Hyperfine fields and magnetic properties of barium monoferrite

First we studied the kinetics of the formation of Ba monoferrite by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy. The most important result is the considerable portion of hexaferrite existing after treatment of the starting materials between 800 and 900°C, caused by a higher rate of diffusion of the Ba²⁺ ions in comparison to the Fe³⁺ ions. Second we report susceptibility measurements recorded in a temperature range of 4.3 K to 280 K and Mössbauer spectra at room temperature and at 4.2 K without and in the presence of an applied magnetic field of 6 T. The experimental data demonstrate that the magnetic behaviour of Ba monoferrite deviates to some extent from a simple antiferromagnetic.     

Quantitative evidence of weak isospin mixing in the low-lying isobaric analog resonances in 209Bi

The excitation functions of ${}^{208}\text{Pb}\text{(}\text{p}\text{,}\text{p}{}_0\text{)}{}^{208}\text{Pb}$ have been measured in the energy range E_p = 14.2 to 17.4 MeV in 50 keV steps at θ_lab = 120°, 140° and 160°. The isobaric analog resonances of the parent states in ²⁰⁹Pb up to E_x = 2.5 MeV and the optical-model background were fit simultaneously at all energies and angles. The spreading widths and the values of a parameter β², which measures the isospin purity of the IAR, were determined for the $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>9</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{,}\text{i}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>11</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{,}\text{j}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>15</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{,}\text{d}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>5</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, and $\text{s}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ resonances. An average value of the isospin purity of β² = 66% was found.     

A new method to invert top-gate organic field-effect transistors for Kelvin probe investigations

In this contribution, we present a technique which allows for the investigation of the local channel potentials of a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-based top-gate field-effect transistor. Usually it is impossible to measure the channel potentials of a top-gate transistor with a Kelvin probe force microscope (KPFM) due to the electrical shielding of the top-gate or the weak capacitive coupling of the tip through the thick substrate to the channel. However, by depositing the entire device on a water solvable polyvinyl alcohol layer, devices can be completely detached from the substrate, creating a free-standing functioning organic field-effect transistor (OFET). After detaching, it is possible to laminate the inverted device on another substrate. This method grants access to the usually hidden channel of the top-gate OFET, and therefore KPFM measurements can be performed.     

Electron-beam lithography of cinnamate polythiophene films: conductive nanorods for electronic applications

We report the electron-beam induced crosslinking of cinnamate-substituted polythiophene proceeding via excited state [2+2]-cycloaddition. Network formation in thin films is evidenced by infrared spectroscopy and film retention experiments. For the polymer studied herin, the electron-stimulated process appears to be superior to photo (UV)-induced crosslinking as it leads to less degradation. Electron beam lithography (EBL) patterns cinnamate-substituted polythiophene thin films on the nanoscale with a resolution of around 100 nm. As a proof of concept, we fabricated nanoscale organic transistors using doped and cross-linked P3ZT as contact fingers in thin film transistors.

Electron beam lithography patterns selectively cinnamate-substituted polythiophene thin films via [2+2]-cycloaddition. A nanoscale organic field effect transistor is constructed using cross-linked and doped polythiophene as electrodes.     

Triphenylarsane Oxide Complexes of Lanthanide Nitrates: Polymorphs and Photophysics

trans‐[Ln(NO₃)₂(Ph₃AsO)₄](NO₃)₂ ( 1 ) and mer‐[Ln(NO₃)₃(Ph₃AsO)₃] ( 2 ) complexes were prepared from Ln(NO₃)₃ · xH₂O and Ph₃AsO in chloroform (Ln = Y, Sm, Eu, Tb, and Dy). Production of complexes 1 vs. 2 and solvent content was found to be highly dependent on crystallization solvent choice. Tb and Eu produced only 1 , while the other Ln metals produced both 1 and 2 . Solvent‐free, acetone‐, and methanol‐containing polymorph series were identified for complexes 1 . Acetone/ether‐ and CH₂Cl₂‐containing polymorph series were identified for complexes 2 . Luminescence measurements were performed on solvent‐free 1 (Ln = Y, Eu, Tb, and Dy) and 2 (Ln = Sm) at 78 K. Sensitized lanthanide emission bands via resonance energy transfer were observed in all cases, except the control (Ln = Y). The efficiency of this energy transfer process varies amongst the lanthanide metals studied and was rationalized using Latva's empirical rule and Density Functional Theory calculations.     

Engineered biocompatible nanoparticles for in vivo imaging applications

Iron-platinum alloy nanoparticles (FePt NPs) are extremely promising candidates for the next generation of contrast agents for magnetic resonance (MR) diagnostic imaging and MR-guided interventions, including hyperthermic ablation of solid cancers. FePt has high Curie temperature, saturation magnetic moment, magneto-crystalline anisotropy, and chemical stability. We describe the synthesis and characterization of a family of biocompatible FePt NPs suitable for biomedical applications, showing and discussing that FePt NPs can exhibit low cytotoxicity. The importance of engineering the interface of strongly magnetic NPs using a coating allowing free aqueous permeation is demonstrated to be an essential parameter in the design of new generations of diagnostic and therapeutic MRI contrast agents. We report effective cell internalization of FePt NPs and demonstrate that they can be used for cellular imaging and in vivo MRI applications. This opens the way for several future applications of FePt NPs, including regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy in addition to enhanced MR diagnostic imaging.