Li NMR in lithium borate glasses

In anticipation of using fluctuations in the nuclear dipolar and quadrupolar interaction as a probe of lithium ion motion in lithium borate glasses, the static values of these interactions were measured using a variety of echo techniques. The static quadrupolar echo spectrum of ⁷Li and a calculation of the dipolar interaction in crystalline Li₂B₄O₇ (same chemical composition as the glass under study) were used to estimate the strength of the two interactions. These indicate that the dipolar and quadrupolar interactions for ⁶Li will be of similar size and the dipolar interaction will be dominated by the unlike spin interaction between the ⁶Li and the ¹⁰B, ¹¹B spins. An appropriate theoretical model is proposed and explicit expressions for the echo amplitude are calculated in terms of the dipolar and quadrupolar second moments. This single spin model takes into account the quadrupolar interaction but treats the dipolar interaction as an effective magnetic field. Experimental results are presented which show the essential validity of the model and measurements lead to reasonable values for the dipolar and quadrupolar second moments. The relative merits of the various echo techniques are discussed.     

6Li NMR in lithium borate glasses

In anticipation of using fluctuations in the nuclear dipolar and quadrupolar interaction as a probe of lithium ion motion in lithium borate glasses, the static values of these interactions were measured using a variety of echo techniques. The static quadrupolar echo spectrum of ⁷Li and a calculation of the dipolar interaction in crystalline Li₂B₄O₇ (same chemical composition as the glass under study) were used to estimate the strength of the two interactions. These indicate that the dipolar and quadrupolar interactions for ⁶Li will be of similar size and the dipolar interaction will be dominated by the unlike spin interaction between the ⁶Li and the ¹⁰B, ¹¹B spins. An appropriate theoretical model is proposed and explicit expressions for the echo amplitude are calculated in terms of the dipolar and quadrupolar second moments. This single spin model takes into account the quadrupolar interaction but treats the dipolar interaction as an effective magnetic field. Experimental results are presented which show the essential validity of the model and measurements lead to reasonable values for the dipolar and quadrupolar second moments. The relative merits of the various echo techniques are discussed.     

Magnetic properties of R4Co3 (R = Gd, Y) compounds as observed by NMR

The zero field spin echo nmr spectrum of Gd₄Co₃ taken at 4.2 K is analysed and discussed on the basis of having magnetic moments of Co atoms at different structural lattice sites. For Y₄Co₃ the spin echo nmr spectrum taken as a function of the external field is discussed and explained on the basis of the coexistence of Co atoms carrying localized magnetic moments and paramagnetic Co atoms in this compound at determined structural sites.     

On the theory of NMR spin echoes in solids

A general expression in terms of two-time correlation functions is derived for the spin echo responses to 90°-τ-β⁰_φ pulse sequences of quadrupolar spins coupled through dipolar interactions. The second moments of the correlation function are calculated for a system of spin one nuclei and shown to be in accordance with the experimental observations. Furthermore, results are presented for the fourth moments.     

Saturation magnetic moments,magnetic hyperfine fields and electric field gradients at nuclei in the heavy rare earth metals

The contributions of 4f, 5d and 6s electrons to the saturation magnetic moments and magnetic hyperfine fields in the heavy rare earth metals are calculated using the model described in the previous paper. It is found that 4f shell moments are reduced from their free ion values by amounts varying from 0.05µ _B in Gd to several tenths of a Bohr magneton in Tb and Dy, in qualitative agreement with a recent published analysis of neutron diffraction results in Tb, but that the calculated total saturation moments in Tb and Dy are slightly larger than commonly accepted experimental values. After 6s contributions to magnetic hyperfine fields are determined by fitting observations in Gd, the predicted differences between the fields for metals and those for free ions are such that the estimated uncertainty ranges of the theoretical values overlap the experimental ranges. The 5d contribution in the model is negative, varying from about –40 kOe in Tb to –200 kOe in Er. Electric field gradients are also analysed. Observed results can be fitted if the average effective Sternheimer screening factorR _d ^* for 5d electrons in the metals satisfies (1 —R _d ^* )0.7.     

Proton NMR of isomorphous paramagnetic and diamagnetic monohydrates MeSO4.1 H2O Me = Mn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ AND Mg2+

Nuclear magnetic resonance of protons of crystallization water in isomorphous paramagnetic and diamagnetic monohydrates MeSO₄. 1 H₂O with Me = Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mg²⁺ is studied in the present paper. Proton NMR spectra in paramagnetic hydrates are asymmetric and their second moments, M₂, depend linearly on the square of the induction of the external magnetic field B₀. NMR spectrum of diamagnetic hydrate MgSO₄. 1 H₂O is symmetric and its shape and the second moment do not change with B₀. The parameters M₂₀ andK which characterize nuclear dipole-dipole interaction of protons and interaction of protons and paramagnetic ions, respectively, are derived from experimentally obtained dependences M₂ vs B ₀ ² and on the other hand, they are calculated by means of crystallographic data for substances studied. Calculations were realized in approximation where two nearest neighbour ions Me²⁺ to each water molecule are considered. The influence of the demagnetizing magnetic field of the sample was neglected.     

An ab initio study of niobium (n = 2--11) clusters: structure, stability and magnetism

The ground-state configurations of the Nbn (n = 2-11) clusters are studied through the first-principles calculations. It is found that niobium clusters (n = 2-11) tend to form compact structures with low symmetry. The clusters with 4, 8 and 10 atoms are found to be magic and have relatively large highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gaps. The Nbn clusters possess low magnetic moments, which exhibit an odd-even oscillational character. The analyses of calculated electronic density and population of the lowest-energy niobium clusters for n = 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 show that the total magnetic moments of Nbn originate mainly from a few Nb atoms with longer spacings between them in most cases, while they are located on two Nb atoms for n = 2, 3, 5. The total magnetic moments come mainly from the 4d local moments but with the exception of the Nb5 cluster.     

Solvent Effect on Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Three Biologically Active Carboxamides (C<Subscript>1</Subscript>, C<Subscript>2</Subscript> and C<Subscript>3</Subscript>). Estimation of Ground and Excited State Dipole Moment from Solvatochromic Method Using Solvent Polarity Parameters

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of three Carboxamides namely (E)-2-(4-Chlorobenzylideneamino)-N-(2-chlorophenyl)-4, 5, 6, 7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxamide (C₁), (E)-N-(3-Chlorophenyl)-2-(3, 4-dimethoxybenzylideneamino)-4, 5, 6, 7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxamide (C₂) and (E)-N-(3-Chlorophenyl)-2-(3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzylideneamino)-4, 5, 6, 7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene-3-carboxamide (C₃) have been recorded at room temperature in solvents of different polarities using dielectric constant (ε) and refractive index (n). Experimental ground (μ_g) and excited (μ_e) state dipole moments are estimated by means of solvatochromic shift method and also the excited dipole moments are estimated in combination with ground state dipole moments. It was estimated that dipole moments of the excited state were higher than those of the ground state of all three molecules. Further, the changes in dipole moment (Dm \Delta \mu ) were calculated both from solvatochromic shift method and on the basis of microscopic empirical solvent polarity parameter (E_T^N E_T^N ) and the values are compared.     

A comparison of finite basis set and finite difference Hartree-Fock calculations for the open- shell (X2Σ+) molecules BeF,MgF, CaF and SrF

A comparison is made of the accuracy with which the total electronic energy can be calculated by using either the finite basis set approach (the algebraic approximation) or finite difference methods in calculations employing the restricted Hartree-Fock model for the open-shell ground (X²Σ+) states of the Group Ha fluorides BeF, MgF, CaF and SrF. The convergence of the calculations carried out within the algebraic approximation is monitored by employing systematically constructed basis sets of increasing size. By using two different grids, the accuracy of the finite difference calculations has been estimated to be of the order of 10^?2 μE _h. The average difference between the finite basis set and finite difference total Hartree-Fock energies is 2.75 μE_h. Dipole moments determined within the algebraic approximation are also compared with the corresponding finite difference expectation values.     

Neutron and proton shell closure in the superheavy region via cluster radioactivity in <Superscript>280–314</Superscript>116 isotopes

Based on the concept of cold valley in fission and fusion, the radioactive decay of superheavy^280–314116 nuclei was studied taking Coulomb and proximity potentials as the interacting barrier. It is found that the inclusion of proximity potential does not change the position of minima but minima become deeper which agrees with the earlier findings of Gupta and co-workers. In addition to alpha particle minima, the other deepest minima occur for ⁸Be, ^12,14C clusters. In the fission region two deep regions are found each consisting of several comparable minima, the first region centred on ²⁰⁸Pb and the second is around ¹³²Sn. The cluster decay half-lives and other characteristics are computed for various clusters ranging from alpha particle to ⁷⁰Ni. The computed half-lives for alpha decay match with the experimental values and with the values calculated using Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) systematic. The plots connecting computed Q values and half-lives against neutron number of daughter nuclei were studied for different clusters and it is found that the next neutron shell closures occur at N = 162, 172 and 184. Isotopic and isobaric mass parabolas are studied for various cluster emissions and minima of parabola indicate neutron shell closure at N = 162, 184 and proton shell closure at Z = 114. Our study shows that ₁₆₂²⁷⁶114 is the deformed doubly magic and ₁₈₄²⁹⁸114 is the spherical doubly magic nuclei.      

Combination of magic-echo and single-point imaging techniques for solid-state MRI

Due to reduced molecular motion the transverse relaxation timeT ₂ in solid materials is typically shorter by a factor of 10³ to 10⁵ in comparison to those in liquids, resulting in a large intrinsic nuclear magnetic resonance line-width that can be well above 20 kHz. Therefore high-resolution solid-state magnetic resonance imaging requires either very strong gradients or special line-narrowing techniques. Single-point imaging (SPI) is a successful pure phase encoding sequence in imaging soft-solid materials; however, when used to study rigid solid materials it still suffers from a very long acquisition time and large gradients. On the other hand, magic echo is a technique that can be used to effectively refocus dipolar interaction, thus achieving a line narrowing. Therefore, the aim of this work is to improve the signal intensity with the combination of the magic echo technique and the SPI sequence. In this paper first applications and a comparison of the SPI sequence with a combination of the magic echo and the SPI sequence to image structures of solid-state materials are presented.     

NMR-analysis of the conduction electron polarization at the gadolinium site in ferromagnetic intermetallic compounds

We have studied the zero field spin echo NMR of ¹⁵⁵Gd, ¹⁵⁷Gd, ¹³⁹La, ¹⁹¹Ir and ¹⁹³Ir in the compounds Gd_xLa_1-x Ir₂ and Gd_xY_1-xIr₂. The ¹³⁹La resonance in particular proved useful as probe for the contribution (H_N) of the hyperfine field at the Gd site in GdIr₂ which is due to the polarizing influence of all the other Gd moments in the lattice. In GdIr₂ the contribution H_N was found to be positive; it is due for about 56% to the four nearest neighbour atoms. The part of H_N coming from the second and third nearest neighbour atoms has the same sign (positive) as that of the nearest neighbours. We show how the varying magnitude and sign of H_N in intermetallic compounds of Gd can be used to estimate the relative importance of 5d electrons in the indirect coupling of the localized rare-earth moments.     

A systematic investigation of the geometries,electronic and magnetic properties of AlnAsq (q = −1, 0, +1; n = 1–16) clusters: a DFT calculation

The geometries, electronic and magnetic properties of Al_nAs^q (q = ?1, 0, +1; n = 1–16) clusters have been investigated systematically by using an unbiased CALYPSO structure searching method and density functional theory. The lowest energy structures show that the As atom prefers to occupy the peripheral position of Al_n+1 clusters instead of the endohedral position. For cationic and neutral clusters, the structural transition from bilayer-like structure to cage-like structure is observed at cluster size n = 12, while it occurs at n = 13 for anionic clusters. The calculated detachment energies (DEs), ionisation potentials (IPs) and electronic affinities (EAs) are consistent with the available experimental and theoretical results for small clusters, indicating that the calculated lowest energy structures are reliable. Furthermore, the DE, EA and IP values for cluster size n ≥ 6 are successfully predicted. A stability analysis shows that Al₅As and Al₁₂As⁺ clusters have relatively large HOMO–LUMO energy gaps, corresponding to the magic numbers of 20 and 40 valence electrons, respectively.     

Polarization and energy barriers in ferroelectric pyridinium tetrafluoroborate

Measurements of the ¹H and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) second moments were performed for a polycrystalline sample of (PyH)BF₄, whereas the shape of the ²H NMR line was analysed for a polycrystalline sample of (d₅PyH)BF₄. Asymmetry parameter δ has been calculated for four models of pyridinium cation reorientation among inequivalent potential energy minima, using the experimental value of the ¹H NMR second moment as well as the ²H NMR line width. From knowledge of the potential shape and the population of its minima, the temperature dependence of polarization for all the models has been found. From the comparison of the experimentally determined polarization with the calculated polarization, the most appropriate model of the pyridinium cation reorientation has been chosen.     

Theoretical calculation of the dipole moment function of the aΠ state of NO

The potential energy curve and theoretical dipole moment function of the a⁴Π state of NO have been determined using full-valence and first-order configuration interaction wavefunctions. Using these two different wavefunctions, the dipole moments of the a⁴Π, v = 3 level have been found equal, respectively, to 0.16 D and 0.30 D, with the polarity N⁺O⁻. These values compare well with the value of |0.20 ± 0.04| D determined by Lisy and Klemperer. The first derivative of the dipole moment has also been calculated to be equal to 1.25–1.73 D/bohr.     

Crystalline Al1 − x Ti x phases in the hydrogen cycled NaAlH4 + 0.02TiCl3 system

The hydrogen (H) cycled planetary milled (PM) NaAlH₄?+?0.02TiCl₃ system has been studied by high resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy during the first 10?H cycles. After the first H absorption, we observe the formation of four nanoscopic crystalline (c-) Ti-containing phases embedded on the NaAlH₄ surface, i.e. Al₂Ti, Al₃Ti, Al₈₂Ti₁₈ and Al₈₉Ti₁₁, with 100% of the originally added Ti atoms accounted for. Al₂Ti and Al₃Ti are observed morphologically as a mechanical couple on the NaAlH₄ surface, with a moderately strained interface. Electron diffraction shows that the Al₈₂Ti₁₈ phase retains some ordering from the L1₂ structure type, with the observation of forbidden (100) ordering reflections in the fcc Al₈₂Ti₁₈ lattice. After 2?H cycles the NaAlH₄?+?0.02TiCl₃ system displays only two crystalline Ti-containing phases, Al₃Ti and Al₈₉Ti₁₁. After 10?H cycles, the Al₈₉Ti₁₁ is completely converted to Al₈₅Ti_15. Al₈₉Ti₁₁, Al₈₅Ti₁₅ and Al₃Ti do not display any ordering reflections, and they are modeled in the A1 structure type. Quantitative phase analysis indicates that the Al₃Ti proportion continues to increase with further H cycles. The formation of Ti-poor Al_{1??? x} Ti _x (x?<?0.25) phases in later H cycles is detrimental to hydrogenation kinetics, compared to the starting Ti-richer near-surface Al₂Ti/NaAlH₄ interface present during the first absorption of hydrogen.     

Al Multiple-Quantum MAS NMR of Mechanically Treated Bayerite (α-Al(OH)3) and Silica Mixtures

Two-dimensional ²⁷Al multiple-quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) NMR experiments are used to study mixtures of bayerite (α-Al(OH)₃) with either silicic acid (SiO₂.nH₂O) or silica gel (SiO₂) that have been ground together for varying lengths of time. This mechanical treatment produces changes in the ²⁷Al MAS and MQMAS NMR spectra that correspond to the formation of new Al species. Mean values of the quadrupolar interaction (P_Q) and isotropic chemical shift (δ_CS) are extracted from the two-dimensional ²⁷Al NMR spectra for each of these species. The presence of significant distributions of both ²⁷Al quadrupolar and chemical shift parameters is demonstrated and the effect of grinding duration on the magnitudes of these distributions is discussed.     

A comparison of finite basis set and finite difference Hartree—Fock calculations for the open-shell (X 2Σ+) molecules BaF and YbF

A comparison is made of the accuracy with which the total electronic energy can be calculated by using the finite basis set approach (the algebraic approximation) and the finite difference method in calculations employing the Hartree—Fock model for the open shell ground (X ²Σ⁺) states of the fluorides BaF and YbF. The convergence of the calculations carried out within the algebraic approximation is monitored by employing systematically constructed basis sets of increasing size. The difference between the finite basis set and finite difference Hartree—Fock energies is 2.6μE _h for BaF and 2.8μE _h for YbF. Dipole moments determined within the algebraic approximation are also compared with the corresponding finite difference expectation values.     

Solvatochromic Effect on the Photophysical Properties of Two Coumarins

The absorption and emission spectra of two coumarins namely 7, 8 benzo-4-azidomethyl coumarin (C₁) and 6-methoxy-4-azidomethyl coumarin (C₂) have been recorded at room temperature in solvents of different polarities. The ground state dipole moments (μ _g ) of two coumarins were determined experimentally by Guggenheim method. The exited state (μ _e ) dipole moments were estimated from Lippert’s, Bakhshievs and Chamma-Viallet’s equations by using the variation of Stoke’s shift with the solvent dielectric constant and refractive index. The ground and excited state dipole moments were calculated by means of solvatochromic shift method and also the excited state dipole moments are determined in combination with ground state dipole moments. It was observed that dipole moments of excited state were higher than those of the ground state, indicating a substantial redistribution of the π-electron densities in a more polar excited state for two coumarins.     

Homonuclear vanadium-51 dipolar couplings in inorganic solids obtained via hahn spin echo decay NMR spectroscopy

Dipolar dephasing of the magnetization following a Hahn spin echo pulse sequence potentially provides a quantitative means for determining the dipolar second moment in solids. In this work, the possibility of employing Hahn spin echo decay spectroscopy to obtain quantitative ⁵¹V–⁵¹V dipolar second moments is explored. Theoretical spin echo response curves are compared to experimental ones for a collection of crystalline vanadium-containing compounds. This work suggests that ⁵¹V dipolar second moments can be obtained by selectively exciting the central m = 1/2 → −1/2 by a Hahn echo sequence for vanadate compounds with line broadening no greater than approximately 220 ppm. For vanadates with greater broadening of the central transition due to chemical shift, second-order quadrupolar, and dipolar interactions, off-resonance effects lead to an oscillatory time dependence of the spin echo. Experimentally determined second moments of the normalized echo decay intensities lie within 10–33% of the calculated values if the second moments are extrapolated to zero evolution time due to the time scale dependence of spin exchange among neighboring vanadium nuclei. Alternatively, the second moments can be obtained to within 10–25% of the calculated values if the broadening of the central transition due to chemical shift and second-order quadrupolar effects can be estimated.