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At least 253 records · Page 14

Simulations of the IR and Raman spectra of water confined in amorphous silica slit pores

Water in nano-scale confining environments is a key element in many biological, material, and geological systems. The structure and dynamics of the liquid can be dramatically modified under these conditions. Probing these changes can be challenging, but vibrational spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating their behavior. A critical, evolving component of this approach is a detailed understanding of the connection between spectroscopic features and molecular-level details. In this paper, this issue is addressed by using molecular dynamics simulations to simulate the linear infrared (IR) and Raman spectra for isotopically dilute HOD in D 2 O confined in hydroxylated amorphous silica slit pores. The effect of slit-pore width and hydroxyl density on the silica surface on the vibrational spectra is also investigated. The primary effect of confinement is a blueshift in the frequency of OH groups donating a hydrogen bond to the silica surface. This appears as a slight shift in the total (measurable) spectra but is clearly seen in the distance-based IR and Raman spectra. Analysis indicates that these changes upon confinement are associated with the weaker hydrogen-bond accepting properties of silica oxygens compared to water molecules.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Isolating solvent–solute hydrogen bonding interactions via 2D IR solvation shell spectroscopy

The solvation shell around a solute is a fundamental feature of liquid-phase solutions, determining the behavior and properties of both the solute and the overall solution. Direct experimental measurements of the solvation shell properties are challenging due to the strong signals generated from the bulk solvent, which overwhelm the small contribution of the solvation shell. Here, we use ultrafast two dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy and intermolecular cross-peaks to isolate the IR absorption spectrum of methanol molecules in the solvation shell surrounding the solute N-methylacetamide. We demonstrate that the intermolecular coupling between the solvent and solute vibrations is indirectly mediated by a low-frequency hydrogen-bonding mode, suggesting an important mechanism for anharmonic coupling induced by hydrogen bonds. From the relative frequency shifts and cross-peak anisotropy, we find that methanol molecules surrounding N-methylacetamide form stronger and distinctly oriented hydrogen bonds than those in the bulk solvent. Here, we also compare these results with the solvent spectra of the solute N,N-dimethylacetamide to investigate how solute structural changes alter the solvation shell and the contribution of N–H hydrogen bond donation. Our results are supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which provide detailed insights into the hydrogen-bonding distributions. Through these results, we demonstrate 2D solvation shell spectroscopy to be a valuable method for investigating solvation structures and dynamics without interference from the bulk solvent.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Phonon excitations in Eu 2 Ir 2 O 7 probed by inelastic x-ray scattering

The study of phonon dynamics and its interplay with magnetic ordering is crucial for understanding the unique quantum phases in the pyrochlore iridates. Here, through inelastic x-ray scattering on a single crystal sample of the pyrochlore iridate Eu 2 Ir 2 O 7 , we map out the phonon excitation spectra in Eu 2 Ir 2 O 7 and compare them with the theoretical phonon spectra calculated using the density functional theory. Further, possible phonon renormalization across the magnetic long-range order transition is observed in our experiments, which is consistent with the results of the previous Raman scattering experiments.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Persistent short-range spin fluctuation in rare-earth substituted square lattice Sr 2 ⁢Ir 0.89 ⁢Tb 0.11⁢ O 4

Sr 2 ⁢IrO 4 , a prototypical 𝐽 eff = 1/2 square lattice system, is widely studied for novel physics. While transition metal substitution effects are well explored, rare-earth doping at the Ir 4+ site is less explored. Here we present a detailed magnetization and neutron diffraction study on Sr 2 ⁢Ir 1−𝑥 ⁢Tb 𝑥 ⁢O 4 (𝑥 = 0.11). The system tends to adopt an in-plane antiferromagnetic configuration with a “++++” stacking sequence. Strong spin fluctuations persist down to the lowest measured temperature, consistent with the concave shape order parameter. A pronounced magnetic diffuse scattering rod develops along the 𝐿 direction at low temperature, indicating the formation of short-range magnetic correlations with a characteristic length of ∼ 24⁢(2) ⁢Å. In conclusion, this work provides a new pathway to exotic quantum phases in the strongly spin-orbit-coupled iridates.

Iridates↗

Towards cubic symmetry for Ir 4 + : Structure and magnetism of the antifluorite K 2 IrBr 6

Here, crystal structure, electronic state of Ir 4 + , and magnetic properties of the antifluorite compound K 2 IrBr 6 are studied using high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction, resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), thermodynamic and transport measurements, and ab initio calculations. The crystal symmetry is reduced from cubic at room temperature to tetragonal below 170 K and eventually to monoclinic below 122 K. These changes are tracked by the evolution of the noncubic crystal-field splitting Δ measured by RIXS. Nonmonotonic changes in Δ are ascribed to the competing effects of the tilt, rotation, and deformation of the IrBr 6 octahedra as well as tetragonal strain on the electronic levels of Ir 4 + . The Néel temperature of T N = 11.9 K exceeds that of the isostructural K 2 IrCl 6 , and the magnitude of frustration on the fcc spin lattice decreases. We argue that the replacement of Cl by Br weakens electronic correlations and enhances magnetic couplings.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Structural and magnetic transitions in the planar antiferromagnet Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10

We report the structural and magnetic ground state properties of the monoclinic compound barium iridium oxide Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10 using a combination of resonant x-ray scattering, magnetometry, and thermodynamic techniques. Magnetic susceptibility exhibits a pronounced antiferromagnetic transition at T N ≈ 25 K, a weaker anomaly at T S ≈ 142 K, and strong magnetic anisotropy at all temperatures. Resonant elastic x-ray scattering experiments reveal a second order structural phase transition at T S and a magnetic transition at T N . Both structural and magnetic superlattice peaks are observed at L = half integer values. The magnetization anomaly at T S implies the presence of magnetoelastic coupling, which conceivably facilitates the symmetry lowering. Mean field critical scattering is observed above T S . The magnetic structure of the antiferromagnetic ground state is discussed based on the measured magnetic superlattice peak intensity. Furthermore, our study not only presents essential information for understanding the intertwined structural and magnetic properties in Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10 but also highlights the necessary ingredients for exploring novel ground states with octahedra trimers.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Spinons and damped phonons in the spin- 1 2 quantum liquid Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10 observed by Raman scattering

In spin-1/2 Mott insulators, nonmagnetic quantum liquid phases are often argued to arise when the system shows no magnetic ordering, but identifying positive signatures of these phases or related spinon quasiparticles can be elusive. Here, we use Raman scattering to provide three signatures for spinons in a possible spin-orbit quantum liquid material Ba 4 Ir 3 O 10 : (1) a broad hump, which we show can arise from Luttinger liquid spinons in Raman with parallel photon polarizations normal to one-dimensional chains; (2) strong phonon damping from phonon-spin coupling via the spin-orbit interaction; and (3) the absence of (1) and (2) in the magnetically ordered phase that is produced when 2% of Ba is substituted by Sr [(Ba 0.98 Sr 0.02 ) 4 Ir 3 O 10 ]. Furthermore, the phonon damping via itinerant spinons seen in this quantum liquid insulator suggests a mechanism for enhancing thermoelectricity in strongly correlated conductors, through a neutral quantum liquid that need not affect electronic transport.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Solid-source metal-organic MBE for elemental Ir and Ru films

Thin films of elemental metals play a very important role in modern electronic nano-devices as conduction pathways, spacer layers, spin-current generators/detectors, and many other important functionalities. In this work, by exploiting the chemistry of solid metal-organic source precursors, we demonstrate the molecular beam epitaxy synthesis of elemental Ir and Ru metal thin films. The synthesis of these metals is enabled by thermodynamic and kinetic selection of the metal phase as the metal-organic precursor decomposes on the substrate surface. Film growth under different conditions was studied using a combination of in situ and ex situ structural and compositional characterization techniques. The critical role of substrate temperature, oxygen reactivity, and precursor flux in tuning film composition and quality is discussed in the context of precursor adsorption, decomposition, and crystal growth. Computed thermodynamics quantifies the driving force for metal or oxide formation as a function of synthesis conditions and changes in chemical potential. These results indicate that bulk thermodynamics are a plausible origin for the formation of Ir metal at low temperatures, while Ru metal formation is likely mediated by kinetics.

Materials Science↗

Multimodal Instrument Platform for High-Pressure MAS-NMR and IR Spectroscopic Interrogation

This project developed and tested a high-pressure (HP) flow-through instrument platform that combines HP- magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopy for interrogating reactivity at interfaces between solid materials and HP fluids with HP- infrared (IR) spectroscopy for measuring fluid composition. Solid-fluid interfacial reactivity is usually dependent on concentrations of species within the fluid; thus, knowledge of the fluid composition measured by IR is critical to understanding solid-fluid interfacial reactivity probed by NMR. This new system adds to PNNL’s core capabilities in Chemical and Material Sciences to support fundamental programs in catalysis, interfacial molecular science, and geosciences, as well as in Earth and Biological Sciences to support energy production and storage, efforts to mitigate the impacts energy production systems, attenuation of contaminant plumes, and design of subsurface engineered systems for energy production and waste disposal.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Understanding the optoelectronic properties of doped 2D organic-inorganic halide perovskite quantum wells: towards efficient quantum well IR photodetectors

Metal halide perovskite (MHP) multiple quantum wells which consist of multilayers of alternate organic and inorganic layers exhibit large exciton binding energies due to the dielectric confinement between the inorganic and organic layers. These naturally formed multiple quantum wells have strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) due to the presence of heavy elements in their crystal structures. Although the fundamental properties of 2D MHPs are far from being entirely understood, it is widely accepted that their band edge absorption coefficient results from strong exciton interactions. However, studies demonstrating how different exciton interactions and doping effects influence electronic traps and disorder on the band edge absorption coefficient of 2D MHPs have not been demonstrated. Understanding these interactions in MHPs will allow us to access low energy optical transitions for the fabrication of solution processable short-to-mid-wavelength IR photodetectors (1 – 8 μm). Moreover, upon doping, it is possible to move the Fermi energy into the conduction band (CB) to favorably promote the transport of charges in a working device. Herein, we study the development of 2D MHPs having strong SOC, high carrier mobility, and tunable quantum well structures. Our studies shed light on the design and modulation of fundamental physical phenomena by carefully elucidating the role of dopants (n-type and p-type), exciton heterogeneity, orientation, structure, and bias stress effects on the performance of MHPs as potential IR photodetectors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Understanding the optoelectronic properties of doped 2D organic-inorganic halide perovskite quantum wells: towards efficient ultrafast quantum well IR photodetectors

This project, titled “Understanding the optoelectronic properties of doped 2D organic-inorganic halide perovskite quantum wells: towards efficient quantum well IR photodetectors”, was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to explore a new class of materials that could make future light-sensing technologies, such as infrared (IR) cameras and detectors more efficient, affordable, and widely available. The research focused on special layered materials called 2D halide perovskites, which are made up of alternating organic and inorganic layers only a few atoms thick. These materials can be tuned at the atomic level to absorb and emit light in precise ways, making them very attractive for use in optoelectronic devices. The main goal of the project was to understand how these perovskite materials absorb light and move electrical charges at very small scales. However, this is not an easy task. These materials often contain a mixture of different structures in the same film, and traditional tools like regular absorption or photoluminescence spectroscopy are not good at telling those structures apart. To solve this, the research team, led by Professor Luisa Whittaker-Brooks at the University of Utah developed a powerful method called electroabsorption spectroscopy. This technique uses electric fields to highlight the unique “fingerprints” of different excitons, which are tiny packets of energy formed when light hits the material. By using this method, the team could separate overlapping signals and learn exactly how the materials respond to light under different conditions, including changes in temperature, thickness, and chemical makeup.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Autonomous Infrared and Small (Wide) Angle X-Ray Scattering (IR-S(W)AXS) Capability

Thin water films are 2-D, nanoconfined layers that form on solid surfaces exposed to humid atmospheres—environments ubiquitous across catalysis, corrosion science, soil science, and subsurface geochemistry. At relative humidity (RH) values below saturation, these films are Å–nm thick and exhibit properties that differ sharply from bulk water, including disrupted H-bonding and impeded mass transport. Owing to their high surface-to-volume ratio, dissolution of the solid can rapidly drive strong supersaturation with respect to secondary phases. Reactivity in thin water films is highly sensitive to film thickness, and critically, thickness evolves during reaction because the hygroscopicity of the interfacial system changes as ions accumulate or diminish in the film and as reaction products transform. To accurately probe and control these dynamics, a capability is needed that can measure and automatically maintain a constant water-film thickness while simultaneously monitoring solid dissolution, nucleation, and growth. This project developed an autonomous Infrared/Small Angle X-ray Scattering-Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (IR/(W)SAXS) for investigating reactivity in thin water films on solid surfaces exposed to humidified gases. The capability consists of an IR spectrometer, a (W)SAXS instrument, and a mass flow controller system for generating variably humidified gas flows to a custom reaction cell. Progress on each of the major components of the capability are detailed below.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

SABRE Ir-IMes Catalysis for the Masses

The Signal Amplification By Reversible Exchange (SABRE) technique provides enhancement of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) signals up to several orders of magnitude using chemical exchange of a substrate and parahydrogen on an iridium complex. Therefore, the availability of such a catalytic complex to a broader community is an absolutely vital step for dissemination of the groundbreaking SABRE methodology. The most common SABRE catalyst, which is activated in situ, is based on Ir-IMes system (IMes = 1,3-Bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). Earlier approaches for the synthesis of this catalyst often relied on specialized equipment and were limited to a comparatively small scale. This, in turn, increased the barrier of entry for new scientists to the area of SABRE hyperpolarization. Here, we present a robust, inexpensive, and easy to reproduce synthetic procedure for the preparation of this SABRE catalyst, which does not require specialized inert atmosphere equipment like a glove box or Schlenk line. The synthesis was validated on the scale of several grams vs. tens of milligrams scale in the reported approaches. The resulting SABRE catalyst, [Ir(IMes)(COD)Cl], was activated in situ and further evaluated in hyperpolarization experiments resulting in signal enhancements comparable to (or higher than) those for the catalyst prepared using Schlenk line equipment.

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology↗

Polarization Dependent Excitation and High Harmonic Generation from Intense Mid-IR Laser Pulses in ZnO

The generation of high order harmonics from femtosecond mid-IR laser pulses in ZnO has shown great potential to reveal new insight into the ultrafast electron dynamics on a few femtosecond timescale. In this work we report on the experimental investigation of photoluminescence and high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in a ZnO single crystal and polycrystalline thin film irradiated with intense femtosecond mid-IR laser pulses. The ellipticity dependence of the HHG process is experimentally studied up to the 17th harmonic order for various driving laser wavelengths in the spectral range 3–4 µm. Interband Zener tunneling is found to exhibit a significant excitation efficiency drop for circularly polarized strong-field pump pulses. For higher harmonics with energies larger than the bandgap, the measured ellipticity dependence can be quantitatively described by numerical simulations based on the density matrix equations. The ellipticity dependence of the below and above ZnO band gap harmonics as a function of the laser wavelength provides an efficient method for distinguishing the dominant HHG mechanism for different harmonic orders.

tunneling excitation↗

IR vidicon scanner monitors many test points

Infrared /IR/ scanners are used in test systems that involve many signal paths from transducers to a central evaluation point. The scanner, an IR-sensitive vidicon, looks at the indicator panels of each subsystem of the equipment being tested and picks up the level of radiation from each IR source mounted thereon.

Fortier, R. J.↗

Evidence for association between Ir and Al in L chondrites.

The nature of the Al-Ir association was investigated by plotting the whole chondrite abundance of Ir as determined by Mueller et al. (1971), and the Al abundance for the same chondrites. Ten of the 11 L chondrites plotted show a definite positive trend. The results are most consistent with the condensation mechanism of Larimer (1967) and the prediction of Larimer and Anders (1970).

Osborn, T. W.↗

Flight test evaluation and analysis of an optical IR PWI system

The flight test results of the optical infrared (IR) Pilot Warning Instrument (PWI) system are presented. The test program is described and the flight test data presented. The data is analyzed and used to calibrate a model that is developed to characterize the system performance. The cumulative probability of detection versus range from a given system threshold is calculated and compared with the PWI performance specification. The comparison indicates that the Optical IR PWI system tested met the specifications for a detection likelihood of 95 percent for a 1 nmi range for an appreciable fraction of the testing time.

Phillips, C. O.↗

Noise analysis of spaceborne IR spatial interferometer

Analysis is performed to determine the relationship between the signal-to-noise ratio and the integration time for a spaceborne IR heterodyne spatial interferometer. The analysis includes consideration of the transformation of the interferogram to obtain the angular intensity distribution. The results presented show that for an IR source such as IRC + 10216, an integration time of 50 seconds per interferogram point will yield a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 10 dB in the angular intensity profile obtained from a 30-point transformation.

Wolfe, R. H., Jr.↗