Small-angle scattering from the deterministic fractal systems<Superscript>1</Superscript>

The intensity profile of small-angle neutron sc attering from three-dimensional triadic Cantor and Vicsek fractals is calculated when the fractal sets are monodisperse and their positions are uncorrelated. It is shown that the scattering intensities present minima and maxima superimposed on a power-law decay with the exponent coinciding with the fractal dimension of the scatterer. This is in accordance with the scattering from similar systems like Menger sponge or fractal jacks, which all exhibit the same behavior. For a finite iteration, the Porod power decay of the intensity is displayed at large values of momenta beyond the fractal region.     

Carbon and diamond paste microelectrodes based on Mn(III) porphyrins for the determination of dopamine

Three Mn(III) porphyrins were used for the design of carbon paste and diamond paste based microelectrodes, which were employed for the determination of dopamine in pharmaceutical and biological samples using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The limits of detection lie between 1.6 × 10⁻¹³ and 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹ while the sensitivities were between 230 pA μmol L⁻¹ and 3.24 μA mol L⁻¹. Dopamine was recovered reliable from pharmaceutical and biological samples in percentages higher than 91.00% and 92.00%, respectively. The surface of the microelectrodes can easily be renewed by simple polishing, obtaining a fresh surface ready for use in a new assay.     

Microstructure of stomaflex based magnetic elastomers

Stomaflex elastomers filled with two types of magnetic particles (nano- and micro-sized) were investigated. It was observed that doping with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and applying a magnetic field during the polymerisation process led to a significant change in the local structure of the elastomer. Decreases in the quasi-crystalline phase concentration, in the average size of the crystalline blocks, and in the ordering distance were observed after doping the elastomer with magnetite nanoparticles. After filling the polymer with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, yet the elastomer fractal dimension changes. For the elastomer filled with a large amount of Fe microparticles (75% particle concentration) a texture effect is observed, and this effect is larger for the samples polymerised in a magnetic field. At all microparticle concentrations, these elastomers exhibit surface fractal structure.     

Magneto-Optical Effects in Colloidal Solutions of Barium Hexaferrite

Hydrothermal synthesis was used to obtain lamellar magnetic particles of barium hexaferrite, and colloidal solutions were prepared on their basis. Magneto-optical effects in colloid solutions of barium hexaferrite were examined. It was found that the aqueous colloidal solution of coarse planar particles of barium hexaferrite is a magneto-optical medium that is nearly two orders of magnitude more effective than the colloid formed from isometric cobalt ferrite particles. It was shown that measuring the frequency dependence of the magneto-optical effects and approximating the experimental data with the Debye function makes it possible to find the frequency f₀ characteristic of the given colloid and to calculate the characteristic size of particles (or aggregates) creating the optical anisotropy in the colloid under the action of a magnetic field. A dichroism is observed in the aqueous colloid formed by coarse planar barium hexaferrite particles. This phenomenon is due to the change in the light scattering on coarse particles upon their orientation by a magnetic field.     

Magnetic field and particle concentration competitive effects on ferrofluid based silicone elastomer microstructure

Structural peculiarities of ferroelastomers composed of polydimetylsiloxane with embedded magnetite particles during polymerization have been studied by small-angle neutron scattering. The effects of ferroparticles’ concentration in the range of C = 0–6 wt %, and external magnetic fields of induction B = 0−1 kG applied during the polymerization on the structure of polymeric matrix and particles distribution in polymer were analyzed.     

Magnetic properties of biomineral particles produced by bacteria <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella oxytoca</Emphasis>

Ferrihydrite nanoparticles (2–5 nm in size) produced by bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca in the course of biomineralization of iron salt solutions from a natural medium exhibit unique magnetic properties: they are characterized by both the antiferromagnetic order inherent in a bulk ferrihydrite and the spontaneous magnetic moment due to the decompensation of spins in sublattices of a nanoparticle. The magnetic susceptibility enhanced by the superantiferromagnetism effect and the magnetic moment independent of the magnetic field provide the possibility of magnetically controlling these natural objects. This has opened up the possibilities for their use in nanomedicine and bioengineering. The results obtained from measurements of the magnetic properties of the ferrihydrite produced by Klebsiella oxytoca in its two main crystalline modifications are reported, and the data obtained are analyzed theoretically. This has made it possible to determine numerical values of the magnetic parameters of real biomineral nanoparticles.     

Thermal Stability of Some Polynuclear Coordination Compounds in the Systems Ln(III)—Co(II)—Oxalate

This paper reports an investigation of the thermal stabilities of the class of coordination compounds containing lanthanide ions Ln(III) (Ln=La, Sm, Eu, Dy, Er), Co(II) ions and oxalate anions C₂O ₄ ^2– . The thermal decomposition steps were identified, and in some cases the values of the non-isothermal kinetic parameters were determined.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the magnetic structure of magnetite/oleic acid/benzene ferrofluids by small-angle neutron scattering

Magnetic small-angle scattering of non-polarized and polarized neutrons from ferrofluds (magnetite covered by oleic acid in benzene) is analyzed. A complex correlation in the magnetic structure is observed. It takes place at the length of more than the particle size, and has a core-shell-like organization. Along with it no spatial interparticle correlation in the nuclear structure is detected.