Investigation of a catalyst ink dispersion using both ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering and cryogenic TEM

The dispersion of Nafion ionomer particles and Pt/C catalyst aggregates in liquid media was studied using both ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and cryogenic TEM. A systematic approach was taken to study first the dispersion of each component (i.e., ionomer particles and Pt/C aggregates), then the combination of the components, and last the catalyst ink. Multiple-level curve fitting was used to extract the particle size, size distribution, and geometry of the Pt/C aggregates and the Nafion particles in liquid media from the scattering data. The results suggest that the particle size, size distribution, and geometry are not uniform throughout the systems but rather vary significantly. It was found that the interaction of each component (i.e., the Nafion ionomer particles and the Pt/C aggregates) occurs in the dispersion. Cryogenic TEM was used to observe the size and geometry of the particles in liquid directly and to validate the scattering results. The TEM results showed excellent agreement.     

Biotinylated chitosan-based SPIONs with potential in blood-contacting applications

Haemocompatible biotinylated superparamagnetic nanoparticles (size range 300–700 nm) have been obtained by coating magnetite through ionic gelation with a mixture of chitosan and sodium tripolyphosphate, followed by subsequent functionalisation with biotin. The evaluations of their magnetic properties together with haemocompatibility tests have shown that these nanoparticles exhibit the prerequisite behaviour for use in magnetic field–assisted separations within biological systems.     

Excited states populated via nucleon transfer in the reaction32S +208Pb

The population strengths of excited states in nuclei produced via transfer reactions in the 185 MeV³²S +²⁰⁸Pb reaction have been investigated by heavy-ion- coincidence techniques. The cross sections extracted from the spectra, have been analyzed in the framework of the Complex WKB approximation theory.     

Unconstrained Polarization (Chebyshev) Problems: Basic Properties and Riesz Kernel Asymptotics

Potential Analysis - We introduce and study the unconstrained polarization (or Chebyshev) problem which requires to find an N-point configuration that maximizes the minimum value of its potential...     

Multiple octupole excitations in 148Gd

The lifetime and the -decay to the 0⁺ ground state of the lowest 3^- state in ¹⁴⁸Gd has been determined. The reduced strength B(E3, 3^- 0⁺)=41 (6) W.u. agrees well with the theoretical value from empirical shell model calculations and can be directly compared with the 12⁺ 9^- two-octupole-phonon one-octupole-phonon strength obtained in the same Recoil Distance Method lifetime measurement. The results of our search for a three octupole-phonon state built on the state is also reported. Received: 7 March 2000 / Accepted: 12 May 2000     

Search for hyperdeformed structures populated in the <Superscript>37</Superscript>Cl+<Superscript>120</Superscript>Sn reaction by using EUROBALL III

The ridge structure with ΔE_γ=±30 keV, observed in the past in coincidence with protons emitted in the reaction 187 MeV ³⁷Cl +¹²⁰Sn and attributed to an hyperdeformed nuclear shape in ¹⁵²Dy, has been studied in a new experiment performed with the EUROBALL III array. The ridge is now observed in coincidence with transitions in the yrast superdeformed band of ¹⁵²Dy but no discrete rotational bands have been identified. Received: 7 February 2000     

Nuclear structure explored by β-delayed decay spectroscopy of spin-polarized radioactive nuclei at TRIUMF ISAC-1

Spin-polarized radioactive nuclear beams at TRIUMF enable a new spectroscopic method which efficiently assigns spins and parities of the daughter levels by taking advantage of the asymmetric β-decay of the polarized parent nucleus. This method was successfully applied to structure studies of ²⁹Mg and ³⁰Mg in connection with the physics of the “island of inversion”. In ²⁹Mg, two low-lying levels with intruder configuration were assigned. In ³⁰Mg, coexistence of spherical shape, prolate shape and γ-collectivity was strongly suggested.