Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Closing The Gap Between The Industry And Higher Education Institutions- Case Examples From East African Region, Deogratias Harorimana Mr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

Much complained about is the quality of graduates Universities put on the labour market. Less talked about however is why knowledge institutions seems to be bad knowledge managers. In this presentation I argue that DIRECT collaborative relationship between Industry,Governments and Higher Education Institutions is a per-requisite.Good relationship is key to building such a successful knowledge transfer strategies between Industries and Educational and Research Institutions. This paper explores what makes a good Knowledge Transfer Partnership Strategy and highlights some key lessons for businesses, Universities and Government bodies. This paper was a Key note presentation to the Annual International Conference on Building …

Second-Harmonic Imaging Microscopy Of Living Cells, Paul J. Campagnola, Heather Clark, William A. Mohler, Aaron Lewis (Prof.), Leslie M. Loew

Heather Clark

Second harmonic generation (SHG) has been developed in our laboratories as a high-resolution nonlinear optical imaging microscopy for cellular membranes and intact tissues. SHG shares many of the advantageous features for microscopy of another more established nonlinear optical technique: two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF). Both are capable of optical sectioning to produce threedimensional images of thick specimens and both result in less photodamage to living tissue than confocal microscopy. SHG is complementary to TPEF in that it uses a different contrast mechanism and is most easily detected in the transmitted light optical path. It can be used to image membrane probes …

A Comparative Study Of Optical Fluorescent Nanosensors ("Pebbles") And Fiber Optic Microsensors For Oxygen Sensing, Z. Chen-Esterlit, S. F. Peteu, Heather Clark, W. Mcdonald, R. Kopelman

Heather Clark

In this paper we report the use of phase sensitive fluorometry to obtain preliminary results from opto-chemical fluorescent oxygen nanosensors. PEBBLE (Probe Encapsulated By Biologically Localized Embedding) sensors were fabricated by immobilizing tris(4,7-diphenyl—1, 10-phenanthroline)Ru(II) chloride and tris(1,10-phenanthroline)Ru(II) chloride within a polyacrylamide matrix. PEBBLEs have diameters of 20-200 nm and exhibit excellent performance for dissolved oxygen detection. Their performance is compared with micrometer-sized (10-20 μm) optical fiber sensors and free dye in solution. Oxygen sensing ability of PEBBLEs was tested in the presence of other quenchers and compared with free dyes in solution. While PEBBLEs have been developed for minimally invasive …

Sub-Wavelength Plasmonic Readout For Direct Linear Analysis Of Optically Tagged Dna, Jonathan Varsanik, William Teynor, John Leblanc, Heather Clark, Jeffrey Krogmeier, Tian Yang, Jonathan Bernstein

Heather Clark

This work describes the development and fabrication of a novel nanofluidic flow-through sensing chip that utilizes a plasmonic resonator to excite fluorescent tags with sub-wavelength resolution. We cover the design of the microfluidic chip and simulation of the plasmonic resonator using Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) software. The fabrication methods are presented, with testing procedures and preliminary results. This research is aimed at improving the resolution limits of the Direct Linear Analysis (DLA) technique developed by US Genomics. In DLA, intercalating dyes which tag a specific 8 base-pair sequence are inserted in a DNA sample. This sample is pumped though …

Ultra-Thin-Film Aln Contour-Mode Resonators For Sensing Applications, Matteo Rinaldi, Chiara Zuniga, Gianluca Piazza

Matteo Rinaldi

This paper reports on the design and experimental verification of a new class of ultra-thin-film (250 nm) aluminum nitride (AlN) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) contour mode resonators (CMRs) suitable for the fabrication of ultra-sensitive gravimetric sensors. The device thickness was opportunely scaled in order to increase the mass sensitivity, while keeping a constant frequency of operation. In this first demonstration the resonance frequency of the device was set to 178 MHz and a mass sensitivity as high as 38.96 KHz⋅μm2/fg was attained. This device demonstrates the unique capability of the CMR-S technology to decouple resonance frequency from mass sensitivity.

Ultra-Thin Super High Frequency Two-Port Aln Contour-Mode Resonators And Filters, Matteo Rinaldi, Chiara Zuniga, Chnegjie Zuo, Gianluca Piazza

Matteo Rinaldi

This paper reports on the demonstration of a new class of ultra-thin (250 nm thick) super high frequency (SHF) AlN piezoelectric two-port resonators and filters. A thickness field excitation scheme was employed to excite a higher order contour extensional mode of vibration in an AlN nano plate (250 nm thick) above 3 GHz and synthesize a 1.96 GHz narrow-bandwidth channel-select filter. The devices of this work are able to operate over a frequency range from 1.9 to 3.5 GHz and are employed to synthesize the highest frequency MEMS filter based on electrically self-coupled AlN contour-mode resonators. Very narrow bandwidth (~ …

Effect Of Particle Properties And Light Polarization On The Plasmonic Resonances In Metallic Nanoparticles, U. Guler, R. Turan

U. Guler

The resonance behavior of localized surface plasmons in silver and gold nanoparticles was studied in the visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Arrays of nano-sized gold (Au) and silver (Ag) particles with different properties were produced with electron-beam lithography technique over glass substrates. The effect of the particle size, shape variations, period, thickness, metal type, substrate type and sulfidation were studied via transmission and reflectance measurements. The results are compared with the theoretical calculations based on the DDA simulations performed by software developed in this study. We propose a new intensity modulation technique based on localized surface plasmons …

Morphological Evolution Of Single-Crystal Ultrathin Solid Films, Mikhail Khenner

Mikhail Khenner

An introduction to mathematical modeling of ultrathin solid films and the role of such modeling in nanotechnologies: Educational/Research presentation for senior physics majors

Rwanda National Customer Satisfaction Survey: Results And Conclusions, Deogratias Harorimana

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

It can be said that development practice requires more than financial and manpower inputs. Rwanda, in 1994 suffered a Genocide. The Society,collectively and under the leadership of His Excellence Paul Kagame the current elected President of Rwanda came together and designed strategies that would propel Rwanda to a Middle-Income, Private Sector Led Economy by the Year 2020.

In 2009, a client seating in one of the Hotels in a Suburb of Remera, in Kigali City, complained about poor service delivery he was experiencing from the waitress staff.Using his Blackberry message, the client forwarded an email to some of the RDB …

Enterprise Development Policies And Capacity-Building In Science, Technology And Innovation (Sti)-Response To The Issue Note, Deogratias Harorimana

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

Enterprise Development, Investment and Business Climate are all important for economic growth. But what policies, strategies are needed to make economic growth a reality. The author has followed one of the World's fastest reformer and emerging nation in the Heart of Africa-Rwanda. The paper shares lessons and practical aspects related to building an entrepreneurial population, and building a government which is a facilitator of business climate

Survey Report On Training And Spending On Customer Care Services, Deogratias Harorimana Sr

Dr Deogratias Harorimana

In a bid to promote and develop good customer care service in various sectors of Rwandan economy, a survey was conducted to assess progress and trends on customer service capacity building. Although shortcomings are there, there have been efforts and registered trends across the country on service delivery front. Investment in Capacity Building IS happening in certain sectors but this is unevenly distributed. In 2008 companies had started recognizing the significance of good service and cultivate a good working environment and training. From 2009, there was a decline in investment in capacity building in front office and key service delivery …

Advances On The Development Of Novel Heterogeneous Catalysts For Transesterification Of Triglycerides In Biodiesel, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

This paper describes experimental work done towards the search for more profitable and sustainable alternatives regarding biodiesel production, using heterogeneous catalysts instead of the conventional homogenous alkaline catalysts, such as NaOH, KOH or sodium methoxide, for the methanolysis reaction. This experimental work is a first stage on the development and optimization of new solid catalysts, able to produce biodiesel from vegetable oils. The heterogeneous catalytic process has many differences from the currently used in industry homogeneous process. The main advantage is that, it requires lower investment costs, since no need for separation steps of methanol/catalyst, biodiesel/catalyst and glycerine/catalyst. This work …

A Simulation Study On The Abatement Of Co2 Emissions By De-Absorption, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

Due to the adverse effect of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion on the earth’s ecosystems, the most cost effective method for CO2 capture is an important area of research. The predominant process for CO2 capture currently employed by industry is chemical absorption in amine solutions. A dynamic model for the de-absorption process was developed with Monoethanolamine (MEA) solution. Henry’s law was used for modeling the vapour phase equilibrium of the CO2, and fugacity ratios calculated by the Peng Robinson equation of state (EOS) were used for H2O, MEA, N2 and O2. Chemical reactions between CO2 and MEA were included in …

Micro- To Macroscopic Observations Of Mnalpo-5 Nanocrystal Growth In Ionic-Liquid Media, Eng-Poh Ng Dr.

Eng-Poh Ng

Micro- and macroscopic studies of nucleation and growth processes of MnAlPO-5 nanosized crystals under ionothermal synthesis conditions are reported herein. The samples treated at 150 8C were extracted from the reaction mixture at various stages of crystallization, and characterized by XRD; SEM; thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); 31P and 27Al solid-state magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR, Raman, UV/Vis, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The starting raw materials (alumina, manganese, and phosphorous) were dissolved completely in the ionic liquid and transformed into an amorphous solid after 5 h of ionothermal treatment. This amorphous solid then undergoes structural changes over the following 5–25 h, …

Optical Properties Of Photopolymer Layers Doped With Aluminophosphate Nanocrystals, Eng-Poh Ng Dr.

Eng-Poh Ng

The optical properties of photopolymer layers consisting of an acrylamide-based matrix and microporous aluminophosphate nanocrystals of AEI type are investigated. The compatibility of the photopolymer doped with the nanoparticles is studied. The surface and volume properties of the layers with different levels of doping with microporous nanocrystals are characterized. The effective refractive indices and absorption coefficients of the doped photopolymer layers are determined and used to calculate the refractive index and porosity of pure AEI nanoparticles used as dopants. Volume transmission gratings were recorded in the doped photopolymer layers at different spatial frequencies. By spatial monitoring of the characteristic Raman …

Facile Preparation Of Quantum Cutting Gdf3 : Eu3+ Nanoparticles From Ionic Liquids, Chantal Lorbeer, Joanna Cybinska, Anja V. Mudring

Anja V. Mudring

Microwave reaction of Ln(OAc)3·xH2O, Ln = Gd, Eu; OAc = acetate) with and in the ionic liquid [C4mim][BF4] (C4mim = 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) allows the fast and efficient synthesis of small, uniform, oxygen-free lanthanide nanofluorides with excellent photophysical behaviour. For GdF3 : Eu3+ nanoparticles a quantum efficiency of up to 145% was determined.

Size Effect Of Ruthenium Nanoparticles In Catalytic Carbon Monoxide Oxidation, Sang Hoon Joo, Jeong Y. Park, J. Russell Renzas, Derek R. Butcher, Wenyu Huang, Gabor A. Somorjai

Wenyu Huang

Carbon monoxide oxidation over ruthenium catalysts has shown an unusual catalytic behavior. Here we report a particle size effect on CO oxidation over Ru nanoparticle (NP) catalysts. Uniform Ru NPs with a tunable particle size from 2 to 6 nm were synthesized by a polyol reduction of Ru(acac)3 precursor in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) stabilizer. The measurement of catalytic activity of CO oxidation over two-dimensional Ru NPs arrays under oxidizing reaction conditions (40 Torr CO and 100 Torr O2) showed an activity dependence on the Ru NP size. The CO oxidation activity increases with NP size, and the 6 nm …

Highly Active Heterogeneous Palladium Nanoparticle Catalysts For Homogeneous Electrophilic Reactions In Solution And The Utilization Of A Continuous Flow Reactor, Wenyu Huang, Jack Hung Chang Liu, Pinar Alayoglu, Yimin Li, Cole A. Whitman, Chia-Kuang Tsung, F. Dean Toste, Gabor A/ Somorjai

Wenyu Huang

highly active heterogeneous Pd-nanoparticle catalyst for the intramolecular addition of phenols to alkynes was developed and employed in a continuous flow reaction system. Running the reaction in flow mode revealed reaction kinetics, such as the activation energy and catalyst deactivation, and provides many potential practical advantages.

Seedless Polyol Synthesis And Co Oxidation Activity Of Monodisperse (111)- And (100)-Oriented Rhodium Nanocrystals In Sub-10 Nm Sizes, Yawen Zhang, Michael E. Grass, Wenyu Huang, Gabor A. Somoraji

Wenyu Huang

Monodisperse sub-10 nm (6.5 nm) sized Rh nanocrystals with (111) and (100) surface structures were synthesized by a seedless polyol reduction in ethylene glycol, with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a capping ligand. When using [Rh(Ac)2]2 as the metal precursor, (111)-oriented Rh nanopolyhedra containing 76% (111)-twinned hexagons (in 2D projection) were obtained; whereas, when employing RhCl3 as the metal precursor in the presence of alkylammonium bromide, such as tetramethylammonium bromide and trimethyl(tetradecyl)ammonium bromide, (100)-oriented Rh nanocubes were obtained with 85% selectivity. The {100} faces of the Rh nanocrystals are stabilized by chemically adsorbed Br− ions from alkylammonium bromides, which led to (100)-oriented nanocubes. …

Furan Hydrogenation Over Pt(111) And Pt(100) Single-Crystal Surfaces And Pt Nanoparticles From 1 To 7 Nm: A Kinetic And Sum Frequency Generation Vibrational Spectroscopy Study, Christopher J. Kliewer, Cesar Aliaga, Marco Bieri, Wenyu Huang, Chia-Kuang Tsung, Jennifer B. Wood, Kyriankos Komvopoulos, Gabor A. Somorjai

Wenyu Huang

Sum frequency generation surface vibrational spectroscopy and kinetic measurements using gas chromatography have been used to systematically study the adsorption and hydrogenation of furan over Pt(111) and Pt(100) single-crystal surfaces and size-controlled 1.0-nm, 3.5-nm and 7.0-nm Pt nanoparticles at Torr pressures (10 Torr of furan, 100 Torr of H2) to form dihydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, and the ring-cracking products butanol and propylene. As determined by SFG, the furan ring lies parallel to all Pt surfaces studied under hydrogenation conditions. Upright THF and the oxametallacycle intermediate are observed over the nanoparticle catalysts under reaction conditions. Butoxy increases in surface concentration over Pt(111) with …

Oscillatory And Monotonic Modes Of Long-Wave Marangoni Convection In A Thin Film, Sergey Shklyaev, Mikhail Khenner, Alexei Alabuzhev

Mikhail Khenner

We study long-wave Marangoni convection in a layer heated from below. Using the scaling k=OBi, where k is the wave number and Bi is the Biot number, we derive a set of amplitude equations. Analysis of this set shows presence of monotonic and oscillatory modes of instability. Oscillatory mode has not been previously found for such direction of heating. Studies of weakly nonlinear dynamics demonstrate that stable steady and oscillatory patterns can be found near the stability threshold.

Easy Access To Ultra Long-Time Stable, Luminescent Europium(Ii) Fluoride Nanoparticles In Ionic Liquids, Nina Von Prondzinski, Joanna Cybinska, Anja V. Mudring

Anja V. Mudring

Physical vapour deposition into ionic liquids allows for the first time the synthesis of a reduced lanthanide halide on the nanoscale. The obtained EuF2 nanoparticles show a bright blue luminescence and form long-time stable-colloidal solutions in the ionic liquids.

Dynamics Of Individual Molecules Of Linear Polyethylene Liquids Under Shear: Atomistic Simulation And Comparison With A Free-Draining Bead-Rod Chain, David Keffer, J. M. Kim, B. J. Edwards, B. Khomami

David Keffer

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations of a dense liquid composed of linear polyethylene chains were performed to investigate the chain dynamics under shear. Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations of a freely jointed chain with equivalent contour length were also performed in the case of a dilute solution. This allowed for a close comparison of the chain dynamics of similar molecules for two very different types of liquids. Both simulations exhibited a distribution of the end-to-end vector, |R_ete|, with Gaussian behavior at low Weissenberg number (Wi). At high Wi, the NEMD distribution was bimodal, with two peaks …

Super-High-Frequency Two-Port Aln Contour-Mode Resonators For Rf Applications, Matteo Rinaldi, Chiara Zuniga, Chengjie Zuo, Gianluca Piazza

Matteo Rinaldi

This paper reports on the design and experimental verification of a new class of thin-film (250 nm) super-high-frequency laterally-vibrating piezoelectric microelectromechanical (MEMS) resonators suitable for the fabrication of narrow-band MEMS filters operating at frequencies above 3 GHz. The device dimensions have been opportunely scaled both in the lateral and vertical dimensions to excite a contour-extensional mode of vibration in nanofeatures of an ultra-thin (250 nm) AlN film. In this first demonstration, 2-port resonators vibrating up to 4.5 GHz have been fabricated on the same die and attained electromechanical coupling, kt2, in excess of 1.5%. These devices are employed to synthesize …

2009 Report Of Crerg Research Activities, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

No abstract provided.

Toxicological Assessment Of Coated Versus Uncoated Rubber Granulates Obtained From Used Tires For Use In Sport Facilities, João F. Gomes

João F Gomes

Reuse of tire crumb in sport facilities is currently a very cost-effective waste management measure. Considering that incorporation of the waste materials in artificial turf would be facilitated if the rubber materials were already colored green, coatings were specifically developed for this purpose. This paper presents an experimental toxicological and environmental assessment aimed at comparing the obtained emissions to the environment in terms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals, and ecotoxicity for coated and noncoated rubber granulates. This study is a comprehensive evaluation of the major potential critical factors related with the release of all of these classes of …