Synthesis of HgI2 Nanoparticles and Nanorods by Laser Ablation in Liquid for Photodetector Applications: Effect of Laser Fluence

In this study, mercury iodide (HgI₂) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in ethanol at laser fluences of 22.9, 33.1, and 43.3 J/cm². The effect of laser fluence on the structural and optical properties of HgI₂ NPs was studied. X-ray diffraction findings reveal that all synthesized HgI₂ samples were polycrystalline in nature with orthorhombic structure. Absorption peak was appeared at 474 nm and the optical energy gap of HgI₂ NPs decreases from 2.13 to 2.05 eV as laser fluence increased from 22.9 to 43.3 J/cm². Zeta potential (ZP) results confirm that the nanoparticles synthesized at 22.9 and 33.1 J/cm² have high degree of stability. Fluorescence measurements show the presence of several emission bands. Raman spectra of HgI₂ NPs show the presence of six vibration modes centered at 15, 29, 37, 44, 51, and 70 cm^?1. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results show the presence of two bonds, namely, C–O and Hg-I. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results showed that the formation of spherical nanoparticles for sample prepared at 22.9 J/cm², 25–75 nm in size. While the nanoparticles synthesized with 33.1 and 43.3 J/cm² exhibit nanorods and nanotubes morphologies, respectively. The dark I–V characteristics of β-HgI₂ NPs/Si heterojunction photodetectors show rectification properties and the junction quality depends on the laser fluence and the best junction characteristics was obtained for heterojunction prepared at 33.1 J/cm². The white light photosensitivity of the HgI₂/p-Si photodetectors was measured at reverse bias under different intensities. The maximum responsivity reached was 3.39A/W at 450 nm for photodetector prepared at 33.1 J/cm².

     

Surface-tailoring chlorine resistant materials and strategies for polyamide thin film composite reverse osmosis membranes

Polyamide thin film composite membranes have dominated current reverse osmosis market on account of their excellent separation performances compared to the integrally skinned counterparts. Despite their very promising separation performance, chlorine-induced degradation resulted from the susceptibility of polyamide toward chlorine attack has been regarded as the Achilles’s heel of polyamide thin film composite. The free chlorine species present during chlorine treatment can impair membrane performance through chlorination and depolymerization of the polyamide selective layer. From material point of view, a chemically stable membrane is crucial for the sustainable application of membrane separation process as it warrants a longer membrane lifespan and reduces the cost involved in membrane replacement. Various strategies, particularly those involved membrane material optimization and surface modifications, have been established to address this issue. This review discusses membrane degradation by free chlorine attack and its correlation with the surface chemistry of polyamide. The advancement in the development of chlorine resistant polyamide thin film composite membranes is reviewed based on the state-of-the-art surface modifications and tailoring approaches which include the in situ and post-fabrication membrane modifications using a broad range of functional materials. The challenges and future directions in this field are also highlighted.     

Design and analysis of a new magneto rheological damper for washing machine

In this article, a new magneto rheological (MR) sponge damper is proposed for suppression of vibrations in a washing machine. The article presents design optimization of geometric parameters of MR sponge damper (MRSD) using the finite element analysis (FEA) and first order derivative techniques for a washing machine. The article explains the hysteresis behavior and the relationship of damping force with input current for the proposed MRSD. Moreover, the characteristics of the MRSD such as energy dissipation and equivalent damping coefficient are investigated experimentally in terms of input current and excitation amplitude. The passive dampers installed in washing machine are ineffective in reducing unwanted vibrations at resonant frequencies due to real time unbalanced mass. For this purpose, a test setup is established in order to compare the performance of passive dampers with the proposed MRSDs in a washing machine. It is noticed that MRSDs reduce average vibrations of 75.61 % in a low frequency band, whereas in a high frequency band, the MRSDs lessen average vibrations of 30.57 % in a washing machine. In order to determine the performance of proposed design MRSD, a detailed comparison of the performance parameters, such as total damping force, passive force, maximum average vibrations after suppression by MR dampers, maximum current and power ratings is provided with the existing designs of MR damper for washing machine from the literature.     

Influence of kenaf form and loading on the properties of kenaf‐filled polypropylene/waste tire dust composites: A comparison study

Kenaf (KNF)‐filled polypropylene/waste tire dust (PP/WTD) composites containing different KNF loadings (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 parts per hundred parts of resin (phr)) were prepared using a Thermo Haake Polydrive internal mixer. The influence of the KNF form (KNF short fiber (KNFs) and KNF powder (KNFp)) at different KNF loadings on properties of the composites was studied. Results showed that with increasing KNF loading, the stabilization torque, tensile modulus, water absorption, and thermal properties increased for both KNFp‐ and KNFs‐filled PP/WTD composites. However, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased by 29.2% and 53.9%, respectively, for KNFp‐filled PP/WTD composites, whereas KNFs‐filled PP/WTD composites showed a decrement of 24.5% and 63.5%, respectively. The stabilization torque, tensile strength, and tensile modulus increased by 22.4%, 6.7%, and 2.6%, respectively, for KNFs‐filled PP/WTD composites at 20 phr KNF loading. The scanning electron microscopy morphological studies on the tensile fractured surfaces revealed poor adhesion between KNFp and PP/WTD matrices as compared to KNFs and PP/WTD matrices. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40877.     

Microwave irradiated and thermally heated olive stone activated carbon for nickel adsorption from synthetic wastewater: A comparative study

In attempt to compare the removal efficiency and yield of the activated carbon prepared using the conventional and microwave‐assisted heating is the focus of this work. Toward this olive stone (a biomass precursor) is activated using the popular activating agent potassium hydroxide. The process optimization exercise is carried out by using the standard full factorial statistical design of experiments (response surface methodology). The activated carbons prepared under the optimized conditions are compared based on the adsorption capacity and yield. The adsorption capacity was found higher using microwave heating as compared with conventional heating. The microwave heating requires significantly lesser holding time as compared to conventional heating method to produce activated carbon of comparable quality, with higher yield. The BET surface area of carbon using microwave heating is significantly higher than the conventional heating. Although the mesopore surface area of carbon is not vary significantly, the activation time, power, and nitrogen gas consumption are significantly lower than the conventional heating rendering that the activation process via microwave is more economical than that via conventional heating. The adsorption isotherm data fitted the Langmuir isotherm well and the monolayer adsorption capacity was found to be 12.0 and 8.42 mg/g for microwave and thermally heated activated carbon, respectively. Regeneration studies showed that microwave‐irradiated and thermally heated olive stone could be used several times by desorption with an HCl reagent. Both carbons can be used for the efficient removal of Ni²⁺ (>99%) from contaminated wastewater. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 237–250, 2014     

Preparation of dendritic adamantane‐based polymers/layered silicate nanocomposites

An adamantane‐based atom transfer radical initiator (Adm‐Br) was prepared by the treatment of 1‐[[N‐[2‐Hydroxy‐l,l‐bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]amino]carbonyl]adamantane with bromopropionyl bromide. The resulting initiator was subsequently used in the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate (MMA) to form (Adm‐p‐MMA), which was successfully used, as a macroinitiator, in further ATRP reactions with 3‐O‐methacryloyl‐1,2 5,6‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐α‐d ‐glucofuranose (gly), a glycomonomer, to afford the Adm‐p‐MMA‐b‐gly polymer. The new Adm‐p‐MMA‐b‐gly polymer subsequently was employed to form a nanocomposite with chitosan‐modified, Nanofil clay (NC). The resulting Adm‐p‐MMA‐b‐gly/NC composite material was progressively hydrolyzed to regenerate the OH groups of the glucose units within the Adm‐p‐MMA‐b‐gly copolymer. The polymer/NC nanocomposites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, thermal gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and transmission electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2669–2675, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Porous polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane in gas–liquid contacting processes

Porous polyethersulfone hollow fiber membranes were fabricated via dry–wet phase inversion method with the polymer concentration in the spinning dope either 13 wt% or 15 wt%. The fabricated hollow fiber membranes were characterized by different test methods and the performance of membranes in contactor applications was tested by CO₂ absorption. The mean pore size, effective surface porosity and membrane porosity decreased while the membrane density and Liquid Entry Pressure (LEPw) increased as polymer concentration increased. The CO₂ absorption flux of the fabricated membranes was measured in two cases; i.e. when the absorbent, distilled water, was in the lumen side or in the shell side. The CO₂ flux for the membrane, fabricated from 13 wt% PES solution, was compared with some commercial and in-house made membranes. The former membrane had 111% higher flux than a commercial PTFE membrane.     

Study of the Blast Wave Parameters from Small Scale Explosions

Although the science of blast overpressure is well understood there are major difficulties in obtaining accurate values for peak overpressure, positive duration, and positive impulse. These parameters are required to assess damage potential of blast overpressures. This paper describes the problems associated with such measurements and how the problems can be overcome by the use of known analytical techniques based on the modified Friedlander equation. Other methods used include curve smoothing of the pressure-time history and integration to obtain impulse values through which the curve decay parameter can be found. Several different analytical methods are compared. The experiments have been carried out on small charges (200 g and 400 g) and the results obtained analysed to assess far-field distances for such charges. This has been achieved by comparing peak overpressure values with the scaled distance.     

The Plasminogen–Activator Plasmin System in Physiological and Pathophysiological Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a process associated with the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (EC) to form new blood vessels. It is involved in various physiological and pathophysiological conditions and is controlled by a wide range of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules. The plasminogen activator–plasmin system plays a major role in the extracellular matrix remodeling process necessary for angiogenesis. Urokinase/tissue-type plasminogen activators (uPA/tPA) convert plasminogen into the active enzyme plasmin, which in turn activates matrix metalloproteinases and degrades the extracellular matrix releasing growth factors and proangiogenic molecules such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is the main inhibitor of uPA and tPA, thereby an inhibitor of pericellular proteolysis and intravascular fibrinolysis, respectively. Paradoxically, PAI-1, which is expressed by EC during angiogenesis, is elevated in several cancers and is found to promote angiogenesis by regulating plasmin-mediated proteolysis and by promoting cellular migration through vitronectin. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) also induces EC cellular migration during angiogenesis via interacting with signaling partners. Understanding the molecular functions of the plasminogen activator plasmin system and targeting angiogenesis via blocking serine proteases or their interactions with other molecules is one of the major therapeutic strategies scientists have been attracted to in controlling tumor growth and other pathological conditions characterized by neovascularization.     

Nitrogen contributions of alley cropped Trifolium pratense may sustain short rotation woody crop yields on marginal lands

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems - Incorporating nitrogen-fixing cover crops into short rotation woody crop (SWRC) plantations may increase soil and tree nitrogen while sustaining, or even...