The Book of Kells, Trinity College Dublin MS 58, is one of Ireland's greatest cultural treasures, and as such all aspects of its production have attracted academic attention. Until recently, studies of its dyes and pigments have relied exclusively on techniques such as visual and optical microscopic and spectroscopic examination, and comparison of the appearance of the pigment with specimens prepared using ancient or medieval recipes. These studies have yielded interesting results, but, due to the limitations of the examination techniques, they have remained incomplete and somewhat speculative. This article presents the results of a pigment analysis that took place between 2004 and 2006 using micro-Raman spectroscopy. In total, 681 sites over the 4 volumes of the Book of Kells were analysed using 2 separate laser wavelengths (632.8 and 532 nm), making this the most extensive Raman spectroscopic investigation of a single medieval manuscript. In this article several pigments are identified, in particular, blue (indigo), red-orange (red lead), yellow (orpiment), green (vergaut), black (carbon and iron gall ink), and white (gypsum). In addition, purple (orcein) is also discussed.
A comparison of four different methods to make electrical contact to both 100nm gold nanowires and 50nm multiwall carbon nanotubes is given. The techniques are compared in terms of the success yield, contact resistance, complexity of the fabrication steps, and potential for creating novel device structures and architectures. The different methods compared are (i) in situ micromanipulation of wires onto prepatterned electrodes, (ii) ion and electron beam assisted deposition, (iii) electron beam lithography, and (iv) drop casting of wires from solution onto prepatterned electrodes.
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were stabilized in solution through sonication-induced polymerization of acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) monomer. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that the resulting polymer coatings of nanotubes in solution were approximately 10-30 nm in thickness. Raman spectroscopy suggests that AESO intercalates Nanocyl bundles and coats the exterior of HiPco bundles. Using sonication a stable dispersion of as-produced carbon nanotube powder was formed. Mechanical measurements on macroscale composites samples showed modulus enhancement consistent with a lower bound rule of mixtures.Bio-based resins derived from natural oils have been combined with natural fibers (plant and poultry), glass fibers, and lignin, to produce new low-cost composites that are economical in many high-volume applications. 1-4 These composites can be used in agricultural equipment, automotive sheet molding compounds, civil and rail infrastructures, marine applications, hurricane resistant housing and the construction industry. 3,[5][6][7] Natural oils are readily available from plant and animal sources. These oils consist largely of triglyceride molecules (three fatty acids joined at a glycerol junction) § Corresponding author. 185 Int. J. Nanosci. 2003.02:185-194. Downloaded from www.worldscientific.com by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY on 02/03/15. For personal use only.
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