Cathodic deposition of ternary In+As+Sb alloys and formation of InAsxSb1−x

In+As+Sb alloys have been deposited onto Ni and Ti cathodes from tartaric acid solutions at pH 2. Homogeneous deposits of composition suitable for achieving InAs_xSb_1−x can be obtained from this medium. The As-to-Sb ratio can be controlled by properly selecting solution composition and deposition potential.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses show that formation of III–V compounds occurs at room temperature. In reacts preferentially with As rather than with Sb, but crystalline phases formed at room temperature are Sb-rich. After annealing the In+As+Sb alloys at 250°C, the composition calculated from cell parameters appears similar to that measured by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, suggesting that the entire deposit has been converted into the InAs_xSb_1−x crystalline phase.     

Chemical deposition of semiconducting cadmium selenide quantum dots in thin film form and investigation of their optical and electrical properties

Cadmium selenide quantum dots with cubic crystal structure are chemically deposited in thin film form using selenosulfate as a precursor for selenide ions and ammonia buffer with double role: as a ligand and as a pH value controller. The optical band gap energies of as-deposited and thermally treated cadmium selenide thin films, calculated within the framework of parabolic approximation for the dispersion relation, on the basis of equations which arise from the Fermi's golden rule for electronic transitions from valence to conduction band, are 2.08 and 1.77 eV, correspondingly. The blue shift of band gap energy of 0.34 eV for as-deposited thin films with respect to the bulk value is due to the quantum size effects (i.e., nanocrystals behave as quantum dots) and this finding is in agreement with the theoretical predictions. During the thermal treatment the nanocrystals are sintered, the increase of crystal size being in correlation with the decrease of band gap energy. The annealed thin films are practically non-quantized. From the resistance-temperature measurements, on the basis of the dependence of ln(R/Ω) vs 1/T in the region of intrinsic conduction, the thermal band gap energy (at 0 K) of 1.85 eV was calculated.     

Investigation of nucleation processes under the influence of magnetic fields

The present work demonstrates the possibilities and the limits of the in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy for investigation of nucleation processes in magnetic fields on the examples of Cu and Co electrodeposition onto Au(111) electrodes from sulfate electrolytes with pH 3. Cyclic voltammograms of Cu in the underpotential range (UPD) exhibit no significant change in the cathodic and anodic peaks recorded in magnetic fields parallel to the surface. In magnetic fields of a permanent magnet, the reconstruction of Au has been annihilated during UPD of Cu. In the overpotential range, the dissolution of Cu is inhibited. This triggers the formation of a Cu–Au surface alloy. The UPD deposition of Co onto Au(111) could be proven without magnetic field, which leads to the formation of two monolayers. The nucleation in an applied field could not be observed due to higher induced fluctuations and microconvective effects. Contribution to special issue “Magnetic field effects in Electrochemistry”.     

Study of the first nucleation steps of thin films by XPS inelastic peak shape analysis

The initial steps in the formation of thin films have been investigated by analysis of the peak shape (both inelastic background and elastic contributions) of X‐ray photoelectron spectra. Surface coverage and averaged height of the deposited particles have been estimated for several overlayers (nanometre range) after successive deposition cycles. This study has permitted the assessment of the type of nucleation and growth mechanisms of the films. The experiments have been carried out in situ in the preparation chamber of an XPS spectrometer. To check the performance of the method, several materials (i.e. cerium oxide, vanadium oxide and cadmium sulfide) have been deposited on different substrates using a variety of preparation procedures (i.e. thermal evaporation, ion beam assisted deposition and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition). It is shown that the first deposited nuclei of the films are usually formed by three‐dimensional particles whose heights and degree of surface coverage depend on the chemical characteristics of the growing thin film and substrate materials, as well as the deposition procedure. It is concluded that XPS peak shape analysis can be satisfactorily used as a general method to characterize morphologically the first nanometric moieties that nucleate a thin film. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ni／Al2O3催化剂上CH4／CO2重整的脉冲反应研究

报道了用脉冲反应研究Ｎｉ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３催化剂上ＣＨ４／ＣＯ２重整反应的结果。脉冲反应显示，在还原的Ｎｉ／Ａｌ２Ｏ３催化剂上，ＣＨ４在６７３Ｋ就开始发生分解，并有Ｃ２Ｈ６、Ｃ２Ｈ４生成，１０２３Ｋ下，ＣＨ４几乎完全分解，单纯的ＣＯ２则很难在还原的催化剂上发生反应，在９７３Ｋ以上的高温下才会有少量Ｃ胜成ＣＯ．ＣＨＣＯ２的脉冲反应表明，当ＣＨ４在较低温度下开始分解时，ＣＯ２也会发生分解，并生成ＣＯ。脉冲反     

催化增强化学蒸气沉积法在聚酰亚胺上沉积钯-铂合金薄层

以N₂，O₂作载气，通过催化增强化学蒸气沉积(CECVD)分别制得在聚酰亚胺上的金属铂、钯及其合金薄层。铂、钯配合物的共同沉积可生成Pt-Pd合金薄膜。在Pd-Pt合金的沉积过程中，Pd/Pt的原子数比率随共同沉积的条件改变而变化。O₂为载气、300 ℃条件下,用Pd(η³-allyl)(hfac)和Pt(COD)Me₂作前驱体共沉积制备Pd-Pt合金，得到含Pd 37.2%，Pt 62.8%且不     

CeO2和Pd在Ni/γ-Al2O3催化剂中的助剂作用

采用脉冲微反技术研究了添加n型半导体氧化物CeO2及贵金属Pd对Ni/γ Al2O3催化剂上CH4积炭/CO2消炭反应性能的影响,并运用BET、TPR、CO2 TPSR及氢吸附等技术对催化剂进行了表征.结果表明, n型半导体氧化物CeO2的添加可以降低Ni/γ Al2O3催化剂上CH4裂解积炭活性,提高CO2消炭活性,添加少量贵金属Pd可以进一步改变载体Al2O3、助剂CeO2和活性组分Ni之间的相互作用,从而改善Ni/γ Al2O3催化剂的抗积炭性能.通过Ni Ce Pd/γ Al2O3催化剂上CH4积炭/CO2消炭模型对上述作用机制作出了新的解释.     

Stripping voltammetry of copper and lead using gold electrodes modified with self-assembled monolayers

One problem associated with using bare solid metal electrodes, such as gold and platinum, in stripping analysis to determine heavy metal ions such as lead and copper ions in dilute solutions is that underpotential deposition (UPD) gives multiple stripping peaks in the analysis of mixtures. These peaks are often overlapped and cannot be conveniently used for analytical purposes. Bifunctional alkylthiols, such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid, with an ionizable group on the other terminal end of the thiol can form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on the surface of the gold electrode. It is shown that such an SAM-modified gold electrode minimizes the UPD effects for the stripping analysis of lead and copper. The anodic peak potential shifts and the peak shape changes, indicating that the SAM changes the deposition and stripping steps of these heavy metal ions. Thus, the sensitivity levels for both single species and mixtures can be significantly improved for the conventional solid electrodes. The mechanism of the deposition reaction at the SAM-modified gold electrodes is discussed. Received: 29 May 1997 / Accepted: 24 June 1997     

Cadmium colloids from non-aqueous solvents

Cadmium colloids have been prepared by Chemical Liquid Deposition (CLD). The metal is evaporated to yield atoms which are solvated at liquid nitrogen temperature, and upon warming, stable liquid colloids are formed with particle size ranging between 25–100 Å. Zeta potentials were calculated according to the conversion of Hunter and the Hückel equation, for ethanol and dimethyl sulphoxide. UV/VIS measurement of most of the black colloids showed absorption band around 280 nm. For comparison, we prepared CdS colloid with size 400–625 Å. The colloids are stable to oxidation in air and/or oxygen bubbling. The synthesis of colloids and films from Cd with acetone, 2-butanone, ethanol, 2-propanol, 2-methoxyethanol, DMF and DMSO is reported. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) allows us to determine particle size.     

Material transport between the atmosphere and sediment of the Lake Balaton

A monitoring system was developed to gain information on the present level of pollutants in the Lake Balaton, Hungary. Determination of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and inorganic pollutants (mostly toxic metals) in aerosol, precipitation and sediment samples was carried out. The aim of collecting aerosol and precipitate samples in the same site at the same period was to determine the distribution of elements in two depositions. For the fractionation by particle size, aerosols were sampled by a cascade impactor. A simple three-stage sequential leaching procedure was applied to establish the distribution of metals among environmentally mobile, bound to carbonates and oxides, and environmentally immobile, (bound to silicates) fractions in aerosols. Sediment samples were collected from 17 different sites inside of the lake and 10 sites at harbors at 30–70 cm in depth. Core samples were cut to 10-cm pieces, dried at room temperature, and finally passed through a 63-μm sieve. Total concentrations of elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) after an acidic digestion. The concentrations of PAHs were determined by HPLC method with fluorescence detection.In aerosol samples collected from September 6, 2002 to January 26, 2003, concentration of Cd was <0.1 μg/m³, and the majority of Cd has been found in the mobile fraction. Cadmium was associated to particles between 0.25 and 2 μm indicating the anthropogenic origin. Similar distribution of Pb was obtained in all seasons, and the highest concentration of Pb was found as 8.6 ng/m³ in particle size of 0.7 and 1.4 μm. Results of total concentration of elements of bottom sediments of the Lake Balaton and harbors were compared to Interim Sediment Quality Guideline (ISQG) values and the Probable Effect Level (PEL) values. Data showed that the average concentrations of elements were usually less than those of ISQGs and other background data for soils and geochemical values. The sediment is not polluted and its disposal is feasible. There is no direct correlation between the concentration of elements deposited onto the surface of the lake from dry and wet deposition and the upper part of the sediment. So, from the budget of the deposition, the concentration of elements in the upper layer of the sediment cannot be predicted.Seasonal changes of the concentration of PAHs in aerosol was observed, samples collected at winter contained the highest values. In December–January 2002/2003, the wet deposition was found as 64 μg/m² period. Among the individual compounds, the wet deposition rate of phenantrane, fluoranthene and pyrene was dominant, while for dry deposition, these compounds were fluoranthene and pyrene. The concentrations of ∑PAHs found for all sites and depth of sediment samples ranged from 11 to 1734 μg/kg dry weight with an average of 132 μg/kg. These values represent a quite low pollution level compared to other sediment with anthropogenic influence. Based on the results, it can be definitely confirmed that the chemical quality of the water and sediment of the Lake Balaton is satisfactory.