Thermal conductivity of the ionic liquid [HMIm][Tf2N] with compressed carbon dioxide

The liquid thermal conductivity of the ionic liquid (IL), 1-hexyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide ([HMIm][Tf₂N]), saturated with compressed vapor and supercritical carbon dioxide was measured over three isotherms (298.15, 323.15, and 348.15 K) and pressures up to approximately 20 MPa using a transient hot-wire technique. Pure [HMIm][Tf₂N] thermal conductivity was also measured over a temperature range of 293.15–353.15 K at ambient pressure and with hydrostatic pressure to approximately 20 MPa. Literature vapor–liquid equilibrium data were used to predict the liquid CO₂ composition at the conditions investigated. Initially, the liquid thermal conductivity slightly decreased with pressure/composition of CO₂ followed by a gradual increase that is mainly attributed to hydrostatic pressure effects. Simple composition-based mixing rules for mixture properties are not qualitatively nor quantitatively accurate. These data could be used to engineer heat transfer equipment required for a variety of proposed IL applications in CO₂ capture, absorption refrigeration, biphasic CO₂/IL reaction platforms, etc.     

Intense broadband photoemission from Bi-doped ZrO2 embedded in vitreous aluminoborate via direct melt-quenching

Tuning the optical properties of active species embedded within a glass matrix by modifying the ligand environment is of interest for luminescence-based technologies, for example, in optical sensing, data transmission, or spectral conversion. Here, we discuss a facile synthesis procedure for a glass-crystal composite material comprising of bismuth (Bi)-doped zirconia within an aluminoborate glass phase. The approach offers tunable and broad photoemission characteristics in the visible spectral region from 400 to 750 nm. Incorporation of Bi ions into the crystal phase enhances the photoemission intensity by two orders of magnitude, with an external quantum efficiency of about 29%. At higher ZrO₂ dopant concentration, we observe a red-shift of both the excitation and the emission bands to match commodity ultra-violet light emitting diodes as excitation sources. Encapsulation within the aluminoborate glass phase provides advantageous thermal behavior, with the emission intensity remaining at >80 % of its initial value up to a temperature of 400 K.     

Sex Attractant Pheromone of the Luna Moth, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actias luna</Emphasis> (Linnaeus)

Giant silk moths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) typically are not well represented as larvae or adults in community level inventories of Lepidoptera, and as a result, little is known about their population dynamics. Furthermore, in recent years, many species of silk moths appear to have experienced population declines. Volatile sex pheromones are powerful sampling tools that can be used in operational conservation and monitoring programs for insects. Here, we describe the identification of the sex attractant pheromone of a giant silk moth, the luna moth Actias luna. Coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analyses of extracts from pheromone glands of female luna moths supported the identification of (6E,11Z)-6,11-octadecadienal (E6,Z11–18:Ald), (6E)-6-octadecenal (E6–18:Ald), and (11Z)-11-octadecenal (Z11–18:Ald) as the compounds in extracts that elicited responses from antennae of male moths. These identifications were confirmed by synthesis, followed by testing of blends of the synthetic compounds in field trials in Ontario, Canada, and Kentucky, USA. Male moths were attracted to synthetic E6,Z11–18:Ald as a single component. Attraction appeared to be enhanced by addition of E6–18:Ald but not Z11–18:Ald, suggesting that the luna moth pheromone consists of a blend of E6,Z11–18:Ald and E6–18:Ald.     

The FKBP5 Gene Affects Alcohol Drinking in Knockout Mice and Is Implicated in Alcohol Drinking in Humans

FKBP5 encodes FK506-binding protein 5, a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-binding protein implicated in various psychiatric disorders and alcohol withdrawal severity. The purpose of this study is to characterize alcohol preference and related phenotypes in Fkbp5 knockout (KO) mice and to examine the role of FKBP5 in human alcohol consumption. The following experiments were performed to characterize Fkpb5 KO mice. (1) Fkbp5 KO and wild-type (WT) EtOH consumption was tested using a two-bottle choice paradigm; (2) The EtOH elimination rate was measured after intraperitoneal (IP) injection of 2.0 g/kg EtOH; (3) Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured after 3 h limited access of alcohol; (4) Brain region expression of Fkbp5 was identified using LacZ staining; (5) Baseline corticosterone (CORT) was assessed. Additionally, two SNPs, rs1360780 (C/T) and rs3800373 (T/G), were selected to study the association of FKBP5 with alcohol consumption in humans. Participants were college students (n = 1162) from 21–26 years of age with Chinese, Korean or Caucasian ethnicity. The results, compared to WT mice, for KO mice exhibited an increase in alcohol consumption that was not due to differences in taste sensitivity or alcohol metabolism. Higher BAC was found in KO mice after 3 h of EtOH access. Fkbp5 was highly expressed in brain regions involved in the regulation of the stress response, such as the hippocampus, amygdala, dorsal raphe and locus coeruleus. Both genotypes exhibited similar basal levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT). Finally, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FKBP5 were found to be associated with alcohol drinking in humans. These results suggest that the association between FKBP5 and alcohol consumption is conserved in both mice and humans.     

High-pressure phase equilibria for the synthesis of ionic liquids in compressed CO2 for 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide with 1-bromohexane and 1-methylimidazole

The use of carbon dioxide in the synthesis of ionic liquids (ILs) has many advantages over conventional solvents. Here, the high-pressure phase equilibria (including CO₂ solubility, volume expansion, and mixture critical points) are measured and modeled for the system involved in the synthesis of a model imidazolium ionic liquid 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([HMIm][Br]) from 1-bromohexane and 1-methylimidazole. The global phase behavior of 1-methylimidazole was investigated and found to be a Type V system (or potentially IV) from the classification of Scott and van Konynenburg with regions of vapor–liquid equilibrium, vapor–liquid–liquid equilibrium, liquid–liquid equilibrium, an upper and lower critical endpoint and mixture critical points. The solubility and volume expansion of CO₂ in 1-methylimidazole, 1-bromohexane, a 1:1 mixture of 1-methylimidazole and 1-bromohexane and [HMIm][Br] was determined at 313.15 K and 333.15 K for pressures ranging from 10 to 160 bar. The solubility of CO₂ and the volume expansion increases in the order of [HMIm][Br]  1-methylimidazole < 1:1 mixture of reactants < 1-bromohexane. The Peng–Robinson equation of state with van der Waals 2-parameter mixing rules was used with estimated critical properties to well correlate the vapor–liquid equilibrium. The results have important ramifications on the kinetics and process constraints of an actual IL synthesis with CO₂.     

Global phase behavior of imidazolium ionic liquids and compressed 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane (R‐134a)

Novel processes involving ionic liquids with refrigerant gases have recently been developed. Here, the complete global phase behavior has been measured for the refrigerant gas, 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane (R‐134a) and 1‐n‐alkyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium ionic liquids with the anions hexafluorophosphate [PF₆], tetrafluoroborate [BF₄] and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Tf₂N] from ～0°C to 105°C and to 33 MPa. All of the systems studied were Type V from the classification scheme of Scott‐van Konynenburg with regions of vapor‐liquid equilibrium, miscible/critical regions, vapor‐liquid‐liquid equilibrium, and upper and lower critical endpoints (UCEP and LCEP). The effect of the alkyl chain length has been investigated, for ethyl‐([EMIm]), n‐butyl‐([BMIm]), and n‐hexyl‐([HMIm]). With increasing chain length, the temperature of the lower critical end points increases and pressure at the mixture critical points decrease. With a common cation, the temperature of the LCEP increased and the mixture critical point pressures decreased in the order of [BF₄], [PF₆], and [Tf₂N]. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

The characterization of non-planar graphene nanowires with an Ω shape cross-section

We report on SEM, AFM, and Raman identification of non-planar several monolayer-thick graphene nanostructures with curved shapes. During mechanical exfoliation we obtained graphene flakes with nanowire/nanotube-like objects (diameters between 8 and 35 nm) with cross-sectional profile reminiscent of the Greek capital letter omega (Ω). The curved shapes of these objects were confirmed by AFM and SEM imaging. Non-planar Ω - nanostructures open up new possibilities for graphene electron energy band engineering.     

Development of Undergraduate Students’ Professional Skills

The development of engineering students’ professional skills has gained considerable national attention from Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the National Academy of Engineering, ASCE, and other constituents. There is little debate that these professional skills are necessary. Engineering programs have tried many approaches to develop these skills in the undergraduate programs. Colorado State University (CSU) has developed a new approach modeled on the type of professional development that occurs in the professional environment. This new Professional Learning Institute (PLI) provides students with a broad array of workshops, presentations, and experiential opportunities addressing the areas of cross cultural communication and teamwork, innovation, leadership, ethics, and public service. This program introduces students to the concept of professional development through required extracurricular activities, includes minimum requirements along with requirements to earn certificates in specialty areas for motivated students. The majority of offerings in the PLI are presented by leaders from the engineering profession who have teamed with CSU to provide high quality programs for our students.