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Abellan, Patricia

Publications and source records attributed to Abellan, Patricia.

Radiolysis of Thin Water Ice in Electron Microscopy

Little is known about the radiolysis of water ice, especially as compared to the radiolysis of liquid water. In this study, the radiolytic decomposition of thin water ice films is probed for an initial 80 keV electron beam using electron energy loss spectroscopy, EELS. Pre-peaks in the oxygen K-edge spectra give the relative intensities of most of the oxygen containing species produced by radiolytic water decomposition. Contrary to expectations from the extrapolation of liquid water radiolysis data to high dose rates where significant H 2 O 2 production is expected, the main molecular product observed in the oxygen K-edge EELS spectra of water ice is O 2 . Significant mass loss of water and decomposition of most of its radiolytic products are observed for higher exposures, and the O atom seems to have a major role in the subsequent chemistry. An inverse relationship between the formation of O 2 and of ·OH is observed. A new high-dose reaction scheme is proposed. Furthermore, the significance of our results with respect to the radiolysis of water ice and for electron microscopy studies is discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Nanoparticles, methods for producing nanoparticles and nanoparticle generators

Compositions are provided that can include nanoscale particles including metal cations such as cerium having an average particle size of less than 10 nm. The nanoscale particles can include cerium and oxygen. Methods for forming nanoparticles are provided. The methods can include exposing a metal cation within a solution to radiation to form metal nanoparticles that can include metal cations. The methods can include exposing a cerium salt solution to radiation to form the nanoparticles. The methods can include exposing solvated metal cations to radiation to precipitate nanoparticles that include metal cations such as Ce. The methods can include exposing the homogeneous solution to radiation to precipitate nanoparticles. The methods can include: providing an aqueous solution comprising metal cations; and increasing the pH of the aqueous solution with radiation to form nanoparticles that include metal cations. Nanoparticle generators are provided. The generators can include: a reactant reservoir comprising a metal cation in solution; a fluid cell in fluid communication with the reactant reservoir; a radiation source operatively aligned with the fluid cell; and a product reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid cell.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗