Electrical and infrared dielectrical properties of silica aerogels and of silica-aerogel-based composites

In this contribution we have studied the key electrical parameters of silica aerogels and of silica-aerogel-based composites, namely the dielectric constants , the dielectric losses tan (at 1 kHz), and the breakdown fields E _b (at 50 Hz). For low-density bulk silica aerogels we find =1.25 and tan =0.0005. E _b is about 500 kV/cm in quasi-homogeneous fields, and of the order of MV/cm in strongly inhomogeneous fields. The dielectric constants of partially densified aerogels increase linearly with density; their dielectric losses are relatively large and their breakdown fields are comparativiely low. The same results are found for aerogels in the form of settled materials, i.e. aerogel granules and powders in air. Acrylate-based aerogel composites with volume fractions larger than 70% have low dielectric constants but their losses are at least 10 times higher than those of low-density aerogels. These materials sustain high local fields in the MV/cm region, while in quasihomogeneous fields, breakdown occurs at about 100 kV/cm. Based on the present results and the interplay with other physical properties (low mechanical resistance, low thermal conductivity, adsorption of water, etc.), silica aerogels and silica aerogel-acrylate-based composites are predicted to have a low potential for electrical insulation.     

CdO auf Cadmiumanoden in Alkalihydroxidlösungen??

Anodic films formed potentiostatically in 1M NaOH on Cadmium electrodes were examined by means of electron diffraction under carefully controlled conditions. Glancing incidence electron diffraction indicates the presence of Cd(OH)₂ on the electrolyte side of the film and of CdO on the metal side. Transmission electron diffraction of thin isolated films indicates only Cd(OH)₂ in films formed below the Flade-potential of the CdO electrode, but CdO along with Cd(OH)₂ above the Flade-potential. In these films selected area diffraction reveals spots consisting exclusively of a very thin oxid layer.     

Studying the evaporation behavior of heavy metals by thermo-desorption spectrometry

"Thermal desorption experiments" were carried out during which heavy metal evaporation was studied by on-line monitoring. This could be achieved by the use of a tubular furnace connected to a heavy metal detector, i.e. an ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer), by a specially designed and patented interface. The spectrograms typically had a time resolution of four different elements per minute using a conventional (sequentially operating) ICP-OES. This study shows how thermo-desorption spectrometry (TDS) can be applied to study the evaporation of high boiling substances, such as heavy metal and alkali metal compounds. The future scope of the method is discussed.     

An improved error bound for a finite element approximation of a model for phase separation of a multi-component alloy

Using the approach of Rulla (1996 SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 33, 68-87)for analysing the time discretization error and assuming moreregularity on the initial data, we improve on the error boundderived by Barrett and Blowey (1996 IMA J. Numer. Anal. 16,257-287) for a fully practical piecewise linear finite elementapproximation with a backward Euler time discretization of amodel for phase separation of a multi-component alloy.     

Coverage- and temperature-dependent vibrational spectra of hydrogen chemisorbed on Si(100)2 × 1

The adsorption of atomic hydrogen at Si(100)2 × 1 has been studied for coverages at and below one monolayer at temperatures between 300 and 1200 K using high-resolution Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and Low Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED). Measurements of EELS frequencies, linewidths and intensities are discussed for different coverages and temperatures during exposure as well as subsequent annealing. Formation of a monohydride Si(100)2 × 1 : H adsorption phase is observed at room temperature in the sub-monolayer range, at 650 K for all coverages up to the saturation, and during thermal decomposition of the low temperature dihydride Si(100)1 × 1 : : 2H adsorption phase. The latter is formed by saturating Si(100) at 300 K with atomic hydrogen.     

Hydration/expansion and cation charge compensation modulate the Brønsted basicity of distorted clay water

This letter addresses how iron redox cycling and the hydration properties of the exchangeable cation influence the Br?nsted basicity of adsorbed water in 2:1 phyllosilicates. The probe pentachloroethane undergoes facile dehydrochlorination to tetrachloroethene, attributed to increases in the Br?nsted basicity of near-surface hydrating water molecules following the reduction of structural Fe(III) to Fe(II). This dehydrochlorination process is studied in the presence of Na(+)- or K(+)-saturated Upton montmorillonite [(Na0.82 (Si7.84 Al0.16)(Al3.10 Fe(3+)0.3 Mg0.66) O20 (OH)4] or ferruginous smectite [(Na0.87 Si7.38 Al0.62)(Al1.08) Fe(3+)2.67 Fe(2+)0.01 Mg0.23) O20 (OH)4]. The effect of iron redox cycling on pentachloroethane dehydrochlorination is studied using reduced or reduced and reoxidized smectite samples saturated with Na+ (fully expanded clay) or K+ (fully collapsed clay). Variations in the clay Br?nsted basicity following Na+ -for- K+ exchange are explained by cationic charge compensation or interlayer hydration/expansion imposed by the nature of the exchangeable cation. Inverse relations between K+ fixation and clay water content as well as trends in pentachloroethane transformation indicate that increases in the Br?nsted basicity result from increases in the clay hydrophilicity and shifts in the local activity of distorted clay water. Potassium fixation causes partially collapsed smectites bearing low amounts of structural Fe(II) to have a similar reactivity to that of fully expanded smectites (Na+ form) bearing higher amounts of structural Fe(II). In particular, the conversion of up to 80% of the pentachloroethane to tetrachloroethane by K+ -saturated, reoxidized Upton was explained because the fixation of K+ causes nonreversible expansion and incomplete reoxidation of structural Fe(II), which contributes to the stabilization of charge density near sites bearing Fe(II). Higher pentachloroethane conversions by Upton montmorillonite over ferruginous smectite, however, suggest that charge dispersion rather than site specificity contributes predominantly to clay reactivity. Thus, clay interlayer hydration/expansion imposed by the nature of the exchangeable cation alters water dissociation and proton exchange in Fe(II)-Fe(III) phyllosilicates susceptible to iron redox cycling.