Uncompensated magnetization and exchange-bias field in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/YMnO3 bilayers: The influence of the ferromagnetic layer

We studied the magnetic behavior of bilayers of multiferroic and nominally antiferromagnetic o-YMnO₃ (375 nm thick) and ferromagnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃ (8…225 nm), in particular the vertical magnetization shift M_E and exchange-bias field H_E for different thickness and magnetic dilutions of the ferromagnetic layer at different temperatures and cooling fields. We have found very large M_E shifts equivalent to up to 100% of the saturation value of the o-YMO layer alone. The overall behavior, including XMCD magnetization shift measured at the Mn-L edge of the LSMO layer only, indicates that the properties of the ferromagnetic layer contribute substantially to the M_E shift and that this does not correlate straightforwardly with the measured exchange-bias field H_E.     

Photoemission intensity oscillations in the valence bands of C70 film

We have measured and analyzed the photoemission spectra (PES) of a C₇₀ film in the photon energy region from 13.4 eV to 98.4 eV. The photoelectron intensities of two C 2p π-derived features (denoted by A and B) oscillate regularly in the whole energy region with some fine structures below ∼30 eV. To obtain the detailed information of the oscillations, we have developed a sophisticated but practical procedure for intensity calculation. The procedure consists of two core concepts. The first is ascribing the PES features to their corresponding molecular orbitals with the help of density functional calculations. The second is a background subtraction algorithm. With this procedure, we obtained the oscillating behavior for individual features (A and B), which is by and large consistent with the predictions based on the spherical symmetric approximation although C₇₀ has the ellipsoidal shape. Owing to the solid state effect, the oscillating amplitudes of the A/B intensity ratios are smaller than those of gas phase C₇₀, but an orbital shift reported recently was not observed on our sample. The oscillating curve of a deeper feature, which consists of both σ and π states, are also reported.     

Supramolecular Polymers Self‐Assembled from trans‐Bis(pyridine) Dichloropalladium(II) and Platinum(II) Complexes

Two structurally similar trans‐bis(pyridine) dichloropalladium(II)‐ and platinum(II)‐type complexes were synthesized and characterized. They both self‐assemble in n‐hexane to form viscous fluids at lower concentrations, but form metallogels at sufficient concentrations. The viscous solutions were studied by capillary viscosity measurements and UV/Vis absorption spectra monitored during the disassembly process indicated that a metallophilic interaction was involved in the supramolecular polymerization process. For the two supramolecular assemblies, uncommon continuous porous networks were observed by using SEM and TEM revealed that they were built from nanofibers that fused and crosslinked with the increase of concentration. The xerogels of the palladium and platinum complexes were carefully studied by using synchrotron radiation WAXD and EXAFS. The WAXD data show close stacking distances driven by π–π and metal–metal interactions and an evident dimer structure for the platinum complex was found. The coordination bond lengths were extracted from fitting of the EXAFS data. Moreover, close Pt^II–Pt^II (Pd^II–Pd^II) and Pt?Cl (Pd?Cl) interactions proposed from DFT calculations in the reported oligo(phenylene ethynylene) (OPE)‐based palladium(II) pyridyl supramolecular polymers were also confirmed by using EXAFS. The Pt^II–Pt^II interaction is more feasible for supramolecular interaction than the Pd^II–Pd^II interaction in our simple case.     

A novel method to prepare polymer-ionic liquid gel under high pressure and its electrochemical properties

Sol–gel transition behavior of ionic liquid gel based on poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) and ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate [EMIM][EtSO₄] has been investigated under the pressure up to 250 MPa. The Temperature versus Pressure phase diagram of PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gel is constructed, and it indicates that the melting point is an increasing function of pressure. Based on the phase diagram, the PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gels are prepared by cooling under the pressure of 300 MPa and atmospheric pressure, respectively. From the differential scanning calorimetry result of the recovered samples, it is found that PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gel prepared under high pressure has a higher crystallinity and smaller crystal size polymer network, comparing with under atmospheric pressure. The cyclic voltammograms and impedance spectra tests indicate that the PEG/[EMIM][EtSO₄] gel prepared under high pressure exhibit higher ionic conductivity comparing with atmospheric pressure. It could be speculated these excellent properties might be attributed to the loose gel structure and high ionic density induced by high pressure.     

Comparative XANES study on the two electron-doped high-Tc superconductor systems, (Sr,La)CuO2 and (Nd,Ce)2CuO4

Here we employ high-quality samples of (Sr_1−xLa_x)CuO₂ and (Nd_2−xCe_x)CuO₄ and XANES spectroscopy at O-K, Cu-L_2,3 and Ce-M_4,5 edges to gain comprehensive understanding of the electronic structure and doping in n-type high-T_c superconductors. Not only common but also slightly different features are revealed for the two systems. From O-K-edge spectra, the UHB is found essentially independent of the electron-doping level for both the systems, in line with our understanding that the doped electrons do not go to the O site in n-type copper-oxide superconductors. Another common observation is that the main Cu^II peak at the Cu-L₃ edge (due to transitions to the Cu^II-3d orbitals) systematically decreases in intensity upon electron doping, hence verifying the fact that the doped electrons go to the Cu site. The difference then between the two systems is that in (Sr_1−xLa_x)CuO₂ the weaker Cu^II peak due to transitions to the Cu^II-4s orbital depends on the degree of doping. Moreover, it was found that with increasing x, electron density increases much faster in (Sr_1−xLa_x)CuO₂ than in (Nd_2−xCe_x)CuO₄. This is a consequence of two phenomena: a tiny increase in oxygen content concomitant to the Ce^IV-for-Nd^III substitution and the somewhat lower Ce-valence value of +3.8 compared to the nominal tetravalent state.     

Tunable single-photon ionization TOF mass spectrometry using laser-produced plasma as the table-top VUV light source

Here we report on a laser plasma-based tunable VUV photoionization time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer conceived mainly to study complex gaseous mixtures. Ionizing photons at tunable vacuum UV (VUV) wavelengths are generated by a gas-target laser-produced plasma, spectrally dispersed in the range 100–160 nm and efficiently focused onto a sample molecular beam. As a test case, we studied the exhaust gas of a four-stroke moped, a typical example of a complex gaseous mixture. Due to the VUV “soft” ionization, the mass spectra are less congested and more easily interpretable. Substituted benzene derivatives are found to give the most intense signals. Several aliphatic hydrocarbons are also detected. The use of tunable VUV radiation allowed the investigation of the contribution of isomers in the mass spectrum from the onset and shape of the photoionization efficiency spectra. Semiquantitative analysis was performed using known literature data detailing the photoionization cross sections. Our findings suggest that using combined data on the mass/photoionization efficiency spectra may be very helpful for a comprehensive analysis of complex gaseous mixtures.     

Structural,mechanical, electronic,optical properties and effective masses of CuMO2 (M = Sc,Y, La) compounds: First-principles calculations

The structural, elastic, mechanical, electronic, optical properties and effective masses of CuM_IIIBO₂ (M_IIIB = Sc, Y, La) compounds have been investigated by the plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential technique based on the first-principles density-functional theory under local density approximation. The equilibrium structural parameters are in good agreement with previous experimental and theoretical data. To our knowledge, there are no available data of elastic constants for comparison. The bulk, shear and Young's modulus, ratio of B/G, Poisson's ratio and Lamé's constants of CuM_IIIBO₂ have been studied. The electronic structures of CuM_IIIBO₂ are consistent with other calculations. The population analysis, charge densities and effective masses have been shown and analyzed. The imaginary and real parts of the dielectric function, refractive index and extinction coefficient of CuM_IIIBO₂ are calculated. The interband transitions to absorption of CuM_IIIBO₂ have been analyzed.     

Robustness of SDOF elastoplastic structure subjected to double-impulse input under simultaneous uncertainties of yield deformation and stiffness

A series of impulse-type inputs has been extensively used to evaluate the critical response of an elastoplastic structure subjected to diverse types of pulse-type inputs, including a near-fault ground motion. In this paper, we consider the critical double-impulse input for a single-degree-of-freedom elastic–perfectly plastic structure, and study effects of structural uncertainties. When the natural frequency (or, equivalently, the stiffness) is fixed, the critical response of the structure does not necessarily decrease as the yield deformation (or, equivalently, the yield force) increases. As the first contribution, we give through investigation of this non-monotonicity property. Moreover, we present a systematic method for finding the worst-case scenario when the yield deformation and the stiffness of a structure assumed to be uncertain simultaneously. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate that the robustness of a structure does not necessarily improve when the yield deformation and/or the yield force is increased.     

3D visualization of the microstructure of Quedius beesoni Cameron using micro-CT

The investigation of the internal morphology of insects is usually performed using classical microtomy yielding optical micrographs of stained thin sections. The achievement of high-quality cross sections for microtomy is time-consuming and the risk of damaging sections is unavoidable. Moreover, the approach is impractical, in particular when quick acquisition of 3D structural information is required. Recently, X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) with a high spatial resolution was considered as a potential tool for the morphological classification of insects. We used micro-CT to investigate Quedius beesoni Cameron at the cellular length scale. This method provides a new powerful and nondestructive approach to obtain 3D structural information on the biological organization of insects. The preliminary images presented in this contribution clearly reveal the endoskeleton and the muscles of the head and the thorax with a full 3D structure. We also reconstructed the 3D structure of the brain of Quedius beesoni Cameron, and this is the first reconstruction in Staphylinidae, which will be a great advancement for morphological and phylogenic research. We claim that both the spatial resolution and the contrast characteristic of micro-CT imaging may fulfill the requirements necessary for zoological insect morphology and phylogeny, in particular, when a classification of a rare and unique insect specimen is required.