Physico-chemical properties and possible photocatalytic applications of titanate nanotubes synthesized via hydrothermal method

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were prepared from TiO₂ P25 via hydrothermal method. The reaction temperature was 130 or 140 °C and the reaction time was 24 or 48 h. The samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and N₂ adsorption as well as Raman, FTIR-DRS and UV-vis/DR spectroscopy. The obtained samples exhibited similar properties, regardless of the preparation temperature and time. The most notable difference between properties of TNTs prepared under different conditions was observed in case of BET surface area, which was increasing from 386 to 478 m²/g along with increasing the reaction time and temperature. Based on TEM, XRD and TG measurements we have suggested that the structure of TNTs was H₂Ti₂O₄(OH)₂. The TEM and Raman spectroscopy measurements showed that the obtained products contained also low amount of anatase phase. The TNTs exhibited no photoactivity towards degradation of model azo dye Acid Red 18. However, TNTs were successfully applied for photocatalytic generation of CH₄ and H₂ in a solution of acetic acid. The amount of methane produced with application of TNTs synthesized at 140 °C was about 2.5 times higher than that generated with use of TiO₂ P25. To the best of our knowledge this is a first report on the photocatalytic generation of hydrocarbons using TNTs in the current state of the art.     

Improved sound absorption performance of three-dimensional MPP space sound absorbers by filling with porous materials

Because microperforated panels (MPPs), which can be made from various materials, provide wide-band sound absorption, they are recognized as one of the next-generation absorption materials. Although MPPs are typically placed in front of rigid walls, MPP space sound absorbers without a backing structure, including three-dimensional cylindrical MPP space absorbers (CMSAs) and rectangular MPP space absorbers (RMSAs), are proposed to extend their design flexibility and easy-to-use properties. On the other hand, improving the absorption performance by filling the back cavity of typical MPP absorbers with porous materials has been shown theoretically, and three-dimensional MPP space absorbers should display similar improvements. Herein the effects of porous materials inserted into the cavities of CMSAs and RMSAs are experimentally investigated and a numerical prediction method using the two-dimensional boundary element method is proposed. Consequently, CMSAs and RMSAs with improved absorption performances are illustrated based on the experimental results, and the applicability of the proposed prediction method as a design tool is confirmed by comparing the experimental and numerical results.     

Exceeding the classical capacity limit in a quantum optical channel

The amount of information transmissible through a communications channel is determined by the noise characteristics of the channel and by the quantities of available transmission resources. In classical information theory, the amount of transmissible information can be increased twice at most when the transmission resource is doubled for fixed noise characteristics. In quantum information theory, however, the amount of information transmitted can increase even more than twice. We present a proof-of-principle demonstration of this superadditivity of classical capacity of a quantum channel by using the ternary symmetric states of a single photon, and by event selection from a weak coherent light source. We also show how the superadditive coding gain, even in a small code length, can boost the communication performance of the conventional coding technique.     

Color Conversion Method for Multiprimary Display Using Matrix Switching

The range of reproducible color, i.e., color gamut, of conventional three-primary display devices is sometimes insufficient for reproducing the natural color of an object through color imaging systems. A multiprimary display is being developed for the purpose of reproducing an expanded color gamut using more than three primary colors. In this paper, a color conversion method is proposed to reproduce the natural color by additive mixture of multiprimary colors. The multiprimary color signal in this conversion method is calculated from the three-dimensional color coordinates CIE-XYZ, considering the dynamic range of each primary color. Divided into some linear elements from the polyhedral color solid of the multiprimary display, the conversion considering the constraint of the dynamic range can be performed by simple calculation without iterative calculation or a huge three-dimensional look up table. A fast computation method with a two-dimensional look-up-table is also presented. Using the proposed method, the result of the color reproduction is experimentally demonstrated by a six-primary projection display.     

Crystal growth of cyclodextrin‐based metal‐organic framework with inclusion of ferulic acid

The crystallization of γ‐cyclodextrin‐based metal‐organic framework (CD‐MOF) with inclusion of ferulic acid (FA) was carried out through vapor diffusion of methanol to the aqueous solution of γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD), KOH and FA. Although the crystallization of pure CD was limited in highly basic solution of KOH (pH>13.0), the CD‐MOF with inclusion of FA (FA/CD‐MOF) was able to be formed at pH 6.8 after the neutralization of KOH by FA. The inclusion behavior of FA in CD‐MOF was studied by using differential scanning calorimetry. The data indicate the formation of the stable association between FA and γ‐CD in FA/CD‐MOF.     

Wastes Treatment: Hydrothermal electrolytic oxidation of wastewater

Abstract

Electrochemical evolution of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and chlorine at the electrodes is the usual reaction in conventional electrolysis of aqueous salt solution. However, here we demonstrate that the electrolysis governing reaction in hydrothermal solutions is different from the electrolysis performed at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 100°C. Experimental electrolytic reaction of aqueous salt solution carried out inside a sealed 300-mL batch autoclave showed that; accumulation of hydrogen gas, oxygen gas and chlorine is highly suppressed under hydrothermal (250°C and 7 MPa) conditions. We have also observed that, when organics are present in the aqueous salt solution being hydrothermally electrolyzed, an effective oxidation of organics is accomplished. Furthermore, for hydrothermal electrolytic oxidation (HEO) with oxygen gas added, experimentally observed TOC removal profile demonstrates apparent anodic oxidation electrical current efficiency of almost 200% for highconcentrated acetic acid solutions.     

Phase Distribution Measurement of Light Wave by Adaptive Control of Pupil Function with Local Algorithm

In developing a new method to measure the phase distribution of a light wave utilizing the adaptive control of the pupil function with a liquid crystal panel, the optimization procedure for the adaptive control is shown to improve when a local algorithm is adopted. The feasibility of the proposed system is confirmed by computer simulation as well as by some basic experiments.     

Approximate controllability for fractional diffusion equations by interior control

We consider the approximate controllability by interior control of a partial differential equation with time derivatives of non-integer order. First, we prove the well-posedness of the inhomogeneous problem for the controlled system. Next, we study the dual system and show a weak type of unique continuation property. Finally, we prove the approximate controllability.