MgCu metallic glass

We generate an amorphous MgCu model using the rapid solidification of the melt through a first-principles molecular dynamics approach within a generalised gradient approximation and reveal, for the first time, its structural features and mechanical properties in details. The liquid and glassy MgCu are found to acquire slightly distinct local structures. Yet in both forms of MgCu, most Cu atoms have a tendency to form the ideal and defective icosahedrons while Mg atoms are arranged in complex configurations. The mean coordination number of Cu and Mg at 300 K is 11.31 and 13.73, respectively. The short-range order of MgCu glass is projected to be different than the known crystalline MgCu and Mg₂Cu phases. The mechanical properties of MgCu glass and the CsCl-type MgCu crystal are computed and compared. On the basis of the enthalpy analyses, a possible pressure-induced crystallisation of the MgCu glass into a CsCl-type structure is proposed to occur at around 11 GPa.     

Dual Template Engaged Synthesis of Hollow Ball‐in‐Tube Asymmetrical Structured Ceria

Hollow materials with different configurations are of interest due to their unique structural features, which induce interesting properties e.g. catalysis. Here, the synthesis of asymmetrical hollow ball‐in‐tube (HBT) structured CeO₂ is reported, which is achieved using a dual template engaged solid–liquid interfacial reaction. In this reaction, the SiO₂ sphere (hard template)‐embedded Ce(OH)CO₃ nanorod (sacrificial template) composite is first treated with NaOH solution, followed by an acid wash to obtain asymmetrical hollow structured CeO₂. Such HBT structured CeO₂ is demonstrated to be a good support for Au nanoparticles toward CO oxidation as compared to simple hollow CeO₂ nanotubes, leading to significantly increase catalytic activity.     

Polymer complexes. LXX. Synthesis,spectroscopic studies,thermal properties and antimicrobial activity of metal(II) polymer complexes

The monomer 3‐allyl‐5‐(phenylazo)‐2‐thioxothiazolidine‐4‐one (HL) was prepared by the reaction of allyl rhodanine with aniline through diazo‐coupling reaction. Reaction of HL with Ni(II) or Co(II) salts gave polymer complexes ( 1 – 8 ) with general stoichiometries [M(HL)(Cl)₂(OH₂)₂]_n, [M(HL)(O₂SO₂)(OH₂)₂]_n, [M(L)(O₂NO)(H₂O)₂]_n and [M(L)(O₂CCH₃)(H₂O)₂]_n (where M = Ni(II) or Co(II)). The structures of the polymer complexes were identified using elemental analysis, infrared and electronic spectra, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The interaction between the polymer complexes and calf thymus DNA showed a hypochromism effect. HL and its polymer complexes were tested against bacterial and fungal species. Co(II) polymer complex 2 is the most effective against Klebsiella pneumoniae and is more active than penicillin. The results showed that Ni(II) polymer complex 5 is a good antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding between the monomer with the receptors of prostate cancer (PDB code: 2Q7L Hormone) and breast cancer (PDB code: 1JNX Gene regulation). Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods were applied for calculating the thermodynamic parameters of HL and its polymer complexes. The thermal activation energy of decomposition for HL is higher than that for the polymer complexes.     

New insights into water‐soluble and water‐coordinated copper 15‐metallacrown‐5 gadolinium complexes designed for high‐field magnetic resonance imaging applications

The development of contrast agents specifically designed for high‐field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required because the relaxation efficiency of classic Gd(III) contrast agents significantly decreases with increasing magnetic field strengths. With an idea of exploring the unique structure of lanthanide (Ln) 15‐MC‐5 metallacrowns, we developed a series of water‐soluble Gd(III) aqua‐complexes, bearing aminohydroxamate (glycine, α‐alanine, α‐phenylalanine and α‐tyrosine) ligands, with increasing number of water molecules directly coordinated to the Gd(III) ion: Gd(H₂O)₄[15‐MC_Cu(II)Glyha‐5](Cl)₃ ( 1 (Gd)), Gd(H₂O)₄[15‐MC_Cu(II)Alaha‐5](Cl)₃ ( 2 (Gd)), Gd(H₂O)₃[15‐MC_{Cu(II)Phalaha}‐5](Cl)₃ ( 3 (Gd)) and Gd(H₂O)₃[15‐MC_Cu(II)Tyrha‐5](Cl)₃ ( 4 (Gd)). In these systems, the Ln(III) central ion is coordinated by five oxygen donor atoms of the ligands and three or four inner‐sphere water molecules. The X‐ray crystal structure of metallacrown Ln(H₂O)_3,4[15‐MC_Cu(II)Rha‐5]³⁺ agrees with density functional theory predictions. The calculations demonstrate that the exchange of coordinated water molecules can proceed easily, resulting in increased relaxivity parameters. The longitudinal relaxivities (r₁) of 1 (Gd)– 4 (Gd) in water at ultrahigh magnetic field of 9.4 T were determined to be 11.5, 14.8, 13.9 and 12.2 mM^?1 s^?1, respectively. The ability to increase the number of Ln(III) inner‐sphere water molecules up to four, the planar metallacrown structure and the rich hydration shell due to strong hydrogen bonds between the [15‐MC‐5] moiety and bulk water molecules provide new opportunities for potential MRI applications.     

一种单纯形遗传算法及其应用

本文深入分析了智能天线应用中广播波束成形权值反向求解的工程优化问题,引入单纯形算法对传统遗传算法进行改进并提出了一种新的单纯形遗传算法。通过具体应用验证,实现了较好自动求解权值的目的。同时,本算法也可在其他网络规划和网络优化等寻优问题中参考使用。     

Methylol‐functional benzoxazines as precursors for high‐performance thermoset polymers: Unique simultaneous addition and condensation polymerization behavior

A new class of high‐performance resins of combined molecular structure of both traditional phenolics and benzoxazines has been developed. The monomers termed as methylol‐functional benzoxazines were synthesized through Mannich condensation reaction of methylol‐functional phenols and aromatic amines, including methylenedianiline (4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane) and oxydianiline (4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether), in the presence of paraformaldehyde. For comparison, other series of benzoxazine monomers were prepared from phenol, corresponding aromatic amines, and paraformaldehyde. The as‐synthesized monomers are characterized by their high purity as judged from ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectra. Differential scanning calorimetric thermograms of the novel monomers show two exothermic peaks associated with condensation reaction of methylol groups and ring‐opening polymerization of benzoxazines. The position of methylol group relative to benzoxazine structure plays a significant role in accelerating polymerization. Viscoelastic and thermogravimetric analyses of the crosslinked polymers reveal high T_g (274–343 °C) and excellent thermal stability when compared with the traditional polybenzoxazines. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Formation of a crosslinked POSS network by an unusual hydrosilylation: Thermo‐oxidative stabilization of the α‐cristobalite phase in its amorphous regions

A semicrystalline inorganic–organic hybrid crosslinked network containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) cores was constructed by the unusual hydrosilylation of the terminal vinyl groups of an internal acetylene‐containing silane linker by a POSS monomer. Products from the thermal treatments of this network in either argon or air at 250, 550, and 1000 °C, respectively, were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, Solid‐state ¹³C and ²⁹Si magic angle spinning NMR, X‐ray diffraction and XPS analyses. The highly symmetrically functionalized POSS silica clusters, in the fluorite silica phase, in the network were found to remain unchanged on thermal treatment possibly due to the shielding of the silica core by the functionalities and a cancellation of thermal stresses on the silica core. Stabilization of the metastable α‐cristobalite phase, which is typically formed on cooling by a β‐ to α‐transition of the β‐cristobalite phase formed above 1400 °C, was observed in the amorphous regions in the network sample treated only to 1000 °C in air. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Facile synthesis of poly(ether carbonate)s via copolymerization of CO2 and propylene oxide under combinatorial catalyst of rare earth ternary complex and double metal cyanide complex

Poly(ether carbonate)s (PPCs) with carbonate unit (CU) content ranging from 57.8 to 97.1% and number average molecular weight (M_n) around 100 kg/mol were conveniently prepared via copolymerization of CO₂ and propylene oxide under combinatorial catalyst of rare earth ternary (RET) complex and double metal cyanide (DMC) complex. Enhancement of catalytic activity and reduction of propylene carbonate byproduct were realized due to synergetic effect of the two metal catalysts, where DMC can be activated in the presence of RET. Solubility fractionation confirmed that the obtained PPCs were copolymers, not physical blends of each polymer. Thermal performances of the PPCs were closely related to their CU content, their glass transition temperatures (T_g) were tunable in the range of 6.7–36.3 °C, which decreased with decreasing CU content, while their thermal stabilities were enhanced significantly, an increase of 50.5 °C in 50% weight loss temperature was observed when CU content decreased from 97.1 to 57.8%. Both shear storage modulus and complex viscosity increased with increasing CU content, which became more obvious at lower frequency, featuring well with the CU content in the PPCs. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Reactions with Oleum under Harsh Conditions: Characterization of the Unique [M(S2O7)3]2− Ions (M=Si,Ge, Sn) in A2[M(S2O7)3] (A=NH4, Ag)

The reactions of group 14 tetrachlorides MCl₄ (M=Si, Ge, Sn) with oleum (65 % SO₃) at elevated temperatures lead to the unique complex ions [M(S₂O₇)₃]^2?, which show the central M atoms in coordination with three chelating S₂O₇^2? groups. The mean distances M? O within the anions increase from 175.6(2)–177.5(2) pm (M=Si) to 186.4(4)–187.7(4) pm (M=Ge) to 201.9(2)–203.5(2) pm (M=Sn). These distances are reproduced well by DFT calculations. The same calculations show an increasing positive charge for the central M atom in the row Si, Ge, Sn, which can be interpreted as the decreasing covalency of the M? O bonds. For the silicon compound (NH₄)₂[Si(S₂O₇)₃], ²⁹Si solid‐state NMR measurements have been performed, with the results showing a signal at ?215.5 ppm for (NH₄)₂[Si(S₂O₇)₃], which is in very good agreement with theoretical estimations. In addition, the vibrational modes within the [MO₆] skeleton have been monitored by Raman spectroscopy for selected examples, and are well reproduced by theory. The charge balance for the [M(S₂O₇)₃]^2? ions is achieved by monovalent A⁺ counter ions (A=NH₄, Ag), which are implemented in the syntheses in the form of their sulfates. The sizes of the A⁺ ions, that is, their coordination requirements, cause the crystallographic differences in the crystal structures, although the complex [M(S₂O₇)₃]^2? ions remain essentially unaffected with the different A⁺ ions. Furthermore, the nature of the A⁺ ions influences the thermal behavior of the compounds, which has been monitored for selected examples by thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis (DTA/TG) and XRD measurements.