Unconventional Luminescent Centers in Metastable Phases Created by Topochemical Reduction Reactions

A low‐temperature topochemical reduction strategy is used herein to prepare unconventional phosphors with luminescence covering the biological and/or telecommunications optical windows. This approach is demonstrated by using Bi^III‐doped Y₂O₃ (Y_2?xBi_xO₃) as a model system. Experimental results suggest that topochemical treatment of Y_2?xBi_xO₃ using CaH₂ creates randomly distributed oxygen vacancies in the matrix, resulting in the change of the oxidation states of Bi to lower oxidation states. The change of the Bi coordination environments from the [BiO₆] octahedra in Y_2?xBi_xO₃ to the oxygen‐deficient [BiO_6?z] polyhedra in reduced phases leads to a shift of the emission maximum from the visible to the near‐infrared region. The generality of this approach was further demonstrated with other phosphors. Our findings suggest that this strategy can be used to explore Bi‐doped or other classes of luminescent systems, thus opening up new avenues to develop novel optical materials.     

Scholl-Type Cycloheptatriene Ring Closure of 1,4,9,12-Tetraarylfenestrindanes: Reactivity and Selectivity in the Construction of Fenestrane-Based Polyaromatic Saddles

The Scholl-type cyclodehydrogenation, generating up to four cycloheptatriene rings around a fenestrindane core, leads to novel, saddle-shaped polyaromatic hydrocarbon derivatives. In this article, we present the results of in-depth experimental and computational work on the oxidative cyclization of various 1,4,9,12-tetraarylfenestrindanes. In particular, the kinetic control of the four-step cyclization of the electronically activated tetrakis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) derivative is elucidated. The reasons for the exclusive emergence of one single among the three possible doubly cyclized intermediates and for the nonappearance of the singly and triply cyclized intermediates are clarified. In addition, the origin of the concomitant bridgehead hydroxylation is studied. The reactivity of a set of fifteen symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted 1,4,9,12-tetraarylfenestrindanes towards Scholl-type cyclodehydrogenation is presented, pinpointing the structural factors that underlie this reaction and demonstrating the potential and limitations of this synthetic approach. A particularly surprising finding of this study is that the electronically nonactivated 1,4,9,12-tetraphenylfenestrindane can also undergo the fourfold Scholl-type cyclization process and can be transformed into the parent saddle hydrocarbon.     

The Topochemical Pseudomorphosis of a Chloride into a Bismuthide

The heterogeneous reaction of crystals of the novel intermetallic subhalide Bi₁₂Rh₃Cl₂ with a solution of n‐butyllithium at 70 °C led to the complete topochemical exchange of chloride ions for bismuth atoms, that is, the transformation into the isostructural metastable intermetallic superconductor Bi₁₄Rh₃. The crystals underwent the reductive pseudomorphosis almost unchanged except some fissures perpendicular to the a‐axis. Detailed inspections of the transformed crystals by electron microscopy indicated no volume defects that would indicate internal chemical reactions. Thus, extensive mass transport must have occurred through the seemingly dense crystal structure. An efficient transport mechanism, based on an unusual breathing mode of the three‐dimensional network formed by edge‐sharing [RhBi₈] cubes and antiprisms, is proposed. The replacement of ionic interaction in the chloride by metallic bonding in the binary intermetallic compound closes the pseudo gap in the density of states at the Fermi level. As a result, the rod‐packing of conducting, yet electrically isolated strands of [RhBi₈] cubes in Bi₁₂Rh₃Cl₂ turns into the three‐dimensional metal Bi₁₄Rh₃.     

二芳基乙烯类酸致变色材料的光机械效应

本文合成了氟代萘乙烯基苯并唑BO1N4F和氟代萘乙烯基苯并噻唑BT1N4F,二者在紫外光照下可发生拓扑[2+2]环加成反应,生成的主产物为β-型二聚体.由于前者的光化学反应效率高于后者,因此,BO1N4F的光二聚反应导致晶体内部产生较大的张力.当累积在棒状晶体中的张力快速释放时,晶体发生爆裂,产生的碎片跳离原位置;当累积在针状晶体中的张力缓慢释放时,晶体发生显著的背光弯曲.此外,光二聚反应将平面形二芳基乙烯分子转化为蝴蝶形环丁烷衍生物,共轭分子的去平面化导致基于二聚体D-BO1N4F的薄膜对三氟乙酸蒸气的检测限低于薄膜BO1N4F.可见,光诱导[2+2]环加成反应不仅能改善二芳基乙烯衍生物在薄膜中的荧光传感性能,而且是分子晶体产生光机械效应的驱动力.     

The characterization of high-tech materials: Perspectives,challenges, trends

From the Stone Age on, developmental periods of mankind carry the names of materials. Materials determine the applicability of key technologies and these are in turn of major significance for the economic success and the social development in modern society. Today's high-tech materials are the consequence of an improved understanding of the structure and composition of matter and of the interplay of microstructure and minor and trace constituents. We can distinguish four basic dimensional structural categories of materials: (a) the atomic structure level; (b) the crystal, glassy or amorphous structural level; (c) the microstructural level; (d) the level of constructions. As an example, these structural levels are described in some detail for graphite, a material used extensively throughout Analytical Chemistry. Decisive differences at the microstructural level result in graphitic materials with very varying properties: polycrystalline electrographite, glassy carbon, and pyrolytic graphite. Examples for the use of these materials in ETAAS are discussed.Structural features together with topochemical and trace chemical characteristics are studied today by a wide variety of analytical instrumentation and methods of modern materials analysis which can be grouped into four categories of techniques: (a) photon probe techniques; (b) electron probe techniques; (c) ion probe techniques; (d) electrical field probes.The most important of those techniques are discussed shortly with respect to their main characteristics as lateral and depth resolution, detection sensitivity, additional bonding or structural information, depth profiling possibilities etc.The constructions are the ultimate level of a materials structure. Structures of microelectronic components reach dimensionally into the domain of microstructure whereas constructions in heavy industry are of meter-ton dimensions. Progress in the use of materials as carriers of information is visualized by a morphological comparison of the sound tracks of conventional records with the information imprinted in optical discs.It is important to conceive materials as dynamic systems with limited lifetime. Fatigue and recrystallization are prominent relevant phenomena which must be studied by microstructural and topochemical methods. Dispersion strengthened microalloys like TZM, HT-molybdenum and NS-tungsten are discussed as examples how materials can be improved with respect to their extended use under extreme conditions. Again, a thorough structural and topochemical characterization was the basis of a successful respective materials development although a multitude of relevant topochemical questions still remain to be solved.Lifetime investigations are an essential tool of materials development as well as quality control. Relevant investigations for various tube materials for ETAAS are discussed.General acronyms in the field of materials science CFC Carbon fibre composite - CMC Ceramic matrix composites - COST Cooperation in science and technology - COST 503 COST-action in the field of powder metallurgy - CVD Chemical vapour deposition - CVI Chemical vapour infiltration - EG Electrographite - GC Glassy carbon - HT-Mo High temperature molybdenum (Mo-microalloy doped with potassium silicate) - JESSI Joint European Submicron Silicon Initiative - MMC Metal matrix composites - MOS Metal oxide semiconductor - NS-W Non-sag tungsten (used for lamp filaments and evaporative metallization techniques) - PACVD Plasma assisted chemical vapour deposition - PG Pyrolytic graphite - PMC Polymeric matrix composites - PVD Physical vapour deposition - TPG Total pyrolytic graphite - TZM Molybdenum base alloy containing 0.5% Ti, 0.08% Zr und 0.025% C - UHP Ultra high purity - VLSI Very large scale integration Analytical technique names AA Activation analysis - AAS Atomic absorption spectrophotometry - AEM Analytical electron microscopy - AES Auger electron spectrometry or atomic emission spectrometry (only used in this work where it is clear that Auger electron spectrometry is not meant) - AFP Atom force probe