We report on attempts to synthesize Mo nanoparticles under reducing conditions in ionic liquids (ILs). Ionic liquids were based on the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (Emim and Bmim, resp.) cations and the dicyanamide N(CN)<sub>2</sub>, triflate (OTf), bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide-(NTf<sub>2</sub>), tetrafluoroborate (BF<sub>4</sub>), ethyl sulfate (ES), and methylsulfonate (MS) anions. (NH<sub>4</sub>)<sub>6</sub>Mo<sub>7</sub>O<sub>24</sub>&#x2217;4H<sub>2</sub>O and NaBH<sub>4</sub> were reacted in a set of imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) at 180&#xb0;C to evaluate the potential of the ILs for stabilization of metallic Mo nanoparticles. XRD and TEM reveal a strong influence of the IL anion on the particle sizes, shapes, and crystal structures. The influence of the IL cation and the reaction temperature is much less pronounced.

Ayi A. Ayi

Chinyere A. Anyama

Varsha Khare

On the Synthesis of Molybdenum Nanoparticles under Reducing Conditions in Ionic Liquids

Nuclear fusion reaction on the sun is the largest source of energy. In this paper, qualitative investigation of the numerical model of silicon germanium heterojunction solar cell is performed using MATLAB graphical user interface. 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This user interface will reduce the complexity of solving differential equation for the analysis of silicon germanium heterojunction cell.

Ashish Kumar Singh

Jahnvi Tiwari

Ashish Yadav

Rakesh Kumar Jha

MATLAB User Interface for Simulation of Silicon Germanium Solar Cell

Molecular imprinted titania nanoparticles were developed for selective recognition of purines, for example, guanine and its final oxidation product uric acid. Titania nanoparticles were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium butoxide as precursor in the presence of pattern molecules. The morphology of synthesized nanoparticles is evaluated by SEM images. Recognition characteristics of imprinted titania nanoparticles are studied by exposing them to standard solution of guanine and uric acid, respectively. The resultant change in their concentration is determined by UV/Vis analysis that indicated imprinted titania nanoparticles possess high affinity for print molecules. In both cases, nonimprinted titania is taken as control to observe nonspecific binding interactions. Cross sensitivity studies suggested that imprinted titania is at least five times more selective for binding print molecules than competing analyte thus indicating its potential for bioassay of purines.

Adnan Mujahid

Amna Najeeb

Aimen Idrees Khan

Tajamal Hussain

Muhammad Hamid Raza

Asma Tufail Shah

Naseer Iqbal

Mirza Nadeem Ahmad

Tailoring Imprinted Titania Nanoparticles for Purines Recognition

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Solmaz  N. Mustafaeva

MirSalim  M. Asadov

Djahan  T. Guseinov

Enhancing Roentgen Sensitivity of Gold-Doped CdIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub> Thiospinel for X-Ray Detection Applications

First-principles methods were used to determine the magnetic state of a simulated cobalt-based binary alloy (Gd,Pr)Co<sub>17</sub> along with its corresponding lattice parameters and density. The resulting composition was fabricated using two methods arc-melting and induction-melting and compared with the calculated values. The induction-melted samples showed greater homogeneity and successfully produced the R<sub>2</sub>Co<sub>17</sub> structure. Calculated values qualitatively predict ferromagnetic behavior and lattice parameters to be within a low percent. The development of magnetic alloys with the assistance of computational methods promises faster development of new functional materials.

Jon Goldsby

Sai Raj

Sivaraman Guruswamy

Daniel David Azbill

First-Principle and Experimental Study of a Gadolinium-Praseodymium-Cobalt Pseudobinary Intermetallic Compound

We found that inserting silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) between two layers of reduced grapheme oxide (rGO) has an effect on tailoring the work function of rGO. The utilization of rGO/AgNPs/rGO sandwich structure as the hole extraction layer in polymer solar cells is demonstrated. Solution-processable fabrication of this sandwich structure at the ITO/active layer interface facilitates the extraction of hole from active layer into ITO anode because of lowering the barrier level alignment at the interface. It results in an improvement of the short circuit current density and the overall photovoltaic performance.

Quang Trung Tran

Hoang Thi Thu

Vinh Son Tran

Tran Viet Cuong

Chang-Hee Hong

Solution-Processed rGO/AgNPs/rGO Sandwich Structure as a Hole Extraction Layer for Polymer Solar Cells

Nanocomposites of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) without and with low content of single and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs-MWCNTs) were prepared and studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) using different heating rate. TGA results indicate that the thermal stability of neat PEO/PVDF blend was improved with both heating rate and incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The degradation temperature for neat blend was lower than those of the nanocomposites after adding both SWCNTs and MWCNTs. As increase of heating rate, the onset of decomposition is irregularly moved to higher temperatures. This indicates that the thermal stability of the polymeric matrices has been improved after addition of CNTs. The residual weight of the samples left increased steadily with adding of both SWCNTs and MWCNTs. Kinetic thermodynamic parameters such as activation energy, enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy are evaluated from TGA data using Coats-Redfern model. The values of all parameters irregularly decrease with increasing of heating rate due to increasing of heating rate temperature, the random scission of macromolecule chain in the polymeric matrices predominates and the activation energy has a lower value.

Laila Hussein Gaabour

Thermal Spectroscopy and Kinetic Studies of PEO/PVDF Loaded by Carbon Nanotubes

In this study, the blended cements produced by using the building stone waste were exposed to  sulphate solution and the cement properties were examined. Prepared mortar specimens were cured under water for 28 days and then they were exposed to three different proportions of sodium sulphate solution for 125 days. Performances of cements were determined by means of compressive strength and tensile strength tests. The broken parts of some mortar bars were examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Besides, they were left under moist atmosphere and their length change was measured and continuously monitored for period of 125 days. In blended cements, solely cements obtained by replacing 10&#x2013;20&#x25; of diatomites gave similar strength values with ordinary Portland cement (CEM I 42.5R) at the ages of 7, 28, and 56 days. In all mortar specimens that included either waste andesite (AP) or marble powder (MP) showed best performance against very severe effective sodium sulphate solutions (13500&#x2009;mg/L).

Emre Sancak

&#x15e;&#xfc;kr&#xfc; &#xd6;zkan

Sodium Sulphate Effect on Cement Produced with Building Stone Waste

This research investigates the fresh behaviour and mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) containing high volume of limestone, metakaolin, silica fume, zeolite, and viscosity modifying admixture. Two fine aggregates with different fineness modulus were also utilized to evaluate the effect of sand’s gradation on the mechanical and flow properties of SCC containing inert and pozzolanic powder. Slump flow, V-funnel for fresh concrete and 5-minute-old concrete, J-ring, Orimet with and without J-ring, and L-box and U-box tests were performed on all 14 fresh concrete mixtures to examine the fresh properties of self-compacting concrete. Compressive strength of hardened specimens was measured at 7 and 35 days and tensile strength was also determined at the age of 28 days. The results show that sand grading significantly affects the fresh properties of SCC. It is also concluded that high volume of active powders including metakaolin, zeolite, and silica fume could not improve both the flow and mechanical properties of SCC at the same time. Limestone can be effectively used as filler in SCC in high volume content. A new set of limits for the L-box and U-box tests for SCC containing silica fume is also recommended as the existing criteria are not satisfactory.

Mehrdad Mahoutian

Mohammad Shekarchi

Effect of Inert and Pozzolanic Materials on Flow and Mechanical Properties of Self-Compacting Concrete

The nondestructive methods applied to the evaluation of concrete use different parameters to be related in the estimated resistance of concrete or other properties. The conducted study has evaluated a qualitative method of thermochemical degradation in concrete and mortar using a solvent acid whose chemical energy is capable of degrading the material. The reported study consisted in performing laboratory tests on mechanical compressive strength of concrete and mortar and thermochemical tests performed on little cores of concrete or mortar immersed in hydrochloric acid contained in a calorimeter system, obtaining several parameters as the time of thermal equilibrium, increase of temperature, degradation energy, and mass loss due to the thermochemical reaction. From the obtained results, these variables were analyzed and served as a parameter to be related with the concrete or mortar strength. The best parameter proved to be a good estimator was the increase of temperature and its degradation energy, whose value was inversely proportional to the strength of the material. Also, it is found that the most significant mechanisms that influenced the thermochemical reaction are the calcium content and the water chemically bound in the cement paste to perform the thermochemical test.

Jos&#xe9; Mora-Ruacho

Humberto A. Monreal-Romero

A Qualitative Study of Thermochemical Degradation Related with Concrete and Mortar Strength

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Journal of Materials