Redox catalytic property of gold nanoclusters: evidence of an electron-relay effect

The objective of this study is to investigate the elementary mechanism of the formation of nanoclusters in terms of the various stages involved, viz. atom formation, cluster nucleation and growth. The thermodynamics of their reaction where the clusters play an efficient role as a catalyst for the redox system is also another interesting dimension of the study. Synthesis of particles suggests a two-step process, i.e. nucleation and successive growth. The atoms agglomerate to form metal clusters. A metal cluster acting as a catalytic relay behaves alternately as an acceptor and as a donor of electrons. An effective transfer of electrons is possible when the potential of the cluster is more positive than that of the electron-donor system. PACS 87.20.Dd; 81.16.Hc; 81.07.-b; 78.67.-n; 82.35.Np     

Substitution of aqua ligands fromcis-diaqua-bis(bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) by 1, 10-phenanthroline in aqueous medium

The kinetics of aqua ligand substitution fromcis-[Ru(bipy)₂(H₂O)₂]²⁺ by 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen) have been studied spectrophotometrically in the 35 to 50°C temperature range. We propose the following rate law for the reaction within the 3.65 to 5.5 pH range:

Effect of Nanoclay on the Morphology and Properties of Nylon 6 and Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Blends

The effect of organomodified nanoclay on the morphology and properties of a (70/30 w/w) nylon 6/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blend prepared by a melt processing method was investigated. The number average domain diameter (D_n ) of the dispersed PMMA phase was found to decrease with the addition of a small amount [0.5 per hundred resin (phr)] of clay in the blend. A much finer dispersion of the minor phase in the presence of a higher amount (5 phr) of clay indicated better mixing efficiency and improved morphology in the blend. X-ray diffraction indicated the exfoliation of the clays in the nylon 6 matrix, whereas PMMA chains only intercalated into the clay layers. However, the same effect of the clay was not observed in a (30/70 w/w) nylon 6/PMMA blend when nylon 6 became the dispersed domains. In the (30/70 w/w) nylon 6/PMMA blend, the addition of organomodified nanoclay (up to 2 phr) increased the D_n of the nylon 6 domains by preferential location of the clays inside the nylon 6 domains. Addition of styrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer effectively reduced the D_n of disperse phases in both compositions of the nylon 6/PMMA blends. Thus, in nylon 6/PMMA blends, clay platelets could prevent the coalescence of dispersed domains during melt mixing as long as it was dispersed in the matrix phase of the blend. Mechanical properties and thermal stability of the blends were also improved in the presence of clay.     

An investigation into flow mode transition and pressure fluctuations for fluidized dense-phase pneumatic conveying of fine powders

This paper presents the results of an ongoing investigation into the fluctuations of pressure signals due to solids-gas flows for dense-phase pneumatic conveying of fine powders.Pressure signals were obtained from pressure transducers installed along different locations of a pipeline for the fluidized dense-phase pneumatic conveying of fly ash(median particle diameter 30μm;particle density 2300kg/m~3;loosepoured bulk density 700kg/m~3) and white powder(median particle diameter 55 u.m;particle density1600kg/m~3;loose-poured bulk density 620kg/m~3) from dilute to fluidized dense-phase.Standard deviation and Shannon entropy were employed to investigate the pressure signal fluctuations.It was found that there is an increase in the values of Shannon entropy and standard deviation for both of the products along the flow direction through the straight pipe sections.However,both the Shannon entropy and standard deviation values tend to decrease after the flow through bend(s).This result could be attributed to the deceleration of particles while flowing through the bends,resulting in dampened particle fluctuation and turbulence.Lower values of Shannon entropy in the early parts of the pipeline could be due to the non-suspension nature of flow(dense-phase),i.e.,there is a higher probability that the particles are concentrated toward the bottom of pipe,compared with dilute-phase or suspension flow(high velocity),where the particles could be expected to be distributed homogenously throughout the pipe bore(as the flow is in suspension).Changes in straight-pipe pneumatic conveying characteristics along the flow direction also indicate a change in the flow regime along the flow.     

The reaction kinetics of NiCl2 in silica-alumina gel matrix

Insitu isothermal reduction of NiCl₂ by dextrose in silica-alumina gel matrix has been carried out between 800 and 950 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The predominant mechanism of reaction is found to be nucleation and growth. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of reacted samples confirm the presence of metallic Ni, nickel aluminate and finely dispersed alumina in the reacted samples. The average particle size of nickel has been determined by transmission electron micrograph (14 nm) as well as XRD (17±2 nm).     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer from tryptophan in human serum albumin to a bioactive indoloquinolizine system

The interaction between a bioactive molecule, 3-acetyl-4-oxo-6,7-dihydro-12H indolo-[2,3-a] quinolizine (AODIQ), with human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied using steady-state absorption and fluorescence techniques. A 1:1 complex formation has been established and the binding constant (K) and free energy change for the process have been reported. The AODIQ-HSA complex results in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the tryptophan moiety of HSA to the probe. The critical energy-transfer distance (R ₀) for FRET and the Stern-Volmer constant (K _sv) for the fluorescence quenching of the donor in the presence of the acceptor have been determined. Importantly, K _SV has been shown to be equal to the binding constant itself, implying that the fluorescence quenching arises only from the FRET process. The study suggests that the donor and the acceptor are bound to the same protein at different locations but within the quenching distance.     

Relativistic Ornstein–Uhlenbeck Process

We wish to shed some light on the problem of thermodynamic irreversibility in the relativistic framework. Therefore, we propose a relativistic stochastic process based on a generalization of the usual Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process: we introduce a relativistic version of the Langevin equation with a damping term which has the correct Galilean limit. We then deduce relativistic Kramers and Fokker–Planck equations and a fluctuation-dissipation theorem is derived from them. Finally, numerical simulations are used to check the equilibrium distribution in momentum space and to investigate diffusion in physical space.