CO adsorption on the surface of MgO(001) thin films

We report infrared reflection–absorption and thermal desorption spectra of CO adsorbed at low temperature (30 K) on the surface of MgO(001) thin films. The high similarity of the observed IR bands as compared to data reported for MgO(100) single crystals and sintered MgO particles gives evidence for the identical surface morphology of the different substrates. CO adsorption series taken at constant temperature/variable pressure, variable temperature/constant pressure, as well as isotope mixing experiments reveal almost no diffusion of CO on MgO(001) at low temperature, but high adsorbate mobility at slightly elevated temperature

Exploring Pd adsorption, diffusion, permeation, and nucleation on bilayer SiO₂/Ru as a function of hydroxylation and precursor environment: From UHV to catalyst preparation

The hydroxylation-dependent permeability of bilayer SiO2 supported on Ru(0001) was investigated by XPS and TDS studies in a temperature range of 100K to 600K. For this, the thermal behavior of Pd evaporated at 100K, which results in surface and sub-surface (Ru-supported) binding arrangements, was examined relative to the extent of pre-hydroxylation. Samples containing only defect-mediated hydroxyls showed no effect on Pd diffusion through the film at low temperature. If, instead, the concentration of strongly bound hydroxyl groups and associated weakly bound water molecules was enriched by an electron-assisted hydroxylation procedure, the probability for Pd diffusion through the film is decreased via a pore-blocking mechanism. Above room temperature, all samples showed similar behavior, reflective of particle nucleation above the film and eventual agglomeration with any metal atoms initially binding beneath the film. When depositing Pd onto the same SiO2/Ru model support via adsorption of [Pd(NH3)4]C2 from alkaline (pH12) precursor solution, we observe notably different adsorption and nucleation mechanisms. The resultant Pd adsorption complexes follow established decomposition pathways to produce model catalyst systems compatible with those created exclusively within UHV despite lacking the ability to penetrate the film due to the increased size of the initial Pd precursor groups

Vibrational spectroscopic observation of ice dewetting on MgO(001)

The properties of the interfacial water monolayer on MgO(001) during growth of multilayer ice and, in particular, the dewetting of crystalline ice on MgO(001) are revealed by vibrational sum frequency generation and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy

Preparation of Pd–MgO model catalysts by deposition of Pd from aqueous precursor solutions onto Ag(0 0 1)-supported MgO(0 0 1) thin films

The preparation of Pd–MgO model catalysts via liquid-phase deposition of Pd from aqueous Pd precursor solutions was studied. Thin, single-crystalline MgO(0 0 1) films grown on a Ag(0 0 1) substrate were used as support and allowed surface science techniques such as Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and temperature programmed desorption to be applied for characterization. Thin MgO(0 0 1) films were unstable and rapidly dissolved in acidic and neutral environments, but remained stable in thickness in alkaline solutions after an initial dissolution of a few layers of MgO. Pd was deposited by exposure of the thin film MgO substrate to alkaline (pH 12) precursor solutions containing Pd-hydroxide complexes. Scanning tunneling microscopy images taken from ultrathin MgO films revealed the formation of Pd particles 3 nm in diameter after thermal decomposition of the precursor at 600 K, as well as roughening of the MgO substrate, including the formation of etch pits, which leads to partial exposure of the Ag substrate. For Pd deposited on thick MgO films, the formation of Pd nanoparticles by thermal decomposition of the adsorbed Pd-hydroxide precursor was followed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Pd–MgO model catalysts with similar Pd coverage prepared either by liquid-phase deposition or physical vapor deposition in UHV exhibited similar properties, as revealed by their comparable behavior in CO adsorption and CO oxidation

Contribution of soft-bodied meiofaunal taxa to Italian marine biodiversity

Meiofauna includes an astonishing diversity of organisms, whose census is far from being complete. Most classic ecological studies have focused on hard-bodied Ecdysozoan taxa (notably Copepoda and Nematoda), whose cuticle allows determination at species-level after fixation, rather than soft-bodied, Spiralian taxa, which most often lose any diagnostic feature in fixed samples. Yet, metabarcoding studies have recently revealed a species-richness of softbodied taxa comparable, and in cases superior, to that of Copepoda and Nematoda together. However, given objective difficulties inherent to their study, which necessarily has to be performed on living individuals, and their limited utilisation for ecological and applicative research, taxonomic expertise on soft-bodied organisms has declined over the years, and diversity of these phyla in most areas of the world is presently completely unknown. Here we present an expert-based survey of current knowledge on the composition and distribution of soft-bodied meiofaunal taxa in Italy, with special references to the predominantly or exclusively meiobenthic phyla Gastrotricha, Gnathostomulida, Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Xenacoelomorpha, and macrofaunal taxa with conspicuous meiofaunal representatives (Annelida, Mollusca and Nemertea). A total of 638 described species have been reported from Italian coasts; furthermore, the existence of a large number of undescribed species is mentioned. Knowledge of Annelida, Gastrotricha, and Rotifera appears particularly detailed, placing Italy among the best-known country worldwide. In contrast, knowledge of Platyhelminthes and Xenacoelomorpha appears patchy, and limited to few areas. Sampling effort has been uneven, with most species recorded from the Tyrrhenian Sea, while large sections of the Adriatic and Ionian seas have been poorly explored. Results highlight the role that Marine Biological Stations, notably the Zoological Station “Anton Dohrn” in Naples, have had in promoting the study of soft-bodied taxa in Ital

Thin silica films on Ru(0001): monolayer, bilayer and three-dimensional networks of [SiO₄] tetrahedra

The atomic structure of thin silica films grown over a Ru(0001) substrate was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, helium ion scattering spectroscopy, CO temperature programmed desorption, and scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations. The films were prepared by Si vapor deposition and subsequent oxidation at high temperatures. The silica film first grows as a monolayer of corner-sharing [SiO4] tetrahedra strongly bonded to the Ru(0001) surface through the Si–O–Ru linkages. At increasing amounts of Si, the film forms a bilayer of corner-sharing [SiO4] tetrahedra which is weakly bonded to Ru(0001). The bilayer film can be grown in either the crystalline or vitreous state, or both coexisting. Further increasing the film thickness leads to the formation of vitreous silica exhibiting a three-dimensional network of [SiO4]. The principal structure of the films can be monitored by infrared spectroscopy, as each structure shows a characteristic vibrational band, i.e., [similar]1135 cm-1 for a monolayer film, [similar]1300 cm⁻-1 for the bilayer structures, and [similar]1250 cm⁻-1 for the bulk-like vitreous silica