Effects of substrate and transfer on CVD-grown graphene over sapphire-induced Cu films

We differentiated the effects of Cu films deposited on single crystalline a-,r-,and c-plane sapphire substrates upon graphene films synthesized with atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition(CVD).The data illustrate that the realization of high-crystalline Cu film is dependent not only on the crystallinity of underlying substrate,but also on the symmetric match of crystallographic geometry between metal film and substrate.We also systematically investigated the effects of PMMA removal on the Raman ID/IG and IG/I2D values of transferred graphene.The results reveal that different PMMA removal methods do not alter the ID/IG values;instead,the residue of PMMA increases the IG/I2D values and the thermal decomposition of PMMA leads to higher IG/I2D values than the removal of PMMA with acetone.The effects of PMMA removal on variations of the Raman spectra are also discussed.     

Surface energy properties of lignin particles studied by inverse gas chromatography and interfacial adhesion in polyester composites with electromagnetic transparency

We introduce a simple spray drying method for the scaleup production of spherical organic (lignin) particles with sizes between 0.85 and 1.57 µm. We assess the surface energy of the lignin particles by inverse gas chromatography to reveal their role in composites synthesized with unsaturated polyester. Such nanocomposites are shown to be transparent to electromagnetic irradiation (millimeter wave bands). The permittivity and tanδ of the composite material reached values 3.01 and 0.01 at 28 GHz with 10% lignin content. Vinyl groups were introduced on the surface of the particles to achieve enhanced interfacial adhesion, and resulted in a reduced relative permittivity (2.75). Together with wave interactions, the mechanical and thermal properties of the composites are put in perspective, opening new opportunities in the development of bio-based devices for 5G high-speed communication.

     

Low-load rotor-synchronised Hahn-echo pulse train (RS-HEPT) 1H decoupling in solid-state NMR: factors affecting MAS spin-echo dephasing times

Transverse dephasing times T(2)' in spin-echo MAS NMR using rotor-synchronised Hahn-echo pulse-train (RS-HEPT) low-load (1)H decoupling are evaluated. Experiments were performed at 300 and 600 MHz for (13)CH-labelled L-alanine and (15)NH(delta)-labelled L-histidine.HCl.H(2)O, together with SPINEVOLUTION simulations for a ten-spin system representing the crystal structure environment of the (13)CH carbon in L-alanine. For 30 kHz MAS and nu(1)((1)H) = 100 kHz at 300 MHz, a RS-HEPT T(2)' value of 17 +/- 1 ms was obtained for (13)CH-labelled L-alanine which is approximately 50% of the XiX T(2)' value of 33 +/- 2 ms. Optimum RS-HEPT decoupling performance is observed for a relative phase of alternate RS-HEPT pi-pulses, Deltaphi = phi'- phi, between 40 and 60 degrees . For experiments at 600 MHz and 30 kHz MAS with (13)CH-labelled L-alanine, the best RS-HEPT (nu(1)((1)H) = 100 kHz) T(2)' value was 3 times longer than that observed for low-power continuously applied sequences with nu(1)((1)H) < or =40 kHz, i.e. corresponding to the same average power dissipated in the probe. A marked improvement in RS-HEPT (1)H decoupling is observed for increasing MAS frequency: at 55.6 kHz MAS, a best RS-HEPT T(2)' value of 34 +/- 5 ms was recorded for (13)CH-labelled L-alanine. Much improved RS-HEPT broadband performance was also observed at 55.6 kHz MAS as compared to 30 kHz MAS.     

Thermal decomposition of calcium sulphate in carbon monoxide

Simultaneous TG and DTA studies were performed on analytical grade calcium sulfate and on samples of natural gypsum and phosphogypsum in carbon monoxide atmosphere. The decomposition temperatures and mechanism are influenced by the mineral impurities of the sample and the heating rate as well as the CO content of the gas atmosphere.

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Zusammenfassung Simultane TG- und DTA-Untersuchungen von analytisch reinem Calciumsulfat und Proben von natürlichem Gips und Phosphogips wurden in Kohlenmonoxidatmosphäre ausgeführt. Temperatur und Mechanismus der Zersetzung werden durch mineralische Verunreinigungen der Probe, durch die Aufheizgeschwindigkeit und durch den CO-Gehalt der Gasatmosphäre beeinflußt.

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The authors are indebted to Professor M. Veiderma for fruitful discussions and continuous support. The scholarship from Finnish Government to one of us (R. K.) is gratefully acknowledged.     

Influence of lime-containing additives on the thermal behaviour of ammonium nitrate

Ammonium nitrate (AN) is one of the main nitrogen fertilizers used in fertilization programs. However, AN has some serious disadvantages — being well soluble in water hardly 50% of the N-species contained are assimilated by plants. The second disadvantage of AN is associated with its explosive properties. The aim of this paper was to clarify the influence of different lime-containing substances — mainly Estonian limestone and dolomite — as internal additives on thermal behaviour of AN. Commercial fertilizer grade AN was under investigation. The amount of additives used was 5, 10 or 20 mass%, or calculated on the mole ratio of AN/(CaO, MgO)=2:1 in the blends. Experiments were carried out under dynamic heating condition up to 900°C (10°C min⁻¹) in a stream of dry air or N₂ by using Setaram Labsys 2000 equipment coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The results of analyses of the gaseous compounds evolved at thermal treatment of neat AN indicated some differences in the decomposition of AN in air or in N₂. At the thermal treatment of AN’s blends with CaCO₃, MgCO₃, limestone and dolomite samples the decomposition of AN proceeds through a completely different mechanism — depending on the origin and the content of additives, partially or completely, through the formation of Mg(NO₃)₂ and Ca(NO₃)₂.     

Simultaneous adiabatic spin-locking cross polarization in solid-state NMR of paramagnetic complexes

Continuous-wave irradiations cross polarization and its variations had not been a popular choice for sensitivity enhancement in paramagnetic solids due to the large spectral broadening and the effect of fast relaxation on both the source and target spins. Furthermore, with the application of very-fast sample spinning, which is the prerequisite for high-resolution purposes, polarization transfer over a large bandwidth is further degraded. In this work, we report a wideband sensitivity enhancement in paramagnetic solid with our recently developed technique, simultaneous adiabatic spin-locking cross polarization, SADIS CP. Experiments were demonstrated with Cu(II)(d,l-alanine)₂ · H₂O under high-static field of 14.1 T and very-fast sample spinning of 31 kHz.     

The role of MgO in the binding of SO<Subscript>2 </Subscript>by lime-containing materials

Summary The results of investigation of MgO participation in the binding of SO₂ with lime-containing materials as sorbents are presented. Experiments of SO₂ binding into solid phase using model samples of reactive grade MgO and CaO varying the mole ratio of MgO/CaO from 9:1 to 1:9 were carried out. Besides, dolomite and limestone samples with different MgO/CaO mole ratio (from 1.24 to 0.13) and samples of ashes formed at combustion of Estonian oil shale (containing 35-40% of carbonates) and its semicoke were studied Initial samples, intermediate and final products were subjected to chemical, IR-spectroscopy, X-ray and BET specific surface area analyses. The results of the present study confirmed the active participation of MgO in the binding of SO₂ into the solid phase. In addition to CaSO₄ the formation of Ca,Mg-double sulphate CaMg₃(SO₄)₄ and -MgSO₄ was observed. The presence of CaMg₃(SO₄)₄ was fixed in a large temperature range 400-900°C and that of -MgSO₄ in between 500-700°C. The optimum temperature range for formation and durability of CaMg₃(SO₄)₄ was 700-800°C.     

Comparison of the (17)O NMR spectra of zeolites LTA and LSX

¹⁷O NMR studies of various cation-exchanged LTA and LSX zeolites have shown similarities between the two systems. LSX samples containing divalent cations contain resonances with similar chemical shifts to those previously assigned to ‘bare’ framework oxygen atoms in Ca-LTA and Sr-LTA. The assignments are consistent with the trends seen in the spectra of monovalent cation-containing LSX and LTA zeolites, which show an increase in the average chemical shift with increasing cationic radius. The spectrum of Li-LSX, like Na-LSX, can be assigned based on the T–O–T bond angles. Gas sorption studies on Li-LSX are used to help identify the framework oxygen atoms that form the β-cages and demonstrate the sensitivity of the ¹⁷O shifts to gas loading.     

Emission of Sulphur Dioxide During Thermal Treatment of Fossil Fuels

The dynamics of SO₂ emission during thermooxidation of Estonian oil shale, its semicoke, different samples of coal and their mixtures, as well as the influence of Estonian oil shale ash addition (for modelling the CFBC process) on the dynamics were studied. The experiments were carried out with thermogravimetric equipment under dynamic heating conditions (5 K min^-1) in the atmosphere of dried air, with simultaneous gastitrimetric EGA. It was established that SO₂ emission from the fuels started at 200-320°C. Depending on the form of sulphur (organic, pyritic, sulphate), the emission took place in two or three steps, and continued up to 580-650°C, during which 35-75% of the total sulphur was emitted into the gaseous phase. Regulating the mole ratio of free CaO/S in the mixtures of fuels with oil shale ash addition the emission of SO₂ ceased abruptly at 460-540°C and it was limited to the level of 7-30%. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.