Understanding Chemical Expansion in Non‐Stoichiometric Oxides: Ceria and Zirconia Case Studies

Atomic scale computer simulations, validated with experimental data, are used to uncover the factors responsible for defect‐induced chemical expansion observed in non‐stoichiometric oxides, exemplified by CeO₂ and ZrO₂. It is found that chemical expansion is the result of two competing processes: the formation of a vacancy (leading to a lattice contraction primarily due to electrostatic interactions) and the cation radius change (leading to a lattice expansion primarily due to steric effects). The chemical expansion coefficient is modeled as the summation of two terms that are proportional to the cation and oxygen radius change. This model introduces an empirical parameter, the vacancy radius, which can be reliably predicted from computer simulations, as well as from experimental data. This model is used to predict material compositions that minimize chemical expansion in fluorite structured solid oxide fuel cell electrolyte materials under typical operating conditions.     

Multi-objective optimization of vehicle crashworthiness using a new particle swarm based approach

Vehicle crashworthiness is an important issue to ensure passengers safety and reduce vehicle costs in the early design stage of vehicle design. The aim of the crashworthiness design is to provide an optimized structure that can absorb the crash energy by controlled vehicle deformations while maintaining enough space of the passenger compartment. Meta-modeling and optimization techniques have been used to reduce the vehicle design cycle. In this paper, a new particle swarm-based optimization method is presented for multi-objective optimization of vehicle crashworthiness. The proposed optimization method is first validated with a multi-objective disk brake problem taken from literature. Finally, it is applied to multi-objective crashworthiness optimization of a full vehicle model and milling optimization problems to demonstrate its effectiveness and validity.     

Transient isotopic labeling studies using12CH4/13CH4 over alkali-promoted molybdate catalysts in the oxidative coupling of methane

The methane coupling reaction was investigated over MnMoO₄ and alkali (Li, Na, K)-promoted MnMoO₄ at 700°C using¹²CH₄/¹³CH₄ transient isotopic labeling experiments under steady-state reaction conditions. The variations observed in the surface residence times of CH₄, CO, and CO₂, ethane and ethylene were used to help explain selectivity differences previously reported in the oxidative coupling of methane over alkali-promoted molybdate catalysts.     

Synthesis and characterization of uv-curable acrylated urethane prepolymers,I. Effects of reactive diluents and relative humidity on physical properties

A UV-curable acrylated urethane prepolymer was synthesized from tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), a polyether polyol (Arcol 1131) and endcapped with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) by addition reaction in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate as catalyst. UV curing was performed with either diethylene glycol diacrylate or thiodiethylene glycol diacrylate as reactive diluent. The effects of reactive diluent types, their concentrations and the humidity of environment on mechanical properties of cured films were investigated. Changes in the tensile strength, elongation and Young's modulus values of the cured films upon addition of reactive diluents with different concentrations were related to the effect of the diluent on the crosslinking density of cured films. The increase of relative humidity from 50 to 95% caused a decrease of tensile strength and Young's modulus values of cured films. It is proposed that the decrease of these physical properties in high relative humidity is due to the formation of hydrogen bonding in polymer chains caused by water molecules.     

Cost assessment of concrete and steel types for office buildings: An exploratory study

This paper presents a set of regression models which incorporates concrete and steel types in modeling the costs of office buildings. To these ends, three typical office buildings with seven and 15 stories have been designed by the help of a commercial software taking into account the Turkish practice. In each project C-16, C-20, C-25, C-30 and C-35 concrete classes and S-220 and S-420 steel types were used for dimensioning purposes. Rough construction costs were then calculated for different combinations of concrete classes and steel types. The findings of the study revealed that column dimensions decrease following an increase in a particular concrete class. However, this decrease stops after C-30. Furthermore, an average cost difference of 16% was observed between the steel types S-220 and S-420.     

Cu, Cr and As distribution in soils adjacent to CCA-treated utility poles in Eastern Blacksea Region of Turkey

In this study, the main objective was to asses the distribution of Cu, Cr, and As in soils adjacent to CCA-treated utility poles in Eastern Blacksea Region of Turkey (Trabzon, Rize and Artvin ) and determine the influence of soil composition.

Surface (0–5 cm) and subsurface soil samples (30–40 cm) were collected near CCA-treated utility poles and control soil samples away from CCA-treated utility poles were also collected. Water holding capacity, pH and mechanical properties of soil samples were determined for both depth levels.

Results showed that Cu, Cr and As concentration in soil samples taken from all three cities in 0–5 cm depth was higher than soil samples taken from 30–40 cm depth. Cu, Cr and As concentrations were much higher in soil samples taken from city of Rize     

Comparison of copper emission rates from wood treated with different preservatives to the environment

This study describes a laboratory method for the estimation of emission from preservative-treated wood in the different situations where emissions could enter the environment for use classes 3 (not in contact with ground) and 4 and 5 (in contact with the ground, fresh water or sea water) according to OECD Guidelines. Samples of scotch pine sapwood (Pinus sylvestris L.) were treated with CCA (1% and 2%), ACQ-1900 (3% and 7%), ACQ-2200 (2%), Tanalith E 3491 (2% and 2.8%), and Wolmanit CX-8 (2%).     

Carbon nanotube-DNA nanoarchitectures and electronic functionality

Biological molecules such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) possess inherent recognition and self-assembly capabilities, and are attractive templates for constructing functional hierarchical material structures as building blocks for nanoelectronics. Here we report the assembly and electronic functionality of nanoarchitectures based on conjugates of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalized with carboxylic groups and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) sequences possessing terminal amino groups on both ends, hybridized together through amide linkages by adopting a straightforward synthetic route. Morphological and chemical-functional characterization of the nanoarchitectures are investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Electrical measurements (I-V characterization) of the nanoarchitectures demonstrate negative differential resistance in the presence of SWNT/ssDNA interfaces, which indicates a biomimetic route to fabricating resonant tunneling diodes. I-V characterization on platinum-metallized SWNT-ssDNA nanoarchitectures via salt reduction indicates modulation of their electrical properties, with effects ranging from those of a resonant tunneling diode to a resistor, depending on the amount of metallization. Electron transport through the nanoarchitectures has been analyzed by density functional theory calculations. Our studies illustrate the great promise of biomimetic assembly of functional nanosystems based on biotemplated materials and present new avenues toward exciting future opportunities in nanoelectronics and nanobiotechnology.     

Solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector based on Ti-doped Ga2O3/Si p–n heterojunction

A solar-blind ultraviolet photodetector based on Ti-doped Ga₂O₃/Si p–n heterojunction is demonstrated for the first time. It is found that the heterojunction quality forming between Ga₂O₃ and Si becomes better after Ti incorporation in Ga₂O₃. The current–voltage and temporal response measurements show that the detector based on Ti-doped Ga₂O₃/Si p–n heterojunction has a responsivity of 0.382 A/W and a fast rise time of 73 ms as well, which are much better than those undoped Ga₂O₃/Si p–n heterojunction analogues.