Cathode of a fuel cell with a solid polymer electrolyte: Calculating overall currents in the presence of a gas-diffusion layer

Mathematical apparatus, which makes it possible to perform calculations of the current-voltage characteristics of cathodes of fuel cells with a solid polymer electrolyte in conditions where there are present extraneous diffusion restrictions is proposed. In so doing, the partial pressure of oxygen and the absolute pressure of gas in the gas chamber may assume any values. First of all presented are the results of calculations of the current-voltage characteristics intrinsic to active layers of the air and oxygen cathodes, which are performed under the assumption that the extraneous diffusion restrictions are absent altogether. Thereafter, in the same conditions (at the same parameters that characterize the active layer of a cathode), obtained are results of a calculation of the current-voltage characteristics inherent in the air and oxygen cathodes in the presence of extraneous diffusion restrictions. Afterward there is performed an analysis of the way a gas-diffusion layer restricts the process of generation of current in a cathode and of what measures should be taken in order for the extraneous diffusion restrictions to become less significant.     

Basis-independent potential energy curves for the neutral diatomics of Li,Na and K evaluated by means of Hartree-Fock and different density functional potentials

Summary The solution of the Schrödinger equation for diatomic molecules when the finite element method is used gives the possibility to evaluate highly accurate basis-independent potential energy curves. In this work such types of numerically accurate potential energy curves on the HF level have been evaluated for Li₂, Na₂ and K₂ and could be used as benchmarks in the optimization of basis sets. A comparison between recent LCAO HF calculations in which extended basis sets are used and the accurate values determined in this work show that there is a difference in total energy of 4×10^–5 and 10^–3 a.u. for Li, Li₂, and Na, Na₂, respectively. Evaluated dissociation energies are, however, due to the cancellation of numerical errors in much better agreement. Further, it is found that different exchange correlation potentials for the heavier molecules such as those given by von Barth-Hedin and Vosko, Wilk and Nusair reproduce experimental properties such as dissociation energies, vibrational frequencies almost as well as those achieved with advanced CI methods. TheX potential gives accurate bond lengths for Na₂ and K₂, whereas the dissociation energies are too small.     

Double pulse laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of explosives: Initial study towards improved discrimination

Detecting trace explosive residues at standoff distances in real-time is a difficult problem. One method ideally suited for real-time standoff detection is laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). However, atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen contributes to the LIBS signal from the oxygen- and nitrogen-containing explosive compounds, complicating the discrimination of explosives from other organic materials. While bathing the sample in an inert gas will remove atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen interference, it cannot practically be applied for standoff LIBS. Alternatively, we have investigated the potential of double pulse LIBS to improve the discrimination of explosives by diminishing the contribution of atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen to the LIBS signal. These initial studies compare the close-contact (< 1 m) LIBS spectra of explosives using single pulse LIBS in argon with double pulse LIBS in atmosphere. We have demonstrated improved discrimination of an explosive and an organic interferent using double pulse LIBS to reduce the air entrained in the analytical plasma.     

Size and pH effect on electrical and conformational behavior of poly(acrylic acid): Simulation and experiment

Monte Carlo simulations, experimental titrations and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy experiments were used to investigate the conformational and electrical properties of polyacrylic acids (PAA). On the one hand, titration curves were calculated to get an insight into the role of pH on the degree of ionization and conformation of PAA chains. On the other hand, experimental potentiometric titrations of PAA were also achieved for different PAA molecular weights and compared to the calculated titration curves obtained by Monte Carlo coarse grained simulations. It was found that for a large range at intermediate PAA ionizations, a good correlation is obtained between experimental and simulations data thanks to the prominence of electrostatic interactions in this domain. The effect of ionic concentration and PAA molecular weight on the titration curves was also investigated. In order to get a better understanding of PAA conformational behavior, we also investigated PAA diffusion properties in aqueous solutions as a function of pH and ionic strength by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), thanks to its high sensitivity to measure diffusion coefficients of tracer solutes. Good qualitative agreements were observed between experimental diffusivities and polymer properties calculated from MC simulations. It was shown that the high molecular weight PAA chains display more significant changes in diffusivity in agreement with the ionization degrees and conformational changes observed in the simulations.     

The electronic spectrum of VCr

The electronic spectrum of VCr has been studied using the complete-active-space self-consistent field complete-active-space second-order perturbation theory approach. Potential-energy curves for 12 electronic states have been computed. Transition energies, with respect to the X² ground state, for some of the calculated electronic states are (with possible experimental values within parentheses) 0.53 eV (0.56) for A²⁺, 1.03 eV (1.14) for A⁴, 1.20 eV (1.14) for B², 1.45 eV (1.51) for B⁴, 1.60 eV (1.51, 1.78) for C², and 1.61 eV (1.63) for A^4–. AcknowledgementsThe research reported in this communication was supported by a grant from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council (NFR). S. Alex and D.G. Leopold are acknowledged for providing results from their negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy on VCr.Contribution to Björn Roos Honorary Issue     

Lattice dynamical study of body-centred tetragonal indium

The phonon dispersion curves, phonon frequency distribution function as well as the lattice specific heat of body-centred tetragonal indium have been deduced using a lattice dynamical model which includes central, angular and volume forces. Six elastic constants, four zone boundary frequencies and an equilibrium condition were used in the evaluation of the force constants. It is shown that this model is elastically consistent and satisfies the symmetry requirements of the lattice, the phonon frequencies of indium deduced from it are in very good agreement with the experimental values of Reichardt and Smith and the theoretical values of Garrett and Swihart, and theθ _D values compare well with the experimental values over a wide temperature range. The apparent discrepancies in the phonon dispersion curves and theθ _D-T curves obtained from deficient models, importance of umklapp processes and the significance of angular forces in the lattice dynamical models are discussed.     

Explicit maximal and minimal curves over finite fields of odd characteristics

In this work we present explicit classes of maximal and minimal Artin–Schreier type curves over finite fields having odd characteristics. Our results include the proof of Conjecture 5.9 given in [1] as a very special subcase. We use some techniques developed in [2], which were not used in [1].     

单重工作休假M/M/c排队驱动的流体模型分析

该文在M/M/c排队驱动系统中加入工作休假策略,研究了单重工作休假多服务台排队驱动的流体模型.利用拟生灭过程和矩阵几何解法得到驱动系统稳态队长分布.构建净输入率结构,导出流体模型的稳态联合分布函数满足的的矩阵微分方程组,进而利用Laplace-Stieltjes变换(LST)方法得到稳态下缓冲器库存量的空库概率及均值表达式.最后,给出模型在多信道无线Mesh网下的应用,通过数值例子展示参数变化对系统性能指标的影响.     

On a sufficient condition for a Fano manifold to be covered by rational N-folds

In this paper, we prove a conjecture by T. Suzuki, which says if a smooth Fano manifold satisfies some positivity condition on its Chern characters, then it can be covered by rational N-folds. We prove this conjecture by using purely combinatorial properties of Bernoulli numbers.