Terpolymers as precursors for CuO nanoparticles synthesis

This work describes the synthesis of terpolymers of aniline, diphenylamine, and o‐anthranilic acid (PANIDPAA) by 1 : 1 : 1 molar ratio of the respective monomers doped by different concentration of copper ions via in situ chemical terpolymerization. The results are justified by measuring spectral characteristics namely, UV‐vis absorption spectra, FTIR, and TGA. Calcining these PANIDPAA terpolymers doped by copper at temperatures in the range of 700°C led to the formation of CuO nanoparticles in the nanoscale by thermal decomposition in air directly. The stages of decompositions and the calcination temperature of the precursors have been determined from thermal analysis data sheet. The obtained CuO nanoparticles have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope (TEM). TEM showed a particle size less than 40 nm. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41150.     

An integral solution to a nonlinear diffusion problem

The generalized Galerkin method (or the method of integral relations) is applied to the type of problem described by quasilinear parabolic equations. As an example the problem of nonlinear transient slab diffusion with a general reservoir boundary condition is worked out. The integral relations are given for an arbitrary number of strips, and solutions using up to seven strips have been obtained in order to investigate the convergence of the method.     

Fabrication of core–shell nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic efficacy

The current study establishes the unprecedented involvement in the evolution and production of novel core–shell nanocomposites composed of nanosized titanium dioxide and aniline‐o‐phenylenediamine copolymer. TiO₂@copoly(aniline and o‐phenylenediamine) (TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA) core–shell nanocomposites were chemically synthesized in a molar ratio of 5:1 of the particular monomers and several weights of nano‐TiO₂ via oxidative copolymerization. The construction of the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA core–shell nanocomposites was ascertained from Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy and XRD. A reasonable thermal behavior for the original copolymer and the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA core–shell nanocomposites was investigated. The bare PANI‐o‐PDA copolymer was thermally less stable than the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA nanocomposites. The core–shell feature of the nanocomposites was found to have core and shell sizes of 17 nm and 19–26 nm, respectively. In addition, it was found that the addition of a high ratio of TiO₂ nanoparticles increases the electrical conductivity and consequently lowers the electrical resistivity of the TiO₂@PANI‐o‐PDA core–shell nanocomposites. The hybrid photocatalysts exhibit a dramatic photocatalytic efficacy of methylene blue degradation under solar light irradiation. A plausible interpretation of the photocatalytic degradation results of methylene blue is also demonstrated. Our setup introduces a facile, inexpensive, unique and efficient technique for developing new core–shell nanomaterials with various required functionalities and colloidal stabilities. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry     

Transient phenomenon of step switching for current or voltage in PEMFC

The transient phenomenon of fuel cell with 5 cm² active area is investigated in this study by current density step increase and switching voltage under different conditions. It is found that there is an undershoot when the current density step increase is at the loading of 60% RH anode cathode, 3 stoic., 70 °C, 15 psi for automobile applications. The voltage is almost zero under 0.2 step increase to 1.0 A/cm² due to the H⁺ transport in membrane or H₂/O₂ in catalyst layer is almost used up. The undershoot phenomenon is more serious under gases stoichiometries of 3.0/3.0 when H₂ is fully humidified due to low gas concentration or flooding on the electrode. This phenomenon would induce the degradation of fuel cell components.     

Numerical Solution of the Dam-Break Problem with a Discontinuous Galerkin Method

A discontinuous Galerkin method for the solution of the dam-break problem is presented. The scheme solves the shallow water equations with spectral elements, utilizing an efficient Roe approximate Riemann solver in order to capture bore waves. The solution is enhanced by a projection limiter that eliminates spurious oscillations near discontinuities. The main advantage of the model is the flexibility in approximating smooth solutions with high-order polynomials and resolving at the same time discontinuous shock waves. Furthermore, the finite element discretization is capable of handling complex geometries and producing correct results near the boundaries. Both the h- and p-type extensions are investigated for the one-dimensional dam break, and the results are verified by comparison with analytical solutions. The application to a two-dimensional dam-break problem shows the efficiency and stability of the method.     

Investigating optical,electrical, and mechanical traits of thiourea admixtured KDP single crystals to explore NLO device applications

The 0.5 and 1 mol% thiourea “mixed” potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystals have been developed by conventional slow solution evaporation method. The crystallographic parameters of grown crystals have been determined by employing single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The functional groups of grown crystals were successfully identified by means of FTIR spectral analysis. The optical transmittance is 79%, 84%, and 89% for KDP, 0.5 mol thiourea mixed KDP, and 1 mol thiourea mixed KDP crystal. The energy band gap (E_g) of KDP, 0.5 mol thiourea mixed KDP, and 1 mol thiourea mixed KDP crystal is 3.71 eV, 3.61 eV, and 3.75 eV, respectively. The Kurtz–Perry test has been employed to determine the SHG efficiency and SHG efficiency of 0.5 and 1 mol thiourea mixed KDP crystal is 2.09 and 2.22 times superior to KDP crystal. Effect of thiourea mixing on hardness properties of KDP crystal have been scrutinized using the Vickers microhardness studies. The frequency dependent dielectric behavior of grown crystals has been analyzed at room temperature.

     

On the sequence of bond formation in loline alkaloid biosynthesis

Loline alkaloids are saturated pyrrolizidines with an oxygen bridge between carbon atoms C‐2 and C‐7 and an amino group on C‐1. They are bioprotective alkaloids produced by Epichloë and Neotyphodium species, mutualistic fungal endophytes that are symbiotic with cool‐season grasses. The sequence of bond formation in loline alkaloid biosynthesis was determined by synthesizing deuterated forms of potential intermediates and feeding them to cultures of the endophyte Neotyphodium uncinatum. These cultures incorporated deuterium from labeled N‐(3‐amino‐3‐carboxypropyl)proline and exo‐1‐aminopyrrolizidine into N‐formylloline. The first result suggests that N‐(3‐amino‐3‐carboxypropyl)proline is the first committed intermediate in loline biosynthesis, and the second result demonstrates that the pyrrolizidine rings form before the ether bridge. The incorporation of these two compounds into lolines and the lack of incorporation of several related compounds clarify the order of bond formation in loline alkaloid biosynthesis.     

Visualization and quantification of cathode channel flooding in PEM fuel cells

An understanding of two-phase flow mechanisms in micro-channels is critical to water management in fuel cell applications. In this work, an in situ visualization study of cathode flooding in an operating fuel cell is presented. Gas relative humidities of 26%, 42% and 66%, current densities of 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8 A cm⁻²and flow stoichiometries ranging from 2 to 4 are used in this study which represent typical operating conditions for automotive applications. Results are presented in the form of a flow map depicting various two-phase flow patterns. The impact of flooding is also presented in terms of measurable parameters like two-phase pressure drop coefficient and voltage loss. A new parameter called wetted area ratio is introduced to characterize channel flooding and liquid water coverage on a gas diffusion layer, and its repeatability with multiple tests is demonstrated.