LIST OF TOP 25 ARTICLES OF PHYSICS

Oct-Dec 2013

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Raman spectroscopy of carbon nanotubes Abstract The use of Raman spectroscopy to reveal the remarkable structure and the unusual electronic and phonon properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is reviewed comprehensively. The various types of Raman scattering processes relevant to carbon nanotubes are reviewed, and the theoretical foundations for these topics are presented. The most common experimental techniques used to probe carbon nanotubes are summarized, followed by a review of the novel experimental findings for each of the features in the first order and second order Raman spectra for single wall carbon nanotubes. These results are presented and discussed in connection with theoretical considerations. Raman spectra for bundles of SWNTs, for SWNTs surrounded by various common wrapping agents, and for isolated SWNTs at the single nanotube level are reviewed. Some of the current research challenges facing the field are briefly summarized. TiO"2 photocatalysis and related surface phenomena Abstract The field of photocatalysis can be traced back more than 80 years to early observations of the chalking of titania-based paints and to studies of the darkening of metal oxides in contact with organic compounds in sunlight. During the past 20 years, it has become an extremely well researched field due to practical interest in air and water remediation, self-cleaning surfaces, and self-sterilizing surfaces. During the same period, there has also been a strong effort to use photocatalysis for light-assisted production of hydrogen. The fundamental aspects of photocatalysis on the most studied photocatalyst, titania, are still being actively researched and have recently become quite well understood. The surface science of titanium dioxide Abstract: Titanium dioxide is the most investigated single-crystalline system in the surface science of metal oxides, and the literature on rutile (1 1 0), (1 0 0), (0 0 1), and anatase surfaces is reviewed. This paper starts with a summary of the wide variety of technical fields where TiO2 is of importance. The bulk structure and bulk defects (as far as relevant to the surface properties) are briefly reviewed. Rules to predict stable oxide surfaces are exemplified on rutile (1 1 0). The surface structure of rutile (1 1 0) is discussed in some detail. Theoretically predicted and experimentally determined relaxations of surface geometries are compared, and defects (step edge orientations, point and line defects, impurities, surface manifestations of crystallographic shear planesCSPs) are discussed, as well as the image contrast in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The controversy about the correct model for the

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(12) reconstruction appears to be settled. Different surface preparation methods, such as reoxidation of reduced crystals, can cause a drastic effect on surface geometries and morphology, and recommendations for preparing different TiO2(1 1 0) surfaces are given. The structure of the TiO2(1 0 0)-(11) surface is discussed and the proposed models for the (13) reconstruction are critically reviewed. Very recent results on anatase (1 0 0) and (1 0 1) surfaces are included.

Optimization of light use efficiency for biofuel production in algae Abstract A major challenge for next decades is development of competitive renewable energy sources, highly needed to compensate fossil fuels reserves and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among different possibilities, which are currently under investigation, there is the exploitation of unicellular algae for production of biofuels and biodiesel in particular. Some algae species have the ability of accumulating large amount of lipids within their cells which can be exploited as feedstock for the production of biodiesel. Strong research efforts are however still needed to fulfill this potential and optimize cultivation systems and biomass harvesting. Light provides the energy supporting algae growth and available radiation must be exploited with the highest possible efficiency to optimize productivity and make microalgae large scale cultivation energetically and economically sustainable. Investigation of the molecular bases influencing light use efficiency is thus seminal for the success of this biotechnology. In this work factors influencing light use efficiency in algal biomass production are reviewed, focusing on how algae genetic engineering and control of light environment within photobioreactors can improve the productivity of large scale cultivation systems. Raman spectroscopy in graphene Abstract: Recent Raman scattering studies in different types of graphene samples are reviewed here. We first discuss the first-order and the double resonance Raman scattering mechanisms in graphene, which give rise to the most prominent Raman features. The determination of the number of layers in fewlayer graphene is discussed, giving special emphasis to the possibility of using Raman spectroscopy to distinguish a monolayer from few-layer graphene stacked in the Bernal (AB) configuration. Different types of graphene samples produced both by exfoliation and using epitaxial methods are described and their Raman spectra are compared with those of 3D crystalline graphite and turbostratic graphite, in which the layers are stacked with rotational disorder. We show that Resonance Raman studies, where the energy of the excitation laser line can be tuned continuously, can be used to probe electrons and phonons near the Dirac point of graphene and, in particular allowing a determination to be made of the tight-binding parameters for bilayer graphene. The special process of electronphonon interaction that renormalizes the phonon energy giving rise to the Kohn anomaly is discussed, and is illustrated by gated experiments where the position of the Fermi level can be changed experimentally. Finally, we discuss the ability of distinguishing armchair and zig-zag edges by Raman spectroscopy and studies in graphene nanoribbons in which the Raman signal is enhanced due to

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resonance with singularities in the density of electronic states. 6 Superhydrophobic surfaces Abstract Non-wettable surfaces with high water contact angles (WCAs) and facile sliding of drops, called superhydrophobic or ultrahydrophobic, have received tremendous attention in recent years. New publications have appeared in the last year documenting many new ways to prepare such surfacesranging from application driven work to make robust self-cleaning surfaces to careful model studies of patterned surfaces seeking to understand the relationship between surface morphology and wettability and droplet sliding. This review summarizes this recent work and looks ahead to future developments. The emphasis of the review is on the diverse methods that have been developed to make such surfaces. 7 The surface science of graphene: Metal interfaces, CVD synthesis, nanoribbons, chemical modifications, and defects Abstract: Graphene, a single atomic layer of sp2 hybridized carbon, exhibits a zero-band gap with linear band dispersion at the Fermi-level, forming a Dirac-cone at the K-points of its Brillouin zone. In this review, we focus on basic materials science issues of this intriguing material. The scope of this work is further narrowed by concentrating on graphene grown at transition metal surfaces, mostly under vacuum conditions, and neglecting other graphene synthesis approaches, namely growth on SiC or by graphene oxide reduction. Thus one large section of this review focuses on metal/graphene interfaces. We summarize recent surface science studies on the structure, interaction, and the growth of graphene on various metals. Metal supported graphene is a recurring theme throughout this review as it provides model-systems for studying adsorption and graphene modifications on well-defined, large area samples, and thus is ideal for employing surface science techniques. Other aspects of graphene are also reviewed. Approaches for creating and characterizing graphene nanostructures, in particular graphene nanoribbons, are discussed. Graphene nanoribbons play an important role for potential electronic applications because the lateral electron confinement in the ribbons opens a band-gap in graphene. Materials issues of nanoribbons, like formation of well-defined edges are introduced. Atomic-scale defect-structures in graphene are another topic. The known defect structures in graphene are categorized and atomic scale characterization of these defects by scanning tunneling microscopy (stocktickerSTM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is illustrated. Important for applications of graphene is our ability of modifying its properties. Therefore, studies of substitutional doping of graphene with nitrogen or boron, hydrogenation or fluorination of graphene, and the adsorption of molecules with strong electron affinity are included in this review. This review is restricted to a summary of surface science studies on well-ordered systems. Other important graphene research areas such as transport measurements on pure and modified graphene are not included. The goal of this review is to give a concise overview of the materials science of graphene from the surface science perspective. 8 Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles based drug delivery systems

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Abstract: Biodegradable nanoparticles have been used frequently as drug delivery vehicles due to its grand bioavailability, better encapsulation, control release and less toxic properties. Various nanoparticulate systems, general synthesis and encapsulation process, control release and improvement of therapeutic value of nanoencapsulated drugs are covered in this review. We have highlighted the impact of nanoencapsulation of various disease related drugs on biodegradable nanoparticles such as PLGA, PLA, chitosan, gelatin, polycaprolactone and poly-alkyl-cyanoacrylates. 9 Applications of nanotechnology in food packaging and food safety: Barrier materials, antimicrobials and sensors Abstract: In this article, several applications of nanomaterials in food packaging and food safety are reviewed, including: polymer/clay nanocomposites as high barrier packaging materials, silver nanoparticles as potent antimicrobial agents, and nanosensors and nanomaterial-based assays for the detection of food-relevant analytes (gasses, small organic molecules and food-borne pathogens). In addition to covering the technical aspects of these topics, the current commercial status and understanding of health implications of these technologies are also discussed. These applications were chosen because they do not involve direct addition of nanoparticles to consumed foods, and thus are more likely to be marketed to the public in the short term. 10 Analysis of XPS spectra of Fe^2^+ and Fe^3^+ ions in oxide materials Abstract Samples of the iron oxides Fe0.94O, Fe3O4, Fe2O3, and Fe2SiO4 were prepared by high temperature equilibration in controlled gas atmospheres. The samples were fractured in vacuum and high resolution XPS spectra of the fractured surfaces were measured. The peak positions and peak shape parameters of Fe 3p for Fe2+ and Fe3+ were derived from the Fe 3p XPS spectra of the standard samples of 2FeOSiO2 and Fe2O3, respectively. Using these parameters, the Fe 3p peaks of Fe3O4 and Fe1yO are analysed. The results indicate that high resolution XPS techniques can be used to determine the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratios in metal oxides. The technique has the potential for application to other transition metal oxide systems.

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A review on the application of inorganic nano-structured materials in the modification of textiles: Focus on anti-microbial properties Abstract: Textiles can provide a suitable substrate to grow micro-organisms especially at appropriate humidity and temperature in contact to human body. Recently, increasing public concern about hygiene has been driving many investigations for anti-microbial modification of textiles. However, using many

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anti-microbial agents has been avoided because of their possible harmful or toxic effects. Application of inorganic nano-particles and their nanocomposites would be a good alternative. This review paper has focused on the properties and applications of inorganic nano-structured materials with good anti-microbial activity potential for textile modification. The discussed nano-structured anti-microbial agents include TiO2 nano-particles, metallic and non-metallic TiO2 nano-composites, titania nanotubes (TNTs), silver nano-particles, silver-based nano-structured materials, gold nano-particles, zinc oxide nano-particles and nano-rods, copper nano-particles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nano-clay and its modified forms, gallium, liposomes loaded nanoparticles, metallic and inorganic dendrimers nano-composite, nano-capsules and cyclodextrins containing nano-particles. This review is also concerned with the application methods for the modification of textiles using nano-structured materials. 12 Complex networks: Structure and dynamics Abstract: Coupled biological and chemical systems, neural networks, social interacting species, the Internet and the World Wide Web, are only a few examples of systems composed by a large number of highly interconnected dynamical units. The first approach to capture the global properties of such systems is to model them as graphs whose nodes represent the dynamical units, and whose links stand for the interactions between them. On the one hand, scientists have to cope with structural issues, such as characterizing the topology of a complex wiring architecture, revealing the unifying principles that are at the basis of real networks, and developing models to mimic the growth of a network and reproduce its structural properties. On the other hand, many relevant questions arise when studying complex networks dynamics, such as learning how a large ensemble of dynamical systems that interact through a complex wiring topology can behave collectively. We review the major concepts and results recently achieved in the study of the structure and dynamics of complex networks, and summarize the relevant applications of these ideas in many different disciplines, ranging from nonlinear science to biology, from statistical mechanics to medicine and engineering. 13 Community detection in graphs Abstract The modern science of networks has brought significant advances to our understanding of complex systems. One of the most relevant features of graphs representing real systems is community structure, or clustering, i.e. the organization of vertices in clusters, with many edges joining vertices of the same cluster and comparatively few edges joining vertices of different clusters. Such clusters, or communities, can be considered as fairly independent compartments of a graph, playing a similar role like, e.g., the tissues or the organs in the human body. Detecting communities is of great importance in sociology, biology and computer science, disciplines where systems are often represented as graphs. This problem is very hard and not yet satisfactorily solved, despite the huge effort of a large interdisciplinary community of scientists working on it over the past few years. We will attempt a thorough exposition of the topic, from the definition of the main elements of the problem, to the presentation of most methods developed, with a special focus on techniques designed by statistical physicists, from the discussion of crucial issues like the significance of clustering and how methods should be tested and compared against each other, to the description of applications to real networks.

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Silver nanoparticles: Green synthesis and their antimicrobial activities Abstract: This review presents an overview of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) preparation by green synthesis approaches that have advantages over conventional methods involving chemical agents associated with environmental toxicity. Green synthetic methods include mixed-valence polyoxometallates, polysaccharide, Tollens, irradiation, and biological. The mixed-valence polyoxometallates method was carried out in water, an environmentally-friendly solvent. Solutions of AgNO3 containing glucose and starch in water gave starch-protected Ag NPs, which could be integrated into medical applications. Tollens process involves the reduction of Ag(NH3)2+ by saccharides forming Ag NP films with particle sizes from 50200 nm, Ag hydrosols with particles in the order of 2050 nm, and Ag colloid particles of different shapes. The reduction of Ag(NH3)2+ by HTAB (n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide) gave Ag NPs of different morphologies: cubes, triangles, wires, and aligned wires. Ag NPs synthesis by irradiation of Ag+ ions does not involve a reducing agent and is an appealing procedure. Eco-friendly bio-organisms in plant extracts contain proteins, which act as both reducing and capping agents forming stable and shape-controlled Ag NPs. The synthetic procedures of polymer-Ag and TiO2Ag NPs are also given. Both Ag NPs and Ag NPs modified by surfactants or polymers showed high antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The mechanism of the Ag NP bactericidal activity is discussed in terms of Ag NP interaction with the cell membranes of bacteria. Silver-containing filters are shown to have antibacterial properties in water and air purification. Finally, human and environmental implications of Ag NPs to the ecology of aquatic environment are briefly discussed. Raman spectroscopy of graphene and graphite: Disorder, electron-phonon coupling, doping and nonadiabatic effects Abstract: We review recent work on Raman spectroscopy of graphite and graphene. We focus on the origin of the Dand G peaks and the second order of the D peak. The G and 2D Raman peaks change in shape, position and relative intensity with number of graphene layers. This reflects the evolution of the electronic structure and electronphonon interactions. We then consider the effects of doping on the Raman spectra of graphene. The Fermi energy is tuned by applying a gate-voltage. We show that this induces a stiffening of the Raman Gpeak for both holes and electrons doping. Thus Raman spectroscopy can be efficiently used to monitor number of layers, quality of layers, doping level and confinement.

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Photoinduced reactivity of titanium dioxide Abstract The utilization of solar irradiation to supply energy or to initiate chemical reactions is already an established idea. If a wide-band gap semiconductor like titanium dioxide (TiO2) is irradiated with light, excited electronhole pairs result that can be applied in solar cells to generate electricity or in chemical

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processes to create or degrade specific compounds. Recently, a new process used on the surface of TiO2 films, namely, photoinduced superhydrophilicity, is described. All three appearances of the photoreactivity of TiO2 are discussed in detail in this review, but the main focus is on the photocatalytic activity towards environmentally hazardous compounds (organic, inorganic, and biological materials), which are found in wastewater or in air. Besides information on the mechanistical aspects and applications of these kinds of reactions, a description of the attempts and possibilities to improve the reactivity is also provided. This paper would like to assist the reader in getting an overview of this exciting, but also complicated, field. 17 Geant4-a simulation toolkit Abstract: Geant4 is a toolkit for simulating the passage of particles through matter. It includes a complete range of functionality including tracking, geometry, physics models and hits. The physics processes offered cover a comprehensive range, including electromagnetic, hadronic and optical processes, a large set of long-lived particles, materials and elements, over a wide energy range starting, in some cases, from and extending in others to the TeV energy range. It has been designed and constructed to expose the physics models utilised, to handle complex geometries, and to enable its easy adaptation for optimal use in different sets of applications. The toolkit is the result of a worldwide collaboration of physicists and software engineers. It has been created exploiting software engineering and object-oriented technology and implemented in the C++ programming language. It has been used in applications in particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator design, space engineering and medical physics.

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Application of magnetic chitosan composites for the removal of toxic metal and dyes from aqueous solutions Abstract Magnetic chitosan composites (MCCs) are a novel material that exhibits good sorption behavior toward various toxic pollutants in aqueous solution. These magnetic composites have a fast adsorption rate and high adsorption efficiency, efficient to remove various pollutants and they are easy to recover and reuse. These features highlight the suitability of MCCs for the treatment of water polluted with metal and organic materials. This review outlines the preparation of MCCs as well as methods to characterize these materials using FTIR, XRD, TGA and other microscopy-based techniques. Additionally, an overview of recent developments and applications of MCCs for metal and organic pollutant removal is discussed in detail. Based on current research and existing materials, some new and futuristic approaches in this fascinating area are also discussed. The main objective of this review is to provide up-to-date information about the most important features of MCCs and to show their advantages as adsorbents in the treatment of polluted aqueous solutions.

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Silver nanoparticles as antimicrobial agent: a case study on E. coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria Abstract

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The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles against E. coli was investigated as a model for Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteriological tests were performed in LuriaBertani (LB) medium on solid agar plates and in liquid systems supplemented with different concentrations of nanosized silver particles. These particles were shown to be an effective bactericide. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) were used to study the biocidal action of this nanoscale material. The results confirmed that the treated E. coli cells were damaged, showing formation of pits in the cell wall of the bacteria, while the silver nanoparticles were found to accumulate in the bacterial membrane. A membrane with such a morphology exhibits a significant increase in permeability, resulting in death of the cell. These nontoxic nanomaterials, which can be prepared in a simple and cost-effective manner, may be suitable for the formulation of new types of bactericidal materials. 20 A surface science perspective on TiO"2 photocatalysis Abstract The field of surface science provides a unique approach to understanding bulk, surface and interfacial phenomena occurring during TiO2 photocatalysis. This review highlights, from a surface science perspective, recent literature that provides molecular-level insights into photon-initiated events occurring at TiO2 surfaces. Seven key scientific issues are identified in the organization of this review. These are: (1) photon absorption, (2) charge transport and trapping, (3) electron transfer dynamics, (4) the adsorbed state, (5) mechanisms, (6) poisons and promoters, and (7) phase and form. This review ends with a brief examination of several chemical processes (such as water splitting) in which TiO2 photocatalysis has made significant contributions in the literature. Applications of ultrasound in food technology: Processing, preservation and extraction Abstract: Ultrasound is well known to have a significant effect on the rate of various processes in the food industry. Using ultrasound, full reproducible food processes can now be completed in seconds or minutes with high reproducibility, reducing the processing cost, simplifying manipulation and work-up, giving higher purity of the final product, eliminating post-treatment of waste water and consuming only a fraction of the time and energy normally needed for conventional processes. Several processes such as freezing, cutting, drying, tempering, bleaching, sterilization, and extraction have been applied efficiently in the food industry. The advantages of using ultrasound for food processing, includes: more effective mixing and micro-mixing, faster energy and mass transfer, reduced thermal and concentration gradients, reduced temperature, selective extraction, reduced equipment size, faster response to process extraction control, faster start-up, increased production, and elimination of process steps. Food processes performed under the action of ultrasound are believed to be affected in part by cavitation phenomena and mass transfer enhancement. This review presents a complete picture of current knowledge on application of ultrasound in food technology including processing, preservation and extraction. It provides the necessary theoretical background and some details about ultrasound the technology, the technique, and safety precautions. We will also discuss some of the factors which make the combination of food processing and ultrasound one of the most promising research areas in the field of modern food engineering.

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Quantum dot solar cells Abstract Quantum dot (QD) solar cells have the potential to increase the maximum attainable thermodynamic conversion efficiency of solar photon conversion up to about 66% by utilizing hot photogenerated carriers to produce higher photovoltages or higher photocurrents. The former effect is based on miniband transport and collection of hot carriers in QD array photoelectrodes before they relax to the band edges through phonon emission. The latter effect is based on utilizing hot carriers in QD solar cells to generate and collect additional electronhole pairs through enhanced impact ionization processes. Three QD solar cell configurations are described: (1) photoelectrodes comprising QD arrays, (2) QD-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2, and (3) QDs dispersed in a blend of electron- and hole-conducting polymers. These high-efficiency configurations require slow hot carrier cooling times, and we discuss initial results on slowed hot electron cooling in InP QDs.

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Force measurements with the atomic force microscope: Technique, interpretation and applications Abstract The atomic force microscope (AFM) is not only a tool to image the topography of solid surfaces at high resolution. It can also be used to measure forceversus-distance curves. Such curves, briefly called force curves, provide valuable information on local material properties such as elasticity, hardness, Hamaker constant, adhesion and surface charge densities. For this reason the measurement of force curves has become essential in different fields of research such as surface science, materials engineering, and biology. Another application is the analysis of surface forces per se. Some of the most fundamental questions in colloid and surface science can be addressed directly with the AFM: What are the interactions between particles in a liquid? How can a dispersion be stabilized? How do surfaces in general and particles in particular adhere to each other? Particles and surfaces interactions have major implications for friction and lubrication. Force measurements on single molecules involving the rupture of single chemical bonds and the stretching of polymer chains have almost become routine. The structure and properties of confined liquids can be addressed since force measurements provide information on the energy of a confined liquid film. Recent advances in designing superhydrophobic surfaces Abstract The interest in superhydrophobic surfaces has grown exponentially over recent decades. Since the lotus leaf dual hierarchical structure was discovered, researchers have investigated the foundations of self-cleaning behavior. Generally, surface micro/nanostructuring combined with low surface energy of materials leads to extreme anti-wetting properties. The great number of papers on this subject attests the efforts of scientists in mimicking nature to generate superhydrophobicity. Besides the thirst for knowledge, scientists have been driven by the many possible industrial applications of superhydrophobic materials in several fields. Many methods and techniques have been developed to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces, and the aim of this paper is to review the recent progresses in preparing manmade superhydrophobic surfaces.

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The surface energy of metals Abstract We have used density functional theory to establish a database of surface energies for low index surfaces of 60 metals in the periodic table. The data may be used as a consistent starting point for models of surface science phenomena. The accuracy of the database is established in a comparison with other density functional theory results and the calculated surface energy anisotropies are applied in a determination of the equilibrium shape of nanocrystals of Fe, Cu, Mo, Ta, Pt and Pb.

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