Colossal dielectric constant in high entropy oxides

Entropic contributions to the stability of solids are very well understood and the mixing entropy has been used for forming various solids, for instance such as inverse spinels, see Nawrotsky et al., J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem. 29 , 2701 (1967) [1]. A particular development was related to high entropy alloys by Yeh et al., Adv. Eng. Mater. 6 , 299 (2004) [2] and Cantor et al., Mater. Sci. Eng. A 375–377 , 213 (2004) [3] (for recent reviews see Zhang et al., Prog. Mater. Sci. 61 , 1 (2014) [4] and Tsai et al., Mater. Res. Lett. 2 , 107 (2014) [5]) in which the configurational disorder is responsible for forming simple solid solutions and which are thoroughly studied for various applications especially due to their mechanical properties, e.g. Gludovatz et al., Science 345 , 1153 (2014) [6] and Lu et al., Sci. Rep. 4 , 6200 (2014) [7], but also electrical properties, Kozelj et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 113 , 107001 (2014) [8], hydrogen storage, Kao et al., Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 35 , 9046 (2010) [9], magnetic properties, Zhang et al., Sci. Rep. 3 , 1455 (2013) [10]. Many unexplored compositions and properties still remain for this class of materials due to their large phase space. In a recent report it has been shown that the configurational disorder can be used for stabilizing simple solid solutions of oxides, which should normally not form solid solutions, see Rost et al., Nature Commun. 6 , 8485 (2015) [11] these new materials were called ”entropy‐stabilized oxides”. In this pioneering report, it was shown that mixing five equimolar binary oxides yielded, after heating at high temperature and quenching, an unexpected rock salt structure compound with statistical distribution of the cations in a face centered cubic lattice. Following this seminal study, we show here that these high entropy oxides (named HEOx hereafter) can be substituted by aliovalent elements with a charge compensation mechanism. This possibility largely increases the potential development of new materials by widening their (already complex) phase space. As a first example, we report here that at least one HEOx composition exhibits colossal dielectric constants, which could make it very promising for applications as large‐k dielectric materials. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Dialkylphosphonate and Thiophosphonate (Open Chain and Cyclic) Derivatives of Arsenic(III) and Tin(IV)

Abstract

Dialkylphosphonates¹ and -thiophosphonates² are versatile ligands but except for a few brief reports^3–9 the chemistry of their derivatives with group IV and V elements remains unexplored. The corresponding derivatives of cyclic phosphonates and thiophos-phonates¹⁰ are virtually unknown.     

Parameterizing above Guaranteed Values: MaxSat and MaxCut

In this paper we investigate the parameterized complexity of the problems MaxSat and MaxCut using the framework developed by Downey and Fellows. LetGbe an arbitrary graph havingnvertices andmedges, and letfbe an arbitrary CNF formula withmclauses onnvariables. We improve Cai and Chen'sO(2^2ckcm) time algorithm for determining if at leastkclauses of ac-CNF formulafcan be satisfied; our algorithm runs inO(|f| + k²φ^k) time for arbitrary formulae and inO(cm + ckφ^k) time forc-CNF formulae, where φ is the golden ratio . We also give an algorithm for finding a cut of size at leastk; our algorithm runs inO(m + n + k4^k) time. We then argue that the standard parameterization of these problems is unsuitable, because nontrivial situations arise only for large parameter values (k ≥ m/2), in which range the fixed-parameter tractable algorithms are infeasible. A more meaningful question in the parameterized setting is to ask whether m/2 + kclauses can be satisfied, or m/2 + kedges can be placed in a cut. We show that these problems remain fixed-parameter tractable even under this parameterization. Furthermore, for up to logarithmic values of the parameter, our algorithms for these versions also run in polynomial time.     

Aluminum five‐ and six‐coordination in bis(acetylacetonato)aminoalkoxides

Reactions of bis(acetylacetonato)aluminum(III)‐di‐μ‐isopropoxo‐di‐isopropoxo aluminum(III), [(CH₃COCHCOCH₃)₂Al(μ‐OPrⁱ)₂Al(OPrⁱ)₂] with aminoalcohols, (HO R NR¹R²) in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios in refluxing anhydrous benzene yielded binuclear complexes of the types [(CH₃COCHCOCH₃)₂Al(μ‐OPrⁱ)₂Al(O R NR¹R²)(OPrⁱ)] and [(CH₃COCHCOCH₃)₂Al(μ‐OPrⁱ)₂Al(O R NR¹R²)₂] (R   (CH₂)₃ , R¹ = R² = H; R =  CH₂C(CH₃)₂ , R¹ = R² = H; R =  (CH₂)₂ , R¹ = H, R² =  CH₃; and R   (CH₂)₂ , R¹ = R² = CH₃), respectively. All these compounds are soluble in common organic solvents and exhibit sharp melting points. Molecular weight determinations reveal their binuclear nature in refluxing benzene. Plausible structures have been proposed on the basis of elemental analysis, molecular weight measurements, IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁷Al), and FAB mass spectral studies. ²⁷Al NMR spectra show the presence of both five‐ and six‐coordinated aluminum sites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:518–522, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10184     

On quadruple integral equations related to a certain crack problem

An exact solution of a four part mixed boundary value problem representing a three colinear crack system connected with specified crack opening displacements between the cracks is obtained. The three cracks thus become one with pressure and/or opening displacement prescribed on the crack face. From considerations of dual symmetry and a formulation based on Papkovich-Neuber harmonic functions, the boundary value problem is reduced to solving a quadruple set of integral equations. An exact solution of these equations is derived using a modified finite Hilbert transform technique. The closed form results for the stress distributions and the crack-tip stress intensity factors are presented. Limiting cases of the solution yield results which agree with well known solutions.     

New sol–gel precursors for binary oxides of antimony,Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> (senarmonite) and α-Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>: synthesis and characterization of some ketoximate modified antimony(III) alkoxides

Hydrolysis of pure Sb(OPrⁱ)₃ by sol–gel method followed by sintering at 500 °C yields microcrystallites of Sb₂O₃ (senarmonite phase). Under similar conditions bimetallic alkoxide, [NaSb(OPrⁱ)₄], yields a mixture of binary oxides Sb₂O₃ and Sb₂O₄. Chemical modification of Sb(OPrⁱ)₃ with oximes forms monomeric products of the type [Sb(OPrⁱ)_3−n {ON=C(CH₃)R} _n ] {where R = CH₃, n = 1 [1]; n = 2 [2]; n = 3 [3]; R = 2-C₅H₄N, n = 1 [4]; n = 2 [5]; n = 3 [6]; R = 2-C₄H₃O, n = 1 [7]; n = 2 [8]; n = 3 [9]; R = 2-C₄H₃S, n = 1 [10]; n = 2 [11]; n = 3 [12]}. The liquid products [1–3, 7 & 10] were purified by distillation while the solids by recrystallization. All these products were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, NMR (¹H and ¹³C{¹H}) and representative derivatives [1], [2] and [3] by FAB mass studies. On the basis of these studies, a distorted pyramidal structure for all the derivatives may be assumed in the solution state containing an end-on coordination of oximes with the metal atom. Hydrolysis of the distilled precursors [1], [2] and [3] under sol–gel conditions yields pure nano-sized α-Sb₂O₄. All the oxides were characterized by XRD, SEM and EDX analysis exhibiting minimum particle size for the oxide obtained from the precursor [3].     

Complex permittivity, permeability and microwave absorbing properties of (Mn2−xZnx)U-type hexaferrite

Complex permittivity, permeability and microwave absorbing properties of a U-type hexaferrite series Ba₄Mn_(2−x)Zn_xFe₃₆O₆₀ (with 0≤x≤2 in step of 0.5) have been examined in the X-band (8.2-12.4 GHz) frequency range. The series have been prepared using conventional solid state reaction route. Microstructural variations with composition have been found with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microgram (SEM). The complex permittivity (ε^?=ε′−jε″) and permeability (μ^?=μ′−jμ″) were measured using vector network analyzer (Agilient Make model PNA E8364B). These parameters were then used for calculating the reflection loss for determination of microwave absorbing properties. Addition of Zn resulted in an increase in reflection loss from −4 dB (or 60 % absorption) in sample with x= 0 to −32 dB (99.92% absorption) in sample with x=1 when the sample thickness was 1.7 mm. Multiple peaks of resonance were obtained in the dielectric and magnetic loss spectra for all samples with x>0. The result indicates that the sample with composition Ba₄MnZnFe₃₆O₆₀, i.e., x=1, can be used effectively for microwave absorption and suppression of electromagnetic interference.     

Pharmacoinformatics-based identification of transmembrane protease serine-2 inhibitors from Morus Alba as SARS-CoV-2 cell entry inhibitors

Molecular Diversity - Transmembrane protease serine-2 (TMPRSS2) is a cell-surface protein expressed by epithelial cells of specific tissues including those in the aerodigestive tract. It helps the...     

Evaluation of Virucidal Efficacy of Cold Plasma on Bacteriophage Inside a Three-Layered Sterilization Chamber

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - Traditional disinfection methods against pathogens have numerous shortcomings, and inventive methods like cold plasma are required for virus inactivation....     

Student Perceptions of Interest,Learning, and Engagement from an Informal Traveling Science Museum

Informal Science Education (ISE) programs have been increasing in popularity in recent years. The National Research Council has laid out six strands that ISE programs should try to address, including increasing interest, knowledge, and allowing participants to engage in scientific activities. Past research suggests that informal settings can increase interest in science and may lead to knowledge gains. This study examined the impact of a unique ISE program that resembles a traveling museum and offers small‐scale, interactive experiences. Affective outcomes and self‐reported learning outcomes of the students who participated in the program were examined. In general, students reported increases in science interest and some knowledge gains. Students also reported they thought the program allowed them to engage in science. There were differences in student responses based on grade level, with intermediate elementary students more likely to report greater knowledge gains and more likely to see the educational value of the experience. Interestingly, middle school students were more likely to value the social aspects of the experience, another important aspect of ISE. This study provides some insight into the connections between the different ISE strands of informal science education and offers suggestions for future research.