This research is focused on development of routes towards the rational design of nanoparticle catalysts. Primarily, it is focused on two main projects; (1) the use of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as greener media for the design of quasi-homogeneous nanoparticle catalysts and (2) the rational design of heterogeneous-supported nanoparticle catalysts from structured nanoparticle precursors. Each project has different studies associated with the main objective of the design of nanoparticle catalysts.<p> In the first project, imidazolium-based ionic liquids have been used for the synthesis of nanoparticle catalysts. In particular, studies on recyclability, reuse, mode-of-stability, and long-term stability of these ionic-liquid supported nanoparticle catalysts have been done; all of which are important factors in determining the overall greenness of such synthetic routes. Three papers have been published/submitted for this project. In the first publication, highly stable polymer-stabilized Au, Pd and bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticle catalysts have been synthesized in imidazolium-based 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF6) ionic liquid (Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2008, 286, 114). The resulting nanoparticles were found to be effective and selective quasi-homogeneous catalysts towards a wide-range of hydrogenation reactions and the catalyst solution was reused for further catalytic reactions with minimal loss in activity. The synthesis of very pure and clean ILs has allowed a platform to study the effects of impurities in the imidazolium ILs on nanoparticle stability. In a later study, a new mode of stabilization was postulated where the presence of low amounts of 1-methylimidazole has substantial effects on the resulting stability of Au and Pd-Au nanoparticles in these ILs (Chemical Communications, 2009, 812). In further continuation of this study, a comparative study involving four stabilization protocols for nanoparticle stabilization in BMIMPF6 IL is described, and have shown that nanoparticle stability and catalytic activity of nanoparticles is dependent on the overall stability of the nanoparticles towards aggregation (manuscript submitted).<p> The second major project is focused on synthesizing structurally well-defined supported catalysts by incorporating the nanoparticle precursors (both alloy and core shell) into oxide frameworks (TiO2 and Al2O3), and examining their structure-property relationships and catalytic activity. a full article has been published on this project (Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2009, 113, 12719) in which a route to rationally design supported catalysts from structured nanoparticle precursors with precise control over size, composition, and internal structure of the nanoparticles has been shown. In a continuation of this methodology for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts, efforts were carried out to apply the same methodology in imidazolium-based ILs as a one-pot media for the synthesis of supported-nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts via the trapping of pre-synthesized nanoparticles into porous inorganic oxide materials. Nanoparticle catalysts in highly porous titania supports were synthesized using this methodology (manuscript to be submitted).

As a logical extension of previous work conducted into viscoelastic atomization, initially motivated by the need to improve spray coating transfer efficiencies, an experimental investigation into the spray-surface interaction for a number of Newtonian and non-Newtonian substitute test liquids is presented. Three model elastic liquids of varying polymer molecular weight and three inelastic liquids of varying shear viscosity were sprayed upon a moving surface to isolate the effect of elasticity and shear viscosity, respectively, on spray impaction behavior. In addition, two liquids exhibiting shear thinning behavior and an industrial top of rail liquid friction modifier, KELTRACK, for use in the railroad industry, were included in the spray tests. High-speed photography was used to examine the impingement of these liquids on the surface. Ligaments, formed as a consequence of a liquid’s viscoelasticity, were observed impacting the surface for 300K PEO, 1000K PEO, and KELTRACK. These ligaments were broadly classified into four groups, based on their structure. Splashing of elastic liquid ligaments and droplets led to filamentary structures being expelled from the droplet periphery, which were then carried away by the atomizing air jet, leading to reductions in transfer efficiency. The effect of increasing elasticity amongst the three varying molecular weight elastic solutions was shown to increase the splash threshold; a similar effect was noted with increasing shear viscosity. Attempts were made at quantifying a critical splash-deposition limit for all test liquids however due to imaging system limitations, no quantitative conclusions could be made. For KELTRACK, both droplets and ligaments spread and deposited on the rail surface upon impact, with no observed splash or rebound. Splash was only noted when droplets impinged directly on a previously deposited liquid film and even then, splashing was well contained. Thus, KELTRACK’s current rheological formulation proved to be very effective in ensuring high coating transfer efficiencies.

As a logical extension of previous work conducted into viscoelastic atomization, initially motivated by the need to improve spray coating transfer efficiencies, an experimental investigation into the spray-surface interaction for a number of Newtonian and non-Newtonian substitute test liquids is presented. Three model elastic liquids of varying polymer molecular weight and three inelastic liquids of varying shear viscosity were sprayed upon a moving surface to isolate the effect of elasticity and shear viscosity, respectively, on spray impaction behavior. In addition, two liquids exhibiting shear thinning behavior and an industrial top of rail liquid friction modifier, KELTRACK, for use in the railroad industry, were included in the spray tests. High-speed photography was used to examine the impingement of these liquids on the surface. Ligaments, formed as a consequence of a liquids viscoelasticity, were observed impacting the surface for 300K PEO, 1000K PEO, and KELTRACK. These ligaments were broadly classified into four groups, based on their structure. Splashing of elastic liquid ligaments and droplets led to filamentary structures being expelled from the droplet periphery, which were then carried away by the atomizing air jet, leading to reductions in transfer efficiency. The effect of increasing elasticity amongst the three varying molecular weight elastic solutions was shown to increase the splash threshold; a similar effect was noted with increasing shear viscosity. Attempts were made at quantifying a critical splash-deposition limit for all test liquids however due to imaging system limitations, no quantitative conclusions could be made. For KELTRACK, both droplets and ligaments spread and deposited on the rail surface upon impact, with no observed splash or rebound. Splash was only noted when droplets impinged directly on a previously deposited liquid film and even then, splashing was well contained. Thus, KELTRACKs current rheological formulation proved to be very effective in ensuring high coating transfer efficiencies.

This research is focused on development of routes towards the rational design of nanoparticle catalysts. Primarily, it is focused on two main projects; (1) the use of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) as greener media for the design of quasi-homogeneous nanoparticle catalysts and (2) the rational design of heterogeneous-supported nanoparticle catalysts from structured nanoparticle precursors. Each project has different studies associated with the main objective of the design of nanoparticle catalysts.<p> In the first project, imidazolium-based ionic liquids have been used for the synthesis of nanoparticle catalysts. In particular, studies on recyclability, reuse, mode-of-stability, and long-term stability of these ionic-liquid supported nanoparticle catalysts have been done; all of which are important factors in determining the overall greenness of such synthetic routes. Three papers have been published/submitted for this project. In the first publication, highly stable polymer-stabilized Au, Pd and bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticle catalysts have been synthesized in imidazolium-based 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM]PF6) ionic liquid (Journal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical, 2008, 286, 114). The resulting nanoparticles were found to be effective and selective quasi-homogeneous catalysts towards a wide-range of hydrogenation reactions and the catalyst solution was reused for further catalytic reactions with minimal loss in activity. The synthesis of very pure and clean ILs has allowed a platform to study the effects of impurities in the imidazolium ILs on nanoparticle stability. In a later study, a new mode of stabilization was postulated where the presence of low amounts of 1-methylimidazole has substantial effects on the resulting stability of Au and Pd-Au nanoparticles in these ILs (Chemical Communications, 2009, 812). In further continuation of this study, a comparative study involving four stabilization protocols for nanoparticle stabilization in BMIMPF6 IL is described, and have shown that nanoparticle stability and catalytic activity of nanoparticles is dependent on the overall stability of the nanoparticles towards aggregation (manuscript submitted).<p> The second major project is focused on synthesizing structurally well-defined supported catalysts by incorporating the nanoparticle precursors (both alloy and core shell) into oxide frameworks (TiO2 and Al2O3), and examining their structure-property relationships and catalytic activity. a full article has been published on this project (Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2009, 113, 12719) in which a route to rationally design supported catalysts from structured nanoparticle precursors with precise control over size, composition, and internal structure of the nanoparticles has been shown. In a continuation of this methodology for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts, efforts were carried out to apply the same methodology in imidazolium-based ILs as a one-pot media for the synthesis of supported-nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts via the trapping of pre-synthesized nanoparticles into porous inorganic oxide materials. Nanoparticle catalysts in highly porous titania supports were synthesized using this methodology (manuscript to be submitted).

Sustainable technologies are vital to reducing the environmental impact of chemical enterprises. Solvents are often seen as just a medium in which a reaction takes place; however they can also play a dominant role in the overall toxicity of a typical pharmaceutical/fine chemicals batch chemical operation. Further, careful solvent selection for a reaction may also lead to more facile separation and purification of products, thus reducing the overall cost of a chemical process. This thesis presents an environmentally benign processing technique for sustainable biocatalytic reactions coupled with facile built-in separation. An organic aqueous tunable solvent (OATS) system allows access to a hydrophobic substrate which is transformed with a homogeneous enzymatic catalyst in a single liquid phase. Subsequent CO2 addition produces a biphasic mixture where the hydrophobic product partitions preferentially into the organic rich phase for separation while the hydrophilic enzyme catalyst partitions into the aqueous rich phase, where it is recyclable. Processing parameters in OATS systems are discussed and an overall product recovery of 80% is observed after six reaction cycles. Additionally, greater than 99% enantiomeric excess (ee) is shown for catalyzed hydrolysis of rac-1-phenylethyl acetate with Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL B) both before and after CO2-induced separation.

This thesis presents a new method for controlling the look of an ocean water simulation for the purpose of creating cartoon-styled fluid animations. Two popular techniques to simulate fluid, a statistical height field method via the Fast Fourier Transform and the Stable Fluid method for dynamic effects, are connected smoothly via a blend domain, thus allowing a height field to drive a physical simulation. In addition, the height field can be stylized by utilizing a keyframing technique on wave amplitudes defined in the Fourier domain, allowing for creative control of the fluid’s surface. Such stylized height fields therefore can be simulated to exhibit natural fluid motion as well as to produce dynamic effects such as breaking waves that were previously unattainable in common fluid pipelines.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering." Includes bibliographical references (p. 83-89).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. Zachary Fisk, Florida State University, College of Art and Sciences, Dept. of Physics. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Mar. 2,2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-109). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

In this dissertation, two exactly solvable models from the Kitaev class [Ann. Phys. 321, 2 (2006)] of exactly solvable models are analysed. In the second chapter, Kitaev models and their generic properties are reviewed. Majorana fermions are introduced and discussed. Then their relationship with the solution of Kitaev models are discussed which involves the emergence of a Z₂ gauge symmetry and anyonic particles of both Abelian and non-Abelian varieties. The third chapter, which is based on the research article [Phys. Rev. B (Rapid Comm.) 83, (2011)], examines the Kitaev model on the kagome lattice. A rich phase diagram of this model is found to include a topological (gapped) chiral spin liquid with gapless chiral edge states, and a gapless chiral spin liquid phase with a spin Fermi surface. The ground state of the current model contains an odd number of electrons per unit cell which qualitatively distinguishes it from previously studied exactly solvable models with a spin Fermi surface. Moreover, it is shown that the spin Fermi surface is stable against weak perturbations. The fourth chapter is based on the article [Phys. Rev. B 84,(2011)] and analyses a disordered generalisation of the Yao-Kivelson [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99,247203 (2007)] chiral spin-liquid on the decorated honeycomb lattice. The model is generalised by the inclusion of random exchange couplings. The phase diagram was determined and it is found that disorder enlarges the region of the topological non-Abelian phase with finite Chern number. A study of the energy level statistics as a function of disorder and other parameters in the Hamiltonian show that the phase transition between the non-Abelian and Abelian phases of the model at large disorder can be associated with pair annihilation of extended states at zero energy. Analogies to integer quantum Hall systems, topological Anderson insulators, and disordered topological Chern insulators are discussed. / text