Crystal chemistry of melilite [CaLa]2[Ga]2[Ga2O7]2: a five dimensional solid electrolyte

Melilite-type [A(2)](2)[B(I)](2)[B(II)(2)O(7)](2) gallates are promising ion conducting electrolytes for deployment in solid oxide fuel cells. Single crystals of [CaLa](2)[Ga](2)[Ga(2)O(7)](2), grown in an optical floating zone furnace, were investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Strong anisotropic displacements of oxygen arise from the structural misfit between the interlayer Ca/La cations and the [Ga]-[Ga(2)O(7)] tetrahedral layers. A model employing two-dimensional modulation achieves bond lengths and bond angles that preserve satisfactory bond valence sums throughout the structure. The melilite belongs to the tetragonal superspace group P42(1)m(α, α, 0)00s(α, α, 0)000, α = 0.2160(5), with a subcell metric of a = 7.9383(2) ?, c = 5.2641(3) ?, onto which modulation vectors are superimposed: q(1) = α (a* + b*), q(2) = α (-a* + b*). Both displacive (cation and anion) and occupational (cation) modulations contribute to incommensuration. The analysis of structural adjustments that accompany changes in temperature and composition provides assurance that the crystal chemical model is correct. By better understanding the flexibility of this modulated structure a rational approach toward crystallochemical optimization of electrolyte performance by enhancing oxygen mobility becomes feasible.     

Quantum continuum mechanics made simple

In this paper we further explore and develop the quantum continuum mechanics (QCM) of Tao et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 086401 (2009)] with the aim of making it simpler to use in practice. Our simplifications relate to the non-interacting part of the QCM equations, and primarily refer to practical implementations in which the groundstate stress tensor is approximated by its Kohn-Sham (KS) version. We use the simplified approach to directly prove the exactness of QCM for one-electron systems via an orthonormal formulation. This proof sheds light on certain physical considerations contained in the QCM theory and their implication on QCM-based approximations. The one-electron proof then motivates an approximation to the QCM (exact under certain conditions) expanded on the wavefunctions of the KS equations. Particular attention is paid to the relationships between transitions from occupied to unoccupied KS orbitals and their approximations under the QCM. We also demonstrate the simplified QCM semianalytically on an example system.     

Accurate relativistic energy-consistent pseudopotentials for the superheavy elements 111 to 118 including quantum electrodynamic effects

Energy-consistent two-component semi-local pseudopotentials for the superheavy elements with atomic numbers 111-118 have been adjusted to fully relativistic multi-configuration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations based on the Dirac-Coulomb Hamiltonian, including perturbative corrections for the frequency-dependent Breit interaction in the Coulomb gauge and lowest-order quantum electrodynamic effects. The pseudopotential core includes 92 electrons corresponding to the configuration [Xe]4f(14)5d(10)5f(14). The parameters for the elements 111-118 were fitted by two-component multi-configuration Hartree-Fock calculations in the intermediate coupling scheme to the total energies of 267 up to 797 J levels arising from 31 up to 62 nonrelativistic configurations, including also anionic and highly ionized states, with mean absolute errors clearly below 0.02 eV for averages corresponding to nonrelativistic configurations. Primitive basis sets for one- and two-component pseudopotential calculations have been optimized for the ground and excited states and exhibit finite basis set errors with respect to the finite-difference Hartree-Fock limit below 0.01 and 0.02 eV, respectively. General contraction schemes have been applied to obtain valence basis sets of polarized valence double- to quadruple-zeta quality. Results of atomic test calculations in the intermediate coupling scheme at the Fock-space coupled-cluster level are in good agreement with those of corresponding fully relativistic all-electron calculations based on the Dirac-Coulomb-Breit Hamiltonian. The results demonstrate besides the well-known need of a relativistic treatment at the Dirac-Coulomb level also the necessity to include higher-order corrections for the superheavy elements.     

Phenothiazinyl rhodanylidene merocyanines for dye-sensitized solar cells

Phenothiazinyl rhodanylidene acetic acid merocyanine dyes with variable substitution pattern on the peripheral benzene ring were synthesized in good to excellent yields by Knoevenagel condensation of the corresponding phenothiazinyl aldehydes and rhodanine-N-acetic acid. The electronic properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Electron releasing substitution leads to an appreciable lowering of the oxidation potential, bathochromic shift of the absorption band, and minimization of the emission quantum yield. Not least as a consequence of these properties, the compounds are interesting for use as chromophores in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). DSSCs were constructed and successfully tested by determining the characteristic parameters such as incident-photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE), fill factor (FF), and overall efficiency.     

Radical Localization in a Series of Symmetric NiII Complexes with Oxidized Salen Ligands

Square‐planar nickel(II) complexes of salen ligands, N,N′‐bis(3‐tert‐butyl‐(5R)‐salicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine), in which R=tert‐butyl ( 1 ), OMe ( 2 ), and NMe₂ ( 3 ), were prepared and the electronic structure of the one‐electron‐oxidized species [ 1 – 3 ]^+. was investigated in solution. Cyclic voltammograms of [ 1 – 3 ] showed two quasi‐reversible redox waves that were assigned to the oxidation of the phenolate moieties to phenoxyl radicals. From the difference between the first and second redox potentials, the trend of electronic delocalization 1 ^+.> 2 ^+.> 3 ^+. was obtained. The cations [ 1 – 3 ]^+. exhibited isotropic g tensors of 2.045, 2.023, and 2.005, respectively, reflecting a lower metal character of the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) for systems that involve strongly electron‐donating substituents. Pulsed‐EPR spectroscopy showed a single population of equivalent imino nitrogen atoms for 1 ^+., whereas two distinct populations were observed for 2 ^+.. The resonance Raman spectra of 2 ^+. and 3 ^+. displayed the ν_8a band of the phenoxyl radicals at 1612 cm^?1, as well as the ν_8a bands of the phenolates. In contrast, the Raman spectrum of 1 ^+. exhibited the ν_8a band at 1602 cm^?1, without any evidence of the phenolate peak. Previous work showed an intense near‐infrared (NIR) electronic transition for 1 ^+. (Δν_1/2=660 cm^?1, ε=21 700 M ^?1 cm^?1), indicating that the electron hole is fully delocalized over the ligand. The broader and moderately intense NIR transition of 2 ^+. (Δν_1/2=1250 cm^?1, ε=12 800 M ^?1 cm^?1) suggests a certain degree of ligand‐radical localization, whereas the very broad NIR transition of 3 ^+. (Δν_1/2=8630 cm^?1, ε=2550 M ^?1 cm^?1) indicates significant localization of the ligand radical on a single ring. Therefore, 1 ^+. is a Class III mixed‐valence complex, 2 ^+. is Class II/III borderline complex, and 3 ^+. is a Class II complex according to the Robin–Day classification method. By employing the Coulomb‐attenuated method (CAM‐B3LYP) we were able to predict the electron‐hole localization and NIR transitions in the series, and show that the energy match between the redox‐active ligand and the metal d orbitals is crucial for delocalization of the radical SOMO.     

The importance of precision in sampling sludges, biowastes and treated soils in a regulatory framework

As part of the European Commission (EC)'s revision of the Sewage Sludge Directive and the development of a Biowaste Directive, there was recognition of the difficulty of comparing data from Member States (MSs) because of differences in sampling and analytical procedures. The ‘HORIZONTAL' initiative, funded by the EC and MSs, seeks to address these differences in approach and to produce standardised procedures in the form of CEN standards. This article is a preliminary investigation into aspects of the sampling of biosolids, composts and soils to which there is a history of biosolid application. The article provides information on the measurement uncertainty associated with sampling from heaps, large bags and pipes and soils in the landscape under a limited set of conditions, using sampling approaches in space and time and sample numbers based on procedures widely used in the relevant industries and when sampling similar materials.These preliminary results suggest that considerably more information is required before the appropriate sample design, optimum number of samples, number of samples comprising a composite, and temporal and spatial frequency of sampling might be recommended to achieve consistent results of a high level of precision and confidence.     

Acetone‐Based Cellulose Solvent

Acetone containing tetraalkylammonium chloride is found to be an efficient solvent for cellulose. The addition of an amount of 10 mol% (based on acetone) of well‐soluble salt triethyloctylammonium chloride (Et₃OctN Cl) adjusts the solvent's properties (increases the polarity) to promote cellulose dissolution. Cellulose solutions in acetone/Et₃OctN Cl have the lowest viscosity reported for comparable aprotic solutions making it a promising system for shaping processes and homogeneous chemical modification of the biopolymer. Recovery of the polymer and recycling of the solvent components can be easily achieved.

     

HiggsSignals: Confronting arbitrary Higgs sectors with measurements at the Tevatron and the LHC

HiggsSignals is a Fortran90 computer code that allows to test the compatibility of Higgs sector predictions against Higgs rates and masses measured at the LHC or the Tevatron. Arbitrary models with any number of Higgs bosons can be investigated using a model-independent input scheme based on HiggsBounds. The test is based on the calculation of a $\chi ^2$ measure from the predictions and the measured Higgs rates and masses, with the ability of fully taking into account systematics and correlations for the signal rate predictions, luminosity and Higgs mass predictions. It features two complementary methods for the test. First, the peak-centered method, in which each observable is defined by a Higgs signal rate measured at a specific hypothetical Higgs mass, corresponding to a tentative Higgs signal. Second, the mass-centered method, where the test is evaluated by comparing the signal rate measurement to the theory prediction at the Higgs mass predicted by the model. The program allows for the simultaneous use of both methods, which is useful in testing models with multiple Higgs bosons. The code automatically combines the signal rates of multiple Higgs bosons if their signals cannot be resolved by the experimental analysis. We compare results obtained with HiggsSignals to official ATLAS and CMS results for various examples of Higgs property determinations and find very good agreement. A few examples of HiggsSignals applications are provided, going beyond the scenarios investigated by the LHC collaborations. For models with more than one Higgs boson we recommend to use HiggsSignals and HiggsBounds in parallel to exploit the full constraining power of Higgs search exclusion limits and the measurements of the signal seen at $m_H\approx 125.5$  GeV.     

HiggsBounds-4: improved tests of extended Higgs sectors against exclusion bounds from LEP,the Tevatron and the LHC

We describe the new developments in version 4 of the public computer code HiggsBounds. HiggsBounds is a tool to test models with arbitrary Higgs sectors, containing both neutral and charged Higgs bosons, against the published exclusion bounds from Higgs searches at the LEP, Tevatron and LHC experiments. From the model predictions for the Higgs masses, branching ratios, production cross sections and total decay widths—which are specified by the user in the input for the program—the code calculates the predicted signal rates for the search channels considered in the experimental data. The signal rates are compared to the expected and observed cross section limits from the Higgs searches to determine whether a point in the model parameter space is excluded at 95 % confidence level. In this paper we present a modification of the HiggsBounds main algorithm that extends the exclusion test in order to ensure that it provides useful results in the presence of one or more significant excesses in the data, corresponding to potential Higgs signals. We also describe a new method to test whether the limits from an experimental search performed under certain model assumptions can be applied to a different theoretical model. Further developments discussed here include a framework to take into account theoretical uncertainties on the Higgs mass predictions, and the possibility to obtain the $\chi ^2$ likelihood of Higgs exclusion limits from LEP. Extensions to the user subroutines from earlier versions of HiggsBounds are described. The new features are demonstrated by additional example programs.