Abstract: Starting from a microscope model of the intermolecular potential, a unified description is presented of the Bragg scattering law in the orientationally disordered and in the ordered phase of solid C-60. The orientational structure factor is expanded in terms of symmetry-adapted surface harmonics. The expansion coefficients are calculated from theory and compared with experiment Their temperature evolution is studied in the disordered phase at the 260 K transitions and in the ordered phase. In the ordered phase, new results from high-resolution neutron powder diffraction are given. In the disordered phase, space group Fm $($) over bar$$ 3m, the reflections have A(1g) symmetry; in the ordered phase, space group Pa $$($) over bar 3, reflections of T-2g symmetry appear and in addition the A(1g) reflections are renormalized. The orientational density distribution is calculated. The effective crystal-field potential is constructed, its temperature evolution in the ordered phase is studied and related to the occurrence of an orientational glass.

Abstract: The superexchange interactions between the fullerenes arise as a result of the electron transfer from the C-60 molecule to the alkali atom and back. We present a scheme, which is a configuration interaction approach based on the valence bond (Heitler-London) method. The effect of superexchange is described together with chemical bonding by constructing and solving a secular equation, rather than by using a perturbation treatment. We have considered 180degrees and 90degrees superexchange for the C-60 Cs-C-60 pathways. The calculations account for unusual electronic properties of polymer orthorhombic and quenched cubic phases of CsC60: two lines in nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, the development of a spin-singlet ground state and a decrease of magnetic susceptibility as T-->0.

Abstract: We study the confinement of a C-60 molecule encapsulated in a cylindrical nanotube as a function of the tube radius. Drawing the Mercator maps of the potential, we find two distinct molecular orientations; for tubes with small radii, R-T less than or similar to 7 angstrom, a fivefold axis of the molecule coincides with the tube long axis, for larger radii, R-T less than or similar to 8 angstrom, a threefold axis of the molecule coincides with the tube long axis. These different orientations are caused by the relative importance of the repulsive and the attractive parts of the van der Waals potentials of the molecule with the tube wall for small and large tubes respectively. Experimental evidence is provided by the apparent splitting of A(g) modes of the C-60 molecule in resonant Raman scattering.

Abstract: The recently discovered superconducting mercury-based cuprates HgBa2Can-1CunO2n+2+delta have proved difficult to synthesize as single phases and are sensitive to environment (CO2, moisture). The present paper gives an overview of new series mercury based superconductors, whose stabilisation is based on the fact that a foreign cation with a higher valency than Hg(II) must be introduced in the mercury layers, in order to fill up partially the oxygen vacancies of these layers. By this method, several new series of superconductors involving strontium instead of barium with critical temperatures ranging from 27 K to 95 K have been isolated : Hg0.5Bi0.5Sr2-xLaxCuO4+delta, Hg(0.5)Bi(0.5)Sr(2)Ca(1-x)R(x)Cu(2)O(6+delta) (R Y, Nd, Pr), Pb0.7Hg0.3Sr2-xLaxCuO4+delta, Pb(0.7)Hg(0.3)Sr(2)Ca(1-x)R(x)Cu(2)O(6+delta) (R = Y, Nd) Hg(1-x)Pr(x)Sr(2)A(1-x')Pr(x') Cu2O6+delta (A = Sr, Ca), Pb0.7Hg0.3Sr2Cu2CO3O7 and Hg1-xCrxSr2CuO4+delta. The behaviour of the praseodymium cuprates that exhibit a rather sharp transition and reach a Tc of 85 K is especially discussed. A method to synthesize new ''Ba-Hg'' superconducting cuprates with the 1212 structure at normal pressure with a Tc up to 110 K is also presented.

Abstract: Neutron and high resolution X-ray diffraction investigations on perfect single crystals of RbH2PO4 (RDP), a hydrogen bonded ferroelectric of KDP type are reported. The results of crystal structure analysis from diffraction data, below and above the paraelectric – ferroelectric phase transition, support a disorder – order character Of [PO4H2](-)-groups. The tetragonal symmetry of the paraelectric phase with the double well potential of the hydrogen atoms obtained by diffraction, results simply from a time-space average of orthorhombic symmetry. According to the group – subgroup relation between the tetragonal space group 142d and the orthorhombic Fdd2 a short range order of ferroelectric clusters in the tetragonal phase is observed. With decreasing temperature the ferroelectric clusters increase and the long range interaction between their local polarisation vectors leads to the formation of lamellar ferroelectric domains with alternating polarisation directions at T-C = 147 K. From the high resolution X-ray data it is concluded that below T-C the ferroelastic strain in the (a,b)-plane leads to micro-angle grain boundaries at the domain walls. The tilt angle is enhanced by an applied electric field parallel to the ferroelectric axis. The resulting dislocations at the domain walls persist in the paraelectric phase leading to a memory effect for the arrangement of twin lamellae. With increased electric field the phase transition temperature T-C is decreased.

Abstract: The recently discovered structural phase transition in Polymerized KC60 at about 50K leads to a doubling of the unit cell volume and is accompanied by a metal-insulator transition. Here, we show that the ((a) over right arrow + (c) over right arrow, (b) over right arrow, (a) over right arrow – (c) over right arrow) superstructure results from orientational charge density waves along the polymer chains and correlated displacements of the K+ ions. The presented model can also account for the metal-insulator transition. The effect is specific for the space group Pmnn of KC60 and is absent in both Rb- and CsC60 (space group 12/m), in agreement with the present experimental knowledge of these compounds.

Abstract: The ID21 beamline (European Synchrotron Radiation facility, France) is a multi micro-analytical platform combining X-ray and infrared micro-probes, for characterization of elements, species, molecular groups and crystalline structures in complex materials. Applications are mainly in the fields of cultural heritage, life science, environmental and earth sciences, materials sciences. Here, we first present the status of instruments: (i) the scanning micro-spectroscopy end-station, operating from 2.0 to 9.2 keV, under vacuum and offering cryo conditions, for the acquisition of 2D micro X-ray fluorescence (mu XRF) maps, single point micro X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (mu XANES) spectra and speciation maps with sub-micrometric resolution; (ii) the XANES full-field end-station, operating in the same vacuum and energy conditions, for the acquisition of hyper-spectral radiographs of thin concentrated samples, resulting in speciation maps with micrometric resolution and millimetric field of view; (iii) the scanning micro-X-ray diffraction (mu XRD)/mu XRF end-station, operating at 8.5 keV, in air, for the acquisition of 2D crystalline phase maps, with micrometric resolution; and (iv) the scanning infrared microscope, operating in the mid-infrared range for the acquisition of molecular maps and some structural maps with micrometric resolution. Recent hardware and software developments are presented, as well as new protocols for improved sample preparation of thin sections. Secondly, a review of recent applications for the study of cultural heritage is presented, illustrated by various examples: determination of the origin of the color in blue Chinese porcelains and in brown Sevres porcelains; detection of lead in ink on Herculaneum papyri; identification and degradation of modeling materials used by Auguste Rodin and of chrome yellow pigments used by Vincent van Gogh. Cryo capabilities are illustrated by the analysis of plants exposed to chromate solutions. These examples show the variety of materials analyzed, of questions tackled, and particularly the multiple advantages of the ID21 analytical platform for the analysis of ancient and artistic materials.