Theoretical study of stabilities,electronic, and catalytic performance of supported platinum on modified graphene

The geometry, electronic structure, and catalytic properties for CO oxidation of Pt atom supported on pri-graphene (PG), Haeckelite (H), and Stone–Wales-defect-graphene are investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In contrast to a Pt atom on PG, defective graphene, especially the Haeckelite, strongly stabilises the Pt atom and makes it more positive and thus the CO poisoning. At the same time the catalytic activities are as high as the pristine one. Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanisms are favoured as the starting state and are followed by the Eley–Rideal reaction. The results indicate the benefit of Haeckelite as a substrate for the Pt atom and validate the reactivity of catalysts on the atomic scale with low cost and high activity.     

Hydrogen adsorption on Pt-decorated closed-end armchair (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotubes

ABSTRACT

Structures of small lengths of capped (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their structures decorated by Pt atom and Pt_n clusters (n = 2–4) were obtained using density functional theory calculations. Binding abilities of Pt atom and Pt_n clusters on the outer surface of SWCNTs at various adsorption sites were explored. Adsorptions of H₂ onto Pt atom of the Pt-decorated (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) SWCNTs were studied and their adsorption energies are reported. The thermodynamic properties and equilibrium constants for H₂ adsorptions on the Pt₄-decorated (3,3), (4,4) and (5,5) SWCNTs were obtained. The adsorption of H₂ on the Pt atom of the Pt₄/(3,3) SWCNT was found to be the most preferred reaction of which enthalpy and free energy changes at room temperature are ?46.61 and ?23.99 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Etude de la restauration de l'aluminium irradié aux electrons (Etape III)

The nature of the electron bombarded aluminium electrical recovery process has been studied by combining quenches with irradiations. Measured Frenkel pair formation rates per incident electrons as well as annealing kinetics emphasize the role of impurity interstitial trapping.     

Transmission and small angle scattering of 15 MeV electrons in silicon single crystals

Abstract

A novel technique for the study of structural damage incurred by single crystal silicon targets during ion implantation is described. The method is based upon copper-decoration of the vacancy rich damaged region, followed by radiochemical measurement of the resulting copper distribution. Utilizing neutron activation, sharply peaked radiocopper profiles are obtained, which are believed to represent the depth distributions of large, relatively immobile defects such as vacancy clusters, voids, or crystalline faults. A more efficient decoration of isolated vacancy-type defects is realized when Wu is employed as a radioisotopic tracer in the decoration step, however, the rapid diffusivity of these smaller species leads to less sharply defined radiocopper profiles. Both the neutron activation and radiotracer modifications of the technique yield damage profiles which are significantly shallower than the corresponding implanted impurity profiles.     

Photothermally Induced Bistability of Emission of Yb-doped Ca4NdO(BO3)3 Single Crystals

We report on studies of changes in the emission spectra (excited at 808 nm) of the Yb-doped Ca₄NdO(BO₃)₃ single crystals due to the photothermal effects caused by the pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Increase of the sample's surface temperature after laser treatment leads to significant enhancement of the 1040 to 1060 nm emission (ascribed to the Nd^{3+ 4}F_3/2 → ⁴I_9/2, ⁴I_11/2 transitions) and simultaneous decrease of the 975 to 1050 nm emission (corresponding to the Yb^{3+ 2}F_5/2 → ²F_7/2 transition). We explain such an increase of the Nd³⁺ luminescence by thermally activated Yb³⁺ → Nd³⁺ energy transfer.     

Study of the d-f Emission,and f-d Ground-State and Excited-State Absorption of Nd3+ in Crystals Using the Simple Model

The simplified model for 4f-5d transitions is applied to obtain the line strengths for emission, ground-state absorption and excited states absorption involving 4f-5d transitions of Nd³⁺ in crystals. The results are host independent for the usual case where 5d crystal-field interaction can be considered as strong, in the sense that the calculated 5d-4f emission relative line strengths will be the same for Nd³⁺ in any host. Also the calculated 4f-5d absorption line strengths can be grouped by the 5d crystal-field components. For each 5d crystal-field component, the group of absorption line strengths for different 4f²5d transition final states forms a pattern independent of the 5d crystal-field component and the host. For practical cases, due to strong but still limited 5d crystal-field splitting, the transitions to different 5d crystal-field components may overlap each other. The theoretical results are used to interpret available experimental data.     

Predicting future duration from present age: A critical assessment

Using a temporal version of the Copernican principle, Gott has proposed a statistical predictor of future longevity based on present age (Gott III, J. R., 1993, Nature, 363, 315) and applied the predictor to a variety of examples, including the longevity of the human species. Although Gott's proposal contains a grain of truth, it does not have the universal predictive power that he attributes to it.