December 2013 Archives

An interesting application of confocal micro-X-ray fluorescence has been reported by Dr. Tianxi Sun (Beijing Normal University, China) and his colleagues. The technique employs a polycapillary focusing X-ray lens and a polycapillary parallel X-ray lens, as well as the laboratory X-ray source (Mo tube). In the present research, the scan of the confocal point can give the Cu²⁺ ion distribution near the surface of the electrode in a steady-state diffusion in an electrolytic tank. The research group studied the effects of the concentration of the electrolyte and the bath voltage on the shape of the layer on the nonuniform distribution of the Cu²⁺ ions. For more information, see the paper, "Spatially Resolved In Situ Measurements of the Ion Distribution Near the Surface of Electrode in a Steady-State Diffusion in an Electrolytic Tank with Confocal Micro X-ray Fluorescence", S. Peng et al., Anal. Chem., 86, 362 (2014).

The International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) has announced that Professors A. Janner and T. W. J. M. Janssen (both from the Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands) have been awarded the tenth Ewald prize for the development of superspace crystallography and its application to the analysis of aperiodic crystals. The presentation of the Ewald Prize will be made during the Montreal Congress Opening Ceremony on 5 August 2014. The Ewald prize consists of a medal, a certificate and an award of USD 30,000. Former recipients are E. Dodson (UK), C. Giacovazzo (Italy), G. M. Sheldric (Germany) in 2011, D. Sayre (USA, 2008), P. Coppens (USA, 2005), M. M. Woolfson (UK, 2002), G. N. Ramachandran (India, 1999), M. G. Rossmann (USA, 1996), N. Kato (Japan, 1993), B. K. Vainshtein (Russia, 1990), J. M. Cowley (USA) and A. F. Moodie (Australia) in 1987. For further information, visit the Web page, http://www.iucr.org/people/ewald-prize/10th-ewald-prize