Adsorption of nitrogen on single crystal faces of iridium,studied by field emission microscopy

The adsorption of nitrogen on iridium was studied with a field emission microscope equipped with a probe-hole assembly to enable emission experiments on individual emitter regions. The adsorption of nitrogen is markedly face-specific. Temperature programmed desorption reveals three binding states: γ₁ on the (100) face with a maximum heat of adsorption of 7–8 kcal/mole, γ₂ on the regions around (110) with a maximum heat of adsorption of 10–11 kcal/mole and γ₃ on the roughest tip regions (210), (320), (531) and (731) with a maximum heat of adsorption of 13–14 kcal/mole. Nitrogen adsorbed in the γ₁ and γ₃ states causes a decrease, but in the γ₂ state a small increase, in the work function. These results are discussed in relation with data on nickel, palladium, platinum and rhodium. While nitrogen is only weakly adsorbed on all these metals there is a marked difference in the nature of the pertinent adsorption complex.     

Glassy spin dynamics in non-fermi-liquid UCu5-xPdx, x = 1.0 and 1.5

Local f-electron spin dynamics in the non-Fermi-liquid heavy-fermion alloys UCu5-xPdx, x = 1.0 and 1.5, have been studied using muon spin-lattice relaxation. The sample-averaged asymmetry function G(t) indicates strongly inhomogeneous spin fluctuations and exhibits the scaling G(t,H) = G(t/H(gamma)) expected from glassy dynamics. At 0.05 K gamma(x = 1.0) = 0.35+/-0.1, but gamma(x = 1.5) = 0.7+/-0.1. This is in contrast to inelastic neutron scattering results, which yield gamma = 0.33 for both concentrations. There is no sign of static magnetism approximately greater than 10(-3)(B)/U ion in either material above 0.05 K. Our results strongly suggest that both alloys are quantum spin glasses.     

Thin Film, Near-Surface and Multi-Layer Investigations by Low-Energy μ +SR

At the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI, Villigen, Switzerland) the beam of low-energy positive polarised muons (LE-μ ⁺) with tunable energy between 0.5 and 30 keV allows the extension of the muon-spin-rotation technique (μSR) to studies on thin films and multi-layers (LE-μ ⁺SR). The range of these muons in solids covers the near-surface region up to implantation depths of about 300 nm. As a sensitive local magnetic probe with a complementary observational time window to other techniques LE-μ ⁺SR offers the unique possibility to gain new insights in these nano-scale objects. After outlining the current status of the LE-μ ⁺ beam line we demonstrate the potential of this new technique by presenting the results of recent experiments: i) the direct observation of non-local effects in a superconducting Pb film, ii) the oxygen isotope effect on the in-plane penetration depth in optimally doped , and iii) the first observation of the conduction electron spin polarisation in the Ag spacer of a Fe/Ag/Fe tri-layer.     

Observation of two time scales in the ferromagnetic manganite La1-xCaxMnO3, x approximately 0.3

We report new zero-field muon spin relaxation and neutron spin echo measurements in ferromagnetic (FM) (La,Ca)MnO3 which suggest at least two spatially separated regions possessing very different Mn-ion spin dynamics. One region displays diffusive relaxation, "critical slowing down" near T(C) and an increasing volume fraction below T(C), suggesting overdamped FM spin waves below T(C). The second region possesses more slowly fluctuating spins, a linewidth independent of q, and a decreasing volume fraction below T(C). The estimated length scale for the inhomogeneity is 相似文献   

Molecular distribution of some commercial nonylphenol ethoxylates using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) belong to a group of nonionic surfactants that are collectively referred to as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). APEs find widespread use in heavy-duty commercial and household cleaning formulations, shampoos, and industrial processing, i.e. textile manufacture. Their environmental impact depends on the molecular distribution and the extent of their biodegradation in municipal sewage systems, waterways and rivers. We have established two sample preparation methods that have enabled the determination of the molecular distributions of six commercial nonylphenol ethoxylates using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). In both methods, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, dissolved in acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran, was used as the matrix. In one set of experiments, the NPEs were dissolved in an acetonitrile/tetrahydrofuran solvent system prior to mixing with the matrix solution, and the resulting MALDI-TOF mass spectra produced mostly sodiated molecules [M + Na](+). The NPEs, all having the formula 4-(C(9)H(19))-C(6)H(4)-(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)-OH, are Surfonic (R)N-95, N-100, N-102, N-120, N-150 and N-300. Surfonic N-95 and N-100 gave n values of 5-20; Surfonic N-102, N-120, N-150, and N-300 gave n values of 5-21, 5-22, 8-25 and 15-40, respectively. In order to develop a sample preparation method that could be used with less polar NPEs, we dissolved the NPEs (except N-300) in pentane prior to mixing with the matrix solution, and found that the MALDI spectral quality was unaffected by the solvent systems. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetic behaviour of cobalt,iron and manganese dissolved in palladium

This paper is meant to be a report on the experimental work on dilute Pd-based alloys with Co, Fe and Mn. These alloys exhibit the phenomenon of giant moments. The importance of measurements on paramagnetic alloys is emphasized. From these measurements the conclusion can be drawn that Co and Fe dissolved in Pd does not behave like a normal paramagnet, i.e. according to a Brillouin function. This result makes it possible to explain the existing discrepancy in the interpretations of magnetic measurements on one hand and of specific-heat experiments on the other.

The main conclusions of this paper are:

The giant moment should be accounted for by ‘normal’ values of the magnetic quantum number (3/2 for Co, 2 for Fe and 5/2 for Mn) and a large value of geff.

Paramagnetic alloys of Mn in Pd behave according to Brillouin functions, but alloys of Co or Fe in Pd do not. Hence, a number of interpretations of magnetic measurements should be considered as incorrect.

The localized model for ferromagnetism can well account for the magnetic ordering of dilute Pd-based alloys (certainly if c < 1 at.%). A straightforward generalization of the Weiss molecular-field model may be applied.

The transition temperature of Pd-Mn alloys is not proportional to the concentration, but after scaling the behaviour is similar to what has been found for Pd-Co and Pd-Fe alloys. The concentration dependence can be explained from a calculation of the strength of the interaction between two impurity atoms as a function of the distance.

Comparison between alloys with equal concentrations shows that the magnetic ordering in Pd-Mn is not at all exceptional, but analogous to that in Pd-Co and in Pd-Fe. It should be mentioned, however, that Pd-Mn at c > 3 at.% is a so-called spin glass.

Addition of Ag or Rh to Pd alloys with Co, Fe and Mn has important influences on their properties. Unfortunately these effects are not completely understood.     

In‐situ temperature calibration below 1 K using the μ+ Knight shift in CMN

We present μ⁺ paramagnetic shift measurements between 12 K and about 65 mK in cerium magnesium nitrate (CMN) to investigate its utility as an in‐situ temperature calibration source for low temperature μSR experiments. CMN is a salt which exhibits Curie‐law susceptibility to temperatures as low as 5 mK. The μ⁺ Knight shift is measured to be -(1.46\pm 0.03)\times 10^-3/T+(0.004\pm 0.02)\times 10^-3, corresponding to a transferred hyperfine field of -39 Oe/\mu_ B. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of the surface structure on the adsorption of hydrogen on platinum,as studied by field emission probe-hole microscopy

The adsorption of hydrogen on platinum was investigated with a field emission microscope, equipped with a probe-hole assembly to enable adsorption studies on individual emitter regions. Adsorption of hydrogen is markedly face-specific. At 95 K and a hydrogen equilibrium pressure smaller than 2 × 10^?9 Torr the work function decreased strongly on the (111) face but increased on the (110) and (210) regions. Three different adsorption states were observed: β-hydrogen which desorbed above 300 K, α-hydrogen which desorbed around 230 K and a very weakly bound γ-state with a maximum heat of adsorption of 6 $\text{kcal}\text{mole}$. The α- and γ-states caused a decrease, the β-state an increase of the work function. The results show that the relative contribution of these three states and their heat of adsorption depend strongly on the crystal face. The β-state appeared to be absent on a smooth (111) plane. Hydrogen bound in the αstate has a relatively high heat of adsorption on the (111) region. A model has been proposed for the nature of the sites on the different surfaces involved in the adsorption of hydrogen.