Bifurcations and chaos in parametrically excited single-degree-of-freedom systems

The behavior of single-degree-of-freedom systems possessing quadratic and cubic nonlinearities subject to parametric excitation is investigated. Both fundamental and principal parametric resonances are considered. A global bifurcation diagram in the excitation amplitude and excitation frequency domain is presented showing different possible stable steady-state solutions (attractors). Fractal basin maps for fundamental and principal parametric resonances when three attractors coexist are presented in color. An enlargement of one region of the map for principal parametric resonance reveals a Cantor-like set of fractal boundaries. For some cases, both periodic and chaotic attractors coexist.     

A New Synthesis of Charge‐Neutral Tris‐Pyrazolyl and ‐Methimazolyl Borate Ligands

The dimethylamine in the adducts [(HNMe₂)B(azolyl)₃] (azolyl=methimazolyl, pyrazolyl), obtained by reaction of the azole with B(NMe₂)₃, can readily be substituted with a range of nitrogen donors to provide new charge‐neutral, tripodal ligands in high yield. This observation has led to a revision of an earlier interpretation of the mechanism of the formation of these species. The donor properties of the ligands [(nmi)B(azolyl)₃] (nmi=N‐methylimidazole) have been compared with their anionic analogues [HB(azolyl)₃]^? by synthesis of their manganese(I)–tricarbonyl complexes and comparison of their infrared ν_CO energies. This comparison indicates that the new neutral ligands are only marginally weaker donors than the corresponding anionic hydrotris(azolyl)borate ligands. This may be explained by the ability of the attached nmi ring to stabilize a positive charge remotely from the coordinated metal, which may also account for the fact that the [(nmi)B(pyrazolyl)₃] ligand is a substantially stronger donor than the similarly neutral tris(pyrazolyl)methane ligand.     

“Chimie douce”: A land of opportunities for the designed construction of functional inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic nanomaterials

“Chimie douce” based strategies allow, through the deep knowledge of materials chemistry and processing, the birth of the molecular engineering of nanomaterials. This feature article will highlight some of the main research accomplishments we have performed during the last years. We describe successively the design and properties of: sol–gel derived hybrids, Nano Building Blocks (NBBs) based hybrid materials, nanostructured porous materials proceeds as thin films and ultra-thin films, aerosol processed mesoporous powders and finally hierarchically structured materials. The importance of the control of the hybrid interfaces via the use of modern tools as DOSY NMR, SAXS, WAXS, Ellipsometry that are very useful to evaluate in situ the hybrid interfaces and the self-assembly processes is emphasized. Some examples of the optical, photocatalytic, electrochemical and mechanical properties of the resulting inorganic or hybrid nanomaterials are also presented.     

Analytical Applications of Enzymatic Growth of Quantum Dots

We have developed an analytical assay to detect the enzymatic activity of acetylcholine esterase and alkaline phosphatase based on the generation of quantum dots by enzymatic products. Acetylcholine esterase converts acetylthiocholine into thiocholine. The latter enhances the rate of decomposition of sodium thiosulfate into H₂S, which in the presence of cadmium sulfate yields CdS quantum dots showing a time dependent exponential growth, typical of autocatalytic processes. This assay was also applied to detect acetylcholine esterase inhibitors. Alkaline phosphatase hydrolyzes thiophosphate and yields H₂S, which instantly reacts with Cd²⁺ to give CdS quantum dots. The formation of CdS quantum dots in both reactions was followed by fluorescence spectroscopy and showed dependence on the concentration of enzyme and substrate.     

Multimode vibrational couplings in resonant positron annihilation

The mechanisms for multimode vibrational couplings in resonant positron annihilation are not well understood. We show that these resonances can arise from positron-induced distortions of the potential energy surface (target response to the positron field). Though these distortions can transfer energy into single- and multiquantum vibrations, they have so far been disregarded as a pathway to resonant annihilation. We also compare the existing annihilation theories and show that the currently accepted model can be cast as a special case of the Feshbach annihilation theory.     

Oxidation of Pt(111) under near-ambient conditions

The oxidation of Pt(111) at near-ambient O2 pressures has been followed in situ using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ex situ using x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Polarization-dependent XAS signatures at the O K edge reveal significant temperature- and pressure-dependent changes of the Pt-O interaction. Oxide growth commences via a PtO-like surface oxide that coexists with chemisorbed oxygen, while an ultrathin α-PtO2 trilayer is identified as the precursor to bulk oxidation. These results have important implications for understanding the chemical state of Pt in catalysis.     

Structural characterization of Pb nanoislands in SiO2/Si interface synthesized by ion implantation through MEIS analysis

Medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) measurements and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations are applied to characterize a buried Pb nanoparticle (NP) system synthesized by ion implantation. The NPs are located at the SiO₂/Si film interface, forming a dense two-dimensional array. Full 2D (energy and angle) experimental MEIS spectra are compared with Monte Carlo simulated ones. The results demonstrate that MEIS measurements provide microstructural information (mean NP volume of about 150 nm³ and areal density of about 4 × 10¹¹ NP/cm²), but no accurate information on the NP geometrical shape.     

On symmetry groups of quasicrystals

A relationship between two types of symmetry groups of quasicrystals in the cut-andproject model is studied.     

Mössbauer Investigation of the Itinerant Magnets U(Ga0.98Sn0.02)3 and CeFe2

The theoretical predictions that UGa₃ and CeFe₂ should be regarded as itinerant magnets stimulated new investigations. In this paper we focus on Mössbauer measurements aimed to characterize their magnetic properties. We show that the analysis of the transferred hyperfine interactions at the ¹¹⁹Sn nuclei in U(Ga_0.98Sn_0.02)₃, a type II antiferromagnet, provides direct information on the f-p hybridization and allows to determine the orientation of the U moments. The study of CeFe₂ demonstrates that the intrinsic ferromagnetism coexists with short range antiferromagnetic correlations. The instability of the ferromagnetic state is illustrated by doping CeFe₂ with a small amount of Co and by application of pressure on pure CeFe₂. Our results will be discussed in connection with neutron and synchrotron experiments.