Reprinted from the June 2006 edition of the Mössbauer Spectroscopy Newsletter, published as part of Volume 29, Issue 6 of the Mössbauer Effect Reference and Data Journal and a Supplement published in the September 2006 edition of the Newsletter, part of Volume 29, Issue 7 of the MERDJ
This issue of the Newsletter features reports from 24 active Mössbauer research laboratories in Japan. The reports appear in descending order of most active Japanese institutions based on the records of the Mössbauer Effect Data Center.
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Names of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
Upon Professor Emeritus Saboru Nasu’s retirement, the Mössbauer facilities at Osaka University were taken over by the research group of Professor Tadashi Saito in the Radioisotope Research Center. The group originally employed time differential perturbed angular correlation (TDPAC), positron-electron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS), and various radiochemical methods. Mössbauer spectroscopy has added a new feature to the group’s research. 57Fe, 119Sn, and 151Eu Mössbauer studies have been performed in the temperature range from 4.2 K to 350 K on various materials: rust-related iron oxide-hydroxides, dinuclear iron complexes, and mineral-related compounds with low-dimensional structure. Measurement under external magnetic field up to 7 T (parallel to the direction of the gamma-rays) is also available using a cryostat with a superconducting magnet. The low temperature center provides liquid helium liquefied from recovery helium gas, which is transferred through a 300-meter metal pipeline from the laboratory.
The group’s current research topics include: (1) high pressure Mössbauer studies on magnetic properties of iron nitrides and iron-nickel Invar alloys using diamond anvil cells (DAC), in collaboration with Assistant Professor Kawakami of Nihon University, especially focused on the spectrum with higher quality in statistics; and (2) high magnetic field Mössbauer studies on the charge order system of iron borate.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
Nomura Group
Applied Chemistry and Radiation Safety
School of Engineering
Tokyo
http://so.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/nomura/
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Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
The Mössbauer Group at the School of Engineering, University of Tokyo, has been working in the following areas.
Development of conversion electron and resonant X-ray Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS and XMS): Dual counters for CEMS and XMS have been developed to study the characterization of corrosion and surface finishing of iron and steel. Measuring 57Fe CEMS and XMS simultaneously can easily perform the layer-by-layer analysis. CEMS and XMS provide Mössbauer information of about 200 nm and 10 µm thick layers, respectively. It is possible to measure a depth selective CEMS (DCEMS) of less than 100 nm thin layers by discriminating the energy of emitted electrons even with a He+10%CH4 gas counter.
Corrosion process and structure analysis of oxide layers on iron and weathering steel by CEMS: The rust layers produced on steel surface in various solutions have been characterized by CEMS. γ-FeOOH is initially formed as a corrosion product and later Fe3O4 is formed as an intermediate layer in oxidative NO3- solutions. In addition to γ-FeOOH, green rust of Fe(OH)2 and Fe(OH)3 are formed in SO42- solutions, and β-FeOOH is additionally formed in Cl- solutions. Low temperature CEMS can distinguish these compounds easily. The samples prepared by wet corrosion process should be freeze-dried for CEMS measurement in order to detect the unstable and initial corrosion products. Both CEMS and XMS are useful for direct observation of thick rust layers on weathering steel from the viewpoints of practical layer analysis.
Structural analysis of phosphate coating on steel and black coating on steel by CEMS: Iron, zinc, and manganese phosphate coatings, among others, have been used in the automobile and other industries. The different formation processes and structures of each deposited coating have been characterized by CEMS. It was clarified that the interface between coatings and substrate can be estimated from the peak area ratio of a magnetic sextet of the substrate in addition to the analysis of iron states in many coatings. The black coating of steel, treated in hot alkaline solutions, consists of small particles of magnetite. Measuring CEMS spectra at a low temperature of 78K has done the detail analysis.
Analysis and chemical application of ultra thin layers on stainless steel and thin films of stainless steel by DCEMS: The group has studied thin oxide films on various stainless steels heated at high temperature or treated chemically. The thin layer structures have been clarified by CEMS with the help of other surface analysis tools, such as glow discharge optical spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is further found that oxide films on a certain stainless steel are useful as a solid-state pH sensor. It can provide the rapid response and good tolerance factor against the other cations in a solution between pH=1 and pH=13. Thin stainless steels have been prepared by DC and RF sputtering and pulsed laser ablation. It was found from the CEMS analysis that these films consist of martensite phase even if austenite steel is used as the target, and that the direction of magnetic moments on the film planes was different between films deposited by DC sputtering and by RF sputtering.
Surface analysis of soft magnetic materials and noise filters for high frequency bands: Soft magnetic material films, such as Sendust [Fe3(Si,Al)], have been analyzed by CEMS. The material is practically used as a surface cover film of magnetic memory cards. The composite polymer thick films using Sendust have been recently developed as noise filters for high frequency bands (NEC-Tokin).
Structural chemistry of perovskite for partial oxidation catalysis and for CO2 absorption: Perovskite of Co-Fe mixed oxides prepared by a sol-gel method is useful for the catalysis for oxidative coupling of methane. In this study, the group was aware of the properties for rapid absorption of CO2 at high temperature and developed CO2 absorption materials. Various A(Fe,Co)O3 perovskites with A=(Ba, Sr) or (Sr, Ca) have the possibility of controlling the absorption temperature ranges by varying the compositions. The group has also studied the mechano-chemical effect for activation of the CO2 absorbents, and it was found that the activation can be realized by pretreatment of ball milling for only five minutes. A(Fe, Mg) oxides with A=(Ba, Sr) or (Sr, Ca) also show the rapid CO2 absorptions at more than 400o C. It is considered that brownmillerite of ABO2.5 contributes a skeletal structure with lattice vibration induced by different ionic radius in site A, and the rapid absorption of CO2 is promoted due to the valence change at site B of perovskite.
Structural chemistry of transparent semiconductors such as indium tin oxide (ITO) films by 119Sn CEMS: The electronic properties of ITO and SnO2 transparent films depend on the preparation conditions. The different properties have been clarified by characterization of tin chemical states in these films using 119Sn CEMS. The transparent semiconductors are used for solar cell electrodes. The iron oxide films formed on these semiconductors by spray pyrolysis have been clarified by 57Fe CEMS. It is found that iron oxide thin films with large grains are formed on SnO2 film, while iron oxide thin films with small grains are formed on ITO film due to chemical reaction at the interface with the solution.
Gas selectivity and sensitivity of a SnO2 based sensor: The gas sensitivity and selectivity of a SnO2 based sensor with some dopants have been studied, and the spillover effect of H2 gas has been clarified, using Pd doped SnO2 mixed with and without Ni or Mn oxides. The group has shown that gas selectivity could be directly observed by in situ CEMS using a gas flow proportional 2π counter loaded with a heater.
Development and characterization of spintronics materials: The chemical pressure effect of double perovskite Sr1-xAx(Fe,Mo)O3 (x = 0.05, A = Ba, Ca), which shows colossal magneto-resistance, has been studied by temperature dependence Mössbauer spectrometry. The chemical pressure effect of Sr1-xAx(Ru0.5Fe0.5)O3 perovskites (x = 0.05, A = Ba, Ca) also are studied, and the spin glass behavior is directly shown by in field Mössbauer spectroscopy (in Czech). It is reported recently that the dilute magneto transparent semiconductor (DMS) of TiO2 doped with Co shows ferromagnetism at room temperature. The thin films of 57Fe doped TiO2 deposited by a pulsed laser ablation were analyzed by CEMS. CEMS is a very nice tool for characterization of micro-magnetism to consider the macro-magnetism of DMS. However, the preparation methods of spintronics materials are not well enough established at this point. The group is also developing various transparent oxide semiconductors doped with Fe using a sol-gel method.
Nuclear resonant scattering using synchrotron radiation: Phonon densities of states (DOS) on perovskite and brownmillerite have been studied by measuring nuclear inelastic scattering spectra, using synchrotron radiation at Spring-8. The temperature dependency of Mössbauer-Lamb factors can be determined directly using the inelastic scattering spectra measured. For example, the Mössbauer-Lamb factors of perovskite related oxides become small after absorption of CO2. Together with Dr. A. Rykov, who was a visiting researcher in the group, they have studied many kinds of perovskite and related oxides, and found that the soft phonons are created with the increase of oxygen defects. They are now focusing on the study of DMS materials by nuclear inelastic scattering.
The group’s publication list is available from its Web site (see above for address).
Dr. Kiyoshi Nomura collaborates with the following researchers to accomplish Mössbauer studies for material science:
Professor Z. Hommonay, Professor E. Kuzmann, and Professor A. Vertes – Laboratory of Nuclear Chemistry, Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary
Professor M. Mashlan and Professor R. Zboril – Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry and Department of Experimental Physics, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Professor I. Felner – The Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Professor M. Takeda and Professor M. Takahashi – Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Toho University, Chiba
Professor S. Hasegawa and Professor S. Ohgoshi – Department of Chemistry, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
Professor K. Hashimoto – Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
Professor T. Terai – Department of Nuclear Engineering and Management, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo
Professor Y. Yamada – Department of Chemistry, Science University of Tokyo, Tokyo
Professor T. Yajima – Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Saitama Institute of Engineering, Saitama
Professor K. Takehira – Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima
Dr. A. Rykov – Siberian Synchrotron Radiation Center, Novosibirsk, Russia
Dr. T. Ohki – Kobelco Research Institute, Inc., Koube
TOHOKU UNIVERSITY / JAPAN ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
Mössbauer Group
International Research Center for Nuclear Material Science
Institute for Materials Research
Tohoku University
Oarai
Advanced Science Research Center
Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Tokai, Ibaraki
The Mössbauer Group is a joint venture between the International Research Center for Nuclear Material Science, Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University at Oarai and the Advanced Science Research Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) at Tokai, Ibaraki.
The Group has three Mössbauer spectrometers at Oarai and has started to measure Fe-57 and Np-237 Mössbauer effects. |
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The research group at Tohoku University consists of Professor Dr. Y. Shiokawa, Dr. Y. Homma, and Dr. D. Aoki. Professor Shiokawa’s research concerns the radiochemistry of metals, especially chemical and physical properties of actinides, and he has succeeded in preparing high quality actinide metal by electrolysis of an aqueous solution. Using a high quality single crystal actinide compound, Dr. Aoki, et al. have observed the de Haas-van Alphen effect in NpNiGa5. Dr. Homma has started to use Fe-57 and Np-237 Mössbauer spectroscopy to investigate the physical and chemical properties of NpFeGa5.
The research subject of the group from the Advanced Science Research Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is “exotic magnetism and superconductivity in new actinide compounds” and the group consists of Dr. Y. Haga (leader), Dr. A. Nakamura, Dr. E. Yamamoto, Dr. T. D. Matsuda, Dr. N. Tateiwa, Dr. H. Sakai, Dr. S. Ikeda, Professor Y. Shiokawa (guest), Professor Y. Onuki (guest), and Professor S. Nasu (guest). This group is rather new in Japan and concentrates their research on actinide science. The group has close contact with the Mössbauer group at Tokai (Dr. Nakada and Dr. Masaki). They have also a good relationship with the Institute for Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe.
TOHO UNIVERSITY
Inorganic and Radiochemistry Laboratory and Coordination Chemistry Laboratory
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science
Funabashi
Names of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
The Mössbauer activities of the group at Toho University started in 1979 with studies on the stereochemical activity of the lone pair in the Sb(III) compounds by Professor Takeda; in 1984 Dr. Takahashi joined Professor Takeda with his research. Since then, many Mössbauer spectroscopic studies using 57Fe, 119Sn, 121Sb, 127I, 155Gd, 161Dy, 166Er, 197Au, and 237Np have been carried out. The research interests are widely spread from organoheteroatom compounds to inorganic solids including organometallic complexes. The research interests have been shifting to spin-crossover compounds and f-block elements compounds.
p-Block Compounds. The research group prepared and measured 121Sb Mössbauer spectra for more than 50 Sb(III) compounds having different coordinating spheres and showed a linear relationship between isomer shifts and quadrupole coupling constants. The p character of the lone pair was found to correlate strongly with the coordination configuration. They then began investigation on the hypervalent compounds using 121Sb and 127I Mössbauer spectroscopy. They have worked on a large number of hypervalent organoantimony(V) and organoiodine(III) compounds having one and two hypervalent bonds (3c-4e bond).
Spin-Crossover Iron(II) Cyanides. In 1992 Dr. Kitazawa, who has now moved to the Coordination Chemistry Laboratory, joined the research group and soon after two-dimensional cyano coordination polymer FeNi(CN)4(py)2 was found to show spin-crossover behavior. Although to date numerous spin-crossover materials have been developed, FeNi(CN)4(py)2 is the first example of the cyano-bridged two-dimensional materials. Since then, a considerable number of two-dimensional cyano-bridged iron(II) polymer complexes have been investigated, and recently the FeL2Ni(CN)4 and FeL2Ag(CN)2 systems have been the focus.
Actinide Compounds. 237Np Mössbauer spectroscopy is a powerful tool to investigate the physicochemical properties of neptunium compounds, through which we can extract the indispensable chemical information on actinide compounds. The wide range spread in 237Np isomer shifts (more than 80 mm s–1) is well recognized and clearly correlated with the oxidation state and coordination number. Recently, the research group has collaborated with Dr. Saeki’s group at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (presently the Japan Atomic Energy Agency) to find that the isomer shift for neptunyl(VI) complexes reflects the covalency; there are some contribution of 5f electrons in the NpO22+–L bond.
Lanthanide Compounds. The research group is interested in the structure and bonding of the lanthanide compounds, including Gd, Dy, and Er. A number of coordination compounds with organic chelate have been synthesized and their crystal structures have been determined. They have shown some 6s character in the Gd(III)–L bond by the 155Gd spectra on more than 30 compounds. They also have applied 155Gd spectroscopy to structural studies on Gd2O3–ZrO2 solid solutions and related system in connection with an ionic conductor and back-end process of nuclear fuel as a joint research program with Dr. Akio Nakamura of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. They have also worked on the magnetic interactions in Er(III) complexes by 166Er spectroscopy and lattice dynamics of the Dy-Fe cyano complex using 161Dy spectroscopy.
The research group has active collaborations with several research institutions:
Department of Chemistry, Toho University (Professor Tomoyuki Mochida): Solid-state chemistry of biferrocene charge-transfer complexes
School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo (Professor Mikio Nakamura and Dr. Yoshiki Ohgo): Spin states in iron(III) non-planar porphyrin complexes
Department of Applied Science, RMIT University, Melbourne (Professor S. K. Bhargava) and School of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra (Emeritus Professor M. A. Bennett): Coordination chemistry of the cycloaurated complexes
Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia (Dr. B. Grzeta): Structural studies of nanocrystalline Sb(III)-doped SnO2 using XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy.
KYOTO UNIVERSITY
Nuclear Radiation Physics Laboratory
Research Reactor Institute
Osaka
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Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
The Nuclear Radiation Physics Laboratory at the Research Reactor Institute of Kyoto University is involved in the studies of condensed matter physics with nuclear methods and the development of measuring methods. In particular, the main interests of the laboratory are Mössbauer spectroscopy and nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation.
As for Mössbauer spectroscopic research, 57Fe and 151Eu Mössbauer effects have been measured using long-lived radioisotope sources. In addition to these long-lived radioisotopes, the group can obtain short-lived radioisotopes by neutron irradiation in the Kyoto University Reactor (KUR) and the Mössbauer studies using them have been performed extensively for 125Te, 129I, 193Ir, 197Au, etc. Current Mössbauer studies are focused on topics in nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, high-Tc superconductors, conducting organic polymers, mixed-valence complexes, and low-dimensional materials. Furthermore, a Fixed Field Alternating Gradient (FFAG) accelerator is now being constructed at the Research Reactor Institute of Kyoto University for an accelerator-driven subcritical reactor (ADSR) project. This will increase the available Mössbauer sources at the laboratory.
Synchrotron radiation attracted attention at first as an alternative source for nuclear excitation in Mössbauer spectroscopy. However, it has become a unique and powerful tool for nuclear resonant scattering and has built a new field, which is one of the most cutting-edge methods in materials science at present. The Nuclear Radiation Physics Laboratory played a central role in the first observation of nuclear resonant inelastic scattering of synchrotron radiation. As this method uses the resonant excitation process, element-specific phonons in complex compounds and local vibrational properties of dilute atoms in metals and semiconductors can be obtained. Furthermore, the laboratory developed a new method that permits them to measure site-specific phonon density of states. Nuclear resonant inelastic scattering measurements are now being extensively performed at the third-generation synchrotron radiation facilities (ESRF, APS, SPring-8). For studies of nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation, the laboratory is engaged in various topics in condensed matter physics, and the measurements are performed at SPring-8 and PF-AR (KEK). In addition, the laboratory is involved in the development of X-ray optics and X-ray detectors for nuclear resonant scattering measurements.
Professor Seto is also affiliated with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) as a group leader of the X-ray Structural Physics Group in the Synchrotron Radiation Research Center. The X-ray Structural Physics Group in JAEA and the Nuclear Radiation Physics Laboratory in Kyoto University are cooperatively working in the nuclear resonant scattering research.
TOKYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Yamauchi-Karppinen Group
Materials and Structures Laboratory
Yokohama
Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
The Mössbauer activities of the Yamauchi-Karppinen Group at the Tokyo Institute of Technology are focused on electro-functional perovskite-derived iron-oxide materials. An important example is the recently highlighted halfmetallic double-perovskite oxide, Sr2FeMoO6. Halfmetals are conducting ferromagnets with 100% spin-polarized carriers (in an ideal case) and form the bases for tunneling-type magnetoresistance (TMR) devices, the application of which is found in the presently emerging new technology called spintronics. For Sr2FeMoO6, a model for the electronic structure was initially assumed based on localized 3d5 electrons of high-spin FeIII and an itinerant 4d1 electron of MoV. Based on 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy data, they elaborated this picture by showing that Fe in Sr2FeMoO6 possesses a mixed-valence state, expressed as FeII/III. Accordingly, Mo possesses a mixed-valence state of MoV/VI. This view (the valence-mixing concept) is now widely accepted. Moreover, since fractional B-cation valence states were later confirmed for other halfmetallic double perovskites, it seems that the valence-mixing phenomenon is inherent to these materials. Utilizing a series of thoroughly characterized samples of the (Ca,Sr,Ba)2FeMoO6 system, they moreover revealed that the precise valence of FeII/III species may be fine-tuned (within 2.2 ~ 2.5) by means of varying the effective ionic radius at the A-cation site.
Mössbauer data for Sr2FeMoO6 revealed another type of iron species, i.e., trivalent Fe atoms sitting at the lattice site reserved for Mo in the completely ordered double-perovskite structure. Also obtained was the first experimental evidence for so-called antiphase boundaries in Sr2FeMoO6. Both types of lattice defect are common for B-site ordered double perovskites. They elaborated their Mössbauer spectroscopy approach to a highly quantitative level to be able to follow the concentration of such defects in their differently synthesized Sr2FeMoO6 samples.
For samples with very small Sr2FeMoO6 particles, evidence for superparamagnetism was obtained from the 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy data. At the same time, large enhancement in the technologically important low-field magnetoresistance (LFMR) effect was achieved. They could therefore conclude that superparamagnetic (insulating) portions coexist with the ferromagnetic (halfmetallic) ones, and the suppression of the superparamagnetism upon submitting the sample to external magnetic fields makes an additional contribution to the significant LFMR. They utilized this observation by preparing “homocomposites” consisting of two single-phase Sr2FeMoO6 components of different grain sizes. In their homocomposites, the smaller (nanoscale) particles of Sr2FeMoO6 with superparamagnetic behaviour act as the “tunneling barrier” for the larger-sized Sr2FeMoO6 halfmetallic crystals. As a matter of fact, very large LFMR effect was achieved for such composite materials.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (AIST)
The Iijima Research Group
Ibaraki
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Name and Title of Researcher
Dr. Seiichiro Iijima – Senior Research Scientist, Division of Biological Resources and Functions
Collaborating Scientists
Professor Masaaki Kojima, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Okayama University
Professor Naohide Matsumoto, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Kumamoto University
Description and Areas of Research
The Iijima group has extensively investigated iron complexes with interesting properties, such as spin-crossover, mixed valency, and molecule-based magnetism, by using 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. The group is carrying out research in close collaboration with two powerful inorganic chemistry groups – Professor Matsumoto’s laboratory at Kumamoto University and Professor Kojima’s laboratory at Okayama University – experts in molecular design and the synthesis and characterization by X-ray crystallography and cryomagnetic measurement of metal coordination compounds.
Spin-Crossover Compounds. A tripod ligand with three imidazole groups H3L (tris[2-(((imidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine) and its methyl-derivative H3LMe can afford several kinds of 2D iron complexes, [FeIIH3L][FeIIIL](X)2, [FeIIH3LMe][FeIIILMe] (X)2, [FeIIH3LMe][FeIILMe]X, [FeIIH3LMe]Cl·X, etc., which exhibit thermal and photo-induced spin-crossover (SCO) phenomena. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy was employed to understand their complicated SCO behaviors, combined with magnetic susceptibility measurements. A two-step SCO process, LS FeII-LS FeIII → HS FeII-LS FeIII → HS FeII-HS FeIII (LS = low spin, HS = high spin), was revealed for the mixed-valence systems, [FeIIH3L][FeIIIL](X)2 and [FeIIH3LMe][FeIIILMe](X)2. The LS→HS transition of the FeII unit is suggested to trigger the SCO of the otherwise LS FeIII unit. The [FeIIH3LMe]Cl·X system showed a variety of SCO behaviors depending on the counter anion, including one-step HS + LS → 2HS, two-step 2LS → HS + LS → 2HS with slow thermal relaxation, gradual one-step LS → HS, and a steep one-step LS → HS with a hysteresis.
Molecule-Based Magnets. Bulk magnetic transitions in oxalate-bridged mixed-valence assemblies [AM(II)M’(III)(ox)3] were evidenced by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy (ox2- = oxalate ion, A+ = organic cations such as quarternary ammonium and phosphonium ions). The direction of internal magnetic field, i. e., the direction of spin alignment, was estimated for the compounds from their magnetically-split Mössbauer patterns, and it was revealed that the direction can be controlled by the M-M’ combination and by the size of A+ cation. Molecule-based magnets consisting of cyclam complexes and Schiff-base complexes were also investigated by the spectroscopy.
Other Main Research Objects. Superparamagnetism was studied for iron oxides supported on silica gels and for tetraalkylammonium hexacyanoferrates(III). The importance of counter anion’s structure was indicated for the interaction between Fe(II) and Fe(III) sites in mono-oxidized binuclear ferrocenes.
TOKYO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Department of Chemistry
Graduate School of Science and Engineering
Tokyo
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Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Motomi Katada
Kaori Taguchi – 2nd Year Masters Student
Koichi Hanada – 2nd Year Masters Student
Rinto Ikenoue – 4th Year Undergraduate Student
Shoho Kozawa – 4th Year Undergraduate Student
Hiroaki Toyota – 4th Year Undergraduate Student
Description and Areas of Research
Professor Katada started Mössbauer spectroscopic study of tin compounds in 1968 at Hiroshima University. He then joined Professor Sano’s group at Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) as faculty staff in 1975. The TMU group has studied: (1) the mixed-valence state of binuclear ferrocene derivatives and trinuclear iron carboxylates, (2) the lattice dynamics of iron and tin complexes, (3) the chemical state of gold complexes and ruthenium compounds, and (4) the chemical effects of nuclear transformations in coordination compounds, using 57Fe-, 99Ru-, 119Sn-, 129I- , 151Eu-, and 197Au-Mössbauer spectroscopy.
Current research of the TMU group includes: (i) the mixed-valence state of trinuclear iron carboxylates, (ii) the lattice dynamics of alkylammonium hexacyanoferrates(III), (iii) the synthesis and characterization of new rare earth-iron complexes, (iv) the fluorescence behavior of solid europium β-diketonates and their lattice dynamical properties, (v) the synthesis and characterization of new borate-vanadate mixed glasses, and (vi) radiation-induced synthesis of new iron complexes. More recently, the group found that oxo-centered mixed-valence trinuclear iron dicarboxylic acid complex iron fumarate showed a temperature dependent mixed-valence state. At low temperature, two quadrupole split doublets were observed and a complete averaged valence state was observed at about 270 K.
The TMU group is also involved in joint studies with many other groups, including Nagoya University, Osaka University, and the National Institute for Materials Science.
HIROSHIMA UNIVERSITY
Radiochemistry Group
Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development
Higashi-Hiroshima
Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
The Radiochemistry Group at Hiroshima University studies organometallic chemistry and coordination chemistry using Mössbauer spectroscopy. This group is currently working in the following areas:
Mixed-Valence States of Binuclear Ferrocenes. The group studies electron transfer in mixed-valence binuclear ferrocenes to understand relations between structure and mixed-valence state. To know this, they study binuclear ferrocenes having chiral substituent.
Synthetic Study of Organometallic Compounds. The group synthesizes novel azaferrocenes, arene complexes, or piano-stool complexes to synthesize redox-active supramolecules.
Spin-Crossover Phenomena of Assembled Complexes. Spin-crossover complexes of transition metals have the ability to switch between two spin states by temperature, pressure, or light. The group is interested in the phenomena of the porous self-assembled complexes. They succeeded in changing the spin state by introducing an organic molecule to the pore of a self-assembled complex. They are now studying the difference in spin-crossover phenomena among the assembled structures.
RIKEN (INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL RESEARCH)
Applied Nuclear Physics Laboratory
Nishina Center for Accelerator Based Science
Wako, Saitama
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Names and Titles of Researchers
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Visiting Members
Professor Yutaka Yoshida (Shizuoka Institute of Science and Technology)
Professor Michael Kenya Kubo (International Christian University)
Professor Yasuhiro Yamada (Tokyo University of Science)
Dr. Jun Miyazaki (Tokyo University of Science)
Dr. Wataru Sato (Osaka University)
Dr. Satoshi Tsutsui (SPring8, Harima)
Dr. Masaki Murata (University of Tokyo/Sony Co.)
Professor Hiroshi Nishihara (University of Tokyo)
Professor Yujiro Nagata (Aoyama Gakuin University)
Dr. Takuya Okada (Gakushuin University)
Professor Yasuaki Einaga (Keio University)
Dr. Mototsugu Mihara (Osaka University)
Professor Saburo Nasu (Osaka University/JAEA)
Students
Mr. Yoji Tsuruoka (International Christian University)
Mr. Guillaume Pedoussaut (International Christian University)
Mr. Kunifumi Suzuki (Shizuoka Institute of Technology)
Mr. Kazuhiro Kato (Tokyo University of Science)
Ms. Kaori Taguchi (Tokyo Metropolitan University)
Description and Areas of Research
There has been a long and unique history of Mössbauer spectroscopic studies in RIKEN (the previous name in English was the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Wako). Here is presented a description of the Mössbauer studies using unstable nuclei related to the RIKEN accelerator facility.
In the middle of the 1960s, Dr. Fumitoshi Ambe (the former Chief Scientist of the Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory) and his co-workers began Mössbauer studies, especially the emission Mössbauer spectra of various compounds, including 57Co, in order to understand systematically hot-atom chemistry from the viewpoint of anomalous valence states after nuclear decay and nuclear reaction. In the 1970s, 61Ni and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopic studies were carried out using the source nuclides 61Cu and 119Sb produced by the cyclotron in RIKEN. Fumitoshi Ambe and Shizuko Ambe identified the defect in 119Sn atoms, decaying from 119Sb (T1/2 = 38.2 h) and 119mTe (T1/2 = 16.3 h), occupying the lattice sites in Sn119Sb, Sn119nTe, and Sb3119nTe3 from the 119Sn-emission Mössbauer spectra. The results were utilized to estimate the final state of energetic 119Sb and 119mTe after proton and alpha particle reactions in SnSb and SnTe. The recoil atoms were found in scarcely perturbed lattice points. Their distribution in the lattice was as expected from the electronegativities of the recoil atoms and the lattice components. These emission studies might be considered to be the origin of the present in-beam Mössbauer technique at RIKEN.
Since the end of the 1990s, the group has focused on in-beam Mössbauer spectroscopic studies with the aim of applications of short-lived RI beams to condensed matter studies. RI beams in RIKEN are produced as secondary beams via the nuclear fragmentation reaction between a stable primary beam and an appropriate target. Emission Mössbauer spectroscopy offers unique information concerning the site occupation, dynamical behavior, and chemical states of extremely diluted atoms in a material. A large number of emission studies have been performed by the processes of chemical treatment or low-energy ion implantation for doping the radioactive Mössbauer probes into materials.
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The RI beams now acquire an increasing importance in materials science compared to the conventional ion implantation techniques. Thus, RI beam particles can be applied not only as Mössbauer probes to obtain atomistic information on processes immediately after the implantation, but also as an effective tool to create “exotic chemical species” and/or valence states in materials. The on-line Mössbauer technique using an energetic RI beam provides a number of advantageous features over the conventional implantation. It is possible to implant Mössbauer probes into much deeper positions within straggling widths as narrow as a few mm. The time range for measurement can be selected by choosing probe nuclide of the appropriate half-life. In the case of 57Mn, for instance, which decays to 57Fe with a half-life of 1.45 minutes, a Mössbauer measurement can be started about a few “minutes” after the implantation, while the on-line Mössbauer experiment using Coulomb excitation and recoil implantation provides the time range of several hundred “nanoseconds” after implantation.
In the group’s studies, 57Mn ions were implanted into samples of two different types, namely, a semiconductor of Si and chemical samples of KMnO4 and solid O2. First, a Fe atom has been known to be one of the notorious impurities in a Si wafer. The on-line Mössbauer spectroscopy using an RI beam is considered to be one of the most powerful techniques to obtain atomistic information concerning the final lattice positions and dynamic behavior of Fe atoms in Si, because the concentration of the implanted nuclear probes is extremely low. Second, numbers of emission Mössbauer studies have been carried out to investigate 57Fe species produced by EC decay of 57Co implanted into various matrices. Mn occurs in various oxidation states in solids. Therefore, it is interesting to find out unusual valence states for 57Fe arising from the 57Mn decay, compared with those reached from 57Co, in an appropriate matrix.
Unstable isotopes of 57Mn were separated and implanted into FZ- and CZ-Si wafers using the RIKEN projectile nuclear fragment separator (RIPS). Subsequently, Mössbauer spectra of 57Fe in Si were measured between 12 and 800 K, in order to study the charge states and the diffusion processes of interstitial and substitutional Fe atoms in Si matrix. The spectra could be fitted with two components of singlets up to about 650 K. Above 600 K, both the disappearance of the interstitial component and the simultaneous relaxation effects on the centre shifts were clearly observed. These dynamical behaviors could be interpreted as a reaction process of interstitial Fe atoms jumping into vacancies, which were accompanied by changes in the charge states. Above 650 K, a line broadening of the singlet could be also seen, indicating an enhanced diffusion of the Fe atoms due to the excess vacancies.
The implantation Mössbauer study of 57Mn into KMnO4 was the first chemical application of a RI beam to the study of valence states after nuclear transformation. The obtained Mössbauer spectra of KMnO4 could be analyzed with two components, a doublet and a singlet. From the calculations of the molecular orbital wave functions (Gaussian 98, DV-Xα), the singlet is suggested to be substitutional 57Fe atoms for Mn sites in tetrahedral [MnO4]- with an unusually high valence state of Fe(VIII). In more reactive matrices, Fe species with extraordinarily higher oxidation states and “exotic chemical structures” are expected to be produced under non-equilibrium conditions. The well-defined in-beam 57Fe (57Mn) Mössbauer spectra of solid O2 were measured at 18, 30, and 42 K. The spectrum obtained at 18 K can be analyzed by four components of doublets. They are preliminarily assigned to be novel species of Fe(O2), FeO, (O2)FeO2, and (O2)Fe(O2), respectively.
The group has developed another type of in-beam Mössbauer study using neutron beams in the Tokai Institute of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The advantage of this technique is that it is possible to investigate non-destructively the chemical effects and the dynamics of a hot atom produced just after the nuclear reaction of 56Fe(n,γ)57Fe*. The Mössbauer spectrometer using the prompt γ-rays was newly designed and installed at a neutron beamline connected with JRR-3M in the Tokai Institute. The in-beam Mössbauer spectra of a stainless steel, a pure Fe foil, and FeS2 (pyrite and marcasite) were obtained at 77 K and room temperature. In the case of a pyrite-type of FeS2, the spectrum could be fitted two doublets. One was originated from host matrix of FeS2; the other was suggested to be a novel Fe species produced by neutron capture reaction.
In the off-line absorption measurements, some Mössbauer source nuclides (for example 61Cu (T1/2 = 3.3 h) for 61Ni and 99Rh (T1/2 = 16.1 d) for 99Ru Mössbauer spectroscopy) produced by the RIKEN cyclotron have been applied to various investigations concerning materials science and chemistry. By means of 61Ni Mössbauer measurements, the hyperfine magnetic field Hhf of 61Ni2+ ions in the compressed tetrahedral sites of the spinel chromite Cu0.9Ni0.1Cr2O4 was found to be 800 kOe, which is the largest ever reported for 61Ni. The large Hhf could be elucidated on the basis of the orbital angular momentum in the degenerate ground state of Ni2+ ions. The group has studied the electron configurations of anhydrous ruthenium trichlorides or ruthenocene derivatives, the magnetic ground state and the antiferromagnetic ordering mechanism of CaxSr1-xRuyM1-yO3 (M = Fe, Rh, Ti) system, and the characterizations of a skutterudite of SmRu4Sb12 by 99Ru Mössbauer spectroscopy, magnetization, and µSR measurements.
Finally, the expansion plan of the current RIKEN accelerator facility, the RI Beam Factory Project (RIBF) as a next generation facility, is currently underway. When completed, it will produce the world’s highest intensity RI beams over the whole atomic mass range, from elements of hydrogen through to uranium, which will be applied to research in a wide variety of fields. The advent of RI beams will open up a fascinating field in materials science research.
KINKI UNIVERSITY
School of Humanity-Oriented Science and Engineering
Iizuka, Fukuoka
http://web.fuk.kindai.ac.jp/
Kinki University is a private university composed of 11 Faculties (41 Departments), 11 Graduate Schools, and 16 Institutes, and with campuses in Osaka, Nara, Wakayama, and Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The total number of students is nearly 30,000. There are two groups performing Mössbauer research, as follows:
Laboratory of Environmental Material Chemistry (Nishida Laboratory)
Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry
http://web.fuk.kindai.ac.jp/~biochem/labo/nishida/english.htm
Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
The Nishida Laboratory (the Laboratory of Environmental Material Chemistry) in the Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity-Oriented Science and Engineering, at Kinki University has available two spectrometers (both Japanese made) – one for 57Fe Mössbauer measurements, and the other for 151Eu measurements. The group has published 150 papers, six reviews, and six book chapters.
The group’s research interests include:
Local structure and physical properties of several new glasses, including semiconducting vanadate glass, IR-transmitting aluminate glass, etc.
Preparation and characterization of new cathode material for lithium-ion batteries
Preparation and characterization of heavy metal waste glasses, porous ceramics, etc.
Water purification with glass, glass-ceramics, ceramics, polymer gels, etc.
Recent coworkers and collaborators include:
Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo: Professor Motomi Katada
Musashi Institute of Technology, Tokyo: Professor Tamotsu Toriyama
Kyushu University, Fukuoka: Professor Jyun-ichi Yamaki, Professor Shigeto Okada, and Professor Kazuhiro Hara
Ube National College of Technology, Ube: Professor Shiro Kubuki
Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest: Professor Attila Vertes, Professor Zoltan Homonnay, and Professor Erno Kuzmann
Al-Azhar University, Cairo: Professor Mohamed Yousry Hassaan Hassaan
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka: Professor A.S.M.A. Haseeb
Laboratory of Inorganic Material Chemistry (Arakawa Laboratory)
Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry
http://web.fuk.kindai.ac.jp/~biochem/labo/arakawa/
Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Tsuyoshi Arakawa
Mr. Kentaro Takebe – Ph.D. Student
Others: Seven undergraduate students
Description and Areas of Research
Gas sensors containing rare-earth elements
Nanotechnology
TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE
Department of Chemistry
Tokyo
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Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Yasuhiro Yamada
Dr. Jun Miyazaki – Assistant
Nao Sudo – Graduate Student
Hirokazu Kato – Graduate Student
Mai Kinoshita – Graduate Student
Hiroshi Taka – Graduate Student
Nana Hataya – Undergraduate Student
Katsuhiro Kono – Undergraduate Student
Hiroyuki Tamura – Undergraduate Student
Takashi Nyu – Undergraduate Student
Yuko Hasegawa – Undergraduate Student
Hiromi Arai – Undergraduate Student
Yuta Nakamura – Undergraduate Student
Description and Areas of Research
The research group at the Tokyo University of Science is working on the synthesis and characterization of novel unstable species, clusters, and films unavailable in normal conditions. The study of reactions of single atoms or small clusters provides useful information for understanding the mechanism of reactions on surfaces and on heterogeneous catalysts by providing simple models of larger and more complex systems. Mössbauer spectroscopy is a very useful technique to study electronic structures of iron species to provide the direct information of chemical states of the iron species.
Currently, particular attention is being directed to studying the reactions of laser-evaporated iron atoms, which have high translational and electronic energy and react with various reactant gases without additional excitation to produce novel compounds. The group has reported the reaction of laser-evaporated iron atoms with O2, N2, N2O, SF6, CH3I, and CH4 using a matrix-isolation technique. The reaction products were trapped in low-temperature Ar matrices and observed by Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopy. The assignments of these species were performed with the aid of ab initio molecular orbital calculations or density functional calculations.
The group is also studying the films produced by laser-deposition of Fe metal onto Al or Si substrates at various temperatures, and the formation of Fe-Al alloy or Fe-Si compounds was observed at the boundary between the Fe-films and the Al or Si substrate. They found that the unreacted iron metal has a tendency to have spin-orientation parallel to the substrate surface. Laser-deposition of iron oxides, hematite or magnetite, onto substrates produced iron oxide films whose composition varied depending on the substrate temperature. Laser-deposition has the possibility of producing functional films whose chemical compositions and physical properties can be controlled.
The group is exploring the exotic chemical states using in-beam Mössbauer spectroscopy in collaboration with Dr. Yoshio Kobayashi of RIKEN and Professor Michael Kenya Kubo of the International Christian University. In-beam Mössbauer spectroscopy coupled with ion implantation of secondary 57Mn particles is being studied using the RIKEN Accelerator Research Facility. Neutron in-beam Mössbauer spectroscopy is being studied to investigate the chemical and physical behaviors of the trace species formed by the neutron capture reaction 56Fe(n, γ) 57Fe using the JRR-3M reactor at JAEA.MUSASHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Quantum Beams Applications Laboratory for Materials Engineering
Tokyo
Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Tamotsu Toriyama
Associate Professor Hidehiko Wakabayashi (Deceased March 14, 2006)
Aya Takahashi – M.S. Student
Taku Katoh – M.S. Student
Masato Yamashiro – M.S. Student
Toshiaki Kawabata – Student
Yuuta Maeda – Student
Takehiro Kubota – Student
Toshiaki Iizuka – Student
Kazuma Akita – Student
Yuuya Miyamoto – Student
Description and Areas of Research
The Mössbauer Group at the Musashi Institute of Technology is working in the following themes:
Preparation and characterization of sputtered iron-oxide thin films for semiconductor photoelectrodes
High-density growth of α-iron nano-particles by multi-step implantation of iron ions into alumina
Conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS) study with applied magnetic field on iron states in a sequentially implanted FeCo alloy-Al2O3 granular layer
Development of CEMS and conversion X-ray Mössbauer Spectroscopy (CXMS) with applied magnetic field systems
Analysis of Ru atoms in catalysis electrodes of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) using particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectroscopy and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS)
Development of wave dispersive particle-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy (WD-PIXE) system for analyzing S atoms in catalysis electrodes of PEFC and direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)
SHIZUOKA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Fukuroi, Shizuoka
http://www.sist.ac.jp/~yoshida/
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Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Yutaka Yoshida
Kazuo Hayakawa – Technician
Kennichi Yukihira – Technician
Masahiko Adachi – Student
Tomohiro Kamimura – Student
Namiko Miura – Student
Kazumasa Sakata – Student
Kunifumi Suzuki – Student
Yutaka Suzuki – Student
Description and Areas of Research
Research at the Shizuoka Institute of Science and Technology is presently focused on iron segregation and diffusion processes in silicon materials and nanomaterials. The group combines different experimental methods and instruments for Mössbauer spectroscopy, which the group has been continuously developing. A high temperature furnace, an Instron-type tensile-test machine, and a conversion electron detector using micro-channel plates (MCP) connected to a UHV deposition chamber are in operation at the laboratory. In addition, as a joint venture with Dr. Yoshio Kobayashi at RIKEN, the group is working with in-beam Mössbauer spectroscopy immediately after Coulomb excitation and recoil-implantation, (d, p) reaction and implantation of projectile nuclear fragments using an on-line isotope separator at RIKEN. Two excellent technicians, Kenichi Yukihira and Kazuo Hayakawa, and students in masters and undergraduate courses contribute strongly to the research projects. The final goal is to achieve an in situ observation of iron atoms in different materials to understand atomic motions, chemical reactions, and formation processes of nano-structures under different circumstances, such as high temperatures, uniaxial stress, and highly energetic ion irradiation (several GeV). For characterization, they employ a wide range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction and microscopies such as SEM, TEM, AFM, STM, MFM, and infrared spectrometer.
Although the study of iron in silicon has a long history for more than half a century, there exists still many open questions, such as the solubility, the lattice sides of iron, etc. Combining two completely different methods in Mössbauer spectroscopy – high-temperature measurements and highly energetic implantation of 57Mn/ 57Fe – they study iron impurities in silicon materials, such as multicrystalline silicon wafers. The problem is directly connected to the solar cell efficiency, and therefore it is very important to find “a gettering method” to remove the impurities from the device regions. Furthermore, they are developing a 57Fe Mössbauer microscope (two-dimensional position-sensitive spectrometer) using microcapillary X-ray lens, the results of which were presented in the last Seeheim Workshop.CHUKYO UNIVERSITY
Ecomaterials Laboratory
School of Life System Science and Technology (LSST)
Kaizu, Toyota
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Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Toru Nonami – Head of the Laboratory
Dr. Junhu Wang
Description and Areas of Research
The main research lines at the Ecomaterials Laboratory at LSST, Chukyo University, involve the development and application of novel photocatalytic materials and multifunctional biomaterials on an experimental basis. The photocatalytic materials developed are used for environmental purification, and the multifunctional biomaterials developed are for dental surgery as well as the fabrication of artificial bone scaffolds with controlled bore size. The laboratory is headed by Professor Toru Nonami, a distinguished material scientist.
Dr. Wang, a research fellow, is primarily studying the development of highly efficient mono-dispersed photocatalytic nanoparticles by soft chemical solution process at low temperature. The photocatalytic nanoparticles are applied for lightening unpleasant smells in one’s living environment on an experimental basis, such as in nursing homes and karaoke rooms. He is also researching the development of novel apatitic biomaterials that have not only good biocompatibility but also photo-oxidation ability for deodorization, antibacterial properties, and self-cleaning by modifying a simulated body solution. Dr. Wang teaches the course “Ceramics Materials Experiment” to all of the undergraduate students of LSST. In addition, 14 undergraduate students belong to the Ecomaterials Laboratory. Dr. Wang also conducts seminars regularly to staff at Nonami Science Produce Co., Ltd., Japan, on the characterization of functional materials and also provides scientific assistance to product users as a senior advisor.
At Chukyo University, Dr. Wang plays a central role in Mössbauer spectroscopic studies on the mechanism of photocatalytic activities and multifunction of novel materials by collaborating with Professor Takahashi and Professor Takeda of Toho University and Dr. Iijima of AIST. The photocatalytic activities of two kinds of mono-dispersed antimonic acid single crystal nanoparticles have been reported recently, and the differences in their photocatalytic properties have been concluded to be mainly due to the existence of a little Sb3+ with d8 electron configuration observed by 121Sb Mössbauer spectroscopy. Substitution effects of Sb by Ta, Nd, Bi, and Y on structural and photo-absorption properties of the antimonic acid fine nanoparticles will also be published. In addition, the role of trace iron elements in bone and teeth has been investigated using 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy by doping trace-enriched 57Fe into hydroxyapatite (HAp). Here, the 57Fe-doped HAp sample used was synthesized by simulating the natural formation process of bone and tooth. It was interesting here that tooth black in East Asia, “ohaguro” in Japanese, was traditionally applied, and the agent used contained iron, which could have contributed to caries prevention.
Current and past collaborators of Dr. Wang include:
Toho University: Professor Masuo Takeda, Professor Takahashi Masashi, and Associate Professor Takafumi Kitazawa
Institute for Materials Research (IMR), Tohoku University: Associate Professor Toetsu Shishido and Dr. Kunio Yubuta
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST): Dr. Seiichiro Iijima and Dr. Zhigang Zou
Graduate School of Human Life Science, Sugiyama Jogakuen University: Ms. Hiroko Hase
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS): Dr. Jinhua Ye and Dr. Kiyoshi Ozawa
Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI): Dr. Akio Nakamura, Mr. Masami Nakada, and Mr. Haruyoshi Otobe
KURUME INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering
Fukuoka
Name of Researcher
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Description and Areas of Research
The group at the Kurume Institute of Technology has been working on the material modification by ion beams using 57Fe implantation with conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy (CEMS). The work is being done in cooperation with groups from the Musashi Institute of Technology (Professor Tamotsu Toriyama), the Kochi Institute of Technology (Professor Masafumi Taniwaki), and Dr. Isao Sakamoto of the National Institute of AIST.
In recent years, the group has been involved in research relating to nano-composite materials in insulating metal-oxides synthesized by high dose implantation of magnetic ions. The metal-insulator nanocomposite layers provide attractive structures since they exhibit peculiar optical and magnetic properties, such as giant magnetic tunneling junctions. An eminent tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect was observed in α-Al2O3 single crystals implanted with 100 keV Fe+ ions, where the implanted layers exhibit a magnetoresitance (MR) ratio of about 7 ~ 8%. The obtained value was about twice as large as that observed for similar granular Fe/Al2O3 films prepared by rf sputtering. Furthermore, they have succeeded in synthesizing nanosized clusters of FeCo alloys in the Al2O3 matrices by sequential implantation of Fe and Co ions. It is demonstrated in the FeCo granular layers that the alloying leads to an increase in the iron magnetic moment. From the result, the MR ratio is expected to increase to a value of more than 10% at room temperature.
Through these studies, the group obtains detailed information on the aggregation states of implanted Fe ions by means of CEMS, combined with glancing angle X-ray diffraction (GXRD) and magnetization (VSM) measurements. CEMS is highly sensitive and effective in characterizing the properties of the nanocomposite, especially when it is combined with the mass-selected 57Fe implantation and the projectile’s energies are selected to be comparable to the penetration depth of the conversion electrons. Thus, they have observed an eminent enhancement of TMR effect by changing the relative amount of Fe and Co ions implanted in Al2O3 matrices and presented the largest MR ratio of more than 13% at room temperature among the values reported in the Fe-, Co-, and FeCo granular films.
The group has also observed the formation of Fe-Cu nano-clusters in crystalline Al2O3 and SiO2 by implantation of Fe and Cu ions up to a total dose of 1.5 × 1017 ions/cm2. It is shown that the addition of Cu ions into both Fe/Al2O3 and Fe/SiO2 granules promotes the transition from superparamagnetic to ferromagnetic states, indicating the formation of the metastable Fe-Cu alloy nano-clusters.
UBE NATIONAL COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Material Science Laboratory
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Ube, Yamaguchi
Name and Title of Researcher
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Description and Areas of Research
Starting his international research career by presenting at a Pac Rim conference in Hawaii in 1993, Dr. Shiro Kubuki has energetically obtained unique research results concerning the structure of new glass-ceramics by applying 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. In the themes, verification of the Tg-∆ rule and discovery of the Ea-δ rule have been accomplished in infrared-transmitting calcium gallate and aluminate glasses under collaboration work with Professor Tetsuaki Nishida of Kinki University. These half-experimental rules are very important for characterizing or fabricating functional glasses-ceramics.
The unique research results have been organized into around 30 papers and presented at many international conferences. Dr. Kubuki is now exploring recycling procedures of iron-containing inorganic wastes into functional materials, e.g., wastewater purifier or semi-conductor, by utilizing the “Tg-∆” and “Ea-δ” rules.
Dr. Kubuki’s chemical interests and enthusiasm extend over the waters and has given him the opportunity to find many collaborators. Especially in the period from March of 2005 to March of 2006, he was selected as a visiting researcher and dispatched from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in Japan to Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest. He experienced an extremely fruitful time discussing upcoming experimental data and future plans of research projects together with Hungarian colleagues. Themes of collaborative works and his collaborators are as follows.
Research work:
Characterization of semi-conducting BaO-V2O5-Fe2O3 glasses by reverse Monte Carlo simulation
The co-relationship between water purifying ability and local structure of iron-containing waste glasses
Lithium-ion battery containing FePO4 as a cathode material
Mössbauer spectra and electrical conductivity of fly ash-recycled glass
Mössbauer studies of novel oxygen-bridged compounds formed in the solid matrix of β-FeIIPc
Collaborators include:
Kinki University (Iizuka, Japan): Professor Tetsuaki Nishida
Eötvös Loránd University (Budapest, Hungary): Professor Zoltán Homonnay, Professor Erno Kuzmann, and Professor Attila Vértes
Al-Azhar University (Cairo, Egypt): Professor Mohammad Y. Hassaan and Professor Salah H. Sarah
University of North Carolina (North Carolina, USA): Professor Amar Nath
TOHO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Department of Chemistry
Tokyo
Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
NAGOYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Graduate School of Engineering
Nagoya
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Names and Titles of Researchers
Professor Ko Mibu – Group Leader
Dr. Wei Zhang – Research Fellow
Mr. Daisuke Gondo – B.Eng. Student
Mr. Yusuke Yamanishi – B.Eng. Student
Ms. Kayo Nozawa – B.Eng. Student
Description and Areas of Research
Professor Ko Mibu was formerly in Professor Teruya Shinjo’s group at Kyoto University. He moved to the Nagoya Institute of Technology (NIT), which is one of the smallest National University Corporations in Japan, in February 2005. Two sets of Mössbauer spectrometers, together with cryostats and a split-coil superconducting magnet, were also moved from Kyoto to Nagoya. Now a small but active research group on magnetism of metallic thin films and nanostructures is being built up at NIT.
Before his arrival, NIT already had Mössbauer facilities with two sets of spectrometers and 57Co sources. These facilities were run by groups headed by Professor Takeshi Moriya and Professor Kenji Sumiyama. Professor Moriya retired in March 2004, whereas Professor Sumiyama is still active in the field of nano-particles.
The main studies of Professor Mibu’s group at Kyoto University, which continue at NIT, are on magnetism of metallic thin films and nano-structures. The key research concept is “control of magnetic structures using interfacial and shape-induced effects.” The research interests of the group are as follows:
Creation of novel artificial super-structures and novel alloys that do not exist in nature
Design of model magnetic systems useful for fundamental studies on magnetism
Search for new materials and new phenomena for the development of spin-electronics
The successful studies published so far include (i) control of domain-wall-type magnetic structures using exchange-spring multilayers, (ii) control of spin-density waves in Cr-based multilayers, (iii) control of magnetic vortex structures in elliptical NiFe nano-dots, and so on.
The group uses Mössbauer spectroscopy for the studies on magnetic thin films and nano-structures. The recent works rely on 119Sn nuclei, rather than 57Fe. These series of studies are classified into the following three subjects:
Detection of electron spin-polarization in nonmagnetic layers of magnetic/nonmagnetic multilayers
Investigation of magnetism of anti- ferromagnetic Cr in multilayer systems
Exploration of local magnetism of half-metallic Heusler alloy films
Professor Mibu is also a member of a CREST-JST research project on nuclear resonant scattering in Japan, which is led by Professor Makoto Seto at Kyoto University. His sub-group is in charge of the research on thin films and nano-structures.
The research group is still small, with only one postdoctoral research fellow and three undergraduate students. In spite of this, it is expected that the group will become more active in the next few years.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS SCIENCE
Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Names and Titles of Researchers
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Description and Areas of Research
Mössbauer studies at the National Institute for Materials Science are mainly focused on nano-structured magnetic materials including iron, such as nano particles, magnetic fluids, granular films, and amorphous materials. Recent research topics are as follows:
Characterization and magnetic properties of nano particles, magnetic fluids, and granular films
Magnetoresistance of nano-granular magnetic films
Magnetic oxide films
Exchange anisotropy in nano-granular magnetic films
Cooperative magnetization reversal in assembled nano particles with dipolar interactions
Magnetic relaxation in non-interacting and interacting nano particles
DAIDO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Department of Chemistry / Collaborative Research Center
Nagoya
Names and Titles of Researchers
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Professor Yoichi Sakai – Group Leader
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Associate Professor Tsutomu Takayama
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Visiting Professor Yasuo Watanabe
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Description and Area of Research
The group of Mössbauer spectroscopy at the Daido Institute of Technology, located in Nagoya, is headed by Professor Yoichi Sakai, and started in January 1996. It is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry as well as with the Collaborative Research Center of the Institute. Recently, Associate Professor Tsutomu Takayama and Visiting Professor Yasuo Watanabe joined the group. The group’s research attention is devoted to wide chemical fields, such as (1) environmental and geochemical sciences, (2) materials technologies, and (3) chemical education.
Their Mössbauer research activities are described by introducing some of the titles of their published or submitted papers for the present decade together with a brief comment:
Environmental and Geochemical Sciences
“Comparison of antimony behavior with arsenic under various soil redox conditions.” This study was performed in collaboration with a group from Hiroshima University. The physicochemical states of iron in soil were examined by Mössbauer spectroscopy in connection with adsorption of antimony and arsenic species to soil.
“Concentration and oxidation states of iron related to sediment-water interaction in Lake Biwa, Japan.” The group studied the concentration and oxidation states of iron at the sediment-water interface to reveal the relation of nutrient pollution of Lake Biwa to oxidation potential in the lake water. This was a cooperation project with a group from Aichi Medical University.
Materials Technology
“In-situ 57Fe Mössbauer investigation of solid-state redox reactions of lithium insertion electrodes for advanced batteries.” A collaboration with a group from Osaka City University, the iron oxidation states in the electrode in a lithium-ion secondary battery were investigated using an in situ Mössbauer measurement cell developed by the group.
“Structure comparison between Th2Zn17-type and TbCu7-type Sm-Fe intermetallic compounds and their nitrides by means of 57Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy.” The iron states in rare-earth transition metal magnet materials were characterized by Mössbauer spectroscopy. This research project was in collaboration with a research team from Daido Steel Co.
“Mossbauer characterization of calcium-ferrite oxides prepared by calcining Fe2O3 and CaO.” This was a collaboration with a group from Nagoya University.
“Nanocomposite powders of Fe-C system produced by the flowing gas plasma processing.” A collaboration with another group from the Institute; the Mössbauer spectroscopic study was progressed.
“Neutron in-beam Mossbauer spectroscopic study of iron disulfide.” The experiments for this research have been carried out using the neutron-beam guide of JRR-3 at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), as a collaboration project named “SH” consisting of many groups: RIKEN, the International Christian University, the Tokyo University of Science, JAEA, and Daido Institute of Technology. The aim of this work is to clarify the in situ chemical states of energetic (hot) 57Fe atoms produced via the 56Fe(n, γ)57Fe reaction in solid phase.
Application to Chemical Education
“Research of reactions and products in the Evance’s experiment by 57Fe-Mossbauer spectroscopy.”
“Mössbauer spectroscopic study of chemical reaction products of iron in a disposable body warmer.” This research project has been promoted by the group. Iron is one of the most popular elements from a chemical education viewpoint. They have applied Mössbauer spectroscopy to characterizing iron states of materials treated often in chemistry laboratories in junior-high and high schools and in general chemistry classes in colleges.
The group’s facilities include the following equipment:
Three Mössbauer spectrometers
A conversion electron Mössbauer counter
A liquid nitrogen refrigeration cryostat controllable to 310.0 K from 77.4 K
Collaboration researchers include:
Hiroshima University: Dr. Y. Takahashi and Mr. S. Mitsunobu
Aichi Medical University: Dr. S. Kojima
Osaka City University: Dr. T. Ohzuku and Dr. K. Ariyoshi
Nagoya University: Dr. M. Sano, Dr. Hirabayashi, Dr. Suzuki
RIKEN: Dr. Yoshio Kobayashi
International Christian University: Dr. Michael Kenya Kubo
Tokyo University of Science: Dr. Yasuhiro Yamada
Japan Atomic Energy Agency: Dr. H. Matsue
Name and Title of Researcher
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Description and Area of Research
The Corrosion Protection Group consists of six members, led by the group leader Dr. Hideaki Miyuki, and mainly focuses on the corrosion protection technologies for steel plate used for ships and bridges. Recently, weathering steel containing small amounts of Cr, Cu, Ni, and P has been widely noticed in Japan from the viewpoint of reduction in maintenance cost of steel structures. Dr. Kamimura has been interested in the corrosion protection mechanism of the rust layer formed on steels, and actively advanced collaborative researches by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy with Professor Saburo Nasu and Dr. Shotaro Morimoto of Osaka University. The detailed phase analyses have been performed on rust layers formed on steels exposed for more than 30 years, and it was found that the protectiveness of the rust layer is closely related to formation of α-FeOOH. Moreover, 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy has been applied for the phase analysis of the rust formed on the weathering steel coated with a surface pretreatment promoting protective rust formation (Weather-Act).IBARAKI UNIVERSITY
Ibaraki
Names of Researchers
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Description and Area of Research
The Ibaraki University group consists of two permanent staff members, one masters and three bachelor course students (2006). The permanent staff is Professor Y. Nishihara and Dr. H. Kawanaka, who is a senior researcher at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology at Tsukuba.
The study of magnetic and transport properties of transition-metal oxides is a recent research project in the group. One of the recent studies is “metal-insulator transition in Fe-substituted SrRuO3 bad metal system.” Professor C. Bansal, a visiting professor from the University of Hyderabad, India, performed this work. Professor Bansal made clear that the quadrupole splitting shows a clear increase from the metallic to the insulating state and that the metal-insulator transition in this system is a kind of Mott transition in a small carrier mean free path system. Another work recently performed is entitled “small plaron transport and glassy ferromagnetism in (LaSr)Co1-xFexO4.” This work was performed by a doctoral course student A. Tabuchi. He measured the valence of Fe in this system and proposed a model that explains glassy ferromagnetism induced by a variable range hopping of small polaron.
Even though the group is very small, they would like to continue their efforts to make clear microscopic electronic states of transition-metal oxide systems.