Phonon transport properties of particulate physical gels.

Particulate physical gels are sparse, low-density amorphous materials in which clusters of glasses are connected to form a heterogeneous network structure. This structure is characterized by two length scales, ξs and ξG: ξs measures the length of heterogeneities in the network structure and ξG is the size of glassy clusters. Accordingly, the vibrational states (eigenmodes) of such a material also exhibit a multiscale nature with two characteristic frequencies, ω* and ωG, which are associated with ξs and ξG, respectively: (i) phonon-like vibrations in the homogeneous medium at ω<ω*, (ii) phonon-like vibrations in the heterogeneous medium at ω*<ω<ωG, and (iii) disordered vibrations in the glassy clusters at ω > ωG. Here, we demonstrate that the multiscale characteristics seen in the static structures and vibrational states also extend to the phonon transport properties. Phonon transport exhibits two distinct crossovers at frequencies ω* and ωG (or at wavenumbers of ∼ξs -1 and ∼ξG -1). In particular, both transverse and longitudinal phonons cross over between Rayleigh scattering at ω<ω* and diffusive damping at ω>ω*. Remarkably, the Ioffe-Regel limit is located at the very low frequency of ω*. Thus, phonon transport is localized above ω*, even where phonon-like vibrational states persist. This markedly strong scattering behavior is caused by the sparse, porous structure of the gel.

Structural, mechanical, and vibrational properties of particulate physical gels.

Our lives are surrounded by a rich assortment of disordered materials. In particular, glasses are well known as dense, amorphous materials, whereas gels exist in low-density, disordered states. Recent progress has provided a significant step forward in understanding the material properties of glasses, such as mechanical, vibrational, and transport properties. In contrast, our understanding of particulate physical gels is still highly limited. Here, using molecular dynamics simulations, we study a simple model of particulate physical gels, the Lennard-Jones (LJ) gels, and provide a comprehensive understanding of their structural, mechanical, and vibrational properties, all of which are markedly different from those of LJ glasses. First, the LJ gels show sparse, heterogeneous structures, and the length scale ξs of the structures grows as the density is lowered. Second, the LJ gels are extremely soft, with both shear G and bulk K moduli being orders of magnitude smaller than those of LJ glasses. Third, many low-frequency vibrational modes are excited, which form a characteristic plateau with the onset frequency ω* in the vibrational density of states. Structural, mechanical, and vibrational properties, characterized by ξs, G, K, and ω*, respectively, show power-law scaling behaviors with the density, which establishes a close relationship between them. Throughout this work, we also reveal that LJ gels are multiscale, solid-state materials: (i) homogeneous elastic bodies at long lengths, (ii) heterogeneous elastic bodies with fractal structures at intermediate lengths, and (iii) amorphous structural bodies at short lengths.

D2d(23)-C84 versus Sc2C2@D2d(23)-C84: Impact of Endohedral Sc2C2 Doping on Chemical Reactivity in the Photolysis of Diazirine.

We compared the chemical reactivity of D2d(23)-C84 and that of Sc2C2@D2d(23)-C84, both having the same carbon cage geometry, in the photolysis of 2-adamantane-2,3'-[3H]-diazirine, to clarify metal-atom doping effects on the chemical reactivity of the carbon cage. Experimental and computational studies have revealed that the chemical reactivity of the D2d(23)-C84 carbon cage is altered drastically by endohedral Sc2C2 doping. The reaction of empty D2d(23)-C84 with the diazirine under photoirradiation yields two adamantylidene (Ad) adducts. NMR spectroscopic studies revealed that the major Ad monoadduct (C84(Ad)-A) has a fulleroid structure and that the minor Ad monoadduct (C84(Ad)-B) has a methanofullerene structure. The latter was also characterized using X-ray crystallography. C84(Ad)-A is stable under photoirradiation, but it interconverted to C84(Ad)-B by heating at 80 °C. In contrast, the reaction of endohedral Sc2C2@D2d(23)-C84 with diazirine under photoirradiation affords four Ad monoadducts (Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-A, Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-B, Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-C, and Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-D). The structure of Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-C was characterized using X-ray crystallography. Thermal interconversion of Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-A and Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-B to Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-C was also observed. The reaction mechanisms of the Ad addition and thermal interconversion were elucidated from theoretical calculations. Calculation results suggest that C84(Ad)-B and Sc2C2@C84(Ad)-C are thermodynamically favorable products. Their different chemical reactivities derive from Sc2C2 doping, which raises the HOMO and LUMO levels of the D2d(23)-C84 carbon cage.

Exceptional chemical properties of Sc@C(2v)(9)-C82 probed with adamantylidene carbene.

It has been an interesting finding that reactions of M@C(2v)(9)-C(82) (M = Y, La, Ce, Gd) with diazirine adamantylidene (AdN(2), 1) gave rise to only two monoadduct isomers, indicating that the cage reactivity of monometallofullerenes is not dependent on the type of the internal metal. However, we found here that Sc@C(2v)(9)-C(82) shows an exceptional chemical reactivity toward the electrophile 1, affording four monoadduct isomers (2a-d). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallographic results of the most abundant isomer (2a) confirm that the addition takes place at a [6,6]-bond junction which is very close to the internal metal ion. Theoretical calculations reveal that 2 out of the 24 nonequivalent cage carbons of Sc@C(2v)(9)-C(82) are highly reactive toward 1, but only one cage carbon of the other M@C(2v)-C(82) (M = Y, La, Ce, Gd) is sufficiently reactive. The exceptional chemical property of Sc@C(2v)(9)-C(82) is associated with the small ionic radius of Sc(3+), which allows stronger metal-cage interactions and makes back-donation of charge from the cage to the metal more pronounced. Our results have provided new insights into the art of altering the chemical properties of fullerene molecules at the atomic level, which would be useful in the future in utilizing EMFs in quantum computing systems.

X-ray structures of Sc2C2@C2n (n = 40-42): in-depth understanding of the core-shell interplay in carbide cluster metallofullerenes.

X-ray analyses of the cocrystals of a series of carbide cluster metallofullerenes Sc(2)C(2)@C(2n) (n = 40-42) with cobalt(II) octaethylporphyrin present new insights into the molecular structures and cluster-cage interactions of these less-explored species. Along with the unambiguous identification of the cage structures for the three isomers of Sc(2)C(2)@C(2v)(5)-C(80), Sc(2)C(2)@C(3v)(8)-C(82), and Sc(2)C(2)@D(2d)(23)-C(84), a clear correlation between the cluster strain and cage size is observed in this series: Sc-Sc distances and dihedral angles of the bent cluster increase along with cage expansion, indicating that the bending strain within the cluster makes it pursue a planar structure to the greatest degree possible. However, the C-C distances within Sc(2)C(2) remain unchanged when the cage expands, perhaps because of the unusual bent structure of the cluster, preventing contact between the cage and the C(2) unit. Moreover, analyses revealed that larger cages provide more space for the cluster to rotate. The preferential formation of cluster endohedral metallofullerenes for scandium might be associated with its small ionic radius and the strong coordination ability as well.

Air- and moisture-stable p-monothiobenzoquinones incorporated in an octaalkyl-s-hydrindacene skeleton.

p-Monothiobenzoquinones incorporated in a fused-ring octaalkyl-s-hydrindacene skeleton have been synthesized as air- and moisture-stable reddish orange crystals by the oxidation of mercaptophenol derivatives with DDQ, which have been characterized by X-ray crystallography to show a planar quinoid framework.