Solvothermal synthesis of TiO2: anatase nanocrystals and rutile nanofibres from TiCl4 in acetone

This work reports a new synthetic approach for single‐phase TiO₂ nanomaterials by solvothermal treatment of titanium tetrachloride in acetone at 80–110 °C. Small, uniform, and yet size‐tunable (5–10 nm) anatase titania nanocrystallites were obtained using a low concentration of TiCl₄ in acetone (i.e., at molar ratios of TiCl₄/acetone ≤ 1:15) in the temperature range of 80–110 °C, while rutile nanofibers were synthesized using a high concentration of TiCl₄ (e.g., TiCl₄/acetone = 1:10) at 110 °C. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A compactification of the moduli variety of stable vector 2-bundles on a surface in the Hilbert scheme

A new compactification of the variety of moduli of stable vector 2-bundles with Chern classes c ₁ and c ₂ is constructed for the case in which the universal family of stable sheaves with given values of invariants is defined and there are no strictly semistable sheaves. The compactification is a subvariety in the Hilbert scheme of subschemes of a Grassmann manifold with fixed Hilbert polynomial; it is obtained from the variety of bundle moduli by adding points corresponding to locally free sheaves on surfaces which are modifications of the initial surface. Moreover, a morphism from the new compactification of the moduli space to its Gieseker-Maruyama compactification is constructed.     

Bending-torsion vibration of a partially submerged cylinder with an arbitrary cross-section

An analytical method is presented to investigate the bending-torsion vibration characteristics of a cylinder with an arbitrary cross-section and partially submerged in water. The compressibility and the free surface waves of the water are considered simultaneously in the analysis. The exact solution of structure–water interaction is obtained mathematically. Firstly, the analytical expression of the velocity potential of the water is derived by using the method of separation of variables. The unknown coefficients in the velocity potential are determined by the longitudinal and circumferential Fourier expansions along the outer surface of the cylinder and are expressed in the form of integral equations including the unknown dynamic bending deflection and torsional angle of the cylinder. Secondly, the force and torque acting on the cylinder per unit length, provided by the water, are obtained by integrating the water dynamic pressure along the circumference of the cylinder. The general solution of bending-torsion vibration of the cylinder under the water dynamic pressure is derived analytically. The integral equations included in the velocity potential of the water can be solved exactly. Finally, the eigenfrequency equation of cylinder–water interaction is obtained by means of the boundary conditions of the cylinder. Some numerical examples for elliptical columns partially submerged in water are provided to show the application of the present method.     

Optimal reconstruction of the solution of the wave equation from inaccurate initial data

In the present paper, we consider the problem of the optimal reconstruction of the solution of the wave equation from the approximate values of the Fourier coefficients of the function specifying the initial form of the string. For an operator defined on the weight space of vectors from l ₂, we present the solution of the more general problem of reconstruction from the approximate values of the coordinates of these vectors.     

On multiple integrals of special form

Multiple integrals generalizing the iterated kernels of integral operators are expressed as single integrals in the case of a special representation of the kernel (this is our theorem). Besides integral equations, Markov processes involve these integrals as well. As a consequence of the theorem, we obtain transition probability densities of certain Markov processes. As an illustration, we consider nine examples.     

Dimensional variation in production of high-aspect-ratio micro-pillars array by micro powder injection molding

Micro powder injection molding (μPIM) is one of the potential processes for the mass production of metallic microstructures and micro components. Here, μPIM is the miniaturization of conventional PIM, which involves four processing steps: mixing, injection molding, debinding and sintering. This paper looks into the feasibility and effectiveness of μPIM as a key mass production process for the fabrication of metallic micro components. For it to be an effective re-production process, it is imperative to examine how well parts can be duplicated/fabricated from a master mold. In this work, the dimensional variation of high-aspect-ratio micro-pillars arrays, in particular the dimensional shrinkage, global warpage, and surface roughness at each stage of the μPIM process for a range of molding pressures, are quantified and compared in detail. The sensitivity of the dimensional variation of the microstructures to the packing pressure is reported. The mechanism behind the dimensional variation is analyzed. PACS 81.20.Ev; 81.20.Hy; 81.70.Fy; 07.60.Ly; 81.05.-t     

Advances in constant-velocity Mössbauer instrumentation

A prototype of a programmable constant-velocity scaler is presented. This instrument allows the acquisition of partial Mössbauer spectra in selected energy regions using standard drivers and transducers. It can be fully operated by a remote application, thus data acquisition can be automated. The instrument consists of a programmable counter and a constant-velocity reference. The reference waveform generator is amplitude modulated with 13-bit resolution, and is programmable in a wide range of frequencies and waveforms in order to optimize the performance of the transducer. The counter is compatible with most standard SCA, and is configured as a rate-meter that provides counts per selectable time slice at the programmed velocity. As a demonstration of the instrument applications, a partial Mössbauer spectrum of a natural iron foil was taken. Only positive energies were studied in 512 channels, accumulating 20 s per channel. A line width of 0.20 mm/s was achieved, performing with an efficiency of 80%.     

Simulation of structure formation in disperse systems

The main rules governing the redistribution of microparticles in disperse systems were revealed by computer simulation. These rules predetermine the character and properties of the structure being formed, which opens up the possibility to control the properties of disperse materials, including sorbents and catalysts based on high-dispersity solid phases.     

Epimerization, diastereoselectivity and hemilability in dicationic chiral ruthenium complexes with bidentate (PS) bisphosphine monosulfide ligands

The binding of heterobidentate P^∧S ligands introduces metal-centered chirality to the planar chiral parent complex Ru(η⁶:η¹-NMe₂C₆H₄C₆H₄PCy₂)Cl₂. Observed diastereomeric ratios for the kinetic product vary dramatically depending upon ring size of the chelate formed with the P^∧S ligand. The complexes epimerize very slowly to thermodynamic product ratios that are substantially different from the kinetic product ratios.