Current distribution in a two-dimensional narrow gap cell composed of a gas evolving electrode with an open part

On the basis of the observation of gas bubbles evolved by electrolysis, a two-dimensional vertical model cell composed of electrodes with open parts for releasing gas bubbles to the back side is proposed. The model cell consists of two layers. One layer forms a bubble curtain with a maximum volume fraction of gas bubbles in the vicinity of the working electrode with open parts. The other. being located out of the bubble layer, is a convection layer with a small volume fraction distributed in the vertical direction under forced convection conditions. The cell resistance and the current distribution were computed by the finite element method when resistivity in the back side varied in the vertical direction along the cell. The following three cases for overpotential were considered: no overpotential, overpotential of the linear type and overpotential of the Butler-Volmer type. It was found that the cell resistance was determined not only by the interelectrode gap but also by the percentage of open area and in some cases by the superficial surface area. The cell resistance varied only slightly with the distribution of the bubble layer in the back side.Nomenclature b linear overpotential coefficient given byb=/i - C proportionality constant given by Equation 15 - d ₁ distance between front side of working electrode and separator - d ₂ thickness of separator - F Faraday constant - I total current per half pitch - i current density at working electrode - i ₀ exchange current density - L length of a real electrolysis cell - n number of electrons transferred in electrode reaction - O _p percentage of open area given by Equation 1 - p pitch, i.e. twice the length of the unit cell, defined by 2(BC) in Fig. 4 - q thickness of bubble curtain, defined by (AM) in Fig. 4 - R gas constant - r _t total cell resistance - r unit-cell resistance defined by (V – V _eq)/I - r _rs residue ofr from sum ofr ₀ andr - r ₀ ohmic resistance of solution when0 _p=0 - r resistance due to overpotential when0 _p=0 - s electrode surface ratio or superficial surface area given by Equation 2 for the present model - T absolute temperature - t thickness of working electrode defined by EF in Fig. 4 - V cell voltage - V _eq open circuit potential difference between working and counter electrodes - solution velocity in cell - ₀ solution velocity at bottom of cell - w width of working electrode, defined by 2(DE) in Fig. 4 - x abscissa located on cell model - y ordinate located on cell model - anodic transfer coefficient - linear overpotential kinetic parameter defined byb/[_bc(p/2)] - d infinitesimally small length on the boundary - volume fraction of gas bubbles in cell - dimensionless cell voltage defined bynF(V – V _eq)/RT - overpotential at working electrode - Butler-Volmer overpotential kinetic parameter defined by [nFi _0bc(p/2)]/RT - coordinate perpendicular to boundary of model cell - ₁ resistivity of bubble-free solution - ₂ resistivity of separator - _bc resistivity of bubble curtain - potential in cell     

Gel permeation chromatography of polyoxymethylene

Gel permeation chromatography of polyoxymethylene has been studied using N,N-dimethylformamide as the solvent. Polyoxymethylene samples used here are a copolymer of tetraoxane with 1,3-dioxolane and a commercial polyoxymethylene whose molecular weight distributions are moderately broad. Their intrinsic viscosities [η] range from 1.4 to 2.8 dl/g. Factors affecting chromatograms are discussed, and the operating conditions were determined by using the analytical scale GPC. On the basis of these operating conditions, the molecular weight fractionation of polyoxymethylene was carried out by using the preparative scale GPC. It was found that polyoxymethylene can be effectively fractionated to give seven to ten fractions each of them containing the fractionated polymer ranging in weight from 0.2 to 8 mg when 40 mg polymer sample was used for a run of the measurement. The fractionated polymers were also found to have a narrow molecular weight distribution within a single peak, and their M_w/M_n values decrease with increasing molecular weight.     

Steam reforming on Ni-samaria-doped ceria cermet anode for practical size solid oxide fuel cell at intermediate temperatures

Direct internal and external reforming operations on Ni-samaria-doped ceria (SDC) anode with the practical size solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) at intermediate temperatures from 600 to 750 °C are carried out to reveal the reforming activities and the electrochemical activities, being compared with the hydrogen-fueled power generation. The cell performance with direct internal and external steam reforming of methane and their limiting current densities were almost the same irrespective of the progress of reaction in the methane reformate at 700 and 750 °C. The durability test for 5.5 h at 750 °C with direct internal reforming operation confirmed that the cell performance did not deteriorate. The operation temperature of the cell controlled the reforming activities on the anode, and the large size electrode gave rise to high conversion due to the slow space velocity of the steam reforming. Direct internal steam reforming attained sufficient level of conversion for SOFC power generation with methane at 700 and 750 °C on the large Ni-SDC cermet anode.     

Translucent Mg-α-Sialon Ceramics Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering

The translucent Mg-α-sialon ceramics have been prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) α-Si₃N₄ powder with AlN and MgO as the additives at 1850°C for 5 min. The sample possesses a uniform, dense microstructure under the rapid densification of SPS process. The translucent Mg-α-sialon ceramics achieve the maximum transmittance of 66.4% for the sample of 0.5 mm in thickness in the medium infrared region, which could be attributed to the equiaxed microstructure and few glassy phase confirmed by the observation of transmission electron microscopy. The material also exhibits good mechanical properties of high hardness (21.4±0.3 GPa) and fracture toughness (6.1±0.1 MPa·m^1/2).     

High temperature catalytic combustion of methane and propane over hexaaluminate catalysts: NOx emission characteristics

Several hexaaluminate-related materials were prepared via hydrolysis of alkoxide and powder mixing method for high temperature combustion of CH₄ and C₃H₈, in order to investigate the effect of the concentration of the fuels, O₂ and H₂O on NO_x emission and combustion characteristics. Among the hexaaluminate catalysts, Sr_0.8La_0.2MnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ prepared by the alkoxide method exhibited the highest activity for methane combustion and low NO_x emission capability. NO_x emission at 1500 °C was increased linearly with O₂ concentration, whereas water vapor addition decreased NO_x emission in CH₄ combustion over the Sr_0.8La_0.2MnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ catalyst. In the catalytic combustion of C₃H₈ over the Sr_0.8La_0.2MnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ catalyst, the amount of NO_x emitted was raised in the temperature range between 1000 and 1500 °C when the C₃H₈ concentration increased from 1 to 2 vol.%. It was found that NO_x emission in this temperature range was reduced effectively by adding water vapor.     

Orientation and Grain Boundary Microstructure of Alumina in Al/Al2O3 Composites Produced by Reactive Metal Penetration

The orientation and grain boundary microstructure of alumina in reactive metal penetration Al/Al₂O₃ composites are studied using orientation imaging microscopy and the results are compared with those of sintered polycrystalline Al₂O₃. The interconnected Al₂O₃ in the composite material is separated by Σ3 boundaries (twins) with a 60° rotation around the [0001] direction. A high frequency (∼100%) of Σ3 coincidence boundaries in composite alumina is remarkable since only ∼12% of boundaries in a sintered polycrystalline Al₂O₃ are of special nature. The coincidence boundaries in the in situ alumina grow in a coherent and faceted manner.     

The physical character of coal char formed during rapid pyrolysis at high pressure

Rapid pyrolysis was conducted in a drop tube reactor using seven coals under various operating conditions. In addition to dense char, porous chars (network char and cenospheric char) were formed by the rapid pyrolysis under certain conditions. Porous char was mainly composed of film-like carbon and skeleton carbon. The pyrolyzed coal char particles were characterized in detail. Morphology and bulk density of porous char were quite different from the dense char formed under the same conditions, but elemental composition and BET surface area were similar to each other. CO₂ gasification reactivity of porous char was lower than dense char in the later gasification stage, and this was ascribed to the low reactivity of skeleton carbon.     

水中隐孢子虫和贾第鞭毛虫的替代检测指标

美国国家环保局（USEPA）制定并发布的1623方法是目前国际上常用的水中隐孢子虫和贾第鞭毛虫标准检测方法，该方法存在成本高、回收率低等缺陷。各国研究者试图通过考察其他水质指标与两虫的相关关系来寻找两虫密度和活性的有效替代指标，以间接反映两虫在水体中的存在水平，其中包括浊度、颗粒计数等物理学指标以及细菌、细菌孢子、病毒、噬菌体等生物学指标。虽然还未得出具有普遍性的结论，但研究表明颗粒计数、好氧孢子等有可能成为有效的两虫替代指标。     

Mechanism of elongation of gold or silver nanoparticles in silica by irradiation with swift heavy ions

It has been reported that elongated Au nanoparticles oriented parallel to one another can be synthesized in SiO₂ by ion irradiation. Our aim was to elucidate the mechanism of this elongation. We prepared Au and Ag nanoparticles with a diameter of 20 nm in an SiO₂ matrix. It was found that Au nanoparticles showed greater elongated with a higher flux of ion beam and with thicker SiO₂ films. In contrast, Ag nanoparticles split into two or more shorter nanorods aligned end to end in the direction parallel to the ion beam. These experimental results are discussed in the framework of a thermal spike model of Au and Ag nanorods embedded in SiO₂. The lattice temperature exceeds the melting temperatures of SiO₂, Au and Ag for 100 ns after one 110 MeV Br¹⁰⁺ ion has passed through the middle of an Au or Ag nanorod.     

Effect of treatment of activated carbon fiber cloth electrodes with cold plasma upon performance of electric double-layer capacitors

Charge/discharge behavior of electric double-layer capacitors composed of activated carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) electrodes and an organic electrolyte was investigated. The modification of the ACFC electrodes was performed using cold plasma generated in argon-oxygen atmosphere. The effect of the cold plasma treatment of the ACPC electrodes on the capacitor performance was discussed on the basis of the physical and chemical properties of the ACFC surface such as pore radius distribution and surface atom concentration.