16,813 research outputs found
First-principles predicted low-energy structures of NaSc(BH4)4
According to previous interpretations of experimental data, sodium-scandium
double-cation borohydride NaSc(BH) crystallizes in the crystallographic
space group where each sodium (scandium) atom is surrounded by six
scandium (sodium) atoms. A careful investigation of this phase based on
\textit{ab initio} calculations indicates that the structure is dynamically
unstable and gives rise to an energetically and dynamically more favorable
phase with symmetry and nearly identical x-ray diffraction pattern. By
additionally performing extensive structural searches with the minima-hopping
method we discover a class of new low-energy structures exhibiting a novel
structural motif in which each sodium (scandium) atom is surrounded by four
scandium (sodium) atoms arranged at the corners of either a rectangle with
nearly equal sides or a tetrahedron. These new phases are all predicted to be
insulators with band gaps of eV. Finally, we estimate the influence
of these structures on the hydrogen-storage performance of NaSc(BH).Comment: Version publishe
Structural and electronic properties of ScnOm (n=1~3, m=1~2n) clusters: Theoretical study using screened hybrid density functional theory
The structural and electronic properties of small scandium oxide clusters
ScnOm (n = 1 - 3, m = 1 - 2n) are systematically studied within the screened
hybrid density functional theory. It is found that the ground states of these
scandium oxide clusters can be obtained by the sequential oxidation of small
"core" scandium clusters. The fragmentation analysis demonstrates that the ScO,
Sc2O2, Sc2O3, Sc3O3, and Sc3O4 clusters are especially stable. Strong
hybridizations between O-2p and Sc-3d orbitals are found to be the most
significant character around the Fermi level. In comparison with standard
density functional theory calculations, we find that the screened hybrid
density functional theory can correct the wrong symmetries and yield more
precise description for the localized 3d electronic states of scandium.Comment: 8 figure
NLTE study of scandium in the Sun
We investigate the formation of neutral and singly ionized scandium lines in
the solar photospheres. The research is aimed derive solar (Sc) values for scandium lines, which will later be used in
differential abundance analyses of metal-poor stars. Extensive statistical
equilibrium calculations were carried out for a model atom, which comprises 92
terms for \ion{Sc}{i} and 79 for \ion{Sc}{ii}. Photoionization cross-sections
are assumed to be hydrogenic. Synthetic line profiles calculated from the level
populations according to the NLTE departure coefficients were compared with the
observed solar spectral atlas. Hyperfine structure (HFS) broadening is taken
into account. The statistical equilibrium of scandium is dominated by a strong
underpopulation of \ion{Sc}{i} caused by missing strong lines. It is nearly
unaffected by the variation in interaction parameters and only marginally
sensitive to the choice of the solar atmospheric model. Abundance
determinations using the ODF model lead to a solar Sc abundance of between
and 3.13, depending on the choice of values.
The long known difference between photospheric and meteoritic scandium
abundances is confirmed for the experimental -values.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, A&A accepte
Vibrational spectroscopic force field studies of dimethyl sulfoxide and hexakis(dimethyl sulfoxide)scandium(III) iodide, and crystal and solution structure of the hexakis(dimethyl sulfoxide)scandium(III) ion
Hexakis(dimethyl sulfoxide) scandium(III) iodide, [Sc(OS(CH3)(2))(6)]I-3 contains centrosymmetric hexasolvated scandium(III) ions with an Sc-O bond distance of 2.069(3) Angstrom. EXAFS spectra yield a mean Sc-O bond distance of 2.09(1) Angstrom for solvated scandium(III) ions in dimethyl sulfoxide solution, consistent with six-coordination. Raman and infrared absorption spectra have been recorded, also of the deuterated compound, and analysed by means of normal coordinate methods, together with spectra of dimethyl sulfoxide. The effects on the vibrational spectra of the weak intermolecular C-H...O interactions and of the dipole dipole interactions in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide have been evaluated, in particular for the S O stretching mode. The strong Raman band at 1043.6 cm(-1) and the intense IR absorption at 1062.6 cm(-1) have been assigned as the S-O stretching frequencies of the dominating species in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide, evaluated as centrosymmetric dimers with antiparallel polar S-O groups. The shifts of vibrational frequencies and force constants for coordinated dimethyl sulfoxide ligands in hexasolvated trivalent metal ion complexes are discussed. Hexasolvated scandium( III) ions are found in dimethyl sulfoxide solution and in [Sc(OSMe2)(6)]I-3. The iodide ion dipole attraction shifts the methyl group C H stretching frequency for (S-)C-H...I- more than for the intermolecular (S-)C-H...O interactions in liquid dimethyl sulfoxide
Evidence against anomalous compositions for giants in the Galactic Nuclear Star Cluster
Very strong Sc I lines have been found recently in cool M giants in the
Nuclear Star Cluster in the Galactic Center. Interpreting these as anomalously
high scandium abundances in the Galactic Center would imply a unique
enhancement signature and chemical evolution history for nuclear star clusters,
and a potential test for models of chemical enrichment in these objects. We
present high resolution K-band spectra (NIRSPEC/Keck II) of cool M giants
situated in the solar neighborhood and compare them with spectra of M giants in
the Nuclear Star Cluster. We clearly identify strong Sc I lines in our solar
neighborhood sample as well as in the Nuclear Star Cluster sample. The strong
Sc I lines in M giants are therefore not unique to stars in the Nuclear Star
Cluster and we argue that the strong lines are a property of the line formation
process that currently escapes accurate theoretical modeling. We further
conclude that for giant stars with effective temperatures below approximately
3800 K these Sc I lines should not be used for deriving the scandium abundances
in any astrophysical environment until we better understand how these lines are
formed. We also discuss the lines of vanadium, titanium, and yttrium identified
in the spectra, which demonstrate a similar striking increase in strength below
3500 K effective temperature.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
R and D and evaluation of a lightweight, high strength magnesium alloy Quarterly report, 1 Feb. - 1 May 1969
Light weight high strength magnesium scandium allo
Laboratory oscillator strengths of Sc I in the near-infrared region for astrophysical applications
Context. Atomic data is crucial for astrophysical investigations. To
understand the formation and evolution of stars, we need to analyse their
observed spectra. Analysing a spectrum of a star requires information about the
properties of atomic lines, such as wavelengths and oscillator strengths.
However, atomic data of some elements are scarce, particularly in the infrared
region, and this paper is part of an effort to improve the situation on near-IR
atomic data. Aims. This paper investigates the spectrum of neutral scandium, Sc
i, from laboratory measurements and improves the atomic data of Sc i lines in
the infrared region covering lines in R, I, J, and K bands. Especially, we
focus on measuring oscillator strengths for Sc i lines connecting the levels
with 4p and 4s configurations. Methods. We combined experimental branching
fractions with radiative lifetimes from the literature to derive oscillator
strengths (f - values). Intensity-calibrated spectra with high spectral
resolution were recorded with Fourier transform spectrometer from a hollow
cathode discharge lamp. The spectra were used to derive accurate oscillator
strengths and wavelengths for Sc i lines, with emphasis on the infrared region.
Results. This project provides the first set of experimental Sc i lines in the
near-infrared region for accurate spectral analysis of astronomical objects. We
derived 63 log(g f ) values for the lines between 5300{\AA} and 24300{\AA}. The
uncertainties in the f -values vary from 5% to 20%. The small uncertainties in
our values allow for an increased accuracy in astrophysical abundance
determinations.Comment: Accepted on 25 August 2015 by A&
The loss of anisotropy in MgB2 with Sc substitution and its relationship with the critical temperature
The electrical conductivity anisotropy of the sigma-bands is calculated for
the (Mg,Sc)B2 system using a virtual crystal model. Our results reveal that
anisotropy drops with relatively little scandium content (< 30%); this
behaviour coincides with the lowering of Tc and the reduction of the Kohn
anomaly. This anisotropy loss is also found in the Al and C doped systems. In
this work it is argued that the anisotropy, or 2D character, of the sigma-bands
is an important parameter for the understanding of the high Tc found in MgB2
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