Atomic pair distribution function method development at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility

The atomic pair distribution function（PDF） reveals the interatomic distance in a material directly in real-space. It is a very powerful method to characterize the local structure of materials. With the help of the third generation synchrotron facility and spallation neutron source worldwide, the PDF method has developed quickly both experimentally and theoretically in recent years. Recently this method was successfully implemented at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility（SSRF）. The data quality is very high and this ensures the applicability of the method to study the subtle structural changes in complex materials. In this article, we introduce in detail this new method and show some experimental data we collected.

Surface elemental distribution effect of Pt-Pb hexagonal nanoplates for electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction

Bimetallic Pt-based catalysts have been extensively investigated to enhance the performance of direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs) because CO, a by-product, reduces the activity of the pure Pt catalysts. Herein, we synthesized Pt-Pb hexagonal nanoplates as a model catalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction(MOR) and further controlled the Pt and Pb distributions on the surface of the nanoplates through acetic acid(HAc) treatment. As a result, we obtained Pt-Pb nanoplates and HAc-treated Pt-Pb nanoplates with homogeneous and heterogeneous distributions of the Pt-Pb alloy surfaces, respectively. We showed that the MOR activity and stability of the Pt-Pb nanoplates improved compared to those of the HAc-treated Pt-Pb nanoplates, mainly due to the enhanced CO tolerance and the modified electronic structure of Pt under the influence of the oxophilic Pb.

In situ temperature measurement of vapor based on atomic speed selection

We demonstrate an experimental method for the in situ temperature measurement of atomic vapor using the saturated absorption spectrum. By separately manipulating the frequency of the pump and probe beams, the position of the crossover peaks can move along the spectrum. Different velocity classes of atoms contribute to the crossover during the movement. We study the relationship between the intensity change of peaks and vapor temperature. Our experimental result around room temperature shows a deviation of less than 0.3 K. Compared with traditional thermometry using absorption spectroscopy, higher accuracy can theoretically be achieved with real-time thermometry.

Ordered Sn distribution adjacent to the precipitate-matrix interface in a Mg-9.8wt.%Sn alloy

The major interface betweenβ-Mg_(3)Sn precipitate plate and theα-Mg matrix in a Mg-9.8wt.%alloy has been investigated using aberrationcorrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and first-principles calculations.It is found that Sn atoms orderly distribute in the single layer of theα-Mg matrix immediately adjacent to the broad surface ofβat the early stage of ageing.These Sn atoms substitute Mg atoms located at the centers of equilateral triangles constituted by three Mg columns in the outmost layer ofβ.First-principles calculations suggest that the ordered Sn distribution is energetically favored and it not only decreases the interfacial energy of theβ-matrix interface but also hinders the occurrence of 1/3<01■0>αshear that thickens theβplate.

Comparative Studies on Two 1,8-Naphthalimide Derivatives with Experimental and Theoretical Methods

Two 1,8-naphthalimide derivatives of 7H-benzimidazo[2,1,-a]benz[de] isoquino- lin-7-one（1） and 4-bromo-7H-benzimidazo[2,1,-a]benz[de]isoquinolin-7-one（2） have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra. For the two compounds, density functional theory（DFT） calculations of the structures and natural population atomic charge analysis have been performed at the B3LYP/6-311G＊＊ level of theory. Based on Onsager reaction filed model and by using TD-DFT method at the B3LYP/6-311G＊＊ level, electron spectra of 1 and 2 with solvent effect in CHCl3 solvent have been predicted, which are in agreement with the experimental ones. Comparative studies on 1 and 2 indicate that introducing an electron-withdrawing group of Br into the 4-position of naphthalene ring in 2 does not significantly make the molecular geometry of 2 different from that of 1, but evidently changes the atomic charge redistribution, moves the positive-negative charges center and then changes the dipole moment in 2. Additionally, for compound 2, the existence of Br atom has also influenced the peak intensity and peak locations in both electron and fluorescence spectra.

Atomic population distribution of excited states in He electrodeless discharge lamp

Population ratios between excited states are measured to build the excited state Faraday anomalous dispersion optical filter(ESFADOF). We calculate these values between the excited states according to the spontaneous transition probabilities using rate equations and the measured intensities of fluorescence spectral lines of He atoms in an electrodeless discharge lamp in the visible spectral region from 350 to 730 nm. The electrodeless discharge lamp with populations in excited states can be used to realize the frequency stabilization reference of the laser frequency standard. This lamp can also build ESFADOFs for submarine communication application in the blue-green wavelength to simplify the system without the use of a pump laser.

Rubidium-beam microwave clock pumped by distributed feedback diode lasers

A rubidium-beam microwave clock, optically pumped by a distributed feedback diode laser, is experimentally investigated. The clock is composed of a physical package, optical systems, and electric servo loops. The physical package realizes the microwave interrogation of a rubidium-atomic beam. The optical systems, equipped with two 780-nm distributed feedback laser diodes, yield light for pumping and detecting. The servo loops control the frequency of a local oscillator with respect to the microwave spectrum. With the experimental systems, the microwave spectrum, which has an amplitude of 4 n A and a line width of 700 Hz, is obtained. Preliminary tests show that the clock short-term frequency stability is 7 × 10^-11 at 1 s, and 3 × 10^-12 at 1000 s. These experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the scheme for a manufactured clock.

Behavior of the relativistic angular and energy distributions of atoms exposed to a strong and low-frequency circularly polarized laser field

In this Letter, we focus on the theoretical analysis of the relativistic energy and angular distributions of the ejected photoelectrons during the relativistic tunnel ionization of atoms by intense, circularly polarized light. We make a small modification of the general analytical expressions for these distributions. The role of the initial momentum, the ponderomotive potential, and the Stark shift are considered. We also present the maximal angle of electron emission.