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At least 253 records · Page 14

Type-II superconductivity at 9K in Pb–Bi alloy

In the present work, we report the synthesis of Pb–Bi alloy with enhanced Tc of up to 9K, which is higher than that of Pb. The alloy is synthesized via a solid-state reaction route in the vacuum-encapsulated quartz tube at 700°C in an automated furnace. The synthesized sample is characterized by X-ray Diffraction(XRD) and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis(EDAX) for its phase purity and elemental composition. Rietveld refinement of XRD reveals that the end product is a majority hexagonal Pb 7 Bi 3 , with minor rhombohedral Bi. The electronic transport measurement shows metallic behavior with the Debye temperature of 108K and a superconductivity transition temperature (T c ) below 9K, which is the maximum to date for any reported Pb–Bi alloy, Pb or Bi at ambient pressure. Partial substitution of Bi at the Pb site may modify the free density of electronic states within the BCS model to attain the optimum T c , which is higher by around 2K from the reported T c of Pb. The superconductor phase diagram derived from magneto-transport measurements reveals that the synthesized alloy is a conventional superconductor with an upper critical field (H c2 ) of 3.9 T, which lies well within the Pauli paramagnetic limit. The magnetization measurements carried out following ZFC(Zero Field Cool) protocols infer that the synthesized alloy is a bulk superconductor below 9K. The isothermal M-H(Magnetization vs. Field) measurements performed below T c establish it as a type-II superconductor. Furthermore, the specific heat capacity measurements show that the Pb–Bi alloy is a strongly coupled bulk superconductor below around 9K with possibly two superconducting gaps.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Dynamic Surface Incorporation of Pb 2+ Ions at the Actively Dissolving Calcite (104) Surface

The reaction of dissolved Pb 2+ with calcite surfaces at near-equilibrium conditions involves adsorption of Pb 2+ and precipitation of secondary heteroepitaxial Pb-carbonate minerals. A more complex behavior is observed under far-from-equilibrium conditions, including strong inhibition of calcite dissolution, development of microtopography, and near-surface incorporation of multiple monolayers (ML) of Pb 2+ without precipitation of secondary phases [where 1 ML ≡ 1 Ca/20.2 Å 2 , the crystallographic site density of the calcite (104) lattice plane]. However, the mechanistic controls governing far-from-equilibrium reactivity are not well understood. Here, in this study, we observe the interfacial incorporation of dissolved Pb 2+ during the dissolution of calcite (104) surfaces at pH ~3.7 in a flow-through reaction cell, revealing the formation of a ~1 nm thick Pb-rich calcite layer with a total Pb coverage of ~1.4 ML. These observations of the sorbed Pb distribution used resonant anomalous X-ray reflectivity, X-ray fluorescence, and nanoinfrared atomic force microscopy. We propose that this altered surface layer represents a novel sorption mode that is stabilized by conditions of sustained disequilibrium. This behavior may significantly impact the transport of dissolved metals during disequilibrium processes occurring in acid mine drainage and subsurface CO 2 injection and, if appropriately accounted for, could improve the predictive capability of geochemical reactive-transport models.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Strong Constraints on Jet Quenching in Centrality-Dependent p + Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV from ATLAS

Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including p p and p + Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb + Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36 nb -1 of p + Pb and 3.6 pb -1 of pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with ${p}^{ch}_{T}$ > 0.5 GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with ${p}^{jet}_{T}$ > 30 or 60 GeV, and the ratios of these yields between p + Pb and pp collisions, I pPb , are reported. The collision centrality of p + Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The I pPb values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with ${p}^{ch}_{T}$ > 4 GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints that preclude almost any parton energy loss in central p + Pb collisions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Microscopic Characterization of Pb 10−x Cu x (PO 4 ) 6 O by 31 P and 63/65 Cu NMR Measurements

The report of the first room-temperature, ambient-pressure superconductivity in copper-doped lead apatite Pb 10−x Cu x (PO 4 ) 6 O has attracted lots of attention. However, subsequent studies revealed the presence of numerous impurity phases in the polycrystalline sample, and the sharp superconducting-like transition is not due to a superconducting transition but most likely due to a reduction in resistivity caused by the first-order structural phase transition of Cu 2 S at around 385 K from the β phase at high temperature to the γ phase at low temperature. Before now, only bulk measurements have been performed on a Pb 10−x Cu x (PO 4 ) 6 O powder sample, which could be affected by the impurity phases, masking the intrinsic properties of Pb 10−x Cu x (PO 4 ) 6 O. In this study, 31 P and 63/65 Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements have been performed on a Pb 10−x Cu x (PO 4 ) 6 O powder sample to investigate its physical properties from a microscopic point of view. Our NMR data evidence the non-magnetic insulating nature of Pb 10−x Cu x (PO 4 ) 6 O without any trace of electron correlation effects. Furthermore, the 63/65 Cu NMR results suggest that no copper or very little copper is substituted for Pb in Pb 10 (PO 4 ) 6 O prepared by sintering Pb 2 SO 5 and Cu 3 P.

lead apatite↗

U-Th-Pb systematics of some Apollo 17 lunar samples and implications for a lunar basin excavation chronology

U, Th, and Pb concentrations and lead isotopic compositions of selected Apollo 17 soil and rock samples are presented. Concordia treatments of U-Pb whole samples of Apollo 17 mare basalts and highland rocks probably reflect several early thermal events about 4.5 b.y. old more consistently than do U-Pb ages of samples collected at other lunar sites. We propose that all lunar U-Th-Pb data reflect a multistate U-Pb evolution history most easily understood as being related to a complex planetesimal bombardment history of the moon which apparently dominated lunar events from about 4.5 to about 3.9 b.y. ago. Semi-distinct events at about 4.0, about 4.2, and 4.4-4.5 b.y. are evident on whole-rock frequency versus Pb-207/Pb-206 age histograms. Each of these events may reflect multiple cratering episodes. For mare basalts, complete resetting of the source rock U-Pb systems owing to Pb loss relative to U was apparently often approached after a major planetesimal impact.

Nunes, P. D.↗

Decoding the Broadband Emission of 2D Pb-Sn Halide Perovskites through High-Throughput Exploration

Unlike single-component 2D metal halide perovskites (MHPs) exhibiting sharp excitonic photoluminescence (PL), a broadband PL emerges in mixed Pb-Sn 2D lattices. Two physical models –self-trapped exciton and defect-induced Stokes-shift – are proposed to explain this unconventional phenomenon. However, the explanations provide limited rationalizations without consideration of the formidable compositional space, and thus, the fundamental origin of broadband PL remains elusive. Herein, the high-throughput automated experimental workflow is established to systematically explore the broadband PL in mixed Pb-Sn 2D MHPs, employing PEA (Phenethylammonium) as a model cation known to work as a rigid organic spacer. Spectrally, the broadband PL becomes further broadened with rapid PEA 2 PbI 4 phase segregation with increasing Pb concentrations during early-stage crystallization. Counterintuitively, MHPs with high Pb concentrations exhibit prolonged PL lifetimes. Hyperspectral microscopy identifies substantial PEA 2 PbI 4 phase segregation in those films, hypothesizing that the establishment of charge transfer excitons by the phase segregation upon crystallization at high-Pb compositions results in distinctive PL properties. In conclusion, these results indicate that two independent mechanisms—defect-induced Stoke-shifts and the establishment of charge transfer excitons by phase segregation—coexist which significantly correlates with the Pb:Sn ratio, thereby simultaneously contributing to the broadband PL emission in 2D mixed Pb-Sn HPs.

2D Pb-Sn halide perovskites↗

Strain-modulated intercalated phases of Pb monolayer with dual periodicity in SiC(0001)-graphene interface

Intercalation of metal atoms at the SiC(0001)-graphene (Gr) interface can provide confined 2D metal layers with interesting electronic properties. The intercalated Pb monolayer (ML) has shown the coexistence of the Gr(10 x 10)-moiré and a stripe phase, which still lacks understanding. Using density functional theory calculation and thermal annealing with ab initio molecular dynamics as motivated by experiment, we have studied the formation energy of Gr/Pb/SiC(0001) for different Pb coverages. Near the coverage of a Pb(111)-like ML mimicking the (10 x 10)-moiré, we find a slightly more stable stripe structure, where one half of the structure has compressive strain with Pb occupying the Si-top sites and the other half has tensile strain with Pb off the Si-top sites. This stripe structure along the Gr zigzag direction has a periodicity of 2.3 nm across the [1$\overline{2}$10] direction agreeing with the previous observations using scanning tunneling microscopy. Analysis with electron density difference and density of states show the tensile region has a more metallic character than the compressive region, while both are dominated by charge transfer from Pb ML to SiC(0001). As a result, the small energy difference between the stripe and Pb(111)-like structures means the two phases are almost degenerate and can coexist, which explains the experimental observations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Spatial U-Pb Age Distribution in Shock-Recrystallized Zircon – A Case Study from the Rochechouart Impact Structure, France

Age determination of impact structures via the zircon U–Pb system remains challenging and often ambiguous due to highly variable effects of shock metamorphism on U-Pb geochronology. It is, therefore, crucial to link the observed zircon microtextures, including their temperature and pressure conditions associated with their formation, directly to the U–Pb ages preserved. Here, we analyzed three recrystallized zircon grains and one plastically deformed zircon crystal from the medium-sized Rochechouart impact structure in the northwestern Massif Central of France. For the Rochechouart impact structure the impact age (206.92 ± 0.32 Ma [40Ar/39Ar]) as well as the 2 tectono-themal history is well established making this study site ideal to test concepts about U-Pb systematics in shocked zircon and to differentiate between shock-driven age resetting and preimpact crystallization and metamorphic overprinting. Zircon microstructures were studied using scanning electron imaging, cathodoluminescence imaging, and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) mapping. Further, we conducted U–Pb Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) depth-profiling analysis, allowing us to interpret the resultant age data in discrete steps with increasing ablation time/depth. The U–Pb depth profiling data demonstrate that plastically strained grains are incompletely reset and preserve rim and interior age domains reflecting typical pre-impact (pre-Variscan and Variscan) regional tectonic ages. Our results also reveal that the granular crystals encountered contain microstructural evidence for “former reidite in granular neoblastic” (FRIGN) zircon, reflecting both high-pressure (⩾30GPa) and high temperature (⩾1200℃) conditions. This signifies that FRIGN zircon is now known from an additional, medium sized, impact structure further supporting the hypothesis that this impact induced microstructure is commonly preserved. In addition, FRIGN zircon has a high potential to preserve completely impact-reset crystal domains (~204 to 207 Ma) that can be identified by our combined analytical approach of U–Pb depth profiling and EBSD mapping, and thus are suitable for determining reliable impact ages

U-Pb depth profiling↗

Solution Processed Ternary Tin (II) Alloy as Hole–Transport Layer of Sn–Pb Perovskite Solar Cells for Enhanced Efficiency and Stability

Tin-lead (Sn-Pb) narrow bandgap (NBG) perovskites show great potential in both single-junction and all-perovskite tandem solar cells. Sn-Pb perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are still limited by low charge collection efficiency and poor stability. Here, we report a ternary Sn (II) alloy of SnOCl as the hole-transport material (HTM) with a work function of 4.95 eV for Sn-Pb PSCs. The solution processed SnOCl layer has a texture structure which not only reduces the optical loss of the devices but also changes grain growth of Sn-Pb perovskites and boosts the carrier diffusion length to 3.63 μm. The formation of small perovskite grains at the HTM/perovskite interface is suppressed. These result in an almost constant internal quantum efficiency of 96 ± 2% across the absorption spectrum of Sn-Pb perovskites. The SnOCl HTM significantly enhances the stability of Sn-Pb PSCs with 87% of its initial efficiency retained after 1-sun illumination for 1,200 h, and keep 85% efficiency under 85°C thermal stress for 1,500 h. Furthermore, the hybrid HTM further improve the stabilized efficiencies of single-function Sn-Pb PSCs and all-perovskite tandem solar cells to 23.2% and 25.9%, respectively. This discovery opens an avenue to the multi-component metal alloys as HTM in PSCs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Facet-Dependent Adsorption of Pb(II) on Hematite (001), (116), and (104) Surfaces

Hematite’s common (001) and (012) facets are frequently used in model studies of lead (Pb) adsorption behavior, but there is a lack of research on the high-energy facets, e.g. (104), present in nature. Also, few studies have attempted to connect the molecular details of facet-specific Pb adsorption to macroscopic uptake behavior. Here, to address these knowledge gaps, we investigated Pb(II) adsorption behaviors on facet-engineered hematite nanoparticles dominated by (001), (104), and (116). Adsorption experiments revealed significant variations in Pb(II) uptake among the three samples, with (001) demonstrating the highest capacity and (116) showing the best adsorption efficiency when normalized to specific surface area. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, indicating the adsorption process is governed mostly by chemisorption. Adsorption isotherms were well fitted by the Langmuir model, indicating uptake proceeds until roughly monolayer adsorption. Detailed characterization revealed Pb(II) was adsorbed as single atoms with complex inner-sphere binding modes that varied across different facets, indicating adsorption is both structurally and energetically facet-dependent. Co-adsorption experiments further demonstrated Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , and humic acid significantly promoted Pb(II) adsorption. This study advances the understanding of hematite surface reactivity in controlling macroscopic wet adsorption behaviors, providing valuable insights into the environmental fate of Pb(II).

Contaminant removal↗

Vacancy-Driven Disorder and Elevated Dielectric Response in the Pyrochlore Pb 1.5 Nb 2 O 6.5

Lone pair-driven distortions are a hallmark of many technologically important lead (Pb)-based materials. Here, the role of Pb 2+ in polar perovskites is well understood and easily manipulated for applications in piezo- and ferroelectricity, but the control of ordered lone pair behavior in Pb-based pyrochlores is less clear. Crystallographically and geometrically more complex than the perovskite structure, the pyrochlore structure is prone to geometric frustration of local dipoles due to a triangular arrangement of cations on a diamond lattice. The role of vacancies on the O' site of the pyrochlore network has been implicated as an important driver for the expression and correlation of stereochemically active lone pairs in pyrochlores such as Pb 2 Ru 2 O 6.5 and Pb 2 Sn 2 O 6 . In this work we report on the structural, dielectric, and heat capacity behavior of the cation- and anion-deficient pyrochlore Pb 1.5 Nb 2 O 6.5 upon cooling. We find that local distortions are present at all temperatures that can be described by cristobalite-type cation ordering, and this ordering persists to longer length scales upon cooling. From a crystallographic perspective, the material remains disordered and does not undergo an observable phase transition. In combination with density function calculations, we propose that the stereochemical activity of the Pb 2+ lone pairs is driven by proximity to O' vacancies, and the crystallographic site disorder of the O' vacancies prohibits long range correlation of lone pair-driven distortions. This in turn prevents a low-temperature phase transition and results in an elevated dielectric permittivity across a broad temperature range.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-temperature 205 Tl decay clarifies 205 Pb dating in early Solar System

Radioactive nuclei with lifetimes on the order of millions of years can reveal the formation history of the Sun and active nucleosynthesis occurring at the time and place of its birth. Among such nuclei whose decay signatures are found in the oldest meteorites, 205 Pb is a powerful example, as it is produced exclusively by slow neutron captures (the s process), with most being synthesized in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. However, making accurate abundance predictions for 205 Pb has so far been impossible because the weak decay rates of 205 Pb and 205 Tl are very uncertain at stellar temperatures. To constrain these decay rates, we measured for the first time the bound-state β - decay of fully ionized 205 Tl 81+ , an exotic decay mode that only occurs in highly charged ions. The measured half-life is 4.7 times longer than the previous theoretical estimate and our 10% experimental uncertainty has eliminated the main nuclear-physics limitation. With new, experimentally backed decay rates, we used AGB stellar models to calculate 205 Pb yields. Propagating those yields with basic galactic chemical evolution (GCE) and comparing with the 205 Pb/ 204 Pb ratio from meteorites, we determined the isolation time of solar material inside its parent molecular cloud. We find positive isolation times that are consistent with the other s-process short-lived radioactive nuclei found in the early Solar System. Our results reaffirm the site of the Sun’s birth as a long-lived, giant molecular cloud and support the use of the 205 Pb– 205 Tl decay system as a chronometer in the early Solar System.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Giant magnetic anisotropy of Pb atoms in 3 d -based magnets

Electronic structure analysis is performed to study the properties of several Pb-containing 3⁢ d intermetallics. Our study reveals that binary metastable C⁢o 3 ⁢Pb and F⁡e 3 ⁢Pb intermetallic compounds exhibit very attractive intrinsic magnetic properties. We primarily focus on the magnetic anisotropic properties arising from the high spin-orbit coupling of the Pb atom. Decomposing the total anisotropy into intra- and interatomic contributions reveals a significant deviation from single-ion anisotropy model with strong symmetric anisotropic pair interactions present. Furthermore, we consider magnetic properties of ternary Pb-based 3⁢⁢ d intermetallics, which recently have been reported as stable or metastable. Giant magnetic anisotropy is found on Pb atoms in these systems. The origin of such strong anisotropy in L⁢a 18⁢ C⁢o 28 ⁢P⁢b 3 appears from two sources: spin-orbit and interelectronic Breit couplings. Additionally, the significance of Breit interaction for magnetic anisotropy in bulk systems is reported. It is expected that Breit coupling-induced anisotropy is dominating in magnetic Pb-based magnets with lower dimensionality including thin films.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

CD46 targeted 212 Pb alpha particle radioimmunotherapy for prostate cancer treatment

We recently identified CD46 as a novel prostate cancer cell surface antigen that shows lineage independent expression in both adenocarcinoma and small cell neuroendocrine subtypes of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), discovered an internalizing human monoclonal antibody YS5 that binds to a tumor selective CD46 epitope, and developed a microtubule inhibitor-based antibody drug conjugate that is in a multi-center phase I trial for mCRPC (NCT03575819). Here we report the development of a novel CD46-targeted alpha therapy based on YS5. We conjugated 212 Pb, an in vivo generator of alpha-emitting 212 Bi and 212 Po, to YS5 through the chelator TCMC to create the radioimmunoconjugate, 212 Pb-TCMC-YS5. We characterized 212 Pb-TCMC-YS5 in vitro and established a safe dose in vivo. We next studied therapeutic efficacy of a single dose of 212 Pb-TCMC-YS5 using three prostate cancer small animal models: a subcutaneous mCRPC cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) model (subcu-CDX), an orthotopically grafted mCRPC CDX model (ortho-CDX), and a prostate cancer patient-derived xenograft model (PDX). In all three models, a single dose of 0.74 MBq (20 µCi) 212 Pb-TCMC-YS5 was well tolerated and caused potent and sustained inhibition of established tumors, with significant increases of survival in treated animals. A lower dose (0.37 MBq or 10 µCi 212 Pb-TCMC-YS5) was also studied on the PDX model, which also showed a significant effect on tumor growth inhibition and prolongation of animal survival. These results demonstrate that 212 Pb-TCMC-YS5 has an excellent therapeutic window in preclinical models including PDXs, opening a direct path for clinical translation of this novel CD46-targeted alpha radioimmunotherapy for mCRPC treatment.

212Pb↗

U-Th-Pb and Rb-Sr measurements on some Apollo 14 lunar samples.

The concentrations of selected elements and elemental ratios in some Apollo 14 samples are presented in a table. Another table shows the isotopic composition of lead and strontium in some Apollo 14 samples. Graphs are provided with lead isotope ratio plots and a strontium evolution diagram. Rb-Sr ages are discussed together with isochron age methods of U-Th-Pb, a primary Pb-Pb isochron, a secondary Pb-Pb isochron, U-Pb concordia age relations, and U-Th-Pb concordia relations. Breccias and some soil samples as well as a basalt sample give evidence of significant enrichment of lead relative to uranium and thorium billions of years ago at the Fra Mauro site.

Tatsumoto, M.↗

Evolution of mare basalts - The complexity of the U-Th-Pb system

An attempt has been made to gain more insight into mare-basalt evolution by performing a very detailed leaching and mineral-separation U-Th-Pb systematics study on mare basalt 15085. It is found that about 20-50% of the U, Th, and Pb reside on the grain boundaries or in the mesostasis and that the Pb-207/Pb-206 ratios of the grain boundaries and crystal interiors are distinctly different. These distinct trends appear to represent either continuous or episodic postcrystallizational disturbances to the U-Th-Pb system of this rock. Using U and Pb partition coefficients, it is concluded that existing two- and three-stage U-Pb evolution models do not accurately describe mare-basalt genesis. An alternative two-stage + KREEP mixing model is proposed as a simple approximation to U-Pb evolution in lunar rocks. Most Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd data are compatible with this model.

Unruh, D. M.↗

U-Th-Pb age of the Barwell chondrite - Anatomy of a 'discordant' meteorite

A Pb-Pb internal isochron for the Barwell L5-6 chondrite yields an age of 4.530 plus or minus 0.005 billion years, using the measured U-238/U-235 ratio of 135.24 plus or minus .17. If the terrestrial U isotope composition is used, an age of 4.559 billion years is obtained. The Pb isotopic composition is distinctly different from that of a terrestrial contaminant found in the fusion crust of the Barwell stone. When the U-Th-Pb data are plotted on the concordia diagram, the data define a line that intersects the concordia curve at approximately 4.53 and 0 billion years, and nearly all of the data plot above the concordia curve, regardless of the initial Pb correction. This discordancy and the Pb isotopic composition of the triolite are attributed to a recent reequilibration of Pb and not to terrestrial contamination.

Unruh, D. M.↗

The Estherville mesosiderite - U-Pb, Rb-Sr, and Sm-Nd isotopic study of a polymict breccia

The U-Pb, Rb-Sr, and Sm-Nd isotopic systematics of the Estherville mesoderite were studied using analytical procedures and mass spectrometric techniques similar to those reported by Nakamura et al. (1976), Tatsumoto et al. (1987), and Premo et al. (1989) to analyze 21 separates of a 13-g Estherville clast, obtained either by handpicking or by using density and magnetic separation methods. The results on the Pb-Pb and U-Pb ages (about 4555 and about 4560 Ma, respectively) indicate that at least a part of the Estherville silicate fraction was formed early in the history of solar system. Younger Pb-Pb and U-Pb ages (about 4.43 Ga) were also obtained, confirming the heterogeneity of the Estherville mesoderite that is in agreement with the Wasson and Rubin (1985) suggestion of several generations of meteoritic impacts. The Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr ages were found to be close to 4.56 Ga.

Brouxel, M.↗