Simple and Versatile Route to the Synthesis of Anisotropic Bimetallic Core-Shell and Monometallic Hollow Nanostructures: Ag (AgCl)-Pt Core-Shell Nanocubes and Pt Nanoboxes

We report herewith a simple and versatile route for the preparation of anisotropic Ag(AgCl)-Pt core-shell nanocubes and Pt nanoboxes. The core-shell nanocubes were first synthesized through the simultaneous reduction method and then treated with bis-(p-sulfonatophenyl)-phenylphosphine (BSPP) to remove the core materials. The changes in morphology, structure and composition during these syntheses were carefully followed. We found that, BSPP, in addition to being an effective silver oxidant, is also a good solubilizer for AgCl nanoparticles at room temperature. This allowed us to prepare pure Pt nanoboxes easily from the as-synthesized Ag (AgCl)-Pt nanocubes using a greatly simplified post-treatment for AgCl, which is the perennial impurity byproduct in the preparation of hollow nanostructures by the replacement reactions.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Biological Routes to Gold Nanoplates

Gold nanoplates are promising for optical and electronic applications; but their synthesis is complex, often requiring a seeded growth process or spherical to triangle morphology transformation. We have discovered a biological protocol to promote the anisotropic growth of different crystal planes under ambient conditions. Thin, flat, single-crystalline gold nanoplates were produced when aqueous chloroaurate ions reacted with the mycelia-free spent medium. While the exact mechanism for this shape-controlled synthesis is not clear at this time, the possibility of achieving nanoparticle shape control in a fungal based system is exciting.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Added Value of Computed Tomography Virtual Intravascular Endoscopy in the Evaluation of Coronary Arteries with Stents or Plaques

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a widely used imaging modality for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) but is limited by a high false positive rate when evaluating coronary arteries with stents and heavy calcifications. Virtual intravascular endoscopy (VIE) images generated from CCTA can be used to qualitatively assess the vascular lumen and might be helpful for overcoming this challenge. In this study, one hundred subjects with coronary stents underwent both CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA). A total of 902 vessel segments were analyzed using CCTA and VIE. The vessel segments were first analyzed on CCTA alone. Then, using VIE, the segments were classified qualitatively as either negative or positive for in-stent restenosis (ISR) or CAD. These results were compared, using ICA as the reference, to determine the added diagnostic value of VIE. Of the 902 analyzed vessel segments, CCTA/VIE had sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value (shown in %) of 93.9/90.2, 96.2/98.2, 96.0/97.7, 70.0/83.1, and 99.4/99.0, respectively, in diagnosing ISR or CAD, with significantly improved specificity (p = 0.025), accuracy (p = 0.046), and positive predictive value (p = 0.047). VIE can be a helpful addition to CCTA when evaluating coronary arterie

Determination of superconducting anisotropy from magnetization data on random powders as applied to LuNi2_2B2_2C, YNi2_2B2_2C and MgB2_2

The recently discovered intermetallic superconductor MgB2 appears to have a highly anisotopic upper critical field with Hc2(max)/Hc2(min} = \gamma > 5. In order to determine the temperature dependence of both Hc2(max) and Hc2(min) we propose a method of extracting the superconducting anisotropy from the magnetization M(H,T) of randomly oriented powder samples. The method is based on two features in dM/dT the onset of diamagnetism at Tc(max), that is commonly associated with Hc2, and a kink in dM/dT at a lower temperature Tc(min). Results for LuNi2B2C and YNi2B2C powders are in agreement with anisotropic Hc2 obtained from magneto-transport measurements on single crystals. Using this method on four different types of MgB2 powder samples we are able to determine Hc2(max)(T) and Hc2(min)(T) with \gamma \approx 6

Hydraulic characteristics of smart reactor for a nominal condition

SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) is an integral-type reactor being developed, which has major components including core, pumps, steam generators and a pressurizer inside the reactor vessel. In order to analyze the various safety features of the reactor, the quantification for the flow and pressure distributions are very important. A test facility, named “SCOP”, was designed based on the conservation of Euler number which is a ratio of pressure drop to dynamic pressure with a sufficiently high Reynolds number. In order to preserve the flow distribution characteristics, the SCOP is linearly reduced with a scaling ratio of 1/5. For the present work, a total of 9 tests were performed for a nominal SMART flow condition. By using the test results, a statistical final flow distribution for the SMART reactor were presented. The current data could be applied for the validation of a CFD analysis method as well as reactor safety and system performance analysesPaper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012

Hydraulic characteristics of smart reactor for a nominal condition

Paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Malta, 16-18 July, 2012.SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) is an integral-type reactor being developed, which has major components including core, pumps, steam generators and a pressurizer inside the reactor vessel. In order to analyze the various safety features of the reactor, the quantification for the flow and pressure distributions are very important. A test facility, named “SCOP”, was designed based on the conservation of Euler number which is a ratio of pressure drop to dynamic pressure with a sufficiently high Reynolds number. In order to preserve the flow distribution characteristics, the SCOP is linearly reduced with a scaling ratio of 1/5. For the present work, a total of 9 tests were performed for a nominal SMART flow condition. By using the test results, a statistical final flow distribution for the SMART reactor were presented. The current data could be applied for the validation of a CFD analysis method as well as reactor safety and system performance analyses.dc201

Evidence of Final-State Suppression of High-p_T Hadrons in Au + Au Collisions Using d + Au Measurements at RHIC

Transverse momentum spectra of charged hadrons with ${p_{T} <}$ 6 GeV/c have been measured near mid-rapidity (0.2 $< \eta <$ 1.4) by the PHOBOS experiment at RHIC in Au + Au and d + Au collisions at ${\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}} = \rm {200 GeV}}$. The spectra for different collision centralities are compared to ${p + \bar{p}}$ collisions at the same energy. The resulting nuclear modification factor for central Au + Au collisions shows evidence of strong suppression of charged hadrons in the high-$p_{T}$ region (${>2}$ GeV/c). In contrast, the d + Au nuclear modification factor exhibits no suppression of the high-$p_{T}$ yields. These measurements suggest a large energy loss of the high-$p_{T}$ particles in the highly interacting medium created in the central Au + Au collisions. The lack of suppression in d + Au collisions suggests that it is unlikely that initial state effects can explain the suppression in the central Au + Au collisions.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, International Europhysics Conference on High Energy Physics EPS (July 17th-23rd 2003) in Aachen, German

Unveiling the structural transitions during activation of a CO2 methanation catalyst Ru0/ZrO2 synthesised from a MOF precursor

Available online 5 May 2020Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies are utilised to minimise net CO2 emissions and hence mitigate the impact of anthropogenic emissions on the global climate. One example of CO2 utilisation is the production of carbon-neutral methane fuel via catalytic CO2 reduction with H2 (methanation). Thermal activation of a metal impregnated metal-organic framework (MOF), 1 wt%Ru/UiO-66 in the presence of H2 and CO2 provides in situ synthesis of a highly active methanation catalyst: H2 promotes the formation of Ru0 nanoparticles, and CO2 behaves as a mild oxidant to remove framework carbon and promote ZrO2 crystallisation. The nature of the active MOF-derived Ru0/ZrO2 catalyst was studied by PXRD, TEM, and XAS, and the evolution of the parent 1 wt%Ru/UiO-66 during thermal activation monitored in operando by synchrotron PXRD. The Ru impregnated Zr-based MOF collapses on heating in H2 and CO2 to form an amorphous C and Zr containing phase that subsequently crystallises as tetragonal (t-) ZrO2 nanoparticles. These t-ZrO2 nanoparticles undergo a subsequent phase transition to the more stable monoclinic (m-) ZrO2 polymorph. In situ activation of Ru/UiO-66 generates a highly active catalyst for CO2 methanation by transforming the MOF precursor into a (carbonfree) crystalline t-ZrO2 support that stabilises highly dispersed metallic Ru nanoparticles. This insight may guide the rational design of future MOF-derived catalystsRenata Lippi, Anita M. D, Angelo, Chaoen Li, Shaun C. Howard, Ian C. Madsen, Karen Wilson, Adam F. Lee, Christopher J. Sumby, Christian J. Doonan, Jim Patel, Danielle F. Kenned

Excitation of standing kink oscillations in coronal loops

In this work we review the efforts that have been done to study the excitation of the standing fast kink body mode in coronal loops. We mainly focus on the time-dependent problem, which is appropriate to describe flare or CME induced kink oscillations. The analytical and numerical studies in slab and cylindrical loop geometries are reviewed. We discuss the results from very simple one-dimensional models to more realistic (but still simple) loop configurations. We emphasise how the results of the initial value problem complement the eigenmode calculations. The possible damping mechanisms of the kink oscillations are also discussed