Reversible ferroelectric phase transition of 1,4-diazabicyclo [2,2,2]octane N,N′-dioxide di(perchlorate)

1,4-Diazabicyclo [2,2,2]octane N,N′-dioxide di(perchlorate), C₆H₁₄N₂O₂^2 +·2ClO₄⁻, was synthesized and separated as colorless block crystals. Differential scanning calorimetry detected that this compound underwent a reversible phase transition at ca. 216 K with a hysteresis of 5.5 K width, which was also confirmed by dielectric measurements. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data suggested that there was a transition from a room temperature phase with the space group of P2₁/c (a = 6.815(7) Å, b = 12.644(13) Å, c = 8.676(9) Å, β = 101.466(15)°, V = 732.7(13) ų, Z = 4) to a low temperature one with a space group of P2₁ (a = 9.892(8) Å, b = 12.559(10) Å, c = 17.401(13) Å, β = 92.065(8)°, V = 2160(3) ų, Z = 2). Crystallographic analysis showed that it belonged to chiral space group P2₁ with ferroelectric behaviors, and a typical ferroelectric feature of electric hysteresis loop was obtained in the low temperature phase. The disorder-order transformation of H₂-Dabcodo^2 + cation and ClO₄⁻ anion as well as the change of hydrogen bonds may drive the phase transition.     

Crystal and geometry-optimized structure,Hirshfeld surface analysis and spectroscopic studies of tetrachlorocuprate and nitrate salts of 1-(2-fluorophenyl)piperazine cations, (C10H15FN2)[CuCl4] (I) and (C10H14FN2)[NO3] (II)

Two new organic-inorganic hybrid materials, 1-(2-fluorophenyl)piperazine-1,4-diium tetrachlorocuprate, (C₁₀H₁₅FN₂)[CuCl₄] (I) and 1-(2-fluorophenyl)piperazin-4-ium nitrate, (C₁₀H₁₄FN₂)[NO₃] (II), have been synthesized by an acid/base reaction at room temperature in the presence of 1-(2-fluorophenyl)piperazine as an organic-structure directing agent and their structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound (I), (C₁₀H₁₅FN₂)[CuCl₄], crystallizes in the monoclinic system and P2₁/c space group with a = 7.5253 (2), b = 20.6070 (7), c = 9.7281 (3) Å, β = 103.6730 (17)°, V = 1465.82 (8) Å³ with Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinement converged at R = 0.037 and wR(F²) = 0.088. Compound (II), (C₁₀H₁₄FN₂)[NO₃], belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with the following parameters: a = 10.8034 (2), b = 7.5775 (1), c = 14.4670 (3) Å, β = 111.761 (2)°, V = 1099.91 (4) ų and Z = 4. The structure was refined to R = 0.044, wR(F²) = 0.136.In the structures of (I) and (II), the anionic and cationic entities are interconnected by means of set of hydrogen bonding contacts forming three-dimensional networks. Intermolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surfaces and the contacts of the four different chloride atoms were notably compared. The results of the optimized molecular structure are presented and compared with the experimental one. The Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) maps and the HOMO and LUMO energy gap of both compounds were computed. The vibrational absorption bands were identified by infrared spectroscopy. Theory (DFT) calculations of normal mode frequencies are compared with experimental ones.     

Synthesis,reactivity, and X-ray structural characterization of a vanadium(III) oxidation pre-catalyst, (CpPOEtCo)VCl2(DMF)

Vanadium complexes are extensively used in the chemical industry as oxidation catalysts. During the course of our investigations into vanadium oxidation catalysis, the rich reactivity of a vanadium(III) scorpionate analogue complex, (CpP^OEtCo)VCl₂(DMF) (1), was investigated. The octahedrally coordinated 1 was prepared by mixing vanadium(III) chloride with Na(CpP^OEtCo) in DMF. The crystal structure of 1 has been determined through X-ray diffraction. Complex 1, C₂₀H₄₂Cl₂CoNO₁₀P₃V, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a = 38.566(9) Å, b = 9.499(2) Å, c = 18.149(4) Å, and β = 100.485(4)° with Z = 8. Complex 1 was found to be an effective pre-catalyst for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone. The reactivity studies, oxidative catalytic ability, as well as X-ray structural characterization of (CpP^OEtCo)VCl₂(DMF) will be discussed. ((CpP^OEtCo) = [η⁵-cyclopentadienyltris(diethylphosphito-κ¹P) cobaltate(III)⁻; DMF = N,N-dimethylformamide).     

CFB air-blown flash pyrolysis. Part II: Operation and experimental results

The main operational characteristics of a novel gasifier operating in the CFB mode are outlined in this paper, based on the experimental results from a total of 11 runs in the pyrolysis mode. The operation runs constituted the main experiments in the CFB reactor, carried out to derive meaningful mass balance and additional operational data for the CFB pyrolyzer. The experiments were conducted in varying operating conditions determined by the most important parameters, i.e., biomass flowrate, fluidizing gas flowrate, air factor, initial bed inventory), temperature in the CFB riser, vapor residence time and nominal air factor – or equivalence ratio, S_b.The results obtained showed that the reactor configuration successfully operated as a biomass fast pyrolysis system to maximize liquid yields reaching 61.50 wt% on a maf biomass basis, with the novel feature of providing for autothermal operation at 500 °C and with 0.46 s gas–vapor residence time, by utilizing the by-product char energy content in a single reactor. The reactor provides a very high specific throughput of 1.12–1.48 kg/h m² and the lowest gas-to-feed ratio of 1.3–1.9 kg gas/kg feed compared to other fast pyrolysis processes based on pneumatic reactors and has a good scale-up potential, providing significant capital cost reduction. Results to date suggest that the process is limited by the extent of char combustion. Future work should address resizing of the char combustor to increase overall system capacity, improve the solid separation and substantially increase liquid recovery.     

Physico-chemical concept of drag reduction nature in dilute polymer solutions (the Toms effect)

The physicochemical concept of turbulent drag reduction (the Toms effect) integrates physicochemical characteristics of polymer solutions with hydrodynamic and rheological flow parameters into a generalized equation, where the increment in volumetric flow rate Q_P is a function of the external shear stress τ_w, temperature, volume of macromolecular coils with immobilized solvent V_c and a function of their volume fraction Ψ = C · [η]/(1 + C · [η]). The Q_P depends on the coil intrinsic elasticity [G] = kT/V_c as well. This model allows one: (1) to describe the Toms effect in terms of useful elastic work spent by macromolecular coils with immobilized solvent to overcome the frictional forces (i.e. the forces of intermolecular interactions), (2) to forecast the initial conditions of the Toms effect (τ_* ≈ (RT)/(M · [η])) and (3) to explain the unusual temperature dependence of the polymer solutions flow.     

Low temperature reaction of point defects in ion irradiated 4H–SiC

The low temperature evolution of point defects induced in SiC by ion irradiation was investigated by deep level transient spectroscopy. The defects were introduced by irradiation with a 7.0 MeV beam of C⁺ ions at a fluence of 6 × 10⁹ cm^? 2. Annealing was then performed in the temperature range of 330–400 K in order to study the change in point defect structure with temperature. The low temperature annealing performed was observed to induce a change in the produced defects. The deep levels related to the S_x (E_C ? 0.6 eV) and S₂ defects (E_C ? 0.7 eV) recovered with annealing while, simultaneously, a new level, S₁ (E_C ? 0.4 eV), was formed. The activation energy of the S₁ defect is 0.94 eV, while the annealing of both the S_x and S₂ levels occurred with activation energy of 0.65 eV.     

Structure,magnetocaloric and critical properties of layered La2Sm0.4Sr0.6Mn2O7 perovskite

We report the structure, magnetocaloric effect, and critical phase transition in the manganite La₂Sm_0.4Sr_0.6Mn₂O₇ (LSSMO) synthesized by a sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction together with Rietveld refinement show that the sample crystallizes in a Sr₃Ti₂O₇-type tetragonal structure with a space group of I4/mmm. This compound undergoes a second-order ferromagnetic (FM) to paramagnetic phase transition at T_C=348 K and shows strong FM properties below the T_C. Based on the data of isothermal magnetization measured around the T_C and Maxwell's relation, we calculated the maximum magnetic entropy change (-ΔS_M^max) to be 4.69 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ and the relative cooling power to be 233.9 J kg⁻¹ for a μ₀ΔH=5 T magnetic field variation. These results indicate that LSSMO can be considered as a potential candidate material for application in magnetic refrigeration above room temperature. The critical behavior near the T_C was studied through the analysis of the magnetic field dependence of the magnetic entropy change and Widom's scaling relation. The exponent values estimated in this work are fairly close to those theoretically predicted by mean field theory (β=0.5, γ=1.0, and δ=3.0), revealing that long-range FM ordering exists in LSSMO. Scaling law theory also confirms the validity of the deduced critical exponents.     

Synthesis,crystal structure and photophysical properties of a novel Pt(II) complex with multi-functionalized cyclometalating ligand

A novel Pt(II) complex [(L)PtCl] (HL = 4-{p-[N-(4-(9-carbazole))butyl-N-phenyl] aniline}-6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine) has been synthesized and verified by ¹H NMR, elemental analysis and X-ray crystallography. The crystal (C₄₄H₃₅N₄ClPt, M_r = 850.30) belongs to monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 21.864(6), b = 9.306(3), c = 17.240(5) Å, β = 96.483(6)°, Z = 4, V = 3485.3(16) ų, D_C = 1.620 g/cm³, μ(Mo-Kα) = 4.141 mm^? 1, F(000) = 1688, R₁ = 0.0591, wR₂ = 0.0976. The coordinate geometry of the Pt atom is a distorted square planar configuration. The complex molecules are stacked by a weak π–π interaction in a head-to-tail fashion along the b axis to form 1D chain and the alternating 1D chains are packed to form the 2D lamellar system. The complex shows an intense metal-to-ligand charge transfer (¹MLCT) (dπ(Pt) → π*(L)) transitions (ε ～ 2 × 10⁴ dm³ mol^? 1 cm^? 1) at 448 nm in the UV–Vis absorption spectrum and a strong phosphorescence at 592 nm in CH₂Cl₂ solution at room temperature. An intramolecular energy transfer process from the carbazole unit to the arylamine-modified [(C^N^N)PtCl] emissive center exists in the complex.     

One-dimensional supramolecular assembly of an Mn12 single molecule magnet by ligand interactions

A new Mn₁₂ complex was synthesized using ligand substitution reaction of Mn₁₂–OAc with 4-(thiophen-3-yl)benzoic acid and complex’s structural and magnetic properties were analysed. [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CC₆H₄C₄H₃S)₁₆(H₂O)₃]·14CH₂Cl₂ (1) crystallized in the P2₁/c space group. Intermolecular π–π interactions between phenyl and thiophene rings of two adjacent Mn₁₂ molecules result in one-dimensional supramolecular assembly of 1 in the crystal. On the other hand, steric repulsion between the neighbouring molecules causes unusual ligand arrangement and coordination geometry of Mn(III) ion with five coordination. The ac magnetic study of 1 gives U_eff = 69.98 K and 1/τ₀ = 1.456 × 10⁸ s^?1 and dc reduced magnetization measurement gives S = 10, g = 1.95 and D = ?0.425 cm^?1 showing that outer ligand distortion has little effect on the magnetic properties.     

The crystal structure of 2′,6′-dichloro-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene

A monoazo dye, 2′,6′-dichloro-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (C₁₄H₁₃Cl₂N₃) was synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis. The title molecule crystallizes in the monoclinic system space group P2₁/c (#14), a = 10.782(1), b = 8.9610(9), c = 15.108(2) Å, β = 103.008(5)°, V = 1422.2(3) Å³, Z = 4. The title molecule is not planar and takes trans-geometry and the two phenyl rings are twisted around the central linkage in opposite directions. In the crystal, molecules are interacted through π⋯π interaction, forming ‘double chains’ along [1 −1 0]. The ‘double chains’ are extended along [001] through H-Bond C11–H6⋯Cl2, C5–H3⋯Cl1 forming double layers (110), which are in turn interacted by C3–H1⋯Cl1 H-Bond [010], forming crystals. The molecular geometry has been calculated using the ab initio restricted Hartree–Fock and density functional method (B3LYP) with 6-311G** basis set. The optimized geometric parameters obtained by two methods are similar and in good agreement with the experimental values.     

The decrease of depolarization temperature and the improvement of pyroelectric properties by doping Ta in lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics

Ta-doped lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xTa (x=0.0–1.0%) ceramics were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. The depolarization temperature (T_d) shifted to lower temperature with the increase of Ta content. The pyroelectric coefficient (p) of doped ceramics greatly enhanced compared with undoped material and reached a maximum of 7.14×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at room temperature (RT) and 146.1×10⁻⁴ C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at T_d at x=0.2%. The figure of merits, F_i and F_v, also showed a great improvement from 1.12×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.021 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.0 to 2.55×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.033 m² C⁻¹ at x=0.2% at RT. Furthermore, F_i and F_v show the huge improvement to 52.2×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.48×10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x=0.2%. F_C shows a value between 2.26 and 2.42 ×10⁻⁹ C cm⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x=0.2%. The improved pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-0.002Ta ceramics a promising infrared detector material.     

Decomposition of allantoin in the presence of Cu(II) ions resulting in the formation of a coordination polymer containing oxalate species

A novel Cu(II) coordination polymer, [Cu(ox)(DMSO)₂]_n (1) (ox-oxalate dianion, DMSO-dimethyl sulphoxide) has been prepared in the reaction of copper nitrate dihydrate and allantoin (5-ureidohydantoin) in DMSO/water solution. Compound (1) crystallizes in the monoclinic, space group P121/c1 with a = 5.1785(7), b = 13.6311(18), c = 8.5386(12) Å, β = 107.524(12)°, V = 574,76(14) Å³, Z = 4, D_cal = 1779 mg/m³, R₁ = 0.0449. The metal ion coordinates through four oxygen atoms belonging to two bidentate bridging oxalate ligands, and two oxygen atoms from two DMSO ligands forming an elongated octahedron. The crystal structure was confirmed by FT-IR and Uv–vis spectroscopic data.     

An inorganic–organic hybrid material with a novel oxometallic framework: Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of [Zn3O3(C13H14N2)3]V6O15

A new hybrid material [Zn₃O₃(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)₃]V₆O₁₅ (1) with extended framework structure has been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by vibrational spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and complete single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compound has a complex three-dimensional covalent framework structure. It exhibits a fully oxidized novel oxometallic framework containing 10-membered {V₄ZnO₅} oxometalate rings and 4,4′-trimethylene dipyridine ligands (C₁₃H₁₄N₂) that connect pairs of crystallographically equivalent zinc atoms. The extended structure of 1 may also be viewed as containing a framework of corner-sharing {VO₄} and {ZnO₂N₂} polyhedra together with 4,4’-trimethylene dipyridine ligands linking zinc centers. The hybrid material is thermally stable up to 323 °C. It contains metal centers and coordination geometry that make it a potentially attractive model compound for investigating the structures of metallo-organic biomolecules by use of solid state NMR spectroscopic techniques. Crystal data for C₃₉H₄₂N₆O₁₈V₆Zn₃: monoclinicic P2₁, a = 10.9894(9) Å, b = 18.1493 (15) Å, c = 13.0903 (11) Å, β = 109.8880(10)°, V = 2455.1(4) Å³, Z = 2, D_calc. = 1.873 Mg/m³.     

Fabrication of textured Sr2Na0.9K0.1Nb5O15 ceramics: Anisotropy in structures and electrical properties

Highly textured Sr₂Na_0.9K_0.1Nb₅O₁₅ (SKNN) ceramics were fabricated by reactive templated grain growth method using acicular Sr₂KNb₅O₁₅ (SKN) templates. CuO (1 wt.%) was used as sintering additive. SKN templates were aligned in matrix powders of SrNb₂O₆ and NaNbO₃ via tape casting and sintered at higher temperatures to obtain texture morphology. Through carefully controlling the processing conditions, a texture fraction of 86% was obtained. The structure evolution was explained by liquid-phase-assisted growth mechanism, in which the whole process was divided into 3 steps according to priority: phase formation stage, densification stage, and texture development stage. The textured ceramics exhibited anisotropic properties with the highest electrical properties obtained in c-axis direction: ?_r = 2212, ?_m = 4869, P_r = 15.92 μC cm^?2 and d₃₃ = 82 pC N^?1, showing that reactive templated grain growth method is very effective to improve the physical properties of SKNN ceramics.     

A dense and fine-grained SiC/Ti3Si(Al)C2 composite and its high-temperature oxidation behavior

A dense SiC/Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ composite was synthesized by in situ hot pressing powders of Si, TiC and Al as a sintering additive at 1500 °C for 2 h under 30 MPa in Ar atmosphere. This composite has a fine-grained and homogeneous microstructure with grain sizes of 5 μm for Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ and of 1 μm for SiC. The SiC/Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ composite possesses an improved oxidation resistance, with parabolic rate constants of 4.57 × 10^?8 kg²/m⁴/s at 1200 °C and 1.31 × 10^?7 kg²/m⁴/s at 1300 °C. This study provides an experimental evidence to confirm the formation of amorphous phases in the oxide scale of the SiC/Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ composite. Microstructure and phase composition of the SiC/Ti₃Si(Al)C₂ composite and oxide scales were identified by X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism for the enhanced oxidation resistance has been discussed.     

Synthesis,structure and fluorescence properties of a uranyl-2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid coordination polymer: The missing member of the UO22+-2,n-pyridinedicarboxylic series

A 3D uranium-pyridinedicarboxylate, compound (1) [UO₂(C₇H₃NO₄)], represents the final member of a series of materials incorporating a series of 2,n-pyridinedicarboxylic (pydc) acids (n = 3,4,5,6). The resulting crystal structure [FW = 419.13, monoclinic, P2₁/n, a = 9.0096(3) Å, b = 8.1371(2) Å, c = 11.6954(4) Å, V = 852.45 ų, Z = 4] was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction and fluorescent properties were investigated. Additionally, the complete series of uranium-2,n-pydc materials was examined on a basis of fluorescent behaviors and architectural similarities.     

Tuning of the Ba5Nb4O15 permittivity temperature coefficient

The Ba₅Nb₄O₁₅ ceramic offers attractive dielectric properties (ɛ_r ∼ 39, tan(δ) < 10⁻³, ρ_i ∼ 10¹² Ω cm) but exhibits a high permittivity temperature coefficient (τ_ɛ ∼ −171 ppm °C⁻¹). In order to tune this parameter, substitutions on the Ba and Nb sites by, respectively, Mg, Ca, Sr and V, Ta, Sn have been investigated. Two interesting formulations have been identified, Ba_2.5Mg_2.5Nb₄O₁₅ and Ba₅Nb₃SnO_14.5 as nominal compositions, with temperature coefficients of −44 and −30 ppm °C⁻¹, respectively. More attention has been paid to the Ba₅Nb₃SnO_14.5 compound (named 504Sn25) in which BaSnO₃ has been clearly identified as a secondary phase. BaSnO₃, having a positive and very high temperature coefficient (+393 ppm °C⁻¹), seems to be responsible for the τ_ɛ lowering of 504Sn25. Furthermore B₂O₃ addition as sintering aid has been successfully investigated for increasing the Ba₅Nb₃SnO_14.5 sample density. In terms of dielectric properties, it induces an increase of the permittivity and of the insulating resistivity, while the control of τ_ɛ is maintained. Finally, the formulation 504Sn25 + 15 mol% B₂O₃ sintered at 1200 °C has a value of 17.8 as dielectric constant and −1 ppm °C⁻¹ as τ_ɛ value, that evidences the potentiality of this material to be used as temperature stable capacitor.     

Enhancement of pyroelectric properties of lead-free 0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3 ceramics by La doping

Lead-free 0.94NBT-0.06BT-xLa ceramics at x = 0.0–1.0 (%) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state route. XRD shows that the compositions are at a morphotropic phase boundary where rhombohedral and tetragonal phases coexist. With increasing La³⁺ content pyroelectric coefficient (p) and figures of merits greatly increase; however, the depolarization temperature (T_d) decreases. p is 7.24 × 10⁻⁴C m⁻² °C⁻¹ at RT at x = 0.5% and 105.4 × 10⁻⁴C.m^−2 °C⁻¹ at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_i and F_v show improvements at RT from 1.12 (x = 0%) to 2.65 (x10 ⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹) (x = 0.5%) and from 0.021 to 0.048 (m².C⁻¹) respectively. F_i and F_v show a huge increase to 37.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ m v⁻¹ and 0.56 m² C⁻¹ respectively at T_d at x = 0.2%. F_C shows values of 2.10, 2.89, and 2.98 (x10⁻⁹C cm⁻² °C⁻¹) at RT at 33, 100 and 1000 (Hz) respectively. Giant pyroelectric properties make NBT-0.06BT-xLa at x = 0.2% and 0.5% promising materials for many pyroelectric applications.     

Hydrothermal synthesis,structure and fluorescent property of a novel cuprous thiocyanate inorganic polymer directed by 1,5-bis(pyridinium) pentane cation

A novel cation-templated 3D cuprous thiocyanate polymer, {(bppt)[Cu₂(NCS)₄]}_n, bppt = 1,5-bis (pyridinium) pentane, was hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The compound crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c with cell parameters of a = 10.1571(8) Å, b = 15.9785(13) Å, c = 15.3983(12) Å, V = 2407.4(3) Å³, Z = 4, D_c = 1.622 g cm^?3, F(0 0 0) = 1192, μ = 2.133 mm^?1, R₁ = 0.0551, wR₂ = 0.1246. In the polymeric architecture, Cu₂(NCS)₄ dimer is connected by NCS^? bridging ligand to constitute a infinite 3D framework with the organic cation bppt trapped in it. Photoluminescence investigation reveals that a slightly red shift of 27 nm for the complex takes place comparing with the organic cation.