A linearized path integral description of the collision process between a water molecule and a graphite surface

Quantum effects in the scattering and desorption process of a water molecule from a graphite surface are investigated using the linearized path integral model. The graphite surface is quantized rigorously using the fully quantum many-body Wigner transform of the surface Boltzmann operator, while the water molecule is treated as rigid. Classical dynamics with these quantized initial conditions show that quantizing the surface at 100 and 300 K results in markedly different results, compared to a fully classical analysis. The trapping probability (defined as the probability of multiple encounters with the surface) is not sensitive to the choice of dynamical treatment, but the residence time on the surface is much shorter in the quantum case. At 300 K the transiently trapped molecules desorb from the surface with a rate constant which is 60-70% larger than the corresponding classical value. Lowering the surface temperature to 100 K decreases the quantum rate constant by approximately a factor of 3 while all trapped molecules stick to the surface in the classical case. The stability of the quantum initial state for the highly anisotropic graphite crystal is discussed in detail as well as the dynamical consequences of energy redistribution during the scattering process. The graphite surface application demonstrates that the Boltzmann operator Wigner transform for a system with 900 degrees of freedom can be obtained by the so-called gradient implementation [Poulsen et al. J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2006, 2, 1482] of the underlying Feynman-Kleinert effective frequency theory, an implementation that only requires a force and potential routine for the system at hand, and hence is applicable to any molecule-surface collision problem.     

Resonant vibrational excitation and de-excitation of CO(v) by low energy electrons

Integral cross sections and rate coefficients for vibrational excitation of the excited carbon-monoxide molecule, via the (2)Pi shape resonance in the energy region from 0 to 5 eV have been calculated. Cross sections are calculated by using our recently measured cross sections for the ground level CO excitation and the most recent cross sections for elastic electron scattering, applying the principle of detailed balance. Rate coefficients are calculated for Maxwellian electron energy distribution, with mean electron energies below 5 eV. By using extended Monte Carlo simulations, electron energy distribution functions (EEDF) and rate coefficients are determined in nonequilibrium conditions, in the presence of homogeneous external electric field. Nonequilibrium rates are calculated for typical, moderate values of the electric field over gas number density ratios, E/N, from 1 to 220 Td. Maxwellian and nonequilibrium rate coefficients are compared and the difference is attributed to a specific shape of the electron energy distribution functions under considered conditions.     

Uniform existence of the integrated density of states for models on $${\mathbb{Z}}^d$$

We provide an ergodic theorem for certain Banach-space valued functions on structures over , which allow for existence of frequencies of finite patterns. As an application we obtain existence of the integrated density of states for associated discrete finite-range operators in the sense of convergence of the distributions with respect to the supremum norm. These results apply to various examples including periodic operators, percolation models and nearest-neighbour hopping on the set of visible points. Our method gives explicit bounds on the speed of convergence in terms of the speed of convergence of the underlying frequencies. It uses neither von Neumann algebras nor a framework of random operators on a probability space.      

Influence of chain length and degree of branching of alcohol + chlorobenzene mixtures on determination and modelling of V by CEOS and CEOS/G mixing rules

The densities of binary mixtures of (1-propanol, or 1-butanol, or 2-butanol, or 1-pentanol + chlorobenzene) have been measured at temperatures 288.15, 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15 and 313.15 K and atmospheric pressure while for the system (2-methyl-2-propanol + chlorobenzene) measurements were performed at the same pressure and temperatures 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15 and 323.15 K. All measurements were performed by means of an Anton Paar DMA 5000 digital vibrating-tube densimeter. Excess molar volumes V^E were determined and fitted by the Redlich–Kister equation. It was observed that in all cases, V^E increase with rising of temperature. The values of limiting excess partial molar volumes have been calculated, as well. The obtained results have been analysed in terms of specific molecular interactions present in these mixtures taking into consideration effect of the chain length of alcohols, degree of branching in the chain, relative position of the alkyl and OH group in an alcohol and the effect of temperature on them. In addition, the correlation of V^E binary data was performed with the Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera cubic equation of state (PRSV CEOS) coupled with the van der Waals (vdW1) and CEOS/G^E mixing rule introduced by Twu, Coon, Bluck and Tilton (TCBT). Also, the possibility of cross prediction between V^E and VLE by means of the NRTL parameters of G^E model available in literature and those incorporated in the TCBT model was tested.     

Application of X-ray fluorescence analytical techniques in phytoremediation and plant biology studies

Phytoremediation is an emerging technology that employs the use of higher plants for the clean-up of contaminated environments. Progress in the field is however handicapped by limited knowledge of the biological processes involved in plant metal uptake, translocation, tolerance and plant–microbe–soil interactions; therefore a better understanding of the basic biological mechanisms involved in plant/microbe/soil/contaminant interactions would allow further optimization of phytoremediation technologies. In view of the needs of global environmental protection, it is important that in phytoremediation and plant biology studies the analytical procedures for elemental determination in plant tissues and soil should be fast and cheap, with simple sample preparation, and of adequate accuracy and reproducibility. The aim of this study was therefore to present the main characteristics, sample preparation protocols and applications of X-ray fluorescence-based analytical techniques (energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry—EDXRF, total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry—TXRF and micro-proton induced X-ray emission—micro-PIXE). Element concentrations in plant leaves from metal polluted and non-polluted sites, as well as standard reference materials, were analyzed by the mentioned techniques, and additionally by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results were compared and critically evaluated in order to assess the performance and capability of X-ray fluorescence-based techniques in phytoremediation and plant biology studies. It is the EDXRF, which is recommended as suitable to be used in the analyses of a large number of samples, because it is multi-elemental, requires only simple preparation of sample material, and it is analytically comparable to the most frequently used instrumental chemical techniques. The TXRF is compatible to FAAS in sample preparation, but relative to AAS it is fast, sensitive and multi-elemental. The micro-PIXE technique requires rather expensive instrumentation, but offers multi-elemental analysis on the tissue and cellular level.     

Spatial and temporal probing of a laser-induced plasma plume by cavity ringdown spectroscopy

The laser-induced plasma plume of a Ti target in vacuum is probed by the technique of cavity ringdown spectroscopy. A model is developed to perform a forward convolution of atomic absorption line profile measurements. The model accounts for laser-induced plasma characteristics such as anisotropy of the plume and velocity distributions of the ablated particles as well as of the cavity ringdown features such as geometry and time selectivity. The absorption lineshapes of atomic transitions are calculated and discussed for given sets of parameters. Calculated line profiles are fitted to experimental line profiles obtained from nanosecond-laser ablation of the target and provide data about the plume dynamics.     

Gold-ligand interaction studies of water-soluble aminoalcohol capped gold nanoparticles by NMR

Novel reproducible preparations of gold nanoparticles capped by aminoalcohols have been set up by reduction of HAuCl4 with NaBH4 in aqueous solution. The characterization of Au@aminoalcohol nanoparticles performed by 1H NMR, ATR-FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopies, and TEM microscopy highlighted the binding site and the nature of the Au-NH bond.     

Aflatoxin B(1) adsorption by natural and copper modified montmorillonite

Adsorption of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB1) by natural montmorillonite (MONT) and montmorillonite modified with copper ions (Cu-MONT) was investigated. Both MONTs were characterized using the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis, thermal analysis (DTA/TGA) and scanning electron miscroscopy/electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The results of XRPD and SEM/EDS analyses of Cu-MONT suggested partial ion exchange of native inorganic cations in MONT with copper occurred. Investigation of AFB1 adsorption by MONT and Cu-MONT, at pH 3, 7 or 9, showed that adsorption of this toxin by both MONTs was high (over 93%). Since AFB1 is nonionizable, no differences in AFB1 adsorption by both MONTs, at different pHs, were observed, as expected. Futhermore, it was determined that adsorption of AFB1 by both MONTs followed a non-linear (Langmuir) type of isotherm, at pH 3. The calculated maximum adsorbed amounts of AFB1 by MONT (40.982mg/g) and Cu-MONT (66.225mg/g), derived from Langmuir plots of isotherms, indicate that Cu-MONT was much effective in adsorbing AFB1. Since, the main cation in an exchangeable position in MONT is calcium, and in Cu-MONT both calcium and copper, the fact that ion exchange of inorganic cations in MONT with copper increases adsorption of AFB1 suggests that additional interactions between AFB1 and copper ions in Cu-MONT caused greater adsorption.     

Isostructural materials achieved by using structurally equivalent donors and acceptors in halogen-bonded cocrystals

We demonstrate the supramolecular and structural equivalence of two halogen-bond donors (I and Br) and three acceptors (O, NH and S) through the synthesis of seven isostructural halogen-bonded cocrystals, involving six different molecules: 1,4-dibromo- and 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (donors) and thiomorpholine, thioxane, morpholine, and piperazine (acceptors). The formation of isostructural cocrystals indicates how cocrystallization may be used to overcome shape and functional group dissimilarities that control molecular arrangement in the solid state. The differences in composition between the seven isostructural cocrystals directly affect the strength and nature of halogen bonds between their constituents, allowing the systematic variation of cocrystal physical properties, in particular the melting point, without affecting their crystal structure. Replacement of each O or S halogen-bond acceptor with an NH group provided an approximate 70 degrees C increase in melting point, whereas the replacement of I with Br as the halogen-bond donor lowered the melting point of the resulting solid by a similar amount.     

Isn't self-assembly a misnomer? Multi-disciplinary arguments in favor of co-assembly

Self-assembly is a ubiquitous physicochemical phenomenon. It is inherent to molecular recognition effects in the biological domain, and thus presents a basis for understanding the constitution and dynamic organization of living beings. However, it is argued in this paper that the very notion of self-assembly presents an incorrect and misleading one for the physical effects that it stands for. Self-assembly presents a misnomer as each self-assembly process not only depends on, but also includes a certain degree of ordering in the immediate surrounding of the 'self-assembling' entities. Claims are provided to support the idea that every self-assembly process is, in fact, a co-assembly event, as it implies mutual changes and structuring of both the 'self-assembled' system and its nearest surrounding. This point of view is related to the systemic observation that there could be no physical qualities independent on the context of their existence. In order to illustrate that the concept of co-assembly presents only an instance of a more profound and systemic philosophy of life, the examples of the interplay between internal and external factors of development are provided from the fields of quantum and classical physics, biology, evolutionary theory and psychology.