Laser-quality oxide Y<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Subscript>5</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> ceramics. Comparative studies of its basic characteristics and laser ceramics of a known manufacturer

The effect of sintering aids of SiO₂, ZrO₂, B₂O₃, and MgO oxides on the optimum sintering temperature, ceramics grain growth, total volume of residual pores, and optical quality of obtained ceramics is studied. The best combinations of sintering aids are found; as a result, YAG:Nd (1 at%) samples of ceramics of high optical quality are obtained. An original method for characterizing laser properties of ceramics is developed. Comparative measurements of main laser characteristics of the obtained ceramics and ceramics of the Konoshima Chemical Corp. Ltd wellknown in the world practice, are performed.     

Pressure-induced tricritical point and critical behavior near the points of phase-diagram wings in a CoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> ferromagnet

A pressure-induced change in the order of magnetic phase transition observed for CoS₂ in [1] is explained using the exchange-striction ferromagnet model allowing for the first-and second-order magnetoelastic interactions. It is shown that this model offers a satisfactory quantitative explanation of the majority of experimental facts observed in CoS₂. The magnetic phase diagram of CoS₂ is calculated in the vicinity of a tricritical point in the temperature (T), pressure (P), and magnetic-field (H) variables. The critical behavior of the thermodynamic quantities near the tricritical points of phase-diagram wings is discussed.     

Pyridyl Radical Cation for C−H Amination of Arenes

Electron‐transfer photocatalysis provides access to the elusive and unprecedented N‐pyridyl radical cation from selected N‐substituted pyridinium reagents. The resulting C(sp²)?H functionalization of (hetero)arenes furnishes versatile intermediates for the development of valuable aminated aryl scaffolds. Mechanistic studies that include the first spectroscopic evidence of a spin‐trapped N‐pyridyl radical adduct implicate SET‐triggered, pseudo‐mesolytic cleavage of the N?X pyridinium reagents mediated by visible light.     

A tunable gas sensor using an acoustic waveguide

A tunable gas sensor using surface acoustic waves (SAW) is described. It is designed on the basis of a waveguide delay line fabricated on a piezoelectric substrate made of 128° Y-cut LiNbO₃. A voltage applied between the waveguide and two electrodes causes a local change in the properties of the substrate near the waveguide and differently affects the sensor’s response to the vapors of various analytes. Some results of the experimental study of the sensor, which show the change in the selectivity under the effect of voltage, are presented. The analytes used for testing include a number of alcohols and deionized water. The possibilities for employing such a sensor in the sensor arrays of gas analyzers of the electronic nose type are discussed.     

The effect of thermal treatment on the atomic structure of core–shell PtCu nanoparticles in PtCu/C electrocatalysts

Physics of the Solid State - PtCu/C electrocatalysts with bimetallic PtCu nanoparticles were synthesized by successive chemical reduction of Cu2+ and Pt(IV) in a carbon suspension prepared based on...     

Investigation of a single barrier discharge in submillimeter air gaps. Nonuniform field

Pulse characteristics of single barrier discharges as well as parameters of charges accumulated on the surface of a dielectric under the atmospheric pressure in the “needle-(0.1–2.0)-mm air gap-polymer barrier-plane” system are investigated. It is found experimentally that for the positive polarity of the needle, the voltage for the discharge initiation is higher than in the case of the negative polarity by ～25–35%. The reversal of the needle polarity from negative to positive increases the amplitude of the discharge current and the accumulated surface charge by ～1.5–3 times. For the positive polarity of the needle, the discharge is governed by a streamer mechanism, while for the negative polarity, the discharge is initiated by the formation of a single Trichel pulse. The single pulse regime is observed for the discharge current up to a certain electrode gap d _CR. For the positive needle and for air gap width d _air > d _CR ≈ 1.5 mm, a multipulse burst corona is formed, while for the negative needle and d _air > d _CR ≈ 0.9 mm, a damped sequence of Trichel pulses evolves in the system.     

Crystal structures of the La3AgSnSe7 and R3Ag1−δSnS7 (R=La, Ce; δ=0.18−0.19) compounds

The crystal structures of new quaternary compounds La₃AgSnSe₇ (space group P6₃, Pearson symbol hP24, a=1.0805(4) nm, c=0.6245(1) nm, R1=0.0315), La₃Ag_0.82SnS₇ (space group P6₃, Pearson symbol hP23.64, a=1.0399(1) nm, c=0.6016(1) nm, R1=0.0149) and Ce₃Ag_0.81SnS₇ (space group P6₃, Pearson symbol hP23.62, a=1.0300(1) nm, c=0.6002(1) nm, R1=0.0151) were determined by means of X-ray single crystal diffraction. Structural investigations of the R₃Ag_1−δSnS₇ (R=La, Ce; δ=0.18-0.19(1)) compounds at 450 and 530 K were performed. Low temperature data (12 K) for Ce₃Ag_0.81SnS₇ were also collected. The nearest neighbours of the La(Ce), Ag and Sn atoms are exclusively Se(S) atoms. The latter form distorted trigonal prisms around the La(Ce) atoms, and distorted tetrahedrons around the Sn atoms. The Ag (Ag1) atoms have triangular surroundings: they are located very close to the planes built of three Se(S) atoms. The Ag2 atoms in the structures of the La₃Ag_0.82SnS₇, Ce₃Ag_0.81SnS₇ compounds are located practically in the centres of trigonal antiprisms. The pseudo-potentials determined through the Ag atoms show relatively low barrier between two nearest positions which decreases when temperature rises.     

Continuum model of bimetallic nanoparticles for calculating partial coordination numbers

A way of calculating partial coordination numbers is proposed for bimetallic nanoparticles with different radial distributions of atoms relative to a selected center. It is based on a continuum approximation for the atomic density distribution in the volume of nanoparticles (continuum model) and does not require the use of cluster-based models of nanoparticles to obtain information on the distribution of components in nanoparticles. The results obtained in this manner are compared to those from directly calculating the partial coordination numbers in atomic clusters.     

Crystal Structure of the RE2PbS4 (RE = Y,Dy, Ho,Er, and Tm) Compounds and a Comparison with the Crystal Structures of other Rare Earth Lead Chalcogenides

The crystal structure of the RE₂PbS₄ (RE = Y, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm) compounds (space group Cmc2₁, Pearson symbol oC112, a = 0.79301(3) nm, b = 2.86966(9) nm, c = 1.20511(5) nm, R_Bragg = 0.0979 for Y₂PbS₄; a = 0.79484(8) nm, b = 2.8721(3) nm, c = 1.2039(1) nm, for Dy₂PbS₄; a = 0.79081(2) nm, b = 2.86222(7) nm, c = 1.20220(4) nm, R_Bragg = 0.0859 for Ho₂PbS₄; a = 0.7863(2) nm, b = 2.8525(5) nm, c = 1.1995(2) nm, R1 = 0.0482 for Er₂PbS₄ and a = 0.78419(3) nm, b = 2.84184(9) nm, c = 1.19655(4) nm, R_Bragg = 0.0893 for Tm₂PbS₄) was investigated by means of X‐ray single crystal and powder diffraction. Each RE atoms is octahedrally coordinated by six S atoms. Each Pb atoms is surrounded by seven S atoms to form a mono‐capped trigonal prism.