Structural changes above the glass transition and crystallization in aluminophosphate glasses: an in situ high-temperature MAS NMR study

We present an in situ high-temperature nuclear magnetic resonance study on the structural changes in aluminophosphate glasses occurring in the temperature range between the glass transition temperature Tg and the crystallization temperature Tc, Tg < T < Tc. Decisive changes in the network organization between Tg and Tc in potassium aluminophosphate glasses in the compositional range 50K2O-xAl2O3-(50 - x)P2O5 with 2.5 < x < 20 could be monitored for the first time employing 1D 31P- and 27Al-MAS NMR. Accompanying ex situ NMR experiments (31P-RFDR NMR and 31P-{27Al} CP-HETCOR NMR) on devitrified samples were performed at room temperature to further characterize the phases formed during the crystallization process. The structural role of boron-which is known to inhibit the crystallization process in these aluminophosphate glasses-on short and intermediate length scales was analyzed employing 11B-MQMAS, 11B-{27Al} TRAPDOR and 11B-{31P} REDOR NMR spectroscopy.     

Composition and structure of the alpha-AlF3(0001) surface

Strong Lewis acid catalysts are widely used in a variety of industrial processes including Cl/F exchange reactions. Aluminum fluorides (AlF3) have great potential for use in such reactions. Despite the importance of the surface in the catalytic process little is known about the detailed atomic scale structure of AlF3 surfaces. In the current study we employ state of the art surface thermodynamics calculations based on hybrid-exchange density functional theory to predict the composition and structure of the basal plane surface of alpha-AlF3 for the first time. We examine four possible terminations of the alpha-AlF3 (0001) surface and demonstrate that the surface is terminated by a layer containing two fluorine atoms per cell at all realistic fluorine partial pressures. The fluorine ions in the outermost layer of the material reconstruct to mask the Al3+ ion from the external gas phase and consequently we would expect this surface to be inactive as a Lewis acid catalyst in line with experimental observation.     

Crystal structure and chemical bonding of the high-temperature phase of AgN3

The crystal structure of silver azide (AgN3) in its high-temperature (HT) modification was determined from X-ray powder diffraction data, recorded at T = 170 degrees C and was further refined by the Rietveld method. The structure is monoclinic (P21/c (No. 14), a = 6.0756(2) A, b = 6.1663(2) A, c = 6.5729(2) A, beta = 114.19(0) degrees, V = 224.62(14) A3, Z = 4) and consists of two-dimensional Ag and N containing layers in which the silver atoms are coordinated by four nitrogen atoms exhibiting a distorted square coordination environment. These sheets are linked together by weaker perpendicular Ag-N contacts, thus forming a 4 + 2 coordination geometry around the silver atoms. The phase transition has been characterized by DTA, DSC, and measurement of the density, as well as of the ionic conductivity. Both, the room-temperature and the HT phase are electrically insulating. This fact is getting support by DFT band structure calculations within the generalized gradient approximation, using the PBE functional. On the basis of the DFT band structure, the bonding characteristics of both phases are essentially the same. Finally, the implication of the existence of a low-symmetry HT-phase in a crystalline explosive concerning decomposition mechanisms is discussed.     

Crystal structure and the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of nanoscale BaTiO3

We have investigated the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition of various sizes of nanocrystalline barium titanate (BaTiO3) by using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Synchrotron X-ray scattering has been used to elucidate the room temperature structures of particles of different sizes by using both Rietveld refinement and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis. We observe the ferroelectric tetragonal phase even for the smallest particles at 26 nm. By using temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy and XRD, we find that the phase transition is diffuse in temperature for the smaller particles, in contrast to the sharp transition that is found for the bulk sample. However, the actual transition temperature is almost unchanged. Rietveld and PDF analyses suggest increased distortions with decreasing particle size, albeit in conjunction with a tendency to a cubic average structure. These results suggest that although structural distortions are robust to changes in particle size, what is affected is the coherency of the distortions, which is decreased in the smaller particles.     

An in situ time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction study of the humidity-induced phase transition in sodium monothiophosphate

Anhydrous β-Na₃PO₃S, obtained by rapid cooling, has been observed to convert to the more thermodynamically stable, anhydrous α-Na₃PO₃S upon exposure to a humid atmosphere. Though water plays a critical role in this polymorphic transformation, it is absent in both the initial and final materials. In situ time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction was used to track the progress of this transition as a function of time. Diffraction data were acquired using the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory. An empirical whole pattern fitting method was used to determine the polymorphic phase composition over time. The resulting data were evaluated using several solid-state kinetic models. The kinetics of this transition has been determined to be best described by either one- or two-dimensional diffusion. The significance of these models with respect to the physical phenomenon is discussed.     

Dynamic disorder in the crystal structure of an organic semiconductor: an unusual phase transition involving the heat capacity

(E,E)-1-[2-(4-Nitrophenyl)ethenyl]-4-[2-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]benzene was characterised by X-ray diffraction and shown to be dynamically disordered at room temperature. The structure was re-determined over a range of temperatures to infer the thermodynamic parameters related to this disorder. A phase transition of third order according to the Ehrenfest classification scheme was discovered. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimentally observed phase transition of formal third order. It can be explained by the involvement of long-range lattice vibrations.     

EuNdCuS3: Crystal structure of the high-temperature polymorph and properties

The X-ray diffraction structure of the high-temperature polymorph of complex sulfide EuNdCuS₃ is determined. The phase we prepared has an orthorhombic structure with the unit cell parameters a = 8.0648(3) Å, b = 4.0207(1) Å, c = 15.7924(3) Å, space group Pnma, Z = 4, Ba₂MnS₃ type structure. The sample is IR transparent in the range 1800–2800 cm^?1. Thermal expansion coefficient is found to experience jumps, which are characteristic of phase transitions.     

An atomistic MD simulation and pair-distribution-function study of disorder and reactivity of alpha-AlF3 nanoparticles

Cubic nanoparticles of alpha-AlF(3) containing 864 and 2048 atoms were investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations. Significant structural rearrangements of these particles occurred, primarily at the edges and corners of the particles, and 3 and 5 membered (Al-F-)(n) ring structures were observed in addition to the 4-membered rings seen in bulk alpha-AlF(3). These 3 and 5 membered ring structures are, however, present in other metastable forms of AlF(3), which are formed at low temperatures from high surface area precursors. The surfaces of the nanoparticles were very dynamic on the timescale of the MD run, Al-F bonds being continually broken and formed, resulting in the movement of the low coordinate Lewis acid Al sites on the surfaces of the particles. The Lewis acid sites, which represent the catalytically active sites for F/Cl exchange reactions, are largely present at the corners and edges of the particles. The particles show larger rhombohedral distortions than present in the bulk phase and do not undergo a rhombohedral to cubic phase transition at elevated temperatures. The results are compared with pair distribution function (PDF) analysis results from fluorinated gamma-Al(2)O(3), nanoparticles of AlF(3) prepared by plasma routes and alpha- and beta-AlF(3). Broad peaks between 3.3 and 4.5 A in the PDF plots of the fluorinated Al(2)O(3) and the nanoparticles indicate a distribution of Al-F distances arising from Al and F atoms in connected AlF(6) octahedra; this is consistent with the presence of ring structures other than those found in alpha-AlF(3).     

On the high-temperature phase transition of Gd5Si2Ge2

The first-order monoclinic-to-orthorhombic (beta-->gamma) phase transition of the giant magnetocaloric material Gd(5)Si(2)Ge(2) was studied using in situ high-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. A special crystal mounting procedure was developed to avoid crystal contamination by oxygen or nitrogen at high temperatures. The elastic beta-->gamma transformation occurs at 300-320 degrees C during heating, and it is reversible during fast and slow heating and slow cooling but irreversible during rapid cooling. Contrary to theoretical predictions, the macroscopic distribution of the Si and Ge atoms remains the same in both the orthorhombic gamma-polymorph and the monoclinic beta-phase. It appears that interstitial impurities may affect stability of both the monoclinic and orthorhombic phases. In the presence of small amounts of air, the beta-->gamma transformation is complete only at 600 degrees C. The interslab voids, which can accommodate impurity atoms, have been located in the structure, and an effect of partially filling these voids with oxygen or nitrogen atoms on the beta-gamma transition is discussed.     

Probing the dependence of long-range, four-atom interactions on intermolecular orientation: 3. Hydrogen and iodine

Two-laser, action spectroscopy experiments have been performed in the I(2)B-X, υ'-0 spectral region on H(2)···I(2) and D(2)···I(2) complexes to investigate the dependence of the H(2)/D(2) + I(2) intermolecular interactions on orientation. The spectra contain features associated with at least two different conformers of the ground-state H(2)/D(2)···I(2)(X,υ' = 0) complexes; one conformer has a preferred T-shaped geometry with the H(2)/D(2) moiety localized in a potential minimum that is orthogonal to the I-I bond axis, and the second conformer has a linear geometry with the H(2)/D(2) moiety positioned in minima at either end of the I(2) molecule, along the bond axis. Those features associated with complexes containing para-H(2)(j = 0), ortho-H(2)(j = 1), ortho-D(2)(j = 0), and para-D(2)(j = 1) are also assigned. The linear conformers are found to be more strongly bound than the T-shaped conformers with binding energies of 118.9(1.9) cm(-1) versus 91.3-93.3 cm(-1) for the ortho-H(2)···I(2) complexes and 144.2(2.1) cm(-1) versus 107.9 cm(-1) for the para-D(2)···I(2) complexes, respectively. Electronic structure calculations of the complexes containing ICl and I(2) with H(2), He, Ne, and Ar were performed to reveal the nature of the interactions and to shed insight into the origins of the different binding energies. The most stable minima in the H(2)/D(2) + I(2)(B,υ') excited-state potentials have T-shaped geometries. Calculated energies and probability amplitudes of the excited-state levels provide insight into the different excited-state intermolecular vibrational levels accessed by transitions of the two ground-state conformers.     

Origin of the monoclinic-to-monoclinic phase transition and evidence for the centrosymmetric crystal structure of BiMnO3

Structural properties of polycrystalline single-phased BiMnO3 samples prepared at 6 GPa and 1383 K have been studied by selected area electron diffraction (SAED), convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED), and the Rietveld method using neutron diffraction data measured at 300 and 550 K. The SAED and CBED data showed that BiMnO3 crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group C2/c at 300 K. The crystallographic data are a = 9.5415(2) A, b = 5.61263(8) A, c = 9.8632(2) A, beta = 110.6584(12) degrees at 300 K and a = 9.5866(3) A, b = 5.59903(15) A, c = 9.7427(3) A, beta = 108.601(2) degrees at 550 K, Z = 8, space group C2/c. The analysis of Mn-O bond lengths suggested that the orbital order present in BiMnO3 at 300 K melts above TOO = 474 K. The phase transition at 474 K is of the first order and accompanied by a jump of magnetization and small changes of the effective magnetic moment and Weiss temperature, mueff = 4.69 microB and theta = 138.0 K at 300-450 K and mueff = 4.79 microB and theta = 132.6 K at 480-600 K.     

The molecular structure of tetramethoxymethane in the gas phase: an electron diffraction study

The electron diffraction study of tetramethoxymethane showed that in the gas phase the molecule has S₄ symmetry, flattened along the S₄ axis. Central and peripheral C-O bond lengths are different, consistent with considerations based on the anomeric effect. Comparison is made with ab initio calculations on methanediol. The geometrical parameters (r_g(1) structure) are: central C-O bond 1.395 Å; peripheral C-O bond 1.422 Å; C-H bond 1.11 Å; O-C-O angle bisected by the S₄. axis 114.7°; C-O-C angle 114.0°; O-C-H angle 111.9°; methoxy torsional angle 63.1°; methyl torsional angle 48.5°.     

Probing the local structure of liquid water by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

It was recently suggested that liquid water primarily comprises hydrogen-bonded rings and chains, as opposed to the traditionally accepted locally tetrahedral structure (Wernet et al. Science 2004, 304, 995). This controversial conclusion was primarily based on comparison between experimental and calculated X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) using computer-generated ice-like 11-molecule clusters. Here we present calculations which conclusively show that when hydrogen-bonding configurations are chosen randomly, the calculated XAS does not reproduce the experimental XAS regardless of the bonding model employed (i.e., rings and chains vs tetrahedral). Furthermore, we also present an analysis of a recently introduced asymmetric water potential (Soper, A. K. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 2005, 17, S3273), which is representative of the rings and chains structure, and make comparisons with the standard SPC/E potential, which represents the locally tetrahedral structure. We find that the calculated XAS from both potentials is inconsistent with the experimental XAS. However, we also show the calculated electric field distribution from the rings and chains structure is strongly bimodal and highly inconsistent with the experimental Raman spectrum, thus casting serious doubt on the validity of the rings and chains model for liquid water.     

Electronic structure control of the nucleophilicity of transition metal-thiolate complexes: an experimental and theoretical study

New metal(II)-thiolate complexes supported by the tetradentate ligand 1,5-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,5-diazacyclooctane (L(8)py(2)) have been synthesized and subjected to physical, spectroscopic, structural, and computational characterization. The X-ray crystal structures of these complexes, [L(8)py(2)M(S-C(6)H(4)-p-CH(3))]BPh(4) (M = Co, Ni, Zn), reveal distorted square-pyramidal divalent metal ions with four equatorial nitrogen donors from L(8)py(2) and axial p-toluenethiolate ligands. The reactions of the complexes with benzyl bromide produce isolable metal(II)-bromide complexes (in the cases of Co and Ni) and the thioether benzyl-p-tolylsulfide. This reaction is characterized by a second-order rate law (nu = k(2)[L(8)py(2)M(SAr)(+)][PhCH(2)Br]) for all complexes (where M = Fe, Co, Ni, or Zn). Of particular significance is the disparity between k(2) for M = Fe and Co versus k(2) for M = Ni and Zn, in that k(2) for M = Ni and Zn is ca. 10 times larger (faster) than k(2) for M = Fe and Co. An Eyring analysis of k(2) for [L(8)py(2)Co(SAr)](+) and [L(8)py(2)Ni(SAr)](+) reveals that the reaction rate differences are not rooted in a change in mechanism, as the reactions of these complexes with benzyl bromide exhibit comparable activation parameters (M = Co: DeltaH() = 45(2) kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaS() = -144(6) J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1); M = Ni: DeltaH() = 43(3) kJ mol(-)(1), DeltaS() = -134(8) J mol(-)(1) K(-)(1)). Electronic structure calculations using density functional theory (DFT) reveal that the enhanced reaction rate for [L(8)py(2)Ni(SAr)](+) is rooted in a four-electron repulsion (or a "filled/filled interaction") between a completely filled nickel(II) d(pi) orbital and one of the two thiolate frontier orbitals, a condition that is absent in the Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes. The comparable reactivity of [L(8)py(2)Zn(SAr)](+) relative to that of [L(8)py(2)Ni(SAr)](+) arises from a highly ionic zinc(II)-thiolate bond that enhances the negative charge density on the thiolate sulfur. DFT calculations on putative thioether-coordinated intermediates reveal that the Co(II)- and Zn(II)-thioethers exhibit weaker M-S bonding than Ni(II). These combined results suggest that while Ni(II) may serve as a competent replacement for Zn(II) in alkyl group transfer enzymes, turnover may be limited by slow product release from the Ni(II) center.     

Probing the competition between secondary structures and local preferences in gas phase isolated peptide backbones

Combining laser desorption with a supersonic expansion together with the selectivity of IR/UV double resonance spectroscopy makes it possible to isolate and characterise the gas phase of remarkable backbone conformations of short peptide chains mimicking protein segments. A systematic bottom-up approach involving a conformer-specific IR study of peptide sequences of increasing sizes has enabled us to map the spectral signatures of the intramolecular interactions, which shape the peptide backbone, in particular H-bonds. The precise data collected are directly comparable to the most sophisticated quantum chemistry calculations of these species and therefore constitute a stringent test for the theoretical methods used. One-residue chains reveal the local conformational preference of the backbone and its dependence upon the nature of the residue. The investigation of longer chains provides evidence for a competition between simple successions of local conformational preferences along the chain and more folded structures, in which a new H-bonding network, involving distant H-bonding sites along the backbone, takes place. From three residues, the issue of helical folding can also be addressed. The present review of the gas phase literature data emphasizes the observation of remarkable secondary structures of biology, including short segments of beta-strands, gamma- and beta-turns, combinations of turns, including a 3(10) helix. It also provides evidence for the flexibility of the peptide chains, i.e., a critical influence of rather minor interactions (like side-chain/backbone interactions) on the conformational stability. Finally, the paper will discuss future promising directions of the present approach.     

Effect of molecular structure on the crystal-nematic phase transition

A systematic study of the crystal-nematic phase transition for a series of unsymmetricalp-phenylene bis (p-substituted benzoates) is reported. Differences in molecular structure along the series are in the nature of one small, compact terminal substituent. Enthalpy and entropy measurements are reported for the crystal-nematic transition as obtained by differential thermal analysis. A correlation between the thermodynamic data and molecular structure is presented.

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Zusammenfassung Eine systematische Untersuchung über den kristallin-nematischen Phasenübergang einer Reihe asymmetrischerp-Phenylen-bis-(p-substituierter Benzoate) wird bekanntgegeben. Die Unterschiede der Molekularstruktur der Serienglieder bestehen in der Beschaffenheit eines kleinen, kompakten, terminalen Substituenten. Die mittels Differentialthermoanalyse erhaltenen Enthalpie- und Entropiemessungen des kristallin-nematischen Überganges werden beschrieben. Eine Korrelation zwischen den thermodynamischen Daten und der Molekularstruktur wird gegeben.

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Résumé On communique les résultats d'une étude systématique de la transition de phase entre l'état cristallin et l'état nématique d'une série de benzoatesp-phénylène bisp-substitués asymétriques. Les différences de structure moléculaire des membres de la série sont dues à la nature d'un substituant terminal compact de faible dimension. On décrit les mesures d'enthalpie et d'entropie de la transition entre l'état cristallin et l'état nématique, effectuées par ATD. On présente une corrélation entre les données thermodynamiques et la structure moléculaire.

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Probing the local structure and mechanical response of nanostructures using force modulation and nanofabrication

Nanostructures of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are designed and produced using coadsorption and nanografting techniques. Because the structures of these artificially engineered domains are predesigned and well-characterized, a systematic investigation is possible to study the mechanical responses to force modulation under atomic force microscope tips. Force modulation imaging reveals characteristic contrast sensitivity to changes in molecular-level packing, molecule chain lengths, domain boundaries, and surface chemical functionalities in SAMs. By means of actively tuning the driving frequency, the resonances at the tip-surface contact are selectively activated. Therefore, specific surface features, such as the edges of the domains and nanostructures or desired chemical functionalities, can be selectively enhanced in the amplitude images. These observations provide a new and active approach in materials characterization and the study of nanotribology using atomic force microscopy.     

A Raman spectroscopic study of the phase transition of BaZr(PO4)2: Evidence for a trigonal structure of the high-temperature polymorph

We have studied the structural evolution of monoclinic BaZr(PO₄)₂ during heating up to 835 K by Raman spectroscopy. In agreement with previous studies we found a first-order phase transition at about 730 K during heating while upon cooling the reverse transition occurs at 705 K. However, some disagreement about the crystal structure of the high-temperature polymorph occurs in the literature. While the space group has not yet been determined, the X-ray diffraction pattern of the high-temperature phase has been indexed on either an orthorhombic or a hexagonal unit cell. We found that the number of Raman active internal PO₄ vibrational modes decrease from nine to six during the transition. A group theoretical survey through all orthorhombic, trigonal, and hexagonal factor groups revealed that the observed number of vibrations would only be consistent with the Ba and Zr atoms located at a site, the P and two O atoms at a C_3v(3m), and six O atoms at a C_s(m) site in the D_3d factor group. Based on our Raman data, the space group of the high-temperature polymorph is thus either , , or .