A process for treatment of nanoparticles of mineral filler for obtaining 5 processed nanoparticles for use in polymerization in the presence of nanopartciles which includes the steps of (a) drying a mineral filler with an inert gas for remove catalyst poisons; (b) mixing the mineral filler dried obtained in step (a) with a swelling agent in a liquid state or near a critical state or in the supercritical state; (c) subjecting the swelling agent of the 10 mixture obtained in step (b) to an endoenthalpic or isoentalphic phase change by altering the conditions of the temperature and/or pressure; (d) subjecting the nanoparticles of the mixture obtained in step (c) to contact of scavenging agent to react with catalyst poisons; then the mixture obtained in step (d) can be dried in a step (e) with an inert gas to remove sub-products 15 from scavenging agent and catalyst poisons to obtain the treated nanoparticles.

Some embodiments provide a system for external manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles in vasculature using a remotely placed magnetic field-generating stator. In one aspect, the systems and methods relate to the control of magnetic nanoparticles in a fluid medium using permanent magnet-based or electromagnetic field-generating stator sources. Such a system can be useful for increasing the diffusion of therapeutic agents in a fluid medium, such as a human circulatory system, which can result in substantial clearance of fluid obstructions, such as vascular occlusions, in a circulatory system resulting in increased blood flow.

A smart ink, comprising microparticles, with each microparticle comprising: a) an exterior shell; b) a liquid encapsulated within the shell; and c) a Janus microparticle suspended in the liquid, wherein the Janus microparticle either comprises: i) two or more distinct assemblies of particles; or ii) a core loaded with particles, the core having a first surface portion and a second surface portion that is functionally distinct from the first surface portion. An apparatus and method for production of the microparticles are also provided.

The disclosure related to a method for making a nanowire structure. First, a free-standing carbon nanotube structure is suspended. Second, a metal layer is coated on a surface of the carbon nanotube structure. The metal layer is oxidized to grow metal oxide nanowires.

Self-cleaning banknotes are provided using coatings, inks and additives which are photo-active and catalytic to reactions which are effective in breaking up organic contaminants or dirt to allow for the self-cleaning of banknotes by ambient light exposure as well as the cleaning of processed banknotes using equipment with more intense optical excitation, thus increasing their usable life. The invention is usable with all substrates and particularly polymeric substrates such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP). The invention further discloses a system which allows a certain class of fitness parameters to cause these banknotes to be redirected to a cleaning module, be revaluated, and then either returned to circulation or rejected and/or destroyed. In addition, inks which are photo-catalytic can be used for extending the life of the banknotes in printed regions.

Provided is a photocatalytic composition comprising zinc (Zn) doped titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2) nanoparticles, wherein the ratio of titanium dioxide nanoparticles to zinc is from about 5 to about 150. The photocatalytic composition absorbs electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range from about 200 nm to about 500 nm, and the absorbance of light of wavelengths longer than about 450 nm is less than 50% the absorbance of light of wavelengths shorter than about 350 nm.

A structural body that includes a film that has a phase-separated nanostructure where a separate columnar shape phase is dispersed in a matrix phase that are phase-separated in a state of thermal equilibrium. The matrix phase is formed from any one of a p-type semiconductor material and an n-type semiconductor material, and the separate columnar shape phase is formed from the other semiconductor material. The film is formed on a substrate such that the separate columnar shaped phase and the matrix phase have three-dimensional junction planes.

An e-type iron-based oxide magnetic particle powder has narrow particle size distribution and has a low content of fine particles which do not contribute to magnetic recording characteristics. As a result, a narrow coercive force distribution is achieved and the powder is suitable for increasing recording density of a magnetic recording medium. The powder containing substituting metal elements can be obtained by: adding an alkali to an aqueous solution containing trivalent iron ions and ions of the metals for partially substituting Fe sites to neutralize the aqueous solution to a pH of 1.5 to 2.5; then adding a hydroxycarboxylic acid; further adding the alkali to neutralize the aqueous solution to a pH of 8.0 to 9.0; washing with water a precipitation of an iron oxyhydroxide containing the substituting metal elements produced; and coating the iron oxyhydroxide containing the substituting metal elements with a silicon oxide and heating the resultant.

A method of producing electronic plasmons by applying a bias to a molecular tunnel junction to excite plasmons, in which the molecular tunnel junction contains a top metallic electrode formed of a eutectic metal alloy and a metal oxide, a bottom metallic electrode formed of a transition metal, and a self-assembled monolayer formed of a plurality of organic molecules disposed between the top metallic electrode and the bottom metallic electrode. Also disclosed are a molecular tunnel junction for producing electronic plasmons and a method for preparing such a molecular tunnel junction.

The present investigation is development of the TiO.sub.2 nanotubes concept of preparation of and their composite with fine dispersion of copper. The inventions also relates to identify a method for optimum amount of photocatalyst required for efficient and maximum hydrogen production reported than earlier (H.sub.2=99,823 μmol.Math.h.sup.−1.Math.g.sup.−1 catalyst) from glycerol-water mixtures under solar light irradiation. A method is disclosed to produce CuO/TiO.sub.2 nanotubes with high sustainability and recyclable activity for hydrogen production.