Formation of Ag-Fe Bimetallic Nano-Species on Mordenite Depending on the Initial Ratio of Components

The formation and properties of silver and iron nanoscale components in the Ag-Fe bimetallic system deposited on mordenite depend on several parameters during their preparation. Previously, it was shown that an important condition for optimizing nano-center properties in a bimetallic catalyst is to change the order of sequential deposition of components; the order "first Ag⁺, then Fe²⁺" was chosen as optimal. In this work, the influence of exact Ag/Fe atomic proportion on the system's physicochemical properties was studied. This ratio has been confirmed to affect the stoichiometry of the reduction-oxidation processes involving Ag⁺ and Fe²⁺, as shown by XRD, DR UV-Vis, XPS, and XAFS data, while HRTEM, S_BET and TPD-NH₃ show little change. However, it was found the correlation between the occurrence and amount of the Fe³⁺ ions incorporated into the zeolite's framework and the experimentally determined catalytic activities towards the model de-NOx reaction along the series of nanomaterials elucidated in this present paper.

Synthesis, supramolecular isomerism, and photoluminescence of scandium(III) complexes with tetrafluoroterephthalate ligand

Here we present a new family of seven Sc(III) complexes with tetrafluoroterephthalate ligand (tFBDC2−), having non-polymeric and polymeric 2D and 3D structures. These complexes are characterized by SC XRD, PXRD,...

Cellulose-Based Hydrogels and Aerogels Embedded with Silver Nanoparticles: Preparation and Characterization

The paper presents the preparation and characterization of novel composite materials based on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in powder and gel forms. We use a promising synthetic conception to form the novel composite biomaterials. At first MCC was modified with colloidal solution of Ag NPs in isopropyl alcohol prepared via metal vapor synthesis. Then Ag-containing MCC powder was used as precursor for further preparation of the gels. The hydrogels were prepared by dissolving pristine MCC and MCC-based composite at low temperatures in aqueous alkali solution and gelation at elevated temperature. To prepare aerogels the drying in supercritical carbon dioxide was implemented. The as-prepared cellulose composites were characterized in terms of morphology, structure, and phase composition. Since many functional properties, including biological activity, in metal-composites are determined by the nature of the metal-to-polymer matrix interaction, the electronic state of the metal was carefully studied. The studied cellulose-based materials containing biologically active Ag NPs may be of interest for use as wound healing or water-purification materials.

Eu-Doped layered yttrium hydroxides sensitized by a series of benzenedicarboxylate and sulphobenzoate anions

A series of new Eu-doped layered yttrium hydroxides intercalated with various organic dianions having similar molecular structure (dicarboxylates and sulphobenzoates) were synthesized.

Determining the speciation of Zn in soils around the sediment ponds of chemical plants by XRD and XAFS spectroscopy and sequential extraction

For a correct assessment of risk of polluted soil, it is crucial to establish the speciation and mobility of the contaminants. The aim of this study was to investigate the speciation and transformation of Zn in strongly technogenically transformed contaminated Spolic Technosols for a long time in territory of sludge collectors by combining analytical techniques and synchrotron techniques. Sequential fractionation of Zn compounds in studied soils revealed increasing metal mobility. Phyllosilicates and Fe and Mn hydroxides were the main stabilizers of Zn mobility. A high degree of transformation was identified for the composition of the mineral phase in Spolic Technosols by X-ray powder diffraction. Technogenic phases (Zn-containing authigenic minerals) were revealed in Spolic Technosols samples through the analysis of their Zn K-edge EXAFS and XANES spectra. In one of the samples Zn local environment was formed by predominantly oxygen atoms, and in the other one mixed ZnS and ZnO bonding was found. Zn speciation in the studied technogenically transformed soils was due to the composition of pollutants contaminating the floodplain landscapes for a long time, and, second, this is the combination of physicochemical properties controlling the buffer properties of investigated soils. X-ray spectroscopic and X-ray powder diffraction analyses combined with sequential extraction assays is an effective tool to check the affinity of the soil components for heavy metal cations.

Features of microstructure and magnetic flux dynamics in superconducting Nb-Ti tapes with strong anisotropic pinning

Results of micro-structural, phase and texture analysis of Nb-Ti tapes and results of magnetic flux dynamics fixed by Magneto-Optical Imaging (MOI) method are presented in order to investigate origin and consequences of the anisotropic pinning model proposed, and implemented earlier experimental results including Guided Vortex Motion (GVM) phenomenon.

The Mechanism of Low-Temperature Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide by Oxygen over the PdCl₂-CuCl₂/γ-Al₂O₃ Nanocatalyst

The state of palladium and copper on the surface of the PdCl₂–CuCl₂/γ-Al₂O₃ nanocatalyst for the low-temperature oxidation of CO by molecular oxygen was studied by various spectroscopic techniques. Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), freshly prepared samples of the catalyst were studied. The same samples were also evaluated after interaction with CO, O₂, and H₂O vapor in various combinations. It was shown that copper exists in the form of Cu₂Cl(OH)₃ (paratacamite) nanophase on the surface of the catalyst. No palladium-containing crystalline phases were identified. Palladium coordination initially is comprised of four chlorine atoms. It was shown by XAS that this catalyst is not capable of oxidizing CO at room temperature in the absence of H₂O and O₂ over 12 h. Copper(II) and palladium(II) are reduced to Cu(I) and Pd(I,0) species, respectively, in the presence of CO and H₂O vapor (without O₂). It was found by DRIFTS that both linear (2114 cm⁻¹, 1990 cm⁻¹) and bridging (1928 cm⁻¹) forms of coordinated CO were formed upon adsorption onto the catalyst surface. Moreover, the formation of CO₂ was detected upon the interaction of the coordinated CO with oxygen. The kinetics of CO oxidation was studied at 18–38 °C at an atmospheric pressure for CO, O₂, N₂, and H₂O (gas) mixtures in a flow reactor (steady state conditions).

Magnetic properties of poly(p-xylylene)-Ni nanocomposites

The dependence of electrical and magnetic properties on structure of thin poly(p-xylylene) - nickel nanocomposite films with Ni concentrations from 5 to 30 vol.% was studied. It was found that metal concentration strongly affects size and oxidation state of the nanoparticles. Effect of the filler content on electrical and magnetic properties of the nanocomposites was revealed. These properties are determined by percolation phenomenon, with the percolation threshold value of about 10 vol.%. The well pronounced magnetic hysteresis as well as ferromagnetic ordering were observed at Ni content above the percolation threshold. The diagrams of magnetic properties of these composites as a function of composition and temperature were elaborated.

Identification of Subnanometric Ag Species, Their Interaction with Supports and Role in Catalytic CO Oxidation

The nature and size of the real active species of nanoparticulated metal supported catalysts is still an unresolved question. The technique of choice to measure particle sizes at the nanoscale, HRTEM, has a practical limit of 1 nm. This work is aimed to identify the catalytic role of subnanometer species and methods to detect and characterize them. In this frame, we investigated the sensitivity to redox pretreatments of Ag/Fe/TiO₂, Ag/Mg/TiO₂ and Ag/Ce/TiO₂ catalysts in CO oxidation. The joint application of HRTEM, SR-XRD, DRS, XPS, EXAFS and XANES methods indicated that most of the silver in all samples is in the form of Ag species with size <1 nm. The differences in catalytic properties and sensitivity to pretreatments, observed for the studied Ag catalysts, could not be explained taking into account only the Ag particles whose size distribution is measured by HRTEM, but may be explained by the presence of the subnanometer Ag species, undetectable by HRTEM, and their interaction with supports. This result highlights their role as active species and the need to take them into account to understand integrally the catalysis by supported nanometals.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of the nucleotide bases at the carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen K-edges

Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of three pyrimidine (viz., cytosine, uracil, and thymine) and two purine (viz., adenine and guanine) nucleobases, which are the key constituents of DNA and RNA, were measured at the C, N, and O K-edges using the self-absorption-free partial electron yield mode. The nucleobase samples were prepared as highly pure native polycrystalline powder films. The spectra are analyzed in terms of the electronic structure of the nucleobases. Subtle chemical effects related to the molecular structures of these heterocyclic compounds with extended pi-electron systems are considered and discussed.

Isotope and temperature effects in liquid water probed by x-ray absorption and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy

High-resolution x-ray absorption and emission spectra of liquid water exhibit a strong isotope effect. Further, the emission spectra show a splitting of the 1b1 emission line, a weak temperature effect, and a pronounced excitation-energy dependence. They can be described as a superposition of two independent contributions. By comparing with gas phase, ice, and NaOH/NaOD, we propose that the two components are governed by the initial state hydrogen bonding configuration and ultrafast dissociation on the time scale of the O 1s core hole decay.

Isotope and temperature effects in liquid water probed by x-ray absorption and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy

High-resolution x-ray absorption and emission spectra of liquid water exhibit a strong isotope effect. Further, the emission spectra show a splitting of the 1b1 emission line, a weak temperature effect, and a pronounced excitation-energy dependence. They can be described as a superposition of two independent contributions. By comparing with gas phase, ice, and NaOH/NaOD, we propose that the two components are governed by the initial state hydrogen bonding configuration and ultrafast dissociation on the time scale of the O 1s core hole decay.

NEXAFS Spectroscopy of Homopolypeptides at All Relevant Absorption Edges: Polyisoleucine, Polytyrosine, and Polyhistidine

Carefully calibrated high-resolution low-noise near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of three homopolypetides, viz., polyisoleucine, polytyrosine, and polyhistidine at the C, N, and O K-edges, are compared with the respective spectra of parent amino acids and glycine-derived cyclic dipeptide, 2,5-diketopiperazine. An assignment of the spectral features related to the nitrogen and oxygen atoms constituting the peptide bond is suggested on the basis of a comparative analysis of the experimental spectra as well as theoretical calculations for 2,5-diketopiperazine within the real-space multiple-scattering formalism. A splitting of the pi*-feature in the N K-edge spectra is identified, which is probably sensitive to the dominant conformation type of the peptide molecule (i.e., alpha-helix vs beta-sheet).

Oxygen K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure studies of vacuum-deposited ice films

Multilayer ice films deposited on polycrystalline Au(111) substrates at 90 and 153 K under ultra-high-vacuum conditions are studied using O K-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy in the surface-sensitive partial electron yield mode. Both near-edge and extended oscillatory fine structures are analyzed in combination with the theoretical real-space full-multiple-scattering simulations based on the FEFF8 code. The experimental data consistently indicate that the local structure of the near-surface regions in ice films at both substrate temperatures resembles that of high-density crystalline modifications of ice (e.g., ice II, ice III, or high-density amorphous ice). In addition, the ice films deposited at 153 K most probably contain a minor fraction of low-density cubic ice (I(c) phase).

Solid-State Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectra of Glycine in Various Charge States

The experimental solid-state near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra for a series of glycine-related samples including alpha-glycine, beta-glycine, glycinium chloride, glycinium trifluoroacetate, and sodium glycinate at the C, N, and O K-edges measured under identical conditions are reported and compared. An assignment of spectral features for alpha-glycine is proposed on the basis of extended theoretical simulations of polarization-dependent spectra performed within the real-space multiple-scattering formalism explicitly taking into account the intermolecular environment of a glycine molecule in a crystal.

Innershell Absorption Spectroscopy of Amino Acids at All Relevant Absorption Edges

The C, N, and O K-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of the 22 most common proteinogenic alpha-amino acids in the zwitterionic form collected from solvent-free polycrystalline powder films in the partial electron yield mode are reported. Spectral features common to all amino acids, as well as distinctive fingerprints of specific subgroups of these compounds, are presented and discussed.

Ultrafast core-hole-induced dynamics in water probed by x-ray emission spectroscopy

The isotope effect and excitation-energy dependence have been measured in the oxygen K-edge x-ray emission spectrum (XES). The use of XES to monitor core decay processes provides information about molecular dynamics (MD) on an ultrafast time scale through the O1s lifetime of a few femtoseconds. Different nuclear masses give rise to differences in the dynamics and the observed isotope effect in XES is direct evidence of the importance of such processes. MD simulations show that even the excitation-energy dependence in the XES is mainly related to differences in core-excited-state dynamics.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure study of water adsorption on pyridine-terminated thiolate self-assembled monolayers

Adsorption of water on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-(4-mercaptophenyl)pyridine on gold at low temperatures under ultrahigh vacuum conditions is studied by synchrotron radiation X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopy. Water adsorption induces a strong modification of the chemical state of the pyridine N atoms at the SAM/ice interface, indicative for strong H bonding and partial proton transfer between water molecules and pyridine moieties. Additionally, the initial molecular orientation within the SAM is changed upon formation of an adsorbed water multilayer.

Surface Chemistry of Ultrathin Films of Histidine on Gold As Probed by High-Resolution Synchrotron Photoemission

Procedures for the vacuum deposition of thin histidine films on polycrystalline Au(111) and their characterization with high-resolution synchrotron-radiation-based photoelectron spectroscopy are reported. The chemical form of histidine (anionic vs zwitterionic) and the nature of its interactions with the substrate (strong ionic-covalent vs weak van der Waals bonding) in mono- and multilayer films are analyzed. It is shown that water adsorption on a pre-prepared histidine film at 100 K results in protonation of histidine molecules and partial formation of hydroxyl anions. These chemical effects are carefully differentiated from spectral changes associated with radiation damage of the histidine films.

Bonding and structure of glycine on ordered Al2O3 film surfaces

The interaction between glycine (NH2CH2COOH) layers and an ultrathin Al2O3 film grown epitaxially onto NiAl(110) was studied by temperature-programmed desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, work function measurements, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. At monolayer coverages at 110 K, there are two coexisting molecular forms: the anionic (NH2CH2COO-) and the zwitterionic form (NH3+CH2COO-) of glycine. As deduced from the photoemission data, the buildup of multilayers at 110 K leads to a condensed phase predominantly in the zwitterionic state. In contrast to the monolayer at 110 K, the monolayer formed at 300 K consists primarily of glycine molecules in the anionic state. The latter species is adsorbed with the oxygen atoms of the carboxylic group pointing toward the substrate. The polarization-dependent C K- and O K-edge NEXAFS spectra indicate that the glycinate species in the monolayer at 300 K is oriented nearly perpendicular to the surface, with the amino group pointing away from the surface.

Local Structure of Amorphous Ice as Revealed by O K-Edge EXAFS

The oxygen K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectrum of an ice film prepared by deposition of water vapor on a substrate at 100 K was measured in the surface-sensitive Auger yield mode. Five distinct peaks are revealed in the Fourier transform spectrum of the EXAFS data. The peaks are attributed to O-H bonds (with overlapping contributions from intramolecular covalent and intermolecular hydrogen bonds) as well as to intermolecular O...O scattering paths in the distance range of 1-7 A. The pattern of the longer O...O distances resembles that of a high-pressure crystalline modification of ice (ice II).

Soft X-Ray-Induced Decomposition of Amino Acids: An XPS, Mass Spectrometry, and NEXAFS Study

Decomposition of five amino acids, alanine, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, and asparagine, under irradiation with soft X rays (magnesium Kalpha X-ray source) in ultra-high vacuum was studied by means of X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) and mass spectrometry. A comparative analysis of changes in XPS line shapes, stoichiometry and residual gas composition indicates that the molecules decompose by several pathways. Dehydration, decarboxylation, decarbonylation, deamination and desulfurization of pristine molecules accompanied by desorption of H2, H2O, CO2, NH3 and H2S are observed with rates depending on the specific amino acid. NEXAFS spectra of cysteine at the carbon, oxygen and nitrogen K-shell and sulfur L2,3 edges complement the XPS and mass spectrometry data and show that the exposure of the sample to an intense soft X-ray synchrotron beam results in the formation of C-C and C-N double and triple bonds. Qualitatively, the amino acids studied can be arranged in the following ascending order of radiation stability: serine<alanine<aspartic acid<cysteine<asparagine.