Synthesis of LaB6 micro/nano structures using picosecond (Nd:YAG) laser and its field emission investigations

Micro/nano structures have been obtained by laser surface treatment on sintered LaB₆ pellets employing a picosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser at a pressure of ∼1×10⁻³ mbar. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the laser treated pellet shows a set of well defined diffraction peaks, indexed to the cubic phase of LaB₆ only. The scanning electron microscope studies reveal formation of micro and nano structures upon laser treatment and the resultant surface morphology is found to be strongly influenced by the laser fluence. Field electron emission studies made on the LaB₆ pellet, treated with optimized laser fluence, have been performed in a planar diode configuration under ultra high vacuum conditions. The threshold field required to draw an emission current density of ∼10 μA/cm² has been found to be ∼2.3 V/μm and a current density of ∼530 μA/cm² has been drawn at an applied field of 5.2 V/μm. The Fowler-Nordheim plot is found to be linear in accordance with the quantum mechanical tunneling phenomenon, confirming the metallic nature of the emitter. The emission current at the pre-set value ∼10 μA shows very good stability over a period of more than 3 hours. The present results emphasize the effectiveness of a picosecond laser treatment towards fabrication of a nano metric LaB₆ emitter for high current density applications.     

Two-dimensional time-dependent simulation of contaminant transport from a landfill

A numerical model to simulate solute transport in flowing groundwater is developed using finite-difference solutions to the groundwater flow equation and the solute transport equation.The use of the model is illustrated by its application to a problem of groundwater contamination in a waste-disposal area in Miami, Florida. The model integrates the effects of several factors that controlled changes in iron concentrations, and successfully reproduced the record of contamination observed during a one-year period.The model was found to be insensitive to chemical parameters, but sensitive to an aquifer dispersion coefficient and the groundwater flow velocity. This implies that there can be sites where the chemical attenuation can be approximated without a significant impact on results.     

Tensor Complementarity Problems with Finite Solution Sets

Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications - In this paper, we first extend the concept of non-degenerate matrices to tensors and we then study the finiteness properties of the solution set of...     

The unprecedented reaction of dimethylsulfonium methylide with Michael acceptors: synthesis of 1-substituted vinyl silanes and styrenes

Rather than the usual cyclopropanation, conditions for an unprecedented elimination reaction from the adduct of dimethylsulfonium methylide and various Michael acceptors have been established leading to functionalized 1-substituted alkenes. In silyl substituted substrates (2a and 2h), where a facile Peterson-type olefination is possible from the adduct; elimination took place instead to give functionalized 1-substituted vinyl silanes. Aryl substituted Michael acceptors (2b-e, 2g and 2i-k) also underwent a similar kind of olefination to give 1-substituted styrene derivatives with moderate yields along with a side product, which arose by nucleophilic demethylation from the adduct of dimethylsulfonium methylide and arylidene malonates. Hammett studies revealed that selectivity for olefination vs. demethylation increases as the aryl substituent becomes more electron deficient. Alkylidene malonates (2f and 2l) with a beta-alkyl substituent did not favour the olefination process. Sequential addition of Michael acceptors and alkyl halides to a mixture of dimethylsulfonium methylide and sodium dimsylate provided olefination followed by alkylation on the active methine group. A mechanistic pathway has been formulated from the studies of a few sulfonium methylides.     

A novel reaction of dimethylsulfonium methylide with Michael acceptors: application to the synthesis of difficultly accessible vinyl silanes and styrenes

Rather than the usual cyclopropanation and Peterson-type olefination, conditions for a novel elimination reaction from the adduct of dimethylsulfonium methylide and 2-silylalkylidene/arylidene malonate/cyanoacetate/phosphonoacetate leading to geminally substituted vinyl silanes or styrenes, respectively, have been established.     

Attachment of phosphonate-functionalised azo-dyes to oxide surfaces to give enhanced light and wet fastness

Phosphonate-functionalised dyes have been shown to bind strongly to aluminium oxides and to form stable 1:1 complexes with cyclodextrins at the surface.     

Effects of a perpendicular electric field on a quasi-two-dimensional system: Hydrogenic model

The properties of a quasi-two-dimensional system are affected by the presence of an electric field applied perpendicular to the surface. These changes are investigated analytically within the “hydrogenic” model and a theory linear in the field. Both the static and dynamic fields are considered and the dynamic case is treated in the dipole approximation by following the approach of Luban and Nudler-Blum.     

Homogeneous deformation theory for noncentrosymmetric ionic crystals in quadratic response regime: Antipiezoelectricity

We derive expressions for the third-order elastic, piezoelectric, and dielectric constants, in terms of the interaction potential, and show that in fluorite structure, equal and opposite dipole moments under homogeneous strain develop. The presence of such latent polarisation is reflected in the dielectric response of the strained crystal.