Crystal structure of Tl<Subscript>5</Subscript>{[Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>4</Subscript>Br<Subscript>8</Subscript>]Br}

By the high-temperature reaction of Nb₂S₄Br₄ and TlBr a thallium salt of the anionic cluster complex [Nb₂S₄Br₈]^4? is obtained. Its crystal structure is determined by X-ray structural analysis. The complex is also characterized by Raman spectroscopy and electrospray-mass-spectrometry.     

Preparation of Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and N co-doped TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> photocatalysts and their enhanced photocatalytic activities under visible light

Niobium pentaoxide (Nb₂O₅) and nitrogen co-doped TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared by mechanical alloying with Nb₂O₅, TiO₂ and urea as raw materials. The pure TiO₂ powders of Degussa P25 were chosen as precursor. Chemical and physical properties of the Nb₂O₅ and N co-doped TiO₂ photocatalysts were investigated, including XRD patterns, XPS spectra, DRS spectra, FT-IR spectra and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms. Experiments on photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) under visible light were carried out to evaluate the photoactivities of the prepared samples, and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) analysis was also conducted as a comparison.     

Chemical bonding and electronic structure of LaMnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and La<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> orthorhombic crystals

The electronic structure of the LaMnO₃ orthorhombic crystal of a stoichiometric composition and of La_0.75MnO₃ crystals with a La vacancy in the unit cell is calculated in the LSDA+U approximation of density functional theory. The calculations showed that LaMnO₃ is an insulator with a forbidden gap of 0.5 eV and with antiferromagnetic ordering of magnetic moments. The magnetic moment on the manganese ions is 3.78 BM. The La atom has ionic bonds in the lattice, while the bond between oxygen and manganese is covalent. After lanthanum has been removed, geometry optimization of the unit cell leads to La_0.75MnO₃ stable structures. In one of the structures, which is lower in energy, the states of manganese may be attributed to Mn⁴⁺ ions. In both structures with removed lanthanum, the oxygen ions have reduced effective charge, so that one can speak about O^? ions appearing along with O^2? in the structure. The oxygen, as well as lanthanum and manganese, ions are nonequivalent in these structures; their nonequivalence is primarily reflected by the local densities of states. This leads to charge and magnetic nonequivalence of ions. In La_0.75MnO₃ crystals, the degree of bond covalence between manganese and oxygen decreases.     

Electronic energy structure of As<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>, AsSI,AgAsS<Subscript>2</Subscript>, and TiS<Subscript>2</Subscript> semiconductors

Quantum-mechanical calculations with the FEFF8 code were used to study the electronic energy structure of 200-atomic clusters of As₂S₃, AsSI, AgAsS₂, and TiS₂ semiconductor compounds. The calculated local partial densities of electronic states are compared with the sulfur K and L X-ray emission spectra and sulfur K absorption spectra for fine powders of these compounds. Good agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained.     

Electron interactions in the (η<Superscript>2</Superscript>-C<Subscript>60</Subscript>)Pd[P(Ph<Subscript>2</Subscript>)C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe complex

The electronic structure of the (η²-C₆₀)Pd[P(Ph₂)C₅H₄]₂Fe complex was calculated by the “hybrid” B3LYP method. Comparison of the experimental X-ray emission C-Kα spectrum and theoretical spectrum of the compound demonstrated that the electron interactions between the C₆₀ core, palladium atom, and organometallic fragment are described correctly in the framework of the quantum chemical method used. The electronic structure of the organometallic fullerene complex can be presented as a set of blocks of orbitals corresponding to different types of chemical bond. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2640–2644, December, 2005.     

Synthesis and structure of the framework coordination polymer based on the cluster anion [Nb<Subscript>4</Subscript>OTe<Subscript>4</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>12</Subscript>]<Superscript>6−</Superscript> and Mn<Superscript>II</Superscript> aqua complexes

Dark-brown plate crystals of the [Mn₇(H₂O)₂₆{Nb₄OTe₄(CN)₁₂} ₂](OH)₂·11H₂O compound (1) were prepared by the reaction of an aqueous ammonia solution of the K₆[Nb₄OTe₄(CN)₁₂]{K₂CO₃{KOH{8H₂O complex with a glycerol solution of manganese(II) nitrate. The structure of complex 1 was established by X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 has a polymer structure containing four types of manganese atoms. The nitrogen atoms of eight cyano groups of the tetranuclear niobium cluster are coordinated to the manganese atoms to form a {2,3,8}-connected three-dimensional network. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 224–228, February, 2007.     

Quantum-chemical modelling of nanotubes of titanium silicocarbides Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiC,Ti<Subscript>3</Subscript>SiC<Subscript>2</Subscript>, and Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>SiC<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Atomic models are proposed for nanotubes of the titanium silicocarbides Ti₂SiC, Ti₃SiC₂, and Ti₄SiC₃, and their electronic structure and interatomic interactions are investigated by the density functional tight-binding method (DFTB) in comparison with the corresponding crystalline phases. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 88-92, March-April, 2009.     

Theoretical study on S<Subscript>1</Subscript>(<Superscript>1</Superscript>B<Subscript>3u</Subscript>) state electronic structure and absorption spectrum of pyrazine

Making use of a set of quantum chemistry methods, the harmonic potential surfaces of the ground state (S₀(¹ A _g)) and the first (S₁(¹ B _3u)) excited state of pyrazine are investigated, and the electronic structures of the two states are characterized. In the present study, the conventional quantum mechanical method, taking account of the Born-Oppenheimer adiabatic approximation, is adopted to simulate the absorption spectrum of S₁(¹ B _3u) state of pyrazine. The assignment of main vibronic transitions is made for S₁(¹ B _3u) state. It is found that the spectral profile is mainly described by the Franck-Condon progression of totally symmetric mode ν_6a. For the five totally symmetric modes, the present calculations show that the frequency differences between the ground and the S₁(¹ B _3u) state are small. Therefore the displaced harmonic oscillator approximation along with Franck-Condon transition is used to simulate S₁(¹ B _3u) absorption spectra. The distortion effect due to the so-called quadratic coupling is demonstrated to be unimportant for the absorption spectrum, except the coupling mode ν_10a. The calculated S₁(¹ B _3u) absorption spectrum is in reasonable agreement with the experimental spectra. Supported by Taiwan National Science Council (Grant Nos. NSC 96-2113-M-009-021 and NSC 96-2811-M-009-023)     

Synthesis,molecular, crystal and electronic structure of [RuCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(3,5-Me<Subscript>2</Subscript>HPz)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

The reaction of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] complex with dimethylpyrazole has been examined. A new ruthenium complex—[RuCl₂(PPh₃)₂(3,5-Me₂HPz)₂] has been obtained and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR and UV-VIS measurements. Crystal and molecular structure of the complex has been determined. The electronic structure of the complex has been calculated by TDDFT method.     

Physicochemical properties and mixed electronic and ionic conduction of composite ceramics in the system ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>CuO<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Composites ZrO₂-(Bi₂CuO₄+ 20 wt % Bi₂O₃) (50–80 vol % ZrO₂) are synthesized and their physicochemical properties are studied. It is demonstrated that the composites comprise triple-phase mixtures of ZrO₂ of a monoclinic modification, Bi₂CuO₄, and solid solution Bi_2?x Zr _x O_{3 + x/2} and retain their mechanical strength up to 800°C. Impedance spectroscopy is used to examine their electroconductivity at 700–800°C in the interval of partial oxygen pressures extending from 37 to 2.1 × 10⁴ Pa. Contributions made by electronic and ionic constituents to their overall conductivity are evaluated. The best specimens’ conductivity is ～0.01 S cm^?1, with the electronic and ionic transport numbers nearly equal. The composite consisting of 50 vol % ZrO₂ and 50 vol % (Bi₂CuO₄ + 20 wt % Bi₂CuO₄) is tested in the role of an oxygen-separating membrane. The selective flux of oxygen in the temperature interval 750–800°C amounts to (2.2–6.3) × 10^?8 mol cm^?2 s^?1, testifying that these materials may be used as gas-separating membranes.     

Structure of Zn<Subscript>3</Subscript>P<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The structure of Z_n3P₂ (P 4₂/nmc, a = b = 8. 0785 Å, c = 11. 3966 Å) was solved and refined to R = 3. 2% in a precision X-ray diffraction experiment (λ-MoK _a, graphite monochromator on a primary beam, 27,496 reflections) . Interatomic distances and bond angles have been determined. The fcc lattice of the structure is built from phosphorus atoms, and the zinc atoms occupy 3/4 of all tetrahedral voids; the structure is described by two equivalent models where 1/4 occupied (by zinc atoms) and 1/4 vacant voids change places. The zinc atoms that occupy the voids following the diamond principle do not change places.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by I. E. Zanin, K. B. Aleinikova, M. M. Afanasiev, and M. Yu. Antipin__________Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 889–892, September–October, 2004.     

Geometry and electronic structure of a heterometallic cluster Mo<Subscript>2</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript> in different oxidation states of Mo: a DFT study

Reduction of tetranuclear heterometallic complex Mo₂Mg₂ was simulated using the B3LYP and PBE density functional methods. The results of geometry calculations of the initial complex [Mo^VIO₂Mg(MeOH)₂(OMe)₄]₂ and a partially reduced Mo^V complex are in good agreement with experimental data. The reduced Mo^III complex is characterized by a decrease in the binding energy of aqua ligands. Structural rearrangement of the complex with release of a coordination position at the Mo atoms requires small energy expenditure. One can assume that the reduction of the polynuclear complex causes overcrowding of its coordination sphere, which favors formation of dinitrogen complexes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 441–457, March, 2008.     

Character of interaction and glass formation in the TlAs<Subscript>2</Subscript>Se<Subscript>4</Subscript>-Tl<Subscript>3</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>Se<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The TlAs₂Se₄-Tl₃As₂S₃Se₃ system was investigated by physicochemical methods (DTA, X-ray powder diffraction, microstructural analysis), and its phase diagram was constructed. The TlAs₂Se₄-Tl₃As₂S₃Se₃ join is a quasi-binary internal section of the As-Tl-S-Se quaternary system. The solubility range of TlAs₂Se₄-based solid solutions is extended to 7 mol %, and the region of Tl₃As₂S₃Se₃-based solid solutions is extended to 15 mol %.     

Low-temperature catalytic preparation of multi-wall MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanotubes

In the catalytic reduction atmosphere of H₂+CH₄+C₄H₄S, the ball-milled precursor (NH₄)₂MoS₄ is heated to 300°C for decomposition. The as-synthesized product is characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, EDX, and BET. The results show that multi-wall MoS₂ nanotubes are obtained. The length of the nanotubes is around 3–5 μm. The diameters of the nanotubes are homogeneous, with an inner diameter of ∼15 nm, an outer diameter of ∼30 nm, and an interlayer (002) d-spacing of 0.63 nm. This catalytic thermal reaction occurring at low temperatures is important for the large-scale preparation of similar transition-metal disulfide nanotubes.     

Chemical durability of MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> and K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O-MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript> glasses

Thermal and chemical durability studies of the phosphate glasses belonging to the binary MoO₃-P₂O₅ and the ternary K₂O-MoO₃-P₂O₅ systems are reported. The chemical resistant attack tests carried out on the free alkaline MoO₃-P₂O₅ glasses show that the glass associated with the P/Mo ratio 2 has the high chemical durability. It shows also a high glass transition temperature value. The above findings are interpreted in terms of the cross-link density of the glasses and the strength of the M-O bonds (M=P, Mo). The influence of K₂O addition on the properties (density, T _g, durability) of this binary high water resistant glass is studied. It is found that the chemical durability along with the other physical properties are reduced by the incroporation of K₂O in the glass matrix. The results were explained by assuming the formation of non-bridging oxygens and weak bonds. The mechanism of the dissolution of these glasses is proposed.     

Electronic structure and chemical bonding in K<Subscript>2</Subscript>V<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript>

The calculations of the electronic structure of layered polyvanadate K₂V₃O₈ were made employing the spin-polarized tight-binding LMTO method. Calculated magnetic moment for K₄V₆O₁₆ compound phase equals 1.97 μ_B. V-O interactions were established to be dominating in the chemical bonding generation in this polyvanadate according to the estimated crystal orbital overlap population. The covalent bonds V(2)-V(2) in V(2)₂O₇ groups and electron density localization on vanadium atoms in isolated pyramids V(1)O₅ were found.     

Crystal structure of KPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>5</Subscript> and KPb<Subscript>2</Subscript>Br<Subscript>5</Subscript>

The KPb₂Cl₅ and KPb₂Br₅ crystals are monoclinic (P2₁/c) with a microtwinned structure. X-ray analysis of chloride resulted in the parameters a = 8.854(2) Å, b = 7.927(2) Å, c = 12.485(3) Å; β = 90.05(3)°, d_calc = 4.78(1) g/cm³ (STOE STADI4, MoK_α, 2θ_max = 80°), R₁ = 0.0702 for 4094 F ≥ 4 σ(F) reflections. For bromide, a = 9.256(2) Å, b = 8.365(2) Å, c = 13.025(3) Å; β = 90.00(3)°, d_calc = 5.62(1) g/cm³ (Bruker P4, MoK_α, 2θ_max = 70°), R₁ = 0.0692 for 3076 F ≥ 4 (F) reflections.     

Specific heat on Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ta<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Summary Specific heats on the single crystals of Sr₂Nb₂O₇, Sr₂Ta₂O₇ and (Sr_1-xBa_x)₂Nb₂O₇ were measured in a wide temperature range of 2-600 K. Heat anomalies of a λ-type were observed at the incommensurate phase transition of T_INC (=495 K) on Sr₂Nb₂O₇ and at the super-lattice phase transition of T_SL (=443 K) on Sr₂Ta₂O₇; the transition enthalpies and the transition entropies were estimated. Furthermore, a small heat anomaly was observed at the low temperature ferroelectric phase transition of T_LOW (=95 K) on Sr₂Nb₂O₇. The transition temperature T_LOW decreases with increasing Ba content x and it vanishes for samples of x>2%.     

Structural and electronic properties of aln and bn wide-gap semiconductors and their B<Subscript>x</Subscript>Al<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>N solid solutions

The structural and electronic properties of B_xAl_1−x N solid solutions (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) were examined by calculating the electronic energy structure by the local coherent potential method within the framework of multiple scattering theory. The charge is transferred from aluminum to nitrogen atoms and increases with the content of boron atoms. The concentration dependences of the structural and electronic properties of these solutions are discussed. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 46, No. 5, pp. 822–829, September–October, 2005.