An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic study of the adsorption of N2, NH3, NO,and N2O on dysprosium

The adsorption of N₂, NH₃, NO, and N₂O onto clean polycrystalline dysprosium at 300 and 115 K and the changes undergone by the adsorbed species upon heating from 115 K have been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). At 115 K, N₂ adsorbs dissociatively, vielding two peaks in the N 1s region at 396.2 and 398.2 eV corresponding respectively to a nitride and to chemisorbed nitrogen N(a). No peaks corresponding to molecularly adsorbed N₂ (BE 400.2 eV [10]) were observed. Upon heating the sample the N(a) is converted into the nitride species, as evidenced by a decrease in the 398.2 eV peak and a corresponding increase in the 396.2 eV peak. At a warm-up temperature of 300 K, the N(a) species accounts for only ～10% of the total nitrogen on the surface. Ammonia adsorbed at 115 K shows three distinct peaks, at 401.7, 399.3 and 396.2 eV, corresponding to molecular, partly dissociated, and completely dissociated (nitride) ammonia. Upon heating multilayer ammonia to 175 K, it desorbs to leave predominantly the peak corresponding to the partly dissociated species. Upon further heating the molecular and partly dissociated ammonia is converted into the nitride species. At 400 K only nitride-type nitrogen remains on the surface. The adsorption of NO and N₂O at 115 K is predominantly dissociative. NO has N 1s peaks at 403.1 and 396.3 eV corresponding possibly to molecularly adsorbed NO, and to nitride species. After N₂O adsorption there is very little nitrogen on the surface. Adsorption of N₂ and NO at 300 K yields only the peak at 396.2 eV, whereas NH₃ yields, in addition to this peak, a small intensity (～20%) of the peak at 398.2 eV (partly dissociated ammonia).     

A shock-tube study of NH3 and NH3/H2 oxidation using laser absorption of NH3 and H2O

Ammonia (NH₃) is an attractive carbon-free fuel, yet its low reactivity presents many challenges for direct use in combustion applications. These combustion challenges could be resolved by mixing NH₃ with more reactive fuels such as hydrogen (H₂). To further contribute to NH₃ and NH₃/H₂ kinetics—which arguably still requires much improvement—new experiments were conducted over a wide range of temperatures (1474–2307 K), near-atmospheric pressure, several NH₃/O₂ mixtures (equivalence ratios varying from 0.56 to 2.07), and near-stoichiometric NH₃/H₂/O₂ mixtures with NH₃:H₂ ratios of 80:20 and 50:50. During these experiments, laser absorption diagnostics near 10.4 µm and 7.4 µm were simultaneously employed to measure NH₃ and H₂O time histories, respectively. Characteristic parameters, such as NH₃ half-life time and H₂O induction delay time, were extracted from the time-history profiles, and these parameters present stringent speciation targets for mechanism validation. After an assessment of most modern kinetics models, three, most accurate, mechanisms were compared against the experimental results. Only one model was able to partially reproduce the pure NH₃ experiments, yet none of the models were capable of predicting the NH₃/H₂ experiments. Reaction pathway analysis showed that NH₃ oxidation proceeds via forming NH₂ then followed three different routes to form N₂. Importantly, the models considered showed different levels of importance for each route. Sensitivity analysis showed that the NH₃/H₂ experiment is mostly sensitive to NH₃+OH⇄NH₂+H₂O. Interestingly, this reaction showed no sensitivity for the NH₃/O₂ experiments. Overall, the models exhibited significantly slower reactivity than the NH₃/H₂ experiments, and the kinetics analysis showed that the start of this reactivity is governed by the levels of H-atoms in the early stages of the experiments. At these early stages of the experiments, propagation and branching reactions in the H₂/O₂ system are the main contributors to generating H radicals, along with the reaction NH₃+H⇄NH₂+H₂ which proceeds in its reverse direction.     

Molecular photoelectron spectroscopy at 132.3 eV: N2, CO,C2H4 and O2

The molecular photoelectron spectra of gaseous N₂, CO, C₂H₄ and O₂ were obtained using yttrium Mζ X-rays (132.3 eV). Comparison with spectra taken with MgKα₁₂ X-rays (1253.6 eV) showed the molecular orbitals derived from atomic 2p orbitals to be emphasized in the YMζ spectra. Orbital compositions were confirmed in N₂ and CO, and the presence of several peaks was either better established or detected for the first time (e.g., a ²Π_u state at 23.5 eV in O₂⁺) in C₂H₄ and O₂. The relative cross-section predictions of Rabalais et al. were tested by these spectra. The theoretical values, which were based on ground-state wavefunctions and plane-wave (PW) or OPW continuum states, were found to agree qualitatively with experiment, establishing that this level of theory has diagnostic value. Quantitative agreement is lacking, however. The potential application of 132.3 eV X-rays to the study of photoemission from adsorbed molecules on surfaces is emphasized.     

On the additivity of atomic and molecular dipole properties and dispersion energies using H,N, O,H2, N2, O2, NO,N2O,NH3 and H2O as models

The zeroth-order theory of intermolecular forces is used to derive additivity relations for rotationally averaged molecular dipole properties and dispersion energy constants by assuming that a molecule is comprised of non-interacting atoms or molecules. Some of the additivity rules are new and others, for example the mixture rule for dipole oscillator strength distributions (DOSDs), Bragg's rule for stopping cross sections and Landolt's rule for molecular refractivities, are well known. The additivity rules are tested by using previously constructed DOSDs and reliable values for the dipole oscillator strength sums S_k , L_k and I_k , and dispersion energy constants C ₆, for H, N, O, H₂, N₂, O₂, NO, N₂O, NH₃ and H₂O as models. It is found that additivity is generally unreliable for estimating molecular properties corresponding to k < -2. Generally for k ≥ -2 and for C ₆, and if the hydrogen molecule is used to represent the hydrogen atom in the additivity rules, the additivity relations yield results that are reliable to within ?20 per cent and the estimates improve substantially as k increases. The effects of molecule formation on DOSDs is examined by comparing the various molecular DOSDs with the sum of the DOSDs for the atoms making up the molecules. Molecule formation results in a net decrease in the amount of dipole oscillator strength for low excitation energies and a compensating net increase for higher energies in a region extending from the absorption threshold to about 100 eV. This is shown to imply that estimates of the stopping average energy I ₀, obtained by using bona fide atomic I ₀ values, are lower bounds to the correct molecular I ₀ results.     

Dispersion energy constants C 6(A,B), dipole oscillator strength sums and refractivities for Li,N, O,H2, N2, O2, NH3, H2O,NO and N2O

Accurate values for the orientation-averaged long-range dipole-dipole dispersion energy coefficients, C ₆(A, B), have been determined for all possible pair interactions involving ground state H, Li, N, O, H₂, N₂, O₂, NH₃, H₂O, NO, and N₂O. The calculations have been carried out by employing dipole oscillator strength distributions for these species that have been constructed (except in the case of H) by using discrete oscillator strength, photo-absorption, and high energy inelastic scattering data and by requiring the distributions to reproduce the Thomas-Reiche-Kuhn sum rule and, in the case of the molecules, available accurate refractivity and dispersion measurements for the relevant dilute gases. These oscillator strength distributions were also used to evaluate the refractivity R(λ), as a function of wavelength λ in the visible and ultra-violet region below the ultra-violet absorption thresholds, and the dipole oscillator strength sums S _-2l , l = 1, 2, …, 7, for each atom and molecule. The calculated values of R(λ) provide refractivities for wavelengths, especially in the ultra-violet region, for which accurate experimental data are often not available. The accurate results for C ₆(A, B) and for various dipole oscillator strength sums are used to make self-consistent tests of the adequacy of (1) the C ₆(A, A) bounds provided by Padé approximant methods and (2) various semi-empirical formulae for C ₆(A, B). Some problems that can arise in using other procedures to evaluate the S _-2l and C ₆(A, B) are discussed briefly.     

Re-measurements of partial photoionization cross-sections of CH4, NH3 and H2O at 58.4 nm by He(I) photoelectron spectroscopy

Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) is now a sophisticated and particularly powerful technique for studying the electronic structure of matter; in addition, the photoelectric effect has been of great significance in the history of 20th-century physics. This article seeks to uncover the origins and chart the development of the ARPES field, and focuses on the first half of this century; that is, up to the beginnings of the modern phase in the late 1960's. It is suggested that present workers will find interest in, and indeed profit from a knowledge of, the enormous experimental effort that was made to acquire quality data, the frustrating attempts that were initially made to understand them theoretically, and the contribution of early wave-mechanics, which brought order to a troubled field and thereby provided the necessary foundation for current studies. In addition, it is noted that the physicists involved often obtained inspiration and important insights which led them into studies of other significant problems of 20th-century physics.     

Diode-laser absorption measurements of CO2, H2O, N2O, and NH3 near 2.0 μm

2 , H₂O, N₂O, and NH₃ concentrations in various flowfields using absorption spectroscopy and extractive sampling techniques. An external-cavity diode laser with a tuning range of 1.953–2.057 μm was used to record absorption lineshapes from measured transitions in the CO₂ 4ν₂ ⁰+ν₃, ν₁+2ν₂ ⁰+ν₃, and 2ν₁+ν₃ bands, H₂O ν₂+ν₃and ν₁+ν₂ bands, N₂O 2ν₁+4ν₂ ⁰, ν₂ ¹+2ν₃, 3ν₁+2ν₂ ⁰, and 4ν₁ bands, and NH₃ν₁+ν₄ and ν₃+ν₄ bands. Measured CO₂, H₂O, and N₂O survey spectra were compared to calculations to verify the HITRAN96 database and used to determine optimum transitions for species detection. Individual lineshape measurements were used to determine fundamental spectroscopic parameters including the line strength, line-center frequency, and self-broadening coefficient of the probed transition. The results represent the first measurements of CO₂, H₂O, N₂O, and NH₃ absorption near 2.0 μm using room-temperature near-IR diode lasers. Received: 12 March 1998/Revised version: 7 May 1998     

A quadratic configuration interaction study of N2O and N2O·−

The geometries and vibrational frequencies of both N₂O and N₂O^·– were calculated at the QCISD and QCISD(T) levels of theory using aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets. The electron affinity of N₂O was determined to be ?0.15 eV. This work corroborates an earlier G2 study and suggests that the currently accepted value for the electron affinity, 0.22eV, is in error. This study represents the best calculation to date for the geometry and vibrational frequencies of N₂O^·?     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of disordering in Gd2(Ti1-xZrx)2O7 pyrochlores

The dramatic increases in ionic conductivity in Gd2(Ti1-xZrx)2O7 solid solution are related to disordering on the cation and anion lattices. Disordering in Gd2(Ti1-xZrx)2O7 was characterized using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). As Zr substitutes for Ti in Gd2Ti2O7 to form Gd2(Ti1-xZrx)2O7 (0.25 < x < or =0.75), the corresponding O 1s XPS spectrum merges into a single symmetric peak. This confirms that the cation antisite disorder occurs simultaneously with anion disorder. Furthermore, the O 1s XPS spectrum of Gd2Zr2O7 experimentally suggests the formation of a split vacancy.     

Angular distribution of the photoelectron spectrum of CO2, COS,CS2, N2O,H2O,and H2S

The photoelectron spectra of the triatomic molecules CO₂, COS, CS₂, N₂O, H₂O, and H₂S have been measured as a function of the angle θ between the direction of the incoming photon and outgoing photoelectron. The photoelectron spectra have been measured with a double-focusing electrostatic electron spectrometer to which has been attached a chamber containing a gas discharge lamp that can be freely rotated. (The photon source used was the 21.22 eV He I resonance line). From the dependence of intensity as a function of θ the angular parameter β was determined for each ionization band observed in the photoelectron spectra. A correlation was noted between the values of β and the molecular orbitals relative to the contributions of oxygen and sulfur atomic orbitals. Individual β values were also obtained for most of the vibrational bands seen in the photoelectron spectra. In most cases the vibrational structure showed little or no change in the angular parameter for a given electronic state. In certain cases, however, such as the fourth ionization band in CS₂, CO₂, and COS, rather sizeable changes in β were observed for the different vibrational bands.     

Adsorption and diffusion behaviors of H2, H2S,NH3, CO and H2O gases molecules on MoO3 monolayer: A DFT study

Molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) with α-phase is a promising material for gas sensing because of its high sensitivity, fast response and thermodynamic stability. To probe the mechanism of superior gas detection ability of MoO₃ monolayer, the adsorption and diffusion of H₂, H₂S, NH₃, CO and H₂O molecules on two-dimensional (2D) MoO₃ layer are studied via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Based on calculated adsorption energies, density of states, charge transfer, diffusion barriers and diffusion coefficient, MoO₃ shows a superior sensitive and fast response to H₂ and H₂S than CO, NH₃, H₂O, which is consistent with experimental conclusions. Moreover, the response of MoO₃ to H₂S and H₂ will be obviously enhanced at high gas concentration, and the incorporation of H₂ and H₂S results in an obvious increasing in DOS near Fermi level. Our analysis provides a conceptual foundation for future design of MoO₃-based gas sensing materials.     

Satellite structure in the photoelectron spectra of the core electrons of NO,N2O and H2O

Satellite structures have been observed in the photoelectron spectra of the core shells of nitric oxide, nitrous oxide and water. An attempt has been made to characterize the satellite structure in terms of monopole transitions resulting from electron shake-up. For this purpose comparisons of the observed excitation energies were made with optical data for both (1) the neutral molecules and (2) the analogous equivalent-core molecular ions. Using these energy comparisons and population densities for various molecular orbitals some assignments are made of the orbitals involved in electron shake-up as a function of the core vacancy.     

The adsorption of CO,O2, and H2 on Pt: II. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy studies

Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) has been used to study the chemisorption of CO, O₂, and H₂ on platinum. Three single crystal surfaces ((111), 6(111) × (100), and 6(111) × (111)) and two polycrystalline surfaces were studied. These studies yielded three important results. First, the most dominant change in the Pt valence band upon gas adsorption was a decrease in the height of the peak immediately below the Fermi level. This decrease was nearly identical for all three gases studied. Second, CO adsorption resulted in the formation of a resonance state ～8 eV below the Fermi level which was attributed to CO molecular orbitals. In contrast, no dominant resonance states were observed for adsorbed O or H. The lack of an O resonance state on platinum is in contrast to the results observed for O adsorbed on Fe and Ni and suggests important differences between the OPt chemisorption bond and the OFe and ONi chemisorption bonds. Finally, adsorption of CO at steps or defects led to a decrease in work function while its adsorption on terraces led to an increase in work function. For H, adsorption at steps led to an increase in work function while adsorption on terraces led to a decrease in work function. The adsorption of O led to an increase in work function on all of the surfaces studied.     

A high efficiency NH3/H2O absorption power cycle

A work producing cycle has been developed showing a thermodynamic efficiency considerably higher than that of the Rankine cycle. The new cycle employs a mixture of H₂O and NH₃ as the working fluid and uses an absorption process similar to that of absorption refrigerators. Its advantage over existing power cycles working with the same mixture (i.e. the Kalina cycle) is simplicity as far as devices, construction, operation and maintenance are concerned. For the detailed calculation of the proposed cycle a method has been developed, which employs analytical functions describing the thermodynamic properties of the NH₃/H₂O mixture. The proposed cycle has been compared with Rankine cycles working at the same temperature levels. For fixed upper (i.e. superheating) and lower (i.e. condensation) temperatures, the new cycle shows an efficiency 20% higher than that of the Rankine cycle if the boiling temperature is high, while for low boiling temperatures the superiority of the proposed cycle is much more pronounced. A parametric study has also been conducted for the new cycle, wwhich showed, inter alia, that the optimum difference between the mass fractions of the rich and weak solution is about 0.1 kg NH₃/kg mixture.     

SIMS,EID and flash-filament investigation of O2, H2, (O2 + H2) and H2O interaction with vanadium

Comparative investigations of secondary ion emission, electron induced ion emission and flash filament signals from polycrystalline vanadium surfaces exposed to well-defined O₂, H₂, H₂O and (O₂ + H₂) doses (<500 L) have been carried out. The vanadium target could be heated and bombarded by either electrons (300 eV) or ions (3 keV) under ultra high vacuum conditions (<10^?10 Torr). The investigations were carried out with a computer controlled ultra high vacuum mass spectrometer. The experimental results establish exact reproducible spectra of well defined surface layers. They give detailed insight into the reactions between H₂, O₂ H₂O and vanadium, and some interactions between these species. They further indicate the importance of bulk and surface diffusion as well as the influence of the probing ion and electron bombardment. A clear distinction between bulk oxygen, surface oxides, and adsorbed oxygen for the vanadium-oxygen interaction at room temperature could be established. For the interaction of hydrogen with clean and oxygen covered vanadium surfaces the formation of adsorbed hydrogen, bulk solution of hydrogen, and the formation of OH groups and H₂O could be demonstrated. A detection limit below 10^?5 of one single monolayer for metal bonded hydrogen could be established.     

Submillimeter spectrum of NH3−H2O dimer in its equilibrium gas phase

The first observation of the microwave spectrum of the NH₃–H₂O molecular complex in its equilibrium gas phase is reported. Earlier, the spectrum of NH₃–H₂O was observed only in nonequilibrium cold supersonic molecular beams. As in the previous paper [1] dealing with the observation of the equilibrium spectrum of HF-HF dimer, we use a submillimeter spectrometer with a BWT and acoustic detector and a cooled absoprtion cell. The submillimeter line frequencies continuing the series known from the beam investigations have been measured. New series, which obviously correspond to the higher states of the dimer, have been detected. The primary results of the analysis of the dimer spectrum together with the earlier data are presented.Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; Molecular Physics Department, National Institute for Standards and Technologies, USA. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 38, No. 7, pp. 738–742, July, 1995.     

Ion-exchange between Na2Ti3O7 and H2Ti3O7 nanosheets at different pH levels: An experimental and first-principles study

The models of Na_2−xH_xTi₃O₇ (x=0, 1, and 2) nanosheets were proposed to investigate the formation energies of ion-exchange using first-principles calculations. The calculated results demonstrated that sodium titanate nanosheet is energetically favorable for ion-exchange in a wide pH range, from acidic solution to even highly concentrated alkaline aqueous solution due to the negative formation energies. Therefore, the composition of sodium titanate nanosheet in alkaline solution should be Na_2−xH_xTi₃O₇ (0<x≤2) rather than Na₂Ti₃O₇. The formation energies of ion-exchange decrease with the pH decreasing. As a result, the thermodynamic driving force of ion-exchange is enhanced at low pH level. To further verify the calculated results, the ion-exchange properties of a series of titanate nanosheets in aqueous solutions at different pH levels were investigated. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical deduction.     

Formation mechanism of H2Ti3O7 nanotubes

Formation mechanism of H2Ti3O7 nanotubes by single-step reaction of crystalline TiO2 and NaOH has been investigated via transmission electron microscopy examinations of series specimens with different reaction times and extensive ab initio calculations. It was found that the growth mechanism includes several steps. Crystalline TiO2 reacts with NaOH, forming a highly disordered phase, which recrystallized into some H2Ti3O7 thin plates. H-deficiency on the top surface leads to an asymmetrical environment for the surface Ti3O2-7 layer. The calculations of the surface tension, elastic strain energy, interlayer coupling energy, and Coulomb force indicated that the asymmetrical environment is the principal driving force of the cleavage of the single sheets of H2Ti3O7 from the plates and the formation of the multiwall spiral nanotubes.     

Metal-insulator transitions in Cr-doped V2O3 by x-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy

X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy have been employed to investigate the high temperature metal-insulator transitions in V₂O₃ and (V_0.99Cr_0.01)₂O₃. The high temperature transitions are associated with more gradual changes in the 3d bands compared to the low-temperature transitions. Communication No. 20 from Solid State & Structural Chemistry Unit.