Analysis of R. P. Smith's and D. C. Parris-R. B. Mclellan's carbon diffusivity data

A phenomenological model is proposed to account for the variation of carbon diffusivityD(N₁) with composition in austenite. This model is based on Parris-McLellan's statement that the increase ofD(N₁) with carbon concentrationN ₁ is due to the increase in chemical driving force. The gradient of the carbon activity in Wagner's and in Zupp-Stevenson's interpretation is presumed to be the intrinsic driving force. The predictions of the model are compared with carbonD(N₁) values both with [1] and without [5] a chemical concentration gradient. TheD(0) values and the carbon-carbon interaction coefficients ₁ are calculated by the use of the least squares method from the experimental data. The application of Zupp-Stevenson's definition of the activity coefficient ₁ results in a better fit of the theory to the experimental data.     

Interdiffusion in the Co-Ni system-I concentration penetration curves and interdiffusion coefficients

The interdiffusion in the Co-Ni system has been investigated in the temperature range of 950 to 1150 °C, by means of diffusion specimens of pure Co and Ni. The concentration curvesN(x, t) obtained with the aid of an JXA-3 A JEOL electron microprobe were evaluated using the smoothing cubic spline method by means of the Boltzmann-Matano equation. The obtained interdififusion coefficient values ¯D increase with the increasing Ni concentration and satisfy the Arrhenius equation at temperaturesH 990 °C. At lower temperatures the influence of high diffusivity paths may be effective, resulting in higher ¯D values. No expressive influence of atomic (Ni₃Co) or magnetic order on the interdiffusion has been detected. The activation enthalpyH values were found almost concentration independent. A Kirkendall effect study has been carried out with positive results which are presented in Part II of this paper. A new method for the determination of diffusants concentration in the Kirkendall plane was proposed. With the use of this method and of Darken equations the intrinsic diffusion coefficients were calculated. These results are given in Part III.     

Extraction of Am(III) in the presence of lanthanides and yttrium by benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate from acidic nitrate solutions

We have investigated the effect of coextraction of lanthanides and yttrium on the distribution coefficients D_Am in the extraction of americium by benzyldimethyldodecylammonium nitrate (BDMLNNO₃) from nitrate solutions. In the coextraction of lanthanides, the extraction of Am(NO₃)₃ is suppressed, which is markedly manifested in the extraction of light lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr); of the series of lanthanides their extraction is the highest. The effect of nitric acid and the possibility of separation of lanthanides and americium by the application of three-stage multiple extraction is discussed.     

Electrosorption of hydrogen into palladium-gold alloys

Hydrogen electrosorption into Pd-Au alloys has been studied in acidic solutions (1 M H₂SO₄) using cyclic voltammetry. Pd-Au electrodes with limited volume were prepared by electrochemical co-deposition. It was found that the maximum H/(Pd+Au) ratios decrease monotonically with increasing gold content and reach zero at ca. 70 at% Au. Similarly to the case of Pd limited volume electrodes, two peaks in the hydrogen region, corresponding to two types of sorbed hydrogen, are observed on voltammograms for Pd-rich alloys. The hydrogen capacity, H/(Pd+Au), measured electrochemically, depends on the sweep rate in the cyclic voltammetry experiments, which suggests that two different mechanisms for hydrogen desorption from the Pd-Au alloy are possible. After a strong decrease of Pd concentration at the electrode surface, caused by long cyclic polarization to sufficiently anodic potentials, the amount of absorbed hydrogen is still significant for alloys initially rich in Pd. The results obtained from CO adsorption experiments suggest that only Pd atoms are active in the hydrogen absorption/desorption process. Electronic Publication     

Liquid chromatography of carbon clusters

Summary A comparison of three binary mobile phases in LC separation of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerences on chemically bonded 2,4-dinitroanilinopropyl (DNAP) stationary phase was carried out, n-Hexane-benzene has been found to be the best mobile phase for efficient separation of the all-carbon molecules permitting high loads in preparative LC.     

Influence of Al2O3 Nanoparticles on the Thermal Stability of Ultra-Fine Grained Copper Prepared by High Pressure Torsion

Summary.  Ultra-fine grained (UFG) Cu (grain size 80 nm) containing 0.5 wt.% Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (size 20 nm) was prepared by high pressure torsion (HPT). Positron lifetime spectroscopy was employed to characterize the microstructure of this material, especially with respect to types and concentration of lattice defects. The evolution of microstructure with increasing temperature was studied by positron lifetime spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. The thermal stability of the Cu + 0.5 wt.% Al₂O₃ nanocomposite was compared with that of pure UFG Cu prepared by the same technique. The processes taking place during thermal recovery of the initial nanoscale structure in both studied materials are described. Received October 5, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 20, 2001     

Dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with nitrous oxide in the presence of mesoporous silica materials modified with transition metal oxides

The novel mesoporous templated silicas (MCM-48, SBA-15, MCF, and MSU) were used as supports for transition metal (Cu, Cr, or Fe) oxides. The catalysts were synthesized using the incipient wetness impregnation, and characterized by low-temperature N2 sorption, DRIFT, photoacoustic IR spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. It was shown that the preparation method used results in different distributions and dimensions of the transition metal oxide clusters on the inert support surface. The prepared catalysts were tested in the reaction of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene in the presence of nitrous oxide. The iron-containing catalysts showed the highest catalytic activity. The presence of isolated Fe3+ was found to be the most important factor influencing the ethylbenzene conversion. The undesirable effect of the increase in selectivity toward CO2 was observed for the samples with the highest concentrations of acidic surface sites.     

Theory of electronic transport in two-dimensional systems in the presence of magnetic fields

Three parts of the paper [Czech. J. Phys.41 (1991) 620,7 are focused on the Landauer-Büttiker approach to the study of transport in two-dimensional electron systems, with particular attention to the influence of an external magnetic field. In the previous parts the Landauer formalism was generalized for two-dimensional systems in quantizing magnetic fields. In the present part we applied the formalism to an analysis of magnetoresistance measurements. The two-dimensional electron gas preserved in the non-dissipative quantum Hall regime acts as the ideal leads necessary in the Landauer-Büttiker approach. The voltage, applied to the gate, forms a scattering region in the gated part of the sample, in between of its undisturbed parts (ideal leads). The dependence of the resistance on the gate voltage and the number of available channels within the ideal leads are discussed.The author wishes to thank to Professor P. Steda for cooperation and to Professor L. Smrka for his encouragement and support. Dr. R. J. Haug should be acknowledged for providing his experimental results.     

Theory of electronic transport in two-dimensional systems in the presence of magnetic fields

The paper of three parts is focused on the Landauer-Büttiker approach to the study of transport in two-dimensional electron systems, with particular attention to the influence of an external magnetic field. In the previous part the total conductance of such a system was shown to be proportional to the transmission current. In the present part we give a detailed proof, based on the linear response theory, to the last statement. The value of the magnetic field may be arbitrary and possible inhomogeneity of the electric field is also considered.The author wishes to thank to Professor P. Steda and Professor L. Smrka for discussions and encouragement.