Electronic structure of hydantoin studied by He I photoelectron spectroscopy and MNDO quantum—chemical calculations

The He I photoelectron spectra of hydantoin, 1-methyl-hydantoin, 3-methylhydantoin and 1,3-dimethylhydantoin are reported. Displacement of the bands upon the N-methylsubstitution indicates that HOMO and the third highest occupied MO are localized on the nitrogen atoms, the former on the amidic nitrogen and the latter on the imidic one. The second and the fourth highest occupied MO's are oxygen lone pairs. The MNDO method provides the same picture.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for detection of the different Si–O bonding states of silicon

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to detect the bonding between a silica particle surface and attached silanes. In addition to the commonly recorded Si 2p spectrum, the Si 1 s level is also accessible when monochromatic Ag Lalpha X-rays are applied. Furthermore, the spectrum of the Si 1 s level shows a fine structure. After spectrum deconvolution, we assigned the fitted spectral peaks to Si-C bonds of the silanes and to the Si-O bonds of the silica network. The recorded Si 1 s spectra were deconvoluted into peaks originating from Si-C bonds and the Si-O-Si silica network. To check the results of spectrum deconvolution, several differently functionalized silanes containing stoichiometric amounts of heteroatoms were applied for silica surface modification. We conclude that spectra deconvolution of the Si 1 s signal is an appropriate means for quantification of surface attached silane molecules.     

Application of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for studying the molecular structure of corrosion inhibitor — Zinc complex of 1-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid

The molecular structure of zinc complex of 1-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonic acid was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained data were compared with IR absorption spectrum of the same substance to acquire new information on the molecular structure. It was shown that coordination of the phosphonate group by zinc atom retains the localization of P-O π bond, the phosphonate group does not have a third-order axis of symmetry, and Zn atom can occupy positions with different coordination. Thermal destruction of the complex is accompanied by decomposition of hetero-organic ligand with detachment of the hydrocarbon fragment along C-P bonds and formation of inorganic zinc salts.     

Characterization of TcCl4 and β-TcCl3 by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Technetium tetrachloride and β-TcCl₃, synthesized from the reaction of Tc metal and Cl_2(g) in sealed tubes, were characterized by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy measurements are in good agreement with the X-ray diffraction structures of the two compounds. For TcCl₄, the absorbing Tc atom is surrounded by Cl atoms at 2.34(2) Å and Tc atoms at 3.66(4) Å. For β-TcCl₃, the absorbing Tc atom is surrounded by Cl atoms at 2.40(2) Å and Tc atoms at 2.81(3), 3.66(4) and 5.71(6) Å. EXAFS spectroscopy indicates that the TcCl₄ and β-TcCl₃ samples obtained by sealed tube reactions are single phase. The X-ray absorption near edge structure spectra of TcCl₄ and β-TcCl₃ were recorded; the positions of the Tc K-edges of β-TcCl₃ (21,050.5 eV) and TcCl₄ (21,053.0 eV) are compared to the ones measured for α-TcCl₃ (21,051.0 eV) and TcCl₂ (21,048.8 eV). A correlation between the positions of the Tc K-edges and the oxidation state of the Tc atom in technetium binary chlorides was determined.     

An X-ray spectroscopy study of CdS nanoparticles formed by the Langmuir–Blodgett technique on the surface of carbon nanotube arrays

The composition and electronic structure of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles formed by the Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) technique on clean silicon wafers and the surface of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays are studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The samples were annealed in a vacuum at 175 °C and 225 °C to remove the organic matrix of the LB film. From the analysis of the XPS data the increased concentration of sulfate groups on the surface of CdS nanoparticles formed on CNTs and the electron density transfer from CdS to CNTs are determined. An increase in the LB film annealing temperature causes an increase in the degree of crystallinity and the CdS crystallite size and a decrease in the photoluminescence intensity of a CdS–CNT hybrid.     

Development of an information-intensive structure–activity relationship model and its application to human respiratory chemical sensitizers

Structure–activity relationship (SAR) models are recognized as powerful tools to predict the toxicologic potential of new or untested chemicals and also provide insight into possible mechanisms of toxicity. Models have been based on physicochemical attributes and structural features of chemicals. We describe herein the development of a new SAR modeling algorithm called cat-SAR that is capable of analyzing and predicting chemical activity from divergent biological response data. The cat-SAR program develops chemical fragment-based SAR models from categorical biological response data (e.g. toxicologically active and inactive compounds). The database selected for model development was a published set of chemicals documented to cause respiratory hypersensitivity in humans. Two models were generated that differed only in that one model included explicate hydrogen containing fragments. The predictive abilities of the models were tested using leave-one-out cross-validation tests. One model had a sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.87 yielding an overall correct prediction of 91%. The second model had a sensitivity of 0.89, specificity of 0.95 and overall correct prediction of 92%. The demonstrated predictive capabilities of the cat-SAR approach, together with its modeling flexibility and design transparency, suggest the potential for its widespread applicability to toxicity prediction and for deriving mechanistic insight into toxicologic effects.     

Kβ X-ray emission spectroscopy offers unique chemical bonding insights: revisiting the electronic structure of ferrocene

Kβ X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) is emerging as a powerful tool for the study of chemical bonding. Analyses of the Kβ XES of ferrocene (Fc) and ferrocenium (Fc(+)) are presented as further demonstrations of the capabilities of the technique. Assignments of the valence to core (V2C) region of these spectra as electric dipole-allowed cyclopentadienyl (Cp) → Fe 1s transitions demonstrate that XES affords electronic structural insight into the energetics of ligand-based molecular orbitals (MOs). Combined with K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), we show that XES can provide analogous information to photoemission spectroscopy (PES). Density functional theory (DFT) analyses reveal that the V2C transitions in Fc/Fc(+) derive their intensity from Fe 4p admixture (on the order of 5-10%) into the Cp-based MOs from which they originate. These 4p admixtures confer bonding character to the Cp-based a(2u) and e(1u) MOs to at least the extent of backbonding contributions to frontier MOs from higher-lying Cp π* MOs.     

Ti and Fe speciation by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and Mössbauer spectroscopy for a full crystal chemical characterisation of Ti-garnets from Colli Albani (Italy)

Different analytical and structural methods (Electron Probe Micro-Analysis, Single Crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, M?ssbauer spectroscopy) were combined to fully characterise the crystal chemistry of natural Ti-bearing garnets from Colli Albani (Lazio, Italy). The study of the relevant complex crystal chemistry ( large number of cation substitutions affecting the three independent X(8-fold), Y(6-fold) and Z(4-fold) crystallographic sites and Fe and Ti transition elements exhibiting several oxidation states and coordination environments) benefited from the multi-technique approach. Electron probe microanalysis provided elemental composition of the analysed samples, which have low Ti-content (TiO2 in the range 1.99 - 3.48 wt %) and slightly different Fe/Al ratios. For all samples, two doublets were fitted to room temperature M?ssbauer spectra and assigned to Fe3+(Y) (approximately 95%) and Fe2+(X) (approximately 5%). Up to three doublets (Ti3+(Y), Ti4+(Y), Ti4+(Z)) were fitted to XPS spectra and yielded direct evaluation of Ti site population. XPS technique confirmed its potential for the study of speciation of Ti in minerals.     

Pre-ashing of biological samples — a sample preparation technique for solid sampling ZAAS

Summary A pre-ashing method by a conventional electrothermal furnace was used as a concentration technique for powdered biological samples in the solid sampling technique with GF-ZAAS. A relationship equation between the concentration factors and the concentrations of main inorganic components in biological samples has been established, and it has become possible to calculate the concentration factors, if the total concentration of K, Na, Mg and Ca, or total concentration of K and Mg, or the concentration of K only are known. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the direct determination of Co, Ni, Mn and Pb at the g/kg levels in biological samples.Presented at the 5th International Colloquium on Solid Sampling, with Atomic Spectroscopy, May 18–20, 1992; Geel, Belgium. Papers edited by R.F.M. Herber, Amsterdam     

Franck–Condon breakdown in core-level photoelectron spectroscopy of chemisorbed CO

The photon energy dependence of the vibrational fine structure in the C1s and O1s X-ray photoelectron main lines of chemisorbed CO on Ni(100) and Ru(0001) has been measured from 6 to 150 eV above the core-level thresholds. Significant deviations from the behavior in gas-phase CO are found. A strong dominance of the adiabatic peak towards threshold is found for the C1s, but not the O1s, lines. In the C1s lines, we observe a broad maximum of vibrational excitation 5 eV above the shape resonance. At high photon energies, Franck–Condon behavior is observed in both the C1s and O1s lines. This behavior is discussed in terms of the adsorbate electronic structure and the dynamic metallic screening upon core ionization.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the YBa2Cu3O7−x superconductor system

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) has been employed to investigate the chemical nature and the electronic structure of the YBa₂Cu₃O_7−x system at different stages of preparation. The binding energy measurements showed that O 1s, Ba 3d and Y 3d core levels undergo appreciable changes during the firing and subsequent heat treatment. The chemical shift in O 1s is believed to be due to a higher concentration of holes in the superconductor phase. No indication for the existence of a monovalent Cu(I) species was found at any stage of preparation.     

Characterization of CoMn catalyst by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and wavelet analysis for Fischer–Tropsch to olefins reaction

Cobalt carbide has recently been reported to catalyse the FTO conversion of syngas with high selectivity for the production of lower olefins(C_2–C_4). Clarifying the formation process and atomic structure of cobalt carbide will help understand the catalytic mechanism of FTO. Herein, hydrogenation of carbon monoxide was investigated for cobalt carbide synthesized from CoMn catalyst, followed by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, temperature programmed reaction and in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy. By monitoring the evolution of cobalt carbide during syngas conversion, the wavelet transform results give evidence for the formation of the cobalt carbide and clearly demonstrate that the active site of catalysis was cobalt carbide.     

Atomic structure of the copper bromide complex based on benzoin 1′-phthalazinylhydrazone: DFT and X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis

A copper bromide complex based on benzoin 1′-phthalazinylhydrazone is synthesized. Within density functional theory (OPBE/TZP) the optimal structural parameters of the complex are determined. X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) spectra above the K absorption edge of copper are measured in the copper bromide complex. Theoretical XANES spectra of the K absorption edge of copper are calculated based on the full multiple scattering method and in the full potential of the finite difference method. Good agreement between the theoretical XANES spectrum and the experimental data is obtained.     

Example of a technique for evaluation of interferences caused by complicated sample matrix elements in ICP–AES determination

An example of a useful and rapid procedure for the evaluation of interferences caused by complicated sample matrices in inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES) is described. Using simple acid–base standards, all the elements investigated were determined separately in complicated matrices with satisfactory results. Multiple linear regression was used to calculate the linear correction coefficients for each matrix element analyzed. Good analytical results improved still further when this correction method was used.     

Is NMR the tool to characterize the structure of C20 isomers?

We investigate the feasibility of using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shift calculations as a tool to provide structural information for C₂₀ fullerene type molecules. NMR chemical shifts are extremely sensitive to the local chemical environment of an atom, reflecting unambiguously its bond lengths and angles as well as its hybridization. Thus, they can distinguish between the different isomers that are candidates for the ground state of this molecule. We calculate the NMR shifts for several C₂₀ isomers and show that NMR constitutes a potential tool to discriminate and identify experimentally a particular C₂₀ molecular conformation, and also the level of theory which best describes the experimental structure.     

Study of 5-azidomethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline structure by X-ray diffraction and HF–DFT computational methods

5-Azidomethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline has been synthesized and characterized using IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods. Thermal analysis revealed no solid-solid phase transitions. The crystal structure of this compound was refined by Rietveld method from powder X-ray diffraction data at 295 K. The single- crystal structure of the compound at 260 K was solved and refined using SHELX 97 program. According to the data obtained by both methods, the structure of the compound is monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with Z = 4 and Z' = 1. For the single crystal at 260 K, a = 12.2879 (9) Å, b = 4.8782 (3) Å, c = 15.7423 (12) Å, β=100.807(14)°. Mechanisms of deformation resulting from intra- and intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, induced slight torsions in the crystal structure. The optimized molecular geometry of 5-azidomethyl-8-hydroxyquinoline in the ground state is calculated using density functional theory (B3LYP) and Hartree-Fock (HF) methods with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The calculated results show good agreement with experimental values. Energy gap of the molecule was found using HOMO and LUMO calculation which reveals that charge transfer occurs within the molecule.

     

Development of X-ray fluorescence analysis in Russia in 1991–2010

A review attempted to examine the results of studies in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis performed by Russian authors for the period from 1991 to the present time is given. This proved to be quite a challenge, since the number of articles published only on the theory and practice of XRF (excluding the development of equipment) exceeded 500. Therefore, the author had to limit himself to a more detailed presentation of only several important achievements. Further information, if necessary, can be found in the cited reviews.     

Formation of binary and ternary metal deposits on glass–ceramic carbon electrode surfaces: electron-probe X-ray microanalysis,total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy study

The features of the formation of binary and ternary alloys during the electrochemical deposition and co-deposition of copper, cadmium and lead from aqueous solutions on disc glass–ceramic carbon electrode surfaces were studied by electron-probe X-ray microanalysis, total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The macroscopic properties of electrodeposits such as morphology, lateral distribution of the elements along the disc electrode surface and depth distribution of the elements in the electrodeposit bulk were established. The mechanisms of metal nucleation and growth of thin films of electrodeposits were discussed.