Viktor Balema - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Viktor Balema

The overarching goal of the project is to discover and develop hydrogen storage materials that ar... more The overarching goal of the project is to discover and develop hydrogen storage materials that are constituted largely from earth abundant, benign and low cost elements, such as silicon and boron. Specifically, the goal is to identify computationally and synthesize hitherto unknown high H-capacity Si-based borohydrides (Si-BHs) with useable gravimetric density of over 10 wt% H2, and decomposition enthalpies in range of 25–35 kJ/mol-H2, such that H2 desorption occurs at the operating temperature (~80–100°C) of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

warrants that its products conform to the information contained in this and other Sigma-Aldrich p... more warrants that its products conform to the information contained in this and other Sigma-Aldrich publications. Purchaser must determine the suitability of the product for its particular use. See reverse side of invoice or packing slip for additional terms and conditions of sale. All prices are subject to change without notice. Nature offers numerous examples of achieving big objectives with tiny tools. Design of natural materials often serves as a model for many technical innovations. Nanoscale modification of various surfaces to make them hydrophilic, hydrophobic or resistant to external hazards is widespread in Nature and highly desired in modern technology. In many cases, long-chain organic molecules or polymers attached to natural materials are responsible for their remarkable properties. The molecule of glycidyl methacrylate shown on the cover allows modification of dimethylsiloxane-based surfaces. Such surfaces find broad use as stamps for micro-lithography and other patterning...

Langmuir, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives worldwide, sickened many more, and has result... more The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives worldwide, sickened many more, and has resulted in severe socioeconomic consequences. As society returns to normal, understanding the spread and persistence of SARS CoV-2 on commonplace surfaces can help to mitigate future outbreaks of coronaviruses and other pathogens. We hypothesize that such an understanding can be aided by studying the binding and interaction of viral proteins with nonbiological surfaces. Here, we propose a methodology for investigating the adhesion of the SARS CoV-2 spike glycoprotein on common inorganic surfaces such as aluminum, copper, iron, silica, and ceria oxides as well as metallic gold. Quantitative adhesion was obtained from the analysis of measured forces at the nanoscale using an atomic force microscope operated under ambient conditions. Without imposing further constraints on the measurement conditions, our preliminary findings suggest that spike glycoproteins interact with similar adhesion forces across the majority of the metal oxides tested with the exception to gold, for which attraction forces ∼10 times stronger than all other materials studied were observed. Ferritin, which was used as a reference protein, was found to exhibit similar adhesion forces as SARS CoV-2 spike protein. This study results show that glycoprotein adhesion forces for similar ambient humidity, tip shape, and contact surface are nonspecific to the properties of metal oxide surfaces, which are expected to be covered by a thin water film. The findings suggest that under ambient conditions, glycoprotein adhesion to metal oxides is primarily controlled by the water capillary forces, and they depend on the surface tension of the liquid water. We discuss further strategies warranted to decipher the intricate nanoscale forces for improved quantification of the adhesion.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2020

Increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that serve as power source for diverse electro... more Increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that serve as power source for diverse electronic devices, electrical propulsion systems and other applications, calls for economical and environmentally benign recycling of spent LIBs and recovery of critical elements such as Co and Li from rapidly growing volumes of battery wastes. The presented study explores mechanochemical extraction of Co and Li from lithium cobaltate (LiCoO2), which serves as cathode material in commercial LIBs. Our investigation reveals that solvent-free mechanochemical processing can successfully convert pure, reagent grade LiCoO2 into metallic Co and Li-derivatives that are suitable for the further recovery of Li. We also show that the proposed approach can be successfully applied to reclaiming these critical elements from commercial LIBs. Due to its magnetic nature, metallic Co is easy to separate from non-magnetic components of mechanochemically generated powder mixtures using an appropriate magnetic separation technique, while Li can be reclaimed as Li2CO3 after an additional liquid-phase processing. The recovery rates achieved during our experiments with pure LiCoO2 are ∼90% for Co and ∼70% for Li.

Acta Materialia, 2018

A first-order magnetoelastic transition (FOMT) is found near the triple point between ferromagnet... more A first-order magnetoelastic transition (FOMT) is found near the triple point between ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases in the magneto-chemical phase diagram of (Hf1-xNbx)Fe2 Laves phase system. We show that bringing different magnetic states to the edge of stability, both as a function of the chemical composition and under the influence of external stimuli, such as temperature, pressure and magnetic field, is essential to obtain and control FOMTs. Temperature dependent X-ray diffraction experiments reveal a discontinuity in the lattice parameter a and the unit cell volume without the change in the crystal symmetry at the FOMT. Under applied pressure, the transition temperature drastically shifts downward at a remarkable rate of −122 K/GPa. It is this first-order magnetic transition that leads to a negative thermal expansion (NTE) with average ΔV/(VΔT) ≈ −15 × 10−6 K−1 observed over a 90 K broad temperature range, which is uncommon for magnetoelastic NTE materials. Density functional theory calculations and microstructural analyses demonstrate that the unusual broadness of the FOMT originates from phase separation between ferro-and antiferromagnetic phases, which in turn is rooted in partial segregation of Hf and Nb and a peculiar microstructure. This new understanding of the composition-structure-property relationships in transition metal based Laves phases is an essential step toward a better control and more precise tailoring of rich functionalities in this group of material.

The present invention provides a cost-effective method of producing pure hydrogen gas from hydrid... more The present invention provides a cost-effective method of producing pure hydrogen gas from hydride-based solid materials. The hydride-based solid material is mechanically processed in the presence of a catalyst to obtain pure gaseous hydrogen. Unlike previous methods, hydrogen may be obtained from the solid material without heating, and without the addition of a solvent during processing. The described method of hydrogen production is useful for energy conversion and production technologies that consume pure gaseous hydrogen as a fuel.

Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements, 1996

Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 1999

Bei der Redaktion eingegangen am 5. Ma È rz 1999. Coordination Properties of Carbaboranylchloroph... more Bei der Redaktion eingegangen am 5. Ma È rz 1999. Coordination Properties of Carbaboranylchlorophosphines: Synthesis and Molecular Structure of cis-rac-Molybdenumtetracarbonyl-{1,2-bis(chlorophenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)} Abstract. Rac-1,2-bis(chlorophenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarbacloso-dodecaborane(12) (1) reacts with [Mo(CO) 4 (NBD)] (NBD = norbornadiene) after several hours at 50±55°C to yield cis-rac-[Mo(CO) 4 {1,2-(PPhCl) 2 C 2 B 10 H 10 }] (2). 2 was characterised spectroscopically (1 H, 13 C, 11 B and 31 P NMR) and by crystal structure determination.

Russian Chemical Reviews, 1997

This work was concerned with the simultaneous measurement of the combination coefficients b and 7... more This work was concerned with the simultaneous measurement of the combination coefficients b and 70, between small ions and aerosol particles and between small ions and uncharged aerosol particles respectively, for different particle radii. The ion-ion mutual repulsion coefficient y was first evaluated from 14 plots of small ion decay in an aerosol-free mylar vessel, which gave a mean experimental value of 2.39 (k 0.14) x 10-8 cm3 s-1. The decay of ions in the presence of aerosol particles in the mylar vessel was recorded and compared with a family of computed theoretical ion-aerosol decay curves to determine b. 70 could then be determined from the concentration of uncharged nuclei present. In the ten experiments carried out b ranged from 0.50 to 2. 2 4~ 10-8 cm3 s-1 and 70 ranged from 0.33 to 2-39 x 10-6 cm3 s-1, for corresponding radii of 1.26 and 4.0 x 10-6 cm. Satisfactory agreement was found between the b and 70 versus radius results and various theoretically computed values. Possible reasons for discrepancies between theory and experiment are indicated.

Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR Division of Chemical Science, 1990

Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences Division of Chemical Science, 1992

O-Ethyl S,S-bis(o-carboran-9-yl) dithiophosphite was prepared. The reactions of this product with... more O-Ethyl S,S-bis(o-carboran-9-yl) dithiophosphite was prepared. The reactions of this product with sulfur, selenium, methyl iodide, and chloral were studied.

Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR Division of Chemical Science, 1987

Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 2004

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance is used to study the thermal decomposition of lithium tetr... more Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance is used to study the thermal decomposition of lithium tetrahydroaluminate into metallic aluminum, hydrogen and trilithium hexahydroaluminate. Aluminum sites in LiAlH4 and Li3AlH6 were characterized using static, magic angle spinning (MAS) and multiple-quantum MAS NMR. By applying the in situ NMR method, it has been demonstrated that melting is not a prerequisite for the decomposition of LiAlH4. Based on the observed data, a decomposition path has been established that is consistent with the concentrations of observed Al species at various stages of the thermally induced reaction.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2001

Mechanical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH in the presence of titanium-and iron-based catalys... more Mechanical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH in the presence of titanium-and iron-based catalysts induces the transformation of 4 LiAlH into Li AlH , Al and H at room temperature. Several catalysts were tested and it was established that their activity gradually 4 3 6 2 decreases from TiCl to Fe in the series TiCl .Al Ti4Al Fe Ti .Al Fe.Fe. The high catalytic activity of TiCl has been attributed 4 4 3 2 2 3 8 3 4 to microcrystalline intermetallic Al Ti, which rapidly forms in situ from TiCl and LiAlH during mechanical processing and then acts as 3 4 4 a heterogeneous dehydrogenation catalyst.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2000

Mechanochemical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH revealed good stability of this complex alumi... more Mechanochemical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH revealed good stability of this complex aluminohydride during high-energy 4 ball-milling in a helium atmosphere for up to 35 h. The decomposition of lithium aluminohydride into Li AlH , Al and H is observed 3 6 2 during prolonged mechanochemical treatment for up to 110 h and is most likely associated with the catalytic effect of a vial material, iron, which is introduced into the hydride as a contaminant during mechanical treatment.

European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 1998

When a mixture of stereoisomers of rac-and meso-1,2bis(phenylphosphanyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodeca... more When a mixture of stereoisomers of rac-and meso-1,2bis(phenylphosphanyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) (1a, b; 1a/1b = 3:1) is treated with [Cp 2 ZrMe 2 ] in boiling toluene for 2 h, the formation of three phosphorus-containing products, namely meso-[Cp 2 Zr(PPh) 3 ] (3), (PPh) 4 (4) and (PPh) 5 (5), ratio 2.8:1.1:1.0, was observed by 31 P-NMR spectroscopy. In the 11 B-NMR spectrum of the reaction mixture, only signals for 1,2dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) were observed. When zirconocene, prepared in situ from [Cp 2 ZrCl 2 ] and BuLi, was treated with 1a, b at low temperature and then heated to reflux in toluene for 2 h, only formation of 3 and 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) was observed. The mixture of stereoisomers of 1a, b reacts with CuCl in THF to give rac-and meso-[CuCl(THF){1,2

Chemical Communications, 2002

Nature Communications, 2020

Three-dimensional heterostructures are usually created either by assembling two-dimensional build... more Three-dimensional heterostructures are usually created either by assembling two-dimensional building blocks into hierarchical architectures or using stepwise chemical processes that sequentially deposit individual monolayers. Both approaches suffer from a number of issues, including lack of suitable precursors, limited reproducibility, and poor scalability of the preparation protocols. Therefore, development of alternative methods that enable preparation of heterostructured materials is desired. We create heterostructures with incommensurate arrangements of well-defined building blocks using a synthetic approach that comprises mechanical disassembly and simultaneous reordering of layered transition-metal dichalcogenides, MX2, and non-layered monochalcogenides, REX, where M = Ta, Nb, RE = Sm, La, and X = S, Se. We show that the discovered solid-state processes are rooted in stochastic mechanochemical transformations directed by electronic interaction between chemically and structural...

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2017

The overarching goal of the project is to discover and develop hydrogen storage materials that ar... more The overarching goal of the project is to discover and develop hydrogen storage materials that are constituted largely from earth abundant, benign and low cost elements, such as silicon and boron. Specifically, the goal is to identify computationally and synthesize hitherto unknown high H-capacity Si-based borohydrides (Si-BHs) with useable gravimetric density of over 10 wt% H2, and decomposition enthalpies in range of 25–35 kJ/mol-H2, such that H2 desorption occurs at the operating temperature (~80–100°C) of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

warrants that its products conform to the information contained in this and other Sigma-Aldrich p... more warrants that its products conform to the information contained in this and other Sigma-Aldrich publications. Purchaser must determine the suitability of the product for its particular use. See reverse side of invoice or packing slip for additional terms and conditions of sale. All prices are subject to change without notice. Nature offers numerous examples of achieving big objectives with tiny tools. Design of natural materials often serves as a model for many technical innovations. Nanoscale modification of various surfaces to make them hydrophilic, hydrophobic or resistant to external hazards is widespread in Nature and highly desired in modern technology. In many cases, long-chain organic molecules or polymers attached to natural materials are responsible for their remarkable properties. The molecule of glycidyl methacrylate shown on the cover allows modification of dimethylsiloxane-based surfaces. Such surfaces find broad use as stamps for micro-lithography and other patterning...

Langmuir, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives worldwide, sickened many more, and has result... more The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives worldwide, sickened many more, and has resulted in severe socioeconomic consequences. As society returns to normal, understanding the spread and persistence of SARS CoV-2 on commonplace surfaces can help to mitigate future outbreaks of coronaviruses and other pathogens. We hypothesize that such an understanding can be aided by studying the binding and interaction of viral proteins with nonbiological surfaces. Here, we propose a methodology for investigating the adhesion of the SARS CoV-2 spike glycoprotein on common inorganic surfaces such as aluminum, copper, iron, silica, and ceria oxides as well as metallic gold. Quantitative adhesion was obtained from the analysis of measured forces at the nanoscale using an atomic force microscope operated under ambient conditions. Without imposing further constraints on the measurement conditions, our preliminary findings suggest that spike glycoproteins interact with similar adhesion forces across the majority of the metal oxides tested with the exception to gold, for which attraction forces ∼10 times stronger than all other materials studied were observed. Ferritin, which was used as a reference protein, was found to exhibit similar adhesion forces as SARS CoV-2 spike protein. This study results show that glycoprotein adhesion forces for similar ambient humidity, tip shape, and contact surface are nonspecific to the properties of metal oxide surfaces, which are expected to be covered by a thin water film. The findings suggest that under ambient conditions, glycoprotein adhesion to metal oxides is primarily controlled by the water capillary forces, and they depend on the surface tension of the liquid water. We discuss further strategies warranted to decipher the intricate nanoscale forces for improved quantification of the adhesion.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2020

Increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that serve as power source for diverse electro... more Increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) that serve as power source for diverse electronic devices, electrical propulsion systems and other applications, calls for economical and environmentally benign recycling of spent LIBs and recovery of critical elements such as Co and Li from rapidly growing volumes of battery wastes. The presented study explores mechanochemical extraction of Co and Li from lithium cobaltate (LiCoO2), which serves as cathode material in commercial LIBs. Our investigation reveals that solvent-free mechanochemical processing can successfully convert pure, reagent grade LiCoO2 into metallic Co and Li-derivatives that are suitable for the further recovery of Li. We also show that the proposed approach can be successfully applied to reclaiming these critical elements from commercial LIBs. Due to its magnetic nature, metallic Co is easy to separate from non-magnetic components of mechanochemically generated powder mixtures using an appropriate magnetic separation technique, while Li can be reclaimed as Li2CO3 after an additional liquid-phase processing. The recovery rates achieved during our experiments with pure LiCoO2 are ∼90% for Co and ∼70% for Li.

Acta Materialia, 2018

A first-order magnetoelastic transition (FOMT) is found near the triple point between ferromagnet... more A first-order magnetoelastic transition (FOMT) is found near the triple point between ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases in the magneto-chemical phase diagram of (Hf1-xNbx)Fe2 Laves phase system. We show that bringing different magnetic states to the edge of stability, both as a function of the chemical composition and under the influence of external stimuli, such as temperature, pressure and magnetic field, is essential to obtain and control FOMTs. Temperature dependent X-ray diffraction experiments reveal a discontinuity in the lattice parameter a and the unit cell volume without the change in the crystal symmetry at the FOMT. Under applied pressure, the transition temperature drastically shifts downward at a remarkable rate of −122 K/GPa. It is this first-order magnetic transition that leads to a negative thermal expansion (NTE) with average ΔV/(VΔT) ≈ −15 × 10−6 K−1 observed over a 90 K broad temperature range, which is uncommon for magnetoelastic NTE materials. Density functional theory calculations and microstructural analyses demonstrate that the unusual broadness of the FOMT originates from phase separation between ferro-and antiferromagnetic phases, which in turn is rooted in partial segregation of Hf and Nb and a peculiar microstructure. This new understanding of the composition-structure-property relationships in transition metal based Laves phases is an essential step toward a better control and more precise tailoring of rich functionalities in this group of material.

The present invention provides a cost-effective method of producing pure hydrogen gas from hydrid... more The present invention provides a cost-effective method of producing pure hydrogen gas from hydride-based solid materials. The hydride-based solid material is mechanically processed in the presence of a catalyst to obtain pure gaseous hydrogen. Unlike previous methods, hydrogen may be obtained from the solid material without heating, and without the addition of a solvent during processing. The described method of hydrogen production is useful for energy conversion and production technologies that consume pure gaseous hydrogen as a fuel.

Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements, 1996

Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, 1999

Bei der Redaktion eingegangen am 5. Ma È rz 1999. Coordination Properties of Carbaboranylchloroph... more Bei der Redaktion eingegangen am 5. Ma È rz 1999. Coordination Properties of Carbaboranylchlorophosphines: Synthesis and Molecular Structure of cis-rac-Molybdenumtetracarbonyl-{1,2-bis(chlorophenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)} Abstract. Rac-1,2-bis(chlorophenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarbacloso-dodecaborane(12) (1) reacts with [Mo(CO) 4 (NBD)] (NBD = norbornadiene) after several hours at 50±55°C to yield cis-rac-[Mo(CO) 4 {1,2-(PPhCl) 2 C 2 B 10 H 10 }] (2). 2 was characterised spectroscopically (1 H, 13 C, 11 B and 31 P NMR) and by crystal structure determination.

Russian Chemical Reviews, 1997

This work was concerned with the simultaneous measurement of the combination coefficients b and 7... more This work was concerned with the simultaneous measurement of the combination coefficients b and 70, between small ions and aerosol particles and between small ions and uncharged aerosol particles respectively, for different particle radii. The ion-ion mutual repulsion coefficient y was first evaluated from 14 plots of small ion decay in an aerosol-free mylar vessel, which gave a mean experimental value of 2.39 (k 0.14) x 10-8 cm3 s-1. The decay of ions in the presence of aerosol particles in the mylar vessel was recorded and compared with a family of computed theoretical ion-aerosol decay curves to determine b. 70 could then be determined from the concentration of uncharged nuclei present. In the ten experiments carried out b ranged from 0.50 to 2. 2 4~ 10-8 cm3 s-1 and 70 ranged from 0.33 to 2-39 x 10-6 cm3 s-1, for corresponding radii of 1.26 and 4.0 x 10-6 cm. Satisfactory agreement was found between the b and 70 versus radius results and various theoretically computed values. Possible reasons for discrepancies between theory and experiment are indicated.

Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR Division of Chemical Science, 1990

Bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences Division of Chemical Science, 1992

O-Ethyl S,S-bis(o-carboran-9-yl) dithiophosphite was prepared. The reactions of this product with... more O-Ethyl S,S-bis(o-carboran-9-yl) dithiophosphite was prepared. The reactions of this product with sulfur, selenium, methyl iodide, and chloral were studied.

Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR Division of Chemical Science, 1987

Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 2004

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance is used to study the thermal decomposition of lithium tetr... more Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance is used to study the thermal decomposition of lithium tetrahydroaluminate into metallic aluminum, hydrogen and trilithium hexahydroaluminate. Aluminum sites in LiAlH4 and Li3AlH6 were characterized using static, magic angle spinning (MAS) and multiple-quantum MAS NMR. By applying the in situ NMR method, it has been demonstrated that melting is not a prerequisite for the decomposition of LiAlH4. Based on the observed data, a decomposition path has been established that is consistent with the concentrations of observed Al species at various stages of the thermally induced reaction.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2001

Mechanical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH in the presence of titanium-and iron-based catalys... more Mechanical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH in the presence of titanium-and iron-based catalysts induces the transformation of 4 LiAlH into Li AlH , Al and H at room temperature. Several catalysts were tested and it was established that their activity gradually 4 3 6 2 decreases from TiCl to Fe in the series TiCl .Al Ti4Al Fe Ti .Al Fe.Fe. The high catalytic activity of TiCl has been attributed 4 4 3 2 2 3 8 3 4 to microcrystalline intermetallic Al Ti, which rapidly forms in situ from TiCl and LiAlH during mechanical processing and then acts as 3 4 4 a heterogeneous dehydrogenation catalyst.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2000

Mechanochemical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH revealed good stability of this complex alumi... more Mechanochemical processing of polycrystalline LiAlH revealed good stability of this complex aluminohydride during high-energy 4 ball-milling in a helium atmosphere for up to 35 h. The decomposition of lithium aluminohydride into Li AlH , Al and H is observed 3 6 2 during prolonged mechanochemical treatment for up to 110 h and is most likely associated with the catalytic effect of a vial material, iron, which is introduced into the hydride as a contaminant during mechanical treatment.

European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 1998

When a mixture of stereoisomers of rac-and meso-1,2bis(phenylphosphanyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodeca... more When a mixture of stereoisomers of rac-and meso-1,2bis(phenylphosphanyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) (1a, b; 1a/1b = 3:1) is treated with [Cp 2 ZrMe 2 ] in boiling toluene for 2 h, the formation of three phosphorus-containing products, namely meso-[Cp 2 Zr(PPh) 3 ] (3), (PPh) 4 (4) and (PPh) 5 (5), ratio 2.8:1.1:1.0, was observed by 31 P-NMR spectroscopy. In the 11 B-NMR spectrum of the reaction mixture, only signals for 1,2dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) were observed. When zirconocene, prepared in situ from [Cp 2 ZrCl 2 ] and BuLi, was treated with 1a, b at low temperature and then heated to reflux in toluene for 2 h, only formation of 3 and 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) was observed. The mixture of stereoisomers of 1a, b reacts with CuCl in THF to give rac-and meso-[CuCl(THF){1,2

Chemical Communications, 2002

Nature Communications, 2020

Three-dimensional heterostructures are usually created either by assembling two-dimensional build... more Three-dimensional heterostructures are usually created either by assembling two-dimensional building blocks into hierarchical architectures or using stepwise chemical processes that sequentially deposit individual monolayers. Both approaches suffer from a number of issues, including lack of suitable precursors, limited reproducibility, and poor scalability of the preparation protocols. Therefore, development of alternative methods that enable preparation of heterostructured materials is desired. We create heterostructures with incommensurate arrangements of well-defined building blocks using a synthetic approach that comprises mechanical disassembly and simultaneous reordering of layered transition-metal dichalcogenides, MX2, and non-layered monochalcogenides, REX, where M = Ta, Nb, RE = Sm, La, and X = S, Se. We show that the discovered solid-state processes are rooted in stochastic mechanochemical transformations directed by electronic interaction between chemically and structural...

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 2017