Synthesis and electrode performance of layered nickel dioxide containing alkaline ions

Several polymorphs of layered nickel dioxide were prepared by using the chemical insertion of alkaline ions into Li_0.10NiO₂. We used aqueous AOH (A = Li, Na, K) solutions as reducing agents. Sodium and potassium insertion resulted in hydrated layered compounds that can be classified as γ-NiOOH with high crystallinity, while lithium insertion occurred without hydration. We discuss the coordination environment around the A⁺ ions for these inserted compounds. The thermal behavior, analyzed using high temperature (HT) X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) measurements, indicated that heating the hydrate at 150 °C yielded its dehydrate. The electrode performance of the nickelate was studied in lithium cells. We discuss the effect of interlayer water on cell rechargeability and the similarity between these nickelate and hydrated manganese dioxide (birnessite).     

A negative resist for KrF excimer laser lithography

The design and preparation of a series of negative resists for KrF excimer laser lithography are described. Each resist is composed of poly(hydroxystyrene) and an aromatic azide. The base resin shows high transmittance of 62%/μm at 248 nm, when p-ethylphenyl p-azidophenylsulfonate. 4-azido-4α-methoxy-chalcone, 1-(4 azidobenzylidene)-3-(α-hydroxy-4-azidobenzyl)-indene, 4,4α-diazido-3,3α-dimethoxybiphenyl, or 1-(4-azidostyryl)-5, 5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one is employed as a sensitizer. These azides are obtained by red-shifting the absorption maxima to lower energy regions than the exposing wavelength of 248 nm. Transmittance of resists can be controlled from 10 to 30%. The resist is exposed with a KrF excimer laser stepper and developed in an alkaline solution. Sensitivities of about 15 mJ/cm² are observed. A good, subhalf-micron resist profile is achieved. The photochemical reaction mechanisms of poly(hydroxystyrene) and 4,4α-diazido-3,3α-dimethoxybiphenyl were studied at 248 nm and 313 nm exposure. Quantum yield for photodecomposition at 248 nm is seven times larger than that at 313 nm, but dissolution-inhibition effects are larger at 313 nm exposure. Consequently, the resist shows higher sensitivity at 313 nm than at 248 nm.     

Ozone Generator with Cylindrical Type of Rotating Electrode

An ozone generator using a rotating electrode to improve ozone generation efficiency is proposed. The ozone generator electrode unit consists of a rotating electrode and fixed electrode. The rotating electrode has the grounded 36 pieces of tungsten wires fixed in parallel to the rotation axis on the rotating cylinder surface. A dielectric electrode is used as a fixed electrode located on the inside of the tube of the electrode unit. The width of the apparent discharge gap is 1mm. Alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz is applied to the electrode unit. The rotation speed can be adjusted from 0 rpm to 1200 rpm by a variable speed motor. Oxygen gas is used as the material gas. Higher ozone concentration and higher ozone generation efficiency are obtained compared with that when the rotation speed is 0 rpm. The gas temperature is measured at the inlet and outlet of the ozone generator, and the rotation speed for the cooling effect is most effective at about 500 rpm. The maximum generation efficiency is estimated to be 61 g/kWh at 800 rpm, and this value is twice as large as in the case of 0 rpm.     

Guinea pig bone marrow cells treated with platelet-activating factor generate factor(s) which affects their DNA synthesis and microbicidal activity

We have previously reported that platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces proliferation and microbicidal activity of guinea pig bone marrow cells. In the present study, we have found that the conditioned medium of PAF- or nonmetabolizable PAF agonist-treated guinea pig bone marrow cells augmented DNA synthesis and induced microbicial activity of bone marrow cells. A PAF specific antagonist, CV-6209, inhibited generation of the active conditioned medium by PAF. Addition of the PAF antagonist only partially suppressed the augmentative effect of the active conditioned medium on DNA synthesis; this is consistent with the fact that, because of the rapid breakdown, no appreciable amount of PAF remained in the conditioned medium of PAF-treated cells. Although mouse bone marrow cells did not respond to PAF unlike guinea pig cells, their DNA synthesis was significantly enhanced by the conditioned medium of PAF-treated guinea pig bone marrow cells. Thus, some newly generated factor(s) distinct from the originally inoculated PAF seemed to modulate the bioactions of PAF on bone marrow cells. An appreciable amount of PAF was produced by calcium ionophore-treated guinea pig bone marrow cells. These findings indicate that PAF synthesized in guinea pig bone marrow cells induces generation in the cells of some factor(s) which affects proliferation or microbicidal activity. Presented at The Third International Conference on Platelet-Activating Factor and Structurally Related Ether Lipids, Tokyo, Japan, May 1989.     

Unique molecular aggregation of novel naphthalocyanine (near IR absorbing dye)

A series of organic-soluble naphthalocyanine derivatives (Y_mMNcX₄) have been synthesized. Their spectroscopic properties in organic solutions and in thin films were studied. MNcX₄ such as MNc(t-Bu)₄ (5a-5c) and MNc(On-Bu)₄ (5j) formed H-aggregates even in dilute solutions. MNc(CO₂R')₄ (5d-5i) had much stronger H-aggregation properties compared with those ofMNc(t-Bu)₄ and MNc(On-Bu)₄. Especially, MNc(CO₂R')₇ complexes (M=Cu, Pd and Ni) existed exclusively without monomers in the aggregated state even in highly dilute solutions. MNcX₄, which has strong H-aggregation properties, showed merely H- aggregate absorption maxima in thin films. In contrast, Y₂MNcX₄ (4), which has sterically hindered Y groups, showed monomerically pure characteristics in solution. However, thin films of Y₂MNcX₄ have a J-type molecular arrangement, exhibiting a red shift of Q-band absorption. The monomeric properties of Y₂MNcX₄ in solutions and J-type molecular arrangement in thin films arise from steric hindrance of two Y groups, such as R₃SiO-in Y₂MNcX₄, which prevents strong H-aggregation of naphthalocyanine.     

Radical-induced ionic polymerization in the presence of maleic anhydride. I. Mechanism of polymerization of maleic anhydride by radical initiators

Three kinds of trapped radicals are observed in poly(maleic anhydride) (Poly-MAH) which were prepared by the use of radical initiators such as AIBN or BPO. It was found that these radicals were transformed to the active species so as to initiate the cationic polymerization. The structure of these radicals was studied by the ESR and the kinetic analysis of MAH polymerization in the presence of various additives.     

A superconducting filter to separate an oxygen and argon mixture

Hot isostatic pressing in an oxygen atmosphere, known as O₂-HIP method, has been used successfully to synthesize oxide materials, as well as to produce porous materials. In this paper a porous superconducting oxide is synthesized by this method and its application as a gas filter is described. Porous superconductors can be used to separate a mixture of paramagnetic and diamagnetic gases, such as oxygen and argon. Separation occurs after a magnetic field is applied and is based on the Meissner effect. Experimental results showed that the oxygen content of an oxygen/argon mixture increased after passing through a filter with large pore size (about 10 m).     

Evaluating card-based protocols in terms of execution time

International Journal of Information Security - Card-based cryptography is an attractive and unconventional computation model; it provides secure computing methods using a deck of physical cards....     

Oxidation Behavior of Ni-3,6, 10 wt.% Al Alloys at 800°C

The oxidation behavior of Ni and Ni-3, 6, and 10Al alloys at 800°C in an N₂–O₂ gas mixture was investigated. The mass gain of each alloy depended on both the oxidation periods and Al content. NiO scale was formed on all alloy substrates accompanied by internal oxides of Al₂O₃. Many cavities were formed at the NiO/substrate interface at shorter oxidation times, and these cavities were found to be filled by metallic Ni(Al) from the matrix in the internal-oxidation zone by the development of internal oxides. The filling of cavities by Ni(Al) was more significant on higher Al alloys, which had a higher density of internal Al₂O₃. Once metallic Ni(Al) formed along the entire NiO/substrate interface, the oxidation kinetics became the same as pure Ni. It was concluded that pure Ni filling the cavities at the interface provided a diffusion path of Ni from the substrate to the NiO scale, and that controlled the oxidation kinetics.     

Simulation of ultrasonic-vibration drawing using the finite element method (FEM)

In ultrasonic-vibration drawing, wires are drawn while ultrasonic vibration is applied to a drawing die. Prior studies provide experimental proof that ultrasonic-vibration drawing reduces drawing resistance, improves lubrication and prevents wire breakage. In the future, ultrasonic-vibration drawing is expected to contribute to the drawing of difficult-to-draw materials and operations, such as shaped wires, ultrafine wires, and the wire drawing operation in semidry or dry condition. However, a detailed analysis and understanding of the mechanism of improvement is not possible on the basis of conventional experimental observations because the ultrasonic-vibration processing phenomenon occurs at high speed. Therefore, we attempted to understand the processing mechanism of ultrasonic-vibration drawing using the finite element method (FEM). ABAQUS was used for the FEM. Drawing force and stress–strain distributions in drawn wires were analyzed. From these studies, we quantitatively clarified the mechanism of improved drawing characteristics, such as decreased drawing force.