Synthesis, Surface Studies, Composition and Structural Characterization of CdSe, Core/Shell, and Biologically Active Nanocrystals

Nanostructures, with their very large surface to volume ratio and their non-planar geometry, present an important challenge to surface scientists. New issues arise as to surface characterization, quantification and interface formation. This review summarizes the current state of the art in the synthesis, composition, surface and interface control of CdSe nanocrystal systems, one of the most studied and useful nanostructures.     

Extracting embedded generalized networks from linear programming problems

If a linear program (LP) possesses a large generalized network (GN) submatrix, this structure can be exploited to decrease solution time. The problems of finding maximum sets of GN constraints and finding maximum embedded GN submatrices are shown to be NP-complete, indicating that reliable, efficient solution of these problems is difficult. Therefore, efficient heuristic algorithms are developed for identifying such structure and are tested on a selection of twenty-three real-world problems. The best of four algorithms for identifying GN constraint sets finds a set which is maximum in twelve cases and averages 99.1% of maximum. On average, the GN constraints identified comprise more than 62.3% of the total constraints in these problems. The algorithm for identifying embedded GN submatrices finds submatrices whose sizes, rows plus columns, average 96.8% of an LP upper bound. Over 91.3% of the total constraint matrix was identified as a GN submatrix in these problems, on average.The act of being wise is the act of knowing what to overlook.William James (ca. 1890)     

Homogeneously alloyed CdSxSe1-x nanocrystals: synthesis, characterization, and composition/size-dependent band gap

Alloy nanocrystals provide an additional degree of freedom in selecting desirable properties for nanoscale engineering because their physical and optical properties depend on both size and composition. We report the pyrolytic synthesis of homogeneously alloyed CdS(x)Se(1-x) nanocrystals in all proportions. The nanocrystals are characterized using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractrometry, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry to determine precisely structure, size, and composition. The dependence of band gap on nanocrystal size and composition is elucidated, yielding a bowing constant of 0.29, in agreement with bulk values. In addition, the morphology of the resultant nanocrystals can be altered by changing the reaction conditions, generating structures ranging from homogeneous, spherical nanocrystals to one-dimensional gradient nanorods.     

Formation of high density amorphous ice by decompression of ice VII and ice VIII at 135 K

Monte Carlo computer simulations of ice VII and ice VIII phases have been undertaken using the four-point transferable intermolecular potential model of water. By following thermodynamic paths similar to those used experimentally, ice is decompressed resulting in an amorphous phase. These phases are compared to the high density amorphous phase formed upon compression of ice Ih and are found to have very similar structures. By cooling liquid water along the water/Ih melting line a high density amorphous phase was also generated.     

Existence results for non-autonomous multiple-fragmentation models

We investigate an initial-value problem modelling fragmentation processes where particles split into two or more pieces at a rate, γ, that not only depends on the sizes of the particles involved but also on time. The existence of non-negative, mass-conserving solutions is established by considering a truncated version of an associated non-autonomous abstract Cauchy problem. The latter has solutions of the form u(t)=U_n(t,t₀)f, t⩾t₀, where f is the known data at some fixed time t₀⩾0 and {U_n(t,s)} is a uniformly continuous evolution system. A limit evolution system {U(t,s)} is shown to exist. Depending on the form of the known data f at time t₀, the scalar-valued function u, obtained from the limit evolution system via u(x, t)=[U(t, t₀)f](x) for a.e. x>0, t⩾t₀, is a solution of either the original initial-value problem or an integral version of this problem. © 1997 B. G. Teubner Stuttgart–John Wiley & Sons Ltd.