Novel proton-conducting polymer inclusion membranes

The preparation and characterization of new polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) for proton transport is described. PIMs were prepared with different polymeric cellulose-based compounds and PVC as supports, tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBEP) and 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizers and dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (DNSA) and dinonylnaphthalenedisulfonic acid (DNDSA) as carriers. The effects of the nature and content of the supports, plasticizers and carriers on membrane proton conductivity was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This technique was also used to evaluate the chemical stability of a CTA–NPOE–DNDSA membrane while its selectivity was monitored with respect to sodium and calcium ions through counter-transport experiments. DSC and TGA techniques were used to determine the thermal stability of these membranes. A PIM based on CTA–DNDSA–NPOE showed the highest proton conductivity (3.5 mS/cm) with no variation of its behavior during 2 months of evaluation. FTIR characterization did not show structural changes of the membrane in this period of time. Thermal analysis indicates that it is stable up to 180 °C. An empirical functional relationship between PIM resistance and composition indicates that increasing plasticizer and carrier concentrations enhances the conductivity of the membranes, while increasing CTA content tends to decrease this property. Transport experiments showed a good selectivity of the CTA–DNDSA–NPOE membrane for protons over calcium or sodium ions.     

Photoluminescence properties of SiNx/Si amorphous multilayer structures grown by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

Very thin (nanometric) silicon layers were grown in between silicon nitride barriers by SiH₂Cl₂/H₂/NH₃ plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The multilayer structures were deposited onto fused silica and silicon substrates. Deposition conditions were selected to favor Si cluster formation of different sizes in between the barriers of silicon nitride. The samples were thermally treated in an inert atmosphere for 1 h at 500 °C for dehydrogenation. Room-temperature photoluminescence (RT-PL) and optical transmission in different ranges were used to evaluate the optical properties of the structures. UV-VIS absorption spectra present two band edges. These band edges are well fitted by the Tauc model typically used for amorphous materials. RT-PL spectra are characterized by strong broad bands, which have a blue shift as a function of the deposition time of the silicon layer, even for as-grown samples. The broad luminescence could be associated with the confinement effect in the silicon clusters. After annealing of the samples, the PL bands red shift. This is probably due to the thermal decomposition of N-H bonds with further effusion of hydrogen and better nitrogen passivation of the nc-Si/SiN_x interfaces.     

GaN quantum dots by molecular beam epitaxy

The conditions to grow GaN quantum dots (QDs) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy will be examined. It will be shown that, depending on the Ga/N ratio value, the growth mode of GaN deposited on AlN can be either of the Stranski–Krastanow (SK) or of the Frank–Van der Merwe type. Accordingly, quantum wells or QDs can be grown, depending on the desired application. In the particular case of modified SK growth mode, it will be shown that both plastic and elastic strain relaxation can coexist. Growth of GaN QDs with N-polarity will also be discussed and compared to their counterpart with Ga polarity.     

Thermoelastic behaviour of polyvinylacetate monolayers at the air-water interface: Evidences for liquid-solid phase transition

The thermoelastic behaviour of polyvinylacetate monolayers spread on an aqueous subphase has been studied using rheological data previously published (Monroy et al., Phys. Rev. E 58, 7629 (1998)). The results show fluid-like viscoelastic behaviour well above a transition temperature , while at lower temperatures a soft solid-like behaviour emerges. The correlation between thermodynamic and elastic properties below can be described in terms of scaling laws. Received 12 January 1999 and Received in final form 11 June 1999     

Some AB-percolation problems in the antiferromagnetic potts model

The AB-correlated-site/random-bond percolation problem in a q-state antiferromagnetic Potts model on Bethe lattices is solved. We find the analytic expression of the AB-percolation characteristic functions in terms of the temperature, the external field and the active bond concentration p_B. The AB-threshold and the phase boundary of the system coincide at zero temperature and at most in two other points for every constant p_B > 1?σ. The properties of the Bethe lattice allow us to find the temperature dependent p_B which defines the AB-droplets, i.e. those special AB-clusters which diverge with thermal exponents along the phase boundary.     

Nature-Inspired Routing and Wavelength Assignment Algorithms for Optical Circuit-Switched Polymorphic Networks

Polymorphic optical networks simultaneously support several optical switching paradigms over a single physical network. In this way, they provide service differentiation at the optical layer by employing the most appropriate paradigm for each service. One type of such architecture is the optical circuit-switched polymorphic network (OCSPN), which combines optical circuit switching paradigms with different grades of dynamism. The performance of this network relies on the utilization of efficient routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithms. In this article, we review the fundamentals of OCSPNs and present a set of efficient RWA algorithms based on ant colony optimization and genetic algorithms.     

A family of codes between some Markov and Bernoulli schemes

We construct a family of almost continuous codes between a mixing one-step Markov process with two symbols and a Bernoulli scheme.     

Influence of ammonium on the performance of a denitrifying culture under heterotrophic conditions

The effect of ammonium on a denitrifying reactor of the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket type was studied. At a constant nitrate loading rate (2500 mg NO ₃ ⁻ -N/[L · d]), using acetate as organic electron donor and at a C/NO ₃ ⁻ -N ratio of 1.23, an increase in the N₂ production rate was observed when the ammonium loading rate was increased (25, 250, and 500 mg NH ₄ ⁺ -N/[L · d]). Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) was not observed, and the N₂ production efficiency was increased from 84 to 100% or higher. Since NH ₄ ⁺ in the output was lower than in the input, it was suggested that it was used for nitrate reduction. At constant NH ₄ ⁺ -N/NO ₃ ⁻ -N and C/NO ₃ ⁻ -N ratios of 0.2 and 1.63, respectively, the molecular nitrogen production rate was increased at 300 and 500 mg NH ₄ ⁺ -N/(L · d), whereas at 200 mg NH ₄ ⁺ -N/(L · d) DNRA took place probably owing to culture conditions of low reductive power. Molecular nitrogen production was not observed under autotrophic conditions, and the addition of acetate to the culture recovered its high nitrogen removal rate. Experimental results and balances indicated that the consumed ammonium was used as an additional reductive source.     

Determination of Fe and Al contamination by NAA at preparation of traditional Mexican food

A study was carried out using NAA to measure the concentration of Al and Fe leached from kitchen ware into some popular Mexican sauces and juices. These elements were measured in red and green hot sauces cooked in Fe, Al and clay pans compared to a stainless steel pan. Similarly Al was measured in organe and grapefruit juices obtained using an Al extractor compared to a plastic one.