Note on the morphology determination in emulsions via rheology

Several methods based on the measured rheological properties in steady shear show are suggested to determine the average droplet size in dilute, Newtonian and immiscible emulsions. Steady interfacial shear stress and first normal stress difference are used to extract droplet size. The average droplet size obtained from these steady methods is compared with literature results obtained via the dynamic method and also from experiments in steady state using online optical observations. The agreement between experimental results and theoretical predictions is fairly good. The method is however suited only for systems, where morphology is not controlled by coalescence.     

Hybrid gold-nanoparticle-cored conjugated thiophene dendrimers: synthesis, characterization, and energy-transfer studies

A series of hybrid Au-nanoparticle-dendrimer materials: nanoparticle-cored thiophene dendrimers (NCTDs) were synthesized, characterized, and investigated for their energy-transfer properties. These hybrid nanoparticles were obtained by the simultaneous and in situ reduction of gold(III) chloride and self-assembly of the thiol-containing thiophene dendritic ligands. The dendron ligands were radially attached to the gold nanoparticles and were analyzed by TEM, UV/Vis, (1)H NMR, and FTIR spectroscopies. The solution fluorescence of the attached thiophene dendrons are quenched progressively. Both alkyl-chain length and dendron size have significant influence on the energy-transfer efficiency, as well as on core sizes and size distribution of the Au nanoparticles. In spite of the phenomenon's dependence on nanoparticle size, the energy transfer generally follows the 1/d(2) distance dependence. Single NCTD nanoparticles were also adsorbed on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and uniform aggregates were observed on mica flat substrates.     

An approximation theorem for nuclear operator systems

We prove that an operator system S is nuclear in the category of operator systems if and only if there exist nets of unital completely positive maps φλ:S→Mnλ and ψλ:Mnλ→S such that ψλ°φλ converges to idS in the point-norm topology. Our proof is independent of the Choi-Effros-Kirchberg characterization of nuclear C^?-algebras and yields this characterization as a corollary. We give an explicit example of a nuclear operator system that is not completely order isomorphic to a unital C^?-algebra.     

Leavitt path algebras with coefficients in a commutative ring

Given a directed graph E we describe a method for constructing a Leavitt path algebra L_R(E) whose coefficients are in a commutative unital ring R. We prove versions of the Graded Uniqueness Theorem and Cuntz-Krieger Uniqueness Theorem for these Leavitt path algebras, giving proofs that both generalize and simplify the classical results for Leavitt path algebras over fields. We also analyze the ideal structure of L_R(E), and we prove that if K is a field, then L_K(E)≅K⊗_ZL_Z(E).     

Antimicrobial graphene polymer (PVK-GO) nanocomposite films

The first report on the fabrication and application of a nanocomposite containing poly-N-vinyl carbazole (PVK) polymer and graphene oxide (GO) as an antimicrobial film was demonstrated. The antimicrobial film was 90% more effective in preventing bacterial colonization relative to the unmodified surface. More importantly, the nanocomposite thin film showed higher bacterial toxicity than pure GO-modified surface.     

Modular peripheral functionalization of thiophene dendrons and dendrimers

A series of thiophene dendrons and dendrimers with peripheral functional groups were designed and synthesized. Two methodologies using thiophene dendrons and dendrons as synthetic building blocks, namely, (1) periphery functionalization; (2) a combination of focal and periphery functionalization have been demonstrated.     

Polymer catenanes via a supramolecularly templated ATRP initiator

Synthesis of polymer catenanes via a living radical polymerization and supramolecular template approach are demonstrated. The ring closure was performed via atom transfer radical cross coupling (ATRC) to obtain polymer catenanes from the linear polymer metal complex precursor.     

Electrically driven oxygen separation through gadolinia-doped ceria using PrBaCo2O5?+?x and NdBaCo2O5?+?x electrodes

Oxygen gas can be electrochemically separated from ambient air with very high purity and compressed by using a solid-electrolyte ion-transport membrane. An electrolyte with high ionic conductivity such as gadolinium-doped ceria (CGO) and mixed conducting electrodes are used to construct the electrochemical cell. To achieve high oxygen flux, the electrodes must exhibit very fast electrode kinetics. Here, we report the performances of mixed conducting PrBaCo₂O_5 + x and NdBaCo₂O_5 + x electrodes in oxygen separation in a planar CGO electrolyte-supported cell. The properties of the electrode materials were evaluated using potentiostatic and potentiodynamic measurements and alternating current impedance spectroscopy. The oxygen flux was also measured using gas chromatography to confirm the absence of gas leaks. The electrodes demonstrated very low polarization resistances as a result of very high cathodic and anodic reaction rates at temperatures of 600–800 °C. High oxygen gas flow rates were observed on applying potentials up to 1 V with an almost linear relationship between the applied potential and the molar flow rate of oxygen gas.