Solid-state Electrochemistry of Gadolinium Hexacyanoferrate Modified Electrode and Electrocatalytic Properties of Gadolinium Hexacyanoferrate

A new electroactive polynuclear inorganic compound of rare earth metal, gadolinium hexacyanoferrate (GdHCF), was prepared and characterized using the techniques of FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), UV-Vis spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ICP atomic emission spectroscopy, and EDX. The results of ICP atomic emission spectroscopy, EDX, and TGA indicated that the prepared GdHCF sample had a stoichiometry of NaGdFe(CN)₆·12H₂O (when GdHCF was prepared in NaCl solution). The FTIR spectrum of GdHCF showed that there were two types of water molecules in the structure of GdHCF: one was the interstitial water (5 H₂O), which resulted from the association of water due to H-bonding, and the other was water coordinated with Gd (7 H₂O). The results obtained using XPS showed that the oxidation state of Fe and Gd in the GdHCF sample was +2 and +3, respectively. GdHCF was immobilized on the surface of spectroscopically pure graphite (SG) electrode forming the GdHCF/SG electrode, and the solid-state electrochemistry of the resultant electrode was studied using cyclic voltammetry. The cyclic voltammetric results indicated that the GdHCF/SG electrode exhibited a pair of well-defined and stable redox peaks with the formal potential of E^0′=(197±3) mV. The effects of the concentration of the supporting electrolyte on the electrochemical characteristics of GdHCF were studied, and the results showed that the value of E^0′ increased linearly with the activity of the cationic ion of the supporting electrolyte (lga_Na⁺), with a slope of 54.1 mV, which may become a novel method for determining the activity of Na⁺ in solution. Further experimental results indicated that GdHCF had electrocatalytic activities toward the oxidation of dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA), and the electrocatalytic current increased linearly with the concentration of DA (or AA) in the range of 1.0–10.0 mmol·L^?1 (for DA) or 0.5–20.0 mmol·L^?1 (for AA).     

Carbon-13 NMR evidence for cocrystallization of cellulose as a mechanism for hornification of bleached kraft pulp

Solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize a bleached softwood kraft pulp in the never-dried state and after cycles of drying and remoistening. Changes in NMR signal strengths indicated that growth of crystalline domains involved cocrystallization rather than accretion of cellulose from noncrystalline domains. A cluster of C-4 signals at 89.4 ppm, assigned to the interiors of crystalline domains, grew at the expense of C-4 signals at 84.0 and 84.9 ppm, assigned to the well-ordered surfaces of crystalline domains. Irreversible changes were not detected until the moisture content dropped below 18%. They were enhanced by a second drying/remoistening cycle, but showed little further change on subsequent cycles. The necessary conditions resembled those reported for hornification, suggesting that cocrystallization might provide a mechanism for hornification.     

Performance of a CW pumped Nd:YVO4 amplifier with kHz pulses

Until recently, simple and reliable high repetition-rate laser sources with nanosecond pulses much shorter than from conventional A-O Q-switch lasers were not available. However over the past 2 years we have developed such lasers based on proprietary fast E-O switching technology, which allows designs delivering 1 ns pulses and subnanosecond jitter for good synchronisation. The technology provides pulses with multi-kW peak power and repetition-rates to >100 kHz.Most recently, the performance of these short pulse lasers has been developed further by implementing oscillator/amplifier (master oscillator and power amplifier, MOPA) technology which increases the output to >1 W average power. Here we report on a simple model that has been used to predict the performance of the CW pumped Nd:YVO₄ amplifier used in the MOPA laser. The model is based on the well-known expressions for the saturated gain applying to laser pulses, but more usually applied to pulse-excited amplifiers. The model is shown to allow a good interpretation of the amplifier behaviour for kHz pulses and to be a useful tool for predicting the performance of the MOPA laser.     

Laser printing of nanocomposite solid-state electrolyte membranes for Li micro-batteries

The electrochemical and mechanical properties of nanocomposite solid-state electrolyte membranes deposited using a laser direct-write technique from a suspended solution comprised of an ionic liquid (1,2-dimethyl-3-n-butylimidazolium-bis-trifluoromethanesulfonylimide)-polymer (poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)) matrix with dispersed nano-particles (TiO₂) are reported and discussed. These laser printed nanocomposite solid-state membranes are shown to exhibit the proper electrochemical behavior for ionic liquids while maintaining the strength and flexibility of the polymer matrix. This combination of physical properties and deposition technique makes these deposited nanocomposite membranes ideally suited for use as an electrolyte/separator in Li micro-batteries. Sample Li micro-batteries using these laser printed nanocomposite membranes have been fabricated and their charge/discharge behavior tested, demonstrating the feasibility of using these nanocomposite membranes in Li micro-battery applications.     

微球板电子倍增器基体制备技术研究

新型微球板电子倍增器和微通道板相比具有高增益、无离子反馈、制备简单、造价低廉等优点。介绍了微球板电子倍增器的工作原理、特点和广阔的应用前景。由于微球板基体的形成技术是微球板制备的关键技术，论文从理论上研究了微球板基体烧结过程中的烧结速率。并采用自行设计组分的高铅玻璃，用立式炉成珠设备进行了玻璃微珠的制备。探索了微球板制备过程中玻璃微珠的分级技术、微球板电子倍增器基体成型工艺和技术。制备出基本满足要求的微球板电子倍增器基体。给出了制造的样品和文献上样品结构的SEM对比照片，最后对实验过程中的一些现象进行了分析，并给出了实验的结论。     

LD泵浦固体激光器基模振荡光的场分布噪音

通过调整泵浦光直径,使得LD端面泵浦固体激光器的振荡光工作于基模.在排除高阶横模的条件下,测量了由于热透镜的不稳定引起的光场场分布的噪音.实验发现,基模振荡光的高斯半径、光束指向角都在波动,而且光斑存在畸变波动.对一个未采取抑制措施的2W连续LD端面泵浦Nd:YAG固体激光器进行了测量.结果表明,在总功率不变的情况下,激光束峰值点附近的光强波动达到6.3%;激光的高斯半径波动达到5.8%;激光的指向角波动达到0.3mrad.     

Influence of fluoride on f-f transitions of Eu in LiEuM2O8 (M=Mo, W)

The influence of fluoride on the luminescence of LiEuM₂O₈ (M=Mo, W) was studied. LiEuMo₂O₈ and LiEuW₂O₈ formed the whole range of solid solutions, which emitted intense red luminescence under the excitations by 395, 465 and 535 nm wavelengths. When doped with fluoride, the materials also formed solid solutions and the luminescent intensity was remarkably enhanced. The phosphor with optimized compositions in this system would be a promising red component for solid-state lighting devices based on GaN light-emitting diodes.     

The synthesis mechanism of Ca3Al2O6 from soft mechanochemically activated precursors studied by time-resolved neutron diffraction up to 1000°C

The reaction pathway for the Ca₃Al₂O₆ formation up to 1300°C, from mechanochemically treated mixtures of amorphous aluminum hydroxide and CaCO₃, was studied in situ by differential thermal analysis, constant heating rate dilatometry and time-resolved neutron powder diffraction. The experiment was carried out, in an open system, on a sample with the nominal Ca₃Al₂O₆ stoichiometry. The results obtained by neutron diffractometry and thermal analysis were in good agreement with the data obtained by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction on heat-treated and-quenched samples. The synthesis path implied the formation of cryptocrystalline Al₂O₃, crystalline CaO, CaAl₂O₄ and Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ as transitory phases. Finally the nucleation and growth of the single phase Ca₃Al₂O₆ took place at 1300°C and exhibited porous structure due to CO₂ and H₂O release.     

Nd掺杂的Bi4Ti3O12变温X射线衍射分析

利用变温X射线衍射技术，在预烧过程中分析了Nd掺杂Bi4Ti3O12后生成Bi3.15Nd0.85Ti3O12（BNT）相的形成过程以及微结构的变化．实验观察到以30℃／min的升温速率，BNT相在700℃时开始形成，其衍射峰强度随温度的继续升高而增强，衍射峰半高宽随烧结时间延长而减小．X射线衍射分析结果表明，在900℃恒温条件下，烧结约2h，可形成单一的BNT相．     

Modification of a three-way catalyst washcoat by aging: A study along the longitudinal axis

This work reports the research carried out by studying aliquots extracted at different axial coordinates from Three Way Catalyst (TWC) monoliths aged under real traffic conditions. Our study focused on the catalytic properties and on several chemical and physical effects caused in the Front and Rear monolith washcoat surfaces by vehicle aging after 60,000 km. Regarding the catalytic properties, all the used aliquots showed poorer activity than their corresponding fresh counterparts. The strongest deactivation was detected for NO and hydrocarbon conversion. CO conversion was less affected and the Rear monolith was as deactivated as the Front one. The characterisation techniques (TXRF, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, XRD and H₂-TPR) detected - (i) the deposition of P, Zn and Pb; (ii) the formation of CePO₄ on account of the Ce from the washcoat; (iii) thermal sintering; (iv) inhibition of the reducibility of Ce oxides - as the main effects brought about by vehicle aging conditions. The deactivation observed at the beginning of the Front monolith was the result of a combination of the former effects. When moving downstream to higher axial coordinates, Pb accumulation and the loss of specific area appeared to be the only probable sources of deactivation.