Photo field emission spectroscopy of Γ-P AND Γ-〈013〉 bands of tungsten

Photo field emission currents from clean (013) and clean and barium covered (111) regions of a tungsten tip have been measured in a field emission microscope using two wavelengths of laser radiation and phase-sensitive detection. The photo field emission current-voltage characteristics show various slopes and shoulders. These shoulders are considered as correlated with optical transitions between energy bands of tungsten. The final and initial energies are evaluated from the excitation energy and the known lowering of the barrier maximum. The obtained results are in fairly good agreement with the band structure of tungsten calculated by Christensen and Feuerbacher [1]. Except direct transitions which are prevailing also some indirect transitions were found. The slopes of the photocurrent characteristics are discussed.     

Photo field-emission spectroscopy of optical transitions in the band structure of tungsten

Photo field-emission currents of clean and barium-covered tungsten tips in a sligthly modified FEM-configuration have been measured under UHV-conditions by modulating monochromatic mercury arc radiation and phase-sensitive detection. From Fowler-Nordheim plots of the field-emission currents field strength and work function were determined as usual. The photo field-emission current—voltage characteristics show various slopes and shoulders which are dependent on excitation energy, work function, and applied field. The shoulders are interpreted to indicate optical transitions, whose final and initial energies are evaluated from the excitation energy and the Schottky lowering of the barrier maximum. A comparison with the band structure of tungsten as calculated by Mattheiss or Christensen and Feuerbacher demonstrates that apart from single nondirect transitions from or to band extrema direct (k-conserving) transitions are prevailing. Some properties of this new method for the investigation of band structure details are given.     

Cognitive ability experiment with photosensitive organic molecular thin films

We present an optical experiment which permits us to evaluate the information exchange necessary to self-induce cooperatively a well-organized pattern in a randomly activated molecular assembly. A low-power coherent beam carrying polarization and wavelength information is used to organize a surface relief grating on a photochromic polymer thin film which is photoactivated by a powerful incoherent beam. We demonstrate experimentally that less than 1% of the molecules possessing information cooperatively transmit it to the entire photoactivated polymer film.     

A definitive RNAA method for determination of selenium in biological samples: uncertainty evaluation and assessment of degree of accuracy

This article describes work on the development of a highly accurate RNAA method for determination of selenium in biological samples. The analytical post-irradiation procedure is based on a combination of cation-exchange and extraction chromatography with final selective and quantitative fixation of selenium on a column packed with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine (DAB) supported on Amberlite XAD4, followed by gamma-ray spectrometric measurement. The suitability and accuracy of the method was demonstrated by analysing CRMs with certified selenium content. The uncertainty budget for Se determination in standard reference material Peach Leaves NBS 1547 was estimated; the combined standard uncertainty was calculated as 1.7%. The described method fulfils all the criteria for definitive methods. It was subsequently used for determination of selenium in biological materials intended as new CRMs and proficiency test samples.     

Unexpected Factors Affecting the Kinetics of Guest Molecule Release from Investigation of Binary Chemical Systems Trapped in a Single Void of Mesoporous Silica Particles

In this work, we present results for loading of well-defined binary systems (cocrystal, solid solution) and untreated materials (physical mixtures) into the voids of MCM-41 mesoporous silica particles employing three different filling methods. The applied techniques belong to the group of “wet methods” (diffusion supported loading – DiSupLo ) and “solvent-free methods” (mechanical ball-mill loading – MeLo , thermal solvent free – TSF ). As probes for testing the guest1-guest2 interactions inside the MCM-41 pores we employed the benzoic acid ( BA ), perfluorobenzoic acid ( PFBA ), and 4-fluorobenzoic acid ( 4-FBA ). The guests intermolecular contacts and phase changes were monitored employing magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR Spectroscopy techniques and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Since mesoporous silica materials are commonly used in drug delivery system research, special attention has been paid to factors affecting guest release kinetics. It has been proven that not only the content and composition of binary systems, but also the loading technique have a strong impact on the rate of guests release. Innovative methods of visualizing differences in release kinetics are presented.     

Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate,an Inherently Multicomponent Surfactant System

Ethyl lauroyl arginate (LAE) is an amino acid-based cationic surfactant with low toxicity and antimicrobial activity. It is widely used as a food preservative and component for food packaging. When stored, LAE decomposes by hydrolysis into surface-active components Nα-lauroyl–l-arginine (LAS) or dodecanoic (lauric) acid. There are only a limited number of reports considering the mechanism of surface activity of LAE. Thus, we analysed the surface tension isotherm of LAE with analytical standard purity in relation to LAE after prolonged storage. We used quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) computations to determine the preferred hydrolysis path and discuss the possibility of forming highly surface-active heterodimers, LAE-dodecanoate anion, or LAE-LAS. Applying molecular dynamics simulations, we determined the stability of those dimers linked by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. We used the adsorption model of surfactant mixtures to successfully describe the experimental surface tension isotherms. The real part surface dilational modulus determined by the oscillation drop method follows a diffusional transport mechanism. However, the nonlinear response of the surface tension could be observed for LAE concentration close to and above Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC). Nonlinearity originates from the presence of micelles and the reorganisation of the interfacial layer.