Large area excimer laser induced deposition of titanium from titanium tetrachloride

Large area excimer laser induced deposition of titanium on fused silica from TiCl₄ is studied with an emphasis on process modeling. We show that several TiCl₄ monolayers can be adsorbed if the surface is adequately prepared and that the Ti thin film growth occurs through the photodecomposition of this adsorbed TiCl₄ layer. We propose two growth regimes. During an initiation phase, up to 3 nm in thickness, the adsorbed layer is photochemically decomposed giving a growth rate of 0.015 nm/pulse. In a second phase, the deposition rate increases to between 2 and 7 nm/pulse due to the laser heating of the preceding photochemically deposited titanium film. Between consecutive pulses, TiCl₄ molecules primarily from the adsorbed layer diffuse to the reaction zone leading to a new adsorbed layer ready to be transformed to solid titanium.     

General perspectives on model construction and evaluation for stochastic estimation,with application to a blunt trailing edge wake

The technique of stochastic estimation is examined as a specific application of linear least squares modelling. Factors that are relevant to the objectives of estimation in fluids, such as the number of sensors, the use of multiple time lags, and the strength of linear correlations, are discussed in the context of a general regression formulation. We consolidate the established findings of several research fields in order to outline clearly the potential pitfalls and reasonable performance expectations of these empirical strategies. Experimental measurements of velocity and fluctuating pressure in the wake of a blunt trailing edge body are used for quantitative illustration of key considerations for model construction and performance evaluation. It is emphasized that estimator accuracy is influenced strongly by the physical relationships among the measured variables, in addition to their correlation with the estimated variable. The evaluation of several performance metrics on an independent test set provides valuable information for the selection of a suitably complex model. In particular, “variance inflation” is interpreted as an indicator of the potential amplification of noise by a stochastic estimator.     

Aerodynamic optimization of the flat-plate leading edge for experimental studies of laminar and transitional boundary layers

This work is concerned with the design of a leading edge for a flat-plate model used to study laminar and transitional boundary layers. For this study, the flow over the complete boundary-layer model, including leading edge, flat section, and trailing-edge flap, is modeled. The effect of important geometrical features of the leading edge on the resulting pressure distribution, starting from the well-known symmetric modified super ellipse, is investigated. A minimal pressure gradient on the measurement side of the plate is achieved using an asymmetrical configuration of modified super ellipses, with a thickness ratio of 7/24. An aerodynamic shape optimization is performed to obtain a novel leading edge shape that greatly reduces the length of the non-zero pressure gradient region and the adverse pressure gradient region compared to geometries defined by ellipses. Wind tunnel testing is used to validate the numerical solutions.     

Acid-Catalyzed E-Ring Expansion and Isomerization of 3-Acetylbetulin: Synthesis of Cytotoxic Anhydrobetulin Saponins

22(17 → 28)abeo-Lupene derivatives 5a and 6a were obtained after the acid-catalyzed E-ring expansion of 3-acetylbetulin (1a). Glycosylation of these dehydrated triterpenoids using Schmidt's trichloroacetimidate sugar donors in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) provided the new anhydrobetulin saponins 7b–7e in which the terminal olefin C-20(29) isomerizes to form a C-19 tetrasubstituted alkene. The preliminary cytotoxic evaluation revealed that saponins 7b–7d exhibited a moderate cytotoxic activity against A549, DLD-1, and WS1 human cell lines with IC₅₀ ranging from 22 to 49 μM.     

Thermal and viscosity characterization of two asphalt emulsions

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Asphalt emulsion is a versatile product that can be used for different waterproofing applications in civil construction and highway constructions....     

Underestimated Color Centers: Defects as Useful Reducing Agents in Lanthanide‐Activated Luminescent Materials

Inorganic hosts, such as SrB₄O₇ or certain nitrides, intrinsically stabilize Eu²⁺ even when the dopant is an Eu³⁺‐based precursor and reducing conditions are not employed in the synthesis. Although this concept is well known in the synthesis of phosphorescent materials, the mechanistic details are scarcely understood. Herein, we demonstrate that trapped charge carriers, such as color centers, can also act as redox partners to stabilize certain oxidation states of activators. Eu‐activated CsMgCl₃ and CsMgBr₃ are used as examples. Upon doping with EuCl₃ and in the absence of reducing conditions during the synthesis, dominant cyan or green luminescence from Eu²⁺ ions was observed. Photoluminescence spectroscopy at 10 K revealed that the reduction is correlated to color centers localized at defects. Although defects are typically undesired in phosphors, we have shown that their role may be underestimated and they could be used on purpose in the preparation of selected inorganic phosphors.     

Rheological properties of filled polymers

The rheological properties of two model suspensions using a Newtonian polymeric matrix are presented and discussed in light of results presented in the literature. It is shown that particle-particle interactions in concentrated suspensions are responsible for a gel-type behavior at very small strain and strain hardening at a critical strain. Suspensions of concentrated colloidal particles in a Newtonian matrix behave like typical viscoelastic molten polymers, but the properties are strongly dependent on the solids dispersion, and strain at small strain. A simple rheological model is proposed to describe the shear viscosity of these suspensions.     

Semi-wet growth and characterization of multi-functional nano-engineered mixed metal oxides for industrial application

This review paper covers the low temperature wet growth of nano-engineered particles of ZnO-based mixed metal oxides, their growth mechanism, and characterization using X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM and IR, UV–visible, and XPS spectral techniques. Main focus of this article is centered on low temperature semi-wet methods of synthesis that are suitable for large scale production of zinc oxide-based systems mixed with iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. These mixed metal oxides have broad industrial applications as catalyst, semiconductors, adsorbents, superconductors, electro-ceramics, and antifungal agents in addition to extensive applications in medicines. This paper discusses the low-cost and environment friendly synthesis of these mixed metal oxides, measurement of properties and applicability of these materials systems.