Hydrogenous Zintl phase Ba3Si4Hx (x = 1-2): transforming Si4 "butterfly" anions into tetrahedral moieties.

The hydride Ba(3)Si(4)H(x) (x = 1-2) was prepared by sintering the Zintl phase Ba(3)Si(4), which contains Si(4)(6-) butterfly-shaped polyanions, in a hydrogen atmosphere at pressures of 10-20 bar and temperatures of around 300 °C. Initial structural analysis using powder neutron and X-ray diffraction data suggested that Ba(3)Si(4)H(x) adopts the Ba(3)Ge(4)C(2) type [space group I4/mcm (No. 140), a ≈ 8.44 Å, c ≈ 11.95 Å, Z = 8] where Ba atoms form a three-dimensional array of corner-condensed octahedra, which are centered by H atoms. Tetrahedron-shaped Si(4) polyanions complete a perovskite-like arrangement. Thus, hydride formation is accompanied by oxidation of the butterfly polyanion, but the model with the composition Ba(3)Si(4)H is not charge-balanced. First-principles computations revealed an alternative structural scenario for Ba(3)Si(4)H(x), which is based on filling pyramidal Ba5 interstices in Ba(3)Si(4). The limiting composition is x = 2 [space group P4(2)/mmm (No. 136), a ≈ 8.4066 Å, c ≈ 12.9186 Å, Z = 8], and for x > 1, Si atoms also adopt tetrahedron-shaped polyanions. Transmission electron microscopy investigations showed that Ba(3)Si(4)H(x) is heavily disordered in the c direction. Most plausible is to assume that Ba(3)Si(4)H(x) has a variable H content (x = 1-2) and corresponds to a random intergrowth of P- and I-type structure blocks. In either form, Ba(3)Si(4)H(x) is classified as an interstitial hydride. Polyanionic hydrides in which H is covalently attached to Si remain elusive.

Synthesis, structure, and properties of the electron-poor II-V semiconductor ZnAs.

ZnAs was synthesized at 6 GPa and 1273 K utilizing multianvil high-pressure techniques and structurally characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction (space group Pbca (No. 61), a = 5.6768(2) Å, b = 7.2796(2) Å, c = 7.5593(2) Å, Z = 8). The compound is isostructural to ZnSb (CdSb type) and displays multicenter bonded rhomboid rings Zn2As2, which are connected to each other by classical two-center, two-electron bonds. At ambient pressure ZnAs is metastable with respect to Zn3As2 and ZnAs2. When heating at a rate of 10 K/min decomposition takes place at ∼700 K. Diffuse reflectance measurements reveal a band gap of 0.9 eV. Electrical resistivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity were measured in the temperature range of 2-400 K and compared to thermoelectric ZnSb. The room temperature values of the resistivity and thermopower are ∼1 Ω cm and +27 µV/K, respectively. These values are considerably higher and lower, respectively, compared to ZnSb. Above 150 K the thermal conductivity attains low values, around 2 W/m·K, which is similar to that of ZnSb. The heat capacity of ZnAs was measured between 2 and 300 K and partitioned into a Debye and two Einstein contributions with temperatures of θD = 234 K, θE1 = 95 K, and θE2 = 353 K. Heat capacity and thermal conductivity of ZnSb and ZnAs show very similar features, which possibly relates to their common electron-poor bonding properties.

Characterization of a high pressure, high temperature modification of ammonia borane (BH3NH3).

At elevated pressures (above 1.5 GPa) dihydrogen bonded ammonia borane, BH3NH3, undergoes a solid-solid phase transition with increasing temperature. The high pressure, high temperature (HPHT) phase precedes decomposition and evolves from the known high pressure, low temperature form with space group symmetry Cmc21 (Z = 4). Structural changes of BH3NH3 with temperature were studied at around 6 GPa in a diamond anvil cell by synchrotron powder diffraction. At this pressure the Cmc21 phase transforms into the HPHT phase at around 140 °C. The crystal system, unit cell, and B and N atom position parameters of the HPHT phase were extracted from diffraction data, and a hydrogen ordered model with space group symmetry Pnma (Z = 4) subsequently established from density functional calculations. However, there is strong experimental evidence that HPHT-BH3NH3 is a hydrogen disordered rotator phase. A reverse transition to the Cmc21 phase is not observed. When releasing pressure at room temperature to below 1.5 GPa the ambient pressure (hydrogen disordered) I4mm phase of BH3NH3 is obtained.

Lithium and calcium carbides with polymeric carbon structures.

We studied the binary carbide systems Li2C2 and CaC2 at high pressure using an evolutionary and ab initio random structure search methodology for crystal structure prediction. At ambient pressure Li2C2 and CaC2 represent salt-like acetylides consisting of C2(2-) dumbbell anions. The systems develop into semimetals (P3m1-Li2C2) and metals (Cmcm-Li2C2, Cmcm-CaC2, and Immm-CaC2) with polymeric anions (chains, layers, strands) at moderate pressures (below 20 GPa). Cmcm-CaC2 is energetically closely competing with the ground state structure. Polyanionic forms of carbon stabilized by electrostatic interactions with surrounding cations add a new feature to carbon chemistry. Semimetallic P3m1-Li2C2 displays an electronic structure close to that of graphene. The π* band, however, is hybridized with Li-sp states and changed into a bonding valence band. Metallic forms are predicted to be superconductors. Calculated critical temperatures may exceed 10 K for equilibrium volume structures.

LiBSi2: a tetrahedral semiconductor framework from boron and silicon atoms bearing lithium atoms in the channels.

Silicon swallows up boron: The novel open tetrahedral framework structure (OTF) of the Zintl phase LiBSi2 was made by applying high pressure to a mixture of LiB and elemental silicon. The compound represents a new topology in the B-Si net (called tum), which hosts Li atoms in the channels (see picture). LiBSi2 is the first example where B and Si atoms form an ordered common framework structure with B engaged exclusively in heteronuclear B-Si contacts.

Structural behavior of the acetylide carbides Li2C2 and CaC2 at high pressure.

The effects of high pressure (up to 30 GPa) on the structural properties of lithium and calcium carbide, Li(2)C(2) and CaC(2), were studied at room temperature by Raman spectroscopy in a diamond anvil cell. Both carbides consist of C(2) dumbbells which are coordinated by metal atoms. At standard pressure and temperature two forms of CaC(2) co-exist. Monoclinic CaC(2)-II is not stable at pressures above 2 GPa and tetragonal CaC(2)-I possibly undergoes a minor structural change between 10 and 12 GPa. Orthorhombic Li(2)C(2) transforms to a new structure type at around 15 GPa. At pressures above 18 GPa (CaC(2)) and 25 GPa (Li(2)C(2)) Raman spectra become featureless, and remain featureless upon decompression which suggests an irreversible amorphization of the acetylide carbides. First principles calculations were used to analyze the pressure dependence of Raman mode frequencies and structural stability of Li(2)C(2) and CaC(2). A structure model for the high pressure phase of Li(2)C(2) was searched by applying an evolutionary algorithm.

Simulations of impulsive laser scattering of biological protein assemblies: application to M13 bacteriophage.

We develop a theoretical framework, based on a bond-polarizability model, for simulating the impulsive force experienced on a protein or an assembly of proteins from a pulsed light source by coupling the laser electric field to an atomic distortion. The mechanism is impulsive stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS) where mechanical distortions produce variation in the electronic polarization through atomic displacements similar to vibrational Raman scattering. The magnitude of the impulsive force is determined from the empirical two-body bond-polarizability model and the intensity of the incident light. We apply the method to the M13 bacteriophage protein capsid system by performing several classical molecular-dynamics simulations that include the additional impulsive laser scattering force at various light intensities and pulse widths. The results of the molecular-dynamics simulations are then qualitatively interpreted with a simple harmonic oscillator model driven by ISRS. The intensity of light required to produce damage to the capsid in the simulations was found to be far higher than what was found in recent pulsed laser scattering experiments of M13 phage, suggesting that the observed inactivation of viruses with ultrashort laser pulses involves processes and/or mechanisms not taken into account in the present simulations.

Normalized differential detection by use of smart pixels with smart illumination.

Smart pixels permit rapid signal processing through the use of integrated photodetectors and processing electronics on a single semiconductor chip. Smart pixels with smart illumination can increase the dynamic range and functionality of smart pixels by employing optoelectronic feedback to control the illumination of a scene. This combination of smart pixels and optoelectronic feedback leads to many potential sensor applications, including normalized differential detection, which is modeled and demonstrated here.