Effect of surfactant dispersed in oil on interaction force between an oil film and a steel substrate in water

The oil phase, in an oil-in-water emulsion on a steel substrate, is strongly repelled by the substrate. The oil in this situation does not wet the steel and steel/steel friction is high. In this work we disperse anionic surfactants in an oil film and study the effect of this dispersion on the force of interaction between a silica colloid probe (AFM) carrying the oil film and a steel substrate in water. It is observed that when the surfactant is oil insoluble and the interaction time is short the strong entropic repulsion (without the surfactant) is replaced by a strong attraction. The steel on steel sliding friction in this case is low compared to that what is achieved when the surfactant is soluble in oil. The rationale underlying these interactions is explored here. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Monte Carlo study of the phase boundary of YBa2Cu3O6 +x

A model hamiltonian previously introduced to study the oxygen ordering is considered. The phase boundary is isolated by studying the relaxation behaviour of the order parameters. Our results are consistent with the published Monte Carlo results except at low temperatures.

Normal state tunneling conductance of perovskite oxides: Implications for high-Tc superconductors

We have investigated tunneling conductances in disordered, normally conducting perovskite oxides close to the metal�insulator transition. We show that the normal state tunneling conductance of perovskite oxides can be cast in a general form G(V) = G0[1 + curly logical orV/V*curly logical orn] with 1?n?0.5 and where V* is an intrinsic energy scale. The exponent n graduall y increases from 0.5 to 1 as the metal-insulator (M-I) transition is approached. In the high-Tc Bi(2212) cuprates, the normally observed, linear G(V)(n=1) can be made sub-linear (n<1) by substitution of Ca with Y. From the similarity of the linear conductances, we suggest proximity to the M-I transition as a likely cause for this G(V)logical or, bar below V dependence. In systems showing linear conductances (nreverse similar, equals1), we find that ?G/?Vreverse similar, equalsG?0 with ?reverse similar, equals 1 and the intrinsic energy scale V*reverse similar, equals25�75 meV in the different oxides investigated.

Photophysical properties of the fullerenes, C60 and C70

Photophysical properties of the singlet and triplet states of the fullerenes, C60 and C70, have been investigated in toluene, benzene, hexane and ethanol solutions by pico- and nano-second laser flash photolysis techniques. Lifetimes, extinction coefficients, quantum efficiencies of the formation of the excited states and such properties have been determined. True triplet�triplet absorption spectra of C60 and C70 are reported. C60, unlike C70, is found to undergo photoionization in ethanol solution giving solvated electrons.

Optical and structural properties of reactive ion beam sputter deposited CeO2 films

Optical and structural properties of reactive ion beam sputter deposited CeO2 films as a function of oxygen partial pressures (P-O2) and substrate temperatures (T-s) have been investigated. The films deposited at ambient temperature with P-O2 of 0.01 Pa have shown a refractive index of 2.36 which increased to 2.44 at 400 degrees C. Refractive index and extinction coefficient are sensitive up to a T-s of similar to 200 degrees C. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to characterise the structural properties. A preferential orientation of (220) was observed up to a T-s of 200 degrees C and it changed to (200) at 400 degrees C: and above. Raman line broadening, peak shift and XRD broadening indicate the formation of nanocrystalline phase for the films deposited up to a substrate temperature of 300 degrees C. However, crystallinity of the films were better for T-s values above 300 degrees C. In general both optical and structural properties were unusual compared to the films deposited by conventional electron beam evaporation, but were similar in some aspects to those deposited by ion-assisted deposition. Apart from thermal effects, this behavior is also attributed to the bombardment of backscattered ions/neutrals on the growing film as well as the higher kinetic energy of the condensing species, together resulting in increased packing density. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Reactivation kinetics of boron acceptors in hydrogenated silicon during zero bias anneal

The reactivation kinetics of passivated boron accepters in hydrogenated silicon during zero bias annealing in the temperature range of 65-130 degrees C are reported, For large annealing times and high annealing temperatures, the reactivation process follows second-order kinetics and is rate limited by a thermally activated <(H)over tilde (2)> complex formation process, For short annealing times and low annealing temperatures, the reactivation rate is found to be larger than that due to <(H)over tilde (2)> complex formation alone. We conclude that the faster reactivation is caused by the diffusion of the liberated hydrogen atoms into the bulk as well as <(H)over tilde (2)> complex formation. The effective diffusion coefficient of hydrogen is measured and found to obey the Arrhenius relation with an activation energy (1.41 +/- 0.1) eV. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

Synthesis based on cyclohexadienes .21. Total synthesis of (+/-)-hinesol and (+/-)-10-epi-hinesol

An efficient strategy for the construction of the spiro[4,5]decane and eremane systems is described which involves an acid-catalysed rearrangement of an endo alcohol, followed by an oxidative cleavage resulting in the generation of a spiro-system, as the key step, This methodology is extended to the total synthesis of (+/-)-hinesol and (+/-)-10-epi-hinesol 2.

R-parity violation in neutralino decays at an e gamma collider

At an e gamma collider, a selectron (e) over tilde(L,R) may be produced in association with a (lightest) neutralino <(chi)over tilde>(0)(1). Decay of the selectron may be expected to yield a final state with an electron and another <(chi)over tilde>(0)(1). If R-parity is violated, these two neutralinos will decay, giving rise to distinctive signatures, which are identified and studied. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

A study on determining the theoretical dispersion curve for Rayleigh wave propagation

A method has been presented to establish the theoretical dispersion curve for performing the inverse analysis for the Rayleigh wave propagation. The proposed formulation is similar to the one available in literature, and is based on the finite difference formulation of the governing partial differential equations of motion. The method is framed in such a way that it ultimately leads to an Eigen value problem for which the solution can be obtained quite easily with respect to unknown frequency. The maximum absolute value of the vertical displacement at the ground surface is formed as the basis for deciding the governing mode of propagation. With the proposed technique, the numerical solutions were generated for a variety of problems, comprising of a number of different layers, associated with both ground and pavements. The results are found to be generally satisfactory. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Precise measurement of hyperfine intervals using avoided crossing of dressed states

We demonstrate a technique for precisely measuring hyperfine intervals in alkali atoms. The atoms form a three-level system in the presence of a strong control laser and a weak probe laser. The dressed states created by the control laser show significant linewidth reduction. We have developed a technique for Doppler-free spectroscopy that enables the separation between the dressed states to be measured with high accuracy even in room temperature atoms. The states go through an avoided crossing as the detuning of the control laser is changed from positive to negative. By studying the separation as a function of detuning, the center of the level-crossing diagram is determined with high precision, which yields the hyperfine interval. Using room temperature Rb vapor, we obtain a precision of 44 kHz. This is a significant improvement over the current precision of similar to1 MHz.

A layered chlorophosphate, Na-3[Cd4Cl3(HPO4)(2)(H2PO4)(4)], containing Na+ ions in the interlamellar space

Reaction between CdCl2.H2O and NaH2PO4.H2O Under hydrothermal conditions gives rise to a new cadmium chlorophosphate of the formula Na-3[Cd4Cl3(HPO4)(2)(H2PO4)(4)] I. This material crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Fmm2(no. 42). I has macroanionic layers of [Cd4Cl3(HPO4)(2)(H2PO4)(4)](3-) with Na+ ions in the interlamellar space. The discovery of such compounds suggests that metathetic reactions carried out under hydrothermal conditions may provide a novel route for the synthesis of new open-framework structures.

Sustainable biomass production for energy in selected Asian countries

This paper presents a synthesis of assessment of sustainable biomass production potential in six Asian countries-China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and is based on the detailed studies carried out in these countries under the Asian Regional Research Programme in Energy, Environment and Climate (ARRPEEC). National level studies were undertaken to estimate land availability for biomass production, identify and evaluate the biomass production options in terms of yield per hectare and financial viability, estimate sustainable biomass production for energy, and estimate the energy potential of biomass production in the six Asian countries. Sustainable biomass production from plantation is estimated to be in the range of 182.5-210.5, 62-310, 0.4-1.7, 3.7-20.4, 2.0-9.9 and 11.6-106.6 Mt yr(-1) for China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, respectively. The maximum annual electricity generation potential, using advanced technologies, from the sustainable biomass production is estimated to be about 27, 114, 4.5, 79, 254 and 195 percentage of the total electricity generation in year 2000 in China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, respectively. Investment cost for bioenergy production varies from US$381 to 1842 ha(-1) in the countries considered in this study; investment cost for production of biomass varies from US$5.1 to 23 t(-1). (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.