Laser spectroscopy ofD3

The D₃ was formed in a hollow cathode discharge in D₂. Transitions between the states 3p²E′, 3p²A″₂ and 2S²A′₁ were stimulated by dye-laser radiation. The resonances were monitored by observng the laser-induced change of the emission from selected levels of D₃. Many new lines were observed and assigned.     

The protonated betaine/ammonia complex: how stable is the gas-phase zwitterion structure?

The ammonium ion stabilizes a betaine zwitterion in the gas phase forming a salt-bridge structure, [(CH₃)₃N⁺CH₂COO^–NH₄⁺] that is 3.7 kcal/mol less stable than the ion/molecule complex between protonated betaine and neutral ammonia, (CH₃)₃N⁺CH₂COOH/NH₃. DFT calculations have reversed the previously determined relative stability based on PM3 calculations and are in agreement with black-body infrared radiative dissociation experiments. A double-well potential energy surface is formed with a rather low central barrier separating the two complexes. This is conducive to efficient hydrogen/deuterium exchange in agreement with experiment. It prevents the existence of the salt-bridge complex as a distinct species under thermal conditions.     

Quantification of antimony depth profiles in Sb-doped tin dioxide thin films

Sb-doped SnO₂ thin films, deposited by atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) for gas sensor applications, have been characterized by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Quantification of the depth profile data has been carried out by preparing a series of ion implanted standards. Average concentrations determined by SIMS have been compared with Sb/Sn ratios obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry and have been found to be in good agreement. However, a detection limit of 5×10¹⁸ at cm^-3 could only be obtained because of mass interferences. SIMS data show that the ALE technique can be used to produce a controllable growth and doping of thin films.     

Potentiometric Investigation of the Weak Association of Sodium and Carbonate Ions at 25°C

The weak association between sodium and carbonate ions has been investigated at 25°C using high-precision sodium ion-selective electrode potentiometry in solutions of ionic strength ranging from 0.5 to 7.0 M in CsCl and in 1.0 M Me₄NCl media. The protonation constants of CO ₃ ^2- (aq) were also measured, using a H⁺-responsive glass electrode in 1.0 M Me₄NCl and NaCl. The value of the ion-pair association constant calculated from the difference in the protonation constants in these two media was in excellent agreement with that obtained from the Na⁺ISE measurements. Evidence is also presented for the formation of extremely weak ion pairs between Na⁺ and HCO ₃ ^- and between Cs⁺ and CO ₃ ^2- .     

Structural and Optical Characterization of Ytterbium Doped Lutetium Double Phosphates

Powder samples of the ternary phosphates A₃Lu(PO₄)₂:Yb³⁺ (A = Na, Rb) have been synthesised by solid state reactions. The spectroscopic properties of Yb³⁺ in double phosphate host lattices were investigated using absorption, emission and excitation spectra at 4, 10 and 293 K in the VUV to IR range. The results obtained for both types of phosphates are compared. Together with the fundamental ²F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 emission in the IR range, a broad band emission with two peaks in the UV region were observed in Yb³⁺‐activated Na₃Lu(PO₄)₂. The second emission is due to a charge–transfer transition type. The influence of the alkali metal cation site of the host lattice on the luminescence properties was investigated. The tentative energy level scheme of the ground and excited ²F_J (J=7/2, 5/2) levels is described.     

Advantages and effects of nitrogen doping into the central channel of plasma in axially viewed-inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

The effects and benefits of N₂ addition to the central channel of the ICP through the nebulizer gas used in ICP OES with axial view configuration were investigated in the present study. The N₂ flow rate, nebulizer gas flow rate, RF power and sample uptake rate were evaluated and compared for two sample introduction systems (pneumatic nebulization/aerosol desolvation and conventional pneumatic nebulization). It was observed that N₂ did not affect solution nebulization and aerosol transport but affects the ICP characteristics. The higher thermal conductivity of N₂ (in comparison with Ar) changes energy distribution in the ICP, observed by monitoring the signals of Ar emission lines and sodium emission. The ratio Mg(II)-280.270 nm/Mg(I)-285.213 nm was utilized as a diagnostic tool for plasma robustness. The addition of N₂ (20 mL min⁻¹) increased plasma robustness significantly and mitigated effects caused by Na, K and Ca. For 40 spectral lines evaluated, it was observed that the emission signals of ionic spectral lines were in general more affected by N₂ than those of atomic spectral lines. Detection limits, precision, sensitivity and linearity of calibration curves obtained using N₂-Ar-ICP were almost similar to those obtained using Ar-ICP. The analysis of 5 different reference materials revealed that accuracy was not degraded by adding N₂ to the Ar-ICP.     

Experimental lifetime of the metastable 5D 3/2 state in Ba+

A discrepancy exists between theoretical and experimental lifetimes of the metastable 5D _3/2 state in Ba⁺. In order to redertermine that lifetime, we probe the population of the metastable 5D _3/2 state of a Ba⁺ ion cloud stored in a Paul ion trap in the presence of He buffer gas as the function of time delay after pulsed laser excitation of this state. The measured decay rates at different buffer gas pressures are extrapolated to zero pressure and we obtain a radiative decay time of 48.0±5.9 s. This is not in agreement with theoretical predictions of about 80 s, but reduces the discrepancy from a previously reportet experimental value of 17.5 s. If the possibility of finestructure mixing to an adjacent 5D _5/2 level by collisions is considered our value represents a lower limit of the radiative lifetime for the 5D _3/2 state.     

Determination of berberine by measuring the enhanced total internal reflected fluorescence at water/tetrachloromethane interface in the presence of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate

A highly sensitive method for determination of berberine is proposed based on the measurements of total internal reflected fluorescence (TIRF) at water/ tetrachloromethane (H₂O/CCl₄) interface. In the pH range of 2.6–5.7, the co-adsorption of the berberine with the anionic surfactants such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS), sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDS), and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) occurs at the H₂O/CCl₄ interface, resulting in greatly enhanced TIRF signal characterized by the emission at 526 nm when excited with a 351 nm light beam. The enhanced TIRF intensity is in proportion to the berberine concentration in the range 0.2–10.0×10^-7 mol L^-1. The limit of detection is 1.7×10^-9 mol L^-1 (3). It was found that ions such as Ca(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Mg(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Al(III) can be allowed larger than 1.0×10^-4 mol L^-1. Meanwhile, the organic compounds such as vitamin B, saccharine, and amino acid do not display any effect for the present TIRF method even if they are larger than 1.0×10^-2 mol L^-1in high concentration levels (larger than 1.0×10^-5 mol L^-1). The results of determination for synthetic samples were agreement with the desired values, and the ones for tablets were identical with those obtained according to the method of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.     

Excitation and decay of the C2Σ+u state of N+2 following collisions of He+ ions with N2 isotopes

A quantitative analysis is made of the N⁺₂ “2nd negative” emission (“2N”: C²Σ⁺_u → X²Σ⁺_g) produced by the impact of 500 eV to 25 keV He⁺ beams on ¹⁴N₂, ¹⁴N¹⁵N and ¹⁵N₂. Above about 5 keV, the relative 2N emission rates from the various vibrational levels of the C state are the same as those observed for ? 2 keV Ne⁺, or > / 90 eV electron-impact. These limiting distributions are compared to those predicted for a Franck-Condon excitation of the C state, modified by configuration interaction. The weakening in 2N emission at the vibrational levels ν′ > / 3 is ascribed to spontaneous C-state predissociation. The data fully confirm recent reports that this predissociation extends over a wide range of ν′ and that it is subject to a strong isotope effect. The ratios of the rates of C-state predissociation to 2N emission are obtained for the levels ν′ = 3 to 8 of each nitrogen isotope. By means of these data it is shown that near-resonant charge transfer dominates the distribution of vibrational excitation probabilities only at energies below about 10 eV. A comparison is made of absolute cross-sections for C-state emission with those for N⁺ and N⁺₂ production in He⁺/¹⁴N₂ collisions at energies between 5.5 eV and 25 keV.     

Some observations on the kinetics and thermochemistry of the reactions of HO2 radicals with aldehydes and ketones

The rapid, gas phase equilibrium addition of HO₂ radicals to CH₂O to form the peroxy radical HOCH₂OO^? is in agreement with the known thermochemistry of these species. The recent study of the similar addition of HO₂^? to ketones shows no significant reaction, which is again in agreement with known thermochemistry. All these reactions are notable for significant dipole attraction between the reactants ranging from 3 to 7 kcal/mol. The thermochemistry shows that the hydroperoxyl alkoxy species, the primary possible adduct, is not favored by the free energy change for direct addition. This and the observed kinetics favor a concerted addition, H‐atom transfer, as the transition state for the reactions. Kinetic estimates for forward and reverse reactions are in good agreement with observations. A thermochemical examination of the step‐wise addition of HO₂^? to the carbonyl shows that the reaction proceeds through a concerted, cyclic transition state involving simultaneous H‐transfer, 3 + 2 cyclo‐addition of HO₂^? to the carbonyl group. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 509–512, 2001     

The Na2 singlet and triplet absorption spectrum observed in a high-pressure sodium discharge

The absorption spectrum of a high-pressure sodium discharge has been measured between 450 and 850 nm. The experimental spectrum is in good agreement with a spectrum calculated using quasi-static line-broadening theory in conjunction with ab initio computations of Na₂ potential curves The good agreement confirms the ab initio ³∑⁺_u and ³Π_g potential curves.     

Exploiting Sulphide Generation and Gas Diffusion Separation in a Flow System for Indirect Sulphite Determination in Wines and Fruit Juices

A flow system for sulphite determination in wines and fruit juice samples has been developed exploiting H₂S generation and gas diffusion separation. The composed sandwich gas diffusion cell was coupled in the flow manifold to permit sulphite reduction to H₂S and H₂S diffusion through a microporous PTFE membrane to produce methylene blue resulting from the reaction with N,N-dimethylphenylene diamine (DMPD) and Fe³⁺. The flow parameters were optimized, and the best results were obtained by using NaOH solution for H₂S collection. Interferences of H₂S, CO₂ and ascorbic acid were evaluated. Limits of detection (3σ) for the free and total sulfite were calculated at 0.12 and 0.25 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The results obtained by the proposed process were in agreement with the reference methods for a 95% confidence level.     

Judd-Ofelt analysis and multiphonon relaxations of rare earth ions in fluorohafnate glasses

The optical properties of fluorohafnate glasses doped with Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺, and Tm³⁺ have been studied. From optical absorption measurements and using Judd-Ofelt theory, JO parameters Ω₂, Ω₄, and Ω₆ have been obtained. The Ω₂ values indicate that fluorohafnate glasses present a less ionic character than fluorozirconates. Multiphonon emission probabilities for several levels of Er³⁺ and Ho³⁺ ions were determined by the difference between the measured rates and the calculated radiative transition probabilities. The results are almost the same as those found in fluorozirconates. Multiphonon emission probabilities are in agreement with the energy-gap law followed by rare-earth ions in crystals and glasses.     

In situ and Real-Time Monitoring of Plasma-Induced Etching of PET and Acrylic Films

Residual gas analysis (RGA) and optical emission spectroscopy have been evaluated as potential in situ techniques for the detection of plasma-induced polymer surface etching. The detection is based on the measurement of CO and CO₂ species formed in the gas phase following oxidation of the etching fragments released from the polymer surface. Experiments were performed on poly(ethylene terephthalate) and UV-cured acrylic (tripropylene glycol diacrylate) films exposed to O₂ RF (13.56 MHz) plasmas. A linear correlation is obtained between the formation of CO and the polymer etching rate over the entire experimental range, but discrepancies appear for the formation of CO₂ at high treatment powers (etching rate > 1.0 g/min.cm²). This behavior is attributed to a deficit of oxidizing agents relative to the generation of etching fragments. The results suggest that both RGA and optical emission spectroscopy can be used to monitor in situ and in real-time the etching of polymer surfaces during plasma treatment.     

Structure and further fragmentation of significant [a3 + Na − H]+ ions from sodium‐cationized peptides

A good understanding of gas‐phase fragmentation chemistry of peptides is important for accurate protein identification. Additional product ions obtained by sodiated peptides can provide useful sequence information supplementary to protonated peptides and improve protein identification. In this work, we first demonstrate that the sodiated a₃ ions are abundant in the tandem mass spectra of sodium‐cationized peptides although observations of a₃ ions have rarely been reported in protonated peptides. Quantum chemical calculations combined with tandem mass spectrometry are used to investigate this phenomenon by using a model tetrapeptide GGAG. Our results reveal that the most stable [a₃ + Na ? H]⁺ ion is present as a bidentate linear structure in which the sodium cation coordinates to the two backbone carbonyl oxygen atoms. Due to structural inflexibility, further fragmentation of the [a₃ + Na ? H]⁺ ion needs to overcome several relatively high energetic barriers to form [b₂ + Na ? H]⁺ ion with a diketopiperazine structure. As a result, low abundance of [b₂ + Na ? H]⁺ ion is detected at relatively high collision energy. In addition, our computational data also indicate that the common oxazolone pathway to generate [b₂ + Na ? H]⁺ from the [a₃ + Na ? H]⁺ ion is unlikely. The present work provides a mechanistic insight into how a sodium ion affects the fragmentation behaviors of peptides. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Emission intensity of cesium in flames of various gas compositions

The emission intensity of cesium at 852.1 nm has been studied in hydrogen flames burning with various mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen. A significant maximum was observed in the relative emission intensity of cesium at an oxygen to nitrogen ratio of 3:2 in the aspirating gas. The effect of Rb⁺, K⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, and NH₄⁺ ions on cesium emission is much less pronounced in this optimum flame than in a pure oxy-hydrogen flame. The optimum flame (60% oxygen) yields a significantly better calibration curve than can be obtained in either the normal air-hydrogen or oxyhydrogen flame for 0–12 p.p.m. cesium concentrations; the graph is linear over this concentration range.     

Determination of gaseous nitrogen in gas mixtures using low pressure microwave induced plasma emission spectrometry

A microwave induced plasma emission spectrometer operating at low energy (30 W) and low plasma gas pressure (2.510^-2 Pa) has been used for the quantitative measurement of molecular nitrogen in natural gases. The samples have been introduced into the plasma using a counterflow principle to produce emission spectra of diatomic molecular fragments in low excitation states (advantage: minimized interferences). The N₂ concentration has been determined by measuring the intensity of the N₂-line at 337.13 nm (C³_u-B³_g-system; (0,0)vibrational transition) and of the NH-line at 336.03 nm (A³_i-X^2--system; (0,0)-vibrational transition). A linear correlation between concentration and signal intensities has been obtained in the range of 0.00% to 14.24% (v/v). The method possesses a detection limit of 0.01 ppm (v/v) for the determination of N₂, and a reproducibility of 1.33% (RSD).     

The reaction of OH radicals with dimethyl sulfide

The kinetics of the gas phase reaction of OH radicals with dimethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₃) have been studied at various temperatures and total pressures using two relative rate methods and a flash photolysis technique. For the relative rate methods, rate constants were measured at 296 ± 2 K as a function of the O₂ pressure at a total pressure of ca. 740 torr. Data from these three experimental techniques were not in agreement. It is concluded that the relative rate techniques are subject to secondary reactions, possibly involving CH₃S radicals. A rate constant of (2.5) × 10^?12 e^{(130 = 102)/T} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 obtained using the flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence data in the absence of O₂, and which is in agreement with the lower range of values previously reported in the literature, is recommended.     

Left-right asymmetry in superelastic collisions of polarized electrons with unpolarized laser-excited sodium atoms

Polarized electrons have been scattered superelastically from laser-excited unpolarized sodium atoms (deexcitation of the 3² P _1/2 or 3² P _3/2 states). The left-right scattering asymmetry, which results from an interplay of the atomic charge cloud orientation, atomic fine-structure interaction and exchange processes, has been measured for energies between 6 and 20 eV and scattering angles ranging from 40 to 120°. Within the experimental uncertainty the Percival-Seaton hypothesis, which is the basis of current theoretical calculations for electron-sodium collisions, has been confirmed. However, the quantitative agreement between experimental and numerical results is satisfactory only for a 2-state close-coupling calculation of Moores.