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At least 1,351 records · Page 75

Pressure-induced modifications of the magnetic order in the spin-chain compound C a 3 C o 2 O 6

The structural and magnetic properties of the Ca 3 Co 2 O 6 spin-chain compound have been studied by means of neutron and x-ray powder diffraction at pressures up to 6.8 and 32 GPa, respectively. A suppression of the initial spin-density wave state (T N = 25 K) and stabilization of the collinear commensurate antiferromagnetic (AFM) state at high pressures (T NC = 26 K at P = 2.1 GPa) were observed. The pressure behavior of the competing intra- and interchain magnetic interactions was analyzed on the basis of obtained structural data and their role in the formation of the magnetic phase diagram is discussed. Here, the pressure behavior of the Néel temperature of the commensurate AFM phase was evaluated within the mean field theory approach and a good agreement with the experimental value dT NC /dP = 0.65 K/GPa was obtained.

1-dimensional spin chains↗

Robust block magnetism in the spin ladder compound BaFe 2 Se 3 under hydrostatic pressure

The majority of the iron-based superconductors (FeSCs) exhibit a two-dimensional square lattice structure. Recent reports of pressure-induced superconductivity in the spin-ladder system, BaFe 2 X 3 (X=S, Se), introduce a quasi-one-dimensional prototype and an insulating parent compound to the FeSCs. In this work, we report x-ray, neutron diffraction, and muon spin relaxation experiments on BaFe 2 Se 3 under hydrostatic pressure to investigate its magnetic and structural properties across the pressure-temperature phase diagram. A structural phase transition was found at a pressure of 3.7(3) GPa. Neutron diffraction measurements at 6.8(3) GPa and 120 K show that the block magnetism persists even at these high pressures. A steady increase and then fast drop of the magnetic transition temperature T N and greatly reduced moment above the pressure P s indicate potentially rich and competing phases close to the superconducting phase in this ladder system.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Environmental impact assessment follow-up for projects in China: Institution and practice

Highlights: • As an essential part of the environmental management system required by the EIA Law, the EIA follow-up was poorly executed. • The effectiveness of the EIA follow-up could be greatly elevated by enhancing monitoring and public participation. • Environmental information disclosure plays the essential role in promoting the EIA follow-up. - Abstract: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the important means of environmental management worldwide, and the EIA follow-up is one of the crucial measures to ensure the concrete implementation of the EIA. In this research, systematic reviews of EIA follow-up for projects in China were conducted to comprehensively appraise the implementation of the EIA follow-up and to identify the potential to improve the practice of an EIA follow-up. First, the EIA follow-up reports were collected through various sources. In total, there were 74 EIA follow-up reports that were identified and acquired. Second, a reviewing framework, containing 16 different indicators, was developed to systematically document and classify these EIA follow-up reports. Third, these EIA follow-up reports were grouped into several categories according to various indicators and then were analyzed to recognize their key features, including sources of data, analytic tools adopted, spatial-temporal distribution, industrial distribution, triggering causes, content, structure and effectiveness. The results showed that there were considerable disparities in the quality and the rigor of EIA follow-ups conducted. These features, along with some existing deficiencies of EIA follow-up, such as the lack of corresponding monitoring and management, can greatly limit the overall application and effectiveness of EIA follow-up in China. However, a number of good practices were identified. For example, a list of projects subject to mandatory EIA follow-up was promulgated, and the conditions for projects subject to EIA follow-up were explicitly stipulated in regulations. These good practices would be very helpful for the international EIA community to advance the practice of EIA follow-up, to reduce the disparities in the quality and the rigor of EIA follow-up, to improve the overall effectiveness of EIA follow-up and to promote the future implementation and development of EIA follow-up.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Investigations of Fluid-Structure-Coupling and Turbulence Model Effects on the DLR Results of the Fifth AIAA CFD Drag Prediction Workshop

The accurate calculation of aerodynamic forces and moments is of significant importance during the design phase of an aircraft. Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) based Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been strongly developed over the last two decades regarding robustness, efficiency, and capabilities for aerodynamically complex configurations. Incremental aerodynamic coefficients of different designs can be calculated with an acceptable reliability at the cruise design point of transonic aircraft for non-separated flows. But regarding absolute values as well as increments at off-design significant challenges still exist to compute aerodynamic data and the underlying flow physics with the accuracy required. In addition to drag, pitching moments are difficult to predict because small deviations of the pressure distributions, e.g. due to neglecting wing bending and twisting caused by the aerodynamic loads can result in large discrepancies compared to experimental data. Flow separations that start to develop at off-design conditions, e.g. in corner-flows, at trailing edges, or shock induced, can have a strong impact on the predictions of aerodynamic coefficients too. Based on these challenges faced by the CFD community a working group of the AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Technical Committee initiated in 2001 the CFD Drag Prediction Workshop (DPW) series resulting in five international workshops. The results of the participants and the committee are summarized in more than 120 papers. The latest, fifth workshop took place in June 2012 in conjunction with the 30th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference. The results in this paper will evaluate the influence of static aeroelastic wing deformations onto pressure distributions and overall aerodynamic coefficients based on the NASA finite element structural model and the common grids.

Keye, Stefan↗

Phase Discovery and Selected Synthesis of Subvalent Niobium Tellurides Using a Polytelluride Flux Strategy

Transition metal subchalcogenides involve electron-rich metals and can facilitate an in-depth understanding of the relationships among quantum properties such as superconductivity, charge density wave, and topological band structures. However, effective experimental routes toward synthesizing transition metal subchalcogenides are still lacking, hindering the development of new quantum materials. Herein, we propose a eutectic polytelluride flux strategy as an excellent solution to address phase discovery and crystal growth in transition metal subtelluride systems. We report new phases easily and selectively synthesized using a eutectic “K 3 Te 4 ” polytelluride flux upon adjusting the ratio of Nb metal to flux in the starting materials (K/Nb/Te = 3:x:4). Using a high Nb content in the solvent (x = 2 and 1), crystals of KNb 3 Te 3 O 0.38 and K 0.9 Nb 3 Te 4 are obtained. Both subtellurides exhibit diverse Nb clusters, including face-sharing and edge-sharing Nb 6 octahedral columns and zig-zag Nb chains. Reducing the Nb content to x = 0.33 leads to the formation of a layered compound, K 1.06 NbTe 2 . This compound comprises a NbTe 6 trigonal prism with K intercalated between the layers. Single crystals of known binary Nb tellurides can also be grown using another eutectic flux “KTe 3 . 2 ”, and the obtained NbTe 2 exhibits a new polymorphism with extra trimerization along the b-axis in the Nb–Nb bonded double zig-zag cluster. Finally, precise control over the structural dimensionality and oxidation state, combined with the facile crystal growth process, makes our synthetic strategy an efficient route to explore quantum materials in transition metal subchalcogenides.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Optimized in situ crystal growth and disordered quasi-one-dimensional magnetism in Li 2 Mn 2 ( MoO 4 ) 3

We present that the quasi-one-dimensional structure of Li 2 Mn 2 ( MoO 4 ) 3 consists of three mutually distinct chains of Li 1 - x Mn x -centered polyhedra in which Mn ostensibly adopts a J = 5 / 2 Mn 2 + configuration. In situ x-ray scattering experiments carried out as crystallites emerge from a molten oxide solution facilitate the synthesis of large single crystals. Ex situ x-ray diffraction finds no evidence of long-range Li/Mn occupancy ordering, suggesting that the structure is effectively composed of finite chains of Mn moments of statistically varying lengths. UV/visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements establish a wide 3.43(12)-eV direct charge gap consistent with the local polyhedral coordination of the nominally Mn 2 + species. The temperature T dependence of the DC magnetic susceptibility χ reveals a fluctuating moment of only 2.74 μ B ± 0.01 μ B /Mn, dramatically reduced from the 5.9 μ B /Mn expected for Mn 2 + . Meanwhile, the Weiss temperature Θ W = - 89 ± 1 K reveals antiferromagnetic fluctuations that are stymied from reaching an ordered state apparently by the chemical disorder intrinsic to the polyhedral chains. Measurements of magnetization vs field H at T ≤ 10 K are far from saturation even at H = 5 T and are strongly non-Brillouin-like, instead scaling as H / T 0.24 ( 3 ) and suggesting the presence of quantum fluctuations associated with an eventual quasi-one-dimensional, disordered magnetic phase.

1-dimensional systems↗

Strain dependent electronic and optical responses of penta-BCN monolayer

We report here, structural, dynamic, and mechanical stability in pentagonal boron carbon nitride (p-BCN) monolayer, a new member of direct bandgap two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor. The identified visible range bandgap with excellent mechanical strength allows it to be a promising candidate material in optoelectronics, nanomechanics, and optomechanical sensors. By employing density functional theory (DFT), we reveal a unique geometrical reconstruction with rigidity in B–N and C–N bond lengths with applied strain. These quasi-sp 3 hybridized short and strong covalent bonding and unique geometry support the monolayer to possess extraordinary mechanical response. The desired bandgap is manipulated by loading the biaxial strain. Most importantly, our predictions on p-BCN show excellent optical response such as good static dielectric constant and refractive index, strong optical absorption (up to 1.08 x 10 5 cm -1 in VR and 7.01 x 10 cm -1 in UV) with small energy loss and reflectance both appearing in visible and ultraviolet regions (UV). The desired optical response along with the blue and red shift is demonstrated by tailoring with tensile and compressive strain. The predicted strong optical anisotropy provides it’s application in polarized photodetection.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The effects of dipole tilt on magnetotail structure and dynamics

A three-dimensional time-dependent global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere has been used to study the effects of dipole tilt on the structure and dynamics of the magnetotail. The location of the tail neutral sheet shifts in the north-south direction following changes in the dipole tilt. When the northern edge of the geomagnetic dipole is tilted toward the sun (positive tilt), it is above the geocentric solar magnetosphere (GSM) equator, while for negative tilt, it is below. The neutral sheet forms an arc across the tail in the y-z plane for nonzero tilt. For positive tilt, the neutral sheet rises above the GSM equatorial plane near the noon-midnight meridian and returns to the equator near the magnetopause. The position and shape of the neutral sheet result from the requirement that the earthward magnetic flux equals the tailward flux and can be well explained by a simple analytical model.

Walker, Raymond J.↗

Electron beam irradiation effects on bulk metals: a comparative study of polycrystalline versus single-crystalline structures

This study investigates the effects of electron beam (e-beam) irradiation on the mechanical and structural properties of eight bulk metallic samples, comprising both polycrystalline (PC) and single-crystalline (SC) forms of Ni, Cr, V, and Ti. These metals were evaluated as potential candidates for beam exit windows in high-power (MW-class) particle accelerators. The primary objective is to identify metals capable of withstanding the conditions of high-power/MW-class e-beam accelerators and serve effectively as exit windows. Selection criteria were based on each metal’s intrinsic properties, power dissipation capability, and irradiation-induced changes in mechanical behavior, including hardness, elastic modulus, and defect density. Comprehensive characterization was conducted using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and nanoindentation, performed both before and after exposure to a ~¿66 kGy dose from a 10 MeV e-beam accelerator. Results revealed that e-beam irradiation induced hardening in PC Ni, whereas PC Ti, commonly used in beam exit windows, exhibited softening. The observed softening in PC Ti is attributed to grain coarsening, elongation, and the formation of twins and twin boundaries, in contrast to the smaller, compressed grains in the pristine (Pr) PC Ti samples, consistent with the Hall–Petch relationship. The stresses due to twinning are small and insignificant in influencing the overall hardening of the PC Ti irradiated sample when compared to the stresses due to the dislocation density. Conversely, SC Ti samples exhibited irradiation-induced hardening. The SC Ti irradiated samples developed additional irradiation-induced modifications in crystallographic texture of (100), (101), (110), (200), (112), (004), and (211) as evidenced from the XRD results, which could probably explain the hardening effect that is caused by irradiation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Natural large-scale structures in the axisymmetric mixing layer

The present study is concerned with the optimization of conditional sampling techniques for eduction of naturally occurring large-scale structures in an axisymmetric mixing layer, and a comparison of the natural structure with that induced by means of controlled excitation. Questions regarding the sensitivity of the educed structure to the excitation amplitude are also explored. Aspects regarding the eduction with the high-speed-side reference signal are considered, taking into account structure identification, the smearing effect and a comparison with the structure under excitation, the effects of the threshold level, and the effect of a trigger-level window. Attention is given to structure characteristics and their dependence on Reynolds number and initial condition.

Zaman, K. B. M. Q.↗

Property optimization for strontium-rich lanthanum chromium ferrite cathodes: A demonstration of lanthanide replacement effect

Highlights: • The structure of Ln{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}Fe{sub 0.7}Cr{sub 0.3}O{sub 3-δ} (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) was investigated. • The electrical conducting, thermal expansion and catalytic properties were inspected. • The properties changes with the size of the lanthanide cations were diagnosed. • Modulating the A-site dimension was effective for optimizing the overall properties. • Sm{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}Fe{sub 0.7}Cr{sub 0.3}O{sub 3-δ} was identified to be a promising IT-SOFC cathode material. - Abstract: The structure, electrical conducting, thermal expansion and electrocatalytic properties of Ln{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}Fe{sub 0.7}Cr{sub 0.3}O{sub 3-δ} (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) perovskites were investigated to evaluate their potential for cathodes of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). Reducing the size of the lanthanide cations enhanced the deformation of the perovskite structures and decreased the dimension of the primitive unit cells. Meanwhile, the oxygen nonstoichiometry (δ) values at elevated temperatures slightly increased. The electrical conductivity degraded with smaller lanthanide cation sizes, while the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) tended to decrease. These property changes were diagnosed with respect to the corresponding structural evolutions. Sm{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}Fe{sub 0.7}Cr{sub 0.3}O{sub 3-δ} was identified to be the optimal composition after an overall property assessment. This composition exhibited an average TEC (∼14 × 10{sup −6} K{sup −1} between 40 and 1000 °C) compatible with IT-SOFC electrolytes, eligible electrical conductivity and good electrocatalytic activity. The good overall properties of Sm{sub 0.3}Sr{sub 0.7}Fe{sub 0.7}Cr{sub 0.3}O{sub 3-δ} demonstrate that this composition is a promising cathode material for IT-SOFCs.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The effect of thread-like monomer structure on the synthesis of poly[ n ]catenanes from metallosupramolecular polymers

The main-chain poly[n]catenane consists of a series of interlocked rings that resemble a macroscopic chain-link structure. Recently, the synthesis of such intriguing polymers was reported via a metallosupramolecular polymer (MSP) template that consists of alternating units of macrocyclic and linear thread-like monomers. Ring closure of the thread components has been shown to yield a mixture of cyclic, linear, and branched poly[n]catenanes. Reported herein are studies aimed at accessing new poly[n]catenanes via this approach and exploring the effect the thread-like monomer structure has on the poly[n]catenane synthesis. Specifically, the effect of the size of the aromatic linker and alkenyl chains of the thread-like monomer is investigated. Three new poly[n]catenanes (with different ring sizes) were prepared using the MSP approach and the results show that tailoring the structure of the thread-like monomer can allow the selective synthesis of branched poly[n]catenanes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of Stoichiometry on the Structure and Polarization of BaTiO 3

Barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ) is a material of interest for photonic device applications due to its strong optical non-linearity. However, BaTiO 3 -based devices have not found widespread adoption, in part due to the challenges associated with synthesizing high quality thin-films. Here, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) imaging is used to investigate the atomic structure of both on- and off-stoichiometric BaTiO 3 synthesized by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Here, this investigation reveals an asymmetry in the way the BaTiO 3 atomic lattice accommodates off-stoichiometry growth and unveils features beyond what is expected from diffraction or surface characterization techniques. Excess titanium incorporates into the BaTiO 3 lattice to form pervasive defects despite titanium-rich films having a low surface roughness and high-quality appearance in diffraction. Excess barium forms a rough, water-soluble surface layer but does not significantly impact the quality of the BaTiO 3 lattice. STEM is used to map titanium atom displacement in real-space. The average displacement distance is 30–60 pm in the strained thin-films, higher than the <20 pm displacement in bulk BaTiO 3 . Additionally, the titanium atom displacement direction deviates from the c-axis of the unit cell, which may have implications for the material's electro-optic tensor and thus for electro-optic device design.

Cavanagh, Ashley E. [Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA ↗

Grazing-Incidence Texture Tomography and Diffuse Reflectivity Tomography of an Organic Semiconductor Device Array

The use of grazing-incidence scattering methods for the characterization of 2D patterned organic thin films is limited due to the elongated 1D footprint of the X-ray beam on the sample. However, this characteristic feature can be turned into an advantage, when combined with tomographic reconstruction. In this pilot study we show, how the use of a chosen texture reflection and a diffuse reflectivity signal can each provide 2D images of the deposits, simultaneously revealing the organic film's crystal orientation and the location of the metal electrodes in a field-effect transistor structure from a single sequence of diffraction images.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Reductive Cleavage Method for Quantitation of Monolignols and Low‐Abundance Monolignol Conjugates

Abstract As interest in biomass utilization has grown, the manipulation of lignin biosynthesis has received significant attention, such that recent work has demanded more robust lignin analytical methods. As the derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) method is particularly effective for structurally characterizing natively acylated lignins, we used an array of synthetic β‐ether γ‐acylated model compounds to determine theoretical yields for all monolignol conjugates currently known to exist in lignin, and we synthesized a new set of deuterated analogs as internal standards for quantification using GC–MS/MS. Yields of the saturated ester conjugates ranged from 40 to 90 %, and NMR analysis revealed the presence of residual unsaturated conjugates in yields of 20 to 35 %. In contrast to traditional selected‐ion‐monitoring, we demonstrated the superior sensitivity and accuracy of multiple‐reaction‐monitoring detection methods, and further highlighted the inadequacy of traditional standards relative to isotopically labeled analogs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Theoretical Studies on Magnetic Structures, Hysteresis Loops and Size Effects of a Pair of Frustrated Double-Walled Nanotubes

We propose a theoretical quantum model and derive a set of analytic formulas to study the physical properties of a pair of double-walled magnetic nanotubes. The Heisenberg exchange parameters between the two walls of the nanotubes are assumed to differ only in sign. Thus, in the absence of external magnetic field, our calculated macroscopic properties of this pair of nanotubes are almost precisely identical, exhibiting fascinating duality of the nanosystems and demonstrating the correctness of our theoretical model. The two spin systems are all frustrated, so that sudden changes in the macroscopic properties are observed around T{sub M2} that is well below the transition temperature T{sub M1}. However, only the inner shell consisting of smaller A-type spins has been obviously affected. In the temperature range T{sub M2} < T < T{sub M1}, this shell becomes semi-antiferromagnetic and its magnetization is considerably suppressed, whereas as temperature falls below T{sub M2} the shell gradually restores its ferromagnetic nature. The longitudinal hysteresis behavior of such a double-waled nanotube is ferromagnetic-like below T{sub M2}, but antiferromagnetic-like in the temperature interval T{sub M2} < T < T{sub M1}. Moreover, we find that the diameter of the nanotube has seemly no effects on its physical properties, whereas its length does affects the two temperatures slightly, and also its spin configuration at very low temperatures if the tube is sufficiently long. More importantly, the theoretical results presented in this paper can be precisely reproduced with the quantum computational method we develop in recent years, justifying the validity of the numerical approach once again.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structural Confinement Assisted a Robust Superparamagnetic State in MgNi{sub 2}O{sub 3} and MgNi{sub 1.5}Co{sub 0.5}O{sub 3} Nanoparticles at Room Temperature

In this study, ideal spherical-shaped cubic metal oxide nanoparticles of < 30 nm in size were prepared by a citric acid sol-gel combustion method. The detailed structural analysis and microscopic techniques clearly support the existing grade of structural confinement effect in MgNi{sub 2}O{sub 3} and MgNi{sub 1.5}Co{sub 0.5}O{sub 3}. Temperature-dependent magnetisation studies at various applied fields revealed a moderate change of T{sub B} near room temperature by distinct particle size. Magnetic crystalline anisotropy and energy barrier density theoretical model results suggested the importance of innermost magnetic particle stability-aided spin orientation with a fascinating magnetic moment in superparamagnetic region exerted by Ni and Co remarkably postured as a significant part of these nanoparticles.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗