Optical properties of a high-efficiency glass ceramic X-ray storage phosphor

The turbidity, photoluminescence, and photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL) of fluorozirconate glass containing barium chloride nano- and micro-crystals have been measured for samples prepared by isochronal (70 min) annealing over a temperature range of 220–283°C, and correlated with the microstructure as determined by X-ray diffraction measurements. Crystallization of hexagonal phase barium chloride commences at around 220°C, but until 275°C the material retains excellent transparency although it displays negligible PSL. Between 275°C and 277°C, the hexagonal phase converts to the orthorhombic phase, the transparency abruptly decreases, and the PSL rises to a value of around 13% of that found for the commercial storage phosphor BaFBr:Eu. For a slightly higher temperature of 280°C, new phases appear which correspond to the onset of bulk crystallization, and at 283°C the relative PSL rises to 33%, while the transparency falls further. The trade-off between optical transparency and PSL over this narrow temperature window for X-ray imaging plate applications is briefly discussed.     

New developments in X-ray storage phosphors

We found a significant PSL effect in Eu²⁺-doped fluorozirconate glasses (ZBLAN) which were additionally doped with Br⁻ or Cl⁻ ions. The PSL is attributed to the characteristic emission of Eu²⁺ present in nano-crystallites of BaBr₂ or BaCl₂, which form in the glass upon annealing. The metastable hexagonal form of BaX₂ (X=Br,Cl) is always formed first before it is converted into the stable orthorhombic form. The particle size increases upon annealing and so does the PSL efficiency of the glass ceramic. However, there is a saturation of the PSL efficiency, which is for Br⁻ doping about 9% and for Cl⁻-doping about 80% of the Eu-doped BaFBr standard. The particle size was determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM results show a clear tendency for bigger particles for longer annealing at the expense of its number. The particle size for the most efficient phosphor is about 100 nm.     

A note on a paper by Massa and Pagani

Massa and Pagani [1] have given a neat refutal to the conjecture [2] that the Riemann tensor is derivable from a tensor potential. Their method consists of assuming such a relationship does exist and examining the resulting integrability conditions; they show that the existence of such a potential will impose nontrivial restrictions on the Riemann tensor and so conclude that, in general, such a potential cannot exist. Although Massa and Pagani posed the problem and interpreted the conclusion in ordinary tensor notation the actual derivation of the crucial constraint equation was carried out in the language of tensor-valued differential forms, and is quite involved. In this note it is shown that the crucial equation can be obtained quite naturally and easily in ordinary tensor notation.     

Isomorphisms of integral alternative loop rings

This paper first settles the “isomorphism problem” for alternative loop rings; namely, it is shown that a Moufang loop whose integral loop ring is alternative is determined up to isomorphism by that loop ring. Secondly, it is shown that every normalized automorphism of an alternative loop ringZ L is the product of an inner automorphism ofQ L and an authomorphism ofL.     

Conformational analysis by LIS. II. 2-and 3-alkyl substituted 1-indanones

The preferred conformations of the alkyl groups relative to the cyclopentenone ring of 2-ethyl-, 2-benzyl-, 2-isopropyl-, and 3-isopropyl-1-indanone were determined by means of the lanthanide-induced-shift technique (LIS). Two different models were used in the calculation of LIS. Coupling data-where available-were compatible with the conformations derived from LIS data. O. Hofer, Mh. Chem.109, 405 (1978).     

Coordination and ligand exchange dynamics of solvated metal ions

Recent developments in computer speed and capacity have opened the access to highly accurate molecular dynamics simulations based on quantum mechanically calculated forces for the chemically relevant region around ions in solution (QM/MM formalism). This accuracy, although still extremely consuming (30-300 days of CP time per simulation), is needed for reliable structural details and ligand exchange rates. A large number of main group and transition metal ions have been investigated by this approach, giving very detailed insight into the properties of these ions in solution and allowing to classify the ions by various characteristics. Most first-row transition metal ions have a very stable first hexa-coordinated solvation shell, whose vibrational distortions, however, strongly influence the dynamics of the second shell. The dynamical Jahn-Teller effect - shown to be a femto- and picosecond phenomenon - can strongly influence ligand coordination and exchange dynamics. A large number of ions with very labile solvation shell such as most main group ions, but also transition metal ions, e.g. Ag(I) and Hg(II), can change their coordination within the picosecond scale, leading to an almost simultaneous presence of several species hardly accessible by present experimental techniques. Among these ions, the structure breakers are of particular interest, and it could be shown that there are two types of them, one with a large and very labile first coordination shell such as Cs(I), the other characterised by a small first but an unusually large second solvation shell such as Au(I). Investigations of metal ions coordinated to ammonia ligands have shown that coordination to hetero-atoms can accelerate the ligand exchange reaction rates by several orders of magnitude, e.g. for Cu(II) and Ni(II). Simulations of ions in aqueous ammonia gave a very detailed picture of the complexity of species almost simultaneously present and illustrate the enormous difficulties encountered when trying to fit X-ray or neutron diffraction data for such systems. In general, ligand exchange rates situated in the picosecond range are far below the NMR scale, and as femtosecond laser pulse spectroscopy could not be applied so far to ionic solutions, accurate simulations have become a very important tool to access structure and dynamics of solvated ions. A number of VIDEO clips supplied on the Web as supporting material illustrates the processes occurring in solutions of the metal ions.     

Anwendung der Streustrahl-Methode zur Bestimmung der Elemente in Mineral?lprodukten mit Hilfe der R?ntgenfluorescenz-Spektral-Analyse am Beispiel der Bleibestimmung in Ottokraftstoffen

Zusammenfassung In einem relativ einfach durchzuführenden Verbundverfahren wird Selen im Sauerstoff-strom innerhalb 15 min bei 1100–1150°C quantitativ aus den Metall- bzw. Metalloxidschmelzen verdampft und in einer mit flüssigem Stickstoff gekühlten Vorlage aufgefangen. Das aus der Vorlage mit einer definierten Menge verdünnter HNO₃ in Gegenwart von Ni-Nitrat gelöste Selen läßt sich direkt durch AAS mit dem Graphitofen (FAAS) äußerst nachweisstark und zuverlässig bestimmen. Die Nachweisgrenze (elektrodenlose Entladungslampe) liegt bei 3×10^–11 g Se. Der Verfahrensverbund erlaubt mit Probenmengen 10 g in Ag und Au Se-Gehalte 0,05 ppb,inCu 0,1 ppb,in Bi 0,2 ppb und in Pb 10 ppb zu erfassen. Für draht-, stab- und spanförmige Proben erhält man für Se-Gehalte von 2–0,002 ppm Variationskoeffizienten zwischen 3 und 6%. Die Vollständigkeit der Se-Verdampfung aus den Matrices Cu, Ag, Au und Bi wurde ebenso wie die Richtigkeit des Gesamtverfahrens durch systematische Untersuchungen belegt.

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Determination of se by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) in the ppb-range in Cu, Cu alloys, Ag, Au, Pb and Bi after volatilization in an oxygen stream

Summary Selenium is evaporated in a multi-stage procedure within 15 min from metals or metal oxides fused at temperatures of 1100–1150°C under a stream of oxygen and is trapped in a receiver cooled with liquid nitrogen. The condensed SeO₂ is dissolved with a definite volume of diluted HNO₃ in the presence of Ni-nitrate and determined with high sensitivity and reliability by FAAS (electrodeless discharge lamp). The detection limit of the FAAS was found to be 3 · 10^–11 g of Se. The multi-stage procedure allows to detect Se levels 0.05 ppb in Ag and Au, 0.1 ppb in Cu, 0.2 ppb in Bi, and 10 ppb in Pb, respectively, with sample weights 10 g. For wire, rod, and chip samples the coefficients of variation are found to be between 3 and 6% for Se contents of 2 to 0.002 ppm. The quantitative evaporation of Se from Cu, Ag, Au, and Bi as well as the accuracy of the whole procedure have been checked systematically.

Die Arbeit wurde durch Mittel der DFG in dankenswerter Weise unterstützt.