An experimental investigation on pool boiling heat transfer enhancement using Cu-Al2O3 nano-composite coating

Pool boiling heat transfer performances of Cu-Al₂O₃-coated copper surfaces have been studied experimentally for its potential use in heat transfer applications. In the present study, a two-step electrochemical deposition method is examined. This method provides an easy control on surface properties such as porosity and coating thickness. The deposition method is studied carefully and responsible surface morphology parameters are reported. After performing the pool boiling experiments on coated surfaces with DI water, the maximum critical heat flux of 1800 kW/m² and heat transfer coefficient of 193 kW/m² K, which are 68% and 260% higher than that of bare surface, respectively.     

Structural modifications of diamond like carbon films induced by MeV nitrogen ion irradiation

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited on Si(1 0 0) substrates using plasma deposition technique. The deposited films were irradiated using 2 MeV N⁺ ions at fluences of 1×10¹⁴, 1×10¹⁵ and 5×10¹⁵ ions/cm². Samples have been characterized by using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Analysis of Raman spectra shows a gradual shift of both D and G band peaks towards higher frequencies along with an increase of the intensity ratio, I(D)/I(G), with increasing ion fluence in irradiation. These results are consistent with an increase of sp² bonding. XPS results also show a monotonic increase of sp²/sp³ hybridization ratio with increasing ion fluence. Plan view TEM images show the formation of clusters in the irradiated DLC films. HRTEM micrographs from the samples irradiated at a fluence of 5×10¹⁵ ions/cm² show the lattice image with an average interplanar spacing of 0.34 nm, revealing that the clusters are graphite clusters. The crystallographic planes in these clusters are somewhat distorted compared to the perfect graphite structure.     

Fluoride anion sensing using colorimetric reagents containing binaphthyl moiety and urea binding site

Four 1,1′-binaphthalene based bis-urea derivatives bearing aryl groups at end-on nitrogen atoms IIIa–d were synthesized as potential sensor molecules. These receptors show characteristic UV-VIS spectral changes on complexation with anions and they exhibit selective recognition of F⁻ over other halide anions. Interaction of a fluoride anion with urea NH groups was confirmed by ¹H NMR data. The presence of an electron-withdrawing nitro group in N′-aryls (receptors IIIa and IIIb) appeared to be necessary for naked-eye colorimetric detection. These receptors show dramatic color change from light-yellow to orange (IIIa) or to orange-red (IIIb) in the presence of guest fluoride anions already at concentrations of 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³ of the receptor and host.     

Synthesis, spectral and biological studies of nitrogen–sulphur donor macrocyclic ligands and their transition metals complexes

Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized with 22 and 24 membered tetramide macrocyclic ligands viz; 1,9,12,20-tetraaza-2,8,13,19-tetraone-5,16-dithiacyclodocosane [L¹] and 1,9,13,21-tetraaza-2,8,14,20-tetraone-5,17-dithiacyclotetracosane [L²] and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, mass, IR, electronic EPR spectral studies and electrochemical properties. The molar conductance of all the complexes in DMSO solution is corresponding to 1:2 electrolyte. Thus these complexes may be formulated as [M(L′)]Cl₂ [where M = Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) L′ = L¹ and L²]. On the basis of spectral studies a distorted octahedral geometry has been assigned for all the complexes. The ligands and their complexes were also screened in vitro against two pathogenic fungi (F. moniliformae and R. solani) to assess their growth inhibiting potential.     

Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) Burgers Equation in Dusty Negative Ion Plasmas: Evolution of Dust-Ion Acoustic Shocks

We study the nonlinear propagation of dust-ion acoustic (DIA) shock waves in an un-magnetized dusty plasma which consists of electrons, both positive and negative ions and negatively charged immobile dust grains. Starting from a set of hydrodynamic equations with the ion thermal pressures and ion kinematic viscosities included, and using a standard reductive perturbation method, the Kadomtsev-Petviashivili-Burgers (K-P-Burgers) equation is derived, which governs the evolution of DIA shocks. A stationary solution of the K-P-Burgers equation is obtained and its properties are analysed with different plasma number densities, ion temperatures and masses. It is shown that a transition from shocks with negative potential to positive one occurs depending on the negative ion concentration in the plasma and the obliqueness of propagation of DIA waves.     

First order transition to oscillation death through an environment

The emergence of dynamical abrupt transitions for the first time in an ensemble of identical limit-cycle and chaotic oscillators coupled via a common environment is reported. The transition from the oscillatory state to the death state and vice versa, in these networks of oscillators are found not only discontinuous as well as irreversible in the parameter space. This first order phase transition in these systems is termed as Explosive Death. The occurrence of such transition is studied in details by using an appropriate order parameter for both limit-cycle and chaotic oscillators, in particular, Stuart–Landau and Rössler oscillators. The backward transition point for this phenomenon is obtained analytically using linear stability analysis and is found to be consistent with the numerical results.     

Control of coexisting attractors via temporal feedback

We propose a method for controlling coexisting attractors in multistable dynamical systems. In this method, the feedback for an initial duration of time can drive the system to the desired state. We have illustrated this method by considering temporal feedback in autonomous as well as non-autonomous dynamical systems. The experimental realisation of the proposed method is also presented.     

Lower order three-dimensional Burgers equation having non-Maxwellian ions in dusty plasmas

The dust acoustic(DA) shock wave with dust charge fluctuations, non-Maxwellian ions, and non-isothermal electrons is studied theoretically. The perturbation technique is employed to derive the lower order three-dimensional(3D) Burgers equation, and shock wave solution is explored by the tan-hyperbolic method. The effects of flat trapped and trapped electron distributions in the presence of Maxwellian and non-Maxwellian ions on characteristics shock waves are observed. The temperature ratio of non-Maxwellian ion temperature and non-isothermal electron temperature is found to play an important role in forming the shock-like structure.     

Ion irradiation induced evolution of nanostructure in a graded multi-trilayer system

Nanostructural modifications in a double-graded Pt/Ni/C multi-trilayer, due to irradiation by an energetic ion-beam, have been analyzed using X-ray reflectivity (XRR), X-ray standing wave (XSW) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (X-TEM) techniques. 2 MeV Au²⁺ ions were rastered on Pt/Ni/C multi-trilayer samples producing a uniformly irradiated area at ion-fluences ranging from 1 × 10¹⁴ ions/cm² to 2 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm². Ion irradiation induced modifications of microstructural parameters, e.g., layer thicknesses and electron densities of individual layers and interface roughnesses have been obtained from XRR analysis. Pt- and Ni-fluorescence yield from the as-deposited sample under the XSW condition show the distinct existence of Pt and Ni layers. The almost indistinguishable Pt- and Ni-fluorescence data over the first order Bragg peak from the sample irradiated at the highest ion-fluence, suggest complete mixing of Pt and Ni. Strong mixing between Pt and Ni in the ion irradiated samples is also corroborated by XRR results. X-TEM studies reveal the individual layer structure in the as-deposited sample. This layer structure is lost in the sample irradiated at the highest ion fluence indicating a complete mixing between Pt and Ni layers and nanoscale grain growth of Pt-Ni alloys. Additionally, formation of Pt-Ni alloy nano-clusters in the C-layers is observed. The results are understood in the light of the positive heat of mixing between Pt and C, and Ni and C and the negative heat of mixing between Pt and Ni. The effect of heat of mixing becomes dominant at high fluence irradiation.