Nuclear and magnetic structures and magnetic properties of the layered cobalt hydroxysulfate Co5(OH)6(SO4)2(H2O)4 and its deuterated analogue, Co5(OD)6(SO4)2(D2O)4

The structures (nuclear and magnetic), magnetic properties (2-300 K, 1-10(4) bar), and heat capacity of the layered ferromagnet Co5(OH)6(SO4)2(H2O)4 are reported. The crystal structure consists of brucite-like M(II)-OH layers of edge-sharing octahedra, but having two different Co sites, which are pillared by ...O3SO-Co(H2O)4-OSO3.... The absorption spectrum confirms the presence of divalent Co, and by comparison of the two isotopic materials, the assignment of the vibrational spectra is proposed. The magnetic properties are those of a ferromagnet with a Curie temperature of 14 K. Temperature and field dependence magnetization data taken on an aligned sample suggest an easy-plane magnet. The Curie temperature increases linearly with pressure at a rate of +0.12 K/kbar, suggesting small progressive and uniform modifications of the Co-Co exchange interactions. Rietveld refinement of the neutron powder diffraction data and consideration of a group analysis reveal the direction of the moments of the Co within the layer to be along the b-axis, with a maximum moment of 3.33 micro(B) per cobalt. Those of the pillars remain random. Estimation of the entropy from the heat capacity data accounts for the presence of four ordered moments of Co with spin 1/2 at the long-range ordering temperature, while the moment of the pillaring Co contributes only at lower temperature due to the increase of the internal field as the temperature is lowered. The purely 2D-magnetic ordering in an easy-plane magnet, evidenced by neutron diffraction and heat capacity, challenges the existing theories and is a rare example of a single-layer magnet.     

Dynamic behaviour modelling of a flexible gear system by the elastic foundation theory in presence of defects

In this paper a novel approach for modelling a spur gear system using finite element method combined with elastic foundation theory is developed. The pinion is modelled by shaft finite element and the wheel by a three-dimensional finite element. Elastic foundation is utilized to model the gearmesh. The modal analysis showed the presence of lower natural frequency for thin rimmed gear cases susceptible to be excited by the operating running condition. The transmission error is affected by the wheel shape and by the presence of lower natural frequencies. Eccentricity error and tooth crack are also modelled to observe their influence on the dynamics behaviour of the system. It was found that they are responsible of the apparition of an amplitude modulation.     

Synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties of four new organically templated metal sulfates [C5H14N2][M(II)(H2O)6](SO4)2, (M(II) = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)

A series of novel organically templated metal sulfates, [C(5)H(14)N(2)][M(II)(H(2)O)(6)](SO(4))(2) with (M(II) = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3) and Ni (4)), have been successfully synthesized by slow evaporation and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as well as with infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and magnetic measurements. All compounds were prepared using a racemic source of the 2-methylpiperazine and they crystallized in the monoclinic systems, P2(1)/n for (1, 3) and P2(1)/c for (2,4). Crystal data are as follows: [C(5)H(14)N(2)][Mn(H(2)O)(6)](SO(4))(2), a = 6.6385(10) ?, b = 11.0448(2) ?, c = 12.6418(2) ?, β = 101.903(10)°, V = 906.98(3) ?(3), Z = 2; [C(5)H(14)N(2)][Fe(H(2)O)(6)](SO(4))(2), a = 10.9273(2) ?, b = 7.8620(10) ?, c = 11.7845(3) ?, β = 116.733(10)°, V = 904.20(3) ?(3), Z = 2; [C(5)H(14)N(2)][Co(H(2)O)(6)](SO(4))(2), a = 6.5710(2) ?, b = 10.9078(3) ?, c = 12.5518(3) ?, β = 101.547(2)°, V = 881.44(4) ?(3), Z = 2; [C(5)H(14)N(2)][Ni(H(2)O)(6)](SO(4))(2), a = 10.8328(2) ?, b = 7.8443(10) ?, c = 11.6790(2) ?, β = 116.826(10)°, V = 885.63(2) ?(3), Z = 2. The three-dimensional structure networks for these compounds consist of isolated [M(II)(H(2)O)(6)](2+) and [C(5)H(14)N(2)](2+) cations and (SO(4))(2-) anions linked by hydrogen-bonds only. The use of racemic 2-methylpiperazine results in crystallographic disorder of the amines and creation of inversion centers. The magnetic measurements indicate that the Mn complex (1) is paramagnetic, while compounds 2, 3 and 4, (M(II) = Fe, Co, Ni respectively) exhibit single ion anisotropy.     

The role of tin(II) octoate – azobisisobutyronitrile complex in the formation rate of the respective networks in simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks

Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on polyether polyurethane (PUR) and poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐trimethylol‐propane trimethacrylate) (PMMA) were prepared in bulk at 60°C, using tin(II) octoate and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as pur polymerization catalyst and free‐radical initiator, respectively. The kinetics of the PUR network formation, PMMA network formation as well as PUR/PMMA IPN formation were studied independently by Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy. The simultaneous formation of the two networks interfered with each other, although they follow different polymerization mechanisms. Mainly two effects concerning the free‐radical polymerization have been seen: a decrease of the initiation period and an earlier appearance of the Trommsdorff effect when increasing the concentration of the catalyst. On the other hand, the presence of AIBN in the reaction medium drastically reduced the catalytic efficiency of the organotin compound. An explanation of these results for this particular activating system could be the formation of a cyclic equimolar complex by coordination of the nitrile groups of AIBN with the Sn(II) atom. Complexation both reduces the effective catalyst concentration and induces steric constraints in the azo bond of AIBN, rendering this linkage weaker and more easily cleavable and allowing an early decomposition into radicals of the complexed AIBN. The maximum rate corresponds to a 1:1 complex. Further, decomposition into radicals leads to tin oxidation and formation of a new tetravalent organotin compound, the catalytic activity of which is lower than that of pure tin(II) octoate for the isocyanate‐alcohol reaction.     

Inverted finite elements for div-curl systems in the whole space

We use inverted finite element method (IFEM) for computing three-dimensional vector potentials and for solving div-curl systems in the whole space \(\mathbb {R}^{3}\). IFEM is substantially different from the existing approaches since it is a non truncature method which preserves the unboundness of the domain. After developping the method, we analyze its convergence in term of weighted norms. We then give some three-dimensional numerical results which demonstrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the method and confirm its convergence.     

Explicit div-curl inequalities in bounded and unbounded domains of $${{\mathbb {R}}}^3$$

We give a constructive proof of some functional inequalities related to the div and curl operators in bounded and unbounded domains of \({{\mathbb {R}}}^3\). Our new innovation consists in giving explicit constants in several geometric configurations. These inequalities are of a first use in solving div-curl systems and vector potential problems arising in physics.     

Effect of acid and alkali treatments of a forest waste,Pinus brutia cones,on adsorption efficiency of methyl green

The removal of methyl green (MG) dye from aqueous solutions using acid- or alkali-treated Pinus brutia cones (PBH and PBN) waste was investigated in this work. Adsorption removal of MG was conducted at natural pH, namely, 4.5 ± 0.10 for PBH and near 4.8 ± 0.10 for PBN. The pseudo-second-order model appeared to be the most appropriate to describe the adsorption process of MG on both PBN and PBH with a correlation coefficient R² > 0.999. Among the tested isotherm models, the Langmuir isotherm was found to be the most relevant to describe MG sorption onto modified P. brutia cones with a correlation factor R² > 0.999. The ionic strength (presence of other ions: Cl^?, Na⁺, and SO₄^2?) also influences the adsorption due to the change in the surface properties; it had a negative impact on the adsorption of MG on these two supports. A reduction of 68.5% of the adsorption capacity for an equilibrium dye concentration Ce of 30 mg/L was found for the PBH; while with PBN no significant influence of the ionic strength on adsorption was observed, especially in the presence of NaCl for dye concentrations superior to 120 mg L^?1.     

Synthesis and characterizations of new morphological ZnO and Ce-doped ZnO powders by sol–gel process

ZnO micro-tori and cerium-doped hexangulars ZnO have been prepared by the sol–gel method under methanol hypercritical conditions of temperature and pressure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement has revealed the high crystalline quality and the nanometric size of the samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has shown that the ZnO powder has a torus-like shape while that of ZnO:Ce has a hexangular-like shape, either standing free or inserted into the cores of ZnO tori. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has revealed that the ZnO particles have sizes between 25 and 30 nm while Ce-doped ZnO grains have diameters ranging from 75 nm to 100 nm. It is demonstrated from photoluminescence (PL) spectra at room temperature that the introduction of cerium in ZnO reduces the emission intensity lines, particularly the ZnO red and green ones.     

A new organically templated magnesium sulfate: structure, spectroscopic analysis, and thermal behaviour

A new magnesium sulfate templated by 2-methylpiperazine, (C₅H₁₄N₂)[Mg(H₂O)₆](SO₄)₂, was prepared by the slow evaporation method. The obtained crystals were investigated by the Raman and FTIR spectroscopy and crystallographically characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallises in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n. Supramolecular network of this hybrid material consists of Mg²⁺ cations octahedrally coordinated by six water molecules, sulfate tetrahedra and protonated and disordered diamine linked together by two types of hydrogen bonds: OW—H…O and N—H…O. Dehydration of the title compound takes place in three steps. Thermal decomposition of the anhydrous phase consists in the loss of the organic moiety and one sulfate group leading to the formation of magnesium sulfate.