Structural,electronic, and magnetoresponsive properties of triangular lanthanide clusters and their free‐standing nitrides

The molecular and electronic structures, stabilities, bonding features, and magnetoresponsive properties of three‐membered [c‐Ln₃]^+/0/? (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Lu) and heterocyclic six‐membered [c‐Ln₃E₃]^q (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Lu; E = C, N; q = 0 or 1) rings have been investigated by means of electronic structure calculation methods at the DFT level. The [c‐Ln₃]^+/0/? clusters are predicted to be bound with respect to dissociation to their constituent atoms, the estimated binding energies ranging from 45.8 to 2056.4 kJ/mol. The [c‐Ln₃] rings capture easily a planar three‐coordinated nitrogen atom at the center or above the center of the ring yielding the lanthanide nitride clusters [c‐Ln₃(μ₃‐N)] adopting a planar geometry, except [c‐La₃(μ₃‐N)] which exhibits pyramidal geometry. The [c‐Ln₃(μ₃‐N)] clusters are predicted to be bound, with respect to dissociation to N (⁴S) atom and [c‐Ln₃] clusters in their ground states, the binding energies ranging from 53.9 to 257.9 kcal/mol. The six‐membered [c‐Ln₃E₃]^q rings are predicted to be bound with respect to dissociation to LnE^q monomers in their ground states with dissociation energies in the range of 173.8 to 318.0 kcal/mol. Calculation of the NICS_zz‐scan curves of the clusters predicted a “hermaphrodic” magnetic response of the [c‐Ln₃]^+/0/? and heterocyclic six‐membered [c‐Ln₃E₃]^q rings, manifested by the coexistence of successive diatropic (aromatic) and paratropic (antiaromatic) zones. The [c‐La₃]^+/0/? and [c‐Lu₃]^? are predicted to be weakly antiaromatic, the [c‐Lu₃]^0/+, [c‐Lu₃C₃]⁺, and [c‐Lu₃N₃] double (σ+π) aromatic, and the [c‐Gd₃C₃] and [c‐Gd₃N₃]⁺ rings (σ+δ)‐aromatic systems. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011     

Electrode materials and reaction mechanisms in solid oxide fuel cells: a brief review. III. Recent trends and selected methodological aspects

Continuing previous reviews on mixed-conducting electrodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT SOFCs), this work presents a short overview of novel cathode and anode materials, their electrochemical performance in contact with oxygen anion- and proton-conducting solid electrolytes, and specific features determining possible applications. Priority was given mainly to recent research reports published during the last 2–5 years. Particular emphasis is focused on the relevant methodological aspects, potential limitations and drawbacks, and factors affecting electrode polarization and durability. Typical ranges of the polarization resistances, overpotentials, power densities in the cells with various current collectors, and the electrode materials total conductivity and thermal expansion are compared. The electrode compositions appraised in single-chamber and micro-SOFCs, hydrocarbon- and carbon-fueled cells, high-temperature electrolyzers, and other solid-electrolyte appliances are briefly covered in light of their similarity to the common SOFC materials discussed in the previous parts.     

Probing the electronic structure,chemical bonding,and excitation spectra of [CuE]+/0/− (E = 14 group element) diatomics employing DFT and ab initio methods

The electronic structure, chemical bonding, and excitation spectra of neutral, cationic, and anionic diatomic molecules of Cu and 14 group elements formulated as [CuE]^+/0/? (E = C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent (TD)‐DFT methods. The electronic and bonding properties of the diatomics analyzed by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis approch revealed a clear picture of the chemical bonding in these species. The spatial organization of the bonding between Cu and E atoms in the [CuE]^+/0/? (E = Si, Ge, Sn, Pb) molecules can easily be recognized by the cut‐plane electron localization function representations. Particular emphasis was given on the absorption spectra of the [CuE]^+/0/? which were simulated using the results of TD‐DFT calculations employing the hybrid Coulomb‐attenuating CAM‐B3LYP functional. The absorption bands have thoroughly been analyzed and assignments of the contributing principal electronic transitions associated to individual excitations have been made. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

DFT study of the mechanism of hydroamination of ethylene with ammonia catalyzed by diplatinum(II) complexes: Inner‐ or outer‐sphere?

A detailed analysis of the reaction profiles of the hydroamination reaction between ethylene and ammonia catalyzed by the diplatinum(II) [{Pt(NH₂)(μ‐H)(PPh₃)}₂] complex is presented herein using density functional theory computational techniques. The coordinatively unsaturated 14e T‐shaped [Pt(NH₂)(PPh₃)H] species resulted from the dissociation of the diplatinum [{Pt(NH₂)(μ‐H)(PPh₃)}₂] precatalyst are identified as the active catalytic species. All possible reaction pathways that constitute the entire catalytic cycle have exhaustively been investigated. Overall, the rate‐determining step of all catalytic cycles constructed was found to be the oxidative addition of ammonia that leads to the regeneration of the catalyst. According to the energy span model, the outer‐sphere mechanism for the hydroamination of ethylene with ammonia catalyzed by the diplatinum complexes is favored over the inner‐sphere one, whereas TOF values are in favor of the inner‐sphere mechanism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electrical, electrochemical, and thermomechanical properties of perovskite-type (La1?x Sr x )1?y Mn0.5Ti0.5O3?δ (x?=?0.15–0.75, y?=?0–0.05)

Strontium additions in (La_1?x Sr _x )_1?y Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3?δ (x?=?0.15–0.75, y?=?0–0.05) having a rhombohedrally distorted perovskite structure under oxidizing conditions lead to the unit cell volume contraction, whilst the total conductivity, thermal and chemical expansion, and steady-state oxygen permeation limited by surface exchange increase with increasing x. The oxygen partial pressure dependencies of the conductivity and Seebeck coefficient studied at 973–1223?K in the p(O₂) range from 10^?19 to 0.5?atm suggest a dominant role of electron hole hopping and relatively stable Mn³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ states. Due to low oxygen nonstoichiometry essentially constant in oxidizing and moderately reducing environments and to strong coulombic interaction between Ti⁴⁺ cations and oxygen anions, the tracer diffusion coefficients measured by the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotopic exchange depth profile method with time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometric analysis are lower compared to lanthanum–strontium manganites. The average thermal expansion coefficients determined by controlled-atmosphere dilatometry vary in the range 9.8–15.0?×?10^?6?K^?1 at 300–1370?K and oxygen pressures from 10^?21 to 0.21?atm. The anodic overpotentials of porous La_0.5Sr_0.5Mn_0.5Ti_0.5O_3?δ electrodes with Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2-δ interlayers, applied onto LaGaO₃-based solid electrolyte, are lower compared to (La_0.75Sr_0.25)_0.95Cr_0.5Mn_0.5O_3?δ when no metallic current-collecting layers are introduced. However, the polarization resistance is still high, ~2 Ω?×?cm² in humidified 10?% H₂–90?% N₂ atmosphere at 1073?K, in correlation with relatively low electronic conduction and isotopic exchange rates. The presence of H₂S traces in H₂-containing gas mixtures did not result in detectable decomposition of the perovskite phases.     

Trisdithiocarbamates mass spectra mass spectra. Study of arsenic,antimony and bismuth Trisdithiocarbamate Complexes

Ten trisdithiocarbamate compounds of arsenic, antimony and bismuth are studied by mass spectrometry. Their fragmentation modes and the fragment ions with common structures are discussed. The molecular ion peaks were not observed in all compounds. The highest mass number fragment ions, which might be generated directly from the molecular ions, are those with less mass units, equal to a dithiocarbamate group; signifing a facile detaching of one of the dithiocarbamato groups. The observed peaks are attributed, either to electron impact or to pyrolytic decomposition. The most prominent peaks, in the higher mass number region of all the spectra, correspond to polynuclear compounds of the general formula M_nS_m, where M = As, Sb, Bi; S = sulfur; n = 1, 2, 3, 4 and m = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.     

Neutron powder diffraction study of TbBaCo2−xFexO5+γ layered oxides

The crystal and magnetic structures of layered perovskites TbBaCo_2−xFe_xO_5+γ (0.08?x?0.24) were studied by neutron powder diffraction. Increasing iron concentration up to the x values higher than 0.10 leads to the orthorhombic→tetragonal phase transition resulting from the transformation of 2×1×1-type superstructure, formed due to ordering of extra oxygen incorporated into the vacant sites in [TbO_γ] layers, into 3×3×1 superlattice. The concentration ranges, where the orthorhombic and tetragonal lattices exist, are separated with a narrow two-phase domain. For the tetragonal phases with 3×3×1 superstructure (space group P4/mmm), the Co/Fe ions are antiferromagnetically coupled, forming G-type spin-ordered configuration. The Co³⁺ cations located in square-pyramidal sites adopt intermediate spin state, whilst a relatively small magnetic moment of Co³⁺ ions in the octahedral sublattice indicates that a minor fraction of cobalt is in the low-spin state.     

Mixed conductivity and stability of A-site-deficient Sr(Fe,Ti)O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> perovskites

Deficiency in the A sublattice of perovskite-type Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ (y=0–0.06) leads to suppression of oxygen-vacancy ordering and to increasing oxygen ionic conductivity, unit cell volume, thermal expansion, and stability in CO₂-containing atmospheres. The total electrical conductivity, predominantly p-type electronic in air, decreases with increasing A-site deficiency at 300–700 K and is essentially independent of the cation vacancy concentration at higher temperatures. Oxygen ion transference numbers for Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ in air, estimated from the faradaic efficiency and oxygen permeation data, vary in the range from 0.002 to 0.015 at 1073–1223 K, increasing with temperature. The maximum ionic conductivity was observed for Sr_0.97Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ ceramics. In the system Sr_0.97Fe_{1– x} Ti _x O_3–δ (x=0.1–0.6), thermal expansion and electron-hole conductivity both decrease with x. Moderate additions of titanium (up to 20%) in Sr_0.97(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ result in higher ionic conductivity and lower activation energy for ionic transport, owing to disordering in the oxygen sublattice; further doping decreases the ionic conduction. It was shown that time degradation of the oxygen permeability, characteristic of Sr(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ membranes and resulting from partial ordering processes, can be reduced by cycling of the oxygen pressure at the membrane permeate side. Thermal expansion coefficients of Sr_{1– y} Ti_{1– x} Fe _x O_3–δ (x=0.10–0.60, y=0–0.06) in air are in the range (11.7–16.5)×10^–6 K^–1 at 350–750 K and (16.6–31.1)×10^–6 K^–1 at 750–1050 K. Electronic Publication     

Oxygen non-stoichiometry of Ln4Ni2.7Fe0.3O10−δ (Ln=La, Pr)

The oxygen deficiency of iron-substituted nickelates Ln₄Ni_2.7Fe_0.3O_10−δ (Ln=La, Pr) with the orthorhombic Ruddlesden-Popper structure was studied by thermogravimetric analysis and coulometric titration in the oxygen partial pressure range 6×10⁻⁵ to 0.7 atm at 973-1223 K. In air, the non-stoichiometry values vary in the relatively narrow ranges (2.4−4.2)×10⁻² for La- and (0.01−2.0)×10⁻² for Pr-containing compositions, increasing with temperature. Due to the smaller size of praseodymium cations, Pr₄Ni_2.7Fe_0.3O_10−δ exhibits a substantially lower thermodynamic stability in comparison with La₄Ni_2.7Fe_0.3O_10−δ and La₄Ni₃O_10−δ, although the oxygen content in Pr₄Ni_2.7Fe_0.3O_10−δ lattice is higher. The partial substitution of iron for nickel has no essential effect on the low-p(O₂) stability limit corresponding to the transition of Pr₄Ni₃O_10−δ into K₂NiF₄-type Pr₂NiO_4+δ. On the contrary, doping of La₄Ni₃O_10−δ with iron decreases the oxygen vacancy concentration and shifts the phase stability boundary towards lower oxygen chemical potentials, suggesting a stabilization of the transition metal-oxygen octahedra in lanthanum nickelate lattice. The Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that the predominant state of iron cations, statistically distributed between the nickel sites, is trivalent.