Synthesis of Nanoscale Bimetallic Particles in Polyelectrolyte Membrane Matrix for Reductive Transformation of Halogenated Organic Compounds

Nanosized Fe/Ni and Fe/Pd particles were synthesized in the polyacrylic acid (PAA)/polyether sulfone (PES) composite membrane matrix for reductive transformation of halogenated organic compounds (HOCs). The advantages of using membrane to immobilize nanoparticles are the reduction of particles loss, prevention of particles agglomeration, and potential application of convective flow. Cross-linked PAA/PES composite membranes containing metal ions as particles precursor were prepared by heat treatment with ethylene glycol (EG) as a cross-linking agent. Nanoscale metal particles were formed and immobilized inside the membrane matrix after reduction with sodium borohydride. Membrane morphology and structure were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Particle size and distribution were characterized by SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was used to obtain the qualitative and quantitative element information of particles. A specimen-drift-free EDS line profile and EDS mapping system was performed in a scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to determine the two-dimensional element distribution of iron and nickel in the nano domain. In the dechlorination study with trichloroethylene (TCE) as a representative HOCs, rapid and complete destruction of TCE was achieved by using nanosized bimetallic Fe/Ni or Fe/Pd in PAA/PES composite membranes. Typically more than 95% of 10 mg/l TCE was reduced within 1 h. Ethane was found in the headspace as the main product.     

Size-dependent linear and non-linear optical response of single carrier two-dimensional quantum dots

We explore the pattern of size dependence of linear and non-linear optical (NLO) responses of one-electron quantum dots in two dimensions with or without anharmonicity in the confinement potential. For some fixed values of transverse magnetic field strength (ω_c) and harmonic confinement potential (ω₀), the influence of the size of the dot on the linear (), the first (β) and the second (γ) NLO responses of the system computed through a finite field linear variational route is analysed. Size-dependent maximization is predicted to be feasible for the quadratic hyperpolarizability.     

Directly writing with nanoparticles at the nanoscale using dip-pen nanolithography

Well-defined nanostructures were written with quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles on gold and mica surfaces using dip-pen nanolithography at room temperature. The structures with both the nanoparticles were characterised by in situ topography measurements, and the quantum dot structures were mapped by fluorescence mapping. It is demonstrated that structures of various kinds such as dots and lines can be prepared using such nanoparticles on suitably prepared surfaces.     

Electroweak symmetry breaking and beyond the Standard Model physics — A review

In this talk, I shall first discuss the Standard Model Higgs mechanism and then highlight some of its deficiencies making a case for the need to go beyond the Standard Model (BSM). The BSM tour will be guided by symmetry arguments. I shall pick up four specific BSM scenarios, namely, supersymmetry, little Higgs, gauge-Higgs unification, and the Higgsless approach. The discussion will be confined mainly on their electroweak symmetry breaking aspects.      

Few-valence-particle excitations around doubly magic 132Sn

Prompt γ-ray cascades in neutron-rich nuclei around doubly-magic ¹³²Sn have been studied using a ²⁴⁸Cm fission source. Yrast states located in the N = 82 isotones ¹³⁴Te and ¹³⁵I are interpreted as valence proton and neutron particle-hole core excitations with the help of shell model calculations employing empirical nucleon-nucleon interactions from both ¹³²Sn and ²⁰⁸Pb regions.     

An ellipsometric investigation of Ag/SiO$\mathsf{_2}$ nanocomposite thin films

Dielectric properties of silver/SiO₂ nanocomposite thin films grown by high-pressure d.c. sputtering technique were studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry (300-800 nm). The dielectric behavior of the nanocomposite thin films largely depended on the particle size, its number density and the surrounding environments. The films showed semiconductor-like behavior up to a critical particle size and concentration, beyond which the films exhibited the typical surface plasmon resonance characteristics in their optical properties. The refractive index was also found to have a strong dependence on the particle size and its dispersion in the matrix. The results were found to be consistent with those obtained from UV-VIS optical absorbance data. Bruggeman effective medium theory was used to explain the experimental results.Received: 3 April 2002, Published online: 23 July 2003PACS:   78.67.-n Optical properties of nanoscale materials and structures - 78.67.Bf Nanocrystals and nanoparticles     

On solving energy-dependent partitioned eigenvalue problem by genetic algorithm: The case of real symmetric Hamiltonian matrices

An energy-dependent partitioning scheme is explored for extracting a small number of eigenvalues of a real symmetric matrix with the help of genetic algorithm. The proposed method is tested with matrices of different sizes (30 × 30 to 1000 × 1000). Comparison is made with Löwdin’s strategy for solving the problem. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the GA-based method are analyzed     

Mössbauer Studies of Nanosize CuFe2O4 Particles

⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of pulsed-laser deposited (PLD) films of CoFe₂O₄ of 0.3 µm thickness is investigated using transmission geometry is reported. Mössbauer parameters were determined for the tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites. The PLD processed films gave measurable spectra with no visible evidence of clustering or multiple phases present. Results on the films agreed with those of the bulk material. The films exhibited magnetic hyperfine and quadruple splittings similar to that of bulk CoFe₂O₄. This work demonstrates that measurable transmission Mössbauer spectra may be obtained for PLD deposited CoFe₂O₄ thick films.     

Entry distribution, fission barrier, and formation mechanism of 254102No

The entry distribution in angular momentum and excitation energy for the formation of 254No has been measured after the 208Pb(48Ca,2n) reaction at 215 and 219 MeV. This nucleus is populated up to spin 22Planck's over 2pi and excitation energy greater, similar6 MeV above the yrast line, with the half-maximum points of the energy distributions at approximately 5 MeV for spins between 12Planck's over 2pi and 22Planck's over 2pi. This suggests that the fission barrier is greater, similar5 MeV and that the shell-correction energy persists to high spin.     

Anti-resonant reflecting photonic crystal waveguide (ARRPCW): modeling and design

In this paper, we apply an antiresonant reflecting layer concept in photonic crystal based waveguides. We have proposed a thin core ARRPCW with linear waveguide carved in it and hence calculated the transmission spectra for various length of waveguide and have shown that the longer waveguides in ARRPCW yields transmission with significantly high quality factor. Comparison of the transmission characteristics of normal conventional planar ARROW-B waveguides & ARRPCW has also been reported. The 2D FDTD numerical modeling reveals improved transmission for various lengths of planar ARROW and ARRPCW with low losses in long waveguides. Transmittance and quality factor are also calculated to confirm superior performance of the proposed design of ARROW based photonic crystal waveguide.