Magnetometry using Ramsey interferometry in a Yb atomic beam

We use the Ramsey separated oscillatory fields technique in a 400 degrees C thermal beam of ytterbium (Yb) atoms to measure the Larmor precession frequency (and hence the magnetic field) with high precision. For the experiment, we use the strongly allowed S-1(0) P-1(1) transition at 399 nm, and choose the odd isotope Yb-171 with nuclear spin I = 1/2, so that the ground state has only two magnetic sublevels m(F) = +/- 1/2. With a magnetic field of 22.2 G and a separation of about 400 mm between the oscillatory fields, the central Ramsey fringe is at 16.64 kHz and has a width of 350 Hz. The technique can be readily adapted to a cold atomic beam, which is expected to give more than an order-of-magnitude improvement in precision. The signal-to-noise ratio is comparable to other techniques of magnetometry; therefore it should be useful for all kinds of precision measurements such as searching for a permanent electric dipole moment in atoms.

Influence of a Counterion on the Ion Atmosphere of an Anion: A Molecular Dynamics Study of LiX and CsX (X = F-, Cl-, I-) in Methanol

We report molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the influence of a counterion on the structure and dynamics of cationic and anionic solvation shells for various ions in methanol at 298 K. We show that the variation in ionic size of either the cation or the anion in an ion pair influences the solvation structure of the other ion as well as the diffusivity in an electrolyte solution of methanol. The extent of ionic association between the cation and its counteranion of different ionic sizes has been investigated by analyzing the radial distribution functions (RDFs) and the orientation of methanol molecules in the first solvation shell (FSS) of ions. It is shown that the methanol in the FSS of the anion as well the cation exhibit quite different radial and orientational structures as compared to methanol which lie in the FSS of either the anion or the cation but not both. We find that the coordination number (CN) of F-, Cr-, and I- ions decreases with increasing size of the anion which is contrary to the trend reported for the anions in H2O. The mean residence time (MRT) of methanol molecules in the FSS of ions has been calculated using the stable states picture (SSP) approach. It is seen that the ion-counterion interaction has a considerable influence on the MRT of methanol molecules in the FSS of ions. We also discuss the stability order of the ion-counterion using the potentials of mean force (PMFs) for ion pairs with ions of different sizes. The PMF plots reveal that the Li+-F- pair (small-small) is highly stable and the Li+-I- pair is least stable (small-large) in electrolyte solutions.

Na2.44Mn1.79(SO4)(3): a new member of the alluaudite family of insertion compounds for sodium ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries have been extensively pursued as economic alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Investigating the polyanion chemistry, alluaudite structured Na2Fe2II(SO4)(3) has been recently discovered as a 3.8 V positive electrode material (Barpanda et al., Nature Commun., 5: 4358, 2014). Registering the highest ever Fe-III/Fe-II redox potential (vs. Na/Na+) and formidable energy density, it has opened up a new polyanion family for sodium batteries. Exploring the alluaudite family, here we report isotypical Na2+2xMn2-xII(SO4)(3) (x = 0.22) as a novel high-voltage cathode material for the first time. Following low-temperature (ca. 350 degrees C) solid-state synthesis, the structure of this new alluaudite compound has been solved adopting a monoclinic framework (s.g. C2/c) showing antiferromagnetic ordering at 3.4 K. Synergising experimental and ab initio DFT investigation, Na2+2xMn2-xII(SO4)(3) has been found to be a potential high-voltage (ca. 4.4 V) cathode material for sodium batteries.

Energy-savvy solid-state and sonochemical synthesis of lithium sodium titanate as an anode active material for Li-ion batteries

Lithium sodium titanate insertion-type anode has been synthesized by classical solid-state (dry) and an alternate solution-assisted (wet) sonochemical synthesis routes. Successful synthesis of the target compound has been realized using simple Na- and Li-hydroxide salts along with titania. In contrast to the previous reports, these energy-savvy synthesis routes can yield the final product by calcination at 650 -750 degrees C for limited duration of 1-10 h. Owing to the restricted calcination duration (dry route for 1-2 h and wet route for 1-5 h), they yield homogeneous nanoscale lithium sodium titanate particles. Sono-chemical synthesis reduces the lithium sodium titanate particle size down to 80-100 nm vis-a-vis solid-state method delivering larger (200-500 nm) particles. Independent of the synthetic methods, the end products deliver reversible electrochemical performance with reversible capacity exceeding 80 mAh.g(-1) acting as a 1.3 V anode for Li-ion batteries. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A modified auxiliary excitation signal for achieving unidirectional ion ejection in quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometers operating in the resonance ejection mode

This paper proposes a technique to cause unidirectional ion ejection in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer operated in the resonance ejection mode. In this technique a modified auxiliary dipolar excitation signal is applied to the endcap electrodes. This modified signal is a linear combination of two signals. The first signal is the nominal dipolar excitation signal which is applied across the endcap electrodes and the second signal is the second harmonic of the first signal, the amplitude of the second harmonic being larger than that of the fundamental. We have investigated the effect of the following parameters on achieving unidirectional ion ejection: primary signal amplitude, ratio of amplitude of second harmonic to that of primary signal amplitude, different operating points, different scan rates, different mass to charge ratios and different damping constants. In all these simulations unidirectional ejection of destabilized ions has been successfully achieved. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The interface makes a difference: lanthanide ion coated vesicles hydrolyze phosphodiesters

Lanthanide ions are strong Lewis acids. Their complexation to a variety of ligands can further enhance their Lewis acidity allowing the hydrolysis of phosphoesters and even DNA. We show that the interaction of lanthanide ions with vesicles from zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine lipids gives supramolecular structures in which the metal ion is loosely coordinated to the surface. This assembly provides a high density of Lewis-acidic metal centres, which hydrolyze phosphodiesters with enhanced rates.

Flower-like porous cobalt(II) monoxide nanostructures as anode material for Li-ion batteries

In the present study, a microwave-assisted, solution-based route has been employed to obtain porous CoO nano structures. Detailed characterization reveals that the flower-like nanostructures comprise petal-like sheets, each of which is made of an ordered, porous arrangement of crystallites of CoO measuring about 6 nm. TEM analysis shows that each ``petal'' is an oriented aggregate of CoO nanocrystals, such aggregation promoted by the hydroxyl moieties derived from the solution. The structure provides a large specific area as well as the porosity desirable in electrodes in Li-ion batteries. Electrochemical measurements carried out on electrodes made of nanostructured CoO show excellent Li ion-storing capability. A specific capacitance of 779 mAh g(-1) has been measured at a specific current of 100 mA g(-1). Measurements show also excellent cyclability and coulombic efficiency. Impedance spectroscopy provides evidence for charge transfer occurring in the porous networks. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heterostructure composites of rGO/GeO2/PANI with enhanced performance for Li ion battery anode material

A novel solvothermal method has been used for the synthesis of porous ellipsoidal GeO2 particles with oleic acid and oleylamine as solvent and co-surfactant, respectively and its performance has been studied as an anode material for Li ion battery applications. The presence of highly hydrophobic oleic acid and oleylamine on the surface of the as synthesized sample imparts a detrimental effect on its performance. Although removal of the capping agents with glacial acetic acid improves the performance to some extent, a drastic enhancement in both the specific capacity and cycling stability is observed when the nanoparticles are wrapped with rGO/PANI composites at low temperature. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shock Tube Studies on Recombination Kinetics of Sodium Ion with Electron

The ionization kinetics of sodium diluted in argon is studied in a shock tube, in which the test gas mixture is ionized by a reflected shock wave and subsequently quenched by a strong rarefaction wave. A Langmuir electrostatic probe is used to monitor the variation of the ion number density at the reflection shock wave region. The working state of the probe is in the near fi-ee fall region and a correction for reduction of the probe current due to elastic scattering in the probe sheath is introduced. At the temperature range of 800 to 2600 K and in the ambience of argon gas, the three-body recombination rate coefficient of the sodium ion with electron is determined: 3.43 x 10(-14)T(-3.77) cm(6).s(-1).

DPIV and Interferometry Technique for Velocity Field and Concentration Fields Measurement in Crystal Growth

The property of crystal depends seriously on the solution concentration distribution near the growth surface of a crystal. However, the concentration distributions are affected by the diffusion and convection of the solution. In the present experiment, the two methods of optical measurement are used to obtained velocity field and concentration field of NaClO₃ solution. The convection patterns in sodium chlorate (NaClO₃) crystal growth are measured by Digital Particle image Velocimetry (DPIV) technology. The 2-dimentional velocity distributions in the solution of NaClO3 are obtained from experiments. And concentration field are obtained by a Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a phase shift servo system. Interference patterns were recorded directly by a computer via a CCD camera. The evolution of velocity field and concentration field from dissolution to crystallization are visualized clearly. The structures of velocity fields were compared with that of concentration field.

Metallographic Sample Prepared by Ion Beam Etching

Ion beam etching technique was used to reveal the metallograhpic microstructure and interface morphology of electroplating chromium coating, in particular, whose substrate surface layer was treated in advance by laser quenching. Chemical etchings were, also conducted for comparison. The reveal microstructures were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that ion beam etching can reveal well the whole microstructures of composite coating-substrate materials.

Arc Voltage Fluctuation in DC Laminar and Turbulent Plasma Jets Generat Ion

Arc voltage fluctuations in a direct current (DC) non-transferred arc plasma generator are experimentally studied, in generating a jet in the laminar, transitional and turbulent regimes. The study is with a view toward elucidating the mechanism of the fluctuations and their relationship with the generating parameters, arc root movement and flow regimes. Results indicate that the existence of a 300 Hz alternating current (AC) component in the power supply ripples does not cause the transition of the laminar plasma jet into a turbulent state. There exists a high frequency fluctuation at 4 kHz in the turbulent jet regime. It may be related to the rapid movement of the anode attachment point of the arc.

Gal(1-x)Mn(1-x)Sb Grown on GaSb with Mass-Analyzed Low-Energy Dual Ion Beam Deposition

The Ga1-xMnxSb samples were fabricated by the implantation of Mn ions into GaSb (1 0 0) substrate with mass-analyzed low-energy dual ion beam deposition system, and post-annealing. Auger electron spectroscopy depth profile of the Ga1-xMnxSb samples showed