Dynamics of Water in NaxCoO2.yH2O

Incoherent inelastic neutron scattering experiments were performed on Na0.7CoO2 and Na0.28CoO2.1.3H2O in order to understand how the dynamics of the hydrogen-bond network of water is modified in the triangular crystalline lattice NaxCoO2.yH2O. Using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS), we were able to differentiate between two types of proton dynamics: a fast process (due to water strongly bound into the sodium cobalt oxyhydrate structure during the hydration process) and a slow process (likely attributable to a collective motion). High-resolution QENS experiments, carried out on Na0.28CoO2.1.3H2O, show that, at temperatures above 310 K, the water dynamics can be well-described by a random jump diffusion model characterized by a diffusion constant equal to 0.9 x 10(-9)m2/s, which is significantly lower than the rate of diffusion for bulk water. Furthermore, our results indicate that, at room temperature, the sodium ions have no influence on the rotational dynamics of the "fast" water molecules.     

Sol-gel thin films with anti-reflective and self-cleaning properties

Self-cleaning photocatalytic TiO₂ films are beneficial since they reduce the maintenance cost and enhance the efficiency of various optical systems, especially thermal and photovoltaic solar systems. However, the presence of a TiO₂ layer on glass reduces the transmission of incident light, which leads to a decrease in efficiency. This drawback can be overcome by applying a layer of anti-reflective coating beneath the TiO₂ layer. Generally, the anti-reflective layer is porous silica. The presence of the anti-reflective layer compensates for the loss of light transmittance caused by the photocatalytic TiO₂ top layer. This paper reviews some of the previous and the latest fundamental studies in the literature on anti-reflective, self-cleaning and multi-functional films.     

Facile,single-pot preparation of nanoporous SiO2 particles (carrier) with AgNPs at core and crust for controlled disinfectant release

This study demonstrates a novel, facile and one-pot approach to synthesize silica nanoparticles with silver at core and crust (SiNP-AgCC). A modified Stöber method was used to make SiNP-AgCC. A significant reduction in the size of SiO₂ nanoparticles was seen, with 2–5 nm AgNPs being uniformly distributed on the surface and 10–20 nm AgNPs in the center. A typical mesoporous SiO₂ particle (SiNP) produced using the Stöber method was transformed to nanoporous SiO₂ by this modified Stöber method. Nanoporous SiO₂ particles with silver in the center are advantageous for slow and consistent Ag⁺ release, which was confirmed by Ag⁺ ion release test. Antibacterial activities of the samples were tested to evaluate the disinfection performance of the samples on gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using disk diffusion and the LB-agar method. SiNP-AgCC showed prolonged silver release for more than 20 days and improved antibacterial properties even after five days of incubation.     

Quantum-mechanically induced asymmetry in the phase diagrams of spin-glass systems

The spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg spin-glass system is studied in all spatial dimensions d by renormalization-group theory. Strongly asymmetric phase diagrams in temperature and antiferromagnetic bond probability p are obtained in dimensions d>or=3. The asymmetry at high temperatures approaching the pure ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems disappears as d is increased. However, the asymmetry at low but finite temperatures remains in all dimensions, with the antiferromagnetic phase receding from the ferromagnetic phase. A finite-temperature second-order phase boundary directly between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases occurs in d>or=6, resulting in a new multicritical point. In d=3, 4, 5, a paramagnetic phase reaching zero temperature intervenes asymmetrically between the ferromagnetic and reentrant antiferromagnetic phases. There is no spin-glass phase in any dimension.     

Structural and electronic properties of GaAsBi

The structural and electronic properties of the GaAs_1−xBi_x ternary alloy are investigated by means of two first principles and full potential methods, the linear augmented plane waves (FPLAPW) method and a recent version of the full potential linear muffin-tin orbitals method (FPLMTO) which enables an accurate treatment of the interstitial regions. In particular, we have found that the maximal GaBi mole fraction x for which GaBi_xAs_1−x remains a semiconductor is probably around x=0.5. The electronic properties of (GaAs)_m/(GaBi)_n quantum well superlattices (SLs) have also been calculated and it is found that such SLs are semiconductors when m is larger or equal to n.     

Polymer supported 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenoxy acetic acid)porphyrin derivative for separation and preconcentration of d- and f-electron metals

5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenoxy acetic acid) porphyrin (PAAP) was covalently linked to Merrifield chloromethylated resin. Characterization of PAAP and the modified polymeric matrix were performed by ¹H NMR, FTIR and elemental analysis. The sorbent was used for the separation and enrichment of the d-electron metals (Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)) at pH 6–8 and of the f-electron metals U(VI) and Th(IV) at pH 4–5. The metals ions were preconcentrated with a concentration factor range of 115–215 and then determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry or visible spectrophotometry using Arsenazo(III). The retained metals were eluted with 2.0 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃ in the case of the d-electron metals and 0.1/0.25 mol L⁻¹ HCl in the case of the f-electron metals. The procedure was validated by analyzing the NIST standard reference material 2709 (San Joaquin Soil). Correspondence: Melek Merdivan, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, 35160 Buca, Izmir, Turkey     

Approximation of optimal control problems with state constraints

We study the approximation of control problems governed by elliptic partial differential equations with pointwise state constraints. For a finite dimensional approximation of the control set and for suitable perturbations of the state constraints, we prove that the corresponding sequence of discrete control problems converges to a relaxed problem. A similar analysis is carried out for problems in which the state equation is discretized by a finite element method.     

Enhancement of electron–ion recombination rates at low energy range in the heavy ion storage ring CSRm

Recombination of Ar¹⁴⁺, Ar¹⁵⁺, Ca¹⁶⁺, and Ni¹⁹⁺ ions with electrons has been investigated at low energy range based on the merged-beam method at the main cooler storage ring CSRm in the Institute of Modern Physics, Lanzhou,China. For each ion, the absolute recombination rate coefficients have been measured with electron–ion collision energies from 0 meV to 1000 meV which include the radiative recombination(RR) and also dielectronic recombination(DR)processes. In order to interpret the measured results, RR cross sections were obtained from a modified version of the semiclassical Bethe and Salpeter formula for hydrogenic ions. DR cross sections were calculated by a relativistic configuration interaction method using the flexible atomic code(FAC) and AUTOSTRUCTURE code in this energy range. The calculated RR + DR rate coefficients show a good agreement with the measured value at the collision energy above 100 meV.However, large discrepancies have been found at low energy range especially below 10 meV, and the experimental results show a strong enhancement relative to the theoretical RR rate coefficients. For the electron–ion collision energy below 1 meV, it was found that the experimentally observed recombination rates are higher than the theoretically predicted and fitted rates by a factor of 1.5 to 3.9. The strong dependence of RR rate coefficient enhancement on the charge state of the ions has been found with the scaling rule of q^3.0, reproducing the low-energy recombination enhancement effects found in other previous experiments.     

A note on the regularity of flows with shear-dependent viscosity

We consider a non-Newtonian fluid governed by stationary, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with shear-dependent viscosity. Using a fixed point argument in an appropriate functional setting, we establish the existence of a strong solution for small and suitably regular data. Uniqueness results are obtained under similar conditions.