Dependence of calculated electron effective attenuation lengths on transport mean free paths obtained from two atomic potentials

We report changes in electron effective attenuation lengths (EALs) resulting from use of transport mean free paths (TMFPs) obtained from the Dirac–Hartree–Fock (DHF) potential instead of the Thomas–Fermi–Dirac (TFD) potential in an algorithm used in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Electron Effective‐Attenuation‐Length Database (SRD 82). TMFPs from the former potential are believed to be more reliable than those obtained from the latter potential. We investigated changes in the EALs for selected photoelectron and Auger‐electron lines in four elemental solids (Si, Cu, Ag, and W), for Si 2p photoelectrons of varying energy in SiO₂, and for photoelectrons excited by Al Kα X rays in four candidate gate‐dielectric materials (HfO₂, ZrO₂, HfSiO₄, and ZrSiO₄). For each material, we computed the change in the average EAL for a range of overlayer‐film thicknesses from zero to a maximum value corresponding to attenuation of the substrate signal to 10% of its original value. This EAL change was a maximum for electrons emitted normally from the surface and decreased monotonically with increasing emission angle. The maximum EAL change varied between ?4.4% and 2.6% for the three groups of materials. We found that the maximum EAL change correlated mainly with the TMFP change. We found that TMFP changes in other solids could generally lead to maximum EAL changes between ?2.6% and 1.9% for electron energies between 500 and 2000 eV. For lower energies, the maximum EAL changes could be larger for some solids. Our revised EALs for Si 2p photoelectrons in SiO₂ excited by Mg and Al Kα X rays agree within 0.5% with values reported by Seah and Spencer from a detailed analysis of SiO₂ film‐thickness measurements by XPS and other techniques. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ab initio study of Rg2I− (Rg = Ar,Kr, Xe)

The equilibrium geometries, vibrational frequencies, and dissociation energies of rare gas iodine clusters Rg₂I^?(Rg = Ar, Kr, Xe) were calculated at the Hartree–Fock (HF), second‐order Møller–Plesset (MP2), the coupled cluster method with single and double excitation and a noniterative correction for triple excitations method [CCSD(T)] levels. The title species have bent C_2v structure of about 60° angle. The electron correlation effects and relativistic effects on the geometry and stability were investigated at CCSD(T) level. Both effects stabilize title species. The calculated electron affinities are in good agreement with the experimental results available. The effect of high angular momentum functions (g and h) was studied. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Influence of the exchange‐correlation functional in all‐electron calculations of the vibrational frequencies of corundum (α‐Al2O3)

The equilibrium structural parameters, high‐ and low‐frequency dielectric tensors, Born effective charges, and Γ‐point vibrational frequencies of bulk Al₂O₃ corundum are calculated by using the periodic, ab initio program CRYSTAL, which adopts an all‐electron Gaussian‐type basis set. The effect of basis set and the performance of three different functionals, i.e., LDA, PW91, and B3LYP, are discussed. The mean absolute deviation from the measured frequencies is as small as 7 cm^?1 for both the LDA and B3LYP functionals, indicating that these functionals perform extremely well in this case. The mean absolute deviation increases to 18 cm^?1 when the PW91 functional is used. All three functionals reproduce the equilibrium geometry of corundum to a high level of accuracy, with LDA and B3LYP outperforming PW91 slightly. The comparison of the current all‐electron calculations with previous plane‐wave, pseudo‐potential calculations shows an overall similar performance. The results of isotopic substitution for both Al and O are also presented. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Spectroscopies and Electron Microscopies Unravel the Origin of the First Colour Photographs

The first colour photographs were created by a process introduced by Edmond Becquerel in 1848. The nature of these photochromatic images colours motivated a debate between scientists during the XIX^th century, which is still not settled. We present the results of chemical analysis (EDX, HAXPES and EXAFS) and morphology studies (SEM, STEM) aiming at explaining the optical properties of the photochromatic images (UV‐visible spectroscopy and low loss EELS). We rule out the two hypotheses (pigment and interferences) that have prevailed since 1848, respectively based on variations in the oxidation degree of the compound forming the sensitized layer and periodically spaced photolytic silver planes. A study of the silver nanoparticles dispersions contained in the coloured layers showed specific localizations and sizes distributions of the nanoparticles for each colour. These results allow us to formulate a plasmonic hypothesis on the origin of the photochromatic images colours.     

The Redox Coupling Effect in a Photocatalytic RuII‐PdII Cage with TTF Guest as Electron Relay Mediator for Visible‐Light Hydrogen‐Evolving Promotion

A nanocage coupling effect from a redox Ru^II‐Pd^II metal–organic cage (MOC‐16) is demonstrated for efficient photochemical H₂ production by virtue of redox–guest modulation of the photo‐induced electron transfer (PET) process. Through coupling with photoredox cycle of MOC‐16, tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) guests act as electron relay mediator to improve the overall electron transfer efficiency in the host–guest system in a long‐time scale, leading to significant promotion of visible‐light driven H₂ evolution. By contrast, the presence of larger TTF‐derivatives in bulk solution without host–guest interactions results in interference with PET process of MOC‐16, leading to inefficient H₂ evolution. Such interaction provides an example to understand the interplay between the redox‐active nanocage and guest for optimization of redox events and photocatalytic activities in a confined chemical nanoenvironment.     

Photoinduced Single‐Electron Transfer as an Enabling Principle in the Radical Borylation of Alkenes with NHC–Borane

A photoinduced SET process enables the direct B?H bond activation of NHC–boranes. In contrast to common hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) strategies, this photoinduced reaction simply takes advantage of the beneficial redox potentials of NHC–boranes, thus obviating the need for extra radical initiators. The resulting NHC–boryl radical was used for the borylation of a wide range of α‐trifluoromethylalkenes and alkenes with diverse electronic and structural features, providing facile access to highly functionalized borylated molecules. Labeling and photoquenching experiments provide insight into the mechanism of this photoinduced SET pathway.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Mineral Respiration: How Iron Hemes Synchronize Electron Transfer Rates

Anaerobic microorganisms of the Geobacter genus are effective electron sources for the synthesis of nanoparticles, for bioremediation of polluted water, and for the production of electricity in fuel cells. In multistep reactions, electrons are transferred via iron/heme cofactors of c‐type cytochromes from the inner cell membrane to extracellular metal ions, which are bound to outer membrane cytochromes. We measured electron production and electron flux rates to 5×10⁵ e s^?1 per G. sulfurreducens. Remarkably, these rates are independent of the oxidants, and follow zero order kinetics. It turned out that the microorganisms regulate electron flux rates by increasing their Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratios in the multiheme cytochromes whenever the activity of the extracellular metal oxidants is diminished. By this mechanism the respiration remains constant even when oxidizing conditions are changing. This homeostasis is a vital condition for living systems, and makes G. sulfurreducens a versatile electron source.     

Real‐Time Atomic‐Scale Visualization of Reversible Copper Surface Activation during the CO Oxidation Reaction

By using in situ aberration‐corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy, for the first time at atomic level, the dynamic evolution of the Cu surface is captured during CO oxidation. Under reaction conditions, the Cu surface is activated, typically involving 2–3 atomic layers with the formation of a reversible metastable phase that only exists during catalytic reactions. The distinctive role of CO and O₂ in the surface activation is revealed, which features CO exposure to lead to surface roughening and consequently formation of low‐coordinated Cu atoms, while O₂ exposure induces a quasi‐crystalline CuOx phase. Supported by DFT calculations, it is shown that crystalline CuOx reversibly transforms into the amorphous phase, acting as an active species to facilitate the interaction of gas reactants and catalyzing CO oxidation.     

Stationary phase-based two-dimensional chromatography combining both covalent and noncovalent interactions on a single HPLC column

A new type of 2-D separation material was synthesized and studied. The material is suitable for 2-D chromatography utilizing both covalent and noncovalent interactions. The first dimension is boronate affinity chromatography, and the second dimension is RP chromatography (or vice versa). The polymeric media were prepared using p-vinylphenylboronic acid as the functional monomer. This monomer was selected due to the presence of the boronic acid group for the cis-diol/boronate interaction in boronate chromatography. Two crosslinkers were evaluated, namely ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and divinylbenzene. The crosslinker content was varied to maximize the polymer strength and the RP performance of the packed column. Several parameters were evaluated to define the optimum for polymer strength and column performance including crosslinker, porogen, initiator, and column-packing parameters. The polymer-based HPLC columns were successful in separating phenol, catechol, dimethylphthalate, and hydroquinone under RP conditions, and thus can be used as an RP HPLC column. The columns were also successful in separating catechol and adenosine under boronate chromatography conditions, and thus can be used as a boronate affinity column. Moreover, the two types of chromatography can be performed consecutively on the same column during one complete chromatographic run, making it a 2-D chromatography. Under these 2-D conditions, the catechol was separated from a mixture of phenol, catechol, dimethylphthalate, and hydroquinone; the adenosine ribonucleoside was separated from a mixture of adenosine ribonucleoside, adenosine deoxyribonucleoside, and uridine deoxyribonucleoside. This type of single-column 2-D HPLC eliminates the requirement of a complex and expensive multidimensional HPLC instrument and provides increased peak capacity for separation.