In Situ Study of the Surface Oxidation of FeCr Alloys Using Grazing Incidence X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (GIXAS)

The surface oxidation of FeCr alloys with 18, 28, and 43 mass‐% Cr was investigated in situ using grazing‐incidence X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (GIXAS) at the chromium and iron K‐edges. Oxidation in air was monitored in situ in the temperature range from 290 K to 680 K. The standard GIXAS data analysis is extended for the treatment of a single layer model in order to estimate the chromium concentrations of the oxide layer and of the near‐interface substrate as well as the oxide layer thickness. XANES analysis shows transitions from b.c.c. Fe to corundum type Fe₂O₃ and from b.c.c. Cr to corundum type Cr₂O₃. The initial oxide layers are 1.1‐1.4 nm thick and contain 60‐90 mass‐% chromium, while the near‐interface substrate is depleted in Cr. During heating, iron oxide growth dominates up to 560‐600 K. Then the chromium oxide layer loses its passivation effect and Cr oxidation sets in.     

Channel activity of a viral transmembrane peptide in micro-BLMs: Vpu(1-32) from HIV-1

We report for the first time on pore-suspending lipid bilayers, which we call micro-black lipid membranes (micro-BLMs), based on a highly ordered macroporous silicon array. Micro-BLMs were established by first functionalizing the backside porous silicon surface with gold and then chemisorbing 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphothioethanol followed by spreading 1,2-diphytanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine dissolved in n-decane. Impedance spectroscopy revealed the formation of single lipid bilayers confirmed by a mean specific capacitance of 0.6 +/- 0.2 microF/cm2. Membrane resistances were in the G omega-regime and beyond. The potential of the system for single channel recordings was demonstrated by inserting the transmembrane domain of the HIV-1 accessory peptide Vpu(1-32), which forms helix bundles with characteristic opening states. We elucidated different amilorides as potential drugs to inhibit channel activity of Vpu.     

Influence of substrate morphology on organic layer growth: PTCDA on Ag(1 1 1)

By UV-excited photoelectron emission microscopy (UV-PEEM) we investigated the microscopic growth behavior of organic thin films using 3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylicacid dianhydride (PTCDA) on a Ag(1 1 1) single crystal substrate as example. Direct, real time observation allows to correlate the initial growth modes and the related kinetic parameters with substrate properties like terrace width, step density, and step bunches from the submonolayer range up to 5 layers or more. Above room temperature PTCDA grows in a Stranski–Krastanov fashion: after completion of the first two stable layers three-dimensional islands are formed. The nucleation density strongly depends on the temperature and the substrate morphology thus affecting the properties of the organic film.     

AES investigations on starting powders for high performance ceramics

AES depth profiles on ceramic powders (untreated/hydrolyzed/oxidized/ (Al, Y)₂O₃ coated Si₃N₄, [BaO, SiO₂] coated Al₂O₃) are feasible on thin, homogeneous layers or m sized agglomerations prepared on an Au foil. By means of the depth profiles one can qualitatively characterize the coating around the particles. Factor analysis of the depth profiles on the differently treated Si₃N₄ powders suggests the existence of an Si₂N₂O phase on the oxidized sample.Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Determination of metal additives and bromine in recycled thermoplasts from electronic waste by TXRF analysis

A new method for analysis of metal additives in recycled thermoplasts from electronic waste was developed, based on dissolving the samples in an organic solvent and subsequent analysis of the corresponding solutions or suspensions by total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (TXRF). The procedure proved to be considerably less time consuming than the conventional digestion of the polymer matrix. Additives containing Ti, Zn, Br, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Pb were analyzed in a hundred randomly selected samples from recycling, which provided an overview of the range of elemental concentrations in thermoplasts utilized for consumer electronics. The results were validated independently by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), subsequent regression analysis confirmed the trueness of the chosen approach.     

Square‐Planar Carbonylchlororhodium(I) Complexes Containing trans‐Spanning Diphosphine Ligands as Catalysts for the Carbonylation of Methanol

The rhodium(I) complexes trans‐[Rh(diphos)(CO)Cl] 7 (diphos=pbpb), 8 (diphos=nbpb), and 9 (diphos=cbpb) were synthesized (Scheme 4) and used as catalysts for the carbonylation of MeOH to AcOH (Scheme 1). The trans coordination imposed by the rigid C‐spacer framework of the diphos ligands pbpb, nbpb, and cbpb, demonstrated by ³¹P‐NMR and IR spectroscopy of 7 – 9 and unambiguously confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis of 7 , improved the thermal stability of the rhodium(I) system under carbonylation conditions and, hence, the catalytic performance of the complexes. For the catalytic carbonylation of MeOH, the active catalyst could be prepared in situ from the mixture of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ and the corresponding diphos ligand pbpb, nbpb, or cbpb, giving the same results as carbonylation in the presence of the isolated complexes 7, 8 or 9 (see Table). The highest activity was observed for complex 7 (or the mixture [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂/pbpb, the catalytic turnover number (TON) being 950 after 15 min (170°, 22 bar).     

Distillation, on-line RP C18 preconcentration and HPLC-UV-PCO-CVAAS as a new combination for the determination of methylmercury in sediments and fish tissue

 Distillation as a way of sample digestion has been combined with on-line RP C18 preconcentration and HPLC-UV-PCO-CVAAS (high performance liquid chromatography – ultra violet – post column oxidation – cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry) for the determination of methylmercury at background levels in sediments, soils and fish tissue. To prove the accuracy of this method, it was applied to sediment and fish tissue reference materials. The results correspond with the reference values within their error ranges. Excellent recoveries (92–95%) were obtained for the sediment samples by means of the standard addition method. The standard deviations of the sediment samples were within an acceptable range (7.2–12.5%), those of the fish samples were substantially lower (3.4–5.0%). The detection limit is 0.04 ng/g for 1 g sample weight. Received: 23 November 1995/Revised: 16 April 1996/Accepted: 20 April 1996     

Molekulare Zusammensetzung von flüssigem Schwefel. Teil: 3 Quantitative Analyse im Bereich 115–350°C

Molecular Composition of Liquid Sulfur. Part 3: Quantitative Analysis in the Temperature Region 115–350°C Relative concentrations of S₆, S₇, S₈, S_x (x > 8) and S_μ (insoluble sulfur) in equilibrium melts of elemental sulfur have been determined from i. r. and Raman spectra. At the freezing point (115°C) the melt consists of 0.6% S₆, 2.8% S₇, 1.5% S_x, and 95.1% S₈. – The solubility of S₇ in CS₂ has been determined at −77 to −26°C; the solubilities of both S₇ and S₈ in CS₂ are considerably enhanced by the presence of S_x. The thermal decomposition of S₈ and S_μ formation from S₆, S₇, and S_x has been investigated.