Abstract
Manganese (Mn) oxides are among the strongest mineral oxidants in the environment and impose significant influence on mobility and bioavailability of redox-active substances, such as arsenic, chromium, and pharmaceutical products, through oxidation processes. Oxidizing potentials of Mn oxides are determined by Mn valence states (2+, 3+, 4+). In this study, the effects of beam damage during electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the transmission electron microscope have been investigated to determine the "safe dose" of electrons. Time series analyses determined the safe dose fluence (electrons/nm(2)) for todorokite (10(6) e/nm(2)), acid birnessite (10(5)), triclinic birnessite (10(4)), randomly stacked birnessite (10(3)), and δ-MnO(2) (<10(3)) at 200 kV. The results show that meaningful estimates of the mean Mn valence can be acquired by EELS if proper care is taken.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
