Hydrogen adsorption in carbon nanostructures: comparison of nanotubes, fibers, and coals

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) were reported to have record high hydrogen storage capacities at room temperature, indicating an interaction between hydrogen and carbon matrix that is stronger than known before. Here we present a study of the interaction of hydrogen with activated charcoal, carbon nanofibers, and SWNT that disproves these earlier reports. The hydrogen storage capacity of these materials correlates with the surface area of the material, the activated charcoal having the largest. The SWNT appear to have a relatively low accessible surface area due to bundling of the tubes; the hydrogen does not enter the voids between the tubes in the bundles. Pressure-temperature curves were used to estimate the interaction potential, which was found to be 580+/-60 K. Hydrogen gas was adsorbed in amounts up to 2 wt % only at low temperatures. Molecular rotations observed with neutron scattering indicate that molecular hydrogen is present, and no significant difference was found between the hydrogen molecules adsorbed in the different investigated materials. Results from density functional calculations show molecular hydrogen bonding to an aromatic C[bond]C that is present in the materials investigated. The claims of high storage capacities of SWNT related to their characteristic morphology are unjustified.     

An integrated dynamic model for economic development and natural environment: An application to the Greek Sporades Islands

This paper presents a modelling study on regional sustainable development. First, the use of formal modelling for studying the multi-level relationship between economic, environmental and development processes is discussed. Such a relationship is analyzed for an island region in Greece. A potential conflict exists here between environmental conservation, local interests and rapid growth in tourism. A dynamic model is used to depict the development of the economies of three main islands and their interactions with the terrestrial and marine environment. The presentation of the case study model is followed by a discussion of scenarios, indicators and simulation results.This study was supported by the Foundation for Advancement of Economic Research (Ecozoek), which resorts under the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (N.W.O.), Project No. 450-230-007.     

Characterization of a phosphorylated peptide and peptoid and peptoid-peptide hybrids by mass spectrometry

Nano-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (nano-ES-MS/MS) was used to record collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of a set of peptoid-peptide hybrids and the complete peptoid derived from the phosphopeptide Ac-pTyr-Glu-Thr-Leu-NH(2) (1). The presence of B and Y'-type fragment ions in the tandem mass spectra of the protonated molecular ions [M + H](+) allowed confirmation of sequence similar to mass spectrometric sequence analysis in peptides. In the isomeric peptoid compounds studied, one or several amino acid residues were replaced by peptoid residues (N-substituted glycine residues), which resulted in characteristic tandem mass spectra with differently increased relative abundances of Y'-and B-type fragment ions. The increment of a particular Y'-ion was directly correlated to the position of a peptoid residue present. In addition to these increased peak intensities, other characteristic peaks were also observed compared with the spectrum of reference peptide 1. When a peptoid phosphotyrosine was incorporated, the presence of this residue was apparent from the occurrence of a relatively intense peak at m/z 187 representing the positively charged side-chain of phosphotyrosine, which was almost absent in the spectrum of the reference peptide 1. Since the threonine side-chain had to be translated into the homo peptoid analog this substitution was apparent from the presence of [M + H](+) and fragment ions 14 mass units higher than observed in the spectrum of the reference phosphopeptide 1. The presence of an NLeu peptoid residue could be confirmed by the specific fragmentation of the immonium ion showing an intense peak in its tandem mass spectrum at m/z 57, which results from the loss of an neutral imine molecule leading to a positively charged [C(4)H(9)](+) ion. By means of these mass spectrometric characteristics, all isomeric peptoid compounds could be distinguished from each other and characterized. The methods used appear to be very useful in future studies of peptoids and peptoid-peptide hybrids.     

Hydrogen storage using physisorption – materials demands

A survey is presented of the storage capacities of a large number of different adsorbents for hydrogen at 77 K and 1 bar. Results are evaluated to examine the feasibility and perspectives of transportable and reversible storage systems based on physisorption of hydrogen on adsorbents. It is concluded that microporousadsorbents, e.g. zeolites and activated carbons, display appreciable sorption capacities. Based on their micropore volume (∼1 ml/g) carbon-based sorbents display the largest adsorption, viz. 238 ml (STP)/g, at the prevailing conditions. Optimization of sorbent and adsorption conditions is expected to lead to adsorption of ∼560 ml (STP)/g, close to targets set for mobile applications. Received: 9 January 2001 / Accepted: 27 January 2001 / Published online: 23 March 2001     

Interactive multidimensional programming models for locational decisions

The paper is devoted to an extension of traditional location theory in two directions. First, the usual assumption of a single cost function will be abandoned by introducing multiple objectives. This gives rise to a multidimensional programming framework for the traditional location models. The paper provides a solution algorithm for the latter problem.Next, the assumption of a uniform space will be tackled by taking account of discrete candidate-locations. This problem can be solved by means of an adjusted multiciteria analysis.The solution algorithms for both extensions are based on an interactive strategy, so that the decision-maker may identify the most favourable location in a finite number of steps.     

Ga掺杂ZnO的电子结构与电性能的研究

采用密度泛函理论广义梯度近似第一性原理计算的方法研究了n型Ga掺杂的纤锌矿结构氧化物ZnO的晶格结构、能带结构和态密度,在此基础上分析了其电性能.计算结果表明,掺杂ZnO氧化物晶格a,b轴增大,c轴略有减小;Ga掺杂ZnO氧化物两能带之间具有0.6eV的直接带隙,需要载流子(电子)跃迁的能隙宽度较未掺杂的ZnO氧化物减小;掺杂体系费米能级附近的态密度大大提高,其能带主要由Gas态、Zns态和Os态电子构成,且他们之间存在着强相互作用,其中Gas态电子对导带贡献最大.电输运性能分析结果表明,Ga掺杂ZnO氧化物导电机构由Znp-Op电子在价带与导带的跃迁转变为Gas-Znd-Os电子在价带与导带的跃迁,这也表明Gas态电子在导电过程中的重要作用;掺杂体系费米能级附近的载流子有效质量较未掺杂体系增大,且价带中的载流子有效质量较大,导带中的载流子有效质量较小.     

A distance friction minimization approach in data envelopment analysis: A comparative study on airport efficiency

This paper aims to present a newly developed distance friction minimization (DFM) method in the context of data envelopment analysis (DEA) in order to generate an appropriate (non-radial) efficiency-improving projection model, for both input reduction and output increase. In this approach, a generalized distance function, based on a Euclidean distance metric in weighted spaces, is proposed to assist a decision making unit (DMU) to improve its performance by an appropriate movement towards the efficiency frontier surface. A suitable form of multidimensional projection function for efficiency improvement is given by a Multiple Objective Quadratic Programming (MOQP) model. The paper describes the various steps involved in a systematic manner.     

The mononuclear metal center of type-I dihydroorotase from aquifex aeolicus

Background

Dihydroorotase (DHO) is a zinc metalloenzyme, although the number of active site zinc ions has been controversial. E. coli DHO was initially thought to have a mononuclear metal center, but the subsequent X-ray structure clearly showed two zinc ions, α and β, at the catalytic site. Aquifex aeolicus DHO, is a dodecamer comprised of six DHO and six aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATC) subunits. The isolated DHO monomer, which lacks catalytic activity, has an intact α-site and conserved β-site ligands, but the geometry of the second metal binding site is completely disrupted. However, the putative β-site is restored when the complex with ATC is formed and DHO activity is regained. Nevertheless, the X-ray structure of the complex revealed a single zinc ion at the active site. The structure of DHO from the pathogenic organism, S. aureus showed that it also has a single active site metal ion.

Results

Zinc analysis showed that the enzyme has one zinc/DHO subunit and the addition of excess metal ion did not stimulate catalytic activity, nor alter the kinetic parameters. The metal free apoenzyme was inactive, but the full activity was restored upon the addition of one equivalent of Zn²⁺ or Co²⁺. Moreover, deletion of the β-site by replacing the His180 and His232 with alanine had no effect on catalysis in the presence or absence of excess zinc. The 2.2 Å structure of the double mutant confirmed that the β-site was eliminated but that the active site remained otherwise intact.

Conclusions

Thus, kinetically competent A. aeolicus DHO has a mononuclear metal center. In contrast, elimination of the putative second metal binding site in amidohydrolyases with a binuclear metal center, resulted in the abolition of catalytic activity. The number of active site metal ions may be a consideration in the design of inhibitors that selectively target either the mononuclear or binuclear enzymes.