Light absorption in metal catalyst nanoparticles can excite charge carriers to generate hot electron (and complimentary hot holes) with energy higher than the Fermi level. When hot electrons possess energy high enough, they exhibit a high tendency to inject into antibonding orbitals of adsorbates on the photoexcited metal nanoparticles, weakening the corresponding chemical bonds to promote chemical reactions with accelerated reaction kinetics and improved selectivity. Such hot-carrier chemistry has been reported on plasmonic metal nanoparticles, such as silver and gold, which exhibit strong surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) and strong light absorption. However, these metal nanoparticles are not suitable catalysts because their affinity toward interesting molecules is limited. In contrast, most transition metals, such as platinum-group metals and early transition metals, are industrially essential catalysts, but light absorption power in metal nanoparticles is low due to the absence of SPRs in the visible spectral range. Therefore, it is intriguing to explore the potential of hot-carrier catalytic chemistry on photoexcited non-plasmonic metal nanoparticles. Upon the absorption of the same optical power, metal nanoparticles with a small size usually exhibit a high probability of hot electron production and high efficiency of injecting hot electrons into adsorbates. It is challenging to have strong light absorption power and operation stability of the catalyst metal nanoparticles with small sizes. In this thesis, dielectric light antenna, i.e., spherical silica nanoparticles with strong surface scattering resonances near their surfaces, is introduced to support the metal catalyst nanoparticles, enabling improved light absorption power in the metal nanoparticles and operation stability. This thesis focuses on ultrafine rhodium (Rh) nanoparticles (with sizes ranging from 1.7 nm to 4.2 nm) that are widely used as thermal catalysts in many important industry reactions, especially for oxygen-containing species conversion, an oxyphilic feature of Rh nanoparticles. Firstly, this dissertation conducted a comparative study to investigate the influence of silica geometry, nanospheres, and rodlike nanoparticles on the light absorption of Rh nanoparticles. Both silica substrates enhanced the light absorption of loaded Rh nanoparticles due to elongated light scattering paths (random scattering) and enhanced electromagnetic field intensity (resonant scattering). However, silica nanospheres support both resonant scattering and random light scattering modes, exhibiting a higher Rh absorption than the usage of rodlike silica nanoparticles. The light resonant scattering modes on highly symmetrical silica nanospheres enable producing "hot spots" with a much higher electromagnetic field intensity than incident light intensity. This study then investigated the effect of silica geometries on photocatalytic performance. The CO2 hydrogenation was studied as a model reaction. The Rh/silica nanosphere system exhibited a faster photocatalytic kinetic than the case of rodlike silica nanoparticles. It is possibly due to the enhanced light power density around the silica nanospheres. The results give a promise of expanding Rh nanoparticles from thermo-catalysis to photocatalysis. Secondly, this dissertation moves onto accelerating aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes, which was benefited from activated oxygen molecules by hot electron injection. This study found that photoexcited Rh nanoparticles enabled accelerating the alcohol oxidation kinetics by four times at a light power intensity of 0.4 W cm-2, accompanied by a reduced activation energy of 21 kJ mol-1. The derived Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate equation was used to fit the oxygen partial pressure results. Photo-illumination promotes the cleavage of associatively adsorbed oxygen molecules into adsorbed oxygen atoms, reducing the energy barrier. Besides, the silica-supported Rh nanoparticles exhibited a higher photocatalytic performance because of the good colloidal stability and enhanced light absorption of small-sized Rh particles. This part of the dissertation shows the possibility of hot-electron mediated reaction pathways towards a desirable kinetic of alcohol oxidation. Thirdly, it will be meaningful to use the abstracted protons from cheap alcohol sources to reduce other organic molecules rather than dangerous hydrogen gas. This dissertation then investigated the possibility of using an isopropanol solvent as a hydrogen source to reduce nitrobenzene and the feasibility of enhancing the selectivity of the reaction with the light illumination. The results showed that the isopropanol was spontaneously oxidized, producing acetone. Light illumination onto Rh particles selectively enhanced the coupling of reduced nitrobenzene intermediates to produce azoxybenzene. The selectivity of nitrobenzene and production rates gradually increased with a higher number of light photons. Photo-illumination promotes both aniline and azoxybenzene production rates. Hot electrons on Rh particles possibly enabled activating nitrobenzene molecules and increasing concentrations of reduced nitrobenzene intermediates. It resulted in a higher possibility of condensation product and azoxybenzene selectivity, which could not be obtained by elevating temperature without light illumination. This part of the work demonstrated the feasibility of hot electrons from Rh nanoparticles to tune the reaction selectivity in a liquid phase. Lastly, it is challenging to modulate the selectivity of CH4 from CO2 hydrogenation because of the competitive CO production. This dissertation moves towards enhancing both kinetic rates and selectivity of CH4 for gaseous CO2 hydrogenation by photoexcited Rh nanoparticles. Light illumination onto Rh/silica nanosphere particles resulted in the selectivity of CH4 over 99% in contrast to ~70% under dark conditions at 330 oC and with an absorbed light power intensity of 1.5 W cm-2. The activation energy of CH4 production and CO2 consumption gradually decreased with higher light power intensity because of the transient injection of hot electrons into adsorbates to activate intermediates. Increasing operating temperature and light power intensity synergistically enhanced the reaction kinetics. Besides, a middle-sized Rh nanoparticle showed a better photocatalytic performance than that of the largest-sized Rh nanoparticles because of the balance in hot-electron production efficiency and intrinsic catalytic performance. Partial pressure dependence and in situ infrared characterizations showed that the critical stable intermediates for CH4 production should be hydrogenated CO2 species (HCOO* COOH*) and hydrogenated CO* species (carbonyl hydride or HxCO*). The light illumination exclusively enhanced the dissociation of CO2 and CO* without apparent influence on CO* desorption. Under high reaction temperature, light illumination preferred a faster CO* conversion than CO2 dissociation, leading to high CH4 selectivity. This result was also supported by higher methanation rates of CO gas under light illumination. The infrared result showed a reduced stretching frequency of CO*, which supported the possibility of the electron from Rh back-donating into antibonding orbitals of strongly adsorbed CO* species. However, hot electrons from silver nanoparticles with a weak COOH* or CO* adsorption could not efficiently activate carbon-species and could not promote CO2 hydrogenation kinetics. This dissertation offers an avenue of enhancing light absorption of small-sized Rh nanoparticles and expanding its usage from thermal catalysis to photocatalysis for driving oxidation and reduction reactions. The reactants share a common feature containing oxygen elements, a strong affinity with rhodium metal for efficient hot electron injection. We studied the light power intensity and temperature-dependence, showing the accelerated reaction kinetics by hot electron-driven pathways. Photo-excited rhodium nanoparticles were believed to promote the cleavage of chemical bonds O-O, N-O, and C-O to drive chemical transformations. The findings offer insights into developing the scope of non-plasmonic metal nanoparticles in photocatalytic reactions for industrial applications. / Chemistry

Agricultural production has observed many changes in technology over the last 20 years. Producers are able to utilize technologies such as site-specific applicators and remotely sensed data to assist with decision making for best management practices which can improve crop production and provide protection to the environment. It is known that plant stress can interfere with photosynthetic reactions within the plant and/or the physical structure of the plant. Common types of stress associated with agricultural crops include herbicide induced stress, nutrient stress, and drought stress from lack of water. Herbicide induced crop stress is not a new problem. However, with increased acreage being planting in varieties/hybrids that contain herbicide resistant traits, herbicide injury to non-target crops will continue to be problematic for producers. With rapid adoption of herbicide-tolerant cropping systems, it is likely that herbicide induced stress will continue to be a major concern. To date, commercially available herbicide-tolerant varieties/hybrids contain traits which allow herbicides like glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium to be applied as a broadcast application during the growing season. Both glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium are broad spectrum herbicides which have activity on a large number of plant species, including major crops like non-transgenic soybean, corn, and cotton. Therefore, it is possible for crop stress from herbicide applications to occur in neighboring fields that contain susceptible crop varieties/hybrids. Nutrient and moisture stress as well as stress caused by herbicide applications can interact to influence yields in agricultural fields. If remotely sensed data can be used to accurately identify specific levels of crop stress, it is possible that producers can use this information to better assist them in crop management to maximize yields and protect their investments. This research was conducted to evaluate classification of specific crop stresses utilizing hyperspectral remote sensing.

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The design of steel framed buildings must take into consideration the lateral drift of the structure due to wind loading and any serviceability issues that may arise from this lateral movement. This thesis focuses on one of these issues, damage to nonstructural components. Although there are no specific requirements in the United States governing the effects of wind drift, it is an important issue which may significantly impact the buildings structural performance and economy. Furthermore, because these serviceability issues are not codified, there is a wide variation among design firms in how they are dealt with, leading to a greater economic disparity. This thesis begins with a comprehensive review of the literature that covers all pertinent aspects of wind drift in steel framed buildings. Next an analytical study of the variations in modeling parameters is performed to demonstrate how simple assumptions can affect the overall buildings stiffness and lateral displacements. A study is then carried out to illustrate the different sources of elastic deformation in a variety of laterally loaded steel frames. The different modeling variables demonstrate how deformation sources vary with bay width, the number of bays and the number of stories, providing a useful set of comparisons. To ascertain how serviceability issues are dealt with from firm to firm, a survey of the practice is developed to update the one conducted in 1988 (ASCE). In effect, the thesis is presented with the intention of suggesting and establishing a comprehensive, performance based approach to the wind drift design of steel framed buildings. / Master of Science

Yes / This paper reports on an experimental investigation into braking-related steering drift in motor vehicles, and follows on from a previous paper by the authors in which it was concluded that braking can cause changes in wheel alignment that in turn affect the toe-steer characteristics of each wheel and therefore the straight-line stability of the vehicle during braking. Changes in suspension geometry during braking, their magnitude and the relationships between the braking forces and the suspension geometry and compliance are further investigated in an experimental study of wheel movement arising from compliance in the front suspension and the steering system of a passenger car during braking. Using a kinematic and compliance (K&C) test rig, movement of the front wheels and the suspension subframe, together with corresponding changes in suspension and steering geometry under simulated braking conditions, have been measured and compared with dynamic measurements of the centre points of the front wheels. The results have enabled the causes and effects of steering drift during braking to be better understood in the design of front suspension systems for vehicle stability during braking.

Yes / In spite of the many signi cant improvements in car chassis design over the past two decades, steering drift during braking where the driver must apply a corrective steering torque in order to maintain course can still be experienced under certain conditions while driving. In the past, such drift, or `pull¿, would have been attributed to side-to-side braking torque variation [1], but modern automotive friction brakes and friction materials are now able to provide braking torque with such high levels of consistency that side-to-side braking torque variation is no longer regarded as a cause of steering drift during braking. Consequently, other in uences must be considered. This paper is the rst of two papers to report on an experimental investigation into braking-related steering drift in motor vehicles. Parameters that might in uence steering drift during braking include suspension compliance and steering o set, and these have been investigated to establish the sensitivity of steering drift to such parameters. The results indicate how wheel movement arising from compliance in the front suspension and steering system of a passenger car during braking can be responsible for steering drift during braking. Braking causes changes in wheel alignment which in turn a ect the toe steer characteristics of each wheel and therefore the straight-line stability during braking. It is concluded that a robust design of suspension is possible in which side-to-side variation in toe steer is not a ected by changes in suspension geometry during braking, and that the magnitude of these changes and the relationships between the braking forces and the suspension geometry and compliance require further investigation, which will be presented in the second paper of the two.

This investigation analyzes the effect of vortex wakes on the Lagrangian displacement of particles induced by the passage of an obstacle in a two-dimensional incompressible, inviscid fluid such that the flow is potential and time-independent in a suitable frame of reference. In addition to the trajectories of individual particles, we also study their drift and the corresponding total drift areas in the Föppl and Kirchhoff potential flow models. Our findings, which are obtained numerically and in some regimes are also supported by asymptotic analysis, are compared to the wakeless potential flow which serves as a reference. We show that in the presence of the Föppl vortex wake some of the particles follow more complicated trajectories featuring a second loop. The appearance of an additional stagnation point in the Föppl flow is identified as a source of this effect. It is also demonstrated that, while the total drift area increases with the size of the wake for large vortex strengths, it is actually decreased for small circulation values. On the other hand, the Kirchhoff flow model is shown to have an unbounded total drift area. By providing a systematic account of the wake effects on the drift, the results of this study will allow for more accurate modeling of hydrodynamic stirring. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

This study aims to account for and compare Sweden's and Denmark's sport facility policy and operation. This will be done at national, municipal and local level. The method used is a qualitative method and through semi-structured interviews with representatives in Roskilde municipality and Malmö municipality. Furthermore, two sports venues have been compared and semi-structured interviews have been conducted with officials at these venues. Two further semi-structured interviews have been conducted with two organizations that deal with issues around sports facilities. The results showed that Sweden and Denmark are relatively similar. The biggest difference between the countries is that Denmark has a legal framework for sports facilities, which Sweden does not. Denmark has also the possibility to get advice and economic funding from “Lokal-och anläggningsfonden”. This also affected some of the differences in the municipalities. The sports fields were also relatively similar, but the responsibilities indoors and outdoors separated them.

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