Tb3Pd2, Er3Pd2 and Er6Co5–x: structural variations and bonding in rare‐earth‐richer binary intermetallics

The three binary Tb/Er‐rich transition metal compounds Tb₃Pd₂ (triterbium dipalladium), Er₃Pd₂ (trierbium dipalladium) and Er₆Co_5–x (hexaerbium pentacobalt) crystallize in the space groups Pbam (Pearson symbol oP20), P4/mbm (tP10) and P6₃/m (hP22), respectively. Single crystals of Tb₃Pd₂ and Er₆Co_5–x suitable for X‐ray structure analysis were obtained using rare‐earth halides as a flux. Tb₃Pd₂ adopts its own structure type, which can be described as a superstructural derivative of the U₃Si₂ type, which is the type adopted by Er₃Pd₂. Compound Er₆Co_5–x belongs to the Ce₆Co_2–xSi₃ family. All three compounds feature fused tricapped {TR₆} (R = rare‐earth metal and T = transition metal) trigonal prismatic heterometallic clusters. R₃Pd₂ is reported to crystallize in the U₃Si₂ type; however, our more detailed structure analysis reveals that deviations occur with heavier R elements. Similarly, Er₆Co_5–x was assumed to be stoichiometric Er₄Co₃ = Er₆Co_4.5. Our studies reveal that it has a single defective transition‐metal site leading to the composition Er₆Co_4.72(2). LMTO (linear muffin‐tin orbital)‐based electronic structure calculations suggest the strong domination of heteroatomic bonding in all three structures.     

A new generation of visible-light-active photocatalysts—The alkaline earth metal bismuthates: Syntheses,compositions, structures,and properties

Semiconductor materials containing bismuth have attracted the attention of researchers over the past several decades, as a result of their high photocatalytic activity in various reactions and/or high efficiency in their photoelectric conversion of solar energy. This interest originated from the observations that bismuth-containing semiconductors have a sufficiently small bandgap, which makes them sensitive to radiation in the visible spectral range; thus, visible-light-active materials. Among the various bismuth-containing semiconductor materials, the bismuthates of alkaline earth metals are distinguished and describe into separate groups. This article reviews research on the known methods of obtaining bismuthates of various alkaline earth metals (magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium), and further analyzes their composition, structure, and visible-light-active photocatalytic activity.     

Observation of field induced anomalous quantum criticality in Ce0.6Y0.4NiGe2 compound

We report the results of our investigation of magnetization and heat capacity on a series of compounds Ce${}_{1?x}$Y_xNiGe₂ ($x=0.1,0.2\text{ and }0.4$) under the influence of external magnetic field. Our studies of the thermodynamic quantity $?\mathrm{d}M/\mathrm{d}T$ on these compounds indicate that magnetic frustration persists in Ce_0.9Y_0.1NiGe₂, as also reported for the parent compound CeNiGe₂. The weak signature of this frustration is also noted in Ce_0.8Y_0.2NiGe₂, whereas, it is suppressed in Ce_0.6Y_0.4NiGe₂. Heat capacity studies on Ce_0.9Y_0.1NiGe₂ and Ce_0.8Y_0.2NiGe₂ indicate the presence of a new magnetic anomaly at high field which indicates that quantum criticality is absent in these compounds. However, for Ce_0.6Y_0.4NiGe₂ such an anomaly is not noted. For this later compound, the magnetic field (H) and temperature (T) dependence of heat capacity and magnetization obey $H/T$ scaling above critical fields. However, the obtained scaling critical parameter (δ) is 1.6, which is away from mean field value of 3. This deviation suggests the presence of unusual fluctuations and anomalous quantum criticality in these compounds. This unusual fluctuation may arise from disorderness induced by Y-substitution.     

Development of nanomaterial chemosensors for toxic metal ions sensing

Heavy metal ions are harmful to aquatic life and humans owing to their high toxicity and non‐biodegradability, so their removal from wastewater is an important task. Therefore, this work focuses on designing suitable, simple and economical nanosensors to detect and remove these metal ions with high selectivity and sensitivity. Based on this idea, different types of mesoporous materials such as hexagonal SBA‐15, cubic SBA‐16 and spherical MCM‐41, their chloro‐functionalized derivatives, as well as 4‐(4‐nitro‐phenylazo)‐naphthalen‐1‐ol (NPAN) azo dye have been synthesized, with the aim of designing some optical nanosensors for metal ions sensing applications. The mentioned azo dye has been anchored into the chloro‐functionalized mesoporous materials. The designed nanosensors were characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as Fourier transform infrared and UV–visible spectral analysis, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, low‐angle X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses. Their optical sensing to various toxic metal ions such as Cd (II), Hg (II), Mn (II), Fe (II), Zn (II) and Pb (II) at different values of pH (1.1, 4.9, 7 and 12) was investigated. The optimization of experimental conditions, including the effect of pH and metal ion concentration, was examined. The experimental results showed that the solution pH had a major impact on metal ion detection. The optical nanosensors respond well to the tested metal ions, as reflected by the enhancement in both absorption and emission spectra upon adding different concentrations of the metal salts and were fully reversible on adding ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid or citric acid to the formed complexes. High values of the binding constants for the designed nanosensors were observed at pHs 7 and 12, confirming the strong chelation of different metals to the nanosensor at these pHs. Also, high binding constants and sensitivity were observed for NPAN‐MCM‐41 as a nanosensor to detect the different metal ions. From the obtained results, we succeeded in transforming the harmful azo dye into an environmentally friendly form via designing of the optical nanosensors used to detect toxic metal ions in wastewater with high sensitivity.     

Attaching tweezers like ionophore to a proton crane: theoretical design of new tautomeric sensors

ABSTRACT

The tautomeric optical sensors based on 4-(phenyldiazenyl)naphthalen-1-ol exist in their pure enol tautomeric form as free ligands, while the addition of metal ion fully shifts the equilibrium towards the keto tautomer allowing a red shift in the measured absorbance. This effect is achieved when a side ionophore group is connected to a tautomeric backbone by a spacer in a way that stabilizes the enol form via hydrogen boding. When the ionophore captures the metal ion the keto form is stabilized due to C─O tautomeric group participation in the complex. In the current study, we model theoretically the effect of symmetric tweezer like ionophores (RCOXCOR, where X, being CH or N, is the linker to the tautomeric backbone) on the tautomeric state and complexation ability of 4-(phenyldiazenyl)naphthalen-1-ol containing ligands. It was found that enol form stabilisation is achieved when R?=?NMe₂, independing on the linker. Both ligands are unsuitable for capturing alkali metal ions. The calculations predict that the complexation with alkali earth metal ions could lead to a full shift of the tautomeric equilibrium towards keto tautomer.     

钙钛矿结构RFeO3晶体的磁化跃迁效应研究进展

钙钛矿稀土正铁氧体RFeO₃具有丰富的磁性,这主要源于4f电子层的稀土离子和3d电子层的铁离子之间复杂的相互作用。磁化跃迁作为RFeO₃体系中的重要现象,是指体系中的稀土离子磁矩和铁离子磁矩在特定的磁场和温度下发生180°旋转,宏观表现为磁热曲线中磁化强度发生断崖式变化。本文综述了不同化合物RFeO₃的两种磁化跃迁现象,第一类磁化跃迁通常具有补偿点,F_R与F_Fe的排列耦合方向不变,第二类磁化跃迁则相反,且两类磁化跃迁出现的温区受外加磁场的调控。     

Optimal spectral phase control of femtosecond laser-induced up-conversion luminescence in Sm^3+:NaYF4 glass

The spectral phase of the femtosecond laser field is an important parameter that affects the up-conversion(UC)luminescence efficiency of dopant lanthanide ions.In this work,we report an experi-mental study on controlling the UC lmiiinescence efficiency in Sm^3+:NaYF4 glass by 800-nm femtosec-ond laser pulse shaping using spectral phase modulation.The optimal phase control strategy efficiently enhances or suppresses the UC luminescence intensity.Based on the laser-power dependence of the UC luminescence intensity and its comparison with the luminescence spectrum under direct 266-nm fem-tosecond lciser irradiation,we propose herein an excitation model combining non-resonant two-photon absorption with resonance-media ted three-photon absorption to explain the experimental observations.     

Structure determination of KScS2, RbScS2 and KLnS2 (Ln = Nd,Sm, Tb,Dy, Ho,Er, Tm and Yb) and crystal–chemical discussion

The title structures of KScS₂ (potassium scandium sulfide), RbScS₂ (rubidium scandium sulfide) and KLnS₂ [Ln = Nd (potassium neodymium sufide), Sm (potassium samarium sulfide), Tb (potassium terbium sulfide), Dy (potassium dysprosium sulfide), Ho (potassium holmium sulfide), Er (potassium erbium sulfide), Tm (potassium thulium sulfide) and Yb (potassium ytterbium sulfide)] are either newly determined (KScS₂, RbScS₂ and KTbS₂) or redetermined. All of them belong to the α‐NaFeO₂ structure type in agreement with the ratio of the ionic radii r³⁺/r⁺. KScS₂, the member of this structural family with the smallest trivalent cation, is an extreme representative of these structures with rare earth trivalent cations. The title structures are compared with isostructural alkali rare earth sulfides in plots showing the dependence of several relevant parameters on the trivalent cation crystal radius; the parameters thus compared are c, a and c/a, the thicknesses of the S—S layers which contain the respective constituent cations, the sulfur fractional coordinates z(S²⁻) and the bond‐valence sums.     

Low-molecular weight hyaluronidase from the venom of Bungarus caeruleus (Indian common krait) snake: Isolation and partial characterization

Snake venom hyaluronidases known as “spreading factor” are not extensively studied. Recently, it is argued that beyond its role as a spreading factor, venom hyaluronidase (HYL) deserves to be explored as a possible therapeutic target for inhibiting the systemic distribution of venom/toxins and also for minimizing local tissue destruction. In this context, in the present study, a low-molecular weight HYL has been isolated from Bungarus caeruleus (Indian krait) venom by single step chromatography on HPLC system. The apparent molecular weight determined by SDS-PAGE is 14 ± 2 kDa, as confirmed by zymogen study and LC–MS as well. The enzyme had optimal pH 6 and temperature 37°C. The Michaelis–Menten constant (K_m) was found to be 8.48 µg/mL at 37°C. The activity of purified enzyme was completely inhibited by Ba²⁺ metal ion and N-acetyl imidazole group-specific agents. This work yielded a highly active HYL from B. caeruleus the first one to be isolated. Further studies on its pharmacological actions will be interesting to develop lead molecules for better management of snakebite.