Structural properties of silver iodide and copper iodide

The structural changes within the Silver iodide (AgI) and Copper iodide (CuI) induced by pressure have been investigated using an effective interaction potential. CuI and AgI in their parent zinc blende (ZnS) to rock salt (NaCl) through an intermediate structure have been reported. The calculated values for the phase transition pressures and associate volume collapses are generally in good agreement with measured data.      

Density of states in the conduction band of some rare earth oxides

The results of a systematic investigation of the intensity distribution near the short wavelength limit of the continuous X-ray spectrum for the most common rare earth oxides are reported. Anomalies in the band structure of some oxides have been observed and are discussed in terms of localized energy levels in the forbidden band due to the existence of colour centres. This implies that the physical properties of pure compounds strongly depend on the precise experimental conditions of preparation.     

Polarity switching and transient responses in single nanotube nanofluidic transistors

We report the integration of inorganic nanotubes into metal-oxide-solution field effect transistors (FETs) which exhibit rapid field effect modulation of ionic conductance. Surface functionalization, analogous to doping in semiconductors, can switch the nanofluidic transistors from p-type to ambipolar and n-type field effect transistors. Transient study reveals the kinetics of field effect modulation is controlled by ion-exchange step. Nanofluidic FETs have potential implications in subfemtoliter analytical technology and large-scale nanofluidic integration.     

Phosphine-mediated [4 + 2] annulation of bis(enones): a Lewis base catalyzed "mock Diels-Alder" reaction

Lewis-base-catalyzed cycloisomerization of bis(enones) to decalins has been demonstrated as an alternative to the traditional Lewis acid catalyzed Diels-Alder cycloaddition. In this process, a trialkylphosphine mediates both bond formation steps in two distinct catalytic cycles. The single-pot operation generates two carbon-carbon bonds and up to five contiguous stereocenters in one step, starting from achiral, aliphatic substrates; eight examples are provided. [reaction: see text]     

1-(2-Iodophenyl)-1H-tetrazole as a ligand for Pd(II) catalyzed Heck reaction

1-(2-Iodophenyl)-1H-tetrazole 2 was synthesized by the reaction of 2-iodoaniline, sodium azide and triethyl orthoformate in acetic acid. The newly synthesized ligand 2 was successfully used in Heck reaction to give the cross-coupled products in excellent yields.     

Resonant tunneling of ultracold atoms through vacuum induced potentials

We demonstrate resonant tunneling of ultracold atoms through potentials produced by the interaction of atoms with the vacuum field of a system of cavities. We show the close connection of the transmission characteristics to the resonant states in vacuum induced potentials. Transmission of cold atoms, though sharing some features with tunneling in finite semiconductor superlattices, is strongly dependent on the coherent addition of amplitudes from various wells and barriers.     

Calcium and oxygen doping in Y Ba2Cu3Oy

Both oxygen and calcium play important roles in inducing superconductivity in Y Ba₂Cu₃O_y (YBCO), which is an antiferromagnetic insulator at low O and Ca content. O induces superconductivity in Ca-free YBCO, while Ca does similarly in oxygen-deficient YBCO. For doping oxygen HgO was used as it decomposes at 476 ^°C into Hg, which escapes from the matrix leaving the crystal unaltered, and O, which provide a way to dope O in YBCO. Considering these facts, polycrystalline samples of Y _1−xCa_xBa₂Cu₃O_y with x=0, 0.1 and 0.2 with and without HgO addition were prepared through a solid-state reaction method. The samples were sintered at 950 ^°C in open atmosphere. These synthesized samples were characterized through using the X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) for phase evaluation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for grain morphology, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) for compositional analysis and the four-contact measurement technique for determining the superconducting transition temperature.     

1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride in combination with triethylamine: an improved catalytic system for hydroacylation/reduction of activated ketones

A rapid, economic, and high yielding methodology has been developed for hydroacylation/reduction of activated ketones by using 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolium chloride as a catalyst in combination with triethylamine. The reaction proceeded at an ambient temperature via generating N-heterocyclic carbene in situ that interacted with the (hetero)aryl aldehyde employed. While the reduction of ketones takes place in MeOH, the hydroacylation process was found to be effective in THF for both electron rich and deficient aldehydes.     

Gd substituted NiCa ferrite/poly vinyl alcohol nanocomposite

Magnetic nanocomposite material composed of poly vinyl alcohol encapsulated Ni_0.2Ca_0.8Gd_0.08Fe_1.92O₄ was synthesized by a two step chemical method including sol-gel combustion and solvent casting technique. The obtained samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction; transmission electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of spectroanalysis pointed towards the existence of a considerably feasible interaction between the polymer chain and the ferrite particles. The dc magnetization measurements divulged that both pristine and the nanocomposite samples under applied magnetic field exhibit no hysteretic behavior at room temperature, symptomatic of the superparamagnetic behavior. The departure of field cooled and zero field cooled curves in the moment-versus-temperature plot further confirmed the room temperature superparamagnetic behavior. The extrapolation of the slope of the curves to M=0 imparted the average value of Curie temperature at ∼323 K (50 °C) for both the samples, suggestive of the efficacy of the material for finding application in self controlled hyperthermia.