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Loo, B. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Loo, B. H..

Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of homogeneous solution concentration gradients near a container wall at different temperatures

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques were used to study the solution concentration gradient in succino nitrile-rich and water-rich homogeneous solutions. The spectroscopic data shows significant concentration dependency. Although FTIR-attenuated total reflectance could not yield surface spectra since the evanescent infrared wave penetrated deep into the bulk solution, it showed that water-rich clusters were decreased at higher temperatures. This result is consistent with the calorimetric results reported earlier.

Loo, B. H.↗

Processing of strong flux trapping high T(subc) oxide superconductors: Center director's discretionary fund

Magnetic suspension effect was first observed in samples of YBa2Cu3O7/AgO(Y-123/AgO) composites. Magnetization measurements of these samples show a much larger hysteresis which corresponds to a large critical current density. In addition to the Y-123AgO composites, recently similar suspension effects in other RE-123/AgO, where RE stands for rare-Earth elements, were also observed. Some samples exhibit even stronger flux pinning than that of the Y-123/AgO sample. An interesting observation was that in order to form the composite which exhibits strong flux trapping effect the sintering temperature depends on the particular RE-123 compound used. The paper presents the detailed processing conditions for the formation of these RE-123/AgO composites, as well as the magnetization and critical field data.

Wu, M. K.↗

High-temperature processing of cuprate oxide superconductors

Superconducting Y1Ba2Cu3O7 ('123') films were fabricated on the Y2BaCuO5 ('211') phase substrate. The superconducting characteristics of these films, in terms of superconducting transition temperature (Tc) and width, are better than those using other oxide compounds as substrates. In addition, using high-temperature processing, the bulk 211 phase was converted into the 123 phase. A new high Tc copper oxide material with non-rare-earth elements (Bi-Sr-Cu-O) was prepared using similar high-temperature processing. High-temperature processing presents an alternative synthetic route in the search of new high Tc superconductors.

Wu, M. K.↗

Study of high temperature oxide superconductors

Experimental studies are reported whose results indicate that proper processing procedures are critical to the formation of high-temperature copper oxide superconductors. Superconducting 123 films can be fabricated using the green 211 phase as a substrate. The transition temperature and transition width characteristics of these films are better than those obtained when other oxide compounds are used as substrates. A compact or single-crystal 211 phase will be desirable as a substrate for high-quality thin films. A new high T(c) copper oxide compound with nonrare earth elements was prepared using high-temperature processing. A YBa2Cu3O7-Ag composite with improved electrical conductivity was also prepared.

Wu, M. K.↗

High-temperature processing of oxide superconductors and superconducting oxide-silver oxide composite

High temperature processing was found to partially convert the green 211 phase oxide to 123 phase. High Tc superconductivity was observed in Bi-Sr-Cu-O and Y-Sr-Cu-O systems prepared using the same heat treatment process. High temperature processing presents an alternative synthetic route in the search for new high Tc superconductors. An unusual magnetic suspension with enhancement in critical current density was observed in the 123 and AgO composite.

Wu, M. K.↗

The infrared spectrum of solid chlorotrifluoromethane

The infrared spectrum of solid chlorotrifluoromethane (CF3Cl) has been studied and compared with that of matrix-isolated CF3Cl. Crystal field splitting patterns of the strongest modes nu1 and nu4 suggest the crystal structure to be orthorhombic with a C(2v) factor group and two molecules per unit cell located on C(s) sites.

Frazier, D. O.↗

Enhanced Raman spectroscopic study of rotational isomers on metal surfaces

Surfaced-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has been used to study rotational isomers of succinonitrile and N-methyl-thioacetamide on Cu and Ag surfaces. Both the gauche and trans conformers of succinonitrile are found to chemisorb on the metal surface. The doubly degenerate nu(C-triple bond-N) in the free molecules is removed when succinonitrile adsorbs on copper, which indicates that the two (C-triple bond-N) groups are no longer chemically equivalent. Both conformers are found to coordinate to the copper surface through the pi system of one of the two (C-triple bond-N) groups. In the case of N-methyl-thioacetamide, the population of the cis isomer is greatly increased on Cu and Ag surfaces. This is probably due to surface-induced cis-trans isomerization, in which the predominant trans isomer is converted to the cis isomer.

Loo, B. H.↗

Enhanced Raman spectroscopic study of the coordination chemistry of malononitrile on copper surfaces - Removal of nu(C=N) degeneracy through pi-coordination

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the molecular interactions of malononitrile with copper electrode surfaces. The doubly degenerate CN stretching frequency at 2263/cm is removed when malononitrile adsorbs on copper. Two nu(CN) bands are observed at 2096 and 2204/cm at -0.6 V(SCE). The result shows that only one CN group is pi-coordinated with Cu, which contributes to the observed large shift (-167/cm) in nu(CN). The other CN group is not coordinated to the metal surface.

Loo, B. H.↗