Application of carbon materials as counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells

Hard carbon spherule (HCS) has been investigated as a counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells. The overall conversion efficiency of the cell reached 5.7%, which is comparable to 6.5% of the counter electrode of platinum-sputtered fluorine-doped tin oxide used in Grätzel-type solar cells under the same experimental condition. It is found that the photovoltaic performance was strongly affected by the specific surface areas of the carbon materials.     

Systematic low-energy effective theory for magnons and charge carriers in an antiferromagnet

By electron or hole doping quantum antiferromagnets may turn into high-temperature superconductors. The low-energy dynamics of antiferromagnets are governed by their Nambu–Goldstone bosons—the magnons—and are described by an effective field theory analogous to chiral perturbation theory for the pions in strong interaction physics. In analogy to baryon chiral perturbation theory—the effective theory for pions and nucleons—we construct a systematic low-energy effective theory for magnons and electrons or holes in an antiferromagnet. The effective theory is universal and makes model-independent predictions for the entire class of antiferromagnetic cuprates. We present a detailed analysis of the symmetries of the Hubbard model and discuss how these symmetries manifest themselves in the effective theory. A complete set of linearly independent leading contributions to the effective action is constructed. The coupling to external electromagnetic fields is also investigated.     

(La0.75Sr0.25)(Cr0.5Mn0.5)O3/YSZ composite anodes for methane oxidation reaction in solid oxide fuel cells

The synthesis and performance of (La_0.75Sr_0.25)(Cr_0.5Mn_0.5)O₃/Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ (LSCM/YSZ) composites are investigated as alternative anodes for the direct utilization of methane (i.e., natural gas) in solid oxide fuel cells. Addition of YSZ phase greatly improves the adhesion and reduces the electrode polarization resistance of the LSCM/YSZ composite anodes. LSCM/YSZ composite anodes show reasonably good performance for the methane oxidation reaction in wet CH₄ and the best electrode performance was achieved for the composite with LSCM contents of 50–60 wt.% with polarization resistances of 2–3 Ω cm² in 97% CH₄/3% H₂O at 850 °C. The electrode impedance for the methane oxidation in wet CH₄ on the LSCM/YSZ composite anodes was characterized by three separable arcs and the electrode behavior could be explained based on the ALS model for the reaction on the MIEC electrode. The results indicate that electrocatalytic activity of the LSCM/YSZ composite anodes for the methane oxidation is likely limited by the oxygen vacancy diffusion in the substituted lanthanum chromite-based materials.     

Effect of ultrasonic power on the stability of low-molecular-weight oyster peptides functional-nutrition W1/O/W2 double emulsion

Ultrasonic-assisted treatment is an eco-friendly and cost-effective emulsification method, and the acoustic cavitation effect produced by ultrasonic equipment is conducive to the formation of stable emulsion. However, its effect on the underlying stability of low-molecular-weight oyster peptides (LOPs) functional-nutrition W₁/O/W₂ double emulsion has not been reported. The effects of different ultrasonic power (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 W) on the stability of double emulsions and the ability to mask the fishy odor of LOPs were investigated. Low ultrasonic power (50 W and 75 W) treatment failed to form a well-stabilized double emulsion, and excessive ultrasound treatment (150 W) destroyed its structure. At an ultrasonic power of 125 W, smaller particle-sized double emulsion was formed with more uniform distribution, more whiteness, and a lower viscosity coefficient. Meanwhile, the cavitation effect generated by 125 W ultrasonic power improved storage, and oxidative stabilities, emulsifying properties of double emulsion by reducing the droplet size and improved sensorial acceptability by masking the undesirable flavor of LOPs. The structure of the double emulsion was further confirmed by optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The ultrasonic-assisted treatment is of potential value for the industrial application of double emulsion in functional-nutrition foods.     

Air transport in chute flows

The air bubble rise velocity in still water depends mainly on the bubble size and is basically influenced by buoyancy, viscosity and surface tension. In high-speed flows the number of forces acting on air bubbles increases with turbulence, non-hydrostatic pressure gradient, shear forces, bubble clouds and free-surface entrainment. Air bubbles in these flows are used for cavitation protection of hydraulic structures such as chutes, spillways and bottom outlets. Here, air is normally added by means of aerators upstream of regions where the cavitation number falls below a critical value mainly to reduce the sonic velocity of the fluid and cushion the cavitation bubble collapse process. The distance between successive aerators depends basically on the bubble rise velocity. Until today, the bubble rise velocity in high-speed flows was not thoroughly investigated because of limited laboratory instrumentation. The present project focused on the streamwise development of air concentrations in high-speed flows along a 14 m long model chute. The bubble rise velocity was indirectly derived from the air detrainment gradient of the air concentration contour lines downstream of an aeration device. It accounts for the main hydraulic parameters chute slope, Froude number and air concentration. It is demonstrated that the bubble rise velocity in high-speed flow and stagnant water differ significantly due to fracturing processes, turbulence, and the ambient air concentration.     

Automated headspace solid‐phase microextraction and on‐fiber derivatization for the determination of clenbuterol in meat products by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of clenbuterol in meat using stable‐isotope‐dilution gas chromatography with mass spectrometry coupled with solid‐phase microextraction and on‐fiber derivatization. The samples were first homogenized with hydrochloric acid followed by protein deposition. After headspace solid‐phase microextraction and on‐fiber derivatization, the content of clenbuterol was measured with the aid of stable‐isotope dilution. The condition of solid‐phase microextraction was optimized by central composite design. The relative standard deviations, limit of detection, and recoveries for clenbuterol were 4.2–9.2%, 0.48 μg/kg, and 96–104%, respectively. The proposed method was satisfactory for analysis of real samples as compared with the Chinese standard method.     

Platinum‐Catalyzed Cascade Rearrangement Reaction of 1,5‐Diynyl Esters: Unusual Regioselective 1,5‐Hydride Migration

A highly regioselective sequential 1,3‐acyloxy migration/pentannulation/1,5‐hydride migration reaction is disclosed which provides an efficient access to (E)‐2‐vinyl‐3‐oxo‐1‐methyleneindenes under neutral and mild reaction conditions. The migrated hydrogen atom was derived from an unactivated alkyl group, and the long‐range 1,5‐H shift was confirmed through related deuterium experiments.     

电解铜箔表面电沉积Zn-Ni-P-La合金工艺

为了缓解我国高性能铜箔依靠进口的局面,进行了将类金属(P)和稀土金属(La)引入电解铜箔锌镍合金镀层中以获得高耐腐蚀性铜箔的实验。 利用电子能谱(XPS)、X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)等技术手段分析镀层质量。 在最佳工艺下获得非晶态Zn-Ni-P-La合金镀层,镀层表面平整均匀、结晶致密,未钝化的情况下,铜箔镀件在180 ℃烘箱中保持1 h不变色,表现出较理想的抗氧化和抗腐蚀能力。 表明镀层中适量的P和稀土La对改善镀层质量有着重要的作用,具有较好的工业应用前景。