Vibration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by generalized shear deformation theory

In this study, free vibration of simply supported multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated by using the generalized shear deformation-beam theory (GSDBT). Parabolic shear deformation theory (PSDT) is used in the specific solutions. Unlike Timoshenko beam theory present theory satisfies zero traction boundary conditions on the upper and lower surface of the structures so there is no need to use a shear correction factor. Free vibration frequencies and amplitude ratios were obtained and results are compared with previous studies. Results showed that significant difference exist between PSDT and Euler beam theory. Present results are slightly higher than the results of Timoshenko beam theory. Shear deformation effects are important especially for higher modes. It is obtained that van der Waals (vdW) forces should be considered for small inner radius.     

Layered clay/epoxy nanocomposites: Thermomechanical,flame retardancy,and optical properties

In this study, layered clay/polymer nanocomposites were developed based on epoxy resins and montmorillonite as the nanoplatelet reinforcement. Clay particles were treated with hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (HTCA) through an ion exchange reaction. In this way, Na⁺ interlayer cations of the clay is exchanged with onium cation of the surfactant that turns the hydrophilic clays (MMT) to organophilic (OMMT) characteristics. Thermal analysis results revealed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the dynamic mechanical properties including the storage and loss modulus of the neat epoxy resin increases by the incorporation of clay particles. It was also found that flame resistance of the polymer is improved by the addition of the clay particles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

MOS-only second order current-mode LP/BP filter

In this study, a current-mode dual output low-pass and band-pass filter is presented using only six MOSFET transistors in its core. Transconductances and gate-to-source capacitances of the MOS transistors are employed instead of passive resistors and capacitors. The proposed circuit exhibits important features such as simplicity, low-voltage/power operation, reduced chip area and wide frequency range compared to classical analog circuits that require active elements with large number of transistors. Simulations are performed to verify the theoretical results.     

Effects of minor Cu and Si additions on glass forming ability and mechanical properties of Co-Fe-Ta-B Bulk metallic glass

Effect of Cu and Si substitutions for Co and B on the glass forming ability (GFA) of Co_(43-x)Cu_xFe₂₀Ta_5.5B_(31.5-x)Si_y (x=0-1.5 and y=5-10) were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. In order to evaluate the contribution of copper and silicon, appropriate amounts of copper and silicon were individually introduced to the base alloy composition. By using the effects of copper and silicon together, significant enhancement was obtained and the critical casting thickness (CCT) of the base alloy was increased three times from 2 mm to 6 mm. Moreover, mechanical properties of the alloys were examined by compression tests and Vickers hardness measurements. The compression test results revealed that the glassy alloys having enhanced GFA shows high strength of about 3500-4000 MPa. In addition, existence of (Co,Fe)₂B and (Co,Fe)_20.82Ta_2.18B₆ crystalline phases in glassy matrix influences the hardnesses of the alloys compared to monolitic glassy structure having hardness of about 1200 Hv.     

Dietary trans-Fatty Acid Induced NASH is Normalized Following Loss of trans-Fatty Acids from Hepatic Lipid Pools

Previous experiments in mice showed that dietary trans-fats could play a role in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) yet little is known about the accumulation trans-fats in hepatic lipid pools in relationship to liver injury. NASH is also associated with obesity yet improves with only modest weight loss. To distinguish the role of obesity versus sustained consumption of a trans-fat containing diet in causing NASH, mice with obesity and NASH induced by consuming a high trans-fat diet for 16?weeks were subsequently fed standard chow or maintained on trans-fat chow for another 8?weeks. The accumulation, partitioning and loss of trans-fats in the major hepatic lipid pools during and after trans-fat consumption were determined. Obese mice switched to standard chow remained obese but steatohepatitis improved. trans-fats were differentially incorporated into the major hepatic lipid pools and the loss of trans-fats after crossover to control chow was greatest in the cholesteryl ester pool. In summary, dietary changes can improve the biochemical and histopathological changes of NASH despite persistent obesity in mice. Analysis of hepatic lipids confirmed that dietary trans-fats accumulate in the major lipid pools and are released differentially with diet normalization. The substantial loss of trans-fats from the cholesteryl ester pool in parallel with improvement in NASH suggests that this pool of trans-fats could play a role in the pathogenesis of NASH.     

Ni/Pd core/shell nanoparticles supported on graphene as a highly active and reusable catalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

Monodisperse Ni/Pd core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by sequential reduction of nickel(II) acetate and palladium(II) bromide in oleylamine (OAm) and trioctylphosphine (TOP). The Ni/Pd NPs have a narrow size distribution with a mean particle size of 10 nm and a standard deviation of 5% with respect to the particle diameter. Mechanistic studies showed that the presence of TOP was essential to control the reductive decomposition of Ni-TOP and Pd-TOP, and the formation of Ni/Pd core/shell NPs. Using the current synthetic protocol, the composition of the Ni/Pd within the core/shell structure can be readily tuned by simply controlling the initial molar ratio of the Ni and Pd salts. The as-synthesized Ni/Pd core/shell NPs were supported on graphene (G) and used as catalyst in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Among three different kinds of Ni/Pd NPs tested, the Ni/Pd (Ni/Pd = 3/2) NPs were found to be the most active catalyst for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with aryl iodides, bromides and even chlorides in a dimethylformamide/water mixture by using K₂CO₃ as a base at 110 °C. The G-Ni/Pd was also stable and reusable, providing 98% conversion after the 5^th catalytic run without showing any noticeable Ni/Pd composition change. The G-Ni/Pd structure reported in this paper combines both the efficiency of a homogeneous catalyst and the durability of a heterogeneous catalyst, and is promising catalyst candidate for various Pd-based catalytic applications.      

Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting from Transient Ambient Temperature Gradients

We examine a thermoelectric harvester that converts electrical energy from the naturally occurring temperature difference between ambient air and large thermal storage capacitors such as building walls or the soil. For maximum power output, the harvester design is implemented in two steps: source matching of the thermal and electrical interfaces to the energy source (system level) followed by load matching of the generator to these interfaces (subsystem level). Therefore, we measure thermal source properties such as the temperature difference, the air velocity, and the cutoff frequency in two application scenarios (road tunnel and office building). We extend a stationary model of the harvester into the time domain to account for transient behavior of the source. Based on the model and the source measurements, we perform the source and load matching. The resulting harvester consists of a pin fin heat sink with a thermal resistance of 6.2?K/W and a cutoff frequency 2.5?times greater than that of the source, a thermoelectric generator, and a DC/DC step-up converter starting at a total temperature difference of only ??T?=?1.2?K. In a final road tunnel field test, this optimized harvester converts 70?mJ of electrical energy per day without any direct solar irradiation. The energy provided by the harvester enables 415?data transmissions from a wireless sensor node per day.     

Monodisperse Pd nanoparticles assembled on reduced graphene oxide-Fe3O4 nanocomposites as electrocatalysts for borohydride fuel cells

5 nm palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) are synthesized and assembled on reduced graphene oxide-iron oxide nanocomposite (rGO-Fe₃O₄) to be used in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and borohydride oxidation reaction (BOR) studies in alkaline media. The structure and morphology of the resulting Pd/rGO-Fe₃O₄ hybrid material are evaluated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses. The electrochemical behavior of Pd/rGO-Fe₃O₄ hybrid material for the ORR and BOR is investigated by voltammetry with rotating disk and rotating ring disk electrode and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, enabling evaluation of the number of exchanged electrons, Tafel slope, exchange current density and activation energy. The results reveal that ORR at Pd/rGO-Fe₃O₄ proceeds as a 2-electron process with Tafel slope of 0.133 V dec^?1, while BOR proceeds as a 5.6-electron process with Tafel slope of 0.350 V dec^?1 and exchange current density of 1.38 mA cm^?2. The BOR activation energy was found to be 12.4 kJ mol^?1. Overall, this study demonstrates the good efficiency of Pd/rGO-Fe₃O₄ hybrid material for BOR.