A strategy to prepare ultrafine dispersed Fe2O3 nanoparticles

In this article, a novel strategy was applied to prepare dispersed ultrafine alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The initial Fe(OH)(3) nanoparticles were synthesized by the reaction of NaOH and FeCl3 in alcohol. With the new-formed nanoparticles as nuclei, NaCl crystallized and encapsulated the particles into solid cages. As a result, the nanoparticles were prevented from aggregating and growing. The composite of Fe(OH)(3) and NaCl was calcined and then washed by water to obtain the pure alpha-Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

Fabrication and characterization of uniform Fe3O4 octahedral micro-crystals

Uniform Fe3O4 octahedral microcrystals with perfect appearance have been successfully synthesized by a Triton X100-assisted polyol process. During the polyols process for the preparation of Fe3O4 octahedra. the introduction of Triton X100 decreases significantly the needed concentration of NaOH. The results show that Fe3O4 octahedra are composed of eight triangular sheets, which are equilateral triangles. The edge size of Fe3O4 octahedron is about 4 mu m. The magnetic properties of Fe3O4 octahedral particles were evaluated on a SQUID magnetometer at room temperature.

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a New 3D Copper B-Paradodecatungstate Compound: [Na-2(H2O)(8)][Na-8(H2O)(20)][Cu(en)(2)][W12O42] center dot 3H(2)O

A new polyoxotungstate complex [Na-2(H2O)(8)][Na-8(H2O)(20)][Cu(en)(2)][W12O42] center dot 3 H2O (1) (en = ethylenediamine) has been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and TG analysis, together with a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. In compound 1, the Cu(en)(2)(2+) complex cation links the [W12O42](12-) anions to form a I D chain, and the ID chains are further interconnected with Na-8(H2O)(20)(8+) and Na-2(H2O)(8)(2+) cations to construct a new 3D framework.

Two Mn(2)(II)Ln(4)(III) (Ln = Gd, Eu) hexanuclear compounds of p-tert-butylsulfinylcalix[4]arene

Two 3d-4f heterometallic compounds of p-tert-butylsulfinylcalix[4] arene were synthesized by the solvothermal method and characterized by some hinged double-dumbbell-like subunits in which two perpendicular dumbbell entities were constructed by an in-between isosceles triangle Mn(II)Ln(2)(III), and two tail-to-tail calixarene molecules, and hinged by the lanthanide-sulfinyl group bonding. The magnetic properties of the title compounds were examined.

Constructing mixed-metal coordination polymers from copper(II)-pyridinedicarboxylate metalloligands

In the mixed-metal complex catena-poly[bis[diaquasilver(I)] [bis[aquacopper(II)]-mu(3)-pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato-2': 1: 1'kappa N-5,O-2: O-5: O-5, O-5'-mu-pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato-2: 1 kappa(4) N, O-2: O-5, O-5'-disilver(I)-mu(3)-pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato-1: 1': 2 '' kappa(5) O-5, O-5': O-5: N, O-2-mu pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylato-1': 20 ''kappa(4) O-5, O-5': N, O-2] hexahydrate], {[Ag(H2O)(2)][AgCu(C7H3NO4)(2)(H2O)] center dot 3H(2)O}(n), a square-pyramidal Cu-II center is coordinated by two N atoms and two O atoms from two pyridine-2,5-dicarboxylate (2,5-pydc) ligands and a water molecule, forming a [Cu(2,5-pydc)(2)-( H2O)](2-) metalloligand. One Ag I center is coordinated by five O atoms from three 2,5-pydc ligands and, as a result, the [Cu(2,5-pydc)(2)(H2O)](2-) metalloligands act as linkers in a unique mu(3)-mode connecting Ag-I centers into a one-dimensional anionic double chain along the [101] direction.

Near compensated half-metal in Sr2NiOsO6

The electronic and magnetic properties of tetragonal double perovskite Sr2NiOsO6 were studied by use of the density functional theory and including the spin-orbit coupling. Compensated half-metal is found if the spin-orbit coupling is not considered. Spin-orbit coupling induces orbital moments on both Ni and Os, making Sr2NiOsO6 a near compensated half-metal. Ferromagnetic phase is slightly favored over antiferromagnetic phase (by 4 meV). The small energy difference also suggests that both phases are competitive for the ground state. At ferromagnetic phase, the calculated net magnetic moment is 3.53 mu(B), in good agreement with experimental value of 3.44 mu(B). At antiferromagnetic phase, the net magnetic moment is 0.69 mu(B), in which the contribution from the net spin moment is 0.09 mu(B).

Templated assembly of mu(5)-CO32- decanuclear praseodymium and neodymium clusters through spontaneous fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Reactions of Ln(III) acetate (Ln = Pr and Nd) and a polydentate Schiff-base in a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile resulted in the unprecedented assembly of novel Ln(10) aggregates containing two Ln(5) pentagons templated by mu(5)-CO32-, introduced via spontaneous fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Magnetic analysis using an expression including the ligand field effects and molecular field approximation indicates weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal ions. This synthetic approach may represent a promising new route toward the design of new lanthanide clusters and novel multifunctional materials.

Four New Lanthanide-Nitronyl Nitroxide (Ln(III)=Pr-III, Sm-III, Eu-III, Tm-III) Complexes and a Tb-III Complex Exhibiting Single-Molecule Magnet Behavior

Five new complexes based on rare-earth-radical [Ln(hfac)(3)(NIT-5-Br-3py)](2) (Ln=Pr (1), Sm (2), Eu (3), Tb (4), Tm (5); hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NIT-5-Br-3py = 2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-oxylimidazoline-1-oxide)-5-bromo-3-pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystal diffraction. The single-crystal structures show that these complexes have similar structures, in which a NIT-5-Br-3py molecule acts as a bridging ligand linking two Ln(III) ions through the oxygen atom of the N-O group and nitrogen atom from the pyridine ring to form a four-spin system. Both static and dynamic magnetic properties were measured for complex 4, which exhibits single-molecule magnetism behavior.

Two-Step Spin-Transition Iron(III) Compound with a Wide [High Spin-Low Spin] Plateau

A new iron(III) coordination compound exhibiting a two-step spin-transition behavior with a remarkably wide [HS-LS] plateau of about 45 K has been synthesized from a hydrazino Schiff-base ligand with an N,N,O donor set, namely 2-methoxy-6-(pyridine-2-ylhydrazonomethyl) phenol (Hmph). The single-crystal X-ray structure of the coordination compound {[Fe(mph)(2)](ClO4)(MeOH)(0.5)(H2O)(0.5)}(2) (1) determined at 150 K reveals the presence of two slightly different iron(III) centers in pseudo-octahedral environments generated by two deprotonated tridentate mph ligands. The presence of hydrogen bonding interactions, instigated by the well-designed ligand, may justify the occurrence of the abrupt transitions. 1 has been characterized by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements, EPR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fe-51 Mossbauer spectroscopy, which all confirm the occurrence of a two-step transition. In addition, the iron(III) species in the high-spin state has been trapped and characterized by rapid cooling EPR studies.

Charge disproportionation in CaCu3Fe4O12

First-principles calculations using the APW+lo method, as implemented in the WIEN2K code, have been used to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the perovskite CaCu3Fe4O12, including the high-temperature Im-3 and low-temperature Pn-3 phase. The high-temperature phase presents a homogeneous valence and an orbital degenerate half-metallic behavior, which is consistent with the previous theoretical result. Instead orbital ordering, charge ordering, or disproportionation on Fe sites occur in the low-temperature phase, leading to the insulating character. More importantly, the charge disproportionation is of 2d(5)L -> d(5)L(2) + d(5) type (where L denotes an oxygen hole or a ligand hole), and the origin for the phenomenon is discussed in detail.

A facile synthesis and characterization of monodisperse spherical pigment particles with a core/shell structnre

In this paper, a facile sol-gel process for producing monodisperse, spherical, and nonaggregated pigment particles with a core/shell structure is reported. Spherical silica particles (245 and 385 nm in diameter) and Cr2O3, alpha-Fe2O3, ZnCo2O4, CuFeCrO4, MgFe2O4, and CoAl2O4 pigments are selected as cores and shells, respectively. The obtained core/shell-structured pigment samples, denoted as SiO2@Cr2O3 (green), SiO2@alpha-Fe2O3 (red), SiO2@MgFe2O4 (brown), SiO2@ZnCo2O4 (dark green), SiO2@CoAl2O4 (blue), and SiO2@CuFeCrO4 (black), are well characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis diffuse reflection, as well as by investigating the magnetic properties. The results of XRD and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) demonstrate that the pigment shells crystallize well on the surface Of SiO2 Particles. The thickness of the pigment shell can be tuned by the number of coatings, to some extent. These pigment particles can be well dispersed in some solvents (such as glycol) to form relatively more stable suspensions than the commercial products.

Orbital ordering in Cs2AgF4 from first principles

First-principles calculations using the augmented plane wave plus local orbital method, as implemented in the WIEN2K code, have been used to investigate the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the layered perovskite Cs2AgF4. Our calculations indicate that an orthorhombic ground state for Cs2AgF4 is energetically favored over tetragonal. We also find that Cs2AgF4 should be a strong two-dimensional ferromagnet, with very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the layers, in agreement with the experiment. More importantly, an antiferrodistortive ordering of z(2)-x(2) and z(2)-y(2) orbitals is inferred from the density of states and from a spin density isosurface analysis.

Hydrothermal synthesis, structure characterization of a new mixed Mo/V metal-oxygen cluster compound: [Co(phen)(3)](2)[HPMo4V (Mo4V6IV)-V-VI M2O44]center dot 4H(2)O, (M=0.78Mo(V)+0.22V(IV))

A new polyoxometalate [Co(phen)(3)](2)[HPMo4V Mo-4(VI) V-6(IV) M2O44]center dot 4H(2)O (M = 0.78Mo(V)+ 0.22V(IV)) 1 was hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analyses, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, ESR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound is in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar with a = 12.0953(7) angstrom, b = 14.0182(6) angstrom, c = 14.6468(7) angstrom, V=2402.55(18) angstrom(3), alpha = 105.134(2), beta = 91.841(3), gamma = 91.401(2), Z = 1, and R-1 (wR(2)) = 0.0617 (0.1701). The compound was prepared from tetra-capped pseudo-Kepin with phosphorus-centered polyoxoanions [PMo8V6M2O44](5-) , [Co(phen)(3)](2+) cations and linked through hydrogen bonds and pi-pi stacking interaction into three-dimensional supramolecular framework. Astudy of the magnetic properties of 1 demonstrates that it exhibits antiferromagnetic coupling interactions.

High-dimensional assembly depending on polyoxoanion templates, metal ion coordination geometries, and a flexible bis(imidazole) ligand

By introducing the flexible 1,1'-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole) (bbi) ligand into the polyoxovanadate system, five novel polyoxoanion-templated architectures based on [As8V14O42](4-) and [V16O38Cl](6-) building blocks were obtained: [M(bbi)(2)](2)[As8V14O42(H2O)] [M = Co (1), Ni (2), and Zn (3)], [Cu(bbi)](4)[As8V14O42(H2O)] (4), and [Cu(bbi)](6)[V16O38Cl] (5). Compounds 1-3 are isostructural, and they exhibit a binodal (4,6)-connected 2D structure with Schlafli symbol (3(4)center dot 4(2))(3(4)center dot 4(4)center dot 5(4)center dot 6(3))(2), in which the polyoxoanion induces a closed four-membered circuit of M-4(bbi)(4). Compound 4 exhibits an interesting 3D framework constructed from tetradentate [As8V14O42](4-) cluster anions and cationic ladderlike double chains. There exists a bigger M-8(bbi)(6)O-2 circuit in 4. The 3D extended structure of 5 is composed of heptadentate [V16O38Cl](6-) anions and flexural cationic chains; the latter consists of six Cu(bbi) segments arranged alternately. It presents the largest 24-membered circuit of M-24(bbi)(24) so far observed made of bbi molecules and transition-metal cations. Investigation of their structural relations shows the important template role of the polyoxoanions and the synergetic interactions among the polyoxoanions, transition-metal ions, and flexible ligand in the assembly process.

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of a sulfur-bridged binuclear copper(II) coordination polymer generated by a spontaneous reduction

A simultaneous reduction SO42- to S2- by 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylate under hydrothermal conditions produced a new binuclear copper(II) coordination polymer [CuS(4,4'-bipy)](n) (4,4-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) (1). Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that compound I consisted of sulfur-bridged binuclear copper(II) units with Cu-Cu bonding which were combined with 4,4-bipy to generate a three-dimensional network constructed from mutual interpenetration of two-dimensional (6,3) nets. Crystal data for 1:C10H8CuN2S, tetragonal 14(1)/acd, a = 14.0686(5) Angstrom, b = 14.0686(5) Angstrom, c = 38.759(2) Angstrom, Z = 32. Other characterizations by elemental analysis, IR, EPR and TGA analysis were also described in this paper.