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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Capacitive Behavior Of Latex/Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Stretchable Electrodes, Hyeon Taek Jeong, Byung Kim, Robert Gorkin Iii, Michael J. Higgins, Gordon G. Wallace Jun 2015

Capacitive Behavior Of Latex/Single-Wall Carbon Nanotube Stretchable Electrodes, Hyeon Taek Jeong, Byung Kim, Robert Gorkin Iii, Michael J. Higgins, Gordon G. Wallace

Robert Gorkin III

In this report single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were coated onto latex using spray coating to produce a stretchable electrode. The electrochemical properties of the electrode were determined using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests were also carried out. The impedance and charge/discharge curves of the latex/SWNTs electrode showed good capacitive behavior even after repetitive stretching to 100% strain. The highest capacitance value obtained for the unstretched SWNTs electrode was 119 F g−1 in 1 M Na2SO4 at 5 mV s−1. After the 100th stretch ≈ 80% of the original capacitance value was retained.


Platinum Dendritic Nanoparticles With Magnetic Behavior, Wenxian Li, Ziqi Sun, Dongliang Tian, Ivan P. Nevirkovets, S X. Dou Oct 2014

Platinum Dendritic Nanoparticles With Magnetic Behavior, Wenxian Li, Ziqi Sun, Dongliang Tian, Ivan P. Nevirkovets, S X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention for biomedical applications in magnetic resonance imaging, high frequency magnetic field hyperthermia therapies, and magnetic-field-gradient-targeted drug delivery. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) platinum nanostructures with large surface area that features magnetic behavior have been demonstrated. The well-developed 3D nanodendrites consist of plentiful interconnected nano-arms ∼4 nm in size. The magnetic behavior of the 3D dendritic Pt nanoparticles is contributed by the localization of surface electrons due to strongly bonded oxygen/Pluronic F127 and the local magnetic moment induced by oxygen vacancies on the neighboring Pt and O atoms. The magnetization of the nanoparticles exhibits a …


Microcalorimetric Study Of Nematic-To-Neat-Soap And Nematic-To-Isotropic Phase Transitions In A Lyotropic Liquid Crystal, T. S. Shin, Satyendra Kumar Oct 2013

Microcalorimetric Study Of Nematic-To-Neat-Soap And Nematic-To-Isotropic Phase Transitions In A Lyotropic Liquid Crystal, T. S. Shin, Satyendra Kumar

Satyendra Kumar

The results of specific-heat measurements at the nematic- (N) to-neat-soap (NS) and nematic-to-isotropic (I) phase transitions in binary mixtures of cesium-perfluoro-octanoate and water are reported. The ratio of specific-heat amplitudes above and below the N-NS transition, A+/A-, and the specific-heat exponent α remain ∼1.0 and ≤0.02, respectively, suggesting 3D XY-type behavior. At the first-order N-I transition, vanishing latent heat and coexistence range at low concentration indicate the existence of a Landau point.


A Cellulose Liquid Crystal Motor: A Steam Engine Of The Second Kind, Yong Geng, Pedro Lucio Almeida, Cheng Cheng, Peter Palffy-Muhoray, Maria Helena Godinho, Susete Nogueira Fernandes Oct 2013

A Cellulose Liquid Crystal Motor: A Steam Engine Of The Second Kind, Yong Geng, Pedro Lucio Almeida, Cheng Cheng, Peter Palffy-Muhoray, Maria Helena Godinho, Susete Nogueira Fernandes

Peter Palffy-Muhoray

The salient feature of liquid crystal elastomers and networks is strong coupling between orientational order and mechanical strain. Orientational order can be changed by a wide variety of stimuli, including the presence of moisture. Changes in the orientation of constituents give rise to stresses and strains, which result in changes in sample shape. We have utilized this effect to build soft cellulose-based motor driven by humidity. The motor consists of a circular loop of cellulose film, which passes over two wheels. When humid air is present near one of the wheels on one side of the film, with drier air …


Pattern Formation In Non-Newtonian Hele-Shaw Flow, P. Fast, L. Kondic, M. J. Shelley, Peter Palffy-Muhoray Oct 2013

Pattern Formation In Non-Newtonian Hele-Shaw Flow, P. Fast, L. Kondic, M. J. Shelley, Peter Palffy-Muhoray

Peter Palffy-Muhoray

We study theoretically the Saffman-Taylor instability of an air bubble expanding into a non-Newtonian fluid in a Hele-Shaw cell, with the motivation of understanding suppression of tip-splitting and the formation of dendritic structures observed in the flow of complex fluids, such as polymeric liquids or liquid crystals. A standard visco-elastic flow model is simplified in the case of flow in a thin gap, and it is found that there is a distinguished limit where shear thinning and normal stress differences are apparent, but elastic response is negligible. This observation allows formulation of a generalized Darcy's law, where the pressure satisfies …


Distance Of Closest Approach Of Two Arbitrary Hard Ellipses In Two Dimensions, Xiaoyu Zheng, Peter Palffy-Muhoray Oct 2013

Distance Of Closest Approach Of Two Arbitrary Hard Ellipses In Two Dimensions, Xiaoyu Zheng, Peter Palffy-Muhoray

Peter Palffy-Muhoray

The distance of closest approach of hard particles is a key parameter of their interaction and plays an important role in the resulting phase behavior. For nonspherical particles, the distance of closest approach depends on orientation, and its calculation is surprisingly difficult. Although overlap criteria have been developed for use in computer simulations [ Vieillard-Baron J. Chem. Phys. 56 4729 (1972); Perram and Wertheim J. Comput. Phys. 58 409 (1985)], no analytic solutions have been obtained for the distance of closest approach of ellipsoids in three dimensions, or, until now, for ellipses in two dimensions. We have derived an analytic …


Effect Of Director Distortions On Morphologies Of Phase Separation In Liquid Crystals, D. Voloschenko, Oleg P. Pishnyak, Sergij V. Shiyanovskii, Oleg Lavrentovich Oct 2013

Effect Of Director Distortions On Morphologies Of Phase Separation In Liquid Crystals, D. Voloschenko, Oleg P. Pishnyak, Sergij V. Shiyanovskii, Oleg Lavrentovich

Oleg Lavrentovich

We study phase separation from a nematic liquid crystal with spatially nonuniform director gradients. Particles of a phase-separated component, which is either an isotropic fluid (silicone oil) or a nonmesogenic photopolymer, accumulate in the regions with the strongest director distortions, thus reducing the overall energy of the system.


Nanophase Segregation Of Nonpolar Solvents In Smectic Liquid Crystals Of Bent-Shape Molecules, M.Y.M. Huang, A.M. Pedreira, O.G. Martins, A.M.F. Neto, Antal Jakli Oct 2013

Nanophase Segregation Of Nonpolar Solvents In Smectic Liquid Crystals Of Bent-Shape Molecules, M.Y.M. Huang, A.M. Pedreira, O.G. Martins, A.M.F. Neto, Antal Jakli

Antal Jakli

Electro-optical, calorimetric, x-ray, and dielectric measurements are reported on a mixture containing a bent-core liquid crystal 4-chloro-1,3-phenylinebis [4-(4-n-tetradecyloxyphenyliminomethyl) benzoate] mixed with the nonpolar solvent n-hexadecane (HEX). It is observed that the addition of HEX depresses the isotropic-to-smectic phase transition temperature, but the crystallization temperature does not change considerably. Instead, the texture of the crystalline phase changes and, at sufficiently high concentrations of HEX (>20 wt %), an optically isotropic phase appears. Above 40 wt % HEX concentrations, the mesophase completely disappears and a direct isotropic solid-to-isotropic liquid transition takes place. At increasing HEX concentration, the transition enthalpies, the layer …


Light-Induced Changes Of Optical And Electrical Properties In Bent-Core Azo Compounds, Antal Jakli, V. Prasad, D.S.S. Rao, Guangxun Liao, I. Janossy Oct 2013

Light-Induced Changes Of Optical And Electrical Properties In Bent-Core Azo Compounds, Antal Jakli, V. Prasad, D.S.S. Rao, Guangxun Liao, I. Janossy

Antal Jakli

We have studied the optical and electrical properties of two bent-core substances with an azo linkage in their cores. Pump-probe laser studies, direct textural observations, and spectrophotometric recordings show an initial decrease of light transmission, which at larger light intensities (similar to 1 mW/mm(2)) is followed by a bleaching. Simultaneously the electrical properties (electric conductivity, antiferroelectric polarization, switching threshold, and switching time) decreased monotonically with increasing light intensities. The monotonic decrease of electrical properties indicates that the darkening and bleaching have the same origin, namely, the photochemical isomerization of the azo linkage from the trans to the cis isomer. The …


Investigation Of The Critical Behavior In Mn0.94nb 0.06coge Alloy By Using The Field Dependence Of Magnetic Entropy Change, J C. Debnath, P Shamba, A M. Strydom, Jianli Wang, S X. Dou Jul 2013

Investigation Of The Critical Behavior In Mn0.94nb 0.06coge Alloy By Using The Field Dependence Of Magnetic Entropy Change, J C. Debnath, P Shamba, A M. Strydom, Jianli Wang, S X. Dou

Jianli Wang

The critical behaviour of Mn0.94Nb0.06CoGe alloy around the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition was studied based on the field dependence on magnetic entropy change. By using the obtained exponents, the modified Arrott plot is consistent with that by using conventional method. These critical exponents are confirmed by the Widom scaling relation. Based on these critical exponents, the magnetization, field and temperature data around Tc collapse into two curves obeying the single scaling equation MðH; e)¼ebf6(H/ebþc). The calculated critical exponents not only obey the scaling theory but also anastomose the deduced results from the Kouvel-Fisher method [J. S. Kouvel and M. E. Fisher, …


Investigation Of The Critical Behavior In Mn0.94nb 0.06coge Alloy By Using The Field Dependence Of Magnetic Entropy Change, J C. Debnath, P Shamba, A M. Strydom, Jianli Wang, S X. Dou Jun 2013

Investigation Of The Critical Behavior In Mn0.94nb 0.06coge Alloy By Using The Field Dependence Of Magnetic Entropy Change, J C. Debnath, P Shamba, A M. Strydom, Jianli Wang, S X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

The critical behaviour of Mn0.94Nb0.06CoGe alloy around the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition was studied based on the field dependence on magnetic entropy change. By using the obtained exponents, the modified Arrott plot is consistent with that by using conventional method. These critical exponents are confirmed by the Widom scaling relation. Based on these critical exponents, the magnetization, field and temperature data around Tc collapse into two curves obeying the single scaling equation MðH; e)¼ebf6(H/ebþc). The calculated critical exponents not only obey the scaling theory but also anastomose the deduced results from the Kouvel-Fisher method [J. S. Kouvel and M. E. Fisher, …


Markov Random Fields For Abnormal Behavior Detection On Highways, Son Lam Phung, Philippe L. Bouttefroy, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum, Azeddine Beghdadi Nov 2012

Markov Random Fields For Abnormal Behavior Detection On Highways, Son Lam Phung, Philippe L. Bouttefroy, Abdesselam Bouzerdoum, Azeddine Beghdadi

Professor Salim Bouzerdoum

This paper introduces a new paradigm for abnormal behavior detection relying on the integration of contextual information in Markov random fields. Contrary to traditional methods, the proposed technique models the local density of object feature vector, therefore leading to simple and elegant criterion for behavior classification. We develop a Gaussian Markov random field mixture catering for multi-modal density and integrating the neighborhood behavior into a local estimate. The convergence of the random field is ensured by online learning through a stochastic clustering algorithm. The system is tested on an extensive dataset (over 2800 vehicles) for behavior modeling. The experimental results …


Scaling Behavior Of The Exchange-Bias Training Effect, Christian Binek, Srinivas Polisetty, Sarbeswar Sahoo Mar 2012

Scaling Behavior Of The Exchange-Bias Training Effect, Christian Binek, Srinivas Polisetty, Sarbeswar Sahoo

Christian Binek

The dependence of the exchange-bias training effect on temperature and ferromagnetic film thickness is studied in detail and scaling behavior of the data is presented. Thickness-dependent exchange bias and its training are measured using the magneto-optical Kerr effect. A focused laser beam is scanned across a Co wedge probing local hysteresis loops of the Co film which is pinned by an antiferromagnetic CoO layer of uniform thickness. A phenomenological theory is best fitted to the exchange-bias training data resembling the evolution of the exchange-bias field on subsequently cycled hysteresis loops. Best fits are done for various temperatures and Co thicknesses. …


Random-Field Critical And Spin-Flop Behavior Of The Anisotropic Heisenberg Antiferromagnet Fe0.9mg0.1br2 In Axial Magnetic Fields, Christian Binek Mar 2012

Random-Field Critical And Spin-Flop Behavior Of The Anisotropic Heisenberg Antiferromagnet Fe0.9mg0.1br2 In Axial Magnetic Fields, Christian Binek

Christian Binek

Faraday optical measurements on the dilute hexagonal antiferromagnet Fe0.85Mg0.15Br2 in an external axial field reveal a spin-flop phase line ending at a multicritical point (Tm=8.1 K, Hm=1050 kA m-1) and crossover from random-exchange to random-field Ising criticality with an exponent Phi =1.40+or-0.04 in the vicinity of TN=11.1 K. Cusp-like behaviour of the specific heat at TN is discussed in view of recent Monte Carlo results.


Self-Assembly, Condensation, And Order In Aqueous Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals Crowded With Additives, Luana Tortora, Heung-Shik Park, Shin-Woong Kang, Victoria Savaryn, Seung-Ho Hong, Konstantine Kaznatcheev, Daniele Finotello, Samuel Sprunt, Satyendra Kumar, Oleg Lavrentovich Dec 2009

Self-Assembly, Condensation, And Order In Aqueous Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals Crowded With Additives, Luana Tortora, Heung-Shik Park, Shin-Woong Kang, Victoria Savaryn, Seung-Ho Hong, Konstantine Kaznatcheev, Daniele Finotello, Samuel Sprunt, Satyendra Kumar, Oleg Lavrentovich

Oleg Lavrentovich

Dense multicomponent systems with macromolecules and small solutes attract a broad research interest as they mimic the molecularly crowded cellular interiors. The additives can condense and align the macromolecules, but they do not change the degree of covalentpolymerization. We chose a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal with reversibly and non-covalently assembled aggregates as a much softer system, reminiscent of “living polymers”, to demonstrate that small neutral and charged additives cause condensation of aggregates with ensuing orientational and positional ordering and nontrivial morphologies of phase separation, such as tactoids and toroids of the nematic and hexagonal columnar phase coexisting with the isotropic …


Bent-Core Liquid Crystal Elastomers, Rafael Verduzco, Paul Luchette, Seung Ho Hong, John Harden, Elaine Dimasi, Peter Palffy-Muhoray, S. Michael Kilbey Ii, Jim T. Gleeson, Antal Jákli Dec 2009

Bent-Core Liquid Crystal Elastomers, Rafael Verduzco, Paul Luchette, Seung Ho Hong, John Harden, Elaine Dimasi, Peter Palffy-Muhoray, S. Michael Kilbey Ii, Jim T. Gleeson, Antal Jákli

Peter Palffy-Muhoray

Liquid crystal (LC) elastomers with bent-core side-groups incorporate the properties of bent-core liquid crystals in a flexible and self-supporting polymer network. Bent-core liquid crystal elastomers (BCEs) with uniform alignment were prepared by attaching a reactive bent-core LC to poly(hydrogenmethylsiloxane) and crosslinking with a divinyl crosslinker. Phase behavior studies indicate a nematic phase over a wide temperature range that approaches room temperature, and thermoelastic measurements show that these BCEs can reversibly change their length by more than a factor of two upon heating and cooling. Small-angle X-ray scattering studies reveal multiple, broad low-angle peaks consistent with short-range smectic C order of …


Self-Assembly, Condensation, And Order In Aqueous Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals Crowded With Additives, Luana Tortora, Heung-Shik Park, Shin-Woong Kang, Victoria Savaryn, Seung-Ho Hong, Konstantine Kaznatcheev, Daniele Finotello, Samuel Sprunt, Satyendra Kumar, Oleg Lavrentovich Dec 2009

Self-Assembly, Condensation, And Order In Aqueous Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals Crowded With Additives, Luana Tortora, Heung-Shik Park, Shin-Woong Kang, Victoria Savaryn, Seung-Ho Hong, Konstantine Kaznatcheev, Daniele Finotello, Samuel Sprunt, Satyendra Kumar, Oleg Lavrentovich

Satyendra Kumar

Dense multicomponent systems with macromolecules and small solutes attract a broad research interest as they mimic the molecularly crowded cellular interiors. The additives can condense and align the macromolecules, but they do not change the degree of covalentpolymerization. We chose a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal with reversibly and non-covalently assembled aggregates as a much softer system, reminiscent of “living polymers”, to demonstrate that small neutral and charged additives cause condensation of aggregates with ensuing orientational and positional ordering and nontrivial morphologies of phase separation, such as tactoids and toroids of the nematic and hexagonal columnar phase coexisting with the isotropic …


Light-Driven Molecular Switches With Tetrahedral And Axial Chirality, Lisa Green, Yannian Li, Timothy White, Augustine Urbas, Timothy Bunning, Quan Li Aug 2009

Light-Driven Molecular Switches With Tetrahedral And Axial Chirality, Lisa Green, Yannian Li, Timothy White, Augustine Urbas, Timothy Bunning, Quan Li

Quan Li

Two light-driven molecular switches with tetrahedral and axial chirality were synthesized, which can induce a helical superstructure in an achiral liquid crystal host and dynamically phototune it to achieve reversible reflection color.


Novel Examples Of Achiral Bent-Core Azo Compounds Exhibiting B1 And Anticlinic-Antiferroelectric B2 Mesophases, Veena Prasad, Shin-Woong Kang, Satyendra Kumar Dec 2002

Novel Examples Of Achiral Bent-Core Azo Compounds Exhibiting B1 And Anticlinic-Antiferroelectric B2 Mesophases, Veena Prasad, Shin-Woong Kang, Satyendra Kumar

Satyendra Kumar

The first examples of achiral bent-core molecules consisting of an azo linkage and five aromatic rings exhibiting bent-core mesophases are reported. They exhibit B1 and B2 phases as identified by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and electro-optical techniques. The B2 phase of these materials is identified to be the anticlinic–antiferroelectric, SmCAPA phase. The mesophases of these compounds have relatively low transition temperatures and wide temperature ranges. The observation of bent-core phases in azo compounds assumes significance from the fact that the introduction of the –NN– linkage adds a new dimension, namely photochromism, to this field.


Calorimetric Study Of Nematic Prewetting, Xuewu Liu, David W. Allender, D. Finotello Sep 2002

Calorimetric Study Of Nematic Prewetting, Xuewu Liu, David W. Allender, D. Finotello

David W Allender

We report specific-heat measurements for a series of liquid crystals imbedded in a porous cylindrical geometry. Above the nematic-to-isotropic transition and dependent on nematic width (or chain length), the specific heat shows a small peak. In analogy to known ellipsometry results, the peak is believed to be the signature of a nematic prewetting transition.


Relaxation Dynamics Of Rubbed Polystyrene Thin Films, D. M. G. Agra, A. D. Schwab, J-H. Kim, Satyendra Kumar, A. Dhinojwala Aug 2000

Relaxation Dynamics Of Rubbed Polystyrene Thin Films, D. M. G. Agra, A. D. Schwab, J-H. Kim, Satyendra Kumar, A. Dhinojwala

Satyendra Kumar

Optical retardation measurements were used to probe the chain relaxation dynamics in rubbed polystyrene films of varying thicknesses on glass substrates. A model based on Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts relaxation was developed and used to determine the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the films. Results showed reductions of 15–20 K in Tg for thin films of thicknesses comparable to the radius of gyration as well as for cast films rubbed with different strengths. These results provide evidence of a faster relaxation dynamics relative to the polymer-substrate interface for thinner films and enhanced chain mobility at the polymer-air interface.