BaSnF4 fast ion conductor: Variations versus the method of preparation and anomalous temperature variation of the quadrupole splitting

A new method of preparation of high performance fluoride ion conductor, BaSnF₄, by water leaching of newly discovered barium tin(II) chloride fluorides, has been designed, and the materials have been studied and compared to the solid prepared by the usual dry method. The unit-cell parameters and crystallite dimensions were found to vary with the method of preparation. In addition, the crystallite dimensions were found to be highly anisotropic for the samples obtained by the wet method. The Mössbauer spectrum is made of a large tin(II) quadrupole doublet, and a broad tin(IV) oxide peak due to surface oxidation. The tin(II) spectrum is in agreement with covalently bonded tin(II) having a strongly stereoactive lone pair. An unusually high dependence of the quadrupole splitting at low temperatures was observed (5.8 times larger than for α-SnF₂).     

A novel Mo(V) oligophosphate built up of di- and triphosphate groups: Cs(MoO)4(P2O7)2(P3O10)

A Mo(V) oligophosphate, built up of di and triphosphate groups, Cs(MoO)₄(P₂O₇)₂(P₃O₁₀) has been synthesized for the first time. This compound crystallizes in the triclinic P−1 space group with , , , α=94.534(6)°, β=102.520(6)°, γ=103.663(4)°. This original structure can be described by the association of MoO₆ octahedra, MoP₂O₁₁ units built up of one P₂O₇ group sharing two apices with the same MoO₆ octahedron, and triphosphates groups P₃O₁₀. The resulting tridimensional framework forms large S-shaped tunnels running along c where the Cs⁺ cations are located.     

Pre-equilibrium effects in (n, 2n) reactions at 14.2 MeV+

With a view to study the pre-equilibrium effects in neutron-induced reactions, the activation cross-sections for (n, 2n) reactions at 14.2±0.2 MeV in the heavy mass region have been measured using the versatile mixed powder technique and high resolution Ge(Li) detection. The experimental cross-sections are found to be consistently smaller than the predictions based on the statistical theory and this is attributed to the effect of pre-equilibrium decay in these reactions. The cross-sections due to pre-equilibrium decay were estimated using exciton, hybrid and unified models. When this cross-section was included in comparing the experimental cross-sections with theory, we obtained better agreement, within the limitations of the present-day preequilibrium theories. Preliminary results of this work were reported at the Nuclear Physics and Solid State Physics Symposium, Pune (1978).     

The Crystal Structures of two Linearly Polymeric Copper(II) Complexes of 2, 2′‐Bipyridine with threefold Glycolato and Oxalato Bridges

The complex [Cu(HGLYO)₂(bipy)] ( I ) and two new copper(II) coordination polymers with the formulas {[Cu(GLYO)_1‐x(ox)_x(bipy)]·2.5H₂O}_n [GLYO = glycolato dianion, ox = oxalato dianion, bipy = 2, 2′‐bipyridine, x = 0.56 (in II ) or 0.71 (in III )] were synthesized using copper(II) glycolate as starting material and were characterized by IR, UV‐Vis and EPR spectrometry, by magnetic measurements ( II and III ), and by single‐crystal X‐ray diffractometry. Both II and III crystallized as one‐dimensional polymers composed of Cu₂O₂‐centred dimers with a Cu‐Cu distance of 3.282(1)Å (mean of II and III ) that are linked by Cu₂(OCO)₂ rings with a Cu‐Cu distance of 5.237(1)Å (mean of II and III ), both dianions acting as (μ‐1, 1, 2, 3) three‐way bridges connecting the two copper atoms of one dimer with one copper atom of a neighbouring dimer. Each copper atom is coordinated tetragonally in a CuN₂O₄ chromophore. In the mononuclear complex I the copper atom has a tetragonally distorted octahedral environment.     

Temperature dependence of Bi2O3 structural parameters close to the α–δ phase transition

This article presents the results of in situ X-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrical impedance spectroscopy of the α-phase of Bi₂O₃, at 0.1 MPa in the temperature range below and above the α–δ-phase transition. This work demonstrated subtle nonlinear temperature variations of the cell parameters, of the hard-mode Raman shift, and of the activation energy of electrical conductivity in the temperature range about 100–120°C below the α–δ phase transition temperature T _Tr ≈ 725°C in Bi₂O₃. At T < 600°C, the linear variation of the inverse dielectric susceptibility (χ ^?1) correlates well with the hard mode frequency shift Δ(ω ²) of Raman A_1g mode as Δ(χ ^?1)/Δ(ω ²) ≈ 5.5 × 10^?7 cm². A structural model describing the mechanism of O^2? anion distribution and electric dipole disordering in the vicinity of T _Tr is discussed.     

Metal ion distribution and solubility of Mn1−xCux(HCOO)2 · 2 H2O Mixed Crystals [1–5]

The metal ion distribution on the two metal sites of monoclinic Mn_1?xCu_x(HCOO)₂ · 2(H,D)₂O mixed crystals are studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopic methods. The spectral regions 3 200–3 400 cm^?1 (v_OH), 2 875–2 990 cm^?1 (v_CH), 2 330–2 500 cm^?1 (v_OD of matrix isolated HDO molecules), 1 350–1 400 cm^?1 (symmetric CO₂ stretching modes), 570–950 cm^?1 (H₂O librations), and 490 cm^?1 (M? O lattice modes) are mostly sensitive to the metal ions present. The frequency shifts of these bands with increasing content of copper show that Cu²⁺ prefers the M(1) site, coordinated by HCOO^? only. The strengths of the hydrogen bonds increase on going from manganese to copper formate, due to the increased synergetic effect of Cu²⁺. Solubility and X-ray data of the mixed crystals are included. Irrespective of the same crystal structure, two series of mixed crystals are formed: eutonic area at 0.65 ≥ x ≥ 0.5.     

Bilayer studies in mixedn-decanol/n-tetradecanol complexes ofn-decylammonium beidellite

Complexes have been prepared by treatment ofn-decylammonium beidellite with mixtures ofn-decanol andn-tetradecanol with different concentrations. Measurements of the basal spacings of the obtained complexes have been performed in a wide range of temperatures. Three different bilayer phases have been established between (20 and 70°C: the _i(C₁₀) phases (=bilayers ofn-decyl chains); the _i(C₁₀/C₁₄) phases (=mixed bilayers ofn-decyl andn-tetradecyl chains in molar ratio approximately 1:1) and the _i(C₁₄) phases (=bilayer ofn-tetradecy 1 chains with then-decylammonium ions included). In all bilayer phases the chains stand perpendicular to the silicate interfaces. In definite concentration ranges two of the phases coexist, i.e., miscibility gaps occur, which disappear at temperatures higher than the temperature of the _i/ transition. The miscibility gaps are reversible with temperature. The composition of the intercalated bilayers has been studied by HPLC of the excess alkanol mixture separated from the beidellite complexes after the equilibrium has been reached. There is preferential adsorption of one of two alkanols from the mixture, which is in agreement with the observed miscibility gaps. The space filling problem as well as the structure of the three bilayer phases observed have been discussed.     

Transition Metal Atom Sites in Ternary ZrO2-TiO2-SiO2 Xerogels

There has been much work on the binary TiO₂-SiO₂ and ZrO₂-SiO₂ materials prepared by sol-gel because of the beneficial properties resulting from incorporation of Ti and Zr. In contrast the ternary TiO₂-ZrO₂-SiO₂ xerogels have been relatively little studied. We report the results of a study of those xerogels having Zr:Ti:Si ratios of 5:15:80, 10:10:80 and 15:5:80 heated to 750°C and to 1000°C. The study includes X-ray diffraction, small angle X-ray scattering, X-ray absorption spectroscopy at Ti and Zr K-edges, and ¹⁷O MAS-NMR. The study has benefited from close comparison with similar previous studies of the binary systems. The metal atoms in the ternary systems are shown to be predominantly homogeneously mixed in the silica network, as observed for the respective binary systems. The clear exception is for the sample with a minority of Zr, which after heat treatment at 750°C shows the presence of phase separation attributed to the formation of an amorphous precursor of ZrTiO₄; at 1000°C this phase crystallises. In samples with higher Zr content the crystallisation of a ZrO₂ tetragonal phase was observed. The data obtained illustrate well the strength of a research methodology in which a common batch of samples is studied using a coherent suite of modern structural probes.     

Mixed Cultures of Saccharomyces kudravzevii and S. cerevisiae Modify the Fermentation Process and Improve the Aroma Profile of Semi-Sweet White Wines

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii mixed culture on the fermentation, chemical and aromatic composition of semi-sweet white wines. The variables tested in the experiment were the initial ratio of yeast in mixed cultures and the time of inoculation of the S. kudriavzevii co-culture. The addition of S. kudriavzevii to the inoculum did not significantly change the chemical composition of the wines obtained. No reduction in ethanol yield was found in mixed culture fermented wines; however, in some variants of the experiment, the ethanol content was higher. The mixed cultures of S. cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii increased the level of volatile compounds in white grape wines. Wines fermented with the co-culture of S. kudriavzevii were characterized by a more diversified ester profile. The mixed cultures of S. cerevisiae and S. kudriavzevii raised the levels of terpenes in white wines. The most promising results were obtained for mixed culture variants, in which S. kudriavzevii was sequentially inoculated on the sixth day of fermentation.