A multi‐MHz single‐shot data acquisition scheme with high dynamic range: pump–probe X‐ray experiments at synchrotrons

The technical implementation of a multi‐MHz data acquisition scheme for laser–X‐ray pump–probe experiments with pulse limited temporal resolution (100 ps) is presented. Such techniques are very attractive to benefit from the high‐repetition rates of X‐ray pulses delivered from advanced synchrotron radiation sources. Exploiting a synchronized 3.9 MHz laser excitation source, experiments in 60‐bunch mode (7.8 MHz) at beamline P01 of the PETRA III storage ring are performed. Hereby molecular systems in liquid solutions are excited by the pulsed laser source and the total X‐ray fluorescence yield (TFY) from the sample is recorded using silicon avalanche photodiode detectors (APDs). The subsequent digitizer card samples the APD signal traces in 0.5 ns steps with 12‐bit resolution. These traces are then processed to deliver an integrated value for each recorded single X‐ray pulse intensity and sorted into bins according to whether the laser excited the sample or not. For each subgroup the recorded single‐shot values are averaged over ～10⁷ pulses to deliver a mean TFY value with its standard error for each data point, e.g. at a given X‐ray probe energy. The sensitivity reaches down to the shot‐noise limit, and signal‐to‐noise ratios approaching 1000 are achievable in only a few seconds collection time per data point. The dynamic range covers 100 photons pulse^?1 and is only technically limited by the utilized APD.     

Synthesis and structure of In(IO3)3 and vibrational spectroscopy of M(IO3)3 (M=Al, Ga, In)

The reaction of Al, Ga, or In metals and H₅IO₆ in aqueous media at 180 °C leads to the formation of Al(IO₃)₃, Ga(IO₃)_3, or In(IO₃)₃, respectively. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments have shown In(IO₃)₃ contains the Te₄O₉-type structure, while both Al(IO₃)₃ and Ga(IO₃)₃ are known to exhibit the polar Fe(IO₃)₃-type structure. Crystallographic data for In(IO₃)₃, trigonal, space group , a=9.7482(4) Å, c=14.1374(6) Å, V=1163.45(8) Z=6, R(F)=1.38% for 41 parameters with 644 reflections with I>2σ(I). All three iodate structures contain group 13 metal cations in a distorted octahedral coordination environment. M(IO₃)₃ (M=Al, Ga) contain a three-dimensional network formed by the bridging of Al³⁺ or Ga³⁺ cations by iodate anions. With In(IO₃)₃, iodate anions bridge In³⁺ cations in two-dimensional layers. Both materials contain distorted octahedral holes in their structures formed by terminal oxygen atoms from the iodate anions. The Raman spectra have been collected for these metal iodates; In(IO₃)₃ was found to display a distinctively different vibrational profile than Al(IO₃)₃ or Ga(IO₃)₃. Hence, the Raman profile can be used as a rapid diagnostic tool to discern between the different structural motifs.     

Synthesis, structural, and photoluminescence studies of Gd(terpy)(H2O)(NO3)2M(CN)2 (M = Au, Ag) complexes: multiple emissions from intra- and intermolecular excimers and exciplexes

The highly luminescent bimetallic cyanide materials, Gd(terpy)(H(2)O)(NO(3))(2)M(CN)(2) (M = Au, Ag; GdAu and GdAg, respectively) are quick and easy to synthesize under ambient conditions. A characteristic feature exhibited by both solid-state compounds is an intense red emission when excited with UV light. Additionally, GdAu exhibits a broad-band green emission upon excitation in the near UV region. A combination of structural and spectroscopic results for the compounds helps explain the underlying conditions responsible for their unique properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments expose their structural features, including the fact that they are isostructural. Crystallographic data for the representative GdAu compound (Mo K(α), λ = 0.71073 ?, T = 290 K): triclinic, space group P ?1, a = 7.5707(3) ?, b = 10.0671(4) ?, c = 15.1260(4) ?, α = 74.923(3)°, β = 78.151(3)°, γ = 88.401(3)°, V = 1089.04(7) ?(3), and Z = 2. Although the compounds crystallize as dimers containing M···M distances smaller than the sum of their van der Waals radii, the Au···Au (3.5054(4) ?) and/or the Ag···Ag (3.6553(5) ?) interactions are relatively weak and are not responsible for the low energy red emission. Rather, the green emission in GdAu presumably originates from the [Au(CN)(2)(-)](2) dimeric excimer, while the [Ag(CN)(2)(-)](2) dimers in GdAg do not display visible emission at either 290 or 77 K. The unusual red emission exhibited by both compounds likely originates from the formation of an excited state exciplex that involves intermolecular π-stacking of 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine ligands. The room-temperature and low-temperature steady-state photoluminescent properties, along with detailed time-dependent, lifetime, and quantum yield spectroscopic data provide evidence regarding the sources of the multiple visible emissions exhibited by these complexes.     

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Olibanum Gum (Boswellia serrate) and its Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol and Hexacyanoferrate (III) by Sodium Borohydride

In this work we report straightforward, an economically viable, one-step microwave-assisted green synthesis of well stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by reducing chloroauric acid with natural water soluble olibanum gum (Boswellia serrate). The olibanum gum acts as a dual role of reducing and capping agent for synthesis of AuNPs. The formation of AuNPs was confirmed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The results indicated that the synthesized NPs were well dispersed and spherical in shape had an average diameter of 3 ± 2 nm. The reaction parameters significantly affected the formation of NPs, as the concentration of gum and irradiation time increases the formation of NPs particles increases and size of particles are reduced. In addition, it has been shown that these olibanum gum capped AuNPs functioned as effective homogeneous catalyst for the reduction of two model reactions hexacyanoferrate(III) and 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride. The kinetic investigations were carried out at different amount of AuNPs and different temperatures.     

Simultaneous determination of iron(III) and vanadium(V) with N-phenylcinnamohydroxamic acid and thiocyanate by extraction-spectrophotometry

N-Phenylcinnarnohydroxamic acid (PCHA) reacts with iron(III) and vanadium(V) in the presence of thiocyanate to form water-insoluble orange and green complexes, respectively. The iron(III)-PCHA and vanadium(V)-PCHA-thiocyanate complexes can be quantitatively extracted into toluene and other common organic solvents at pH 1.5–2.0. The absorption spectra and composition of both complexes are described. The effects of foreign ions and of experimental variables on the extraction and determination of the two metal ions are studied. A simple, selective method is described for the simultaneous determination of iron(III) and vanadium(V) by extraction-spectrophotometry; absorbances are measured at 440 and 580 nm. Mixtures can be determined over the range 10^?4–10^?5 M in each metal. The method was applied successfully to the analysis of standard steels for iron and vanadium.     

Low-power continuous-wave four-wave mixing in silicon coupled-resonator optical waveguides

We demonstrate four-wave mixing in silicon-on-insulator coupled-resonator optical waveguides consisting of 35 and 65 microring resonators, using a cw pump with coupled power below 20 mW and observed parametric conversion across more than 10 THz. The conversion efficiency is enhanced by +16 dB relative to a silicon straight waveguide of equivalent length, due to the slowing factor of the coupled-resonator structure.     

Optimized light-matter interaction and defect hole placement in photonic crystal cavity sensors

Photonic crystal slab cavities were investigated for increased light-matter interaction based on selective placement of sublattice hole sized defect holes inside L3 cavities. A multiple-hole defect (MHD) consisting of three defect holes placed in the regions of highest cavity mode field intensity were demonstrated through finite-difference time-domain simulations and experiments to exhibit the strongest light-matter interaction without introducing significant scattering losses. Compared to an L3 cavity without defect holes, these strategically designed three-hole MHD cavities presented higher quality factor and more than double the resonance wavelength shift upon exposure to a thin oxide and two small chemical molecules.