Characterization of phospho-olivines as materials for Li-ion cell cathodes

Solid State Reaction was employed to prepare phospho-olivines LiMPO₄ (where M=Fe, Co) as pure phase and LiNiPO₄ in presence of foreign phases, as cathodic materials for lithiumions batteries. The relationship between structural, morphological and electrochemical properties were investigated in the case of LiFePO₄. Structural investigation has been carried out by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and Rietveld refinement. The influence on the morphology of annealing temperature, different flowing gas mixture and addition of ascorbic acid during the synthesis, has been analysed via scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical cycling performances on LiFePO₄ showed to be positively affected by the modifications of the experimental conditions. Cyclic voltammetry showed a good reversibility during insertion-extraction mechanism, in particular in presence of additives. LiCoPO₄ and LiNiPO₄ are interesting as high voltage cathode materials for Li-ion batteries and have been taken into account, but their electrochemical operating conditions are still to be optimised. In the case of LiNiPO₄ it is very difficult to obtain, by solid state synthesis, suitable purity powders, having a grain size small enough to exploit it usefully as cathodic material for Li-ion cells. Paper presented at the 8th EuroConference on Ionics, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal, Sept. 16 – 22, 2000.     

On the Behavior of Some Second Order Nonlinear Differential Equations

Qualitative behavior of second order nonlinear differential equations of type y″+p(t)y+q(t)f(y)=0, is studied. It includes properties such as positivity, number of zeros, oscillating nature, boundedness and monotonicity of the solutions.     

Change in the energy of a charged particle moving in the field of a slow electromagnetic wave

A differential equation is obtained that describes the change in the energy of a charged particle in the field of a slow wave (with phase velocity not equal to unity) as a function of the distance traversed. Analysis of this equation yields the amplitude and period of the change in the particle's energy.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 97–102, February, 1981.     

Relaxation dynamics of a broadband nanosecond acoustic pulse in a bubbly medium

The first experimental observation of the propagation dynamics of a short broadband acoustic pulse in a resonance medium with gas bubbles is carried out. The probing pulse is generated using the optoacoustic effect. It is shown that the theory of short pulse propagation in media with generalized resonance relaxation adequately and accurately describes the dynamics of short pulse dispersion. A possibility to determine the relaxation and resonance parameters of media by the pulsed testing technique is demonstrated.     

Diffraction of elastic waves by a free wedge. Reduction to a singular integral equation

The problem of diffraction of a plane elastic wave by a free wedge is considered. A method of reduction of the problem to a singular integral equation is proposed.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova, Vol. 179, pp. 37–45, 1989.     

Simulation of a turbulent premixed open V-shaped flame using contour advection with surgery

Despite its capability of high spatial resolution, simulation of turbulent flows with traditional Lagrangian (front tracking) scheme is often discouraged by numerical instability caused by clustering of marker nodes and topological changes of fronts. Contour advection surgery (CAS), being a robust front tracking scheme, can limit the growth of front complexity during simulation without jeopardizing accuracy or efficiency. This allows it to open up an advantage over traditional front-tracking schemes. It has already been demonstrated that CAS, with incorporation of the reaction sheet model, can accurately simulate the propagation and advection of a turbulent premixed V-shaped flame. In this study, it is further tested with 10 values of vortex circulation. A range of upstream turbulence levels of 1.8–19.8% was obtained. Results indicate that upstream turbulence increase the average flame length, flame zone area and the overall burning rate. Flame surface density Σ was also estimated. Maximum values of Σ obtained lie in the range 0.1–1.4 mm⁻¹. Skewness towards the burnt region was observed in all profiles of Σ. Similar to results from laboratory experiments, it was found that Σ values decreases with upstream turbulence. From this study, the ability of CAS to cope with intense turbulence is demonstrated and a better quantitative understanding on the scheme has also been acquired.     

Two-stream-like mechanism of zonal-flow generation by Rossby waves in a shallow rotating fluid

It is shown that the small-scale Rossby waves in a shallow rotating fluid placed in a gravitational field can generate large-scale zonal flows by means of a two-stream-like mechanism. This mechanism is revealed under the conditions when the Lighthill instability criterion is not satisfied. The text was submitted by the authors in English.