Formation of bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes on carbon black in a fluidized bed

For the first time, bamboo-shaped multiwalled carbon nanotubes, having diameter of the order of 50 nm, have been grown on carbon black in a fluidized bed in bulk amount. The activation energy for the synthesis of the product was found out to be around 33 kJ/mol in the temperature range of 700−900 °C. The carbon nanotubes were separated from the carbon black by preferential oxidation of the later, the temperature of which was determined by thermogravimetry. The transmission electron microscopy revealed different features of the nanotubes such as “Y” junction, bend, and catalyst filling inside the nanotubes. Small angle neutron scattering was performed on the nanotubes synthesized at different temperatures. The data were fitted into a suitable model in order to find out the average diameter, which decreases with increase in synthesis temperature. The Monte Carlo simulation predicts the same behavior. Based on the above observations, a possible growth mechanism has been predicted. The oscillation in carbon saturation value inside the catalyst in the fluidized bed has been indicated as the responsible factor for the bamboo-shaped structure.     

Realization of vibronic entanglement in terms of tunneling current in an artificial molecule

Based on the concept of molecular nonadiabatic processes, namely, curve crossing and electronic interstate coupling, here we have introduced a model of an artificial molecule composed of three coupled quantum dots in terms of displaced harmonic oscillators of the confinement potential. We have shown that the static and dynamic features of vibronic entanglement can be realized in terms of the tunneling current in our model. An entanglement sudden-death can be shown to be equivalent to the suppression of tunneling current at the appropriate parameters of the magnetic field. We have also provided the nonclassicality of the vibration of the dot confinement potential which maximizes at the anticrossing zone.     

Evaluation of 1st and 2nd generation of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer functionalized carbon nanotubes for the efficient removal of neptunium

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Herein, sorption of pentavalent neptunium from aqueous acidic solution was carried out onto 1st and 2nd generation of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer...     

Preparation,characterization and Mössbauer spectra of the iron(III) complexes of some dihydroxamic acids and amino monohydroxamic acids

Summary Fe^III complexes have been prepared from the dihydroxamic acids (CH₂)_n[CON(R)OH]₂ (n=2, 3, 4, 6, 8; R=H, Ph,o-tolyl,p-tolyl) (H₂L) and the amino monohydroxamic acids H₂NCH(R)CONHOH (R=H, Me) (HL) and XC₆H₄CONHOH (X=o-NH₂,p-NH₂) (HL). Based on elemental analyses, molecular weight data, and electronic and i.r. spectra, the complexes have been formulated as Fe₂(LH)₂L₂, Fe₂L₂O and Fe₂L₃ for the dihydroxamic acids, and Fe(OH)₄L₂(H₂O)₂ and FeL₃ for the amino monohydroxamic acids. The⁵⁷Fe Mossbauer spectra are discussed.The author is née Bose     

Entropy production as a universal functional of reaction rate: chemical networks close to steady states

Entropy production rate (EPR) is the fundamental theoretical quantity in non-equilibrium thermodynamics whereas reaction rate is the primary experimental quantity for a chemical system out-of-equilibrium. In this work, we explore a connection between the above two quantities for general reaction networks. Both cyclic and linear networks of arbitrary dimension are studied, along with a mixed variety. The systems can attain a non-equilibrium steady state (NESS) under chemiostatic condition, which becomes the state of true thermodynamic equilibrium when detailed balance holds. We show that there exists a universal functional relationship of the EPR with reaction rate close to steady states for all the networks considered. Near a NESS, the former varies linearly with the reaction rate. On the other hand, around a true equilibrium, it varies quadratically with the latter. Numerical experiments justify our analytical findings quite transparently.     

On the flux-force partitioning and non-equilibrium thermodynamics near a steady state

The flux-force linear relationship is a basic building block in the development of irreversible thermodynamics near equilibrium. Here, we explore the fate of this relationship near a steady state in a finer detail by partitioning the fluxes and the forces into time-independent and time-dependent components. To this end, we use a master equation approach without assuming the condition of detailed balance. The connection of the flux-force components with various state functions and path functions provides a detailed picture of the variations of such quantities in terms of the deviation of probabilities from the steady state. Pilot calculations on an exactly-solvable case furnish insights into the energy-balance mechanism for non-equilibrium systems, revealing additionally how an out-of-equilibrium scenario can be favorable in realizing a minimized free energy state.     

Monomer Dynamics of Alzheimer Peptides and Kinetic Control of Early Aggregation in Alzheimer's Disease

The rate of reconfiguration—or intramolecular diffusion—of monomeric Alzheimer (Aβ) peptides is measured and, under conditions that aggregation is more likely, peptide diffusion slows down significantly, which allows bimolecular associations to be initiated. By using the method of Trp–Cys contact quenching, the rate of reconfiguration is observed to be about five times faster for Aβ₄₀, which aggregates slowly, than that for Aβ₄₂, which aggregates quickly. Furthermore, the rate of reconfiguration for Aβ₄₂ speeds up at higher pH, which slows aggregation, and in the presence of the aggregation inhibitor curcumin. The measured reconfiguration rates are able to predict the early aggregation behavior of the Aβ peptide and provide a kinetic basis for why Aβ₄₂ is more prone to aggregation than Aβ₄₀, despite a difference of only two amino acids.