New Interfaces for Coupling TLC with TOF SIMS

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - Two interfaces have been tested for coupling thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry...     

Influence of boric acid on the electrochemical deposition of Ni

The electrolytic deposition of Ni onto a paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode from supporting chloride electrolyte (0.5 mol dm⁻³ NaCl) adjusted to the required pH using dilute HCl is investigated. The effect of electrolyte composition on the Ni electrodeposition is studied using linear sweep voltammetry in the cathodic region. An elimination voltammetry procedure was applied to evaluate the polarization curves. The aim of this work was to deduce the mechanism of Ni reduction in the chloride bath as well as the influence of boric acid on this. Positively-charged NiCl⁺ ions were found to be the electroactive particles in the Ni reduction mechanism. The strong competition between the NiCl⁺, Cl⁻ and H⁺ ions for active sites at the electrode is discussed. Kinetically-controlled adsorption/desorption processes of various species were also confirmed using elimination voltammetry with a linear scan. The evolution of gaseous hydrogen, catalyzed by the freshly-deposited Ni, accompanies the electrodeposition process. The presence of boric acid at a sufficiently high concentration inhibits the deposition of Ni and, at the same time, improves the morphology and brightness, as well as the adhesion of the deposited Ni. Elimination voltammetry with a linear scan is an efficient way to evaluate current–potential curves that reflect the electrodeposition of one-component Ni coatings. By eliminating selected currents, additional interesting and useful information can be obtained from voltammetric data.     

Collisional quenching of resonance states of rare gases

We report an experimental study of Xe(³P₁) → Xe(³P₂) electronic quenching by Ar in Xe/Ar mixtures optically excited by the 1470 Å line of Xe. The quenching process was monitored by the observation of the Xe^*₂ second emission continuum at low Xe pressures.     

Time-resolved intraband electronic relaxation dynamics of Hg(n) (-) clusters (n=7-13,15,18) excited at 1.0 eV

Time-resolved photoelectron imaging has been used to study the relaxation dynamics of small Hg(n) (-) clusters (n=7-13,15,18) following intraband electronic excitation at 1250 nm (1.0 eV). This study furthers our previous investigation of single electron, intraband relaxation dynamics in Hg(n) (-) clusters at 790 nm by exploring the dynamics of smaller clusters (n=7-10), as well as those of larger clusters (n=11-13,15,18) at a lower excitation energy. We measure relaxation time scales of 2-9 ps, two to three times faster than seen previously after 790 nm excitation of Hg(n) (-), n=11-18. These results, along with size-dependent trends in the absorption cross-section and photoelectron angular distribution anisotropy, suggest significant evolution of the cluster anion electronic structure in the size range studied here. Furthermore, the smallest clusters studied here exhibit 35-45 cm(-1) oscillations in pump-probe signal at earliest temporal delays that are interpreted as early coherent nuclear motion on the excited potential energy surfaces of these clusters. Evidence for evaporation of one or two Hg atoms is seen on a time scale of tens of picoseconds.     

Transition from a Bloch-Wilson to a free-electron density of states in Zn(n)- clusters

We present photoelectron spectroscopy studies on Zn(n) (-) in the size range of n=3-117. We show that zinc clusters exhibit a distinct transition in their electronic structure as a function of size. At small sizes (up to n=18) the clusters follow the Bloch-Wilson picture of the development of a metal from closed-shell atoms, exhibiting a gradual decrease of the gap between the fully occupied s band and the empty p band. For large sizes (n approximately or > 32) the band overlap allows the valence electrons to fully delocalize. This leads to an almost perfect free-electron density of states, as is demonstrated by discussing the spectra in the light of standard free-electron models and by comparison to the results obtained on sodium clusters.     

The solvation of iodine anions in water clusters: PES studies

We have measured the photoelectron-spectra of I^? (H₂O)_n clusters in the size range n=1–60. We have found that the first six water molecules form a solvation layer with an average 0.35 eV electrostatic stabilization of the anion. At larger cluster sizes the electrostatic stabilization of water does not fit a continuous dielectric solvent. The most stable structures of the clusters consist of internally solvated anions. In the size range n=34–40 we have found evidence for existence of cluster structures with surface solvated anions.     

The Katětov dimension of proximity spaces

An analogue of Kattov's theorem on the equality between the dimension of a Tychonov space and the analytic dimension of its ring of bounded real-valued continuous maps is established for proximity spaces and proximally continuous maps by an internal method of proof. A new kind of filter, called proximally prime filter, arises naturally as a tool in this theory.