Radiochemical studies relevant to the separation of 68Ga and 68Ge

The radiochemical separation of radiogallium from radiogermanium was studied using ion-exchange chromatography (Amberlite IR-120) and solvent extraction (Aliquat 336 in o-xylene). Both Amberlite IR-120 and Aliquat 336 in o-xylene have been used for the first time in separations involving radiogallium and radiogermanium. For tracer studies the radionuclides ⁶⁸Ge (t _1/2 = 270.8 days), ⁶⁹Ge (t _1/2 = 39 h) and ⁶⁷Ga (t _1/2 = 78.3 h) were used. They were produced by the nuclear reactions ^natGa(p,xn)^68,69Ge and ^natZn(p,xn)⁶⁷Ga, respectively, and separated from their target materials in no-carrier-added form. Several factors affecting the separation of radiogallium from radiogermanium were studied and for each procedure the optimum conditions were determined. The solvent extraction using Aliquat 336 was found to be better. The separation yield of radiogallium was >95%, the time of separation short, the contamination from radiogermanium <0.008% and the final product was obtained in 0.5 M KOH. This method was adapted to the separation of n.c.a. ⁶⁸Ga from its parent n.c.a. ⁶⁸Ge. The quality of the product thus obtained is discussed.     

Blue five-level frequency-upconversion system in rubidium

We demonstrate production of continuous coherent blue laser light by using a five-level system in rubidium vapor. Two low-power lasers, at 780 and 776 nm, induce strong atomic coherence in the 5S-5P-5D states. The atoms decay to the 6P excited state, from which stimulated emission produces a coherent blue (420 nm) beam. We have coupled both ground-state hyperfine levels, effecting coherence between four levels. The coherent blue output is enhanced by several mechanisms, including stronger coupling to a larger fraction of the atomic population, operation at a detuning such that the vapor is nominally transparent to the 780 nm pump field, reduced losses owing to optical pumping, and optimal phase matching. We report experimental findings and compare them with results from a semiclassical Maxwell-Bloch model.     

Zeolite ZSM-5 and related materials as catalyst in benzene chlorination

ZSM-5 type zeolites and related high siliceous materials induce addition of chlorine to benzene yielding hexachlorocyclohexanes, whereas Y-type zeolites favour substitution to yield chlorobenzenes.     

Ordinary elliptic curves of high rank over with constant <Emphasis Type="Italic">j</Emphasis>-invariant

We show that under the assumption of Artins Primitive Root Conjecture, for all primes p there exist ordinary elliptic curves over with arbitrarily high rank and constant j-invariant. For odd primes p, this result follows from a theorem we prove which states that whenever p is a generator of (/)*/–1 ( an odd prime) there exists a hyperelliptic curve over whose Jacobian is isogenous to a power of one ordinary elliptic curve.Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): Primary: 11G05; Secondary: 11G20, 14H40, 14H52Revised version: 3 February 2004Acknowledgements. The research of Jasper Scholten is funded by the AREHCC project of the European Commission (Fifth Framework Program IST - 2001).     

Mesoporous Foam TiO2 Nanomaterials for Effective Hydrogen Production

Hydrolysis of TiCl₄ in a diether‐functionalized imidazolium ionic liquid (IL), namely 1‐methyl‐3‐[2‐(2‐methoxy(ethoxy)ethyl]imidazolium methane sulfonate (M(MEE)I ? CH₃SO₃), results in a heterostructured organic/inorganic and sponge‐like porous TiO₂ material. The thermal treatment (300 °C) followed by calcination (500 °C) affords highly porous TiO₂. The characterization of the obtained samples (with and without IL, before and after calcination) by XRD, SEM, and TEM reveals TiO₂ anatase crystalline phases and irregular‐shaped particles with different porous structures. These hierarchical‐structured mesoporous TiO₂ nanomaterials were employed as efficient photocatalysts in the water‐splitting process, yielding up to 1304 μmol g^?1 on hydrogen production.     

Numerical continuation of degenerate homoclinic orbits in planar systems

In this paper we develop numerical algorithms for the continuationof degenerate homoclinic connections in planar systems. We considerthe case where the equilibrium point has zero trace and twocases of higher-order degeneracies. The method we propose isable to continue homoclinic connections of order up to codimension-four.Application of the algorithm to four examples supports its validityand demonstrates its usefulness.     

Plasma-assisted oxidation of Cu(100) and Cu(111)

Oxidized copper surfaces have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their unique catalytic properties, including their enhanced hydrocarbon selectivity during the electrochemical reduction of CO₂. Although oxygen plasma has been used to create highly active copper oxide electrodes for CO₂RR, how such treatment alters the copper surface is still poorly understood. Here, we study the oxidation of Cu(100) and Cu(111) surfaces by sequential exposure to a low-pressure oxygen plasma at room temperature. We used scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), low energy electron microscopy (LEEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) for the comprehensive characterization of the resulting oxide films. O₂-plasma exposure initially induces the growth of 3-dimensional oxide islands surrounded by an O-covered Cu surface. With ongoing plasma exposure, the islands coalesce and form a closed oxide film. Utilizing spectroscopy, we traced the evolution of metallic Cu, Cu₂O and CuO species upon oxygen plasma exposure and found a dependence of the surface structure and chemical state on the substrate''s orientation. On Cu(100) the oxide islands grow with a lower rate than on the (111) surface. Furthermore, while on Cu(100) only Cu₂O is formed during the initial growth phase, both Cu₂O and CuO species are simultaneously generated on Cu(111). Finally, prolonged oxygen plasma exposure results in a sandwiched film structure with CuO at the surface and Cu₂O at the interface to the metallic support. A stable CuO(111) surface orientation is identified in both cases, aligned to the Cu(111) support, but with two coexisting rotational domains on Cu(100). These findings illustrate the possibility of tailoring the oxidation state, structure and morphology of metallic surfaces for a wide range of applications through oxygen plasma treatments.

A low-pressure oxygen plasma oxidized Cu(100) and Cu(111) surfaces at room temperature. The time-dependent evolution of surface structure and chemical composition is reported in detail for a range of exposure times up to 30 min.     

Gas-phase deprotonation of arylalkylamines. A collision-induced dissociation study

The collision-induced dissociation (CID) of deprotonated arylalkylamines of general formula R(1)C(6)H(4)CHR(2)CH(2)NR(3)(2) (where R(1) = H, OH, F or NO(2); R(2) = H or OH; R(3) = H or CH(3)) generated by negative chemical ionization with H(2)O and D(2)O as ionizing reagents, is discussed. The negative chemical ionization mass spectra show that, in the absence of a hydroxy group in the aromatic ring, deprotonation takes place at the benzylic position whereas the proton is lost from the OH group when present. The nitro compound forms only M(-.) ions. The CID spectra of the deprotonated molecules show that fragmentations are strongly dependent on the structural features of the molecules, namely the presence or absence of substituents in the aromatic ring or aliphatic chain. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The onset of coulomb explosions in polyatomic molecules

With the development of high intensity femtosecond lasers, the ionisation and dissociation dynamics of molecules has become an area of considerable interest. Using the technique of femtosecond laser mass spectrometry (FLMS), the molecules carbon disulphide, pyrimidine, toluene, cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde are studied with pulse widths of 50 fs in the near infrared (IR) wavelength region (790 nm). Results are presented and contrasted for laser beam intensities around 10(15) and 10(16) W cm(-2). For the lower intensities, the mass spectra yield dominant singly charged parent ions. Additionally, the appearance of doubly charged parent ions is evident for carbon disulphide, toluene and benzaldehyde with envelopes of doubly charged satellite species existing in these local regions. Carbon disulphide also reveals a small triply charged component. Such atomic-like features are thought to be a strong fingerprint of FLMS at these intensities. However, upon increasing the laser intensity to approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), parent ion dominance decreases and the appearance of multiply charged atomic species occurs, particularly carbon. This phenomenon has been attributed to Coulomb explosions in which the fast absorption of many photons may produce transient highly ionised parent species which can subsequently blow apart. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Uniform molecular analysis using femtosecond laser mass spectrometry

The potential of femtosecond laser time-of-flight mass spectrometry (FLMS) for uniform quantitative analysis of molecules has been investigated. Various samples of molecular gases and vapours have been studied, using ultra-fast ( approximately 50 fs) laser pulses with very high intensity (up to 1.6 x 10(16) Wcm(-2)) for non-resonant multiphoton ionisation/tunnel ionisation. Some of these molecules have high ionisation potentials, requiring up to ten photons for non-resonant ionisation. The relative sensitivity factors (RSF) have been determined as a function of the laser intensity and it has been demonstrated that for molecules with very different masses and ionisation potentials, uniform ionisation has been achieved at the highest laser intensities. Quantitative laser mass spectrometry of molecules is therefore a distinct possibility. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.