Fermi Level Equilibration and Charge Transfer at the Exsolved Metal-Oxide Interface.

Exsolution is a promising approach for fabricating oxide-supported metal nanocatalysts through redox-driven metal precipitation. A defining feature of exsolved nanocatalysts is their anchored metal-oxide interface, which exhibits exceptional structural stability in (electro)catalysis. However, the electronic interactions at this unique interface remain unclear, despite their known impact on catalytic performance.

Investigations on the Origin of Topotactic Phase Transition of LaCoO Thin Films with In Situ XRD and Ambient Pressure Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

With the applications of in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrical - measurement, and ambient pressure hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-HAXPES), the characteristics of the topotactic phase transition of LaCoO (LCO) thin films are examined. XRD measurements show clear evidence of structural phase transition (SPT) of the LCO thin films from the perovskite (PV) LaCoO to the brownmillerite (BM) LaCoO phases through the intermediate LaCoO phase at a temperature of 350 °C under high-vacuum conditions, ∼10 mbar. The reverse SPT from BM to PV phases is also found under ambient pressure (>100 mbar) of air near 100 °C.

The role of manganese in CoMnO catalysts for selective long-chain hydrocarbon production via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Cobalt is an efficient catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) of hydrocarbons from syngas (CO + H) with enhanced selectivity for long-chain hydrocarbons when promoted by Manganese. However, the molecular scale origin of the enhancement remains unclear. Here we present an experimental and theoretical study using model catalysts consisting of crystalline CoMnO nanoparticles and thin films, where Co and Mn are mixed at the sub-nm scale.

Enhancing Stability of Surface Au under Oxidizing Conditions through Reduced Bulk Au Content.

Contrary to the common assumption that a higher bulk content of precious metals facilitates the preservation of more surface noble metal by serving as a reservoir for surface enrichment, we demonstrate that a lower bulk content of Au results in a more stable arrangement of Au atoms at the surface of Cu-Au nanoparticles when exposed to an O atmosphere. Using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we investigate the surface segregation and oxidation behavior of Cu-Au nanoparticles across various compositions. Our results reveal that in Au-rich nanoparticles exposed to an H atmosphere, surface segregation prompts the formation of a continuous Au-enriched shell, which subsequently oxidizes into a complete CuO shell upon transitioning to an O atmosphere.

Self-Inhibition Phenomena in CuPt Oxidation by CO.

This study investigates the oxidation behavior of CuPt(100) in CO using a combination of ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and density functional theory modeling. Our in situ measurements reveal the simultaneous oxidation and reduction of CuO due to the opposing effects of atomic oxygen and CO generated from dissociative CO adsorption, leading to a dynamic equilibrium state of simultaneously occurring redox reactions. Complementary atomistic calculations elucidate the inhibitory effects of subsurface Pt enrichment and the counteracting roles of CO and CO in surface oxidation and reduction.

Electro-Chemo-Mechanical Evolution at the Garnet Solid Electrolyte-Cathode Interface.

Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density and improved safety compared with lithium-ion batteries. However, electro-chemomechanical instabilities at the solid electrolyte interface with the cathode and the anode hinder their large scale implementation. Here, we focus on resolving electro-chemo-mechanical instability mechanisms and their onset conditions between a state-of-the-art cathode, LiNiMnCoO (NMC622), and the garnet LiLaZrO (LLZO) solid electrolyte.

Promoting workplace retention during global crises: An international survey of the preventive role of psychological support among victims of social discrimination in long-term care facilities.

This international cross-sectional survey examined the potential role of organizational psychological support in mitigating the association between experiencing social discrimination against long-term care (LTC) facilities' healthcare professionals (HCPs) and their intention to stay in the current workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included a convenience sample of 2,143 HCPs (nurses [21.5 %], nurse aids or residential care workers [40.

Study of CO Adsorption Properties on the SrTiO(001) Surface with Ambient Pressure XPS.

The adsorption properties of CO on the SrTiO(001) surface were investigated using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy under elevated pressure and temperature conditions. On the Nb-doped TiO-enriched (1 × 1) SrTiO surface, CO adsorption, i.e.

The Surface Chemistry of Methanol on Pd(111) and H-Pd(111) Surfaces: C-O Bond Cleavage and the Effects of Metal Hydride Formation.

Palladium catalysts are frequently employed in processes where methanol is an energy vector or carrier, being useful for the synthesis of methanol from mixtures of carbon dioxide and hydrogen (CO/H) or its steam reforming on demand. Results of synchrotron-based ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for the adsorption of methanol on a Pd(111) model catalyst show a rich surface chemistry and complex phenomena that strongly depend on pressure and temperature. At low pressures (<10 Torr) and temperatures (<300 K), CO is the dominant decomposition product.

Listening to the voices of mothers in Indonesia: Qualitative content analysis of experiences in parenting children with down syndrome.

Introduction: Generally, mothers provide the majority of caring for children who have Down syndrome. They pose challenges not only with regard to the acceptability of the child situation but also with regard to the provision of care for children with DS.

Aim: To explore the experiences of mothers parenting children with DS in Indonesia, to give a better understanding of their needs, which is necessary for the delivery of treatment.

An inorganic-rich but LiF-free interphase for fast charging and long cycle life lithium metal batteries.

Li metal batteries using Li metal as negative electrode and LiNiMnCoO as positive electrode represent the next generation high-energy batteries. A major challenge facing these batteries is finding electrolytes capable of forming good interphases. Conventionally, electrolyte is fluorinated to generate anion-derived LiF-rich interphases.

Morphology Dependent Reactivity of CsO Nanostructures on Au(111): Binding and Hydrogenation of CO to HCOOH.

Cesium oxide (CsO) nanostructures grown on Au(111) behave as active centers for the CO binding and hydrogenation reactions. The morphology and reactivity of these CsO systems were investigated as a function of alkali coverage using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AP-XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. STM results show that initially (0.

Elucidating the active phases of CoO films on Au(111) in the CO oxidation reaction.

Noble metals supported on reducible oxides, like CoO and TiO, exhibit superior activity in many chemical reactions, but the origin of the increased activity is not well understood. To answer this question we studied thin films of CoO supported on an Au(111) single crystal surface as a model for the CO oxidation reaction. We show that three reaction regimes exist in response to chemical and topographic restructuring of the CoO catalyst as a function of reactant gas phase CO/O stoichiometry and temperature.

Long-term care facilities' response to the COVID-19 pandemic: An international, cross-sectional survey.

Aims: To (i) assess the adherence of long-term care (LTC) facilities to the COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations, (ii) identify predictors of this adherence and (iii) examine the association between the adherence level and the impact of the pandemic on selected unfavourable conditions.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Managers (n = 212) and staff (n = 2143) of LTC facilities (n = 223) in 13 countries/regions (Brazil, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Turkey) evaluated the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID-19 prevention and control recommendations and the impact of the pandemic on unfavourable conditions related to staff, residents and residents' families.

Chemical Profiles of the Oxides on Tantalum in State of the Art Superconducting Circuits.

Over the past decades, superconducting qubits have emerged as one of the leading hardware platforms for realizing a quantum processor. Consequently, researchers have made significant effort to understand the loss channels that limit the coherence times of superconducting qubits. A major source of loss has been attributed to two level systems that are present at the material interfaces.

Fast Surface Oxygen Release Kinetics Accelerate Nanoparticle Exsolution in Perovskite Oxides.

Exsolution is a recent advancement for fabricating oxide-supported metal nanoparticle catalysts via phase precipitation out of a host oxide. A fundamental understanding and control of the exsolution kinetics are needed to engineer exsolved nanoparticles to obtain higher catalytic activity toward clean energy and fuel conversion. Since oxygen release via oxygen vacancy formation in the host oxide is behind oxide reduction and metal exsolution, we hypothesize that the kinetics of metal exsolution should depend on the kinetics of oxygen release, in addition to the kinetics of metal cation diffusion.

Traditional, religious, and cultural perspectives on mental illness: a qualitative study on causal beliefs and treatment use.

Purpose: Limited information is known from studies regarding traditional, religious, and cultural perspectives on mental illness and the use of traditional and alternative therapies by mentally ill people in Indonesia. This study explored traditional, religious, and cultural beliefs about causes of mental illness and the use of traditional/alternative treatments for mentally ill patients.

Method: We adopted a qualitative content analysis method as proposed by Schreier.

Structure Matters: Asymmetric CO Oxidation at Rh Steps with Different Atomic Packing.

Curved crystals are a simple but powerful approach to bridge the gap between single crystal surfaces and nanoparticle catalysts, by allowing a rational assessment of the role of active step sites in gas-surface reactions. Using a curved Rh(111) crystal, here, we investigate the effect of A-type (square geometry) and B-type (triangular geometry) atomic packing of steps on the catalytic CO oxidation on Rh at millibar pressures. Imaging the crystal during reaction ignition with laser-induced CO fluorescence demonstrates a two-step process, where B-steps ignite at lower temperature than A-steps.

The Interaction of K and O on Au(111): Multiple Growth Modes of Potassium Oxide and Their Catalytic Activity for CO Oxidation.

In industrial catalysis, alkali cations are frequently used to promote activity or selectivity. Scanning tunneling microscopy, ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density-functional calculations were used to study the structure and reactivity of potassium oxides in contact with the Au(111) surface. Three different types of oxides (K O , K O and KO with y<0.

Reusing Face Covering Masks: Probing the Impact of Heat Treatment.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in imminent shortages of personal protective equipment such as face masks. To address the shortage, new sterilization or decontamination procedures for masks are quickly being developed and employed. Dry heat and steam sterilization processes are easily scalable and allow treatment of large sample sizes, thus potentially presenting fast and efficient decontamination routes, which could significantly ease the rapidly increasing need for protective masks globally during a pandemic like COVID-19.

Water Formation Reaction under Interfacial Confinement: AlSiO on O-Ru(0001).

Confined nanosized spaces at the interface between a metal and a seemingly inert material, such as a silicate, have recently been shown to influence the chemistry at the metal surface. In prior work, we observed that a bilayer (BL) silica on Ru(0001) can change the reaction pathway of the water formation reaction (WFR) near room temperature when compared to the bare metal. In this work, we looked at the effect of doping the silicate with Al, resulting in a stoichiometry of AlSiO.