Deuterated H3+ as a probe of isotope fractionation in star-forming regions

Observations of molecular D/H ratios in the interstellar medium are used to probe the physical conditions, such as temperature, ionization fraction and the importance of gas-grain reactions. In cold, dense regions, such as cores which are collapsing to form stars, the level of deuterium fractionation depends on the conversion of H3+ into its deuterated isotopologues (H2D+, D2H+ and D3+). The relative abundances of these molecules uniquely probe the centres of these cores where other, heavier, species have frozen onto dust grains. We present models of the deuterium chemistry close to the centre of a pre-stellar core, in the last stage before the star forms, showing the dependence of the observable molecular D/H ratios on the physical parameters and rate coefficients that are assumed. We compare model predictions with the latest observations of these regions.     

Submillimetre-wave lines of H2D+ and D2H+ as probes into chemistry in cold dark clouds

We discuss past and recent progress of our continuing project of submillimetre-wave spectroscopic investigations of H2D+ and D2H+. Three new lines of H2D+ in the 2.5-3.5 THz range are measured with a tunable far-infrared laser system. Since these molecules are very light asymmetric molecules, analysis based on a conventional effective Hamiltonian is not very useful in predicting the transition frequencies to the accuracy of the order of several MHz or better. In this respect, any addition of new accurate measurements of transition frequencies is important. In this paper, some discussions will be made on H5+ and its deuterated species as probable interstellar species in cold dark clouds. In particular, D3+, which is predicted to be abundant in cold dark clouds, can be (indirectly) detected by observing D3+ x H2.     

Action spectroscopy of H3+ and D2H+ using overtone excitation

The H3+ ion and its deuterated isotopologues H2D+, D2H+ and D3+ play an important role in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. The main challenge for understanding these ions and their interaction at low temperatures are state-specific experiments. This requires manipulation and a simple but efficient in situ characterization of their low-lying rotational states. In this contribution we report measurements of near infrared (NIR) absorption spectra. Required high sensitivity is achieved by combining liquid nitrogen cooled plasma with the technique of NIR cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy. The measured transition frequencies are then used for exciting cold ions stored in a low-temperature 22-pole radiofrequency ion trap. Absorption of a photon by the stored ion is detected by using the laser-induced reactions technique. As a monitor reaction, the endothermic proton (or deuteron) transfer to Ar is used in our studies. Since the formed ArH+ (or ArD+) ions are detected with near unit efficiency, the stored ions can be characterized very efficiently, even if there are just a few of them.     

The magnetic susceptibilities of CsMnCl3·2H2O and CsMnCl3·2D2O

The magnetic susceptibilities of CsMnCl₃·2H₂O and CsMnCl₃·2D₂O have been measured at temperatures between 0.35 and 35 K. Above 9 K both salts show the broad susceptibility maximum of the one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet previously seen in the hydrate. In both cases the intrachain exchange parameter isJ/k=–3.00 K. AtT _N (4.89 K for the hydrate) three-dimensional antiferromagnetic long-range order begins to develop due to weak interchain interactions with preferred alignment along theb axis. AtT _N all susceptibility-temperature curves have their maximum slopes, those of _a and _c being negative. This is shown to be related to the unusual phase diagram of these systems. The limiting behavior of the susceptibilities asT 0 K is established and interpreted. (0) reflects the strong anisotropy of the spinwave spectrum due to the dominant intrachain interaction.Supported in part by the National Science Foundation and the Office of Naval Research.Supported in part by the Science Research Fund of the Ministry of Education of the Japanese government.     

Specific Features of Anodic Dissolution of Copper in H2SO4 + H2O and H2SO4 + CuSO4 + H2O Systems

We investigate anodic dissolution of copper in H₂SO₄ + H₂O and H₂SO₄ + H₂O + CuSO₄ systems, which model solutions for the electrochemical production of copper (+2) sulfate. Ultimate densities of anodic current in the temperature range 20–80°C for a voltage up to 8 V were found. We show that a concentration of copper ions ( Cu²⁺) of 1.5–2.0 moles/liter in the anolyte is the limiting one in the electrochemical production of solutions of copper (+2) sulfate.     

2D and 3D Characterization of Metal Foams Using X‐ray Tomography

The aim of this paper is to present a methodology for 2D and 3D characterization of different foams using X‐ray microtomography with a resolution of 30 micrometer. 2D and 3D quantitative image analyses have been performed to obtain information about the cells. The main parameters of interest are the cell size, the cell size distribution, morphology of the cells, connectivity of the cells, and fraction of matter at the edges. We use morphological operations such as opening granulometry to separate cells when they are not perfectly closed. This characterization was performed on Alporas, IFAM, and Norsk‐Hydro foam.     

Reaction of Ge with NH3 + H2O Vapor

A formal rate equation is derived for the asymptotic growth of a vaporizing scale, which adequately describes the growth of a nitride layer on germanium in humid ammonia.     

Phase equilibrium and PVT-properties of 0.7223H2O + 0.1242 n-C6 H14 + 0.1535 n-C3H7OH ternary system

The results are given of experimental investigation of the PVT-properties and liquid-liquid and liquid-vapor phase equilibria of 0.7223H₂O + 0.1242 n-C₆ H₁₄ + 0.1535 n-C₃H₇OH ternary system along six different isochores. The measurements are performed by the constant-volume piezometer technique in the range of temperature from 309.26 to 678.82 K, density from 81.0 to 485.0 kg/m³, and pressure up to 60 MPa. The behavior of the system in the vicinity of the liquid-liquid and liquid-vapor critical points is treated using the scaling equations. The PVT-properties are described by the Peng-Robinson equation.Translated from Teplofizika Vysokikh Temperatur, Vol. 43, No. 1, 2005, pp. 045–050. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by S. M. Rasulov and A. R. Rasulov.     

Equation of State and Thermodynamic Properties of Pure D2O and D2O + H2O Mixtures in and Beyond the Critical Region

A parametric crossover model is adapted to represent the thermodynamic properties of pure D₂O in the extended critical region. The crossover equation of state for D₂O incorporates scaling laws asymptotically close to the critical point and is transformed into a regular classical expansion far from the critical point. An isomorphic generalization of the law of corresponding states is applied to the prediction of thermodynamic properties and the phase behavior of D₂O + H₂O mixtures over a wide region around the locus of vapor-liquid critical points. A comparison is made with experimental data for pure D₂O and for the D₂O + H₂O mixture. The equation of state yields a good representation of thermodynamic property data in the range of temperatures 0.8T _c(x)T1.5T _c(x) and densities 0.35_c(x)1.65_c(x).     

Using gold nanoclusters as selective luminescent probes for phosphate-containing metabolites

Glutathione-bound gold nanoclusters (AuNCs@GSH) can emit reddish photoluminescence under illumination of ultraviolet light. The luminescence of the AuNCs@GSH is quenched when chelating with iron ions (AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+)), presumably resulting from the effective electron transfer between the nanoclusters and iron ions. Nevertheless, we found that the luminescence of the gold nanoclusters can be restored in the presence of phosphate-containing molecules, which suggested the possibility of using AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+) complexes as the selective luminescent switches for phosphate-containing metabolites. Phosphate-containing metabolites such as adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) and pyrophosphate play an important role in biological systems. In this study, we demonstrated that the luminescence of the AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+) is switched-on when mixing with ATP and pyrophosphate, which can readily be observed by the naked eye. It results from the high formation constants between phosphates and iron ions. When employing fluorescence spectroscopy as the detection tool, quantitative analysis for phosphate-containing metabolites such as ATP and pyrophosphate can be conducted. The linear range for ATP and pyrophosphate is 50 μM to sub-millimolar, while the limit of detection for ATP and pyrophosphate are ～43 and ～28 μM, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrated that the luminescence of the AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+) can also be turned on in the presence of phosphate-containing metabolites from cell lysates and blood plasma.     

2D to 3D Manipulation and Assembly of Microstructures Using Optothermally Generated Surface Bubble Microrobots

Hydrogel microstructures that encapsulate cells can be assembled into tissues and have broad applications in biology and medicine. However, 3D posture control for a single arbitrary microstructure remains a challenge. A novel 3D manipulation and assembly technique based on optothermally generated bubble robots is proposed. The generation, rate of growth, and motion of a microbubble robot can be controlled by modulating the power of a laser focused on the interface between the substrate and a fluid. In addition to 2D operations, bubble robots are able to perform 3D manipulations. The 3D properties of hydrogel microstructures are adjusted arbitrarily, and convex and concave structures with different heights are designed. Furthermore, annular micromodules are assembled into 3D constructs, including tubular and concentric constructs. A variety of hydrogel microstructures of different sizes and shapes are operated and assembled in both 2D and 3D conformations by bubble robots. The manipulation and assembly methods are simple, rapid, versatile, and can be used for fabricating tissue constructs.     

Enhanced Photocatalytic H2‐Production Activity of CdS Quantum Dots Using Sn2+ as Cocatalyst under Visible Light Irradiation

Herein, oil‐soluble CdS quantum dots (QDs) are first prepared through a solvent‐thermal process. Then, oil‐soluble CdS QDs are changed into water‐soluble QDs via ligand exchange using mercaptopropionic acid as capping agent at pH 13. The photocatalytic performance is investigated under the visible light irradiation using glycerol as sacrificial agent and Sn²⁺ as cocatalyst. No H₂‐production activity is observed for oil‐soluble CdS QDs. Water‐soluble CdS QDs exhibit significantly enhanced hydrogen evolution rate. When the concentration of cocatalyst Sn²⁺ increases to 0.2 × 10^?3 m , the rate of hydrogen evolution reaches 1.61 mmol g^?1 h^?1, which is 24 times higher than that of the pristine water‐soluble CdS QDs. The enhanced H₂‐production efficiency is attributed to the adsorption of Sn²⁺ ions on the surface of CdS QDs that are further reduced to Sn atoms by photogenerated electrons. The in situ generated Sn atoms serve as photocatalytic cocatalyst for efficient hydrogen generation.     

Photochemical mineralization of di-n-butyl phthalate with H2O2/Fe3+

This study evaluated the performance of photo-Fenton reaction initiated by the UV irradiation with H(2)O(2)/Fe(3+), denoted as UV/H(2)O(2)/Fe(3+), to decompose di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in the aqueous solution. The concentration of total organic carbon (TOC) was chosen as a mineralization index of the decomposition of DBP by the UV/H(2)O(2)/Fe(3+) process. A second-order kinetic model with respect to TOC was adequately adopted to represent the mineralization of DBP by the UV/H(2)O(2)/Fe(3+) process. The experimental results of this study suggested that the dosages with 4.74 x 10(-5) mol min(-1)L(-1) H(2)O(2) and initial Fe(3+) loading concentration of 4.50 x 10(-4) mol L(-1) in the solution at pH 3.0 with 120 microW cm(-2) UV (312 nm) provided the optimal operation conditions for the mineralization of DBP (5 mg L(-1)) yielding a 92.4% mineralization efficiency at 90 min reaction time.     

以D2EHPA为载体的平膜提取镧

本文为液膜法提取稀土获得基础知识为目的,以D2EHPA(=2-乙基己基)磷酸)为载体用平膜提取稀土金属镧。测定了外水相的酸浓度、镧的浓度及载体浓度对平膜传质速度的影响,并利用传质速度方程式对实验结果给予定量解释。     

以D2EHPA为载体的平膜提取镧

本文为液膜法提取稀土获得基础知识为目的,以D2EHPA(=2-乙基己基)磷酸)为载体用平膜提取稀土金属镧。测定了外水相的酸浓度、镧的浓度及载体浓度对平膜传质速度的影响,并利用传质速度方程式对实验结果给予定量解释。     

以D2EHPA为载体的中空纤维丝液膜提取镧

本文以液膜法提取稀土获得基础知识为目的,以二(2-乙基己基)磷酸(D2EHPA)为载体,用中空纤维丝液膜提取稀土金属镧。测定了流量随时间的变化以及外水相的酸浓度、镧浓度、载体浓度对膜传质速度的影响,并利用传质速度方程式对实验结果给予定量解释。     

Analysis of C2H4 in C2H6 and C2H5D with VUV absorption spectroscopy and a method to remove C2H4 from C2H6 and C2H5D

The photoabsorption cross section of C2H4 was measured in the spectral region 107-183 nm and those of C2H6 and C2H5D were accurately determined in the spectral region 107-162 nm using radiation from a synchrotron as source of VUV light. Typically, C2H4 present as a minor impurity in samples of C2H6 and C2H5D distorted the absorption cross section in curves of C2H6 and C2H5D in the onset region. We completely eliminated C2H4 from C2H6 and C2H5D using adsorption on activated Pd/charcoal at 195 K. By this means, we detected no C2H4 in samples of C2H6 and C2H5D according to their absorption spectra. The detection limit of C2H4 in C2H6 and C2H5D is less than 0.03 ppm with VUV absorption spectroscopy.