Impact of silica environment on hyperfine interactions in 𝜖-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles have found broad applications in medicine, especially for cell targeting and transport, and as contrast agents in MRI. Our samples of ??-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by annealing in silica matrix, which was leached off and the bare particles were then coated with amorphous silica layers of various thicknesses. The distribution of particle sizes was determined from the TEM pictures giving the average size ～20 nm and the thickness of silica coating ～5; 8; 12; 19 nm. The particles were further characterized by the XRPD and DC magnetic measurements. The nanoparticles consisted mainly of ??-Fe₂O₃ with admixtures of ～1 % of the α phase and less than 1 % of the γ phase. The hysteresis loops displayed coercivities of ～2 T at room temperature. The parameters of hyperfine interactions were derived from transmission Mössbauer spectra. Observed differences of hyperfine fields for nanoparticles in the matrix and the bare ones are ascribed to strains produced during cooling of the composite. This interpretation is supported by slight changes of their lattice parameters and increase of the elementary cell volume deduced from XRD. The temperature dependence of the magnetization indicated a two-step magnetic transition of the ??-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles spread between ～85 K and ～150 K, which is slightly modified by remanent tensile stresses in the case of nanoparticles in the matrix. The subsequent coating of the bare particles by silica produced no further change in hyperfine parameters, which indicates that this procedure does not modify magnetic properties of nanoparticles.     

Structure of amyloid aggregates of lysozyme from small-angle X-ray scattering data

The structure of filament amyloid aggregates of hen egg white lysozyme in water has been investigated by the small-angle X-ray scattering method. The experimental data are described by different cylindrical models, among which the best agreement is reached with the long helix model. A comparison of the results with the small-angle neutron scattering data reveals the influence of the heavy component of the solvent (a H₂O/D₂O mixture) on the structure of the filaments.     

MR measurement technique of rapidly switched gradient magnetic fields in MR tomography

Gradient eddy currents, induced in the surrounding conductive structures in a magnetic resonance (MR) magnet, are a major problem in MR imaging, in localized MR spectroscopy and in many other MR experiments. We present a comparison of three methods of measuring the gradient time characteristics and the time changes of basic magnetic fieldB ₀ after the gradient is switched off. The methods are based on the selective excitation of a thin layer of the sample and on acquiring the MR signal obtained after the end of the gradient pulse and on the computation of the instantaneous frequency of the signal. At this point, the time gradient characteristic is proportional to the instantaneous frequency of the MR signal, which has a small signal-to-noise ratio. We use the characteristics measured to set the pre-emphasis parameters in a 200 MHz/200 mm MR scanner. From the results obtained by measurement it follows that all methods are convenient for simple and quick characterization of magnetic field gradient in MR tomographic magnets.     

Measurements of cavitation bubble dynamics based on a beam-deflection probe

We present an optodynamic measurement of a laser-induced cavitation bubble and its oscillations based on a scanning technique using a laser beam-deflection probe. The deflection of the beam was detected with a fast quadrant photodiode which was built into the optical probe. The applied experimental setup enabled us to carry out one- or two-dimensional scanning of the cavitation bubble, automatic control of the experiment, data acquisition and data processing. Shadow photography was used as a comparative method during the experiments.     

Discrete and selective absorption in crystalline molecular nanofilms

Recent research in nano-optical engineering and in nanomedicine as well, seeks for methods of construction of various types of nano-markers, nano-carriers, and ways to deliver drugs to the exactly determined regions of body. In this process it is important to find methods of recognition of certain types of molecules. It is obvious that optical recognition would be the easiest and the most effective way to do it. Our research presents a model of a molecular ultrathin crystalline film and generated exciton system inside it and corresponding methodology of analysis of their optical characteristics. Properties of these spatially very restricted structures are very sensitive to their surrounding surfaces. Using the two-time Green’s functions adapted for crystalline structures with symmetry breaking, and graphical-numerical software, we have calculated the energy spectra and possible exciton states. We have shown that the appearance and the presence of localized states on the surfaces and in the boundary layers of the film depend on the thickness of the film and the film surroundings, presented through the perturbation of parameters on surfaces. Optical properties in these structures demonstrate discrete and very selective resonant absorption spectra, depending on the perturbation on their surfaces.     

Gold chloride cluster ions generated by vacuum laser ablation

In this work, a simple way for study the possibility of formation a vapor cluster species of tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl₄), using the laser ablation in the absence of a buffer or reactive atmosphere, and without a postablation supersonic expansion on a commercial matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer, is reported. Tetrachloroauric acid is known as precursor for the synthesis of gold nanostructures and the complex salts; therefore it is an important task to discover and quantify the species arising from HAuCl₄, in order to understand their role in the gold assisted reactions. Mass spectrum of HAuCl₄ in a reflector negative-ion mode contains the hydrated mono- and dinuclear gold clusters in the m/z range 286–436, and gold chloride clusters in the m/z range 447–795. In the first part of spectrum, m/z range 286–436, the hydrated gold cluster species of type Au _n ^? (H₂O)_m (n?=?1–2; m?=?1, 2, 5, 7, 8) and [Au_n(OH)_k]^?(H₂O)_m (n?=?1–2; k?=?1–2; m?=?1, 4–8) were found. Besides that, there are gold chloride clusters with general formula [AuH_r(HCl)₂]^?(H₂O)_m (m?=?1–5; 8–9; r?=?0–2) in this part of spectrum. In the second part of spectrum, the m/z range 447–795, only gold chloride clusters were obtained. Their general formulae can be written as [AuCl_t(HCl)_v]^?(H₂O)_m (t?=?1–4; v?=?5–8; m?=?2–4, 6–8) and [Au_n(HCl)_v]^?(H₂O)_m (n?=?1–2, v?=?4–5, m?=?1–2, 5, 7). The analysis of concentration effects on the LDI mass spectra of gold clusters reveals that the relative intensities of signals for the mono- and dinuclear Au clusters increase with decreasing the concentration of water HAuCl₄ solutions.     

First observation of B(s)(0) → J/ψη and B(s)(0) → J/ψη'

We report first observations of B(s)(0) → J/ψη and B(s)(0) → J/ψη'. The results are obtained from 121.4 fb(-1) of data collected at the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+ e- collider. We obtain the branching fractions B(B(s)(0) → J/ψη)=[5.10±0.50(stat)±0.25(syst)(-0.79)(+1.14)(N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))]×10(-4), and B(B(s)(0) → J/ψη')=[3.71±0.61(stat)±0.18(syst)(-0.57)(+0.83)(N(B(s)(*) B(s)(*))]×10(-4). The ratio of the two branching fractions is measured to be (B(B(s) → J/ψη'))/(B(B(s) → J/ψη))=0.73±0.14(stat)±0.02(syst).     

Theoretical and experimental study of the nanoparticle-driven blue phase stabilisation

We have studied theoretically and experimentally the effects of various types of nanoparticles (NPs) on the temperature stability range [Formula: see text] T (BP) of liquid-crystalline (LC) blue phases. Using a mesoscopic Landau-de Gennes type approach we obtain that the defect core replacement (DCR) mechanism yields in the diluted regime [Formula: see text] T (BP)(x) [Formula: see text] 1/(1 - xb) , where x stands for the concentration of NPs and b is a constant. Our calculations suggest that the DCR mechanism is efficient if a local NP environment resembles the core structure of disclinations, which represent the characteristic property of BP structures. These predictions are in line with high-resolution ac calorimetry and optical polarising microscopy experiments using the CE8 LC and CdSe or aerosil NPs. In mixtures with CdSe NPs of 3.5nm diameter and hydrophobic coating the BPIII stability range has been extended up to 20K. On the contrary, the effect of aerosil silica nanoparticles of 7.0nm diameter and hydrophilic coating is very weak.