Controlling the magnetic ground state in Cr1-x Vx films

We demonstrate the ability to control the magnetic phase diagram of Cr1-x Vx(110) thin films grown on a W(110) substrate. Using angle-resolved photoemission, we have mapped paramagnetic and commensurate and incommensurate antiferromagnetic phases as a function of temperature, film thickness, and composition. We show that surface-localized electron states play a key role in the observed phase behaviors and suggest from this that it might be possible to control the magnetic phase by applying an external electric field.     

Preparation of α-terpineol and perillyl alcohol using zeolites beta

The preparation of α-terpineol by direct hydration of limonene catalyzed by zeolites beta was studied. The same catalyst was used to prepare perillyl alcohol by isomerization of β-pinene oxide in the presence of water. The aim was to optimize the reaction conditions to achieve high conversions of starting material and high selectivity to the desired products. In the case of limonene, it was found that the highest selectivity to α-terpineol was 88% with conversion of 36% under the conditions: 50 wt% of catalyst beta 25, 10% aqueous acetic acid (10 mL) (volume ratio limonene:H₂O?=?1:4.5), temperature 50 °C, after 24 h. In the case of β-pinene oxide, it was found that the highest selectivity to perillyl alcohol, which was 36% at total conversion, was obtained in the reaction under the following conditions: dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent (volume ratio β-pinene oxide:DMSO?=?1:5), catalyst beta 25 without calcination (15 wt%), demineralized water (molar ratio β-pinene oxide:H₂O?=?1:8), temperature 70 °C, 3 h. The present study shows that the studied reactions are suitable for the selective preparation of chosen compounds.

     

The Assembly‐Disassembly‐Organization‐Reassembly Mechanism for 3D‐2D‐3D Transformation of Germanosilicate IWW Zeolite

Hydrolysis of germanosilicate zeolites with the IWW structure shows two different outcomes depending on the composition of the starting materials. Ge‐rich IWW (Si/Ge=3.1) is disassembled into a layered material (IPC‐5P), which can be reassembled into an almost pure silica IWW on treatment with diethoxydimethylsilane. Ge‐poor IWW (Si/Ge=6.4) is not completely disassembled on hydrolysis, but retains some 3D connectivity. This structure can be reassembled into IWW by incorporation of Al to fill the defects left when the Ge is removed.     

Zeolites with Continuously Tuneable Porosity

Zeolites are important materials whose utility in industry depends on the nature of their porous structure. Control over microporosity is therefore a vitally important target. Unfortunately, traditional methods for controlling porosity, in particular the use of organic structure‐directing agents, are relatively coarse and provide almost no opportunity to tune the porosity as required. Here we show how zeolites with a continuously tuneable surface area and micropore volume over a wide range can be prepared. This means that a particular surface area or micropore volume can be precisely tuned. The range of porosity we can target covers the whole range of useful zeolite porosity: from small pores consisting of 8‐rings all the way to extra‐large pores consisting of 14‐rings.     

Database Survey of Single-and-Half Phosphorus–Oxygen Bonds in Salts with the C2PO2 Segment: Crystal Structure of [NH2C5H4NH][(C6H5)2P(O)(O)]⋅2H2O

Crystallography Reports - For structures with a C2PO2 skeleton, a comparison of “single-and-half” phosphorus–oxygen bonds with single and double phosphorus–oxygen bonds is...     

Poly(styrene-co-p-(hexafluoro-2-hydroxy-2-propyl)-styrene) blends with syndiotactic and/or isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate)

A modified polystyrene, poly(styrene-co-p-(hexafluoro-2-hydroxy-2-propyl)styrene) (FPS), was blended with syndiotactic and/or isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in toluene. Blends were prepared under different conditions to control the self-aggregation of the PMMA segments. The formation of hydrogen bonding and the attendant changes in the aggregation or crystallization of PMMA segments were determined in the solid state by means of FTIR and DSC. The results indicate that for the binary blends, the aggregation of PMMA segments is diminished by hydrogen bonding interaction with either s-PMMA or i-PMMA, and that the interaction is stronger with the s-PMMA blends. For the ternary blends, FPS/s-PMMA/i-PMMA, the preference for stereocomplexation in the system with hydrogen bonding may be attributed to the “kink-nucleated” mechanism, which needs relatively short chain lengths of PMMA segments. Regardless of the order of addition of the components, the formation of crystalline stereocomplexes of s- and i-PMMA could be readily detected. Therefore, the miscibility of the polymer blends is dependent on the competition between the self-aggregation of the s- or i-PMMA segments, stereocomplexation and the hydrogen bonding interaction of PMMA segments with FPS.     

Cobalt‐Embedded Nitrogen‐Rich Carbon Nanotubes Efficiently Catalyze Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Values

Despite being technically possible, splitting water to generate hydrogen is still practically unfeasible due mainly to the lack of sustainable and efficient catalysts for the half reactions involved. Herein we report the synthesis of cobalt‐embedded nitrogen‐rich carbon nanotubes (NRCNTs) that 1) can efficiently electrocatalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with activities close to that of Pt and 2) function well under acidic, neutral or basic media alike, allowing them to be coupled with the best available oxygen‐evolving catalysts—which also play crucial roles in the overall water‐splitting reaction. The materials are synthesized by a simple, easily scalable synthetic route involving thermal treatment of Co²⁺‐embedded graphitic carbon nitride derived from inexpensive starting materials (dicyandiamide and CoCl₂). The materials’ efficient catalytic activity is mainly attributed to their nitrogen dopants and concomitant structural defects.