Diffusion and localization of o-Ps in D2O determined from positron annihilation in SDS micellar solutions

A microscopic diffusion model is presented for the determination of orthopositronium (o-Ps) lifetime in micellar solutions. Among other parameters, the lifetime density function depends on the o-Ps diffusion coefficient in the water phase. Orthopositronium diffusion coefficients are determined by fitting this lifetime density function to positron annihilation spectra obtained from 1 mol/dm³ solution of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) in D₂O at different temperatures. The activation energy of the o-Ps diffusion in D₂O obtained from an Arrhenius plot as E_a = 0.9₂₂ ± 0.1₀₃ eV indicates strong localization.     

Positronium interactions in organic solvents

In the present work, the chemistry of the positronium (Ps) species has been investigated in pure benzene, pyridine and their mixtures with pyridine concentrations at 4.12, 6.18 and 8.24 M, respectively, using the Doppler-broadened line-shape analysis technique. It is seen that the intensities of the para-(p-Ps) and ortho-Ps (o-Ps) in benzene and that of p-Ps in pyridine follow the Ore-model predictions while the intensity of o-Ps in pyridine is much lower than expected from this model. On the basis of these observations and of decrease in the o-Ps lifetime with increasing pyridine concentration in various organic solvents as reported in literature, it is concluded that pick-off is not the only quenching mechanism for Ps in organic solvents and pyridine is a quencher of Ps-species rather than an inhibitor. Calculations carried out considering a diffusion-controlled mechanism of Ps-quenching in pyridine via unstable (dissociative) complex/adduct formation and the bubble model show that the quenching rate is diffusion controlled and the pick-off rate is in accordance with the free-volume model. These conclusions were confirmed in the mixtures of benzene and pyridine.     

comments on the paper “contribution of quantum effects to the mechanism of positronium reactions”

Some results recently published on the o-Ps quenching reactions promoted by FeCl₂ and K₂Cr₂O₇ in glycerol aqueous solutions were interpreted by supposing that a significant fraction of o-Ps atoms diffuses by a quantum-mechanical effect or in quasi-free states even at room temperature. It is shown that the results can be interpreted in a different manner, so they cannot be invoked for supporting the hypotheses mentioned above about the mechanism of o-Ps diffusion at room temperature.     

Delayed formation and localisation of positronium in polymers at low temperatures

A theoretical model of the positron annihilation lifetime spectrum including the mechanisms of slow positronium (Ps) localisation and delayed Ps formation from a positron and a trapped electron was developed. The model was applied to two series of spectra for low-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) collected at constant temperature (much below the glass temperature) as a function of measurement time. The Ps internal relaxation time and time of localisation of Ps in a free volume centre were determined. The results show that after long irradiation of the polymer a dominant fraction of positrons (unbound in Ps) annihilate from the trapped states. On the basis of parameters determined from the HDPE lifetime spectra, two S(t) curves (for sample in darkness and in light) were calculated. The predicted shapes of S(t) well agree with literature data obtained with the age–momentum correlation (AMOC) experiment. According to the new model the shapes of the para-Ps and the ortho-Ps (p-Ps) components are non-exponential. In spite of this, the multi-exponential decomposition of a polymer spectrum enables to determine correctly the value of the o-Ps lifetime, however the other parameters determined from the spectrum have no simple physical meaning.     

Detection of free volumes in polyaniline complexes with various acids by using positron lifetime spectroscopy

The positron lifetime spectroscopy (PLS), a non-destructive characterization method, utilizes positronium (Ps; an electron–positron bound state) as a probe and measures its lifetime in polymer free volumes. For the first time the free volumes have been estimated by PLS in polyaniline (PANI) complexes with various inorganic and organic acids. It was found that the o-Ps lifetime increases and the intensity decreases with increasing ionic radius of the counter-ions in PANI complexes. Obviously, larger counter anions result in enhanced mean size of the voids corresponding to the free volume in the bulk polymer.Electrical conductivity has been measured by conventional four-probe technique. The glass transition temperature and temperature of removal of the absorbed water have been determined by using differential scanning calorimetry. It was established fairly well correlation of the mentioned polymer parameters with the o-Ps lifetime and the free volume of PANI complexes, respectively. The greater free-volume results in a decrease of conductivity, glass transition temperature and temperature of removal of the absorbed water.     

On the o-Ps quenching reaction promoted by K2CrO4 in aqueous sucrose solutions

The o-Ps quenching reaction promoted by K₂CrO₄ was investigated in different sucrose aqueous solutions to confirm the influence of the dielectric constant of the reaction medium on the rate constant of the o-Ps diffusion-controlled reaction. The results obtained support the existence of such an effect. Its implications for the procedure usually applied for ascertaining if a reaction is diffusion controlled are briefly discussed.     

The use of positron lifetime measurements in a study of electron scavenging by a range of radiosensitizer compounds

Positron lifetime measurements were made in aqueous solutions of a number of radiosensitizer compounds in order to measure the o-Ps inhibition and quenching constants. By making measurements in the presence and in the absence of perchloric acid, the inhibiting effects on the o-Ps yield due to epithermal and trapped electrons could be determined on the basis of the spur model. Inhibition constants relating to the scavenging by the sensitizer molecule of epithermal electrons. (K₁) and traped electrons, (K₂) were found for eight basic nitroimidazoles. The results are also discussed in terms of electron trap depth which is here taken to be equivalent to the one-electron redox potential, E¹₇. It is concluded that o-Ps lifetime measurements alone are not capable of determining the finer details of these spur reactions. Estimates of the respective yields of RS^- and OH^. species in oxygen and R—NO₂ compounds show that these are not able to explain the large differences in sensitizing efficiency.     

Diffusion-controlled adsorption kinetics at the interface between air and aqueous micellar solution of heptaethylene glycol monododecyl ether

The diffusion-controlled adsorption kinetics of micellar surfactant C₁₂E₇ (heptaethylene glycol monododecyl ether) solutions was studied theoretically and experimentally. The corrected diffusion equation, which was used to describe the diffusion of the monomers in the micellar solutions, was solved under the initial and boundary conditions by means of Laplace transformation. The dynamic surface adsorption γ(t) as a function of surface lifetime t, monomer diffusion coefficient D and the demicellization constant was derived. The dynamic surface tensions γ(t) of aqueous submicellar and micellar solutions were measured via maximal bubble pressure method. By analyzing the experimental data, the determined demicellization constant of C₁₂E₇ at 25°C was between 100–116 s^?1.     

Comments on the relation: positronium lifetime – free volume size parameters of the Tao–Eldrup model

The author is discussing the parameters appearing in the Tao–Eldrup (TE) model describing the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) lifetime dependence on the size of free volume in which Ps is trapped. Parameter values are not universal, applicable to all media. The Ps penetration to the bulk should depend on Ps work function; the o-Ps decay rate is strongly influenced by the contact density factor.     

The chemistry of positronium: III. Inhibition and quencing by sikver and cadmium salts

The inhibition ofpositronium formation and the quenching reactions of positronium in aqueous solutions of AgCIO₄, Cd(C10₄)₂ and AgOOC-CF₃ have been studied using the positron lifetime spectroscopy. The variations of the lifetimes of ortho-positronium (0-Ps) wiLls the concentration of the solute in water reveal peculiar features, attributed to the formation of complex ions.     

Free volumes in solids under high pressure

A review of experimental work on ortho-positronium (o-Ps) lifetime in solids under the pressures up to 1 GPa is presented. Among the effects observed at high pressure one can mention: the disappearance of the energy level for Ps at the reduction of free volume size; pressure induced phase transitions; variation of Ps formation intensity with time; increase of o-Ps lifetime after intercalation of high pressure gas to the paraffin samples.     

On the reactions of ortho-positronium with methylmaleic and methylfumaric acids

The o-Ps quenching reactions promoted by methylmaleic (citraconic) and methylfumaric (mesaconic) acids were investigated in aqueous solutions in order to compare their rate constants with those of maleic and fumaric acids. As expected, it was found that the rate constants of citraconic and mesaconic acids are almost equal and are much less than that of maleic acid, which in turn is less than that of fumaric acid. Moreover, it was ascertained that while the o-Ps quenching reactions promoted by maleic and fumaric acids seem to be diffusion controlled, the quenching reactions promoted by citraconic acid are kinetically controlled, its activation energy being 0.45±0.03 eV, which is significantly greater than the activation energy of diffusion-controlled reactions occurring in water, 0.18±0.01 eV.     

Column packings for high-performance liquid chromatography and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

Positron annihilation measurements as a function of temperature and the length of bonded alkyl groups have been carried out on silica gel samples. Silica gel samples were bare and bonded with alkyl group from C1 up to C18. The diameters of pores were deduced from the lifetime of trapped ortho-positronium (o-Ps), and it was found that o-Ps lifetime provides reasonable information on the pore sizes for both bare and alkyl bonded silica gels.     

Magnetic quenching of positronium in organic solutions

The magnetic quenching of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) in some pure nonpolar liquids (n-hexane, cyclohexane and benzene) and solutions (nitrobenzene in n-hexane, cyclohexane and benzene; and carbon tetrachloride and biphenyl in n-hexane) is examined for steady magnetic fields up to 14 kG by the positron annihilation lifetime technique. The long lifetime of o-Ps is very sensitive to the strength of the external magnetic field, decreasing as the field strength increases. This effect follows from a well-known principle of atomic physics, the quadratic Zeeman effect. With one exception, all the liquids studied here appear to be normal in this regard. The exception is nitrobenzene in n-hexane, which shows a very marked enhancement of quenching beyond the Zeeman effect at low fields.     

Solvatochromic study on nitroanilines. Preferential solvation vs dielectric enrichment in binary solvent mixtures

The preferential solvation approach and the dielectric enrichment model have been applied to explain the solvatochromic behavior of o-, m- and p-nitroaniline (oNA, mNA and pNA) in several binary solvent mixtures. Cyclohexane was used as the “inert” nonpolar cosolvent in every mixture. The other solvents were chosen trying to vary their polarity as much as possible as well as their hydrogen bond donor or acceptor capabilities. Preferential solvation is detected in every solvent mixture studied. These global interactions were quantified by calculating the preferential solvation constant, K. Also, by using the previously developed model, we calculated for each pair of solvent mixtures a theoretical curve and the corresponding K_D due to dielectric enrichment. Non hydrogen bond acceptor solvents (β=0), give values of K quite similar to those of K_D, indicating that the preferential interaction is practically dielectric in nature. When the interacting solvent is a hydrogen bond acceptor, the values of K are higher than K_D according to the acidity of the H in the amino group in the solutes. The values of K as well as of K_D for any solvent mixtures in general follow the order pNA > mNA > oNA as expected, considering the values of μ_g and μ_g-μ_ex. Studies in pure solvent support previous conclusions.     

Diffusion of water in solutions of alkali metal bromides,tetraalkylammonium bromides and ammonium bromide

The diffusion coefficient of water D _w in aqueous solutions of the alkali metal bromides, tetraalkylammonium bromides (methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl) and ammonium bromide at 25°C is reported for concentrations up to 2 mol-dm^–3. In addition, values for D _w in 2 mol-dm^–3 solutions of CsBr, KBr, NaBr, LiBr, and fully deuterated methanol, acetonitrile, and acetone have been measured for temperatures in the range 5 to 50°C. The concentration dependence of the relative water diffusion coefficient D _w /D _o , where D _o is the self-diffusion coefficient of water, has been analyzed in terms of an equation analogous to the Jones-Dole equation for relative viscosity. The B-coefficient for diffusion is well correlated with the viscosity B-coefficient. For the structure-breaking electrolytes CsBr and KBr, D _w /D _o decreases rapidly with increasing temperature, whereas for the structure-makers NaBr and LiBr, the temperature dependence of D _w /D _o has the same sign but is much smaller in magnitude. For the nonelectrolyte solutions, the structure-making effect decreases with increasing temperature and the temperature coefficient of D _w /D _o is positive. It is apparent that, when diffusion of the solvent is being considered, the temperature must be taken into account in the classification of an electrolyte as a structure-breaker or structure-maker.     

Diffusing probe measurements in Newtonian and elastic solutions

The diffusion coefficients of polystyrene latex spheres and hematite particles in both Newtonian and elastic liquids have been measured using dynamic light scattering. The diffusion coefficients of the latex particles measured in glycerol/water (Newtonian) solutions obey Stokes–Einstein behaviour over a range of solvent viscosities and temperatures. Two apparent diffusion coefficients for the particles are measured in visco-elastic polyacrylamide and polyacrylate solutions and are designated D_fast and D_slow. The apparent fast diffusion coefficients measured in the elastic solutions show an increase to a maximum, above that measured in the solvent water, with increasing polyelectrolyte concentration. At higher polyelectrolyte concentrations the observed D_fast values decrease below the value obtained in the solvent water. D_fast increases with the scattering vector squared (q²) while D_slow, is independent of q².     

Open spaces and molecular motions of acrylic epoxy-based network polymers probed by positron annihilation

Lifetime spectra of positrons have been measured for acrylic epoxy-based network polymers. For the specimens with the different permeability coefficients to water vapor C_p, the lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) τ₃ increased with increasing C_p. This fact suggests that the permeability increases with an increase in the size of open spaces. From measurements of temperature dependencies of τ₃ and the intensity of o-Ps, three onset temperatures for the change in the temperature gradient of these parameters were determined. The highest onset temperature (T_α = 300–325 K) was identified to be the glass transition temperature, and others (T_γ = 90–180 K and T_β = 160–205 K) were associated with the onset temperatures for limited local motions of molecules; those molecular motions were found to be affected by both the number of crosslinks and the presence of free side chains. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2875–2880, 1999     

Influence of vinylidenefluoride on the physical ageing of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene)

The influence of vinylidenefluoride (3% composition) on the physical ageing of poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene) at 70 °C has been investigated using the positron annihilation lifetime technique. Both the ortho-positronium (o-Ps) pick-off lifetime and its intensity show a systematic variation with ageing time. The o-Ps intensity exhibits non-exponential character which can be fitted with two additive exponential decay curves and the free volume is found to exhibit the Doolittle type of free volume relaxation. The relaxation times were evaluated from the structural relaxation function and the non-exponentiality parameter was estimated using the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts (KWW) function, which indicates the deviation from exponential relaxation. Based on the relaxation times, the activation energies calculated seems to label the different kinetic units/irregularity in the chain backbone of PCTFE structure participating in the relaxation process. Physical ageing seems to yield close packing of polymer chains.     

Thermal variation of free-volumes size distribution in polypropylenes. Probed by positron annihilation lifetime technique

Positron annihilation lifetime measurement was applied to the study of free-volume properties in three kinds of polypropylene as a function of temperature in the range of 25–180°C at thermal equilibrium. Positron lifetime data for polypropylenes were analyzed with a Laplace inversion technique in order to obtain continuous positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) distributions. At each temperature, four distinct PAL distributions were recognized. The distribution of the longest lived component was associated with a pick-off annihilation of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) trapped in free-volume of amorphous region, which grew bigger as the temperature increased. The hole radius distributions of free-volumes were estimated from the results of o-Ps lifetime distributions. A detailed analysis showed a mean radius of free volumes was 0.34 nm at room temperature and that was 0.42 nm near the melting point for each specimen. The distributions of hole radii of free volumes were found to be broader after thermal treatments. The relaxation of free volumes was attributed to the thermal equilibrium and the evacuation of included molecules in free volumes. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.