Structural and dynamical investigation of glassforming smectogen by X-ray diffraction and infra-red spectroscopy aided by density functional theory calculations.

Molecular arrangement in the chiral smectic phases of the glassforming (S)-4'-(1-methylheptylcarbonyl)biphenyl-4-yl 4-[7-(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutoxy) heptyl-1-oxy]benzoate is investigated by X-ray diffraction. An increased correlation length of the positional short-range order in the supercooled state agrees with the previous assumption of the hexatic smectic phase. However, the registered X-ray diffraction patterns are not typical for the hexatic phases.

Magnetic structures in RPtIn (R = Tb-Tm) investigated by neutron powder diffraction.

Results of the neutron powder diffraction measurements carried out for RPtIn (R = Tb-Tm) are reported. The compounds crystallize in an orthorhombic crystal structure of the LuNiIn-type with the rare earth atoms occupying three different sublattices. Neutron diffraction data reveal that at low temperatures the rare earth magnetic moments order below the critical temperature equal to 105, 93, 28, 12 and 3.

Crystal and magnetic structures of RNiIn compounds (R = Tb and Ho).

Crystal and magnetic structures of RNiIn (R = Tb and Ho) have been studied using powder neutron diffraction at low temperatures. The compounds crystallize as orthorhombic crystal structures of the MnAlB type. At low temperatures, the magnetic moments localized solely on the rare earth atoms form antiferromagnetic structures.

Investigation of Chiral Smectic Phases and Conformationally Disordered Crystal Phases of the Liquid Crystalline 3F5FPhH6 Compound Partially Fluorinated at the Terminal Chain and Rigid Core.

Complementary methods are applied to investigate the phase transitions and crystallization kinetics of the liquid crystalline compound denoted as 3F5FPhH6. Two crystal phases are confirmed, and one of them is the conformationally disordered (CONDIS) phase. Complexity of the melt crystallization process is revealed by the analysis with Friedman's isoconversional method.

An intermetallic molecular nanomagnet with the lanthanide coordinated only by transition metals.

Magnetic molecules known as molecular nanomagnets (MNMs) may be the key to ultra-high density data storage. Thus, novel strategies on how to design MNMs are desirable. Here, inspired by the hexagonal structure of the hardest intermetallic magnet SmCo, we have synthesized a nanomagnetic molecule where the central lanthanide (Ln) Er is coordinated solely by three transition metal ions (TM) in a perfectly trigonal planar fashion.

Symmetry analysis of complex magnetic structure in monoclinically distorted ErCuSn.

The magnetic structure in ErCuSn has been determined using high-resolution powder neutron diffraction, supported by symmetry analysis. At low temperatures, ErCuSn assumes a crystal structure of the TmCuSn type (in the monoclinic space group C2/m). The Er atoms occupy two distinct Wyckoff sites: 2c and 4i.

Identical anomalous Raman relaxation exponent in a family of single ion magnets: towards reliable Raman relaxation determination?

Propeller-like lanthanide complexes with suitable chiral ligand scaffolds are highly desired as they combine chirality with possible magnetic bistability. However, the library of relevant chiral lanthanide-based molecules is quite limited. Herein we present the preparation, structures, magnetic behavior as well as EPR studies of a series of propeller-shaped lanthanide Single Ion Magnets (SIMs).

Bulky ligands shape the separation between the large spin carriers to condition field-induced slow magnetic relaxation.

Crystal engineering of magnetic relaxation in supramolecular networks based on almost isotropic cyanido-bridged {Mn9[W(CN)8]6L8(solv)8} clusters decorated by bulky 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (But2bpy) and 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (Ph2phen) ligands is presented. The three new compounds {MnII9[WV(CN)8]6(But2bpy)8(MeOH)8}·Pri2O·13MeOH (1), {MnII9[WV(CN)8]6(But2bpy)8(MeOH)6(H2O)2}·4Pri2O·2H2O (1a), and {MnII9[WV(CN)8]6(Ph2phen)8(MeOH)8}·29MeOH·6H2O (2) were characterized structurally and magnetically. Compound 1 exhibits unequivocal domination of repulsive intercluster contacts operating between the side But groups leading to intercluster distances exceeding 10 Å in all three dimensions.

Double Magnetic Relaxation and Magnetocaloric Effect in the {Mn[W(CN)](4,4'-dpds)} Cluster-Based Network.

Cyanide-bridged {Mn[W(CN)]} clusters with the ground state spin S = 39/2 were connected by a 4,4'-dipyridyl disulfide (4,4'-dpds) linker into 2-D double-connected coordination layers of the IO type, {Mn(4,4'-dpds)(MeOH)[W(CN)]}·12MeOH (1). The intercluster contacts are controlled by the bridging Mn-(4,4'-dpds)-Mn coordination modes and direct hydrogen bonds W-CN···HO-Mn in three crystallographic directions, with the vertex-to-vertex contact unprecedented in {MnW}-based networks dominating over the typical edge-to-edge contacts. The resulting 3D supramolecular network of high-spin clusters was subjected to a thorough magnetic characterization in context of two critical issues.

Influence of soil fertilization by sewage sludge on the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in crops.

The aim of the present study was an evaluation of the influence of the addition of different sewage sludge doses on the uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from fertilized soil. Sewage sludge was introduced into the soil in the following doses: 30, 75, 150, 300, and 600 Mg/ha. The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was determined by means of HPLC-UV method.

The concentration of mild-extracted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludges.

The present study evaluates the content of the mild-solvent extracted fraction of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Ten compounds from the US EPA list (phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chryzene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene oraz indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene) were chosen. The compounds were extracted with n-butanol from 11 sewage sludges that differed both in the total PAH content and in their physicochemical properties.

Application of solid-phase extraction to determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sewage sludge extracts.

The study presents the efficiency of sewage sludge sample clean-up with the application of SPE columns with various types of adsorbents. Six columns were tested: C8-octyl, C18 PolarPlus, C18-octadecyl, silicagel (SG), phenyl, cyano. The highest efficiency of recovery was observed for C18-octadecyl.

Degradation of soil environment in the post-flooding area: content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and s-triazine herbicides.

Impacts of flooding on the soil environment with regard to soil pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and s-triazine (cyanazine, simazine, atriazine, propazine, prometryn) herbicides have been evaluated. No clear differences in the sum of the PAHs content were observed in the present studies. Only changes in the levels of individual PAHs were noted.

Changes in the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in light soil fertilized with sewage sludge.

In the present work the influence of soil fertilization with sewage sludge on the changes in the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in this soil was studied during a one-year field experiment. The experiment consisted of six plots to which sewage sludge was introduced at doses of 30 (1%), 75 (2.5%), 150 (5%), 300 (10%) and 600 ton/ha (20%) as calculated for dry mass.