We report on zero-field muon spin rotation, electron spin resonance and polarized Raman scattering measurements of the coupled quantum spin ladder Ba2CuTeO6. Zero-field muon spin rotation and electron spin resonance probes disclose a successive crossover from a paramagnetic through a spin-liquid-like into a magnetically ordered state with decreasing temperature. More significantly, the two-magnon Raman response obeys a T -linear scaling relation in its peak energy, linewidth and intensity. This critical scaling behavior presents an experimental signature of proximity to a quantum critical point from an ordered side in Ba2CuTeO6.

Recently, Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has attracted much attention in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Despite the growing interest in BIM technology, the benefits of BIM have not yet been fully realized during the course of implementation of BIM because of its low adoption rate among architects. Therefore, it is significant important in successful adoption of BIM in design organizations, understanding of the factors influencing the adoption of BIM. The aim of this study is to empirically examine the individual, organizational, social, and technical factors affecting architects' adoption of BIM. The 162 architects with experience using BIM tools at three major design firms in South Korea were selected to participate in the face-to-face survey. This study extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by incorporating constructs such as computer self-efficacy from the individual domain, top management support and technical support from the organizational domain, subjective norm from the social domain and compatibility from the technical domain. The results strongly support the extended TAM in predicting the intention of users to adopt BIM. It also demonstrates the significant effect of computer self-efficacy, top management support, subjective norm, and compatibility on behavioral intention through perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. This study provides academics and practitioners with the understanding of factors leading to the successful implementation of BIM in design organizations. It also provides insight into the role management plays in the adoption of BIM among architects in the AEC industry.

A series of lithium metal selenites, LiM(SeO) (M = Co, Ni, and Cd) and LiZn(SeO), were synthesized by hydrothermal and solid-state reactions. LiM(SeO) is composed of Li cations, MO octahedra, and SeO polyhedra, while LiZn(SeO) consists of Li, Zn(Li)O tetrahedra, and SeO polyhedra. Isostructural LiCo(SeO) and LiNi(SeO) crystallize in the rhombohedral space group R3̅, forming a three-dimensional distorted cubic lattice. LiZn(SeO) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbam and reveals a layered structure in the bc plane. LiCd(SeO) revealing a unidimensional structure crystallizes in the polar non-centrosymmetric space group C2, attributed to the parallel alignment of distorted CdO octahedra. The direct-current magnetic susceptibility measurements unveil that LiCo(SeO) is a canted antiferromagnet with T = 25 K, while LiNi(SeO) undergoes an antiferromagnetic transition at T = 54 K, having a negligible canted moment. The weak ferromagnetism observed in LiCo(SeO) indicates the significance of spin-orbit coupling, bringing about anisotropic exchange interactions. LiCd(SeO) reveals a second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of 10 × α-SiO. Dipole moment calculations on LiCd(SeO) indicate that the cooperative interaction of CdO and SeO is responsible for the observed SHG properties. Band gaps of the compounds are enlarged as atomic number increases. The effect of late transition-metal cations with different coordination numbers on the framework structures and the subsequent physical properties will be also discussed.

We report the synthesis and characterization of three fluoride-rich barium iron phosphates Ba x Fe x (PO4)­F y (1 ≤ x ≤ 3, 2 ≤ y ≤ 12), which exhibited abundant structural chemistry, exhibiting diverse frameworks and connecting modes between [FeO n F6–n ] m – octahedra surrounding Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions. BaFe­(PO4)­F2 (I) consisted of two-dimensional [Fe­(PO4)­F2]2– sheets built from linear ∞[Fe2O6F4]10– moieties formed by fluorine corner-sharing FeO4F2 and FeO2F4 octahedra with linking PO4 tetrahedra. Mixed-valence Ba2Fe2(PO4)­F6 (II) possessed a three-dimensional framework containing Fe4O6F12 tetramers formed by the edge-sharing oxygen or fluorine atoms of cis-FeF4O2 octahedra. Ba3Fe3(PO4)­F12 (III) contained one-dimensional columns of ∞[Fe3(PO4)­F12]6– infinite sections built from cis-FeF4O2 and FeF5O octahedra and tetrahedral PO4 linkers. The magnetic characterization of Ba x Fe x (PO4)­F y unveiled diverse magnetism: an S = 5/2 spin chain for (I), a weak ferrimagnet or canted antiferromagnet for (II) thanks to the presence of distinct Fe2+ and Fe3+ sites identified by Mössbauer spectroscopy, and coupled spin-trimers for (III).

Three new metal vanadium tellurites, MVTe2O8 (M = Al, Ga, and Mn) have been synthesized through standard solid-state and hydrothermal reactions. Crystal structure analyses using X-ray diffraction reveal that the isostructural materials exhibit layered structures consisting of MO6, TeO4, and VO4 polyhedra. The corner-sharing of MO6 octahedra results in one-dimensional (1-D) zigzag chains that are further interconnected by tetrameric Te4O12 units and the VO4 tetrahedra to complete a layered structure. Detailed structural analysis suggests that the unit-cell volumes and the very long Te(2)-O(2) bond distances in MVTe2O8 are closely related to the ionic radii of M(3+) cations. Additional characterizations such as ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) and infrared spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analyses, and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements were performed. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on MnVTe2O8 suggest that the material behaves like a three-dimensional (3-D) antiferromagnet with T(N) = 30 K, although the structure consists of a zigzag S = 2 spin chain.