Single mode phonon energy transmission in functionalized carbon nanotubes

Although the carbon nanotube (CNT) features superior thermal properties in its pristine form, the chemical functionalization often required for many applications of CNT inevitably degrades the structural integrity and affects the transport of energy carriers. In this article, the effect of the side wall functionalization on the phonon energy transmission along the symmetry axis of CNT is studied using the phonon wave packet method. Three different functional groups are studied: methyl (-CH(3)), vinyl (-C(2)H(3)), and carboxyl (-COOH). We find that, near Γ point of the Brillouin zone, acoustic phonons show ideal transmission, while the transmission of the optical phonons is strongly suppressed. A positive correlation between the energy transmission coefficient and the phonon group velocity is observed for both acoustic and optical phonon modes. On comparing the transmission due to functional groups with equivalent point mass defects on CNT, we find that the chemistry of the functional group, rather than its molecular mass, has a dominant role in determining phonon scattering, hence the transmission, at the defect sites.     

A facile approach for morphosynthesis of Pd nanoelectrocatalysts

A facile approach has been developed for synthesis of highly-structured, anisotropic Pd nanostructures. The dendritic Pd nanostructures show superior performance toward oxidation of formic acid and methanol for fuel cell application.     

Boundary element method for wave trapping by a multi-layered trapezoidal breakwater near a sloping rigid wall

This study examines the multiple layers in a rubble mound breakwater and their effect on reflection and dissipation of incoming ocean waves. The numerical model is developed using multi-domain boundary element method for oblique water wave trapping near a sloping wall by a multi-layered trapezoidal porous structure, which is utilized to model armour, filter and core layers while examining the hydrodynamics in different configurations. Both, the constant element and linear element approaches to boundary element method are discussed. The cases of bottom-standing porous structures as being submerged and fully extended are considered. The wave hydrodynamics over the structure is described by the reflection and dissipation coefficients along with the forces acting on the sloping wall, and is influenced by wave and structural parametrics of the system. The influence of armour layer in different configurations is highlighted for various structural and wave parameters.

     

Molecular interactions in nitrogen and oxygen

It is proposed that the potential energy function for interaction between pairs of polarizable quadrupolar molecules be represented as the sum of the spherically symmetric Smith-Thakkar (ST) potential and non-spherical terms due to quadrupole-quadrupole and quadrupole-induced dipole interactions. Nitrogen and oxygen are the systems chosen for study. Parameters for the ST term are determined by fixing two of the leading dispersion co-efficients to semi-empirical values and fitting to gaseous viscosity data. The parameters for the non-spherical terms are taken from independent measurements. Second virial coefficients are computed from the total potential functions so constructed. The vibrational structure of the ground states of (O₂)₂ and (N₂)₂ is computed from the ST potentials. Overall agreement with experiment is found to be excellent for nitrogen and reasonably good for oxygen.     

Observation of D+(s)K- and evidence for D+(s)pi- final states in neutral B decays

We report the first observation of a B meson decay that is not accessible by a direct spectator process. The channel B(0)-->D(+)(s)K- is found in a sample of 85 x 10(6) BB; events, collected with the Belle detector at KEKB, with a branching fraction B(B(0)-->D(+)(s)K-)=(4.6(+1.2)(-1.1)+/-1.3) x 10(-5). We also obtain evidence for the B0-->D(+)(s)pi(-) decay with branching fraction B(B0-->D(+)(s)pi(-))=(2.4(+1.0)(-0.8)+/-0.7) x 10(-5). This value may be used to extract a model-dependent value of |V(ub)|.     

Is combining meta‐GGA correlation functionals with the OPTX exchange functional useful?

The recent generalized gradient approximation (GGA) density functional OCS1 of Handy and Cohen is implemented in the deMon code and tested on a carefully selected set of problems. OCS1 is found to be accurate for molecular atomization energies, transition metal–ligand bonds, and systems with intramolecular hydrogen bonds. However, OCS1 encounters problems for systems with intermolecular hydrogen bonds. It also tends to elongate bond lengths systematically, and sometimes significantly. The OPTX exchange is combined with three meta‐GGA correlation functionals, Lap3, τ1, and τ2, the latter reported for the first time. The new meta‐GGA scheme OPTX exchange plus τ2 correlation called Oτ2 yields improved molecular geometries, NMR shielding constants, and an improved barrier height for the H+H₂ reaction. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006     

Enhancement of catalytic activity in dehydrogenation ofn-dodecane over nano-structured Pt-Sn/SBA-16 catalysts by microwave drying

In the present investigation, experimental results from a study of cubic SBA-16-supported Pt-Sn bimetallic catalysts used to investigate dehydrogenation ofn-dodecane to 1-dodecene are presented. Pt (1 wt%)-Sn (1 wt%)/SBA-16 catalyst is synthesized using a simple co-impregnation (CI) method. Further, the impregnated catalysts are dried separately using microwave drying (MW-D) and conventional electrical drying (CE-D) techniques. The microwave-mediated drying of Pt (1%)-Sn (1%)/SBA-16 shows a better catalytic performance and time-on-stream activity for the target reaction.     

Electron transfer reactions of V(IV) with Cl(I), Br(I) and I(I). A kinetic study

A kinetic study on the oxidation of V(IV) by chloramine-T (CAT) at pH 6.85 by N-bromo succinimide (NBS) in aqueous acetic acid–perchloric acid media and by N-iodo succinimide (NIS) in aqueous perchloric acid medium has been carried out. In all the systems studied the order with respect to the oxidant is unity. NBS and CAT oxidation reactions exhibited Michaelis–Menten type kinetics, and the NIS study indicated unit dependence on [substrate]. Independence on acidity has been observed in the case of CAT and NBS reactions, but NIS reactions exhibited inverse unit dependence on [acid]. Novel solvent influences have been noticed in the case of CAT reactions, but with NIS and NBS reactions retardation in the rate has been observed with an increase in the percentage of acetic acid. Plausible mechanisms consistent with the results have been postulated, and suitable rate laws in consonance with the postulated mechanisms have been derived.     

Large deflections of rhombic plates—a new approach

Non-linear static behaviour of rhombic plates has been analysed following Banerjee's hypothesis (B. Banerjee, Large deflections of polygonal plates under non-stationary temperature. J. Thermal Stresses 7, 285–292 (1984)). Calculations have been carried out for different skew angles. To test the accuracy of the theoretical results so obtained, experiments were carried out on copper and steel rhombic plates. The theoretical results were found to be in excellent agreement with those obtained from an analysis of the experimental data.