Coupling-probe laser spectroscopy of degenerate two-level systems: An experimental survey of various polarisation combinations

Several absorption and dispersion spectra of a probe and a coupling laser of different polarisations generating electromagnetically induced absorption in atomic caesium were measured and compared. In the case of at least one linearly polarised laser, electromagnetically induced absorption and absorption within transparency were observed for the probe and coupling laser, respectively. For laser beams of counter-rotating circular polarisation the coupling absorption spectra changed from absorption within transparency to transparency within transparency once the medium was saturated. However, the corresponding parametric dispersion spectra remained unchanged in structure.     

Development of a multi-residue analytical method,based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry,for the simultaneous determination of 46 micro-contaminants in aqueous samples

A multi-residue analytical method based on high-performance liquid chromatographic separation, electrospray ionization with tandem mass spectrometric detection (HPLC/MS–MS) was developed for the simultaneous analysis of 46 basic, neutral and acidic compounds covering a wide range of polarity (log K_OW < 0–5.9). The compound list included selected iodinated contrast media, analgesics, anti-inflammatories, stimulants, beta-blockers, antibiotics, lipid regulators, anti-histamines, psychiatric drugs, herbicides, corrosion inhibitors and the gastric acid regulator pantoprazole. The main feature of the presented method was a simultaneous solid phase extraction (SPE) of all analytes followed by simultaneous separation and detection by HPLC/MS–MS with electrospray ionization in both positive and negative polarization within the same chromatogram. Optimization of electrospray drying gas temperature resulted in using a temperature gradient on the ion source. Six different polymeric sorbents for SPE were compared with respect to recoveries, taking into account the specific surface of each sorbent. Method quantitation limits (MQL) in surface and seawater ranged from 1.2 to 28 ng/L, in wastewater from 5.0 to 160 ng/L, respectively. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the method, river water, treated wastewater and seawater were analyzed.     

Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir–Blodgett films of 1-acyl-1,2,4-triazoles

New 1-acyl-1,2,4-triazoles (ATs) with different n-alkyl chain lengths from C2 to C18 were synthesized. ATs with long n-alkyl chains (C12 and larger) are non-charged amphiphilic molecules with a polar triazole head group. The Langmuir isotherms of ATs at the air–water interface with 12 (DoT-C12), 14 (MyT-C14), 16 (PaT-C16) and 18 (StT-C18) carbon atoms in their n-alkyl chains were studied using surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-mmA) measurements. Characteristic for the Langmuir isotherms of PaT-C16 and StT-C-18 was the first sharp increase of the surface pressure at a mmA value of 20 Å² marking a transition of the ATs from the gaseous state with n-alkyl chains already oriented perpendicular to the water surface to a condensed state. The collapse of the monolayers occurred between 20 and 36 mN m⁻¹ with a typical ‘spike’ in the isotherms of MyT-C14, PaT-C16 and StT-C18 which can be assigned to the buckling and subsequent folding of the monolayer. After the collapse point a pseudo-plateau region of slightly increasing surface pressure appeared for all ATs from C12 to C18 indicating a trilayer formation by the roll-over mechanism for MyT-C14, PaT-C16 and StT-C18. Upon further compression the final collapse occurred at π values between 59 and 67 mN m⁻¹. From reversibility studies it was found that the Langmuir isotherms of the ATs were irreversible. The morphology of Langmuir–Blodgett films of ATs transferred onto silicon wafers was studied by atomic force microscopy.     

Experimental studies of the electronic structure of graphene

Graphene, the single layer of hexagonally coordinated carbon, is a two-dimensional material with many unusual properties; its physical realization a few years ago has caused a storm of activities in the solid state physics and materials science communities. The intriguing “massless Dirac Fermion” character of its charge carriers renders graphene a unique study object in condensed matter physics, and we discuss how surface-related techniques such as photoemission, STM and LEED play a prominent role in these investigations. We report on experimental studies of the growth and electronic structure of epitaxial single and few layer graphene on silicon carbide. The unusual band structure of single layer graphene and its evolution as layers are added towards bulk graphite is studied. In the special case of the bilayer, the opening of a gap by inducing an asymmetry through the influence of doping is examined. Finally, the influence of many body processes on the spectral function is discussed on the basis of high resolution photoemission data. The discussion of these aspects gives a comprehensive overview of the electronic structure of graphene as examined by experiment.     

Water exchange reactivity and stability of cobalt polyoxometalates under catalytically relevant pH conditions: insight into water oxidation catalysis

Water exchange on a molecular, purely inorganic cobalt-based water oxidation catalyst, [Co(4)(II)(H(2)O)(2)(α-P(1)W(9)O(34))(2)](10-) (1), in the catalytically relevant pH region (pH 6-10) is studied using (17)O-NMR spectroscopy and ultrahigh-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results are compared with those of the inactive [Co(II)(H(2)O)(1)Si(1)W(11)O(39)](6-) (2), which is stable in the same pH region. The results obtained provide mechanistic details of the elementary reaction step related to the water oxidation on homogeneous metal oxide catalysts under catalytically relevant conditions. It is shown that the structural integrity of 1 and 2 is maintained, no deprotonation of the aqua ligands on the Co(II) centers occurs, and the water exchange does not undergo any mechanistic changeover at the catalytic pH conditions. We have demonstrated that the water exchange process is influenced by the cluster environment surrounding the water binding sites and is fast enough to not be rate-limiting for the water oxidation catalysis.     

Complexation, computational, magnetic, and structural studies of the Maillard reaction product isomaltol including investigation of an uncommon π interaction with copper(II)

The metal complexation properties of the naturally occurring Maillard reaction product isomaltol HL(2) are investigated by measurement of its stability constants with copper(II), zinc(II), and iron(III) using potentiometric pH titrations in water, by structural and magnetic characterization of its crystalline complex, [Cu(L(2))(2)]·8H(2)O, and by density functional theory calculations. Strong complexation is observed to form the bis(isomaltolato)copper(II) complex incorporating copper in a typical (pseudo-)square-planar geometry. In the solid state, extensive intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving all three oxygen functions per ligand assembles the complexes into ribbons that interact to form two-dimensional arrays; further hydrogen bonds and π interactions between the furan moiety of the anionic ligands and adjacent copper(II) centers connect the complexes in the third dimension, leading to a compact polymeric three-dimensional (3D) arrangement. The latter interactions involving copper(II), which represent an underappreciated aspect of copper(II) chemistry, are compared to similar interactions present in other copper(II) 3D structures showing interactions with benzene molecules; the results indicate that dispersion forces dominate in the π system to chelated copper(II) ion interactions.