Yehuda Zeiri

Monte Carlo simulations of gas‐phase collisions in rapid desorption of molecules from surfaces

We have examined the effects of collisions among the molecules desorbing from solid surfaces by means of Monte Carlo simulations, and have identified the conditions under which and to what extent these collisions would influence the experimentally observed product distributions. By simulating the experiment performed by Cowin e t a l. [Surf. Sci. 7 8, 545 (1978)] on the laser induced desorption of D2 from tungsten, we have found that at high coverages each desorbate makes on average 2.9 collisions which decreases to no collisions at very low coverages. These collisions affect the product distribution at high coverages to such an extent that even if the nascent desorbed flux is under thermal equilibrium, these post‐desorption collisions could lead to nonequilibrium distributions. The effect of the post‐desorption collisions is influenced by the rate of heating the surface and the kinetics of the desorption process.

Semiempirical potential surfaces for the alkali hydrogen‐halide reactions

Potential energy surfaces for 14 of the M+HX→MX+H reactions, (M=Li,Na,K,Rb; X=F,Cl,Br,I), were generated by a new VB semiempirical method. The dependence of barrier location and height on the bond angle were examined. The minimal barriers (=transition states) were found to occur in the bent configurations for the X=F reactions and in the collinear, or near‐collinear, geometries for the X=Cl, Br, I reactions. This effect was accompanied by a shift of the barrier from the exit to the entrance channel and was shown to arise from a change in the effective HX distance at which an electron jump may be said to occur. A general tendency of increase in barrier height with increase in alkali atomic number was found. Relevant experimental observations including the energy disposal in the Ba+HX reactions, the role of vibrational excitations in the K+HCl, K+HBr reactions, the shape of the differential cross sections in the H+MX reactions and possible implications to the K+HBr, K+DBr, and K+TBr reactions are discussed.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using plant extracts as reducing agents

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were prepared using four different plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. The extracts were obtained from the following plants: Salvia officinalis, Lippia citriodora, Pelargonium graveolens and Punica granatum. The size distributions of the GNPs were measured using three different methods: dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle-tracking analysis and analysis of scanning electron microscopy images. The three methods yielded similar size distributions. Biocompatibility was examined by correlation of L-cell growth in the presence of different amounts of GNPs. All GNPs showed good biocompatibility and good stability for over 3 weeks. Therefore, they can be used for imaging and drug-delivery applications in the human body. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to view the shapes of the larger GNPs, while infrared spectroscopy was employed to characterize the various functional groups in the organic layer that stabilize the particles. Finally, active ingredients in the plant extract that might be involved in the formation of GNPs are proposed, based on experiments with pure antioxidants that are known to exist in that plant.

Semi-empirical potential surfaces for electron transfer reactions: The Li + FH and Li + F2 reactions

Abstract A new semi-empirical method for calculating potential energy surfaces of triatomic molecules, requiring knowledge of only ground state potentials of diatomic molecules has been developed. The method is formulated for the M + XY → MX + Y class of reactions, M being an alkali-atom, X a halogen atom and Y either a halogen or a hydrogen atom. The method has been used to obtain excited state potentials of LiF and HF and potential energy surfaces of LiF 2 and LiHF. The results agree well with ab-initio studies. The resulting potential surfaces are analytic and are thus well suited for classical trajectory studies. The formula obtained can be used to construct surfaces for the heavier MXY analogues, the results of which are reported elsewhere.

Raman and Infrared Fingerprint Spectroscopy of Peroxide-Based Explosives

A comparative study of the vibrational spectroscopy of peroxide-based explosives is presented. Triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and hexamethylenetriperoxide-diamine (HMTD), now commonly used by terrorists, are examined as well as other peroxide-ring structures: DADP (diacetone diperoxide); TPTP [3,3,6,6,9,9-Hexaethyl-1,2,4,5,7,8-hexaoxo-nonane (tripentanone triperoxide)]; DCypDp {6,7,13,14-Tetraoxadispiro [4.2.4.2]tetradecane (dicyclopentanone diperoxide)}; TCypDp {6,7,15,16,22,23-Hexaoxatrispiro[4.2.4.2.4.2] henicosane (tricyclopentanone triperoxide)}; DCyhDp {7,8,15,16-tetraoxadispiro [5.2.5.2] hexadecane (dicyclohexanone diperoxide)}; and TCyhTp {7,8,14,15,21,22-hexaoxatrispiro [5.2.5.2.5.2] tetracosane (tricyclohexanone triperoxide)}. Both Raman and infrared (IR) spectra were measured and compared to theoretical calculations. The calculated spectra were obtained by calculation of the harmonic frequencies of the studied compounds, at the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory, and by the use of scaling factors. It is found that the vibrational features related to the peroxide bonds are strongly mixed. As a result, the spectrum is congested and highly sensitive to minor changes in the molecule.

Effects of gas‐phase collisions in rapid desorption of molecules from surfaces in the presence of coadsorbates

The effects of gas‐phase collisions in mixtures of gases rapidly desorbed from surfaces are studied using direct Monte Carlo techniques. The results are compared with the effects observed in the desorption of pure gases under similar conditions. The translational energy distribution of the desorbed particles are found to deviate from the Boltzmann distribution and are found to be well represented by ellipsoidal Boltzmann distributions. In this respect the rapid desorption process is found to have similarities to the expansion of gases in nozzle sources. The influence of mass, internal degrees of freedom, and surface coverage of the adsorbates on the focusing, accelerating, and cooling effects due to gas‐phase collisions are analyzed. The presence of molecules with active internal degrees of freedom is found to increase the average number of collisions experienced by the rapidly desorbed molecules. However, the influence of this increased number of collisions on the focusing effects due to gas‐phase collisions is less pronounced compared to the focusing effects due to collisions between the desorbed atoms. In a gas mixture containing molecules as the minor constituents (10%) and atoms as the major constituents (90%), atoms are found to be more focused towards the surface normal than the molecules and the mean translational energies of the molecules are found to be less than those calculated in the desorption of pure molecules under similar conditions. The presence of atoms in the desorbed gas mixture is found to increase the most probable speed of the desorbing molecules and this accelerating effect increases with decrease in the mass of the coadsorbed atoms. The light atoms are found to be more efficient than heavy atoms in cooling the internal degrees of freedom.

Decomposition of Condensed Phase Energetic Materials: Interplay between Uni- and Bimolecular Mechanisms

Activation energy for the decomposition of explosives is a crucial parameter of performance. The dramatic suppression of activation energy in condensed phase decomposition of nitroaromatic explosives has been an unresolved issue for over a decade. We rationalize the reduction in activation energy as a result of a mechanistic change from unimolecular decomposition in the gas phase to a series of radical bimolecular reactions in the condensed phase. This is in contrast to other classes of explosives, such as nitramines and nitrate esters, whose decomposition proceeds via unimolecular reactions both in the gas and in the condensed phase. The thermal decomposition of a model nitroaromatic explosive, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), is presented as a prime example. Electronic structure and reactive molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-lg) calculations enable to directly probe the condensed phase chemistry under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, identifying the key bimolecular radical reactions responsible for the low activation route. This study elucidates the origin of the difference between the activation energies in the gas phase (~62 kcal/mol) and the condensed phase (~35 kcal/mol) of TNT and identifies the corresponding universal principle. On the basis of these findings, the different reactivities of nitro-based organic explosives are rationalized as an interplay between uni- and bimolecular processes.

Accelerated biodegradation of cement by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria as a bioassay for evaluating immobilization of low-level radioactive waste

ABSTRACT Disposal of low-level radioactive waste by immobilization in cement is being evaluated worldwide. The stability of cement in the environment may be impaired by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria that corrode the cement by producing sulfuric acid. Since this process is so slow that it is not possible to perform studies of the degradation kinetics and to test cement mixtures with increased durability, procedures that accelerate the biodegradation are required. Semicontinuous cultures of Halothiobacillus neapolitanus and Thiomonas intermedia containing thiosulfate as the sole energy source were employed to accelerate the biodegradation of cement samples. This resulted in a weight loss of up to 16% after 39 days, compared with a weight loss of 0.8% in noninoculated controls. Scanning electron microscopy of the degraded cement samples revealed deep cracks, which could be associated with the formation of low-density corrosion products in the interior of the cement. Accelerated biodegradation was also evident from the leaching rates of Ca2+ and Si2+, the major constituents of the cement matrix, and Ca exhibited the highest rate (up to 20 times greater than the control rate) due to the reaction between free lime and the biogenic sulfuric acid. Leaching of Sr2+ and Cs+, which were added to the cement to simulate immobilization of the corresponding radioisotopes, was also monitored. In contrast to the linear leaching kinetics of calcium, silicon, and strontium, the leaching pattern of cesium produced a saturation curve similar to the control curve. Presumably, the leaching of cesium is governed by the diffusion process, whereas the leaching kinetics of the other three ions seems to governed by dissolution of the cement.

Density-Dependent Liquid Nitromethane Decomposition: Molecular Dynamics Simulations Based on ReaxFF

The decomposition mechanism of hot liquid nitromethane at various compressions was studied using reactive force field (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics simulations. A competition between two different initial thermal decomposition schemes is observed, depending on compression. At low densities, unimolecular C-N bond cleavage is the dominant route, producing CH(3) and NO(2) fragments. As density and pressure rise approaching the Chapman-Jouget detonation conditions (∼30% compression, >2500 K) the dominant mechanism switches to the formation of the CH(3)NO fragment via H-transfer and/or N-O bond rupture. The change in the decomposition mechanism of hot liquid NM leads to a different kinetic and energetic behavior, as well as products distribution. The calculated density dependence of the enthalpy change correlates with the change in initial decomposition reaction mechanism. It can be used as a convenient and useful global parameter for the detection of reaction dynamics. Atomic averaged local diffusion coefficients are shown to be sensitive to the reactions dynamics, and can be used to distinguish between time periods where chemical reactions occur and diffusion-dominated, nonreactive time periods.

A theoretical study of collision induced desorption spectroscopy from Si(111) surfaces

A theoretical classical stochastic trajectory study of collision induced desorption spectroscopy (CIDS) is presented in this paper. These theoretical results suggest that CIDS might provide useful experimental information on the binding energy and binding sites for adsorbates on surfaces. This information is obtained from analysis of the kinetic energy and angular distributions of both the collider atom and the desorbed adsorbate. Simulations of CIDS are reported for Xe colliding beams of 1 to 5 eV with monoatomic adsorbates on Si(111).