Chemistry of layered d-metal pnictide oxides and their potential as candidates for new superconductors

Layered d-metal pnictide oxides are a unique class of compounds which consists of characteristic d-metal pnictide layers and metal oxide layers. More than 100 of these layered compounds, including the recently discovered Fe-based superconducting pnictide oxides, can be classified into 9 structure types. These structure types and the chemical and physical properties of the characteristic d-metal pnictide layers and metal oxide layers of the layered d-metal pnictide oxides are reviewed and discussed. Furthermore, possible approaches to design new superconductors based on these layered d-metal pnictide oxides are proposed.Comment: 29 pages including 6 tables and 2 figure

Selective Optical Control of Synaptic Transmission in the Subcortical Visual Pathway by Activation of Viral Vector-Expressed Halorhodopsin

The superficial layer of the superior colliculus (sSC) receives visual inputs via two different pathways: from the retina and the primary visual cortex. However, the functional significance of each input for the operation of the sSC circuit remains to be identified. As a first step toward understanding the functional role of each of these inputs, we developed an optogenetic method to specifically suppress the synaptic transmission in the retino-tectal pathway. We introduced enhanced halorhodopsin (eNpHR), a yellow light-sensitive, membrane-targeting chloride pump, into mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by intravitreously injecting an adeno-associated virus serotype-2 vector carrying the CMV-eNpHR-EYFP construct. Several weeks after the injection, whole-cell recordings made from sSC neurons in slice preparations revealed that yellow laser illumination of the eNpHR-expressing retino-tectal axons, putatively synapsing onto the recorded cells, effectively inhibited EPSCs evoked by electrical stimulation of the optic nerve layer. We also showed that sSC spike activities elicited by visual stimulation were significantly reduced by laser illumination of the sSC in anesthetized mice. These results indicate that photo-activation of eNpHR expressed in RGC axons enables selective blockade of retino-tectal synaptic transmission. The method established here can most likely be applied to a variety of brain regions for studying the function of individual inputs to these regions

TOPICAL REVIEW Chemistry of layered d-metal pnictide oxides and their potential as candidates for new superconductors

Layered d-metal pnictide oxides are a unique class of compounds which consist of characteristic d-metal pnictide layers and metal oxide layers. More than 100 of these layered compounds, including the recently discovered Fe-based superconducting pnictide oxides, can be classified into nine structure types. These structure types and the chemical and physical properties of the characteristic d-metal pnictide layers and metal oxide layers of the layered d-metal pnictide oxides are reviewed and discussed. Furthermore, possible approaches to design new superconductors based on these layered d-metal pnictide oxides are proposed

Exploration of Mid-Temperature Alkali-Metal-Ion Extraction Route Using PTFE (AEP): Transformation of α-NaFeO₂-Type Layered Oxides into Rutile-Type Binary Oxides

Alkali-metal-ion extraction reactions using poly­(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE; AEP reactions) were performed on two kinds of α-NaFeO₂-type layered compounds: Na_0.68(Li_0.68/3Ti_1–0.68/3)­O₂ and K_0.70(Li_0.70/3Sn_1–0.70/3)­O₂. At 400 °C in flowing argon, these layered compounds were reacted with PTFE. By these reactions, alkali-metal ions in the layered compounds were successfully extracted, and TiO₂ and SnO₂ with rutile-type structure were formed. The structural similarity between the alkali-metal-ion-extracted layered compounds and the binary metal oxide products in these unique alkali-metal-ion extraction reactions was interpreted in terms of their interatomic distance distribution by atomic pair distribution function analysis. The results of this study indicate that PTFE is an effective agent to extract alkali-metal ions from layered compounds, and AEP reaction is not limited to the previously reported γ-FeOOH-type layered titania K_0.8(Li_0.27Ti_1.73)­O₄, but is also applicable to other layered titania and other non-titanium-based layered metal oxides. Therefore, it was clarified that AEP reactions are widely applicable routes to prepare various compounds, including those that are difficult to synthesize by other reactions

Soft-Chemical Exfoliation of RbSrNb₂O₆F into Homogeneously Unilamellar Oxyfluoride Nanosheets

Interlayer Rb⁺ of the perovskite-type layered oxyfluoride RbSrNb₂O₆F was ion-exchanged with H⁺, and the protonated phase was reacted with aqueous solution of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide to exfoliate it into nanosheets. The resulting nanosheet suspension exhibits Tyndall scattering of a laser beam, indicating its colloidal nature. Elemental composition of the nanosheet was estimated as Sr_0.98Nb₂O₆F_0.97^δ−, which was quite close to that of the layer unit of the precursor. The homogeneously unilamellar nature of this nanosheet was confirmed by atomic force and transmission electron microscopy observations and X-ray scattering results. The optical absorption edge of the nanosheet suspension was observed around at 293 nm, and two well-defined peaks with their maxima at 229 and 278 nm were observed. Furthermore, the aqueous suspension of the nanosheet exhibits fluorescence emission in the UV-blue region. These properties of the oxyfluoride nanosheets are quite different from those of its oxide analogues without F^–, such as LnNb₂O₇^– nanosheets (Ln = La³⁺, Eu³⁺, Sm³⁺), suggesting that anion-site replacement of oxide nanosheets can be utilized to optimize or induce various properties

RbBiNb₂O₇: A New Lead-Free High‑<i>T</i>_c Ferroelectric

RbBiNb₂O₇: A New Lead-Free High‑<i>T</i>_c Ferroelectri

X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Studies of Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ and Yb₁₄ZnSb₁₁

Measurements of core and valence electronic states of single crystals of the rare earth transition metal Zintl phases Yb14MnSb11 and Yb14ZnSb11 were performed using the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy station of Beamline 7 at the Advanced Light Source. Sample surfaces of Yb14MnSb11 and Yb14ZnSb11 were measured as received, after Ar+ ion bombardment, and after cleaving in situ. The single crystal structure of Yb14ZnSb11 is also reported. Both compounds are air-sensitive and show Yb3+ due to surface oxidation. In the case of Yb14MnSb11, there is no evidence for Yb3+ that would be intrinsic to the sample, consistent with previously reported X-ray magnetic circular dichroism studies. Detailed analyses of the Yb14ZnSb11 surfaces reveal a significant contribution of both Yb3+ and Yb2+ 4f states in the valence band region. This result is predicted for the Zn analog by Zintl counting rules and support the mixed valency of Yb for Yb14ZnSb11. Further detailed analysis of the core and valence band structure of both Yb14MnSb11 and Yb14ZnSb11 is presented