Molecular QTAIM Topology Is Sensitive to Relativistic Corrections

The topology of the molecular electron density of benzene dithiol gold cluster complex Au₄−S−C₆H₄−S′−Au′₄ changed when relativistic corrections were made and the structure was close to a minimum of the Born–Oppenheimer energy surface. Specifically, new bond paths between hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring and gold atoms appeared, indicating that there is a favorable interaction between these atoms at the relativistic level. This is consistent with the observation that gold becomes a better electron acceptor when relativistic corrections are applied. In addition to relativistic effects, here, we establish the sensitivity of molecular topology to basis sets and convergence thresholds for geometry optimization.     

Template-based growth of titanium dioxide nanorods by a particulate sol-electrophoretic deposition process

TiO 2 nanorods have been successfully grown into a track-etched polycarbonate (PC) membrane by a particulate sol-electrophoretic deposition from an aqueous medium.The prepared sols had a narrow particle size distribution around 17 nm and excellent stability against aging,with zeta potentials in the range of 47-50 mV at pH 2.It was found that TiO 2 nanorods were grown from dilute aqueous sol with a low,0.1-M concentration.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis confirmed that a full conversi...     

Synthesis of highly pure nanocrystalline and mesoporous CaTiO3 by a particulate sol–gel route at the low temperature

The low temperature perovskite-type calcium titanate (CaTiO₃) thin films and powders with nanocrystalline and mesoporous structure were prepared by a straightforward particulate sol–gel route. The prepared sol had a narrow particle size distribution about 17 nm. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that, the synthesized powders had highly pure and crystallized CaTiO₃ structure with preferable orientation growth along (1 2 1) direction at 400–800 °C. The activation energy of crystal growth was calculated 5.73 kJ/mol. Furthermore, transmission electron microscope images showed that the average crystallite size of the powders annealed at 400 °C was around 3.5 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscope analysis and atomic force microscope images revealed that, the deposited thin films had uniform, mesoporous and nanocrystalline structure with the average grain size in the range 33–39 nm depending on annealing temperature. Based on Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, the synthesized powders showed mesoporous structure with BET surface area in the range 51–21 m²/g at 400–800 °C. One of the smallest crystallite size and one of the highest surface areas reported in the literature is obtained which can be used in many applications, such as photocatalysts.     

Fusion around the barrier for 7Li+12C

Fusion cross-sections for the ⁷Li + ¹²C reaction have been measured at energies above the Coulomb barrier by the direct detection of evaporation residues. The heavy evaporation residues with energies below 3 MeV could not be separated out from the α-particles in the spectrum and hence their contribution was estimated using statistical model calculations. The present work indicates that suppression of fusion cross-sections due to the breakup of ⁷Li may not be significant for ⁷Li + ¹²C reaction at energies around the barrier.     

Selected Reactions of Diethyl (E)‐1‐(bromomethyl)‐2‐cyanovinylphosphonate with Secondary and Tertiary Amines

An easy regio‐ and stereoselective synthesis of new nitrogenous molecules 2a–e was successfully realized via an effective coupling reaction of diethyl (E)‐1‐(bromomethyl)‐2‐cyanovinylphosphonate 1 with various secondary amines in methanol. Hence, the use of less and more bulky secondary amines gives rise, respectively, to the successive (S_N2′) substitution–isomerization and (S_N2) substitution derivatives 2a–c and 2d–e . Moreover, the addition of tertiary amines to 1 in the same reaction conditions, leads exclusively to the rearranged vinyl ether 3 in good yields.     

Effect of Ni and Co impurities on the electronic structure and magnetic properties of BCC iron

A theory of disordered binary alloys A_xB_1−x (A=Ni, Co; B=Fe; x0.06) is used to determine the changes in the electronic structure and magnetic properties of body centered cubic (BCC) iron induced by doping with nickel and cobalt impurities. This approximation is an extension of the cluster-Bethe lattice method, in which we incorporate electronic correlations, itinerant and localized nature of electrons 3d, and both long-range and short-range chemical correlations. The magnetism is described by means of a Hubbard Hamiltonian that in conjunction with Green's functions techniques is used to calculate local densities of electronic states. For it we take an atom in the real lattice and it is joined to a Bethe's lattice with like coordination number. The magnetic moments on sites occupied for A and B atoms are obtained self-consistently. Nickel and cobalt impurities in BCC iron can provide crucial information on the modification of the electronic band structure and magnetic moments from pure Fe. The results obtained are compared with those of both pure Fe and binary alloys of Co–Fe and Ni–Fe, which have been obtained by other authors using methods such as: first-principles electronic structure calculations using the layer Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker (KKR), the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method, the KKR coherent potential approximation combined with the local-density functional method and by the tight-binding linear-muffin-tin orbitals method, obtained good agree. These results and other that recently we have published indicate to us that our methodology can be a new alternative for calculations of the electronic structure and magnetic properties of impurities and alloys of ferromagnetic transition metals.     

Determination of different oxygen transport mechanisms and measurement of the oxygen ion conductivity of Y1Ba2Cu3O7−x

By undertaking AC electrochemical impedance experiments on yttria stabilised zirconia electrolytes with polished Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x electrodes, the activation energy for oxygen ion transport within the bulk of Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x, in air, over the temperature range 823 K–1043 K, was determined to be 1.50 ± 0.05 eV. At 1000 K the oxygen ionic conductivity was calculated to be around one order of magnitude lower than that in yttria stabilised zirconia. Typical calculated values were σ=5×10⁻⁵ (ω cm)⁻¹ and 6×10⁻³ (ω cm)⁻¹ at the respective temperatures 823 K and 1043 K. By employing a similar cell but with Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x paste electrodes, oxygen transfer between the Y₁Ba₂Cu₃O_7−x and the electrolyte was found to occur via a surface diffusional processes. Over the temperature range 873 K–1098 K, in air, the activation energy for in-diffusion at the surface was found to be 1.4±0.1 eV and that for out-diffusion at the surface to be 1.76±0.05 eV.     

Hydroxyl ion conduction in ytterbium-doped strontium cerate at T<580 K in H2O/air atmosphere

Open circuit voltage (OCV) measurements in H₂O/air concentration cells at T<580 K using Yb-doped SrCeO₃ electrolyte indicate that under these conditions, protons are transported through the electrolyte as -ve ions, possibly as hydroxyl (OH⁻) ions. The H⁺ ionic transport, which is generally reported, becomes the dominant mode for H₂O/air concentration cells at temperatures greater than 750 K or when H₂O/air electrodes are replaced by H₂/Ar, and the anomalous OCV sign disappears. The combination of low temperature and the presence of hydrogen and oxygen as provided by the H₂O/air system appears to be necessary for the postulated hydroxyl ion electrode reactions to take place. In addition to OCV measurements, results from impedance spectroscopy are used to provide evidence in support of the suggested hydroxyl ion mode of protonic transport under the specified conditions. These findings are directly relevant in the development of novel humidity sensors in the temperature range 450–580K and is reported in a separate paper in this conference. Paper presented at the 3rd Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Teulada, Sardinia, Italy, Sept. 15–22, 1996     

Experimental analysis of a continuously pumped,repetitively Q-switched Nd/YAG laser

The threshold operation and performance of a high pulse repetition frequency Nd/YAG laser are discussed. A rotating mirror Q-switch was used, and detailed studies of the variation of Q-switched threshold with motor frequency, and of the pulse build-up time with input power have been carried out. The results indicate that the switching angle varies with mirror reflectivity but is practically independent of resonator length. The latter is attributed to thermal lens action in the laser rod modifying the nominally plane parallel resonator configuration thereby leading to a spherical configuration. Under these conditions, the switching angle becomes independent of resonator length, but depends strongly on the induced focal length of the lens (laser rod). The degrading effect on the Q-switched laser performance of the mis-match at the laser rod surfaces is then discussed and finally the conditions for achieving maximum energy output in a single pulse are derived and experimentally verified.