Peculiarities of the microstructure of a nanoscale modification of η-TiO2

Samples with nanoscale η-TiO₂ phase have been obtained by sulfate and modified sulfate methods and are characterized by a complex of techniques: X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray energy-dispersive analysis. The effect of sample formation conditions on the size and shape of crystallites, content of the amorphous component in the samples, and their elemental composition has been established. A significant change (depending on the synthesis conditions) in the parameters of the diffraction reflection with d ～ 17–21 Å (intensity and interplanar spacing d, Å), pronounced for η-TiO₂, is revealed. This change is most likely related to the variation in the content of water molecules in the interlayer space of η-TiO₂ structure and/or the change in crystallite shape.     

Nitridation of SiO2–B2O3 aerogels

SiO₂–B₂O₃ aerogels have been prepared by drying wet gels at a supercritical condition for ethanol in an autoclave. Aerogels have been nitrided for 6 h in flowing ammonia at the temperature of 1200 °C. It has been found that the amount of nitrogen incorporated in these aerogels always exceeds 20 wt%. This is a much higher value compared with the amount of nitrogen incorporated in a pure silica aerogel nitrided at the same conditions. The specific surface area of SiO₂–B₂O₃ aerogels has been between 312 and 359 m²/g. After nitridation some shrinkage of aerogels has been observed and the surface area decreases about 20%. In FTIR spectra of SiO₂–B₂O₃ aerogels a typical bands for SiO₂ are observed. After nitridation a shift and broadening of 1100 cm^?1 band to lower wavenumbers indicates that Si–N and B–N bonds are formed in nitrided aerogels.     

Crystallization of mutant forms of the γ subunit of archaeal translation initiation factor 2

Archaeal translation initiation factor 2 (aIF2) is homologous to its eukaryotic counterpart (eIF2). It is a heterotrimeric protein consisting of α, β, and γ subunits. The protein e/aIF2 forms a ternary complex with guanosine 5′-triphosphate and the initiator methionyl-tRNA (Met-tRNA_i) and delivers the latter to the ribosome. In archaea, translation initiation factor 2 has an additional function. The γ subunit of aIF2 binds mRNAs with a triphosphate at the 5′-end and prevents 5′-to-3′ directional mRNA decay. To determine the mRNA-binding site on the surface of aIF2γ, mutations were introduced into the protein sequence at sites of possible interactions with mRNA. The crystals of the mutant forms of aIF2γ were obtained, and X-ray diffraction data sets suitable for structure determination at atomic resolution were collected.     

Anisotropy of microhardness of β-BaB2O4 single crystals

The anisotropy of microhardness of β-barium borate single crystals β-BaB₂O₄ (BBO) is studied by the sclerometry method on the (0001) basal plane, the $(10\bar 10)$ plane of the hexagonal prism, and the $(11\bar 20)$ plane of the trigonal prism. It is shown that the anisotropy observed in the crystal is determined by the directions of covalent B-O bonds. It is established that the anisotropy of microhardness correlates with the system of cleavage planes.     

The crystal structure of UO2Cl2(OH2)(MeCN)2·2MeCN

The crystal structure of UO₂Cl₂(OH₂)(MeCN)₂·2MeCN has been determined at 123 K. The crystal is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, witha=14.891(8),b=6.733(6),c=15.931(9) Å, andD _calc=2.18 g cm^–3 forZ=4. The finalR value for 951 unique observed [F ₀5(F ₀)] reflections is 0.064. The U atom is seven-coordinate, pentagonal bipyramidal. The two axial positions are occupied by the uranyl oxygen atoms. Within the equatorial plane lie two acetonitrile groups, two chlorine atoms and a water molecule, the latter positioned between the two chlorine atoms. All of the atoms except the uranyl oxygen atoms lie in crystallographic mirror planes. The water molecule is hydrogen bonded to the two uncoordinated solvent molecules. Several close contacts between the solvent methyl groups and chlorine atoms suggest weak C-H acidic interactions of the type C-HCl.     

The role of coordination and valance states of tungsten ions on some physical properties of Li2O–Al2O3–ZrO2–SiO2 glass system

A series of Li₂O–Al₂O₃–ZrO₂–SiO₂ glasses doped with different concentrations of WO₃ (0 to 5.0 mol.%) have been synthesized. Differential thermal analysis of the samples indicated increasing glass forming ability with the increasing concentration of WO₃ in the glass matrix. A variety of spectroscopic (optical absorption, IR, Raman and ESR) and dielectric properties (over a range of frequency and temperature) of these glasses have been investigated. The optical absorption and ESR spectral studies have pointed out that a part of tungsten ions do exist in W⁵⁺ state in addition to W⁶⁺ state especially in the samples containing low concentration of WO₃. The IR and Raman spectral studies have suggested that there is a decreasing degree of disorder in the glass network with increase in the concentration of WO₃. The values of dielectric parameters viz., dielectric constant, loss and ac conductivity at any frequency and temperature are observed to decrease as the concentration of WO₃ is increased. Such changes have been attributed to decrease of redox ratio or decreasing proportions of W⁵⁺ ions that act as modifiers in the glass network. The quantitative analysis of the results of ac conductivity and dielectric properties have indicated an increase in the insulating character of the glasses with the concentration of WO₃; this is attributed to the presence of tungsten ions largely in W⁶⁺ ions that participate in the glass network forming with WO₄ structural units.     

X-ray diffraction study of Na2OGeO2 melts

The structure of Na₂OGeO₂ melts in the temperature range from 1100 to 1150°C has been investigated with the high temperature X-ray diffraction technique. Comparing the radial distribution functions obtained for the melts with those for the corresponding glasses, the first peak due to the GeO interatomic distance is invariant upon melting, although it becomes broader due to thermal vibration. The second peak for the GeGe interatomic distance for melts shifts toward the large distance, which is explained by broadening of the GeOGe bond angle, not by the thermal expansion of the GeOGe bond. The composition dependences of GeO distances and coordination numbers of the Ge⁴⁺ ion of the melts are found to be almost the same as the corresponding glasses, indicating that even in melts at such high temperatures 6-fold coordinated Ge⁴⁺ ions are present and their content changes with the Na₂O content as in the case of the corresponding glasses.     

Absolute configuration of (−)2-dibenzofurylmethylsulfinylacetic acid

The crystal structure and the absolute configuration of the title compound has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The monoclinic unit cell (space group P2₁) witha=11.514(2),b=8.288(1),c=13.749(2) Å, =99.69(1)° andZ=4 contains two crystallographically independent molecules. The configuration at the sulfur atom in both molecules is S. A large lability of the methoxysulfinylacetic group conformation and configuration is observed. The conformations and S–C_sp ³–C_sp ² _(phen) bond angles of this group in two independent molecules are distinctly different. The comparison of the investigated compound with the literature data of related molecules is given.     

Adsorption inhibition of the growth of CaSO4 · 2H2O crystals in aqueous solutions

Crystallography Reports - The growth of gypsum CaSO4 · 2H2O crystals in aqueous solutions has been investigated, both on individual crystals and on crystals in a homogeneous suspension in the...     

Optical properties of new low-phonon SnF2–PbF2–ZnF2 glasses

New fluoride glasses were developed in the SnF₂–PbF₂–ZnF₂ system. Additions of 5 mol% of CsCl or 6–15 mol% of AlF₃ were found to stabilize the glass formation. The IR absorption of the glasses and the optical properties of the europium ions doped in the glasses were compared with those of a fluorozirconate glass as a representative fluoride glass. The IR spectra showed that the new glasses have the peak of the phonon energy at 400 cm⁻¹, which is about 100 cm⁻¹ lower than that of the fluorozirconate glass. The results of the fluorescence measurement of the europium ions revealed that the multi-phonon relaxation rate in these glasses is smaller than that in the fluorozirconate glass.     

Crystal Structure of 2-Cyclohexylethyl α-d-Mannopyranoside

Abstract  

The crystal structure of 2-cyclohexylethyl α-d-mannopyranoside (C₁₄H₂₆O₆, Mr = 290.35) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with space group C2 and unit cell parameters: a = 14.2420(2), b = 6.0320(1), c = 17.8065(3) ?, β = 102.131(2)° and Z = 4. The final reliability index is 0.0256 for 2,654 observed reflections. The one molecule of 2-cyclohexylethyl α-d-mannopyranoside is localized in independent part of unit cell. The molecules of 2-cyclohexylethyl α-d-mannopyranoside are linked through O–H···O hydrogen bond into bilayer.     

Crystal structure of quinoline-2-carboxylic acid ⋅ quinolinium-2-carboxylate

Quinoline-2-carboxylic acid (quinaldic acid), C₁₀H₇NO₂, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, a =9.724(1) Å, b = 5.937(1) Å, c = 27.545(2) Å, = 90.15(1)°, z = 4, and occurs in the crystal in two tautomeric forms: the neutral molecule and the zwitterion, with molecular ratio 1:1. The compound can be named quinoline-2-carboxylic acid quinolinium-2-carboxylate. The crystal structure is built up of tautomeric pairs consisting of C₉H₆NCOOH and C₉H₆NH⁺COO^– moieties, held up together by hydrogen bonds.     

The influence of the cooling rate of A 2PbO · SiO2 melt on the constitution of silicate anions

The kinetics of crystallization in a 2Pbo · SiO₂ melt have been investigated. A TTT-diagram was constructed, which describes the kinetic parameters for the formation of crystalline phases in the system. By means of silicate anion analysis the relationship between the cooling rates of the melt and the structure of silicate units in solid 2PbO · SiO₂ has been studied. Substantial differences in the thermal treatment of the melt lead to alterations of the silicate anion constitution, which cause changes in the crystallization behavior of glassy 2PbO · SiO₂.     

Effect of TiO2 addition on the chemical durability of Bi2O3–SiO2–ZnO–B2O3 glass system

The effect of the substitution of ZnO for TiO₂ on the chemical durability of Bi₂O₃–SiO₂–ZnO–B₂O₃ glass coatings in hot acidic medium (0.1 N H₂SO₄ at 80 °C) for different times was studied. The thick films produced by a screen-printing method and heat treated at 700 °C/5 min were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The glass from the Bi₂O₃–SiO₂–ZnO–B₂O₃ system developed Zn₂SiO₄ and a glassy phase that were readily attacked by hot 0.1 N sulfuric acid, whereas the heat treated coating from the Bi₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂–ZnO–B₂O₃ system presented a finer microstructure with thin interconnected Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ crystals and a glassy phase more resistant to hot 0.1 N sulfuric acid attack etching.     

Effects of the Li-evaporation on the Czochralski growth of γ-LiAlO2

Two-inch-diameter γ-LiAlO₂ single crystals were grown from the melt by Czochralski method. The crystals were examined by optical methods, high-resolution X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to determine the Li/Al ratio in the residual melts. The Li-evaporation from both melt and grown crystal is the main problem in the γ-LiAlO₂ growth and has to be controlled by acting on the vertical temperature gradient. Shallow gradients increase the Li-evaporation from the crystal surface resulting in boules with a milky rim. On the other hand, steep gradients may induce cracks in the boule and enhance the Li₂O escape from melt with consequent variation of the composition. ICP-OES investigations reveal that melt compositions can vary in the range from 46.5 to 50 mol% Li₂O to obtain transparent LiAlO₂ crystals. Beyond this value, the formation of inclusions inside the crystals is probable. We have established an optimized growth assembly, which allows remaining the melt composition stoichiometric. The as-grown crystals exhibit defects like subgrains, twins and a core of voids and fine-grained inclusions. The latter could be characterized by TEM as submicron LiAl₅O₈ crystallites.     

Effect of the Ile222Thr Missense Mutation in SsoIF2γ on the Affinity of γ and β Subunits of aIF2

Crystallography Reports - Translation initiation factors 2 from eukaryotes (eIF2) and archaea (аIF2) mediate the delivery of charged initiator tRNA (Met-tRNAiMet) to the small ribosomal...     

Crystal structure of trans-W2(CO)6(PPh2H)2(μ2-PPh2)2

The molecular structure of trans-W²(CO)₆(PPh²H)²(₂-PPh²)² was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The two tungsten centers, bridged by two diphenylphosphido ligands, are separated by 3.0667(6) Å with W–P–W angles of 77.10(5) and 77.08(5). Average tungsten–phosphorus bond distances are 2.461(17) and 2.4576(21) Å for bridging and terminal phosphorus groups, respectively, with a range of 0.037 Å for the former and 0.001 Å for the latter. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 19.282(4) Å, b = 12.158(2) Å, c = 21.294(9) Å, = 92.821(4), and Z = 4.     

Effect of growth conditions on the functional properties of K2Co(SO4)2·6H2O crystals

K₂Co(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O single crystals of optical quality have been grown and the effect of solution pH on their solubility and transmission spectra has been investigated. A kinetic growth curve is obtained for the (110) face and the onset temperature of dehydration is established for single-crystal samples. The structural quality of single crystals grown at different supersaturations is analyzed.     

Influence of Bi2O3 content on the crystallization behavior of TeO2–Bi2O3–ZnO glass system

Glass ceramic materials with composition 75TeO₂–xBi₂O₃–(25-x)ZnO (x = 13, 12, 11) possessing transparency in the near- and mid-infrared (MIR) regions were studied in this paper. It was found that as the Bi₂O₃ content increased in the glass composition, the observed crystallization tendency is enhanced, and high crystal concentrations were obtained for the glasses with high Bi₂O₃ content while maintaining transparency in the MIR region. Crystal size in the glass ceramic was reduced by adjusting the heat treatment conditions; the smallest average size obtained in this study is 700 nm. Bi_0.864Te_0.136O_1.568 was identified using X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and found to be the only crystal phase developed in the glass ceramics when the treatment temperature was fixed at 335 °C. The morphology of the crystals was studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and crystals were found to be polyhedral structures with uniform sizes and a narrow size distribution for a fixed heat treatment regime. Infrared absorption spectra of the resulting glass ceramics were studied. The glass ceramic retained transparency in the infrared region when the crystals inside were smaller than 1 μm, with an absorption coefficient less than 0.5/cm in the infrared region from 1.25 to 2.5 μm. The mechanical properties were also improved after crystallization; the Vickers Hardness value of the glass ceramic increased by 10% relative to the base glass.