Analysis of optical absorption spectra of transition metal cluster ions by the spin-polarized DV-Xα method

Optical absorption spectra of cobalt cluster ions, Co _n ⁺ , and vanadium cluster ions, V _n ⁺ , were analyzed by a theoretical calculation based on the spin-polarized DV-Xα method, and their electronic and geometric structures were obtained. Relative absorption cross section associated with each electronic transition was calculated; the calculation enables a qualitative comparison of calculated spectrum with a measured one not only in its transition energy but also in its intensity profile. This analysis shows that Co ₄ ⁺ , Co ₃ ⁺ , and V ₄ ⁺ have, respectively, a tetrahedral structure with a bond distance of 2.00Å, an equilateral triangle with a bond distance of 2.30Å, and a distorted tetrahedral structure with five bonds having a distance of 2.34 Å and one of 2.89Å. The differences in the population between majority and minority spins (spin-difference) evaluated from the electronic structure thus obtained were 2.0, 1.7, and zero per atom in Co ₃ ⁺ , Co ₄ ⁺ , and V ₄ ⁺ , respectively. These spin differences indicate a ferromagnetic and an antiferromagnetic spin-coupling in the cobalt and vanadium cluster ions, respectively.     

Observations and spectral simulations of the7Li2 21 Σ u + →X 1 Σ g + transition

The⁷Li₂ 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ →X ¹ Σ _g ⁺ electronic transition has a bound-bound and a bound-free part due to the double minimum nature of the upper 2¹ Σ _u ⁺ state. We have studied this transition both experimentally and by performing spectral simulations. When inner well was excited the bound-free part at 4525 Å was observed due to the collisions between Li ₂ ^* and argon. We found that when levels above the barrier are excited the bound-free emission is strongly affected by collisional relaxation of Li ₂ ^* by Li atoms. Conditions for the observation of the bound-free part are discussed.     

Structures of α-type ions formed in the 157 nm photodissociation of singly-charged peptide ions

One hundred fifty-seven nm photodissociation of singly-charged peptide ions induces the cleavage of alpha-carbon to carbonyl-carbon bonds along the backbone. a(n) + 1 radical ions are observed as the primary photolysis products of peptides with N-terminal arginines in a linear ion trap mass spectrometer. The radical elimination pathways undertaken by the a(n) + 1 radical ions to form more stable even-electron species are studied in hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments. Two types of a(n) ions along with d-type ions are observed as secondary elimination products. The relative abundance of each depends on the C-terminal residue of the radical fragment ion.     

The kinetics of the polymorphic transition of the α-form of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane

The α → γ polymorphic transition in hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane was studied by optical microscopy, calorimetry, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction. The thermal effect of the transition was determined. The kinetics of the process is complex because of the relation between structural rearrangement and transition with the removal of water stabilizing the structure of the α polymorph. Depending on the morphological characteristics of the initial sample, the polymorphic transition can follow a frontal-heterogeneous mechanism (single crystal → polycrystalline aggregate) or a quasi-homogeneous mechanism (single crystal → single crystal).     

Fabrication of NiO coated SiO2 and SiO2 coated NiO for the removal of Pb2＋ ions

We have prepared silica,SiO2coated NiO and NiO coated SiO2by sol-gel method.The physicochemical properties of the desired materials were investigated by surface charge properties,scanning electron microscopy（SEM）,energy dispersive X-ray（EDX） spectroscopy,surface area measurements and X-ray diffraction（XRD） analyses.The point of zero charge（PZC） of the solid was determined by the salt addition method.In coated materials,two PZC values were noted representing the surface charge of their counterparts.The SEM image of SiO2coated NiO displays a uniform coating of silica on the surface of NiO whereas in case of NiO coated SiO2,a honeycomb like appearance was observed with highly porous structures.In the diffractograms of NiO,the characteristic peaks were suppressed in NiO coated silica however,no diffraction peak could be seen in SiO2coated NiO.Batch adsorption technique was applied for the removal of Pb2＋ions from aqueous solution.The sorption trend for Pb2＋ions was observed in the order of NiO coated SiO2〉 SiO2coated NiO 〉 NiO 〉 SiO2.This trend confirms that the coated materials have more sorption capacities than their parent counterparts.     

High resolution spectroscopy of the 13Σ g + (b) ← 13Σ u + (x) transition of Na2

Rotational-vibrational transitions of the triplet system 1³Σ _g ⁺ ← 1³Σ _u ⁺ of the Na₂ molecule have been investigated around $\bar v = 13970 cm^{ - 1} $ by Doppler-free polarization spectroscopy in a heat pipe and by resonant two-step photoionization in a collimated cold argon beam, seeded with sodium vapor. The fine- and hyperfine structure of the transitions is partly resolved. The analysis of the measured spectra and a theoretical discussion of the expected multiplet structure yields the rotational constantsB′ _v (v′=17)=0.0866(4) cm^?1 for the upper andB″ _v (v″=0)=0.0533(4) cm^?1 for the lower state. The difference Δb=b(³Σ _u )?b(³Σ _g ) of the hyperfine coupling constantsb turns out to be Δb=80 MHz.     

Intracavity laser spectroscopy of the HfCl molecule. Analysis of rotational structure of new bands of the 2Δ-X2Δ electronic transition

Electron absorption spectrum of the HfCl molecule was studied in the 550–800 nm region using intracavity laser spectroscopy. HfCl molecules were obtained using the passage of an impulse electric discharge through a mixture of HfCl₄ and He vapors. A cuvette with the mixture of gases was placed in a dyelaser resonator cavity. The spectra were registered using diffraction spectrograph (resolution capability 240000). The high sensitivity of the intracavity method made it possible to detect in the HfCl spectrum new bands with a resolved rotational structure. Rotational analyses of the given bands were performed and the molecular constants were determined.     

Change of intensity of a1Δg → X3Σ g − transition in oxygen molecule upon interaction with H2, N2, and CS2

The semiempirical MINDO/3 CI method has been used to calculate collision complexes of the oxygen molecule with certain diamagnetic molecules, simulating the effect of solvents in increasing the intensity of the a¹_g X³ _g ^– transition in the oxygen molecule.Cherkassy Engineering Technology Institute, 460 Shevchenko Street, Cherkassy 257006, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 143–146, May–June, 1996. Original article submitted July 12, 1995.     

Resolving the controversy on the glass transition temperature of water?

We consider experimental data on the dynamics of water (1) in glass-forming aqueous mixtures with glass transition temperature T(g) approaching the putative T(g) = 136 K of water from above and below, (2) in confined spaces of nanometer in size, and (3) in the bulk at temperatures above the homogeneous nucleation temperature. Altogether, the considered relaxation times from the data range nearly over 15 decades from 10(-12) to 10(3) s. Assisted by the various features in the isothermal spectra and theoretical interpretation, these considerations enable us to conclude that relaxation of un-crystallized water is highly non-cooperative. The exponent β(K) of its Kohlrausch stretched exponential correlation function is not far from having the value of one, and hence the deviation from exponential time decay is slight. Albeit the temperature dependence of its α-relaxation time being non-Arrhenius, the corresponding T(g)-scaled temperature dependence has small steepness index m, likely less than 44 at T(g), and hence water is not "'fragile" as a glassformer. The separation in time scale of the α- and the β-relaxations is small at T(g), becomes smaller at higher temperatures, and they merge together shortly above T(g). From all these properties and by inference, water is highly non-cooperative as a glass-former, it has short cooperative length-scale, and possibly smaller configurational entropy and change of heat capacity at T(g) compared with other organic glass-formers. This conclusion is perhaps unsurprising because water is the smallest molecule. Our deductions from the data rule out that the T(g) of water is higher than 160 K, and suggest that it is close to the traditional value of 136 K.     

Influence of the anisometry of magnetic particles on the isotropic–nematic phase transition

The influence of the shape anisotropy of magnetic particles on the isotropic–nematic phase transition was studied in ferronematics based on the nematic liquid crystal (LC) 4-(trans-4-n-hexylcyclohexyl)-isothiocyanato-benzene (6CHBT). The LC was doped with spherical or rod-like magnetic particles of different size and volume concentrations. The phase transition from isotropic to nematic phase was observed by polarising microscope as well as by capacitance measurements. The influence of the concentration and the shape anisotropy of the magnetic particles on the isotropic–nematic phase transition in LC are demonstrated here. The results are in a good agreement with recent theoretical predictions.     

Studies of the coagulation of lyophobic sols by „neutralising“ ions

The slow coagulation of lyophobic sols by electrolytes that may reduce the surface potential by precipitating, chelating or neutralising the adsorbed peptising ion, is described; and the experimental results are explained by an extension of the earlier relations derived from theVerwey-Overbeek theory of stability. Low concentrations of electrolyte—up to ten per cent of the final coagulation value—mainly reduce the stability of dialysed sols by compression of the double layer, while further addition leads to a rapid fall in stability due to reduction of the surface potential. The coagulation of undialysed sols is mainly caused by reduction of surface potential at all concentrations of electrolyte. The coagulation of undialysed sols by precipitating, etc. electrolytes may be equated to the removal of a corresponding amount of the adsorbed peptising ions; and the final coagulation value (for rapid coagulation) then approximately measures the total peptising ion concentration.     

Preconcentration of transition metal ions from ethanol solution onN-acyl-N′-benzoylthiourea — Modified silica gel

Silica gel was chemically modified with anN-acyl-N-benzoylthiourea group. This material behaved as a selective means of preconcentrating Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) from ethanol by the column technique. Ethanolic solutions having 6 mol of the metal ions were percolated through the column and retentions of 100% were achieved for all metals. Zinc and copper were eluted quantitatively from the column bed with 5mL of ethanolic O.1molL^–1 (for Zn) and 0.9 mol L^–1 (for Cu) citric acid. Cadmium was recovered totally with 60 mL of ethanolic 2.0 mol L^–1 citric acid. The modified silica was shown to be chemically stable after various adsorption-elution cycles (at least twenty).     

Al4(2-); the anion-π interactions and aromaticity in the presence of counter ions

The influence of presence of counter ions and π-complexation with benzene on the bonding and magnetic properties of Al(4)(2-), the most studied all-metal cluster, is studied here. It is shown that complexation by either counter ions or benzene decreases the delocalization index between Al atoms and the magnitude of bond magnetizability, that is a Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules, QTAIM, -based magnetic index of aromaticity. Benzene forms two types of π-complexes with the Al(4) framework; CH-π (T-shaped) complexes and parallel π-π stacking (PPS) complexes. It is shown that variation in the π-charge of the Al(4) framework affects the relative stability of the T-shaped/PPS complexes. Free Al(4)(2-) forms a stable T-shaped anion-π complex with benzene but in the presence of cations, formation of PPS complexes is more favourable, energetically. It is suggested that this property could be used for designing molecular switches and tuneable anion sensors.     

Ammonium salt of the cross-linked maleic acid–allylpropionate–styrene terpolymer as effective sorbent for removal of Cu2+ ions from water solutions (sorption of the copper ions)

The capability of the ammonium salt of the cross-linked maleic acid–allylpropionate–styrene terpolymer for the adsorption of Cu²⁺ from aqueous solutions was examined. Effect of the various experimental parameters on removal degree of the copper ions was investigated. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin–Radushkevich, and Temkin isotherm models. Kinetics studies suggested that the adsorption allowed pseudo-second-order reaction. The negative values of ΔG° and the positive value of ΔH° indicate that the sorption process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The positive value of ΔS° shows the increasing randomness during adsorption process. Considering the FTIR and UV–vis spectra of the sorbent after sorption, it is concluded that Cu²⁺ enters a complex with carboxylate and ester groups of the sorbent.     

Speciation of chromium by coupled column HPLC-ICP-MS – the effects of interfering ions

ICP-MS is used as an element selective detector for chromium species in aquatic samples using a coupled columm system consisting of a cation guard column and an anion column. The effects of large concentrations of disturbing ions, like NO(3)(-), Cl(-), CO(3)(2-) and SO(4)(2-), are discussed and the comparison with the use of different chromium isotopes for data acquisition is given. Quite low concentrations such as 100 mg/l of CO(3)(2-), 10 mg/l Cl(-) and even 5 mg/l SO(4)(2-) can cause an overestimation of chromium if not properly resolved1995 / Accepted: 24 October 1995     

A DMA study of the suppression of the Β transition in slightly plasticized PVC blends

A new criterion for evaluating different plasticizers the ability of suppression of the transition in plasticized PVC blends. Accordingly, the suppression ability is proportional to the PVC-plasticizer compatibility, expressed either by the critical solution temperature, CST, or by the interaction parameter related to the difference between the solubility parameters of the blend components. The criterion is, however, valid for low plasticizer contents (<5%w/w) only, as long as the transitions are not overlapped by the transitions, shifted towards lower temperatures due to the effect of the plasticizer. For higher plasticizer contents the transition starts to overlap the transition and the suppression ability of the plasticizer depends increasingly on the efficiency of the plasticizer i.e. on the depression of the glass transition temperature of PVC (related to theT _g of the plasticizer). Accordingly, plasticizers with both good efficiency (lowT _g) and compatibility are more effective in the suppression than plasticizers which have only a higher compatibility but also a highT _g (i.e. reduced efficiency).One of the authors, Tiberiu Vilics, thanks the Konferenz der Deutschen Akademien der Wissenschaften; and Volkswagen Stiftung; for financial support for a research fellowship at the Institut für Makromolekulare Chemie, Freiburg. The financial support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 60) is greatfully acknowledged.