Catalytic Induced Thermal Conversion of Amorphous Carbon into Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have caught extensive attention in the field of material science and electronics. Their formation typically uses plasma arc or CVD techniques [1–3]. So far, formation of SWCNTs just by thermal conversion of amorphous, non graphitic carbon which is a nearly ubiquitous carbon source is challenging but has not been reported so far. We herein demonstrate the catalytic growth of SWNTs from an amorphous carbon source (activated charcoal powder, ‘Aktivkohle’) mediated by three different catalytically active metals; metallic nickel, nickel derived from bis(η⁵‐cyclopentadienyl)nickel (nickelocene) and yttrium formed in situ from yttrium oxide.     

Regeneration of levulinic acid from loaded-organic phase: equilibrium,kinetic studies and process economics

Regeneration of carboxylic acids from the loaded-organic phase is an essential step to complete the reactive extraction process. A study on the regeneration of levulinic acid from loaded-organic phase (methyl isobutyl ketone + tri-n-octylamine + acid) was carried out using various techniques including NaOH, temperature swing, diluent swing, and tri-methylamine methods. Equilibrium data obtained show that among all the methods, the recovery of acid is the highest for the tri-methylamine method when the molar ratio of tri-methylamine to levulinic acid concentrations is greater than 1. Kinetic studies performed for the tri-methylamine method showed that there are no changes in the specific rate of extraction with changes in stirrer speed rate and phase volume ratio (V _aq/V _org), and the overall order of reaction is 1.5. Based on the effects of stirrer speed and phase volume ratio on the specific rate of extraction, the reaction was concluded to occur in the fast regime. Also, about 80% of acid was recovered by the evaporation of tri-methylamine phase at 104–140 °C. A detailed economic evaluation for the recovery of levulinic acid using reactive extraction for a feed rate of 2 m³ h^?1 shows that the payback period for recovering capital investment is 0.49 years.     

Direct synthesis of metal oxide incorporated mesoporous SBA-15, and their applications in non-enzymatic sensing of glucose

One-step direct synthetic route is reported for the preparation of M-SBA-15 materials (M=Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, and Mn) with nSi/nM ratios ranging from 100 to 10 under mild acidic condition than conventionally employed for the synthesis of Si-SBA-15. Materials were characterized by a complementary combination of X-ray diffraction, nitrogen sorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and UV-visible spectroscopy. Experimental evidences show that metal oxides are incorporated in the pore wall of SBA-15 matrices. A non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor device was fabricated for glucose detection based on M-SBA-15 materials. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were used to evaluate the catalytic activity of the M-SBA-15 modified electrode toward glucose. It was found that the Cu-SBA-15 (Si/Cu=20) modified electrode showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of glucose in alkaline solution compared to that of the conventional CuO and other M-SBA-15 materials investigated in this study. Under the optimal detection conditions, the Cu-SBA-15 (Si/Cu=20) exhibited linear behavior in the concentration range from 10 μM to 20 mM for the quantification of glucose with a limit of detection of 10 μM. Moreover, the Cu-SBA-15 modified electrode was also relatively insensitive to commonly interfering species such as ascorbic acid, uric acid, and dopamine.     

Electrochemical Sensor Platforms Based on Nanostructured Metal Oxides,and Zeolite‐Based Materials

Electrochemical sensors have drawn significant attention over the last couple of decades because of their ability to improve detection of organic and inorganic analytes found in the field of biotechnology, environmental sciences, medicine, and food quality control. This personal account summarizes the state‐of‐art research carried out in the construction and evaluation of nanostructured metal oxides and zeolite based electrochemical sensors. Metal oxides and zeolite‐based nanomaterials have many unique and extraordinary properties such as tunable redox activity, surface functionalization ability, optimum conductivity, large surface area, biocompatibility and so forth. In this personal account, the current advances in electrochemical sensor applications of metal oxides, zeolite‐based nanomaterials, and their nanocomposites are described for the single and simultaneous determination of organic & inorganic contaminants present in water bodies, physiological bio‐molecules present in human blood & urine samples, and organic contaminants present in food materials.Moreover, concluding section focuses discussion on the future developments and applications of these materials in various emerging technologies.     

Non-linear vibrations of transversely isotropic rectangular'' plates

The large amplitude free flexural vibration of transversely isotropic rectangular plate, incorporating the effects of transverse shear and rotatory inertia, is studied using the von Karman field equations. A mode shape, consisting of three generalised-coordinates together with the Galerkin technique, results in a system of three non-linear simultaneous ordinary differential equations which govern the motion of the plate. These equations are integrated using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method to obtain the period for each amplitude of vibration. The non-linear period vs amplitude behaviour is of the hardening type and it is also found that transverse shear and rotary inertia effects increase the period and that this increase is quite significant even for thin transversely isotropic plates. The results are compared with earlier results which were based on a one-term or one generalised coordinate solution and using the Berger approximation or the von Karman field equations.     

Effective hydrogenation and surface damage induced by MW-ECR plasma of fine-grained polycrystalline silicon

This work reports the investigations on the effects of the hydrogenation process of thin film polycrystalline n⁺pp⁺ mesa silicon cells using MW-ECR plasma in a conventional PECVD system. Different operating parameters such as MW-ECR power, annealing temperature and the doping level of the emitter region were varied. The n⁺-type emitter regions were obtained by phosphorus diffusion in a conventional furnace using an oxide doping source containing phosphorus (P507 or P509 solutions, from Filmtronics Inc.). The MW hydrogenation was carried out at a sample temperature of 400°C for 60 min. Both types of emitters formed from P507 and P509 showed V _oc of 155 mV and 206 mV, which increased linearly to 305 mV and 331 mV, respectively, after hydrogenation when the MW power varied from 200 to 650 W. However, the sheet resistances of the n⁺ emitter region showed a slight increase depending upon hydrogenation power because of its etching. In a further study, hydrogenated samples were annealed in neutral or forming gas (FG) and we observed interesting results on V _oc in the presence of FG. The FG annealing temperature study revealed a strong dependence of V _oc on MW power, which affected the etching level of emitter and emitter dopant concentration, which controls the diffusion of hydrogen ions during post-hydrogenation step. The results were explained in detail by combining the effects of MW power and dopant level of the emitter.     

Efficient Synthesis of Deuterium-Labelled Ganciclovir-d5 and Its Prodrug Valganciclovir-d5

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - An efficient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of deuterium labeled ganciclovir-d5, a potent anti-cytomegalovirus agent and its prodrug,...     

Convective magnetohydrodynamic two fluid flow and heat transfer in an inclined channel

 The problem of fully developed free convection two fluid magnetohydrodynamic flow in an inclined channel is investigated. The governing momentum and energy equations are coupled and highly nonlinear due to dissipation terms, solutions are found employing perturbation technique for small values of Pr · Ec (=ɛ) the product of Prandtl number and Eckert number. Effects of Grashof number, Hartmann number, inclination angle, the ratios of electrical conductivities, viscosities and heights of two fluids on the flow are explored. It is observed that the flow can be controlled effectively by suitable adjustment of the values for the ratios of heights, electrical conductivities and viscosities of the two fluids. Received on 10 December 1999     

Chiral discrimination asserted by enantiomers of Ni (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II) Schiff base complexes in DNA binding, antioxidant and antibacterial activities

Chiral Schiff base ligands (S)-H(2)L and (R)-H(2)L and their complexes (S-Ni-L, R-Ni-L, S-Cu-L, R-Cu-L, S-Zn-L and R-Zn-L) were synthesized, characterized and examined for their DNA binding, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The complexes showed higher binding affinity to calf thymus DNA with binding constant ranging from 2.0×10(5) to 4.5×10(6) M(-1). All the complexes also exhibited remarkable superoxide (56-99%) and hydroxyl scavenging (45-89%) activities as well as antibacterial activities against gram (+) and gram (-) bacteria. However, none of the complexes showed antifungal activity. Conclusively, S enantiomers of the complexes were found to be relatively more efficient for DNA interaction, antioxidant and antibacterial activities than their R enantiomers. This study reveals the possible utilization of chiral Schiff base complexes for pharmaceutical applications.