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Sachin Shanbhag

Publications and source records attributed to Sachin Shanbhag.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

On the origin of a permanent dipole moment in nanocrystals with a cubic crystal lattice: effects of truncation, stabilizers, and medium for CdS tetrahedral homologues.

A large anomalous dipole moment has previously been reported for nanocrystals with a cubic crystal lattice. By considering truncations of a regular tetrahedral CdS nanocrystal, the hypothesis that shape asymmetry is responsible for the observed dipole moment was tested and verified. The location and degree of the truncations were systematically varied, and corresponding dipole moments were calculated by using a PM3 semiempirical quantum mechanical algorithm. The calculated dipole moment of 50-100 D is in good agreement with a variety of experimental data. This approach also affords simple evaluation of the potential effect of the media for aqueous dispersions of nanocrystals. The substitution of the truncated corner(s) by molecules of H2O typically results in a substantial increase of the dipole moment, and often, in the reversal of its direction. The molecular modeling approach presented here is suitable for detailed theoretical studies of the dipole moments of II-VI and other nanoparticles and interparticle interactions in fluids. The data obtained from these calculations can be the starting point for modeling of agglomeration and self-organization behavior of large nanoparticle ensembles.

Cadmium Compounds↗

Spontaneous CdTe --> alloy --> CdS transition of stabilizer-depleted CdTe nanoparticles induced by EDTA.

CdTe nanoparticles stabilized by l-cysteine are chemically transformed into CdS nanoparticles of the same diameter via an intermediate CdTeS alloy without any auxiliary source of sulfur. The reaction is induced by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dipotassium salt dehydrate (EDTA), which was demonstrated experimentally to act as a catalyst by partially removing thiol stabilizers from the nanoparticle surface. It is hypothesized that addition of EDTA facilitates Te(2-) release, and oxidation of Te(2-) drives the nanoparticle transition process. Unlike many reports on reactions catalyzed by nanocolloids, this is likely to be the first observation of a catalytic reaction in which nanoparticles function as a substrate rather than a catalyst. It opens new pathways for the synthesis of novel nanoscale II-VI and other semiconductors and represents an interesting case of chemical processes in nanocolloids with reactivity increased by depletion of the surface layer of thiol stabilizers. This includes but is not limited to accurate control over the particle composition and crystallization rate. The slow rate of the CdTe --> alloy --> CdS transition is important for minimizing defects in the crystal lattice and results in a substantial increase of the quantum yield of photoluminescence over the course of the transition.

Alloys↗

Spontaneous transformation of CdTe nanoparticles into angled Te nanocrystals: from particles and rods to checkmarks, X-marks, and other unusual shapes.

CdTe nanoparticles spontaneously transform into the branched Te nanocrystals with the unique, highly anisotropic shape of checkmarks after partial removal of the stabilizers of L-cysteine. The Te checkmarks are made in a relatively high yield and uniformity; the length of the arms is ca. 150 nm, whereas the angle between the arms is 74 degrees . Subsequent growth of the particle yields mothlike nanocrystals retaining geometrical anisotropy. Unlike the previous synthesis methods of branched nanocrystals, they are formed via a merger of individual rod-shaped crystallites. High-energy crystal faces on their apexes act as the sticky points causing the particles to join in the ends. This is the first demonstration of spontaneous transformation of binary semiconductor particles into highly anisotropic nanocolloids in an angled conformation. The end reactivity of starting Te rods can be used both for bottom-up fabrication of nanoscale electronics and relatively safe and nontoxic method of synthesis of Te-based optical and other materials.

Cadmium↗

Chain retraction potential in a fixed entanglement network.

When a chain, tethered at one end, is immersed in a fixed entanglement network, the mobile tip of the chain encounters an entropic potential barrier that penalizes deep fluctuations needed to bring the tip close to the tethering point. Using the tube model, Doi and Kuzuu [J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Lett. Ed. 18, 775 (1980)] estimated that this potential, which is crucial to describe the rheology of branched polymers in fixed networks and melts, has a quadratic form with a prefactor nu = 1.5. Later calculations based on regular lattices indicated that the potential is nonquadratic, and its steepness depends on the lattice coordination number. In this Letter, we analyze the primitive paths obtained using the bond-fluctuation model for chains with up to 12.5 entanglements. Our simulations confirm a quadratic form for the potential with a prefactor close to the Doi-Kuzuu value, nu approximately 1.5.

Journal Article↗

Cell distribution profiles in three-dimensional scaffolds with inverted-colloidal-crystal geometry: modeling and experimental investigations.

Limited ingrowth of stromal cells is observed when a three-dimensionally ordered scaffold possessing inverted-colloidal-crystal geometry is used to culture adherent cells. In this work, a computational model explaining, as well as predicting, experimental cell distributions is developed. It incorporates a modified Contois cell-growth model that includes the effects of nutrient saturation, competitive product inhibition, and cell-contact inhibition to describe the scaffold-cell system. Our results agree with the hypothesis that the rapid growth of cells on the surface of the scaffold depletes the nutrient supply to the core, resulting in the preferential growth on the exterior of the scaffold. When the cells are cultured in a scaffold subjected to a uniform velocity field, they penetrate to a greater extent into the scaffold core. Alternative seeding and culture strategies are suggested and evaluated.

Biocompatible Materials↗

Diffusion in three-dimensionally ordered scaffolds with inverted colloidal crystal geometry.

Inverted colloidal crystal geometry has been recently utilized in the design of highly organized 3D cell scaffolds. The regularity of the resulting scaffolds enables computational modeling of scaffold properties. In this work we probe the resistance offered by these scaffolds to nutrient transport, by using Brownian dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations to model the effective nutrient diffusivity. Brownian dynamics simulations indicate that the effective diffusivity for small nutrients in the scaffold, D(eff)=0.3D(0), where D(0) is the free solution diffusivity. Further, results of Monte Carlo simulations for dilute solutions of larger particles show that the D(eff) decreases linearly with the size of the particles.

Biocompatible Materials↗