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PurposeDuring the COVID-19 crisis in Victoria, Australia the complexity of school leadership increased greatly for school principals. This study focused on the lived experiences of early career principals in the independent school sector from March to November 2020 in Victoria, Australia. It investigates transformative work that was undertaken by these leaders in leading their schools over a protracted crisis.Design/methodology/approachThe study builds on constructs of crisis leadership, adaptive leadership, agile leadership and emotional intelligence, exploring the leadership approaches undertaken by twenty-two early career principals in Victoria, Australia. Using a narrative inquiry approach, across three temporal points in 2020, storied productions drawn from the findings present four emergent types of emotionally intelligent leadership approaches undertaken by these principals. These leadership approaches are presented as the commander-leader, the conductor-leader, the gardener-leader and the engineer-leader with each approach demonstrating both organisational leadership approaches as well as individual leadership styles used by these principals as they led their schools.FindingsThe findings have direct implications for professional development programs focusing on aspiring principals and early career principals with emphasis on the importance of developing emotionally intelligent skillsets in principals for use during periods of rapid change or high crisis in schools. The findings present insight into the support useful for early career principals in the first five years of principalship.Originality/valueThis study uses a unique emotional intelligence approach to understand school leadership during and after a crisis.

The structural and microstructural responses of a model metal–organic framework material, Ni(3-methyl-4,4′-bipyridine)[Ni(CN)4] (Ni-BpyMe or PICNIC-21), to CO2 adsorption and desorption are reported for in situ small-angle X-ray scattering and X-ray diffraction measurements under different gas pressure conditions for two technologically important cases. These conditions are single or dual gas flow (CO2 with N2, CH4 or H2 at sub-critical CO2 partial pressures and ambient temperatures) and supercritical CO2 (with static pressures and temperatures adjusted to explore the gas, liquid and supercritical fluid regimes on the CO2 phase diagram). The experimental results are compared with density functional theory calculations that seek to predict where CO2 and other gas molecules are accommodated within the sorbent structure as a function of gas pressure conditions, and hence the degree of swelling and contraction in the associated structure spacings and void spaces. These predictions illustrate the insights that can be gained concerning how such sorbents can be designed or modified to optimize the desired gas sorption properties relevant to enhanced gas recovery or to addressing carbon dioxide reduction through carbon mitigation, or even direct air capture of CO2.

We report on the structure and electrical transport of single-crystal Eu2Ga11Sn35, the sole example of a very low cation concentration clathrate-I composition with atypical transport directly attributable to the structure and stoichiometry.

The structure, powder diffraction patterns and bandgap measurements of a series of manganese- and tungsten-containing alkaline-earth double perovskites (CaxSr2−x)MnWO6 (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 1.75) have been investigated. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of this series of compounds measured at room temperature have been submitted to be included in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF). These compounds crystallize in monoclinic space group P21/n (No.14). From (Ca1.75 Sr0.25)MnWO6 to (Ca0.25Sr1.75)MnWO6, lattice parameters a range from 5.6729(2) Å to 5.6774(4) Å, b from 5.5160(2) Å to 5.6638(4) Å, c from 7.8741(3) Å to 8.0051(4) Å, V from 240.39(2) Å3 to 257.410(12) Å3, and Z = 2. These compounds are pseudo-tetragonal. They all consist of distorted MnO6 and WO6 octahedra with rotational mismatch angles and tilt angles with respect to each other. For (CaxSr2−x)MnWO6, as x increases, the mismatch angles for MnO6 octahedra increase from 7.96 (6)° to 13.12(8)° and from 9.28(7)° to 14.87(9)° for WO6 octahedra. Correspondingly, the tilt angles range from 11.60(15)° to 14.20(3)° for MnO6, and from 13.34(2)° to 16.35(3)° for WO6. Bandgap measurements suggest that these compounds to be direct-allowed semiconductors with bandgaps ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 eV, indicating that members of (CaxSr2−x)MnWO6 are potential photocatalysts and photovoltaic materials that absorb visible light of the solar spectrum.

Polarization and strain tuning of the Rashba spin-texture in quasi-one-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites (MV)AI3Cl2 can be applied in spin field-effect-transistors and photovoltaic cells.

Objective To determine the prevalence of mitochondrial diseases (MD) in Hong Kong (HK) and to evaluate the clinical characteristics and genetic landscape of MD patients in the region. Methods This study retrospectively reviewed the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of MD patients from participating public hospitals in HK between January 1985 to October 2020. Molecularly and/or enzymatically confirmed MD cases of any age were recruited via the Clinical Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) using relevant keywords and/or International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes under the HK Hospital Authority or through the personal recollection of treating clinicians among the investigators. Results A total of 119 MD patients were recruited and analyzed in the study. The point prevalence of MD in HK was 1.02 in 100,000 people (95% confidence interval 0.81–1.28 in 100,000). 110 patients had molecularly proven MD and the other nine were diagnosed by OXPHOS enzymology analysis or mitochondrial DNA depletion analysis with unknown molecular basis. Pathogenic variants in the mitochondrial genome (72 patients) were more prevalent than those in the nuclear genome (38 patients) in our cohort. The most commonly involved organ system at disease onset was the neurological system, in which developmental delay, seizures or epilepsy, and stroke-like episodes were the most frequently reported presentations. The mortality rate in our cohort was 37%. Conclusion This study is a territory-wide overview of the clinical and genetic characteristics of MD patients in a Chinese population, providing the first available prevalence rate of MD in Hong Kong. The findings of this study aim to facilitate future in-depth evaluation of MD and lay the foundation to establish a local MD registry.

We report the development of a high-temperature Seebeck coefficient Standard Reference Material (SRM) for use in instrument validation and interlaboratory data comparison in the temperature range of 295–900 K to support the research, development, and production of materials and devices related to thermoelectric-based energy conversion applications. We describe the synthesis, anneal–quench procedure, and physical characterization of a p-type boron-doped polycrystalline silicon–germanium alloy with a nominal composition of Si80Ge20. For the certification measurements, we describe the measurement protocols, statistical analysis, the certified Seebeck coefficient values, comprehensive uncertainty budgets, and metrological traceability. Our extensive efforts to identify, reduce, and quantify measurement uncertainties will be emphasized. This new SRM complements SRM 3451 Low-Temperature Seebeck Coefficient Standard (10–390 K) to provide certified reference materials traceable to the International System of Units (SI) for Seebeck coefficient measurements within the temperature range 10–900 K.

What can the institutional practices of libraries and museums tell us about the ways in which our culture conceives of knowledge and aesthetics? How might their architectures, and our navigation of...

Porphyrinic compounds are of increasing interest to the materials science community, yet little attention has been paid to crystallographically controlled voids and channels in these materials. We have conducted an initial survey of the voids and channels in a random subset of 1000 porphyrinic compounds with known crystal structures. From calculations using a rolling-probe subroutine, we have found that about 5% of these compounds have line-of-sight channels, which differ in their topology depending on the crystallography. A small but significant number of porphyrinic compounds have calculated void contents of >25 volume %. We discuss in detail the void and channel characteristics, including pore-size distribution, of four representative compounds, with technological implications.

Sr2Nb10O27 and Sr2Ta10−xO27−y exhibit the tripled tetragonal-tungsten-bronze (TTTB)-related superstructures. In contrast to Sr2Ta10−xO27−y, where an extended solid solution was found, Sr2Nb10O27 only forms a narrow range of solid solution, Sr1−xNb10O27−z (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.04). Serial X-ray and neutron diffraction studies show that both compounds can be modelled in the orthorhombic Pba2 space group. Lattice parameters obtained from powder X-ray refinements are a = 12.3887(14) A, b = 37.103(4) A, c = 3.866(2) A, for Sr2Ta10−xO27−y, and a = 12.3888(2) A, b = 36.9839(5) A, and c = 3.94027(3) A for Sr2Nb10O27. Neutron Rietveld refinements of both structures revealed the possible reason for the differing solid solution behavior. For Sr2Nb10O27, all Nb sites are fully occupied, whereas in Sr2Ta10−xO27−y, three out of the nine crystallographically unique Ta sites were shown to be partially occupied. Charge adjustment is therefore possible by increasing the Sr concentration, leading to a solid solution series and smaller Ta/Sr ratio as compared to Sr2Nb10O27. In the TTTB-related structures, Nb and Ta ions both occupy octahedral and pentagonal bipyramidal coordination sites. Layers of interconnected corner-shared octahedra were found parallel to the ab plane, with 3-, 4- and 5-fold tunnels found in the structure running parallel to the c-axis. Sr ions partially fill the 4- and 5-fold tunnels.

Powder X-ray diffraction patterns for three forms of MIL-53(Al), a metal organic framework (MOF) compound with breathing characteristics, were investigated using the Rietveld refinement method. These three samples are referred to as the MIL-53(Al)as-syn (the as synthesized sample), orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 17.064(2) Å, b = 6.6069(9) Å, c = 12.1636(13) Å, V = 1371.3(2) Å3, Z = 4), MIL-53(Al)LT-H (low-temperature hydrated phase, monoclinic P21/c, a = 19.4993(8) Å, b = 15.2347(6) Å, c = 6.5687(3) Å, β = 104.219(4) °, V = 1891.55(10) Å3, Z = 8), and MIL-53(Al)HT-D (high-temperature dehydrated phase, Imma, a = 6.6324(5) Å, b = 16.736(2) Å, c = 12.840(2), V = 1425.2(2) Å3, Z = 4). The crystal structures of the “as-syn” sample and the HT-D sample are confirmed to be the commonly adopted ones. However, the structure of the MIL-53(Al)LT-H phase is confirmed to be monoclinic with a space group of P21/c instead of the commonly accepted space group Cc, resulting in a cell volume double in size. The structure has two slightly different types of channel. The pore volumes and pore surface area were estimated to be 0.11766 (8) cm3/g and 1461.3(10) m2/g for MIL-53(Al)HT-D (high-temperature dehydrated phase), and 0.08628 (5) cm3/g and 1401.6 (10) m2/g for MIL-53(Al)as-syn phases, respectively. The powder patterns for the MIL-53(Al)as-syn and MIL-53(Al)HT-D phases are reported in this paper.

The phase equilibrium diagram of the CaO-½Ho2O3-CoOz system was determined at 885 °C in air. This diagram offers compatibility relationships in the ternary oxide system that are essential for processing and for the understanding of properties of several thermoelectric phases in the system. Four three-phase regions and three solid solution tie-line regions were determined in the CaO-½Ho2O3-CoOz system. In the CaO-Ho2O3 system, while a small solid solution region was identified for (Ho1-xCax)O(3-z)/2 (0 ≤x ≤ 0.14), Ho was not present in the Ca site of CaO. Neither the reported Ho2CoO4 phase in the Ho2O-CoOz system nor the Ca-doped (Ho1+xCa1-x)CoO4-z phase was present at 885 °C. No solid solution of the distorted perovskite, (Ho1-xCax)CoO3-z, was established at this temperature. The CaO-CoOz system consists of two calcium cobaltate thermoelectric compounds. The 2D thermoelectric oxide, (Ca3-xHox)Co4O9-z (0 ≤x ≤ 0.5), has a misfit layered structure, and the 1D Ca3Co2O6 consists of chains of alternating CoO6 trigonal prisms and CoO6 octahedra. Ca3Co2O6 was found to be a stoichiometric compound. A comparison of the phase diagrams of the CaO-½R2O3-CoOz (R = La, Nd, Eu, and Ho) systems is given.

Ruddlesden-Popper layered Ca3Ti2O7 (CTO) and Ca2.85Na0.15Ti2O7 (CNTO) ceramics were successfully prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction process. The ferroelectric coercive field greatly decreased via Na doping. Interestingly, a diode-like electric transport effect was observed in the CNTO sample, which is most likely due to a newly formed p-n junction caused by the applied electric field. Optical characterization by UV–visible absorption showed a decrease of band gap from 3.55 to 3.41eV via Na doping. First-principles calculation showed a similar decreasing trend which confirmed the experimental results.

Synchrotron X-ray single crystal structure determination of two 2D Hofmann-related compounds, [Ni(p-Xylyenediamine)n-tetracyanonickelate] (abbreviated as Ni-pXdam) and [Ni(tetrafluoro-p-Xylyenediamine)n-tetracyanonickelate] (abbreviated as Ni-pXdamF4), have been conducted. Both the pXdam and pXdamF4 ligands contain two short chains of -CH2NH2 at the para-positions of a phenyl ring. These flexible chains link the 6-fold coordinated Ni2 sites throughout the network. In Ni-pXdam, the closed-2D network of [Ni-(CN-Ni1/4-)4]∞ is broken into 1D chains, leaving the C≡N groups at the trans-positions of the Ni(CN)4 moiety unbridged. The resulting 1D chains [(trans-)-NC-Ni(CN)2-CN-Ni-]∞ runs along the [010] direction of the unit cell. The pXdam ligands bridge in pair between the Ni atoms of the adjacent chains. The catenation structure of [Ni{(pXdam)}]∞ could be referred to as double -1D. In Ni-pXdamF4, the -CH2NH2 ligands connect the neighboring chains via the 6-fold Ni2 site. Surrounding the 4-fold Ni1 site, the two trans terminal C≡N groups were replaced by the Lewis base NH3 during the synthesis process, therefore preventing the propagation of the 2D net to form a 3D network. Computed pore volume of both compounds indicated that there is not sufficient space in the structure to accommodate gas molecules. In both compounds, hydrogen bonds were found, and solvent of crystallization was absent due to the limited free space in the structure.

The crystal structure and powder patterns were prepared for the distorted perovskite series R(Co3/4Ti1/4)O3 (R = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho). The R(Co3/4Ti1/4)O3 members are isostructural with each other and are crystallized in the orthorhombic crystal system with space group Pnma, Z = 4. From R = La to Ho, the lattice parameters a range from 5.4614(3) to 5.5368(2) Å, b range from 7.7442(4) to 7.4859(2) Å, and c range from 5.5046(3) to 5.2170(2) Å. The unit-cell volumes, V which range from 232.81(2) to 216.237(11) Å3 follow the trend of “lanthanide contraction”. The structure distortion of these compounds is evidenced in the tilt angles θ, ϕ, and ω, which represent rotations of an octahedron about the pseudo-cubic perovskite [110]p, [001]p and [111]p axes. All three tilt angles increase across the lanthanide series (for R = La to R = Ho: θ increases from 8.34° to 17.00°, ϕ from 6.24° to 8.53°, and ω from 10.41° to 18.96°), indicating a greater octahedral distortion as the ionic radius of R3+ [r(R3+)] decreases. The bond valence sum values for the (Co/Ti) site and the R site of R(Co3/4Ti1/4)O3 reveal no significant bond strain in these compounds. X-ray diffraction patterns of the R(Co3/4Ti1/4)O3 samples were submitted to the Powder Diffraction File.

The crystal structures, solid solution limit, and powder X-ray reference diffraction patterns for two ‘natural superlattice’ series Bi1-xBaxCuOSe (x = 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3), and Bi1-xCaxCuOSe (x = 0, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) have been determined. The structure/property relationships of these thermoelectric materials are summarized. As the ionic radius of Ba2+ is greater than that of Bi3+, the unit cell volume, V, of Bi1-xBaxCuOSe increases progressively from x = 0 to x = 0.2 (from 137.868 (5) A3 to 141.194 (10) A3, respectively). However, even though the ionic radius of Ca2+ is smaller than that of Bi3+, the unit cell volumes, V, of Bi1-xCaxCuOSe also show an increasing trend as a function of x (137.868 (5) A3 to 139.295 (12) A3 from x = 0 to 0.3, respectively) due to the relatively large increase in c parameter. The structure of Bi1-xAxCuOSe (A = Ba and Ca) can be considered as built from [Bi2(1-x)A2xO2]2(1−x)+ layers normal to the c-axis alternating with fluorite-like [Cu2Se2]2(1−x)- layers in the c-direction. The substitutions of Ba and Ca on the Bi site of Bi1-xAxCuOSe lead to the weakening of the ‘bonding’ between the [Bi2(1-x)A2xO2]2(1−x)+ and the [Cu2Se2]2(1−x)- layers (a decrease of Columbic force), resulting in an increase of the c-axis parameter and V. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of Bi1-xAxCuOSe were submitted for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).

Crystal structures and X-ray reference powder diffraction patterns have been determined for the Ba12Nb8-xTaxCo4O36 (x = 1, 3, 4, 5, 7) series. Ba12Nb8-xTaxCo4O36 crystallize in the cubic perovskite structure with a space group Pm 3 ¯ m (No. 221) and the lattice parameter increasing from a = 4.08732(3) A to a = 4.08894 (2) A as x varies from 1 to 7. The Goldschmidt distortion parameter for the entire series is about 1.05 (1.0488–1.0506), being similar to that of the cubic end member Ba3Nb2CoO9. Transmission electron microscopy of the composition Ba12Nb4Ta4Co4O36 (or Ba3(NbTaCo)O9) revealed nanoscale 1:2 ordering of Nb/Ta and Co, manifested in the presence of the diffuse superlattice reflections. As this ordering is limited to short range, the average structures were still refined assuming the ideal-perovskite cubic symmetry. X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the studied compounds have been submitted to the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).

A combinatorial film of the LaCo1-xCrxO3 system was fabricated using the LaCoO3 and LaCrO3 targets at the NIST Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) facility. As the ionic size of Cr3+ is greater than that of Co3+, the unit cell volume of the series increases with increasing x. Using a custom screening tool, the Seebeck coefficient of LaCo1-xCrxO3 approaches a measured maximum of 286 μV/K, near to the cobalt-rich end of the film library (with x ≈ 0.49). The resistivity value increases continuously with increasing x. The measured power factor, PF, of this series, which is related to the efficiency of energy conversion, also exhibits a maximum at the composition of x ≈ 0.49, which corresponds to the maximum value of the Seebeck coefficient. Our results illustrate the efficiency of applying the high-throughput combinatorial technique to study thermoelectric materials.

The structure of a series of lanthanide iron cobalt perovskite oxides, R(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, and Gd), have been investigated. The space group of these compounds was confirmed to be orthorhombic Pnma (No. 62), Z = 4. From Pr to Gd, the lattice parameter a varies from 5.466 35(13) Å to 5.507 10(13) Å, b from 7.7018(2) to 7.561 75(13) Å, c from 5.443 38(10) to 5.292 00(8) Å, and unit-cell volume V from 229.170(9) Å3 to 220.376(9) Å3, respectively. While the trend of V follows the trend of the lanthanide contraction, the lattice parameter “a” increases as the ionic radius r(R3+) decreases. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy confirm that Fe and Co are disordered over the octahedral sites. The structure distortion of these compounds is evidenced in the tilt angles θ, ϕ, and ω, which represent rotations of an octahedron about the pseudocubic perovskite [110]p, [001]p, and [111]p axes. All three tilt angles increase across the lanthanide series (for R = Pr to R = Gd: θ increases from 12.3° to 15.2°, ϕ from 7.5° to 15.8°, and ω from 14.4° to 21.7°), indicating a greater octahedral distortion as r(R3+) decreases. The bond valence sum for the sixfold (Fe/Co) site and the eightfold R site of R(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 reveal no significant bond strain. Density Functional Theory calculations for Pr(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 support the disorder of Fe and Co and suggest that this compound to be a narrow band gap semiconductor. XRD patterns of the R(Fe0.5Co0.5)O3 samples were submitted to the Powder Diffraction File.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) are of broadening research interest due to their novel physical, electrical, and thermoelectric properties. Having the chemical formula MX 2, where M is a transition metal and X is a chalcogen, there are many possible combinations to consider for materials-by-design exploration. By identifying novel compositions and utilizing the lower dimensionality, which allows for improved thermoelectric performance (e.g., increased Seebeck coefficients without sacrificing electron concentration), MX 2 materials are promising candidates for thermoelectric applications. However, to develop these materials into wide-scale use, it is crucial to comprehensively understand the compositional affects. This work investigates the structure, electronic, and phonon properties of 18 different MX 2 materials compositions as a benchmark to explore the impact of various elements. There is significant correlation between properties of constituent transition metals (atomic mass and radius) and the structure/properties of the corresponding 2D-TMDs. As the mass of M increases, the n-type power factor and phonon frequency gap increases. Similarly, increases in the radius of M lead to increased layer thickness and Seebeck coefficient S. Our results identify key factors to optimize MX 2 compositions for desired performance.

The CaO-½Eu 2 O 3 -CoO z system prepared at 885 °C in air consists of two calcium cobaltate compounds, namely, the 2D thermoelectric oxide solid solution, (Ca 3−x Eu x )Co 4 O 9−z (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) which has a misfit layered structure, and the 1D Ca 3 Co 2 O 6 compound which consists of chains of alternating CoO 6 trigonal prisms and CoO 6 octahedra. Ca 3 Co 2 O 6 was found to be a point compound without the substitution of Eu on the Ca site when prepared at 885 °C. A solid solution region of distorted perovskite, (Eu 1−x Ca x )CoO 3−z (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.22, space group Pnma ) was established. The (Eu 0.91(1) Ca 0.09(1) )CoO 3−z perovskite member has a distorted structure with tilt angles θ (17.37°), ϕ (8.20°), and ω (19.16°) which represent rotations of an octahedron about the pseudo-cubic perovskite [110] p , [001] p and [111] p axes. The reported Eu 2 CoO 4 phase was not observed at 885 °C, but a ternary Ca-doped oxide, (Eu 1+x Ca 1−x )CoO 4−z ( Bmab ) where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.10 was found to be stable at this temperature. In the peripheral binary systems, Eu was not present in the Ca site of CaO, while a small solid solution region was identified for (Eu 1−x Ca x )O (3−z)/2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05). Seven solid solution tie-line regions and six three-phase regions were determined in the CaO-½Eu 2 O 3 -CoO z system in air.

The structures and powder X-ray reference diffraction patterns of the “natural superlattice” series Bi1−xPbxOCuSe (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10) have been investigated. As the ionic radius of Pb2+ is greater than that of Bi3+, the unit-cell volume of Bi1−xPbxOCuSe increases progressively from x = 0 to 0.1, namely, from 137.868(5) to 139.172(11) Å3, as expected. The structure of Bi1−xPbxOCuSe is built from [Bi2(1−x)Pb2xO2]2(1−x)+ layers normal to the c-axis alternating with [Cu2Se2]2(1−x)− fluorite-like layers. Pb substitution in the Bi site of Bi1−xPbxOCuSe leads to the weakening of the “bonding” between the [Bi2(1−x)Pb2xO2]2(1−x)+ and the [Cu2Se2]2(1−x)− layers. Powder patterns of Bi1−xPbxOCuSe were submitted to be included in the Powder Diffraction File.

X-ray data of a powder sample of α-chlorohemin (a member of the porphyrin family), C34H32ClFeN4O4, was collected using synchrotron radiation at the Advanced Photon Source (APS, Argonne National Laboratory). Rietveld Refinement and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed for obtaining the structure including positions of hydrogen atoms. The structure was found to be P 1 ¯ , Z = 2; at 100K the lattice parameters are a = 11.22468(6) A, b = 13.93930(8) A, c = 10.79818(9) A, α = 99.6672(6)°, β = 108.4124(8)°, γ = 106.7175(6)°, and V = 1471.713(19) A3, and at 295K, a = 11.43217(7) A, b = 14.06412(10) A, c = 10.85390(9) A, α = 98.6655(7)°, β = 108.6294(8)°, γ = 107.5025(7)°, and V = 1517.21(2) A3, Dx = 1.427 g/cm3. Experimental reference X-ray patterns have also been determined, which will be included in the Powder Diffraction File (PDF).

The chartreuse monoclinic Ni-dpbz (Ni(L)[Ni(CN) 4 ], (L = 1,4-Bis(4-pyridyl)benzene, or dpbz) crystal assumes a pillared structure with layers defined by 2-D Ni[Ni(CN) 4 ] n nets and dpbz ligands as pillars, linking between coordinated Ni sites. In addition to the hysteretic adsorption/desorption feature of Ni-dpbz, in half of the parallelepiped-shape space enclosed by the pillars and nets, an additional dpbz ligand was found to link between the open ends of two four-fold Ni sites. This arrangement results in an unusual 5-fold pseudo square-pyramid environment for Ni and a significantly long Ni–N distance of 2.369(4) A. The presence of disordered dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvent molecules give rise to the formula of Ni(dpbz)[Ni(CN) 4 ]·½dpbz·0.44DMSO. Sorption isotherms showed flexible behavior during the adsorption and desorption of CO 2 .

Ambient-temperature capture of CO2 by the metal-organic framework Cu3(BTC)2 (BTC ≡ 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate), known as HKUST-1, has been studied in situ in a laboratory X-ray powder diffractometer under gas-flowing conditions. The diffraction patterns were collected at partial pressures of CO2 ( p C O 2 ) ranging from 0.2 bar to 6 bar. Rietveld refinements combined with the difference Fourier maps identified two principal absorption sites, which agreed with the results of previous low-temperature neutron diffraction studies. At ambient temperature, the CO2 molecules on both sites exhibit considerable positional and rotational disorder, which contrasts with their ordered positions determined by neutron diffraction at cryogenic temperatures. The amount of the adsorbed CO2 increased continuously with increasing p C O 2 and reached ≈1.8 CO2 molecules per Cu atom at p C O 2 = 6 bar. The results of this work, while providing new insights into the CO2 adsorption of HKUST-1, demonstrate that laboratory X-ray powder diffraction can be successfully used to identify locations of CO2 molecules during in situ gas-adsorption experiments.

The CaO-½Gd2O3-CoOz system prepared at 885 °C in air consists of two thermoelectric calcium cobaltate compounds, namely, the 2D thermoelectric oxide solid solution, (Ca3-xGdx)Co4O9-z (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.42) which has a misfit layered structure, and the 1D Ca3Co2O6 compound which consists of chains of alternating CoO6 trigonal prisms and CoO6 octahedra. Ca3Co2O6 was found to be a point compound. In the peripheral binary systems, Gd was not present in the Ca site of CaO, while a small solid solution region was identified for (Gd1-xCax)O(3-z)/2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.075). A solid solution region of distorted perovskite, (Gd1-xCax)CoO3-z (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.24, space group Pnma) was established. The structure of a member of the solid solution, (Gd0.92Ca0.08)CoO3-z, was determined using high resolution synchrotron radiation. A ternary oxide compound CaGdCoO4-z which has an orthorhombic structure (Bmab) was found to be stable at this temperature. Five solid solution tie-line regions and six three-phase regions were determined in the CaO-½Gd2O3-CoOz system. A comparison of the phase diagrams of the CaO-½R2O3-CoOz (R = La, Sm and Gd) systems is provided.

Results are presented that explore the dynamic structural changes occurring in two highly flexible nanocrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds during the adsorption and desorption of pure gases and binary mixtures. The Ni(1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene)[Ni(CN)4] and catena-bis(dibenzoylmethanato)-(4,4′-bipyridyl)nickel(II) chosen for this study are 3-D and 1-D porous coordination polymers (PCP) with a similar gate opening pressure response for CO2 isotherms at 303 K, but with differing degrees of flexibility for structural change to accommodate guest molecules. As such, they serve as a potential model system for evaluating the complex kinetics associated with dynamic structure changes occurring in response to gas adsorption in flexible MOF systems. Insights into the crystallographic changes occurring as the MOF pore structure expands and contracts in response to interactions with CO2, N2, and CO2/N2 mixtures have been obtained from in situ small-angle neutron scattering and neutron diffraction, combined with ex situ X-ray diffraction structure measurements. The role of structure in carbon capture functionality is discussed with reference to the ongoing characterization challenges and a possible materials-by-design approach.

X-ray structural characterization and X-ray reference powder patterns have been determined for two series of iron- and cobalt-containing layered compounds (BaxSr1−x)2Co2Fe12O22 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) and (BaxSr1−x)Co2Fe16O27 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8). The (BaxSr1−x)2Co2Fe12O22 series of compounds crystallized in the space group R$\bar 3$m (No. 166), with Z = 3. The structure is essentially that of the Y-type hexagonal ferrite, BaM2+Fe63+O11. The lattice parameters range from a = 5.859 15(8) to 5.843 72(8) Å, and c = 43.4975(9) to 43.3516(9) Å for x = 0.2 to 0.8, respectively. The (BaxSr1−x)Co2Fe16O27 series (W-type hexagonal ferrite) crystallized in the space group P63/mmc (No. 194) and Z = 2. The lattice parameters range from a = 5.902 05(12) to 5.8979(2) Å and c = 32.9002(10) to 32.8110(13) Å for x = 0.2 to 0.8. Results of measurements of the Seebeck coefficient and resistivity of these two sets of samples indicated that they are insulators. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns of these two series of compounds have been submitted to be included in the Powder Diffraction File.