Characterization of a 10.3-μm pulsed DFB quantum cascade laser

We have measured the output parameters of a 10.3-μm pulsed distributed-feedback (DFB) quantum cascade (QC) laser manufactured by Alpes Lasers and intended for high-sensitivity detection of ammonia and ethylene. The laser beam was collimated with an AR-coated aspheric ZnSe lens with focal length of 11.6 mm and clear aperture of 16.5 mm. Near- and far-field distributions of the laser emission were recorded with an infrared imaging camera. The fast-and slow-axis laser beam divergences were measured to be 1.2 and 1.4 mrad (FWHM), respectively. The divergence was found to be increasing with injection current. An air-spaced Fabry–Perot interferometer with free spectral range of 0.05 cm⁻¹ was used to measure the frequency tuning rates of the laser. The laser was tuned by either heat sink temperature, injection current or pulse repetition rate with rates of −8 × 10⁻² cm⁻¹ K⁻¹, −7 × 10⁻² cm⁻¹ A⁻¹ and −9 × 10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹ kHz⁻¹, respectively. The laser frequency decreased linearly with a rate of 10⁻² cm⁻¹ ns⁻¹ (300 MHz ns⁻¹) for laser pulses varied from 10 to 50 ns, and the frequency chirp rate was found to decrease for longer laser pulses.     

Hierarchical control of porous silica by pH adjustment: Alkyl polyamines as surfactants for bimodal silica synthesis and its carbon replica

Bimodal macro-mesoporous silica networks have been prepared in a simple one-pot synthesis using an inexpensive tetramine surfactant and tetraethoxysilane as a silica precursor. These novel materials show high pore volumes and templated mesopores (average pore size 3.0 nm) embedded in 20 nm thick walls forming interparticle large meso/macropores. The judicious control of the pH during the silica formation allows for the precise control of the interparticle condensation, likely due to the change in the interaction between the tetramine surfactant and the silica precursors. Finally, a highly porous carbon replica with bimodal porosity was prepared by using the bimodal silica as a hard sacrificial template. The microstructure of the silica template was accurately transferred to the carbon material obtaining high surface areas (up to 1300 m² g⁻¹) and total pore volumes ≥2 cm³ g⁻¹.     

Electrochemical properties of polyaniline in p-toluene sulfonic acid solution

Polyaniline was deposited potentiodynamically on a stainless steel substrate in the presence of an inorganic acids (sulfuric acid). The electrochemical characterization of the electrode was carried out by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the organic acids (p-toluene sulfonic acid) solution. The results show that polyaniline has a high specific capacitance of 431.8 F g⁻¹ at 1 mV s⁻¹, high coulombic efficiency of 95.6% at 20 mV s⁻¹, and exhibits a high reversibility. This indicates the promising feasibility of the polyaniline used as an electrochemical capacitor material in the electrolyte of p-toluene sulfonic acid solution especially at high charge–discharge process.     

Reduced N-methyl-pyridylethynyl porphyrins exhibit strong near-IR absorptions

Porphines bearing two N-methyl-4-pyridylethynyl substituent reversibly undergo two one-electron reductions at room temperature. The anion radicals and di-anions show diminished visible bands (450 nm and 600–700 nm) and intense absorptions in the 800-nm and 1100-nm region, respectively. Some of the near-IR bands have extinction coefficients greater than 1.5 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹.     

State to state rotational integral cross sections and rate coefficients of HCP collision with He at low temperature

We report coupled-cluster [CCSD(T)] ab initio calculations of the two-dimensional interaction potential energy surface of the HCP–He complex. The aug-cc-pVTZ and aug-cc-pVQZ gaussian basis sets are used. HCP is held fixed at its linear equilibrium ground vibrational level with the corresponding [H–C] and [C–P] bond lengths set to the values 2.016 bohrs and 2.914 bohrs, respectively. Our calculations are corrected for basis set superposition errors (BSSE). The PES obtained with the above triple zeta basis set has two minima located 22.018 cm⁻¹ and 14.808 cm⁻¹ below the HCP+He dissociation limit. These well depths are shifted to 23.505 cm⁻¹ and 15.949 cm⁻¹, respectively, when the quadruple zeta basis set is used. Our PESs are fitted on a basis of Legendre polynomial functions and state to state rotational integral cross sections of the HCP collision with He are calculated in the close-coupling (CC) approximation. Downward rate coefficients are inferred at low temperature () by averaging the cross sections over a Maxwell–Boltzmann velocity distribution. An analysis of our results shows that for kinetic energies greater than 60 cm⁻¹, the 0→2 transition dominates. The numbers derived here may be very useful for astrophysical observations.     

Enhanced tungstate electrochromism via formation of transparent conductive networks

Indium tin oxide (ITO) nanopowder was added to a polymer film containing WO₃ · H₂O particles to enhance electron conductivity and complimentary Li ion kinetics in an electrochromic device. Film conductivity increased dramatically with ITO content, suggesting the formation of conductive ITO networks in the film. The improved electron conductivity leads to a substantial increase of the effective Li⁺ ion diffusion coefficient in the composite film, from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁹ cm²/s. Electrochromic contrast studies revealed that the presence of the ITO networks leads to enhanced blue/green color contrast.     

Photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy of polymer beads

Photoacoustic (PA) spectra of four types of polymer resin beads, ranging in size from 35 to 150 μm, were acquired using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer capable of both rapid- and step-scan mirror movement. Thermal diffusion lengths were on the order of the particle sizes of the beads. The PA magnitude spectra were similar to absorption spectra; both positive- and negative-going features occurred in the phase spectra. The frequency dependences of the total PA intensities of the polymer resins and carbon black differed by a factor of about f^−0.30. The intensities of the weak bands in the ratioed spectra (resin beads/carbon black) displayed a similar dependence. Partial saturation caused a more gradual variation for the stronger bands, where the intensity is proportional to f^−0.1–f^−0.2.     

Molecular fine structure and transition dipole moment of NO2 using an external cavity quantum cascade laser

Rotational vibrational fine structure and transition dipole moment of NO₂ is measured using Doppler free saturation spectroscopy with an external grating cavity quantum cascade laser (QCL). The QCL wavelength is calibrated using a 310 cm long internally coupled Fabry–Perot interferometer. We obtain a frequency splitting of 139.68 ± 0.06 MHz (0.0047 cm⁻¹) between the spin doublets (17) of 000 → 001 transition of NO₂. The resolution of the QCL based saturation spectrometer is limited by the QCL linewidth of 3.99 MHz ( 0.00013 cm⁻¹) deduced from the half width of the Lamb dips. The Lamb dip spectroscopy is utilized to obtain a vibrational dipole moment of 0.37 Debye for the (17) transitions.     

Solvent effect on the blue shifted weakly H-bound F3 CH…FCD3 complex

Solvent effect on the ν^c frequency of CH stretching vibration of the blue shifted F₃CH…FCD₃ complex has been studied in liquefied N₂, CO, Ar, Kr and Xe. In the case of Xe, the spectroscopic measurements have also been extended to the solid state. It was found that the ν^c position of the complex in the solutions studied lowers with respect to the value in the gas phase. In liquid Xe, characterized by the largest permittivity, this effect reaches its maximum value of −14.5 cm⁻¹. The ν^c frequency begins to grow again just below the freezing point of Xe, where a noticeable (15%) increase of the density of Xe occurs. The experimental results obtained for the liquid phase have been analyzed in the framework of the Onsager-like reaction field model and Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM) implemented into a standard Gaussian 98 Program.     

Cathodic electrophoretic deposition of manganese dioxide films

Cathodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method has been developed for the deposition of manganese dioxide films. It was shown that phosphate ester (PE) is an effective charging additive, which provides stabilization of manganese dioxide nanoparticles in suspensions. The influence of PE concentration and deposition voltage on the deposition efficiency has been studied. EPD has been utilized for the fabrication of porous nanostructured films with thickness in the range of 0.5–20 μm for application in electrochemical supercapacitors (ES). Cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry data for the films tested in the 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ solutions showed capacitive behavior in the voltage window of 1 V. The highest specific capacitance (SC) of 377 F g⁻¹ was obtained at a scan rate of 2 mV s⁻¹. The SC decreased with increasing film thickness and increasing scan rate in the range of 2–100 mV s⁻¹. The deposition mechanism, kinetics of deposition and charge storage properties of the films are discussed.     

Infrared and infrared emission spectroscopy of gallium oxide α-GaO(OH) nanostructures

Infrared spectroscopy has been used to study nano- to micro-sized gallium oxyhydroxide α-GaO(OH), prepared using a low temperature hydrothermal route. Rod-like α-GaO(OH) crystals with average length of 2.5 μm and width of 1.5 μm were prepared when the initial molar ratio of Ga to OH was 1:3. β-Ga₂O₃ nano and micro-rods were prepared through the calcination of α-GaO(OH). The initial morphology of α-GaO(OH) is retained in the β-Ga₂O₃ nanorods.The combination of infrared and infrared emission spectroscopy complimented with dynamic thermal analysis were used to characterise the α-GaO(OH) nanotubes and the formation of β-Ga₂O₃ nanorods. Bands at around 2903 and 2836 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the –OH stretching vibration of α-GaO(OH) nanorods. Infrared bands at around 952 and 1026 cm⁻¹ are assigned to the Ga–OH deformation modes of α-GaO(OH). A significant number of bands are observed in the 620–725 cm⁻¹ region and are assigned to GaO stretching vibrations.     

Enhanced sensitivity for Cu(II) by a salicylidine-functionalized polysiloxane carbon paste electrode

A new approach for decreasing the detection limit for a copper(II) ion-selective electrode (ISE) is presented. The ISE is designed using salicylidine-functionalized polysiloxane in carbon paste. This work describes the attempts to develop the electrode and measurements of its characteristics. The new type of renewable three-dimensional chemically modified electrode could be used in a pH range of 2.3–5.4, and its detection limit is 2.7 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (1.2 μg L⁻¹). This sensor exhibits a good Nernstian slope of 29.4 ± 0.5 mV/decade in a wide linear concentration range of 2.3 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ of Cu(II). It has a short response time (8 s) and noticeably high selectivity over other Cu(II) selective electrodes. Finally, it was satisfactorily used as an indicator electrode in complexometric titration with EDTA and determination of copper(II) in miscellaneous samples such as urine and various water samples.     

Isoconversional kinetics of degradation of polyvinylpyrrolidone used as a matrix for ammonium nitrate stabilization

Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) has been applied to measure the kinetics of the thermal degradation of virgin polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a phase stabilized PVP–ammonium nitrate (AN) material. The PVP–AN samples have been prepared by using 20 wt.% of AN and PVP of three different molecular weights. Virgin PVP undergoes a major mass loss in the region 380–550 °C leaving a small amount of nonvolatile residue. The application of an advanced isoconversional method to the respective degradation process demonstrates that its effective activation energy increases from 70 kJ mol⁻¹ to a plateau value at 250–300 kJ mol⁻¹, which is independent of the molecular weight. The PVP–AN materials lose spontaneously 20% of their mass on heating above the glass transition temperature of the PVP matrix (160–180 °C). After the escape of AN, the remaining PVP matrix degrades in the same temperature region as virgin PVP, however, the effective activation energy of this degradation is 150–200 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Electrochemical kinetics and cycling performance of nano Li[Li0.23Co0.3Mn0.47]O2 cathode material for lithium ion batteries

Li[Li_0.23Co_0.3Mn_0.47]O₂ cathode material was prepared by a sol–gel method. The material had a primary particle size of about 100 nm, covered by a 30 Å of Li₂CO₃ layer. The material showed promising electrochemical performance when cycled up to 3C rate. The electrochemical kinetics of the first charge was much slower than that of the second charge, due to the complex electrochemical process which involved not only Li⁺ diffusion but also release of oxygen. By taking account of this, the material was pre-charged very slowly (C/50) in the first cycle. This led to excellent electrochemical performance in the following cycles. For instance, the 1C-rate capacity increased to 168 mA h g⁻¹ after 50 cycles, comparing with the 145 mA h g⁻¹ obtained without pre-charging.     

Ultrafast dynamics of heat flow across molecules

An ultrafast flash thermal conductance apparatus is used to study heat flow through aliphatic and aromatic molecules arranged in self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). The apparatus consists of a thin metal film which can be flash-heated by many hundreds of degrees in 1 ps using a femtosecond pulse. Heat flow from the metal surface into the SAM molecules is detected using vibrational sum-frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. The SAMs studied were alkanethiolates (AT) ranging from C6 to C24, benzenethiolate (BT) and benzylmercaptide (BMT). SFG in the CH-stretch region selectively probes transitions of the terminal methyl groups of AT and the CH moiety at the 4-position of the phenyl ring of BT and BMT (opposite the thiolate-surface bond). The SFG signal is sensitive to temperature-jump induced thermal disorder of the SAM and also to vibrational frequency shifts induced by the changing intramolecular vibrational populations. The SFG probe functions as a thermometer, and this thermometer is 1.5 Å thick with a response time of 1 ps. In the AT chains, a study of the length dependence is used to determine the rate heat flows across the metal–SAM interface and the rate of heat flow through the AT chains. The interface thermal conductance is 220 GW m⁻² s⁻¹. The AT molecular conductance is 50 pW K⁻¹ or 0.3 eV s⁻¹ K⁻¹. Heat flow through the AT chains is ballistic with a velocity of 1 km/s. Heat flow into BMT is slower than in BT because BMT has one additional methylene linker group. The BT and BMT structures evidence a thermally-initiated surface rearrangement occurring in a few tens of picoseconds. These SAMs are strained and the phenyl rings cannot adopt the most stable staggered herringbone structure. After the T-jump, the SAM molecules have enough freedom to relax into more favorable configurations.     

Simultaneous determination of chloride, nitrate and sulphate in vegetable samples by single-column ion chromatography

A new ion chromatography method is described for the simultaneous determination of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻, using a selected eluent 1.3-mM sodium gluconate/1.3-mM borax (pH 8.5). The extraction methods of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ in vegetables are studied. The determination limits of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ are 0.17 μg/ml, 0.63 μg/ml and 0.81 μg/ml. The linear ranges are 060 μg/ml, 090 μg/ml and 090 μg/ml. The relative S.D. are <2.5%. The mean recoveries of Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻ in vegetables range from 97.0 to 104%.     

Synthesis, characterization and radiolytic properties of bis(oxalato)borate containing ionic liquids

Previously unreported bis(oxalato)borate (BOB) ionic liquids (ILs) containing imidazolium, pyridinium, and pyrrolidinium cations were prepared from the corresponding halide salts by reaction with sodium bis(oxalato)borate (NaBOB), and their properties are reported. Pulse radiolysis experiments revealed that the BOB anion scavenges solvated electrons with rate constants of 3×10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ in the ionic liquid C₄mpyrr NTf₂ and 2.8×10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ in water. This reactivity indicates that BOB ILs may be too sensitive to be used as neat solvents for nuclear separations processes in high radiation fields but may still be useful for preventing criticality while processing relatively “cold” fissile actinides.     

Charge transport modulation of silicon nanowire by O2 plasma

The modification of the electrical characteristics of field-effect transistors (FETs) with channels composed of n- or p-type silicon nanowires (SiNWs) by oxygen plasma treatment is investigated in this study. The SiNWs obtained from silicon bulk wafers are <111> surface-oriented and their doping concentrations are 10²¹ and 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ for the n- and p-type SiNWs, respectively. After the back-gate SiNWFETs were subjected to oxygen plasma treatment, the magnitude of the drain current of the n-type SiNWs was decreased, whereas that of the p-type SiNWs was increased, while the gate-dependent characteristics of both of types of SiNWs were improved. The changes in the electrical characteristics are due to the adsorption of oxygen ions on the surface of the SiNWs. To verify the effect of the oxygen ions, the SiNWFETs were kept in a vacuum for 24 h whereupon their electrical characteristics tended to revert to their inherent state.     

Vibrational satellite of Na(3d ← 3s) dipole-forbidden transition in Na/CF4 mixture

Excitation spectra of Na fluorescence in mixtures with CF₄ display a new band shifted by the energy of one-vibrational quantum of the IR active ν₃-mode of CF₄ (1281 cm⁻¹) from Na 3d states. This band is attributed to a Na(3s)CF₄(ν₃ = 0) → Na(3d)CF₄(ν₃ = 1) transition and its intensity is explained by coupling with Na(4p)CF₄(v₃ = 0) resonance state which lies  180 cm⁻¹ below in energy. An analogous satellite of the Na 6p state combined with the same vibration and lying close to the Na 7p state is reported and discussed.     

Anisotropic exchange interactions in dinuclear systems (Ln = Dy, Tm, Yb): Magnetometry and Dual Mode X-band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopic study

A recently developed experimental and theoretical procedure is used in order to calculate the magnitude and anisotropy of interaction between a lanthanide and a 3d-metal ion. The general formula of the molecular compounds is [Ln(H₂O)₃(dmf)₄(μ-CN)Fe–(CN)₅] · nH₂O where 1  n  1,5 and dmf = N,N′-dimethylformamide, abbreviated as [LnFe] from now on. The main parts of this procedure are (a) the evaluation of the effective g-parameters of the lanthanide ion with the help of EPR measurements. (b) The use of dual mode EPR spectroscopy to define the anisotropic exchange interactions with the help of an anisotropic Hamiltonian model. (c) Use of the same magnetic model to fit magnetization and susceptibility data in order to verify the EPR findings.It was possible to define some trends concerning the exchange components of the [DyFe] dimer according to which the antiferromagnetic isotropic exchange constant is smaller than 4 cm⁻¹ and the anisotropic components are [D_exc, E_exc] = [6(1), 0.0] cm⁻¹. Also for the case of [TmFe] and [YbFe] dimers the antiferromagnetic isotropic exchange constant is smaller than 0.3 cm⁻¹ while the anisotropic components are [D_exc, E_exc] = [12.0, 0.0] cm⁻¹ and [D_exc, E_exc] = [0.4(1), 0.0] cm⁻¹, respectively.