Monte Carlo calculations of reaction rates and energy distributions among reaction products. Reactions of HF and DF with H and D-atoms

Rate coefficients are calculated for the reactions of H and D-atoms with vibrationally excited HF and DF molecules. Three-dimensional classical trajectories of the collision dynamics of these reactions have been calculated by means of the London-Eyring-Polanyi-Sato (LEPS) potential energy surface. The Monte Carlo procedure is used to start each collision trajectory. Results of this study indicate that (a) chemical exchange provides an efficient mechanism for relaxing vibrationally excited HF and DF molecules by H and D-atoms; (b) multiple-quantum transitions are important in the deactivation processes; and (c) both vibration-translation and vibration-rotation energy transfers contribute to vibrational relaxation of vibrationally excited HF and DF molecules by H and D-atoms. The vibrational relaxation of HF (v = 1) by H-atoms is faster than the vibrational relaxation of DF (v = 1) by H-atoms. A similar effect is indicated for D-atoms; i.e. the vibrational relaxation of DF (v = 1) by D-atoms is faster than the vibrational relaxation of HF (v = 1) by D-atoms. Room temperature vibration to translation-rotation (V → T, R) relaxation rates in units of (μsec Torr)^-1 are as follows: 13·8 × 10^-2 for HF (v = 1) by H, 3·1 × 10^-2 for DF (v = 1) by D, 5·5 × 10^-3 for HF (v = 1) by D, and 1·9 × 10^-2 for DF (v = 1) by H. Rates of deactivation of vibrationally excited HF and DF molecules by H and D-atoms are very fast. Rate coefficients are provided for many reactions that have not been measured experimentally.     

Stochastic radiative transfer in multilayer broken clouds. Part II: validation tests

In the second part of our two-part paper, we estimated the accuracy and robustness of the approximated equations for the mean radiance that were derived in Part I. In our analysis we used the three-dimensional (3D) cloud fields provided by (i) the stochastic Boolean model, (ii) large-eddy simulation model and (iii) satellite cloud retrieval. The accuracy of the obtained equations was evaluated by comparing the ensemble-averaged radiative properties that were obtained by the numerical averaging method (reference) and the analytical averaging method (approximation). The robustness of these equations was estimated by comparing the domain-averaged radiative properties obtained by using (i) the full 3D cloud structure (reference) and (ii) the bulk cloud statistics (approximation). It was shown that the approximated equations could provide reasonable accuracy (∼15%) for both the ensemble- and domain-averaged radiative properties.     

A Mechanism of the influence of Gd(III) and other Ln(III) ions on sensitized luminescence of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions in aqueous and ethanol solutions: The role of hydroxyl bridges

We studied sensitization of Eu(III) and Tb(III) ions by molecules of 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2-bipyridil in D₂O and d ₆-ethanol and the influence of Nd(III), Pr(III), Sm(III), Gd(III), and Ho(III) ions on the luminescence intensity I _lum and lifetime τ_lum of Eu(III) and Tb(III) in solutions. The stability constants of complexes of Eu(III) and Gd(III) with 2,2′-bipyridil are measured by spectrophotometric and luminescence methods. It is shown that luminescence of Eu(III) is quenched by Gd(III) ions at the ion concentration equal to 10^?2–10^?1 M, which is caused by competing between these ions for a sensitizer. At the concentration of Ln(III) ions equal to 10^?6?10^?3 M, the sensitized luminescence of Eu(III) and Tb(III) was quenched and τ_lum decreased in the presence of Nd(III) ions, whereas in the presence of Gd(III) the luminescence intensity increased. It is proved that a bridge that connects the two ions upon energy transfer is formed by hydroxyl groups. The intensity of luminescence of Eu(III) and Tb(III) in aqueous solutions and its lifetime decreased in the presence of hydroxyl groups, while upon addition of Gd(III) to these solutions these quantities were restored. We also found that the addition of Gd(III) to deoxygenated ethanol solutions of 2,2′-bipyridil and Eu(III) slows down photochemical and thermal reactions between bipyridil and Eu(III), resulting in the increase in the luminescence intensity of Eu(III).     

Complexed sol-gel synthesis of improved Pt-Ru-Os-based anode electro-catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells

A high specific surface area (SSA) Pt-Ru-Os-based anode catalyst synthesized by a novel complexed sol-gel (CSG) process shows better catalytic activity in comparison to pure equi-atomic compositions of Pt-Ru anode catalysts synthesized by similar sol-gel processes. A homogeneous amorphous gel was successfully synthesized by complexing platinum(II) acetylacetonate, ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate and osmium(III) chloride with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) used as a complexing agent. Phase-pure Pt(Ru,Os) and Pt(Ru) solid solutions possessing high specific surface area (∼110-120 m²/g) were successfully synthesized by controlled removal of carbonaceous species present in the as-prepared precursor generated from the CSG process. This has been successfully achieved by precise thermal treatments of the precursor using controlled oxidizing atmospheres. Results indicate that the nano-crystalline Pt(Ru,Os) solid solution of nominal composition 50 at%-Pt-40 at% Ru-10 at% Os possesses good chemical homogeneity, and reveals excellent catalytic activity, thus demonstrating the potential of the novel CSG process for synthesizing high-performance Pt-Ru-Os-based catalysts for direct methanol fuel cells.     

Preparation of Al(OH)3/Acrylic Copolymer Latex by Emulsion Polymerization

The Al(OH)₃/acrylic copolymer latexes were synthesized through the emulsion polymerization of acrylic monomers, butyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate in the presence of surface-functionalized Al(OH)₃ filler particles. The polymerization was stabilized by polyoxyethylene (50) nonyl phenyl ether (NP-1050, nonionic surfactant) and ammonium (POE) alkyl aryl ether sulfate (EU-S133D, anionic surfactant) to produce stable composite latexes. The improved compatibility of Al(OH)₃ surface with acrylic monomers was achieved by the modification with 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (γ-MPS). Transmission electron microscopy showed that nano-sized Al(OH)₃ particles were slightly agglomerated in the copolymer latex. When pristine Al(OH)₃ was used as a filler or γ-MPS-modified Al(OH)₃ particles were added above 30 wt% with respect to monomers, unstable latexes were obtained, which were partially precipitated out on standing for prolonged time. The flame retardation effect was not apparent with the incorporation of Al(OH)₃ in the latexes by 30 wt% as shown by LOI test.     

Formation, stability and CO adsorption properties of PdAg/Pd(1 1 1) surface alloys

The formation, stability and CO adsorption properties of PdAg/Pd(1 1 1) surface alloys were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and by adsorption of CO probe molecules, which was characterized by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). The PdAg/Pd(1 1 1) surface alloys were prepared by annealing (partly) Ag film covered Pd(1 1 1) surfaces, where the Ag films were deposited at room temperature. Surface alloy formation leads to a modification of the electronic properties, evidenced by core-level shifts (CLSs) of both the Pd(3d) and Ag(3d) signal, with the extent of the CLSs depending on both initial Ag coverage and annealing temperature. The role of Ag pre-coverage and annealing temperature on surface alloy formation is elucidated. For a monolayer Ag covered Pd(1 1 1) surface, surface alloy formation starts at ∼450 K, and the resulting surface alloy is stable upon annealing at temperatures between 600 and 800 K. CO TPD and HREELS measurements demonstrate that at 120 K CO is exclusively adsorbed on Pd surface atoms/Pd sites of the bimetallic surfaces, and that the CO adsorption behavior is dominated by geometric ensemble effects, with adsorption on threefold hollow Pd₃ sites being more stable than on Pd₂ bridge sites and finally Pd₁ a-top sites.     

GROWTH MODEL OF TEXTURED DIAMOND (111) FILM IN CH4/O2/H2 ATMOSPHERE

Partially oriented and highly textured diamond films on Si( 111 ) substrates were achieved by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition(HFCVD). High nucleation density greater than 5×10⁸cm^-2 was realiged in 3 min by near-surface glow discharge. The os-grown films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that by adding a small amount of oxygen to the mixture of CH₄/H₂, the appearance of facet(111) was well controlled, and the secondary nucleation on the facet(111) was suppressed greatly. Growth feature of homoepitaxy on diamond (111) surface was demonstrated to be in Stranski-Krastanov model by SEM.     

Preparation, IR spectroscopy, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry of halogenated and methylated Si(111)

The preparation of chlorine-, bromine-, and iodine-terminated silicon surfaces (Si(111):Cl, Br, and I) using atomically flat Si(111)-(1×1):H is described. The halogenated surfaces were obtained by photochemically induced radical substitution reactions with the corresponding dihalogen in a Schlenk tube by conventional inert gas chemistry. The nucleophilic substitution of the Si-Cl functionality with the Grignard reagent (CH₃MgCl) resulted in the unreconstructed methylated Si(111)-(1×1):CH₃ surface. The halogenated and methylated silicon surfaces were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and laser-induced desorption of monolayers (LIDOM). Calibration of the desorption temperature via analysis of time-of-flight (TOF) distributions as a function of laser fluence allowed the determination of the originally emitted neutral fragments by TOF mass spectrometry using electron-impact ionization. The halogens were desorbed atomically and as SiX _n (X = Cl, Br) clusters. The methyl groups mainly desorbed as methyl and ethyl fragments and a small amount of ⁺SiCH₃.     

Elastic instability of the nano-structured state as an intrinsic probe to study the early formation stages of sol–gel derived (Pb<Subscript>1-x</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>x</Subscript>)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films

A novel method to investigate the early formation stages of polycrystalline (Pb_1-xCa_x)TiO₃ (PCT) perovskite films by means of traditional Brillouin and micro-Brillouin spectroscopy (BS, mBS) is described in the present work. The films were prepared by chemical solution deposition (CSD) onto oxidized (100)Si substrates and treated at temperatures between 350–650 °C by rapid thermal processing (RTP). The elastic instability observed by Brillouin spectroscopy at the nano-structured state of the PCT films was used here to determine their crystallization temperatures. Coexistence of different nanocrystalline phases (e.g., pyrochlore, perovskite) in the films could also be detected by this technique. The reliability of these results is demonstrated by complementary information obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning force microscopy (SFM). The effects of the annealing temperature and of the Ca²⁺ content on the crystallization process of these films are also discussed. PACS 78.35.+c; 77.84.-s; 61.82.Rx     

Effects of the annealing duration of the ZnO buffer layer on structural and optical properties of ZnO rods grown by a hydrothermal process

In this study, the effects of the annealing duration of a zinc oxide (ZnO) buffer layer on structural and optical properties of ZnO rods grown by a hydrothermal process are discussed. A ZnO buffer layer was deposited on p-type Si (1 1 1) substrates by the metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method. After that, ZnO rods were grown on the ZnO-buffer/Si (1 1 1) substrate by a hydrothermal process. In order to determine the optimum annealing duration of the buffer layer for the growth of ZnO rods, durations ranging from 0.5 to 30 min were tried. The morphology and crystal structure of the ZnO/ZnO-buffer/Si (1 1 1) were measured by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The optical properties were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) measurement.     

A surface analysis of CuAu alloy by leed and Auger electron spectroscopy

Surface structures and compositions of the CuAu alloys have been investigated, which were prepared by depositing gold on (110) and (111) surfaces of copper and by subsequent heating. By this method the structure of alloy surfaces corresponding to different compositions can be observed by LEED. A series of the LEED patterns, streak, (1 × 2), (1 × 1)I, complex, c(3 × 1), (1 × 1)II, (2 × 2) and (1 × 1) have been observed on the (110) surface with decreasing gold composition. On the (111) surface (1 × 1) pattern, weak (2/√3 × 2/√3)R30° and (2 × 2) patterns are observed. The mean surface composition is determined by analysing the data of Auger electron spectroscopy. Most surface periodicities observed are different from those expected if one passes a mathematical plane through the crystal (unreconstructed surface).     

Measurement of Cross Sections for Pb(n,x)203Hg,W(n,x)182Ta and W(n,x)183Ta Reactions Induced by 14 MeV Neutrons

The cross sections for Pb(n,x)²⁰³Hg,W(n,x)^l82Ta and W(n,x)¹⁸³Ta reactions have been measured by the activation method. The neutron fluences were determined by the cross sections of ⁹³Nb (n,2n)^92mNb reaction. The neutron energies in the measurements were determined by the cross section ratios of Zr(n,2n)^89m+gZr and Nb(n,2n)^92mNb reactions.     

Electron and positron work functions of Cr(100)

We report measurements of the electron and positron work functions of submonolayer contaminated single crystal surfaces of Cr(100) in ultra high vacuum. The positron work function ø₊ is obtained by measuring the spectrum of slow positrons reemitted by the Cr(100) surface when it is bombarded with keV energy positrons. The electron work function ø_- is measured relative to Al(100) by comparing the target biases at which the slowest emitted positrons are recollected by the target. We obtain ø₊ = ?1.76(10) eV and ø_- = 4.46(6) eV for our Cr(100) surface using the value ø_- = 4.41(3) eV for Al(100) reported by Grepstad, Gartland and Slagsvold. The ø₊ value is in agreement with the ?2.2 eV calculated by Nieminen and Hodges. The positronium work function for Cr implied by these results is ?4.10(10) eV; the positronium negative ion (Ps^-) work function for this surface is calculated to be + 0.37(7) eV. A search for Ps^- showed that at a 90% confidence level less than one in 10³ thermalized positrons reaching the Cr surface are emitted as Ps^-. The slow positron emission spectrum was observed not to change over the 70–300 K range in contrast to recent theoretical predictions.     

Influence of substrate temperature and ion-beam energy on the syntheses of aluminium nitride thin films by nitrogen-ion-assisted pulsed-laser deposition

Aluminium nitride (AlN) thin films have been grown on Si(100), Si(111) and Sapphire Al₂O₃(001) substrates by pulsed KrF excimer laser (wavelength 248 nm, duration 30 ns) ablation of an AlN target with the assistance of nitrogen-ion-beam bombardment. The influence of process parameters such as substrate temperature and ion-beam energy has been investigated in order to obtain high-quality AlN films. The AlN films deposited by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the crystalline quality, grain size and growth orientation with respect to the substrate. The XRD spectra of AlN films on Si(100), Si(111) and Sapphire substrates yield full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) values of approximately 1.6. The bonding characteristics in the films have been evaluated by Raman spectroscopy. The chemical composition of the films has been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface morphology of the films has been measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM). At a substrate temperature of at least 600 °C, polycrystalline AlN films with orientations of AlN(100) and AlN(101) have been synthesized. PACS 68.55.-a; 81.15.Fg; 77.84.Bw     

Realization of p-ZnO thin films by GaP codoping

An attempt has been made to realize p-ZnO by directly doping (codoping) GaP into ZnO thin films. GaP codoped ZnO thin films of different concentrations (1, 2 and 4 mol%) have been grown by RF magnetron sputtering. The grown films on sapphire substrate have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Hall measurement, Photoluminescence (PL) and Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to validate the p-type conduction. XRD result shows that all the films have been preferentially oriented along (0 0 2) orientation. The decrease of full-width at half maximum (FWHM) with increase in GaP doping depicts the decrease in native donor defects. Hall measurement shows that among the three films, 2 and 4 mol% GaP doped ZnO shows p-conductivity due to the sufficient amount of phosphorous incorporation. It has been found that low resistivity (2.17 Ωcm) and high hole concentration (1.8×10¹⁸ cm⁻³) for 2% GaP codoped ZnO films due to best codoping. The red shift in near-band-edge (NBE) emission and donar-acceptor-pair (DAP) and neutral acceptor bound recombination (A°X) observed by room temperature and low temperature (10 K) PL, respectively, well acknowledged the formation of p-ZnO. The incorporated phosphorous in the film has been also confirmed by EDS analysis.     

The epitaxial growth of the chromium bcc (111) layers

Cr/Tb/Cr thin films have been obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on sapphire substrates. The crystal structure of the films was characterised in-situ by means of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) and Auger spectroscopy (AS) and ex-situ by X-ray grazing incidence diffraction (GID) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The deposition of chromium on the Tb(0001) layers at 300 °C was found to lead to the formation of three Cr(110) crystalline domains. Chromium deposited on Tb(0001) initially (first 50 Å) at room temperature and then at 300 °C grew epitaxially in the [111] direction and formed two Cr(111) crystalline domains shifted by 30°. Due to the lower density of the atoms in Cr(111) plane, compared to the Cr(110) and Cr(001) ones, this orientation is interesting for magnetic studies.     

Baryon number generation in a flipped SU(5) × U(1) model

We consider the possibilities for generating a baryon asymmetry in the early universe in a flipped SU(5) × U(1) model inspired by the superstring. Depending on the temperature of the radiation background after inflation we can distinguish between two scenarios for baryogenesis: (1) after reheating the original SU(5) × U(1) symmetry is restored, or there was no inflation at all; (2) reheating after inflation is rather weak and SU(5) × U(1) is broken. In either case the asymmetry is generated by the out-of-equilibrium decays of a massive SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) singlet field φ_m. In the flipped SU(5) × U(1) model, gauge symmetry breaking is triggered by strong coupling phenomena, and is in general accompanied by the production of entropy. We examine constraints on the reheating temperature and the strong coupling scale in each of the scenarios.     

Synthesis of a new Hg(II) coordination polymer: Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis and mechanical preparation of nanostructure

A new mercury(II) coordination polymer, [Hg(4-bpmo)I₂]_n (1), (4-bpmo = N,N′-bis(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)oxalamide), was synthesized, by branched tube method, and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 is a polymer with a distorted tetrahedral HgN₂I₂ coordination environment. The thermal stability of 1 was studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal (DTA) analyses. Also 1 was prepared by a sonochemical process at ambient temperature. Reaction time and concentration of initial reagents effects on the size and morphology were studied. Nanoparticles of 1, was synthesized easily by a mechanical method (neat grinding). The resulting structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD).     

Surface structures formed by individual adsorption and coadsorption of Mn and Bi on Cu(0 0 1), studied by LEED

We have studied the individual adsorption of Mn and Bi, and their coadsorption on Cu(0 0 1) by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). For Mn, we have determined the c(2 × 2) structure formed at 300 K, whose structure had been determined by several methods. We reconfirmed by a tensor LEED analysis that it is a substitutional structure and that a previously reported large corrugation (0.30 Å) between substitutional Mn and remaining surface Cu atoms coincides perfectly with the present value. In the individual adsorption of Bi, we have found a c(4 × 2) structure, which is formed by cooling below ∼250 K a surface prepared by Bi deposition of ∼0.25 ML coverage at 300 K where streaky half-order LEED spots appear. The c(4 × 2) structure has been determined by the tensor LEED analysis at 130 K and it is a substitutional structure. In the coadsorption, we found a c(6 × 4) structure, which has been determined by the tensor LEED analysis. It is very similar to the previously determined structure of the c(6 × 4) formed by coadsorption of Mg and Bi, and embedded MnBi₄ clusters are arranged in the top Cu layer instead of MgBi₄. Large lateral displacements of Bi atoms in the c(6 × 4)-(Mn + Bi) suggest that the Mn atoms undergo the size-enhancement caused by their large magnetic moment.     

A triphenylamine derivative as an efficient organic light color-conversion material for white LEDs

A novel efficient (Φ=0.44) organic yellow-emitting dye, 3-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (DPPO), was synthesized. The compound was characterized by means of ¹H NMR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and analyzed by quantum chemistry method. It was found that DPPO could be effectively excited by the InGaN-based blue LED. Photo-durability data of DPPO were studied. Bright white light of Commission International del’ Eclairage (CIE) x=0.30, y=0.33 was obtained by using DPPO as a light color-conversion material (CCM).