Isolated tin fluoride molecules in a copper lattice

A Mössbauer absorber was made by simultaneous evaporation of copper and implantation of¹¹⁹Sn, and postimplantation of F. A large fraction of Sn⁴⁺ was formed, assigned to the formation of SnF₄.     

Time-resolved imaging of spin transfer switching: beyond the macrospin concept

Time-resolved images of the magnetization switching process in a spin transfer structure, obtained by ultrafast x-ray microscopy, reveal the limitations of the macrospin model. Instead of a coherent magnetization reversal, we observe switching by lateral motion of a magnetic vortex across a nanoscale element. Our measurements reveal the fundamental roles played independently by the torques due to charge and spin currents in breaking the magnetic symmetry on picosecond time scales.     

Direct observation of spin-torque driven magnetization reversal through nonuniform modes

We present time-resolved x-ray images with 30 nm spatial and 70 ps temporal resolution, which reveal details of the spatially resolved magnetization evolution in nanoscale samples of various dimensions during reversible spin-torque switching processes. Our data in conjunction with micromagnetic simulations suggest a simple unified picture of magnetic switching based on the motion of a magnetic vortex. With decreasing size of the magnetic element the path of the vortex core moves from inside to outside of the nanoelement, and the switching process evolves from a curled nonuniform to an increasingly uniform mode.     

Smart,self-repair polymers based on acryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid and modified with magnetic nanoparticles—preparation and characterization

Capability of materials to self-repair is an innovative and unique property from a point of view both chemistry and physics. Moreover, such property could arouse special interests if such an ability could be caused by the selection of the environmental parameters. Such materials—polymers based on acryloyl-6-aminocaproic acid (A6ACA)—were synthesized in the present paper. In addition, mentioned polymers have been modified with different amount of magnetic nanoparticles solution. Subsequently, sorption capacity and behavior of synthesized polymers in simulated body fluids have been determined. What is also important, studies on cytotoxicity of prepared materials in relation to fibroblasts and cells of cancer origin have been conducted. Materials have also been analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy method. Based on the research aiming at physicochemical characteristics of abovementioned materials it was proved that prepared hydrogels showed self-repair property in a low pH environment. Apart from this essential issue, these were characterized by high sorption capacity, high porosity which decreases with the introduced amount of nanoparticles and, what is important, cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Such combination is a very interesting from a point of view of many realms and due to its unique features may be widely applicable in the nearest future.     

Parametric Analysis of Excited Round Jets - Numerical Study

A computational analysis of excited round jets is presented with emphasis on jet bifurcation phenomenon due to superposition of axial and flapping forcing terms. Various excitation parameters are examined including the amplitudes of the forcing, their frequencies and phase shift. It is shown that alteration of these parameters significantly influences the spatial jet evolution. This dependence may be used to control the jet behaviour in a wide range of qualitatively different flow structures, starting from a modification of the spreading rate of a single connected jet, through large scale deformation of an asymmetric jet, onto jet bifurcation leading to a doubly and even triply split time-averaged jet, displaying different strengths and locations of the branches. We establish that: (i) jet splitting is possible only when the amplitudes of the forcing terms are comparable to or larger than the level of natural turbulence; (ii) the angle between the developing jet branches can be directly controlled by the frequency of the axial forcing and the phase shift between axial and flapping forcing. An optimum forcing frequency is determined, leading to the largest spreading rate.     

Three-dimensional structure and defects in colloidal photonic crystals revealed by tomographic scanning transmission X-ray microscopy

Self-assembled colloidal crystals have attracted major attention because of their potential as low-cost three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystals. Although a high degree of perfection is crucial for the properties of these materials, little is known about their exact structure and internal defects. In this study, we use tomographic scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) to access the internal structure of self-assembled colloidal photonic crystals with high spatial resolution in three dimensions for the first time. The positions of individual particles of 236 nm in diameter are identified in three dimensions, and the local crystal structure is revealed. Through image analysis, structural defects, such as vacancies and stacking faults, are identified. Tomographic STXM is shown to be an attractive and complementary imaging tool for photonic materials and other strongly absorbing or scattering materials that cannot be characterized by either transmission or scanning electron microscopy or optical nanoscopy.     

In situ characterization of aluminum-containing mineral-microorganism aqueous suspensions using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy

In situ characterization of colloidal particles under hydrous conditions is one of the key requirements for understanding their state of aggregation and impact on the transport of pollutants in aqueous environments. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is one of the few techniques that can satisfy this need by providing element- and chemical-state-specific 2-D maps at a spatial resolution better than 50 nm using soft X-rays from synchrotron radiation wiggler or undulator sources tuned to the absorption edges of different elements. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra can also be collected simultaneously at a similar spatial resolution and can provide phase identification in many cases. In this study, we report STXM images and XANES spectroscopy measurements at or above the Al K-edge (E = 1559.6 eV) of various Al-containing minerals and synthetic oxides [alpha-Al2O3 (corundum), gamma-Al2O3, gamma-AlOOH (boehmite), alpha-Al(OH)3 (bayerite), KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 (muscovite), (Al,Mg)8(Si4O10)4(OH)8.nH2O (montmorillonite), and Mg6Al2(OH)16CO3.4H2O (hydrotalcite)] and demonstrate the capability of this spectromicroscopic tool to identify different Al-containing mineral colloids in multiphase mixtures in aqueous solution. We also demonstrate that STXM imaging at or above the C K-edge (E = 284.2 eV) and Al K-edge can provide unique information on the interactions between bacteria and Al-containing nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions. STXM images of a mixture of Caulobacter crescentus and montmorillonite and corundum particles just above the C and Al K-edges show that the mineral particles and bacteria are closely associated in aggregates, which is likely due to the binding of bacteria to clay and corundum particles by extracellular polysaccharides.     

Effect of anion adsorption on early stages of copper electrocrystallization at Au(111) surface

The monolayer and submonolayer deposition of copper on Au(111) electrode surface in the presence of chloride and sulfate ions was studied by in situ X-ray absorption and electrochemical techniques. The anions coadsorb with the deposited copper adatoms and have a strong influence on the structure of these mixed overlayers. Copper deposited in the presence of chloride forms a bilayer in which copper atoms are sandwiched between the gold substrate and the top layer of chloride ions. The bilayer is well ordered and has a (5×5) long range structure. The copper atoms are packed in registry with the top layer of chloride ions. In contrast, copper adatoms deposited in the presence of sulfate ions are packed in registry with respect to the Au(111) substrate. The coadsorbed copper and sulfate form a highly corrugated overlayer. The copper adatoms assume a honeycomb (√3×√3) structure with the center of the honeycomb occupied by sulfate. The sulfate ion adsorbs with three of its four oxygens directed towards the hexagon of copper adatoms. The bond angle between the copper adatom and the oxygen of the sulfate ion is approximately equal to 45 °. Our data indicate that, in contrary to the literature reports, the (√3×√3) structure observed on STM and AFM images corresponds to the corrugation of adsorbed sulfate ions rather than copper adatoms.     

Images of a spin-torque-driven magnetic nano-oscillator

We present the first space- and time-resolved images of the spin-torque-induced steady-state oscillation of a magnetic vortex in a spin-valve nanostructure. We find that the vortex structure in a nanopillar is considerably more complicated than the 2D idealized structure often-assumed, which has important implications for the driving efficiency. The sense of the vortex gyration is uniquely determined by the vortex core polarity, confirming that the spin-torque acts as a source of negative damping even in such a strongly nonuniform magnetic system. The orbit radius is ～10 nm, in agreement with micromagnetic simulations.