Abstract: The daily and seasonal atmospheric concentrations, deposition fluxes and emission sources of a few C3C9 gaseous alkyl nitrates (ANs) at the Belgian coast (De Haan) on the Southern North Sea were determined. An adapted sampler design for low- and high-volume air-sampling, optimized sample extraction and clean-up, as well as identification and quantification of ANs in air samples by means of gas chromatography mass spectrometry, are reported. The total concentrations of ANs ranged from 0.03 to 85 pptv and consisted primarily of the nitro-butane and nitro-pentane isomers. Air mass backward trajectories were calculated by the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model to determine the influence of main air masses on AN levels in the air. The shorter chain ANs have been the most abundant in the Atlantic/Channel/UK air masses, while longer chain ANs prevailed in continental air. The overall mean N fluxes of the ANs were slightly higher for summer than those for winter-spring, although their contributions to the total nitrogen flux were low. High correlations between AN and HNO2 levels were observed during winter/spring. During summer, the shorter chain ANs correlated well with precipitation. Source apportionment by means of principal component analysis indicated that most of the gas phase ANs could be attributed to traffic/combustion, secondary photochemical formation and biomass burning, although marine sources may also have been present and a contributing factor.

Abstract: Deammonification systems are being implemented as cost- and resource-efficient nitrogen removal processes. However, their complexity is a major hurdle towards successful transposition from side- to mainstream application. Merely out-selecting nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) or retaining anammox bacteria (AnAOB) does not guarantee efficient mainstream deammonification. This paper presents for the first time the interactions and synergies between kinetic selection, through management of residual substrates, and physical selection, through separation of solid retention times (SRTs). This allowed the formulation of tangible operational recommendations for successful deammonification. Activity measurements were used to establish retention efficiencies (η) for AnAOB for full-scale cyclones and rotating drum screens installed at a sidestream and mainstream deammonification reactor (Strass, Austria). In the sidestream reactor, using a screen (η = 91%) instead of a cyclone (η = 88%) may increase the capacity by up to 29%. For the mainstream reactor, higher AnAOB retention efficiencies achieved by the screen (η = 72%) compared to the cyclone (η = 42%) induced a prospective increase in capacity by 80–90%. In addition, the switch in combination with bioaugmentation from the sidestream made the process less dependent on nitrite availability, thus aiding in the outselection of NOB. This allowed for a more flexible (intermittent) aeration strategy and a reduced need for tight SRT control for NOB washout. A sensitivity analysis explored expected trends to provide possible operational windows for further calibration. In essence, characterization of the physical selectors at full scale allowed a deeper understanding of operational windows of the process and quantification of capacity, ultimately leading to a more space and energy conservation process.

Abstract: Gold nanorods (Au NRs) are an exceptionally promising tool in nanotechnology due to three key factors: (i) their strong interaction with electromagnetic radiation, stemming from their plasmonic nature, (ii) the ease with which the resonance frequency of their longitudinal plasmon mode can be tuned from the visible to the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spect r u m based on their aspect ratio, and (iii) their simple and cost-effective preparation through seed-mediated chemical growth. In this synthetic method, surfactants play a critical role in controlling the size, shape, and colloidal stabi l i t y of Au NRs. For example, surfactants can stabilize specific crystallographic facets during the formation of Au NRs, leading to t h e formation of NRs with specific morphologies. The process of surfactant adsorption onto the NR surface may result in various assemblies of surfactant molecules, such as spherical micelles, elongated micelles, or bilayers. Again, the assembly mode is critical toward determining the further availabi l i t y of the Au NR surface to the surrounding medium. Despite its importance and a great deal of research effort, the interaction between Au NPs and surfactants remains insufficiently understood, because the assembly process is influenced by numerous factors, including the chemical nature of the surfactant, the surface morphology of Au NPs, and solution parameters. Therefore, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of these interactions is essential to unlock the full potential of the seed-mediated growth method and the applications of plasmonic NPs. A plethora of characterization techniques have been applied to reach such an understanding , but many open questions remain. In this Account, we review the current knowledge on the interactions between surfactants and Au NRs. We briefly introduce the state-of-the-art methods for synthesizing Au NRs and highlight the crucial role of cationic surfactants during this process. The self-assembly and organization of surfactants on the Au NR surface is then discussed to better understand their role in seed-mediated growth. Subsequently, we provide examples and elucidate how chemical additives can be used to modulate micellar assemblies, in turn allowing for a finer control over the growth of Au NRs, including chiral NRs. Next, we review the main experimental characterization and computational modeling techniques that have been applied to shed light on the arrangement of surfactants on Au NRs and summarize the advantages and disadvantages for each technique. The Account ends with a “Conclusions and Outlook” section, outlining promising future research directions and developments that we consider are sti l l required, mostly related to the application of electron microscopy in liquid and in 3D. Finally, we remark on the potential of exploiting machine learning techniques to predict synthetic routes for NPs with predefined structures and properties.

Abstract: Sodium-ion batteries are attracting great attention due to their low cost and abundance of sodium. The O3-type NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2 layered oxide material is a promising candidate for positive electrodes (cathodes) in Na-ion batteries. However, its stable electrochemical performance is restricted by the upper voltage limit of 4.0 V (vs Na/Na+), which allows for reversibly removing 0.5-0.55 Na+ per formula unit, corresponding to the capacity of 120-130 mAh.g(-1). Further reduction of sodium content inevitably accelerates capacity degradation, and this issue calls for a detailed study of the redox reactions that accompany the electrochemical (de)intercalation of a large amount of sodium. Here, we present operando and ex situ studies using powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy combined with Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy. Our approach reveals the sequence of the redox transitions that occur during the charge and discharge of O3-NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2. Our data show that in addition to nickel and iron cations oxidizing to M+4, a part of iron transforms into the “3 + delta” state owing to the fast electron exchange Fe3+ + Fe4+ <-> Fe4+ + Fe3+. This process freezes upon cooling the material to 35 K, producing Fe4+ cations, some of which occupy tetrahedral positions.

Abstract: Because of its low hysteresis, high dielectric constant, and strong piezoelectric response, Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) thin films have attracted considerable attention for the application in PiezoMEMS, field-effect transistors, and energy harvesting and storage devices. However, it remains a great challenge to fabricate phase-pure, pyrochlore-free PMN-PT thin films. In this study, we demonstrate that a high deposition rate, combined with a tensile mismatched template layer can stabilize the perovskite phase of PMN-PT films and prevent the nucleation of passive pyrochlore phases. We observed that an accelerated deposition rate promoted mixing of the B-site cation and facilitated relaxation of the compressively strained PMN-PT on the SrTiO3 (STO) substrate in the initial growth layer, which apparently suppressed the initial formation of pyrochlore phases. By employing La-doped-BaSnO3 (LBSO) as the tensile mismatched buffer layer, 750 nm thick phase-pure perovskite PMN-PT films were synthesized. The resulting PMN-PT films exhibited excellent crystalline quality close to that of the STO substrate.

Abstract: Using the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory we investigated the dependence of the magnetic coupling between two concentric mesoscopic superconducting rings on their thickness. The size of this magnetic coupling increases with the thickness of the rings. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Recent findings have linked low hysteresis in shape memory alloys with phase compatibility between austenite and martensite. To investigate the evolution of microstructure as phase compatibility increases and hysteresis is reduced, transmission electron microscopy was used to study the alloy system Ti50Ni50xPdx, where the composition is systemically tuned to approach perfect compatibility. Changes in morphology, twinning density and twinning modes are reported, along with special microstructures occurring when compatibility is achieved. In addition, the interface between austenite and a single variant of martensite was studied by high-resolution and conventional electron microscopy. The low energy configuration of the interface detailed in this article suggests that it plays an important role in the lowering of hysteresis compared to classical habit plane interfaces.

Abstract: Titanate nanotubes were prepared via a hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 powders (Riedel De Haen) in a basic solution. Morphology and structure of the prepared samples were characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), XRD, FT-Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen sorption and DSC. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of rhodamine 6G. Trititanate nanotubes (TTNT) with inner pore diameters between 4 and 4.2 nm and surface areas up till 360 m(2)/g could be synthesized. The synthesis route was modified by introduction of a calcination step, by applying a lower hydrothermal temperature and microwave irradiation in order to increase the photocatalytic activity of the porous photoactive nanotubular materials. Calcination and a softer hydrothermal treatment led to the formation of anatase without affecting the surface area and nanotubular shape of the samples. In this way, the photocatalytic activity of the original trititanate nanotubes could be significantly increased. By making use of microwave assisted synthesis, the photocatalytic activity call also be increased due to the presence of anatase. However, by applying microwave synthesis, a different structure was obtained, nanoribbons (NR) instead of nanotubcs, resulting in a decrease in surface area and porosity.

Abstract: Highly effective IR light-emitting diodes operating at the wavelength 1.66 mu m and based on the buried heterostructure In0.88Ga0.12As0.26P0.74/ In0.72Ga0.28As0.62P0.38/In0.53Ga0.47As/InP have been grown by liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) and characterized in detail by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM),electron diffraction (ED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and electroluminescence measurements. The InGaAsP epilayers are found to be well lattice matched and of good structural quality. A tentative explanation is presented for the spinodal decomposition observed in InGaAsP alloys. A new type of selective CK, gas sensor has been developed and fabricated an the basis of the IR light-emitting diode mentioned above. Especially designed for the remote control of CH4 gas via fibre optics, an integrated optoelectronic readout scheme has been developed and tested, It is shown that the proposed type of sensor can be used for the quantitative remote control of CH4 gas concentration (0.2-100%) via a fibre glass line up to a distance of 2 x 1 km. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Abstract: A new cyclosilicate hydrate with composition (C6H14N)4·[Si8O16(OH)4]·12H2O was crystallized and the structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure, described by the tetragonal space group I41/a, with unit cell dimensions of a = 39.2150(2) Å and c = 14.1553(2) Å, contains columns of hydrogen-bonded cubic octamer silicate anions. The space between silicate columns holds hydrogen-bonded water and protonated hexamethyleneimine molecules compensating the negative charge of the silicate. The crystal water can be removed resulting in a rearrangement of the columns into orthorhombic symmetry. Removal of the organic moiety causes amorphisation. Flash evacuation results in a new microporous material with pore volumes typical of a zeolite.

Abstract: Shallow trench isolation (STI) is a promising technology for the isolation structures of the new generation of ULSI devices with dimensions below 0.18 mum. The various processing steps cause stress fields in STI structures, which can lead to defect formation in the silicon substrate. In their turn, stress fields affect the electrical parameters and the reliability of devices. Convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) is used in this study to examine the influence of a wet and a dry pre-gate oxidation on the stress distribution around STI structures. The measurements are performed on STI structures with different width and spacing. CBED analysis is compared with bright-field TEM images. Defects are observed in high-strain areas of small isolated structures. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Different cement samples commonly used in building construction in Turkey have been analyzed for natural radioactivity using gamma-ray spectrometry. The mean activity concentrations observed in the cement samples were 52, 40 and 324 Bq kg−1 for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively. The measured activity concentrations for these radionuclides were compared with the reported data of other countries and world average limits. The radiological hazard parameters such as radium equivalent activities (Raeq), gamma index (Iγ) and alpha index (Iα) indices as well as terrestrial absorbed dose and annual effective dose rate were calculated and compared with the international data. The Raeq values of cement are lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg−1, equivalent to a gamma dose of 1.5 mSv y−1. Moreover, the mass attenuation coefficients were determined experimentally and calculated theoretically using XCOM in some cement samples. Also, chemical compositions analyses of the cement samples were investigated.

Abstract: Magnetically coupled superconductorferromagnet hybrids offer advanced routes for nanoscale control of superconductivity. Magnetotransport characteristics and scanning tunneling microscopy images of vortex structures in superconductorferromagnet hybrids reveal rich superconducting phase diagrams. Focusing on a particular combination of a ferromagnet with a well-ordered periodic magnetic domain structure with alternating out-of-plane component of magnetization, and a small coherence length superconductor, we find directed nucleation of superconductivity above the domain wall boundaries. We show that near the superconductor-normal state phase boundary the superconductivity is localized in narrow mesoscopic channels. In order to explore the Abrikosov flux line ordering in F/S hybrids, we use a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and GinzburgLandau simulations. The magnetic stripe domain structure induces periodic local magnetic induction in the superconductor, creating a series of pinninganti-pinning channels for externally added magnetic flux quanta. Such laterally confined Abrikosov vortices form quasi-1D arrays (chains). The transitions between multichain states occur through propagation of kinks at the intermediate fields. At high fields we show that the system becomes nonlinear due to a change in both the number of vortices and the confining potential. In F/S/F hybrids we demonstrate the evolution of the anisotropic conductivity in the superconductor that is magnetically coupled with two adjacent ferromagnetic layers. Stripe magnetic domain structures in both F-layers are aligned under each other, resulting in a directional superconducting order parameter in the superconducting layer. The conductance anisotropy strongly depends on the period of the magnetic domains and the strength of the local magnetization. The anisotropic conductivity of up to three orders of magnitude can be achieved with a spatial critical temperature modulation of 5% of T c. Induced anisotropic properties in the F/S and F/S/F hybrids have a potential for future application in switching and nonvolatile memory elements operating at low temperatures.