Identification of oxidation states of metal oxides by MALDI-TOF MS

For the detection of inorganic species, we have developed chemical reaction laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry, and applied it to the analysis of metal oxides in different oxidation states. Metal oxide species insoluble in common organic solvents were finely grounded in a mortar and suspended in a solvent. The turbid suspension was placed on a sample holder on which a suitable chelating reagent had been previously spotted in a similar manner for sample preparation employed in the matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). By using this method, the mass spectra of manganese (II and IV) oxides (MnO and MnO₂), cobalt (II and III) oxides (CoO and Co₂O₃), and chromium (III and VI) oxides (Cr₂O₃ and CrO₃) were successfully obtained. By adjusting the experimental conditions, such as ionization modes and chelating reagents, the non-identical mass spectra were obtained for the elements in the different oxidation state. Thus, the oxidation states could be identified clearly.     

Synthesis and photochemical reaction of 1,4-dialkyl-7-oxa-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)bicyclohepta-2,5-diene

Diels-Alder reaction of 2,5-dialkyl-3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)furan with hexafluoro-2-butyne gave 1,4-dialkyl-7-oxa-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)bicyclohepta-2,5-diene. Irradiation (uv) of 1,4-diethyl-7-oxa-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)bicyclohepta-2,5-diene afforded 1-ethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-1,4-cyclopentadiene, ethyl 3-[l-ethyl-2,3,4,5-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-1,4-cyclopentadienyl] ketone, and 2,7-diethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)oxepin.     

Synthesis of 2,5-diethyl-3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)furan and its derivatives

The addition reaction of propionaldehyde to hexafluoro-2-butyne ( 1 ) under γ-ray irradiation gave trans-6,6,6-trifluoro-4-trifluoromethyl-4-hexen-3-one ( 2 ) and 4,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)octa-3,6-dione ( 3 ). The latter compound was treated with sulfuric acid to give 2,5-diethyl-3,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)furan ( 4a ). Several reactions, such as bromination, dehydrobromination and oxidation, were carried out to prepare derivatives of 4a .     

Ultrahigh Electron Emissive Carbon Nanotubes with Nano-sized RuO2 Particles Deposition

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have a great commercial potential as electron field emitters, but suffer from fundamental problems such as stability and brightness. By depositing the MWNTs with nano-sized ruthenium dioxide (RuO₂) particles, a new high performance emitter has been developed. When compared to MWNTs, the MWNTs impregnated with 1–2 nm sized RuO₂ have superior and more efficient electrical characteristics. MWNTs supported by a silicon substrate showed a reduction in the onset voltage from 5.4 to 4 V/μm after RuO₂ impregnation. The long-term stability of the impregnated MWNTs is also demonstrated with only a 20% increase in applied voltage required after 700 h operation at 40 mA/cm².     

Temperature dependence of Pt(111) surface relaxation

A careful investigation of the Pt(111) surface has been carried out, using the MeV heliumscattering technique. The anomalously large surface relaxation effect reported previously has been identified as an experimental artifact resulting from an unexpectedly large surface damage effect at low temperature. Optimum conditions have been established for minimizing the main experimental sources of error: background subtraction, radiation damage, and deviations from the Rutherford scattering law. Using these optimum conditions, a series of scattering measurements has been made over the temperature range 40–300 K. At all temperatures, we observe a significant anisotropy in the 〈111〉 angular scans, indicating an outward relaxation of the Pt(111) surface plane. By comparing this observed anisotropy with a set of Monte Carlo simulations, a value of 0.03 ? 0.01 Å (i.e. 1.3 ? 0.4%) is obtained for the surface relaxation. The temperature dependence of the surface peak also indicates that the enhanced vibrational amplitude of the surface atoms is not nearly as large as had been derived previously from high-temperature LEED studies.     

A new emission band under high density excitation in alkali halides

A new emission band has been found in alkali halides under high density excitation produced by heavy ion bombardments and is suggested to be arised from the recombination of bi-excitons.     

A study of the phase transition and relaxation of a Pt(100) surface by MeV ion backscattering and channeling

MeV He⁺ ion backscattering has been used to show that the phase transition on a Pt(100) surface involves the lateral displacement of an entire plane of atoms. It is further shown that the outward relaxation of the unreconstructed surface plane is negligible, i.e. 0.5 ± 0.5% of thebulk interplanar spacing.