Trends in the cation distribution in the structures of the compounds forming in the Ln<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-GeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> systems

The cationic networks in the structures of the initial oxides and all binary and ternary compounds forming in the Ln₂O₃-GeO₂-P₂O₅ systems have been studied. In the phase diagrams of the Nd₂O₃-GeO₂-P₂O₅ and Er2O₃-GeO₂-P₂O₅ systems, the regions of the structural influence of individual compounds with topologically identical cationic networks—anisotropic (A), combined (C), and isotropic (I)—are united into common areas. The A: C: I area ratio is 1: 1: 1 in the neodymium system and 1.7: 1: 3.4 in the erbium system.     

Effect of the phase composition of the starting mixture on the formation of the layered perovskite-like compound Bi<Subscript>7</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>21</Subscript>

The effect of the phase composition of the starting mixture on the formation of the layered perovskite-like compound Bi₇Fe₃Ti₃O₂₁ in the Bi₂O₃-TiO₂-Fe₂O₃ system is reported. The rate-limiting process in the formation of this compound is reactant mass transfer to the reaction zone.     

Mechanism of the nanocrystals formation of the spinel structure in the MgO-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system under the hydrothermal conditions

Using the method of hydrothermal synthesis,the nanoparticles of magnesium-aluminum spinel were obtained with a crystallite size of 40–50 nm. The sequence was determined of the chemical transformations under hydrothermal conditions of the initial magnesium-aluminum hydroxides obtained by co-precipitation, leading to the formation of nanoparticles MgAl₂O₄.     

Phase relations in the CaO-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system in the subsolidus region

Phase relations in the CaO-Bi₂O₃-B₂O₃ system have been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction and differential thermal analyses, and the isothermal section at 600°C has been constructed. The formation of ternary compounds at the component ratios 1CaO: 1Bi₂O₃: 1B₂O₃ (CaBi₂B₂O₇) and 1CaO: 1Bi₂O₃: 2B₂O₃ (CaBi₂B₄O₁₀) has been established X-ray diffraction characteristics of these phases are presented.     

Specific features of the thermodynamics of activation in the LaNi<Subscript>5</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CeNi<Subscript>5</Subscript>-H<Subscript>2</Subscript> systems

Using heat conducting Tian—Calvet calorimetry and volumetric measurements, the first hydrogen absorption—desorption cycles in the LaNi₅-H₂ and CeNi₅-H₂ systems were studied. The pressure—composition isotherms were plotted, the equilibrium pressures of hydrogen along the absorption and desorption branches and in the region of hysteresis for different activation steps were determined, and the enthalpies of phase transitions α → β and β → α were calculated. The profiles of the heat evolution curves were analyzed. It was concluded that the mechanism of the reactions studied changes upon activation.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 134–139, January, 2005.     

Theoretical study of the structure of the C<Subscript>60</Subscript>@C<Subscript>450</Subscript> nanoparticle and relative motion of the encapsulated C<Subscript>60</Subscript> molecule

The equilibrium state of the C₆₀@C₄₅₀ nanoparticle was studied. The compound was found to be stable during the encapsulation of C₆₀ tubelene. The motions of tubelene in the confinement potential field of a closed C₄₅₀ nanotube, namely, the translational motion along the tubule axis and the rotational motion were investigated in detail. It is predicted that there is a nanogyroscope inside C₄₅₀, rotating in the field of the C₆₀ capsule. Its quantized rotational states were calculated. The nanoparticle structure and energy were investigated by the tight binding method using modified parameters.     

Effect of the modifier ion on the properties of MgFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> and ZnFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> pigments

Magnesium and zinc ferrites have been prepared by the polymeric precursor method. The organic material decomposition was studied by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The variation of crystalline phases and particle morphology with calcination temperature were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), respectively. The colors of the ferrites were evaluated using colorimetry. Magnesium ferrite crystallizes above 800°C, presenting a yellow- orange color with a reflectance peak at the 600–650 nm range, while zinc ferrite crystallizes at 600°C, with a reflectance peak between 650–700 nm, corresponding to the red-brick color.     

Effect of the Side‐Chain‐Distribution Density on the Single‐Conjugated‐Polymer‐Chain Conformation

The spatial arrangement of the side chains of conjugated polymer backbones has critical effects on the morphology and electronic and photophysical properties of the corresponding bulk films. The effect of the side‐chain‐distribution density on the conformation at the isolated single‐polymer‐chain level was investigated with regiorandom (rra‐) poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly(3‐hexyl‐2,5‐thienylene vinylene) (P3HTV). Although pure P3HTV films are known to have low fluorescence quantum efficiencies, we observed a considerable increase in fluorescence intensity by dispersing P3HTV in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), which enabled a single‐molecule spectroscopy investigation. With single‐molecule fluorescence excitation polarization spectroscopy, we found that rra‐P3HTV single molecules form highly ordered conformations. In contrast, rra‐P3HT single molecules, display a wide variety of different conformations from isotropic to highly ordered, were observed. The experimental results are supported by extensive molecular dynamics simulations, which reveal that the reduced side‐chain‐distribution density, that is, the spaced‐out side‐chain substitution pattern, in rra‐P3HTV favors more ordered conformations compared to rra‐P3HT. Our results demonstrate that the distribution of side chains strongly affects the polymer‐chain conformation, even at the single‐molecule level, an aspect that has important implications when interpreting the macroscopic interchain packing structure exhibited by bulk polymer films.     

Estimating the activation energy of the displacement of Mg atoms in the channels of B<Subscript>25</Subscript>C<Subscript>4</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>1.42</Subscript> crystals

The activation energy of displacement of Mg atoms through channels of B₂₅C₄Mg_1.42 crystals is estimated using quantum chemical calculations (DFT (B3LYP potential), RHF, and UHF methods, 3-21G basis set) of the element of the structure modeling the channel and location of Mg atoms in it. The changes in the activation energy at the replacement of Mg atoms by Na and Li atoms were estimated. The greatest decreasing in the activation energy was detected for Li atoms. The obtained results can be regarded as a theoretical background for development of conducting systems based on B₂₅C₄Mg_1.42 crystals.     

Projection of the liquidus surface of the Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Gd<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

Phase equilibria in the Sb₂Te₃-Gd₂Te₃-Bi₂Te₃ ternary system have been studied using differential thermal analysis, namely, X-ray powder diffraction, microstructure examination, thermodynamic analysis, and microhardness and alloy density measurements. Phase diagrams of some polythermal joins and liquidus surface have been constructed. The regions of primary crystallization of phases and the coordinates of all invariant and univariant equilibria in the system under investigation have been established.     

Application of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript>-NAA method at the HANARO research reactor

The k ₀-standardization method (k ₀-NAA) is known as one of the most remarkable progresses of the NAA with its many advantages. For the application of k ₀-NAA method at the NAA #1 irradiation position where the neutrons are well thermalized in the HANARO research reactor, KAERI, Korea, the determination of the reactor neutron spectrum parameters such as α and f have been carried out. The measured values of α and f using the “Cd-ratio” triple monitor method were 0.127±0.022 and 1010±70, respectively. To evaluate the applicability of k ₀-NAA in our analytical system, the analysis of three kinds of SRMs was executed. The analytical results showed that the relative error of most of the elements was less than 10% and the U-scores were within 2. It is turned out that the procedure of the k ₀-NAA in the HANARO research reactor is available for a practical application in the environmental fields.     

EPR study of the nature of the impurity centers responsible for the scintillation properties of the Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal

The binary molybdate Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ of a new crystal type was characterized by EPR, optical spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction methods. The crystals have the Pnma symmetry group and the lattice parameters a = 5.1139(5) Å, b = 10.4926(13) Å, c = 17.6445(22) Å; Z = 4. The crystals possess scintillation properties; emission is caused by the presence of impurity levels in the forbidden band. The EPR studies of the nature of the impurity centers responsible for the scintillation characteristics of the crystal showed that the centers were Cu²⁺ ions substituted for zinc ions in the oxygen octahedra. The directions of the main values of the g and tensors (g _zz , A _zz ) correspond to the direction of O-Cu-O of the oxygen octahedron distorted along the Z axis. The EPR spectra of the copper ions are described by the spin Hamiltonian with the parameters g _‖ = 2.38, g _⊥ = 2.06; A _‖ = 116 G, A _⊥ = 0 G.     

Conformational structure of the tetrapeptide Boc–Aib–Leu–Leu–Aib–OMe–the central fragment of the nonapeptide antibiotic leucinostatin A

The conformational structure of the tetrapeptide Boc–Aib–Leu–Leu–Aib–OMe has been investigated by the PCILO method. The computational results show the formation of two closed β-turns, both of which are of type III, and the peptide backbone folds into a right-handed 3₁₀-helical conformation stabilized by two intramolecular 4 → 1 hydrogen bonds. The helix thus formed generates a pore of ～3 Å along helix axis with hydrophobic amino acid side chains located on the outside of the helix, and this tendency of leucine side chains may enable leucinostatin A to fit into the membrane bilayer. The pore thus formed is cation-selective, and through this pore, the cation can pass only in a single file.     

Changes in the local symmetry of the ReO<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> anion near the melting point of alkali metal perrhenates

Raman spectra of alkali metal perrhenates in the vicinity of the crystal-melt phase transition have been studied. A premelting region characterized by high-temperature activation of the reorientational mobility of perrhenate ions has been revealed.     

Isotope effect in the hydrogen distribution in the solid solution TiN<Subscript>0.40</Subscript>H<Subscript>0.19</Subscript>D<Subscript>0.19</Subscript>

The structure of a solid solution with a combined isotope composition based on TiN_0.40H_0.19D_0.19 (space group \(P\overline 3 m1\)) has been studied by neutron diffraction. The isotope effect in the distribution of H and D isotopes has been found: the isotopes are located in tetrahedral interstices of the same type but with different z coordinates; there is splitting of 2d tetrahedral interstices into two groups, the protium (H) and deuterium (D). Therefore, in the ordered “layered” structure of the TiN_0.40H_0.19D_0.19 solid solution, two different isotopes of the same element cannot be located at the same plane perpendicular to the threefold axis. The crystal-chemical analysis of the surroundings of H and D has been performed, and considerable differences have been revealed between the coordination polyhedra surrounding different hydrogen isotopes. It has been found that, in some metal-hydrogen systems, protium and deuterium should be treated as independent chemical components.     

Effect of the alloying component MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on the type of V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> electrocrystallization

The methods of polarization curves E-log I _a and atomic-force microscopy were used to study the mechanisms by which the alloying component MnO₂ affects the electrocrystallization of V₂O₅ in electrolysis from mixed solutions of salts of these metals.     

Chemical assembly of the heteronuclear pivalate complex with the Li<Superscript>I</Superscript> and Fe<Superscript>III</Superscript> ions

The heteronuclear complex [Fe₄Li₂(O)₂(Piv)10(H₂O)₂] (1, Piv is the pivalic acid anion) was obtained by refluxing Fe^III pivalates with Li^I pivalates in toluene and isolated as the 1?PhCH₃ solvate with a toluene molecule. According to X-ray diffraction data, complex 1 contains the {Fe₄Li₂O₂} core. The Mössbauer spectroscopy data indicate that the core comprises para magnetic Fe^III ions in the high-spin state located in the symmetric octahedral environment of oxygen atoms. Thermolysis of 1 studied by simultaneous thermal analysis demonstrated thermal stability of the complex up to 225 °С. The main end product of thermolysis at 600 °С is the mixed oxide LiFe₅O₈.     

Influence of ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on the physicochemical properties of the ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> binary system

A series of ZrO₂-TiO₂ mixed oxides with different weight ratios (5, 20, and 30% ZrO₂) were prepared by wet impregnation of TiO₂-P25 Degussa with certain amounts of ZrO(NO₃)₂·6H₂O (Fluka) dissolved in deionised water. The samples were characterized by the XRD, , , , and BET methods. An increase in ZrO₂ content shifted the phase transition temperature (anatase into rutile) toward higher temperatures. X-ray diffraction using an Anton Paar XRK900 reactor chamber indicated that, in the case of samples containing ZrO₂, an additional diffraction peak appeared after cooling down to 25°C. This peak could be attributed to a polymorph of TiO₂ such as in the single crystal of anatase or hexagonal form of TiO₂ which appears in the presence of ZrO₂. Generally, the preparation of dioxide systems can modify the properties of pure compounds or generate new catalytic sites as a result of strong interaction between ZrO₂ and TiO₂ oxides. The binary systems exhibit advantages like strong acidity, extended specific surface area, and high thermal stability in comparison with TiO₂. The article is published in the original.     

Effect of the production temperature on the structure of Si<Subscript>3</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanofibers

The effect of the production temperature on the morphology and structure of Si₃N₄ nanofibers was investigated. It was shown that nanofibers produced in the temperature range of 1340–1360°C are amorphous while those produced at 1380°C and above are monocrystalline. Apart from the principal phase (α-Si₃N₄) the imide Si₂N₂NH was also found in the reaction products.