Realistic molecular models of one and two-centre catalytic active sites originating from the cleavage of a precursor material known to give rise to an active double metal cyanide catalyst are described. Via periodic density functional calculations the structure of the proposed catalytic sites are shown to be dependent on electrostatic and structural relaxation processes occurring at the surface...

We report the application of palladium nanoparticles and thin films for hydrogen sensor. Electrochemically grown palladium particles with spherical shapes deposited on Si substrate and sputter deposited Pd thin films were used to detect hydrogen at room temperature. Grain size dependence of H(2) sensing behavior has been discussed for both types of Pd films. The electrochemically grown Pd nanop...

A novel, partial life-cycle bioassay using Chironomus tentans in artificial streams was developed for evaluating the effects of metal mine effluent. The utility of this bioassay was compared to an existing beaker life-cycle bioassay under laboratory conditions. Chironomus tentans larvae were exposed to 45% (v/v) treated metal mine effluent from day 11 through hatching of the second generation. ...

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of recasting base metal alloy on the metal-ceramic bond strength. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 60 test samples were prepared from new and recast nickel-chromium alloy and divided into six groups. In group A0, test samples were prepared from 100% new alloy. Groups A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5 were prepared from 50% new alloy and 50% casting re...

An oscillatory emulsification system for the production of oil in water emulsions using a commercially available low-cost woven metal microscreen (WMMS) is investigated. The system allows for independent control of both the oscillation frequencies and amplitudes such that it provides two degrees of freedom for controlling the emulsion properties. The investigations included the production of bo...

We present an algorithm that models stained glass in a physicallyrealistic manner. Stained glass is made by melting glass material with metal oxides that determine the color. Metal oxides are scattered in the glass, and we model it by distributing metal oxides in the volume defined by the glass. We render our stained glass model using a modified photon mapping. Our model is capable of modeling ...

In this work, recent theoretical investigations by the authors in the area of oxide multilayers are briefly reviewed. The calculations were carried out using model Hamiltonians and a variety of non-perturbative techniques. Moreover, new results are also included here. They correspond to the generation of a metallic state by mixing insulators in a multilayer geometry, using the Hubbard and doubl...

The confinement and controlled movement of metal nanoparticles and nanorods is an emergent area within optical micromanipulation. In this letter we experimentally realise a novel trapping geometry near the plasmon resonance using an annular light field possessing a helical phasefront that confines the nanoparticle to the vortex core (dark) region. We interpret our data with a theoretical framew...

A modular synthesis of tetrasubstituted furan carboxylates using a tandem cycloisomerization/oxidative carbonylation sequence of cyclopropenes has been successfully developed. The Tandem Metal Relay Catalysis (TMRC) pathway accounted for the high efficiency of this transformation.

It is known that the light scattering from the metal particles deposited on the surfaces of cells can be used for increasing light trapping in the solar cells. In this work, plasmonic structures are composite materials that consisted of silver nanoparticles embedded in dielectric films of TiO x -used as cell antireflection coating. The films are deposited by sol-gel method using spin-on techniq...