Two-dimensional systems, with simply connected topologies, have been synthesized in dichalcogenides. Such materials present novel opportunities in heterogeneous conduction. This talk will demonstrate a phase coherent, metal dopant added to reactive edges of these low-dimensional dichalcogenide system that dramatically alters the conduction behavior of such materials in unexpected ways. Temperature dependent conductivity suggests that local band bending across the interface acts as an energy filter for carrier injection. Further, significant decoupling between the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient is observed in films of these platelettes, leading to surprisingly high power factors. A fivefold/eightfold increase in thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) and power factor (PF) is seen over pure Bi₂Te₃ platelettes with the addition of Ag/Cu respectively, with the correlate being the barrier height at the platelette edge. This yields a ZT of 0.39 for Ag-doped Bi2Te3 and 0.6 for Cu-doped Bi2Te3, both at room temperature.  The ZT is further increased to 0.93 at 470 K in the Cu case. First principles band structure calculations show that the electronics of the semiconductor-metal interfaces are quite different for edge and facial configurations, suggesting that the site of metal dopant plays an important role in the enhanced thermoelectric performance.

Layer double hydroxide (LDH) clays are one of the highly-attractive nanomaterials because of their high potentials on adsorption capacity, cation-exchange ability of the Brucite layer, anion-exchange ability of the interlayer space, and tunable basicity of the surface. Therefore, various synthetic approaches have been investigated in previous reports for difference purposes [1-3]. Herein, we challenged the preparation of fine-crystalized LDH materials with silica nanoseeds and evaluated its catalytic performance for Knoevenagel condensation as a model reaction. The main idea of this approach is the utilization of small-size SiO₂ seeds to prepare the fine crystals of LDHs, and which afford higher activity for the conventional LDH-catalyzed organic transformations as not only Knoevenagel condensation, but also epoxidation, transesterification, isomerization, etc.

Size effect of silica seeds was compared between 250 nm and 40 nm in SiO₂@Mg-Al LDH (Si/(Mg+Al) = 5, Mg/Al = 3). The LDH crystalline sizes prepared with 40 nm SiO₂ at (003) and (110) directions were much smaller than that of 250 nm, determined by XRD. The ratio of Si-O-Al and/or Si-O-Mg conjugations estimated by Si NMR in the former case gave higher values than the latter. These results suggested that utilization of smaller SiO₂ seeds would gave stronger impact to control self-assembly of LDH during in-situ co-precipitation procedure. In particular, the reactivity of SiO₂(40 nm)@Mg-Al LDH gave higher activity for the model reaction than conventional Mg-Al LDH prepared with co-precipitation method without seeds [4].

According to our recent study, the effect of Si/(Mg+Al) ratio is strongly contributed to both crystal size of LDH and the reactivity for the Knoevenagel condensation; the highest activity was obtained at Si/(Mg+Al) = 0.17. 

Electrical and chemical communication exists extensively among cells of both animals and plants. We reviewed the roles of several natural nanomaterials, such as phosphorous lipid bilayers, protein ion channels, connecting proteins, vesicles of neurotransmitters, in neural functions and brain functions at the cell and system levels. Membranes serve as the dielectric isolation layers for a transmembrane ion concentration gradient, and as the frameworks in electrolyte-membrane-electrolyte waveguides for transmission of pulsed electromagnetic waves [1,2]. Proteins serve as sources for generation of electromagnetic pulsed waves. Nano-sensors turn heat, pressure, sounds, smells and photon interactions into electrical signals. Neurotransmitters and connection proteins help chemical synapses turn into electrical synapses, and thus may form strongly connected 2D and/or 3D neurosome networks as data codes for memory and brain functions [3-5]. In this wonderful nano-bio-world, many questions remain open to date.

Electrical and chemical communication exists extensively among cells of both animals and plants. We reviewed the roles of several natural nanomaterials, such as phosphorous lipid bilayers, protein ion channels, connecting proteins, vesicles of neurotransmitters, in neural functions and brain functions at the cell and system levels. Membranes serve as the dielectric isolation layers for a transmembrane ion concentration gradient, and as the frameworks in electrolyte-membrane-electrolyte waveguides for transmission of pulsed electromagnetic waves [1,2]. Proteins serve as sources for generation of electromagnetic pulsed waves. Nano-sensors turn heat, pressure, sounds, smells and photon interactions into electrical signals. Neurotransmitters and connection proteins help chemical synapses turn into electrical synapses, and thus may form strongly connected 2D and/or 3D neurosome networks as data codes for memory and brain functions [3-5]. In this wonderful nano-bio-world, many questions remain open to date.

After the first observation that keV ions are guided through insulating nano­capillaries, the topic has received consid­erable attention during the past decade. The essential property of the capillary guiding is a self-organizing process, which governs the charge deposition inside the capillaries as shown in Fig. 1. With increasing deposition of the ions, the charge patch increases until the electrostatic field is large enough to deflect the ions (panel b). At equilibrium, the ions are guided maintaining their incident charge state (panel c).

Milestones of the field are summarized in accordance with a recent review over the studies of capillary guiding. Experiments are described providing emphasis to the guiding of highly charged ions in the keV energy range. Recent experiments with insulating nano- and micro-capillaries are presented. Similarities as well as significant differences between the capillary types are pointed out. Moreover, significant differences between guiding mechanisms of ions and electrons are discussed. Apart from the experimental studies, theoretical concepts of the capillary guiding are presented. Single tapered capillaries are discussed involv­ing an enhance­ment of the beam density and the production of a microbeam for various applications including biological matter. Altogether, it is shown that studies of capillary guiding revealed several novel phenomena.

Electrical and chemical communication exists extensively among cells of both animals and plants. We reviewed the roles of several natural nanomaterials, such as phosphorous lipid bilayers, protein ion channels, connecting proteins, vesicles of neurotransmitters, in neural functions and brain functions at the cell and system levels. Membranes serve as the dielectric isolation layers for a transmembrane ion concentration gradient, and as the frameworks in electrolyte-membrane-electrolyte waveguides for transmission of pulsed electromagnetic waves [1,2]. Proteins serve as sources for generation of electromagnetic pulsed waves. Nano-sensors turn heat, pressure, sounds, smells and photon interactions into electrical signals. Neurotransmitters and connection proteins help chemical synapses turn into electrical synapses, and thus may form strongly connected 2D and/or 3D neurosome networks as data codes for memory and brain functions [3-5]. In this wonderful nano-bio-world, many questions remain open to date.

Geothermal heat pumps (GSHPs), or direct expansion (DX) ground source heat pumps, are a highly efficient renewable energy technology, which uses the earth, groundwater or surface water as a heat source when operating in heating mode or as a heat sink when operating in a cooling mode. It is receiving increasing interest because of its potential to reduce primary energy consumption and thus reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases (GHGs). The main concept of this technology is that it utilises the lower temperature of the ground (approximately <32°C), which remains relatively stable throughout the year, to provide space heating, cooling and domestic hot water inside the building area. The main goal of this study is to stimulate the uptake of the GSHPs. Recent attempts to stimulate alternative energy sources for heating and cooling of buildings has emphasised the utilisation of the ambient energy from ground source and other renewable energy sources. The purpose of this study, however, is to examine the means of reduction of energy consumption in buildings, identify GSHPs as an environmental friendly technology able to provide efficient utilisation of energy in the buildings sector, promote using GSHPs applications as an optimum means of heating and cooling, and to present typical applications and recent advances of the DX GSHPs. The study highlighted the potential energy saving that could be achieved through the use of ground energy sources. It also focuses on the optimisation and improvement of the operation conditions of the heat cycle and performance of the DX GSHP. It is concluded that the direct expansion of the GSHP, combined with the ground heat exchanger in foundation piles and the seasonal thermal energy storage from solar thermal collectors, is extendable to more comprehensive applications.

A facile sol gel method was adopted for the synthesis of Ce co-doped Sr–Mn–ZnO nanoparticles. The effect of incorporation Ce ions on the structural and magnetic properties of the CSMZO has been characterized by different characterization technique. The XRD and HRTEM/HRSEM show high crystallinity degree of the CSMZO thin films. The analysis using FTIR, UV-vis and VSM reveal that the nanocomposites showed well-behaved absorption bands and well magnetic behavior at room temperature. Correspondingly, the synthesized nanocomposites exhibited good antibacterial and antifungal activity.

Transition metal nanoparticles have been widely investigated as a potentially advanced pathway in catalysis field due to their distinctive properties. The precise optimization through controlling the particle size is one of the key factors to obtain unique physical and chemical properties. Recently, Copper based nanoparticles have a huge impact in the field of catalysis research as they have been tested in several major reactions such as Suzuki-Miyaura cross–coupling.

The previously mentioned research studies have revealed the high catalytic activity of metallic and bimetallic nanoparticles through using copper oxide as an ideal support in C-C cross-coupling reactions which are considered as one of the most relevant processes in Organic Synthesis. The importance of those kinds of nanomaterials are not only because they are covering the research area of cross-coupling reactions which are widely used in several strategic industries like cosmetic, pharmacy, agriculture, and natural products; but also as they cover other potential applications in sensors, catalysis and energy conversion. 

It is important to notice that there is also a main advantage of using copper oxide as a support as it significantly increase the surface area of the active ingredient of the used catalyst, hence causing a huge enhancement of the contact between reactants and catalyst to be nearly like that of the homogeneous catalysts. This also led to some innovative ideas regarding the use of nano-catalysis for green chemistry development including the possibility of using the concept of microwave assisted synthesis combined with nano-catalysis.

In this manuscript, we report on a green efficient method to prepare highly active Pd nanoparticles supported on copper oxide as a highly efficient catalyst for potential use in Suzuki cross–coupling.

Acceptance of high quality product is first choice of vendors and it must be in reasonable cost, pharmaceutical impurity could not be a facility in pharmaceutical product, it has been compromising the effect of drugs. Due to ever –increasing failure rates, high cost, unsatisfactory safety profile and limited efficacy associated with production of drug key intermediate for active pharmaceutical ingredient and market cost differ by International Pharmacopeial standard. We invented economical new technology for estimation of residual solvents by ultra-capillary GC methods.The synthesis of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) normally consists of several synthetic steps. Process-related impurities can be formed at any step and could ultimately appear in the final drug substance, particularly in the scale-up drug candidates. Impurities must be controlled because of their potential toxicity. Impurity control is a continuing concern of regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry. The use of specialized holding technology, time management and detection methods. Researchers have reported that OVIs with these experiences are more difficult to treat; many do not access treatment and those who do, frequently do not stay because of difficulty maintaining helping solvents coordination. The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of seeking help for residual solvents dependency by manufactures with a history of OVIs in the context in which it occurs. Methodology & Technical Orientation: GC-2010 plus ultra-trace capillary column applications chemicals and reagents water, methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, methylene chloride, chloroform, 1, 4-dioxane. Solvents were authorized from sigma-aldrich Company (MO, USA).

M.G.G.S.N. Thilakarathna has completed her BSc. Special degree in Molecular biology and Biotechnology from University of Peradeniya and currently reading for her PhD. in biomaterials at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. At present, she is mainly involved in evaluating the biocompatibility of different nano-structured materials which can be used as synthetic bone substitutes.

Improvement of the utilization of fertilizer nutrients is important for the development and yield enhancement of agricultural production. Nitrogen is so far the most imperative nutrient for crops. Amongst the nitrogen fertilizers, urea is the most extensively used fertilizer owing to its high nitrogen content (46%) and comparatively low cost of production. However, because of surface runoff, leaching, and vaporization, the utilization efficiency or plant uptake process of urea is generally below 50%. About 45-75% of nitrogen of the applied fertilizers liberates to the environment and cannot be captivated by crops, which can be a large economic and natural resource losses and very serious environmental pollution like in algal blooming. Slow or controlled-release technology could successfully resolve these problems, and avoid or reduce the loss of fertilizers and environmental pollution. As such, this research was carried out to develop an economical, easily adaptable and scalable method to encapsulate urea in calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCNP) synthesized using our own dolomitic recourses. Synthesized CCNP are in the nano-range between 20- 80 nm with average particle size of 38.9 nm in 90% confidence interval.  The FT-IR spectrum urea encapsulated nanoparticles have all the bands corresponding to CaCO₃ and  N-H at 3455 and 1625 cm^-1, C=O at 1677 cm^-1 and C-N at 1453 cm^-1 clearly indicating the presence of urea in CCNP. Titrimetry of urea before and after encapsulation show that 99.0% encapsulation of urea in CCNP. EDAX spectrum clearly shows the presence of the elements Ca, O and N which is derived from CCNP and Urea. 

TBA

Synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles that mimic natural HA are widely used as coatings on prostheses to repair, reconstruct and substitute human bones. However, for developing countries as Sri Lanka, the accessibility of most of these materials is limited due to the high cost of both raw materials and processing. Therefore, Wijesinghe et al. (2014) have prepared Sri Lankan origin HA nano-particles through atomized spray pyrolysis technique and have successfully prepared Ti surfaces with a binder TiO₂ layer and HA layer on the TiO₂ surfaces, which would be a simple material with high economic value for orthopaedic applications. In order to evaluate the appropriateness to utilize in the production of bone implants, this material was evaluated for cytotoxicity and biocompatibility (i.e.: morphology, proliferation and differentiation) in-vitro using osteoblast-like cells (HOS). The results of this study demonstrate that the surfaces of Ti with TiO₂ thin layer, coated with HA did not elicit any toxic substance which would bring deleterious effects to HOS cells and have supported cell adhesion once the cells are in contact with the material surfaces (Image 1).  Moreover, cells attached to the surfaces retained their typical polygonal morphology and osteoblast phenotype, while undergoing the developmental stages of HOS cells (proliferation and differentiation) successfully, confirming the biocompatibility of the material.

In conclusion, this material will be a promising alternative for the production of synthetic bone substitutes with high potential for future developments in load bearing as well as non-load bearing orthopaedic applications.

Electrical and chemical communication exists extensively among cells of both animals and plants. We reviewed the roles of several natural nanomaterials, such as phosphorous lipid bilayers, protein ion channels, connecting proteins, vesicles of neurotransmitters, in neural functions and brain functions at the cell and system levels. Membranes serve as the dielectric isolation layers for a transmembrane ion concentration gradient, and as the frameworks in electrolyte-membrane-electrolyte waveguides for transmission of pulsed electromagnetic waves [1,2]. Proteins serve as sources for generation of electromagnetic pulsed waves. Nano-sensors turn heat, pressure, sounds, smells and photon interactions into electrical signals. Neurotransmitters and connection proteins help chemical synapses turn into electrical synapses, and thus may form strongly connected 2D and/or 3D neurosome networks as data codes for memory and brain functions [3-5]. In this wonderful nano-bio-world, many questions remain open to date.

A formalism is developed, based on the concept that determinate and indeterminate aspects of phenomena are mutually independent, and that they occur joined in nature in such a manner that one of both dominates an observation. This so-called complementary language represents a dualistic way of considering the universe. The quantization of Planck and the uncertainty relations of Heisenberg are incorporated from scratch.  The basic item in the theory is the Heisenberg-unit, defined as a constant amount of potential energy. This mathematical item is the key to a better understanding of the universe, because it allows a fundamental division between potential and actual energy. Only by interaction with another Heisenberg unit, the potential energy can be transformed into physical items. Using this item, a series of elementary particles as well as neutron decay, the difference between gravity and electricity, and gravitational waves can be described.   In this lecture we concentrate on the description of electrons, divided in four types depending on rest mass and spin. The electron of type 4 has only charge, without mass and spin and this seems to be compatible with the features of graphene.

At the sunrise of the third millennium, the global challenges of sustainable development put scientists face major technological challenges in order to meet the demands of user sectors of power systems, in terms of energy efficiency, maintenance costs as well as optimizing the cooling of these systems. Indeed, these sectors, such as the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, renewable energies or telecommunications, use cooling process and device. Their performances are strongly correlated with heat exchange by convection.

This work concerns the numerical study of forced convection heat transfer for the cooling enhancement of a hemi-spherical geometry. The annular space has been filled with a Hybrid nano-fluid CuO-Al2O3-water. The cooled interior sphere has been lead from the temperature of 80°C to 25°C. Several volume fractions of the hybrid nano-fluid, from 0,1%  to 0,9% have been tested in order to find the optimal value to reach the objectives of the cooling and reduce the cost of the process. The ADI method was used to solve the equations of flow coupled with heat transfer throughout the physical domain. The Vorticity-Stream function formulation has been used to describe the mathematical model of Navier-Stokes equations. The results obtained show that the CuO-Al2O3-water  improves the heat transfer and reduce the time of cooling, and that the volume fractions of the hybrid nano-fluid has an influence on the enhancement of  the heat transfer trough the sphere wall, and the thermal field. The value of the Temperature field has been used to calculate the Nusselt mean number values for each volume fraction of the nanofluid. In comparison with water cooling and simple nano-fluid cooling, this study show from the Nusselt mean number and cost calculus that the hybrid nano-fluid is more efficient in cooling and can lead to interesting technological innovation in this field.