Spectral dynamics and gas-phase oxidation of laser-produced plutonium plasmas

Pu gas-phase oxidation and Pu oxide bands identified with Pu I spectral modeling and time-resolved excitation temperature of Pu plasma.

An Overview on Nanocrystalline ZnFe2O4, MnFe2O4, and CoFe2O4 Synthesized by a Thermal Treatment Method

This study reports the simple synthesis of MFe2O4 (where M=Zn, Mn, and Co) nanoparticles by a thermal treatment method, followed by calcination at various temperatures from 723 to 873 K. Poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) was used as a capping agent to stabilize the particles and prevent them from agglomeration. The characterization studies were conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The average particle sizes were obtained by TEM images, which were in good agreement with the XRD results. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the presence of metal oxide bands for all the calcined samples. Magnetic properties were demonstrated by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), which displayed that the calcined samples exhibited superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic behaviors.

Use of Electroless Plating Copper Thin Films for Catalysis

Recently, it was demonstrated that copper thin films show good adsorption characteristics for organic polar and non-polar compounds. Also, these films when used in small cavities can favor preconcentration of these organic compounds. It is also known that copper oxide can provide catalysis of organic compounds. Therefore, the aim of this work is the study of copper thin film catalysis when used in small cavities. Copper thin films, 25 nm thick, were deposited on silicon and/or rough silicon. These films do not show oxide on the surface when analyzed by Rutherford backscattering. Also, Raman analysis of these films showed only silicon bands, due to the substrate, however infrared spectroscopy shows oxide bands for films exposed to organic compound aqueous solutions. Cavities with copper films deposited inside were tested with a continuous flow of n-hexane, acetone or 2-propanol admitted in the system. The effluent was analyzed by Quartz Crystal Microbalance. It was shown that n-hexane or acetone can be trapped. The system also shows good reproducibility. Tests of catalysis were carried out using Raman spectroscopy and heating the films up to 300°C during 3 minutes after exposure to n-hexane, 2- propanol and acetophenone – pure or saturated aqueous solution. After the exposure, Raman spectra present intense bands only for 2-propanol, indicating that adsorption easily occurs. However, after heating with all solutions it was not found only silicon bands. Raman microscopy after heating also showed copper oxide cluster formation and, eventually, graphite formation. Although the heating provides oxide copper formation, this reaction does not produce a high amount of residues, which means that catalysis is possible in this condition. Thus, a simple device using copper thin films can be useful as sample pretreatment on microTAS development.

RESONANT SOFT X-RAY EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY OF V2O3, VO2andNaV2O5

Resonant soft X-ray emission (RSXE) spectra of V 2 O 3, VO 2 and NaV 2 O 5 were recorded for a series of excitation energies at resonances of the V L- and O K-absorption band. The V L- and O K-emission in these vanadium oxide bands possess considerable overlap. By resonant excitation we can tune the energy to the absorption thresholds, thereby eliminating this overlap. Hereby we obtain the V 3d and O 2p projected density-of-states of the valence band. Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) is found to be weak in V 2 O 3, which we explain as being due to its metallic character at room temperature. Vanadium dioxide ( VO 2), semiconducting at room temperature, shows considerable RIXS features only at the O K-emission band. Distinct RIXS structures are visible in the RSXE spectra of the insulator NaV 2 O 5. In the emission spectra excited at the V L-thresholds of this ternary vanadium oxide, dd-excitations of the V dxy subband at an energy loss of -1.7 eV are observed. Our observation, that RIXS is stronger for insulators than for metals, should be taken advantage of for studying insulator-to-metal transitions in vanadium compounds in the future.