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Monitoring of chemical processes at the atomic level by X-ray absorption spectrometry using extremely bright synchrotron radiation sources
Iztok Arčon, unpublished invited conference lecture

Abstract: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful tool for characterisation of local structure and chemical state of selected elements in different new functional materials and biological or environmental samples. The XAS spectroscopy is based on extremely bright synchrotron radiation X-rays sources, which allow precise characterisation of bulk, nanostructured or highly diluted samples. The rapid development of extremely bright synchrotron sources of X-ray and ultraviolet light in recent years has opened new possibilities for research of matter at the atomic or molecular level, indispensable in the development of new functional nanostructured materials with desired properties. The lecture will present the possibilities offered by X-ray absorption spectroscopy with synchrotron light for ex-situ and in-situ or operando characterization of various functional porous and other nanomaterials before, after and during their operation. With the operando micro-XANES and EXAFS methods it is possible to track changes in the valence states and local structures of selected elements in different energy storage materials or in various (photo)catalysts, during chemical reactions under controlled reaction conditions, thus gaining insight into the dynamic functional properties and reaction mechanisms of these materials. New synchrotron light sources also opened the possibility of combining X-ray absorption or emission spectroscopy and microscopy with a resolution of up to a few tens of nanometres, crucial for analysis of environmental and biological samples on sub-cellular level, to understand the mechanisms of uptake, transport, accumulation, and complexation of metal cations on subcellular level in various plant tissues or accumulation in environment, to develop effective remediation approaches.
Keywords: X-ray absorption spectroscopy, EXAFS, XANES, synchrotron radiation sources, operando
Published in RUNG: 15.12.2021; Views: 1715; Downloads: 0
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Spectroscopic investigation of oxygen vacancies in CeO[sub]2 : dissertation
Thanveer Thajudheen, 2021, doctoral dissertation

Abstract: A unique material, ceria (CeO2), which is widely applied in automobile exhaust catalysts, is functional due to presence of defects in its crystal structure. Furthermore, the structural defects dictate electrical and chemical properties of ceria. The creation of intrinsic oxygen vacancies in ceria is responsible for oxygen-ion conductivity in solid oxide fuel cells. This unfolds the keen interest in ceria defects. Using the analytical technique cathodoluminescence spectroscopy (CLS) we can characterize ceria for its band gap and the defect states within the band gap. Since CLS has a high spatial resolution, high sensitivity to low concentration of defects and ability to obtain depth resolved information it is an obvious technique of choice. The first part of the thesis is an introduction to the topic and description of the experimental techniques. Importance of ceria as a multifaceted material finding applications in areas spanning from energy production and conversion to biomedical applications is detailed. CLS as a tool to understand defect-related optical properties and advancement in the CL detection systems are discussed. To study the relationship between local structure and its impact on CL emission spectra, an X-ray absorption spectroscopy techniques were used. The X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and the Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques are summarized. The second part discusses CL emission from ceria. Initially, CL emission from reduced ceria and its dependence on oxygen vacancy concentration are presented. The origin of emission was attributed to different configurations of the oxygen vacancies and polarons. The recent F center description in ceria was adopted here. The intriguing observation of CL emission quenching as a function of oxygen vacancy concentration was explained on the basis of a relative change in population of F centers in ceria. This demonstrated the relevance of local structure for the CL emission in ceria. In order to have a better understanding of the system, La-doped ceria was proposed as a model system. A precise control over the stoichiometry helped to achieve a desired oxygen vacancy concentration. The CL emission behavior, as observed in reduced ceria, was replicated in the case of La-doped ceria and the analysis revealed that F+ centers favor CL emission whereas F0 centers are disadvantageous. The local structure investigation using EXAFS analysis of both cations Ce and La (K-Edge) showed distortion from the fluorite symmetry and corroborated the F center description of oxygen vacancies in ceria. Our results provide an experimental evidence for F center description involving oxygen vacancies and polarons.
Keywords: ceria, cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, local structure distortion, EXAFS analysis, La doped ceria, luminescence quenching, F centers, dissertations
Published in RUNG: 25.11.2021; Views: 2395; Downloads: 103
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Orbital selective dynamics in Fe-pnictides triggered by polarized pump pulse excitations
Ganesh Adhikary, Tanusree Saha, Primož Rebernik Ribič, Matija Stupar, Barbara Ressel, Jurij Urbančič, Giovanni De Ninno, A. Thamizhavel, Kalobaran Maiti, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: Quantum materials display exotic behaviours related to the interplay between temperature-driven phase transitions. Here, we study the electron dynamics in one such material, CaFe$_2$As$_2$, a parent Fe-based superconductor, employing time and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. CaFe$_2$As$_2$ exhibits concomitant transition to spin density wave state and tetragonal to orthorhombic structure below 170 K. The Fermi surface of this material consists of three hole pockets ($\alpha$, $\beta$ and $\gamma$) around $\Gamma$-point and two electron pockets around $X$-point. The hole pockets have $d_{xy}$, $d_{yz}$ and $d_{zx}$ orbital symmetries. The $\beta$ band constituted by $d_{xz}$/$d_{yz}$ orbitals exhibit a gap across the magnetic phase transition. We discover that polarized pump pulses can induce excitations of electrons of a selected symmetry. More specifically, while $s$-polarized light (polarization vector perpendicular to the $xz$-plane) excites electrons corresponding to all the three hole bands, $p$-polarized light excites electrons essentially from ($\alpha$,$\beta$) bands which are responsible for magnetic order. Interestingly, within the magnetically ordered phase, the excitation due to the $p$-polarized pump pulses occur at a time scale of 50 fs, which is significantly faster than the excitation induced by $s$-polarized light ($\sim$ 200 fs). These results suggest that the relaxation of different ordered phases occurs at different time scales and this method can be used to achieve selective excitations to disentangle complexity in the study of quantum materials.
Keywords: Electronic structure, Pnictides and chalcogenides, Time-resolved spectroscopy
Published in RUNG: 13.10.2021; Views: 1786; Downloads: 6
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Chemical (in)stability of interfaces between different metals and Bi[sub]2Se[sub]3 topological insulator
Katja Ferfolja, Mattia Fanetti, Sandra Gardonio, Matjaž Valant, 2018, published scientific conference contribution abstract

Abstract: In recent years a classification of materials based on their topological order gained popularity due to the discovery of materials with special topological character – topological insulators (TI). TI have different band structure than regular insulators or conductors. They are characterized by a band gap in the bulk of the material, but at the surface they possess conductive topological surface states (TSS) that cross the Fermi level. TSS are a consequence of the non-trivial bulk band structure and have properties that differ from ordinary surface states. They are robust toward contamination and deformation of the surface. Additionally, they are also spin polarized, which means that an electron spin is locked to a crystal momentum and, therefore, backscattering during transport is suppressed [1]. Due to their specific properties the TI could be used in fields of spintronics, quantum computing and catalysis [2]. The investigation of the interfaces between metals and the TI has not been given much attention even though its characterization is interesting from fundamental physics and applicative point of view. (In)stability of the contacts with metal electrodes, in a form of a chemical reaction or diffusion, has to be taken into account since it can affect the transport properties of the material or increase the contact resistance. Our research is dedicated to the study of the metal/TI interfaces, in particular to Bi2Se3 with deposited metals that are relevant for electrical contacts (Au, Ag, Pt, Cr, Ti). The thermal and chemical stability of the interfaces are of fundamental importance for understanding the contact behavior, therefore, we focused our work to the characterization of these properties. The metal/TI interfaces are investigated mainly with an electron microscopy (SEM, TEM, STM), EDX microanalysis and XRD. Our previous studies showed that the interface between Bi2Se3, and Ag deposited either chemically or from a vapor phase, results in the formation of new phases already at room temperature [3]. On the contrary, Au deposited on the Bi2Se3 surface shows very limited reactivity and is stable at RT, but diffusion and coalescence of the metal are observed starting from 100 °C [4]. In this contribution, we will present further characterization on the evolution of the Ag/Bi2Se3 and Au/Bi2Se3 interfaces, show preliminary results about recently investigated systems (Pt/Bi2Se3, Ti/Bi2Se3) and compare the thermal and chemical stability of the systems under investigation.
Keywords: thermal lens spectrometry, photothermal beam deflection spectroscopy, dye remediation, photothermal technique, photocatalytic degradation, reactive blue 19, TiO2 modification
Published in RUNG: 20.08.2021; Views: 2159; Downloads: 0
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Removal of copper from aqueous solutions with zeolites and possible treatment of exhaust materials
Nataša Zabukovec Logar, Iztok Arčon, Janez Kovač, Margarita Popova, 2021, original scientific article

Abstract: The mechanism of Cu2+ loading into commercially available natural HEU-type and synthetic LTA-type zeolites for their possible use in environmental processes, such as water and air treatment applications, was studied. Elemental analysis, SEM/EDXS, XRD, XAS and XPS analyses revealed 4-fold coordination of Cu2+ cations with oxygen atoms in the pores, a predominant location of copper atoms on the surface of crystallites and retained crystallinity of zeolites throughout the processes. The post-treatment of Cu2+-loaded samples with HCl and/or NaCl solutions confirmed the predominantly reversible sorption of copper on zeolites from aqueous solutions by ion-exchange mechanism and, therefore, excellent regeneration possibilities for both types of zeolites. Furthermore, with the calcination of exhaust metal-loaded zeolites, catalysts for total toluene oxidation reaction, as a model VOC pollutant, were obtained.
Keywords: Cu2+ ion exchange, Total toluene oxidation, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Zeolite
Published in RUNG: 03.06.2021; Views: 1899; Downloads: 153
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