Sonochemical preparation of composite nanoparticles of Au/gamma-Fe2O3 and magnetic separation of glutathione

We prepared Au/gamma-Fe2O3 composite nanoparticles by sonochemically reducing Au(III) ions employing no stabilizer in the aqueous solution to form stable Au nanoparticles and allowing them to attach onto the surface of gamma-Fe2O3 particles with an average size of 21 nm. Size of the formed Au nanoparticle depended on the initial concentration of Au(III) ions. The number of the Au nanoparticles, supported on each gamma-Fe2O3 particle was controlled by changing the relative amounts of Au(III) ions and gamma-Fe2O3 particles. The composite nanoparticles exhibited a high affinity with glutathione, a tripeptide with mercapto group so that separation and manipulation of glutathione in aqueous solutions could be performed by application of external magnetic field. Because the surfaces of the Au nanoparticles were not shielded by any stabilizers, or naked, sonochemically prepared Au/gamma-Fe2O3 composite nanoparticles seemed to show stronger affinity to the glutathione than those by the radiochemical method.     

PEO-based composite lithium polymer electrolyte, PEO-BaTiO3-Li(C2F5SO2)2N

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) based polymer electrolytes with BaTiO₃ as filler and Li(C₂F₅SO₂)₂N as salt have been examined in lithium polymer batteries. The aluminum disolution potential in PEO-Li(C₂F₅SO₂)₂N was estimated to be 4.1 V vs. Li/Li⁺ at 80 °C, which was compared to that of 3.8 V vs. Li/Li⁺ in PEO-Li(CF₃SO₂)₂N. The electrical conductivity of the system was measured as a function of O/Li ratio. The highest conductivity was observed in O/Li=8. The conductivity was 1.65×10⁻³ S/cm at 80 °C and 1.5×10⁻⁵ S/cm at 25 °C. The interfacial resistance of Li/polymer electrolyte/Li annealed at 80 °C for 15 days was lower than 100 Ωcm². Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16 – 22, 2001.     

The required sample size in measuring oblique incidence absorption coefficient Experimental study

It is an important issue to clarify the minimum required size of a specimen for the accurate measurement of oblique incidence absorption coefficient. Investigation is made on the basis of experimental studies in a laboratory, using Aoshima's time stretched pulse technique. Measurements are carried out for glass fiber with thickness of 50 and 100 mm as highly absorbing materials and for ceramic with a thickness of 52 mm as relatively low absorbing material. The tested surface areas range from 0.0625 to 42 m² for glass fiber and from 0.1563 to 39.168 m² for ceramics. The absorption coefficients are determined at incidence angles from 0 to 45° in increments of 15°. With consideration of an active surface bounded by ellipse orbit, the minimum required surface area is 16 m² with a ratio of length to width of about 1.25. This value is twice the area size of the active surface, which is calculated from the geometry of source and microphone, and the width of the temporal window.     

Optical-Optical Double Resonance Spectroscopy of the 1g(P1)-AΠ (1u)-XΣg Transition of I2

Optical-optical double resonance spectroscopy was used to study the 1_g(³P₁) ion-pair state of I₂ correlating to I⁻(¹S)+I⁺³P₁) at the dissociation limit. We gained access to the 1_g(³P₁) state though the A³Π (1_u) state in the (1+1) photon-excitation scheme. The pump laser excited the A³Π (1_u)-X¹Σ_g⁺ transition at a fixed frequency for state selection. The probe laser was scanned to detect the 1_g(³P₁)-A³Π (1_u) resonance by monitoring the ultraviolet emission from the 1_g(³P₁) state at 278 nm. The 1_g(³P₁) state was observed in a vibrational progression consisting of P and R doublets. An energy level analysis was carried out for the 1_g(³P₁) state in the 0≤ v ≤ 14 and 12≤J≤135 range, which led to a set of molecular parameters including the Ω-doubling constant. The Ω-doubling of the 1_g(³P₁) state was discussed by the pure precession model and interpreted to occur through the heterogeneous coupling with the 0_g⁻(³P₁) state correlating to the same ionic asymptote.     

Performance characteristics between horizontally and vertically oriented electrodes EHD ESP for collection of low-resistive diesel particulates

The novel electrohydrodynamically-assisted electrostatic precipitator (EHD ESP) was developed to suppress particle reentrainment for collection of low resistive diesel particulates. The collection efficiency was compared between vertically and horizontally oriented electrodes of the EHD ESP using 400 cc diesel engine. The particle size dependent collection efficiency was evaluated for the particle size ranging in 20 to 5000 nm using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and a particle counter (PC). Both horizontally and vertically oriented EHD ESP showed an excellent suppression of particle reentrainment. However, the horizontally oriented electrode EHD ESP showed significantly improved for the particle size of 300–500 nm in comparison with vertically oriented electrode EHD ESP, resulting in more than 90% collection efficiency for all particle size range. The EHD ESP has high potential especially for highly concentrated marine diesel engine emission control.     

Neutron irradiation effects on magnetic minor hysteresis loops in nuclear reactor pressure vessel steels

Magnetic minor hysteresis loops have been measured on A533B-type nuclear reactor pressure vessel steels with various combinations of Cu and Ni contents after neutron irradiation to a fluence up to 3.32 × 10¹⁹ n cm^?2. A strong compositional dependence of minor-loop properties, which are indicators of internal stress, was found. The properties of high-Cu and high-Ni steel show a large increase in the low fluence regime below 0.4 × 10¹⁹ n cm^?2, followed by a slow decrease, while those for low-Cu or low-Ni steel show a sudden decrease. The changes are roughly in linear proportion to the yield strength changes. The results were explained from the viewpoint of the formation and growth of Cu-rich precipitates and/or fine scale defects in the matrix and along pre-existing dislocations.     

A dielectric rod waveguide coupled with metal rectangular waveguide

Measurements have been done in the millimeter wave region on a composite waveguide which comprises a dielectric rod waveguide connecting two metal rectangular waveguides. Such a waveguide has been used by us in a Josephson harmonic mixer installed in a small metal cryostat, to prevent the thermal invasion from outside environment and to transmit both signal and LO waves with small losses. The measured transmission loss, that is caused mainly by the coupling loss between metal rectangular waveguides (TE₁₀ mode) and a dielectric rod waveguide (HE₁₁ mode), has been less than 2dB in the frequency range of 52–104 GHz.