EPR of Radiation-Induced Nitrogen Centers in Hydroxyapatite: New Approaches to the Study of Electron-Nuclear Interactions

© 2020, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. Abstract: Radiation-induced impurity nitrogen centers (NO32-) in nanosized powders of synthetic hydroxyapatite are studied by pulse EPR and pulse double-frequency EPR, which is named the NMR detected by electron–electron double resonance (ELDOR detected NMR, EDNMR) method. The EPR signals caused by the interaction of the electron of (NO32-) with the environmental nuclei (1H, 14N, and 31P) are identified, and the parameters of the hyperfine and quadrupole interactions of the electron with the 14N nuclei are determined. The possibility of using the EDNMR method in the X-band of microwave frequencies (νmw ≈ 9 GHz) at room temperature to obtain a detailed information about peculiarities of electron-nuclear interactions in hydroxyapatite is demonstrated

Coherent control of electron-nuclear states of rare-earth ions in crystals using radio-frequency and microwave radiation

We have demonstrated electron-electron and electron-nuclear spin manipulations of Gd3+ ion in CaWO4 crystal. The results suggest that the studied system is perspective for multiqubit implementation in quantum computing.Comment: 2 Pages, 5 Figure

Application of pulsed and high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance techniques to study petroleum disperse systems

© 2020 The Authors. The spectral and relaxation characteristics of “free” organic radicals (FR) and vanadyl-porphyrin (VP) complexes in various petroleum disperse systems (PDS) like bitumen, petroleum, their high-molecular components and solutions were studied using stationary (conventional) and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques in two frequency ranges (X-and W-bands, with the microwave radiation frequencies of about 9 GHz and 95 GHz, respectively). The features of the pulsed approaches (electron spin echo, modulation of the electron spin echo signal decay, electronic relaxation times) and high-frequency EPR for PDS investigations were examined. W-band EPR allows to resolve spectrally the lines from the different paramagnetic centers and more accurately determine their spectral characteristics. It is shown that the electron spin echo can be observed at room temperatures even at high magnetic fields of 3.4 T demonstrating the potential of application of pulsed EPR techniques for the low-cost oilfield measurements. Analysis of the VP transverse magnetization decay curve permits to identify electron-nuclear interactions with the14N and1H nuclei in situ while in the EPR spectra these hyperfine interactions usually cannot be detected. It is found from the W-band EPR measurements that FR lineshape cannot be fitted with isotropic parameters in contrast to the established X-band results. The observed effect of increasing the rates of electronic transverse relaxation in asphaltenes is described in the framework of a model of spectral diffusion between the fast-and slow-relaxing paramagnetic centers in supramolecular complexes of asphaltenes

Hyperfine and nuclear quadrupole splitting of the NV- ground state in 4H -SiC

Optically addressable spin-triplet defects in silicon carbide, such as divacancies and negatively charged nitrogen vacancy (NV-) allow to develop modern quantum technologies operating in the near-infrared range based on the well-developed semiconductor material. Here, by means of both high-frequency (94 GHz) pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron-nuclear double Rresonance (ENDOR) techniques the ground state properties of the negatively charged NV- defect in 4H-SiC were studied. We experimentally determined the ordering of the ground state spin sublevels and established the sign of the zero-field splitting to be positive as predicted by theory. Analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance transitions in ENDOR spectra allowed to determine the sign, symmetry, and absolute values of the hyperfine interaction of the NV- defect electron spin with N14 nuclear spin as A∥=-1.142MHz and A⊥=-1.184MHz. The absolute value of the nuclear quadrupole interaction constant reflecting an interaction between the N14 nuclear electric quadrupole moment with the electric field gradient was determined to be |Cq|=2.44MHz. This large value is compatible with a threefold coordinated N14 nucleus with uniaxial symmetry and proves conclusively the existence of a nearestneighbor NCVSi pair in the material. For this NV- defect, an ensemble (Hahn-echo) coherence time of T2=49μs was measured, a value which is in the range previously reported for silicon vacancy spin ensembles and slightly longer than T2=40μs measured here on the divacancy spin ensemble

Creation of negatively charged boron vacancies in hexagonal boron nitride crystal by electron irradiation and mechanism of inhomogeneous broadening of boron vacancy-related spin resonance lines

Optically addressable high-spin states (S ≥ 1) of defects in semiconductors are the basis for the development of solid-state quantum technologies. Recently, one such defect has been found in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and identified as a negatively charged boron vacancy (V−B ). To explore and utilize the properties of this defect, one needs to design a robust way for its creation in an hBN crystal. We investigate the possibility of creating V−B centers in an hBN single crystal by means of irradiation with a high-energy (E = 2 MeV) electron flux. Optical excitation of the irradiated sample induces fluorescence in the near-infrared range together with the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum of the triplet centers with a zero-field splitting value of D = 3.6 GHz, manifesting an optically induced population inversion of the ground state spin sublevels. These observations are the signatures of the V−B centers and demonstrate that electron irradiation can be reliably used to create these centers in hBN. Exploration of the V−B spin resonance line shape allowed us to establish the source of the line broadening, which occurs due to the slight deviation in orientation of the two-dimensional B-N atomic plains being exactly parallel relative to each other. The results of the analysis of the broadening mechanism can be used for the crystalline quality control of the 2D materials, using the V−B spin embedded in the hBN as a probe

Radiation-induced stable radicals in calcium phosphates: Results of multifrequency epr, ednmr, eseem, and endor studies

This article presents the results of a study of radiation-induced defects in various synthetic calcium phosphate (CP) powder materials (hydroxyapatite—HA and octacalcium phosphate—OCP) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy at the X, Q, and W-bands (9, 34, 95 GHz for the microwave frequencies, respectively). Currently, CP materials are widely used in orthopedics and dentistry owing to their high biocompatibility and physico-chemical similarity with human hard tissue. It is shown that in addition to the classical EPR techniques, other experimental approaches such as ELDOR-detected NMR (EDNMR), electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM), and electronnuclear double resonance (ENDOR) can be used to analyze the electron–nuclear interactions of CP powders. We demonstrated that the value and angular dependence of the quadrupole interaction for14 N nuclei of a nitrate radical can be determined by the EDNMR method at room temperature. The ESEEM technique has allowed for a rapid analysis of the nuclear environment and estimation of the structural positions of radiation-induced centers in various crystal matrices. ENDOR spectra can provide information about the distribution of the nitrate radicals in the OCP structure

Antibacterial and cell-friendly copper-substituted tricalcium phosphate ceramics for biomedical implant applications

The development of new materials with antibacterial properties and the scope to decrease or eliminate the excessive antibiotic use is an urgent priority due to the growing antibiotic resistance-related mortalities. New bone substitute materials with intrinsic antibacterial characteristics are highly requested for various clinical applications. In this study, the choice of copper ions as substitutes for calcium in tricalcium phosphate (TCP) has been justified by their pronounced broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. Copper-substituted TCP (Cu-TCP) ceramics with the copper content of 1.4 and 0.1 wt% were synthesized by mechano-chemical activation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses established that both pure and copper-containing compounds adopted the structure of whitlockite (β-TCP). XRD and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy revealed the partial isovalent substitution of calcium ions with copper ions in the β-TCP lattice. With the use of infrared and EPR spectroscopies, it was detected that carbonate ions got incorporated into the β-TCP structure during the synthesis procedure. By releasing the tension in the M(5)O6 octahedron consequential to the lower Ca[sbnd]O bond length than the corresponding sum of ionic radii, the substitution of calcium with smaller copper ions stabilizes the structure of β-TCP. As concluded form the thermal analyses, the introduction of Cu prevented the polymorphic transformation of β- to α-TCP. At the same time, the introduction of Cu to the β-TCP structure enhanced the crystal growth and porosity of the ceramics, which had a positive effect on the cytocompatibility of the material. The MTT colorimetric assay showed that the metabolic activity of the mouse fibroblast NCTC L929 cell line during 24 h of incubation with 3-day extracts from Cu-TCP (1.4 wt%) and β-TCP pellets in the cell culture medium was similar to the negative control, indicating the absence of any inhibitory effects on cells. The seeding and the growth of human dental pulp stem cells on the surface of Cu-TCP (1.4 wt%) and β-TCP ceramics also showed the absence of any signs of cytotoxicity. Finally, microbiological assays demonstrated the antibacterial activity of Cu-TCP ceramics against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis, whereas β-TCP did not exhibit such an activity. Overall, the addition of Cu ions to β-TCP improves its antibacterial properties without diminishing the biocompatibility of the material, thus making it more attractive than pure β-TCP for clinical applications such as synthetic bone grafts and orthopaedic implant coatings

In vitro properties of manganese-substituted tricalcium phosphate coatings for titanium biomedical implants deposited by arc plasma

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Bioactive manganese (Mn)-doped ceramic coatings for intraosseous titanium (Ti) implants are developed. Arc plasma deposition procedure is used for coatings preparation. X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) methods are applied for coatings characterization. The coatings are homogeneous, composed of the main phase α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) (about 67%) and the minor phase hydroxyapatite (about 33%), and the Mn content is 2.3 wt%. EPR spectroscopy demonstrates that the Mn ions are incorporated in the TCP structure and are present in the coating in Mn2+ and Mn3+ oxidation states, being aggregated in clusters. The wetting contact angle of the deposited coatings is suitable for cells’ adhesion and proliferation. In vitro soaking in physiological solution for 90 days leads to a drastic change in phase composition; the transformation into calcium carbonate and octacalcium phosphate takes place, and no more Mn is present. The absence of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria strains is observed. A study of the metabolic activity of mouse fibroblasts of the NCTC L929 cell line on the coatings using the MTT (dye compound 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test demonstrates that there is no toxic effect on the cell culture. Moreover, the coating material supports the adhesion and proliferation of the cells. A good adhesion, spreading, and proliferative activity of the human tooth postnatal dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) is demonstrated. The developed coatings are promising for implant application in orthopedics and dentistry

Iron-Doped Mesoporous Powders of Hydroxyapatite as Molybdenum-Impregnated Catalysts for Deep Oxidative Desulfurization of Model Fuel: Synthesis and Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Mesoporous iron-doped hydroxyapatite (HA) powders with a surface area up to 141 m2/g were synthesized and characterized by a variety of analytical and computational approaches, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP), Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption-desorption (BET), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and density functional theory (DFT). Based on the data of TEM with mapping, the homogeneous distribution of Fe was evidenced. Fe3+ ions were detected by EPR, and according to DFT, Fe3+ occupied the Ca(2) position. The second part of the manuscript was dedicated to evaluating the catalytic properties of the developed HA powders for oxidative desulfurization, which is a promising alternative to hydrotreating for fuel purification. For this purpose, the molybdenum was impregnated on the HA, and iron-HA powders and the influence of its amount and the iron content were investigated. The optimal process parameters such as rotation speed, amount of H2O2, reaction time, temperature, and quantity of the catalyst were established and for the first time, to the authors' best knowledge, complete conversion of dibenzothiophene in the presence of an HA-based catalyst was achieved due to a combination of active sites of iron cations and molybdate anions

Mesoporous iron(Iii)-doped hydroxyapatite nanopowders obtained via iron oxalate

Mesoporous hydroxyapatite (HA) and iron(III)-doped HA (Fe-HA) are attractive materials for biomedical, catalytic, and environmental applications. In the present study, the nanopowders of HA and Fe-HA with a specific surface area up to 194.5 m2 /g were synthesized by a simple precipitation route using iron oxalate as a source of Fe3+ cations. The influence of Fe3+ amount on the phase composition, powders morphology, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area (S), and pore size distribution were investigated, as well as electron paramagnetic resonance and Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis were performed. According to obtained data, the Fe3+ ions were incorporated in the HA lattice, and also amorphous Fe oxides were formed contributed to the gradual increase in the S and pore volume of the powders. The Density Functional Theory calculations supported these findings and revealed Fe3+ inclusion in the crystalline region with the hybridization among Fe-3d and O-2p orbitals and a partly covalent bond formation, whilst the inclusion of Fe oxides assumed crystallinity damage and rather occurred in amorphous regions of HA nanomaterial. In vitro tests based on the MG-63 cell line demonstrated that the introduction of Fe3+ does not cause cytotoxicity and led to the enhanced cytocompatibility of HA