An approach to developing a force field for molecular simulation of martensitic phase transitions between phases with subtle differences in energy and structure

d,l-Norleucine is one of only a few molecules whose crystals exhibit a martensitic or displacive-type phase transformation where the emerging phase shows a topotaxial relationship with the parent phase. The molecular mechanism for such phase transformations, particularly in molecular crystals, is not well understood. Crystalline phases that exhibit displacive phase transitions tend to be very similar in structure and energy. Consequently, the development of a force field for such phases is challenging as the phase behavior is determined by subtle differences in their lattice energies and entropies. We report an approach for developing a force field for such phases with an application to d,l-norleucine. The proposed procedure includes calculation of the phase diagram of the crystalline phases as a function of temperature to identify the best force field. d,l-Norleucine also presents an additional problem since in the solid state it exists as a zwitterion that is unstable in vacuo and therefore cannot be characterized using high-level ab initio calculations in the gas phase. However, a stable zwitterion could be obtained using Onsager's reaction-field continuum model for a solvent (SCRF) using both Hartree-Fock and density functional theory. A number of force fields and the various sets of partial charges obtained from the SCRF calculations were screened for their ability to reproduce the crystal structures of the two known phases, alpha and beta, of d,l-norleucine. Selected parameter sets were then employed in free energy minimizations to identify the best set on the basis of a correct prediction of the alpha-beta phase transition. The Williams' nonbonded parameters combined with partial charges from SCRF-Polarized Continuum Model calculation were found to reproduce the structures of the phases accurately and also maintained their stability in extended molecular dynamics simulations in the Parrinello-Rahman constant stress ensemble. Moreover, we were also able to successfully simulate the phase transformation of the beta- to the alpha-phase. The identified force field should enable detailed studies of the phase transformations exhibited by crystals of d,l-norleucine and hence enhance our understanding of martensitic-type transformations in molecular crystals.     

Electronic spectra of gas-phase polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycle cations: isoquinoline+ and quinoline+

Electronic spectra of the gas-phase isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar complexes are recorded using photodissociation spectroscopy by monitoring the Ar loss channel. The D(3)←D(0) and D(4)←D(0) band origins for isoquinoline(+)-Ar are observed at 15245 ± 15 cm(-1) and 21960 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively, whereas for quinoline(+)-Ar they appear at 16050 ± 15 cm(-1) and 21955 ± 15 cm(-1), respectively. Strong vibronic progressions for the D(3)←D(0) band systems of both isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar are modeled and assigned in terms of ring deformation and carbon-carbon stretch vibrational modes using time-dependent density functional theory calculations in conjunction with Franck-Condon simulations. The properties of the isoquinoline(+) and quinoline(+) molecules are compared with those of the isoelectronic naphthalene(+) molecule. The existence of strong progressions in the visible spectra of isoquinoline(+)-Ar and quinoline(+)-Ar suggests that the corresponding isoquinoline(+) and quinoline(+) molecular cations are unlikely to be responsible for diffuse interstellar bands.     

Microemulsion-based synthesis of CeO(2) powders with high surface area and high-temperature stabilities

Pure ceria powders, CeO(2), were synthesized in heptane-microemulsified aqueous solutions of CeCl(3) or Ce(NO(3))(3) stabilized by AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate), DDAB (di-n-didodecyldimethylammonium bromide), or DDAB + Brij 35 surfactant mixtures. Micellar DTAB (n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide) and vesicular DDAB systems were also used as media for generating CeO(2). Characterization of the powders by X-ray powder diffractometry, laser-Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that in the presence of surfactants almost-agglomerate-free nanosized crystallites (6-13 nm) of anionic vacancy-free cubic CeO(2) were produced. In the absence of surfactants 21-nm-sized crystallites were formed, comparing with the 85-nm-sized crystallites when cubic CeO(2) was created via thermal decomposition of cerium oxalate. Surface characterization, by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N(2) sorptiometry, and high-resolution electron microscopy showed AOT- or (DDAB + Brij 35)-stabilized microemulsions to assist in formation of crystallites exposing surfaces of large specific areas (up to ca. 250 m(2)/g) but of low stability to high-temperature calcination (28-13 m(2)/g at 800 degrees C). In contrast, the double-chained DDAB was found to generate cubic CeO(2) crystallites of lower initial surface areas (144 (microemulsion) to 125 (vesicles) m(2)/g)) but of higher thermal stability (55-45 m(2)/g at 800 degrees C). Hence, the latter cerias could be considered as appropriate components for total oxidation (combustion) catalysts.     

Silica–gelatin hybrids for tissue regeneration: inter-relationships between the process variables

Owing to their diverse range of highly tailorable material properties, inorganic/organic hybrids have the potential to meet the needs of biodegradable porous scaffolds across a range of tissue engineering applications. One such hybrid platform, the silica–gelatin sol–gel system, was examined and developed in this study. These hybrid scaffolds exhibit covalently linked interpenetrating networks of organic and inorganic components, which allows for independent control over their mechanical and degradation properties. A combination of the sol–gel foaming process and freeze drying was used to create an interconnected pore network. The synthesis and processing of the scaffolds has many variables that affect their structure and properties. The focus of this study was to develop a matrix tool that shows the inter-relationship between process variables by correlating the key hybrid material properties with the synthesis parameters that govern them. This was achieved by investigating the effect of the organic (gelatin) molecular weight and collating previously reported data. Control of molecular weight of the polymer is as an avenue that allows the modification of hybrid material properties without changing the surface chemistry of the material, which is a factor that governs the cell and tissue interaction with the scaffold. This presents a significant step forward in understanding the complete potential of the silica–gelatin hybrid system as a medical device.     

Enhancing the Water Splitting Efficiency of Sn‐Doped Hematite Nanoflakes by Flame Annealing

The effect of flame annealing on the water‐splitting properties of Sn decorated hematite (α‐Fe₂O₃) nanoflakes has been investigated. It is shown that flame annealing can yield a considerable enhancement in the maximum photocurrent under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm^?2) conditions compared to classic furnace annealing treatments. Optimizing the annealing time (10 s at 1000 °C) leads to a photocurrent of 1.1 mA cm^?2 at 1.23 V (vs. RHE) with a maximum value 1.6 mA cm^?2 at 1.6 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M KOH. The improvement in photocurrent can be attributed to the fast direct heating that maintains the nanoscale morphology, leads to optimized Sn decoration, and minimizes detrimental substrate effects.     

On‐Surface Assembly of Hydrogen‐ and Halogen‐Bonded Supramolecular Graphyne‐Like Networks

Demonstrated here is a supramolecular approach to fabricate highly ordered monolayered hydrogen‐ and halogen‐bonded graphyne‐like two‐dimensional (2D) materials from triethynyltriazine derivatives on Au(111) and Ag(111). The 2D networks are stabilized by N???H?C(sp) bonds and N???Br?C(sp) bonds to the triazine core. The structural properties and the binding energies of the supramolecular graphynes have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with density‐functional theory calculations. It is revealed that the N???Br?C(sp) bonds lead to significantly stronger bonded networks compared to the hydrogen‐bonded networks. A systematic analysis of the binding energies of triethynyltriazine and triethynylbenzene derivatives further demonstrates that the X₃‐synthon, which is commonly observed for bromobenzene derivatives, is weaker than the X₆‐synthon for our bromotriethynyl derivatives.     

Structural properties of ultra-small thorium and uranium dioxide nanoparticles embedded in a covalent organic framework

We report the structural properties of ultra-small ThO₂ and UO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), which were synthesized without strong binding surface ligands by employing a covalent organic framework (COF-5) as an inert template. The resultant NPs were used to observe how structural properties are affected by decreasing grain size within bulk actinide oxides, which has implications for understanding the behavior of nuclear fuel materials. Through a comprehensive characterization strategy, we gain insight regarding how structure at the NP surface differs from the interior. Characterization using electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering indicates that growth of the ThO₂ and UO₂ NPs was confined by the pores of the COF template, resulting in sub-3 nm particles. X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy results indicate that the NPs are best described as ThO₂ and UO₂ materials with unpassivated surfaces. The surface layers of these particles compensate for high surface energy by exhibiting a broader distribution of Th–O and U–O bond distances despite retaining average bond lengths that are characteristic of bulk ThO₂ and UO₂. The combined synthesis and physical characterization efforts provide a detailed picture of actinide oxide structure at the nanoscale, which remains highly underexplored compared to transition metal counterparts.

ThO₂ and UO₂ nanoparticles synthesized using a COF-5 template exhibit unpassivated surfaces and provide insight into nanoscale properties of actinides.     

Evaluation of Pd→B Interactions in Diphosphinoborane Complexes and Impact on Inner-Sphere Reductive Elimination

The dative Pd→B interaction in a series of ^RDPB^R’ Pd⁰ and Pd^II complexes (^RDPB^R’=(o-PR₂C₆H₄)₂BR’, diphosphinoborane) was analyzed using XRD, ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy and NBO/NLMO calculations. The borane acceptor discriminates between the oxidation state Pd^II and Pd⁰, stabilizing the latter. Reaction of lithium amides with [(^RDPB^R’)Pd^II(4-NO₂C₆H₄)I] chemoselectively yields the C−N coupling product. DFT modelling indicates no significant impact of Pd^II→B coordination on the inner-sphere reductive elimination rate.     

Synthesis and optical characterization of new ketocyanine dyes with extended polymethine chaines

New symmetrical and unsymmetrical near-infrared absorbing ketocyanine-type dyes are synthesized and their optical characterization is done. The relationships between their structure and optical properties are discussed. The synthesized ketocyanine dyes show a positive solvatochromism and are poorly fluorescent. A new procedure for the preparation of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylvinamidinium perchlorate, which was a very useful reagent for the synthesis of various heterocyclic compounds as well as for the preparation of cyanine dyes is developed.