Simultaneous deposition of Ni nanoparticles and wires on a tubular halloysite template: A novel metallized ceramic microstructure

Tubular halloysite can be used as a template to fabricate a novel metallized ceramic microstructure through electroless plating. Reduction of Pd ions by methanol is conducted to initiate Ni plating. There is a simultaneous deposition of Ni nanoparticles on the outer surface and discontinuous wires in the lumen site of the halloysite template obtained. The different deposition could be caused by the different composition distribution of ferric oxide impurity in the wall due to the isomorphic substitution during the formation of halloysite template. Its magnetic property is mainly attributed to the Ni nanoparticles, not the wires. The metallized ceramic microstructure has the potential to be utilized as a novel magnetic material.     

Metal content determination in polymerization catalysts by direct methods

Metal contents in polymerization catalysts were comparatively determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. Catalysts were prepared by grafting metallocene onto bare silica or onto silica chemically modified with methylaluminoxane (MAO). Catalysts were compressed as self-supporting pellets (RBS and XRF), or mounted on adhesive copper tape (XPS). The proximity of the mass of the atomic nuclei did not allow resolution by RBS of the signals corresponding to Zr and Nb, nor Si and Al in catalyst systems such as (nBuCp)₂ZrCl₂/Cp₂NbCl₂/MAO/SiO₂. On the other hand, Zr, Nb, Si and Al lines were completely resolved in an XRF spectrum. For supported metallocenes on bare silica, XPS measurement was ca. 40% higher than that obtained by RBS. Silica-supported zirconocene showed good agreement in Zr content determination by XRF and RBS.     

Electronic tongue based on an array of metallic potentiometric sensors

An electronic tongue system based on the array of six metallic potentiometric sensors (metallic wires) was developed and utilized for discrimination of foodstuffs: several types of vinegar and fruit juices. Copper, tin, iron, aluminum, brass and stainless steel wires were included in the array and supplemented by pH glass electrode. The response of potentiometric metallic sensors towards various organic acids has been studied and possible sensitivity mechanisms were discussed. Overall potential changes of metallic sensors were exanimate as complex mixed signals influenced by several components presenting in analyte employing chemometric approach. The multisensor array of such a type can be useful for several applications since of simplicity in handling, low cost of sensors and easy measure procedure.     

Classical univariate calibration and partial least squares for quantitative analysis of brass samples by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

In this work we compare the analytical results obtained by traditional calibration curves (CC) and multivariate Partial Least Squares (PLS) algorithm when applied to the LIBS spectra obtained from ten brass samples (nine standards of known composition and one ‘unknown’). Both major (Cu and Zn) and trace (Sn, Pb, Fe) elements in the sample matrix were analyzed. After the analysis, the composition of the ‘unknown’ sample, measured by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique, was revealed. The predicted concentrations of major elements obtained by rapid PLS algorithms are in very good agreement with the nominal concentrations, as well as with those obtained by the more time-consuming CC approach. A discussion about the possible effects leading to discrepancies of the results is reported. The results of this study open encouraging perspectives towards the development of cheap LIBS instrumentation which would be capable, despite the limitations of the experimental apparatus, to perform fast and precise quantitative analysis on complex samples.     

Alkali-ion-anlagerung in der fd-massenspektrometrie. Kationisierung und protonierung—ionisierungsmethoden bei verwendung nicht aktivierter emitter

It is shown that polar organic molecules—especially di- and trisaccharides—can be ionized by attachment of alkali ions under conditions of field desorption. Alkali tetraphenylborates serve as cation donors. The simple mass spectra which exhibit only [M+cation]⁺ ions permit the determination of molecular weights and the analysis of mixtures. A high quality of the emitter is not necessary. Even untreated tungsten wires as emitters can be used for alkali ion attachment under FD conditions. Moreover it is shown that using untreated wires mass spectra of peptides and nucleotides can be obtained due to protonation reactions. In this case the ion current is considerably higher compared to the application of carbon emitters.     

Determination of Te,Bi, Ni,Sb and Au by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry following electroenrichment on a copper cathode

The electrodepositons of Te, Bi, Ni, Sb and Au from aqueous solution of pH = 1 on the cathode surface have been studied for X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). A special holder for a copper electrode has been constructed to perform the electrodeposition process on only one side of the electrode. After electrolysis, the copper electrode can be easily removed from the holder; after rinsing it with water and drying it can be analyzed by XRF. The proposed method of sample preparation and preconcentration of Te, Bi, Ni, Sb, Au provides suitable samples which are devoid of the negative and undesirable effects of XRF analysis, such as particle size and matrix effects. The influence of time on the deposition yield has been examined. The method of preconcentration is efficient. The inhomogeneity of the prepared specimens has been studied using internal standard method. The calibration is based on using synthetic standards, certified reference materials and standard addition method. The best results are achieved by the standard addition method. The agreement between results obtained with XRF analysis and certified values is satisfactory and indicates the usefulness of the proposed method for determination of Te, Bi, Ni, Sb and Au in anode slime.     

Source preparation of actinides and polonium using coins

Electrodeposition is the major method for source preparation of actinides, Pu, Am, Th, U using stainless steel discs and spontaneous deposition for Polonium using discs of silver. Worldwide coins are manufactured of bronze, steel, copper plated steel, cupronickel, brass and alloys of Cu–Ni–Zn. The price of the coins which can be used have a value between 0.1 and 0.4 Euro considerably cheaper than electropolished stainless steel discs, 0.8 Euro. This investigation had the purpose to show the possibility to use coins from different countries for source preparation, the energy resolution and deposition efficiency. We obtained plating recoveries ranging from 50 to 100 % and the energy resolution varied between 21 and 75 keV for the different coins tested.     

Determination of Major and Minor Elements in Granite by Inductively Coupled Plasma and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

Abstract

The development and evaluation of an analytical method for the determination of major and minor elements in granite by ICP-AES and XRF are described. The method applies a standard addition method to generate calibration standards for XRF measurements by ICP-AES from samples to be analyzed. Reliable results were obtained by using simple versions of ICP and XRF, and combined with the pressed-powder pellets for sample preparation. Least squares data for parameters measured by this method vs. reported value for a granite standard reference material gave a slope of 1.002 ± 0.005 and an intercept of -0.029 ± 0.07. The coefficients of variation vary between 0.53% for the largest oxide and 8.3% for the lowest oxide.     

Ni-P-TiO2化学复合镀层电极的乙醇电催化氧化

于Ni-P镀液添加TiO2颗粒,用化学镀法在黄铜基底上制备不同TiO2含量的Ni-P-TiO2复合镀层电极.采用循环伏安法、线性扫描法、计时电流和交流阻抗法测定Ni-P-TiO2/Cu电极的电化学性能.结果表明:常温下Ni-P-TiO2/Cu电极在碱性溶液中对乙醇氧化有很高的电催化活性;Ni-P-TiO2电极上乙醇的电催化氧化活性随镀层TiO2量的不同而异;镀液中TiO2含量为5 g.L-1时,所得电极的电催化乙醇氧化的活性最佳.     

An advanced multivariate approach for processing X-ray fluorescence spectral and hyperspectral data from non-invasive in situ analyses on painted surfaces

In the last decades, in situ non-invasive analytical techniques have been widely used for the analysis of paintings. These techniques are useful to extensively map the surface in a non-invasive way, in order to identify the most representative areas to be sampled. When spectroscopic investigations, such as X ray fluorescence (XRF), are conducted, they usually imply the acquisition of a huge amount of measurements. Subsequently, all these data should be processed in situ, in order to immediately support the sampling strategies. To this aim, an appropriate and fast strategy for multivariate treatment of XRF spectral and hyperspectral data sets is presented, able to account for inter-correlation among variables, which is an issue of high importance for elemental analyses. The main advantage of the approach is that XRF spectral profiles are analysed directly, without computation of derived parameters, by means of principal component analysis (PCA). This procedure allows a fast interpretation of results that can be accomplished in situ. Particular attention was paid to the selection of proper spectral pre-treatments to be applied on data together with the use of several chemometric tools (peak alignment, spectra normalisation and exploratory analysis) aimed at improving the interpretation of XRF results. In addition, the application of multivariate exploratory analysis on XRF hyperspectral maps was studied by using an interactive brushing procedure. The multivariate approach was validated on data obtained from the analysis of the famous Renaissance panel painting “The Ideal City”, exhibited in Palazzo Ducale of Urbino, Italy.     

Inhibition effect of 1,3,5-tri-p-tolyl-1,3,5-triazene on the corrosion of brass in 0.5 M HCl solution

1,3,5-tri-p-tolyl-1,3,5-triazene was investigated as a corrosion inhibitor for brass in 0.5 M HCl solution using weight loss, potentiodynamic polarization, linear polarization resistance and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Data obtained from these methods showed average inhibition efficiency (76 %) at optimum concentration. The adsorption of the inhibitor on the brass surface follows the Frumkin adsorption isotherm.     

Multilayers quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis applied to easel paintings

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) allows a rapid and simple determination of the elemental composition of a material. As a non-destructive tool, it has been extensively used for analysis in art and archaeology since the early 1970s. Whereas it is commonly used for qualitative analysis, recent efforts have been made to develop quantitative treatment even with portable systems. However, the interpretation of the results obtained with this technique can turn out to be problematic in the case of layered structures such as easel paintings. The use of differential X-ray attenuation enables modelling of the various layers: indeed, the absorption of X-rays through different layers will result in modification of intensity ratio between the different characteristic lines. This work focuses on the possibility to use XRF with the fundamental parameters method to reconstruct the composition and thickness of the layers. This method was tested on several multilayers standards and gives a maximum error of 15% for thicknesses and errors of 10% for concentrations. On a painting test sample that was rather inhomogeneous, the XRF analysis provides an average value. This method was applied in situ to estimate the thickness of the layers a painting from Marco d’Oggiono, pupil of Leonardo da Vinci.     

A new particle mounting method for surface analysis

The chemical analysis of microparticles is challenging due to the need to mount the particles on a substrate for analysis; double-sided adhesive tape is often used (sometimes conductive), however that is usually coated with poly (dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) that is often used as a release agent. PDMS is a common surface contamination that can mask surface chemistries and hinder material performance where it is dependent on this contaminated interface. It is known that PDMS contains a very mobile oligomeric fraction that readily diffuses across surfaces resulting in the contamination of mounted particulate samples before and during surface chemistry analysis. This makes it impossible to determine whether the PDMS has arisen from the analysis procedure or from the sample itself. A new sample preparation method is proposed where polymer microparticles are mounted on a poly (hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) polymer solution, which we compare with particles that have been mounted on adhesive discs using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and 3D OrbiSIMS analysis. Particles mounted on the pHEMA substrate results in a reduction of PDMS signal by 99.8% compared with microparticles mounted on adhesive discs. This illustrates how a simple, quick and inexpensive polymer solution can be used to adhere particles for analysis by ToF-SIMS, or other surface chemical analysis techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), without introduction of large amounts of silicone contaminant.     

Electroless plating of honeycomb and pincushion polymer films prepared by self-organization

This report describes the fabrication and electroless plating of regular porous and pincushion-like polymer structures prepared by self-organization. Honeycomb-patterned films were prepared by simple casting of polymer solution under applied humid air and pincushion structures by peeling off the top layer of the former films. Silver-deposited honeycomb-patterned films and pincushion films were obtained by simple electroless plating of the respective original structures. XPS revealed Ag deposition on the honeycomb-patterned film. After thermal decomposition or solvent elution of the template polymer, unique metal mesoscopic structures were obtained.     

Topography and Field Effects in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry – Part I: Conducting Samples

Quantitative chemical characterization of surfaces with topography by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) remains a significant challenge due to the lack of systematic and validated measurement methods. In this study, we combine an experimental approach using a simple model system with computer simulation using SIMION, to understand and quantify the key factors that give rise to unwanted topographic artefacts in SIMS images of conducting samples with microscale topography. Experimental data are acquired for gold wires (diameters 33 to 125 μm) mounted onto silicon wafers. Significant loss of ion intensities and shadowing arise from the distortion of the extraction field, and the chemical analysis over the whole of the sample surface is difficult. For large primary ion incidence angles of ≥55° to the surface normal, a fraction of the primary ions are scattered from the target and impact the substrate, emitting secondary ions that may be mistaken as originating from the wire. For conducting samples, topographic field effects may be reduced by the use of a smaller extraction voltage and an extraction delay. The effects of an extraction delay on ion intensities, mass resolution and time-of-flight are studied, and its application is demonstrated on an anisotropically etched silicon sample. The use of a simple sample holder with a V-shaped groove to reduce topographic field effects for wires is also presented. Using these results, we provide clear guidance to analysts for the diagnosis and identification of topography effects in SIMS, and present key recommendations to minimize them in practical analysis.     

Molybdate sulfonic acid: preparation, characterization, and application as an effective and reusable catalyst for octahydroxanthene-1,8-dione synthesis

Molybdate sulfonic acid (MSA) as a highly efficient catalyst was synthesized and employed for the synthesis of octahydroxanthene-1,8-dione derivatives. MSA efficiently catalyzed condensation of a wide range of aryl aldehydes and cyclohexane-1,3-diones to obtain octahydroxanthene-1,8-diones. It was characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FT-IR spectroscopy. This catalyst can be recovered and reused several times in other reactions maintaining its high activity. This novel and green method is very cheap and has many advantages such as excellent yields, the use of recoverable and eco-friendly catalysts, and a simple work-up procedure.     

化学镀镍诱发过程的研究 I:金属催化活性的鉴别和反应机理

Electroless plating is known to be an autocatalytic process. For the reaction to start, the substrate metall should be either catalytic or activated by a suitable catalyst. For example, steel and nickel can be plated directly, but in the case of copper or brass, catalytic metal inducing is need. In this paper, the catalytic activity of different metals and their inducing effects were in vestigated by measuring stationary potentials nd stationary potential-time curves. Experimental results showed: (1) The stationary potential of metal provides a simple parameter to estimate the catalytic activity of metals in electroless nickeling. When 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid (HEDP) aelectroless nickeling bath containing NaH2PO2 as reducing agent is used, electrolessnickeling may proceed spontaneously, if the stationary potential of metal is more nagative than -0.60V, no matter whether nickel (autocatalytic active) or other metals(non-autocatalytic active) is used as substrate. (2)When an autocatalytic meta is in contact with the substrate metal in the bath, a sudden decrease of stationary potential is observed. The whole inducing process could be finished within 0.5-2 sec. (3) The stationary potential of electroless nickeling coating in HEDP bath at 80`C is-0.72V, consequently nickel coating itself is a catalytic active metal. Once an electroless nickeling coating is deposited on a substrate metal, electroless nickeling reaction can then proceed continuously. (4) The sufficient conditions of electroless nickeling in HEDP bath containing NaH2PO2 are that the stationary potential of substrate metal must be more nagative than -0.60V and that the temperature of electroless nickeling bath should be higher than 50`C. (5) Inducing mechanism of electroless nickeling can be explained with chemical cell consisting of substrate metal and catalytic metal. Electrons from catalytic metal would suddenly decrease the stationary potential of substrate metal, H+ and Ni2+ complex ion would be reduced on the substrate me     

From Nanorods to Atomically Thin Wires of Anatase TiO2: Nonhydrolytic Synthesis and Characterization

A nonhydrolytic two‐step chemical process has been developed to synthesize ultrathin, nearly monodisperse TiO₂ (anatase) wires with tunable diameters of 5 nm to approximately 4 Å, reaching the atomic length scale. The high‐quality anatase titania atomically thin wires can be doped and stabilized with nitrogen species by introducing suitable nitrogen‐containing molecules. The ultrathin wires, particularly the atomically thin wires, as well as the precursor, have been thoroughly characterized by an extensive series of structural, spectroscopic, and other techniques. Possible formation mechanisms for the rods and the wires are proposed on the basis of experimental results obtained under varying reaction conditions. Also demonstrated are the pronounced effects of size and N‐doping on the electronic, optical, and phononic properties of the anatase titania wires in the smallest size regime.     

Analysis of non-organic elements in plant foliage using polarised X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method for the rapid and non-destructive analysis of 30 non-organic elements in plant leaves over five orders of magnitude concentration from several percentage of dry weight to sub-milligram per kilogram, is described. There is a growing need for a simple method of monitoring non-organic trace elements in plant material, especially those which accumulate in soils with application of fertilisers, both inorganic and biosolids. Earlier attempts to use XRF for the analysis of plant material suffered from sensitivity loss due to the high background of organic matrices caused by scattering of the X-ray source. We overcome this by using polarised X-ray sources in a Cartesian geometrical arrangement with sample and energy dispersive detector (EDPXRF), a configuration which can achieve an order of magnitude reduction in background compared with unpolarised sources. Further sensitivity gains are made using a high power tube as a source of primary X-rays and for some analytes employing secondary targets for near-monochromatic excitation. Sample preparation is simple involving only pulverising and briquetting of dried samples. Accuracy is evaluated by comparing data obtained for the suite of NIST plant leaf samples (NIST 1515 apple leaves, NIST 1547 peach leaves, NIST 1570a spinach leaves, NIST 1573a tomato leaves and NIST 1575a pine needles) and tobacco leaf standards CTA-OTL-1 and CTA-VTL-2. The data compare well over the whole concentration range and the method provides a rapid analytical tool for monitoring potentially toxic trace elements in all types of foliage with adequate sensitivity for many purposes.