Synthesis of cellulose–metal nanoparticle composites: development and comparison of different protocols

Deposition of nanoparticles on the surface of a variety of materials is a subject of great interest due to their potential applications in electronic devices, sensing, catalysis and bio-medical sciences. In this context, we have explored and compared various methodologies to generate gold and silver nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose fibers. It was found that boiling of the cellulose fibers in alkaline solution of gold and silver salts led to the formation and immobilization of gold and silver nanoparticles. However, in case of lecithin treated and thiol-modified cellulose fibers, high temperature was not essentially required for the formation and deposition of nanoparticles on cellulose substrate. In both these cases, fairly uniform metal nanoparticles were obtained in good yields (~43 wt% gold loading in case of thiol modified cellulose fibers) at room temperature. Borohydride-reduction method resulted in relatively lower loading (~22 wt%) with a wide size distribution of gold and silver nanoparticles on cellulose fibers. All these nanoparticle–cellulose composites were thoroughly characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, and elemental analyzer. Thiol modified cellulose–gold nanoparticle composites served as active catalysts in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol.     

Synthesis of 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins by regioselective domino ‘[3+3] cyclization/lactonization’ reactions of 1,3-bis-(silyloxy)-1,3-butadienes with 1-hydroxy-5-silyloxy-4-en-3-ones

The [3+3] cyclization of 1,3-bis(silyloxy)-1,3-butadienes with 1-hydroxy-5-silyloxy-4-en-3-ones afforded 6-(2-aryl-2-chloroethyl)salicylates, which were transformed into 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarins by silica gel-mediated lactonization.     

Low-temperature growth of ZnO nanoparticles: photocatalyst and acetone sensor

Well-crystalline ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in large-quantity via simple hydrothermal process using the aqueous mixtures of zinc chloride and ammonium hydroxide. The detailed structural properties were examined using X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) which revealed that the synthesized NPs are well-crystalline and possessing wurtzite hexagonal phase. The NPs are almost spherical shape with the average diameters of ∼50 ± 10 nm. The quality and composition of the synthesized NPs were obtained using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and electron dispersed spectroscopy (EDS) which confirmed that the obtained NPs are pure ZnO and made with almost 1:1 stoichiometry of zinc and oxygen, respectively. The optical properties of ZnO NPs were investigated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Synthesized ZnO NPs were extensively applied as a photocatalyst for the degradation of acridine orange (AO) and as a chemi-sensor for the electrochemical sensing of acetone in liquid phase. Almost complete degradation of AO has taken place after 80 min of irradiation time. The fabricated acetone sensor based on ZnO NPs exhibits good sensitivity (∼0.14065 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹) with lower detection limit (0.068 ± 0.01 mM) in short response time (10 s).     

Simulation of the Second Grade Fluid Model for Blood Flow through a Tapered Artery with a Stenosis

We analyze the blood flow through a tapered artery, assuming the blood to be a second order fluid model. The resulting nonlinear implicit system of partial differential equations is solved by the perturbation method. The expressions for shear stress, velocity, flow rate, wall shear stress and longitudinal impedance are obtained. The physical behavior of different parameters is also discussed, as are trapping phenomena.     

Simulation of Variable Viscosity and Jeffrey Fluid Model for Blood Flow Through a Tapered Artery with a Stenosis

Non-Newtonian fluid model for blood flow through a tapered artery with a stenosis and variable viscosity by modeling blood as Jeffrey fluid has been studied in this paper.The Jeffrey fluid has two parameters,the relaxation time λ1 and retardation time λ2.The governing equations are simplified using the case of mild stenosis.Perturbation method is used to solve the resulting equations.The effects of non-Newtonian nature of blood on velocity profile,temperature profile,wall shear stress,shearing stress at the stenotsis throat and impedance of the artery are discussed.The results for Newtonian fluid are obtained as special case from this model.     

A slant on warped extra dimensions

We propose an orbifolded, warped, extra dimension scenario in which the visible brane is not parallel to the hidden brane. This leads automatically to Lorentz violation in the visible, four-dimensional world. The background solution to the Einstein equations is a function of a parameter that can be identified with the amount of ‘tilting’ of the brane. The cosmological constant is found to coincide with the classic Randall–Sundrum value to the first order in this tilt. Lorentz violating effects induced in the Standard Model are considered. We find that the strongest constraint on the tilt comes from determinations of the electron–proton mass ratio in six quasar spectra (four optical and two radio). Measurements of a third radio source could improve this by an order of magnitude.     

Cross Section of Heavy Ion Reaction （14.5 MeV/u） ^132Xe ＋ Bi

We investigate the cross section of the heavy ion reaction （14.5 MeV/u） ^132Xe ＋ Bi by using a CR-39 plastic track detector. The target-detector assembly is exposed at UNILAC beam facility of GSI, Germany. After etching under appropriate etching conditions, the detector is scanned for multipronged events produced as a result of interactions of projectile ions with target atoms. The elastic events are separated from binary events and used for the determination of the quarter-point angle. The quarter-point angle obtained is used to determine the total reaction cross section. The total experimental reaction cross section is determined by using statistics of inelastic events of two-pronged and higher multiplicity events. The experimental reaction cross sections determined by using elastic and inelastic data observed in the reaction under study are found to be in good agreement with the theoretically calculated value of reaction cross section using a sharp cutoff model.     

Synthesis, characterizations, photocatalytic and sensing studies of ZnO nanocapsules

ZnO nanocapsules have been synthesized hydrothermally. The structural and morophological properties were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), FTIR, Raman, EDS and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. For the first time chemical sensing properties of the synthesized ZnO nanocapsules have been investigated by I-V technique, where chloroform is used as a target compound. The chloroform sensors show good sensitivity (0.478 μA cm⁻² mM⁻¹), lower detection limit (6.67 μM), and large linear dynamic range (LDR, 12.0 μM-12.0 mM) with good linearity (R, 0.8523) in short response time. Additionally, photocatalytic activity of the prepared capsule shaped ZnO photocatalyst was evaluated by the degradation of acridine orange. Prepared ZnO nanocapsules posses high photocatalytic activity when compared with TiO₂-UV100.