Predicted and observed initial short circuit current for lead-acid batteries

Initial short circuit currents have been observed using our electronic short circuit switch and also predicted from terminal voltage and ohmic resistance according to Ohm's law for several kinds of lead-acid batteries in various states-of-charge. Ohmic resistance was measured by the d.c. step and the a.c. impedance methods. The predicted and the observed values have been compared in order to establish a prediction method for initial short circuit current. A good agreement was obtained, the root mean square percentage deviation of the predicted value from that observed being only 219%, which confirms the validity of the prediction method for the initial short circuit current.     

Redistribution of impurity during recrystallization of alite in portland cement clinker

The redistribution of impurity in alite during recrystallization has been confirmed by means of the electron probe microanalysis. Each of the main impurity components shows a significant decrease in content during recrystallization. This demonstrates that the growth velocity of alite exerts influence on the amount of the impurity taken up in alite in solid solution from the interstitial melt. Whether M₃ or M₁ occurs at ambient temperature depends on the cooling rate of clinker as well as the chemical composition of alite.     

Electrical properties of diphenyldiacetylene annealed under elevated pressure

A unique class of conjugated compounds composed of the derivative of condensed polycyclic aromatic compound with the phenyl group and diphenyldiacetylene oligomer was synthesized by annealing of diphenyldiacetylene under elevated pressure. The effect of annealing pressure on the conductivity of the compounds was studied. The total conductivity of the compound decreased with a decrease of frequency, approaching a constant value (dc conductivity: C_dc). The dc conductivity of the compound increased from below 10^?15 to 10 S cm^?1 with increasing annealing pressure. The dc conductivity of the oligomer was below 10^?15 S cm^?1 and that of the derivative increased from 10^?8 to 10 S cm^?1 with decreasing H/C (H/C:0.45–0.04). The conduction of the conjugated compound was electronic. The temperature coefficient of those dc conductivities was positive, with an approximately linear relation between In (C_dcT^0.5) and (1/T)^0.25, where T is the temperature. The ac conductivities C_ac were proportional to temperature and frequency f and had the following equation C_ac = Tf^S, S = 0.67–0.75. These results showed that the conduction mechanism can be explained by the hopping in a manifold of states at the Fermi level. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Design of High-Quality Pt–CeO2 Composite Anodes Supported by Carbon Black for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Application

A Pt on nano-sized CeO₂ particles that in turn are supported on carbon black (CB) was synthesized using the co-impregnation method. This potential anode material for fuel cell applications was synthesized in a stepwise process. The pure CeO₂ was synthesized using an ammonium carbonate precipitation method, and the Pt particles dispersed on the CeO₂ in such a way that a uniform dispersion with the CB was obtained (Pt–CeO₂/CB). The electrochemical activity of the methanol (CH₃OH) oxidation reaction on the Pt–CeO₂/CB was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry experimentation. The onset potential of CH₃OH oxidation reaction on the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode was shifted to a lower potential as compared with that on commercially available Pt–Ru/carbon (C) alloy anode. In addition, the activation energy of the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode was much lower than that of the Pt–Ru/C alloy anode. Moreover, the current density of the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode was much higher than that of the Pt–Ru/C alloy anode at temperatures between 28° and 60°C. These results suggest that the anode performance of the Pt–CeO₂/CB anode at the operating temperature of typical fuel cells (80°C) is superior to that of the more usual Pt–Ru/C alloy anode. Importantly, the rare metal, Ru, is not required in the present anode material and the amount of Pt required is also significantly reduced. As a consequence, we report a promising candidate Pt–CeO₂/CB composite anode for application in the development of direct methanol fuel cells.     

Observation of 3‐D Structure of Bubbles in a Fluidized Catalyst Bed

The interface area between the bubble and emulsion phases in a fluidized catalyst bed is one of the important parameters used to analyze and design the fluidized bed reactor. We used a fast‐scanning X‐ray CT system to observe the bubble shape and structure. We then obtained the transient 2‐dimensional cross sectional gas‐phase distribution in a fluidized catalyst bed. Using image‐processing techniques, pseudo 3‐dimensional images of the bubbles were reconstructed. The bubble structure was studied based on the 3‐dimensional images and the previously obtained results in a 2‐dimensional fluidized bed. It was found that the bubble shape was not spherical but complicated, and that the bubbles ascending in a fluidized catalyst bed consisted of some smaller bubbles.     

Development of three-electrode type micro-electrochemical reactor on anodized aluminum with photon rupture and electrochemistry

Photon rupture with a focused single pulse of pulsed YAG-laser irradiation was used to fabricate an aluminum electrochemical micro-reactor. Porous type anodic oxide film formed on aluminum specimens was irradiated in solutions with a pulsed Nd-YAG laser beam through a convex lens to fabricate micro-channels, micro-electrode, and through holes (for reference electrode, solution inlet, and outlet). During irradiation, specimens were moved by a computer controlled XYZ stage. After irradiation, the surface of the micro-channel and through hole were again treated to form anodic oxide film and the surface of the micro-electrode was treated electrochemically to provide an Au layer. The calculated volume of the micro-reactor including micro-channel and through holes is about 1.5 μl. The cyclic voltammogram of the micro-electrochemical cell was measured in K₃Fe(CN)₆/K₄Fe(CN)₆ with both static and flowing solution at different scanning rates. The anodic and cathodic peak currents were measured and the values depended on scanning rate and ion concentration when the solution was static. With the flowing solution, limiting currents were observed and the anodic limiting current was increased with the cubic root of the solution flow rate.     

Synergic effect of Pd/γ-alumina and Cu/ZSM-5 on the performance of NO x storage reduction catalyst

NO _x reduction with a combination of catalysts, Pd catalyst, NO _x storage reduction (NSR) catalyst and Cu/ZSM-5 in turn, was investigated to elucidate for the high NO _x reduction activity of this catalyst combination under oxidative atmosphere with periodic deep rich operation. The catalytic activity was evaluated using the simulated exhaust gases with periodically fluctuation between oxidative and reductive atmospheres, and it was found that the NO _x reduction activity with this catalyst combination was apparently higher than that of the solely accumulation of these individual activities, which was caused by the additional synergic effect by this combination. The Pd catalyst upstream of the NSR catalyst improved NO _x storage ability by NO₂ formation under oxidative atmosphere. The stored NO _x was reduced to NH₃ on the NSR catalyst, and the generated NH₃ was adsorbed on Cu/ZSM-5 downstream of the NSR catalyst under the reductive atmosphere, and subsequently reacted with NO _x on the Cu/ZSM-5 under the oxidative atmosphere.     

Metal recovery in a pilot-scale rotating cylindrical wiper-blade electrode system

The performance of an experimental pilot-scale electrochemical reactor using a rotating cylindrical electrode equipped with wiper blades is described. Data obtained from monopolar depositing and bipolar stripping—depositing of copper from dilute aqueous electrolytes are presented and certain economic aspects of metal recovery are discussed.     

High oxide ion conduction in sintered oxides of the system Bi2O3-Y2O3

The ionic conduction in sintered Bi₂O₂-Y₂O₃ was investigated by measuring the conductivity and the emf of an oxygen concentration cell using the specimen tablet as electrolyte. The face centred cubic phase in this system was found to show high oxide ion conduction accompanied by a little electronic conduction when exposed to air. This phase was stable with a composition of 25 ～ 43 mol % Y₂O₃ over a wide range of temperatures, and the oxide ion conductivity increased with decrease in Y₂O₃. The conductivities of (Bi₂O₃)_0.75 (Y₂O₃)_0.25 were 1.6×10^?1 Ω^?1 cm^?1 at 700°C and 1.2×10^?2 Ω^?1 cm^?1 at 500°C values which are many times higher than those of stabilized zirconia (ZrO₂)_0.90(Y₂O₃)_0.10 at corresponding temperatures. Specimens containing less than 25 mol % Y₂O₃ showed a phase transition at 700 ～ 580°C and the conductivities decreased remarkably below these temperatures. High oxide ion conduction in the fcc phase is attributed to the migration of oxide ion vacancies which were present in an appreciable amount.