Synthesis and structures of mercury and cadmium complexes: [Ph4Sb] 2 + [Hg2I6]2−·Ph2Hg, [Ph4Sb] 2 + [E2I6]2− (E = Hg, Cd), and [Ph4Sb] 2 + [Hg4I10]2−

The reaction of pentaphenylantimony with mercury iodide affords the ionic complex [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Hg₂I₆]^2?·Ph₂Hg (I). The [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Hg₂I₆]^2? (II) and [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Cd₂I₆]^2? (III) complexes are synthesized from tetraphenylantimony iodide and mercury and cadmium iodides. The [Ph₄Sb] ₂ ⁺ [Hg₄I₁₀]^2? complex (IV) is prepared from tetraphenylantimony 2,4-dimethylbenzenesulfonate and mercury iodide. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the Sb atom in the [Ph₄Sb]⁺ cations of complex I has virtually ideal tetrahedral coordination (the CSbC angles are 108.09°–109.64°). In the central square fragment Hg₂I₂ of the [Hg₂I₆]^2? anion, the Hg-I_br bond lengths are 2.825 and 3.075 Å, and the terminal iodine atoms are more strongly bonded to the mercury atoms (Hg-I_term 2.691 and 2.700 Å). The [Cd₂I₆]^2? anion in complex III has a similar structure (the Cd-I_bridg and Cd-I_term distances are 2.865, 2.872 and 2.723, 2.748 Å, respectively). The anions in complex IV are joined by I…Hg (3.651 Å) and I…I (4.058 Å) interactions into an infinite dimeric network.     

Longitudinal nuclear spin relaxation of ortho- and para-hydrogen dissolved in organic solvents

The longitudinal relaxation time of ortho-hydrogen (the spin isomer directly observable by NMR) has been measured in various organic solvents as a function of temperature. Experimental data are perfectly interpreted by postulating two mechanisms, namely intramolecular dipolar interaction and spin-rotation, with activation energies specific to these two mechanisms and to the solvent in which hydrogen is dissolved. This permits a clear separation of the two contributions at any temperature. Contrary to the self-diffusion coefficients at a given temperature, the rotational correlation times extracted from the dipolar relaxation contribution do not exhibit any definite trend with respect to solvent viscosity. Likewise, the spin-rotation correlation time obeys Hubbard's relation only in the case of hydrogen dissolved in acetone-d6, yielding in that case a spin-rotation constant in agreement with literature data. Concerning para-hydrogen, which is NMR-silent, the only feasible approach is to dissolve para-enriched hydrogen in these solvents and to follow the back-conversion of the para-isomer into the ortho-isomer. Experimentally, this conversion has been observed to be exponential, with a time constant assumed to be the relaxation time of the singlet state (the spin state of the para-isomer). A theory, based on intermolecular dipolar interactions, has been worked out for explaining the very large values of these relaxation times which appear to be solvent-dependent.     

Stability of 2-D colloidal particle aggregates held against flow stress in an ultrasound trap

The formation of a two-dimensional aggregate of 25 microm latex particles in a 1.5 MHz ultrasound standing wave (USW) field and its disintegration in a flow were studied. The aggregate was held in the pressure node plane, which allowed continuous microscope observation and video recording of the processes. The trajectories and velocities of the particles approaching the formation site were analyzed by particle image velocimetry (PIV). Since the direct radiation force on the particles dominated the drag due to acoustic streaming, the acoustic pressure profile in the vicinity of the aggregate was quantifiable. The drag coefficients D(coef) for 2- to 485-particle aggregates were estimated from the balance of the drag force FD and the buoyancy-corrected gravitational force during sedimentation on termination of the ultrasound when the long axis of the aggregate was in the vertical plane. D(coef) were calculated from FD as proportional to the aggregate velocity. Experiments on particle detachment by flow (in-plane velocity measured by PIV) from horizontal aggregates suspended in deionized water and CaCl2 solution of different concentrations showed that the mechanical strength of the aggregates depended on the acoustic pressure amplitude P0 and ionic strength of the solution. In deionized water the flow velocity required to detach the first single particle from an aggregate increased from 1 mm s-1 at P0 = 0.6 MPa to 4.2 mm s-1 at P0 = 1.4 MPa. The balance of forces acting on particles in a USW trap is discussed. The magnitude of the shear stress employed ( approximately 0.05 Pa) and separation forces suggests that this technique can be applied to studying the mechanical responses of cell aggregates to hydrodynamic flow, where cell-cell interaction can be separated from the effects of solid substrata.     

Analysis of the Crystallogeometry of Tetragonal Martensite in Indium‒Cadmium Alloys by the Method of Electron Back-Scattering Diffraction

Doklady Physics - Electron back-scattering diffraction shows that a package structure consisting of colonies of tetragonal lamella plates is formed when cooled below the temperature of the...     

Dielectric properties of ferroelectric diisopropylammonium iodide

Temperature dependences of dielectric constant, amplitude of the third harmonic and heat capacity for the organic ferroelectric of diisopropylammonium iodide (C₆H₁₆NI) have been investigated. The measurements were carried out through heating and cooling cycles in the range of 300–400?K. It was found that upon the first heating, only one phase transition occurred without the presence of the ferroelectric phase. For samples preheated over 420?K, two phase transitions at 363 and 378?K appeared in the heating process, and the ferroelectric state was also observed between them. Upon cooling, the ferroelectric phase was detected in the range of lower 361?K and persisted up to room temperature.     

Hexafluorosilicates of bis(aminopyridinium). The relationship between H-bonding system and solubility of salts

Pyridinium hexafluorosilicates of the composition (LH)₂[SiF₆] (I, II, IV, L = 2-aminopyridine, 3-aminopyridine, and 2,6-diaminopyridine) and (LH)₂[SiF₆]·H₂O (III, L = 4-aminopyridine) were separated as crystalline products of interaction of fluorosilicic acid with relevant aminopyridines. The compounds were characterized by IR, mass-spectrometry, potentiometry, solubility data, and in the case of I and IV by X-ray crystallography. The relationship between the salts structure and some physical properties is discussed.     

Fluorination of alumino-silicate minerals: The example of lepidolite

The effect of fluorination on silicate and alumino-silicate minerals has been investigated, in particular on the lepidolite [K(Li,Al)₃ [Si₃AlO₁₀] (F,OH)₂] of the mica-type. The fluorination techniques included direct F₂-gas and cold radio-frequency-plasma involving c-C₄F₈ or O₂/CF₄ mixtures. The modifications of the surface properties have been followed mostly by XPS. Depending of the fluorination route used, either a reactive etching process involving M-F bonding occurs (direct F₂-gas; O₂-CF₄ rf-plasma), or a carbon fluoride deposition takes place (c-C₄F₈ rf-plasma).     

Crystal and molecular structure of 2-[(4-nitrophenyl)carbonyl]cyclohex-1-ene-1-yl 4-nitrobenzoate

The crystal structure of 2-[(4-nitrophenyl)carbonyl]cyclohex-1-ene-1-yl 4-nitrobenzoate is studied (T = 173 K, R1 = 0.0354 for 2713 observed reflections). This crystal is orthorhombic, a = 7.8367(8) Å, b = 9.6082(10) Å, c = 23.856(3) Å, V = 1796.3(3) ų, space group P2₁2₁2₁, and Z = 4. The molecule has a folded configuration, which is stabilized by π-π interactions between its two parts. A system of intermolecular C-H...O hydrogen bonds (H...O, 2.44–2.67 Å; CHO angles 122°–169°) and intramolecular C-H...O contacts closing five-membered cycles (H...O, 2.42–2.59 Å; CHO angles 96°–102°) are formed in the structure.     

Impact of phase composition on water adsorption on inorganic hybrids "salt/silica"

The effect of a "guest-host" interaction on the phase composition and sorption properties of the composite sorbents "salt in a porous host matrix" has been studied. The matrix was a mesoporous silica of KSK type, while the confined salts were CaCl(2), CuSO(4), MgSO(4), and Na(2)SO(4). Both structure and properties of the composites were studied by X-ray diffraction, titration in the pH range of 2-9, differential dissolution, and TG techniques. Chemical interaction between the silica surface and the salt during preparation results in the formation of the salt surface complexes and stabilization of the dispersed salt in two phases, namely, a crystalline phase and an X-ray amorphous phase. The water sorption properties of the composites depend on the phase composition and can be intently modified by using variation of the preparation conditions.