Computer-simulated diffraction patterns for metastable austenitic steels

The paper deals with the computer simulation of composite theoretical electron-diffraction patterns for metastable austenitic steels, containing deformation and martensite transformation structures. In many cases generated data can be used for interpretation of experimentally determined diffraction patterns. A few examples are presented which demonstrate that the application of the composite theoretical diffraction patterns may be complicated due to various diffraction effects which can modify the geometry of experimentally obtained diffraction patterns.     

A novel phosphoramidite method for automated synthesis of oligonucleotides on glass supports for biosensor development

Two protocols for functionalization of glass supports with hexaethylene glycol (HEG)-linked oligonucleotides were developed. The first method (standard amidite protocol) made use of the 2-cyanoethyl-phosphoramidite derivative of 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl-protected HEG. This was first coupled to the support by standard solid-phase phosphoramidite chemistry followed by extension with a thymidylic acid icosanucleotide. Stepwise addition of the linker phosphoramidite graduated at 1% (relative to the total sites available) perstep at 50°C resulted in an optimal yield of immobilized oligonucleotides at a density of 2.24 × 10¹⁰ strands/mm². This observed loading maximum lies well below the theoretical maximum loading owing to nonspecific adsorption of HEG on the glass and subsequent blocking of reactive sites. Surface loadings as high as 3.73 × 10¹⁰/mm² and of excellent sequence quality were achieved with a reverse amidite protocol. The support was first modified into a 2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite analog followed by coupling with 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl-protected HEG. This protocol is conveniently available when using a conventional DNA synthesizer. The reverse amidite protocol allowed for control of the surface loading at values suitable for subsequent analytical applications that make use of immobilized oligonucleotides as probes for selective hybridization of sample nucleic acids of unknown sequence and concentration.     

Texture of zirconia obtained by forced hydrolysis of ZrOCl2 solutions

The structure and surface properties of ZrO₂ strongly depend on its preparation. In the present work the impact of prolonged aging at basic conditions (pH = 9, T = 100°C, t = 48 h), on the phase composition and textural properties, obtained by calcination of the precipitate, was investigated using several techniques conjointly (DTA/TG, DSC, XRD, porosimetry). The thermal effects accompanying the ZrO₂·xH₂O gel formation, the coalescence of the particles and crystallization were evaluated and discussed in terms of the structural differences between the aged and non-aged samples. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical modelling of Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript> doped selenide-chalcogenide multimode fibre based spontaneous emission sources

A model is developed of a terbium (III) ion doped selenide chalcogenide glass fibre source that provides spontaneous emission within the mid-infrared (MIR) wavelength range. Three numerical algorithms are used to calculate the solution and compare their properties.     

Analysis of NH3-TPD Profiles for CuSSZ-13 SCR Catalyst of Controlled Al Distribution – Complexity Resolved by First Principles Thermodynamics of NH3 Desorption,IR and EPR Insight into Cu Speciation**

NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) is frequently used for probing the nature of the active sites in CuSSZ-13 zeolite for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x. Herein, we propose an interpretation of NH₃-TPD results, which takes into account the temperature-induced dynamics of NH₃ interaction with the active centers. It is based on a comprehensive DFT/GGA+D and first-principles thermodynamic (FPT) modeling of NH₃ adsorption on single Cu²⁺, Cu⁺, [CuOH]⁺ centers, dimeric [Cu-O-Cu]²⁺, [Cu-O₂²⁻-Cu]² species, segregated CuO nanocrystals and Brønsted acid sites (BAS). Theoretical TPD profiles are compared with the experimental data measured for samples of various Si/Al ratios and distribution of Al within the zeolite framework. Copper reduction, its relocation, followed by the intrazeolite olation/oxolation processes, which are concomitant with NH₃ desorption, were revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and IR. DFT/FPT results show that the peaks in the desorption profiles cannot be assigned univocally to the particular Cu and BAS centers, since the observed low-, medium- and high-temperature desorption bands have contributions coming from several species, which dynamically change their speciation and redox states during NH₃-TPD experiment. Thus, a rigorous interpretation of the NH₃-TPD profiles of CuSSZ-13 in terms of the strength and concentration of the active centers of a particular type is problematic. Nonetheless, useful connections for molecular interpretation of TPD profiles can be established between the individual component peaks and the corresponding ensembles of the adsorption centers.     

Interactions of oxygen with yttria-stabilized zirconia at room temperature

This paper reports the results of work function and EPR studies of yttria-stabilized zirconia (10Y-ZrO₂). The experimental data are considered in terms of the formation of oxygen chemisorbed species and subsequent oxygen incorporation as well as related charge transfer. It is concluded that oxygen chemisorption on 10Y-ZrO₂ at room temperature in its initial stage results in the formation of O ₂ ⁻ species. These species are then transformed into O ₂ ²⁻ , O⁻ species and, finally, are slowly incorporated into the oxide lattice. These processes take place without presence of Pt or any other electrode material.     

Magnetic Properties of Monomer and Dimer Tetrahedral VO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> Entities Dispersed on Amorphous Silica-based Materials: Prediction of EPR Parameters from Relativistic DFT Calculations and Broken Symmetry Approach to Exchange Couplings

Molecular structures of the isolated tetrahedral oxovanadium(IV) and bridged μ-oxo-divanadium(IV) complexes hosted by the clusters mimicking surfaces of amorphous silica-based materials were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Principal values of the g and A tensors for the monomer vanadyl species were obtained using the coupled-perturbed DFT level of theory and the spin–orbit mean-field approximation (SOMF). Magnetic exchange interaction for the μ-oxo bridged vanadium(IV) dimer was investigated within the broken symmetry approach. An antiferromagnetic coupling of the individual magnetic moments of the vanadium(IV) centers in the [VO–O–VO]²⁺ bridges was revealed and discussed in detail. The coupling explains pronounced decrease of the electron paramagnetic resonance signal (EPR) intensity, observed for the reduced VO _x /SiO₂ samples with the increasing coverage of vanadia, in terms of transformation of the paramagnetic monomer species into the dimers with S = 0 ground state.