The role of bound states in positronium annihilation

The temperature dependence of the rates of positronium reaction with diamagnetic organic molecules in liquids, and the observed complicated conversive-chemical interaction of positronium with many paramagnetic molecules in the liquid and gas phases lead to the formulation of some general concepts about positronium interaction with quenchers. The positronium and acceptor (Ps-M) complexing is a very essential step of the interaction mechanism. In the case of unstable complexes the contribution of annihilation from the bound state can change depending on the physical conditions of the reaction (pressure in the gas phase, transition from the gas to the liquid phase, heating or replacement of the liquid solvent). The dependence on temperature and on the solvent nature is accounted for by formation of a “bubble” around the positronium in many liquids. At the moment of complexing the “bubble” shrinks with a swiftness depending upon properties of the liquid (surface tension and viscosity). With unstable complexes this leads to complex decomposition and, correspondingly, either to elimination of interaction with the diamagnetic acceptor or, in the case of paramagnetic acceptors, to conversion on the latter, rather than to annihilation from the bound state. With stable complexes further positronium annihilation will occur only from the bound state.     

Solvation and Rotational Diffusion of Solutes in Room Temperature Ionic Liquids as Studied by EPR Spectroscopy with Nitroxide Spin Probing Method

In this article, we briefly introduced our studies on solvation and rotational diffusion of solutes in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) by electron paramagnetic resonance with nitroxide spin probing method. Most of the rotational correlation times for the nitroxide radicals are within the range calculated on the basis of Stokes–Einstein–Debye hydrodynamic theory with stick and slip boundary conditions or Gierer–Wirtz theory except for smaller solutes in some RTILs with smaller BF₄ and PF₆ anions. In RTILs with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium as cation and BF₄ or PF₆ as anion, nitroxide radicals undergo rotational diffusion like supercooled liquids and nitroxide radical with smaller volume rotationally slips.     

Antiferromagnetic ordering in magnetic ionic liquid Emim[FeCl4]

The magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) are considered to open up a wide range of applications because of their magnetic and electrochromic switching. Until recently almost all magnetic ionic liquids containing tetrachloroferrate ion FeCl₄⁻ evidenced a paramagnetic temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, with only small deviations from the Curie law at low temperatures. However, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate, Emim[FeCl₄], clearly exhibits a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering below the Neel temperature T_N≈3.8 K. In addition, the shape of the magnetic ordering depends on the cooling speed, indicating that the magnetic coupling could be modified.     

Surface dynamics of liquids in porous media.

We report remarkable differences in the 1H nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion data (NMRD) between water and other common aprotic solvents such as acetone when in contact with high surface area calibrated microporous chromatographic silica glasses that contain trace paramagnetic impurities located at or close to the pore surface. All these differences have been related to the particular chemical behaviors and dynamics of these liquids at the pore surface. We apply this technique to probe the structure and dynamics of water and oil at the surface of calibrated macroporous systems, where similar surface dynamics effects have been observed. This technique is also applied to follow the first hydration stage of a white cement-paste. Last, we present an analysis of the magnetic field dependence of 1H nuclear relaxation data to exhibit the microporosity of ultra high performance concretes.     

Physicochemical characterization of paramagnetic ionic liquids 1‐vinyl‐3‐alkylimidazolium tetrahalogenidoferrate(III) [VRIM][FeClmBr4 − m]

Using microwave‐assisted synthesis method, a series of paramagnetic ionic liquids comprising 1‐vinyl‐3‐alkylimidazolium VRIM⁺ cation and tetrahalogenidoferrate (III) FeCl_mBr_{4 ? m}^? anion were designed and synthesized. The structure was analyzed using ¹H NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra, thermal stability, magnetic susceptibility, viscosity, ionic conductivity, and solubility were characterized. Results show that elongation of the alkyl chain leads to replacement of bromides with a small amount of chlorides in the anion, shifting of UV maximum absorption peaks to shorter wavelengths, reduction of ionic conductivity, and solubility in polar solvents, as well as increase in fluidity, magnetic susceptibility, and solubility in nonpolar solvents. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bestimmung der Hochfeldgrenze der dynamischen Kernpolarisation aus der Dispersion der Kernrelaxation

The dynamic nuclear polarisation arising from dipolar interactions between unpaired electrons and protons in liquids decreases with increasing magnetic fieldH ₀. Since the polarisation involves the same electron-proton flip-flop processes which are responsible for nuclear magnetic relaxation, we were able to determine the maximum possible enhancement factorV _max of the protons in paramagnetic solutions as a function of the applied magnetic field from the dispersion of nuclear magnetic relaxation. The measurements of the frequency dependence of nuclear magnetic relaxation in the field range of 33 to 38000 Gauss show thatV _max drops to one half of its low field value in fields of 2000 to 6000 Gauss depending on the solvent and on the temperature. An appreciable enhancement of the order of 50 or more seems to be possible in magnetic fields up to 30 or 40 kG.     

Water diffusion-exchange effect on the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement in off-resonance rotating frame

The off-resonance rotating frame technique based on the spin relaxation properties of off-resonance T1rho can significantly increase the sensitivity of detecting paramagnetic labeling at high magnetic fields by MRI. However, the in vivo detectable dimension for labeled cell clusters/tissues in T1rho-weighted images is limited by the water diffusion-exchange between mesoscopic scale compartments. An experimental investigation of the effect of water diffusion-exchange between compartments on the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement of paramagnetic agent compartment is presented for in vitro/in vivo models. In these models, the size of paramagnetic agent compartment is comparable to the mean diffusion displacement of water molecules during the long RF pulses that are used to generate the off-resonance rotating frame. The three main objectives of this study were: (1) to qualitatively correlate the effect of water diffusion-exchange with the RF parameters of the long pulse and the rates of water diffusion, (2) to explore the effect of water diffusion-exchange on the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement in vitro, and (3) to demonstrate the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement in vivo. The in vitro models include the water permeable dialysis tubes or water permeable hollow fibers embedded in cross-linked proteins gels. The MWCO of the dialysis tubes was chosen from 0.1 to 15 kDa to control the water diffusion rate. Thin hollow fibers were chosen to provide sub-millimeter scale compartments for the paramagnetic agents. The in vivo model utilized the rat cerebral vasculatures as a paramagnetic agent compartment, and intravascular agents (Gd-DTPA)30-BSA were administrated into the compartment via bolus injections. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement is predominant in the T1rho-weighted image in the presence of water diffusion-exchange. The T1rho contrast has substantially higher sensitivity than the conventional T1 contrast in detecting paramagnetic agents, especially at low paramagnetic agent volumetric fractions, low paramagnetic agent concentrations, and low RF amplitudes. Short pulse duration, short pulse recycle delay and efficient paramagnetic relaxation can reduce the influence of water diffusion-exchange on the paramagnetic enhancement. This study paves the way for the design of off-resonance rotating experiments to detect labeled cell clusters/tissue compartments in vivo at a sub-millimeter scale.     

蛋白质顺磁标记技术与生物核磁共振中的赝接触位移

未配对电子与蛋白质分子自旋核的作用能提供丰富的长程结构信息,这些顺磁信息通常可用顺磁弛豫增强、赝接触位移和残余偶极耦合描述,其中赝接触位移包含生物大分子内重要的距离和角度信息.稀土离子具有相似的配位化学性质和不同的顺磁物理特性,而大多稀土离子具有磁各向异性,在与大分子作用过程中会产生赝接触位移.由于大多数蛋白质没有顺磁中心,获得这些顺磁信息需要通过定点选择标记蛋白质来实现.该文旨在对近年来蛋白质顺磁标记的方法和进展进行介绍,在顺磁标记基础上阐述赝接触位移在结构生物学中的应用.     

Surface nuclear magnetic relaxation and dynamics of water and oil in granular packings and rocks

Low field proton nuclear spin-relaxation at variable magnetic field strength and temperature provides surface dynamical parameters such as surface diffusion coefficients, activation energies, time of residence and coefficient of surface affinity. These parameters were extracted from measurements on grain packs and natural oil-bearing rocks. On grain packs, we show first that changing the amount of surface paramagnetic impurities leads to striking different relationships between the pore-size and the relaxation times T1 and T2. These relationships are well supported by fast-diffusion (surface-limited) or slow-diffusion relaxation models. Surface relaxivity parameters rho1 and rho2 are deduced from the pore size dependence in the fast-diffusion regime. Then, we evidence the frequency and temperature dependence of the surface relaxivity rho1 by field cycling NMR relaxation and relevant theoretical models. The typical frequency dependence found allows an experimental separation of the surface and bulk microdynamics in granular packings and petroleum rocks and the determination of the above mentioned surface dynamical parameters. Finally, we present the first field cycling nuclear spin relaxation experiments performed in water/oil saturated petroleum rocks. We believe that these experiments give new information about the surface localization of these two saturating liquids in pores.     

Features of Spin Exchange in Short-Chain Nitroxide Biradicals in Ionic Liquids

The intramolecular electron spin exchange has been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in the room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (bmimPF₆) and 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (omimBF₄) for three nitroxide biradicals with analogous structures of the connecting bridge between two >N–O· centers as a function of temperature. Temperature variations of the isotropic nitrogen hyperfine splitting constant a, and exchange integral values |J/a| were determined from EPR spectra and analyzed. Thermodynamic parameters of the conformational rearrangements were obtained. The spin exchange in rather rigid short-chain biradicals dissolved in omimBF₄ and bmimPF₆ was compared with that in toluene solutions. Interesting features of the spin exchange in biradicals in RTIL were observed and explained as a result of the specific intramolecular conformational transitions. Examples when rather rigid biradical molecules become flexible under an influence of RTIL are reported.     

The magnetotransport properties of the intermetallic compound GdCu6

We have studied the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the electrical resistivity of GdCu(6) and have co-related the results with the temperature dependence of heat capacity and magnetization. The magnetoresistance of GdCu(6) is found to be positive both in the paramagnetic and antiferromagnetic regimes. Within the antiferromagnetic regime, the magnetoresistance is very high and increases to still higher values both with increasing field and decreasing temperature. In the paramagnetic regime the magnetoresistance continues to exhibit a finite positive value up to temperatures much higher than that corresponding to the antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition. We have shown through quantitative analysis that both the temperature dependences of resistivity and heat capacity indicate the presence of spin fluctuations within the paramagnetic regime of GdCu(6). The field dependence of electrical resistivity indicates that the positive magnetoresistance in the paramagnetic phase is not related to the orbital motion of the conduction electrons in a magnetic field (the Kohler rule). In contrast, our analysis indicates that these spin fluctuations are responsible for the positive magnetoresistance observed within this paramagnetic regime. The nature of the field dependence of electrical resistivity is found to be qualitatively similar both in the antiferromagnetic and paramagnetic regimes, which probably indicates that spin fluctuations in the paramagnetic regime are of the antiferromagnetic type.     

Dynamics of paramagnetic agents by off-resonance rotating frame technique in the presence of magnetization transfer effect

The simple method for measuring the rotational correlation time of paramagnetic ion chelates via off-resonance rotating frame technique is challenged in vivo by the magnetization transfer effect. A theoretical model for the spin relaxation of water protons in the presence of paramagnetic ion chelates and magnetization transfer effect is described. This model considers the competitive relaxations of water protons by the paramagnetic relaxation pathway and the magnetization transfer pathway. The influence of magnetization transfer on the total residual z-magnetization has been quantitatively evaluated in the context of the magnetization map and various difference magnetization profiles for the macromolecule conjugated Gd-DTPA in cross-linked protein gels. The numerical simulations and experimental validations confirm that the rotational correlation time for the paramagnetic ion chelates can be measured even in the presence of strong magnetization transfer. This spin relaxation model also provides novel approaches to enhance the detection sensitivity for paramagnetic labeling by suppressing the spin relaxations caused by the magnetization transfer. The inclusion of the magnetization transfer effect allows us to use the magnetization map as a simulation tool to design efficient paramagnetic labeling targeting at specific tissues, to design experiments running at low RF power depositions, and to optimize the sensitivity for detecting paramagnetic labeling. Thus, the presented method will be a very useful tool for the in vivo applications such as molecular imaging via paramagnetic labeling.     

Modulation of the distance dependence of paramagnetic relaxation enhancements by CSA x DSA cross-correlation

Paramagnetic metal ions with fast-relaxing electronic spin and anisotropic susceptibility tensor provide a rich source of structural information that can be derived from pseudo-contact shifts, residual dipolar couplings, dipole-dipole Curie spin cross-correlation, and paramagnetic relaxation enhancements. The present study draws attention to a cross-correlation effect between nuclear relaxation due to anisotropic chemical shielding (CSA) and due to the anisotropic dipolar shielding (DSA) caused by the electronic Curie spin. This CSA x DSA cross-correlation contribution seems to have been overlooked in previous interpretations of paramagnetic relaxation enhancements. It is shown to be sufficiently large to compromise the 1/r6 distance dependence usually assumed. The effect cannot experimentally be separated from auto-correlated DSA relaxation. It can increase or decrease the observed paramagnetic relaxation enhancement. Under certain conditions, the effect can dominate the entire paramagnetic relaxation, resulting in nuclear resonances narrower than in the absence of the paramagnetic center. CSAxDSA cross-correlation becomes important when paramagnetic relaxation is predominantly due to the Curie rather than the Solomon mechanism. Therefore the effect is most pronounced for relaxation by metal ions with large magnetic susceptibility and fast-relaxing electron spin. It most strongly affects paramagnetic enhancements of transverse relaxation in macromolecules and of longitudinal relaxation in small molecules.     

Modulation of the distance dependence of paramagnetic relaxation enhancements by CSA × DSA cross-correlation

Paramagnetic metal ions with fast-relaxing electronic spin and anisotropic susceptibility tensor provide a rich source of structural information that can be derived from pseudo-contact shifts, residual dipolar couplings, dipole-dipole Curie spin cross-correlation, and paramagnetic relaxation enhancements. The present study draws attention to a cross-correlation effect between nuclear relaxation due to anisotropic chemical shielding (CSA) and due to the anisotropic dipolar shielding (DSA) caused by the electronic Curie spin. This CSA x DSA cross-correlation contribution seems to have been overlooked in previous interpretations of paramagnetic relaxation enhancements. It is shown to be sufficiently large to compromise the 1/r6 distance dependence usually assumed. The effect cannot experimentally be separated from auto-correlated DSA relaxation. It can increase or decrease the observed paramagnetic relaxation enhancement. Under certain conditions, the effect can dominate the entire paramagnetic relaxation, resulting in nuclear resonances narrower than in the absence of the paramagnetic center. CSAxDSA cross-correlation becomes important when paramagnetic relaxation is predominantly due to the Curie rather than the Solomon mechanism. Therefore the effect is most pronounced for relaxation by metal ions with large magnetic susceptibility and fast-relaxing electron spin. It most strongly affects paramagnetic enhancements of transverse relaxation in macromolecules and of longitudinal relaxation in small molecules.     

Fluorescent Probe Studies of Polarity and Solvation within Room Temperature Ionic Liquids: A Review

Ionic liquids display an array of useful and sometimes unconventional, solvent features and have attracted considerable interest in the field of green chemistry for the potential they hold to significantly reduce environmental emissions. Some of these points have a bearing on the chemical reactivity of these systems and have also generated interest in the physical and theoretical aspects of solvation in ionic liquids. This review presents an introduction to the field of ionic liquids, followed by discussion of investigations into the solvation properties of neat ionic liquids or mixed systems including ionic liquids as a major or minor component. The ionic liquid based multicomponent systems discussed are composed of other solvents, other ionic liquids, carbon dioxide, surfactants or surfactant solutions. Although we clearly focus on fluorescence spectroscopy as a tool to illuminate ionic liquid systems, the issues discussed herein are of general relevance to discussions of polarity and solvent effects in ionic liquids. Transient solvation measurements carried out by means of time-resolved fluorescence measurements are particularly powerful for their ability to parameterize the kinetics of the solvation process in ionic liquids and are discussed as well.     

Exploring Spectroscopic and Physicochemical Properties of New Fluorescent Ionic Liquids

In the current study, spectroscopic and physicochemical properties of newly prepared ionic liquids were investigated. Ionic liquids were synthesized via a simple and straightforward route using a metathesis reaction of either N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine monohydrochloride or N-phenacylpyridinium bromide with bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium in water. High yield and purity were obtained for the resultant ionic liquids. Data acquired by use of ¹H NMR and FT-IR measurements were consistent with the chemical structures of newly prepared ionic liquids. Results of thermal gravimetric analysis also implied that these ionic liquids have good thermal stability. In addition, UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy measurements provided that new ionic liquids are good absorbent and fluorescent. Time-based fluorescence steady-state measurements showed that ionic liquids have high photostability against photobleaching. For a deeper mechanistic understanding of the analytical potential of newly synthesized ionic liquids, spectroscopic and physicochemical parameters, including singlet absorption, extinction coefficient, fluorescence quantum yield, Stokes shift, oscillator strength and dipole moment, were also investigated.     

Influence of the regime of plastic deformation on the magnetic properties of single-crystal silicon Cz-Si

A variation has been revealed in electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of single-crystal silicon Cz-Si plates plastically deformed by bending and torsion. The plastic deformation of the silicon plates is accompanied by the introduction of dislocations (∼10⁷ cm⁻²) and leads to the appearance of new lines in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the sample. The paramagnetic centers introduced during bending and torsion, as well as their electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, differ from those previously studied under conditions of uniaxial deformation. The plastic deformation results in a significant increase in the diamagnetic component of the magnetic susceptibility, which exceeds the increase in the paramagnetic component for the magnetic susceptibility of the Cz-Si crystals.     

金属液体结构与性能研究的新进展

金属液体的结构演化与其性能的关联一直都是凝聚态物理和材料科学领域的研究热点。文章介绍了金属液体结构的研究方法,以及液—液相变、物性参数和易碎性指数与其结构之间的内在关联性等基础科学问题的最新研究进展。随着金属液体结构和性能研究的不断深入,特别是大量先进实验方法的引入,加深了人们对金属液体的认识,同时促进了新材料的开发和性能改善等。     

EPR study of ordered Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>-based aerogel

Samples of oriented aerogel based on aluminum oxide are studied by the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique under steady-state and pulse conditions. At least two types of paramagnetic centers interacting with Al nuclei on the surface of aerogel are revealed. Their spectra are characterized by the presence or absence of superhyperfine structure in the EPR spectra, respectively. The X-ray irradiation at room temperature gives rise to the formation of additional long-lived paramagnetic centers of the second kind. Their characteristic decay times for the “fast” and “slow” processes are determined. The interaction of induced paramagnetic centers with protons located on the surface of aerogel is revealed.