Spectral Element Discretization of the Stokes Equations in Deformed Axisymmetric Geometries

In this paper, we study the numerical solution of the Stokes system in deformed axisymmetric geometries. In the azimuthal direction the discretization is carried out by using truncated Fourier series, thus reducing the dimension of the problem. The resulting two-dimensional problems are discretized using the spectral element method which is based on the variational formulation in primitive variables. The meridian domain is subdivided into elements, in each of which the solution is approximated by truncated polynomial series. The results of numerical experiments for several geometries are presented.     

All-semiconductor room-temperature terahertz time domain spectrometer

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of an all-semiconductor room-temperature terahertz time domain spectrometer. An optical Stark mode-locked vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser with 480 fs pulses at 1044 nm was used to illuminate low-temperature-grown photoconductive antennae with 5 mum-gap bow-tie-shaped electrodes. The coherently detected spectrum has a bandwidth close to 1 THz, in which water absorption lines at 0.555 and 0.751 THz can be resolved.     

Hydrodynamics and heat transfer characteristics of G–S magnetically stabilized beds consisting of admixtures of shale oil and magnetic particles

The hydrodynamic and heat transfer behavior of a bed consisting of magnetic and shale oil particle admixtures under the effect of a transverse magnetic field is investigated. The phase diagram, bed void fraction are studied under wide range of the operating conditions i.e., gas velocity, magnetic field intensity and fraction of the magnetic particles. It is found that the range of the stabilized regime is reduced as the magnetic fraction decreases. In addition, the bed voidage at the onset of fluidization decreases as the magnetic fraction decreases. On the other hand, Nusselt number and consequently the heat transfer coefficient is found to increase as the magnetic fraction decreases. An empirical equation is investigated to relate the effect of the gas velocity, magnetic field intensity and fraction of the magnetic particles on the heat transfer behavior in the bed.     

Sodium 2‐nitro­ethanaloximate forms a layered‐framework structure

In the title compound, [Na(C₂H₃N₂O₃)], the Na⁺ cation lies on a centre of inversion in space group P2₁/m and all the atoms of the anion lie on a mirror plane. Na is octahedrally coordinated by four O and two N atoms from six different anions and each anion is coordinated to six different Na⁺ cations, forming chains of confacial octahedra which link the anion layers. Within these layers, the individual anions are linked by both O—H?O and C—H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Adducts of hexa­methyl­ene­tetr­amine with ferrocene­carboxyl­ic acid and ferrocene‐1,1′‐di­carboxyl­ic acid: multiple disorder in space groups Fmm2 and Cmcm

Hexa­methyl­ene­tetr­amine, C₆H₁₂N₄, and ferrocene­carboxyl­ic acid, C₁₁H₁₀FeO₂, form a 1:2 adduct, (I), which is a salt, viz. hexa­methyl­ene­tetramin­ium(2+) bis(ferro­cene­car­box­yl­ate), (C₆H₁₄N₄)[Fe(C₅H₅)(C₆H₄O₂)]₂. The dication in (I) is disordered with two orientations at a site of mm2 symmetry in space group Fmm2, while the anion lies across a mirror plane with its unsubstituted cyclo­penta­dienyl ring disordered over two sets of sites. With ferrocene‐1,1′‐di­carboxyl­ic acid, C₁₂H₁₀FeO₄, hexa­methyl­enetetr­amine forms a 1:1 adduct, (II), in which both components are neutral, viz. hexa­methyl­ene­tetramine–ferro­cene‐1,1′‐di­car­box­ylic acid (1/1), [Fe(C₆H₅O₂)₂]·C₆H₁₂N₄. The amine component in (II) is disordered with two orientations at a site of mm2 symmetry in space group Cmcm, while the acid component is disordered with two orientations at a site of 2/m symmetry. The components in (I) are linked into a finite three‐ion aggregate by a single N—H⃛O hydrogen bond, while the components of (II) are linked into continuous chains by a single O—H⃛N hydrogen bond.     

Effects of silver nanoparticles towards the efficiency of organic solar cells

We report an alternative approach to enhance the optical and electrical performance of a vanadyl 2,9,16,23-tetraphenoxy-29H,31H-phthalocyanine:poly(3hexylthiophene) (VOPcPhO:P3HT) blending system by integrating plasmonic spherical silver into an active layer of organic solar cells. Studies of the influence of the size distribution and optical properties of the silver nanoparticles were carried out using UV–Vis spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Electrical characteristics with and without the presence of metallic nanostructures were analyzed using J–V characteristics to observe the plasmonic effects on the performance in the VOPcPhO:P3HT organic solar cells.     

Selectivity and thermodynamic characteristics of doubly charged cations on zirconium titanate from aqueous and alcoholic solutions

The ion-exchange isotherms of Ni²⁺/H⁺ and Co²⁺/H⁺ have been determined with a solution of 0.1 ionic strength for both forward and backward reactions at 25^°C by a batch technique. The thermodynamic equilibrium constants for the exchange process have been calculated using the Gains and Thomas equation. The preference Ni²⁺>Co²⁺ has been shown. The ion exchange selectivity for exchange of Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions with hydrogen ions on zirconium titanate has been investigated as a function of [HCl] from aqueous and 25% of methanol and/or ethanol solutions. The values of the thermodynamic functions for the studied systems have been reported. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic study of the isotopic exchange of Na+ and Zn2+ ions on iron and chromium titanates

Iron(III) (FeTi) and chromium (III) titanates (CrTi) were prepared as cation exchange materials in a granular form. The rate of the isotopic exchange of Na⁺/*Na⁺ and Zn²⁺/*Zn²⁺ between aqueous solution and iron(III) and chromium(III) titanates in Na⁺ or Zn²⁺form has been carried out radiometrically in the 25-60 °C temperature range. The exchange rate is controlled by a particle diffusion mechanism and experimental and theoretical approaches have been used to obtain the rate of diffusion through the spherical particles of the exchangers. The values of self diffusion () of Na⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions were measured at different operation conditions, particle size, reaction temperatures and drying temperatures of the matrix. The values of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were calculated and their significance discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Highly sensitive and selective catalytic determination of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde

A highly sensitive, simple and selective kinetic method was developed for the determination of ultra-trace levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde based on their catalytic effect on the oxidation of N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) with hydrogen peroxide. The reaction was monitored spectrophotometrically by tracing the formation of the red-colored oxidized product of DPD at 510nm, within 30s of mixing the reagents. The optimum reaction conditions were: 20mmolL(-1) DPD, 250mmolL(-1) H(2)O(2), 150mmolL(-1) phosphate, 150mmolL(-1) citrate and pH 6.60+/-0.05 at 25 degrees C. Following the recommended procedure, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde could be determined with linear calibration graphs up to 0.50 and 1.4microg mL(-1) and detection limits, based on the 3S(b)-criterion, of 0.015 and 0.035microg mL(-1), respectively. In addition, analytical data for other 10 aldehydes were also presented. The high sensitivity and selectivity of the proposed method allowed its successful application to rain water, mainstream smoke (MSS) and disposed tips of smoked cigarettes (DTSC). A sample aliquot was directly analyzed for its total water-soluble aldehyde content. A second sample aliquot was heated at 80 degrees C for 10min to expel acetaldehyde and the aliquot was analyzed for its content of other water-soluble aldehydes (expressed as formaldehyde equivalent), and acetaldehyde was determined by difference. The analytical results were in excellent agreements with those obtained following the standard HPLC method based on pre-column derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Moreover, published catalytic-spectrophotometric methods for the determination of aldehydes were reviewed.