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At least 757 records · Page 42

Programmable Photoluminescence via Intrinsic and DNA-Fluorophore Association in a Mixed Cluster Heterometallic MOF

In this report a rapid and facile design strategy to create a highly complex optical tag with programmable, multimodal photoluminescent properties is described. This was achieved via intrinsic and DNA-fluorophore hidden signatures. As a first covert feature of the tag, an intricate novel heterometallic near-infrared (NIR)-emitting mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) was designed and synthesized. The material is constructed from two chemically distinct, homometallic hexanuclear clusters based on Nd and Yb. Uniquely, the Nd-based cluster is observed here for the first time in a MOF and consists of two staggered Nd μ3-oxo trimers. To generate controlled, multimodal, and tailorable emission with difficult to counterfeit features, the NIR-emissive MOF was post-synthetically modified via a fluorescent DNA oligo labeling design strategy. The surface attachment of several distinct fluorophores, including the simultaneous attachment of up to three distinct fluorescently labeled oligos was achieved, with excitation and emission properties across the visible spectrum (480-800 nm). The DNA inclusion as a secondary covert element in the tag was demonstrated via the detection of SYBR Gold dye association. Importantly, the approach implemented here serves as a rapid and tailorable way to encrypt distinct information in a facile and modular fashion and provides an innovative technology in the quest toward complex optical tags.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Influence of Domain Size and Support Composition on the Reducibility of SiO 2 and TiO 2 Supported Tungsten Oxide Clusters

Supported tungsten oxides are widely used in a variety of catalytic reactions. Depending on the support, the cluster size, oxidation state, reducibility and speciation of the tungsten oxides can widely differ. When promoted with a platinum group metal, the resulting spillover of hydrogen may facilitate the reduction of supported tungsten oxide species, depending on the support. High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging showed nanometer scale WO x clusters were synthesized on SiO 2 whereas highly dispersed species were formed on TiO 2 . Results from H 2 -temperature-programmed reduction showed the presence of Pd lowered the initial reduction temperature of SiO 2 -supported WO x species but interestingly did not affect that of TiO 2 -supported WO x . X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies showed the W atoms in SiO 2 -supported WO x species reduce from a +6 oxidation state to primarily +5 after thermal treatment in 5% H 2 , while the fraction of W in the +5 oxidation state was relatively unaffected by reduction treatment of TiO 2 -supported WO x . The unusual behavior of TiO 2 -supported WO x was explained by quantum chemical calculations that reveal the lack of change in the oxidation state of W is attributed to charge delocalization on the surface atoms of the titania support, which does not occur on silica. Moreover, modeling results at <600 K in the presence of H 2 suggest the formation of Brønsted acid sites, and the absence of Lewis acid sites, on larger aggregates of WO x on silica and all cluster sizes on titania. These results provide experimental and theoretical insights into the nature of supported tungsten oxide clusters under conditions relevant to various catalytic reactions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Theoretical assessments of Pd–PdO phase transformation and its impacts on H 2 O 2 synthesis and decomposition pathways

The direct synthesis of H 2 O 2 from O 2 and H 2 provides a green pathway to produce H 2 O 2 , a popular industrial oxidant. Here, in this study, we theoretically investigate the effects of Pd oxidation states, coordination environments, and particle sizes on primary H 2 O 2 selectivities, assessed by calculating the ratio of rate constants for the formation of H 2 O 2 (via OOH* reduction; k O–H ) and the decomposition of OOH* (via O–O cleavage; k O–O ). For Pd metals, the k O–H /k O–O ratio decreased from 10 -4 for Pd(111) to 10 -10 for the Pd 13 cluster at 300 K, indicating poorer H 2 O 2 selectivity as Pd particle size decreases and low primary selectivities for H 2 O 2 overall. As the oxygen chemical potential increases and metals form surface and bulk oxides, the perturbation of Pd–Pd ensemble sites by lattice O atoms results in selectivities that become dramatically higher than unity. For instance, at 300 K, the k O–H /k O–O ratio increases significantly from 10 -4 to 10 9 to 10 16 as Pd(111) oxidizes to Pd 5 O 4 /Pd(111) and to PdO(100), respectively. In contrast, such selectivity enhancements are not observed for surface and bulk oxides that persistently contain rows of more metallic, undercoordinated Pd–Pd ensemble sites, such as PdO(101)/Pd(100) and PdO(101). These Pd–Pd ensembles are also absent when smaller Pd nanoparticles fully oxidize, indicating that smaller PdO clusters can be more selective for H 2 O 2 synthesis. These trends for primary H 2 O 2 selectivities were found to inversely correlate with trends for H 2 O 2 decomposition rates via O–O bond cleavage, demonstrating that catalysts with high primary H 2 O 2 selectivity can also hinder H 2 O 2 decomposition. Ab initio thermodynamic calculations are used to estimate the thermodynamically favored phase among Pd, PdO/Pd and PdO in O 2 , H 2 O 2 /H 2 O, and O 2 /H 2 environments. These results are combined to show that smaller Pd nanoparticles are more prone to be oxidized at lower oxygen chemical potentials, upon which they become more selective than larger Pd particles for H 2 O 2 synthesis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Evolution of Structure and Magnetism in FeCl 2 and FeCl 3 : From Clusters to Monolayers

In this work, we address one of the most fundamental questions in cluster science─how do the structure and properties evolve from clusters to crystals? Using density functional theory (DFT), we focus our study on the evolution of structure and magnetism in iron-chloride systems, from clusters to monolayers. The choice of this system is motivated by the recent experimental confirmation of one of the author’s earlier theoretical prediction that the FeCl 2 cluster is magnetic with a spin magnetic moment of 4 μ B localized at the Fe site, while its dimer, Fe 2 Cl 4 , is antiferromagnetic. Similarly, FeCl 3 cluster is magnetic with a total spin magnetic moment of 5 μ B , with 4 μ B localized at the Fe site and 1 μ B distributed over the Cl sites. The dimer clusters Fe 2 Cl 4 and Fe 2 Cl 6 have an antiferromagnetic ground state, and upon Li-functionalization, both can be magnetically transformed from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic states. In contrast, FeCl 2 and FeCl 3 monolayers exhibit different magnetic ground states in their periodic forms: FeCl 2 is ferromagnetic (FM), but in FeCl 3 , the antiferromagnetic (AFM) and FM states are energetically nearly degenerate. Such a difference arises due to the different chemical coordination of the Fe atoms with the Cl atoms, caused by their different oxidation states, which is +2 in FeCl 2 and +3 in FeCl 3 , respectively. Interestingly, Li-functionalization allows both FeCl 3 and FeCl 2 monolayers to be ferromagnetic. Our study highlights that several, but not all, electronic and magnetic characteristics of isolated clusters are preserved in the extended periodic structures. This systematic investigation of iron-halide clusters is expected to inspire further experimental and theoretical exploration into the magnetism of other transition metal halides.

cluster chemistry↗

A rigorous non-empirical theoretical analysis of the 2p XPS of NiO: Is it necessary to invoke nonlocal screening?

The role of ligand field effects and many-body effects arising from angular momentum coupling and shake effects for the XPS of NiO, as a representative transition metal oxide, have been investigated using rigorous, non-empirical wave functions for single site cluster models. Here it is shown that important features of the XPS arise from proper treatment of angular momentum coupling and it is unnecessary to invoke non-local screening to explain the experimental XPS. Contrary to the usual understanding, it is shown that inclusion of shake excitations in the many body wavefunctions is responsible for the high BE satellites that are observed. The contribution of covalent mixing of metal and ligand orbitals in the closed shells to screening of core-holes is demonstrated.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Impact of Transition Metal Doping on the Structural and Optical Properties of Halide Perovskites

Metal ion doping into halide perovskite materials is a promising approach to enhance long-term film stability and improve solar cell performance. Moreover, the idea of doping metals into halide perovskites is also driven by applications in heterogeneous catalysis. Here, we investigate the incorporation of the transition metals Pt and Pd into mixed-halide perovskite materials. We find that Pt aggregates in large clusters in iodine- and bromine-rich perovskite film compositions, whereas Pd incorporation depends on the underlying bromine to iodine ratio. Furthermore, by using optical and structural characterization methods, we observe that phase segregation in the perovskite layer is suppressed upon doping of either of these metals into the material. This approach further shows the potential to obtain catalytically active halide perovskite films in which the perovskite can serve as a host matrix.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Determination of Sodium Abundance Ratio from Low-resolution Stellar Spectra and Its Applications

We present a method to determine sodium abundance ratios ([Na/Fe]) using the Na i D doublet lines in low-resolution (R ~ 2000) stellar spectra. As stellar Na i D lines are blended with those produced by the interstellar medium, we developed a technique for removing the interstellar Na I D lines using the relationship between extinction, which is proportional to E(B – V), and the equivalent width of the interstellar Na i D absorption lines. When measuring [Na/Fe], we also considered corrections for nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects. Comparisons with data from high-resolution spectroscopic surveys suggest that the expected precision of [Na/Fe] from low-resolution spectra is better than 0.3 dex for stars with [Fe/H] > –3.0. We also present a simple application employing the estimated [Na/Fe] values for a large number of stellar spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). After classifying the SDSS stars into Na-normal, Na-high, and Na-extreme, we explore their relation to stars in Galactic globular clusters (GCs). We find that while the Na-high SDSS stars exhibit a similar metallicity distribution function (MDF) to that of the GCs, indicating that the majority of such stars may have originated from GC debris, the MDF of the Na-normal SDSS stars follows that of typical disk and halo stars. As there is a high fraction of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars among the Na-extreme stars, they may have a non-GC origin, perhaps due to mass-transfer events from evolved binary companions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Chemical complexity suppresses interstitial solute segregation to screw dislocation cores in the bcc NbTaTiHfZr high-entropy alloy

Recent reports suggest that interstitial solute additions to body-centered cubic (bcc) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) may enhance their mechanical properties. However, details of interactions between interstitial atoms and dislocations in these HEAs remain incompletely understood. Using first-principles calculations, we examine the energetics of C, N, and O interstitial solutes in elemental bcc metals and NbTaTiHfZr, focusing on their segregation in screw dislocation cores. We examine two types of core sites and show that the low-energy configuration and associated segregation energy depend on the transition metal group. In NbTaTiHfZr, we find that chemical complexity substantially suppresses interstitial segregation in dislocation cores, as fluctuations in bulk solute energies induce energetically favorable sites that disfavor segregation to core sites. Local chemical order further enhances this effect by promoting solute clustering away from dislocation cores. These findings reveal fundamental differences between the behavior of interstitial atoms in elemental metals and HEAs, with implications for high-temperature plasticity and dynamic strain aging.

Body-centered cubic transition metals↗

The X-ray spectrum of Abell 665

The X-ray spectrum of the Abell 665 cluster of galaxies has been determined by the Ginga satellite. The spectrum can be well fitted by an isothermal model with kT = 8.26(+0.95; -0.81) keV and metal abundance 0.49 +/- 0.16. Joint analysis with lower energy spectral data from the Einstein Observatory is used to constrain the temperature distribution in the cluster. For a particular form of the polytropic temperature model we find the best fit to be the isothermal case, and we set an upper limit on the polytropic index of 1.35 (99-percent confidence). The virial mass of the cluster has been determined from both the X-ray data and the galaxy velocity dispersion. The mass estimates from the optical and X-ray analyses are fully consistent with each other. Abell 665 is found to be 0.82(+0.41; -0.26) times as massive as Coma if the two clusters are assumed to have the same spatial distribution of virial mass.

Hughes, John P.↗

Multi–Step Nucleation of a Crystalline Silicate Framework via a Structurally Precise Prenucleation Cluster

Hierarchical nucleation pathways are ubiquitous in the synthesis of minerals and materials. In the case of zeolites and metal–organic frameworks, pre-organized multi-ion “secondary building units” (SBUs) have been proposed as fundamental building blocks. However, detailing the progress of multi-step reaction mechanisms from monomeric species to stable crystals and defining the structures of the SBUs remains an unmet challenge. Furthermore, combining in situ nuclear magnetic resonance, small-angle X-ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy, we show that crystallization of the framework silicate, cyclosilicate hydrate, occurs through an assembly of cubic octameric Q 3 8 polyanions formed through cross-linking and polymerization of smaller silicate monomers and other oligomers. These Q 3 8 are stabilized by hydrogen bonds with surrounding H 2 O and tetramethylammonium ions (TMA + ). When Q 3 8 levels reach a threshold of ≈32 % of the total silicate species, nucleation occurs. Further growth proceeds through the incorporation of [(TMA) x (Q 3 8 )•n H 2 O] (x–8) clathrate complexes into step edges on the crystals.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The gas-phase mass–metallicity relation of dwarf galaxies across large-scale environments using the CAVITY parent sample

Context. The gas-phase mass–metallicity relation (MZR) of galaxies shows a noticeable break in slope and an increased scatter at low stellar masses, suggesting that the physical processes governing chemical enrichment differ between dwarf and high-mass systems. Dwarf galaxies, in particular, are highly susceptible to both internal and environmental mechanisms due to their shallow potential wells. Aims. The primary aim of this work is to assess whether a single, universal MZR can describe dwarf galaxies across diverse large-scale environments, or whether systematic environmental variations emerge. To probe these, we examine the MZR and star formation rate (SFR) of dwarf galaxies with stellar masses in the range of 8.9 < log(M ★ /M ⊙ ) < 9.5. Methods. Using optical spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, we measured the fluxes of key emission lines via the pyPipe3D full spectral fitting pipeline. Aperture-corrected fluxes, along with multiple metallicity indicators and calibrations, were used to derive the MZR and the SFR for 353, 311, and 22 dwarf galaxies located in voids, filaments, and clusters, respectively. Results. We find a systematic variation in the MZR slope, steeper in voids (0.28 ± 0.03) and progressively flatter in clusters (0.17 ± 0.08), indicating a dependence of the MZR on the large-scale environment in this mass regime. When galaxies are separated by local density, no significant differences are observed between isolated and non-isolated dwarfs in voids. Isolated dwarf galaxies in filaments also exhibit properties similar to those of their counterparts in voids. However, non-isolated filament galaxies exhibit similar MZR slopes comparable to those of cluster dwarfs and flatter slopes than their counterparts in voids. Conclusions. We report both large- and local-scale environmental dependencies in the gas-phase metallicity and in the slope of the MZR for dwarf galaxies. Consistent with the general consensus on the pre-processing of galaxies in filaments, our results indicate that the influence of the local environment becomes increasingly significant within the filamentary regions of the cosmic web, affecting the chemical enrichment and star formation activity of low-mass systems. These findings further suggest that a portion of the scatter commonly observed in the MZR of dwarf galaxies arises from environmental effects.

Bidaran, Bahar [Dpto. de Física Teórica y del Cosm↗

A chiral alkali metal capped Ni 4 cubane complex: Synthesis, structure, magnetic and catalytic bromination studies

A new chiral NaO 2 Ni 4 O 2 N 2 cluster has been developed with a distorted capped cubane-type structure. The structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The tetradentate Schiff-base ligand was synthesized by the condensation of o-vanillin and $\textit{D}$-(-)–threo-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol. X-ray structure reveals that the complex possesses a Ni 4 cubane cluster where sodium ion is anchored on the face of the cubane structure. Continuous shape measurement studies revealed that all the Ni centres are in distorted octahedral geometry and sodium ion adopts the spherical square pyramidal geometry. Further structural exploration reveals that the complex shows local distortions of the coordination geometries at each metal site, and these distortions govern the magnetic anisotropy associated with each Ni II ion. For the present case, an elongation ($d_{str}$ > 0) of the octahedral coordination sphere results in a local easy-plane anisotropy, with a positive $D_{Ni(II)}$ parameter. Temperature dependant magnetization measurements showed a predominant ferromagnetic interaction amongst the four Ni centres. This complex is also catalytically active towards bromination of aromatic phenolic compounds. Initial catalytic activity was verified with the conversion of phenol red to bromophenol blue. Different phenolic substances show good conversion to their corresponding bromo derivatives. The complex showed good catalytic activity towards bromination of aromatic phenolic compounds, offering up to 99% conversion with 100% selectively to their corresponding bromo derivatives.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Prediction of the Al-rich part of the Al-Cu phase diagram using cluster expansion and statistical mechanics

In this work, the thermodynamic properties of α-Al and other phases (GP zones, θ&#x27;&#x27;, θ&#x27; and θ) in the Al-rich part of the Al-Cu system have been obtained by means of the cluster expansion formalism in combination with statistical mechanics. This information was used to build the Al-rich part of the Al-Cu phase-diagram taking into account vibrational entropic contributions for θ&#x27;, as those of the other phases were negligible. The simulation predictions of the phase boundaries between α-Al and either θ&#x27;&#x27;, θ&#x27; or θ phases as a function of temperature are in good agreement with experimental data and extend the phase boundaries to a wider temperature range. The DFT calculations reveal the presence of a number of metastable Guinier-Preston-zone type configurations that may coexist with α-Al and θ&#x27;&#x27; at low temperatures. They also demonstrate that θ&#x27; is the stable phase below 550K but it is replaced by θ above this temperature due to the vibrational entropic contribution to the Gibbs energy of θ&#x27;. This work shows how the combination of cluster expansion and statistical mechanics can be used to expand our knowledge of the phase diagram of metallic alloys and to provide Gibbs free energies of different phases that can be used as input in mesoscale simulations of precipitation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Diffusion of alloying and fission atoms in α-U investigated by first-principles calculation

Stability and diffusion of small defect clusters containing alloying or fission atoms (“F” is used to represent both atoms) in an α-uranium (U) crystal are investigated using first-principles calculations. Here, results indicate that different stable defect structures are observed for an interstitial defect and a cluster (F n V m ) containing different alloying or fission atoms and vacancies. An interstitial defect is found to be most stable either at the center of a pyramid pentahedron or in a 〈010〉 mixed dumbbell configuration and the latter one is reported for the first time. Formation energy of a small F n V m cluster depends on the distribution of vacancies. Based on these stable defects, new migration energies and paths have been explored in this work. Anisotropic migration of an interstitial defect by jumping between nearest centers of two pyramid pentahedrons or jumping between two mixed U-Zr dumbbells has been suggested. Furthermore, a new migration-rotation mechanism has been explored for the first time for a FV 2 cluster, resulting in a 3D diffusion. Finally, the effect of substitutional Pu atoms on the migration of a FV 2 cluster suggests that optimizing the Pu concentration may prohibit the diffusion of some alloying or fission atoms, increasing the safe performance of metallic fuels.

3D diffusion↗

Short- and medium-range orders in Al90Tb10 glass and their relation to the structures of competing crystalline phases

Molecular dynamics simulations using an interatomic potential developed by artificial neural network deep machine learning are performed to study the local structural order in Al90Tb10 metallic glass. We show that more than 80% of the Tb-centered clusters in Al90Tb10 glass have short-range order (SRO) with their 17 first coordination shell atoms stacked in a ‘3661’ or ‘15551’ sequence. Medium-range order (MRO) in Bergman-type packing extended out to the second and third coordination shells is also clearly observed. Analysis of the network formed by the ‘3661’ and ‘15551’ clusters show that ~82% of such SRO units share their faces or vertexes, while only ~6% of neighboring SRO pairs are interpenetrating. Such a network topology is consistent with the Bergman-type MRO around the Tb-centers. Moreover, crystal structure searches using genetic algorithm and the neural network interatomic potential reveal several low-energy metastable crystalline structures in the composition range close to Al 90 Tb 10 . Some of these crystalline structures have the ‘3661’ SRO while others have the ‘15551’ SRO. While the crystalline structures with the ‘3661’ SRO also exhibit the MRO very similar to that observed in the glass, the ones with the ‘15551’ SRO have very different atomic packing in the second and third shells around the Tb centers from that of the Bergman-type MRO observed in the glassy phase.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Development and application of ReaxFF methodology for understanding the chemical dynamics of metal carbonates in aqueous solutions

A new ReaxFF reactive force field has been developed for metal carbonate systems including Na + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ cations and the CO 3 2– anion. This force field is fully transferable with previous ReaxFF water and water/electrolyte descriptions. The Me–O–C (Me = metal) three-body valence angle parameters and Me–C non-reactive parameters of the force field have been optimized against quantum mechanical calculations including equations of state, heats of formation, heats of reaction, angle distortions and vibrational frequencies. The new metal carbonate force field has been validated using molecular dynamics simulations to study the solvation and reactivity of metal and carbonate ions in water at 300 K and 700 K. The coordination radius and self-diffusion coefficient show good consistency with existing experimental and simulation results. The angular distribution analysis explains the structural preference of carbonate ions to form carbonates and bicarbonates, where Na + predominantly forms carbonates due to weaker angular strain, while Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ prefer to form bicarbonate monodentate in nature. Residence time distribution analyses on different systems reveal the role of ions in accelerating and decelerating the dynamics of water and carbonate ions under different thermodynamic conditions. The formation and dissolution of bicarbonates and carbonates in solution were explored on the basis of the protonation capability in different systems. Here, the nucleation phenomenon of metal carbonates at ambient and supercritical conditions is explained from the perspective of cluster formation over time: Ca 2+ ions can form prenucleation clusters at ambient temperature but show saturation with increasing temperature, whereas Na + and Mg 2+ ions show a rapid increase in cluster size and amount upon increasing time and temperature.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Low-resolution Mg II h and k observations of solar type stars

Observations with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) have made possible a comparison between chromospheric radiative loss rates in the Mg II h and k lines and the Ca II H and K lines. Observations made by Stencel et al. (1980) confirm the findings of Linsky et al. (1979) that the chromospheric radiative loss rates in h and k and H and K are about equal for supergiants, but the h and k loss rate is greater than the H and K loss rate in giants. It is pointed out that this may result from physical differences between the lower chromospheres of giants and supergiants. The present investigation has the objective to explore the possibility of determining relative chromospheric radiative loss rates in F and G dwarf stars with low-resolution IUE spectra. It is found that this is possible. Cluster stars were selected to provide two temperature sequences at two slightly different metal abundances.

Barry, D. C.↗

Low conductivity and sintering-resistant thermal barrier coatings

A thermal barrier coating composition comprising a base oxide, a primary stabilizer oxide, and at least one dopant oxide is disclosed. Preferably, a pair of group A and group B defect cluster-promoting oxides is used in conjunction with the base and primary stabilizer oxides. The new thermal barrier coating is found to have significantly lower thermal conductivity and better sintering resistance. The base oxide is selected from the group consisting of zirconia and hafnia and combinations thereof. The primary stabilizing oxide is selected from the group consisting of yttria, dysprosia, erbia and combinations thereof. The dopant or group A and group B cluster-promoting oxide dopants are selected from the group consisting of rare earth metal oxides, transitional metal oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides and combinations thereof. The dopant or dopants preferably have ionic radii different from those of the primary stabilizer and/or the base oxides.

Zhu, Dongming↗