Abstract: Hexafluoroacetylacetonates that contain lead and divalent first-row transition metals, PbM(hfac)4 (M = Ni (1), Co (2), Mn (3), Fe (4), and Zn (5)), have been synthesized. Their heterometallic structures are held together by strong Lewis acid−base interactions between metal atoms and diketonate ligands acting in chelating−bridging fashion. Compounds 1−5 are highly volatile and decompose below 350 °C. Fluorinated heterometallic β-diketonates have been used for the first time as volatile single-source precursors for the preparation of mixed-metal fluorides. Complex fluorides of composition Pb2MF6 have been obtained by decomposition of 1−5 in a two-zone furnace under low-pressure nitrogen flow. Lead−transition metal fluorides conform to orthorhombically distorted Aurivillius-type structure with layers of corner-sharing [MF6] octahedra separated by α-PbO-type (Pb2F2) blocks. Pb2NiF6 and Pb2CoF6 were found to exhibit magnetic ordering below 80 and 43 K, respectively. The ordering is antiferromagnetic, with a weak, uncompensated moment due to the canting of spins. The Pb2MF6 fluorides represent a new class of prospective magnetoelectric materials combining transition metals and lone-pair main-group cations.

Abstract: Fluorine insertion into the oxygen defect superstructure manganite Sr2MnO3.5+x has been shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to result in two levels of fluorination. In the higher fluorine content sections, the fluorine anions displace oxygen anions from their apical positions into the equatorial vacancies, thus destroying the superstructure and reverting to a K2NiF4-type structure (a = 3.8210(1) angstrom and c = 12.686(1) angstrom). Conversely, lower fluorine content sections retain the Sr2MnO3.5+x defect superstructure, crystallising in the P2(1)/c space group. Fluorine intercalation into the reduced double-layer manganite Sr3Mn2O6 occurs in a step-wise fashion according to the general formula Sr3Mn2O6Fy with y = 1, 2, and 3. It is proposed that the y = 1 phase (a = 3.815(1)angstrom, c = 20.29(2) angstrom) is produced by the filling of all the equatorial oxygen vacancies by fluorine atoms whilst the y = 2 phase (a = 3.8222(2) angstrom, c = 21.2435(3)angstrom) has a random distribution of fluorine anions throughout both interstitial rocksalt and equatorial sites. Neutron powder diffraction data suggest that the fully fluorinated y = 3 phase (a = 3.8157(6) angstrom, c = 23.666(4) angstrom) corresponds to the complete occupation of all the equatorial oxygen vacancies and the interstitial sites by intercalated fluorine. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The size, morphology and configuration of Ni4Ti3 precipitates in a single-crystal NiTi alloy have been investigated by two-dimensional transmission electron microscopy-based image analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction from slice-and-view images obtained in a focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) dual-beam system. Average distances between the precipitates measured along the compression direction correlate well between both techniques, while particle shape and configuration data is best obtained from FIB/SEM. Precipitates form pockets of B2 of 0.54 ìm in the compression direction and 1 ìm perpendicular to the compression direction.

Abstract: Recently, rhenium disulfide (ReS2) monolayers were experimentally extracted by conventional mechanical exfoliation technique from as-grown ReS2 crystals. Unlike the well-known members of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), ReS2 crystallizes in a stable distorted-1T structure and lacks an indirect to direct gap crossover. Here we present an experimental and theoretical study of the formation, energetics, and stability of the most prominent lattice defects in monolayer ReS2. Experimentally, irradiation with 3-MeV He+2 ions was used to break the strong covalent bonds in ReS2 flakes. Photoluminescence measurements showed that the luminescence from monolayers is mostly unchanged after highly energetic a particle irradiation. In order to understand the energetics of possible vacancies in ReS2 we performed systematic first-principles calculations. Our calculations revealed that the formation of a single sulfur vacancy has the lowest formation energy in both Re and S rich conditions and a random distribution of such defects are energetically more preferable. Sulfur point defects do not result in any spin polarization whereas the creation of Re-containing point defects induce magnetization with a net magnetic moment of 1-3 mu B. Experimentally observed easy formation of sulfur vacancies is in good agreement with first-principles calculations.

Abstract: The recent infatuation for LiFePO4 as positive electrode material in Li-ion batteries has prompted a renewed interest in olivine-type structures, with a view to enhance their conduction proper-ties. We show that the dual substitution of Li for Fe and of P for Si in the olivine LiFePO4 phase leads to a complete solid solution Li1-xFe1+xP1-xSixO4 as deduced from combined X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer, and NMR experiments. Our findings challenge the common belief that the anionic network cannot be substituted. Moreover. it is found that such a substitution promotes Li intersite mixing between the olivine M1 and M2 sites. Such mixing, together with the worsening of the conducting properties of the dually substituted samples, is believed to be responsible for the poor electrochemical performances of the member's series. Beyond x = 0.20, the samples were electrochemically inactive. While the current materials are disappointing application-wise, such a study provides clues to the rich chemistry remaining to be unveiled with olivine-type structures in particular and polyanionic compounds in general.

Abstract: Based on a facile one-pot templating synthesis, using a TS-1 zeolite recipe whereby part of the zeolite structure directing agent is replaced by a mesopore templating agent, a trimodal material is formed. The resulting meso-TSM material combines mesoporosity (Ti-MCM-41) with zeolitic features (TS-1) and a unique sheet-like morphology with uniform macroporous voids (macroholes). Moreover, the macrohole formation, mesoporosity and zeolitic properties of the meso-TSM material can be controlled in a straightforward way by adjusting the length of the hydrothermal treatment. This newly developed material may imply great potential for catalytic redox applications and diffusion limitated processes because of its highly tunable character in all three dimensions (micro-, meso- and macroporous scale).

Abstract: Because of strong flux confinement in mesoscopic superconductors, a giant vortex may appear in the ground state of the system in an applied magnetic field. This multiquanta vortex can then split into individual vortices (and vice versa) as a function of, e.g., applied current, magnetic field, or temperature. Here we show that such transitions can be identified by calorimetry, as the formation or splitting of a giant vortex results in a clear jump in measured heat capacity versus external drive. We attribute this phenomenon to an abrupt change in the density of states of the quasiparticle excitations in the vortex core(s), and further link it to a sharp change of the magnetic susceptibility at the transitionproving that the formation of a giant vortex can also be detected by magnetometry.

Abstract: We demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that the dissipative state of superconducting samples with a periodic array of holes at high current densities consists of flux rivers resulting from a short-range attractive interaction between vortices. This dynamically induced vortex-vortex attraction results from the migration of quasiparticles out of the vortex core (kinematic vortices). We have directly visualized the formation of vortex chains by scanning Hall probe microscopy after freezing the dynamic state by a field cooling procedure at a constant bias current. Similar experiments carried out in a sample without holes show no hint of flux river formation. We shed light on this nonequilibrium phenomena modeled by time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations.