Electron-Induced Nonmonotonic Pressure Dependence of the Lattice Thermal Conductivity of θ-TaN.

Recent theoretical and experimental research suggests that θ-TaN is a semimetal with high thermal conductivity (κ), primarily due to the contribution of phonons (κ_{ph}). By using first-principles calculations, we show a nonmonotonic pressure dependence of the κ of θ-TaN. κ_{ph} first increases until it reaches a maximum at around 60 GPa, and then decreases. This anomalous behavior is a consequence of the competing pressure responses of phonon-phonon and phonon-electron interactions, in contrast to the known materials BAs and BP, where the nonmonotonic pressure dependence is caused by the interplay between different phonon-phonon scattering channels. Although TaN has phonon dispersion features similar to BAs at ambient pressure, its response to pressure is different and an overall stiffening of the phonon branches takes place. Consequently, the relevant phonon-phonon scattering weakens as pressure increases. However, the increased electronic density of states near the Fermi level, and specifically the emergence of additional pockets of the Fermi surface at the high-symmetry L point in the Brillouin zone, leads to a substantial increase in phonon-electron scattering at high pressures, driving a decrease in κ_{ph}. At intermediate pressures (∼20-70 GPa), the κ of TaN surpasses that of BAs. Our Letter provides deeper insight into phonon transport in semimetals and metals where phonon-electron scattering is relevant.

Ultrahigh Thermal Conductivity of θ-Phase Tantalum Nitride.

Extracting long-lasting performance from electronic devices and improving their reliability through effective heat management requires good thermal conductors. Taking both three- and four-phonon scattering as well as electron-phonon and isotope scattering into account, we predict that semimetallic θ-phase tantalum nitride (θ-TaN) has an ultrahigh thermal conductivity (κ), of 995 and 820 W m^{-1} K^{-1} at room temperature along the a and c axes, respectively. Phonons are found to be the main heat carriers, and the high κ hinges on a particular combination of factors: weak electron-phonon scattering, low isotopic mass disorder, and a large frequency gap between acoustic and optical phonon modes that, together with acoustic bunching, impedes three-phonon processes. On the other hand, four-phonon scattering is found to be significant. This study provides new insight into heat conduction in semimetallic solids and extends the search for high-κ materials into the realms of semimetals and noncubic crystal structures.

Total synthesis: the structural confirmation of natural products.

This feature article highlights total synthesis as one of the reliable tools for the structural confirmation of natural products. Even though there has been substantial improvement in spectroscopic techniques that has opened an important avenue up to the synthetic community for discoveries, the structural misassignment of natural products remains a common occurrence. Herein, we have included a few case studies, along with some selected examples of natural products associated with our current research interests, where structures were revised in recent years using the art of chemical synthesis.

Site occupancy, composition and magnetic structure dependencies of martensitic transformation in Mn2Ni1 + x Sn1-x.

A delicate balance between various factors such as site occupancy, composition and magnetic ordering seems to affect the stability of the martensitic phase in [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]. Using first-principles DFT calculations, we explore the impacts of each one of these factors on the martensitic stability of this system. Our results on total energies, magnetic moments and electronic structures upon changes in the composition, the magnetic configurations and the site occupancies show that the occupancies at the 4d sites in the inverse Heusler crystal structure play the most crucial role. The presence of Mn at the 4d sites originally occupied by Sn and its interaction with the Mn atoms at other sites decide the stability of the martensitic phases. This explains the discrepancy between the experiments and earlier DFT calculations regarding phase stability in [Formula: see text]NiSn. Our results qualitatively explain the trends observed experimentally with regard to martensitic phase stability and the magnetisations in Ni-excess, Sn-deficient [Formula: see text]NiSn system.

New quaternary half-metallic ferromagnets with large Curie temperatures.

New magnetic materials with high Curie temperatures for spintronic applications are perpetually sought for. In this paper, we present an ab initio study of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of Quaternary Heusler compounds CoX'Y'Si where X' is a transition metal with 4d electrons and Y' is either Fe or Mn. We find five new half-metallic ferromagnets with spin polarisation nearly 100% with very high Curie temperatures. The variation of Curie temperatures as a function of valence electrons can be understood from the calculated inter-atomic exchange interaction parameters. We also identify a few other compounds, which could be potential half-metals with suitable application of pressure or with controlled doping. Our results reveal that the half-metallicity in these compounds is intricately related to the arrangements of the magnetic atoms in the Heusler lattice and hence, the interatomic exchange interactions between the moments. The trends in the atomic arrangements, total and local magnetic moments, interatomic magnetic exchange interactions and Curie temperatures are discussed with fundamental insights.

Synthesis of multi-functionalized benzofurans through the condensation of ninhydrin and phenols using SSA as a recyclable heterogeneous acid catalyst.

A simple and efficient one-pot methodology has been developed for the synthesis of biologically important multi-functionalized 3-(2[Formula: see text]-hydroxyaryl)-2-(2[Formula: see text]-carboxyphenyl)benzofurans using silica sulfuric acid (SSA) as a heterogeneous acid catalyst in DMF medium. The significant advantages of this methodology are the use of SSA as a recyclable solid acid catalyst, operational simplicity, easy availability of the starting materials, and good yield of the products with high atom-economy.

Novel synthesis of a series of spiro 1,3-indanedione-fused dihydropyridines through the condensation of a tetrone with N-aryl/alkylenamines in presence of solid support silica sulfuric acid.

A convenient protocol for the library synthesis of biologically important 1-aryl-2',6-spiro(1',3'-indanedione)-1H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoline-5,7-diones has been developed. In this one-pot reaction protocol a tetrone is condensed with various N-aryl/alkylenamines of 1,3-cyclohexadiones on the surface of a solid-supported acid catalyst silica sulfuric acid under solvent-free condition. The significant advantages of this methodology are the use of solvent-free reaction conditions, operational simplicity of the reaction, good yield of the products with high atom economy, and employment of a recyclable catalyst. All these favorable factors make the present method convenient, economic, and 'benign by design'.

Exploring the interaction of a micelle entrapped biologically important proton transfer probe with the model transport protein bovine serum albumin.

This article describes the interaction of a micelle entrapped pharmaceutically important isoindole fused imidazole derivative, namely, 1-(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-phenyl)-3,5-dioxo-1H-imidazo-[3,4-b] isoindole (ADII), with the model transport protein bovine serum albumin (BSA). Different spectroscopic techniques such as steady state absorption, emission, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, etc., have been employed to explore preferential interaction of this drug template with micelles and protein BSA. Binding of ADII with BSA is found to be enormously modified when it is released from the micellar environment. The binding constant of the ADII-BSA complex is reduced when the probe is released from anionic SDS micelle, whereas the binding is observed to be strengthened in cationic CTAB micellar medium due to the formation of a 1:2 complex (ADII-BSA). Time-resolved studies also support our steady state findings that the released drug from the micellar environment is found to be strongly bound with the protein BSA. Circular dichroism (CD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) study reveals that the secondary structure of BSA gets some stabilization in SDS medium after binding of drug template to protein. The probable binding location of the probe within the protein cavity (hydrophilic subdomain IA) has been explored from an AutoDock-based blind docking simulation study.

Synthesis of a novel quinoline derivative, 2-(2-methylquinolin-4-ylamino)-N-phenylacetamide--a potential antileishmanial agent.

Some novel quinoline derivatives were prepared and tested for antileishmanial activity. 2-(2-Methylquinolin-4-ylamino)-N-phenylacetamide (2) was found to be significantly more active than the standard antileishmanial drug sodium antimony gluconate (SAG) in reducing the parasite load both in the spleen and liver at a much lower concentration in hamster models. The results suggest that the compound could be exploited as an antileishmanial drug.