NEXAFS investigations of transition metal oxides, nitrides, carbides, sulfides and other interstitial compounds

The exactly solvable Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice has recently received enormous attention linked to the hope of achieving novel spin-liquid states with fractionalized Majorana-like excitations. In this review, we analyze the mechanism proposed by Jackeli and Khaliullin to identify Kitaev materials based on spin-orbital dependent bond interactions and provide a comprehensive overview of its implications in real materials. We set the focus on experimental results and current theoretical understanding of planar honeycomb systems (Na2IrO3, α-Li2IrO3, and α-RuCl3), three-dimensional Kitaev materials (β- and γ-Li2IrO3), and other potential candidates, completing the review with the list of open questions awaiting new insights.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1361-648X/aa8cf5/pdf

Models and materials for generalized Kitaev magnetism.

A review. Ultrafast x-ray techniques using diffraction and absorption are discussed with an emphasis on the absorption techniques. Ultrafast x-ray sources and detectors for use in x-ray absorption spectroscopy are also reviewed. [on SciFinder (R)]

Ultrafast X-ray absorption spectroscopy

The electronic character of porphyrin active sites for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO in a two-dimensional covalent organic framework (COF) was tuned by modification of the reticular structure. Efficient charge transport along the COF backbone promotes electronic connectivity between remote functional groups and the active sites and enables the modulation of the catalytic properties of the system. A series of oriented thin films of these COFs was found to reduce CO2 to CO at low overpotential (550 mV) with high selectivity (faradaic efficiency of 87%) and at high current densities (65 mA/mg), a performance well beyond related molecular catalysts in regard to selectivity and efficiency. The catalysts are stable for more than 12 h without any loss in reactivity. X-ray absorption measurements on the cobalt L-edge for the modified COFs enable correlations between the inductive effects of the appended functionality and the electronic character of the reticulated molecular active sites.

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Reticular Electronic Tuning of Porphyrin Active Sites in Covalent Organic Frameworks for Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction.

The complexes of trivalent actinide (Am(III) and Cm(III)) and lanthanide (Nd(III) and Sm(III)) cations with bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinic acid, bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)monothiophosphinic acid, and bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid in n-dodecane have been studied by visible absorption spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements in order to understand the chemical interactions responsible for the great selectivity the dithiophosphinate ligand exhibits for trivalent actinide cations in liquid-liquid extraction. Under the conditions studied, each type of ligand displays a different coordination mode with trivalent f-element cations. The phosphinate ligand coordinates as hydrogen-bonded dimers, forming M(HL2)3. Both the oxygen and the sulfur donor of the monothiophosphinate ligand can bind the cations, affording both bidentate and monodentate ligands. The dithiophosphinate ligand forms neutral bidentate complexes, ML3, with no discernible nitrate or water molecules in the inner coordination sphere. Comparison of the Cm(III), Nd(III), and Sm(III) XAFS shows that the structure and metal-donor atom bond distances are indistinguishable within experimental error for similarly sized trivalent lanthanide and actinide cations, despite the selectivity of bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinic acid for trivalent actinide cations over trivalent lanthanide cations.

Comparison of Covalency in the Complexes of Trivalent Actinide and Lanthanide Cations

The differences between L3 and L2 edges of 3d and 4d transition metal complexes and compounds in octahedral symmetry are discussed. The main origin of these differences are the multiplet effects due to the coupling of the 2p core wave function and the 3d and 4d valence wave functions. The 3d and 4d spin–orbit coupling is a second origin of difference. For 3d systems the multiplet effects dominate all other interactions and the L3 and L2 edge are completely mixed and reordered. For 4d systems the core hole spin–orbit coupling is large and the L3 and L2 are separated by about 100 eV with a ratio close to 2:1. The differences between the L3 and L2 edge originate from the weight transfer between the t2g and eg peaks due to the multiplet effect. This weight transfer is about 25% for the L3 edge and about 5% for the L2 edge, which implies that for a comparison to single‐particle calculations the L2 edge is preferable to use. Partly filled 4d systems are low‐spin and the occupation of the t2g states implies a de...

/pdf/differences-between-l3-and-l2-x-ray-absorption-spectra-of-1in92kkwm5.pdf

F. Guillot

Papers

Differences between L3 and L2 x‐ray absorption spectra of transition metal compounds