X-ray scattering studies of surfaces and interfaces

Here we shall briefly review the basics and some applications of x-ray specular reflectivity and diffuse scattering techniques. These x-ray scattering techniques are uniquely suited to study of the structure of surfaces and interfaces at atomic resolutions as they are nondestructive and can probe even interfaces which are buried. The study of structure of surfaces and interfaces is not only required in understanding physics in reduced dimensions but is also essential in developing technologically important materials.     

Microwave absorption studies of MgB2 superconductor

Microwave absorption studies have been carried out on MgB₂ superconductor using a standard X-band EPR spectrometer. The modulated low-field microwave absorption signals recorded for polycrystalline (grain size ∼ 10 μm) samples suggested the absence of weak-link character. The field dependent direct microwave absorption has been found to obey a ✓H dependence with two different slopes, which indicated a transition from strongly pinned lattice to flux flow regime.     

Two phonon density of states of partially disordered crystal NH4I

Two phonon density of states of NH₄ have been computed with the help of deformation dipole model at room temperature. The results have been compared with the available experimental Raman Spectrum and peak position. It has been shown that in addition to single phonon process which is dominant, the two-phonon density of states also contribute to the Raman Intensity in a partially disordered crystal.     

Dendron-based model systems for flavoenzyme activity: towards a new class of synthetic flavoenzyme

Three generations of water-soluble flavin dendrons have been synthesized and the role dendrimer generation has on the physical and catalytic properties of these assemblies has been investigated.     

Singlet diradical complexes of chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten with azo anion radical ligands from M(CO)6 precursors

The homoleptic diamagnetic complexes M(mer-L)(2), M = Cr, Mo,W (1a,b, 2a,b, and 4a,b), were obtained by reacting the hexacarbonyls M(CO)(6) with the tridentate ligands 2-[(2-N-arylamino)phenylazo]pyridine (HL = NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(6)H(4)(H) (HL(a)) or NH(4)C(5)N=NC(6)H(4)N(H)C(6)H(4)(CH(3)) (HL(b))) in refluxing n-octane. In the case of M = Mo, the dinuclear compounds [Mo(L)(pap)](2)(mu-O) (3a,b) (pap = 2-(phenylazo)pyridine), were obtained as second products in moist solvent. X-ray diffraction analysis for Cr(L(b))(2) (1b), Mo(L(a))(2) (2a), and W(L(a))(2) (4a) reveals considerably distorted-octahedral structures with trans-positioned azo-N atoms and cis-positioned 2-pyridyl-N and anilido nitrogen atoms. Whereas the N(azo)-M-N(azo) angle is larger than 170 degrees, the other two trans angles are smaller, at about 155 degrees (M = Cr, 1b) or 146 degrees (M = Mo, W; 2a, 4a), due to the overarching bite of the mer-tridentate ligands. The bonds from M to the neutral 2-pyridyl-N atoms are distinctly longer by more than 0.08 A than those to the anilido or azo nitrogen atoms, reflecting negative charge on the latter. The N-N bond distances vary between 1.339(2) A for 1b and 1.373(3) A for 4a, clearly indicating the azo radical anion oxidation state. Considering the additional negative charge on anilido-N, the mononuclear complexes are thus formulated as M(IV)(L*(2-))(2). The diamagnetism of the complexes as shown by magnetic susceptibility and (1)H NMR experiments is believed to result from spin-spin coupling between the trans-positioned azo radical functions, resulting in a singlet diradical situation. The experimental structures are well reproduced by density functional theory calculations, which also support the overall electronic structure indicated. The dinuclear 3a with N-N distances of 1.348(10) A for L(a) and 1.340(9) A for pap is also formulated as an azo anion radical-containing molybdenum(IV) species, i.e., [Mo(IV)(L*(2-))(pap*-)](2)(mu-O). All compounds can be reversibly reduced; the Cr complexes 1a,b are also reversibly oxidized in two steps. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicates metal-centered spin for 1a+ and 1a- and g approximately 2 signals for 2a-, 3a+, 3a-, and 4a-. Spectroelectrochemistry in the UV-vis-NIR region showed small changes for the reduction of 2a, 3a, and 4a but extensive spectral changes for the reduction and oxidation of 1a.     

If Gauss–Bonnet interaction plays the role of dark energy

A cosmological model has been constructed with Gauss–Bonnet-scalar interaction, where the Universe starts with exponential expansion but encounters infinite deceleration, q→∞$q\to \infty$ and infinite equation of state parameter, w→∞$w\to \infty$. During evolution it subsequently passes through the stiff fluid era, q=2$q=2$, w=1$w=1$, the radiation dominated era, q=1$q=1$, w=1/3$w=1/3$ and the matter dominated era, q=1/2$q=1/2$, w=0$w=0$. Finally, deceleration halts, q=0$q=0$, w=−1/3$w=-1/3$, and it then encounters a transition to the accelerating phase. Asymptotically the Universe reaches yet another inflationary phase q→−1$q\to -1$, w→−1$w\to -1$. Such evolution is independent of the form of the potential and the sign of the kinetic energy term, i.e., even a non-canonical kinetic energy is unable to phantomize (w<−1)$(w<-1)$ the model.     

Dual nature of improper ferroelectricity in a magnetoelectric multiferroic

Using first-principles calculations, we study the microscopic origin of ferroelectricity (FE) induced by magnetic order in the orthorhombic HoMnO3. We obtain the largest ferroelectric polarization observed in the whole class of improper magnetic ferroelectrics to date. We find that the two proposed mechanisms for FE in multiferroics, lattice and electronic based, are simultaneously active in this compound: a large portion of the ferroelectric polarization arises due to quantum-mechanical effects of electron orbital polarization, in addition to the conventional polar atomic displacements. An interesting mechanism for switching the magnetoelectric domains by an electric field via a 180 degrees coherent rotation of Mn spins is also proposed.     

Electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of 6‐aminophenanthridine and its derivatives: Insights from density functional theory

6‐Aminophenanthridine (6AP) and its derivatives show important biological activities as antiprion compounds and inhibitors of the protein folding activity of the ribosome. Both of these activities depend on the RNA binding property of these compounds, which has been recently characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy. Hence, fundamental insights into the photophysical properties of 6AP compounds are highly important to understand their biological activities. In this work, we have calculated electronic structures and optical properties of 6AP and its three derivatives 6AP8CF₃, 6AP8Cl, and 6APi by density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Our calculated spectra show a good agreement with the experimental absorption and fluorescence spectra, and thus, provide deep insights into the optical properties of the compounds. Furthermore, comparing the results obtained with four different hybrid functionals, we demonstrate that the accuracy of the functionals varies in the order B3LYP > PBE0 > M062X > M06HF. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Structural and elastic properties of Ni2+xMn1−xGa alloys

The structural parameters and the energetics of the Ni_2+xMn_1−xGa alloys have been investigated by the first-principles Exact Muffin Tin Orbital-Coherent Potential Approximation (EMTO-CPA) for 0.10<x<0.30. The difference in total energies (δE) between the low-temperature tetragonal phase and the high-temperature cubic phase has been considered as a qualitative indicator of the martensitic transformation temperature T_m. The qualitative behavior of δE with variation of x has been found to be in agreement with the experimentally observed variation of T_m with x. The elastic constants for the entire range of x have also been calculated and the determination of a relationship between δE and the elastic shear modulus has been attempted. It is seen that δE varies linearly with elastic shear modulus C′, qualitatively similar to the relation between T_m and C′. The energetics calculated with the EMTO method agrees quite well with the all-electron full-potential results ensuring the accuracy of the method. These results show that the EMTO-CPA method is one of the most reliable and accurate first-principles methods, in the context of off-stoichiometric alloys which undergo martensitic phase transformations.