A new layered oxypnictide (Fe 2 P 2 )(Sr 4 Sc 2 O 6 ) have been synthesized by solid-state reaction. This material has an alternating layer stacking structure of anti-fluorite Fe 2 P 2 and perovskite-based Sr 4 Sc 2 O 6 oxide layers. Space group of the material is P4/nmm and lattice constants a and c are 4.016 Å and 15.543 Å, respectively. The interlayer Fe-Fe distance corresponding to the c-axis length is the longest ever reported in the iron-based oxypnictide systems. In both magnetization and resistivity measurements, the present compound exhibited superconductivity below 17 K, which is much higher than that of LaFePO and the highest in arsenic-free iron-based oxypnictide systems under ambient pressure.

Photolysis of [M(CO)6] (M = Cr, W) in the presence of BH3·L (L = NMe3, PMe3, PPh3) gave isolable borane complexes [M(CO)5(η1-BH3·L)] (1a, M = Cr, L = PMe3; 1b, M = Cr, L = PPh3; 1c, M = Cr, L = NMe3; 2a, M = W, L = PMe3; 2b, M = W, L = PPh3; 2c, M = W, L = NMe3). In products 1 and 2, the monoborane−Lewis base adduct coordinates to the metal center through a B−H−M three-center two-electron bond, which was confirmed by X-ray structural analyses of 1a, 2a, and 2b at low temperature. The X-ray crystal structural analysis of 1c at ambient temperature also showed the same coordination mode, although the positions of hydrogen atoms on the boron were not determined. The 1H NMR spectra of 1 and 2 exhibit only one BH signal at −2 to −3 ppm with an intensity of 3H in the temperature range of −80 °C to room temperature. This indicates that the coordinated BH and terminal BH's are rapidly exchanging in solution even at low temperature. When [Mo(CO)6] was used as a precursor, the formation of the corresponding molybdenum−borane complexes, [Mo(CO)5(η1-BH3·L)] (3a, L = PMe3; 3b, L = PPh3; 3c, L = NMe3), was observed by NMR spectroscopy, but the complexes could not be isolated because of their thermal instability. Complexes of pyridineborane [M(CO)5(η1-BH3·NC5H5)] (1d, M = Cr; 2d, M = W) were also observable by NMR spectroscopy. Fenske−Hall MO calculations for the model compound [Cr(CO)5(η1-BH3·PH3)] (1e) demonstrated that the bonding between the borane and metal can be described as donation of the bonding electron pair of BH to the a1 orbital of [Cr(CO)5], and that π back-donation from the metal d orbital to the antibonding σ* orbital of BH is negligible. Compounds 1−3 can be regarded as model compounds of the methane complex [M(CO)5(CH4)], which is observed in the photolyses of [M(CO)6] in methane matrixes. Structural and spectroscopic features of the ligated borane are discussed and compared with those of related compounds.

ABSTRACT:A new iron-based superconductor (Ca,Pr)FeAs 2 was discovered. Plate-like crystals of the new phase were obtained and crystal structure was investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure was identified as the monoclinic system with space group P2 1 /m, and is composed of two Ca(Pr) planes, anti-fluorite Fe 2 As 2 layers, and As 2 zigzag chain layers. Plate-like crystals composed of the new phase showed superconductivity with T c ~20 K in both magnetization and resistivity measurements.Several groups of iron-based superconductors, such as REFeAs(O,F) 1 (RE = rare earth elements), AEFeAsF 2 (AE = alkaline earth metals), AEFe 2 As 2 3 , LiFeAs 4 , FeSe 5 , and compounds having perovskite-type oxide layer (ex. Fe 2 P 2 Sr 4 Sc 2 O 6 6 ) have been discovered since 2008. Developments of superconducting tapes and wires have been already attempted for potassium doped AEFe 2 As 2 and fluorine doped REFeAsO, because of their high T c and high H c2 . On the other hand, discovery of new superconductor with high T c and high chemical stability has been still desirable. Since iron-based superconductors are composed of stacking of superconducting layers of Fe 2 Pn 2 or Fe 2 Ch 2 ) (Pn = P, As, Ch = S, Se, Te) and blocking layers, design and search of new blocking layers are promising for discovery of new superconductors. There are several compounds having anti-fluorite blocks and As-based blocks such as UCuAs 2 7 . Recently new iron based superconductors Ca 10 (Pt 3 As 8 )(Fe 2 As 2 ) 5 and Ca 10 (Pt 4 As 8 )(Fe 2 As 2 ) 5 8-10 were reported. These compounds have As-based blocking layers between Fe 2 As 2 layers. The structures of these compounds indicate that there are possibilities to find new iron-based superconductors with arsenide blocking layers. In addition, Saha et al. reported that single crystalline (Ca,RE)Fe 2 As 2 (RE = La, Ce, Pr, Nd) showed superconductivity with high T c exceeding 40 K in resistivity measurement 11 . After this report, superconductivity in RE-doped CaFe 2 As 2 has been reported by several groups 12 . On the other hand, there are several works that report coexistence of two superconducting phases or interface superconductivity in this system 13,14 . Therefore, new superconducting phase is expected in Ca-RE-Fe-As system.In the present study, we have explored new iron-based superconductors in Ca-Pr-Fe-As system and found a new compound (Ca,Pr)FeAs 2 . We report a crystal structure and physical properties of (Ca,Pr)FeAs 2 .All samples were synthesized by the solid-state reaction starting from FeAs(3N), PrAs(3N), Ca(2N), As(4N), and CaO(3N). Since the starting reagents, PrAs and Ca are sensitive to moisture and/or oxygen in air, manipulations were carried out in an argon-filled glove box. Powder mixtures were pelletized, sealed in evacuated quartz ampoules, and reacted at 1000~1200°C for 24 h. Constituent phases were studied by the powder XRD measurements using RIGAKU Ultima-IV diffractometer and intensity date were collected in the 2 range of 5°-80° at a step of 0....

Photoirradiation of a solution of BH(3).NHR(2) (1a: R = Me, 1b: R = 1/2C(4)H(8), 1c: R = 1/2C(5)H(10), 1f: R = Et) containing a catalytic amount of a group-6 metal carbonyl complex, [M(CO)(6)] (M = Cr, Mo, W), led to dehydrogenative B-N covalent bond formation to produce aminoborane dimers, [BH(2)NR(2)](2) (2a-c, f), in high yield. During these reactions a borane sigma complex, [M(CO)(5)(eta(1)-BH(3).NHR(2))] (3), was detected by NMR spectroscopy. Similar catalytic dehydrogenation of bulkier amineboranes, BH(3).NH(i)Pr(2) (1d) and BH(3).NHCy(2) (1e, Cy = cyclo-C(6)H(11)), afforded monomeric products BH(2) horizontal lineNR(2) (4d, e). The reaction mechanism of the dehydrocoupling was investigated by DFT calculations. On the basis of the computational study, we propose that the catalytic dehydrogenation reactions proceed via an intramolecular pathway and that the active catalyst is [Cr(CO)(4)]. The reaction follows a stepwise mechanism involving NH and BH activation. Dehydrocoupling of borane-primary amine adducts BH(3).NH(2)R (1g: R = Me, 1h: R = Et, 1i: R = (t)Bu) gave borazine derivatives [BHNR](3) (5g-i).

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2We have discovered first homologous series of iron pnictide oxide superconductors (Fe 2 As 2 )(Ca n+1 (Sc,Ti) n O y ) [n = 3,4,5]. These compounds have extremely thick blocking layers up to quintuple perovskite oxide layers sandwiched by the Fe 2 As 2 layers. These samples exhibited bulk superconductivity with relatively high T c up to 42 K. The relationship between T c and the iron-plane interlayer distance suggested that superconductivity due to the mono Fe 2 As 2 layer is substantially 40 K-class.In a recently discovered layered iron pnictide family 1 , the superconducting transition temperature T c increased under ambient pressure in the order of FeSe (T c = 8-13 K, d = 5.49 Å) 2, (Ba,K)Fe 2 As 2 (38 K, 6.65 Å) 3 and SmFeAs(O,F) (55 K, 8.44 Å) 4 , where d represents the distance between the iron-planes. This suggested that emphasis of two-dimensionality by an increase of the interlayer distance of superconducting planes would be a promising method to develop new high-T c superconductors. On the other hand, a new family of layered iron pnictides with perovskite-type oxide blocking layers has recently been discovered 5-12 . The thickness of the perovskite-type layer can be controlled according to the composition and the synthesis conditions; therefore, an attempt to develop new layered iron pnictides with thicker oxide layers may result in a new series of homologous superconductors. Novel compounds with double or triple perovskite layers were discovered in our recent study, such as (Fe 2 As 2 )(Ba 3 Sc 2 O 5 ) and (Fe 2 As 2 )(Sr 4 (Sc,Ti) 3 O 8 ) 12 . These new compounds indicated that a perovskite layer, which can maintain electroneutrality with the (Fe 2 As 2 ) -2 layer and have an appropriate lattice size a~4 Å, can form layered iron pnictide oxides. According to these 3 empirical observations, three new compounds with different crystal structures, (Fe 2 As 2 )(Ca n+1 (Sc,Ti) n O y ) [n = 3,4,5 and y ~3n-1] were discovered.Samples were synthesized by solid-state reaction from starting materials of FeAs (3N), Ca (2N), CaO (2N), Ti (3N), TiO 2 (3N) and Sc 2 O 3 (3N). The starting reagents were moisture sensitive, so that manipulation was carried out in a glove box filled with argon gas. Powder mixtures were pelletized, sealed in evacuated quartz ampoules and heated at 1000-1200 °C for 60-100 h followed by slow cooling to room temperature.Phase identification was carried out using powder XRD (Rigaku Ultima-IV) and intensity data were collected in the 2θ range of 3-80° at a step of 0.02° using Cu-K α radiation. High resolution TEM images were taken using JEM-2010F and JEM-4010 (JEOL). Magnetic susceptibility was measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer (Quantum Design MPMS-XL5s). Electrical resistivity was evaluated by the AC four-point-probe method (Quantum Design PPMS). (Fe 2 As 2 )(Ca 4 (Sc 0.67 Ti 0.33 ) 3 O y ), (Fe 2 As 2 )(Ca 5 (Sc 0.5 Ti 0.5 ) 4 O y ) and (Fe 2 As 2 )(Ca 6 (Sc 0.4 Ti 0.6 ) 5 O y ) samples were successfully obtained by sintering for 72 h at 1050,...

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Photo‐ and radioluminescence characteristics of the Pr3+‐doped Lu3Al5O12 single crystal are reported and compared with those of Pr‐doped Y3Al5O12. With respect to the Y3Al5O12 host, lower emission quenching and better temperature stability round 300 K is obtained for the Pr3+ 5d–4f emission peaking round 308 nm and about a factor 2 higher radioluminescence intensity is observed around this temperature. The photoluminescence decay time is of about 17 ns, while the scintillation decay is dominated by the component of about 25 ns. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)