Structure and electronic transport properties of the Misfit layer compound (LaSe)1.14(NbSe2)2, „LaNb2Se5”︁

The new misfit layer compound (LaSe)_1.14(NbSe₂)₂ has been synthesized from the elements at 1050- and its structure has been determined by a composite approach. The structure has an alternating stacking sequence of [LaSe] and two [NbSe₂] layers along the c direction. The misfit of the two different layers is occurring along the a direction: a₁(LaSe)=6.0191 Å and a₂(NbSe₂)=3.4372 Å therefore yielding a ratio of 1.751 which is very close to 7/4. An investigation of electrical resistivity was done. The crystal shows superconducting properties at 5.3 K.     

Ta4P4S29: A new tunnel structure with inserted polymeric sulfur

Ta₄P₄S₂₉ was prepared from the elements heated together in stoichiometric proportions in an evacuated Pyrex tube for 10 days at 500°C. The crystal symmetry is tetragonal, space group P4₃2₁2, with the cell parameters: a = b = 15.5711(7) Å, c = 13.6516(8) Å, V = 3309.9(5) ų, and Z = 4. The structure calculations were conducted from 2335 reflections and 146 variables, leading to R = 0.033. The structure basic framework, corresponding to the chemical composition [TaPS₆], is made of biprismatic bicapped [Ta₂S₁₂] units (average d_TaS = 2.539 Å), including sulfur pairs (average d_SS = 2.039 Å), bonded to each other through [PS₄] tetrahedral groups (average d_PS = 2.044 Å) sharing sulfurs. This framework leaves large tunnels running along the c axis of the cell and in which (S₁₀)_∞ sulfur chains are found to be inserted (average d_SS = 2.052 Å and SSS = 105.75°). Diamagnetic and semiconducting Ta₄P₄S₂₉ can be formulated: Ta^V₄P^V₄(S^?II)₁₆(S^?II₂)₄(S⁰₅).     

Short Te …︁ Te bonding contacts in a new layered ternary telluride: Synthesis and crystal structure of 2D Nb3GexTe6 (x ≃ 0.9)

The new layered ternary compound Nb₃Ge_xTe₆ (x ? 0.90) was prepared by direct combination of the elements taken in the stoichiometric proportions 3 : 1 : 6, heated at 1 000 °C for 10 days in silica tubes and quenched to room temperature. The phase crystallizes in the orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (#62), with the following single crystal refined parameters: a = 643.18(5) pm, b = 1391.98(11)pm and c = 1 154.07(5) pm, with Z = 4. The structure was refined to an R of 3.4% (R_w = 4.6%), with 1969 independent reflexions and 49 parameters. The structure is based on the close stacking of trigonal prismatic (TP) slabs in the AA/BB mode. The slabs can be seen as built up from face sharing biprisms, which are filled either by one or by two niobium cations situated in the middle of the trigonal prisms. The germanium is located in the middle of the common face of two prisms, leading to a rather unusual anionic square coordination. The refinements showed that this latter cation does not fill completely its square site. No cation was found in the van der Waals gap between the slabs. The mean d_{Ge? Te} distance (276.5 pm) is in agreement with Ge^II cations, while some Te …? Te distances (from 333.84 to 361.65pm) are too short for anions in a simple contact. These bonding distances, already mentionned in some MTe₂ compounds, are to be ascribed to charge transfer in the structure, with a partial oxidation state for the tellurium anions. Short Nb? Nb and Nb? Ge distances (292.0 and 281.3 pm, respectively) imply intercationic bonding within the slabs.     

Tensor product surfaces of euclidean plane curves

Recently B.Y. CHEN initiated the study of the tensor product immersion of two immersions of a given Riemannian manifold [3]. In [6] the particular case of tensor product of two Euclidean plane curves was studied. The minimal one were classified, and necessary and sufficient conditions for such a tensor product to be totally real or complex or slant were established. In the present paper we study for tensor product of Euclidean plane curves the problem of B.Y. CHEN: to what extent do the properties of the tensor product immersion f ? h of two immersions f, h determines the immersions f, h ? [3]     

High Temperature Behavior of a Gel-Derived SiOC Glass: Elasticity and Viscosity

The high temperature behavior of a sol-gel derived silicon oxycarbide glass containing 12 at.% carbon has been characterized by means of creep and in-situ ultrasonic echography measurements. Temperature induced changes include structural relaxation and densification from 1000 to 1200°C, and crystallization to form a fine and homogeneous -SiC/glass-matrix nanocomposite with 2.5 nm large crystals above 1200°C. Young's modulus measurements clearly reveal a consolidation of the material upon annealing below 1200°C. Crystallization is almost complete after few hours at 1300°C and results in a significant increase in Young's modulus. The viscosity of the oxycarbide glass is much higher than that of fused silica, with two orders of magnitude difference at 1200°C, and the glass transition temperature ranges from 1320 to 1370°C.     

Spectres de vibration et structure d'un cristal d'amidogallate de sodium

Raman spectra (4000-150 cm^?1) of a single crystal of NaGa(NH₂)₄ and infrared spectra (4000-200 cm^?1 ) of a polycrystalline sample have been studied at different temperatures. An assignment of the bands is given. The spectra are discussed assuming S₄ and T_d point group symmetry of the Ga(NH₂)^?₄ ion at low temperature and at room temperature respectively. Metal-ligand and N-H stretching frequencies are compared to those of some other amido metalates.     

Dynamic light scattering study of the ultrasonication of P(VDF-TrFE): A new model

The purpose of this paper is to understand the mechanisms occurring during the ultrasonication of the copolymer poly(vinylidenedifluoride-trifluoroethylene). In these experimental conditions, the polymer adopts a core–shell structure and its hydrodynamic diameter is measured by dynamic light scattering. The results show that, without covalent bonds breakage, the hydrodynamic diameter decreases with ultrasonication time and a smaller size population appears. This evolution is reversible in a matter of days. A new two-step mechanism is proposed to describe this phenomenon: first the erosion of a core–shell structure and second the contraction of the core. Beyond shedding a new light on the phenomena occurring during the sonication of polymers used in nanocomposites elaboration, this work also strongly questions the traditional techniques used to study the degradation of polymers, which use the hydrodynamic diameter measurement to determine the molecular weight.     

Preparation and structure of alkali metal intercalation compounds

The preparation methods of intercalation compounds fall into four main groups: use of alkali metal solutions in liquid ammonia, organometallic reagents, electrochemical methods, and solid state processes. Each of these will be briefly described and a general comparison of the advantages and disadvantages will be made. Structural problems concern the positions occupied by the guest ions and their mobility from one site to one another in the host structure. The resulting ionic conductivity of the intercalation compounds depends on factors such as the ratio between available and occupied sites in the van der Waals gap, the ionicity of the bonds in the host structure, the site geometry, and the nature of the alkali metal.     

Synthesis,Photophysical, and Two‐Photon Absorption Properties of Elongated Phosphane Oxide and Sulfide Derivatives

A series of rod‐shaped and related three‐branched push–pull derivatives containing phosphane oxide or phosphane sulfide (PO or PS)—as an electron‐withdrawing group conjugated to electron‐donating groups, such as amino or ether groups, with a conjugated rod consisting of arylene–vinylene or arylene–ethynylene building blocks—were prepared. These compounds were efficiently synthesized by a Grignard reaction followed by Sonogashira coupling. Their photophysical properties including absorption, emission, time‐resolved fluorescence, and two‐photon absorption (TPA) were investigated with special attention to structure–property relationships. These fluorophores show high fluorescence quantum yields and solvent‐dependent experiments reveal that efficient intramolecular charge transfer occurs upon excitation, thereby leading to highly polar excited states, the polarity of which can be significantly enhanced by playing on the end groups and conjugated linker. Rod‐shaped and related three‐branched systems show similar fluorescence properties in agreement with excitation localization on one of the push–pull branches. By using stronger electron donors or replacing the arylene–ethynylene linkers with an arylene–vinylene one induces significant redshifts of both the low‐energy one‐photon absorption and TPA bands. Interestingly, a major enhancement in TPA responses is observed, whereas OPA intensities are only weakly affected. Similarly, phosphane oxide derivatives show similar OPA responses than the corresponding sulfides but their TPA responses are significantly larger. Finally, the electronic coupling between dipolar branches promoted by common PO or PS acceptor moieties induces either slight enhancement of the TPA responses or broadening of the TPA band in the near infrared (NIR) region. Such behavior markedly contrasts with triphenylamine‐core‐mediated coupling, which gives evidence for the different types of interactions between branches.     

Structural,electrical, magnetic and NMR study of the NaxCrxTi1−xS2 system

Two phases are characterized in the Na_xCr_xTi_1?xS₂. The first one spans the composition range 0.34 < x < 0.71, the alkali-metal ions occupying trigonal prismatic sites. The second one which is isotypic with NaCrS₂ is found in the range 0.87 < x ? 1, the alkali-metal ions being this time in octahedral sites. Electrical measurements performed by the complex impedance method show that the conductivity is thermally activated. Magnetic and NMR experiments indicate the existence of localized magnetic moments on the chromium ions. These moments induce a shift of the NMR line and produce the most important contribution to the relaxation. The variation of the Curie temperature seems to indicate a continuous weakening of the ferromagnetic coupling between chromium ions of the same layer as the number of chromium ions decreases. An antiferromagnetic coupling then becomes preponderant.