Structure and magnetic properties of RE2Cu2Cd

The ternary intermetallic compounds RE₂Cu₂Cd (RE=Y, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) were synthesized by induction-melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The structure of Gd₂Cu₂Cd was refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Mo₂FeB₂ type, space group P4/mbm, a=756.2(3), c=380.2(3) pm, wR2=0.0455, 321 F² values, 12 variables. The structures are 1:1 intergrowth variants of slightly distorted CsCl and AlB₂ related slabs of compositions RECd and RECu₂. The copper and cadmium atoms build up two-dimensional [Cu₂Cd] networks (257 pm Cu-Cu and 301 pm Cu-Cd in Gd₂Cu₂Cd) which are bonded to the rare earth atoms via short RE-Cu contacts (290 pm in Gd₂Cu₂Cd). Temperature dependent susceptibility measurements of RE₂Cu₂Cd with RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, and Tm show experimental magnetic moments which are close to the free RE³⁺ ion values. The four compounds show ferromagnetic ordering at T_C=116.7(2), 86.2(3), 48.4(1), and 14.5(1) K, respectively, as confirmed by heat capacity measurements. Dy₂Cu₂Cd shows a spin reorientation at T_N=16.9(1) K.     

Homoleptic diphosphacyclobutadiene complexes [M(η(4)-P2C2R2)2]x- (M = Fe, Co; x = 0, 1)

The preparation and comprehensive characterization of a series of homoleptic sandwich complexes containing diphosphacyclobutadiene ligands are reported. Compounds [K([18]crown-6)(thf)(2)][Fe(η(4)-P(2)C(2)tBu(2))(2)] (K1), [K([18]crown-6)(thf)(2)][Co(η(4)-P(2)C(2)tBu(2))(2)] (K2), and [K([18]crown-6)(thf)(2)][Co(η(4)-P(2)C(2)Ad(2))(2)] (K3, Ad = adamantyl) were obtained from reactions of [K([18]crown-6)(thf)(2)][M(η(4)-C(14)H(10))(2)] (M = Fe, Co) with tBuC[triple bond]P (1, 2), or with AdC[triple bond]P (3). Neutral sandwiches [M(η(4)-P(2)C(2)tBu(2))(2)] (4: M = Fe 5: M = Co) were obtained by oxidizing 1 and 2 with [Cp(2)Fe]PF(6). Cyclic voltammetry and spectro-electrochemistry indicate that the two [M(η(4)-P(2)C(2)tBu(2))(2)](-)/[M(η(4)-P(2)C(2)tBu(2))(2)] moieties can be reversibly interconverted by one electron oxidation and reduction, respectively. Complexes 1-5 were characterized by multinuclear NMR, EPR (1 and 5), UV/Vis, and M?ssbauer spectroscopies (1 and 4), mass spectrometry (4 and 5), and microanalysis (1-3). The molecular structures of 1-5 were determined by using X-ray crystallography. Essentially D(2d)-symmetric structures were found for all five complexes, which show the two 1,3-diphosphacyclobutadiene rings in a staggered orientation. Density functional theory calculations revealed the importance of covalent metal-ligand π bonding in 1-5. Possible oxidation state assignments for the metal ions are discussed.     

Size effects on the structure and phase transition behavior of baddeleyite TiO2

High-pressure structural transitions in nanocrystalline systems are of significant interest as models of first-order phase transitions. We demonstrate size-induced lattice expansion and significant atomic rearrangements in the crystal structure of nanocrystalline high-pressure baddeleyite-TiO₂. The α-PbO₂ structured TiO₂ recovered after dozens of pressure cycles in the α-PbO₂-baddeleyite pressure field displayed elongate 25-35 nm crystallites, compared to starting 34-nm anatase crystallites, suggesting crystallite coherency across anatase, baddeleyite, and α-PbO₂ structures and ‘single structural domain’ behavior of the nanocrystalline system.     

Relaxing nonequilibrated polymers in thin films at temperatures slightly above the glass transition

We have studied the dewetting process of thin polystyrene films on nonwettable substrates in the viscoelastic regime slightly above the glass transition temperature. The evolution of the shape of the dewetting rim for varying film thickness, molecular weights and dewetting temperatures allowed us to determine the relaxation rates of residual stresses, which originated from nonequilibrated polymer chain conformations formed during film preparation by spin‐coating. For long chain polymers, we found rates notably faster than the longest bulk relaxation processes, highly independent of molecular weight and temperature. Our study demonstrates that dewetting is a powerful tool for sensitive characterization of nonequilibrium properties of thin polymer films. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 515–523     

"Work-Hardenable" ductile bulk metallic glass

Usually, monolithic bulk metallic glasses undergo inhomogeneous plastic deformation and exhibit poor ductility (< 1%) at room temperature. We present a new class of bulk metallic glass, which exhibits high strength of up to 2265 MPa together with extensive "work hardening" and large ductility of 18%. Significant increase in the flow stress was observed during deformation. The "work-hardening" capability and ductility of this class of metallic glass is attributed to a unique structure correlated with atomic-scale inhomogeneity, leading to an inherent capability of extensive shear band formation, interactions, and multiplication of shear bands.     

New type of B-periodic magneto-oscillations in a two-dimensional electron system induced by microwave irradiation

We observe a new type of magneto-oscillations in the photovoltage and the longitudinal resistance of a two-dimensional electron system. The oscillations are induced by microwave radiation and are periodic in magnetic field. The period is determined by the microwave frequency, the electron density, and the distance between potential probes. The phenomenon is accounted for by interference of coherently excited edge magnetoplasmons in the contact regions and offers perspectives for developing new tunable microwave and terahertz detection schemes and spectroscopic techniques.     

TFAA chemical derivatization and XPS. Analysis of OH and NHx polymers

The determination of functional groups on complex polymer surfaces by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can be improved considerably by derivatization reactions. Simple polymers containing hydroxyl groups or amino groups were investigated as reference materials for the derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA). ‐1 Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB), poly(allylamine) (PAAm), and poly(diallyl amine) (PDAAm) were derivatized using TFAA and analyzed with XPS. Polyethylene (PE) was used as an independent external reference for the binding energy (BE). Applying this procedure, the BE scales of all measurements were referenced to the carbon atoms of PE. It was found that the BE of the CF₃ component in the C1s region is different when bonded as an acetate or as an amide. The CF₃ BE is also influenced by the density of these groups in the polymer molecule. In TFAA‐PVA, where every second main chain carbon atom carries a trifluoroacetate (TFAc) group, the BE is 294.3 eV while in TFAA‐PVB with only isolated groups, the BE is 293.6 eV. The BE of the CF₃ component in the trifluoroacetamides (TFAAms) prepared from PAAm and PDAAm was found to be 292.5 and 292.3 eV, respectively. Compared with the analog fluorine free compounds, the BE is shifted toward higher values also for the ester carbon atom, the amide carbon atom, and the carbon atom to which the ester or amide is bonded. The data suggest that the gas phase reaction of TFAA with a polymer surface is diffusion limited. The actual ester or amide formation is a fast reaction and runs as a wave into the surface. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.