Interactions of O(2) with Pd nanoparticles on alpha-Al(2)O(3)(0001) at low and high O(2) pressures

The interaction of O(2) with small Pd particles (2-10 nm) supported on an alpha-Al(2)O(3)(0001) single crystal under both ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) and high-pressure conditions has been studied by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), temperature-programmed low-energy ion scattering (TP-LEIS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A low O(2) exposure (30 L) at 500 K leads to surface oxygen adatoms on the Pd nanoparticles, which desorb in TPD as O(2) in a peak at approximately 880 K. Surface O adatoms on the smallest Pd particles move to subsurface sites starting at 400 K, and they almost all move subsurface by approximately 750 K, desorbing mainly at considerably higher temperature. The dominant oxygen species above 700 K is subsurface, implying that it is more stable than oxygen adatoms on Pd. Exposures of the Pd nanoparticles to 25 Torr O(2) at 373-473 K readily convert the Pd to a species whose Pd XPS peak shifts by the same amount as the binding energy difference between bulk Pd and bulk PdO. We attribute this to PdO nanoparticles (or a thin film of PdO on or under the Pd for the larger particles). The decomposition of the PdO on these nanoparticles to Pd in an equilibrium O(2) pressure of 10-7 Torr does not occur until approximately 750 K, or approximately 200 K higher than the equilibrium decomposition of bulk PdO. This is attributed to the higher energy of Pd nanoparticles compared to bulk Pd and, for the larger particles, to the adhesion energy of the PdO film to the Pd, both of which stabilize the PdO on these Pd nanoparticles relative to bulk PdO. This PdO-like film on the larger particles may be similar to the ordered oxide thin film previously reported to form on Pd(111) but may also reside at the alpha-Al(2)O(3) interface and be partially stabilized by adhesion to this interface.     

Deformation of 2-Step Nilmanifolds with Abelian Complex Structures

We develop deformation theory for abelian invariant complexstructures on a nilmanifold, and prove that in this case theinvariance property is preserved by the Kuranishi process. Apurely algebraic condition characterizes the deformations leadingagain to abelian structures, and we prove that such deformationsare unobstructed. Various examples illustrate the resultingtheory, and the behavior possible in three complex dimensions.     

Synthesis of a new intercalating nucleic acid analogue with pyrenol insertions and the thermal stability of the resulting oligonucleotides towards DNA over RNA

Abstract  

A new intercalating nucleic acid monomer Y was obtained via alkylation of pyren-1-ol with (S)-(+)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethanol under Mitsunobu conditions followed by hydrolysis with 80% aqueous acetic acid to give a diol which was tritylated with 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride followed by treatment with 2-cyanoethyltetraisopropylphosphordiamidite in the presence of N,N′-diisopropylammonium tetrazolide. In this way the monomer Y was obtained as its dimethoxytrityl-protected phosphoramidite building block for standard DNA synthesis. The corresponding oligonucleotides from Y have nearly identical hybridization properties with those of intercalating nucleic acid (INA) where neighboring oxygen and carbon atoms are interchanged in the linker. The synthesis of monomer Y avoids the use of allergic intermediates which are a problem in the synthesis of INA.     

Logarithmic order and type of indeterminate moment problems II

We show that there exist indeterminate Stieltjes moment problems with prescribed common logarithmic order and type.     

Time-domain multimode dispersion measurement in a higher-order-mode fiber

We present a new multimode dispersion measurement technique based on the time-of-flight method. The modal delay and group velocity dispersion of all excited modes in a few-mode fiber can be measured simultaneously by a tunable pulsed laser and a high speed sampling oscilloscope. A newly designed higher-order-mode fiber with large anomalous dispersion in the LP(02) mode has been characterized using this method, and experimental results are in good agreement with the designed dispersion values. The demonstrated technique is significantly simpler to implement than the existing frequency-domain or interferometry-based methods.     

Physical processes in azobenzene polymers on irradiation with polarized light

Azobenzenes can serve as model compounds for the study of transcis isomerization in more complex molecules. We have performed time-resolved spectroscopy in solutions containing free azobenzene chromophores and diols with a view to obtaining the energy levels and lifetimes of the excited states. A transition route based on experimental results for the theoretically calculated energy level scheme is proposed. Physical observations of surface relief in thin films of azobenzene polymers when irradiated with polarized light are reported. These include two beam polarization holographic observations and single beam transmission measurements through a mask, followed by atomic force microscope and profiler investigations. It is concluded that none of the prevalent theories can explain all the observed facts.