Experimental studying of the effect of active area on the performance of passive direct methanol fuel cell

This work experimentally studies the effect of the size and shape of active area on the performance of passive direct methanol fuel cell. The obtained results show that the cell performance strongly depends on the size and shape of active area. Experimental results of this study also demonstrate that the cell performance improves with an increase in the size of active area. Increasing the size of active area also leads to a lower internal resistance, lower OCV, and higher operating temperature. Furthermore, it was found that the smallest active area (4 cm²) produced the longest stable discharging voltage (about 16.5 h). This study also reveals that the square active area has the best performance and the highest power density compared to the rectangular and circular active areas. Finally, the results prove that the place of applying the clamping force is an important parameter that should be considered in the cell design.     

Combining a Click–Multicomponent Reaction: One-Pot Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazol-4-ylmethyl 3-Amino-5,10-dihydro-5,10-dioxo-1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-2-carboxylate Derivatives

(1,2,3-Triazol-4-yl)methyl-3-amino-5,10-dihydro-5,10-dioxo-1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-2-carboxylate derivatives were synthesized by a four-component, one-pot condensation reaction of benzaldehyde derivatives, an active methylene compound (prop-2-ynyl-2-cyanoacetate), azides, and phthalhydrazide in the presence of Cu(OAc)₂/sodium ascorbate as catalysts and 1-methyl-1H-imidazolium trifluoroacetate ([Hmim]TFA) as an ionic liquid medium in good to excellent yields.     

Invited Paper: Design and modeling of a transistor vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

A multiple quantum well (MQW) transistor vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (T-VCSEL) is designed and numerically modeled. The important physical models and parameters are discussed and validated by modeling a conventional VCSEL and comparing the results with the experiment. The quantum capture/escape process is simulated using the quantum-trap model and shows a significant effect on the electrical output of the T-VCSEL. The parameters extracted from the numerical simulation are imported into the analytic modeling to predict the frequency response and simulate the large-signal modulation up to 40 Gbps.     

Determination of Set-Membership Identifiability Sets

This paper concerns the concept of set-membership identifiability introduced in Jauberthie et al. (Proceedings of the 18th IFAC World Congress. Milan, Italie, 12024–12029, 2011). Given a model, a set-membership identifiable set is a connected set in the parameter domain of the model such that its corresponding trajectories are distinct to trajectories arising from its complementary. For obtaining the so-called set-membership identifiable sets, we propose an algorithm based on interval analysis tools. The proposed algorithm is decomposed into three parts namely mincing, evaluating and regularization (Jaulin et al. in Applied interval analysis, with examples in parameter and state estimation, robust control and robotics. Springer, Londres, 2001). The latter step has been modified in order to obtain guaranteed set-membership identifiable sets. Our algorithm will be tested on two examples.     

Selective and sensitive voltammetric sensor based on modified multiwall carbon nanotubes paste electrode for simultaneous determination of l-cysteine and folic acid

This paper reports the selective and sensitive voltammetric determination of l-cysteine in the presence of folic acid using ethynylferrocene modified carbon nanotubes paste electrode in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0). Using square wave voltammetry, we could measure l-cysteine and folic acid in one mixture independently from each other by a potential difference of about 410 mV for the first time. Square wave voltammetric peak current of l-cysteine and folic acid increased linearly with their concentrations in the ranges of 0.2–250.0 and 1.0–500.0 μmol?L^?1, respectively. The detection limits of 0.07 and 0.6 μmol?L^?1 were achieved for l-cysteine and folic acid, respectively. The proposed voltammetric sensor was successfully applied to the determination of l-cysteine and folic acid in real samples.     

Pre-concentration of phenolic compounds in water samples by novel liquid–liquid microextraction and determination by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Pre-concentration and determination of 8 phenolic compounds in water samples has been achieved by in situ derivatization and using a new liquid–liquid microextraction coupled GC–MS system. Microextraction efficiency factors have been investigated and optimized: 9 μL 1-undecanol microdrop exposed for 15 min floated on surface of a 10 mL water sample at 55 °C, stirred at 1200 rpm, low pH level and saturated salt conditions. Chromatographic problems associated with free phenols have been overcome by simultaneous in situ derivatization utilizing 40 μL of acetic anhydride and 0.5% (w/v) K₂CO₃. Under the selected conditions, pre-concentration factor of 235–1174, limit of detection of 0.005–0.68 μg/L (S/N = 3) and linearity range of 0.02–300 μg/L have been obtained. A reasonable repeatability (RSD ≤ 10.4%, n = 5) with satisfactory linearity (0.9995 ≥ r² ≥ 0.9975) of results illustrated a good performance of the present method. The relative recovery of different natural water samples was higher than 84%.     

How to insulate a reactive site from a perfluoroalkyl group: photoelectron spectroscopy, calorimetric, and computational studies of long-range electronic effects in fluorous phosphines P((CH(2))(m)(CF(2))(7)CF(3))(3)

This study advances strategy and design in catalysts and reagents for fluorous and supercritical CO(2) chemistry by defining the structural requirements for insulating a typical active site from a perfluoroalkyl segment. The vertical ionization potentials of the phosphines P((CH(2))(m)R(f8))(3) (m = 2 (2) to 5 (5)) are measured by photoelectron spectroscopy, and the enthalpies of protonation by calorimetry (CF(3)SO(3)H, CF(3)C(6)H(5)). They undergo progressively more facile (energetically) ionization and protonation (P(CH(2)CH(3))(3) > 5 > 4 approximately equal to P(CH(3))(3) > 3 > 2), as expected from inductive effects. Equilibrations of trans-Rh(CO)(Cl)(L)(2) complexes (L = 2, 3) establish analogous Lewis basicities. Density functional theory is used to calculate the structures, energies, ionization potentials, and gas-phase proton affinities (PA) of the model phosphines P((CH(2))(m)()CF(3))(3) (2'-9'). The ionization potentials of 2'-5' are in good agreement with those of 2-5, and together with PA values and analyses of homodesmotic relationships are used to address the title question. Between 8 and 10 methylene groups are needed to effectively insulate a perfluoroalkyl segment from a phosphorus lone pair, depending upon the criterion employed. Computations also show that the first carbon of a perfluoroalkyl segment exhibits a much greater inductive effect than the second, and that ionization potentials of nonfluorinated phosphines P((CH(2))(m)CH(3))(3) reach a limit at approximately nine carbons (m = 8).     

Catalytic activity of manganese(III)-oxazoline complexes in urea hydrogen peroxide epoxidation of olefins: The effect of axial ligands

The catalytic activity of two manganese(III)-oxazoline complexes [Mn(phox)₂(CH₃OH)₂]ClO₄ and Mn(phox)₃ (Hphox = 2-(2′-hydroxylphenyl)oxazoline), was studied in the epoxidation of various olefins. All of epoxidation reactions were carried out in (1:1) mixture of methanol:dichloromethane at room temperature using urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as oxidant and imidazole as co-catalyst. The epoxide yields clearly demonstrate the influence of steric and electronic properties of olefins, the catalysts and nitrogenous bases as axial ligand. [Mn(phox)₂(CH₃OH)₂]ClO₄ catalyst with low steric properties has higher catalytic activity than Mn(phox)₃. The highest epoxide yield (95%) was achieved for indene at the presence of [Mn(phox)₂(CH₃OH)₂]ClO₄ within 5 min. The proximal and distal interactions of strong π-donor axial ligands such as imidazole with the active intermediate are efficiently increased activity of the catalytic system.     

Dabsyl chloride derivatisation of melamine followed by high-performance liquid chromatography determination in water samples

A new and sensitive precolumn derivatisation with dabsyl chloride was developed for the analysis of melamine in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with visible detection. Derivatisation with dabsyl chloride leads to improving sensitivity and hydrophobicity of melamine. Under optimum conditions of derivatisation and microextraction, the method yielded a linear calibration curve ranging from 10 to 2000 µg L^?1 with a determination coefficient (R²) of 0.9952. Limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 2.0 and 6.0 µg L^?1, respectively. The relative standard deviation per cent (RSD%) for intraday and inter-day extraction and determination at 20 and 200 µg L^?1 levels of melamine was less than 8.2% (n = 6). Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of melamine in different water samples and satisfactory results were obtained (relative recovery ≥91%).