Direct observation of phase transitions of polyethylene under high pressure by a PSPC x-ray system

A position-sensitive proportional counter (PSPC) x-ray measuring system is employed to observe directly phase transition processes of polyethylene at high temperature and high pressure. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal important new experimental data. First, an irreversible crystal transition from the hexagonal to the orthorhombic structures occurs in the critical region where the hexagonal structure begins to appear at a pressure of 350 MPa. That is, the (100) hexagonal reflection is observed only on cooling at 350 MPa. At pressures above about 400 MPa, however, the hexagonal phase is stable and the phase transitions melt ? hexagonal ? orthorhombic occur reversibly. Second, during cooling at pressures above 400 MPa, the (100) hexagonal reflection can be observed at temperatures below the hexagonal ? orthorhombic transition temperature. This behavior suggests that all the crystal morphologies of polyethylene, from “highly-extended-chain” crystals to crystals with a low melting point, are formed by the transitions melt → hexagonal → orthorhombic. Third, in heating at elevated pressures above 500 MPa, a shoulder in the peak intensity versus temperature plot for the (100) hexagonal reflection is observed at a higher temperature than the large maximum which occurs immediately after the crystal transition. This behavior indicates melting in two stages of hexagonal structures with different thermal stabilities, and the shoulder at higher temperature may be due to the fusion of the hexagonal phase annealed either below or above the transition point.     

Preparation and crystal structure of Nb6.74 Ta5.26S4 – a new compound in the ternary system Ta?Nb?S

Nb_6.74Ta_5.26S₄ has been prepared by high temperature techniques. The crystal structure has been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data (R/R_w = 0.0588/0.0655). The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with unit cell dimensions a = 959.11 (26) pm, b = 336.37 (10) pm, and c = 3282.51 (74) pm. The orthorhombic cell contains four formula units. Its structure is similar to that of Nb-rich sulfides, rather than to that of Ta-rich sulfides. The metal coordinations are capped distorted cubic prisms and pentagonal prisms while the coordinations of sulfur are capped trigonal prisms.     

Crystal packing mediates enantioselective ligand recognition at the peripheral site of acetylcholinesterase

Recently, alkylene-linked heterodimers of tacrine (1) and 5-amino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinolinone (2, hupyridone) were shown to exhibit higher acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition than either monomeric 1 or 2. Such inhibitors are potential drug candidates for ameliorating the cognitive decrements in early Alzheimer patients. In an attempt to understand the inhibition mechanism of one such dimer, (RS)-(+/-)-N-9-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridinyl)-N'-5-[5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2'(1'H)-quinolinonyl]-1,10-diaminodecane [(RS)-(+/-)-3] bisoxalate, the racemate was soaked in trigonal Torpedo californica AChE (TcAChE) crystals, and the X-ray structure of the resulting complex was solved to 2.30 A resolution. Its structure revealed the 1 unit bound to the "anionic" subsite of the active site, near the bottom of the active-site gorge, as seen for the 1/TcAChE complex. Interestingly, only the (R)-enantiomer of the 2 unit was seen in the peripheral "anionic" site (PAS) at the top of the gorge, and was hydrogen-bonded to the side chains of residues belonging to an adjacent, symmetry-related AChE molecule covering the gorge entrance. When the same racemate was soaked in orthorhombic crystals of TcAChE, in which the entrance to the gorge is more exposed, the crystal structure of the corresponding complex revealed no substantial enantiomeric selectivity. This observation suggests that the apparent enantiomeric selectivity of trigonal crystals of TcAChE for (R)-3 is mainly due to crystal packing, resulting in preferential binding of one enantiomeric inhibitor both to its "host" enzyme and to its neighbor in the asymmetric unit, rather than to steric constraints imposed by the geometry of the active-site gorge.     

Synthesis and Structure of Ba(2)Sn(3)Sb(6), a Zintl Phase Containing Channels and Chains

The new Zintl phase dibarium tritin hexaantimonide, Ba(2)Sn(3)Sb(6) has been synthesized, and its structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group -Pnma with a = 13.351(1) ?, b = 4.4100(5) ?, c = 24.449(3) ?, and Z = 4 (T = -50 degrees C). The structure of Ba(2)Sn(3)Sb(6) comprises large channels [010] defined by 30-membered rings constructed from an anionic framework. This framework is built up from Sn-centered trigonal pyramids and tetrahedra, as well as zigzag chains of Sb atoms. Within the channels reside the Ba(2+) cations and additional isolated zigzag Sb-Sb chains. The simultaneous presence of Sn trigonal pyramids and tetrahedra implies that Ba(2)Sn(3)Sb(6) is a mixed-valence compound whose oxidation state notation can be best represented as (Ba(2+))(2)[(Sn(II))(2)(Sn(IV))(Sb(-)(III))(3)(Sb(-)(I))](2)(-)[(Sb(-)(I))(2)](2)(-).     

On α-β phase transition in cristobalite-type Al1−xGaxPO4 (0.00?x?1.00)

The results of variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis (DTA) studies on the orthorhombic (α) low-cristobalite to cubic (β) high-cristobalite phase transition for Al_1−xGa_xPO₄, (0.00?x?1.00) are presented. These studies reveal that all these compositions undergo reversible phase transitions from orthorhombic to cubic form at higher temperature. The high-temperature behavior of GaPO₄ is observed to have a different behavior compared to all other compositions in this series. Orthorhombic low-cristobalite-type GaPO₄ transforms to cubic high-cristobalite form at ∼605 °C. Above ∼700 °C, the cubic high-cristobalite-type GaPO₄ slowly transforms to trigonal quartz type structure. At about 960 °C, the quartz type GaPO₄ transforms back to the cubic high-cristobalite form. During cooling cycles the cubic phase of GaPO₄ reverts to trigonal quartz type phase. However, annealing of GaPO₄ at higher temperatures for longer duration can stabilize the orthorhombic low cristobalite phase. The phase transition temperatures and associated enthalpies are related to the change in unit cell volume and the orthorhombicity of the respective low cristobalite lattice.     

等规聚丙烯β晶型向α晶型的相转变行为研究进展

等规聚丙烯(iPP)是典型的多晶型半结晶性聚合物,其常见晶型有单斜(α),三方(β),三斜(γ)以及四方或双四方(e),其中稳定性最好的α晶型和处于亚稳态的β晶型工业和经济价值较大,因此二者之间的相转变行为得到了人们的广泛关注.本文综述了近年来β→α-iPP生长相转变的研究进展.在高临界温度(141°C)和低临界温度(100°C)区间内,β-iPP生长速率高于α-iPP,而温度高于141°C,或低于100°C,由于α-iPP在动力学上占优势,β-iPP会发生向α-iPP的生长转变.但由于α-iPP是热力学上最稳定的晶型,β-iPP熔融重结晶过程也会发生β→α-iPP相转变.此外,拉伸形变过程中也会发生β→α-iPP相转变,广泛用于制备聚丙烯气体交换膜、过滤膜或锂电池隔膜等.目前对变形过程中的β→α-iPP相转变机理还存在争议,本文也对2种主要的机理进行了介绍,并对聚丙烯晶型转变行为的研究方向进行了展望.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of the manganous antimonates Mn2Sb2O7 and MnSb2O6

Mn₂Sb₂O₇ has been prepared by the solid state reaction of MnCO₃ and Sb₂O₃ at 1100°C, and its crystal structure determined from X-ray powder diffraction data. The compound is trigonal P3₁21 with a = 7.191, c = 17.398 Å, and the structure is fluorite-related, but not a distorted pyrochlore. The relationship between this structure and that of pyrochlore is discussed. MnSb₂O₆ was formed as a reaction intermediate and its structure has also been determined. This phase is trigonal P321 with a structure related to that of Na₂SiF₆ and is apparently a new polymorph, since MnSb₂O₆ has previously been stated to have either the orthorhombic columbite or the tetragonal trirutile structure.     

Synchrotron X‐ray study of ortho­rhombic Rb3Ta5O14 with a modified pyrochlore structure

The structure of a new orthorhombic trirubidium pentatantalum oxide (Rb₃Ta₅O₁₄) phase with Pnma symmetry was identified from a half sphere of synchrotron X‐ray data measured at a wavelength of 0.85 Å. This notionally linked TaO₆ octahedral structure broadly consists of three different modifications of the pyrochlore ring motif with layer stacking normal to (205) planes. Successive pyrochlore layers do not simply stack normal to these planes but are offset along the [100] axis. An unusual aspect of this structure is the occurrence of TaO₅ trigonal bipyramids in structurally complex regions where the modified pyrochlore rings connect.     

Development of one-dimensional nanostructures through the crystallization of amorphous colloids

In this paper we have demonstrated that the crystallization method of amorphous colloids is convenient and feasible in the large-scale production of one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures. For the crystals with highly anisotropic structures, such as orthorhombic, trigonal, and hexagonal crystals, the crystallization generally tends to occur along the (001) axis. The preparation of orthorhombic bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanorods and trigonal selenium ( t-Se) nanowires by the crystallization route was used as typical examples to illustrate the process and mechanism of crystallization. The as-prepared products were characterized with transmission electron microscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and selected area electron diffraction. Additionally, the detailed crystal growth processes involved in the crystallization of amorphous Bi2S3 colloid were investigated by studying the morphology and structure of intermediates. It demonstrates that the growth of the nanorods is through two key steps: (1) the formation of multiple activated sites on the surface of spherical Bi2S3 colloid and (2) the subsequent preferential growth along these sites.     

Effect of crystal structure and ions concentration on luminescence in Yb and Tm codoped fluoride microcrystals

A facile hydrothermal method is used for the preparation of Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped fluoride microphosphors. The effect of crystal structure and ions concentration on the spectra and lifetimes of the radiative levels of Tm³⁺ ions in the different fluoride microcrystals is studied in detail. XRD analysis of Tm³⁺/Yb³⁺ codoped LaF₃ microcrystals shows that 20% Yb³⁺ doping is sufficient for hexagonal LaF₃ microparticles to crystallize completely in the orthorhombic phase. And lifetime analysis suggests that the average lifetimes of the radiative levels of Tm³⁺ ions increased when the matrix phase structure changing from orthorhombic phase to hexagonal phase with ytterbium dopant concentration changing.     

New iron(III) phosphate phases: crystal structure and electrochemical and magnetic properties

Two new iron(III) phosphates, FePO(4), have been synthesized from the dehydration of hydrothermally prepared monoclinic and orthorhombic hydrated phosphates FePO(4).2H(2)O. The structures of both hydrates were redetermined from single crystal data. On dehydration, a topotactic reaction takes place with only those bonds associated with the water molecules being broken, so that both FePO(4) phases have essentially the same Fe-P backbone frameworks as the corresponding hydrates. They are, respectively, monoclinic FePO(4), space group P2(1)/n, a= 5.480(1) A, b = 7.480(1) A, c= 8.054(1) A, beta = 95.71(1) degrees, and Z = 4; and orthorhombic FePO(4), space group Pbca, a = 9.171(1) A, 9.456(1) A, c = 8.675(1) A, and Z = 8. Both of these phases are thermally unstable relative to the trigonal quartz-like FePO(4). The electrochemical studies find that the orthorhombic iron phosphate is more active than the monoclinic phase, while both are more active than trigonal FePO(4). Both phases approach Curie-Weiss behavior at room temperature, with the monoclinic phase exhibiting stronger antiferromagnetic interactions due to Fe-O-Fe interactions. The electrochemical and magnetic data are consistent with the structures of these two compounds. The properties of these new iron phosphate structures are compared with other iron phosphate phases.     

EPR parameters and local geometry for Cr3+ and V2+ ions in HfS2 crystals

From the high-order perturbation formulas of EPR parameters (zero-field splitting D, g factors gparallel, gperpendicular and hyperfine structure constants Aparallel, Aperpendicular) based on the two spin-orbit coupling parameter model for 3d3 ions in trigonal symmetry, the EPR parameters of Cr3+ and V2+ ions in HfS2 crystals are calculated. From the calculations, it is found that the local trigonal distortion angle theta of impurity center in HfS2:Cr3+ is smaller than that in HfS2:V2+. The dominant cause of the small zero-field splitting |D| and g-anisotropy |Deltag|=|gparallel-gperpendicular| in HfS2:Cr3+ (compound to HfS2:V2+) is due to the small local trigonal distortion angle theta rather than to the small impurity-ligand distance R in HfS2:Cr3+.     

La2CuO4阴极薄膜的相转变及其对电化学性能的影响

通过调控薄膜的沉积条件,探索La₂CuO₄的晶体结构对电化学性质的影响。采用脉冲激光沉积设备在YSZ(100)单晶基底上沉积一系列La₂CuO₄薄膜,通过调节沉积时的氧压,制备了不同晶体结构的La₂CuO₄薄膜。 研究表明,沉积氧压的变化使薄膜晶体结构发生相转变,从T'相→T^*相→T相。 T'相为沿着c轴择优生长的单晶四方相,且表现出较大的界面极化电阻,在850 ℃的R_p值为2.351 Ω·cm²。 T^*相为T'相和T相的混合相,在850 ℃的电阻值介于T'相和T相之间。 T相为正交相,相对于其它相结构表现出较低的界面极化电阻,沉积氧压为26.60 Pa下制备的T相在850 ℃的电阻值为0.783 Ω·cm²,比T'相的电阻值低近67%。 并且,正交相表面有相对较高的氧空位浓度,有利于氧气的吸附和扩散,加速了阴极的氧还原反应。 因此,具有正交对称性的La₂CuO₄的电化学性质优于其它对称性。 这一结果也表明可以通过改变薄膜材料的晶体结构,降低界面极化电阻,提高阴极薄膜的电化学性能。     

Synthesis, structure, and properties of four ternary compounds: CaSrTt, Tt=Si, Ge, Sn, Pb

The title compounds were synthesized and characterized by structural measurements and electronic structure calculations. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses established that they all have the orthorhombic inverse-PbCl₂-type structure (Pnma, Z=4, a=8.108(2), 8.124(2), 8.421(2), 8.509(2) Å; b=4.944(1), 4.949(1), 5.168(1), 5.189(1) Å; c=9.170(2), 9.184(2), 9.685(2), 9.740(2) Å, respectively). The tetrel (Tt) atoms are situated in tricapped trigonal prisms of ordered Sr and Ca atoms in which the smaller Ca atoms play a distinctive role. The structure is distinguishable from the Co₂Si type by its more nearly ideal 6+3 (TCTP) environment about Tt rather than a higher coordination by cations. Other representations of the two structural types are also considered. Electronic band structure calculations suggest that the compounds are semiconductors, in agreement with literature data on their Ae₂Tt analogues.     

Short Te …︁ Te bonding contacts in a new layered ternary telluride: Synthesis and crystal structure of 2D Nb3GexTe6 (x ≃ 0.9)

The new layered ternary compound Nb₃Ge_xTe₆ (x ? 0.90) was prepared by direct combination of the elements taken in the stoichiometric proportions 3 : 1 : 6, heated at 1 000 °C for 10 days in silica tubes and quenched to room temperature. The phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (#62), with the following single crystal refined parameters: a = 643.18(5) pm, b = 1391.98(11)pm and c = 1 154.07(5) pm, with Z = 4. The structure was refined to an R of 3.4% (R_w = 4.6%), with 1969 independent reflexions and 49 parameters. The structure is based on the close stacking of trigonal prismatic (TP) slabs in the AA/BB mode. The slabs can be seen as built up from face sharing biprisms, which are filled either by one or by two niobium cations situated in the middle of the trigonal prisms. The germanium is located in the middle of the common face of two prisms, leading to a rather unusual anionic square coordination. The refinements showed that this latter cation does not fill completely its square site. No cation was found in the van der Waals gap between the slabs. The mean d_{Ge? Te} distance (276.5 pm) is in agreement with Ge^II cations, while some Te …? Te distances (from 333.84 to 361.65pm) are too short for anions in a simple contact. These bonding distances, already mentionned in some MTe₂ compounds, are to be ascribed to charge transfer in the structure, with a partial oxidation state for the tellurium anions. Short Nb? Nb and Nb? Ge distances (292.0 and 281.3 pm, respectively) imply intercationic bonding within the slabs.     

Synthesis, structure, and bonding of Lu7Z2Te2 (Z = Ni, Pd, Ru). Linking typical tricapped trigonal prisms in metal-rich compounds

The syntheses and structures of and bonding in the title compounds are described and compared with those for the isostructural orthorhombic Er(7)Ni(2)Te(2) (Imm2) and other related phases. Single-crystal data are reported for Z = Ni, Pd. The condensation of tricapped trigonal prisms (TTP) into sheets and the bridging of these by separate Lu atoms into a 3D structure are described. The interlayer separation, the Lu-Lu bonding achieved, and the polar Lu-Te bonding therewith are all affected by the size and valence energies of Te. The two Te spacers also exist in capped centered Lu(6)Te trigonal prisms. In terms of extended Hückel band analyses, the overall bonding for both Lu-Ni and Lu-Te are optimized energetically, but not for Lu-Lu. The average Lu-Lu overlap populations about each Lu appropriately increase with a decrease in the number of its Te neighbors.     

Simulation of multiple ordered phases in C23 n-alkane

Normal alkanes display multiple ordered phases, including an orthorhombic crystal (X) and two partially ordered rotator phases (RI and RII). The rotator phase transitions X-RI and RI-RII are of interest because they are weakly first-order, and because experiments suggest that crystalline polyethylene may nucleate via a metastable rotator phase. We have performed heating and cooling scans of all-atom NσT (isothermal, isostress) simulations of a pure C(23) solid. We find a sequence of phases, transition temperatures, structural and thermodynamic properties, all reasonably consistent with experiment, except that a monoclinic crystal is more stable in our simulations than the experimental orthorhombic structure. We find that the RI phase is well described as an orthorhombic crystal disordered by random ±90° rotations of molecules about their stem axis, and the RII phase can be represented as a loose hexagonal packing of parallel chain stems, which tend to orient with the in-plane projection of C-C bonds pointing between neighbors. To measure local orthorhombic, RI, or RII order, we define Potts- and Ising-like order parameters, from which global order parameters and correlation functions can be computed. We observe modest pretransitional fluctuations of local RI order in the RII phase near T(RI-RII), characteristic of this weakly first-order transition.     

Intercalation and formation of complexes in the system of lead(II) iodide-ammonia

Interaction between lead(II) iodide and ammonia was studied with the help of an X-ray in situ analysis, DTA-TG analysis, DSC measurements and IR spectroscopy. A two-stage mechanism of the reaction was defined. At the first stage of the reaction two phases with trigonal symmetry and a phase with monoclinic symmetry are developed. At the second stage of the reaction the structure changes lead to formation of a compound with orthorhombic symmetry. The results were discussed along with the data of thermal analysis and IR spectroscopy. The value of enthalpy of formation for the compound PbI₂(NH₃)₄ was determined.     

Pressure-induced crystal–amorphous transformation in Y2Mo3O12

In this work we investigate the vibrational properties of anhydrous and hydrated yttrium molybdate as a function of hydrostatic pressure. An analysis of vibrational modes suggests that the anhydrous material experiences a phase transformation from orthorhombic to a lower symmetry phase (probably monoclinic) about 0.3 GPa, and to a highly disordered phase above 2.4 GPa. The structural transformation to the high-pressure disordered phase is not reversible and suggests the onset of a pressure-induced amorphization process. The vibrational mode dependence on pressure is discussed considering lattice dynamics calculations.     

On the anisotropy of the magnetic properties of CsYbZnSe3

DC magnetic susceptibility measurements on CsYbZnSe 3 show a broad magnetic transition at approximately 10 K and pronounced differences between zero-field-cooled and field-cooled data that lead to experimental effective magnetic moments of 4.26(5) BM and 4.39(4) BM, respectively. Specific heat measurements confirm that there is neither long-range ordering nor a phase transition between 1.8 and 380 K. First-principles electronic structure calculations with and without inclusion of spin-orbit coupling effects show that the spins of CsYbZnSe 3 prefer to orient along [010] rather than along either [100] or [001] of this orthorhombic material and that the spin exchange between adjacent Yb3+ ions along [100] is substantially antiferromagnetic. The magnetic properties of CsYbZnSe 3 are best described by an Ising uniform antiferromagnetic chain model.