Effect of stoichiometry and Cu-substitution on the phase structure and hydrogen storage properties of Ml-Mg-Ni-based alloys

To improve the electrochemical properties of rare-earth–Mg–Ni-based hydrogen storage alloys, the effects of stoichiometry and Cu-substitution on the phase structure and thermodynamic properties of the ...     

A new catalyst based on a nickel(II) complex of diiminodiphosphine for hydrogen evolution and oxidation

Based on that hydrogen energy is widely used in fuel cells, we focus our interests on the design and research of new complexes that catalyze the reaction in both directions, such as hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs) and hydrogen oxidation reactions (HORs). A highly efficient catalyst for both hydrogen evolution and oxidation, based on a nickel(II) complex, [Ni-en-P₂](ClO₄)₂, has been designed and provided by the reaction of Ni(ClO₄)₂ with N,N′-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]ethylenediamine (en-P₂) in our group. Its structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. [Ni-en-P₂](ClO₄)₂ can electro-catalyze hydrogen evolution both from acetic acid and a neutral buffer (pH 7.0) with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 204 and 1327 mol of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour (H₂/mol catalyst/h) under an overpotential (OP) of 914.6 mV and 836.6 mV, respectively. [Ni-en-P₂](ClO₄)₂ also can electro-catalyze hydrogen oxidation with a TOF of 111.7 s⁻¹ under an OP of 330 mV. The results can be attributed to that [Ni^II-en-P₂](ClO₄)₂ has three good reversible redox waves at 1.01 (Ni^III/II), −0.79 (Ni^II/I) and −1.38 V (Ni^I/0) versus Fc^+/0, respectively. We hope these findings can afford a new method for the design of electrocatalysts for both H₂ evolution and H₂ oxidation.     

CuInS2/SiNWs/Si composite material for application as potential photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation

This work aims at developing a new composite material based on nanosized semiconducting CuInS₂ (CIS) particles combined with silicon nanowires grown on a silicon substrate (SiNWs/Si) for photoelectrochemical (PEC)-splitting of water. The CIS particles were prepared via a colloidal method using N-methylimidazole (NMI) as the solvent and an annealing treatment. The SiNWs were obtained by chemical etching of silicon (100) substrates assisted by a metal. The CIS/SiNWs/Si composite material was obtained by deposition of an aliquot of a suspension of CIS particles onto the SiNWs/Si substrate, using spin coating followed by a drying step. The XRD pattern demonstrated that CuInS₂ grows in the tetragonal/chalcopyrite phase, while SiNWs/Si presents a cubic structure. The SEM images show semi-spherical particles (～10 nm) distributed on the surface of silicon nanowires (～10 μm). The EIS measurements reveal n-type conductivity for CIS, SiNWs/Si and CIS/SiNWs/Si materials, which could favour the oxidation reaction of water molecules.     

Biohydrogen Production from Organic Waste – A Review

Hydrogen fuel is a promising alternative to fossil fuels because of its energy content, clean nature, and fuel efficiency. However, it is not readily available. Most current producion processes are very energy intensive and emit carbon dioxide. Therefore, this article reviews technological options for hydrogen production that are eco-friendly and generate clean hydrogen fuel. Biological methods, such different fermentation processes and photolysis are discussed together with the required substrates and the process efficiency.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to Ethylene by Molecular Cu‐Complex Immobilized on Graphitized Mesoporous Carbon

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to hydrocarbons is a challenging task because of the issues in controlling the efficiency and selectivity of the products. Among the various transition metals, copper has attracted attention as it yields more reduced and C2 products even while using mononuclear copper center as catalysts. In addition, it is found that reversible formation of copper nanoparticle acts as the real catalytically active site for the conversion of CO₂ to reduced products. Here, it is demonstrated that the dinuclear molecular copper complex immobilized over graphitized mesoporous carbon can act as catalysts for the conversion of CO₂ to hydrocarbons (methane and ethylene) up to 60%. Interestingly, high selectivity toward C2 product (40% faradaic efficiency) is achieved by a molecular complex based hybrid material from CO₂ in 0.1 m KCl. In addition, the role of local pH, porous structure, and carbon support in limiting the mass transport to achieve the highly reduced products is demonstrated. Although the spectroscopic analysis of the catalysts exhibits molecular nature of the complex after 2 h bulk electrolysis, morphological study reveals that the newly generated copper cluster is the real active site during the catalytic reactions.     

Economic Indicators

Currency exchanges rates – updated monthly. Economic indicators of industrial production. Countries included: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Japan (Total G-7), Eurozone and Total EU-28 (Total OECD). Updated monthly. Economic indicators of car registration in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Japan, Republic of Korea and Other OECD (Total OECD-30). Updated monthly. Monthly averages of crude steel production in thousand metric tons for the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Iran, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Australia.     

A model for multicomponent diffusion in oxide melts

A general flux equation for multicomponent diffusion in oxide melts is presented. An explicit method was developed to calculate the gradients of single-ion activities from those of oxides with the constraints of local equilibrium and electroneutrality. This resolves ambiguity in quantifying the thermochemical driving force for ionic diffusion. A model equation for multicomponent ionic diffusion was derived within the framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics by de Groot and Mazur. The proposed model takes empirically measurable quantities as input variables, so the diffusion calculations are consistent with thermochemical data, as furnished by the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method, as well as ionic mobility measurements. Although the model is derived for oxides, it can be applied to diffusion in other concentrated liquid electrolytes, such as chloride and fluoride melts. Formulas for multicomponent ionic diffusion in various reference frames are presented with respect to mole fraction.     

关于提升电视专题节目制作质量的对策研究

在广播电视行业不断发展条件下,电视专题节目制作也受到受众高度重视。这就应提高电视专题节目制作质量,在满足广大受众日常观看要求同时,使得我国广播电视行业向着现代化方向发展。针对电视专题节目制作进行研究,首先阐述电视专题节目制作特点,之后阐述电视专题节目制作质量问题和相关提升对策。在解决电视专题节目制作问题同时,提升电视专题节目制作质量,继而彰显电视专题节目制作优势。     

Automated and Continuous Production of Microstructured Metallic Plates via Cold Embossing

Many critical issues need to be addressed when microstructured reactors are manufactured in large unit volumes. The most crucial of these are cost, ease of production, and reliability. The lack of breakthrough manufacturing technology to provide high‐efficiency, low‐cost, high‐precision plates is a hindrance to the early market implementation of systems requiring metallic microstructured plates. This contribution focuses on the development and optimization of a combined embossing and bending tool for the quick and continuous manufacture of easily machined plates.     

Mining fleet management systems: a review of models and algorithms

The objective of this paper is to review and document the mine fleet management systems’ models and algorithms. The purpose is to understand the algorithms behind the fleet management systems and the proposed academic solutions in this area to identify any gaps in the current literature and to open up opportunities to establish research questions that need to be addressed in an integrated simulation and optimisation operational planning research framework. In this paper, we review industrial fleet management systems and the main academic algorithms behind such systems. The fleet management systems are divided into three subsequently related problems to review: shortest path, production optimisation and real-time dispatching. Finally, the limitations of current algorithms for fleet management systems are documented in terms of mining practice feasibility and optimality of the solution on large-scale problems. The results of this literature review enable us to evaluate the logical links between major components of an integrated simulation and optimisation operational planning framework with current theory of fleet management systems.