Abstract: The properties and applications of metallic nanoparticles are inseparably connected not only to their detailed morphology and composition but also to their structural configuration and mutual interactions. As a result, the assemblies often have superior properties as compared to individual nanoparticles. Although it has been reported that nanoparticles can form highly symmetric clusters, if the configuration can be predicted as a function of the synthesis parameters, more targeted and accurate synthesis will be possible. We present here a theoretical model that accurately predicts the structure and configuration of self-assembled gold nanoclusters. The validity of the model is verified using quantitative experimental data extracted from electron tomography 3D reconstructions of different assemblies. The present theoretical model is generic and can in principle be used for different types of nanoparticles, providing a very wide window of potential applications.

Abstract: We report the solution phase synthesis, the structural analysis, and the magnetic properties of hybrid nanostructures combining two magnetic metals. These nano-objects are characterized by a remarkable shape, combining Fe nanocubes on Co nanorods. The topological composition, the orientation relationship, and the growth steps have been studied by advanced electron microscopy techniques, such as HRTEM, electron tomography, and state-of-the-art 3-dimensional elemental mapping by EDX tomography. The soft iron nanocubes behave as easy nucleation centers that induce the magnetization reversal of the entire nanohybrid, leading to a drastic modification of the overall effective magnetic anisotropy.

Abstract: In TEM, a typical goal consists of making a small electron probe in the sample plane in order to obtain high spatial resolution in scanning transmission electron microscopy. In order to do so, the phase of the electron wave is corrected to resemble a spherical wave compensating for aberrations in the magnetic lenses. In this contribution, we discuss the advantage of changing the phase of an electron wave in a specific way in order to obtain fundamentally different electron probes opening up new applications in the (S)TEM. We focus on electron vortex states as a specific family of waves with an azimuthal phase signature and discuss their properties, production and applications. The concepts presented here are rather general and also different classes of probes can be obtained in a similar fashion, showing that electron probes can be tuned to optimize a specific measurement or interaction.

Abstract: Plasma catalysis holds great promise for environmental applications, provided that the process viability can be maximized in terms of energy efficiency and product selectivity. This requires a fundamental understanding of the various processes taking place and especially the mutual interactions between plasma and catalyst. In this review, we therefore first examine the various effects of the plasma on the catalyst and of the catalyst on the plasma that have been described in the literature. Most of these studies are purely experimental. The urgently needed fundamental understanding of the mechanisms underpinning plasma catalysis, however, may also be obtained through modelling and simulation. Therefore, we also provide here an overview of the modelling efforts that have been developed already, on both the atomistic and the macroscale, and we identify the data that can be obtained with these models to illustrate how modelling and simulation may contribute to this field. Last but not least, we also identify future modelling opportunities to obtain a more complete understanding of the various underlying plasma catalytic effects, which is needed to provide a comprehensive picture of plasma catalysis.

Abstract: The origin of the ferroelectric polarization switching in orthorhombic HfO2 has been investigated by first principles calculations. The phenomenon can be regarded as being the coordinated displacement of four O ions in the orthorhombic unit cell, which can lead to a saturated polarization as high as 53 mu C/cm(2). We show the correlation between the computed polarization reversal barrier and the experimental coercive fields. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Abstract: Diffusive properties of interacting magnetic dipoles confined in a parabolic narrow channel and in the presence of a periodic modulated (corrugated) potential along the unconfined direction are studied using Brownian dynamics simulations. We compare our simulation results with the analytical result for the effective diffusion coefficient of a single particle by Festa and d'Agliano [Physica A 90, 229 (1978)] and show the importance of interparticle interaction on the diffusion process. We present results for the diffusion of magnetic dipoles as a function of linear density, strength of the periodic modulation and commensurability factor.

Abstract: Magnetic state of Fe-57 implanted and doped ZnO samples have been reported and studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy at different temperatures. The Mossbauer spectra mainly showed four doublets and three sextets, but some ambiguous identification remains regarding the probe site location and influence of defects in the hyperfine and magnetic parameters. In the present work some possible implantation configurations are suggested and evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation and electronic structure calculations within the density functional theory. Various implantation environments were proposed and studied considering the presence of defects. The obtained Fe-57 hyperfine parameters show a good agreement with the reported experimental values for some of these configurations. The possibility of Fe pair formation, as well as a Zn site vacancy stabilization between he second and third neighborhood of the implantation site, is supported. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: We studied the Fe K-edge X-ray absorption near edge (XANES) spectra of several Roman black glass fragments in order to determine the Fe3+/ΣFe ratio of these materials. The selected archaeological glass samples cover the period 1st5th century AD in nine different sites of the North Western provinces of the Roman Empire. The fragments belong to two different compositional groups demonstrating a diachronic evolution: early Roman HMG (High Magnesia Glass) and Roman Imperial LMG (Low Magnesia Glass). The first group contains natural Fe levels (below 2 wt% as Fe2O3), while the LMG has concentrations above 5 wt%. This difference is also reflected by Fe3+/ΣFe values. Low iron glass was produced under strongly reducing conditions in order to obtain the black colour, with average Fe3+/ΣFe values ≈ 0.17. LMG glass is somewhat more oxidised (Fe3+/ΣFe ≈ 0.40.5). While HMG glass required active control of the furnace environment, LMG was made under ambient atmosphere and its higher oxidation degree is mainly determined by the chemistry of the raw glass.

Abstract: The palaeontological collections of the Muséum national dHistoire naturelle (MNHN, Paris, France) and the Muséum dHistoire naturelle dAutun (MHNA, Autun, France) include many fossil specimens originating from the argillaceous shales of the Autun basin (Saône-et-Loire, France). These fossils are preserved within sedimentary rocks containing unstable sulphide compounds, such as pyrite, which may deteriorate in contact with water and oxygen. This alteration provokes crystalline efflorescence and cracks, thus compromising the preservations of the fossils. This work constitutes the first step of a project that aims to understand the mechanisms of alteration of these materials in order to define conservation guidelines for palaeontological collections. For this purpose, eight damaged specimens originating from the Permian Autun basin (Saône-et-Loire, France) were selected and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the threshold of the sulphur Kα-edge (XANES). This methodology enabled the characterization of the matrices composition and the chemical nature of the alterations. Subsequently, we have sought to reproduce by artificial ageing the alteration phenomena encountered in the collections. New shale samples were collected on seven outcrops of the same Autun basin. They were analyzed and subjected to artificial ageing at 50% relative humidity (RH) and at temperatures ranging between 40 °C and 90 °C. Our work shows that damaged specimens and newly collected shale have a similar mineralogical composition. Yet the crystalline efflorescence material formed on the surface of damaged specimens belongs to the iron sulphate group whereas gypsum predominates on artificially aged shale samples. Reproducing the alterations observed on specimens by artificial ageing remains therefore problematic. Additionally, it appears that the temperature of ageing controls the nature of the damage: at 40 °C, many samples are mechanically damaged whereas no or minor crystalline efflorescence occurs. At 90 °C, it is the opposite tendency that is observed. Finally, mechanical damages do not seem to be correlated with the development of the efflorescence: samples with efflorescent crystals generally do not show clearly visible cracks; those that seem most fragmented do not show any visible efflorescence.

Abstract: In the context of archaeological and historical assessment of Roman black-appearing glass, the chemical and physical characterization of a large collection of samples originating from various areas of the Roman Empire has been gathered over the past years to (i) verify whether a minor segment of the overall Roman glass production can help in determining possible diachronic changes in Roman imperial glass production (1st century AD – 5th century AD) and (ii) reveal regional compositional differences. In this paper, the latest results on the chemical composition of an additional 44 black-appearing Roman glass samples are presented, together with general conclusions based upon the entire compositional dataset of over 400 analyzed black glass samples. The results show that the Roman black glass is obtained through several glass compositions with a specific chronological, geographical and typological distribution. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Janus particles present an important class of building blocks for directional assembly. These are compartmentalized colloids with two different hemispheres. Here, we consider a two-dimensional model of Janus disks consisting of a hydrophobic semicircle and an electro-negatively charged one. Placed in a solution, the hydrophobic sides will attract each other while the charged sides will give rise to a repulsive force. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we study the morphology of these particles when confined in a channel-like environment using a one dimensional harmonic confinement potential. The interest to this system is first of all due to the fact that it could serve as a simple model for membrane formation. Indeed, the recently synthesized new class of artificial amphiphiles, known as Janus dendrimers, were shown to self-assemble in bilayer structures mimicking biological membranes. In turn, Janus particles that combine the amphiphilicity and colloidal rigidity serve as a good model for Janus dendrimers. A variety of ordered membrane-like morphologies are found consisting of single and multiple chain configurations with different orientations of the particles with respect to each other that we summarize in a phase diagram.

Abstract: The electronic and optical properties of zincblende nanowires are investigated in the presence of a uniform magnetic field directed along the [001] growth direction within the k . p method. We focus our numerical study on core-shell nanowires consisting of the III-V materials GaAs, AlxGa1-xAs and AlyGa1-y/0.51In0.49P. Nanowires with electrons confined in the core exhibit a Fock-Darwin-like spectrum, whereas nanowires with electrons confined in the shell show Aharonov-Bohm oscillations. Thus, by properly choosing the core and the shell materials of the nanowire, the optical properties in a magnetic field can be tuned in very different ways.

Abstract: Freestanding silicene is predicted to display comparable electronic properties as graphene. However, the yet synthesized silicenelike structures have been only realized on different substrates which turned out to exhibit versatile crystallographic structures that are very different from the theoretically predicted buckled phase of freestanding silicene. This calls for a different approach where silicene is stabilized using very weakly interacting surfaces. We propose here a route by using graphene bilayer as a scaffold. The confinement between the flat graphene layers results in a planar clustering of Si atoms with small buckling, which is energetically unfavorable in vacuum. Buckled hexagonal arrangement of Si atoms similar to freestanding silicene is observed for large clusters, which, in contrast to Si atoms on metallic surfaces, is only very weakly van der Waals coupled to the graphene layers. These clusters are found to be stable well above room temperature. Our findings, which are supported by density-functional tight-binding calculations, show that intercalating bilayer graphene with Si is a favorable route to realize silicene.