Adsorption of carbon monoxide on polycrystalline nickel films

The adsorption states of carbon monoxide on polycrystalline nickel films have been investigated by measuring the thermal desorption, the heat of adsorption, the change in resistivity, and the change in work function in dependence on coverage and temperature. It can be shown that there are two chemisorbed (β₂, β₂) and one weakly bound (γ) species. Desorption peaks appear at 170K, 310–360 K, and 460–490 K. The differential heat of adsorption is $\text{30}\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ at low coverages and approximately $\text{25}\text{kcal}\text{mole}$ between 0.3 and 0.6 monolayers. The resistivity of the nickel film is characteristically changed with increasing coverage, and there is a maximum of resistivity at half a monolayer. At low coverages the increase in the work function is proportional to the amount adsorbed; at a monolayer the total increase is 1.26 eV at 77 K and 1.46 eV at 273 K. The two chemisorbed species differ only in the structures they form in the adsorption phase, β₂ being the species that is stable at low coverages, β₁ being the species that is stable at high coverages. These results are in good agreement with those recently found for CO adsorption on single crystal surfaces.     

Space-Dispersion Approach to the Explanation of the Higgs-Mechanism

Proofs have been given that gauge transformations are needed in order to make finite the divergent space-dispersions evaluations occurring as a result of the scalar-field translation. So, the Higgs-mechanism works only if there is a finite maximum value of the emerging space-dispersion evaluation of the scalar field. The space dispersion thus used is expressed by the imaginary part of the average-value of the non-hermitian space-operator.     

Interatomic force constants and lattice vibrations of AlP,AlAs and AlSb

The interatomic force constants and the phonon dispersion curves of AlP, AlAs, and AlSb are obtained from the electronic theory of solids by using our presented binding force, which includes mainly covalent interactions in the pseudopotential formalism and partially ionic interactions. The potential-parameter, effective ionic charge and ionic fraction of AlP and AlAs are estimated from those of AlSb and other III–V tetrahedrally- bonded compounds in spite of no experimental information on the band- calculation and the neutron scattering data of AlP and AlAs. Numerical data for the crystal energy of AlP and AlAs are in good agreement with the observed data, and the obtained results for the phonon dispersion curves and bulk modulus are useful to study the lattice dynamics and anharmonic properties of these compounds.     

Organically modified Pd-silica catalysts applied in Heck coupling

Pd-silica catalysts prepared by depositing Pd onto silica precursors modified by surface methyl or phenyl groups through the reduction of Pd2+ ions with surface Si-H functions exhibit high activity and selectivity in Heck coupling.     

The kinetics of homogeneous nucleation of silver nanoparticles stabilized by polymers

The formation of Ag nanoparticles synthesized by homogeneous nucleation, stabilized by polymers (PVA and PVP) was monitored by UV–Vis spectrophotometry and transmission electron microscopy. Our aim was to differentiate between the two main phases of particle formation, i.e. nucleation and growth and to characterize their rates with the help of appropriate kinetic equations. Time resolved spectrophotometric measurements revealed that particle formation is an autocatalytic process: a slow, continuous nucleation phase (3–5 min) is followed by a rapid, autocatalytic growth phase where the maximal particle size is 5–7 nm. By freezing the reaction mixture, the process of particle growth can be followed from 5 to 40 min on TEM pictures. The first order rate constants were calculated and they are strongly depend on the polymer concentration. If the growing particles are attached by PEI to the surface of a solid support, the formation of silver nanoparticles can also be followed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and we can control the particle growth on mica surface. The cross section analysis of the pictures show, that the particle growing process can be also monitored at solid–liquid interface.     

The derivation of explicit solutions to Wannier–Stark resonances for electrons on coupled chains

Electrons on infinite coupled chains with nearest neighbour couplings under uniform electric and magnetic fields can be expressed as conditionally solvable systems, which concerns both discrete coordinate and wavenumber representations. We then have to account for multiparameter extra-conditions relying on the single chain phase of the system, which amounts to perform a suitable selection of parameters. The implicit plots provided by such conditions exhibit both regular and irregular patterns. This results in the onset of a finite number of Wannier–Stark resonances, now by performing rescalings needed. However, this time the resonance width is sensitive to the quantum number characterizing the Stark-ladder. Bound-state limits, rescalings and approximations proceeding irrespective of the wavenumber have also been presented.     

Atomic force microscopy investigation of electrochemically produced carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanostructures have been synthesized in NaCl-MgCl₂ and in NaCl-CaCl₂ salt melts and the extracted material was investigated by tapping-mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) and scanning electron microscopy. Some interesting new nanostructures were found and investigated as torus-shaped carbon structures with a ring diameter of 300-400 nm and 10-15 nm height. These tori are closely related to the wrapped SWNT rings described recently. They are probably formed during the electrolysis. A chain-like structure was also revealed.     

Coupled chains in electric and magnetic fields revisited

Coupled chains in electric and magnetic fields are discussed in terms of interplays between periodicity conditions and the factorization of the wavefunction in the wavenumber representation. Proceeding in this manner yields a quickly tractable matching condition providing the quantization rule to the alternative derivation of complex energy bands. Besides achieving a deeper understanding of Wannier-Stark ladders in terms of complex resonance energies, we now have the opportunity to establish related energy levels by resorting to a suitable conversion technique. This amounts to perform an immediate integration of such energy bands over the Brillouin-zone. Such energy levels exhibit, this time, a safe dependence on the chain parameter. Dynamic localization effects, conserved currents and stripe conductivity formulae have also been discussed.