High-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of chlorine-terminated GaAs(111)A surfaces

Oxide-terminated and Cl-terminated GaAs(111)A surfaces have been characterized in the As and Ga 3d regions by high-resolution, soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Cl-terminated surface, formed by treatment with 6 M HCl(aq), showed no detectable As oxides or As(0) in the As 3d region. The Ga 3d spectrum of the Cl-terminated surface showed a broad, intense signal at 19.4 eV and a smaller signal at 21.7 eV. The Ga 3d peaks were fitted using three species, one representing bulk GaAs and the others representing two chemical species on the surface. The large peak was well-fitted by the bulk GaAs emission and by a second doublet, assigned to surface Ga atoms bonded to Cl, that was shifted by 0.34 eV from the bulk GaAs 3d emission. The smaller peak, shifted by 2.3 eV in binding energy relative to the bulk GaAs Ga 3d signal, is assigned to Ga(OH)3. The data confirm that wet chemical etching allows for the formation of well-defined, Cl-terminated GaAs(111)A surfaces free of detectable elemental As, that can provide a starting point for further functionalization of GaAs.     

Hurst exponent footprints from activities on a large structural system

This paper presents Hurst exponent footprints from pseudo-dynamic measurements of significantly varied activities on a damaged bridge structure during rehabilitation through continuous monitoring. The system is interesting due to associated uncertainty in large-scale structures and significant presence of human intervention arising from fundamentally different processes. Investigations into the variation of computed Hurst exponents on time series of limited lengths are carried out in this regard. The Hurst exponents are compared with respect to specific events during the rehabilitation, as well as with the data collection locations. The variations of local Hurst exponents about the values computed for each activity are presented. The scaling of Hurst exponents for different activities is also investigated; these are representative of the extent of multifractality for each event. The extent of multifractality is assessed along with its source and time dependency.     

Stepping into iSMART: Understanding Science–Mathematics Integration for Middle School Science and Mathematics Teachers

This paper is based on an online graduate program for middle school science and mathematics teachers in Texas titled Integration of Science, Mathematics and Reflective Teaching (iSMART). Launching the program for its first cohort in fall 2010, the authors attempted to answer the following two questions in this paper: (a) How do the members of the iSMART design team and the first cohort of teacher participants define science and mathematics integration with similar and different emphases? and (b) How would these definitions and concerns impact the ongoing design of the program? The iSMART design team members and the participating cohort teachers had a shared view regarding the importance of integration and its possible impact on student motivation. The findings also revealed that the two groups showed some different points of emphasis in their definitions of integration. These issues will be addressed in the ongoing design of the program in the following three areas: (a) design of the second summer meeting activities, (b) greater emphasis on teacher as researcher and action research, and (c) administrative support for teacher collaboration.     

Implementing inquiry-oriented curriculum: From the mathematicians’ perspective

As part of an effort to scale up an instructional innovation in abstract algebra, several mathematicians have implemented an inquiry-oriented, group theory curriculum. Three of those mathematicians (co-authors here) also participated in iterative rounds of interviews designed to document and investigate their experiences as they worked to implement this curriculum. Analyses of these interviews uncovered three themes that were important to these mathematicians: coverage, goals for student learning, and the role of the teacher. Here, by drawing on interview data, classroom data, and first person commentaries, we will present and discuss each teacher's perspective on these three themes.     

The role of problem representation and feature knowledge in algebraic equation-solving

Domain experts have two major advantages over novices with regard to problem solving: experts more accurately encode deep problem features (feature encoding) and demonstrate better conceptual understanding of critical problem features (feature knowledge). In the current study, we explore the relative contributions of encoding and knowledge of problem features (e.g., negative signs, the equals sign, variables) when beginning algebra students solve simple algebraic equations. Thirty-two students completed problems designed to measure feature encoding, feature knowledge and equation solving. Results indicate that though both feature encoding and feature knowledge were correlated with equation-solving success, only feature knowledge independently predicted success. These results have implications for the design of instruction in algebra, and suggest that helping students to develop feature knowledge within a meaningful conceptual context may improve both encoding and problem-solving performance.     

Characterization of the surface of positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries using 7Li MAS NMR

The growth and evolution of the interphase, due to contact with the ambient atmosphere or electrolyte, are followed using ⁷Li magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) in the case of two materials amongst the most promising candidates for positive electrodes for lithium batteries: LiFePO₄ and LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂. The use of appropriate experimental conditions to acquire the NMR signal allows observing only the «diamagnetic» lithium species at the surface of the grains of active material. The reaction of LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂ with the ambient atmosphere or LiPF₆ (1 M in Ethylene Carbonated/DiMéthyl Carbonate (EC/DMC)) electrolyte is extremely fast and leads to an important amount of lithium-containing diamagnetic species compared to what can be observed in the case of LiFePO₄. The two studied materials display a completely different surface chemistry in terms of reactivity and/or kinetics of the surface towards electrolyte. Moreover, these results show that MAS NMR is a very promising tool to monitor phenomena taking place at the interface between electrode and electrolyte.     

Cycloelimination of Imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes: Mechanism and Insights into the Synthesis of Stable “NHC‐CDI” Amidinates

We report the discovery that 1,3‐bis(aryl)imidazolidin‐2‐ylidenes, one of the most widely studied classes of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), undergo quantitative conversion to zwitterionic “NHC‐CDI” amidinates upon heating to ≈100 °C in solution. The mechanism of this novel NHC decomposition process is studied in detail. These studies enabled the rational synthesis of a new class of bench stable amidinates from a panel of NHCs and carbodiimides. We expect these constructs to find utility in a variety of applications.