Influence of properties of gas diffusion layers on the performance of polymer electrolyte-based unitized reversible fuel cells

Polymer electrolyte-based unitized reversible fuel cells (URFCs) combine the functionality of a fuel cell and an electrolyzer in a single device. In a URFC, titanium (Ti)-felt is used as a gas diffusion layer (GDL) of the oxygen electrode, whereas typical carbon paper is used as a GDL of the hydrogen electrode. Different samples of Ti-felt with different structural properties (porosity and fiber diameter) and PTFE content were prepared for use as GDLs of the oxygen electrode, and the relation between the properties of the GDL and the fuel cell performance was examined for both fuel cell and electrolysis operation modes. Experimental results showed that the cell with a Ti-felt GDL of 80 μm fiber diameter had the highest round-trip efficiency due to excellent fuel cell operation under relatively high-humidity conditions despite degradation in performance in the electrolysis mode.     

Suitable operational strategy for power interchange operation using multiple residential SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) cogeneration systems

A suitable operational strategy for a power interchange operation using multiple residential solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) cogeneration systems for saving energy is investigated by an optimization approach based on mixed-integer linear programming. In this power interchange operation, electricity generated by residential SOFC cogeneration systems is shared among households in a housing complex without allowing a reverse power flow to a commercial electric power system in order to increase electric load factors of the system. For an SOFC cogeneration system operated continuously with the minimum output, two types of operational strategies for the power interchange operation are adopted: an operation to meet the total demand for electricity in intended households by the electricity output of SOFC cogeneration systems and an operation to meet the demand for hot water in each household by the hot water output of the SOFC cogeneration system. To clarify a theoretical limit of the energy-saving effects of the two strategies, this study numerically analyzes optimal operation patterns for 20 households on three representative days. The results show that the former operational strategy, which takes advantage of the high electricity generating efficiency of the SOFC, is more suitable for saving energy as compared to the latter strategy.     

High rate reactive deposition of TiO2 films using two sputtering sources

We propose a new high-rate reactive sputter-deposition method with two sputtering sources for fabricating TiO₂ films. One source operates in a metal mode sputtering condition and supplies titanium atoms to the substrate. The other source operates in oxide mode and works as an oxygen radical source for supplying oxygen radicals to the substrate surface for promoting oxidization of titanium atoms. Each sputtering source is separated with a mesh grid from the deposition chamber, and Ar and oxygen gas are introduced separately through the titanium supply and oxygen radical sources, respectively. By using this reactive sputtering system, a deposition rate above 80 nm/min can be obtained for the deposition of TiO₂ films with rutile structure.     

Changes of organic matter sources in sediment cores from a high-altitude lake (Pumoyum Co,southeastern Tibetan plateau) over the last 19,000 years

Lake Pumoyum Co is on the southeastern Tibetan plateau (altitude, ～5030 m asl; lake surface area, 281 km²; maximum water depth, 65 m). We obtained ¹⁴C dates on total organic carbon (TOC) for three sediment cores from Lake Pumoyum Co, covering the period from the last glacial to the Holocene, and compared them with ¹⁴C ages on plant residue concentrates (PRC fraction, mainly terrestrial plant residues) and aquatic plant fragments in the cores. The calibrated ages of TOC were older than those of the PRC fraction in the sediment cores by ca. 0.6–11.3 kyr. The calculated dead carbon fraction (f_{dead carbon}) values for TOC increased during 9.5–5.5 cal ka BP, and fluctuations of f_{dead carbon} paralleled variations in Asian monsoon intensity [Y. Wang et al., Nature 451 (2008) 1090]. One possible explanation for these results is that large amounts of terrestrial organic materials containing old carbon were supplied to the lake (“old carbon effects” from lake terrace, paleosol and/or stratum with dead ¹⁴C) when the lake level rose rapidly and its catchment area expanded during the Holocene climate optimum (9.5–5.5 cal ka BP).     

Effect of Substituent Ions on Martensitic Transformation Temperatures in Dicalcium Silicate Solid Solutions

Five types of Ca₂SiO₄ solid solutions, doped with either P⁵⁺, Ge⁴⁺, Fe³⁺, Mg²⁺, or Ba²⁺, were prepared and examined by high-temperature X-ray diffractometry up to 800°C. The starting and finishing temperatures were determined for the α'_L-to-β martensitic transformation during cooling and the reverse (β-to-α'_L) transformation during heating. These four types of transformation temperatures for the preparations doped with either P⁵⁺ or Ge⁴⁺ steadily decreased with increasing substituted fraction. The effect of the substitution on the decrease for each transformation temperature was quantitatively evaluated by Δ T / x , where Δ T is the difference in the transformation temperatures between the solid solutions and pure Ca₂SiO₄, and x represents the fraction substituted for Si⁴⁺ or Ca²⁺ in the α'_L-phase structure. The evaluated value for the substitution of P⁵⁺ was more than 3 times that of Ge⁴⁺. The effect of the substituent ions mentioned above, together with Na⁺ and Sr²⁺, on the lowering of the starting temperature of the α'_L-to-β transformation was principally determined by the differences in the ionic radius between the interchanging cations.     

Oligomer-Rich Fraction from Polydisperse Sample of Poly(bis(β-phenoxyethoxy)phosphazene)

Poly[bis(β-phenoxyethoxy)phosphazene] [PBPEP] had been shown in our previous paper to be a very useful polymer for investigating the crystallization mechanism of polymers, as the crystallization rate of PBPEP is extraordinarily small when isothermally crystallized from the melt. The crystallization of the low molecular weight oligomers of PBPEP was first studied in comparison to the high molecular weight polymers. The oligomer-rich fraction was obtained by fractionation of the as-polymerized sample, which had a broad molecular weight distribution. The fractions thus obtained were characterized by solution viscometry and size exclusion chromatography. The melting temperature and the growth rate of the spherulite from the melt were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The growth rate was one or two orders of magnitude smaller in the oligomer-rich fraction than in the other high molecular weight fractions. A collapsed spherulite appeared in the oligomer-rich fraction at high crystallization temperatures. It is speculated that in the oligomer-rich fraction there is an excess free energy due to defects in the crystal phase. This defect is considerably larger in the oligomer-rich fraction than in the other fractions because a large quantity of short length chains is present.     

Ion‐exchange membrane based on poly(styrene sulfonic acid‐co‐n‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) acrylamide)

A new ion‐exchange membrane was prepared by blending a copolymer of poly(styrene sulfonic acid‐co‐N‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) acrylamide) with poly(vinylidene fluoride). The dissolution of the copolymer into water was prevented by the crosslinked network formed by condensation reaction between N‐(2‐hydoroxyethyl) acrylamide (HEAA) units. The reaction was caused after film‐forming the blend. Swellability in water, ion‐exchange capacity, ion conductivity, and mechanical properties of the membrane were investigated and compared with those of a well‐known ion‐exchange membrane, Nafion 117. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2788–2796, 2007     

Structures of two crystal forms of poly(ethylene oxide)-sodium thiocyanate complex with molar ratios of 3:1 and 1:1

The poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-sodium thiocyanate system was found to exhibit polymorphism: there exist at least three crystal modifications. Among them, the crystal structures of two kinds of PEO-NaSCN complex with molar ratios (EO:NaSCN) of 3:1 (form I) and 1:1 (form II), respectively, were determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystal data are as follows: form I, monoclinic P2₁/a, a = 16.83, b = 10.64, c(chain axis)=7.19 Å^°

1 Å=10⁻¹ nm, γ=125.5° (c-unique), N=12 EO units (2 chains) and 4 NaSCN ions; form II, monoclinic P2₁/c, a=7.55, b=12.10, c(chain axis)=5.83 Å, β=97.5° (b-unique), N=4 EO units (2 chains) and 4 NaSCN ions. Form I has a crystal structure resembling that of the PEO-NaI complex. The polymer chains have a twofold helical structure of conformation, the chain repeat comprising six EO units. The helical polymer chain coils around an array of Na ions and each Na ion is coordinated by four polymer O atoms and two N of the SCN ions (the coordination number is six). In form II, which exists only under high tension, the polymer chains have a glide structure of conformation, the chain repeat comprising two EO units. Since the PEO chain in form II takes a rather stretched conformation, the Na ions are not wrapped by the polymer chain. The coordination number is again six, but each Na ion is coordinated by two polymer O atoms, two N and two S of the SCN ions. Form II is transformed into form I when the tension is released.     

High‐performance OCB‐mode field‐sequential‐color LCD

Abstract— Optically compensated bend (OCB) mode is a promising technology for future high‐quality display devices due to its wide viewing angle without gray‐scale inversion and color shift, fast response time, high contrast ratio, and wide temperature range. This paper summarizes the developments of the OCB mode and the optical performance of OCB‐mode field‐sequential‐color LCD.     

A New Method for Albuminuria Measurement Using a Specific Reaction between Albumin and the Luciferin of the Firefly Squid Watasenia scintillans

This study demonstrates that the luciferin of the firefly squid Watasenia scintillans, which generally reacts with Watasenia luciferase, reacted with human albumin to emit light in proportion to the albumin concentration. The luminescence showed a peak wavelength at 540 nm and was eliminated by heat or protease treatment. We used urine samples collected from patients with diabetes to quantify urinary albumin concentration, which is essential for the early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. Consequently, we were able to measure urinary albumin concentrations by precipitating urinary proteins with acetone before the reaction with luciferin. A correlation was found with the result of the immunoturbidimetric method; however, the Watasenia luciferin method tended to produce lower albumin concentrations. This may be because the Watasenia luciferin reacts with only intact albumin. Therefore, the quantification method using Watasenia luciferin is a new principle of urinary albumin measurement that differs from already established methods such as immunoturbidimetry and high-performance liquid chromatography.