Search

We have developed and operated an electronic system for the non-destructive detection and cooling of charged-particle bunches that are captured and confined in a Penning trap, together with methods for the evaluation of corresponding measurements that allow for a detailed characterization of each individual particle bunch. Once calibrated, from a single measurement of the particles' induced electronic signal as a function of time directly upon capture, the setup and method allow for a fast determination of the initial and final absolute particle energies, of the cooling rate, and of the absolute number of particles in the bunch. We demonstrate this with highly charged ions ( Ne 8 + ) that are injected into the Penning trap of the HILITE experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-energy (0–14 eV) resonance electron interaction and fragment species produced by dissociative electron attachment (DEA) for enantiomeric forms of glutamic acid (Glu) are studied under gas-phase conditions by means of DEA spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Contrary to a series of amino acids studied earlier employing the DEA technique, the most abundant species are not associated with the elimination of a hydrogen atom from the parent molecular negative ion. Besides this less intense closed-shell [Glu – H]– fragment, only two mass-selected negative ions, [Glu – 19]– and [Glu – 76]–, are detected within the same electron energy region, with the yield maximum observed at around 0.9 eV. This value matches well the energy of vertical electron attachment into the lowest normally empty π* COOH molecular orbital of Glu located at 0.88 eV according to the present B3LYP/6-31G(d) calculations. Although the detection of asymmetric DEA properties a priori is not accessible under the present experimental conditions, "chirality non-conservation" can be associated with some decay channels. Evidently, the measured spectra for the L- and D-forms are found to be identical, the results, nevertheless, being of interest for the forthcoming experiments utilizing spin-polarized electron beam as a chiral factor in the framework of conventional DEA technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulating electrolyte–electrode systems poses challenges due to the need to account for the electrode's response to ion movements in order to maintain a constant electrode potential, which slows down the simulations. To circumvent this, computationally more efficient constant charge (CC) simulations are sometimes employed. However, the accuracy of CC simulations in capturing the behavior of electrolyte–electrode systems remains unclear, especially for microporous electrodes. Herein, we consider electrolyte-filled slit nanopores and systematically analyze the in-pore ion structure and diffusivity using CC and constant potential simulations. Our results indicate that CC simulations provide comparable pore occupancies at high bulk ion densities and for highly charged pores, but they fail to accurately describe the ion structure and dynamics, particularly in quasi-2D (single-layer) pores and at low ion densities. We attribute these results to the superionic state emerging in conducting nanoconfinement and its interplay with excluded volume interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the multiferroic effects and quantum magnetization plateaus in the skew chain antiferromagnets T 2 V 2 O 7 (T = Ni, Co), we have conducted a detailed density function theoretical study on Co 2 V 2 O 7. The results show that the nearest-neighbor interchain interaction (J 3 / k B = − 35.57 K) is not much greater than the intrachain interactions (J 1 / k B = − 19.54 K and J 2 / k B = 27.55 K), showing the absence of interchain dimerization of the Co ions. This indicates that the "dimer+monomer" model used for Ni 2 V 2 O 7 [Cao et al., Phys. Rev. B 106, 184409 (2022)] is no longer applicable to Co 2 V 2 O 7. Finally, the exact diagonalization of spin Hamiltonian, including anisotropic exchanges, produces the experimentally observed 1/2 and 3/4 magnetization plateaus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the multiferroic effects and quantum magnetization plateaus in the skew chain antiferromagnets T 2 V 2 O 7 (T = Ni, Co), we have conducted a detailed density function theoretical study on Co 2 V 2 O 7. The results show that the nearest-neighbor interchain interaction (J 3 / k B = − 35.57 K) is not much greater than the intrachain interactions (J 1 / k B = − 19.54 K and J 2 / k B = 27.55 K), showing the absence of interchain dimerization of the Co ions. This indicates that the "dimer+monomer" model used for Ni 2 V 2 O 7 [Cao et al., Phys. Rev. B 106, 184409 (2022)] is no longer applicable to Co 2 V 2 O 7. Finally, the exact diagonalization of spin Hamiltonian, including anisotropic exchanges, produces the experimentally observed 1/2 and 3/4 magnetization plateaus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To efficiently generate H − ions from positive atomic or molecular hydrogen beams injected onto a solid surface, it has been suggested to use a material with a low-work function as the target material. However, it is not clear under what conditions the most efficient H − production is realized for incident beam parameters or reflection angles. Therefore, we studied the interaction between low-energy atomic and molecular hydrogen beams (less than 1 keV/nucleon) with a low-work function electride 12CaO ⋅ 7 A l 2 O 3 (C12A7). The production ratio of H − to H + ions from the C12A7 electride was much higher than Mo targets with higher work functions, especially at smaller incident and smaller reflection angles. The H − to H + production ratio slightly increased as the incident energies were decreased, but there was no significant difference between the electride and Mo targets. These results indicate that smaller incident angles and lower beam energies of the incident hydrogen beam are favorable for the enhancement of the production ratio of H − to H + ions in C12A7. The higher production ratio appeared at the vertical beam energies less than on the order of 100 eV, where quantum mechanical processes may become important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we performed static density functional theory calculations and ab initio metadynamics simulations to systematically investigate the association mechanisms and dynamic structures of four kinds of ion pairs that could be formed before the nucleation of CaCO3. For Ca2+– H C O 3 − and Ca2+– C O 3 2 − pairs, the arrangement of ligands around Ca2+ evolves between the six-coordinated octahedral structure and the seven-coordinated pentagonal bipyramidal structure. The formation of ion pairs follows an associative ligand substitution mechanism. Compared with H C O 3 − , C O 3 2 − exhibits a stronger affinity to Ca2+, leading to the formation of a more stable precursor phase in the prenucleation stage, which promotes the subsequent CaCO3 nucleation. In alkaline environments, excessive OH− ions decrease the coordination preference of Ca2+. In this case, the formation of Ca(OH)+– C O 3 2 − and Ca(OH)2– C O 3 2 − pairs favors the dissociative ligand substitution mechanism. The inhibiting effects of OH− ion on the CaCO3 association can be interpreted from two aspects, i.e., (1) OH− neutralizes positive charges on Ca2+, decreases the electrostatic interactions between Ca2+ and C O 3 2 − , and thus hinders the formation of the CaCO3 monomer, and (2) OH− decreases the capacity of Ca2+ for accommodating O, making it easier to separate Ca2+ and C O 3 2 − ions. Our findings on the ion association behaviors in the initial stage of CaCO3 formation not only help scientists evaluate the impact of ocean acidification on biomineralization but also provide theoretical support for the discovery and development of more effective approaches to manage undesirable scaling issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surfaces of many minerals are covered by naturally occurring cations that become partially hydrated and can be replaced by hydronium or other cations when the surface is exposed to water or an aqueous solution. These ion exchange processes are relevant to various chemical and transport phenomena, yet elucidating their microscopic details is challenging for both experiments and simulations. In this work, we make a first step in this direction by investigating the behavior of the native K+ ions at the interface between neat water and the muscovite mica (001) surface with ab-initio-based machine learning molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling simulations. Our results show that the desorption of the surface K+ ions in pure ion-free water has a significant free energy barrier irrespective of their local surface arrangement. In contrast, facile K+ diffusion between mica's ditrigonal cavities characterized by different Al/Si orderings is observed. This behavior suggests that the K+ ions may favor a dynamic disordered surface arrangement rather than complete desorption when exposed to deionized water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Redox potentials depend on the nature of the solvent/electrolyte through the solvation energies of the ionic solute species. For concentrated electrolytes, ion solvation may deviate significantly from the Born model predictions due to ion pairing and correlation effects. Recently, Ghorai and Matyushov [J. Phys. Chem. B 124, 3754–3769 (2020)] predicted, on the basis of linear response theory, an anomalous trend in the solvation energies of room temperature ionic liquids, with deviations of hundreds of kJ/mol from the Born model for certain size solutes/ions. In this work, we computationally evaluate ionic solvation energies in the prototypical ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM/BF4), to further explore this behavior and benchmark several of the approximations utilized in the solvation energy predictions. For comparison, we additionally compute solvation energies within acetonitrile and molten NaCl salt to illustrate the limiting behavior of purely dipolar and ionic solvents. We find that the overscreening effect, which results from the inherent charge oscillations of the ionic liquid, is substantially reduced in magnitude due to screening from the dipoles of the molecular ions. Therefore, for the molten NaCl salt, for which the ions do not have permanent dipoles, modulation of ionic solvation energies from the overscreening effect is most significant. The conclusion is that ionic liquids do indeed exhibit unique solvation behavior due to peak(s) in the electrical susceptibility caused by the ion shell structure; redox potential shifts for BMIM/BF4 are of more modest order ∼0.1 V, but may be larger for other ionic liquids that approach molten salt behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proton transport in one-dimensional (1D) confined water chains has been extensively studied as a model for ion channels in cell membrane and fuel cell. However, the mechanistic understanding of the proton transfer (PT) process in 1D water chains remains incomplete. In this study, we demonstrate that the two limiting structures of the hydrated excess proton, H5O2+ (Zundel) and H3O+ (linear H7O3+), undergo a change in dominance as the water chain grows, causing two co-existing and opposing PT mechanisms. Specifically, H5O2+ is stable in the middle of the chain, whereas H3O+ serves as a transition state (TS). Except for this region, H3O+ is stabilized while H5O2+ serves as a TS. The interaction analysis shows that the electrostatic interaction plays a crucial role in the difference in PT mechanisms. Our work fills a knowledge gap between the various PT mechanisms reported in bulk water and long 1D water chains, contributing to a deeper understanding of biological ion channels at the atomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rovibrational levels of low-lying electronic states of the gas-phase, diatomic molecules, PtH+ and PtH−, are computed on potential-energy functions obtained by using a hybrid spin–orbit configuration-interaction procedure. PtH− has a well-separated Σ 0 + + 1 ground state, while the first two electronic states of PtH+ ( Σ 0 + + 1 and 3Δ3) are nearly degenerate. Combining the experimental photoelectron (PE) spectra of PtH− with theoretical photodetachment spectroscopy leads to an improved value for the electron affinity of PtH, EA(PtH) = (1.617 ± 0.015) eV. When PtH− is a product of photodissociation of PtHCO2−, its PE spectrum is broad because of rotational excitation. Temperature-dependent thermodynamic functions and thermochemistry of dissociation are computed from the theoretical energy levels. Previously published energetic quantities for PtH+ and PtH− are revised. The ground 1Σ+ term of PtH+ is not well described using single-reference theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proflavine, a fluorescent cationic dye with strong absorption in the visible, has been proposed as a potential contributor to diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs). To investigate this hypothesis, it is essential to examine the spectra of cold and isolated ions for comparison. Here, we report absorption spectra of proflavine ions, trapped in a liquid-nitrogen-cooled ion trap filled with helium-buffer gas, as well as fluorescence spectra to provide further information on the intrinsic photophysics. We find absorption- and fluorescence-band maxima at 434.2 ± 0.1 and 434.7 ± 0.3 nm, corresponding to a Stokes shift of maximum 48 cm−1, which indicates minor differences between ground-state and excited-state geometries. Based on time-dependent density functional theory, we assign the emitting state to S2 as its geometry closely resembles that of S0, whereas the S1 geometry differs from that of S0. As a result, simulated spectra involving S1 exhibit long Franck-Condon progressions, absent in the experimental spectra. The latter displays well-resolved vibrational features, assigned to transitions involving in-plane vibrational modes where the vibrational quantum number changes by one. Dominant transitions are associated with vibrations localized on the NH2 moieties. Experiments repeated at room temperature yield broader spectra with maxima at 435.5 ± 1 nm (absorption) and 438.0 ± 1 nm (fluorescence). We again conclude that prevalent fluorescence arises from S2, i.e., anti-Kasha behavior, in agreement with previous work. Excited-state lifetimes are 5 ± 1 ns, independent of temperature. Importantly, we exclude the possibility that a narrow DIB at 436.4 nm originates from cold proflavine cations as the band is redshifted compared to our absorption spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous electrochemistry reactions require the precise calculation of the ion solvation energy. Despite the significant progress in the first-principles calculations for crystals and defect formation energies for solids, the liquid system free energy calculations still face many challenges. Ion solvation free energies can be calculated via different semiempirical ways, e.g., using implicit solvent models or cluster of explicit molecule models; however, systematically improving these models is difficult due to their lack of a solid theoretical base. A theoretically sound approach for calculating the free energy is to use thermodynamic integration. Nevertheless, owing to the difficulties of self-consistent convergence in first-principles calculations for unphysical atomic configurations, the computational alchemy approach has not been widely used for first-principles calculations. This study proposes a general approach to use first-principles computational alchemy for calculating the ion solvation energy. This approach is also applicable for other small molecules. The calculated ion solvation free energies for Li+, Na+, K+, Be2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ are close to the experimental results, and the standard deviation due to molecular dynamics fluctuations is within 0.06 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rovibrational levels of low-lying electronic states of the gas-phase, diatomic molecules, PtH+ and PtH−, are computed on potential-energy functions obtained by using a hybrid spin–orbit configuration-interaction procedure. PtH− has a well-separated Σ 0 + + 1 ground state, while the first two electronic states of PtH+ ( Σ 0 + + 1 and 3Δ3) are nearly degenerate. Combining the experimental photoelectron (PE) spectra of PtH− with theoretical photodetachment spectroscopy leads to an improved value for the electron affinity of PtH, EA(PtH) = (1.617 ± 0.015) eV. When PtH− is a product of photodissociation of PtHCO2−, its PE spectrum is broad because of rotational excitation. Temperature-dependent thermodynamic functions and thermochemistry of dissociation are computed from the theoretical energy levels. Previously published energetic quantities for PtH+ and PtH− are revised. The ground 1Σ+ term of PtH+ is not well described using single-reference theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, the recombination of excited ions of argon, Ar + ( P 1 / 2 2 ) , has been assumed negligible under ambient conditions as compared to the recombination of ground-state ions, Ar + ( P 3 / 2 2 ). This opinion was confronted with detailed experimental results that seem to clearly support it. Here, we propose a new interpretation in light of our recent calculations, which shows that the recombination efficiency is comparable for both fine-structure states. Noteworthily, in our model leading to a picture consistent with the experiment, residual dimer ions emerge from A r + ( P 1 / 2 2 ) due to non-adiabatic dynamics effects and interplay in measured data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the collapse and expansion dynamics of a linear polyelectrolyte (PE) with hydrodynamic interactions. Using dissipative particle dynamics with a bead–spring PE model, long-range electrostatics, and explicit ions, we examine how the timescales of collapse tcol and expansion texp depend on the chain length N and obtain scaling relationships tcol ∼ Nα and texp ∼ Nβ. For neutral polymers, we derive values of α = 0.94 ± 0.01 and β = 1.97 ± 0.10. Interestingly, the introduction of electrostatic interaction markedly shifts α to α ≈ 1.4 ± 0.1 for salt concentrations within c = 10−4 to 10−2 M. A reduction in the ion-to-monomer size ratio noticeably reduces α. On the other hand, the expansion scaling remains approximately constant, β ≈ 2, regardless of the salt concentration or ion size considered. We find β > α for all conditions considered, implying that expansion is always slower than collapse in the limit of long polymers. This asymmetry is explained by distinct kinetic pathways of collapse and expansion processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various charged thorium ions such as singly charged, doubly charged, and triply charged thorium ions trapped in the ion trap can be used to excite the Th-229 first nuclear excited state via the electronic bridge process. We present an integration of a linear ion trap with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to investigate trapped Th-232 ions. Various charged thorium ions are produced by laser ablation and dynamically loaded into the ion trap. After sufficient collisional cooling, thorium ions are extracted along one of the radial directions for time-of-flight mass spectrometry by rapidly quenching the trapping potential and applying high-voltage extracting pulses. The charge states of thorium ions are identified and the maximum mass resolutions of thorium ions reach ∼100 with initial 300 K collisional cooling. The velocity distributions of ablated various charged thorium ions are measured, and the results agree well with Monte Carlo simulation. Lifetimes of thorium ions are determined to be a few tens of seconds in the ion trap, which are helpful for further spectroscopic studies of Th-229 nuclear transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanopore/pillar formation on a Ge substrate can be induced by ion irradiation, which activates the ion beam sputtering and self-organization of point defects. Considering that the size and morphology of nanostructures are dependent on damage production, the irradiation parameters significantly affect nanostructuring. Here, the projected range of incident ions was selected as a parameter to be investigated. The projected range was modified by adding an Au buffer layer on the surface of the substrate, enabling the ions to stop in a shallower layer. The experimental results showed that the deposited Au layer affected the size and morphology of the nanostructures produced by ion irradiation. As a unique morphology, network-like structures were observed on the Au-deposited substrates. These structures were larger than ordinary porous structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular cluster ions, which are stored in an electromagnetic trap under ultra-high vacuum conditions, undergo blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD). This process can be simulated with master equation modeling (MEM), predicting temperature-dependent dissociation rate constants, which are very sensitive to the dissociation energy. We have recently introduced a multiple-well approach for master equation modeling, where several low-lying isomers are taken into account. Here, we experimentally measure the BIRD of CO4●–(H2O)1,2 and model the results with a slightly modified multiple-well MEM. In the experiment, we exclusively observe loss of water from CO4●–(H2O), while the BIRD of CO4●–(H2O)2 leads predominantly to loss of carbon dioxide, with water loss occurring to a lesser extent. The MEM of two competing reactions requires empirical scaling factors for infrared intensities and the sum of states of the loose transition states employed in the calculation of unimolecular rate constants so that the simulated branching ratio matches the experiment. The experimentally derived binding energies are ΔH0(CO4●––H2O) = 45 ± 3 kJ/mol, ΔH0(CO4●–(H2O)–H2O) = 41 ± 3 kJ/mol, and ΔH0(CO2–O2●–(H2O)2) = 37 ± 3 kJ/mol. Quantum chemical calculations on the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//CCSD/aug-cc-pVDZ level, corrected for the basis set superposition error, yield binding energies that are 2–5 kJ/mol higher than experiment, within error limits of both experiment and theory. The relative activation energies for the two competing loss channels are as well fully consistent with theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connexin hemichannels were identified as the first members of the eukaryotic large-pore channel family that mediate permeation of both atomic ions and small molecules between the intracellular and extracellular environments. The conventional view is that their pore is a large passive conduit through which both ions and molecules diffuse in a similar manner. In stark contrast to this notion, we demonstrate that the permeation of ions and of molecules in connexin hemichannels can be uncoupled and differentially regulated. We find that human connexin mutations that produce pathologies and were previously thought to be loss-of-function mutations due to the lack of ionic currents are still capable of mediating the passive transport of molecules with kinetics close to those of wild-type channels. This molecular transport displays saturability in the micromolar range, selectivity, and competitive inhibition, properties that are tuned by specific interactions between the permeating molecules and the N-terminal domain that lies within the pore-a general feature of large-pore channels. We propose that connexin hemichannels and, likely, other large-pore channels, are hybrid channel/transporter-like proteins that might switch between these two modes to promote selective ion conduction or autocrine/paracrine molecular signaling in health and disease processes.

Resonant electron capture by aza and diaza derivatives of phenanthrene (7,8-benzoquinoline and 1,10-phenanthroline) and anthracene (acridine and phenazine) at incident free electron energies (Ee) in the range of 0–15 eV was studied. All compounds except 7,8-benzoquinoline form long-lived molecular ions (M−) at thermal electron energies (Ee ∼ 0 eV). Acridine and phenazine also form such ions at epithermal electron energies up to Ee = 1.5–2.5 eV. The lifetimes (τa) of M− with respect to electron autodetachment are proportional to the extent of aza-substitution and increase on going from molecules with bent geometry of the fused rings (azaphenanthrenes) to linear isomers (azaanthracenes). These regularities are due to an increase in the adiabatic electron affinities (EAa) of the molecules. The EAa values of the molecules under study were comprehensively assessed based on a comparative analysis of the measured τa values using the Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus theory, the electronic structure analysis using the molecular orbital approach, as well as the density functional calculations of the total energy differences between the molecules and anions. The only fragmentation channel of M− ions from the compounds studied is abstraction of hydrogen atoms. When studying [M–H]− ions, electron autodetachment processes were observed, the τa values were measured, and the appearance energies were determined. A comparative analysis of the gas-phase acidity of the molecules and the EAa values of the [M–H]· radicals revealed their proportionality to the EAa values of the parent molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resonant Auger processes provide a unique perspective on electronic interactions and excited vibrational and electronic states of molecular ions. Here, new data are presented on the resonant Auger decay of excited CH3I in the region just below the I 4d−1 ionization threshold. The resonances include the Rydberg series converging to the five spin–orbit and ligand-field split CH3I (I 4d−1) thresholds, as well as resonances corresponding to excitation from the I 4d5/2,3/2 orbitals into the σ* lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. This study focuses on participator decay that populates the lowest lying states of CH3I+, in particular, the X ̃ 2E3/2 and 2E1/2 states, and on spectator decay that populates the lowest-lying (CH3I2+)σ* states of CH3I+. The CH3I (I 4d−1)σ* resonances are broad, and dissociation to CH3 + I competes with the autoionization of the core-excited states. Auger decay as the molecule dissociates produces a photoelectron spectrum with a long progression (up to v3+ ∼ 25) in the C–I stretching mode of the X ̃ 2E3/2 and 2E1/2 states, providing insights into the shape of the dissociative core-excited surface. The observed spectator decay processes indicate that CH3I+ is formed on the repulsive wall of the lower-lying (CH3I2+)σ* potentials, and the photon-energy dependence of the processes provides insights into the relative slopes of the (4d−1)σ* and (CH3I2+)σ* potential surfaces. Data are also presented for the spectator decay of higher lying CH3I (I 4d−1)nl Rydberg resonances. Photoelectron angular distributions for the resonant Auger processes provide additional information that helps distinguish these processes from the direct ionization signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe an apparatus where many species of ultracold atoms can be simultaneously trapped and overlapped with many species of ions in a Paul trap. Several design innovations are made to increase the versatility of the apparatus while keeping the size and cost reasonable. We demonstrate the operation of a three-dimensional (3D) magneto-optical trap (MOT) of 7Li using a single external cavity diode laser. The 7Li MOT is loaded from an atomic beam, with atoms slowed using a Zeeman slower designed to work simultaneously for Li and Sr. The operation of a 3D MOT of 133Cs, loaded from a 2D MOT, is demonstrated, and provisions for MOTs of Rb and K in the same vacuum manifold exist. We demonstrate the trapping of 7Li+ and 133Cs+ at different settings of the Paul trap and their detection using an integrated time-of-flight mass spectrometer. We present results on low energy neutral–neutral collisions (133Cs–133Cs, 7Li–7Li, and 133Cs–7Li collisions) and charge–neutral collisions (133Cs+–133Cs and 7Li+–7Li collisions). We show evidence of sympathetic cooling of 7Li+ (133Cs+) due to collisions with the ultracold 7Li (133Cs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a device simulation of lead-halide perovskite-based thin film transistors (TFTs) containing mobile charged species to provide physical reasoning for the various experimental reports. We study the output characteristics for a range of scan duration (1/speed), average mobile ion densities, and N- and P-channel TFTs. We then directly compare our results to published data by Zeidell et al. [Adv. Electron. Mater. 4(12), 1800316 (2018)] and show that if the transistor's measurement procedure is such that the ions' effects are apparent, and then, our model can resolve the sign of the mobile ions in their MAPbI3−xClx TFTs (cations) and provide a good estimate of their density (∼1017 cm−3 at 200 k). Interestingly, we find that effects previously associated with channel screening are due to the ion-blocking of the charge extraction and that the incomplete saturation often reported is due to ion-induced channel shortening. Utilizing the same perovskite materials as in solar cells would allow researchers to improve their understanding of the mechanisms governing solar photovoltaics and improve their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the electrostatic response of an electrolyte solution to a spherical ion is studied with a Gaussian field theory. In order to capture the ionic correlation effect in concentrated solutions, the bulk dielectric response function is described by a two-Yukawa response function. The modified response function of the solution is solved analytically in the spherical geometry, from which the induced charge density and the electrostatic energy are also derived analytically. Comparisons with results for small ions in electrolyte solutions from the hyper-netted chain theory demonstrate the validity of the Gaussian field theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular simulations serve as indispensable tools for investigating the kinetics and elucidating the mechanism of hindered ion transport across nanoporous membranes. In particular, recent advancements in advanced sampling techniques have made it possible to access translocation timescales spanning several orders of magnitude. In our prior study [Shoemaker et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 18, 7142 (2022)], we identified significant finite size artifacts in simulations of pressure-driven hindered ion transport through nanoporous graphitic membranes. We introduced the ideal conductor model, which effectively corrects for such artifacts by assuming the feed to be an ideal conductor. In the present work, we introduce the ideal conductor dielectric model (Icdm), a generalization of our earlier model, which accounts for the dielectric properties of both the membrane and the filtrate. Using the Icdm model substantially enhances the agreement among corrected free energy profiles obtained from systems of varying sizes, with notable improvements observed in regions proximate to the pore exit. Moreover, the model has the capability to consider secondary ion passage events, including the transport of a co-ion subsequent to the traversal of a counter-ion, a feature that is absent in our original model. We also investigate the sensitivity of the new model to various implementation details. The Icdm model offers a universally applicable framework for addressing finite size artifacts in molecular simulations of ion transport. It stands as a significant advancement in our quest to use molecular simulations to comprehensively understand and manipulate ion transport processes through nanoporous membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the available data on diffusion in natural clayey rocks consider tracer diffusion in the absence of a salinity gradient despite the fact that such gradients are frequently found in natural and engineered subsurface environments. To assess the role of such gradients on the diffusion properties of clayey materials, through-diffusion experiments were carried out in the presence and absence of a salinity gradient using salt-diffusion and radioisotope tracer techniques. The experiments were carried out with vermiculite samples that contained equal proportions of interparticle and interlayer porosities so as to assess also the role played by the two types of porosities on the diffusion of water and ions. Data were interpreted using both a classical Fickian diffusion model and with a reactive transport code, CrunchClay that can handle multi-porosity diffusion processes in the presence of charged surfaces. By combining experimental and simulated data, we demonstrated that (i) the flux of water diffusing through vermiculite interlayer porosity was minor compared to that diffusing through the interparticle porosity, and (ii) a model considering at least three types of porous volumes (interlayer, interparticle diffuse layer, and bulk interparticle) was necessary to reproduce consistently the variations of neutral and charged species diffusion as a function of salinity gradient conditions.

The electrostatic double layer force is key to determining the stability and self-assembly of charged colloids and many other soft matter systems. Fully understanding the attractive force between two like-charged surfaces remains a great challenge. Here, we apply the modified Gaussian renormalized fluctuation theory to study ion correlation-driven like-charge attraction in multivalent salt solutions. The effects of spatially varying ion correlations on the structure of overlapping double layers and their free energy are self-consistently accounted for. In the presence of multivalent salts, increasing surface charge or counterion valency leads to a short-range attraction. We demonstrate that although both overcharging and like-charge attraction are outcomes of ion correlation, there is no causal relationship between them. Our theory also captures the non-monotonic dependence of like-charge attraction on multivalent salt concentration. The reduction of attraction at high salt concentrations could be a contributing factor toward the reentrant stability of charged colloidal suspensions. Our theoretical predictions are consistent with the observations reported in experiments and simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of nitrate and ammonium salts both in the environment and in biological processes cannot be questioned. In this work, using the TIP4P/2005 water model, aqueous solutions of nitrate and ammonium electrolytes are parametrized using scaled charges while keeping a rigid structure and nonpolarizable charge distributions. The models are optimized by systematically testing a set of properties for twelve electrolytes—eight nitrate and four ammonium salts—thus, enlarging the number of potential chemical species encompassed within the Madrid-2019 force field for ions. The capacity of the force field for predicting densities, ion–ion and ion–solvent structures, and transport properties of the solutions comprised by the trial batch of salts was tested and discussed. Both the dependence of the densities with the salt concentration and the solution structure were nicely reproduced by the models in the whole concentration range without any trace of precipitating events and with improved accuracy in comparison with recently reported models, while the agreement of the simulated transport properties with experimental data ranges from good to reasonable, depending on the ion/counterion pair. These scaled charge models might be considered as force fields embodying a reasonable compromise between exactness and general applicability and also as an important step in the development of accurate models for polyatomic ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, two quasi-molecular compounds each involving one antiproton and one electron ( p ̄) , H e + − p ̄ and H − p ̄ , are investigated. Using completely relativistic calculations within the finite-basis method adapted to systems with axial symmetry, the adiabatic potential curves are constructed by numerically solving the two-center Dirac equation. The binding energies of electron are obtained as a function of the inter-nuclear distance and compared with the corresponding nonrelativistic values and relativistic leading-order corrections calculated in the framework of other approaches. A semantic analysis of antiproton quasi-molecular ions with compounds containing a proton (p) instead of an antiproton is given. The advantages of the A-DKB method are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron-driven processes in isolated curcumin (CUR) molecules are studied by means of dissociative electron attachment (DEA) spectroscopy under gas-phase conditions. Elementary photostimulated reactions initiated in CUR molecules under UV irradiation are studied using the chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization method in an acetonitrile solvent. Density functional theory is applied to elucidate the energetics of fragmentation of CUR by low-energy (0–15 eV) resonance electron attachment and to characterize various CUR radical forms. The adiabatic electron affinity of CUR molecule is experimentally estimated to be about 1 eV. An extra electron attachment to the π1* LUMO and π2* molecular orbitals is responsible for the most intense DEA signals observed at thermal electron energy. The most abundant long-lived (hundreds of micro- to milliseconds) molecular negative ions CUR– are detected not only at the thermal energy of incident electrons but also at 0.6 eV, which is due to the formation of the π3* and π4* temporary negative ion states predicted to lie around 1 eV. Proton-assisted electron transfer between CUR molecules is registered under UV irradiation. The formation of both radical-anions and radical-cations of CUR is found to be more favorable in its enol form. The present findings shed some light on the elementary processes triggered in CUR by electrons and photons and, therefore, can be useful to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for a variety of biological effects produced by CUR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pheophytin a and chlorophyll a have been investigated by electrospray mass spectrometry in the positive and negative modes, in view of the importance of the knowledge of their properties in photosynthesis. Pheophytin and chlorophyll are both observed intensely in the protonated mode, and their main fragmentation route is the loss of their phytyl chain. Pheophytin is observed intact in the negative mode, while under collisions, it is primarily cleaved beyond the phytyl chain and loses the attaching propionate group. Chlorophyll is not detected in normal conditions in the negative mode, but addition of methanol solvent molecule is detected. Fragmentation of this adduct primarily forms a product (−30 amu) that dissociates into dephytyllated deprotonated chlorophyll. Semi-empirical molecular dynamics calculations show that the phytyl chain is unfolded from the chlorin cycle in pheophytin a and folded in chlorophyll a. Density functional theory calculations have been conducted to locate the charges on protonated and deprotonated pheophytin a and chlorophyll a and have found the major location sites that are notably more stable in energy by more than 0.5 eV than the others. The deprotonation site is found identical for pheophytin a and the chlorophyll a-methanol adduct. This is in line with experiment and calculation locating the addition of methanol on a double bond of deprotonated chlorophyll a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the single-bonded nitrogen chains stabilized by tetravalent cerium, pentavalent tantalum, and hexavalent tungsten atoms, we explored the possibility of single-bonded nitrogen polymorphs stabilized by trivalent lanthanum ions. To achieve this, we utilized the crystal structure search method on the phase diagram of binary La–N compounds. We identified three novel thermodynamically stable phases, the C2/c LaN3, P-1 LaN4, and P-1 LaN8. Among them, the C2/c phase with infinite helical poly-N6 chains becomes thermodynamically stable above 50 GPa. Each nitrogen atom in the poly-N6 chain acquires one extra electron, and the spiral chain is purely single-bonded. The C2/c phase has an indirect band gap of ∼1.6 eV at 60 GPa. Notably, the band gap exhibits non-monotonic behavior, decreases first and then increases with increasing pressure. This abnormal behavior is attributed to the significant bonding of two La–N bonds at around 35 GPa. Phonon spectrum calculations and AIMD simulations have confirmed that the C2/c phase can be quenched to ambient conditions with slight distortion, and it exhibits excellent detonation properties. Additionally, we also discovered armchair-like nitrogen chains in LaN4 and the armchair and zigzag-like mixed nitrogen chains in LaN8. These results provide valuable insights into the electronic and bonding properties of nitrides under high pressure and may have important implications for the design and development of novel functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three body fragmentation of methane dication has been studied using the technique of cold target recoil ion momentum spectroscopy. The process is initiated by impact of energetic Ar9+ ions on neutral methane and the data is subsequently collected in coincidence with Ar8+ projectile. By analysing the dissociation channels leading to (H + H+ + CH 2 + ) and (H + H 2 + + CH+) fragments, it is concluded that these fragments are formed in a sequential manner via formation of molecular intermediates CH 3 + and CH 2 + respectively. It is shown that these molecular intermediates carry a few eVs as their internal energies, part of which is released when they emit an H-atom with the open possibility that the final detected fragments may still be internally excited. This was accomplished by analysing the two-steps of the sequential process in their own native frames. For a molecular system having three-dimensional structure, our results prove to be an ideal example to highlight the importance of using native frames for correct interpretation of the obtained results. Our results indicate that the dissociation of methane dication can be a major source of production of H-atoms in addition to H+ fragments with the probability of the two being of similar order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When electrolyte solutions are confined in micro- and nanochannels their conductivity is significantly different from those in a bulk phase. Here we revisit the theory of this phenomenon by focusing attention on the reduction in the ion mobility with the concentration of salt and a consequent impact to the conductivity of a monovalent solution, from bulk to confined in a narrow slit. We first give a systematic treatment of electrophoresis of ions and obtain equations for their zeta potentials and mobilities. The latter are then used to obtain a simple expression for a bulk conductivity, which is valid in a concentration range up to a few molars and more accurate than prior analytic theories. By extending the formalism to the electrolyte solution in the charged channel the equations describing the conductivity in different modes are presented. They can be regarded as a generalization of prior work on the channel conductivity to a more realistic case of a nonzero reduction of the electrophoretic mobility of ions with salt concentration. Our analysis provides a framework for interpreting measurements on the conductivity of electrolyte solutions in the bulk and in narrow channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aluminum ion battery (AIB) is a promising technology, but there is a lack of understanding of the desired nature of the batteries' electrolytes. The ionic charge carriers in these batteries are not simply Al3+ ions but the anionic AlCl4− and Al2Cl7−, which form in the electrolyte. Using computational analysis, this study illustrates the effect of mole ratios and organic solvents to improve the AIB electrolytes. To this end, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted on varying ratios forming acidic, neutral, and basic mixtures of the AlCl3 salt with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMImCl) ionic liquid (IL) and an organic solvent electrolyte [dichloromethane (DCM) or toluene]. The data obtained from diffusion calculations indicates that the solvents could improve the transport properties. Both DCM and toluene lead to higher diffusion coefficients, and higher conductivity. Detailed calculations demonstrated solvents can effectively improve the formation of AlCl3⋯Cl (AlCl4−) and AlCl4−···AlCl4− (Al2Cl7−) especially in acidic mixtures. The densities, around 1.25 g/cm3 for electrolyte mixtures of AlCl3-EMImCl, were consistent with experiment. These results, in agreement with experimental findings, strongly suggest that DCM in acidic media with AlCl3 and EMImCl might provide a promising basis for battery development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently initiated variant of density functional theory utilizes a set of spherically symmetric densities instead of the density. The exact functionals are unknown in the new theory akin to the standard density functional theory. In order to test approximate functionals exactly solvable models are introduced. A harmonic molecular ion, the analogue to the hydrogen molecule ion and a harmonic two-electron molecule showing analogy to the hydrogen molecule are proposed. It has been found that the wave function and the density can be given analytically. The exact spherical densities and the effective potentials of the Euler equations also have analytical form. It has been shown that the models can be easily extended to several "nuclei." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of Mn(II) ion in real objects is an important task in the medicine, pharmacology, biology, chemistry, and engineering sciences. The used methods are usually expensive, hazardous, low effective and time-consuming. In this investigation, a new, green, highly effective, selective, cost-effective and time-saving analytical regent was introduced for Mn(II) determination. The analytical properties of alizarin-3-methylamino-N,N-diacetic acid (AMADAA) immobilised onto polyethylene polyamine-modified polyacrylonitrile (PPP) matrix, AMADAA/PPP, in the determination of Mn(II) ion was studied by the spectrophotometric, potentiodynamic titration, spectroscopic analyses, and X-ray fluorescence and, besides comparing the results, selectivity was checked. It was found that (i) high selectivity, high accuracy, low detection limits, good repeatability, easy regeneration, and high speed are accessible for the proposed analytical procedure, using AMADAA/PPP matrix; (ii) spectroscopic signals of AMADAA-immobilised PPP matrix and its complex with Mn(II) ion were at 500 and 580 nm, respectively; (iii) determination limit of the analytical method for Mn(II) ion was 0.02 µg/mL; (iv) the selectivity of the used reagent, AMADAA/PPP, was very high for Mn(II) ion in the presence of Ca(II), Mg(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Fe(II) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanofiltration (NF) membrane has not been extensively competent for rejection of monovalent ions (such as Cl− and NO3−), and the strategy for enhancing monovalent ion rejection and permeation flux still faces a significant challenge. Herein, based on our previous polyethersulfone (PES)‐type NF membrane (NF‐0), two novel NF membranes were fabricated with additional incorporations of 2,2′‐benzidinedisulfonic acid (BDSA) and forward osmotic extraction solution‐functioned nanoparticles (MNPs) to remove nitrate from the aqueous solution. The fabricated NF‐BDSA membrane with introduction of BDSA in ultrathin layer displays a significant nitrate rejection of 92.2% and an acceptable permeation flux of 21 L m−1 h−1 at 0.6 MPa. As anticipated, the obtained NF‐MNPs1.0 membrane with additional incorporation of MNPs (1.0 wt% addition) in the substrate layer of NF‐BDSA membrane achieves further improvements in nitrate rejection (95%) and water permeability (32.3 L m−1 h−1); encouragingly, this membrane exhibits comparable monovalent ion rejection and permeation flux to reverse osmosis membrane under relatively low pressure. Compared with those of NF‐0 membrane, the permeation flux and nitrate rejection of NF‐MNPs1.0 membrane increase by 111.1% and 6.1%, respectively. Moreover, the superior performances of endurance, antifouling and chlorine resistance of NF‐MNPs1.0 membrane demonstrate its expectable perspective of potential engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is a cornerstone technique for analyses of volatile and semivolatile compounds, constantly evolving to meet new challenges. The adoption of time‐of‐flight mass spectrometers (TOFMS) has enhanced GC–MS with faster spectral acquisition and broader mass coverage, enabling rapid GC separations. Multireflecting TOFMS (MRT) further improves resolution compared to traditional single‐reflecting TOFMS, facilitating the detection of minor analytes within complex matrices. This paper presents a significant improvement in MRT sensitivity and dynamic range achieved through an ion beam compression within the ion guide and the use of a conventionally oriented orthogonal accelerator. Sensitivity is improved to 100 000 ion/pg at a resolution of R = 25,000, enabling the detection of low fg analyte quantities within 3 μg of matrix material into MS. The demonstrated linear dynamic range exceeding 6 orders of magnitude potentially enables even deeper exploration of complex mixtures with a bench top instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the control of volatile N-nitrosamines (NAs) has been of interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries, as many of these compounds are probable human carcinogens. Thus, rapid and trace-level quantitative determination methods are in urgent demand. In this work, ambient pressure ammonium-adduct ionization mass spectrometry was proposed for the sensitive detection of volatile nitrosamines in various pharmaceutical headspaces. The ammonium ions produced through electrospray ionization acted as reactant ions for NAs to generate ammonium–NA adduct ions and underwent in-source collision-induced dissociation to produce protonated NAs, which were detected by mass spectrometry. The ionization selectivity and sensitivity for various volatile NAs were improved significantly using the developed method, which was demonstrated by the limit of quantification (LOQ) below 52 ng L−1 for all NAs, and the quantitative performance was consequently improved. Different NAs exhibited almost equimolar response using NH4+ as the reactant ion, with at least a twofold enhancement in intensity for the individual compounds relative to when using H+ as the reactant ion. The proposed method is a rapid, sensitive, and environmentally economical approach that uses few reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a series of BaZnP 2-x W x O 7+x/2 (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.04) ceramics were synthesized within the temperature range of 850–925 °C, all of which exhibited a single triclinic phase. The introduction of an optimal amount of non-equivalent W6+ ions promoted grain growth and densification, which also influenced the ε r and Q × f. The analysis revealed that the lattice energy and bond energy of the P|W-O bond contributed the most to U t and E t , respectively. Subsequently, the relationships between U t and Q × f , as well as between E t and τ f , were thoroughly investigated. At 900 °C, the relative density of BaZnP 1.99 W 0.01 O 7.005 ceramics reached 97.8 %, exhibiting optimal properties: ε r ∼9.01, Q × f ∼104,959 GHz, and τ f ∼-17.73 ppm/°C. Compared to pure BaZnP 2 O 7 ceramics, the Q × f value improved by 86.9 %, while the τ f value demonstrated a 38.2 % enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cesium lead halide perovskite (CsPbX 3) quantum dots (QDs) are recognized as viable substitutes for conventional fluorescent powder color converters, which can improve the color gamut and reproducibility of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Encapsulating QDs in glass can effectively solve the water oxygen stability of QDs, but the glass matrix impedes the nucleation of QDs and the precipitation of QDs requires secondary heating. In our research, we successfully accomplished the self-crystallization of CsPbBr 3 QDs facilitated by LiF within a B 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -ZnO borosilicate glass matrix. The results indicate that the self crystallization of CsPbBr 3 QDs induced by LiF in borosilicate glass matrix has a synergistic effect. The Li + ions can break the glass network structure and facilitate ionic migration and transport, while F− ions have good electronegativity due to ion aggregation, and can strongly attract Cs+ and Pb2+ ions with larger atomic radii, thereby promoting the rapid nucleation and growth of CsPbBr 3 QDs, ultimately synthesizing QDs with uniform particle size, narrow half peak width, good optical properties, and thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low Mg diffusivity in solid-state oxides is an obstacle for the development of materials for Mg ion batteries, which are expected to have high capacity. In this study, we focused on NASICON-type and β-iron sulfate-type Mg2xHf1-xNb(PO4)3 that exhibit relatively high Mg ionic conductivity and investigated the Hf/Nb configuration and composition dependence of phase stability and ion conductivity by atomistic simulation using neural network potentials. The calculations show that the NASICON-type structure is slightly more stable and has higher Mg ionic conductivity than that of the β-iron sulfate-type. The effect of the Hf/Nb configuration was investigated and showed that the ordered stable structure had much lower ionic conductivity than the disordered structure. Furthermore, as the Mg ion concentration increased, the ionic conductivity increased monotonically at low concentrations but tended to converge to a constant value above a certain concentration. The saturation of the ionic conductivity despite increasing the Mg concentration may be due to the trapping effect of the Mg ions caused by the Hf vacancies as well as the Hf/Nb arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Fe‐MOF was synthesized via a coprecipitation procedure and then used as support for stabilizing Ag ions and producing three‐dimensional cluster bud Ag2O@Fe‐MOF nanoflower composite (3D CB Ag2O@Fe‐MOF NFC) by microwave irradiation. The synthesized 3D CB Ag2O@Fe‐MOF NFC was applied as a heterogeneous nano‐organocatalyst in green and new preparation of naphthopyranopyrimidines via three‐component condensation of aryl aldehydes, β‐naphthol, and barbituric acids in the solvent‐free conditions at 100°C. Convenience, solvent‐free conditions, good yield, and short reaction time make this strategy a promising candidate compared to other methods. The reusability and high efficiency of this catalyst four times without any notable loss of its activity makes this strategy attractive for large‐scale eco‐friendly applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sensitivity and accuracy of identifying volatile organic compounds using mass spectrometric gas analyzers operation in the electron ionization mode can be enhanced by increasing the number of ions formed in the ion source by varying the energy of ionizing electrons. The paper presents a comparison of data obtained by electron impact ionization at electron energy (EE) in the range of 25–105 eV for a number of organic substances belonging to different classes of organic compounds. an analysis using similarity matrices based on various similarity metrics was performed to interpret the dynamics of changes in the intensities of fragment ion peaks, and the influence of EE on the formation probability of the main fragment species of the substances under study and, accordingly, on the resemblance of a recorded mass spectrum to the reference mass spectrum from the database was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potential‐induced degradation (PID) is a prevalent concern in current commercial photovoltaic technologies, impacting their reliability, with the mechanistic basis for PID in perovskite photovoltaic technologies being poorly understood. Here, we investigate the PID mechanism in perovskite minimodules. Our findings reveal nonuniform degradation in the photoluminescence intensity and spectral blue shift. After 60‐h laboratory PID stress tests at −1500 V and 60°C, device efficiency drastically decreases by 96%, and the shunt resistance decreases by 97%, accompanied by a significant quantity of Na+ ions (derived from the soda lime glass) throughout the device structure, leading to a typical PID‐shunting effect. Interestingly, we observed a rapid recovery of device performance during room‐temperature dark storage, in which Na+ ions located close to the glass substrate side rapidly migrated out of the device. Moreover, we also found that the Na+ ions do not appear to diffuse through the grain boundaries but rather their neighboring area and grain interiors, judging by microscopic conductivity mappings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyan-emitting phosphors are urgently needed to address the "cyan gap" in artificial full-spectrum lighting. In this research, a series of Sr(2−y)BayY4La4(SiO4)6O2:xEu2+ (0.005 ≤ x ≤ 0.08, 0.0 ≤ y ≤ 2.0) phosphors with tunable luminescence was synthesized. Through cation regulation, the luminescence color of Sr(2−y)BayY4La4(SiO4)6O2:xEu2+ can be adjusted from yellow to cyan. Crystal structure analysis revealed that Eu2+ ions simultaneously occupy [Sr1/Ba1Y1La1] and [Sr2/Ba2Y2La2] sites, resulting in multiple luminescence centers and a broadened emission spectrum. With increasing Ba2+ ion concentration, the PLE spectrum was red-shifted from 337 nm to 372 nm, and the excitation intensity in the violet region was significantly enhanced, making it more compatible with violet LED chips. Meanwhile, the PL spectrum was blue-shifted from 543 nm to 496 nm with increasing Ba2+ concentration, accompanied by an increase of about 10 times in the excitation and emission intensity. The optimized Ba2Y4La4(SiO4)6O2:0.02Eu2+ phosphor can be excited by violet light and emits bright cyan light effectively, which can be used to fill the "cyan gap". Eventually, a series of white LED devices was manufactured by combining the as-prepared luminescence-tunable phosphors with commercial phosphors. Among them, the 410 nm violet LED chip-based WLED(Ba2) device comprising Ba2Y4La4(SiO4)6O2:0.02Eu2+ exhibited the best electroluminescence performance, increasing the color rendering index from 82.0 to 98.6, verifying the compensation effect of the Ba2Y4La4(SiO4)6O2:Eu2+ phosphor on cyan light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of a potentiometric pH electrode in ocean acidification observation is still a challenge due to its poor sensitivity to small pH changes. Herein, a simple approach to remarkably improve the detection precision of a polymeric membrane ion-selective electrode is proposed based on the potential-modulated ion transfer mechanism. The present sensing strategy displays highly sensitive responses to small pH changes for seawater analysis with a precision of 5 μpH, which is 2 orders of magnitude lower than that of the conventional pH electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]