Photoluminescence and raman studies of curium and americium complexes of 6-methyl 2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole: evidence for an efficient intramolecular energy transfer

The 6-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)-benzimidazole (biz) ligand coordinates with the actinide species in solution, and the complexes display efficient intramolecular energy-transfer processes. The energy transfer in the Cm(III)-biz system proceeds in a nonradiative mode, whereas a radiative mode is the principal mechanism in the Am(III)-biz system.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, structure, Raman spectroscopy, and self-irradiation studies of Cm(IO3)3

The study of curium iodate, Cm(IO₃)₃, was undertaken as part of a systematic investigation of the 4f- and 5f-elements’ iodates. The reaction of ²⁴⁸CmCl₃ with aqueous H₅IO₆ under mild hydrothermal conditions results in the reduction of IO₆⁵⁻ to IO₃⁻ anions, and the subsequent formation of Cm(IO₃)₃ single crystals. Crystallographic data are: (193 K, MoKα, ): monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, , , , β=100.142(2)°, V=811.76(14), Z=4, R(F)=2.11%, for 119 parameters with 1917 reflections with I>2σ(I). The structure consists of Cm³⁺ cations bound by iodate anions to form [Cm(IO₃)₈] units, where the local coordination environment around the curium centers can be described as a distorted dodecahedron. There are three crystallographically unique iodate anions within the structure; two iodates bridge between three Cm centers, and one iodate bridges between two Cm centers and has a terminal oxygen atom. The bridging of the curium centers by the iodate anions creates a three-dimensional structure. Three strong Raman bands with comparable intensities were observed at 846, 804, and 760 cm⁻¹ and correspond to the I-O symmetric stretching of the three crystallographically distinct iodate ions. The Raman profile suggests a lack of inter-ionic vibrational coupling of the I-O stretching, while intra-ionic coupling provides symmetric and asymmetric components that correspond to each iodate site. Repeated collection of X-ray diffraction data for a crystal of Cm(IO₃)₃ over a period of time revealed a gradual expansion of the unit cell from self-irradiation. After 71 days, the new parameters were: , , , β=100.021(2)°, V=818.3(2).     

Synthesis, structure, and spectroscopic properties of Am(IO3)3 and the photoluminescence behavior of Cm(IO3)3

We have prepared Am(IO(3))(3) as a part of our continuing investigations into the chemistry of the 4f- and 5f-elements' iodates. Single crystals were obtained from the reaction of Am(3+) and H(5)IO(6) under mild hydrothermal conditions. Crystallographic data on an eight-day-old crystal are (21 degrees C, Mo Kalpha, lambda = 0.71073 Angstroms): monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 7.2300(5) Angstroms, b = 8.5511(6) Angstroms, c = 13.5361(10) Angstroms, beta = 100.035(1) degrees, V = 824.06(18), Z = 4. The structure consists of Am(3+) cations bound by iodate anions to form [Am(IO(3))(8)] units, where the local coordination environment around the americium centers is a distorted dodecahedron. There are three crystallographically unique iodate anions within the structure that bridge in both bidentate and tridentate fashions to form the overall three-dimensional structure. Repeated collection of X-ray diffraction data with time for a crystal of (243)Am(IO(3))(3) revealed an anisotropic expansion of the unit cell, presumably from self-irradiation damage, to generate values of a = 7.2159(7) Angstroms, b = 8.5847(8) Angstroms, c = 13.5715(13) Angstroms, beta = 99.492(4) degrees, V = 829.18(23) after approximately five months. The Am(IO(3))(3) crystals have also been characterized by Raman spectroscopy and the spectral results compared to those for Cm(IO(3))(3). Three strong Raman bands were observed for both compounds and correspond to the I-O symmetric stretching of the three crystallographically distinct iodate anions. The Raman profile suggests a lack of interionic vibrational coupling of the I-O stretching, while intraionic coupling provides symmetric and asymmetric components that correspond to each iodate site. Photoluminescence data for both Am(IO(3))(3) and Cm(IO(3))(3) are reported here for the first time. Assignments for the electronic levels of the actinide cations were based on these photoluminescence measurements and indicate the presence of vibronic coupling between electronic transitions and IO(3)(-) vibrational modes in both compounds.     

Electrical characterisation of phosphorus-doped ZnO thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition

Phosphorus-doped ZnO films were grown by pulsed laser deposition using a ZnO:P₂O₅-doped target as the phosphorus source with the aim of producing p-type ZnO material. ZnO:P layers (with phosphorus concentrations of between 0.01 to 1 wt%) were grown on a pure ZnO buffer layer. The electrical properties of the films were characterised from temperature dependent Hall-effect measurements. The samples typically showed weak n-type conduction in the dark, with a resistivity of 70 Ω cm, a Hall mobility of μ_n0.5 cm² V ⁻¹ s⁻¹ and a carrier concentration of n3×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ at room temperature. After exposure to an incandescent light source, the samples underwent a change in conduction from n- to p-type, with an increase in mobility and decrease in concentration for temperatures below 300 K.     

Pressure induces major changes in the nature of Americium's 5f electrons

Americium occupies a pivotal position in the actinide series with regard to the behavior of 5f electrons. High-pressure techniques together with synchrotron radiation have been used to determine the structural behavior up to 100 GPa. We have resolved earlier controversial findings regarding americium and find that our experimental results are in discord with recent theoretical predictions. We have two new findings: (1) that there exists a critical, new structural link between americium under pressure and its near neighbor, plutonium; and (2) that the 5f electron delocalization in americium occurs in two rather than one step.     

Dynamics of Si-H vibrations in an amorphous environment

We present results of the first vibrational photon-echo, transient-grating, and temperature dependent transient-bleaching experiments on a-Si:H. Using these techniques, and the infrared light of a free electron laser, the vibrational population decay and phase relaxation of the Si-H stretching mode were investigated. Careful analysis of the data indicates that the vibrational energy relaxes directly into Si-H bending modes and Si phonons, with a distribution of rates determined by the amorphous host. Conversely, the pure dephasing appears to be single exponential, and can be modeled by dephasing via two-phonon interactions.     

Depth-profiling the composition of bimetallic nanoparticles using medium energy ion scattering

The near monolayer depth resolution of medium energy ion scattering is utilized to develop a probe of the depth dependent composition of bimetallic nanoparticles supported on planar oxide supports. The approach fits spectra of scattered ion intensity versus ion energy at well-defined scattering angles taking into account the asymmetric line shape in such spectra and also the depth dependent loss processes encountered by incident ions as they pass through the bimetallic particles.