Neuron-shaped gold nanocrystals and two-dimensional dendritic gold nanowires fabricated by use of a long-chain amidoamine derivative.

We report the synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) dendritic Au nanowires (DNWs) with diameters of 100-200 nm in an aqueous solution of long-chain amidoamine derivative (C18AA), which acted as both capping and reducing agent, and the preparation of large 2D DNWs with diameters of 400-700 nm by seeded growth of the original DNWs. The seeded growth method in the presence of C18AA enables the fabrication of novel neuron-shaped Au nanostructures consisting of two DNWs dangling from both ends of an ultrathin Au nanowire.

Sonophotocatalysis of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Sonolysis and photolysis often exhibit synergistic effects in the degradation of organic molecules. An assay of fish oocyte maturation provides an appropriate experimental system to investigate the hormonal activities of chemical agents. Oocyte maturation in fish is triggered by maturation-inducing hormone (MIH), which acts on receptors on the oocyte surface.

Polyurea thin film ultrasonic transducers for nondestructive testing and medical imaging.

Ultrasonic transducers using polyurea piezoelectric thin film are studied in this paper. Aromatic polyurea thin films, prepared by vapor deposition polymerization, have useful characteristics for use as an ultrasonic transducer. This paper presents the fabrication and experimental evaluation of ultrasonic transducers formed using polyurea films.

Treatment of dye wastewater by using photo-catalytic oxidation with sonication.

The degradation of Acid Orange 52 in aqueous solutions was investigated by using three processes (photocatalysis, sonolysis, and photocatalysis with sonication). In the case of photocatalysis, although the concentration of Acid Orange 52 decreased to 35% in 480 min, the color of the solution was not disappeared. In the case of sonolysis, it was decomposed completely in 300 min, but the total organic carbon concentration decreased down by only about 13% in 480 min.