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.     

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.     

On a problem connected with zeros of ζ(s) on the critical line

The existence of zeros ofZ ^(k)(t) in short intervals of the type [T, T+H] is established, whereHT ^a(k)logT, . Hitherto the sharpest bounds for the constanta(k) are obtained by employing a certain exponential averaging technique and the estimation of the relevant exponential sums. Bounds for are also derived, under the assumption that orZ(t) does not vanish in certain short intervals.     

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.     

160Tb nuclear orientation in yttrium single crystal

First experimental results of¹⁶⁰Tb nuclear orientation in yttrium single crystal matrix are described. The influence of external magnetic field in combination with the crystal field interaction is discussed.     

Path integrals on half-line

In the framework of path integrals we present a solution to the Schrödinger equation for a free particle confined to the half-linex > 0. A solution in question corresponds to the boundary condition (/x) (0,t)= (0,t) where is a real constant.