Solute-solvent interaction in liquids. I. Long-range forces and vibrational solvent shifts

The model of solute— solvent interaction based on dipole-induced-dipole forces (Kirkwood-Bauer-Magat) has been generalized, yielding an expression for the energy as a function of solute position and orientalion within a spherical cavity in a dielectric medium. An analogous relation has been derived for the dispersion energy. Barriers to rotation of the solute molecule and shifts in its vibrational frequency are calculated as functions of cavity radius and eccentricity for the case of dilute solutions of HCl in CCl₄. It is found that the effect of dispersion forces on the vibrational frequency of HCl is two-to-three times more important than the traditional dipole-induced-dipole contribution.     

Nuclear Orientation Studies of Magnetic Materials

Low temperature nuclear orientation (LTNO) and nuclear magnetic resonance on oriented nuclei (NMRON) can be utilized to investigate the magnetic properties of solids, and are especially useful when high sensitivity is required, for example in the study of small or dilute systems. Spins of stable isotopes can also be studied using NMR thermally detected by NO (NMR-TDNO) of the radioactive nuclei. An effect of nuclear spin coupling in ordered magnets is frequency pulling of the abundant spins, and this has been investigated in the quasi-2-dimensional ferromagnet ⁵⁴Mn–Mn(COOCH₃)₂4H₂O by comparing the NMRON of the dilute radioactive nuclei with the NMR-TDNO of the abundant host nuclei. A structure in the spectra is observed that is yet to be explained. Recent LTNO experiments on magnetic multilayers are described. Experiments implanting radioactive ions into insulating magnets show that the implanted nuclei experience sizeable hyperfine fields, and this may be useful for probing magnetic materials that are difficult to dope by conventional means.     

Plasma-sprayed chromium oxide: control of mechanical properties using infrared specular reflection

The infrared reflection spectra of Cr₂O₃ samples prepared by the plasma-spray technique are analyzed using the Kramers-Kronig method. As the degree of orientation of the crystalline surface, and hence its mechanical properties, depends on the deposition conditions, infrared reflection spectroscopy provides a convenient method of controlling the quality of plasma-sprayed deposits.     

Unusual behavior in the spin—lattice relaxation of oriented nuclei

In NMR studies of oriented ⁵⁴Mn spins in antiferromagnetic MnCl₂.4H₂O we have observed an unusual behaviour of the γ-ray anisotropy during the spin—lattice relaxation process. It can be understood in terms of the separate responses of the second and fourth rank tensor polarizations.     

Luminescent Ink Based on Upconversion of NaYF4:Er,Yb@MA Nanoparticles: Environmental Friendly Synthesis and Structural and Spectroscopic Assessment

NaYF₄:Er,Yb upconversion luminescent nanoparticles (UCNPs) were prepared by hydrothermal methods at 180 °C for 24 h. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images show that the resulting 60 nm UCNPs possess a hexagonal structure. In this work, maleic anhydride (MA) was grafted on the surface of UCNPs to induce hydrophilic properties. The photoluminescence spectra (PL) show upconversion emissions centered around 545 nm and 660 nm under excitation at 980 nm. The luminescent inks, including UCNPs@MA, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), deionized water (DI), and ethylene glycol (EG), exhibit suitable properties for screen printing, such as high stability, emission intensity, and tunable dynamic viscosity. The printed patterns with a height of 5 mm and a width of 1.5 mm were clearly observed under the irradiation of a 980 nm laser. Our strategy provides a new route for the controlled synthesis of hydrophilic UCNPs, and shows that the UCNPs@MAs have great potential in applications of anti-counterfeiting packing.     

Solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography--mass spectrometry for the determination of free fatty acids in shellfish

A novel analytical protocol for the determination of free fatty acids (FFAs; saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) in shellfish using electrospray ionisation and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is described. Total lipids were extracted from four commercially important shellfish species using chloroform-methanol in a modification of the traditionally used Bligh and Dyer method. FFAs were recovered from lipidic shellfish extracts by solid-phase extraction (SPE) on an aminopropyl-silica column using a 98:2 v/v diethyl ether (DEE)-acetic acid solution. Ether extracts containing the FFAs were evaporated and reconstituted in 70:30 v/v methanol-chloroform before analysis by LC-MS. The limits of quantification (LOQs) of the method ranged from 60 to 560 microgg(-1) wet weight depending on the different FFAs determined with selected ion monitoring (SIM). Results demonstrate that LC-MS is well suited for identification and quantification of FFAs in shellfish and negates the use of sample derivatisation required in gas chromatographic analysis.     

Studies of magnetism by nuclear orientation and NMRON

Low temperature nuclear orientation (NO) and nuclear magnetic resonance on oriented nuclei (NMRON) are used to investigate the magnetic properties of solids, and are especially useful when high sensitivity is required, for example in the study of small or dilute systems. Measurement of the static hyperfine interaction and the nuclear spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times T ₁ and T ₂ yield information about the electronic magnetization and spin dynamics, respectively. A number of NMRON techniques are available and their application to the study of magnetism will be briefly discussed. In particular, the pulsed technique has been shown to be effective for studying insulators. Recent NO and NMRON measurements, primarily on insulating magnets and magnetic multilayers, will be reviewed. Spins of stable isotopes can also be investigated using NMR thermally detected by NO (NMR-TDNO), and this method, in combination with NMRON, has been recently applied in both metals and insulators to obtain information about nuclear spin-spin couplings, “frequency pulling” and nuclear magnons. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Controlled SnO2 nanocrystal growth in SiO2–SnO2 glass‐ceramic monoliths

Crack‐free (100–x) SiO₂–x SnO₂ glass‐ceramic monoliths have been prepared by the sol–gel method obtaining for the first time SnO₂ concentrations of 20% with annealing at 1100 °C. Heat‐treatment resulted in the formation and growth of SnO₂ nanocrystals within the silica matrices. Combined use of Fourier transform–Raman spectroscopy and in situ high‐temperature X‐Ray diffraction shows that SnO₂ particles begin to crystallize in the cassiterite‐type phase at 80 °C and that their average apparent size remains around 7 nm, even after annealing at 1100 °C. Nanocrystal sizes and size distributions determined by low‐wavenumber Raman are in good agreement with those obtained from transmission electron microscopy measurements. Results indicate that the formation and the growth of SnO₂ nanocrystals impose a residual porosity in the silica matrix. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solute-solvent interaction in liquids

The infrared absorption spectra of HCl and DCl in dilute CCl₄ have been recorded over a range of temperatures. The band shapes have been analysed using the method of moments, allowing both the rms torque and rms force acting on the solute to be determined as functions of temperature. It is shown that rotation-translation coupling makes a significant contribution to the dynamics of these polar molecules in solution.