Growth and form of planetary seedlings: results from a microgravity aggregation experiment

The outcome of the first stage of planetary formation, which is characterized by ballistic agglomeration of preplanetary dust grains due to Brownian motion in the free molecular flow regime of the solar nebula, is still somewhat speculative. We performed a microgravity experiment flown onboard the space shuttle in which we simulated, for the first time, the onset of free preplanetary dust accumulation and revealed the structures and growth rates of the first dust agglomerates in the young solar system. We find that a thermally aggregating swarm of dust particles evolves very rapidly and forms unexpected open-structured agglomerates.     

Dielectric response of PVC polymer loaded with Ba0.3Na0.7Ti0.3Nb0.7O3 ceramic powder

Dielectric response of poly(vinyl chloride), (PVC), loaded with different amount of Ba_0.3Na_0.7Ti_0.3Nb_0.7O₃ (BNTN) ceramic powders was investigated in frequency range 100 Hz–1 MHz and temperature range 100–450 K. Ceramic solid solution of barium titanate and sodium niobate with composition Ba_0.3Na_0.7Ti_0.3Nb_0.7O₃ was obtained from BaCO₃, TiO₂, Na₂CO₃ and Nb₂O₅ by conventional method. Powders were prepared by grinding of ceramics. The obtained ceramics, used to produce BNTN–PVC composites, are characterized by the relaxor behaviour with a broad peak of dielectric permittivity ε′ at T _m ≈ 230 K. The microstructure of the powders was observed and the grain size was estimated using scanning electron microscope Hitachi S-4700. The EDS analysis confirms the qualitative and quantitative chemical composition of powders and ceramics. The BNTN–PVC composite samples of 0-3 connectivity were prepared from ceramic and polymer powders by hot-pressing method. The dielectric response of the composites displays features originated from the PVC polymer modified by those of BNTN ceramics. The relaxation time of the α-process of PVC obeys the Vogel–Fulcher law and decreases with increasing volume fraction of the ceramics.     

Role of thermalization phonons in producing the electron-hole droplet cloud

The phonon wind which generates the characteristics cloud of electron-hole droplets in Ge cannot be composed solely of phonons produced via Auger recombination in drops. The nearly constant droplet density in the cloud and the rapid expansion of the cloud both point to an extra source of phonons spatially localized near the crystal surface and formed during the initial thermalization of hot carriers. Most experiments, including recent measurements of droplet velocities, are consistent with about 10–20% of the wind phonons being of thermalization origin.     

Synthesis, thermal behavior, and other properties of Y(III) and La(III) complexes with 4,4′-bipyridine and trichloro- or dibromoacetates

New Y(III) and La(III) complexes with 4-bpy (4,4??-bipyridine) and trichloro- or dibromoacetates with the formulae: Y(4-bpy)₂(CCl₃COO)₃·H₂O I, La(4-bpy)_1.5(CCl₃COO)₃·2H₂O II, Y(4-bpy)_1.5(CHBr₂COO)₃·3H₂O III, and La(4-bpy)(CHBr₂COO)₃·H₂O IV were prepared and characterized by chemical, elemental analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Conductivity studies (in methanol, dimethyloformamide, and dimethylsulfoxide) were also described. They are small, crystalline substances. The way of metal?Cligand coordination was discussed. The thermal properties of complexes in the solid state were studied by TG-DTG techniques under dynamic flowing air atmosphere. TG-FTIR system was used to analyze principal volatile thermal decomposition and fragmentation products evolved during pyrolysis in dynamic flowing argon atmosphere for La(III) compounds.     

Crystal structure of compounds [Ln(H2O)8]3+·4CCl3COO?·4H2O·2(4-bpy)·(4-bpyH)+(Ln(III) = Gd, Tb, Er, AND Tm)

Novel compounds of Gd(III), Tb(III), Er(III), and Tm(III) with 4,4??-bipyridine (4-bpy) and trichloroacetates are prepared. The title compounds are isomorphic and isostructural in the solid state. All atoms in the studied compound lie in general positions of the Cc space group. The coordination polyhedra around central atoms can be described as bicapped trigonal prisms slightly disordered towards a square antiprism. All 4-bpy molecules are located in the outer coordination sphere together with four trichloroacetate anions and four water molecules. One of the nitrogen atoms of one 4-bpy is protonated due to stoichiometry.     

Thermal characterization of new complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II) with some bipyridine isomers and propionates

New mixed ligand complexes of the following stoichiometric formulae: M(2-bpy)₂(RCOO)₂·nH₂O, M(4-bpy)(RCOO)₂·H₂O and M(2,4’-bpy)₂(RCOO)₂·H₂O (where M(II)=Zn, Cd; 2-bpy=2,2’-bipyridine, 4-bpy=4,4′-bipyridine, 2,4′-bpy=2,4′-bipyridine; R=C₂H₅; n=2 or 4) were prepared in pure solid-state. These complexes were characterized by chemical and elemental analysis, IR and conductivity studies. Thermal behaviour of compounds was studied by means of DTA, DTG, TG techniques under static conditions in air. The final products of pyrolysis of Cd(II) and Zn(II) compounds were metal oxides MO. A coupled TG/MS system was used to analyse of principal volatile products of thermal decomposition or fragmentation of Zn(4-bpy)(RCOO)2·H2O under dynamic air and argon atmosphere. The principal species correspond to: C⁺, CH⁺, CH₃ ⁺, C₂H₂ ⁺, HCN⁺, C₂H₅ ⁺ or CHO⁺, CH₂O⁺ or NO⁺, CO₂ ⁺, ¹³C¹⁶O₂ ⁺ and ¹²C¹⁶O¹⁸O⁺ and others; additionally CO⁺ in argon atmosphere.     

Practical Iron‐ and Cobalt‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions between N‐Heterocyclic Halides and Aryl or Heteroaryl Magnesium Reagents

The reaction scope of iron‐ and cobalt‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions in the presence of isoquinoline (quinoline) in the solvent mixture tBuOMe/THF has been further investigated. Various 2‐halogenated pyridine, pyrimidine, and triazine derivatives were arylated under these mild conditions in excellent yields. The presence of isoquinoline allows us to perform Fe‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions between 6‐chloroquinoline and aryl magnesium reagents. Furthermore, it was found that the use of 10 % N,N‐dimethylquinoline‐8‐amine increases the yields of some Co‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions with chloropyridines bearing electron‐withdrawing substituents.