Direct decomposition of nitrogen monoxide over a K-deposited Co(0 0 0 1) surface: Comparison to K-doped cobalt oxide catalysts

The influence of deposited potassium on the oxidation and NO reactivity of a Co(0 0 0 1) surface was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The formation of surface CoO was observed when the clean Co(0 0 0 1) surface was exposed to O₂ at 500 K. In contrast, the Co atoms on the K-deposited Co(0 0 0 1) surface remained at a lower oxidation state, CoO_x (0 < x < 1). No adsorption or dissociation of NO occurred on the CoO/Co(0 0 0 1) surface at 320 K, whereas a NO₂⁻ species formed on the oxidized K/Co(0 0 0 1) surface. This species is considered to be an intermediate in NO decomposition. It was concluded that the role of potassium was (i) to form the NO₂⁻ intermediate, and (ii) to keep the Co surface partially oxidized (CoO_x) as the active site for the dissociation of the NO₂⁻ species.     

DFT modeling of the hydrolysis of isocyanic acid over the TiO2 anatase (1 0 1) surface: Adsorption of HNCO species

The nature of the interaction of isocyanic acid (HNCO) with the active centers at the ideal anatase TiO₂ (1 0 1) surface were studied using ab initio density functional theory (DFT) method with a cluster model. Two types of adsorption of isocyanic acid are found to be likely at (1 0 1) surface – dissociative and molecular adsorption. Only molecular adsorption of HNCO leads to the direct weakening and further splitting of the NC bond, which is a necessary step for the hydrolysis of isocyanic acid. During molecular adsorption of HNCO, an energetically stable intermediate surface complex is created with an adsorption energy of −1.33 eV, in which the HNCO skeleton is changing due to new strong bonds between C–O_s and N–Ti_s. Based on the existence of this intermediate complex a probable reaction pathway for the hydrolysis of HNCO over the ideal anatase (1 0 1) surface was developed. A surface oxygen vacancy was formed after the decomposition of the intermediate complex and CO₂ desorption. Afterwards, water adsorbs at the oxygen vacancy site and NH₃ is successively formed. The HNCO hydrolysis over TiO₂ was found to be energetically favorable with global energy gain of about −2.08 eV.     

The IR spectra of Mg5C(CO) complexes on the (0 0 1) surfaces of polycrystalline and single crystal MgO

The FTIR spectroscopy of carbon monoxide adsorbed on polycrystalline MgO smoke has been investigated as a function of the CO equilibrium pressure at constant temperature (60 K) (optical isotherm) and of the temperature (in the 300–60 K range) at constant CO pressure (optical isobar). In both cases the spectra fully reproduce those of CO adsorbed on the (0 0 1) surface of UHV cleaved single crystals [Heidberg et al., Surf. Sci. 331–333 (1995) 1467]. This result, never attained in previous investigations on dispersed MgO, contribute to bridging the gap which is commonly supposed to exist between surface science and the study of “real” (defective) systems. Depending on the surface coverage θ the main spectral features due to the CO/MgO smoke interaction are a single band shifting from 2157.5 (at θ→0) to 2150.2 cm⁻¹ (at θ=1/4) or a triplet, at 2151.5, 2137.2 and 2132.4 cm⁻¹ (at θ>1/4). These manifestations are due to the ν(CO) modes of Mg_5C²⁺· · · CO adducts formed on the (0 0 1) terminations of the cubic MgO smoke microcrystals. The formation of the CO monolayer is occurring in two different phases: (i) a first phase with CO oscillators perpendicularly oriented to the surface (2157–2150 cm⁻¹) and (ii) a second phase constituted by an array of coexisting perpendicular and tilted species (triplet at 2151.5, 2137.2 and 2132.4 cm⁻¹). A much weaker feature at 2167.5–2164 cm⁻¹ is assigned to Mg_4C²⁺· · · CO adducts at the edges of the microcrystals. The heat of adsorption of the perpendicular Mg_5C²⁺· · · CO complex in the first phase has been estimated from the optical isobar and results to be 11 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance studies of molecular motions of ClO3 and water diffusion in Ca(ClO3)2·2H2O

A ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (³⁵Cl-NQR) investigation of polycrystalline Ca(ClO₃)₂·2H₂O is described. The ³⁵Cl-NQR frequencies (ν_Q) for two resonance lines (ν_Q1 and ν_Q2), the spin lattice relaxation time (T_1Q) for ν_Q2 only and the line width δν_Q2 were measured in the temperature range 292–345 K, except for the frequency measured up to 455 K. The observed decrease in the resonance frequencies with increasing temperature permitted the determination of the frequencies of librations of the ClO₃⁻ ion about two axes perpendicular to the three-fold axis of the ion mainly responsible for this effect. The temperature dependence of the relaxation time T_1Q proved the occurrence of water diffusion and hindered rotation of ClO₃⁻ ions. The activation energies of these two molecular motions were determined, and their effect on the electric field gradient at the site of a chlorine nucleus was discussed. Temperature measurements of the line width δν_Q2 confirmed the conclusions drawn from the analysis of T_1Q(T).     

Z-scan determination of the third-order optical nonlinearity of a triphenylmethane dye using 633 nm He–Ne laser

The third-order nonlinear optical response of a triphenylmethane dye (Acid blue 7) was studied using the Z-scan technique with a continuous-wave He–Ne laser radiation at 633 nm. The magnitude and sign of the third-order nonlinear refractive index n₂ of aqueous solution of Acid blue 7 dye were determined; the negative sign indicates a self-defocusing optical nonlinearity in the sample studied. The negative nonlinear refractive index n₂ and nonlinear absorption coefficient β were estimated to be −1.88 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/W and −3.08 × 10⁻³ cm/W, respectively, corresponding to Re(χ⁽³⁾) = −8.35 × 10⁻⁶ esu, and Im(χ⁽³⁾) = −6.88 × 10⁻⁷ esu. The experimental results show that Acid blue 7 dye have potential applications in nonlinear optics.     

Theoretical study of interaction between atoms of Au, Ag, Cu and clean Si(1 1 1) surface

To evaluate the interactions between the atoms of Au, Ag and Cu and clean Si(1 1 1) surface, two types of silicon clusters Si₄H₇ and Si₁₆H₂₀ together with their metal complexes were studied by using hybrid (U)B3LYP density functional theory method. Optimized geometries and energies on different adsorption sites indicate that: (1) the binding energies at different adsorption sites are large (ranging from 1.2 to 2.6 eV depend on the metal atoms and adsorption sites), suggesting a strong interaction between metal atom and silicon surface; (2) the most favorable adsorption site is the on top (T) site. Mulliken population analysis indicated that in the system of on top (T) site, a covalent bond is formed between metal atom and dangling bond of surface Si atom.     

Adsorption of SH and OH and coadsorption of S, O and H on Ni(111)

The adsorption of SH and OH radicals on Ni(111) is treated using an ab initio embedding theory. The Ni(111) surface is modeled as a three-layer, 28-atom cluster with the Ni atoms fixed at bulk lattice sites. The Ni(111) energy surface is very flat for SH adsorption if the H tilt angle is allowed to vary. At both atop and bridge sites, the S---H axis is tilted away from the surface normal by 70°, resulting in the sulfur atom being sp³-hybridized and the adsorption energy being 59 kcal mol⁻¹. For SH at the three-fold site, the S---H axis is normal to the surface, the sulfur is sp-hybridized, and the adsorption energy is 58 kcal mol⁻¹. OH is preferentially adsorbed at the three-fold site. The calculated adsorption energy is 90 kcal mol⁻¹ and the O---H axis is perpendicular to the surface. OH adsorption at the atop and bridge sites is 16 and 5 kcal mol⁻¹ less stable than at the three-fold site, respectively. Atomic H, O and S are preferentially adsorbed at the three-fold site. The calculated adsorption energies are 62, 92 and 87 kcal mol⁻¹, for H, O and S, respectively. The calculated adsorbate---Ni bond distances of 1.86 Å for H, 1.86 Å for O and 2.29 Å for S are in good agreement with experimental data. SH and OH bonding to the surface involves a combination of ionic and covalent contributions and substantial mixing with the Ni 3d orbitals. Dipole-moment calculations indicate strong ionic bonding for the atomic O/Ni system and ionic plus covalent character for the atomic S/Ni interactions. Adsorption of S and O at the three-fold site blocks H adsorption at the nearby surface. Moving H away from the S or O adatom reduces the repulsion. The dissociation of SH_ad → S_ad + H_ad is calculated to be exothermic by 5 kcal mol⁻¹ and OH_ad → O_ad + H_ad to be endothermic by 30 kcal mol⁻¹ for infinite separation between S, O and H.     

Coadsorption of water and CO molecules on Ru(0 0 1) at high CO coverages: comparisons with a Ru(0 0 1) electrode surface

The coadsorption of carbon monoxide (CO) and water molecules on a Ru(0 0 1) surface has been studied by infrared spectroscopy, LEED and STM. At high CO coverage phases, a 2×2-(2CO+D₂O) structure was observed on both UHV and electrode surfaces. Electrode potential dependent structures from CO and water adlayers on an electrode surface were reproduced on a UHV surface by controlling molecular orientations of the first layer and second over-layer water molecules. At lower CO coverages, a CO band center showed coverage dependent shift down to 1444 cm⁻¹ due to an electron transfer from a lone pair of a water molecule to CO 2π^*.     

Methane mobility in carbon nanotubes

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering has been used to characterize the diffusivity of CH₄ molecules condensed in single-wall carbon nanotubes. It is shown that the two sites of adsorption, previously observed by adsorption volumetry and calorimetry measurements, correspond to a solid-like phase for the more strongly bound site at T<120 K and to a liquid-like component for the more weakly bound site at 70<T<120 K. The diffusion coefficients of the mobile molecules range between 3×10⁻⁷ to 15×10⁻⁷ cm² s⁻¹. The fraction of this viscous liquid diminishes as the temperature is decreased; the adsorbate is fully solidified at 50 K and below.     

Measurement of the slope parameter for the neutral pion spectrum in KL → πππ decay

The π⁰ spectrum in the K_L⁰ → 3π decay was measured using a wire chambers magnetic spectrometer. In the usual approximation, the matrix element can be expressed as: M² ≈ 1 + 2a₀(M_K/M_π²)(2T_π⁰−T_π⁰max) + a₁(M_K²/M_π⁴)(2T_π⁰−T_π⁰max)². We obtained a₀ = −0.282 ± 0.011 and a₁ consistent with zero.     

Conductivity anisotropy in directionally solidified CaZrO3---CaSZ and MgO-MgSZ eutectics

The results of the impedance spectroscopy measurements on eutectic samples based on zirconium oxide are presented here. Samples of CaZrO₃---ZrO₂(cubic) and MgO---ZrO₂(cubic) have been grown by a directional solidification procedure such that the different phases appear nearly oriented along the growth direction (lamellae in the system of CaZrO₃-ZrO₂(cubic) and fibers of MgO in a ZrO₂ matrix in the other system). The DC electrical conductivity has been measured by impedance spectroscopy along and across the growth axis. For CaZrO₃---ZrO₂ the coductivity is clearly anisotropic. The following values for σT have been obtained: the conductivity at 600 °C equals 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ perpendicular to the fiber axis and 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ parallel to it and with an activation energy of 1.3 eV for σT. For MgO---ZrO₂(cubic) the isotropic value of the conductivity at 600 °C is 10⁻⁴ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹ with activation energy for σT of 1.5 eV. The anisotropic conductivity in the CaZrO₃---ZrO₂ (cubic) system has been explained by a model of an ordered stacking of oxygen conducting (cubic ZrO₂) and non-conducting (CaZrO₃ or MgO) phases.     

Study of the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition of NaH3(SeO3)2 single crystals by H and Na NMR

The ¹H and ²³Na spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times of NaH₃(SeO₃)₂ single crystals grown using the slow-evaporation method were measured as functions of temperature and frequency in the ferroelectric and paraelectric phases. The changes in the symmetry of the (SeO₃)²⁻ dimers as a result of the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition are associated with large changes in the spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times, and in the number of resonance lines. The large changes in the relaxation times at 195 K indicate that the H and Na ions are significantly affected by this transition. The change in the number of resonance lines for the ¹H and ²³Na nuclei means that the orientations of the (SeO₃)²⁻ dimers and the environments of the Na ions change at T_C. Therefore, the orientations of the (SeO₃)²⁻ dimers and the environments of the Na ions play important roles in the phase transitions. In conclusion, the ferroelectric–paraelectric phase transition of NaH₃(SeO₃)₂ is accompanied by changes in hydrogen-bond structure and distortions of the (SeO₃)²⁻ and Na⁺ ion lattices, which form a slightly distorted octahedron.     

Structural and compositional analysis of InBixAsySb(1−x−y) films grown on GaAs(0 0 1) substrates by liquid phase epitaxy

The growth of epitaxial InBi_xAs_ySb_(1−x−y) layers on highly lattice mis-matched semi-insulating GaAs substrates has been successfully achieved via the traditional liquid phase epitaxy. Orientation and single crystalline nature of the film have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Scanning electron micrograph shows abrupt interface at micrometer resolution. Surface composition of Bi(x) and As(y) in the InBi_xAs_ySb_(1−x−y) film was measured using energy dispersive X-ray analysis and found to be 2.5 and 10.5 at.%, respectively, and was further confirmed with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Variation of the composition with depth of the film was studied by removing the layers with low current (20 μA) Ar⁺ etching. It was observed that with successive Ar⁺ etching, In/Sb ratio remained the same, while the As/Sb and Bi/Sb ratios changed slightly with etching time. However after about 5 min etching the As/Sb and Bi/Sb ratios reached constant values. The room temperature band gap of InBi_0.025As_0.105Sb_0.870 was found to be in the range of 0.113–0.120 eV. The measured values of mobility and carrier density at room temperature are 3.1×10⁴ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 8.07×10¹⁶ cm⁻³, respectively.     

Structural and electrical properties of crystalline (1−x)Ta2O5−xTiO2 thin films fabricated by metalorganic decomposition

Polycrystalline (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂ thin films were formed on Si by metalorganic decomposition (MOD) and annealed at various temperatures. As-deposited films were in the amorphous state and were completely transformed to crystalline after annealing above 600 °C. During crystallization, a thin interfacial SiO₂ layer was formed at the (1−x)Ta₂O₅−xTiO₂/Si interface. Thin films with 0.92Ta₂O₅–0.08TiO₂ composition exhibited superior insulating properties. The measured dielectric constant and dissipation factor at 1 MHz were 9 and 0.015, respectively, for films annealed at 900 °C. The interface trap density was 2.5×10¹¹ cm⁻² eV⁻¹, and flatband voltage was −0.38 V. A charge storage density of 22.8 fC/μm² was obtained at an applied electric field of 3 MV/cm. The leakage current density was lower than 4×10⁻⁹ A/cm² up to an applied electric field of 6 MV/cm.     

Theoretical study of HOCl adsorption on ice surface

Adsorption of HOCl on ice surface was studied using the ab initio molecular orbtial theory. We applied Hartree–Fock (HF) self-consistent field and the second-order Møller–Plesset (MP2) level of theory to cluster models of the (0001) surface ice Ih to optimize adsorption structures and binding energies. In all stable binding configurations, HOCl acts as a proton donor in a hydrogen bond. The presence of neighboring water molecules can strengthen the interaction of HOCl with ice. In the HOCl·(H₂O)₄ system, interaction hydrogen bond length is about 1.85 Å, and binding energies are −10.063−11.149 kcal mol⁻¹. We also calculated the vibrational frequencies of HOCl affected by the ice surface.     

Experimental study of the time-dependent rate of K → πππ

The time-dependence of the decay rate of initially pure K⁰ into the final state (π⁺π⁻π⁰) has been studied in search for the decay k_S⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰. No evidence is found in a sample of 384 observed events. The ratio of the CP -violating K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is η₊₋₀ = (0.13_−0.20^+0.17) + i(0.17_−0.26^+0.27); the ratio of the CP-conserving K_S⁰ amplitude and the K_L⁰ amplitude is < 0.4. The energy dependence of the K⁰→π⁺π⁻π⁰ matrix element is found to be a₊₋₀ = −0.31 ± 0.03.     

The adsorbate-induced removal of the Pt{100} surface reconstruction Part I: NO

The molecular adsorption of NO on both the reconstructed (hex) and unreconstructed (1 × 1) surfaces of Pt{100} has been studied using a combination of infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) at temperatures between 90 and 300 K. On the (1 × 1) surface at 300 K adsorbed NO gives rise to an N-O stretching band at initially 1596 cm⁻¹ shifting to 1641 cm⁻¹ at a coverage of θ = 0.5. The LEED pattern at this coverage is interpreted in terms of a c(4 × 2) structure in which all the molecules occupy a single type of adsorption site between the on-top and bridge positions. At temperatures below 300 K, a higher coverage disordered phase is observed, giving rise to an N-O stretching band at 1680 cm⁻¹ associated with an on-top NO species. On the (hex) phase surface above 210 K, NO adsorption gives rise to bands characteristic of adsorption on the (1 × 1) phase indicating that the reconstruction is immediately lifted. Below 200 K initial adsorption actually occurs directly on the (hex) phase, resulting in a band at 1680 cm⁻¹, which is assigned to on-top NO. This band increases in intensity until, at a critical coverage dependent on temperature, the (hex) → (1 × 1) surface phase transition is induced. This is indicated by the disappearance of the band at 1680 cm⁻¹ and its replacement by bands characteristic of adsorption on islands of the (1 × 1) structure.     

High-temperature ferromagnetism in Zn1−xMnxO semiconductor thin films

Clear evidence of ferromagnetic behavior at temperatures >400 K as well as spin polarization of the charge carriers have been observed in Zn_1−xMn_xO thin films grown on Al₂O₃ and MgO substrates. The magnetic properties depended on the exact Mn concentration and the growth parameters. In well-characterized single-phase films, the magnetic moment is 4.8 μ_B/Mn at 350 K, the highest moment yet reported for any Mn doped magnetic semiconductor. Anomalous Hall effect shows that the charge carriers (electrons) are spin-polarized and participate in the observed ferromagnetic behavior.     

Rigorous pion-pion scattering lengths from threshold πN → ππN data

A new evaluation of the universal ππ scattering length relation is used to extract the ππ s-wave scattering lengths from threshold pion production data. Previous work has shown that the chiral perturbation series relating threshold pion production to ππ scattering lengths appears to converge well only for the isospin-2 case, giving a₂ = −0.031 ± 0.007m_π⁻¹. A model-independent and data-insensitive universal curve then implies a₀ = 0.235 ± 0.03m_π⁻¹ for the isospin-0 scattering length.     

Adsorption of Ag on Si(1 0 0) surface

The chemisorption of one monolayer Ag atoms on an ideal Si(1 0 0) surface is studied by using the self-consistent tight-binding linear muffin-tin orbital method. The adsorption energies (E_ad) of different sites are calculated. It is found that the adsorbed Ag atoms are more favorable on C site (fourfold site) than on any other sites on Si(1 0 0) surface, the polar covalent bond is formed between Ag atom and surface Si atom, a Ag and Si mixed layer does not exist and does form an abrupt interface at the Ag–Si(1 0 0) interface. This is in agreement with the experiment results. The layer-projected density of states is calculated and compared with that of the clean surface. The charge transfer is also investigated. Comparing with the Au/Si(1 0 0) system, the interaction is weaker between Ag and Si than between Au and Si.