High-Resolution Study of the Atilde;A′→X?A″ Transition of DO2: Analysis of the 000-000 Band

The near-infrared emission spectrum of the Atilde;²A′→X?²A″ transition of DO₂ has been studied by Fourier-transform spectrometry. The 000→000 band has been recorded at high spectral resolution. ΔK_a=±1 subbands up to K_a′=12→K_a″=11 and K_a′=9→K_a″=10, comprising lines from rotational levels up to N′=34, have been observed. With about a factor of 5-10 lower intensity, ΔK_a=0 subbands 0-0 to 6-6 were found, which are due to magnetic dipole transitions. Several local perturbations extending over 3-10 N″ values were observed. Two prominent perturbations in the F₁ levels of the òA′, 000, K_a″=11 and 12 states are attributed to ΔK_a=0, ΔJ=0, ΔN=±1 interactions with the 211 level of the X?²A″ ground state. The rotational constants for HO₂ and DO₂ have been used to deduce the molecular geometry of HO₂ at the zero point levels of the X?²A″ and òA′ states.     

Investigations on the thermo-chemical stability and electrical conductivity of K-doped Ba3 − xKxCaNb2O9 − δ (x = 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25)

In this paper, we report the synthesis, crystal structure and electrical transport properties of new K-doped Ba₃CaNb₂O₉ (BCN) and investigate their chemical stability in H₂O and pure CO₂ at elevated temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) of Ba_2.5K_0.5CaNb₂O_9 − δ, Ba_2.25K_0.75CaNb₂O_9 − δ, Ba₂KCaNb₂O_9 − δ, and Ba_1.75K_1.25CaNb₂O_9 − δ showed the formation of a single-phase double perovskite (A₃BB^/₂O₉)-like cell with a lattice constant of a ∼ 2a_p (where a_p is a simple perovskite cell of ∼ 4 Å). Perovskite-like structure was found to be retained after treating with CO₂ at 700 °C and also after boiling H₂O for 120 h. The lattice constant of CO₂ and H₂O treated samples was found to be comparable to that of the corresponding as-prepared compound. The total electrical conductivity of all the investigated K-doped BCN increases with increasing K content in BCN in various atmospheres, including air, dry H₂, wet N₂ and wet H₂. The electrical conductivity in dry and wet H₂ atmospheres was found to be higher than that of air in the temperature range of 300-700 °C, while in wet N₂ a slightly lower value was observed. Among the compounds investigated in the present study Ba_1.75K_1.25CaNb₂O_9 − δ showed the highest total electrical conductivity of 1 × 10^− 3 S/cm in dry H₂ at 700 °C with an activation energy of 1.28 eV in the temperature range of 300-700 °C.     

The 1-v″ bands progression of the BΣ → XΣ system of CO

The B²Σ⁺ → X²Σ⁺ (0-1, 2, 3, 4 progression) electronic transition of ¹²C¹⁷O⁺ was first observed and analyzed by Szajna and Ke¸pa [Spectrochim. Acta A 65 (2006) 1014-1020]. We have now extended our previous studies. The use of high resolution conventional spectroscopic techniques has allowed first rotational analysis of the 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 and 1-5 bands of the first negative system in the 37,000-43,000 cm⁻¹ spectral region. Approximately 500 transition wavenumbers were measured with an estimated accuracy of 0.005 cm⁻¹. The present data were combined with the previous measurements to yield an improved set of molecular constants for the B²Σ⁺(v′ = 0, 1) and X²Σ⁺(v″ = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The v′ = 1 and v″ = 5 vibrational levels were observed for the first time and the main molecular constants are (in cm⁻¹, one standard deviation in parentheses)

B2Σ+		X2Σ+
B1 = 1.710792(20)		B5 = 1.825694(23)
D1 = 7.799(15) × 10−6		D5 = 6.085(21) × 10−6
γ1 = 1.9491(37) × 10−2		γ5 = [8.381] × 10−3

Full-size table

     

Sub-Doppler laser absorption spectroscopy of the AΠi − XΣ (1, 0) band of CN: Measurement of the N hyperfine parameters in AΠ CN

Measurements of multiple rotational lines in the (1, 0) band of the A²Π_i − X²Σ⁺ “red” system of the cyanogen radical (CN) at sub-Doppler resolution are reported. The CN radical was produced by 193 nm photodissociation of NCCN (ethane dinitrile) and detected with a Ti:sapphire ring laser operating near 10 900 cm⁻¹. The sample was exposed to a weak, frequency-modulated probe beam and a strong, counterpropagating bleach laser beam. Demodulated probe laser signals display absorption and dispersion features derived from Doppler-free saturation of the hyperfine components as the laser scans across the central region of a Doppler-broadened rotational line spectrum. Hyperfine-resolved transition frequencies were combined with known ground-state X²Σ hyperfine term values to determine A²Π state hyperfine term values, which were analyzed in terms of an effective Hamiltonian for the A²Π state. All the expected hyperfine and ¹⁴N quadrupolar parameters were determined and their values analyzed in terms of a simple molecular orbital picture of the bonding in the radical. Higher sensitivity obtained with 400 kHz amplitude modulation of the bleach laser and additional phase-sensitive detection allowed hyperfine splittings in some rotational lines of ¹³C¹⁴N to be observed in natural abundance. Excited state hyperfine splittings were determined for a selection of rotational states, but not enough to determine the ¹³C hyperfine parameters.     

Spectroscopy of AlO: Combined analysis of the AΠi → XΣ and BΣ → XΣ transitions

A combined analysis of the A²Π_i → X²Σ⁺ and B²Σ⁺ → X²Σ⁺ band systems of AlO, involving 21,500 line assignments, has been performed. The analysis indicates that the previously reported γ values of the B²Σ⁺ state are questionable. The present analysis shows that γ(B²Σ⁺) ≈ 0.014 cm⁻¹, essentially independent of the vibrational level. The positive sign is consistent with second order interaction with the higher-lying C²Π_r and lower-lying A²Π_i states. It also appears that many of the previously reported γ and γ_D values of X²Σ⁺ (v > 0) are doubtful. In fact, γ(X²Σ⁺) is observed to become increasingly negative for v″ > 1, due to second order interaction with the low-lying A²Π_i state. The present results are based on models where the hyperfine structure of the ²Σ⁺ states has been taken into account explicitly. Intensity patterns of the branches of the B²Σ⁺ → X²Σ⁺ system have been shown to be influenced by the case bβ_S coupling in the ground state v = 0,1 levels. This gives rise to intensity differences of around 10 percent in the R₁/R₂ and P₁/P₂ doublet components. The synthesized intensity patterns are fully in accord with the F₁/F₂ assignments of the present work.     

Formation,structure, and properties of “welded” <Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>-BN/graphene compounds

Structures of h-BN/graphene with holes where atoms at the edges are bonded to each other by sp² hybridized C–B and C–N bonds and form continuous junctions from layer to layer with topological defects inside holes have been considered. Their formation, as well as the moiré-type stable atomic structure of such compounds (with different rotation angles of graphene with respect to the hexagonal boron nitride monolayer) with closed hexagonal holes in the AA centers of packing of the moiré superlattice, has been studied. The stability, as well as the electronic and mechanical properties, of such bilayer BN/graphene nanomeshes has been analyzed within electron density functional theory. It has been shown that they have semiconducting properties. Their electronic band structures and mechanical characteristics differ from the respective properties of separate monolayer nanomeshes with the same geometry and arrangement of holes.     

Stability, oxygen permeability and chemical expansion of Sr(Fe,Al)O3 − δ- and Sr(Co,Fe)O3 − δ-based membranes

Perovskite-type SrFe_0.7Al_0.3O_3 − δ and SrCo_0.8Fe_0.2O_3 − δ, and two related dual-phase composites with nominal compositions (SrFeO_3 − δ)_0.7(SrAl₂O₄)_0.3 and (SrCo_0.8Fe_0.2O_3 − δ)_0.7(SrAl₂O₄)_0.3, were comparatively studied employing controlled-atmosphere dilatometry, thermogravimetry, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and measurements of steady-state oxygen permeation fluxes through dense ceramic membranes. The composite materials display lower thermal and chemical expansion compared to the parent single-phase perovskites. The thermal expansion coefficients at 1023-1223 K are however still high, (20-23) × 10^− 6 K^− 1 at atmospheric oxygen pressure and (17-18) × 10^− 6 K^− 1 at p(O₂) = 10 Pa, thus limiting the range of possible membrane reactor configurations. Sr(Co,Fe)O_3 − δ-based materials exhibit extensive vacancy-ordering processes in inert atmospheres, resulting in a slow relaxation of the oxygen nonstoichiometry, chemical expansion and oxygen permeation fluxes. In comparison to Sr(Fe,Al)O_3 − δ, the stability of cobalt-containing ceramics in CO₂ is also poor, which leads to a partial blocking of the membrane surface by decomposition products and degradation of the oxygen transport. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the interaction with carbon dioxide occurs even at elevated temperatures, up to 1223 K. Under high oxygen chemical potential gradients such as air/(H₂-H₂O), the composite membranes showed kinetically stable operation without bulk decomposition at 1073 K. The kinetic stabilization associated with surface-limited oxygen permeation was confirmed by the conversion-electron Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis of one (SrFeO_3 − δ)_0.7(SrAl₂O₄)_0.3 membrane exposed to dry CH₄ at 1173 K, where no traces of Fe²⁺ and metallic iron were detected in the reduced surface layer.     

Oxygen nonstoichiometry, defect structure and electrical properties of LaFe0.7Ni0.3O3 − δ

Oxygen nonstoichiometry (δ), total conductivity (σ) and thermoelectric power (S) of the LaFe_0.7Ni_0.3O_3 − δ sample have been studied as functions of temperature and oxygen partial pressure. Based on the results of the direct reduction of the sample in hydrogen flow at 1100 °C the absolute oxygen content (3 − δ) has been found to vary from 2.999 to 2.974 in the range of 1273-1373 K and 10^− 3-0.21 atm. The point defect equilibrium models have been proposed and fitted to the set of experimental data in the form of log p(O₂) = f(δ)_T dependences. The values of standard thermodynamic quantities of defect formation reactions have been assessed. The joint analysis of oxygen nonstoichiometry, total conductivity and thermoelectric power has been performed using a small-polaron approach. The values of partial conductivity, partial thermopower and mobilities of electronic charge carriers have been calculated. The p-type semiconducting behavior of LaFe_0.7Ni_0.3O_3 − δ has been explained by the higher mobility values of electron holes than those of electrons in the whole range of thermodynamic parameters studied.     

Oxygen nonstoichiometry, thermo-chemical stability and lattice expansion of La0.6Sr0.4FeO3 − δ

The oxygen nonstoichiometry of La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO_3 − δ was measured at intermediate temperatures (773 to 1173 K) between 1 bar and the decomposition oxygen partial pressure by thermogravimetry and coulometric titration. The decomposition of the ABO₃ perovskite phase was found to occur at low oxygen partial pressures (below 10^− 20 bar). Using an atmosphere-controlled high-temperature XRD setup, the rhombohedral lattice parameters were obtained between 10^− 4 and 1 bar at 773 to 1173 K. A phase transition from rhombohedral to cubic might be expected to occur at high temperatures and for δ near the plateau at δ = [Sr] / 2. The lattice expansion was separated into “pure” thermal and chemically induced expansion by combining the lattice parameters with the oxygen nonstoichiometry data. The linear thermal expansion was formulated with a “pure” thermal expansion coefficient of α_th = 11.052 · 10^− 6 K^− 1 and a chemical expansion coefficient of α_chem = 1.994 · 10^− 2.The results were compared with previous data obtained for La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1 − yFe_yO_3 − δ with y = 0.2-0.8. La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO_3 − δ was confirmed to show the highest thermo-chemical stability. While the chemical expansion of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_1 − yFe_yO_3 − δ seems little affected by the iron content, the thermal expansion coefficient was the lowest for La_0.6Sr_0.4FeO_3 − δ.     

Fluorination of perovskite-related phases of composition La1−xSrxFe1−yCoyO3−δ

We report here on the fluorination of the perovskite-related phases La_1−xSr_xFe_1−yCo_yO_3−δ. The introduction of fluorine in place of oxygen is achieved through a low-temperature (400 °C) reaction with poly(vinylidene fluoride). X-ray powder diffraction data show that in all cases the fluorination leads to an expansion in the unit cell, which is consistent with partial replacement of oxygen by fluorine and consequent reduction in the oxidation state of iron and/or cobalt. This reduction in oxidation state is confirmed by X-ray absorption- and Mössbauer-spectroscopy. The Mössbauer spectra show complex magnetically split hyperfine patterns for the fluorinated samples, reflecting the interactions between Fe³⁺ ions, which are not possible in oxides containing Fe⁴⁺.     

Study of Features of the Composition,Magnetic, and Crystal Structure of Barium Hexaferrite BaFe12 – xTixO19

Physics of the Solid State - The features of the composition, crystal, and magnetic structure of Ti-substituted barium hexaferrite BaFe12&nbsp;–&nbsp;xTixO19 (0.25 ≤ x ≤...     

Fabrication, sintering and electrical properties of cobalt oxide doped Gd0.1Ce0.9O2 − δ

Ceria-based electrolytes have been widely researched in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), which might be operated at 500~600 °C. Gd0.1Ce0.9O1.95(GDC10) powders were prepared by a modified chemical co-precipitation process with Gd(NO3)3 and Ce(NO3)3 as precursors, and ammonia and hydrogen peroxide as precipitants. The precursors of GDC10 were fired at 350 °C for 2 h, then the fluorite structure cerias were identified by X-ray diffraction. The powders are well crystallized, with the size about 5 nm and surface area of 148.3 m2/g. Loading 1mol% cobalt oxide as additive, the GDC10 were succeeded to densify at 950 °C by liquid phase sintering mechanism. The grain size of 1CoGDC10 is small, about 100 nm. The electrical conductivity of samples sintered at 950 °C is about 0.01S/cm at 600 °C. The existence of cobalt oxide and smaller grain size of 1CoGDC10 don't affect the electrical conductivity.     

High stability of the goldalloy fullerenes:A density functional theory investigation of M₁₂@Au₂₀（M=Na,Al,Ag,Sc,Y,La,Lu,and Au） clusters

Discovering highly stable metal fullerenes such as the celebrated C 60 is interesting in cluster science as they have potential applications as building blocks in new nanostructures.We here investigated the structural and electronic properties of the fullerenes M 12 @Au 20(M=Na,Al,Ag,Sc,Y,La,Lu,and Au),using a first-principles investigation with the density functional theory.It is found that these compound clusters possess a similar cage structure to the icosahedral Au 32 fullerene.La 12 @Au 20 is found to be particularly stable among these clusters.The binding energy of La 12 @Au 20 is 3.43 eV per atom,1.05 eV larger than that in Au 32.The highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(HOMO-LUMO) gap of La 12 @Au 20 is only 0.31 eV,suggesting that it should be relatively chemically reactive.     

Rotational analysis of the (3, 6) band in the comet-tail (AΠi -XΣ) system of CO

The direct observation and rotational analysis of the (3, 6) band in the comet-tail (A²Π_i-X²Σ⁺) system of CO⁺ are carried out for the first time employing optical heterodyne and magnetic rotation enhanced velocity modulation spectroscopy. That 193 lines are assigned to this band ranging from 12 100 to 12 370 cm⁻¹ results in most accurate molecular constants by nonlinear least-squares fitting procedure employing the effective Hamiltonians.     

Peculiarities of the magnetic,galvanomagnetic, elastic,and magnetoelastic properties of Sm<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Sr<Subscript>x</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

Manganites of the Sm1?xSr_xMnO₃ system (x=0.33, 0.4, and 0.45) possess giant negative values of the magnetoresistance Δρ/ρ and the volume magnetostriction ω near the Curie temperature T_C. In the compound with x=0.33, the isotherms of Δρ/ρ, ω, and magnetization σ exhibit smooth variation and do not reach saturation up to maximum magnetic field strengths (120 kOe) studied (according to the neutron diffraction data, this substance comprises a ferromagnetic (FM) matrix with distributed clusters of a layered antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure of the A type). In the compounds with x=0.4 and 0.45 containing, besides the FM matrix and A-type AFM phase, a charge-ordered AFM phase of the CE type (thermally stable to higher temperatures as compared to the A-type AFM and the FM phases), the same isotherms measured at T ≥ T_C show a jumplike increase in the interval of field strengths between H_c1 and H_c2 and then reach saturation. In the interval H_c1 > H > H_c2, the σ, ω, and Δρ/ρ values exhibit a metastable behavior. At temperatures above T_C, the anisotropic magnetostriction changes sign, which is indicative of rearrangements in the crystal structure. The giant values of ω and Δρ/ρ observed at T ≥ T_C for all compounds, together with excess (relative to the linear) thermal expansion and a maximum on the ρ(T) curve, are explained by the phenomenon of electron phase separation caused by a strong s-d exchange. The giant values of magnetoresistance and volume magnetostriction (with ω reaching ～10^?3) are attributed to an increase in the volume of the FM phase induced by the applied magnetic field. In the compound with x=0.33, this increase proceeds smoothly as the FM phase grows through the FM layers in the A-type AFM phase. In the compounds with x=0.4 and 0.45, the FM phase volume increases at the expense of the charge-ordered CE-type AFM structure (in which spins of the neighboring manganese ions possess an AFM order). The jumps observed on the σ(H) curves, whereby the magnetization σ reaches ～70% of the value at T=1.5 K, are indicative of a threshold character of the charge-ordered phase transition to the FM state. Thus, the giant values of ω and Δρ/ρ are inherent in the FM state, appearing as a result of the magnetic-field-induced transition of the charge-ordered phase to the FM state, rather than being caused by melting of this phase.     

Stretch-Bender Calculations of the Rovibronic Energies in the Excited, ÃA1, Electronic State of NH2 and of the Near-Resonant High-Lying Levels of the X?B1 State

The extended stretch-bender Hamiltonian, incorporating spin-orbit coupling and overall rotation, has been used to calculate the spin-vibronic structure of the rovibronic energies in the region where the vibronic states of the excited òA₁ electronic state of NH₂ interact with near-resonant high-lying levels of the X?²B₁ state of NH₂. A detailed comparison has been made with the experimental measurements which were made of these rovibronic states, the majority of which are due to Ramsay, Vervloet, and their collaborators. We have shown that, as in our study of the vibronic levels of the X?²B₁ state below the barrier to linearity, in order to fit the variation of the effective vibronic spin-orbit coupling constant over the whole of this energy regime, the effective linear molecule spin-orbit coupling constant, A_SO must be increased from the earlier value of 50 cm⁻¹ of Ch. Jungen, K.-E. J. Hallin, and A. Merer (Mol. Phys.40, 65-94 (1980)) to 61.6 cm⁻¹. The impact of Fermi resonance, in both the òA₁ and X?²B₁ states, on the observed rovibronic structure has been assessed. The pattern of calculated spin-rovibronic levels, including the effects of spin uncoupling, is in good agreement with that measured experimentally.     

Investigation on the effects of addition of SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles on ionic conductivity,FTIR, and thermal properties of nanocomposite PMMA–LiCF<Subscript>3</Subscript>SO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Composite polymer electrolyte systems composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as the host polymer, lithium trifluoromethanesulphonate (also known as lithium triflate; LiCF₃SO₃) as dopant salt, and a variety of different concentrations of nano-sized fumed silica (SiO₂) as inorganic filler were studied. The effect upon addition of SiO₂ on the ionic conductivity of the composite polymer electrolytes was investigated, and it was proven that the ionic conductivity had been enhanced. In addition, the interfacial stability also showed improvement. Maximum conductivity was obtained upon addition of 2 wt.% SiO₂. The complexation of PMMA and LiCF₃SO₃ was verified through Fourier transform infrared studies. The thermal stability of the polymer electrolytes was also found to improve after dispersion of inorganic filler. This was proven in the thermogravimetric studies.     

Structure,stability, and thermomechanical properties of Ca-substituted Pr<Subscript>2</Subscript>NiO<Subscript>4 + δ</Subscript>

Ca-substituted layered nickelates with a general Pr_2–x Ca _x NiO_{4 + δ} composition (x = 0–0.7, Δx = 0.1) were prepared in the present work and their structural and physic-chemical properties were investigated in order to select the most optimal materials, which can be used as cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells. With an increase in Ca content in Pr_2–x Ca _x NiO_{4 + δ} the following tendencies were observed: (i) a decrease in the concentration of nonstoichiometric oxygen (δ), (ii) a decrease in the unit cell parameters and volume, (iii) stabilization of the tetragonal structure, (iv) a decrease of the thermal expansion coefficients, and (v) enchancement of thermodynamic stability and compatibility with selected oxygen- and proton-conducting electrolytes. The Pr_1.9Ca_0.1NiO_{4 + δ} material, having highest δ value, departs from the general “properties–composition” dependences ascertained. This indicates that oxygen non-stoichiometry has determining influence on the functional properties of layered nickelates.     

Effects of Zn substitution on the magnetic and transport properties of La0.6Sr0.4Mn1−yZnyO3−δ (0≤y≤0.3)

Phase-singular solid solutions of La_0.6Sr_0.4Mn_1−yZn_yO_3−δ(0≤y≤0.3) [LSMZO] perovskite of rhombohedral symmetry (space group: ) with y up to 30 at.% could be synthesized notwithstanding the differences in ionic radii of Mn_{V I}³⁺ (i.r.=0.645 Å) and Zn_{V I}²⁺ (i.r.=0.74 Å). The LSMZO≤02 compositions are ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) at room temperature whereas LSMZO-02-08 are ferromagnetic insulators (FMI) and LSMZO>08 are paramagnetic insulators (PMI). Total obliteration of the FM transition is unique to Zn-doping at leading to PMI even at low temperatures, measured up to 8 K (presently). The FM to PM transition (T_c) and the peak (T_p) in resistivity-temperature curves decreases with the Zn-content. The charge-transport in p-type LSMZO is predictable by variable range hopping (VRH), which changes to nearest-neighbor hopping of small polarons (NNHP) at T>T_p. Non-stoichiometry (0.005≤δ≤0.21) evaluated chemically from redox titrations indicated the prevalence of excess oxygen vacancy rather than charge compensatively predictable values which, in turn, indicates the diminishing Mn⁴⁺ content in LSMZO. The ’s act as electron donors in p-LSMZO and this increases the resistivity (ρ_RT) associated with the shift in T_c to low temperatures. Increased ρ_RT on annealing in low is a clear evidence on the role of in LSMZO.     

Assignment, fit, and theoretical discussion of the ν10 band of acetaldehyde near 509 cm

The lowest small-amplitude vibration in acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO) is the in-plane aldehyde scissors mode ν₁₀ at 509 cm⁻¹. This mode lies about 175 cm⁻¹ above the top of the barrier to internal rotation of the methyl group and is relatively well separated from other small-amplitude vibrational states (the next fundamental occurring more than 250 cm⁻¹ higher). It thus provides an excellent example of an isolated small-amplitude fundamental (bright state) embedded in a bath of dark states. Since the bath states at these energies are not too dense, and since they arise purely from states of the large-amplitude torsional vibration of the methyl rotor, a detailed spectroscopic analysis of interactions between the bright state and the bath states should be possible. This paper represents the first step toward that goal. We have assigned several thousand transitions in the ν₁₀ band (J ? 28, K ? 12), and have carried out a simultaneous fit of 2400 of these transitions (J ? 15, K ? 9) with over 8100 transitions to the torsional bath state levels. Three vibration-torsion interactions, which give rise to rather global level shifts of the order of 1 cm⁻¹ in the ν₁₀ levels, have been identified and quantitatively fit. A number of vibration-torsion-rotation interactions, which give rise to localized (avoided-crossing) shifts in ν₁₀ have also been determined. The present analysis indicates the need for reliable spectroscopic information on more of the torsional bath states in the immediate vicinity of the ν₁₀ levels. Possible ways of obtaining such information in future studies are considered.