Combined use of SEM-EDS, OM and XRD for the characterization of corrosion products grown on silver roman coins

In the framework of the PROMET project (European Commission contract No. 509126) aimed to develop new analytical techniques and materials for monitoring and protecting metal artefacts and monuments from the Mediterranean region, the corrosion products grown on silver Roman coins during archaeological burial is studied by means of scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy (OM) techniques. PACS 68.55.Jk; 68.35.Dv; 68.37.Hk; 68.55.Nq; 81.05.Bx     

On the thermodynamic limit of the B.C.S. state

We consider vector states in the Fock representation of the C.A.R. algebra, representing condensed pair states. We prove that in the thermodynamic limit these states give rise to a direct integral of gauge-dependent B.C.S. states.Partially supported by C.N.R.Equipe de Recherche associée au C.N.R.S. n^o 154.     

On the mathematical structure of the B.C.S.-model

It is investigated in which sense the Bogoliubov-Haag treatment of the B.C.S.-model gives the correct solution in the limit of infinite volume. We find that in a certain subspace of the infinite tensor product space the field operators show the correct time behaviour in the sense of strong convergence.This work was partly supported by General Atomic Europe, partly by the Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft.     

On the mathematical structure of the B.C.S.-model. II

It is shown for the degenerate B.C.S.-model how in the limit of an infinite system the exact thermal Greens-functions approach a gauge invariant average of the one's calculated with the Bogoliubov-Haag method.Work performed as consultant to General Atomic Europe.     

E.S.R. study of copper and silver N,N-dialkyldiselenocarbamates

Single-crystal E.S.R. studies of Cu(II) diethyldiselenocarbamate and Cu(II) diethyldithiocarbamate, diluted in the corresponding Zn(II) complexes, are reported. The pure copper and zinc crystals consist of dimeric units. When copper is built into the zinc lattice, dimers are formed with one copper and one zinc atom. The g-tensor, the metal hyperfine and quadrupole coupling tensors and also the hyperfine coupling tensors of the ligand selenium atoms have been obtained. Especially, from the measured selenium hyperfine couplings, it could be concluded that the guest molecules do not accept the structure of the host crystal, but have a structure similar to that of the pure copper compound. This is in contrast to the situation in systems where monomeric host crystals (e.g. nickel (II) complexes) are used and where it is found that the guest molecules do accept the structure of the host. As in the monomeric diselenocarbamate systems, in these dimers the principal axes of the g and metal hyperfine coupling tensor do not coincide. In the dimers a rotation of the hyperfine principal axes has taken place in the plane of the molecule, while a rotation of the g-tensor axes in a plane perpendicular to the molecule is typical for the monomeric systems.     

Combined use of surface and micro-analytical techniques for the study of ancient coins

By means of the combined use of surface and micro-analytical techniques the surface chemical composition of ancient coins and some aspects of their manufacturing techniques and of degradation mechanisms have been elucidated. Two case histories are described concerning silver Roman Republican coins and some coins plated with thin films of silver and gold. In particular, the coinage methods, the silvering and gilding techniques and the origin of the embrittlement of these selected Roman coins have been studied by means of the combined use of selected-area X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SA-XPS) and scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM+EDS). This innovative approach has been utilised in order to gain further insight into the microchemical structure of the external regions of the coins as well as of the bulk features. The results show the use of mercury to coat a copper or silver core with a thin film of precious metals that could be considered the most important advance in the technology of gilding to be made in antiquity. Furthermore, the microchemical investigation of brittle Roman silver coins has allowed us to identify the origin of this troublesome problem. The microchemical results indicate that brittleness is induced by the presence of a low amount of lead that is retained in supersaturated solution when the cast blank was produced. This latter element segregates at the grain boundaries during the coin production and the subsequent long-term ageing at room temperature, thus inducing the alloy fracturing along the weakened grain boundaries. PACS 68.55.Jk; 68.35.Dv; 68.37.Hk; 68.55.Nq; 81.05.Bx     

Determination of the provenance of medieval silver coins: potential and limitations of x‐ray analysis using photons,electrons or protons

One hundred and fifty seven ‘Tiroler Kreuzer’, a medieval currency from the county of Tyrol/Austria, were analysed in order to determine their place of mintage. The silver coins were produced during the 15th century in the mints of Merano (South Tyrol) and Hall (North Tyrol) but they have no marks or punches which would allow a clear distinction. Energy‐dispersive x‐ray fluorescence analysis (EDXRF) was applied without sampling in order to determine the silver contents and also minor (Cu, Pb, Bi) and trace elements (Fe, Au, Hg, Ni). Owing to corrosion processes, which changed the chemical composition of the surfaces of the coins, investigations of cross‐sections were necessary using energy‐dispersive x‐ray microanalysis in a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX) to determine the stage of corrosion and the Ag concentration of the core of the coins. The results showed differences of up to 50% between the composition of the core and the surface. Finally, proton‐induced x‐ray emission (PIXE) at an external proton beam was applied, in order to detect also Ni, an element which could not be measured by either EDXRF or SEM/EDX in the ppm range. The data show a clear difference in the Ni content between the coins from Merano (～0.1% Ni) and Hall (～0.01% Ni). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ordering behaviors of the F.C.C. and B.C.C. phase alloys in the InMg,LiMg and AlZn systems

Expressions of the band-structure energy and the electrostatic energy characterized by the usual long-range and short-range order parameters are given to a binary alloy of simple metals with the f.c.c.-type or b.c.c.-type structure.The ordering energy and the local ordering energy are calculated for the InMg, LiMg and AlZn systems. The numerical results explain successfully the facts that the InMg system has the Ll₀-type and Ll₂-type ordered phases, each of which exists over a wide range of concentration and that the LiMg system has a local order with a negative short-range order parameter, while the AlZn system has that with the positive one. A lattice distortion in the Ll₀-type ordered structure of InMg is also discussed.     

Interstitialcy diffusion in B. C. C. metals and dilute alloys

The fundamental processes whose knowledge is necessary to the understanding of interstitialcy diffusion in bcc—as compared to fee—lattices are discussed. A major difference is that there is no possible cage effect for mixed <IIO> dumbbells in bee lattices, whatever the jump mechanism (with or without rotation) may be. Besides, jumps without rotation are favoured in bee's as compared to fee's. For these two reasons, long range diffusion of solute atoms apt to form mixed interstitials, by an interstitialcy mechanism, that is at low temperature, should be greatly favoured in bcc lattices.     

Dissociation of non-screw dislocations in B.C.C. lattice

A non-planar dissociation of non-screw 1/2[¯111] (110) dislocations is proposed. The dissociation is possible for dislocations of [1¯11] and [1¯10] directions and the dislocations of these directions become sessile. The [1¯11] and [1¯10] directions are in agreement with experimentally observed shape of dislocations in the (110) glide plane.     

XAFS study of copper and silver nanoparticles in glazes of medieval middle-east lustreware (10th–13th century)

It has recently been shown that lustre decoration of medieval and Renaissance pottery consists of silver and copper nanoparticles dispersed in the glassy matrix of the ceramic glaze. Here the findings of an X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) study on lustred glazes of shards belonging to 10th and 13rd century pottery from the National Museum of Iran are reported. Absorption spectra in the visible range have been also measured in order to investigate the relations between colour and glaze composition. Gold colour is mainly due to Ag nanoparticles, though Ag⁺, Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions can be also dispersed within the glassy matrix, with different ratios. Red colour is mainly due to Cu nanoparticles, although some Ag nanoparticles, Ag⁺ and Cu⁺ ions can be present. The achievement of metallic Cu and the absence of Cu²⁺ indicate a higher reduction of copper in red lustre. These findings are in substantial agreement with previous results on Italian Renaissance pottery. In spite of the large heterogeneity of cases, the presence of copper and silver ions in the glaze confirms that lustre formation is mediated by a copper- and silver-alkali ion exchange, followed by nucleation and growth of metal nanoparticles.     

X-ray properties and interface study of B4C/Mo and B4C/Mo2C periodic multilayers

We present a comparative study of B₄C/Mo and B₄C/Mo₂C periodic multilayer structures deposited by magnetron sputtering. The characterization was performed by grazing incidence X-ray reflectometry at two different energies and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The experimental results indicate the existence of an interdiffusion layer at the B₄C-on-Mo interface in the B₄C/Mo system. Thus, the B₄C/Mo multilayers were modeled by an asymmetric structure with three layers in each period. The thickness of B₄C-on-Mo interfacial layer was estimated about 1.1 nm. The B₄C/Mo₂C multilayers present less interdiffusion and are well modeled by a symmetric structure without interfacial layers. This study shows that B₄C/Mo₂C structure is an interesting alternative to B₄C/Mo multilayer for X-ray optic applications.     

On the formation and extent of uptake of silver nanoparticles by live plants

In this work we investigate the limits of uptake of metallic silver by two common metallophytes, Brassica juncea (BJ) and Medicago sativa (MS) and assess the form and distribution of the metal once sequestered by the plants. BJ accumulated up to 12.4 wt.% silver when exposed to an aqueous substrate containing 1,000 ppm AgNO₃ for 72 h, however silver uptake was largely independent of exposure time and substrate silver concentration. MS accumulated up to 13.6 wt.% silver when exposed to an aqueous substrate containing 10,000 ppm AgNO₃ for 24 h. In contrast to BJ there was a general trend for MS showing an increase in metal uptake with a corresponding increase in the substrate metal concentration and exposure time. In both cases the silver was stored as discrete nanoparticles, with a mean size of ∼50 nm. According to the hyperaccumulation definition of Brooks et al. (Brooks RR, Chambers MF, Nicks LJ, Robinson BH (1998) Phytomining. Trends Plant Sci 3:359–362), this is the first report of the hyperaccumulation of silver in any plant species.     

On the controversial formation of silver diboride: Processing of Ag + 2B powders by spark plasma sintering

Following recent theoretical studies based on electronic structure calculations conducted on Ag- and Au-borides which estimated their superconducting behaviour at elevated transition temperatures, the preparation of AgB₂ was attempted in this work by reactive Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) from Ag and B elemental powders. It was found that, independently from the processing conditions adopted, the formation of a new phase, which corresponds to a small peak on the XRD pattern at 2θ equal to about 28°, cannot be attributed to AgB₂. In fact, it was shown that the new phase detected on sintered pellets is most likely boric acid which is formed only if the sample is left in contact with air. If SPSed samples were stored under inert (Ar) atmosphere, no additional phases other than unreacted elements were observed.     

Theoretical study on C100 fullerenes and C96X4 (X=N,P, B,Si)

The geometrical structures and electronic properties of six fullerene isomers of C₁₀₀ were studied at the HF/6-31G^? and B3LYP/6-31G^? levels, respectively. The results of the fully optimized calculations show that three C₁₀₀ isomers 449:D₂, 425:C₁ and 442:C₂ are near isoenergetic isomers. The energies and properties of C₁₀₀ hexaanions were calculated. The C₁₀₀^6? (450:D₅) isomer is predicted to be the most stable isomer at the B3LYP/6-31G^? level, and the C₁₀₀^6? (449:D₂) isomer is 44.1 kcal/mol higher in energy. The heterofullerenes C₉₆X₄ (X=N, P, B, Si) formed from the initial C₁₀₀ (449:D₂) have also been investigated at the B3LYP/6-31G^? level. The HOMO–LUMO gaps and aromaticities show that the replacement of fullerene carbon atoms with four heteroatoms can enhance the electronic stabilization of C₁₀₀ (449:D₂).     

Synthesis and photophysical study of silver nanoparticles stabilized by unsaturated dicarboxylates

Solution-phase synthesis of nanometer-sized silver particles is reported by sodium borohydride reduction of AgNO_3. Two isomeric dicarboxylates (sodium maleate and sodium fumarate) have been used as stabilizing agents. The dicarboxylate-stabilized silver nanoparticles are characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. A qualitative comparison is made between the UV-vis spectral characteristic of the SPR band and the simulated curve obtained from modified Mie's theory. Silver nanoparticles prepared using these two isomeric dicarboxylates show intense fluorescence in the visible region. DFT with hybrid functional (B3LYP)-based frequency (IR) calculation of both the dicarboxylates and the respective nanoparticles are in good agreement with the experimental IR frequency. On the basis of this calculation a model has been proposed for the stabilization of silver nanoparticles by these two isomeric dicarboxylate anions.     

A study of N by means of the B(α, α)B reaction

The ¹¹B(α, α)¹¹B cross section has been measured as a function of energy and angle for bombarding energies from 4 to 8 MeV. Many resonances are observed. The data from 4 to 5 MeV were fitted using an R-matrix formalism with background phase shifts evolved from an optical-model potential. The three levels in ¹⁵N resulting from this analysis fit into the APCETS scheme for ¹⁵N.