Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering of p-(Dimethylamino) Cinnamic Acid on Silver and Silver-Gold Alloids

Through this experimental work we describe assignments for the Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra (on Ag and Ag(x)-Au(1-x) colloids) of 4-(dimethylamino) cinnamic acid (DMACA). DMACA is a push-pull charge transfer molecule that exhibits strong SERS signals and can potentially be used as an anti-counterfeiting taggant. Evidence in the spectra indicates that the molecule adsorbs to the surface through the dimethyl amino group with the benzene ring tilted or standing up with respect to surface. The SERS spectra of DMACA and 4-(dimethylamino) cinnamaldehyde (DMAC) on Ag nanoparticles are identical. We conclude that DMAC is oxidized on the surface to form DMACA on the basis of observed carboxyl vibrations in the surface

The Institution of Gender-Based Asylum and Epistemic Injustice: A Structural Limit

One of the recent attempts to explore epistemic dimensions of forced displacement focuses on the institution of gender-based asylum and hopes to detect forms of epistemic injustice within assessments of gender related asylum applications. Following this attempt, I aim in this paper to demonstrate how the institution of gender-based asylum is structured to produce epistemic injustice at least in the forms of testimonial injustice and contributory injustice. This structural limit becomes visible when we realize how the institution of asylum is formed to provide legitimacy to the institutional comfort the respective migration courts and boards enjoy. This institutional comfort afforded to migration boards and courts by the existing asylum regimes in the current order of nation-states leads to a systemic prioritization of state actors’ epistemic resources rather than that of applicants, which, in turn, results in epistemic injustice and impacts the determination of applicants’ refugee status

Hydrogen storage in nickel doped MCM-41

Hydrogen as an energy carrier is one of the best environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuel sources. The potential use of hydrogen results with increasing demand to hydrogen production and storage. Recent studies show that materials having high surface area, large pore size and high affinity to hydrogen have high hydrogen storage capacity. MCM-41 is silica based material having such properties and its hydrogen sorption properties can be improved by doping transition metals to the structure. Ni was chosen for this purpose as it is known with its hydrogen affinity. In this study, different amounts of Ni doped in MCM-41 that was produced by microwave heating to examine hydrogen storage capacity of Ni doped MCM-41 systems. The morphology and structure of the material was characterized by scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis. Thermal stability of MCM-41 was examined by thermogravimetric analysis and it was seen that MCM-41s are hydrothermally stable. Surface area, pore size and adsorption capacity of MCM-41 were measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method. It was observed that the material had large surface area around 1000 m2/g and roughly 2 nm pore size. It was found materials have uniform pore structure with hexagonal well-ordered arrangement. BET surface area, pore volume and pore diameters decreased as the metal loading increased. The hydrogen adsorption capacity measurements were achieved by the Intelligent Gravimetric Analyzer at room temperature and up to 10 bar pressure. It was observed that the hydrogen storage capacity of MCM-41 is strongly affected by metal doping