Effect of in impurity on crystallization kinetics of (Se.7Te.3)100−xInx system

The effect of In impurity on the crystallization kinetics and the changes taking place in the structure of (Se₇Te₃) have been studied by DTA measurements at different heating rates (α=5 deg·min^?1, 10 deg·min^?1, 15 deg·min^?1 and 20 deg·min^?1). From the heating rate dependence of the values ofT _g,T _c andT _p, the glass transition activation energy (E _t) and the crystallization activation energy (E _c) have been obtained for different compositions of (Se₇Te₃)_100?xIn_x (0≤×≤20). The variation of viscosity as a function of temperature has been evaluated using Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher equation. The crystallization data are analysed using Kissinger's and Matusita's approach for nonisothermic crystallization. It has been found that for samples containing In=0, 10, 15, 20 at%, three dimensional nucleation is predominant whereas for samples containing In=5 at%, two dimensional nucleation is the dominant mechanism. The compositional dependence ofT _g and crystallization kinetics are discussed in terms of the modification of the structure of the Se?Te system.     

Measurements of VLE,vE and hE for binary mixtures of n-alkanes with chloro-alkylbenzenes

Results of a series of experimental investigations of the binary mixtures n-heptane—chlorobenzene and n-octane—benzyl chloride are reported: T, p, x, y data of vapour—liquid equilibria (VLE); h^E, T, x data of calorimetric measurements and v, T, x data of volumetric measurements. VLE data are checked for thermodynamic consistency and used to fit parameters of several g^E models. UNIFAC predictions and experimental data are compared. h^E and v^E data were correlated with Redlich-Kister polynomials.     

Magnetic phase diagrams and helical magnetic phases inMxNi1−xBr2 (M =Fe,Mn): A neutron diffraction and magneto-optical study

BelowT_N = 44K, NiBr₂ orders as an easy-plane antiferromagnet, but atT_IC ～ 23K it undergoes a transition to a helimagnetic phase whose propagation vector, τ, increases smoothly to a limiting value [0.027,0.027,0] at 4.2 K. The magnetic order in NiBr₂ andM_xNi_1?xBr₂ (M =Fe, Mn) is investigated by single-crystal neutron diffraction. In Fe_xNi_1?xBr₂ τ changes from the [110] to [100] direction at 3.7(17)% Fe. Its magnitude, andT_IC, remain constant up to 9.9(14)% Fe, but above this concentration a collinear, easy-axis structure is stable at all temperatures belowT_N, which decreases towards the value of 11 K in FeBr₂. Doping 2.9% Mn²⁺ into NiBr₂ decreasesT_IC slightly, in the manner previously observed for diamagnetic dopants. Refinement of powder X-ray diffraction profiles show the lattice distortions in the doped materials to be small, while the structures of some Fe_xNi_1?xBr₂ samples are confirmed by refinement of the powder neutron diffraction profiles. The temperature and field dependence of hot and cold exciton-magnon combination bands in the optical absorption spectra of Fe²⁺- and Mn²⁺-doped crystals give additional information about magnetic order. The magnetic behaviour is interpreted in terms of perturbations of the exchange constantsJ_1,2,3, andJ′ and the anisotropy constantD.     

Temperature effects on positronium formation and inhibition: a contribution to the elucidation of early spur processes. I. Glycerol/water mixtures

In order to elucidate the mechanism of positronium (Ps) formation in liquids, the effect of temperature, T, on the inhibiting properties of various solutes has been investigated in glycerol/water mixtures. Whereas the inhibition constants of Cl^? and I^? are found to increase markedly with T, that of CH₃NO₂ is T insensitive and that of NO₃^? diminishes with T. These findings are consistent with our previous model, according to which Ps would be formed via two pathways, either through the quasi-free entities or by the reaction of localized, not yet fully solvated, electrons and positrons. The increase with T of the Ps yield is found to be due to the fraction arising from the latter reaction. The results confirm Cl^? and I^? react with e_loc⁺, while CH₃NO₂ and NO₃^? scavenge quasi-free electrons. Regarding the behaviour of the inhibition constants of these latter solutes, a provisional explanation is given: CH₃NO₂ would scavenge epithermal electrons while NO₃^? would react with electrons at a lower energy state, in competition with the localization process. Hot Ps atoms are not likely to be involved.     

Author index to volume 49

The de-excitation rate constants of Ne(³P₂, ³P₀ and ³P₁) by N₂ and SF₆ were measured using a pulse radiolysis method combined with optical absorption spectroscopy. A new absorption law which relates the relative concentration S of absorbing atoms to the measured transmittance T, i.e. in S = Σ¹¹_{i = 0}a_iTⁱ, was used for analyzing the data. The presence of a small amount of SF₆ in the sample gas mixtures permitted removal of some artifacts due to thermal electrons for determining the rate constants.     

Magnetic interactions in ternary cobalt oxides with cubic perovskite structure

Magnetic properties were measured on the cubic perovskite systems SrCoO_3?δ, (La_1?xSr_x)CoO₃ (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1.0), and Sr(Co_1?xMn_x)O₃ (0 ≦ x ≦ 1.0). It is found that S²⁺ and La³⁺ ions strongly affect the spin state of the Co²⁺ ion and that the Mn⁴⁺ ion located at the octahedral site affects the spin state of Co⁴⁺ ion. The magnetic properties (T_c, T_θ, and σ) are explained by the magnetic interaction Co³⁺OCo³⁺, Co³⁺OCo⁴⁺, Co⁴⁺OCo⁴⁺, Mn⁴⁺OMn⁴⁺, and Mn⁴⁺OCo⁴⁺ in these systems.     

Resonant two-photon ionization of LiNa. Observation and preliminary characterization of five new singlet states

Supersonic molecular beams containing rotationally and vibrationally cold LiNa were probed by one- and multi-photon ionization. Results include determination of a vertical ionization potential (5.05 ± 0.04 eV) as well as first observation of five new singlet states. Preliminary spectroscopic constants (Te, w_e and w_ex_e) and term symbols are reported for these five states (A ¹Σ⁺, C¹ Σ⁺, D ¹Π, E¹ Σ⁺ and F¹ E⁺).     

Calculation of the potential energy curves for the low-lying doublet and quartet states of the CN radical

The potential energy curves of the low-lying X²Σ⁺, A²π_i, B²Σ⁺,⁴Σ⁺, and ⁴π states of CN are calculated by the MC SCF (CAS SCF) method. Their vibrational levels and the molecular constants obtained are in good agreement with those determined in our recent experimental analysis of the CN (B²Σ⁺-X²Σ⁺) emission spectrum. several intensity anomalies in the observed spectrum are ascribed to perturbations between the B²Σ⁺ and ⁴π states with the following vibrational quantum numbers: (υ_B, υ_π)=(9,x), (11, x+2), (12, x+3), (14, x+6), (17, x+11), and (18, x+13), where x = 0 is the most probable assignment. Likewise, the perturbations between the B²Σ⁺ and ⁴Σ⁺ states with (υ_B, υ_Σ) = (11, y), (13, y+3) are interpreted as y = 8±1.     

Li ion dynamics in Li3xLa2/3–x□1/3–2xTiO3 studied by NMR

⁷Li nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times, T₁ and T_1ρ, versus temperature are reported in the 150–900 K temperature range on the lithium lanthanum titanates, Li_3xLa_2/3–x□_1/3–2xTiO₃, which are fast ionic conductors. Two characteristic frequencies of Li⁺ motions are evidenced in these compounds: the first is in the range of the Larmor frequency when the second one is in the range of the radio-frequency field. These frequencies are respectively attributed to motion of the Li⁺ ion inside the cage formed by the oxygen ions and to jumps between the cages. The T₁ and T_1ρ studies on ⁶Li nuclei confirm the above results and show that the relaxation is not due to quadrupolar interaction at a variance, which is generally accepted.     

Thermodynamic dissociation constants of silychristin, silybin, silydianin and mycophenolate by the regression analysis of spectrophotometric data

Mixed dissociation constants of four drug acids, i.e. silychristin, silybinin, silydianin and mycophenolate at various ionic strengths I of range 0.01 and 0.30 and at temperatures of 25 and 37 °C were determined using the SQUAD(84) regression analysis program applied to pH-spectrophotometric titration data. The proposed strategy of an efficient experimentation in a protonation constants determination, followed by a computational strategy for the chemical model with a protonation constants determination, is presented on the protonation equilibria of silychristin. The thermodynamic dissociation constant pK_a^T was estimated by non-linear regression of {pK_a, I} data at 25 and 37 °C: for silychristin pK_a,1^T=6.52(16) and 6.62(1), pK_a,2^T=7.22(13) and 7.41(5), pK_a,3^T=8.96(9) and 8.94(9), pK_a,4^T=10.17(7) and 10.03(8), pK_a,5^T=11.89(4) and 11.63(7); for silybin pK_a,1^T=7.00(4) and 6.86(5), pK_a,2^T=8.77(11) and 8.77(3), pK_a,3^T=9.57(8) and 9.62(1), pK_a,4^T=11.66(3) and 11.38(1); for silydianin pK_a,1^T=6.64(7) and 7.10(6), pK_a,2^T=7.78(5) and 8.93(1), pK_a,3^T=9.66(9) and 10.06(11), pK_a,4^T=10.71(7) and 10.77(7), pK_a,5^T=12.26(5) and 12.14(5); for mycophenolate pK_a^T=8.32(1) and 8.14(1). Goodness-of-fit tests for various regression diagnostics enabled the reliability of parameter estimates to be found.     

Solution precursor synthesis and magnetic properties of Eu1−xCaxTiO3

Europium titanate, EuTiO₃, is a paraelectric/antiferromagnetic cubic perovskite with T_N=5.5 K. It is predicted that compressive strain could induce simultaneous ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism in this material, leading to multiferroic behavior. As an alternative to epitaxial strain, we explored lattice contraction via chemical substitution of Eu²⁺ with the smaller Ca²⁺ cation as a mechanism to tune the magnetic properties of EuTiO₃. A modified sol-gel process was used to form homogeneously mixed precursors containing Eu³⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ti⁴⁺, and reductive annealing was used to transform these precursors into crystalline powders of Eu_1−xCa_xTiO₃ with x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.65, 0.80, and 1.00. Powder XRD data indicated that a continuous Eu_1−xCa_xTiO₃ solid solution was readily accessible, and the lattice constants agreed well with those predicted by Vegard's law. SEM imaging and EDS element mapping indicated a homogeneous distribution of Eu, Ca, and Ti throughout the polycrystalline sample, and the actual Eu:Ca ratio agreed well with the nominal stoichiometry. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility vs. temperature indicated antiferromagnetic ordering in samples with x≤0.60, with T_N decreasing from 5.4 K in EuTiO₃ to 2.6 K in Eu_0.40Ca_0.60TiO₃. No antiferromagnetic ordering above 1.8 K was detected in samples with x>0.60.     

Non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics study on Se90−xIn10Sbx (x = 0, 1, 2, 4, 5) chalcogenide glasses

The non-isothermal crystallisation kinetics of Se_90?xIn₁₀Sb_x (x = 0, 1, 2, 4, 5) chalcogenide glasses prepared by a conventional melt quenching technique was studied using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement at different heating rates 5, 7, 10 and 12 °C min^?1. The values of the glass transition temperature T _g and the crystallisation temperature T _c are found to be composition and heating rate dependent. The activation energy of glass transition E _g, Avrami index n, dimensionality of growth m and activation energy of crystallisation E _c have been determined from different models.     

Structural, magnetic, and electrochemical studies on lithium insertion materials LiNi1−xCoxO2 with 0≤x≤0.25

The structural, magnetic, and electrochemical properties of the LiNi_1−xCo_xO₂ samples with x= 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.25 have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction analyses, magnetic susceptibility (χ) measurements, and electrochemical charge and discharge test in non-aqueous lithium cell. According to the structural analyses using a Rietveld method, the occupancy of the Ni ions in the Li layer was estimated to be below 0.01 for all the samples and was eventually independent of x. The temperature (T) dependence of χ⁻¹ obtained with the magnetic field H=10 kOe indicated that all the samples are a Curie-Weiss paramagnet down to . At low T, all the samples entered into a spin-glass-like phase below T_f. The magnitude of T_f was found to decrease almost linearly with x, as in the case for the x dependences of the lattice parameters of a_h- and c_h-axes, Weiss temperature, and effective magnetic moment. It is, therefore, found that the change of the magnetic properties with x is simply explained by a dilution effect due to the increase of the quantity of Co³⁺ ions. On the other hand, the electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the irreversible capacity at the initial cycle is drastically decreased by the small amount of Co ions. Furthermore, the discharge capacity (Q_dis) for the x=0.05 and 0.1 samples are larger than that for the x=0 sample; namely, Q_dis=180 mAh g⁻¹ for x=0, Q_dis=217 mAh g⁻¹ for x=0.05, and Q_dis=206 mAh g⁻¹ for x=0.1. Comparing with the past results, the amount of Ni ions in the Li layer is found to play a significant role for determining the magnetic and electrochemical properties of LiNi_1−xCo_xO₂.     

Effect of γ-irradiation on optical and electrical properties of Se1−xTex

The effect of γ-irradiation on optical and electrical properties of amorphous and polycrystalline Se_1−xTe_x (0.211<x<0.802) thin films of thickness 180 nm were investigated. The analysis of the absorption coefficient data revealed the existence of indirect transition both before and after irradiating. It was observed that the value of the optical energy gap depends on the value of x, decreasing as x increases. It was found also that the optical energy gap decreases with an increase of γ-doses for all compositions. The obtained results for all Se_1−xTe_x, films have been interpreted in terms of density of states model of Mott and Davis. From the experiment of electrical conductivity σ at various temperatures, it was observed that Se_1−xTe_x. films exhibited ln σ versus T⁻¹ relationships at high temperatures and ln σ(T)^1/2 versus T^−1/4 hopping conductivity behaviour at low temperatures. It was found that the thermal activation energies ΔE decrease with increasing Te content and increases with decreasing γ-doses. X-ray diffraction patterns for the as-deposited Se_1−xTe_x, show that polycrystalline films start to appear for x>0.407.     

Impact of metal substitutions for cobalt in YBaCo4O7

The “114” YBaCo₄O₇ cobaltite undergoes structural transition just beyond room temperature at T_S∼310 K. Correspondingly, its signature in the physical properties is detected by T-dependent measurements of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and thermoelectric power. It is found that low-level substitutions of divalent (M=Zn²⁺) or trivalent (M=Ga³⁺, Al³⁺) cations for cobalt according to the YBaCo_4−xM_xO₇ formula with x?0.4 have a strong impact upon this transition. On the one hand, Zn²⁺ substitutions preserve the transition but with T_S decreasing as x increases. On the other hand, for x=0.2 Ga³⁺ or Al³⁺, the transition is suppressed, i.e., for only 5% trivalent foreign cation substituted for cobalt. Though at first, this contrasted behaviour between divalent and trivalent substituting cations appears to be linked to the opposite evolution of hole carriers “Co³⁺” concentration with x, a possible destabilization of 3Co²⁺: 1Co³⁺ charge ordering induced by the M³⁺ cations is considered.     

Determination of the population,depopulation and the anisotropic spin lattice relaxation rates in the photoexcited triplet state of phenazine. A light modulation-EPR study

The photoexcited triplet state of phenazine in toluene glasses at 35 K is investigated by light modulation-EPR spectroscopy. From the transient EPR spectra and the kinetics in the three canonical orientations (p = x, y, z) the rate parameters are determined. Thus, the depopulation rate constants k_p, the anisotropic spin lattice relaxation rate constants W_p, and the ratios between the population constants A_p are calculated: k_x = (2.2 ± 0.3) × 10² s^?1, k_y = (0.21 ± 0.04) × 10² s^?1, k_z = (0.06 ± 0.03) × 10² s^?1, W_x = (8.6 ± 0.9) × 10³ s^?1, W_y = (11.0 ± 1.0) × 10³ s^?1, W_z = (14.0 ± 1.4) × 10³ s^?1, and A_x: _Ay:A_z ≈ 1:0.04:0.02. It is concluded therefore that the in-plane spin state |τ_x > is the active one.     

Characterisation by rotational spectroscopy of a hydrogen-bonded dimer formed between H2O and HCN

The rotational spectra in the vibrational ground states of (H₂O, HC¹⁴N) and (H₂O, HC¹⁵N) have been assigned in the frequency range 6–19 GHz. Values of rotational constants (B_O, C_O) and centrifugal distortion constants (Δ_J, Δ_JK) have been determined for both species, while the ¹⁴N-nuclear quadrupole coupling constants x_aa and x_bb have been established for the first. Observations concerning additional hyperfine structure arising from H,H nuclear spin-nuclear spin coupling in the H₂O subunit suggest that (H₂O,HCN) has a pair of equivalent protons and is effectively planar in the zero-point state. Observed spectroscopic constants are consistent only with the arrangement H₂O…HCN, with r(O…C) = 3.1387 Å.     

The lowest triplet state of pyrimidine in a crystalline host at 1.2 K. Total phosphorescence and Tx sublevel excitation spectra

Total phosphorescence and T_x sublevel excitation spectra of pyrimidine in benzene and cyclohexane are reported. With increasing excitation energy absorption into the¹B₁ nπ* vibronic ladder leads to an increase of the populating rate of T_y, T_z relative to T_x. For pyrimidine in benzene (p-xylene) a second electronic origin is observed 2416 (2260) cm^?1 above the S₁ S₀ 00 band and assigned to¹A₂ nπ*. The spin-orbit coupling mechanism that accounts for the intersystem crossing into T_x is discussed.     

Exchange interactions in R2Fe17−xGax (R=Y, Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho and Tm) compounds

We calculated the molecular field coefficients, n_FeFe and n_RFe (R=Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho and Tm), for R₂Fe_17−xGa_x and the values of n_FeFe and n_SmFe for R₂Fe_17−xT_x (T=Al and Si) using the experimental values of the Curie temperature. The values of n_FeFe increase in spite of the decrease of μ_Fe for 0?x?5. The values of n_SmFe have large values when the magnetic anisotropy is axial. For 6?x?8, the values of n_FeFe, n_HoFe and n_TmFe increase largely, which is related to the change of the easy magnetization direction. For Y₂Fe_17−xT_x (T=Ga and Al), the values of n_FeFe have a maximum value with increasing those of μ_Fe. With increasing V⁻¹, the values of n_FeFe have a maximum value around the same value of V⁻¹ for Y₂Fe_17−xT_x (T=Ga and Al). For Y₂Fe_17−xSi_x, the values of n_FeFe increase with increasing V⁻¹.