A recent approach to measure electron radiation doses in the kGy range is the use of phosphors with an irradiation dose-dependent luminescence decay time.

Blue single crystals of Cu[μ3-O3P(CH2)2COOH].2H2O (1) and Cu[(RS)-μ3-O3PCH(C2H5)COOH].3H2O (2) have been prepared in aqueous Cu2+-solutions (pH = 2.5–3.5) containing 3-phosphonopropionic acid (1) and (RS)-2-phosphonobutyric acid (2), respectively. 1: Space group Pbca (no. 61) with a = 812.5(2), b = 919.00(9), c = 2102.3(2) pm. Cu2+ is five-fold coordinated by three oxygen atomsstemming from [O3P(CH2)2COOH]2– anions and two water molecules. The Cu-O bond lengths range from194.0(3) to 231.8(4) pm. The connection between the [O3P(CH2)2COOH]2– anions and the Cu2+ cations yields apolymeric structure with layers parallel to (001). The layers are linked by hydrogen bonds. 2: Space group Pbca(no. 61) with a = 1007.17(14), b = 961.2(3), c = 2180.9(4) pm. The copper cations are surrounded by five oxygen atoms in a square pyramidal fashion with Cu-O bonds between 193.6(4) and 236.9(4) pm. The coordination between [O3PCH(C2H5)COOH]2- and Cu2+ results in infinite puckered layers parallel to (001). The layers are not connected by any hydrogen bonds. Each layer contains both R and S isomers of the [O3PCH(C2H5)COOH]2-dianion. Water molecules not bound to Cu2+ are intercalated between the layers.UV/Vis spectra suggest three d-d transition bands at 743, 892, 1016 nm for 1 and four bands at 741, 838, 957and 1151 nm for 2, respectively. Magnetic measurements suggest a weak antiferromagnetic coupling betweenCu2+ due to a super-superexchange interaction. Thermoanalytical investigations in air show that the compounds are stable up to 95 °C (1) and 65 °C (2), respectively.

The cover picture shows sections of the two layered coordination polymers Cu[µ3-O3P(CH2)2COOH]·2H2O (1) and Cu[(RS)-µ3-O3PCH(C2H5)COOH]·3H2O (2) obtained from aqueous solution with Cu2+ and anions of 3-phosphonopropionic acid and (RS)-2-phosphonobutyric acid, respectively. The layers are confined in both cases by COOH groups pointing to the interlayer space. Thus these coordination polymers can be regarded as the protonated form of a weakly acidic cation exchanger with layer-like structure. The negative charge density of the deprotonated layers would be similar to that known from layered silicates. A weak antiferromagnetic interaction is observed at low temperature in both compounds obviously caused by super-superexchange paths between copper cations. More details are discussed in the article by R. Köferstein, M. Arnold, and C. Robl on page 205 ff.

Laser beam melting (LBM), an additive laser powder bed fusion technology, enables the structural integration of temperature-sensitive sensors and actuators in complex monolithic metallic structures. The objective is to embed a functional component inside a metal part without losing its functionality by overheating. The first part of this paper addresses the development of a new process chain for bonded embedding of temperature-sensitive sensor/actuator systems by LBM. These systems are modularly built and coated by a multi-material/multi-layer thermal protection system of ceramic and metallic compounds. The characteristic of low global heat input in LBM is utilized for the functional embedding. In the second part, the specific functional design and optimization for tailored smart components with embedded functionalities are addressed. Numerical and experimental validated results are demonstrated on a smart femoral hip stem.

Blue single crystals of Cu[μ2-OOC(CH2)PO3H].2H2O (1) and Cu1.5[μ3-OOC(CH2)PO3].5H2O (2) havebeen prepared in aqueous solution. 1: Space group C2/c (no. 15) with a = 1623.3(2), b = 624.0(1), c = 1495.5(2)pm, beta = 122.45(1)°. Cu is coordinated by three oxygen atoms stemming from the hydrogenphosphonoacetatedianion and three water molecules to form a distorted octahedron. The Cu-O bonds range from 190.4(3) to278.5(3) pm. The connection between the Cu2+ cations and the hydrogenphosphonoacetate dianions leads to atwo-dimensional structure with layers parallel to ( 01). The layers are linked by hydrogen bonds. 2: Space group(no. 2) with a = 608.2(1), b = 800.1(1), c = 1083.6(1) pm, alpha = 94.98(1)°, beta = 105.71(1)°, gamma = 109.84(1)°.There are two crystallographically independent Cu2+ cations coordinated in a square pyramidal and an octahedralfashion, respectively. The Cu-O bonds range from 192.9(2) to 237.2(2) pm. The coordination of thephosphonoacetate trianion to Cu(1) results in infinite polyanionic chains parallel to [100] with a composition of{Cu(H2O)[OOC(CH2)PO3]}nn-. Hydrated Cu(2) cations are accommodated between the chains as counter ions. 1and 2 show structural features of cation exchangers. Magnetic measurements reveal a paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behaviour. Compound 2 shows antiferromagnetic coupling between Cu2+ ions due to a super-superexchangecoupling. The UV/Vis spectra of 1 suggests three d-d transition bands at 763 nm (2B1 - 2E), 878 nm (2B1 -2B2), and 1061 nm (2B1 - 2A1). Thermoanalytical investigations in air show that compound 1 is stable up to 165°C, whereas the decomposition of 2 begins at 63 °C.

Turquoise monoclinic single crystals of the novel three-dimensional Cu2[μ8-O3P(CH2)2PO3)].3.2H2O coordination polymer have been prepared using the silica gelmethod. Space group C2/m (no. 12) with a = 1483.6(2), b = 668.44(8), c = 436.30(6) pm, beta =93.28(2)°. The Cu2+ cation is coordinated by four oxygen atoms stemming from the 1,2-ethylenediphosphonate dianions in a square planar manner and two water molecules in theaxial positions. The connection between the Cu2+ cations and the [PO3C] units from the 1,2-ethylenediphosphonate dianions leads to layers parallel to (100), which are linked by theethylene groups to a three-dimensional framework with channel-like voids. The voidsaccommodate water molecules not bound to Cu2+ and extend parallel along [001] with anopening of about 550 260 pm. Magnetic measurements reveal an antiferromagneticbehaviour due to a superexchange coupling between Cu2+ ions through an oxygen bridge. TheUV-Vis spectrum reveals three dd transition bands at 694, 774, and 918 nm. The compoundcan be fully dehydrated by thermal treatment and rehydrated by storage in ambient air.

High‐k LTCC tapes with ultralow sintering temperatures were developed from lead‐free perovskite powders. Lowering of the sintering temperature from 1250°C down to 900°C has been achieved by means of ultrafine ceramic powders in combination with suitable sintering aids. The tape‐casting process has been optimized for ultrafine powders with an enhanced sintering activity. Low‐sintering high‐k tapes of a thickness down to 40 μm, suitable for LTCC processing, were obtained. The sintering behavior of these high‐k tapes has been studied and compared with other LTCC materials. Dielectric properties of the high‐k material have been investigated on a multilayer test structure consisting of up to 20 dielectric layers. After metallization with an Ag conductor, the green tapes were stacked and laminated. Sintering of these multilayer stacks at 900°C gives dense ceramic samples. Permittivities up to 2000 have been obtained, together with low dielectric losses. Material compatibility with several Ag/Au‐thick‐film‐paste systems has been tested.

A theoretical investigation of light scattering in first-order Born approximation in order to analyse the different scattering sources is presented for the case of the so-called Kretschmann attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration. This three-layer system consists of a high permittivity superstrate acting as a prism, a thin metallic layer and air as substrate. The interesting aspect of this system is the occurrence of a resonance for both the exciting and the scattered light caused by surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at the metal-air interface. The scattered light will be calculated under the assumption of different illumination and detection conditions. The scattering contributions are assumed to be caused by the roughness of both interfaces and the volume inhomogeneities in the metallic layer. The calculated curves show the principal possibility of analysing the different scattering sources by an appropriate experimental strategy.