Over 95% of large-scale length uniformity in template-assisted electrodeposited nanowires by subzero-temperature electrodeposition

In this work, we report highly uniform growth of template-assisted electrodeposited copper nanowires on a large area by lowering the deposition temperature down to subzero centigrade. Even with highly disordered commercial porous anodic aluminum oxide template and conventional potentiostatic electrodeposition, length uniformity over 95% can be achieved when the deposition temperature is lowered down to -2.4°C. Decreased diffusion coefficient and ion concentration gradient due to the lowered deposition temperature effectively reduces ion diffusion rate, thereby favors uniform nanowire growth. Moreover, by varying the deposition temperature, we show that also the pore nucleation and the crystallinity can be controlled.     

A highly sensitive ultraviolet sensor based on a facile in situ solution-grown ZnO nanorod/graphene heterostructure

The weak photon absorption and fast carrier kinetics of graphene limit its application in photodetection. This limitation can be overcome by introducing photosensitive nanostructures to graphene. Herein we report the synthesis of a ZnO nanorod/graphene heterostructure by a facile in situ solution growth method. By combining the attributes of photosensitive ZnO nanorods and highly conductive graphene, we for the first time demonstrate a highly sensitive visible-blind ultraviolet (UV) sensor based on graphene related heterostructure. The photoresponsibility of the UV sensor can reach 22.7 A W(-1), which is over 45,000 fold higher than that of single graphene sheet based photodetectors.     

Decaffeination of coffee bean waste by solid-liquid extraction

Many residues of plants are hydrolyzed to prepare polysaccharides and monosaccharide by bio-methods. Coffee bean waste is emerging as a new feed for producing these carbohydrates, but the appearance of caffeine in coffee bean waste prevents the enzymatic or bacterial hydrolysis. In this case, several solvents were used to remove the caffeine from the coffee waste as well as optimizing the conditions. Ethanol/water (50/50, v/v) at 80 ??C was found to be the best condition for caffeine removal.     

An analysis of CH4/N2 rich biogas production, fuel treatment process and microturbine application

Biogas usually contains CH₄ and CO₂ as main components with the ratio of 6: 4, and its composition varies with wide range depending on digester conditions. In addition to concentration change of each constituent, biogas composition could be changed due to the variations in the organic matter treatment process. The aim of the study is to analyze the production and application to a microturbine system of CH₄/N₂ rich biogas produced from Gong-Ju wastewater treatment plant. CH₄/N₂ rich biogas is produced due to the internal wastewater recirculation. The internal wastewater recirculation is intended to enhance NO₃ ^? removal without additional carbon source input. As a result, the digester was shown to be the highest contributor for nitrogen removal and average CH₄ concentration was lowered compared to the typical biogas composition. Nitrate removal rate was influenced by the internal recirculation ratio. Content of N₂ has no effect on biogas clean-up system performance. Besides, adaptability of CH₄/N₂ rich biogas to microturbine was satisfactory with very low NOx and SO₂ concentration in microturbine exhaust gas. Influence of high N₂ concentration of biogas on NOx concentration was limited due to the low combustion temperature.     

Improvement of photon extraction efficiency of GaN-based LED using micro and nano complex polymer structures

A micro- and nanoscale complex structure made of a high refractive index polymer (n = 2.08) was formed on the ITO electrode layer of an edge-emitting type GaN blue light-emitting diode (LED), in order to improve the photon extraction efficiency by suppressing total internal reflection of photons. The nanoimprint lithography process was used to form the micro- and nanoscale complex structures, using a polymer resin with dispersed TiO2 nano-particles as an imprint resin. Plasma processing, such as reactive ion etching, was used to form the micro- and nano-scale complex structure; thus, plasma-induced damage to the LED device can be avoided. Due to the high refractive index polymeric micro- and nanostructure on the ITO layer, the electroluminescence emission was increased up to 20%, compared to an identical LED that was grown on a patterned sapphire substrate to improve photon extraction efficiency.     

Formation of quasi-single crystalline porous ZnO nanostructures with a single large cavity

We report a method for synthesizing quasi-single crystalline porous ZnO nanostructures containing a single large cavity. The microwave-assisted route consists of a short (about 2 min) temperature ramping stage (from room temperature to 120 °C) and a stage in which the temperature is maintained at 120 °C for 2 h. The structures produced by this route were 200-480 nm in diameter. The morphological yields of this method were very high. The temperature- and time-dependent evolution of the synthesized powders and the effects of an additive, vitamin C, were studied. Spherical amorphous/polycrystalline structures (70-170 nm in diameter), which appeared transitorily, may play a key role in the formation of the single crystalline porous hollow ZnO nanostructures. Studies and characterization of the nanostructures suggested a possible mechanism for formation of the quasi-single crystalline porous ZnO nanostructures with an interior space.     

Distribution of Triacylglycerols and Fatty Acids in Soybean Oil with Thermal Oxidation and Methylene Blue Photosensitization

Profiles of triacylglycerols (TAG) and fatty acids were compared in soybean oil thermally oxidized at 180 °C for 60 min or methylene blue photosensitized for 10 h. Headspace oxygen in thermally oxidized and photosensitized soybean oil decreased significantly (p < 0.05) as oxidation time increased. Relative contents of linoleic and linolenic acids decreased and those of oleic acid increased during oxidation. In both thermal and photosensitized oxidation, TAG with lower than 44 equivalent carbon number including dilinoleoyllinolenoylglycerol (LLLn, 40), trilinolein (LLL, 42), oleoyllinoleoyllinolenoylglycerol (OLLn, 42), dilinoleoyloleoylglycerol (LLO, 44), and dilinoleoylpalmitoylglycerol (PLL, 44) significantly decreased, while those with dioleoyllinoleoylglycerol (OOL, 46) increased significantly in relative peak areas (p < 0.05). Photosensitized oxidation decreased TAG containing linoleic and linolenic acids significantly faster than thermal oxidation in soybean oil (p < 0.05), which may be due to the singlet oxygen reaction. Photosensitized soybean oils can be differentiated from thermally oxidized samples using the distributions of TAG by principal component analysis.     

Temporary Increase of PPAR-γ and Transient Expression of UCP-1 in Stromal Vascular Fraction Isolated Human Adipocyte Derived Stem Cells During Adipogenesis

In this study, cells from the stromal vascular fraction of human subcutaneous tissues were induced to differentiate toward adipose cells in vitro for 2 weeks. During adipogenic differentiation, we followed the chronological changes in their morphology with Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy and checked the PPAR-γ and UCP-1 expression with RT-PCR. On day 4 after inducing adipogenic differentiation, CARS imaging showed multiple small lipid droplets (LD) distributed peripherally along the cellular membrane. PPAR-γ began to express at this time and increased until day 14 at a steady rate. On day 7, the cells appeared as brown adipocytes with numerous small LD throughout the cytoplasm, and the mRNA level of UCP-1 rose abruptly by 6- to 7-fold. After an additional 7 days, CARS imaging showed the development of a large LD, which is characteristic of white adipocytes, and the mRNA level of UCP-1 slumped significantly. These results demonstrate the possibility that ADSC pass through a brown adipocyte-like stage while differentiating into white adipocytes.     

Two-phase numerical model for thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer in nanofluids

Due to the numerous applications of nanofluids, investigating and understanding of thermophysical properties of nanofluids has currently become one of the core issues. Although numerous theoretical and numerical models have been developed by previous researchers to understand the mechanism of enhanced heat transfer in nanofluids; to the best of our knowledge these models were limited to the study of either thermal conductivity or convective heat transfer of nanofluids. We have developed a numerical model which can estimate the enhancement in both the thermal conductivity and convective heat transfer in nanofluids. It also aids in understanding the mechanism of heat transfer enhancement. The study reveals that the nanoparticle dispersion in fluid medium and nanoparticle heat transport phenomenon are equally important in enhancement of thermal conductivity. However, the enhancement in convective heat transfer was caused mainly due to the nanoparticle heat transport mechanism. Ability of this model to be able to understand the mechanism of convective heat transfer enhancement distinguishes the model from rest of the available numerical models.