From Extended Nanofluidics to an Autonomous Solar-Light-Driven Micro Fuel-Cell Device

Autonomous micro/nano mechanical, chemical, and biomedical sensors require persistent power sources scaled to their size. Realization of autonomous micro-power sources is a challenging task, as it requires combination of wireless energy supply, conversion, storage, and delivery to the sensor. Herein, we realized a solar-light-driven power source that consists of a micro fuel cell (μFC) and a photocatalytic micro fuel generator (μFG) integrated on a single microfluidic chip. The μFG produces hydrogen by photocatalytic water splitting under solar light. The hydrogen fuel is then consumed by the μFC to generate electricity. Importantly, the by-product water returns back to the photocatalytic μFG via recirculation loop without losses. Both devices rely on novel phenomena in extended-nano-fluidic channels that ensure ultra-fast proton transport. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate that μFG/μFC source achieves remarkable energy density of ca. 17.2 mWh cm⁻² at room temperature.     

The structure of an Al–Rh–Cu decagonal quasicrystal studied by spherical aberration (Cs)-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy

The structure of an Al–Rh–Cu decagonal quasicrystal formed with two quasiperiodic planes along the periodic axis in an Al₆₃Rh_18.5Cu_18.5 alloy has been studied by spherical aberration (Cs)-corrected high-angle annular detector dark-field (HAADF)- and annular bright-field (ABF)-scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Heavy atoms of Rh and mixed sites (MSs) of Al and Cu atoms projected along the periodic axis can be clearly represented as separate bright dots in observed HAADF-STEM images, and consequently arrangements of Rh atoms and MSs on the two quasiperiodic planes can be directly determined from those of bright dots in the observed HAADF-STEM image. The Rh atoms are arranged in pentagonal tiling formed with pentagonal and star-shaped pentagonal tiles with an edge-length of 0.76 nm, and also MSs with a pentagonal arrangement are located in the pentagonal tiles with definite orientations. The star-shaped pentagonal tiles in the pentagonal tiling are arranged in τ²(τ: golden ratio)-inflated pentagonal tiling with a bond-length of 2 nm. From arrangements of Rh atoms placed in pentagonal tilings with a bond-length of 2 nm, which are generated by the projection of a five-dimensional hyper-cubic lattice, occupation domains in the perpendicular space are derived. Al atoms as well as Rh atoms and MSs are represented as dark dots in an observed ABF-STEM image, and arrangements of Al atoms in well-symmetric regions are discussed.     

The study of Al3(Mn,Pd) crystal and Al–Mn–Pd decagonal quasicrystal by spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission microscopy and atomic-resolution energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

An Al₃Mn-type Al₃(Mn, Pd) crystal and an Al–Mn–Pd decagonal quasicrystal (DQC) in an Al₇₀Mn₂₀Pd₁₀ alloy are studied using a spherical aberration (Cs)-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) with high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) and annular bright-field (ABF) techniques, together with atomic-resolution energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Mn and Pd atomic positions in the Al₃(Mn, Pd) structure projected along the b-axis (pseudo-tenfold rotational axis) are represented by separate bright dots in observed HAADF-STEM images. Besides, Al as well as Mn and Pd atomic positions are represented as dark dots in ABF-STEM images. Most Mn and Pd atomic positions in the Al₃(Mn, Pd) structure can be observed on atomic-resolution EDS maps. On the basis of the good correlation between the STEM images and the EDS maps, and also considering the structure of the Al₃(Mn, Pd) crystal, which was determined by X-ray diffraction using a single crystal, observed HAADF and ABF-STEM images of the Al–Mn–Pd DQC have been interpreted. Pd and Mn atomic positions in the Al–Mn–Pd DQC can be detected on the observed EDS maps. It can be seen that Pd is enriched around the centre of the columnar clusters, having a decagonal section with 2 nm in diameter. It can therefore be concluded that Pd plays an important role in the stabilization of the decagonal clusters, which form the Al–Mn–Pd DQC structure.     

Attenuation of shock waves propagating in polyurethane foams

Shock wave attenuation in polyurethane foams is investigated experimentally and numerically. This study is a part of research project regarding shock propagation in polyurethane foams with high-porosities = 0.951 ~ 0.977 and low densities of ρc = 27.6 ~55.8 kg/m³. Sixty Millimeter long cylindrical foams with various cell numbers and foam insertion condition were installed in a horizontal shock tube of 50 mm i.d. and 5.4 mm in length. Results of pressure measurements in air/foam combination are compared with CFD simulation solving the one-dimensional Euler equations. In the case of a foam B fixed on shock tube wall, pressures at the shock tube end wall increases relatively slowly comparing to non-fixed foam, free to move and a foam A fixed on shock tube wall. This implies that elastic inertia hardly contributes to pressure build up. Pressures behind a foam C fixed on shock tube wall decrease indicating that shock wave is degenerated into compression wave. Dimensionless impulse and attenuation factor decrease as the initial cell number increases. The momentum loss varies depending on cell structure and cell number.     

Second-generation total synthesis of (−)-diversifolin

A second-generation total synthesis of (−)-diversifolin has been achieved by a more straightforward strategy, involving a highly stereochemistry-dependent 10-membered ring-closing metathesis and a stereoselective dihydroxylation/lactone transposition sequence. Compared to our previous synthesis, the present synthesis is improved in the yield of the key intermediate 2 (20% in 12 steps from diol 8).     

Two solid phases of pyrimidin‐1‐ium hydrogen chloranilate monohydrate determined at 225 and 120 K

The crystal structures of two solid phases of the title compound, C₄H₅N₂⁺·C₆HCl₂O₄⁻·H₂O, have been determined at 225 and 120 K. In the high‐temperature phase, stable above 198 K, the transition temperature of which has been determined by ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance and differential thermal analysis measurements, the three components are held together by O—H...O, N...H...O, C—H...O and C—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, forming a centrosymmetric 2+2+2 aggregate. In the N...H...O hydrogen bond formed between the pyrimidin‐1‐ium cation and the water molecule, the H atom is disordered over two positions, resulting in two states, viz. pyrimidin‐1‐ium–water and pyrimidine–oxonium. In the low‐temperature phase, the title compound crystallizes in the same monoclinic space group and has a similar molecular packing, but the 2+2+2 aggregate loses the centrosymmetry, resulting in a doubling of the unit cell and two crystallographically independent molecules for each component in the asymmetric unit. The H atom in one N...H...O hydrogen bond between the pyrimidin‐1‐ium cation and the water molecule is disordered, while the H atom in the other hydrogen bond is found to be ordered at the N‐atom site with a long N—H distance [1.10 (3) Å].     

Effects of interaction of tannins with co-existing substances. VII. Inhibitory effects of tannins and related polyphenols on xanthine oxidase

The inhibitory effects of hydrolyzable tannins, condensed tannins and related polyphenols on the activity of xanthine oxidase (XOD), catalyzing uric acid formation from xanthine, were investigated. Marked differences in the strength of the inhibition were observed. Some of the differences among the monomeric hydrolyzable tannins were due to their molecular weights, reflecting the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the molecule. However, the inhibitory activity of several oligomeric hydrolyzable tannins seemed particularly low in spite of their large molecular size. It was also observed that differences in location of acyl groups on the carbohydrate cores caused differences in the inhibitory activity among monomeric and oligomeric hydrolyzable tannins. A caffeic acid derivative (caffeetannin), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (24), also inhibited this enzyme. Galloylation and the degree of polymerization in proanthocyanidins were also shown to affect remarkably the strength of the inhibition. Among the compounds tested in the present study, valoneic acid dilactone (29), isolated from Mallotus japonicus, inhibited the enzyme most effectively. A kinetic study showed that this dilactone inhibited XOD non-competitively. Comparison of the inhibitory effect on XOD, with the binding activity to hemoglobin, for each tannin, suggests that their inhibition of XOD is not based on non-specific binding to the protein. Similar comparison of the inhibitory effect on XOD with the inhibitory effect on the generation of superoxide anion radical (O2-.) from the hypoxanthine-XOD system revealed that the inhibition of O2-. generation by tannins is due to their radical-scavenging activity, and not due to their inhibitory activity upon the enzyme.     

Unique incorporation behavior of amino acid-type surfactant into phospholipid vesicle membrane

The incorporation behavior of some anionic surfactants, including amino acid-type surfactants, on phospholipid vesicles was investigated. This was done by measuring the release of a vesicle-entrapped fluorescence probe and the scattered light intensities of vesicle particles in the surfactant solution as a function of surfactant concentration and time. Sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecanesulfonate, sodium dodecanoyl sarcosinate, and sodium dodecanoyl glutamate were employed in this study. All surfactants ruptured the phospholipid vesicle at around each critical micelle concentration by mixed micelle formation with phospholipid. While leakage of the fluorescence probe took place at a very low concentration in the sulfate- or sulfonate-type surfactant systems, it occurred at the concentration just below the CMC in the amino acid-type surfactant systems. Kinetic analysis of the release of the probe from the vesicles showed that the former surfactants adsorbed independently and homogeneously onto the phospholipid vesicles, while the latter surfactants were cooperatively incorporated.