Deposits of clastic carbonate-dominated (calciclastic) sedimentary slope systems in the rock record have been identified mostly as linearly-consistent carbonate apron deposits, even though most ancient clastic carbonate slope deposits fit the submarine fan systems better. Calciclastic submarine fans are consequently rarely described and are poorly understood. Subsequently, very little is known especially in mud-dominated calciclastic submarine fan systems. Presented in this study are a sedimentological core and petrographic characterisation of samples from eleven boreholes from the Lower Carboniferous of Bowland Basin (Northwest England) that reveals a >250 m thick calciturbidite complex deposited in a calciclastic submarine fan setting. Seven facies are recognised from core and thin section characterisation and are grouped into three carbonate turbidite sequences. They include: 1) Calciturbidites, comprising mostly of highto low-density, wavy-laminated bioclast-rich facies; 2) low-density densite mudstones which are characterised by planar laminated and unlaminated muddominated facies; and 3) Calcidebrites which are muddy or hyper-concentrated debrisflow deposits occurring as poorly-sorted, chaotic, mud-supported floatstones. These

Phd by thesis

Energy production and storage have become key issues concerning our welfare in daily life. Present challenges for batteries are twofold. In the first place, the increasing demand for powering systems of portable electronic devices and zero-emission vehicles stimulates research towards high energy and high voltage systems. In the second place, low cost batteries are required in order to advance towards smart electric grids that integrate discontinuous energy flow from renewable sources, optimizing the performance of clean energy sources. Na-ion batteries can be the key for the second point, because of the huge availability of sodium, its low price and the similarity of both Li and Na insertion chemistries. In spite of the lower energy density and voltage of Na-ion based technologies, they can be focused on applications where the weight and footprint requirement is less drastic, such as electrical grid storage. Much work has to be done in the field of Na-ion in order to catch up with Li-ion technology. Cathodic and anodic materials must be optimized, and new electrolytes will be the key point for Na-ion success. This review will gather the up-to-date knowledge about Na-ion battery materials, with the aim of providing a wide view of the systems that have already been explored and a starting point for the new research on this battery technology.

Na-ion batteries, recent advances and present challenges to become low cost energy storage systems

Suzuki−Miyaura coupling reactions of aryl and heteroaryl halides with aryl-, heteroaryl- and vinylboronic acids proceed in very good to excellent yield with the use of 2-(2‘,6‘-dimethoxybiphenyl)dicyclohexylphosphine, SPhos (1). This ligand confers unprecedented activity for these processes, allowing reactions to be performed at low catalyst levels, to prepare extremely hindered biaryls and to be carried out, in general, for reactions of aryl chlorides at room temperature. Additionally, structural studies of various 1·Pd complexes are presented along with computational data that help elucidate the efficacy that 1 imparts on Suzuki−Miyaura coupling processes. Moreover, a comparison of the reactions with 1 and with 2-(2‘,4‘,6‘-triisopropylbiphenyl)diphenylphosphine (2) is presented that is informative in determining the relative importance of ligand bulk and electron-donating ability in the high activity of catalysts derived from ligands of this type. Further, when the aryl bromide becomes too hindered, an ...

Catalysts for Suzuki−Miyaura Coupling Processes: Scope and Studies of the Effect of Ligand Structure

Recent Developments in the Preparation and Chemistry of Metallacycles and Metallacages via Coordination

Iron Catalysis in Organic Synthesis

Ionothermal reactions of [Ge4Se10]4– with SnCl4·5H2O yielded [BMMIm]24[Sn36Ge24Se132] (ZBT-1) and [BMIm]24[Sn32.5Ge27.5Se132] [ZBT-2; B(M)MIm = 1-butyl-(2,)3-(di)methylimidazolium]. These contain the largest known discrete polyanion consisting only of main-group elements. In spite of a zeolite-related composition, the 192-atom “zeoball” anion adopts a spherical shape, which has been unprecedented in the chemistry of zeolites and their homologues and relatives. Preliminary studies indicated that ZBT-1 traps I2 molecules and induces heterolytic I–I bond cleavage.

"Zeoball" [Sn36Ge24Se132]24-: a molecular anion with zeolite-related composition and spherical shape.

Highly Enantioselective Diels–Alder Reaction of a Photochemically Generated o-Quinodimethane with Olefins†

Crystal structure of a new sodium vanadyl(IV) fluoride phosphate Na3{V2O2F[PO4]2}

Seven compounds with binary or ternary Ge/Se, Ge/Sn/Se, or Sn/Se anionic substructures crystallized upon the ionothermal reactions of [K(4)(H(2)O)(3)][Ge(4)Se(10)] with SnCl(4)·5H(2)O or SnCl(2) in [BMMIm][BF(4)] or [BMIm][BF(4)] (BMMIm=1-butyl-2,3-dimethyl-imidazolium, BMIm=1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium). The products were obtained by subtly varying the reaction conditions; the nature and amount of an additional amine was the most important parameter in the product selection and in determining the Sn/Ge ratio in the isolated products. The crystal structures of these chalcogenides were based on complex anions with unprecedented topologies that varied from discrete clusters (0D) through 1D chain structures or 2D layers to 3D frameworks. The architecture and composition of the title compounds were well reflected by their optical absorption behavior. Herein, we report a convenient approach for the generation of chalcogenidometallate phases with fine-tunable electronic properties in ionic liquids, which have been inaccessible by traditional methods.

Controlling the Assembly of Chalcogenide Anions in Ionic Liquids: From Binary Ge/Se through Ternary Ge/Sn/Se to Binary Sn/Se Frameworks

In situ transformations of selenidostannate frameworks in ionic liquids (ILs) were initiated by treatment of the starting phase K2[Sn2Se5] and the consecutive reaction products by means of temperature increase and/or amine addition. Along the reaction pathway, the framework dimensionalities of the five involved selenidostannate anions develop from 3D to 1D and back, both in top-down and bottom-up style. Addition of ethane-1,2-diamine (en) led to the reversion of the 2D→1D step from 2D-{[Sn24Se56]16−} to 1D-{[Sn6Se14]4−}. As rationalized by DFT investigations, the 2D anion is thermodynamically favored. Photoconductivity measurements reveal that all samples show Schottky contact behavior with absolute thresholds below 10 V. One of the samples exhibits conductive states within the energy range of visible photons.

Werner Massa

Papers

"Zeoball" [Sn36Ge24Se132]24-: a molecular anion with zeolite-related composition and spherical shape.

Highly Enantioselective Diels–Alder Reaction of a Photochemically Generated o-Quinodimethane with Olefins†

Crystal structure of a new sodium vanadyl(IV) fluoride phosphate Na3{V2O2F[PO4]2}

Controlling the Assembly of Chalcogenide Anions in Ionic Liquids: From Binary Ge/Se through Ternary Ge/Sn/Se to Binary Sn/Se Frameworks

Changes in the structural dimensionality of selenidostannates in ionic liquids: formation, structures, stability, and photoconductivity.