High resonant reflection of a confined free space beam by a high contrast segmented waveguide

High resonant reflection of a free space wave from a deeply corrugated slab waveguide is shown to take place in the case of a focused free space beam under normal incidence. It is described as a result of a strong intra-guide coupling coefficient allowing the coupled wave to be closely localized under the incident beam, therefore to interfere with it with high contrast effects. The coupled mode inspired analysis gives the possibility of optimizing the resonant structure; it is related and compared with the photonic crystal vision of the same functional structure to which it confers more intelligibility.     

Misfit dislocations in limited inhomogeneous media: A review

Elastic fields of translation and misfit dislocations (resp. TD's and MD's) are investigated for two types of inhomogeneous materials.First, a multilayer formed by parallel heterointerfaces or free surfaces and containing one periodic array of interfacial MD's. In the more simple case of a thin layer on a substrate, analytic solutions can be found for the displacement field u relative to a single or a hexagonal periodic array of MD's. In the less simple case of a thin bicrystal and a layer sandwiched between two semi-infinite media, explicit solutions can still be extracted. For the general case of a multilayer material which involves a number N>2 heterointerfaces, analytic expressions become intractable. Solutions can nevertheless be obtained from the numerical inversion of linear equations which express the limiting boundary conditions along the heterointerfaces.Second, a thin bicrystal containing an heterointerface perpendicular to the two free surfaces of a foil. Starting from the elastic field of an edge TD parallel to the free surfaces, it is shown how to derive that of (i) a coherent heterointerface, (ii) a semicoherent heterointerface containing a single MD, and (iii) two close and parallel coherent heterointerfaces. Numerical calculations and graphs illustrate the solutions for metals (Al, Al₂Cu), semiconductor materials (CoSi₂, Si, GaAs), thin foils of the GaAs/Si type and a / superalloy.     

Redetermination de la structure cristalline du tetrafluoroantimonate III de sodium NaSbF4 - interaction liaison fluor-paire electronique libre

The crystal structure of NaSbF₄ has been redetermined by X-ray diffraction. The coordination about antimony is AX₆E with a 2.2.2.1 geometry. The units are linked by fluorine bridges and form a double layer perpendicular to the a axis. Infrared and Raman spectra were recorded and are discussed in terms of the distorted octahedral arrangement of fluorines about each antimony.     

Ionic strength mediated hydrophobic force switching of CF3-terminated ethylene glycol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold

We have synthesised novel oligo(ethylene glycol), CF3-terminated switching self-assembled monolayers, which allow the force experienced by a hydrophobic object to be controlled via the ionic strength of the environment.     

Cooperative Metal Binding and Helical Folding in Model Peptides of Treble‐Clef Zinc Fingers

Synergy in zinc fingers : The comparison between peptide folding and metal binding properties of two model peptides of treble‐clef zinc fingers presenting high affinities for zinc and cobalt reveals a cooperative effect: the metal folds the peptide into a α‐helix, which in turn strengthens the metal core.

     

Nanozeolite‐LTL with GdIII Deposited in the Large and EuIII in the Small Cavities as a Magnetic Resonance Optical Imaging Probe

The immense structural diversity of more than 200 known zeolites is the basis for the wide variety of applications of these fascinating materials ranging from catalysis and molecular filtration to agricultural uses. Despite this versatility, the potential of zeolites in medical imaging has not yet been much exploited. In this work a novel strategy is presented to selectively deposit different ions into distinct framework locations of zeolite‐LTL (Linde type L) and it is demonstrated that the carefully ion‐exchanged Gd/Eu‐containing nanocrystals acquire exceptional magnetic properties in combination with enhanced luminescence. This smart exploitation of the framework structure yields the highest relaxivity density (13.7 s^?1 L g^?1 at 60 MHz and 25 °C) reported so far for alumosilicates, rendering these materials promising candidates for the design of dual magnetic resonance/optical imaging probes, as demonstrated in preliminary phantom studies.     

Isoprene–Styrene Chain Shuttling Copolymerization Mediated by a Lanthanide Half‐Sandwich Complex and a Lanthanidocene: Straightforward Access to a New Type of Thermoplastic Elastomers

A lanthanide half‐sandwich complex and a ansa lanthanidocene have been assessed for isoprene–styrene chain shuttling copolymerization with n‐butylethylmagnesium (BEM). In the presence of 1 equiv BEM, a fully amorphous multiblock microstructure of soft and hard segments is achieved. The microstructure consists of poly(isoprene‐co‐styrene) blocks, with hard blocks rich in styrene and soft blocks rich in isoprene. The composition of the blocks and the resulting glass transition temperatures (T_g) can be easily modified by changing the feed and/or the relative amount of the catalysts, highlighting a new class of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) with tunable transition temperatures. The materials self‐organize into nanostructures in the solid state.     

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of palladium(II) complexes of chiral N-heterocyclic carbene-imine and -amine hybrid ligands

The synthesis and structures of chiral N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-N-donor complexes of silver(I) and palladium(II) are reported. The X-ray structure of an NHC-imine silver(I) complex [((nPr)CN(CHPh))AgBr](2) exhibits an Ag(2)Br(2) dimer motif where the imine group is not coordinated to the silver atom. Reaction between 2 and [PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2)] gives the palladium(II) complex [(kappa(2)-(nPr)CN(CHPh))PdCl(2)](3) that contains a chelating NHC-imine ligand as shown by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Slow hydrolysis of related complexes [(kappa(2)-(nPr)CN(CHPh))PdCl(2)](3) and [(kappa(2)-((Ph)(2)CH)CN(CHPh))PdCl(2)](4) using triethylammonium chloride and water lead to the precipitation of single crystals of insoluble NHC-amino palladium(II) complexes [(kappa(2)-(nPr)CN(H(2)))PdCl(2)](6) and [(kappa(2)-((Ph)(2)CH)CN(H(2)))PdCl(2)](7), respectively. In the solid state, complexes 6 and 7 both exhibit intermolecular hydrogen bonding between chlorine and an amino-hydrogen atom resulting in an infinite chain structure. Substitution of an amino hydrogen for an ethyl group gives the soluble complex [(kappa(2)-(iPr)CN((H)Et))PdCl(2)](12). Reaction between two equivalents of 2 and [PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2)] gives the di-NHC complex [(kappa(1)-(nPr)CN(CHPh))(2)PdCl(2)](5) that does not contain a coordinated imine as shown by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Conproportionation between 5 and an equivalent of [PdCl(2)(MeCN)(2)] to does not occur at temperatures up to 100 degrees C in CD(3)CN.