10 MA cm−2 current density in nanoscale conductive bridge threshold switching selector via densely localized cation sources

Super-ionic cation layer was introduced into the CBTS selector to realize ten-fold current density increase.

Chiral anionic layers in tartramide spiroborate salts and variable solvation for [NR 4][B(TarNH2)2] (R = Et, Pr or Bu)

The spiroborate anion, namely, 2,3,7,8-tetracarboxamido-1,4,6,9-tetraoxa-5λ4-boraspiro[4.4]nonane, [B(TarNH2)2]−, derived from the diol L-tartramide TarNH2, [CH(O)(CONH2)]2, shows a novel self-assembly into two-dimensional (2D) layer structures in its salts with alkylammonium cations, [NR 4]+ (R = Et, Pr and Bu), and sparteinium, [HSpa]+, in which the cations and anions are segregated. The structures of four such salts are reported, namely, the tetrapropylazanium salt, C12H28N+·C8H12BN4O8 −, the tetraethylazanium salt hydrate, C8H20N+·C8H12BN4O8 −·6.375H2O, the tetrabutylazanium salt as the ethanol monosolvate hemihydrate, C16H36N+·C8H12BN4O8 −·C2H5OH·0.5H2O, and the sparteinium (7-aza-15-azoniatetracyclo[7.7.1.02,7.010,15]heptadecane) salt as the ethanol monosolvate, C15H27N2 +·C8H12BN4O8 −·C2H5OH. The 2D anion layers have preserved intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the amide groups and a typical metric repeat of around 10 × 15 Å. The constraint of matching the interfacial area organizes the cations into quite different solvated arrangements, i.e. the [NEt4] salt is highly hydrated with around 6.5H2O per cation, the [NPr4] salt apparently has a good metric match to the anion layer and is unsolvated, whilst the [NBu4] salt is intermediate and has EtOH and H2O in its cation layer, which is similar to the arrangement for the chiral [HSpa]+ cation. This family of salts shows highly organized chiral space and offers potential for the resolution of both chiral cations and neutral chiral solvent molecules.

MS2 bacteriophage capsid studied using all-atom molecular dynamics

The all-atom model of an MS2 bacteriophage particle without its genome (the capsid) was built using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (EM) measurements for initial conformation. The structural characteristics of the capsid and the dynamics of the surrounding solution were examined using molecular dynamics simulation. The model demonstrates the overall preservation of the cryo-EM structure of the capsid at physiological conditions (room temperature and ions composition). The formation of a dense anion layer near the inner surface and a diffuse cation layer near the outer surface of the capsid was detected. The flow of water molecules and ions across the capsid through its pores were quantified, which was considerable for water and substantial for ions.

Jinshajiangite: structure, twinning and pseudosymmetry

The crystal structure of jinshajiangite based on a sample from its original discovery location is studied using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy methods. Jinshajiangite is a titanium silicate mineral with an ideal chemical formula of BaNaFe4Ti2(Si2O7)2O2(OH)2F. The structure of jinshajiangite is of P\bar 1 symmetry (triclinic system), with a = 8.7331 (2) Å, b = 8.7366 (2) Å, c = 11.0404 (3) Å, α = 81.477 (1)°, β = 110.184 (1)°, γ = 104.384 (1)° and V = 764.03 (3) Å3, instead of the previously proposed C\bar 1 cell [a = 10.7059 (5) Å, b = 13.7992 (7) Å, c = 20.760 (1) Å, α = 90.008 (1)°, β = 94.972 (1)°, γ = 89.984 (1)°, V = 3055.4 (4) Å3]. The basic topology of the new structure is similar to the previously proposed C\bar 1 structure, except there is only one type of titanium silicate and intermediate cation layer in the structure (instead of two types), which are all related by the translation along the c-axis. Even though there is a significant amount of Mn in the chemical composition, no obvious ordering between Fe and Mn is observed in the structure. All the mineral species of the perraultite-type structure (jinshajiangite, perraultite, surkhobite and bobshannonite) should have the same P\bar 1 structure as jinshajiangite with ∼10 Å d 001 spacing, and all the previously proposed monoclinic space groups were pseudosymmetry generated by nanoscale polysynthetic twinning on the (001) composition plane. The similar phenomenon observed in bafertisite is also discussed in the paper with an alternative polytype structure model proposed.

Boundary layer friction of solvate ionic liquids as a function of potential

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to investigate the potential dependent boundary layer friction at solvate ionic liquid (SIL)–highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and SIL–Au(111) interfaces. Friction trace and retrace loops of lithium tetraglyme bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (Li(G4) TFSI) at HOPG present clearer stick-slip events at negative potentials than at positive potentials, indicating that a Li+ cation layer adsorbed to the HOPG lattice at negative potentials which enhances stick-slip events. The boundary layer friction data for Li(G4) TFSI shows that at HOPG, friction forces at all potentials are low. The TFSI− anion rich boundary layer at positive potentials is more lubricating than the Li+ cation rich boundary layer at negative potentials. These results suggest that boundary layers at all potentials are smooth and energy is predominantly dissipated via stick-slip events. In contrast, friction at Au(111) for Li(G4) TFSI is significantly higher at positive potentials than at negative potentials, which is comparable to that at HOPG at the same potential. The similarity of boundary layer friction at negatively charged HOPG and Au(111) surfaces indicates that the boundary layer compositions are similar and rich in Li+ cations for both surfaces at negative potentials. However, at Au(111), the TFSI− rich boundary layer is less lubricating than the Li+ rich boundary layer, which implies that anion reorientations rather than stick-slip events are the predominant energy dissipation pathways. This is confirmed by the boundary friction of Li(G4) NO3 at Au(111), which shows similar friction to Li(G4) TFSI at negative potentials due to the same cation rich boundary layer composition, but even higher friction at positive potentials, due to higher energy dissipation in the NO3− rich boundary layer.

An exceptional 5:4 enantiomeric structure

The only crystals that could be grown from racemic solutions of the PF6−salt of the resolvable cation [Ru(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)2(dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline)]2+have translational symmetry only (space groupP1), contain nine independent sets of ions, and include numerous independent solvent molecules (11 acetone, one diethyl ether and possibly several water molecules). Layers of hydrophobic cations alternate with layers containing most of the anions and solvent molecules. All nine cations have the same basic conformation, which is distorted by the presence of the methyl substituents on the two 1,10-phenanthroline ligands. Four pairs of enantiomeric cations within a layer are related by approximate inversion centers; the ninth cation, which shows no sign of disorder, makes the layer chiral. Within the cation layers stripes parallel to [110] of six cations alternate with stripes of three; the local symmetry and the cation orientations are different in the two stripes. These stripes are reflected in the organization of the anion/solvent layer. Theca80:20 inversion twinning found indicates that enantiomeric preference is transmitted less perfectly across the anion/solvent layer than within the cation layer. The structure is exceptional in having nine independent formula units and an unbalanced set (ratio 4:5) of resolvable enantiomers. The difficulty in growing crystals of this material is consistent with its structural complexity.

Preparation and Characterization of Bipolar Membranes Modified by Adding Multi-Carboxylic Metallophthalocyanine Derivatives into the Cation Layer

The multi-carboxylic metallophthalocyanine derivatives were added into carboxymethyl cellulose cation layer to prepare the modified carboxymethyl cellulose/chitosan bipolar membranes (CMC/CS BPMs), which were characterized using electric universal testing machine, contact angle measurer and so on. The results showed that the mechanical properties were increased after modification. Moreover, the ion exchange capacity, and the hydrophilicity of the modified CMC membrane dramatically rose. As the catalytic centers, the metallophthalocyanine derivatives sped up water splitting, decreased the membrane impedance and cell voltage. In comparison with the BPMs modified by mononuclear metallophthalocyanine derivatives, the catalytic ability for water splitting of the binuclear metallophthalocyanine derivatives (especially with different central metal ions) was enhanced. At the current density of 60 mA·cm-2, the cell voltage of the BPM modified by FeCoPc2(COOH)12 was only 5.3V.

Preparation and Characterization of PVA-MSA/mCS Bipolar Membrane

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) was blent with sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CS) respectively in order to enhance flexibility and compatibility of bipolar membrane(BPM). The PVA-mSA/mCS BPM was prepared by a paste method. The PVA/ SA and the PVA / CS was cross-linked by inorganic nano-materials and glutaraldehyde(GA), respectively. The SEM photographs showed the PVA-ZnO-SA/mCS BPM was consists of anion layer and cation layer. The thickness of the BPM was 121μm, the interface of BPM was 5μm. The Electronic spectrum (EDS) indicated that ZnO well-distributed in cation layer. The J-V curve and the AC impedances of PVA-ZnO-SA/mCS BPM showed lower working voltage and smaller membrane impedance. The contact Angle of PVA-ZnO-SA/mCS dropped down from the original 101.01° to 32.65°. Compared of TG curves of the BPMs modified by nano-Fe3O4, nano-TiO2 and nano-ZnO, the surface of the PVA-ZnO-SA/mCS BPM exhibited stronger hydrophilic. The dopping nano-ZnO improved the hydrophilic property, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the PVA-ZnO-SA/mCS.

Ferromagnetism in MgTiO3-Ti2O3 Solid Solutions

Ti-rich Mg1ЎxTi1+xO3 samples were synthesized by solid-state reaction. Sampleswere characterized by room temperature x-ray powder di®raction, scanning electron microscopyand energy dispersive spectroscopy of x-rays. Hexagonal lattice parameters a and c increasedwith increasing Ti content. Time-of-Flight-Secondary-Ion-Mass-Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS, de-tection limit 10Ў6) measurements revealed that no magnetic impurities were present. Sampleswith x = 0:10; 0:12 and 0:32 showed ferromagnetic hysteresis loops. The result demonstratesthat excess Ti at the Mg-O cation layer controls the magnetic properties. This is a technologicaladvantage especially for thin Їlm applications.