High-pressure high-temperature synthesis and crystal structure of the isotypic rare earth (RE)-thioborate-sulfides RE9[BS3]2[BS4]3S3, (RE=Dy-Lu)

Application of high-pressure high-temperature conditions (3.5 GPa at 1673 K for 5 h) to mixtures of the elements (RE:B:S=1:3:6) yielded crystalline samples of the isotypic rare earth-thioborate-sulfides RE₉[BS₃]₂[BS₄]₃S₃, (RE=Dy-Lu), which crystallize in space group P6₃ (Z=2/3) and adopt the Ce₆Al_3.33S₁₄ structure type. The crystal structures were refined from X-ray powder diffraction data by applying the Rietveld method. Dy: a=9.4044(2) Å, c=5.8855(3) Å; Ho: a=9.3703(1) Å, c=5.8826(1) Å; Er: a=9.3279(12) Å, c=5.8793(8) Å; Tm: a=9.2869(3) Å, c=5.8781(3) Å; Yb: a=9.2514(5) Å, c=5.8805(6) Å; Lu: a=9.2162(3) Å, c=5.8911(3) Å. The crystal structure is characterized by the presence of two isolated complex ions [BS₃]^3- and [BS₄]^5- as well as [□(S^2-)₃] units.     

BPS Quivers and Spectra of Complete {\mathcal{N} = 2} Quantum Field Theories

We study the BPS spectra of ${\mathcal{N}=2}$ N = 2 complete quantum field theories in four dimensions. For examples that can be described by a pair of M5 branes on a punctured Riemann surface we explain how triangulations of the surface fix a BPS quiver and superpotential for the theory. The BPS spectrum can then be determined by solving the quantum mechanics problem encoded by the quiver. By analyzing the structure of this quantum mechanics we show that all asymptotically free examples, Argyres-Douglas models, and theories defined by punctured spheres and tori have a chamber with finitely many BPS states. In all such cases we determine the spectrum.     

Traffic noise level as a guide for town-planning

The aim of this paper is to prove the validity of a mathematical model which gives the relationship between traffic noise level and traffic composition. This model was used at five different sites, representing different land uses, in Alexandria, Egypt.The paper gives various examples illustrating the fact that the equivalent noise level will be considerably reduced by changing the traffic composition. This shows that the town-planner can use various strategies to change the traffic composition in order to achieve quieter city environments.     

Column chromatographic separation of metal ions on 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-napthol modified amberlite IR-120 resin

Cation exchange resin, Amberlite IR-120, has been modified by the sorption of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-napthol (PAN) at pH 6.0. The optimum conditions for the sorption of PAN on the resin have been established. The maximum sorption of PAN was found to be 8.70 micromol/g. In order to explore the separation possibilities of the material, distribution coefficients of a number of metal ions were determined in various solvent systems. A number of binary separations of metal ions of analytical interest have been carried out using columns packed with this material. In order to demonstrate the practical utility of this material, Zn2+ and Hg2+ have been selectively separated from synthetic mixtures of metal ions and assay of Zn2+ and Fe2+ in commercially available pharmaceutical tablets; namely Fesofor-Z and FE-Z, was carried out.     

Immittance response of the SnO2-Bi2O3 based thick-films

The SnO₂-Bi₂O₃ based thick-film polycrystalline material is fabricated on alumina substrate via screen-printing technique. This material system is evaluated at various temperatures (35 °C≤T≤100 °C) using ac small-signal (immittance) measurements in the frequency range 10 Hz≤f≤10⁶ Hz. The simplistic analytical scenario for the immittance data employed the Cole-Cole empirical equation in conjunction with the estimation of the inspected input parameters. This is an alternate approach compared to the complex nonlinear least squares (CNLS) fitting procedure, and purely based on the appearance of the semicircular relaxation in the complex plane. It is found that the constituting components of the semicircular relaxation in the impedance plane are thermally activated indicating complexity in the grain boundary contributions despite the Debye and non-Debye relaxation responses. The possible degree of uniformity or non-uniformity in the grain boundary activity associated with its capacitance term observed via the Debye or non-Debye semicircular relaxation in the impedance (Z?) plane has been postulated.     

The Metallic Zintl Phase Ba3Si4 – Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Chemical Bonding,and Physical Properties

The Zintl phase Ba₃Si₄ has been synthesized from the elements at 1273 K as a single phase. No homogeneity range has been found. The compound decomposes peritectically at 1307(5) K to BaSi₂ and melt. The butterfly‐shaped Si₄⁶⁻ Zintl anion in the crystal structure of Ba₃Si₄ (Pearson symbol tP28, space group P4₂/mnm, a = 8.5233(3) Å, c = 11.8322(6) Å) shows only slightly different Si‐Si bond lengths of d(Si–Si) = 2.4183(6) Å (1×) and 2.4254(3) Å (4×). The compound is diamagnetic with χ ≈ −50 × 10⁻⁶ cm³ mol⁻¹. DC resistivity measurements show a high electrical resistivity (ρ(300 K) ≈ 1.2 × 10⁻³ Ω m) with positive temperature gradient dρ/dT. The temperature dependence of the isotropic signal shift and the spin‐lattice relaxation times in ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy confirms the metallic behavior. The experimental results are in accordance with the calculated electronic band structure, which indicates a metal with a low density of states at the Fermi level. The electron localization function (ELF) is used for analysis of chemical bonding. The reaction of solid Ba₃Si₄ with gaseous HCl leads to the oxidation of the Si₄⁶⁻ Zintl anion and yields nanoporous silicon.