Measurement of the muon stopping power in lead tungstate

A large sample of cosmic ray events collected by the CMS detector is exploited to measure the specific energy loss of muons in the lead tungstate (PbWO4) of the electromagnetic calorimeter. The measurement spans a momentum range from 5 GeV/c to 1 TeV/c. The results are consistent with the expectations over the entire range. The calorimeter energy scale, set with 120 GeV/c electrons, is validated down to the sub-GeV region using energy deposits, of order 100 MeV, associated with low-momentum muons. The muon critical energy in PbWO4 is measured to be 160+5 -68 GeV, in agreement with expectations. This is the first experimental determination of muon critical energy. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

Silver Molybdate and Silver Tungstate Nanocomposites with Enhanced Photoluminescence

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Optical absorption analysis of quaternary molybdate- and tungstate-ordered double perovskites

Quaternary-ordered double perovskite A2MM’O6 (M=Mo,W) semiconductors are a group of materials with a variety of photocatalytic and optoelectronic applications. An analysis focused on the optoelectronic properties is carried out using first-principles density-functional theory with several U orbital-dependent one-electron potentials applied to different orbital subspaces. The structural non-equivalence of the atoms resulting from the symmetry has been taken in account. In order to analyze optical absorption in these materials deeply, the absorption coefficients have been split into inter- and intra-non-equivalent species contributions. The results indicate that the effect of the A and M’ atoms on the optical properties are minimal whereas the largest contribution comes from the non-equivalent O atoms to M transitions.

Synthesis and characterization of nanoporous phospho-tungstate organic-inorganic hybrid materials

Nanoporous phospho-tungstate organic-inorganic hybrid materials have been synthesized from sodium tungstate and mono-n-dodecyl phosphate (MDP), which was used as both surfactant and phosphorus precursor. These hybrid materials were thoroughly characterized by N2 adsorption, elemental analysis, powder XRD, FTIR, Raman, TG, TEM and XPS and possess lamellar structures with interlayer spacings of 3.2 nm. A plausible method for formation of hybrid materials comprised of lacunary Keggin anions and micelles of surfactants is proposed. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2008.

Raman spectroscopy of the molybdate minerals chillagite (tungsteinian wulfenite-I4), stolzite, scheelite, wolframite and wulfenite

Raman spectra of chillagite, wulfenite, stolzite, scheelite and wolframite were obtained at 298 and 77 K using a Raman microprobe in combination with a thermal stage. Chillagite is a solid solution of wulfenite and stolzite. The spectra of these molybdate minerals are orientation dependent. The band at 695 cm-1 is interpreted as an antisymmetric bridging mode associated with the tungstate chain. The bands at 790 and 881 cm-1 are associated with the antisymmetric and symmetric Ag modes of terminal WO2 whereas the origin of the 806 cm-1 band remains unclear. The 4(Eg) band was absent for scheelite. The bands at 353 and 401 cm-1 are assigned as either deformation modes or as r(Bg) and (Ag) modes of terminal WO2. The band at 462 cm-1 has an equivalent band in the infrared at 455 cm-1 assigned as as(Au) of the (W2O4)n chain. The band at 508 cm-1 is assigned as sym(Bg) of the (W2O4)n chain.

Preparation of Industrially Important Hydroxy Acids and Diacids from 2,2-Disubstituted Propane-1,3-Diols and Linear Primary Diols by Green Chemistry Methods

Environmentally benign and economical methods for the preparation of industrially important hydroxy acids and diacids were developed. The carboxylic acids, used in polyesters, alkyd resins, and polyamides, were obtained by the oxidation of the corresponding alcohols with hydrogen peroxide or air catalyzed by sodium tungstate or supported noble metals. These oxidations were carried out using water as a solvent. The alcohols are also a useful alternative to the conventional reactants, hydroxyaldehydes and cycloalkanes. The oxidation of 2,2-disubstituted propane-1,3-diols with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by sodium tungstate afforded 2,2-disubstituted 3-hydroxypropanoic acids and 1,1-disubstituted ethane-1,2-diols as products. A computational study of the Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement of the intermediate 2,2-disubstituted 3-hydroxypropanals gave in-depth data of the mechanism of the reaction. Linear primary diols having chain length of at least six carbons were easily oxidized with hydrogen peroxide to linear dicarboxylic acids catalyzed by sodium tungstate. The Pt/C catalyzed air oxidation of 2,2-disubstituted propane-1,3-diols and linear primary diols afforded the highest yield of the corresponding hydroxy acids, while the Pt, Bi/C catalyzed oxidation of the diols afforded the highest yield of the corresponding diacids. The mechanism of the promoted oxidation was best described by the ensemble effect, and by the formation of a complex of the hydroxy and the carboxy groups of the hydroxy acids with bismuth atoms. The Pt, Bi/C catalyzed air oxidation of 2-substituted 2-hydroxymethylpropane-1,3-diols gave 2-substituted malonic acids by the decarboxylation of the corresponding triacids. Activated carbon was the best support and bismuth the most efficient promoter in the air oxidation of 2,2-dialkylpropane-1,3-diols to diacids. In oxidations carried out in organic solvents barium sulfate could be a valuable alternative to activated carbon as a non-flammable support. In the Pt/C catalyzed air oxidation of 2,2-disubstituted propane-1,3-diols to 2,2-disubstituted 3-hydroxypropanoic acids the small size of the 2-substituents enhanced the rate of the oxidation. When the potential of platinum of the catalyst was not controlled, the highest yield of the diacids in the Pt, Bi/C catalyzed air oxidation of 2,2-dialkylpropane-1,3-diols was obtained in the regime of mass transfer. The most favorable pH of the reaction mixture of the promoted oxidation was 10. The reaction temperature of 40°C prevented the decarboxylation of the diacids.

Facile one-pot synthesis of thio and selenourea derivatives: A new class of potent urease inhibitors

A facile, one-pot synthesis of thio and selenourea derivatives from amines using tetrathiomolybdate 1 and tetraseleno-tungstate 2 as sulfur and selenium transfer reagents, respectively, is reported. The compounds were tested for their activity as urease inhibitors and some of the compounds showed potent activity in the nanomolar range towards jack bean urease. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A colorimetric method for determination of pyrocatechol and related substances

A colorimetric assay for the quantitative determination of catecholic compounds was developed. The method was based on the observation that a red color was formed when nitrite was added to a solution containing pyrocatechol and sodium tungstate. Aromatic amines interfere with the reaction but this could be overcome by the addition of formaldehyde. When interfering substances are present along with pyrocatechol, it can be readily separated by paper chromatography and estimated after elution from the filter paper.

Phase relationships in the system Ni-W-O and thermodynamic properties of NiWO,

The phase diagram of the Ni-W-O system at 1200 K was established by metallographic and X-ray identification of the phases present after equilibration at controlled oxygen potentials. The oxygen partial pressures over the samples were fixed by metered streams of CO+CO2 gas mixtures. There was only one ternary oxide, nickel tungstate (NiWO4), in the Ni-W-O system at a total pressure of 1 atm, and this compound decomposed to a mixture of Ni+WO2.72 on lowering the oxygen potential. The Gibbs' free energy of formation of NiWO4 was determined from the measurement of the e.m.f. of the solid oxide galvanic cell, Pt, Ni+NiWO4+WO2.72/CaO-ZrO2/Ni+NiO, Pt and thermodynamic properties of tungsten and nickel oxides available in the literature. For the reaction, NiO(s)+WO3(s)rarrNiWO4(s) DeltaG°=–10500–0.708 T (±250) cal mol–1.

Electroless Ni-W-P Coating and Its Nano-WS2 Composite: Preparation and Properties

The ternary alloy Ni-W-P and its WS2 nanocomposite coatings were successfully obtained on low-carbon steel using the electroless plating technique. The sodium tungstate (Na2WO4) concentration in the bath was varied to obtain Ni-W-P deposits containing various Ni and P contents. WS2 composite was obtained with a suitable concentration of Na2WO4 in Ni-P coating. These deposits were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) studies. The corrosion behavior was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies in 3.5 wt % NaCl solutions, and the corrosion rates of the coatings for Ni-P, Ni-W-P, and Ni-W-P-WS2 were found to be 2.571 x 10(-5), 8.219 x 10(-7), and 7.986 x 10(-7) g/h, respectively. An increase in the codeposition of alloying metal tungsten (W) enhanced the corrosion resistance and microhardness and changed the structure and morphology of the deposits. Incorporation of WS2 nanoparticles to Ni-W-P alloy coating reduced the coefficient of friction from 0.16 to 0.11 and also helped in improving the corrosion resistance of the coating further.

Tin-Incorporation Induced Changes in the Microstructural, Optical, and Electrical Behavior of Tungsten Oxide Nanocrystalline Thin Films Grown Via Spray Pyrolysis

Undoped and Sn-doped WO3 thin films were grown on cleaned glass substrates by chemical spray pyrolysis, using ammonium tungstate (NH4)(2)WO4 as the host precursor and tin chloride (SnCl4 center dot 5H(2)O) as the source of dopant. The XRD spectra confirm the monoclinic structure with a sharp narrow peak along (200) direction along with other peaks of low relative intensities for all the samples. On Sn doping, the films exhibit reduced crystallinity relative to the undoped film. The standard deviation for relative peak intensity with dopant concentration shows enhancement in heterogeneous nucleation growth. As evident from SEM images, on Sn doping, appearance of island-like structure (i.e., cluster of primary crystallites at few places) takes place. The transmittance has been found to decrease in all the Sn-doped films. The optical band gap has been calculated for both direct and indirect transitions. On Sn doping, the direct band gap shows a red shift and becomes 2.89 eV at 2 at.% doping. Two distinct peaks, one blue emission at 408 nm and other green emission at 533 nm, have been found in the PL spectra. Electrical conductivity has been found to increase with Sn doping.

稀土氟化物和钨酸盐纳米/微米材料的合成和发光性质研究

在现代化学和材料科学中，纳米/微米材料的尺寸和形貌控制引起了学术界的广泛关注，如何合理控制材料的定向生长，调节其组成、形貌、尺寸以及维度，进而更好的理解晶体生长的复杂现象、揭示其潜在的基本理论和原理并最终实现按照人们的设计合成功能材料具有十分重要的意义。本论文在稀土氟化物和钨酸盐纳米/微米材料的设计合成、形貌控制、形成机制以及发光性质等方面进行了一些探索性的研究。 发展了一种简单、整体、没有模板、环境友好的水热方法合成系列稀土氟化物。用有机添加剂柠檬酸钠(Na3C6H5O7•2H2O)作为配位剂和形貌控制剂，通过改变氟源(NaF, NH4F或NaBF4)和最初溶液的pH值，得到了具有不同成分、晶体结构、尺寸和形貌的稀土氟化物，包括二元氟化物LnF3 (Ln = La-Lu)和三元氟化物NaREF4 (RE = Y, Yb, Lu)；首次研究了具有各种晶体结构和形貌的含镱(Yb)和镥(Lu)的二元和三元氟化物的可控合成；对各种产物可能的形成机理进行了合理、系统的讨论；并对各种基质中Eu3+, Tb3+掺杂的下转换和Yb3+/Er3+, Yb3+/Ym3+共掺杂的上转换发光性质进行了详细的研究。由于具有优良的荧光性质和可控的形貌和尺寸，这些发光材料可能在光显示、光发射二级管(LEDs)、固体激光器等领域有着潜在的应用价值。这些研究结论不仅丰富了稀土氟化物化学的内容，而且探索了纳米/微米材料的晶体生长规律和形成机理。 采用超声化学途径合成了CaWO4, CaWO4:Eu3+和CaWO4:Tb3+亚微米尺寸的球形荧光粒子，详细讨论了合成材料的结构、形成机理、光致发光、阴极射线发光性质以及能量传递现象，为其它钨酸盐的合成提供了新的思路。

Microemulsion-mediated solvothermal synthesis and photoluminescent property of 3D flowerlike MnWO4 micro/nanocomposite structure

Novel three-dimensional (3D) flowerlike MnWO4 micro/nanocomposite structure has been successfully synthesized for the first time. The synthesized products were systematically studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. It is found that both reaction time and temperature have significant effects on the morphology of the products.

Nanostructured CaWO4, CaWO4 : Eu3+ and CaWO4 : Tb3+ particles: Sonochemical synthesis and luminescent properties

Nanostructured CaWO4, CaWO4:Eu3+, and CaWO4:Tb3+ phosphor particles were synthesized via a facile sonochemical route. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence, low voltage cathodoluminescence spectra, and photoluminescence lifetimes were used to characterize the as-obtained samples. The X-ray diffraction results indicate that the samples are well crystallized with the scheelite structure of CaWO4.