Electrochemical properties of doped lithium titanate compounds and their performance in lithium rechargeable batteries

Several substituted titanates of formula Li_4−xMg_xTi_5−xV_xO₁₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) were synthesized (and investigated) as anode materials in rechargeable lithium batteries. Five samples labeled as S1–S5 were calcined (fired) at 900 °C for 10 h in air, and slowly cooled to room temperature in a tube furnace. The structural properties of the synthesized products have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR). XRD explained that the crystal structures of all samples were monoclinic while S1 and S3 were hexagonal. The morphology of the crystal of S1 was spherical while the other samples were prismatic in shape. SEM investigations explained that S4 had larger grain size diameter of 15–16 μm in comparison with the other samples. S4 sample had the highest conductivity 2.452 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹. At a voltage plateau located at about 1.55 V (vs. Li ⁺), S4 cell exhibited an initial specific discharge capacity of 198 mAh g⁻¹. The results of cyclic voltammetry for Li_4−xMg_xTi_5−xV_xO₁₂ showed that the electrochemical reaction was based on Ti⁴⁺/Ti³⁺ redox couple at potential range from 1.5 to 1.7 V. There is a pair of reversible redox peaks corresponding to the process of Li⁺ intercalation and de-intercalation in the Li–Ti–O oxides.     

Utilisation of solar photovoltaic pumping for aeration systems in aquaculture ponds

This research pertains to solar photovoltaic (PV) pumping for aeration of aquaculture ponds and evaluates it economically. A stand-alone photovoltaic aeration system based on recycling of water at 10 cm under the water surface, at the surface (0 cm) and above the surface (30 cm) on a perforated tray was evaluated. The effect of pump discharges (35, 50, 65 L/min) on standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR) and standard aeration efficiency (SAE) was investigated. Results revealed that the daily averages of PV energy output, PV efficiency and load energy were 0.844 kWh/d, 9.87% and 0.615 kWh/d, respectively, at 65 L/min and 42.7°C PV temperature. Water flow upward at 30 cm over the perforated tray in the radial direction proved to be better since it gave an opportunity for the exchange of gaseous between the water and the atmosphere. The SOTR and SAE for the third position were 0.025 kgO₂/h and 0.1 kgO₂/kW h, respectively.     

Long-term bond performance of GFRP bars in concrete under temperature ranging from 20 °C to 80 °C

Eighty pull-out specimens were used to study the effect of temperature ranging from 20 °C to 80 °C in dry environment on bond properties between Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars and concrete. The pullout-test specimens were subjected during 4 and 8 months to high temperatures up to 80 °C and then compared to untreated specimens (20 °C). Experimental results showed no significant reduction on bond strength for temperatures up to 60 °C. However, a maximum of 14% reduction of the bond strength was observed for 80 °C temperature after 8 months of thermal loading. For treated specimens, the coefficient β in the CMR model, which predicts the bond–stress–displacement behavior, seems to be dependant with the temperature.     

Acid dyeable and printable acrylic fabrics treated with cationic aqueous polyurethane

An acid dyeable acrylic fabric has been obtained by the pretreatment with cationic aqueous polyurethane, containing different amounts of quaternary nitrogen. Cationic polyurethane has the ability to interact with the carboxylic groups in the acrylic fabrics, as well as providing basic sites suitable for acid dyeing. The prepared polyurethane has been identified with FTIR, and the effect of the pretreatment conditions on the dyeability and printability of the fabrics has been investigated. The color strength values and the fastness properties of the dyed and printed samples, reveal the ionic interaction between the sulphonic groups in the acid dye molecules and the quaternary nitrogen on the fabrics. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Mycotoxin production in wheat grains by different Aspergilli in relation to different relative humidities and storage periods

Four different Aspergilli (Aspergillus oryzae, A. parasiticus, A. terreus and A. versicolor) were grown on wheat grains underdifferent degrees of relative humidity 14, 50, 74, 80 and 90%. Samples of wheat grains were taken monthly for a period of six months and examined for mycotoxin production. A. oryzae was found to produce aflatoxins B1, B2, zearalenone, DON and T-2 toxins under elevated degrees of humidity and prolonged periods of storage. A. parasiticus produced aflatoxins B1, G1, NIV, DON and T-2 toxins in high concentrations during a period of not more than three months storage at 14% relative humidity; at an increased level of relative humidity of 74% ochratoxin A, zearalenone and sterigmatocystin were also produced at high levels. The isolate was drastic in toxin production. A. terrus produced toxins at 14% relative humidity (aflatoxin G2 and DON) at levels much higher than any other prevalent degrees of humidity. A. versicolor is highly sensitive to relative humidity and grain moisture content It produced aflatoxins B1, G1, NIV and DON at a relative humidity of 50% and another toxins (aflatoxin G2, ochratoxins A, B and zearalenone) at 74%. The microorganism can be considered a trichothecene producer under suitable relative humidity.     

Low Power Semi-systolic Architectures for Polynomial-Basis Multiplication over GF(2m) Using Progressive Multiplier Reduction

We present low area and low power semi-systolic array architectures for polynomial basis multiplication over GF(2^m) using Progressive Multiplier Reduction Technique (PMR). These architectures are explored using linear and nonlinear techniques applied to the polynomial multiplication algorithm. The nonlinear techniques allow the designer, to control the processor workload and reduce the inter-processor communications. The semi-systolic architectures obtained have simple structure with local communication. ASIC implementations of our designs and comparable published designs show that the proposed scalable semi-systolic structures have less area complexity (56.8–94.6 %) and power consumption (55.2–84.2 %) except for a scalable design published by the same authors. However, one of the proposed scalable designs outperforms this design in terms of throughput by 73.8 %. This makes the proposed designs suited to embedded applications that require low power consumption and moderate speed.     

Corrosion inhibition and Biocidal effect of some cationic surfactants based on Schiff base

The three cationic surfactants based on Schiff base were laboratory prepared, (E)-decyl-4-[(2-hydroxyethylamino) methyl]-N,N-dimethyl benzenaminium bromide (I), (E)-dodecyl-4-[(2-hydroxyethylamino)methyl]-N,N-dimethyl benzenaminium bromide (II) and (E)-hexadecyl-4-[(2-hydroxyethylamino)methyl]-N,N-dimethyl benzenaminium bromide (III) were evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in acid medium and antimicrobial agents against sulfate reducing bacteria, SRB. Three techniques were used for the corrosion inhibition evaluation, namely; weight loss, polarization and electrochemical impedance. The serial dilution method was used to evaluate the inhibiting effect of these compounds on the sulfate reducing bacteria growth. The results showed that the prepared compounds have good antimicrobial activities against the SRB as well as they have high efficiency as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in 1 M HCl.     

Deformation and Damage Mechanisms in Ultrafine-Grained Austenitic Stainless Steel During Cyclic Straining

The ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure of an austenitic stainless steel (Type 301LN), processed by controlled phase-reversion annealing, was fatigued to study the deformation and damage mechanisms during cyclic straining. Fatigue cracking along the grain boundaries and the formation of extended persistent slip band-like shear bands (SBs) were observed to be the fatigue-induced microstructural features in the ultrafine-grained structure. Characterization of SBs was performed by electron backscattered diffraction and atomic force microscopy to study the fine features.     

Effect of pH and temperature on calcium carbonate precipitation by CO2 removal from iron‐rich water

In the present work, the effect of temperature and solution pH on calcium carbonate precipitation from iron‐rich waters was investigated. Calcium carbonate was precipitated by CO₂ removal. The increase in the temperature or the solution pH leads to the acceleration of calcium carbonate nucleation and crystal growth. Iron addition retards the formation of calcium carbonate crystals and enhanced the precipitation in the bulk solution. At high supersaturations, the inhibition effectiveness of iron is small and it could be improved by lowering the solution pH. The results of the present work show that it is possible to reduce or completely prevent scale formation in different water treatment processes by controlling the operating parameters which favourably affects the water treatment costs, increases the equipment life and allows increased product water recovery.     

Some aspects of the cyclic behavior of twinning-induced plasticity steels

Aspects of the mechanical behavior and microstructure evolution during the cyclic loading of twinning-induced plasticity steels are considered in order to provide deeper insights into their good fatigue strength. Experiments on an Fe–0.3C–16Mn–1.5Al steel in the high-cycle fatigue regime have demonstrated the beneficial influence of grain refinement. In the presence of a large grain size, cyclic loading is found to lead to the generation of twins in addition to extended dislocations and planar dislocation arrays.