Brenda Doherty

TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive investigation based on X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared and UV-visible absorption and emission spectroscopies was carried out on 13 organic pigments derived from eight different natural sources.

TL;DR: The use of mobile NMR remains relatively new, expanding from field testing of materials such as roads, bridge decks, soil, and the contents of drilled wells to these more recent studies of objects of cultural heritage, including examinations of master paintings and the evolution of stone conservation treatments.

TL;DR: In this article, the artificial oxalate protection method was analyzed in laboratory experiments in order to achieve an optimum treatment application and concentration giving rise to its most effective protective nature Spectroscopic (Fourier transform infrared, Micro-Raman and UV-vis colorimetry), microscopic (scanning electron microscope) and contact-angle analyses were carried out to characterize Carrara marble samples before and after application of the treatment to validate its efficiency.

TL;DR: The CaSO4–H2O system (gypsum/bassanite/anhydrite) has been re-investigated, evaluating and assigning the SO42- and OH overtone and combination bands, respectively, in the ranges 1900–2700 cm−1 and 5000–6000cm−1 resulting from reflection and high concentration transmission spectra.

Abstract: The design and synthesis of a tailor-made surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active film that is fabricated to be removable from the surface of an artwork under study following effective measurements is detailed. It is shown that silver nanoparticles prepared by green chemical reduction with glucose can be effectively doped into a methylcellulose (MC) matrix for the formation of a gel, which can be subsequently applied to a minute area (ca 1‐1.5 mm) of an artwork without posing a threat to its integrity. Studies have been aimed at characterizing this film’s chemical and physical properties, with regard to the stability of the nanoparticlesdispersed withinthe MC, theease of application of theviscous gel, its speed of drying and the transparency of the dry film for SERS measurements. Importantly, results have led to reproducible SERS enhancements of the order 10 3 ‐10 4 for studies carried out on reference laboratory dye components and unvarnished mock-paintings. Techniques including optical and scanning electron microscopy were used to monitor the drying of the film and its resulting morphology, aswellastomapthedistributionofsilvernanoparticlesinthefilmsoastoaccountforanyvisualmodificationtotheunderlying surface upon film removal. Copyright c � 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.