Unexpected Fe local order in iron oxide coated nanocrystalline magnesium oxides with exceptional reactivities against environmental toxins

Periodic DFT study of acidic trace atmospheric gas molecule adsorption on Ca- and Fe-doped MgO(001) surface basic sites

The electronic properties of undoped and Ca- or Fe-doped MgO(001) surfaces, as well as their propensity toward atmospheric acidic gas (CO2, SO2, and NO2) uptake was investigated with an emphasis on gas adsorption on the basic MgO oxygen surface sites, O(surf), using periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Adsorption energy calculations show that MgO doping will provide stronger interactions of the adsorbate with the O(surf) sites than the undoped MgO for a given adsorbate molecule. Charge transfer from the iron atom in Fe-doped MgO(001) to NO2 was shown to increase the binding interaction between adsorbate by an order of magnitude, when compared to that of undoped and Ca-doped MgO(001) surfaces. Secondary binding interactions of adsorbate oxygen atoms were observed with surface magnesium sites at distances close to those of the Mg-O bond within the crystal. These interactions may serve as a preliminary step for adsorption and facilitate further adsorbate transformations into other binding configurations. Impacts on global atmospheric chemistry are discussed as these adsorption phenomena can affect atmospheric gas budgets via altered partitioning and retention on mineral aerosol surfaces.

Multiple-scattering extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of nanostructured iron(III) oxide in the pore system of mesoporous carbon CMK-1

This work is devoted to the EXAFS analysis of nanostructured iron(III) oxide synthesized inside the pore system of mesoporous carbon CMK-1. A detailed study of the recording, preparation and evaluation of data recorded in fluorescence mode at the iron K-edge with and without multiple scattering is shown. The results obtained show that the local structure of Fe3+ inside nanostructured iron(III) oxide is different to that of the bulk material. Due to the small particle size, data analysis is much more difficult and data preparation more complex. Incorporating multiple scattering paths in the Fourier transforms and back-transforms during data evaluation gives structural insights that cannot be obtained using other spectroscopic methods, and this technique was used to draw conclusions about the first four coordination spheres of the nanostructured iron(III) oxide.

An X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy Investigation of the Formation of FeCo Alloy Nanoparticles in Al2O3 Xerogel and Aerogel Matrixes

Extended X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray absorption near-edge structure techniques were used to study in detail the structural characteristics of FeCo-Al2O3 nanocomposite xerogels and aerogels. The formation of bcc FeCo alloy, which cannot be assessed unambiguously by X-ray diffraction, dispersed within the alumina matrix was evidenced in the final samples obtained by heat treatment at 800 degrees C in reducing atmosphere. Aerogel samples reduced below 800 degrees C still present a fraction of oxidized metal together with the bcc alloy. The investigation of the xerogels and aerogels calcined at increasing temperature indicates that Fe(III) and Co(II) ions are present and they are located in the tetrahedral sites of the spinel structure of the matrix (gamma-Al2O3); moreover, the precursor of the spinel is more ordered in the aerogel sample than the xerogel sample.