Ceramic Films via Organometallic Complex as Single Source Precursor

Fe2(CO)6(μ-S2) was used as a single source precursor in attempt to produce FeS film via MOCVD. Pyrolysis of Fe2(CO)6(μ-S2) at temperature below 500℃ produced Fe1-xS or Fe7S8 powder as indicated by its powder X-ray spectra. At 750 ℃, polycrystalline FeS powder was obtained. In film deposition, polycrystalline Fe1-xS or Fe7Ss films were obtained on Si(100) and Ag/Si(100) substrates below 500 ℃. SEM micrographs showed the film on Si(100) substrate containing whisker like grains. However, pillar like grains were obtained on Ag/Si(100) substrate.Deposition rates are also different for different substrates as evaluated by the thickness of the films, which were obtained by SEM micrographs of the cross section of the films. At 750℃, similar polycrystalline Fe1-xS or Fe7S8 film was obtained.     

Molybdenum nitride fibers or tubes via ammonolysis of polysulfide precursor

Millimeter-sized molybdenum nitride (MoN), in the forms of fiber-like prisms or hollow tubes, has been successfully synthesized via thermal ammonolysis of molybdenum polysulfide precursor. The initial morphology of the precursor is well preserved in the final product. This method could be expanded to preparation of other fiber-like nonmetal ceramics without addition of template. The polysulfide precursor (abbreviated to PS), hydrothermally prepared at 30°C (PS1) or 150°C (PS2), was characterized by various methods for better comprehension of the sulfide-nitride topotactic conversion model.     

Search for a precursor crystal-to-crystal phase transition to amorphization in α-GeO2 and α-AlPO4 under pressure

Recent X-ray diffraction studies on α-quartz (SiO₂) by Kingmaet al [1], have shown the occurrence of a reversible, crystalline-to-crystalline, phase transition just prior to amorphization at ≈ 21 GPa. This precursor transition has also been confirmed by our recent molecular dynamics simulation study [2]. In order to investigate the possibility of a similar behaviour in other isostructural compounds, which also undergo pressure induced amorphization, α-GeO₂ and α-AlPO₄ (berlinite form) were studied using energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. In either of these materials, no such phase transition is detected prior to amorphization. The onset of amorphization and its reversal is found to be time dependent in GeO₂.     

Effects of pH and citric acid contents on characteristics of ester-derived BaFe12O19 powder

The single domain size of BaFe₁₂O₁₉ powder with crystallite sizes less than 200 nm was produced using a citric acid precursor method. Fe³⁺ and Ba²⁺, in a molar ratio of 12, were chelated by COOH⁻ in an aqueous solution. After ethylene glycol additions, esterification, dehydration, and calcination led to the formation of ester-derived BaFe₁₂O₁₉ powder. High pH and/or high citric acid contents in the starting solution are required to complete chelate metallic ions in the solution and to form pure barium ferrite powder at 1073 K. Pure single magnetic domain BaFe₁₂O₁₉ particles of M(30 kOe)≈54 emu/g, M_r≈28 emu/g, and H_c≈3.7 kOe were produced using [citric acid]/[metallic ions]=1.5 and pH7.     

Dicopper(I) oxalate complexes as molecular precursors for the deposition of copper compounds

The synthesis, characterization, and thermal decomposition behavior of dicopper(I) oxalato complexes L₄Cu₂(C₂O₄) (L = CNtBu (2a), CNCMe₂CH₂tBu (2b), CNC₆H₃Me₂-2,6 (2c)) is reported. 2c can be prepared in a straightforward manner by the reaction of stoichiometric amounts of Cu₂O and oxalic acid with four equivalents of CNC₆H₃Me₂-2,6, while those complexes with aliphatic isocyanides are better prepared from a copper(I) oxalato complex with alkine capping ligands (Me₃SiCCSiMe₃)₂Cu₂(C₂O₄) (1) via ligand exchange. Crystallographic and spectroscopic evidence for 2a-c confirms the anticipated dinuclear structure with the oxalate in a μ-1,2,3,4 bridging mode and an essentially σ-character of the terminal isocyanides. In solid form the complexes are stable at room temperature and can be handled in air for some time. Their decomposition was studied by thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry, and the degradation pathway was shown to depend on the type of isocyanide capping ligand. Decomposition of 2a,b takes place between 150 and 200 °C to give CuCN in a clean process that involves isobutene elimination from the terminal ligands, with elimination of (CN)₂ and conversion to elemental copper at higher temperatures. Heating of 2c leads to CuO (and then to Cu₂O) via release of the intact isocyanide, CO₂, and CO in a well-behaved thermal process around 200-280 °C.     

Achieving high yield of Ti3C2Tx MXene few-layer flakes with enhanced pseudocapacior performance by decreasing precursor size

Ti₃C₂T_x, a most studied member of MXene family, shows promise as a candidate electrode for pseudocapacitor due to its electronic conductivity and hydrophilic surface. However, the unsatisfactory yield of Ti₃C₂T_x few-layer flakes significantly restricted it in real applications. Here, we proposed a simple solution to boost the yield of Ti₃C₂T_x few-layer flakes by decreasing precursor size. When using the small 500 mesh Ti₃AlC₂ powders as raw material, high yield of 65% was successfully achieved. Moreover, the as-received small flakes also exhibit an enhanced pseudocapacior performance owing to their excellent electrical conductivity, expanded interlayer space and more O content on the surface. This work not only sheds light on the cost effective mass production of Ti₃C₂T_x few-layer flakes, but also provides an efficient solution for the design of MXene electrodes with high pseudocapacior performance.     

Facile synthesis of potassium tetrathiooxalate – The “true” monomer for the preparation of electron-conductive poly(nickel-ethylenetetrathiolate)

Herein, aiming at optimization of the polymerization process leading to a family of hole- and electron-conducting 1,1,2,2-ethenetetrathiolate-based polymers, such as poly(nickel-1,1,2,2-ethenetetrathiolate), poly[K_x(Ni-ett)], we investigated transformations of the monomer precursor 1,3,4,6-tetrathiapentalene-2,5-dione (TPD) occurring under polymerization conditions. We found that only one ring of TPD opens upon its reaction with potassium methoxide under inert conditions at room temperature which leads to the formation of potassium 2-oxo-1,3-dithiol-4,5-dithiolate (K₂[3]). Heating of K₂[3] under reflux in methanol solution under inert conditions opens the second ring, however the resulting product is not potassium ethenetetrathiolate (K₄[2]), the product of an exhaustive methanolysis of TPD, but potassium tetrathiooxalate (K₂[4]), the product of the decarbonylation of K₂[3]. Preliminary experiments reveal that the involvement of K₂[4] in the polymerization process is beneficial for reproducible formation of high quality 1,1,2,2-ethenetetrathiolate-based polymers suitable for thermoelectric applications.     

Anomalous change of groundwater radon concentration monitored at Nakaizu well in 2011

An anomalous increase in radon concentration was measured at the Nakaizu observatory on the Izu Peninsula prior to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake using a custom-made radon counter. Since the increase was more than three times the standard deviation of radon concentration variations over 35 years of recorded data, it is considered likely that it is a precursor to the earthquake. Following the earthquake, the radon concentration decreased exponentially to the background level. The anomalous increase is explained using a modified volatilization model containing three important aquifer parameters: the groundwater saturation ratio, the fracture surface area per unit volume, and the porosity. The modified model can also explain the radon concentration behavior prior to the 1978 Izu-Oshima-Kinkai earthquake.     

Swelling Ratios and Rates of Sulfonation of Solvent Modified Copolymers of Styrene Cross-Linked with Pure m-and Pure p-Divinylbenzene

Solvent-modified (toluene) copolymers have been prepared from styrene cross-linked with commercial divinylbenzene, m-divinylbenzene, and p-divinylbenzene at divinyl monomer contents of 16 mole % and 32 mole % at F_M = 0.50. The resultant copolymers have been characterized by swelling-ratio determinations and rates of sulfonation at 60 and 80°C. The solvent-modified 16 mole % cross-linked copolymers sulfonated at rates slightly greater than those characterizing the 8 mole % cross-linked copolymers prepared in the absence of diluent. The order of decreasing sulfonation rates for both the conventional 8 mole % cross-linked systems and for the solvent-modified 16 mole % cross-linked copolymers is commercial divinylbenzene/styrene, p-divinylbenzene/styrene, m-divinylbenzene styrene. The 32 mole % cross-linked systems exhibit a different order of decreasing sulfonation rates: commercial divinylbenzene/styrene, m-divinylbenzene/styrene, p-divinylbenzene/styrene. The swelling ratios of the 32 mole % solvent-modified copolymers were comparable to those of the conventional 8 mole % cross-linked systems.     

Signal losses in pesticide analysis using the broadband isolation waveform in a commercial quadrupole ion trap to accomplish precursor ion isolation in tandem mass spectrometry

Signal losses due to precursor ion isolation in a quadrupole-ion-trap mass spectrometer were studied using selected pesticides as model compounds. These signal losses originate from isolations of ion populations employing the broadband isolation (bbiso) waveform used in the Varian quadrupole ion-trap precursor ion isolation protocol. Signal losses were found to be ‘precursor ion structure’ dependent upon isolation using the bbiso. The effect of the bbiso waveform on the ionic structure and nature of substituents on the precursor ion was investigated. Isolation of old electron radical molecular ions of the type [M^+?] showed remarkable signal losses compared with isolation of fragment ions derived from the same compounds. The impact of the bbiso waveform on the response of the instrument using mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and the bbiso waveform was also examined. The response of the instrument as related to the calculated Instrument Detection Limits was observed to parallel ion population losses.