In-Situ Spectroscopic Studies of Adsorption at the Electrode and Electrocatalysis is a new reference on in-situ spectroscopic techniques/applications, fundamentals of electrocatalysis at molecule level, and progresses within electrochemical surface science. Presenting both essential background knowledge at graduate level and original research within the fields of spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and surface science.
Featuring 15 chapters by prominent worldwide scholars, based on their recent progress in different aspects of in-situ spectroscopy studies, this book will appeal to a wide audience of scientists. In summary this book is highly suitable for graduates learning basic concepts and advanced applications of in-situ spectroscopy, electrocatalysis and electrode adsorptions.
* Written by the most active scientists in the fields of spectroscopy, electrochemistry and surface science
* Essential background knowledge for graduate students
* A modern reference of cutting-edge scientific research

Detection of concealed explosives is a notoriously difficult problem, and many different approaches have been proposed to solve this problem. Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) is unique in many ways. It operates in a safe AM radio frequency range, and it can remotely detect unique fingerprint (NQR spectrum) of many explosives, such as TNT or RDX. As such, the detection of target does not depend on the shape or material of the container, or the presence of metallic object such as triggers etc. Spectra of chemically similar compounds differ enough that their presence never causes interference or false alarms. Unfortunately, widespread use is prevented due to low sensitivity, radiofrequency interference from the noisy environment, and inability to detect liquid explosives. This book presents current state of the art of the attempts to overcome NQR sensitivity problem, either by increasing the strengths of signals generated, or by increasing the specificity of the technique through a better understanding of the factors that affect the quadrupolar parameters of specific explosives. The use of these specific quadrupolar parameters is demonstrated on signal processing techniques that can detect weak signals, which are hidden in a noisy background. The problem of differentiation of liquid explosives and benign liquids in closed containers is approached by measurements of different nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) parameters. As shown, a couple of solutions has reached a prototype stage and could find their use in a near future."

Biosensors are making a large impact in environmental, food, biomedical, and other applications. In comparison to standard analytical detection methods, such as minimal sample preparation and handling, they offer advantages including real time detection, rapid detection of the analytes of concern, use of non-skilled personnel, and portability. The aim of this book is to focus on research related to the rapid detection of agents and weapons of bioterrorism and provide a comprehensive review of the research topics most pertinent to advancing devices applicable to the rapid real-time detection of toxicants such as microbes, pathogens, toxins, or nerve gases. The ongoing war on terrorism and the rising security concerns are driving the need for newer faster biosensors against bio-warfare agents for both military and civil defence applications. The volume brings together contributions from the most eminent international researchers in the field, covering various aspects of work not so far published in any scientific journal and often going beyond the "state of art" . Readers of these review articles will learn new technological schemes that can lead to the construction of devices that will minimize the risk of bio-terrorism."

The Hydrogen Bond and the Water Molecule offers a synthesis of what is known and currently being researched on the topic of hydrogen bonds and water molecules. The most simple water molecular, H2O, is a fascinating but poorly understood molecule. Its unique ability to attract an exceptionally large number of hydrogen bonds induces the formation of a dense "hydrogen bond network" that has the potential to modify the properties of the surrounding molecules and their reactivities. The crucial role that water molecules play is described in this book. The author begins by providing an overview of the thermodynamical and structural properties of H-bonds before examining their much less known dynamical properties, which makes them appear as centres of reactivity. Methods used to observe these components are also reviewed. In the second part of the book the role played by the dense H-bond network developed by H2O molecules is examined. First in ice, where it has important atmospheric consequences, then in liquid water, and finally in macromolecules where it sheds some original light on the fundamental question "How is it that without water and hydrogen bonds life would not exist?."
This book will be of interest to researchers in the fields of physics, chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. It can also serve as a teaching aid for students attending course in chemical physics, chemistry or molecular biology. Engineers involved the water industry would benefit from reading this book, as would scientists working in pharmaceutics, cosmetics and materials.
* overview of what is known and being researched on the topic of hydrogen bonds and water molecules
* reviews methods used to observe interactions between water molecules and hydrogen bonds
* examines role of H-bond network developed by H2O molecules

MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometry for Studying Noncovalent Complexes of Biomolecules, by Stefanie Madler, Elisabetta Boeri Erba, Renato Zenobi Application of MALDI-TOF-Mass Spectrometry to Proteome Analysis Using Stain-Free Gel Electrophoresis, by Iuliana Susnea, Bogdan Bernevic, Michael Wicke, Li Ma, Shuying Liu, Karl Schellander, Michael Przybylski MALDI Mass Spectrometry for Nucleic Acid Analysis, by Xiang Gao, Boon-Huan Tan, Richard J. Sugrue, Kai Tang Determination of Peptide and Protein Disulfide Linkages by MALDI Mass Spectrometry, by Hongmei Yang, Ning Liu, Shuying Liu MALDI In-Source Decay, from Sequencing to Imaging, by Delphine Debois, Nicolas Smargiasso, Kevin Demeure, Daiki Asakawa, Tyler A. Zimmerman, Loic Quinton, Edwin De Pauw Advances of MALDI-TOF MS in the Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicines, by Minghua Lu, Zongwei Cai Chemical and Biochemical Applications of MALDI TOF-MS Based on Analyzing the Small Organic Compounds, by Haoyang Wang, Zhixiong Zhao, Yinlong Guo Bioinformatic Analysis of Data Generated from MALDI Mass Spectrometry for Biomarker Discovery, by Zengyou He, Robert Z. Qi, Weichuan Yu

This series provides an unequalled source of information on an area of chemistry that continues to grow in importance. Divided into sections mainly according to the particular spectroscopic technique used, coverage in each volume includes: NMR (with reference to stereochemistry, dynamic systems, paramagnetic complexes, solid state NMR and Groups 13-18); nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy; vibrational spectroscopy of main group and transition element compounds and coordinated ligands; and electron diffraction. Reflecting the growing volume of published work in the field, researchers will find this an invaluable source of information on current methods and applications. Volume 39 provides a critical review of the literature published up to late 2004.

The book starts with a detailed description of ICP-MS, including quadruple-based, sector-based and time-of-flight instruments. Instrumentation from existing manufacturers is described and compared to show their similarities and differences. Also, a review of the ICP-MS literature is carried out to outline both the strengths and limitations of the technique, whatever its brand, as well as what it can currently accomplish in terms of applications. Then, the book demonstrates how these limitations can be reduced and/or eliminated by combining various techniques with ICP-MS. Great detail is provided on each technique so that the reader can get a good understanding of it before carrying on to the instrumental requirements for its hyphenation to ICP-MS, and the resulting impact on the operation of the hyphenated instrument. Since this book is concerned with the ICP side only, which is fairly similar in all the instruments from the different manufacturers, the information should be useful to all ICP-MS users. The features and limitations of each technique are thoroughly discussed and illustrated with a review of the ICP-MS literature. Approaches which could be used but have not yet been tried with ICP-MS are also suggested. This is particularly true of flow injection techniques which are extremely flexible and have been used extensively in atomic spectroscopy and spectrophotometry. Many of the features of the technique have not yet been combined to ICP-MS, and one purpose of the book will be to point out potentially beneficial combinations.

This book gathers 12 outstanding contributions that reflect state-of-the-art industrial applications of fluorescence, ranging from the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries to explosives detection, aeronautics, instrumentation development, lighting, photovoltaics, water treatment and much more. In the field of fluorescence, the translation of research into important applications has expanded significantly over the past few decades. The 18th volume in the Springer Series on Fluorescence fills an important gap by focusing on selected industrial applications of fluorescence, described in contributions by both industry-based researchers and academics engaged in collaborations with industrial partners.

Simple carbohydrates, complex oligosaccharides and polysaccharides all belong to a class of ubiquitous (macro)molecules that exhibit a wide range of biological functions, and the recent advent of enhanced enzymatic, chemical and analytical tools used to study these sugars has inaugurated a genuine explosion in the field of glycomics. Specifically, it has led to a deeper understanding of how specific sugar structures modulate cellular phenotypes, and that breakthrough has led to the discovery of new pharmaceuticals for the treatment of many serious diseases, such as cancer. The subsequent rapid expansion of this research holds high promise for future therapeutic regimens, and capillary electrophoresis (CE) refers to the range of related separation techniques that are integral to this vital research. CE uses narrow-bore fused-silica capillaries to separate a complex array of large and small molecules, and Capillary Electrophoresis of Carbohydrates offers a comprehensive look at the latest breakthroughs and improvements in CE and CE techniques applied to monosaccharides up to complex oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. It begins with an overview of the application of CE and CE- mass spectrometric in the analysis of simple carbohydrates without any previous derivatization step before discussing various detection techniques such as spectrophotometric detection, electrochemical detection and other less common techniques. It then covers in detail an array of related topics and numerous applications. It is an essential text for anyone exploring the myriad possibilities of this rapidly expanding field.

Volume 3 looks at classes of biomolecules including carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids. In addition, special areas of application are included, such as pharmaceuticals, natural products, isotope ratio methods for biomolecules analysis, and clinical applications. The articles are arranged under general headings for continuity and ease of access, although several of these are of interest across the various disciplines. The articles are intended to teach and therefore strive to cover basics and sufficient additional detail to bring the reader up-to-date on a given subject. Some advanced topics are also covered, either in a special section of articles or in additional reading citations.
* Covers the major classes of biomolecules including carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids
* Includes special areas of application, such as pharmaceuticals, natural products, isotope ratio methods for biomolecules analysis, and clinical applications
* Written for students entering the field of mass spectrometry

Reviews in Fluorescence 2009, the sixth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any lab working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource. Reviews in Fluorescence 2009 topics include: Hot electron-Induced Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence. Time-correlated, single-photon counting methods in endothelial cell mechanobiology. Origin of Tryptophan Fluorescence. Protein Folding, Unfolding and Aggregation Processes revealed by Rapid Sampling of Time-Domain Fluorescence.

Reviews in Plasmonics is a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of Plasmonics and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the years progress in Plasmonics and its applications, with authoritative analytical reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of Plasmonics.

Mass Spectroscopy Imaging (MSI) has emerged as an enabling technique to provide insight into the molecular entities within cells, tissues and whole-body samples and to understand inherent complexities within biological metabolomes. In "Mass ""Spectrometry"" Imaging of Small Molecules"" Methods and Protocols," experts in the MSI field present techniques for 2D and 3D visualization and quantification of a wide array of small molecular species present in biologically relevant samples. Chapters provide detailed operational instructions from sample preparation to method selection, from comparative quantification to structural identification and from data collection to visualization of small molecule mapping in complex samples. Written in the successful "Methods in Molecular Biology" series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and easily accessible, "Mass ""Spectrometry"" Imaging of Small Molecules"" Methods and Protocols" aims to bring the rapidly maturing methods of metabolic imaging to life science researchers and to minimize technical intimidation in adapting new technological platforms in biological research.

This book is a comprehensive source of the fundamentals, process parameters, instrumental components and applications of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The effect of multiple pulses on material ablation, plasma dynamics and plasma emission is presented. A heuristic plasma modeling allows to simulate complex experimental plasma spectra. These methods and findings form the basis for a variety of applications to perform quantitative multi-element analysis with LIBS. These application potentials of LIBS have really boosted in the last years ranging from bulk analysis of metallic alloys and non-conducting materials, via spatially resolved analysis and depth profiling covering measuring objects in all physical states: gaseous, liquid and solid. Dedicated chapters present LIBS investigations for these tasks with special emphasis on the methodical and instrumental concepts as well as the optimization strategies for a quantitative analysis. Requirements, concepts, design and characteristic features of LIBS instruments are described covering laboratory systems, inspections systems for in-line process control, mobile systems and remote systems. State-of-the-art industrial applications of LIBS systems are presented demonstrating the benefits of inline process control for improved process guiding and quality assurance purposes.

This book deals with standard spectroscopic techniques which can be used to analyze semiconductor samples or devices, in both, bulk, micrometer and submicrometer scale. The book aims helping experimental physicists and engineers to choose the right analytical spectroscopic technique in order to get specific information about their specific demands. For this purpose, the techniques including technical details such as apparatus and probed sample region are described. More important, also the expected outcome from experiments is provided. This involves also the link to theory, that is not subject of this book, and the link to current experimental results in the literature which are presented in a review-like style. Many special spectroscopic techniques are introduced and their relationship to the standard techniques is revealed. Thus the book works also as a type of guide or reference book for people researching in optical spectroscopy of semiconductors.

This book covers the latest research work done in the area of interface mechanics of collagen and chitin-based biomaterials along with various techniques that can be used to understand mechanics of biological systems and materials. Topics covered include Raman spectroscopy of biological systems, scale dependence of the mechanical properties and microstructure of crustaceans thin films as biomimetic materials, as well as the role of molecular-level modeling. The use of nanomechanics to investigate interface thermomechanics of collagen and chitin-based biomaterials is also covered in detail. This book also: * Details spectroscope experiments as well as nanomechanic experiments * Reviews exhaustively phenomenological models and Raman spectroscopy of biological systems * Covers the latest in multiscaling for molecular models to predict lab-scale sample properties and investigates interface thermomechanics

This book addresses the piezoresistance in p-type 3C-SiC, which it investigates using experimental characterization and theoretical analysis. The gauge factor, the piezoresistive coefficients in two-terminal and four-terminal resistors, the comparison between single crystalline and nanocrystalline SiC, along with the temperature dependence of the piezoresistive effect in p-type 3C-SiC are also discussed. Silicon carbide (SiC) is an excellent material for electronic devices operating at high temperatures, thanks to its large energy band gap, superior mechanical properties and extreme chemical inertness. Among the numerous polytypes of SiC, the cubic single crystal, which is also well known as 3C-SiC, is the most promising platform for microelectromechanical (MEMS) applications, as it can be epitaxially grown on an Si substrate with diameters of up to several hundred millimeters. This feature makes 3C-SiC compatible with the conventional Si-based micro/nano processing and also cuts down the cost of SiC wafers. The investigation into the piezoresistive effect in 3C-SiC is of significant interest for the development of mechanical transducers such as pressure sensors and strain sensors used for controlling combustion and deep well drilling. Although a number of studies have focused on the piezoresistive effect in n-type 3C-SiC, 4H-SiC and 6H-SiC, comparatively little attention has been paid to piezoresistance in p-type 3C-SiC. In addition, the book investigates the piezoresistive effect of top-down fabricated SiC nanowires, revealing a high degree of sensitivity in nanowires employing an innovative nano strain-amplifier. The large gauge factors of the p-type 3C-SiC at both room temperature and high temperatures found here indicate that this polytype could be suitable for the development of mechanical sensing devices operating in harsh environments with high temperatures.

This series describes selected advances in the area of atomic spectroscopy. It is promarily intended for the reader who has a background in atmoic spectroscopy; suitable to the novice and expert. Although a widely used and accepted method for metal and non-metal analysis in a variety of complex samples, "Advances in Atomic Spectroscopy" covers a wide range of materials. Each Chapter will completely cover an area of atomic spectroscopy where rapid development has occurred.

Spectroscopic Properties of Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds provides a unique source of information on an important area of chemistry. Divided into sections mainly according to the particular spectroscopic technique used, coverage in each volume includes: NMR (with reference to stereochemistry, dynamic systems, paramagnetic complexes, solid state NMR and Groups 13-18); nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy; vibrational spectroscopy of main group and transition element compounds and coordinated ligands; and electron diffraction. Reflecting the growing volume of published work in this field, researchers will find this Specialist Periodical Report an invaluable source of information on current methods and applications. Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading experts in their specialist fields, this series is designed to help the chemistry community keep current with the latest developments in their field. Each volume in the series is published either annually or biennially and is a superb reference point for researchers. www.rsc.org/spr

Mass spectrometers are used by almost all chemists and many researchers from neighboring disciplines such as physics, medicine, or biology as a powerful a- lytical tool. Its advantages are high sensitivity, speed, and almost no sample c- sumption. During the last two decades, mass spectrometry experienced a boom of new developments pushing its limits further and further at an increasing speed just similar to the progress in NMR spectroscopy in the 1970s. However, a mass spectrometer does not only serve as a machine for solving complicated analytical problems, it evolved meanwhile to a complete laboratory for the investigation of molecules, clusters, and other species under the envir- ment-free conditions of the highly diluted gas phase. These special conditions existing only in high vacuum change the properties of the particles under study significantly with respect to their energetics and reaction pathways. For ex- ple, temperature is a macroscopic property of a large ensemble of particles in thermal equilibrium and is thus not defined for a single ion. This fact has severe implications for the measurement of kinetic and thermodynamic data of g- phase species. On the other hand, the examination of gas-phase properties has the advantage that systems reduced to minimum complexity can be studied more easily without the complicated influences of solvents or counterions. In parti- lar, the combination of isotopic labeling and mass spectrometry allows for a detailed analysis of reaction mechanisms or conformational analysis through H/D exchange experiments not only on biomole

This volume presents the Proceedings of New Development in Optics and Related Fields, held in Erice, Sicily, Italy, from the 6th to the 21st of June, 2005. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the Ettore Majorana Center for Scientific Culture. The purpose of this Institute was to provide a comprehensive and coherent treatment of the new techniques and contemporary developments in optics and related fields. Several lectures of the course addressed directly the technologies required for the detection and identification of chemical and biological threats; other lectures considered the possible applications of new techniques and materials to the detection and identification of such threats. Each lecturer developed a coherent section of the program starting at a somewhat fundamental level and ultimately reaching the frontier of knowledge in the field in a systematic and didactic fashion.

The focus of Volume 2 of the Encyclopedia of Mass Spectrometry is on peptides and proteins, separation techniques, preparation protocols, and the fundamental characteristics as ionic gas phase species that lie within the breadth of the field of mass spectrometry. This volume is divided into four sections; experimental approaches and protocols, sequence analysis, other structural analyses, and targeted applications.
* Frontier Research on biological, biochemical, and biomedical applications of MS
* Focus on Peptides and Proteins
* Suitable for new graduate students entering the field

In this thesis, the ionization of atoms and small molecules in strong laser fields is experimentally studied using a reaction microscope. The population of autoionizing doubly excited states in the laser fields is proven and a possible connection to the well-known dielectronic recombination processes is discussed. The fundamental process of tunnel ionization in strong laser fields is subject of investigation in a pump-probe experiment with ultrashort laser pulses. A coherent superposition of electronic states in singly charged argon ions is created within the first, and subsequently tunnel-ionized with the second pulse. This gives access to state-selective information about the tunneling process and allows to test common models. Moreover, the ionization of krypton and argon at different wavelengths is studied, from the multiphoton to the tunneling regime. The wavelength-dependent investigations are furthermore extended to molecular hydrogen. In addition to ionization, this system might undergo different dissociative processes. Channel-selective electron momentum distributions are presented and compared to each other.

The problem of conventional, low-temperature superconductivity has been regarded as solved since the seminal work of Bardeen, Cooper, and Schrieffer (BCS) more than 50 years ago. However, the theory does not allow accurate predictions of some of the most fundamental properties of a superconductor, including the superconducting energy gap on the Fermi surface. This thesis describes the development and scientific implementation of a new experimental method that puts this old problem into an entirely new light. The nominee has made major contributions to the development and implementation of a new experimental method that enhances the resolution of spectroscopic experiments on dispersive lattice-vibrational excitations (the "glue" responsible for Cooper pairing of electrons in conventional superconductors) by more than two orders of magnitude. Using this method, he has discovered an unexpected relationship between the superconducting energy gap and the geometry of the Fermi surface in the normal state, both of which leave subtle imprints in the lattice vibrations that could not be resolved by conventional spectroscopic methods. He has confirmed this relationship on two elemental superconductors and on a series of metallic alloys. This indicates that a mechanism qualitatively beyond the standard BCS theory determines the magnitude and anisotropy of the superconducting gap.