The structure and electrochemical characteristics of La0.67Mg0.33 (Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1)(x) (x=2.5-5.0) multiphase alloys for nickel-metal hydride batteries

This paper presents results concerning structure and electrochemical characteristics of the La0.67Mg0.33 (Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1) (x) (x=2.5-5.0) alloy. It can be found from the result of the Rietveld analyses that the structures of the alloys change obviously with increasing x from 2.5 to 5.0. The main phase of the alloys with x=2.5-3.5 is LaMg2Ni9 phase with a PuNi3-type rhombohedral structure, but the main phase of the alloys with x=4.0-5.0 is LaNi(5)phase with a CaCu5-type hexagonal structure. Furthermore, the phase ratio, lattice parameter and cell volume of the LaMg2Ni9 phase and the LaNi5 phase change with increasing x. The electrochemical studies show that the maximum discharge capacity increases from 214.7 mAh/g (x=2.5) to 391.1 mAh/g (x=3.5) and then decreases to 238.5 mAh/g (x=5.0). As the discharge current density is 1,200 mA/g, the high rate dischargeability (HRD) increases from 51.1% (x=2.5) to 83.7% (x=3.5) and then decreases to 71.6% (x=5.0). Moreover, the exchange current density (I-0) of the alloy electrodes first increases and then decrease with increasing x from 2.5 to 5.0, which is consistent with the variation of the HRD. The cell volume reduces with increasing x in the alloys, which is detrimental to hydrogen diffusion and accordingly decreases the low-temperature dischargeability of the alloy electrodes.

Substitution effect of nitrogen atoms with carbon atoms in porphyrin on the electronic structure and excited states properties

Density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure calculations were carried out to predict the structures and the absorption and emission spectra for porphyrin and a series of carbaporphyrins-carbaporphyrin, adj-dicarbaporphyrin, opp-dicarbaporphyrin, tricarbaporphyrin and tetracarbaporphyrin. The ground- and excited-state geometries were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31g(d) and CIS/6-31g(d) level, respectively. The optimized ground-state geometry and absorption spectra of porphyrin, calculated by DFT and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT), are comparable with the available experimental values. Based on the optimized excited-state geometries obtained by CIS/6-31g(d) method, the emission properties are calculated using TDDFT method at the B3LYP/6-31g(d) level. The effects of the substitution of nitrogen atoms with carbon atoms at the center positions of porphyrin are discussed. The results indicate that the two-pyrrole nitrogens are important to the chemical and physical properties for porphyrin.

Synthesis, characterization, crystal structure and magnetic property of asymmetrical double Schiff base heterotrinuclear complex: Cu(II)-Co(II)-Cu(II)

An asymmetrical double Schiff-base Cu(II) mononuclear complex, HCuLp (H(3)Lp is N-3-carboxylsalicylidene-N'-5-chlorosalicylaldehyde-1,3-diaminopropane) and a heterometal trinuclear complex with double molecular structure (CuLp)(2)Co center dot 5H(2)O have been synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analyses, IR and electronic spectra. The crystal structure of the heterotrinucler complex was determined by X-ray analysis. Each asymmetric unit within the unit cell of the complex contains two heterotrinuclear neutral molecules (a) [CuLpCoCuLp], (b) [(CuLpH(2)O) CoCuLp] and four uncoordinated water molecules. In the two neutral molecules, the central Co2+ ions are located at the site of O-6 with a distorted octahedral geometry, one terminal Cu2+ ion (Cu(3)) at the square-pyramidal environment of N2O3, and the other three at the square planar coordination geometry with N2O2 donor atoms. Magnetic properties of the heterotrinucler complex have been determined in the temperature range 5-300 K, indicating that the interaction between the central Co2+ ion and the outer Co2+ ions is antiferromagnetic.

Phase structure and transition behavior of a liquid crystal 5-{[(4 '-heptoxy-4-biphenylyl)oxy]carbonyl}-1-pentyne

The phase structures and transition behaviors of a novel liquid crystal compound containing biphenylyl mesogen, 5-{[(4'-heptoxy-4-biphenytyl) oxy]carbonyl}-1-pentyne (A3E'O7), have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). In contrast to the published compound 5- {[(4'-heptoxy-4-biphenyl-yl)carbonyl]oxy}-1-pentyne (A3EO7), in which the ester bridge between the mesogenic core and the flexible spacer has different linkage order, A3E'O7 shows strikingly different phase structure and transition behaviors. Overall, A3E'O7 has better packing order and higher transition temperatures. It undergoes three enantiotropic stable liquid crystalline phases which are associated to smectic A (S-A) phase (100.2-98.2 degrees C), smectic C (S-C) phase (98.2-87.2 degrees C) and highly ordered smectic X (S-X) phase (87.2-63.3 degrees C), respectively, till eventual crystallization takes place upon cooling from isotropic state to room temperature. However, A3EO7 only shows monotropic SA (72.4-53.6 degrees C) phase and the metastable monotropic S-C phase provided that the same thermal treatment is applied.

New neutral nickel(II) complexes bearing pyrrole-imine chelate ligands: synthesis, structure and norbornene polymerization behavior

New neutral nickel(II) complexes bearing nonsymmetric bidentate pyrrole-imine chelate ligands (4a-d), [2-(ArNCH)C4H3N]Ni(PPh3)Ph [Ar=2,6-diisopropylphenyl (a), 2-methyl-6-isopropylphenyl (b), 2,6-diethylphenyl (c), 2-tert-butylphenyl (d)], have been prepared in good yields from the sodium salts of the corresponding ligands and trans-Ni(PPh3)(2)(Ph)Cl, and the structure of complex 4a has been confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. These neutral Ni(II) complexes were investigated as catalysts for the vinylic polymerization of norbornene. Using modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, these complexes display very high activities and produce great mass polymers. Catalyst activity of up to 4.2 x 10(7) g (mol Ni h)(-1) and the viscosity-average molecular weight of polymer of up to 9.2 x 10(5) g mol(-1) were observed. Catalyst activity, polymer yield, and polymer molecular weight can be controlled over a wide range by the variation of reaction parameters such as Al-Ni ratio, norbornene-catalyst ratio, monomer concentration, polymerization reaction temperature and time.

Synthesis, structure and reactive mechanism of intermetallic W3Mg

Assisted by mechanical alloying and high-pressure technique, a new W3Mg intermetallic was formed. W3Mg amorphous mixture was obtained by mechanically alloying the pure metal powder mixtures at designated composition for 20 h. A new compound was found after the Subsequent high pressure and high temperature treatment. W3Mg intermetallic was identified as a tetragonal structure and the lattice parameter was a = 0.7880 nm, c = 0.7070 nm. The synthesis mechanism is also discussed in this paper.

Synthesis, structure and reactive mechanism of intermetallic W4Mg

Assisted by a mechanical alloying and high-pressure technique, a new W4Mg intermetallic was formed. W4Mg amorphous mixture was obtained by mechanically alloying the pure metal powder mixtures at designated composition for 20 h. A new compound was found after the subsequent high-pressure and high-temperature treatment. W4Mg intermetallic was identified as a cubic structure and the lattice parameter was a=0.4150 nm. The synthesis mechanism is also discussed in this paper.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of {[Cu(oxbe)]Mn(H2O)[Cu(oxbe)(DMF)]}(n)center dot nDMF center dot nH(2)O: From dissymmetrical mononuclear entities to a 3D heterometallic supramolecular coordination polymer

Self-assembly of the building block [Cu(oxbe)](-) with Mn(II) led to a novel coordination polymer {[Cu(oxbe)]Mn(H2O)(Cu(oxbe)(DMF)]}(n).nDMF.nH(2)O, where H(3)oxbe is a new dissymmetrical ligand N-benzoato-N'-(2-aminoethyl)-oxamido and DMF = dimethylformamide. The crystal forms in the triclinic system, space group P(1)over-bar, with a = 9.260(4) angstorm, b = 12.833(5) angstrom, c = 15.274(6) angstrom , alpha = 76.18(3)degrees, beta = 82.7(3)degrees, gamma = 82.31(3)degrees, and Z = 2. The crystal structure of the title complex reveals that the two-dimensional bimetallic layers are constructed of (CuMnII)-Mn-II-Cu-II chains linked together by carboxylate bridge and hydrogen bonds help to produce a novel three-dimensional channel-like structure. The magnetic susceptibility measurements (5-300 K) were analyzed by means of the Hamiltonian (H)over-cap = -2J(S)over-cap (Mn)((S)over-cap(Cu1) + (S)over-cap(Cu2)), leading to J = -17.4 cm(-1).

Novel polyoxometalate-templated, 3-D supramolecular networks based on lanthanide dimers: Synthesis, structure, and fluorescent properties of [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)][Mo6O19] (DNBA=3,5-dinitrobenzoate)

The spherical Lindquist type polyoxometalate, Mo6O192-, has been used as a noncoordinating anionic template for the construction of novel three-dimensional lanthanide-aromatic monocarboxylate dimer supramolecular networks [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)][Mo6O19] (Ln = La 1, Ce 2, and Eu 3, DNBA = 3,5-dinitrobenzoate, DMF = dimethylformamide). The title compounds are characterized by elemental analyses, IR, and single-crystal X-ray diffractions. X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that two Ln(III) ions are bridged by four 3,5-dinitrobenzoate anions as asymmetrically bridging ligands, leading to dimeric cores, [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)](2+); [Ln(2)(DNBA)(4)(DMF)(8)](2+) groups are joined together by pi-pi stacking interactions between the aromatic groups to form a two-dimensional grid-like network; the 2-D supramolecular layers are further extended into 3-D supramolecular networks with 1-D box-like channels by hydrogen-bonding interactions, in which hexamolybdate polyanions reside. The compounds represent the first examples of 3-D carboxylate-bridged lanthanide dimer supramolecular "host" networks formed by pi-pi stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions encapsulating noncoordinating "guest" polyoxoanion species. The fluorescent activity of compound 3 is reported.

Hydrothermal synthesis, structure, and characterization of two one-dimensional chainlike hybrid complexes [(CuX)(2)(o-phen)](infinity) (X = Br, Cl; o-phen = o-phenanthroline)

Two novel organic-inorganic hybrid complexes [(CuX)(2)(o-phen)](infinity) (X = Br (1), Cl (2); o-phen = o-phenanthroline) have been synthesized hydrothermally and characterized structurally by elemental analyses, IR, ESR, XPS spectrum, TG analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both title compounds exhibit novel one-dimensional chainlike copper halide scaffolding constructed by the unusual [Cu3X3] hexagon motifs by sharing opposite edges, where a single Cu site of each [Cu3X3] hexagon is chelated with N donors of o-phen group. To our knowledge, such basic o-phen-copper halide skeleton has not been reported hitherto. Moreover, TG analyses indicate that both title compounds possess high thermal stability.

From dissymmetrical mononuclear entities to centrosymmetrical heterotrinuclear complex with 2D supramolecular structure: synthesis, characterization, crystal structure, and magnetic properties

A new centrosymmetrical heterotrinuclear complex, {[Cu(oxbe)](2)Co(H2O)(2)}.2DMF.DMA with 2D supramolecular structure, has been obtained by the self-assembly of a dissymmetrical building block [Cu(oxbe)](-) with bivalent metal ion Co2+, where H(3)oxbe is dissymmetrical ligand N-benzoato-N'-(2-aminoethyl)oxamido, DMF = dimethylformamide, DMA = dimethylamine. Its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. The molecular structure is centrosymmetrical with the cobalt atom lying on an inversion center. Through the hydrogen bonds and d-pi stacking interactions, a 2D supramolecular structure is formed. This study exemplifies a new method for the assembly of supramolecular structure using a dissymmetrical brick. Magnetic susceptibility measurements (5-300 K) indicate that the central cobalt and terminal copper metal ions are antiferromagnetically coupled with J = -23.1 cm(-1).

Synthesis, structure and luminescent properties of a new praseodymium(III) complex with beta-diketone

A new tetrakis praseodymium(tu) complex Pr(TFNB)(3)Phen has been synthesized, in which TFNB is 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)-1,3-butanedione and Phen is 1,10-phenanthroline. Its crystal structure and luminescent spectra were successfully determined and investigated. The typical antenna effect existing in the luminescence of Pr(TFNB)(3)Phen was revealed by the study of the UV-Vis absorption spectra of ligands and the excitation spectrum of Pr(TFNB)(3)Phen.

Morphology, structure, and properties of in situ compatibilized linear low-density polyethylene/polystyrene and linear low-density polyethylene/high-impact polystyrene blends

Blends of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with polystyrene (PS) and blends of LLDPE with high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) were prepared through a reactive extrusion method. For increased compatibility of the two blending components, a Lewis acid catalyst, aluminum chloride (AlCl3), was adopted to initiate the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction between the blending components. Spectra data from Raman spectra of the LLDPE/PS/AlCl3 blends extracted with tetrahydrofuran verified that LLDPE segments were grafted to the para position of the benzene rings of PS, and this confirmed the graft structure of the Friedel-Crafts reaction between the polyolefin and PS. Because the in situ generated LLDPE-g-PS and LLDPE-g-HIPS copolymers acted as compatibilizers in the relative blending systems, the mechanical properties of the LLDPE/PS and LLDPE/HIPS blending systems were greatly improved. For example, after compatibilization, the Izod impact strength of an LLDPE/PS blend (80/20 w/w) was increased from 88.5 to 401.6 J/m, and its elongation at break increased from 370 to 790%. For an LLDPE/HIPS (60/40 w/w) blend, its Charpy impact strength was increased from 284.2 to 495.8 kJ/m(2). Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the size of the domains decreased from 4-5 to less than 1 mum, depending on the content of added AlCl3.