Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Reflections On The Use Of The Mccabe And Thiele Method, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

This paper reflects on the continuity of teaching the McCabe and Thiele method on chemical engineering courses for understanding the vapour-liquid equilibrium phenomena involved in distillation. Some exercises comparing the results obtained by this method as well as by other accurate analytical methods are presented and solved, as they are taught in ISEL courses. Because of its accuracy and easiness of use, and also because of the fact as this method allows an easy visualisation of the whole operation itself, the McCabe and Thiele method continues to be widespread used and students show a remarkable adherence to it.

What More In Nanosized Molecular Sieves, Eng-Poh Ng, Gerardo Majano, Louwanda Lakiss, Svetlana Mintova

Eng-Poh Ng

No abstract provided.

Interaction Of Water With Cap-Ended Defective And Non-Defective Small Carbon Nanotubes, Jose L. Rivera, J. L. Rico, Francis W. Starr

Francis Starr

No abstract provided.

Self-Assembling Dna Dendrimers: A Numerical Study, L. Largo, Francis Starr, F. Sciortino

Francis Starr

No abstract provided.

A Fully Lagrangian Numerical Method For Calculating The Dynamics Of Oscillating Micro And Nanoscale Objects Immersed In Fluid, Nicole N. Hashemi, Mark Paul, Javier Alcazar, Raul Radovitzky

Nastaran Hashemi

Many micro and nano-technologies rely upon the complicated motion of objects immersed in a viscous fluid. It is often the case that for such problems analytical theory is not available to quantitatively describe and predict the device dynamics. In addition, the numerical simulation of such devices involves moving boundaries and use of the standard Eulerian computational approaches are often difficult to implement. In order to address this problem we use and validate a fully Lagrangian finite element approach that treats the moving boundaries in a natural manner. We validate the method for use in calculating the dynamics of oscillating objects …

Effect Of The Lattice Crystallinity On The Electron−Phonon Relaxation Rates In Gold Nanoparticles, Wenyu Huang, Wei Qian, Mostafa El-Sayed

Wenyu Huang

In order to study the importance of surface phonons on the electron−phonon relaxation in plasmonic nanoparticles, the effect of size, shape, and materials have recently been studied. Gold and silver nanoparticles have shown no dependence on size and shape while copper nanoparticles have shown some size dependence. This suggests that the bulk phonons, which are sensitive to the bulk-phase structure, are solely responsible for the relaxation of the hot electron in gold and silver plasmonic nanoparticles. The importance of bulk phonons should depend on the degree of crystallinity. In the present study, we have found that the electron−phonon relaxation rate …

On The Universal Scaling Behavior Of The Distance Decay Of Plasmon Coupling In Metal Nanoparticle Pairs: A Plasmon Ruler Equation, Prashant K. Jain, Wenyu Huang, Mostafa A. El-Sayed

Wenyu Huang

Localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) in lithographically fabricated gold (Au) nanodisc pairs are investigated using microabsorption spectroscopy and electrodynamic simulations. In agreement with previous work, we find that the fractional plasmon wavelength shift for polarization along the interparticle axis decays nearly exponentially with the interparticle gap. In addition, we find that the decay length is roughly about 0.2 in units of the particle size for different nanoparticle size, shape, metal type, or medium dielectric constant. The near-exponential distance decay and the interesting “universal” scaling behavior of interparticle plasmon coupling can be qualitatively explained on the basis of a dipolar-coupling model …

The Effect Of Plasmon Field On The Coherent Lattice Phonon Oscillation In Electron-Beam Fabricated Gold Nanoparticle Pairs, Wenyu Huang, Wei Qian, Prashant K. Jain, Mostafa El-Sayed

Wenyu Huang

By using electron beam lithography, we fabricated pairs of gold nanoparticles with varying interparticle separation. Double-beam femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the coherent lattice oscillation frequency as a function of the interparticle separation in the presence of the plasmon field excited by the monitoring probe light. We found that the fractional shift in the coherent lattice phonon oscillation frequency follows an exponential decay with respect to the interparticle gap scaled by the disc diameter with the same decay constant as that previously observed for the fractional shift in the surface plasmon electronic oscillation resonance frequency. This strongly …

Development Of Nanostructure Based Corrosion-Barrier Coatings On Steel For Transmutation Applications, Biswajit Das

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Advanced transmutation systems require structural materials that are able to withstand high neutron fluxes, high thermal cycling, and high resistance to chemical corrosion. The current candidate materials for such structures are ferritic and ferritic-martensitic steels due to their strong resistance to swelling, good microstructural stability under irradiation, and the retention of adequate ductility at typical reactor operating temperatures.

In parallel, lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) has emerged as a potential spallation target material for efficient production of neutrons, as well as a coolant in the accelerator system. While LBE has excellent properties as a nuclear coolant, it is also highly corrosive to …

Ultrasonic Characterization Of Microstructure Evolution During Processing, Liyong Yang, Joseph A. Turner, Zheng Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Many cold-working processes for polycrystalline metals cause alignment of the grains with a single symmetry axis. This type of microstructure is called fiber texture. The existence of a preferred orientation of the grains has a significant influence on the propagation and scattering of ultrasonic waves, which are often used for material inspection. Knowledge of the wave attenuation of such textured materials is of both theoretical and practical interest to nondestructive testing and materials characterization. In this article, the quantitative relations between fiber texture and wave attenuations of hexagonal crystals are presented. The texture is characterized by a Gaussian distribution function …

Quantitative Analysis Of Polycrystalline Electron Diffraction Patterns, Xingzhong Li

Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience: Faculty Publications

Image processing and computer-assisted analysis are very important in electron microscopy/crystallography, e.g., computer programs have been well developed for image processing and simulation for high-resolution electron microscopy images, and are widely used in research. Unfortunately, few computer programs have been developed for analysis and processing electron diffraction ring patterns. Facing this situation, Labar [1] developed ProcessDiffraction, a computer program to process electron diffraction patterns from polycrystalline and amorphous samples, with an aim to provides good angular resolution, quantified intensities, and reproducible identification of discontinuous and/or faint rings. For phase identification, it is to compare the generated diffractogram to the X-ray …

Modeling Redox-Based Magnetohydrodynamics In Three-Dimensional Microfluidic Channels, Hussameddine S. Kabbani, Aihua Wang, Xiaobing Luo, Shizhi Qian

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

RedOx-based magnetohydrodynamic MHD[1] flows in three-dimensional microfluidic channels are investigated theoretically with a coupled mathematical model consisting of the Nernst-Planck equations for the concentrations of ionic species, the local electroneutrality condition for the electric potential, and the Navier-Stokes equations for the flow field. A potential difference is externally applied across two planar electrodes positioned along the opposing walls of a microchannel that is filled with a dilute RedOx electrolyte solution, and a Faradaic current transmitted through the solution results. The entire device is positioned under a magnetic field which can be provided by either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. …

A Scientific Foundation Of Collaborative Engineering, S. C.-Y. Lu, W. Elmaraghy, G. Schuh, R. Wilhelm

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Collaborative engineering is the practical application of collaboration sciences to the engineering domain. In today’s highly connected technology-driven economy, the production industry must rely on the best practices of collaborative engineering to stay competitive when designing, manufacturing, and operating complex machines, processes, and systems on a global scale. Despite its importance, collaborative engineering is currently more of a practiced art than a scientific discipline. A better understanding of how engineers should collaborate with all stakeholders to accomplish complex tasks that fulfill our increasing social responsibilities is a grand challenge. However, because we currently lack well-defined sciences of human collaboration, we …

Improved Hole-Injection Contact For Top-Emitting Polymeric Diodes, Juo-Hao Li, Jinsong Huang, Yang Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

In this letter, an efficient hole-injection contact was achieved for the top-emitting polymeric light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). The anode has a structure of metal/molybdenum oxide/ poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). It has been found that hole injection was significantly improved by inserting a thin layer of MoO₃ between aluminum and PEDOT:PSS. An ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) was used to investigate the change of work function, and photovoltaic measurement confirmed that the improved hole injection is due to the reduction of barrier height, resulted from the addition of transition metal oxide. PEDOT:PSS layer was found necessary in anode structure to further enhance the …

Low Voltage And Fast Speed All-Polymeric Optocouplers, Yan Yao, Hsiang-Yu Chen, Jinsong Huang, Yang Yang

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

An all-polymeric optocoupler has been demonstrated with a polymer light-emitting diode (PLED) as the light source (input unit) and a polymer/fullerene photodiode (PD) as the detector (output unit). The electroluminescence (EL) peak of the PLED is 560 nm, and the entire EL spectrum is within the response range of the PD. The optocoupler can work at low driving voltages, 5 V on the PLED and 0 V on the PD. The output photocurrent increases linearly with input current, and the current density transfer ratio reaches 1.5%. The frequency response of the optocoupler is at 500 kHz. With comparable performance to …

Deck-Mounted Steel Post Barrier System, John D. Reid, Ronald K. Faller, Jason A. Hascall

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

An existing mountable safety barrier system, previously crash tested successfully on a wood bridge deck, was evaluated for use on a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bridge deck. In an attempt to avoid expensive full-scale crash testing, components of the existing system were evaluated using worst case conditions on two dynamic bogie crash tests and a series of computer simulations using nonlinear finite-element analysis. Simulation results closely approximated the physical results, with both displaying similar deformation, damage, and force levels. Both testing and simulation demonstrated that the barrier should function sufficiently if used on the FRP deck system. Further, the development …

Regional Mechanical Properties And Stress Analysis Of The Human Anterior Lens Capsule, Ryan M. Pedrigi, G. David, J. Dziezyc, J. D. Humphrey

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The lens capsule of the eye functions, in part, as a deformable support through which the ciliary body applies tractions that can alter lens curvature and corresponding refractive power during the process of accommodation. Although it has long been recognized that characterization of the mechanical properties of the lens capsule is fundamental to understanding this physiologic process as well as clinical interventions, prior data have been limited by one-dimensional testing of excised specimens despite the existence of multiaxial loading in vivo. In this paper, we employ a novel experimental approach to study in situ the regional, multiaxial mechanical behavior of …

Three-Dimensional Structure Of Cdx (X= Se, Te) Nanocrystals By Total X-Ray Diffraction, S. K. Pradhan, Z. T. Deng, F. Tang, Y. Ren, Peter Moeck, V. Petkov

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The three-dimensional structure of oleic acid-capped CdSe and thiol-capped CdTe nanocrystals used as quantum dots has been determined by total synchrotron radiationx-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis. Both CdSe and CdTe are found to exhibit the zinc-blende-type atomic ordering. It is only slightly distorted in CdSe implying the presence of nanosize domains and very heavily distorted in CdTe due to the presence of distinct core-shell regions. The results well demonstrate the great potential of the experimental approach and thus encourage its wider application in quantum dot research.

Measurement And Modeling Of Light Transmission Through Turbid Media, Alois (Al) J. Adams, Michael Fahrenwald, Long Do

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Physiochemical Indicators Of Single Walled Carbon Nanotube Toxicity, Alan Casey

Doctoral

Numerous toxicity studies have been conducted to date both in vivo and in vitro on refined and raw Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNT). Differences in SWCNT toxicity and biocompatibility have been observed between these studies, and whilst these discrepancies have been attributed to factors such as varying percentages of remnant catalytic particles, differences in dispersion methods etc. the mechanisms underlying these inconsistencies have not been investigated. This study used standard spectroscopic and cellular techniques to elucidate the origins of these inconsistencies and also to estimate the validity of toxicological data evaluated form standard cytotoxic endpoints. Spectroscopic studies were conducted in …

Exafs Characterization Of Dendrimer‐Derived Pt/Γ‐Al2O3, A. Siani, Oleg S. Alexeev, Christopher T. Williams, Harry J. Ploehn, Michael D. Amiridis

Faculty Publications

The various steps involved in the preparation of a Pt/γ‐Al₂O₃ material using hydroxyl‐terminated generation four (G4OH) PAMAM dendrimers as templates were monitored by EXAFS. The results indicate that Cl ligands in the Pt precursors (H₂PtCl₆ and K₂PtCl₄) were partially replaced by aquo ligands upon hydrolysis to form [PtCl₃(H₂O)₃]⁺ and [PtCl₂(H₂O)₂] species. After interaction of such species with G4OH, Cl ligands from the first coordination shell of Pt were further replaced by nitrogen atoms from the dendrimer interior, …