Electrocatalysis by foreign metal monolayers: Oxidation of formic acid on platinum

It was demonstrated that some foreign metal monolayers formed by underpotential deposition have pronounced catalytic effects on the oxidation of formic acid on platinum. The explanation of these effects was sought within the framewor of existing data on the formic acid oxidation and the underpotential deposition. It was found that the catalytic effect of foreign metal monolayers originates in the decrease of hydrogen adsorption thus preventing the formation of the main poisoning species COH. At the same time these experiments confirm the previously postulated mechanism of formation of the poisoning species involving adsorbed hydrogen.     

Mesoporous electrode material from alumina-stabilized anatase TiO2 for lithium ion batteries

A mesoporous electrode material whose structure is composed of anatase nanocrystals stabilized by alumina is reported. Powder X-ray diffraction shows the anatase phase only, but micro-Raman spectroscopy shows that the materials have a core-shell morphology with grains of bulk anatase covered by a thin rutile layer on the surface. This structure is unique when compared to analogous materials stabilized by zirconia (PNNL-1). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms demonstrate a monotonous increase in surface area and mesopore volume with increasing Al content. Thin film electrodes from these materials were characterized by lithium insertion electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammograms exhibit significant differences in Li accommodation in Al-free and Al-stabilized materials.     

Sensitive stripping voltammetry of heavy metals by using a composite sensor based on a built-in bismuth precursor

A new graphite-epoxy composite electrode (GECE) containing Bi(NO(3))(3) as a built-in bismuth precursor for simultaneous and individual anodic stripping analysis of heavy trace metals like lead and cadmium is reported. The developed Bi(NO(3))(3)-GECE is compatible with bismuth film electrodes reported previously including the composite electrodes (Bi-GECE) recently reported by our group. Bi(NO(3))(3)-GECE displays the ability for the detection of both individual and simultaneous determination of heavy trace metals and exhibits well defined, reproducible and sharp stripping signals. The sensitive response is combined with the minimal toxicity of Bi(NO(3))(3). This novel sensor would be an appropriate alternative tool to sensors using bismuth in solution during their utilization in environmental quality monitoring as well as other applications.     

Lifetime prediction of ABS polymers based on thermoanalytical data

The service life of ABS polymer, stabilized by 2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanilino)-4,6-bis(octylthio)-1,3,5-triazine and containing 50% of a modifying rubber component, was estimated from oxidative induction times measured by DSC in isothermal mode in the temperature interval 140–170°C. The lifetime of ABS powder at the actual temperature of drying was predicted by linear extrapolation according to Arrhenius. However, the extrapolated value was much longer than the real lifetime determined from the long-term oven aging tests at 70 and 90°C, simulating the industrial drying process. The effect of changes in the apparent activation energy of oxidation due to antioxidant consumption during polymer aging is discussed.     

Optimization of the TLC Separation of Seven Amino Acids

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A ternary mobile phase for thin-layer chromatographic separation and identification of seven amino acids on microcrystalline...     

Investigation of suitable digestion methods for the determination of total phosphorus in soils

Total phosphorus in five soils with different compositions which were obtained from different places were extracted by using Na(2)CO(3) fusion, HClO(4) digestion, HClO(4) + HNO(3) digestion, HF + HClO(4) digestion or NaOBr oxidation methods. In order to test the suitability of the HF + HClO(4) digestion the results obtained by this method were compared with the others above, especially the Na(2)CO(3) fusion which is accepted as a standard method. The phosphorus amount found with the HF + HClO(4) digestion method were almost the same as the phosphorus amount by the Na(2)CO(3) fusion method, while the superiority in extracting phosphorus when compared to other methods were obvious. The methods used in the study were evaluated according to the recovery of total phosphorus, ease of application and rapidity with which they were performed. Orthophosphate in the soil extracts was determined by the molybdenum blue colour method. The relationships between methods are examined statistically.     

A Study of Amorphous Precursors for PbZrO3-PbTiO3 Based Ceramic Materials

Amorphous precursors for PbZrO₃ and PbTiO₃ ceramics were prepared from lead acetate and the transition metaln-propoxide inn-propanol orn-butoxide inn-butanol and hydrolysed with an excess of water. According to GLC and TGA/EGA analyses, the type of alkoxide group influences distinctly the structure of heterometallic precursors, i.e., oxo or acetate bridging, and the amounts of hydroxyl and organic groups bound to the metal network. The local environments of metal atoms in the amorphous precursors were also studied by EXAFS. The analysis reveals that in Pb−Zr precursors alkoxide groups modify the coordination spheres of the zirconium atoms. Conversely, local environments of both lead and titanium atoms within the analysed range of 3.4 A depend weakly on the type of alkoxide used.     

Symmetry of electronic states in garnets

The paper presents the classification of the electronic empty lattice eigenvalues and the classification of the Bloch sums for the garnet structureIa3d (O _h ¹⁰ ) at the symmetry points, H, P, andN of the Brillouin zone. This provides a starting point for the energy band studies of these technologically important materials.The author thanks Dr. V. Frei for useful comments.     

Interpretation of toroidal current and loop voltage temporal evolution during RF-current drive experiment on the T-7 tokamak

A simple analytical model is developed and solved to describe time evolution of the loop voltage and toroidal current when RF and inductive current drive take place simultaneously. A relation for the real value of the RF driven current has been obtained under these conditions. Comparison with experimental data from T-7 tokamak allows to estimate the role of the skin effect during RF current drive.The authors would like to thank A. Ya. Kislov for the basic data on the T-7 tokamak transformer. They are also indebted to V. V. Parail and G.V. Pereverzev for many clarifying discussions.     

New look at Gleason's theorem for signed measures

It is shown that the Gleason theorem holds not only for a finite but also for ann-finite signed measurem, wheren is a cardinal, defined on all closed subspaces of a Hilbert space whose dimension is a nonmeasurable cardinal 2, ifm is bounded from below on all one-dimensional subspaces.