Thin-Film Nanotechnology for Power Sources

Russian Engineering Research - Thin-film vacuum technology permits the creation of new electrode materials on the basis of a flexible carbon matrix with a highly developed surface. Supercapacitor...     

ZrB2-MoSi2 ceramics: A comprehensive overview of microstructure and properties relationships. Part II: Mechanical properties

The mechanical behavior of ZrB₂-MoSi₂ ceramics made of ZrB₂ powder with three different particle sizes and MoSi₂ additions from 5 to 70 vol% was characterized up to 1500 °C. Microhardness (12–17 GPa), Young’s modulus (450–540 GPa) and shear modulus (190–240 GPa) decreased with both increasing MoSi₂ content and with decreasing ZrB₂ grain size. Room temperature fracture toughness was unaffected by grain size or silicide content, whilst at 1500 °C in air it increased with MoSi₂ and ZrB₂ grain size, from 4.1 to 8.7 MPa m^½. Room temperature strength did not trend with MoSi₂ content, but increased with decreasing ZrB₂ grain size from 440 to 590 MPa for the largest starting particle size to 700–800 MPa for the finest due to the decreasing size of surface grain pullout. At 1500 °C, flexure strength for ZrB₂ with MoSi₂ contents above 25 vol% were roughly constant, 400–450 MPa, whilst for lower content strength was controlled by oxidation damages. Strength for compositions made using fine and medium ZrB₂ powders increased with increasing MoSi₂ content, 250–450 MPa. Ceramics made with coarse ZrB₂ displayed the highest strengths, which decreased with increasing MoSi₂ content from 600 to 450 MPa.     

Effectiveness of portable HEPA air cleaners on reducing indoor PM2.5 and NH3 in an agricultural cohort of children with asthma: A randomized intervention trial

We conducted a randomized trial of portable HEPA air cleaners with pre-filters designed to also reduce NH₃ in non-smoking homes of children age 6-12 with asthma in Yakima Valley (Washington, USA). Participants were recruited through the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic asthma education program. All participants received education on home triggers while intervention families additionally received two HEPA cleaners (child's sleeping area, main living area). Fourteen-day integrated samples of PM_2.5 and NH₃ were measured at baseline and one-year follow-up. We fit ANCOVA models to compare follow-up concentrations in HEPA vs control homes, adjusting for baseline concentrations. Seventy-one households (36 HEPA, 35 control) completed the study. Most were single-family homes, with electric heat and stove, A/C, dogs/cats, and mean (SD) 5.3 (1.8) occupants. In the sleeping area, baseline geometric mean (GSD) PM_2.5 was 10.7 (2.3) μg/m³ (HEPA) vs 11.2 (1.9) μg/m³ (control); in the living area, it was 12.5 (2.3) μg/m³ (HEPA) vs 13.6 (1.9) μg/m³ (control). Baseline sleeping area NH₃ was 62.4 (1.6) μg/m³ (HEPA) vs 65.2 (1.8) μg/m³ (control). At follow-up, HEPA families had 60% (95% CI, 41%-72%; p < .0001) and 42% (19%-58%; p = .002) lower sleeping and living area PM_2.5, respectively, consistent with prior studies. NH₃ reductions were not observed.     

Hydrogenation process in multiphase alloys of Ti-Zr-Mn-V system on the example of Ti42.75Zr27Mn20.25V10 alloy

The influence of phase composition and microstructure of Ti_42.75Zr₂₇Mn_20.25V₁₀ alloy on its hydrogenation kinetic and phase composition of hydrogenated product was studied. It is established that the process of dissociation of hydrogen molecules begins on the surface of Laves phase crystallites. The dissolution of atomic hydrogen in the material volume leads to the formation of cracks in the intermetallic crystallites, which further appear as additional centers of dissociation of hydrogen molecules and noticeably accelerate the diffusion of hydrogen into the bulk material. It was shown that the Laves phase acts as a donor of atomic hydrogen for the BCC solid solution during hydrogenation of two-phase structure, initiating intensive hydrogenation of the BCC phase at room temperature.     

Fabrication of tungsten oxide photoanode by doctor blade technique and investigation on its photocatalytic operation mechanism

WO₃ is a potential material candidate for construction of photoanode for solar driven water splitting. In this work, μm-thick porous WO₃ photoanode is prepared by depositing a stable ink made of WO₃ nanoparticles and Aristoflex velvet polymer in water using the doctor blade technique, followed by a sintering in air. The nature of WO₃ nanoparticles, its loading mass on F-doped tin oxide electrode as well as sintering temperature are examined in order to optimize the photocatalytic activity of the resultant WO₃ photoanode. The operation of WO₃ photoanode is investigated by varying the light illumination direction and light incident intensity as well as changing the nature of the electrolyte. Dissolved tungsten in electrolyte is quantified by ICP-MS providing insights into the influences of electrolyte nature and operating conditions to the corrosion of WO₃. It is proposed that the H₂O₂ and OH^. radical generated as by-products of the photo-driven water oxidation on the photoanode surface are harmful species that accelerate the dissolution of WO₃.     

Colostrum source and passive immunity transfer in dairy bull calves

Colostrum is essential for good neonate health; however, it is not known whether different calves absorb the nutrients from colostrum equally well. In this study, the absorption of protein, IgG, and γ-glutamyl transferase was compared in newborn dairy bull calves for 1 wk after feeding colostrum from different sources. Thirty-five Holstein-Friesian bull calves were randomly allocated into 3 groups and fed colostrum within 4 h after birth. Group A calves (n = 12) were bottle fed colostrum from their own dam for 3 d. Colostrum from these group A cows was also used as foster cow colostrum for the group B calves (n = 12), such that each group A and B calf pair received identical colostrum from each milking of the respective group A dam (10% of birth weight per day). The group C calves (n = 11) were fed 1 bottle (2 L) of pooled colostrum and transition milk (referred to as pooled colostrum), as was the standard practice on the dairy farm. The pooled colostrum was collected from the other dairy cows on the farm 0 to 4 d postpartum and stored at 4°C for less than 12 h. Blood was sampled from calves before the first feeding and at 1, 2, 3, and 7 d after birth. Levels of total solids, total protein, and IgG were higher in the dam colostrum than in the pooled colostrum. At birth, there were no differences between the calf groups for any measurements, and all calves had very low IgG levels. After receiving colostrum, the glucose, plasma γ-glutamyl transferase, serum total protein, and IgG concentrations increased significantly in all calves. There were no differences in any blood measurements at any time point between the pairs of group A and group B calves that received colostrum from the same cow except for the IgG concentration 2 d after birth. However, the group A calves had a higher total serum protein level and IgG concentration than the group C calves for all the time points after the first feeding. The group B calves had a higher IgG concentration than the group C calves on d 1, 2, and 7 after birth. Compared with groups A and B, there was no difference in the proportion of calves in group C that failed to have passive immunity transferred adequately based on the IgG threshold (<10 g/L). Thus, the calves receiving identical colostrum from the same cow had the same levels of IgG, and even the pooled colostrum provided sufficient transfer of IgG as the calves were fed within 4 h after birth.     

Producing Electrodes for Innovative Power Sources by Thin-Film Technology

Russian Engineering Research - Theoretical principles are outlined for the use of thin-film technology in producing electrode materials for hybrid capacitors. The materials are based on a carbon...