Direct observation of key reaction intermediates on gold clusters

Using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, we provide direct experimental evidence that di-oxygen species are stable on anionic gold dimer and tetramer clusters at room temperature. The stabilization of molecular oxygen is crucial for the high activities of the low-temperature reactions on gold catalysts.     

Dispersion of nano-silicon carbide (SiC) powder in aqueous suspensions

The dispersion characteristics of nanosize silicon carbide (SiC) suspension were investigated in terms of surface charge, particle size, rheological measurement and adsorption study. Ammonium polycarboxylate has been used as dispersant to stabilize the suspension. It was found that the isoelectric point (iep) of SiC powder was pH_iep (4.9). The surface charge of powder changed significantly in presence of the ammonium polycarboxylate dispersant and iep shifted significantly towards lower acidic pH (3.6). The shift in iep has been quantified in terms of ΔG ⁰ _SP, the specific free energy of adsorption between the surface sites and the adsorbing polyelectrolyte (APC). The values of ΔG ⁰ _SP (−10.85 RT unit) estimated by the electro kinetic data compare well with those obtained from adsorption isotherms (−9.521 RT unit). The experimentally determined optimum concentration of dispersant required for maximizing the dispersion was found to be 2.4 mg/g of SiC (corresponding to an adsorbed amount of 1.10 mg/g), at pH 7.5. This is much below the full monolayer coverage (corresponding to adsorbed amount of 1.75 mg/g) of the particles surface by the dispersant. The surface charge quantity, rheological, pH, electro kinetic and adsorption isotherm results were used to explain and correlate the stability of the nanosize silicon carbide in aqueous media. At pH 7.5, where both SiC surface and APC are negatively charged, the adsorption of APC was low because of limited availability of favourable adsorption sites. In addition, the brush-like configuration of the adsorbed polymer prevented close approach of any additional dispersant; hence stabilization of the slurry happens at a comparatively lower concentration than the monolayer coverage.     

Electromagnetic form factors of nucleons in a relativistic square-root potential model of independent quarks

The nucleon electromagnetic form factorsG _E ^P (q²),G _M ^P (q²) and the axial-vector form factor G_A(q²) are studied in a relativistic model of independent quarks confined by an equally mixed scalar-vector square root potentialV _q(r)=1/2(1+γ ⁰)(ar ^1/2+ν ₀) taking into account the appropriate centre-of-mass corrections. The respective root-mean-square radii associated withG _E ^P (q²) and G _A (q²) come out as [〈r ²〉 _E ^P ]^1/2=0.86 fm and 〈r _A ² 〉^1/2=0.88 fm. Restoration of chiral symmetry in this model is discussed to derive the pion-nucleon form factorG _πNN(q²) and consequently the pion-nucleon coupling constant is obtained asg _πNN(q²)=12.81 as compared tog _πNN(q²)_exp⋍13.     

Thermal instability of a horizontal layer of micropolar fluid with heat source

The thermal instability of a horizontal layer of micropolar fluid which loses heat throughout its volume at a constant rate has been considered. The influence of the various micropolar fluid parameters on the onset of convection have been analysed. It is found that heat source and heat sink have the same destabilising effect in micropolar fluid. It is observed that the horizontal dimension of the cells remains insensitive to the changes in the micropolar fluid parameters and also to the heat source parameterQ except forQ values near zero, where the change is drastic. Further, it is observed that though the vertical component of velocity and the curl of microrotation do not vanish anywhere between the two boundaries forQ=0, they vanish at a point nearer to the lower boundary even for a small change in theQ value.     

Study of the induction period of the thermal decomposition of irradiated barium bromate

The influence of -irradiation upto 200 Mrad on the thermal decomposition of barium bromate has been studied in the temperature range 553–583 K. The fraction decomposed //-time /t/ characteristics for irradiated barium bromate exhibit stages, viz. initial gas and decay stages. Irradiation shortens the induction period conforming to the relation I=C₁–C₂ lg dose. All experimental data for induction period are tested against the values obtained from the theoretical calculations by making use of this induction-period dose relation. The topochemical aspect of the validity of the above relation has been considered to be due to the linear growth of nuclei during irradiation and subsequent exponential growth during the induction period.     

Generalized absolute Cesaro summability of a Fourier series

In an attempt to study the scope of a theorem due to Pati, the authors have established that φ(t) logK|t∈B _u V in (0,π)⟹ΣA _n (x) is |C, 0,β| forβ>1, at the pointt = x.     

Nucleon octet in a relativistic logarithmic potential

A simple independent-quark-model based on the Dirac equation with logarithmic potential is used to calculate several properties of octet baryons such as magnetic moment, the axial vector coupling constantg _A (n) for neutronβ-decay and the charge radius of the proton. In view of the simplicity of the model, the results obtained are quite good.     

Electronic structure and properties of isoelectronic magic clusters: Al13X (X=H,Au,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs)

The equilibrium structure, stability, and electronic properties of the Al(13)X (X=H,Au,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs) clusters have been studied using a combination of photoelectron spectroscopy experiment and density functional theory. All these clusters constitute 40 electron systems with 39 electrons contributed by the 13 Al atoms and 1 electron contributed by each of the X (X=H,Au,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs) atom. A systematic study allows us to investigate whether all electrons contributed by the X atoms are alike and whether the structure, stability, and properties of all the magic clusters are similar. Furthermore, quantitative agreement between the calculated and the measured electron affinities and vertical detachment energies enable us to identify the ground state geometries of these clusters both in neutral and anionic configurations.