Fe2Si5N8: Access to Open‐Shell Transition‐Metal Nitridosilicates

Highly condensed nitridosilicates doped with Eu²⁺ or Ce³⁺ play an important role in saving energy by converting the blue light of (In,Ga)N‐LEDs. Although nitridosilicates are known for great structural variety based on covalent anionic Si‐N networks, elemental variety is restricted. Presenting a significant extension of the latter, this work describes a general access to open‐shell transition‐metal nitridosilicates. As a proof‐of‐principle, the first iron nitridosilicate, namely Fe₂Si₅N₈, was prepared by exchanging Ca²⁺ in α‐Ca₂Si₅N₈ applying a FeCl₂ melt (salt metathesis). The title compound was analyzed by powder X‐ray diffraction, EDX, ICP‐OES, combustion analysis, TG/DSC, Mössbauer spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Furthermore, the structure of α‐Ca₂Si₅N₈ was determined at 1073 and 1173 K confirming the anionic network of α‐Ca₂Si₅N₈ providing possible migration pathways for the ion‐exchange reaction.     

Cu[B2(SO4)4] and Cu[B(SO4)2(HSO4)]—Two Silicate Analogue Borosulfates Differing in their Dimensionality: A Comparative Study of Stability and Acidity

Borosulfates are an ever‐expanding class of compounds and the extent of their properties is still elusive. Herein, the first two copper borosulfates Cu[B₂(SO₄)₄] and Cu[B(SO₄)₂(HSO₄)] are presented, which are structurally related but show different dimensionalities in their substructure: While Cu[B₂(SO₄)₄] reveals an anionic chain, [B(SO₄)_4/2]^?, with both a twisted and a unique chair conformation of the B(SO₄)₂B subunits, Cu[B(SO₄)₂(HSO₄)] reveals isolated [B₂(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂]^4? anions showing exclusively a twisted conformation. The complex anion can figuratively be obtained as a cut‐out from the anionic chain by protons. Comparative DFT calculations based on magnetochemical measurements complement the experimental studies. Calculation of the pK_a values of the two conformers of the [B₂(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂]^4? anion revealed them to be more similar to silicic than to sulfuric acid, highlighting the close relationship to silicates.     

A Dimeric η1,η5‐Germole Dianion Bridged Titanium(III) Complex with a Multicenter Ti−Ge−Ge−Ti Bond

Dimeric germole dianion bridged Ti^III and Zr^IV complexes have been synthesized. In these complexes, the germole dianion adopts a formal η¹,η⁵ coordination to the two metal centers. The bonding situation in these bridged dimers is dominated by a covalent Ge?Ge interaction that results, for example, in a strong antiferromagnetic coupling of the d¹ Ti centers.     

Effect of oxygen concentration and temperature on ignition time of polypropylene

The presented article deals with the assessment of combined impact of temperature and flow of oxidising atmosphere, its oxygen concentration and heat flux on the ignition time of isotactic polypropylene (PP). The ignition time was determined in a specially adapted hot air Setchkin furnace at temperatures (450 and 600?°C), density of heat flux (12.4 and?26.4?kW m^?2), flows of oxidation mixture (6 and 8?L?min^?1) and volume oxygen concentrations (3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39, 45 and 50?%). Obtained data allows us to assume that the temperature influence on PP induction period of ignition increases with decreasing flow rate of oxidising atmosphere. At the flow of oxidising mixture equal to 6?L?min^?1 and temperature of 600?°C, oxygen concentration had only a negligible impact on the the induction period of ignition in the analysed period. From the presented results, the induction period of ignition depends on the temperature and also on the flow rate of oxidising mixture and oxygen concentration in it. In addition, heat flux has a significant influence on the induction period. However, the quantification of the heat flux influence was not possible with the applied experimental device.     

The boundary fluctuation theory of transport coefficients in the linear-response limit

In this paper we present, for the first time, a linear-response theory of transport coefficients-shear viscosity and thermal conductivity-involving thermal, as opposed to mechanical, fields. The theory involves the explicit treatment of the boundaries and the constraints that are applied to them. Expressions for the shear viscosity and thermal conductivity are obtained in terms of the fluctuations at the boundaries of the variable conjugate to that which is constrained. We explain how the choice of ensemble, as defined by the boundary constraints, determines the form in which the transport coefficients are evaluated.     

Single-Source Precursors for the Chemical Vapor Deposition of Iron Germanides

Binary iron-germanium phases are promising materials in magnetoelectric, spintronic or data storage applications due to their unique magnetic properties. Previous protocols for preparation of Fe_xGe_y thin films and nanostructures typically involve harsh conditions and are challenging in terms of phase composition and homogeneity. Herein, we report the first example of single source chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of Fe_xGe_y films. The appreciable volatility of [Ge[Fe₂(CO)₈]₂], [Cl₂GeFe(CO)₄]₂ and ^Me₂iPr₂NHC ⋅ GeCl₂ ⋅ Fe(CO)₄ allowed for their application as precursors under standard CVD conditions (^Me₂iPr₂NHC=1,3-diisopropoyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene). The thermal decomposition products of the precursors were characterized by TGA and powder XRD. Deposition experiments in a cold-wall CVD reactor resulted in dense films of Fe_xGe_y. During the optimization of synthetic conditions for precursor preparation the new iron-germanium cluster Cl₂Ge[Fe₂(CO)₈]Ge[Fe₂(CO)₈] was obtained in experiments with a higher stoichiometric ratio of GeCl₂ ⋅ 1,4-dioxane vs. Fe₂(CO)₉.     

Determination of pK a of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine-N-oxides using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy

The pK _a values of N-alkyl-N,N-dimethylamine-N-oxides were determined from the pH dependences of chemical shifts in ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra. The dependences were measured at concentrations below and above the critical micelle concentration of the amine oxides. Above the critical micelle concentration, the plots of the peak positions vs. pH were either sigmoid (the groups close to the nitrogen) or “peak type” (farther groups). The sigmoidal behaviour was a direct result of the acid-base reaction; on the other hand, the “peak type” behaviour was probably an indirect consequence of the pH variation, mediated with the change in micelle size.     

Solvent-free mechanochemical chlorination of hydrocarbons with CuCl2

Solvent-free chlorination of biphenyl and naphthalene was performed under mechanochemical stressing by high-energy ball milling (HEM) of a mixture of CuCl₂ (95 wt %) and the hydrocarbon (5 wt %). The reactivity of the selected hydrocarbons towards CuCl₂ during HEM partially correlates with their ionisation potentials (IP): hexadecane (9.91 eV) > biphenyl (8.27 eV) > naphthalene (8.14 eV).     

Magnetic Ordering in the Solid Solution CePt1–xPdxAl (x = 0.1–0.8)

In order to investigate the magnetic properties of the solid solution CePt_1–xPd_xAl the individual compounds were synthesized from the elements using an arc furnace. From x = 0–0.8 the solid solution crystallizes in the orthorhombic TiNiSi‐type structure (Pnma, no. 62; a = 721–722, b = 448–453 and c = 778–779 pm) and for x = 0.9 both the TiNiSi‐ as well as the hexagonal ZrNiAl‐type structures were observed. The solid solution exhibits an interesting magnetic behavior as for small values of x ferromagnetic ordering can be found. At higher palladium content this changes towards an antiferromagnetic ordering. Furthermore the solid solution exhibits a spin‐reorientation (meta‐magnetic step) for x = 0.2–0.7.