Mössbauer effect studies of electrochemically hydrogenated austenitic steels

Electrochemically hydrogenated ASTM 310 and ASTM 316 austenitic steels were investigated by means of⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. Starting with non-hydrogenated materials, freshly hydrogenated ones and one-day room temperature aged hydrogenated samples were studied. The resultant spectra were analysed with a modified Hesse-Rübartsch method [1] adopted to the case of isomer shift distribution.     

Polylactic acid (PLA)/Silver-NP/VitaminE bionanocomposite electrospun nanofibers with antibacterial and antioxidant activity

The antibacterial property of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and the antioxidant activity of Vitamin E have been combined by incorporation of these two active components within polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibers via electrospinning (PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers). The morphological and structural characterizations of PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The average fiber diameter was 140 ± 60 nm, and the size of the Ag-NP was 2.7 ± 1.5 nm. PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers inhibited growth of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhymurium up to 100 %. The amount of released Ag ions from the nanofibers immersed in aqueous solution was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, and it has been observed that the release of Ag ions was kept approximately constant after 10 days of immersion. The antioxidant activity of PLA/Ag-NP/VitaminE nanofibers was evaluated according to DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method and determined as 94 %. The results of the tests on fresh apple and apple juice indicated that the PLA/Ag/VitaminE nanofiber membrane actively reduced the polyphenol oxidase activity. The multifunctional electrospun PLA nanofibers incorporating Ag-NP and Vitamin E may be quite applicable in food packaging due to the extremely large surface area of nanofibers along with antibacterial and antioxidant activities. These materials could find application in food industry as a potential preservative packaging for fruits and juices.     

Does the excitation of a plasmon resonance induce a strong chemical enhancement in SERS? On the relation between chemical interface damping and chemical enhancement in SERS

In this contribution, a fundamental new approach is made to explain high enhancement factors in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on the basis of chemical enhancement. Usually, high SERS enhancement factors are explained by electromagnetic enhancements due to the excitation of localized surface plasmon resonances and strong near field dipole–dipole coupling. However, very often the corresponding SERS spectra show clear signatures of a chemical enhancement. I propose that this contradiction is easily solved by taking chemical interface damping of the plasmon resonance into account. Chemical interface damping is caused by an electron transfer from the metallic structure into an adsorbate. However, this mechanism is also the basis for chemical enhancement in SERS, i.e., an electron transfers in the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the molecule and back to the metal. Hence, if a molecule causes a strong chemical interface damping, the excitation of plasmons is still the key factor for the SERS enhancement. But the reason for this enhancement might be not solely due to electromagnetic fields rather than by a chemical enhancement due to electron transfers from the metal to the molecules.     

Laser generated Ag and Ag–Au composite nanoparticles for refractive index sensor

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelength of metal nanoparticles (NPs) is highly sensitive to size, shape and the surrounding medium. Metal targets were laser ablated in liquid for preparation of spherical Ag and Ag@Au core–shell NP colloidal solution for refractive index sensing. The LSPR peak wavelength and broadening of the NPs were monitored in different refractive index liquid. Quasi-static Mie theory simulation results show that refractive index sensitivity of Ag, Ag–Au alloy and Ag@Au core–shell NPs increases nearly linearly with size and shell thickness. However, the increased broadening of the LSPR peak with size, alloy concentration and Au shell thickness restricts the sensing resolution of these NPs. Figure-of-merit (FOM) was calculated to optimize the size of Ag NPs, concentration of Ag–Au alloy NPs and Au shell thickness of Ag@Au core–shell NPs. The refractive index sensitivity (RIS) and FOM were optimum in the size range 20–40 nm for Ag NPs. Laser generated Ag@Au NPs of Au shell thickness in the range of 1–2 nm showed optimum FOM, where thin layer of Au coating can improve the stability of Ag NPs.     

The phase behavior of gamma and laser irradiated polytetrafluorine

By using thermomechanical spectroscopy, an amorphous and three crystalline (high melting, intermediate, and low melting forms) blocks of the topological structures of polytetrafluoroetylene (PTFE) were characterized and their behavior under γ-radiation up to 2420 kGy was explored. The influence of γ-radiation on the powder and sheet of PTFE is essentially the same leading to formation of amorphous character. The glass transition and melting point temperatures of PTFE continuously decreased with increasing dose of irradiation. On exposure to continuous CO₂ laser radiation, PTFE degrades at a high rate and its clusters have a fibrous form. Initial γ-irradiation of PTFE enhances the laser ablation process.     

Enhanced effect of side-Ohmic contact processing on the 2DEG electron density and electron mobility of In0.17Al0.83N/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors

From the capacitance–voltage curves and current–voltage characteristics of the In_0.17Al_0.83N/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) with side-Ohmic contacts and normal-Ohmic contacts, two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) electron mobility was calculated. It is found that the polarization Coulomb field scattering (PCF) is closely related to the normal-Ohmic contact processing, and the PCF was weakened by side-Ohmic contact processing in In_0.17Al_0.83N/AlN/GaN HFETs, similar to that in AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFET devices. Further, due to the stronger spontaneous polarization in the thinner In_0.17Al_0.83N barrier layer, the influence of the gate bias on the PCF in In_0.17Al_0.83N/AlN/GaN HFETs is greater than that in AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs. As a result, the PCF in In_0.17Al_0.83N/AlN/GaN HFETs with side-Ohmic contacts is stronger than that in AlGaN/AlN/GaN HFETs with side-Ohmic contacts. Moreover, the 2DEG electron density in the In_0.17Al_0.83N/AlN/GaN HFETs with side-Ohmic contacts is increased by more than twice compared with the 2DEG electron density in the In_0.17Al_0.83N/AlN/GaN HFETs with normal-Ohmic contacts.     

Stimulation of neurite growth under broadband pulsed THz radiation

The effect of low-intensity broadband pulsed THz radiation in the range from 0.05 to 1.2 THz, with power from 0.25 to 11.6 µW, on the growth of neurites of spinal ganglia of (10–12)-day chick embryos has been investigated. An analysis of the 3-min irradiation with powers in this range has demonstrated both stimulating and suppressive effects of THz radiation on the proliferative activity of neurites. This effect manifests itself with a decrease in the THz radiation power.     

Label Free Fluorometric Characterization of DNA Interaction with Cholate Capped Gold Nanoparticles Using Ethidium Bromide as a Fluorescent Probe

We demonstrated label free ethidium bromide assisted characterization of DNA interaction with cholate capped AuNPs. Interactions between ss/ds DNA and AuNPs with two different lengths (0.5 and 0.85 kb) were analyzed through fluorescence spectrophotometer and agrose gel electrophoresis analysis. Further results were confirmed by UV–globally visible spectrophotometer, DLS and TEM. As 0.5 and 0.85 kb of ssDNA effectively interacted with AuNPs through the van der Waals interaction which consequently led to the prevention of salt induced aggregation, EtBr intercalations as well as fluorescence shift with less binding constant 0.098 and 0.108 μM, respectively. On the contrary, the same length of dsDNA (0.5 and 0.85 kb) not interacted with AuNPs which led to the NPs aggregation, EtBr intercalation as well as fluorescence shift with increased binding constant 0.166 and 0.599 μM, respectively. This approach helped to understand the mode of interactions of DNA with cholate capped AuNPs without any modifications in a simple method and the results could be readout through the naked eye under the UV transilluminator. Figure

Fluorometric characterization of interaction of different lengths of ss/dsDNA with cholate capped AuNPs using EtBr as fluorescence probe     

CEMS characterization of Kr++ irradiated Fe-Pd bilayers

Ion beam mixing in Fe-Pd bilayers evaporated onto SiO₂ substrates has been studied using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy. To achieve some depth selectivity in the Mössbauer measurements, a 5 nm thick⁵⁷Fe layer was evaporated at either the Pd-Fe interface or the Fe-substrate interface. A disordered FePd₃ phase is formed predominantly in the mixed region. The underlying unmixed Fe layer does not undergo any structural phase transformation.     

Development of a compact hardware/software package for noninvasive diagnostics of skin diseases in the THz frequency range

The key elements of a mobile hardware/software package for noninvasive diagnostics of skin diseases in the THz frequency range have been designed, produced, and approved in model experiments. These elements are a compact THz oscillator based on an all-fiber femtosecond laser system and a unit for recovering electrodynamic characteristics of layered objects from scattered THz radiation spectra. Generation of 250-fs optical pulses at a wavelength of 1.03 µm with energy of 0.3 µJ and a repetition frequency of 1MHz is demonstrated and the efficiency of optical-THz conversion is found to be 5×10^?6. The proposed algorithm is constructed based on an iterative procedure and can be used for dispersive and absorbing media. It has higher operating speed in comparison with the algorithms for solving inverse problems, which are based on functional minimization methods.     

Investigation of oxyhemoglobin in leukaemic patients

Oxyhemoglobin from human normal adults and from leukaemic patients has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy to investigate the possibility to distinguish, through differences in the Fe²⁺ electronic structure, normals and leukaemic patients.     

Looking at hydrogen motions in confinement

Why in a barren and hot desert, clays can contain a significant fraction of water? Why does concrete crack? How can we demonstrate that complexation of a drug does not alter its conformation in a way that affects its functionality? In this paper we present results on various studies using Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering aimed at clarifying these questions. To allow for a better understanding of neutron scattering, a brief introduction to the basics of its theory is presented. Following the theoretical part, experimental results dealing with the effects of confinement on the water dynamics caused by the interfaces in clays and the nano- and micro-pores of concrete are reviewed in detail. At the end, recent Quasi-Elastic Neutron Scattering investigations on the complexation of the local anesthetics Bupivacaine (BVC.HCl, C₁₈H₂₈N₂₀.HCl.H₂O) and Ropivacaine (RVC.HCl, C₁₇H₂₆N₂₀.HCl.H₂O) into the cyclic β-cyclodextrin oligosaccharide are presented. To conclude, the perspectives that the European Spallation Source brings to this subject are discussed.     

Interaction of One Anthraquinone Derivative with ctDNA Analyzed by Spectroscopic and Modeling Methods

The interaction of one anthraquinone derivative (AOMan) with calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) was systematically investigated at physiological pH 7.4 by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular modeling. Binding constants of ctDNA with AOMan were calculated at different temperatures. Thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy and entropy changes were calculated according to Van’t Hoff equation, which indicated that the reaction was spontaneous and predominantly enthalpically driven. The increasing viscosity of ctDNA indicated that AOMan could intercalate into the base pairs of ctDNA. This conclusion was also demonstrated by the results obtained from KI quenching, denatured DNA studies and fluorescence polarization experiment. Furthermore, the molecular modeling results showed that anthraquinone ring tended to slide into the G–C rich region of ctDNA through the hydrogen bond, which are consistent with the results from experimental methods. Studying the binding interaction of target anthraquinones with DNA is one of the key steps in their DNA-changing action and the design of new drugs.     

Direct laser writing of symmetry-broken nanocorrals and their applications in SERS spectroscopy

We propose a simple and fast approach to prepare surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates over a large area with high flexibility by using direct laser writing (DLW) technique. The proposal is demonstrated by the direct fabrication of an array and a complex of symmetry-broken nanocorrals with DLW followed by a metal deposition process. SERS measurements show significant SERS enhancement, which can be controlled through engineering the focused “hot spots” by changing the structural parameters. The experimental observations are further confirmed by our simulations with a finite-difference time-domain tool. The studies can be extended to versatile SERS substrates with arbitrary geometries.     

A novel type of depth-selective Auger electron Mössbauer spectroscopy

The utility of parallel-plate avalanche detectors for depth-selective Auger electron Mössbauer spectroscopy is demonstrated for the 24 keV transition of¹¹⁹Sn. Possible developments and applications of this technique to other Mössbauer isotopes are discussed.     

THz monitoring of the dehydration of biological tissues affected by hyperosmotic agents

Different ways for monitoring the dehydration of tissues affected by hyperosmotic agents have been comparatively analyzed to increase the THz transparency of biological tissues. The data obtained with an original THz laser spectrometer, a Nicolet 6700 Fourier spectrometer, and a Callegari Soft Plus system for skin diagnostics are in good agreement. The corresponding responses of biological tissues (in the form of THz transmittance, reflectance, absorption coefficient, and hydration coefficient) to the effect of biologically compatible hyperosmotic agents have been studied.     

On the morphology of Si/SiO2/Ni nanostructures with swift heavy ion tracks in silicon oxide

Si/SiO₂/Ni nanostructures are fabricated by the irradiation of an oxidized Si surface with swift heavy ions, nanopore etching in the SiO₂ layer, and the electrochemical deposition of nickel in the nanopores with their partial (～50%) or complete filling. Studies of the morphology of the metal in the nanopores shows that the nickel-cluster structure is rather homogeneous and formed by crystallites ～30–50 nm in size. The effects of deposition modes and structure morphology on current transport are analyzed with the use of test temperature dependences of the magnetoresistance. The reproducibility and stability of the magnetoresistance values for the case of homogeneous structure and pore filling with nickel make the Si/SiO₂/Ni system promising for application as the base element for high-sensitivity low-temperature magnetic field sensors.     

Weathering of basalt in an arctic climate

A weathered piece of basaltic rock from Lindsay's Nunatak, Greenland has been studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The reddish weathering products near cracks in the stone contain maghemite, magnetite and goethite. In the thin reddish-brown rind no well-crystallized Fe(III)-oxides could be detected.     

Characterization of hydrophobic,oxidized porous silicon layer formed by anodic etching of n+-type silicon surface in a HF:C2H5OH:HCl:H2O2:H2O electrolyte for bio-application

Porous silicon (PS) has been prepared in the dark by anodic etching of n⁺-type (111) silicon substrate in a HF:HCl:C₂H₅OH:H₂O₂:H₂O electrolyte. The processed PS layer is characterized by means of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), water contact angle (CA) measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and micro-Raman scattering. The CA of fresh PS layer is found to be ~142°. On aging at ambient conditions, the CA decreases gently to reach ~133° after 3 month, and then it is stabilized for a prolonged time of aging. The visible PL emission from the PS layer also exhibits a good stability against aging time. The FTIR and XPS measurements and analysis show that the stable aged PS layer has rather SiO₂-rich surface. The micro/nanostructure nature of the PS layer is revealed from SEM and micro-Raman results and correlated to CA results. Stable hydrophobic surface of oxidized PS layer is attractive for bio-applications. The efficiency of the produced PS layers as an entrapping template for specific immobilization of IgG2a antibody via physical absorption process is demonstrated.     

Auger electron spectroscopy of silicon surfaces

The measurements of the spectra of Auger electrons of the silicon surfaces performed at the pressure of (2–5)×10^?7 Torr are described. In this pressure range rapid oxidation and carbonization of the uppermost layers take place. The changes of characteristic energies in Auger and loss spectra are related to the change of chemical composition of the surface. The combination of the characteristic loss spectroscopy with Auger electron spectroscopy makes possible the determination of the chemical shifts. The measurements of the chemical shifts of the individual energy levels of the silicon atoms in both the pure and contaminated silicon surfaces, in quartz and Fe∶Si alloy are given. Finally, the possibilities and limitations of the heating for the silicon surface cleaning are examined.