Certified reference material for quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and toxic elements in tunnel dust (NMIJ CRM 7308-a) from the National Metrology Institute of Japan

The National Metrology Institute of Japan has issued a certified reference material of tunnel dust for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic element analyses. PAH certification was performed using isotope dilution mass spectrometry with deuterium-labeled PAHs as internal standards. Three extraction techniques (microwave-assisted extraction with toluene/methanol, Soxhlet extraction with toluene, and pressurized liquid extraction with toluene) were used, and the extracts were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with two different columns. For values of PAHs, 11 PAHs are provided as certified values between 0.294 and 20.3 mg/kg, and five PAHs are provided as information values. Certified values of five toxic elements (Cr, Ni, Pb, Mn, and Cd) obtained from microwave-assisted digestions and a combination of measurement techniques are also provided between 43.4 and 10.71 × 10³ mg/kg.     

Accurate quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dust samples using microwave-assisted solvent extraction combined with isotope-dilution mass spectrometry

For accurate quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dust samples, we investigated the use of microwave-assisted solvent extraction (MAE) combined with isotope-dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) using deuterium-labelled PAHs (D-PAHs). Although MAE with a methanol/toluene mixture (1:3 by volume) at 160 °C for 40 min was best for extracting PAHs from tunnel dust among examined, the recovery yields of D-PAHs decreased with increasing molecular weight (<40% for MW ≥ 264; that of deuterium-labelled indeno[123-cd]pyrene (D-IcdP) was only 7.1%). Although the residues were extracted a second time, the observed concentrations did not change dramatically (<5%), and the recovery yields of heavier D-PAHs (i.e., MW ≥ 264) were approximately half of those of the first extract, including D-IcdP (3.4%). These results suggest that both partitioning and isotopic equilibria of PAHs and D-PAHs between sample and solvent were achieved for extractable heavier PAHs under the condition. Thus, the observed concentrations of PAHs obtained by MAE–IDMS were reasonable, even though recovery yields of D-PAHs were <50%. From the results of carbon analyses and extractable contents, lower recovery yields of D-PAHs from the tunnel dust were due to a large content of char with low extractable contents.     

Direct observation of optically induced transient structures in graphite using ultrafast electron crystallography

We use ultrafast electron crystallography to study structural changes induced in graphite by a femtosecond laser pulse. At moderate fluences of < or =21 mJ/cm2, lattice vibrations are observed to thermalize on a time scale of approximately 8 ps. At higher fluences approaching the damage threshold, lattice vibration amplitudes saturate. Following a marked initial contraction, graphite is driven nonthermally into a transient state with sp3-like character, forming interlayer bonds. Using ab initio density functional calculations, we trace the governing mechanism back to electronic structure changes following the photoexcitation.     

RbCl和CsCl水溶液结构的X射线散射及经验势结构精修模拟

采用X射线散射法研究了RbCl和CsCl水溶液的结构,利用基于经验势的结构精修(EPSR)方法获得了溶液中的水合Cl^-、Rb⁺、Cs⁺、离子缔合及本体水的对径向分布函数、配位数分布及空间密度分布(3D结构)等结构信息。在水溶液中,Cl^-具有相对稳定的6水合结构,其水合距离为0.321 nm,外加阳离子对其水合作用的影响不明显。7.3 ± 1.4个水分子与Rb⁺水合,其特征水合距离为0.297 nm,8.4 ± 1.6个水分子与Cs⁺水合其水合距离为0.312 nm。Cs⁺不具有第二水合层,而Rb⁺表现出了更强的水合能力,具有较明显的第二水合层。Cl^-、Rb⁺及Cs⁺常被认为是“结构破坏”型离子。从微观角度来看这种所谓的“结构破坏”主要体现在破坏了本体水分子的第二水合层保持四面体构型的趋势。RbCl和CsCl水溶液中部分存在着Rb-Cl和Cs-Cl直接接触离子对,在1.0 mol·dm^-3的溶液中Rb-Cl及Cs-Cl的特征距离分别为0.324和0.336 nm,溶剂分割离子对的距离则都在0.6 nm左右。相对于Cs⁺,Rb⁺与Cl^-离子之间表现出了更强的缔合能力。     

Densely Packed CO2 Aids Charge,Spin, and Lattice Ordering Partially Fluctuated in a Porous Metal–Organic Framework Magnet

Partial charge fluctuations in the charge-ordered state of a material, often triggered by structural disorders and/or defects, can significantly alter its physical characteristics, such as magnetic long-range ordering. However, it is difficult to post-chemically fix such accidental partial fluctuations to reconstruct a uniform charge-ordered state. Herein, we report CO₂-aided charge ordering demonstrated in a CO₂-post-captured layered magnet, [{Ru₂(o-ClPhCO₂)₄}₂{TCNQ(OMe)₂}] ⋅ CO₂ ( 1⊃CO₂ ; o-ClPhCO₂⁻=ortho-chlorobenzoate; TNCQ(OMe)₂=2,5-dimethoxy-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane). Pristine porous layered magnet 1 had a partially charge-fluctuated ordered state, which provided ferrimagnetic ordering at T_C=65 K. Upon loading CO₂, 1 adsorbed one mole of CO₂, forming 1⊃CO₂ , and raising T_C to 100 K. This was because of the vanishing charge fluctuations without significantly changing the framework structure. This research illustrates the post-accessible host–guest chemistry delicately combined with charge, spin, and lattice ordering in a spongy magnet. Furthermore, it highlights how this innovative approach opens up new possibilities for technology and nanoscale magnetism manipulation.