Magnetic properties of the rare-earth diborodicarbides (RB2C2)

The magnetic susceptibility of RB₂C₂ has been measured in the temperature range of 3–300 K. Curie-Weiss fits to the susceptibilities led to effective moments in agreement with those expected for R³⁺ ions. The RB₂C₂ (R = Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Er, and Tm) compounds are antiferromagnetic. Metamagnetic transitions at low fields were observed for CeB₂C₂ and TbB₂C₂. The compounds, DyB₂C₂ and HoB₂C₂, are ferromagnets with complex magnetic structures. Praseodymium borocarbide becomes a Van Vleck paramagnet at low temperature. The magnetic ordering temperatures of these compounds are discussed in terms of their crystal structure and the RKKY theory.     

Carrier-envelope phase-controlled quantum interference in optical poling

We demonstrate the efficiency of the optical poling process that depends on the CE phase-controlled quantum interference. For the experiment we employed our noncollinear optical parametric amplifier system for the self-stabilization of the CE phase, with the f-to-2f spectral interferometry system to control the CE phase.     

Zero-magnetization ferromagnet proven by helicity-switching Compton scattering

A single crystal of gadolinium-doped SmAl(2) has zero magnetization in the midst of the ordered temperature region, despite the probable ferromagnetic spin ordering. The asymmetry in Compton-scattering intensity when switching between right- and left-handed polarization of incident 150-keV synchrotron radiation provides decisive proof that ferromagnetic order is really there, and that spin and orbital magnetic contributions cancel. The experiments also show that the spin direction at this zero-magnetization state is rather stable against the external magnetic field and, nevertheless, reversible by a preceding control of temperature and an external field.     

Absence of residual quasiparticle conductivity in the underdoped cuprate YBa2Cu4O8

We report measurements of the in-plane thermal conductivity kappa of the stoichiometric underdoped cuprate YBa2Cu4O8 (Y124) below 1 K. kappa(T) is shown to follow a simple phononic T3 dependence at the lowest temperature T for both current directions, with a negligible linear quasiparticle contribution. This observation is in marked contrast with behavior reported in optimally doped cuprates, and implies that extended zero-energy (or low-energy) quasiparticles are absent in Y124.     

Photoluminescence decay dynamics of silver/porous-silicon nanocomposites formed by metal-assisted etching

We investigate the photoluminescence (PL) properties of silver/porous-silicon (Ag/PSi) nanocomposites prepared by metal-assisted etching in ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}/\mathrm{HF}$ solution, on the basis of steady-state and time-resolved PL spectroscopy measurements. The PL intensity and peak position are strongly dependent on the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$ concentration. Time-resolved PL measurements reveal that the nonradiative rate decreases with an increase in the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$ concentration for the Ag/PSi nanocomposites. It is found from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements that the decrease in the nonradiative rate is caused by the formation of ${\mathrm{SiO}}_2$ layers on the PSi surfaces. Further, the number of light-emitting Si nanocrystals in the nanocomposites, which is estimated from the PL decay rate and PL intensity, increases with the ${\mathrm{Ag}}_2\mathrm{O}$ concentration. From the wavelength dependence of the PL decay rate, it is found that the nonradiative rate is considerably dispersive, i.e., the shorter the wavelength, the higher the nonradiative rate.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and charge transport characteristics of stable peri-tetracene analogues

peri-Acenes have shown great potential for use as functional materials because of their open-shell singlet biradical character. However, only a limited number of peri-acene derivatives larger than peri-tetracene have been synthesized to date, presumably owing to the low stability of the target compounds in addition to the complicated synthesis scheme. Here, a very simple synthesis route for the tetrabenzo[a,f,j,o]perylene (TBP) structure enables the development of highly stable peri-tetracene analogues. Despite a high degree of singlet biradical character, the compounds with four substituents at the zigzag edge show a remarkable stability in solution under ambient conditions, which is better than that of acene derivatives with a closed-shell electronic configuration. The crystal structures of the TBP derivatives were obtained for the first time; these are valuable to understand the relationship between the structure and biradical character of peri-acenes. The application of peri-acenes in electronic devices should also be investigated. Therefore, the semiconducting properties of the TBP derivative were investigated by fabricating the field-effect transistors.

Highly stable peri-tetracene analogues with a high degree of singlet biradical character were synthesized in a very simple route, and their crystal structures and semiconducting properties were investigated.     

Metal-complex assemblies constructed from the flexible hinge-like ligand H2bhnq: structural versatility and dynamic behavior in the solid state

Novel metal-complex assemblies constructed from the flexible hinge-like ligand H(2)bhnq (H(2)bhnq=2,2'-bi(3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone)) have been synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of these compounds reveal that four types of architectures are accessible by variation of the metal ions. In copper(II) compounds 1-3, the chelating bhnq(2-) ions bridge copper(II) centers to form one-dimensional zigzag chains. The chains of 1-3 are arranged by hydrogen-bonding interactions and stacking interactions to produce porous structures. Cobalt(II) and zinc(II) compounds 4 and 5 form one-dimensional helical chains. In 4 and 5, the crystal packing induces spontaneous resolution of the helical chains with chiral cavities formed perpendicular to the helices. Nickel(II) compounds 6 and 7 form cyclic tetramers. The fourth architecture, a dimer (compound 8), is obtained by the reaction of zinc(II) and bhnq(2-) in MeOH. In these compounds, changes of the dihedral angles and the metal-coordination mode of the bhnq(2-) ion induce the structural versatility. The assemblies of the zigzag chains of the copper(II) compounds exhibit reversible vapochromic behavior. UV/Vis, powder X-ray diffraction, EPR, and adsorption isotherm measurements indicate that this vapochromic behavior is based on the hinge-like flexibility of the bhnq(2-) ion.     

Design of efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials for pure blue organic light emitting diodes

Efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) has been characterized for a carbazole/sulfone derivative in both solutions and doped films. A pure blue organic light emitting diode (OLED) based on this compound demonstrates a very high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of nearly 10% at low current density. Because TADF only occurs in a bipolar system where donor and acceptor centered (3)ππ* states are close to or higher than the triplet intramolecular charge transfer ((3)CT) state, control of the π-conjugation length of both donor and acceptor is considered to be as important as breaking the π-conjugation between them in blue TADF material design.     

m-Diethynylbenzene macrocycles: syntheses and self-association behavior in solution

m-Diethynylbenzene macrocycles (DBMs), buta-1,3-diyne-bridged [4(n)]metacyclophanes, have been synthesized and their self-association behaviors in solution were investigated. Cyclic tetramers, hexamers, and octamers of DBMs having exo-annular octyl, hexadecyl, and 3,6,9-trioxadecyl ester groups were prepared by intermolecular oxidative coupling of dimer units or intramolecular cyclization of the corresponding open-chain oligomers. The aggregation properties were investigated by two methods, the (1)H NMR spectra and the vapor pressure osmometry (VPO). Although some discrepancies were observed between the association constants obtained from the two methods, the qualitative view was consistent with each other. The analysis of self-aggregation by VPO revealed unique aggregation behavior of DBMs in acetone and toluene, which was not elucidated by the NMR method. Namely, the association constants for infinite association are several times larger than the dimerization constant, suggesting that the aggregation is enhanced by the formation of dimers (a nucleation mechanism). In polar solvents, DBMs aggregate more strongly than in chloroform due to the solvophobic interactions between the macrocyclic framework and the solvents. Moreover, DBMs self-associate in aromatic solvents such as toluene and o-xylene more readily than in chloroform. In particular, the hexameric DBM having a large macrocyclic cavity exhibits extremely large association constants in aromatic solvents. By comparing the aggregation properties of DBMs with the corresponding acyclic oligomers, the effect of the macrocyclic structure on the aggregation propensity was clarified. Finally, it turned out that DBMs tend to aggregate more readily than the corresponding phenylacetylene macrocycles, acetylene-bridged [2(n)]metacyclophanes, owing to the withdrawal of the electron density from the aromatic rings by the butadiyne linkages which facilitates pi-pi stacking interactions.     

Synthesis of di-branched heptasaccharide by one-pot glycosylation using seven independent building blocks

[reaction: see text] We describe an efficient synthesis of di-branched heptasaccharide 1 having phytoalexin elicitor activity in soybeans by one-pot glycosylation. The synthesis involves chemo- and regioselective sequential six-step glycosylations using seven independent building blocks and sequential removal of acyl- and benzyl ether-type protecting groups. The coupling of seven building blocks requires only four chemoselective activitable leaving groups of glycosyl donors. Both the glycosylation and deprotection reactions can be achieved utilizing a parallel manual synthesizer.