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The self-assembly in SOS-rich mixtures of the anionic surfactant sodium octyl sulfate (SOS) and the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has been investigated with the complementary techniques small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). Both techniques confirm the simultaneous presence of open and closed bilayer structures in highly diluted samples as well as the existence of small globular and large elongated micelles at higher concentrations. However, the two techniques sometimes differ with respect to which type of aggregates is present in a particular sample. In particular, globular or wormlike micelles are sometimes observed with cryo-TEM in the vicinity of the micelle-to-bilayer transition, although only bilayers are present according to SANS and the samples appear bluish to the eye. A similar discrepancy has previously been reported but could not be satisfactorily rationalized. On the basis of our comparison between in situ (SANS) and ex situ (cryo-TEM) experimental techniques, we suggest that this discrepancy appears mainly as a result of the non-negligible amount of surfactant adsorbed at interfaces of the thin sample film created during the cryo-TEM specimen preparation. Moreover, from our detailed SANS data analysis, we are able to observe the unusually high amount of free surfactant monomers present in SOS-rich mixtures of SOS and CTAB, and the experimental results give excellent agreement with model calculations based on the Poisson-Boltzmann mean field theory. Our careful comparison between model calculations and experiments has enabled us to rationalize the dramatic microstructural transformations frequently observed upon simply diluting mixtures of an anionic and a cationic surfactant., QC 20140224

The magnetic 2D to 3D crossover behavior of well-ordered arrays of monodomain γ-Fe2O3 spherical nanoparticles with different thicknesses has been investigated by magnetometry and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Using the structural information of the arrays obtained from grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and scanning electron microscopy together with the experimentally determined values for the saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy of the nanoparticles, we show that MC simulations can reproduce the thickness-dependent magnetic behavior. The magnetic dipolar particle interactions induce a ferromagnetic coupling that increases in strength with decreasing thickness of the array. The 2D to 3D transition in the magnetic properties is mainly driven by a change in the orientation of the magnetic vortex states with increasing thickness, becoming more isotropic as the thickness of the array increases. Magnetic anisotropy prevents long-range ferromagnetic order from being established at low temperature and the nanoparticle magnetic moments instead freeze along directions defined by the distribution of easy magnetization directions.

In general, the post-combustion capture of CO2 is costly; however, swing adsorption processes can reduce these costs under certain conditions. This review highlights the issues related to adsorption-based processes for the capture of CO2 from flue gas. In particular, we consider studies that investigate CO2 adsorbents for vacuum swing or temperature swing adsorption processes. Zeolites, carbon molecular sieves, metal organic frameworks, microporous polymers, and amine-modified sorbents are relevant for such processes. The large-volume gas flows in the gas flue stacks of power plants limit the possibilities of using regular swing adsorption processes, whose cycles are relatively slow. The structuring of CO2 adsorbents is crucial for the rapid swing cycles needed to capture CO2 at large point sources. We review the literature on such structured CO2 adsorbents. Impurities may impact the function of the sorbents, and could affect the overall thermodynamics of power plants, when combined with carbon capture and storage. The heat integration of the adsorption-driven processes with the power plant is crucial in ensuring the economy of the capture of CO2, and impacts the design of both the adsorbents and the processes. The development of adsorbents with high capacity, high selectivity, rapid uptake, easy recycling, and suitable thermal and mechanical properties is a challenging task. These tasks call for interdisciplinary studies addressing this delicate optimization process, including integration with the overall thermodynamics of power plants., QC 20130214

The influence of spacer group on the geometrical shape of micelles formed by quaternary-bis dimeric (Gemini) surfactants C12H25N(CH3)(2)(CH2)(5)N(CH3)(2)C12H25 (12-s-12) has been investigated with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Dimeric surfactants with a short spacer unit (12-3-12 and 124-12) are observed to form elongated general ellipsoidal micelles with half axes a < b < c, whereas SANS data demonstrate that 12-s-12 surfactants with 6 <= s <= 12 form rather small spheroidal micelles rather than strictly spherical micelles. By means of comparing our present SANS results with previously determined growth rates using time-resolved fluorescence quenching, we are able to conclude that micelles formed by 12-6-12, 12-8-12, 12-10-12, and 12-12-12 are shaped as oblate rather than prolate spheroids. As a result, our present investigation suggests a never before reported structural behavior of Gemini surfactant micelles, according to which micelles transform from elongated ellipsoids to nonelongated oblate spheroids as the length of the spacer group is increased. The aggregation number of oblate micelles is observed to monotonously decrease with an increasing length of the surfactant spacer group, mainly as a result of a decreasing minor half axis (a), whereas the major half axis (b) is rather constant with respect to s. We argue that geometrically heterogeneous elongated micelles are formed by dimeric surfactants with a short spacer group mainly as a result of the surface charges becoming less uniformly distributed over the micelle interface. As the length of the spacer group increases, the distance between intramolecular charges become approximately equal to the average distance between charges on the micelle interface, and as a result, rather small oblate spheroidal micelles with a more uniform distribution of surface charges are formed by dimeric 12-s-12 surfactants with 6 <= s <= 12., QC 20120731

Self-assembly in aqueous mixtures of a single-chain (DTAB) and a double-chain cationic surfactant (DDAB) has been investigated with small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Small oblate spheroidal micelles formed by DTAB grow with respect to width and length to form mixed ellipsoidal tablet-shaped micelles as an increasing fraction of DDAB is admixed into the micelles. The growth behaviour of the micelles is rationalized from the general micelle model in terms of three bending elasticity constants spontaneous curvature (H(0)), bending rigidity (k(c)) and saddle-splay constant ((k(c)) over bar kc). It is found that micelles grow with respect to width, mainly as a result of decreasing k(c)H(0), and in the length direction as a result of decreasing k(c). The micelles are still rather small, i.e. about 140 angstrom in length, as an abrupt transition to large bilayer aggregates is observed. The micelle-to-bilayer transition is induced by changes in aggregate composition and is observed to occur at a mole fraction of DDAB equal to about x = 0.48 in D(2)O, which is a significantly higher value than previously observed for the same system in H(2)O (x = 0.41). An abrupt micelle-to-bilayer transition is in agreement with predictions from the general micelle model, according to which an abrupt transition from micelles to bilayers is expected to occur at xi H(0) = 1/4, where x is the thickness of the self-assembled interface, and we may conclude that H(0)(D(2)O) > H(0)(H(2)O) for the system DDAB/DTAB in absence of added salt. Samples with bilayers are found to be composed of bilayer disks coexisting with vesicles. Disks are found to always predominate over vesicles with mass fractions about 70-90% disks and 10-30% vesicles. Micelles, disks and vesicles are observed to coexist in a few samples close to the micelle-to-bilayer transition., QC 20111213

Expressions for the critical micelle concentration (cmc) and activity coefficients as functions of surfactant composition in mixtures of two identically charged monovalent ionic surfactants are derived from the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) theory. For the special case of no added salt, the simple expression cmc(alpha) = xcmc(1)(alpha) + (1 - x)cmc(2)(alpha) is deduced, where the exponential parameter alpha > 1 depends on the number of ionic species in a surfactant molecule as well as the curvature of the self-assembled interface. Theoretical predictions are compared with cmc values obtained with some different experimental techniques for mixtures of the two cationic surfactants didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) in water and in the absence of added salt. It is demonstrated that the PB theory generates significantly better agreement with experimental data than predicted by ideal behaviour or the regular mixture theory. We find that maximum synergistic effects occur at a DDAB mole fraction in solution y = 0.005. According to the PB theory, this very low value of y corresponds to a mole fraction of DDAB in the self-assembled interfacial aggregates equal to x = 0.995. Moreover, our calculations of the surfactant composition in the self-assembled interfacial aggregates above cmc demonstrate that the transition from small micelles to large bilayer aggregates is found to consistently occur at a mole fraction of DDAB equal to about x = 0.41-0.42, irrespective of the surfactant molar ratio in solution. Experimental observations strongly support the fact that concentrations of free surfactant, as well as the surfactant composition in the self-assembled interfacial aggregates, may be accurately calculated from the non-linear Poison-Boltzmann theory. On the other hand, a micelle-to-bilayer transition induced by changes in surfactant mole fraction in the self-assembled interfacial aggregates is consistent with neither idea, QC 20111017

Nanocellulose hybrids are promising candidates for biodegradable multifunctional materials. Hybrids of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles were obtained through a facile chemical approach over a wide range of compositions. Controlling the interactions between NCC and ACC results in hard, transparent structures with tunable composition, homogeneity and anisotropy. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011.

Dark matter is among the most important open problems in modern physics. Aimed at graduate students and researchers, this book describes the theoretical and experimental aspects of the dark matter problem in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. Featuring contributions from 48 leading theorists and experimentalists, it presents many aspects, from astrophysical observations to particle physics candidates, and from the prospects for detection at colliders to direct and indirect searches. The book introduces observational evidence for dark matter along with a detailed discussion of the state-of-the-art of numerical simulations and alternative explanations in terms of modified gravity. It then moves on to the candidates arising from theories beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, and to the prospects for detection at accelerators. It concludes by looking at direct and indirect dark matter searches, and the prospects for detecting the particle nature of dark matter with astrophysical experiments. • Describes the theoretical and experimental aspects of the dark matter problem • Presents observations, theory and experiments to give a complete and consistent understanding of dark matter • Features contributions from leading experts in the field.

Critical micelle concentrations in mixtures of an anionic surfactant and a cationic amphiphilic drug have been investigated using a model-independent procedure to quantify observed synergistic effects. Experimental results were compared with a theory based on the Poisson-Boltzmann mean field approximation of a charged interface with a diffuse layer of counterions. Explicit expressions for the activity coefficients from which the critical micelle concentration can be calculated and quantitatively predicted have been derived and excellent agreement between experimental data and theory was obtained. As a result, we demonstrate that it is possible to rationalize and predict the magnitude of synergism in mixtures of oppositely charged surfactants in the presence of added salt.

Monodisperse iron oxide nanocrystals have been produced following non-hydrolytic, thermal decomposition routes. Spherically shaped particles with diameter of 4 and 12 nm and cubic shaped particles with an edge length of 9 nm have been studied. The particles have been shown to consist of mainly maghemite. A reduction of the saturation magnetic hyperfine field is observed for the 4 nm particles as compared to the corresponding bulk value. The anisotropy energy determined from the temperature variation of the magnetic hyperfine field was strongly enhanced for the 4 nm particles.

A novel approach to rationalize micellar systems is expounded in which the structural behaviour of tablet-shaped micelles is theoretically investigated as a function of the three bending elasticity constants: spontaneous curvature (H-0), bending rigidity (k(c)), and saddle-splay constant (k(c)). As a result, experimentally accessible micellar properties, such as aggregation number, length-to-width ratio, and polydispersity, may be relation to the different bending elasticity constants. Is it demonstrated that discrete micelles or connected cylinders form when H-0 > 1/4 xi where xi is the thickness of a surfacant monolayer, whereas various bilayer structures are expected to predominate when H-0 > 1/4 xi. Our theory predicts, in agreement with experiments, a transition from discrete globular (tablet-shaped) micelles to a phase of ordered, or disordered, connected cylinders above a critital surfactant concentration. Moreover, a novel explanation for the mechanism of growth, from small globular to long rodlike or wormlike micelles, follows as a consequence from the theory. In accordance, polydiperse elongated micelles (large length-to-width ratio) for as the bending rigidity is lowered, approaching the critical point at k(c) - 0, whereas monodisperse globular micelles (small length-to-width ratio) are expected to be present at larg k(c) values. The spontaneous curvature mainly determines the width of tablet-shaped or ribbonlike micelles, or the radius of dislike micelles, whereas the saddle-splay constant primarily influences the size but not the shape of the micelles.

Measurement of the extragalactic background (EGBR) of diffuse gamma- rays is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks for future gamma- ray observatories, such as GLAST. This is because any determination will depend on accurate subtraction of the galactic diffuse and celestial foregrounds, as well as point sources. However, the EGBR is likely to contain very rich information about the high energy-gamma ray sources of the Universe at cosmological distances. We focus on the ability of GLAST to detect a signal from dark matter in the EGBR. We present sensitivities for generic thermal WIMPs and the Inert Higgs Doublet Model. Also we discuss the various aspects of astro- physics and particle physics that determines the shape and strength of the signal, such as dark matter halo properties and different dark matter candidates. Other possible sources to the EGBR are also discussed, such as unresolved AGNs, and viewed as backgrounds., QC 20141028

Pair annihilation of weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter into high energy photons taking place in dark matter halos at all redshifts might contribute to the extragalactic diffuse gamma-ray radiation. The γ- annihilation channel would give rise to a distinct feature in the spectrum, a line which is distorted by the integration over all cosmological redshifts. We present a study of GLAST sensitivity to detect an extragalactic signal from a generic, thermal WIMP with a continuous spectrum part, modeled with annihilations into bb̄, and a γ-line, from the 2γ final state., QC 20141126

Expressions have been derived from which the spontaneous curvature (H-0), bending rigidity (k(c)), and saddle-splay constant ((k) over bar (c)) of mixed monolayers and bilayers may be calculated from molecular and solution properties as well as experimentally available quantities such as the macroscopic hydrophobic-hydrophilic interfacial tension. Three different cases of binary surfactant mixtures have been treated in detail: (i) mixtures of an ionic and a nonionic surfactant, (ii) mixtures of two oppositely charged surfactants, and (iii) mixtures of two ionic surfactants with identical headgroups but different tail volumes. It is demonstrated that k(c)H(0), k(c), and (k) over bar (c) for mixtures of surfactants with flexible tails may be subdivided into one contribution that is due to bending properties of an infinitely thin surface as calculated from the Poisson-Boltzmann mean field theory and one contribution appearing as a result of the surfactant film having a finite thickness with the surface of charge located somewhat outside the hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface. As a matter of fact, the picture becomes completely different as finite layer thickness effects are taken into account, and as a result, the spontaneous curvature is extensively lowered whereas the bending rigidity is raised. Furthermore, an additional contribution to k(c) is present for surfactant mixtures but is absent for k(c)H(0) and (k) over bar (c). This contribution appears as a consequence of the minimization of the free energy with respect to the composition of a surfactant layer that is open in the thermodynamic sense and must always be negative (i.e., k(c) is generally found to be brought down by the process of mixing two or more surfactants). The magnitude of the reduction of kc increases with increasing asymmetry between two surfactants with respect to headgroup charge number and tail volume. As a consequence, the bending rigidity assumes the lowest values for layers formed in mixtures

We investigate the internal consistency of the halo dark matter model which has been proposed by de Boer et al. to explain the excess of diffuse galactic gamma rays observed by the EGRET experiment. Any model based on dark matter annihilation into quark jets, such as the supersymmetric model proposed by de Boer et al., inevitably also predicts a primary flux of antiprotons from the same jets. Since propagation of the antiprotons in the unconventional, disk-dominated type of halo model used by de Boer et al. is strongly constrained by the measured ratio of boron to carbon nuclei in cosmic rays, we investigate the viability of the model using the DarkSUSY package to compute the gamma-ray and antiproton fluxes. We are able to show that their model is excluded by a wide margin from the measured flux of antiprotons. We therefore find that a model of the type suggested by Moskalenko et al., where the intensities of protons and electrons in the cosmic rays vary with galactic position, is far more plausible to explain the gamma excess.

The size and shape of micelles formed in aqueous mixtures of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the nonionic sugar-based surfactant n-decyl beta-D-glucopyranoside (C(10)G) at different concentrations of added salt have been investigated with small-angle neutron and static light scattering. Rather small prolate ellipsoidal micelles form in the absence of added salt and at [NaCl] = 10 mM in D2O. The micelles grow considerably in length to large rods as the electrolyte concentration is raised to [NaCl] = 0.1 M. In excess of nonionic surfactant ([SDS]/[C(10)G] = 1:3) at [NaCl] = 0.1 M in D2O, several thousands of Angstroms long wormlike micelles are observed. Most interestingly, a conspicuously large isotope solvent effect was observed from static light scattering data according to which micelles formed at [SDS]/[C(10)G] = 1:3 and [NaCl] = 0.1 M in H2O are at least five times smaller than micelles formed in the corresponding samples in D2O., QC 20100901. Tidigare titel: A Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study of Micelles Formed in Aqueous Mixtures of Nonionic Alkylglucoside and an Anionic Surfactant. Titel ändrad 20100901.

Photons from the annihilation of dark matter in the center of our Galaxy are expected to provide a promising way to find out the nature and distribution of the dark matter itself. These photons can be either produced directly and/or through successive decays of annihilation products, or radiated from electrons and positrons. This ends up in a multi-wavelength production of photons whose expected intensity can be compared to observational data. Assuming that the Lightest Supersymmetric Particle makes the dark matter, we derive the expected photon signal from a given dark matter model and compare it with present available data., QC 20150413

A current global trend towards intensification or specialization of agricultural enterprises has been accompanied by increasing public awareness of associated environmental consequences. Air and water pollution from losses of nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S), are a major concern. Governments have initiated extensive regulatory frameworks, including various land use policies, in an attempt to control or reduce the losses. This paper presents an overview of critical input and loss processes affecting N and S for temperate climates, and provides some background to the discussion in subsequent papers evaluating specific farming systems. Management effects on potential gaseous and leaching losses, the lack of synchrony between supply of nutrients and plant demand, and options for optimizing the efficiency of N and S use are reviewed. Integration of inorganic and organic fertilizer inputs and the equitable re-distribution of nutrients from manure are discussed. The paper concludes by highlighting a need for innovative research that is also targeted to practical approaches for reducing N and S losses, and improving the overall synchrony between supply and demand.

Drying of granular films

Drying of granular films

Drying of granular films

Inorganic interfacial engineering may be regarded as the core of powder metallurgical processing of hard materials. The present paper reviews recent results from an interdisciplinary research effort, BRIIE (the Brinell Centre for Inorganic Interfacial Engineering), a joint effort between five industrial companies, three universities, two research institutes and VINNOVA (the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems). The research involves experimental work on the aqueous processing of powders and the use of surface actants is reviewed as well as the colloidal processing of ceramics. Pressing and sintering of agglomerated powders have been studied both theoretically and experimentally. Models for the simulation of pressing and sintering of hard metal powders are developed. Results on ceramic materials obtained by spark plasma sintering and their resistance to thermal shock are reported.

The interactions between two glass surfaces bearing grafted polymer brushes of poly(12-hydroxystearic acid) (PHS) have been controlled by altering the solvent quality. The graft density was obtained through XPS and the solvent used was a mixture of ethanol and heptane, which was varied from good to poor solvency conditions by either a change of the relative concentrations of the two solvents, or by altering the temperature. The system is shown to be remarkably sensitive to the solvency conditions around the theta position. It was also shown that hydrodynamic forces could be accurately and routinely accounted for in systems where the forces were monotonically repulsive., QC 20100525