Electrical properties of gadolinia-doped ceria thin films deposited by sputtering in view of SOFC application

Gadolinia-doped ceria (GDC) remains, up to now, the most promising candidate for replacing yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) as electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) operating at intermediate temperature. Literature data point out that GDC could be used as electrolyte, anode material, or interlayers for avoiding the chemical interactions occurring at the interfaces. In the present work, GDC thin layers were produced by d.c. reactive magnetron sputtering and deposited over a thickness domain between 450 nm and 5.5 µm. According to our knowledge, the deposition of GDC sputtered layers has never been reported. The physicochemical features of these thin films have been characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Impedance measurements have been carried out in order to determine the electrical properties of electrolyte thin films and in particular their ionic conductivity.Presented at the OSSEP Workshop Ionic and Mixed Conductors: Methods and Processes, Aveiro, Portugal, 10–12 April 2003     

An experimental study of a turbulent shear layer at a clean and contaminated free-surface

An experimental study was performed to measure the flow properties of a vertically-orientated shear layer in the vicinity of a free-surface. The effect of surface contamination on the near surface flow field was also determined. Digital Particle Image Velocimetry was used to measure instantaneous and averaged velocity, vorticity, and Reynolds stresses. Results show that the presence of surfactants can cause directional shifts of the shear layer, as well as an overall damping of the turbulence in the vicinity of the free-surface, except in the vicinity of a Reynolds ridge where an increase in Reynolds stress was observed.     

Efficient White Light Emitting Using an Electron Blocker in Non-Doped Type Organic Electroluminescent Devices

Non-doped type white organic electroluminescent (EL) devices using vacuum-deposited organic thin films of blue-emitting 4,4-bis(2,2 diphenylvinyl)-1,1-biphenyl (DPVBi) and yellow-emitting ultrathin 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene (rubrene) to generate white emission were fabricated. The two emitting layers are separated by an electron blocking layer of N,N-bis-(1-naphthyl)-N,N-diphenyl-1,1-biph-enyl-4,4-diamine (NPB). The thickness of the blocking layer determines the spectrum of the devices. In a device with 5 nm electron blocker of NPB, the CIE coordinates were well within the white region for voltage raging from 3 V to 14 V. The device has a maximum luminance of 7400 cd/m²(at current density of 830 mA/cm²) and maximum power efficiency of 1.67 lm/W at 5 V.     

Effect of Extensin - Like Cotton Proteins on Eukaryotic Cell Gene

The effect of extensin-like cotton proteins (ELP) on animal cell gene (KML cell culture) was studied. Cells perish (50%) at protein dose 100 g/mL (cytotoxic effect). DNA fragmentation is not observed. Cell death from ELP is hypothesized to occur via necrosis resulting from destruction of intracellular biochemical processes