Fundamental metal carbonyl equilibria: a quantitative infrared spectroscopic study of the equilibrium between dicobalt octacarbonyl and tetracobalt dodecacarbonyl under carbon monoxide pressure in hexane solution.

The equilibrium between Co₂(CO)₈ and Co₄(CO)₁₂ has been investigated in hexane solution in the temperature range 105–145°C under carbon monoxide pressure (6–14 bar). the data obtained by infrared analytical monitoring of the system in a high-pressure cell alow a reasonably precise extension of the calculated equilibrium concentration between —20 and 300°C. The thermo- dynamic parameters obtained for this system are: ΔH⁰ 29.5 ± 0.5 kcal mol^-1, ΔS⁰ 135 ± 3 cal mol^-1 K^-1. The stability regions of Co₂(CO)₈ and Co₄(CO)₁₂ in terms of p(CO) and temperature are discussed.     

Detection of stress whitening in plastics with the help of X-ray dark field imaging

The processing of thermoplastics can induce a wide range of defects such as stress whitening, cavitation and porosity, which can adversely affect the reliability of the final products. Hence, fast and effective non-destructive detection methods for such defects are highly important for quality assurance on production lines. In this paper, X-ray dark field imaging is presented as a new non-destructive testing method that allows the visualization of stress whitening or cavitation efficiently. The performance of the method is demonstrated for the case of an injection-moulded polyvinylidene fluoride part that exhibits stress whitening. Whereas the stress whitening could not be detected by conventional X-ray imaging, it was localized by an X-ray dark field image acquired within a few minutes. Once the precise location of the stress whitening was known, it was possible to verify the result by local micro X-ray computed tomography and by a micro section image.     

Erratum to: A Variational Approach to Givental’s Nonlinear Maslov Index

In this article we consider a variant of Rabinowitz Floer homology in order to define a homological count of discriminant points for paths of contactomorphisms. The growth rate of this count can be seen as an analogue of Givental’s nonlinear Maslov index. As an application we prove a Bott–Samelson type obstruction theorem for positive loops of contactomorphisms.     

Size does matter! Label-free detection of small molecule–protein interaction

This review is focused on methods for detecting small molecules and, in particular, the characterisation of their interaction with natural proteins (e.g. receptors, ion channels). Because there are intrinsic advantages to using label-free methods over labelled methods (e.g. fluorescence, radioactivity), this review only covers label-free techniques. We briefly discuss available techniques and their advantages and disadvantages, especially as related to investigating the interaction between small molecules and proteins. The reviewed techniques include well-known and widely used standard analytical methods (e.g. HPLC-MS, NMR, calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction), newer and more specialised analytical methods (e.g. biosensors), biological systems (e.g. cell lines and animal models), and in-silico approaches.     

Comprehensive Characterization of Shredded Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Material

Herein we report on an analytical study of dry-shredded lithium-ion battery (LIB) materials with unknown composition. Samples from an industrial recycling process were analyzed concerning the elemental composition and (organic) compound speciation. Deep understanding of the base material for LIB recycling was obtained by identification and analysis of transition metal stoichiometry, current collector metals, base electrolyte and electrolyte additive residues, aging marker molecules and polymer binder fingerprints. For reversed engineering purposes, the main electrode and electrolyte chemistries were traced back to pristine materials. Furthermore, possible lifetime application and accompanied aging was evaluated based on target analysis on characteristic molecules described in literature. With this, the reported analytics provided precious information for value estimation of the undefined spent batteries and enabled tailored recycling process deliberations. The comprehensive feedstock characterization shown in this work paves the way for targeted process control in LIB recycling processes.     

Hydrogen bonding in brucinium dihydrogen citrate trihydrate at 130 K

The structure of brucinium dihydrogen citrate trihydrate (systematic name: 2,3‐dimeth­oxy‐10‐oxostrychnidinium dihydrogen citrate trihydrate), C₂₃H₂₇N₂O₄⁺·C₆H₇O₇⁻·3H₂O, has been determined at 130 K. The crystallographic asymmetric unit comprises two brucinium cations, two dihydrogen citrate anions and six water mol­ecules of solvation. The two citrate anions, which are conformationally dissimilar, associate through extensive hydrogen‐bonding inter­actions with the common undulating brucinium cation layer substructures and the water mol­ecules, forming a three‐dimensional framework polymer.     

Potassium carbamoyldi­cyano­methanide

The crystal structure of the title compound, K[(CN)₂CC(O)NH₂)] or K⁺·C₄H₂N₃O⁻, conventionally abbreviated as Kcdm, where cdm is carbamoyldi­cyano­methanide, is described. The bond lengths and angles of the cdm cation are comparable to those reported previously for [M(cdm)₂(H₂O)₄]·2H₂O (M = Ni, Mn and Co). The K atoms are coordinated to four nitrile N atoms and two carbonyl O atoms in a distorted trigonal prismatic fashion, with two further N atoms semicoordinated through the centers of two prism side faces. This coordination leads to the formation of mixed anion–cation sheets parallel to the ab plane, which are joined together via hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The cdm anion is potentially useful for the formation of transition metal coordination polymers, in which magnetic superexchange could occur through a bidentate cdm bridge. Kcdm provides a model compound by which the molecular geometry of the cdm anion can be analyzed.