Optical and luminescence properties of Dy3+ ions in phosphate based glasses

Phosphate glasses with compositions of 44P₂O₅ + 17K₂O + 9Al₂O₃ + (30 − x)CaF₂ + xDy₂O₃ (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 mol %) were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), optical absorption, emission and decay measurements. The observed absorption bands were analyzed by using the free-ion Hamiltonian (H_FI) model. The Judd–Ofelt (JO) analysis has been performed and the intensity parameters (Ω_λ, λ = 2, 4, 6) were evaluated in order to predict the radiative properties of the excited states. From the emission spectra, the effective band widths (Δλ_eff), stimulated emission cross-sections (σ(λ_p)), yellow to blue (Y/B) intensity ratios and chromaticity color coordinates (x, y) have been determined. The fluorescence decays from the ⁴F_9/2 level of Dy³⁺ ions were measured by monitoring the intense ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2 transition (486 nm). The experimental lifetimes (τ_exp) are found to decrease with the increase of Dy³⁺ ions concentration due to the quenching process. The decay curves are perfectly single exponential at lower concentrations and gradually changes to non-exponential for higher concentrations. The non-exponential decay curves are well fitted to the Inokuti–Hirayama (IH) model for S = 6, which indicates that the energy transfer between the donor and acceptor is of dipole–dipole type. The systematic analysis of revealed that the energy transfer mechanism strongly depends on Dy³⁺ ions concentration and the host glass composition.     

Modeling Diffusion in Foamed Polymer Nanocomposites

Two‐way multicomponent diffusion processes in polymeric nanocomposite foams, where the condensed phase is nanoscopically reinforced with impermeable fillers, are investigated. The diffusion process involves simultaneous outward permeation of the components of the dispersed gas phase and inward diffusion of atmospheric air. The transient variation in thermal conductivity of foam is used as the macroscopic property to track the compositional variations of the dispersed gases due to the diffusion process. In the continuum approach adopted, the unsteady‐state diffusion process is combined with tortuosity theory. The simulations conducted at ambient temperature reveal distinct regimes of diffusion processes in the nanocomposite foams owing to the reduction in the gas‐transport rate induced by nanofillers. Simulations at a higher temperature are also conducted and the predictions are compared with experimentally determined thermal conductivities under accelerated diffusion conditions for polyurethane foams reinforced with clay nanoplatelets of varying individual lamellar dimensions. Intermittent measurements of foam thermal conductivity are performed while the accelerated diffusion proceeded. The predictions under accelerated diffusion conditions show good agreement with experimentally measured thermal conductivities for nanocomposite foams reinforced with low and medium aspect‐ratios fillers. The model shows higher deviations for foams with fillers that have a high aspect ratio.     

Phase Stability and Elastic Properties of Chromium Borides with Various Stoichiometries

Phase stability is important to the application of materials. By first‐principles calculations, we establish the phase stability of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. Moreover, the phases of CrB₃ and CrB₄ have been predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Formation enthalpy–pressure diagrams reveal that the MoB‐type structure is more energetically favorable than the TiI‐type structure for CrB. For CrB₂, the WB₂‐type structure is preferred at zero pressure. The predicted new phase of CrB₃ belongs to the hexagonal P‐6m2 space group and it transforms into an orthorhombic phase as the pressure exceeds 93 GPa. The predicted CrB₄ (space group: Pnnm) phase is more energetically favorable than the previously proposed Immm structure. The mechanical and thermodynamic stabilities of predicted CrB₃ and CrB₄ are verified by the calculated elastic constants and formation enthalpies. The full phonon dispersion calculations confirm the dynamic stability of WB₂‐type CrB₂ and predicted CrB₃. The large shear moduli, large Young’s moduli, low Poisson ratios, and low bulk and shear modulus ratios of CrB₄? PS_C and CrB₄? PS_D indicate that they are potential hard materials. Analyses of Debye temperature, electronic localization function, and electronic structure provide further understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these borides.     

Chlorine‐Enhanced Surface Mobility of Au(100)

Motivated by experimental studies of two‐dimensional Ostwald ripening on Au(100) electrodes in chlorine‐containing electrolytes, we have studied diffusion processes using density functional theory. We find that chlorine has a propensity to temporary form AuCl complexes, which diffuse significantly faster than gold adatoms. With and without chlorine, the lowest activation energy is found for the exchange mechanism. Chlorine furthermore reduces the activation energy for the detachment from kink sites. Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations were performed on the basis of extensive density functional theory calculations. The island‐decay rate obtained from these Monte Carlo simulations, as well as the decay rate obtained from the theoretical activation energies and frequency factors when inserted into analytical solutions for Ostwald ripening, are in agreement with experimental island‐decay rates in chlorine‐containing electrolytes.     

Absolute configuration of Buagafuran:An experimental and theoretical electronic circular dichroism study

Buagafuran is a novel drug candidate derived from natural product.Its absolute configuration has been confirmed by electronic circular dichroism combined with modern quantum-chemical calculation using time-dependent density functional theory.The predicted UV absorbance peak is underestimated by several nanometers compared with the experimental data.The applicability of empirical rule for the C=C-C-O system in Buagafuran has also been discussed.Our results show that electronic circular dichroism could be a useful tool for the absolute configuration assignment of chiral drugs,especially for the oily or semisolid substances,whose crystal structures are impossible to obtain.     

Theoretical Study on the Hydrogen Bonding Interactions in Complexes of 5‐Hydroxytryptamine with Water

The energies, geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of 1:1 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐water (5‐HT‐H₂O) complexes are studied at the MP2/6‐311++G(d,p) level. Natural bond orbital (NBO), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analyses and the localized molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis (LMO‐EDA) were performed to explore the nature of the hydrogen‐bonding interactions in these complexes. Various types of hydrogen bonds (H‐bonds) are formed in these 5‐HT‐H₂O complexes. The intermolecular C4H5^5‐HT···O^w H‐bond in HTW3 is strengthened due to the cooperativity, whereas no such cooperativity is found in the other 5‐HT‐H₂O complexes. H‐bond in which nitrogen atom of amino in 5‐HT acted as proton donors was stronger than other H‐bonds. Our researches show that the hydrogen bonding interaction plays a vital role on the relative stabilities of 5‐HT‐H₂O complexes.     

Ce3+掺杂La2O3的17O固体核磁共振研究

本文用水热共沉淀法制备Ce³⁺掺杂La₂O₃的前驱体,随后在H₂/N₂气氛下用高温煅烧法合成了不同Ce³⁺浓度的掺杂La₂O₃。由于Ce³⁺的掺杂,¹⁷O固体核磁共振谱图中在698、650和558处出现了新的共振峰;随着Ce³⁺掺杂浓度的增加,这些峰的强度也随之增强。根据谱峰位置和强度,对谱图进行了归属：698、650处的共振峰应源自与Ce³⁺相连的四配位O(OCeLa₃),558处的信号则来自于与Ce³⁺相连的六配位O(OCeLa₅)。通过¹⁷O固体核磁共振能够直接观测与Ce³⁺直接相连的O显示该方法将可能用于研究稀土掺杂氧化物功能材料。     

第一性原理研究MgZn2相的电子结构及磁性质

运用密度泛函理论的第一性原理计算分析了MgZn₂相的电子结构及相关磁性质。能带结构和态密度分析表明Zn4s和Zn4p轨道、Mg3s和Mg3p轨道分别发生sp态杂化,然后杂化态之间相互作用而形成Zn-Mg键;Mulliken布居分布计算显示:Zn₁-Mg(Zn₁是处于晶格边缘的Zn原子)和Zn₂-Mg(Zn₂是处于晶格内部的Zn原子)电子云重叠布居数接近0,电子密度分析显示Zn-Mg之间电子密度分布具有明显的定域性。结合上述结果与Zn、Mg原子的电负性差异,确定Zn-Mg键为极性共价键。分态密度(PDOS)分析显示,Zn₁-Mg键和Zn₂-Mg键的差异主要表现在Zn₂4s轨道在-10~-6 eV区域对成键的贡献度高于Zn₁4s轨道,而Zn₁4s轨道在2~5 eV区域对成键的贡献度高于Zn₂4s轨道。进一步对MgZn₂的积分自旋态密度和磁矩计算表明:MgZn₂磁性质表现为顺磁性,其磁性主要来源于Zn₁-Mg键中的2个自旋相同的未配对电子;MgZn₂的顺磁性特性将使Al-Zn-Mg-Cu(7xxx系)高强铝合金产生磁致塑性效应。