Sulfate Reduction in a Forested Catchment as Indicated by δ(34)S Values of Sulfate in Soil Solutions and Runoff

Abstract In a forested catchment in the Fichtelgebirge mountains (NE-Bavaria, Germany) the long term SO(4) (2-) budget (average 1988-1994) indicated that about 40% of the input with throughfall (16.8 kg SO(4) (2-) S·ha(-1)·yr(-1)) was retained in the catchment. In order to identify processes acting as potential SO(4) (2-) sinks, δ(34)S values of SO(4) (2-) in soil solutions and runoff were measured between May and November 1994. δ(34)S values of the runoff and the fen were higher (5.8‰) than the δ(34)S values of the soil solution of the oxic soils in the terrestrial area (3.9‰). Because there is no lithogenic S source within the catchment, it can be assumed that SO(4) (2-) deposition is the only S source in the catchment. Thus the results were interpreted as a result of SO(4) (2-) reduction within the catchment, because the uptake of (32)S is favoured during the dissimilatory SO(4) (2-) reduction and (34)S is consequently enriched in the soil solution. To estimate the amount of SO(4) (2-) reduced isotopic fractionation factors between - 9‰ and -46‰ were considered, resulting in SO(4) (2-) reduction rates of 1.8-9.3 kg SO(4) (2)-S·ha(-1)yr(-1). It was concluded that besides dissimilatory SO(4) (2-) reduction another sink exists in the catchment (e.g. SO(4) (2-) sorption in deep soil layers).     

The ionic conductivity in lithium-boron oxide materials and its relation to structural, electronic and defect properties: insights from theory

We review recent theoretical studies on ion diffusion in (Li(2)O)(x)(B(2)O(3))(1-x) compounds and at the interfaces of Li(2)O :B(2)O(3) nanocomposite. The investigations were performed theoretically using DFT and HF/DFT hybrid methods with VASP and CRYSTAL codes. For the pure compound B(2)O(3), it was theoretically confirmed that the low-pressure phase B(2)O(3)-I has space group P3(1)21. For the first time, the structure, stability and electronic properties of various low-index surfaces of trigonal B(2)O(3)-I were investigated at the same theoretical level. The (101) surface is the most stable among the considered surfaces. Ionic conductivity was investigated systematically in Li(2)O, LiBO(2), and Li(2)B(4)O(7) solids and in Li(2)O:B(2)O(3) nanocomposites by calculating the activation energy (E(A)) for cation diffusion. The Li(+) ion migrates in an almost straight line in Li(2)O bulk whereas it moves in a zig-zag pathway along a direction parallel to the surface plane in Li(2)O surfaces. For LiBO(2), the migration along the c direction (E(A) = 0.55 eV) is slightly less preferable than that in the xy plane (E(A) = 0.43-0.54 eV). In Li(2)B(4)O(7), the Li(+) ion migrates through the large triangular faces of the two nearest oxygen five-vertex polyhedra facing each other where E(A) is in the range of 0.27-0.37 eV. A two-dimensional model system of the Li(2)O :B(2)O(3) interface region was created by the combination of supercells of the Li(2)O (111) surface and the B(2)O(3) (001) surface. It was found that the interface region of the Li(2)O:B(2)O(3) nanocomposite is more defective than Li(2)O bulk, which facilitates the conductivity in this region. In addition, the activation energy (E(A )) for local hopping processes is smaller in the Li(2)O :B(2)O(3) nanocomposite compared to the Li(2)O bulk. This confirms that the Li(2)O:B(2)O(3) nanocomposite shows enhanced conductivity along the phase boundary compared to that in the nanocrystalline Li(2)O.     

Self-diffusion of (31)Si and (71)Ge in relaxed Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) layers

Self-diffusion of implanted (31)Si and (71)Ge in relaxed Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) layers has been studied in the temperature range 730-950 degrees C by means of a modified radiotracer technique. The temperature dependences of the diffusion coefficients were found to be Arrhenius-type with activation enthalpies of 3.6 eV and 3.5 eV and preexponential factors of 7.5 x 10(-3) m(2) s(-1) and 8.1 x 10(-3) m(2) s(-1) for (31)Si and (71)Ge , respectively. These results suggest that, as in Ge, in Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) both (31)Si and (71)Ge diffuse via a vacancy mechanism. Since in Si(0.20)Ge(0.80) (71)Ge diffuses only slightly faster than (31)Si , in self-diffusion studies on Si-Ge (71)Ge radioisotopes may be used as substitutes for the "uncomfortably" short-lived (31)Si radiotracer atoms.     

Spin-glass-like magnetic ordering in Zn substituted magnetite magnetic fluids

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of magnetic fluids involving polydispersed Zn(0.5)Fe(0. 5)Fe(2)O(4) (FZ5) and Zn(0.7)Fe(0. 3)Fe(2)O(4) (FZ7) nanomagnetic particles are scanned from 4.2 to 300K. The FZ7 fluid exhibits certain distinct features below 40K which are different from FZ5 fluid. These include (i) an isotropic shift in resonance field in zero-field-cooled ESR study, (ii) deviation of resonance field from sin(2)theta behavior (where theta is the angle between axis of the particle and field) in field cooled (FC) sample and (iii) abrupt increase in anisotropy field for FC sample. The results are analyzed in light of the core-shell model for nanomagnetic particles.     

Triple resonance experiments for aligned sample solid-state NMR of (13)C and (15)N labeled proteins

Initial steps in the development of a suite of triple-resonance (1)H/(13)C/(15)N solid-state NMR experiments applicable to aligned samples of (13)C and (15)N labeled proteins are described. The experiments take advantage of the opportunities for (13)C detection without the need for homonuclear (13)C/(13)C decoupling presented by samples with two different patterns of isotopic labeling. In one type of sample, the proteins are approximately 20% randomly labeled with (13)C in all backbone and side chain carbon sites and approximately 100% uniformly (15)N labeled in all nitrogen sites; in the second type of sample, the peptides and proteins are (13)C labeled at only the alpha-carbon and (15)N labeled at the amide nitrogen of a few residues. The requirement for homonuclear (13)C/(13)C decoupling while detecting (13)C signals is avoided in the first case because of the low probability of any two (13)C nuclei being bonded to each other; in the second case, the labeled (13)C(alpha) sites are separated by at least three bonds in the polypeptide chain. The experiments enable the measurement of the (13)C chemical shift and (1)H-(13)C and (15)N-(13)C heteronuclear dipolar coupling frequencies associated with the (13)C(alpha) and (13)C' backbone sites, which provide orientation constraints complementary to those derived from the (15)N labeled amide backbone sites. (13)C/(13)C spin-exchange experiments identify proximate carbon sites. The ability to measure (13)C-(15)N dipolar coupling frequencies and correlate (13)C and (15)N resonances provides a mechanism for making backbone resonance assignments. Three-dimensional combinations of these experiments ensure that the resolution, assignment, and measurement of orientationally dependent frequencies can be extended to larger proteins. Moreover, measurements of the (13)C chemical shift and (1)H-(13)C heteronuclear dipolar coupling frequencies for nearly all side chain sites enable the complete three-dimensional structures of proteins to be determined with this approach.     

Studies of ⁶Li-NMR properties in different salt solutions in low magnetic fields

In this article we report the longitudinal relaxation times (T(1)) of various (6)Li salts ((6)LiI, (6)LiCl and (6)LiNO(3)) in D(2)O and H(2)O, measured in low magnetic fields (B(0)=3.5mT). This investigation serves the purpose of clarifying the relaxation behavior of different (6)Li solutions and different concentrations. The measurement were undertaken to establish a framework for future applications of hyperpolarized (6)Li in medical imaging, biological studies and investigations of lithium ion batteries. Time will pass during the transport of hyperpolarized lithium ions to the sample, which leads to a polarization loss. In order to store polarization as long as possible, it is necessary to examine which (6)Li salt solution has the longest relaxation time T(1). Longitudinal relaxation times of (6)Li salts in D(2)O and H(2)O were investigated as a function of concentration and the most extended T(1) was found for (6)LiI in D(2)O and H(2)O. In agreement with the theory the relaxation time T(1) of all (6)Li salts increase with decreasing concentration. In the case of (6)LiI in H(2)O an inverse behavior was observed. We assume that the prolonged T(1) times occur due to formation of (6)LiOH upon the solution of (6)LiI in H(2)O, which settles as a precipitate. By diluting the solution, the precipitate continuously dissolves and approaches T(1) of (6)LiOH (T(1)～28s), leading to a shorter T(1) relaxation time.     

Hole mobility enhancement in GaAs/p-Al Ga As QW-HEMT structures with (4 1 1)A super-flat interfaces grown by MBE

Be-doped GaAs/p-Al Ga As QW-HEMT structures with well width of and 50 nm were simultaneously grown on (4 1 1)A and (1 0 0) GaAs substrates by MBE. Be-doping concentration in the p-Al Ga As layer was , and the undoped Al Ga As spacer layer was 6 nm thick. Hole concentration was about for nm. Hole mobility at 10 K in the conventional (1 0 0) samples remained almost constant (about 20 000 cm (V s) for the current in the direction) with decreasing down to 7 nm and it rapidly decreased to 2760 cm (V s) at nm. On the other hand, in the (4 1 1)A samples, hole mobility (10 K) increased from 17 500 cm (V s) nm) to 33 900 cm (V s) nm) and dropped rapidly down to 4090 cm (V s) nm) for a current direction of . This significant enhancement of hole mobility in the (4 1 1)A samples is mainly due to (1) the significantly reduced interface roughness scattering of 2DHG when using the (4 1 1)A super-flat interfaces and (2) the reduced effective mass of holes in the narrow (4 1 1)A QWs ( –20 nm). Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) measurements on the (4 1 1)A QW sample nm) confirmed the reduced effective mass (0.30 ) of holes.     

19F Magnetic resonance imaging of perfluorooctanoic acid encapsulated in liposome for biodistribution measurement

The tissue distribution of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is known to show unique biological responses, has been visualized in female mice by (19)F magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) incorporated with the recent advances in microimaging technique. The chemical shift selected fast spin-echo method was applied to acquire in vivo (19)F MR images of PFOA. The in vivo T(1) and T(2) relaxation times of PFOA were proven to be extremely short, which were 140 (+/- 20) ms and 6.3 (+/- 2.2) ms, respectively. To acquire the in vivo (19)F MR images of PFOA, it was necessary to optimize the parameters of signal selection and echo train length. The chemical shift selection was effectively performed by using the (19)F NMR signal of CF(3) group of PFOA without the signal overlapping because the chemical shift difference between the CF(3) and neighbor signals reaches to 14 kHz. The most optimal echo train length to obtain (19)F images efficiently was determined so that the maximum echo time (TE) value in the fast spin-echo sequence was comparable to the in vivo T(2) value. By optimizing these parameters, the in vivo (19)F MR image of PFOA was enabled to obtain efficiently in 12 minutes. As a result, the time course of the accumulation of PFOA into the mouse liver was clearly pursued in the (19)F MR images. Thus, it was concluded that the (19)F MRI becomes the effective method toward the future pharmacological and toxicological studies of perfluorocarboxilic acids.     

Fe掺杂La0．8Sr0．2Co1-xFexO3磁性的研究

利用溶胶-凝胶法制备了一系列的La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3样品.通过研究在不同外加磁场下磁化强度和温度变化的关系发现,在较高的外场下La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3样品的磁性反转现象没有被观察到;在低场下La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3系统磁性反转现象被实现.这说明Fe的掺杂引起了La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3样品中铁磁和反铁磁之间的竞争,导致了La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3样品磁性反转;同时外加磁场的强弱影响了La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3系统磁性反转现象的发生,外加磁场增大使得在La0.8Sr0.2Co1-xFexO3样品中Co离子的自旋平行趋势更强,在铁磁和反铁磁之间的竞争中铁磁耦合占主导优势,因此在较高的外场下磁性反转现象没有被观察到.     

Isotopic ((13)C) fractionation during plant residue decomposition and its implications for soil organic matter studies

Carbon isotopic fractionations in plant materials and those occurring during decomposition have direct implications in studies of short-and longer-term soil organic matter dynamics. Thus the products of decomposition, the evolved CO(2) and the newly formed soil organic matter, may vary in their (13)C signature from that of the original plant material. To evaluate the importance of such fractionation processes, the variations in (13)C signatures between and within plant parts of a tropical grass (Brachiaria humidicola) and tropical legume (Desmodium ovalifolium) were measured and the changes in (13)C content (signatures) during decomposition were monitored over a period of four months. As expected the grass materials were less depleted in (13)C (-11.4 to -11.9 per thousand) than those of the legume (-27.3 to -25.8 per thousand). Root materials of the legume were less (1.5 per thousand) depleted in (13)C compared with the leaves. Plant lignin-C was strongly depleted in (13)C compared with the bulk material by up to 2.5 per thousand in the legume and up to 4.7 per thousand in the grass. Plant materials were subsequently incubated in a sand/nutrient-solution/microbial inoculum mixture. The respiration product CO(2) was trapped in NaOH and precipitated as CaCO(3), suitable for analysis using an automated C/N analyser coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Significant depletion in (13)C of the evolved CO(2) was observed during the initial stages of decomposition probably as a result of microbial fractionation as it was not associated with the (13)C signatures of the measured more decomposable fractions (non-acid detergent fibre and cellulose). While the cumulative CO(2)-(13)C signatures of legume materials became slightly enriched with ongoing decomposition, the CO(2)-C of the grass materials remained depleted in (13)C. Associated isotopic fractionation correction factors for source identification of CO(2-)C varied with time and suggested errors of 2-19% in the estimation of the plant-derived C at 119 days of incubation in a soil of an intermediate (-20.0 per thousand) (13)C signature. Analysis of the residual material after 119 days of incubation showed little or no change in the (13)C signature partly due to the incomplete decomposition at the time of harvesting. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fourier Transform Infrared Emission Spectroscopy of SeH

The infrared vibration-rotation bands of SeH have been measured in the X(2)Pi ground state using a Fourier transform spectrometer. The bands were observed in a microwave discharge of a mixture of H(2) and Se in the presence of He. The rotational structure of the 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 bands of the X(2)Pi(3/2) spin component and the 1-0 band of X(2)Pi(1/2) spin component has been observed in the 1800-2600 cm(-1) region. The principal ground state molecular constants obtained are omega(e) = 2421.7153(234) cm(-1), omega(e)x(e) = 44.6012(110) cm(-1), omega(e)y(e) = 0.20697(236) cm(-1), B(e) = 7.899187(696) cm(-1), alpha(e) = 0.220749(399) cm(-1), and r(e) = 1.464319(64) ?. This work is the first determination of the equilibrium molecular constants of the X(2)Pi state of SeH. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

氨基酸DLH及其稀土镧配合物的高压红外和拉曼光谱研究

测定了DL-2-氨基-4-磺酸基-丁酸 [DLH, DL-Homocysteic acid, (NH+₃)-CH(COOH)-(CH₂)₂-SO-₃] 及其稀土La配合物[La(DLH)₂Cl₃·H₂O=LaL₂]在不同压力下的红外和拉曼光谱。DLH 在50 kbar左右压力以下存在两个压力诱导相转变区,它们分别在17和37 kbar左右,两者均为二级相转变,认为分子间氢键的存在是出现两个压力诱导相转变区的原因。在红外光谱中,SO-₃的对称伸缩振动的压力灵敏度(dν/dp)表现出与其他振动模式不同的变化趋势,它们在低压相区的平均压力灵敏度为0.30 cm-1·(kbar)-1、中压相区为0.32 cm-1·(kbar)-1、高压相区为0.41 cm-1·(kbar)-1,低压相区与高压相区的比值为0.72, 而其他振动模式刚好相反,低压相区与高压相区的比值为4.8。稀土La配合物LaL₂的生成,改变了分子间的氢键,在50 kbar左右压力以下只观察到1个压力诱导相转变区(27 kbar附近)。在红外光谱中,配合物LaL₂中SO-₃的反对称伸缩振动的压力灵敏度(dν/dp)也表现出与其他振动模式不同的变化趋势,它们在低压相区的平均压力灵敏度与高压相区的平均压力灵敏度的比值为0.43, 而其他振动模式的比值为2.5。     

纳米TiO2预分离/富集FAAS法同时测定Cr(Ⅲ)和Cr(Ⅵ)的研究

纳米材料是近年来受到广泛重视的一种新兴功能材料,具有一系列新异的物理化学特性和一些优于传统材料的特殊性能.其中一点是随着粒径的减小,表面原子数迅速增大,表面原子周围缺少相邻的原子,具有不饱和性,易与其他原子相结合而稳定下来,因而具有很大的化学活性.纳米材料对许多金属离子具有很强的吸附能力,是痕量元素分析较为理想的分离富集材料.文章利用火焰原子吸收法(FAAS)研究了纳米TiO2(金红石型)对Cr(Ⅵ)/Cr(Ⅲ)的吸附性能,并应用于水样中铬的形态分析.吸附体系中pH对Cr(Ⅵ)和Cr(Ⅲ)的吸附有很大影响,当pH＞6时,纳米TiO2对Cr(Ⅲ)的吸附率大于90%,而对Cr(Ⅵ)基本不吸附,从而达到二者的分离.pH 6.5微酸性条件下,纳米TiO2吸附Cr(Ⅲ),然后以2mol.L-1HCl洗脱,得到Cr(Ⅲ)的含量,剩余水溶液中测定Cr(Ⅵ)含量.该法测定Cr(Ⅵ)和Cr(Ⅲ)的检出限分别为57和41 ng·mL-1,RSD分别为2.6%和3.4%(2.0μg·mL-1Cr,n=6),Cr(Ⅵ)和Cr(Ⅲ)的线性范围分别为0～9.0和0.1～10μg·mL-1.该法选择性好,大多数共存离子不干扰测定.该法简便快速,用于工业废水、地表水中铬的形态分析,结果较满意.     

(13)C chemical shift and (13)C-(14)N dipolar coupling tensors determined by (13)C rotary resonance solid-state NMR

This work explores the utility of simple rotary resonance experiments for the determination of the magnitude and orientation of (13)C chemical shift tensors relative to one or more (13)C--(14)N internuclear axes from (13)C magic-angle-spinning NMR experiments. The experiment relies on simultaneous recoupling of the anisotropic (13)C chemical shift and (13)C--(14)N dipole--dipole coupling interactions using 2D rotary resonance NMR with RF irradiation on the (13)C spins only. The method is demonstrated by experiments and numerical simulations for the (13)C(alpha) spins in powder samples of L-alanine and glycine with (13)C in natural abundance. To investigate the potential of the experiment for determination of relative/absolute tensor orientations and backbone dihedral angles in peptides, the influence from long-range dipolar coupling to sequential (14)N spins in a peptide chain ((14)N(i)--(13)C(alpha)(i)--(14)N(i+1) and (14)N(i+1)--(13)C'(i)--(14)N(i) three-spin systems) as well as residual quadrupolar-dipolar coupling cross-terms is analyzed numerically.     

Electric field gradients at (111)In/(111)Cd probe atoms on A-sites in 211-MAX phases

The method of perturbed angular correlation (PAC) was applied to selected MAX phases with 211 stoichiometry. Radioactive (111)In ions were implanted in order to measure the electric field gradients (EFG) in the key compounds Ti(2)InC and Zr(2)InC to determine the strength and symmetry of the EFG at the In-site. Further PAC studies in the In-free MAX phases Ti(2)AlN, Nb(2)AlC, Nb(2)AsC and Cr(2)GeC were performed to confirm that the In probes occupy the A-site as well. The strength of the EFG, with a quadrupole coupling constant ν(Q) between 250 and 300 MHz in these phases, is quite similar to the ones found in Ti(2)InC with ν(Q) = 292(1) MHz and in Zr(2)InC with ν(Q) = 344(1) MHz, respectively. Different annealing behavior was observed whereas in all cases a linear decrease of ν(Q) with increasing measuring temperatures was found. The experimental results are also in excellent agreement with those predicted by ab initio calculations using the APW+lo method implemented in the WIEN2k code. This study shows in an exceptional manner that (111)In?→?(111)Cd atoms are suitable probes to investigate the local surrounding at the A-site in 211-MAX phases.     

Frequency-selective heteronuclear dephasing and selective carbonyl labeling to deconvolute crowded spectra of membrane proteins by magic angle spinning NMR

We present a new method that combines carbonyl-selective labeling with frequency-selective heteronuclear recoupling to resolve the spectral overlap of magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectra of membrane proteins in fluid lipid membranes with broad lines and high redundancy in the primary sequence. We implemented this approach in both heteronuclear (15)N-(13)C(α) and homonuclear (13)C-(13)C dipolar assisted rotational resonance (DARR) correlation experiments. We demonstrate its efficacy for the membrane protein phospholamban reconstituted in fluid PC/PE/PA lipid bilayers. The main advantage of this method is to discriminate overlapped (13)C(α) resonances by strategically labeling the preceding residue. This method is highly complementary to (13)C(i-1)(')-(15)N(i)-(13)C(i)(α) and (13)C(i-1)(α)-(15)N(i-1)-(13)C(i)(') experiments to distinguish inter-residue spin systems at a minimal cost to signal-to-noise.     

High-Resolution Fourier Transform and Diode-Laser Spectroscopy of the nu(6) Fundamental of C(2)F(6) and Associated Hot Bands

High-resolution infrared spectra of the nu(6) (713 cm(-1)) band region of C(2)F(6) vapor have been recorded at several temperatures. Spectra at 77, 200, and 300 K were recorded using a Fourier transform spectrometer with unapodized resolutions of 0.0018 cm(-1) (200 and 300 K) and 0.008 cm(-1) (77 K). Spectra with rotational temperatures in the range 5-50 K were recorded in a supersonic jet using diode-laser absorption spectroscopy. The nu(6) band contains two clear sequences of hot-bands: one arises from the nu(4) torsional vibration at 67.5 cm(-1); the other, shorter, weaker progression is built on the doubly degenerate nu(9) vibration at 220 cm(-1). They lie to high and low wavenumbers of the fundamental band, respectively. Eleven series were assigned and fitted to these hot bands. A perturbed series in the nu(4) sequence is considered, by analogy with the infrared spectrum of C(2)H(6) vapor, to be caused by an xy-Coriolis interaction either between 5nu(4) and nu(9) + 2nu(4) in the ground state or, in the upper state, nu(6) + 5nu(4) with nu(6) + nu(9) + 2nu(4) or nu(6) + 5nu(4) with 2nu(8). One further series resolved only in the jet spectrum and lying very close to the fundamental is almost certainly due to the nu(6) fundamental of the isotopomer (13)C(12)CF(6). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Solid-gas reactions of complex oxides inside an environmental high-resolution transmission electron microscope

In a gas reaction cell (GRC), installed in a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) (JEOL 4000EX), samples can be manipulated in an ambient atmosphere (p<50mbar). This experimental setup permits not only the observation of solid-gas reactions in situ at close to the atomic level but also the induction of structural modifications under the influence of a plasma, generated by the ionization of gas particles by an intense electron beam. Solid state reactions of non-stoichiometric niobium oxides and niobium tungsten oxides with different gases (O2, H2 and He) have been carried out inside this controlled environment transmission electron microscope (CETEM), and this has led to reaction products with novel structures which are not accessible by conventional solid state synthesis methods.Monoclinic and orthorhombic Nb(12)O(29) crystallize in block structures comprising [3x4] blocks. The oxidation of the monoclinic phase occurs via a three step mechanism: firstly, a lamellar defect of composition Nb(11)O(27) is formed. Empty rectangular channels in this defect provide the diffusion paths in the subsequent oxidation. In the second step, microdomains of the Nb(22)O(54) phase are generated as an intermediate state of the oxidation process. The structure of the final product Nb(10)O(25), which consists of [3x3] blocks and tetrahedral coordinated sites, is isostructural to PNb(9)O(25). Microdomains of this apparently metastable phase appear as a product of the Nb(22)O(54) oxidation. The oxidation reaction of Nb(12)O(29) was found to be a reversible process: the reduction of the oxidation product with H(2) results in the formation of the starting Nb(12)O(29) structure. On the other hand, the block structure of Nb(12)O(29) has been destroyed by a direct treatment of the sample with H(2) while NbO in a cubic rock salt structure is produced.This in situ technique has also been applied to niobium tungsten oxides which constitute the solid solution series Nb(8-n)W9(+n)O47 with 0< or =n< or =4. All of these phases crystallize in the threefold tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) superstructure of Nb(8)W(9)O(47) (n=0). In the main reaction, these phases decompose in a gas plasma (O2, H2 or He, p=20mbar) into WO(3-x), which evaporates and solidifies again near the irradiated crystallite, and (Nb,W)(24)O(64), which crystallizes in a 2a superstructure of the TTB type observed here for the first time in the system Nb-W-O. Nb(8)W(9)O(47), Nb(7)W(10)O(47) and Nb(6)W(11)O(47) always react in this way, independent of the applied gas. On the other hand, the treatment of Nb(5)W(12)O(47) (n=3) and Nb(4)W(13)O(47) (n=4) in an oxygen atmosphere often caused a different reaction: these phases have been oxidized and a heavily disordered bronze-type structure has been formed. The oxygen excess in these products is largely accommodated in segregated domains of WO(3).     

Magnetic order in hybrid frustrated magnets Gd(2-x)Tb(x)Ti2O7 (x = 0.2 and 0.5)

We report on the specific heat, magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements of single crystals of hybrid frustrated magnets Gd(1.8)Tb(0.2)Ti(2)O(7) and Gd(1.5)Tb(0.5)Ti(2)O(7). The analysis of experimental data revealed that, although partial replacing of the Gd(3+) ions by the Tb(3+) ions in the Gd(2)Ti(2)O(7) host lattice slightly enhances antiferromagnetic coupling, as inferred from the evolution of the paramagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature, the ordering temperature gradually decreases. Paramagnetic correlations introduced by the Tb(3+) ions cause this perturbation, altering the effective further neighbor interactions and destabilizing the ground state in Gd(2)Ti(2)O(7). In addition, the low-energy states of Gd(2-x)Tb(x)Ti(2)O(7) are suggested to possess a nature different from those in parent members Tb(2)Ti(2)O(7) and Gd(2)Ti(2)O(7). Finally, the frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility behavior in Gd(1.5)Tb(0.5)Ti(2)O(7) is consistent with the formation of a spin-glass-like state indicating a pronounced slowing down of the dynamical response of the studied hybrid magnets.     

Preparation of platinum nanoparticles by sonochemical reduction of the Pt(IV) ions: role of surfactants

Sonochemical reduction processes of Pt(IV) ions in water have been investigated in the presence of various kinds of surfactants such as sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) as anionic surfactants, and polyethylene glycol monostearate (PEG-MS) as non-ionic, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and bromide (DTAB) as cationic surfactants. An improved colorimetric determination reveals that Pt(IV) ion is reduced to zero valent metal in two steps: step (1)--Pt(IV) ion to Pt(II) ion, and step (2)--Pt(II) ion to Pt(0), and after the completion of step (1), step (2) sets in. It appears that rapid scrambling reactions among platinum ions and/or atoms, that is, Pt(I) + Pt(IV)-->Pt(II) + Pt(III), etc. take place. In the sonolysis of aqueous solutions of SDS, DBS or PEG-MS, two kinds of organic reducing radicals, R(ab) and R(py), are proposed to contribute to the reduction. Radical R(ab) is formed from the reaction of the surfactants with primary radicals such as hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen atoms originated from the sonolysis of water, and radical R(py) is formed from the direct thermal decomposition of surfactants in the interfacial region between the collapsing cavities and the bulk water. R(ab) is effective for both the reduction steps, whereas R(py) is involved only in the reduction step (1). This fact coincides with the previous reported sonochemical reduction of Pt(II) ions. Hydrogen atoms themselves scarcely participate in the reduction. The average diameter (1.0 nm) of platinum particles prepared from the system of PEG-MS is smaller than those from the aqueous solution of anionic surfactant SDS (3.0 nm) and DBS (3.0 nm).