1. Effect of shell thickness on the exchange bias blocking temperature and coercivity in Co-CoO core-shell nanoparticlesSenoy Thomas, K. Reethu, Thanveer Thajudheen, M. T. Z. Myint, S. H. Al-Harthi, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: The exchange bias blocking temperature distribution of naturally oxidized Co-CoO core-shell nanoparticles exhibits two distinct signatures. These are associated with the existence of two magnetic entities which are responsible for the temperature dependence of an exchange bias field. One is from the CoO grains which undergo thermally activated magnetization reversal. The other is from the disordered spins at the Co-CoO interface which exhibits spin-glass-like behavior. We investigated the oxide shell thickness dependence of the exchange bias effect. For particles with a 3 nm thick CoO shell, the predominant contribution to the temperature dependence of exchange bias is the interfacial spin-glass layer. On increasing the shell thickness to 4 nm, the contribution from the spin-glass layer decreases, while upholding the antiferromagnetic grain contribution. For samples with a 4 nm CoO shell, the exchange bias training was minimal. On the other hand, 3 nm samples exhibited both the training effect and a peak in coercivity at an intermediate set temperature Ta. This is explained using a magnetic core-shell model including disordered spins at the interface. Keywords: exchange interactions, magnetic ordering, ferromagnetic materials, magnetic materials, polycrystalline material, thin films, nanoparticle, nuclear structure models, oxides, transition metals Published in RUNG: 13.12.2024; Views: 323; Downloads: 2 Link to file This document has many files! More... |
2. Characterization of the particle size distribution, mineralogy, and Fe mode of occurrence of dust-emitting sediments from the Mojave Desert, California, USAAdolfo Gonzalez-Romero, Cristina González-Flórez, Agnesh Panta, Jesús Yus-Díez, Patricia Córdoba, Andrés Alastuey, Natalia Jiménez-Moreno, Melani Hernández-Chiriboga, Konrad Kandler, Martina Klose, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Abstract. Constraining dust models to understand and quantify the effect of dust upon climate and ecosystems requires comprehensive analyses of the physiochemical properties of dust-emitting sediments in arid regions. Building upon previous studies in the Moroccan Sahara and Iceland, we analyse a diverse set of crusts and aeolian ripples (n=55) from various potential dust-emitting basins within the Mojave Desert, California, USA. Our focus is on characterizing the particle size distribution (PSD), mineralogy, aggregation/cohesion state, and Fe mode of occurrence. Our results show differences in fully and minimally dispersed PSDs, with crusts exhibiting average median diameters of 92 and 37 µm, respectively, compared to aeolian ripples with 226 and 213 µm, respectively. Mineralogical analyses unveiled strong variations between crusts and ripples, with crusts being enriched in phyllosilicates (24 % vs. 7.8 %), carbonates (6.6 % vs. 1.1 %), Na salts (7.3 % vs. 1.1 %), and zeolites (1.2 % and 0.12 %) and ripples being enriched in feldspars (48 % vs. 37 %), quartz (32 % vs. 16 %), and gypsum (4.7 % vs. 3.1 %). The size fractions from crust sediments display a homogeneous mineralogy, whereas those of aeolian ripples display more heterogeneity, mostly due to different particle aggregation. Bulk Fe content analyses indicate higher concentrations in crusts (3.0 ± 1.3 wt %) compared to ripples (1.9 ± 1.1 wt %), with similar proportions in their Fe mode of occurrence: nano-sized Fe oxides and readily exchangeable Fe represent ∼1.6 %, hematite and goethite ∼15 %, magnetite/maghemite ∼2.0 %, and structural Fe in silicates ∼80 % of the total Fe. We identified segregation patterns in the PSD and mineralogy differences in Na salt content within the Mojave basins, which can be explained by sediment transportation dynamics and precipitates due to groundwater table fluctuations described in previous studies in the region. Mojave Desert crusts show similarities with previously sampled crusts in the Moroccan Sahara in terms of the PSD and readily exchangeable Fe yet exhibit substantial differences in mineralogical composition, which should significantly influence the characteristic of the emitted dust particles. Keywords: mineral dust, iron oxides Published in RUNG: 29.11.2024; Views: 329; Downloads: 2 Full text (10,28 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Atmospheric concentrations and emission ratios of black carbon and nitrogen oxides in the Arabian/Persian Gulf regionBálint Alföldy, Mohamed M. Mahfouz, Asta Gregorič, Matic Ivančič, Irena Ježek, Martin Rigler, 2021, original scientific article Keywords: black carbon, nitrogen oxides, emission ratio, Arabian Gulf region Published in RUNG: 08.07.2021; Views: 3109; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
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6. Uranium isotope fractionation during adsorption, (co) precipitation, and biotic reductionDuc Huy Dang, Breda Novotnik, Wei Wang, Bastian R. Georg, Douglas R. Evans, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Uranium contamination of surface environments is a problem associated with both U-ore extraction/processing and situations in which groundwater comes into contact with geological formations high in uranium. Apart from the environmental concerns about U contamination, its accumulation and isotope composition have been used in marine sediments as a paleoproxy of the Earth’s oxygenation history. Understanding U isotope geochemistry is then essential either to develop sustainable remediation procedures as well as for use in paleotracer applications. We report on parameters controlling U immobilization and U isotope fractionation by adsorption onto Mn/Fe oxides, precipitation with phosphate, and biotic reduction. The light U isotope (235U) is preferentially adsorbed on Mn/Fe oxides in an oxic system. When adsorbed onto Mn/Fe oxides, dissolved organic carbon and carbonate are the most efficient ligands limiting U binding resulting in slight differences in U isotope composition (δ238U = 0.22 ± 0.06‰) compared to the DOC/DIC-free configuration (δ238U = 0.39 ± 0.04‰). Uranium precipitation with phosphate does not induce isotope fractionation. In contrast, during U biotic reduction, the heavy U isotope (238U) is accumulated in reduced species (δ238U up to −1‰). The different trends of U isotope fractionation in oxic and anoxic environments makes its isotope composition a useful tracer for both environmental and paleogeochemical applications. Keywords: Uranium, fractionation, biotic, abiotic, oxides Published in RUNG: 04.10.2019; Views: 3672; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
7. Metal oxide and metal carbides thin films for photo/electrochemical water splitting studiesSaim Emin, 2017, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: We used wet-chemistry techniques to prepare colloidal tungsten (W) nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesis of W NPs was conducted using the so called hot-matrix method in 1-octadecene [1]. The sizes of obtained W NPs are in the order of 2 - 5 nm. These W NPs are coated with hydrophobic molecules which allow their dispersion in organic solvents like choloroform (CHCl3). It was found that the colloidal stability of the dispersions is exceptionally high exceeding several years. The stability of W NPs which prevents coagulation allows the preparation of thin films with uniform thicknesses by spin-coating, inkjet-printing and spray coating.
We have prepared both tungsten trioxide (WO3) and tungsten carbide (W2C, WC) thin films. The preparation of WO3 thin films was achieved by spin-coating of W NPs on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates and following thermal treatment in air at 500°C. The preparation of W2C and WC were done after spin-coating of W NPs on graphite substrate and following heat treatment under Ar atmosphere at 1000 and 1450°C.
The obtained WO3 and W2C (e.g WC) films were used both in photo/electrochemical water splitting studies. In conclusion, we have developed a procedure for the synthesis of W NPs which can be used for the preparation of different class of materials for water splitting studies. Keywords: metal oxides, metal carbides, tungsten nanoparticles Published in RUNG: 09.10.2017; Views: 6516; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |
8. ORR stability of Mn–Co/polypyrrole nanocomposite electrocatalysts studied by quasi in-situ identical-location photoelectron microspectroscopyPatrizia Bocchetta, Belen Aleman, Matteo Amati, Mattia Fanetti, Andrea Goldoni, Luca Gregoratti, Maya Kiskinova, Claudio Mele, Hikmet Sezen, Benedetto Bozzini, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: The stability of pyrolyzed Mn–Co/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites towards the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR)
in alkaline solution, was studied with a close-knit group of complementary microscopic and space-resolved spectroscopic
approaches: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning and High-Resolution Transmission Electron
Microscopy (SEM, HRTEM) and identical-location Scanning PhotoElectron Microscopy (SPEM). Tracking quasi-in
situ the morphochemical evolution of the Mn–Co/PPy catalyst upon electrochemical aging under ORR conditions
by this multi-technique approach, has allowed to clarify the key physico-chemical processes underlying
the dramatic impact of Co additions to stability improvement. Keywords: Mixed manganese oxides, Polypyrrole, Oxygen reduction, Electrocatalysis, Nanocomposites, X-ray photoelectron microspectroscopy Published in RUNG: 25.07.2016; Views: 6305; Downloads: 0 This document has many files! More... |