Chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles,CS‐AgNPs,using thymus syriacus,wild mint,and rosemary essential oil extracts as reducing and capping agents

The present study describes the green method for the preparation of chitosan loaded with silver nanoparticles (CS‐AgNPs) in the presence of 3 different extracted essential oils. The essential oils play dual roles as reductant and capping agents. The reducing power and DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) assay for the 3 essential oils—Thymus syriacus (T), wild mint (M), and rosemary (R)—have been reported. The preparation of CS‐AgNPs was performed by 2 steps. The 3 previously extracted essential oils have been used as reducing and capping agent in the first step, while in the second step, silver nanoparticles were integrated in chitosan. The integration of AgNPs in the structure of chitosan was confirmed by ultraviolet‐visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy techniques, and energy dispersive X‐ray. Surface plasmon resonance confirmed the formation of CS‐AgNPs with maximum absorbance at λ_max between 405 ‐ 410 and 410 ‐ 430 nm for colloidal and films of CS‐AgNPs, respectively. The intensity of bands at 3408 cm^?1 in the fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements was decreased substantially and shifted slightly to lower frequency (?υ = 43 cm^?1). Scanning electron microscopy shows a spherical morphology of AgNPs with size of 62 nm for both colloidal and film samples, and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis shows peaks confirming AgNPs formation.     

Linear polarization scans for resonant X‐ray diffraction with a double‐phase‐plate configuration

An in‐vacuum double‐phase‐plate diffractometer for performing polarization scans combined with resonant X‐ray diffraction experiments is presented. The use of two phase plates enables the correction of some of the aberration effects owing to the divergence of the beam and its energy spread. A higher rate of rotated polarization is thus obtained in comparison with a system with only a single retarder. Consequently, thinner phase plates can be used to obtain the required rotated polarization rate. These results are particularly interesting for applications at low energy (e.g. 4 keV) where the absorption owing to the phase plate(s) plays a key role in the feasibility of these experiments. Measurements by means of polarization scans at the uranium M₄ edge on UO₂ enable the contributions of the magnetic and quadrupole ordering in the material to be disentangled.     

Nickel deposition on γ-Al2O3 model catalysts: An experimental and theoretical investigation

Recently, surface modifications on a commercial Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst during the production of methane from synthesis gas were investigated by quasi insitu X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) [I. Czekaj, F. Loviat, F. Raimondi, J. Wambach, S. Biollaz, A. Wokaun, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 329 (2007) 68]. The conclusion was that the reactivity and the observed reaction mechanisms on the different Ni particles are influenced directly by both the size and the composition of the particles on the γ-Al₂O₃ support.In this investigation, Ni deposition and cluster growth on model catalyst samples (10 nm thick, polycrystalline γ-Al₂O₃ on Si(100)) were investigated by XPS. Several steps in the binding energy during Ni deposition indicate changes in the cluster growth. The molecular structure of the catalyst was investigated using Density Functional Theory calculations (StoBe) with a cluster model and non-local functional (RPBE) approach. An Al₁₅O₄₀H₃₅ cluster was selected to represent the γ-Al₂O₃(100) surface. Ni clusters of different size were cut from a Ni(100) surface and deposited on the Al₁₅O₄₀H₃₅ cluster in order to validate the deposition model determined by XPS.     

The alpha-iminophospholide ligands

The reaction of phospholide ions with imidoyl chlorides in the presence of tBuOK gives the alpha-iminophospholides that are isolated as their trimethylstannyl derivatives. These derivatives in turn react with metal chlorides to give complexes of the title ligands. A DFT study shows that substantial electronic delocalization takes place between the imino group and the phospholyl ring in these anions. The X-ray crystal structure of one stannylphosphole shows a highly pyramidal phosphorus atom (sum of angles = ca. 280 degrees ). A tetrameric copper complex has also been structurally characterized.     

CN− secondary ions form by recombination as demonstrated using multi-isotope mass spectrometry of 13C- and 15N-labeled polyglycine

We have studied the mechanism of formation CN- secondary ions under Cs+ primary ion bombardment. We have synthesized 13C and 15N labeled polyglycine samples with the distance between the two labels and the local atomic environment of the 13C label systematically varied. We have measured four masses in parallel: 12C, 13C, and two of 12C14N, 13C14N, 12C15N, and 13C15N. We have calculated the 13C/12C isotope ratio, and the different combinations of the CN isotope ratios (27CN/26CN, 28CN/27CN, and 28CN/26CN). We have measured a high 13C15N- secondary ion current from the 13C and 15N labeled polyglycines, even when the 13C and 15N labels are separated. By comparing the magnitude of the varied combinations of isotope ratios among the samples with different labeling positions, we conclude the following: CN- formation is in large fraction due to recombination of C and N; the CO double bond decreases the extent of CN- formation compared to the case where carbon is singly bonded to two hydrogen atoms; and double-labeling with 13C and 15N allows us to detect with high sensitivity the molecular ion 13C15N-.     

Commissioning of a multi‐beamline femtoslicing facility at SOLEIL

The investigation of ultrafast dynamics, taking place on the few to sub‐picosecond time scale, is today a very active research area pursued in a variety of scientific domains. With the recent advent of X‐ray free‐electron lasers (XFELs), providing very intense X‐ray pulses of duration as short as a few femtoseconds, this research field has gained further momentum. As a consequence, the demand for access strongly exceeds the capacity of the very few XFEL facilities existing worldwide. This situation motivates the development of alternative sub‐picosecond pulsed X‐ray sources among which femtoslicing facilities at synchrotron radiation storage rings are standing out due to their tunability over an extended photon energy range and their high stability. Following the success of the femtoslicing installations at ALS, BESSY‐II, SLS and UVSOR, SOLEIL decided to implement a femtoslicing facility. Several challenges were faced, including operation at the highest electron beam energy ever, and achievement of slice separation exclusively with the natural dispersion function of the storage ring. SOLEIL's setup also enables, for the first time, delivering sub‐picosecond pulses simultaneously to several beamlines. This last feature enlarges the experimental capabilities of the facility, which covers the soft and hard X‐ray photon energy range. In this paper, the commissioning of this original femtoslicing facility is reported. Furthermore, it is shown that the slicing‐induced THz signal can be used to derive a quantitative estimate for the degree of energy exchange between the femtosecond infrared laser pulse and the circulating electron bunch.