High density excitons in tracks of energetic charged particles in CuCl

The luminescence induced by heavy charged particle irradiation has been measured. The bi-exciton lines (M_T and M_L) and the line at 3926 Å were observed. It is concluded that these lines arise from the densely excited region in particle tracks.     

Challenge of advanced low temperature fuel cells based on high degree of freedom of group 4 and 5 metal oxides

To obtain an ideal electrocatalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, we investigated group 4 and 5 oxide-based compounds because of their high degree of freedom. First-principles calculations revealed that oxide surfaces such as those of titanium oxide could break down the universal scaling to achieve the ideal state of the oxygen reduction reaction. We experimentally clarified that the active sites were oxygen vacancies for tantalum and zirconium oxides, in addition to doped foreign elements and crystalline structures for titanium oxide. We successfully demonstrated that precious metal-free and carbon-free oxide-based cathodes have high quality active sites and superior durability in 0.1 M sulfuric acid at 80°C. Our strategy was developed as follows: (1) Active sites are created on the oxide surface by modifying the crystalline structure and electronic states and (2) electrons participating in the oxygen reduction reaction are supplied by nanosized oxide particles and oxide films through the tunneling effect of electrons.     

Brønsted acid-base ionic liquids and their use as new materials for anhydrous proton conductors

Novel Br?nsted acid-base ionic liquids, derived from a simple combination of a wide variety of organic amines with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) amide are electroactive for H2 oxidation and O2 reduction at a Pt electrode under non-humidifying conditions, which shows the prospect of the use of protic ionic liquids as new materials for anhydrous proton conductors at elevated temperatures.     

Critical anomaly in the viscosity of a nonionic micellar solution

The critical enhancement in the viscosity has been examined using a low-shear rotational viscometer for a nonionic micellar solution of tetraethylene glycol n-decylether (C₁₀E₄) in water. The estimated value ø=0.041±0.005, which characterizes the temperature dependence of the viscosity very close to its critical point of mixing, is in excellent agreement with that predicted by the dynamical universality for a fluid.