II) in octahedral high-spin coordination sphere. The Mn^II complex exhibit paramagnetic behavior corresponding to quasi-isolated metal centers.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous glycine at temperatures from 278.15 to 393.15 K,molalities from 0 to 1.0 mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of glycine,glycinium chloride,and sodium glycinate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of glycine, glycine plus equimolal HCl, and glycine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, molalities 0.01 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at p = 0.35 MPa, using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a fixed-cell differential scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values of V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), NaCl(aq) from the literature to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic glycine. We then integrated this value of Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) in an iterative algorithm, using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on the observed V_ϕ and C_p,ϕ of the solutions. This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for glycinium chloride {H₂Gly⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and sodium glycinate {Na⁺Gly⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. We have then calculated values of Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, Δ_rV_m, and pQ_a for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous glycine as functions of T and m.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous alanine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.0075 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of alanine,alaninium chloride,and sodium alaninate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of alanine, alanine plus equimolal HCl, and alanine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.0075 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at the pressure p = 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic alanine. We integrated these results in an iterative algorithm using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for alaninium chloride {H₂Ala⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and for sodium alaninate {Na⁺Ala⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. Values are given for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous alanine as functions of T and m.     

Measurement and correlation of the ( p, ρ, T) relation of sulphur hexafluoride (SF 6). II. Saturated-liquid and saturated-vapour densities and vapour pressures along the entire coexistence curve

Comprehensive and accurate measurements of the saturated-liquid and saturated-vapour densities together with the vapour pressure of pure sulphur hexafluoride were carried out from the temperature T =  224 K (triple-point temperature T_t =  223.555 K) to 0.033 K below the critical temperature ( T_c =  318.723 K). Typical values of the total uncertainties of the measurements are: ⩽ ± 0.01 percent for the vapour pressures,⩽ ± 0.015 percent for the saturated-liquid densities, and⩽ ± 0.016 percent for the saturated-vapour densities. The values for the critical density and the critical pressure ( ρ_c =  742.26 kg · m ^− 3, p_c =  3.7550 MPa) and the isothermal compressibilities in the critical region close to the phase boundary have also been determined from these measurements. Comparisons with experimental results of previous workers are presented. Using the new values of this work, new correlation equations for the vapour pressure, the saturated-liquid density, and the saturated-vapour density have been established.     

Optical absorption and EPR studies on tenorite mineral

Optical absorption and EPR studies of the mineral tenorite, a cupric oxide which originated from Mexico and contains 54.40 wt% of CuO. EPR spectral results indicate two Cu(II) closely interacting ions to give a d² type structure. The calculated spin Hamiltonian at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature is g = 2.160 and D = 125 G. The intensity of resonance line is not the same in low and high field regions. The optical absorption spectrum is due to Cu(II) in which three sets of energies indicating Cu(II) in two independent tetragonal C_4v symmetry, in addition to d² structure of octahedral coordination. The octahedral and tetragonal field parameters are compared with those reported for several other copper containing minerals.     

Thermodynamics of binary and ternary interactions in the tin(II)/phytate system in aqueous solutions,in the presence of Cl− or F−

An extensive study of the tin(II)/phytate (Phy) system was carried out in NaNO_3(aq), at different ionic strengths (0.10 ⩽ I/mol · L⁻¹ ⩽ 1.00) and temperatures (278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 328.15), by potentiometric and voltammetric techniques. The stability and formation enthalpy changes of six SnH_qPhy species were determined. To better characterise this system, some potentiometric titrations were also carried out in mixed ionic media (NaNO_3(aq) + NaCl_(aq) and NaNO_3(aq) + NaF_(aq)) at total ionic strength I = 1.00 mol · L⁻¹. The formation of some ternary mixed SnH_qPhyCl and SnH_qPhyF species (charges omitted for simplicity) was found. The formation enthalpies of the complex species were calculated, at I = 0.40 mol · L⁻¹ in NaNO_3(aq), by the dependence of stability constants on temperature obtained by potentiometric titrations, in the range 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 328.15. The complex formation process is endothermic, and the main contribution to tin(II) complexation by phytate is entropic in nature. For example, for the SnPhy species we have, at T = 298.15 K and I = 0.40 mol · L⁻¹ in NaNO_3(aq): ΔH = 57.7 ± 2.8 kJ mol · L⁻¹, ΔG = −99.9 ± 1.7 kJ mol · L⁻¹, and TΔS = 158 ± 3 kJ mol · L⁻¹. The ionic strength dependence of the formation constants of the simple tin(II)/phytate species, was modelled by the Debye–Hückel and the SIT approaches. The sequestering ability of phytate towards tin(II) was evaluated by calculating the pL_0.5 values (i.e., the total ligand concentration necessary to bind 50% of cation present in trace) at different ionic strengths, ionic media, and pH. The sequestering ability increases with increasing the pH, whilst it decreases with increasing the ionic strength (the same behaviour shown by the stability constants). Moreover, taking into account the different sequestering ability of phytate towards tin(II) in the different ionic media, the trend: pL_0.5 = 5.70 (in NaNO_3(aq) + NaF_(aq)) > pL_0.5 = 5.16 (in NaNO_3(aq) + NaCl_(aq)) > pL_0.5 = 4.86 (in NaNO_3(aq)) was observed at pH 8.1 and I = 1.00 mol · L⁻¹. This is due to the presence of a second ligand (Cl⁻ or F⁻) that stabilizes the complex species with the formation of ternary complex species. Some empirical relationships were also found.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous serine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.01 up to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of serine,serinium chloride,and sodium serinate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of serine, serine plus equimolal HCl, and serine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, molalities 0.01 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at the pressure p = 0.35 MPa, using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T,m) and C_p,ϕ(T,m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T,m) for ionization of water to calculate Δ_rC_p,m(T,m) for proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic serine and from the zwitterionic form. We integrated these results in an iterative algorithm using Young’s rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on the observed V_ϕ(T,m) and C_p,ϕ(T,m) of the solutions. This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T,m) and C_p,ϕ(T,m) for serinium chloride {H₂Ser⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and for sodium serinate {Na⁺Gly⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. We have then calculated Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, Δ_rV_m and pQ_a for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous serine as functions of T and m.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous threonine and isoleucine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.01 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of zwitterionic,protonated cationic,and deprotonated anionic forms

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of isoleucine, threonine, and equimolal solutions of these two amino acids with HCl and with NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.01 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from each of the protonated aqueous cationic amino acids. We used Young’s Rule and integrated these results iteratively to account for the effects of equilibrium speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure gave parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for threoninium and isoleucinium chloride and for sodium threoninate and isoleucinate which modeled our observed results within experimental uncertainties. We report values for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous threonine and isoleucine as functions of T and m.     

New power source from fractional quantum energy levels of atomic hydrogen that surpasses internal combustion

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectroscopy was recorded on microwave discharges of helium with 2% hydrogen. Novel emission lines were observed with energies of q·13.6 eV where q=1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9, or 11 or these lines inelastically scattered by helium atoms wherein 21.2 eV was absorbed in the excitation of He (1s²) to He (1s¹2p¹). These lines were identified as hydrogen transitions to electronic energy levels below the ‘ground’ state corresponding to fractional quantum numbers. Significant line broadening corresponding to an average hydrogen atom temperature of 33–38 eV was observed for helium–hydrogen discharge plasmas; whereas pure hydrogen showed no excessive broadening corresponding to an average hydrogen atom temperature of ≈3 eV. Since a significant increase in H temperature was observed with helium–hydrogen discharge plasmas, and energetic hydrino lines were observed at short wavelengths in the corresponding microwave plasmas that required a very significant reaction rate due to low photon detection efficiency in this region, the power balance was measured on the helium–hydrogen microwave plasmas. With a microwave input power of 30 W, the thermal output power was measured to be at least 300 W corresponding to a reactor temperature rise from room temperature to 900 °C within 90 s, a power density of 30 MW/m³, and an energy balance of about −4×10⁵ kJ/mol H₂ compared to the enthalpy of combustion of hydrogen of −241.8 kJ/mol H₂.     

Synthesis,structures and magnetic properties of two hexanuclear complexes

The reaction of salicylaldoxime (H₂salox) with Mn(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, NaN(CN)₂ and NEt₃ in MeOH affords a Mn^III₆ hexanuclear complex of [Mn₆O₂(salox)₆(MeOH)₆(NCNCONH₂)₂] (1), while reaction of H₂salox with MnCl₂ · 4H₂O and NEt₄OH in EtOH affords a Mn^III₆ hexanuclear complex of [Mn₆O₂(salox)₆(EtOH)₄(H₂O)₂Cl₂] (2). Both complexes 1 and 2 contain a [Mn^III₆(μ₃-O)₂]¹⁴⁺ core, which is a known structural type in the family of Mn₆ complexes. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibilities and magnetization measurement of complexes 1 and 2 have been carried out. Exchange interactions of metal centers for complexes 1 and 2 are fitted by a full diagonalization matrix method. The fitting results indicate that both complexes 1 and 2 have the ground-state spin value of S = 4, and the ground state of complex 1 has the much closer energy to low-lying spin states than that of complex 2. Magnetization measurements at 2.0–4.0 K and 10–70 kG confirm that the ground state is S = 4, with significant magnetoanisotropy as gauged by the D value of ?0.82 cm^?1 and ?1.18 cm^?1, for 1 and 2, respectively. The frequency dependence of the out-of-phase component in alternating current magnetic susceptibilities for both complexes 1 and 2 indicates the slow magnetic relaxation of superparamagnetic behaviour with a U_eff of 27.0(1) K and τ₀ = 3.8(2) × 10^?9 s for complex 1, and U_eff of 25.1(6) K and τ₀ = 4.6(1) × 10^?8 s for complex 2.     

Spectral and physico-chemical investigations of novel homo-dinuclear di-μ2-alkoxo bridged Schiff base complexes: 57Fe Mössbauer parameters of the Fe(III) complex

Spectral and molecular model computations on homo-dinuclear complexes [M₂L₂(H₂O)₂Cl₂] [L = 1-(salicylaldeneamino)-3-hydroxypropane, M = Cr³⁺, Mn³⁺, Fe³⁺, Co³⁺, Ni³⁺ or Cu³⁺] are consistent with a distorted hexa-coordinate geometry. X-band EPR spectral data indicated a rhombic distortion around Cu(II) ion. Magnetic moment and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer data confirmed a high-spin state electronic configuration (t_2g³e_g², S = 5/2) and asymmetric ligand environment around Fe(III) with nuclear transitions Fe(±3/2 → 1/2) exhibiting Kramer's double degeneracy. The neighboring Fe(III) nuclei in the homo-dinuclear species are antiferromagnetically coupled.     

Viscosity of (ethane-1,2-diol + 1,2-dimethoxyethane + water) at temperatures from 263.15 K to 353.15 K

The kinematic viscosity ν for (ethane-1,2-diol  +  1,2-dimethoxyethane  +  water) was measured at 14 different ternary compositions covering the whole miscibility field, and at 19 temperatures in the range 263.15 ⩽T /  K ⩽ 353.15. The experimental values were fitted using empirical equations of the type ν = ν (T) and ν = ν (x_i), respectively, in order to provide reliable models to account for the behaviour of the system. The excess kinematic viscosity ν^Ehas been determined and interpreted in terms of the type and nature of the interactions among the components of the mixture. Using the experimental ν data, the thermodynamic properties ( ΔG ^* , ΔH ^* ,ΔS ^*  ) of the viscous flow have been obtained from the Eyring’s approach and standard thermodynamic equations. Furthermore, excess mixing functions, such asΔG ^* E , have been determined, and found to evidence the existence of quite strong specific interactions among the components, probably due to the formation of hydrogen bonds and dipolar networks. However, all the calculated excess mixing properties suggest the absence of stable three-component adducts.     

Lithium–manganese–nickel-oxide electrodes with integrated layered–spinel structures for lithium batteries

A series of lithium–manganese–nickel-oxide compositions that can be represented in three-component notation, xLi[Mn_1.5Ni_0.5]O₄ · (1 − x){Li₂MnO₃ · Li(Mn_0.5Ni_0.5)O₂}, in which a spinel component, Li[Mn_1.5Ni_0.5]O₄, and two layered components, Li₂MnO₃ and Li(Mn_0.5Ni_0.5)O₂, are structurally integrated in a highly complex manner, have been evaluated as electrodes in lithium cells for x = 1, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25 and 0. In this series of compounds, which is defined by the Li[Mn_1.5Ni_0.5]O₄–{Li₂MnO₃ · Li(Mn_0.5Ni_0.5)O₂} tie-line in the Li[Mn_1.5Ni_0.5]O₄–Li₂MnO₃–Li(Mn_0.5Ni_0.5)O₂ phase diagram, the Mn:Ni ratio in the spinel and the combined layered Li₂MnO₃ · Li(Mn_0.5Ni_0.5)O₂ components is always 3:1. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the end members and the electrochemical profiles of cells with these electrodes are consistent with those expected for the spinel Li[Mn_1.5Ni_0.5]O₄ (x = 1) and for ‘composite’ Li₂MnO₃ · Li(Mn_0.5Ni_0.5)O₂ layered electrode structures (x = 0). Electrodes with intermediate values of x exhibit both spinel and layered character and yield extremely high capacities, reaching more than 250 mA h/g with good cycling stability between 2.0 V and 4.95 V vs. Li° at a current rate of 0.1 mA/cm².