Microstructure and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by a simple method

In this investigation, ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by a simple and rapid method. This method is based on the short time solid state milling and calcinations of zinc acetate and citric acid powders. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, photoluminescence and UV-vis spectroscopy. It was shown that the calcination temperature significantly affected the particle size and optical properties of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. Calculation based on the XRD data shows that the average sizes of ZnO particles are in agreement with those from TEM images and the size of the particles increases on increasing the calcination temperature. Also the band gap of samples decreased from 3.29 to 3.23 eV on increasing the calcination temperature from 350 to 600 °C. Photoluminescence analyses show that many defects such as interstitial zinc, zinc vacancy and oxygen vacancy are responsible for the observed optical properties.     

Magnetocaloric effect in Pr<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ag<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript> manganites

The magnetocaloric effect in alternating magnetic fields has been investigated in Pr_{1 − x} Ag _x MnO₃ manganites with x = 0.05−0.25. The stepwise reversal of the sign of the magnetocaloric effect has been revealed in a weakly doped sample (x = 0.05) at low temperatures (∼80 K). This reversal is attributed to the coexistence of the ferromagnetic and canted antiferromagnetic phases with different critical temperatures.     

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Pd-PEPPSI type complexes are widely used as precatalyst in a variety of organic reactions, including the Negishi, Kumada and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The aim of this research is to determine potential proposed reaction pathways 1, 2, or 2′ (See Schemes 1 and S1–S4 ) for Pd-PEPPSI precatalyst activation in the presence of ethylene glycol as a solvent also in the gas phase at Cam-B3LYP-D3 method nominated among eight DFT methods examined. There is also investigation into the impact of promoter bases (NaOEt, NaOⁱPr, NaO^tBu) on precatalyst activation of Pd-PEPPSI. Eventually, the most favorable proposed reaction pathway and promoter base for reducing Pd(II) to Pd(0) are predicted computationally. Notably, our findings are consistent with the organ Pd-PEPPSI type complexes that offer increased catalytic activity and provide basic information in the presence of solvents designing the monoligated Pd(0)-solvent.     

An experimental study and CFD analysis towards heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of decaying swirl pipe flow generated by axial vanes

In this presentation, influences of axial vane swirler on heat transfer augmentation and fluid flow are investigated both experimentally and numerically. The swirl generator is installed at the inlet of the annular duct to generate decaying swirling pipe flow. Three different blade angels of 30°, 45° and 60° were examined. Meanwhile, flow rate was adjusted at Reynolds numbers ranging from 10000 to 30000. Study has been done under uniform heat flux condition and air was used as working fluid. Experimental results confirm that the use of vane swirler leads to a higher heat transfer compared with those obtained from plain tubes. Depending on blade angle, overall Nusselt augmentation is found from 50% to 110% while friction factor increases by the range of 90–500%. Thermal Performance evaluation has been done for test section and test section together with swirler. In both cases, thermal performance increases as vane angle is raised and decreases by growth of Re number. When increasing the blade angle, higher decay rate has been observed for local Nusselt number. In CFD analysis, time-averaged governing equations were solved numerically and RSM model was applied as the turbulence model. Here, the simulation results of axial and tangential velocities, turbulent kinetic energy, wall stresses and swirl intensity are provided. They illustrate the effect of swirling pattern on mean flow and turbulence structure, as well as on improving heat transfer enhancement in the annular duct.     

Thiol-dependent serine alkaline proteases from Bacillus sp. HR-08 and KR-8102

Two Bacillus sp. strains, HR-08 and KR-8102, isolated from soil of the west and north parts of Iran were screened on gelatin agar medium for their ability to produce alkaline protease. The enzymes were active in a wide pH range (6.0–11.0) and stable in the alkaline range (7.0–12.0). The optimum temperatures for the protease from HR-08 and KR-8102 were 65 and 50°C, respectively. The irreversible thermoinactivation of HR-08 and KR-8102 proteases showed that the stability of HR-08 enzyme was higher than that of KR-8102 and the half-lives of these enzymes were 95 and 32 min at 50°C, respectively. In the presence of 10 mM Ca²⁺, HR-08 retained 100, 90, and 20% of its initial activity after heating for 30 min at 50, 60, and 70°C, respectively. Enzymes were inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and iodoacetate. After inhibition by iodoacetate, both enzymes were reactivated by dithiothreitol. These data show that the enzymes seem to be thiol-dependent serine alkaline proteases. The enzymes especially from HR-08 were stable in the presence of H₂O₂, surfactants, and local detergents; their activities were enhanced in the presence of 5 mM Fe²⁺; and the presence of 5mM metal ions such as Mg²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Mn²⁺ produced almost no effect.     

Removal of an organic pollutant from waste water by photocatalytic behavior of AgX/TiO2 loaded on mordenite nanocrystals

Mordenite (MOR) nanocrystals were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. Sol–gel and deposition methods were utilized to modify the zeolite surface with TiO₂ and then AgBr or AgCl particles. Photocatalysts were characterized by using X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Activity was evaluated by photodegradation of Acid Blue 92 as an azo dye. The effect of silver halide deposition on the photocatalytic behavior of the prepared nanocomposites was studied under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, and the results were compared. The results showed that AgCl/TiO₂/MOR was more active under UV, while with visible source, AgBr/TiO₂/MOR exhibited better photocatalytic performance. A mechanism for the reaction is also proposed.     

Influence of the granule size on the magnetocaloric properties of manganite La0.5Ca0.5MnO3

The influence of the granule size on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of ceramic sample of manganite La_0.5Ca_0.5MnO₃ has been investigated. Anomalies indicating the coexistence of the ferromagnetic metallic and antiferromagnetic charge-ordered phases below T _C have been found in the temperature dependence of the magnetocaloric effect. It has been shown that a decrease in the granule size to 90 nm leads to the complete suppression of the antiferromagnetic charge-ordered phase.