Engineering topics

Ma, Rui

Publications and source records attributed to Ma, Rui.

39 records · Page 3

DOE OSTI2012

Size-Controlled Dissolution of Organic-Coated Silver Nanoparticles

The solubility of Ag NPs can affect their toxicity and persistence in the environment. We measured the solubility of organic-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) having particle diameters ranging from 5 to 80 nm that were synthesized using various methods, and with different organic polymer coatings including poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and gum arabic. The size and morphology of Ag NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and synchrotron-based total X-ray scattering and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis were used to determine the local structure around Ag and evaluate changes in crystal lattice parameters and structure as a function of NP size. Ag NP solubility dispersed in 1 mM NaHCO{sub 3} at pH 8 was found to be well correlated with particle size based on the distribution of measured TEM sizes as predicted by the modified Kelvin equation. Solubility of Ag NPs was not affected by the synthesis method and coating as much as by their size. Based on the modified Kelvin equation, the surface tension of Ag NPs was found to be {approx}1 J/m{sup 2}, which is expected for bulk fcc (face centered cubic) silver. Analysis of XAFS, X-ray scattering, and PDFs confirm that the lattice parameter, {alpha}, of the fcc crystal structure of Ag NPs did not change with particle size for Ag NPs as small as 6 nm, indicating the absence of lattice strain. These results are consistent with the finding that Ag NP solubility can be estimated based on TEM-derived particle size using the modified Kelvin equation for particles in the size range of 5-40 nm in diameter.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2011

Epidermal Electronics

We report classes of electronic systems that achieve thicknesses, effective elastic moduli, bending stiffnesses, and areal mass densities matched to the epidermis. Unlike traditional wafer-based technologies, laminating such devices onto the skin leads to conformal contact and adequate adhesion based on van der Waals interactions alone, in a manner that is mechanically invisible to the user. We describe systems incorporating electrophysiological, temperature, and strain sensors, as well as transistors, light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, radio frequency inductors, capacitors, oscillators, and rectifying diodes. Solar cells and wireless coils provide options for power supply. Furthermore, we used this type of technology to measure electrical activity produced by the heart, brain, and skeletal muscles and show that the resulting data contain sufficient information for an unusual type of computer game controller.

42 ENGINEERING↗

DOE OSTI2011

Simulating adsorption of U(VI) under transient groundwater flow and hydrochemistry – Physical versus non-equilibrium model

Coupled intra-grain diffusional mass-transfer and non-linear surface complexation processes play an important role for the transport behaviour of U(VI) in contaminated aquifers. Two alternative model approaches for simulating these coupled processes have been analysed and compared: (i) the physical non-equilibrium approach that explicitly accounts for aqueous speciation and instantaneous surface complexation reactions in the intra-grain regions and approximates the diffusive mass exchange between the immobile intra-grain pore water and the advective pore water as multi-rate 1st-order mass transfer and (ii) the chemical non-equilibrium approach that approximates the diffusion-limited intra-grain surface complexation reactions by a set of multiple 1st-order surface complexation reaction kinetics, thereby eliminating the explicit treatment of aqueous speciation in the intra grain pore water. Model comparison has been carried out for column and field scale scenarios, representing the highly transient hydrological and geochemical conditions in the U(VI)-contaminated aquifer at the Hanford 300A site, Washington, USA. It was found that the response of apparent U(VI) adsorption/desorption kinetic behaviour to hydrogeochemically induced changes in U(VI) sorption strength is more pronounced in the physical than in the chemical non-equilibrium model. The magnitude of the differences in model behaviour depends particularly on the degree of disequilibrium between the advective and immobile phase U(VI) concentrations. While a clear difference in U(VI) transport behaviour between the two models was noticeable for the column-scale scenarios, only minor differences were found for the Hanford 300A field scale scenarios, where the model-generated disequilibrium conditions were less pronounced as a result of high frequent groundwater flow reversals.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗