FTIR analysis of the hydrolysis rate in the sol–gel formation of gadolinia-doped ceria with acetylacetonate precursors

This study reveals that Fourier transform infrared is an effective analytical tool in probing the extent of hydrolysis of cerium and gadolinium acetylacetonates dissolved in methanol. It is found that these acetylacetonates have relatively fast hydrolysis rates at the early stage of hydrolysis (<6 h). However, their hydrolysis rates become very slow beyond 6-h of hydrolysis and decrease to near zero after 55-h of hydrolysis. As a result, hydrolysis cannot be completed even after 170 h at room temperature. These phenomena suggest that the first and second acetylacetone ligands chelated to Ce³⁺ and Gd³⁺ ions can actually be hydrolyzed with relative ease at room temperature, similar to alkoxide ligands. It is the last acetylacetone ligand that is very difficult to be hydrolyzed.     

Adaptive control for synchronization of a four-dimensional chaotic system via a single variable

This paper studies the control for synchronization of a four-dimensional system via a single variable, and a linear feedback controller and an adaptive controller are proposed. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, the correctness of the proposed methods is strictly demonstrated. The numerical simulations further show their effectiveness.     

Simulation of a mixed-conducting membrane-based gas turbine power plant for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> capture: system level analysis of operation stability and individual process unit degradation

A gas turbine power plant for CO₂ capture, based on oxygen-permeable membranes with mixed ionic-electronic conductivity, was analysed with respect to long-term stability by means of numerical simulation. Due to the attractive transport and physicochemical properties of mixed-conducting La₂NiO_4+δ, this nickelate was selected as a prototype membrane material for this application. Experiments showed very slow degradation of La₂NiO_4+δ membranes at oxygen chemical potentials close to atmospheric conditions, which are associated with kinetic demixing and other microstructure-related factors. Interaction with CO₂ in the intermediate temperature range also leads to lower oxygen permeation, whilst increasing oxygen pressure may cause partial phase decomposition and microstructural changes, thus again limiting the range of possible operation conditions. The relevant operational constraints were included in a detailed membrane-based gas turbine power plant model. The membrane performance degradation with time was approximated by a linear function with average rate of 3.3% per 1,000 operation hours. Furthermore, performance deterioration of the gas turbine compressor and turbine were also considered. Simulations revealed that the power plant is substantially affected by degradation of the ceramic membranes and turbomachinery components. The already rather small operating window was further narrowed when compared with a conventional gas turbine power plant. Two different designs of the membrane-based power plant were analysed: (1) with and (2) without additional combustors (afterburners) between the membrane reactor and the gas turbine. Afterburners increase thermal efficiency as well as power output, but also lead to non-negligible CO₂ emissions. In order to have a frame of comparison, results for a conventional gas turbine power plant with degradation of turbomachinery components are also presented. Simulations representing changes in ambient temperature and fuel composition as well as failure incidents were executed to analyse the susceptibility of the gas turbine power plant to external and internal changes.     

Mereologies as the grammars of chemical discourses

Mereology is the logic of part—whole concepts as they are used in many different contexts. The old chemical metaphysics of atoms and molecules seems to fit classical mereology very well. However, when functional attributes are added to part specifications and quantum mechanical considerations are also added, the rules of classical mereology are breached in chemical discourses. A set theoretical alternative mereology is also found wanting. Molecular orbital theory requires a metaphysics of affordances that also stands outside classical mereology.     

On general sum-connectivity index

We report some properties of the reverse degree distance of a connected (molecular) graph, and, in particular, its relationship with the first Zagreb index and Wiener index. We also show that the reverse degree distance satisfies the basic requirement for a branching index.     

Multi-period forecasting and scenario generation with limited data

Data for optimization problems often comes from (deterministic) forecasts, but it is naïve to consider a forecast as the only future possibility. A more sophisticated approach uses data to generate alternative future scenarios, each with an attached probability. The basic idea is to estimate the distribution of forecast errors and use that to construct the scenarios. Although sampling from the distribution of errors comes immediately to mind, we propose instead to approximate rather than sample. Benchmark studies show that the method we propose works well.     

Pricing Derivatives under a Markov Skeleton Process

In this paper, it is assumed that the underlying is a Markov skeleton process (abbreviated MSP): this process can be better reflecting the instability of the financial market. Using the properties of Markov skeleton process, the characteristic function of the price process is given, combined with fast Fourier transform (FFT) method, the pricing formula of derivatives under the Markov skeleton process is given. The results of this paper can be applied to price other financial derivatives, and it enriching the pricing theory of financial derivatives.