Multinuclear NMR as a tool for studying local order and dynamics in CH3NH3PbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) hybrid perovskites

International audienceWe report on Pb, Br, N, H, C and H NMR experiments for studying the local order and dynamics in hybrid perovskite lattices. Pb NMR experiments conducted at room temperature on a series of MAPbX compounds (MA = CHNH; X = Cl, Br and I) showed that the isotropic Pb NMR shift is strongly dependent on the nature of the halogen ions. Therefore Pb NMR appears to be a very promising tool for the characterisation of local order in mixed halogen hybrid perovskites. Pb NMR on MAPbBrI served as a proof of concept. Proton, C and N NMR experiments confirmed the results previously reported in the literature. Low temperature deuterium NMR measurements, down to 25 K, were carried out to investigate the structural phase transitions of MAPbBr. Spectral lineshapes allow following the successive phase transitions of MAPbBr. Finally, quadrupolar NMR lineshapes recorded in the orthorhombic phase were compared with simulated spectra, using DFT calculated electric field gradients (EFG). Computed data do not take into account any temperature effect. Thus, the discrepancy between the calculated and experimental EFG evidences the fact that MA cations are still subject to significant dynamics, even at 25 K

Flux synthesis, crystal structure and electronic properties of the layered rare earth metal boride silicide Er3Si5-xB. An example of a boron/silicon-ordered structure derived from the AlB2 structure type

International audienceThe ternary rare earth metal boride silicide Er3Si5-xB (x = 1.17) was synthesized from the elements using the tin flux method. It crystallizes in a new structure type in the space group R32 (a = 6.5568(1) angstrom, c = 24.5541(1) angstrom, Z = 6). The structural arrangement can be derived from the AlB2 structure type with boron/silicon ordering in the layered metalloid substructure made of [Si5B] hexagons. The presence or absence of the boron atoms involved in this ordered structure is discussed on the basis of difference Fourier syntheses and structural analysis, in relation with the binary parent structures AlB2 and Yb3Si5 (Th3Pd5 type). The electronic and bonding properties of Er3Si5-xB were analyzed and discussed via density functional theory (DFT) calculations and a crystal orbital Hamiltonian population (COHP) bonding analysis

Adsorption of a C10E3 non-ionic surfactant on a Ca-smectite

The transformation of clay minerals into organo-clays by surfactant intercalation is of great environmental and industrial importance because it causes the clay to attract hydrophobic contaminants and other non-polar organic compounds, but a better understanding is needed of the mechanisms by which different classes of surfactants are intercalated. The purpose of this study was to synthesize and characterize an organo-clay comprising triethylene glycol monodecyl ether (CE) non-ionic surfactant, which has a lamellar phase at room temperature, intercalated into Ca-montmorillonite from Wyoming (SWy-2). The CE non-ionic surfactant differed from previous non-ionic surfactants used in the formation of a lamellar phase in that it consisted of the stacking of molecules by hydrophobic interaction. CE-clay composites were characterized by complementary techniques (adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy) and were compared to benzyldimethyltetradecyl ammonium chloride (BDTAC) cationic surfactant-clay composites for different loadings of the surfactant. For large loadings, the amount of CE adsorbed, which can be described by the Langmuir equation, seemed to reach a steady state close to that of the cationic surfactant. The adsorption processes of the two surfactants were different. For the cationic surfactant, the adsorption, as described in the literature, was due to ion exchange between organic cations and Ca counterions. The adsorption of CE did not depend on electrostatic interaction but rather was due to several interaction mechanisms (H-bonding, ion-dipole, and hydrophobic interaction). For both surfactants, the expansion was limited to two adsorbed monolayers parallel to the clay surface. The expansion of the basal spacing to 17 Å suggested a complete dissociation of the CE lamellar phase when adsorbed on the Ca-smectite. Organo-clays made using the non-ionic surfactant were stable, changing the chemical nature of clay to hydrophobic, and allowing for other cations to be exchanged, which has importance in the manufacture of new nanocomposites or geochemical barriers

Influence of precursor on LPCVD polysilicon TFT's characteristics

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Fabrication of deep single trenches from N-type macroporous silicon

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The abundance of H2 in Titan's troposphere from the Cassini CIRS investigation

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Towards Complementary Metal-Oxide -Silicon Thin Film Devices with a New Structure

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