X-ray diffraction and H-storage in ultra-small palladium particles

In situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and gravimetric hydrogen uptake measurements of d ∼ 2–3 nm spherical PdH_x particles have been studied in the temperature and pressure range of 323 < T < 428 K and 0 < P < 10 bar. The Pd particles were protected from sintering with a hydrogen-permeable carbon coating. While only containing ∼300–1000 atoms, the Pd particles were found to exhibit the same fcc structure and lattice constant as the bulk. Our isothermal studies show that, with increasing x, these highly crystalline PdH_x nanoparticles also exhibit a complete transformation from the dilute α solid solution phase to the more concentrated β hydride phase. However, we observed that the character of the α–β phase transition in these nanoparticles is very different from that in the bulk. Indeed, the hydrogen uptake isotherm exhibits a noticeable positive slope in the α + β co-existence region. Furthermore, we also observed a noticeable narrowing of the α + β co-existence region (δx) in the nanoparticles. Also, a significant suppression of the critical temperature T_c for the phase boundary was observed: T_c(nano) ≈ 430 K while T_c(bulk) ≈ 570 K. These results signal a significant change in the thermodynamic behavior of very small hydride nanoparticles that may be common to many other nano-scale metal hydride systems as well.     

Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Employed as Seeds for the Induction of Microcrystalline Diamond Synthesis

Iron nanoparticles were employed to induce the synthesis of diamond on molybdenum, silicon, and quartz substrates. Diamond films were grown using conventional conditions for diamond synthesis by hot filament chemical vapor deposition, except that dispersed iron oxide nanoparticles replaced the seeding. X-ray diffraction, visible, and ultraviolet Raman Spectroscopy, energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy , electron energy-loss spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to study the carbon bonding nature of the films and to analyze the carbon clustering around the seed nanoparticles leading to diamond synthesis. The results indicate that iron oxide nanoparticles lose the O atoms, becoming thus active C traps that induce the formation of a dense region of trigonally and tetrahedrally bonded carbon around them with the ensuing precipitation of diamond-type bonds that develop into microcrystalline diamond films under chemical vapor deposition conditions. This approach to diamond induction can be combined with dip pen nanolithography for the selective deposition of diamond and diamond patterning while avoiding surface damage associated to diamond-seeding methods.     

Modeling PD inception voltage of epoxy resin post insulators usingan adaptive neural network

One of the parameters used to characterize the partial discharge (PD) behavior is its inception voltage. The partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) should always be higher than the operating voltage to ensure that PD does not occur at or near operating voltage. Under these circumstances, other PD parameters such as apparent charge, energy dissipation need not be considered. This paper deals with modeling of PDIV of epoxy-resin post insulators using a neural network (NN). The PDIV is obtained experimentally for various shapes and sizes of post insulators, with a working voltage in the range of 3.3 to 33 kV. The electrode spacing d and creepage length l are the key parameters employed for the present modeling. An adaptively trained multilayer NN is employed for the modeling. Detailed studies are carried out to optimize the NN parameters for minimum error. The model results obtained closely follow the experimental data indicating the effectiveness of NN as an efficient tool in estimation of PDIV of epoxy-resin postinsulators     

MRI of the brain in patients with miliary pulmonary tuberculosis without symptoms or signs of central nervous system involvement

MRI was performed on patients with miliary pulmonary tuberculosis to look for brain involvement and to study the features sequentially, during treatment. We studied seven patients with typical radiographic tuberculosis, and no symptoms or signs of central nervous system involvement. Conventional spin-echo (SE) imaging, including contrast enhanced images, was performed in all cases. All patients showed brain involvement: four patients showed lesions mainly less than 3 mm in diameter, better seen on contrast-enhanced images. These patients showed oedema around the lesions after 2 months of treatment, with subsequent regression on follow-up. The remaining three patients had multiple lesions, 3 mm or more in diameter, which showed a gradual decrease on follow-up. We conclude that the brain may commonly be involved in miliary pulmonary tuberculosis. The response to treatment depends on the stage of the granuloma and shows a definite pattern of healing on follow-up.     

Microstructure and High Temperature Impression Creep Properties of Mg–3Ca–xZr (x = 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 wt%) Alloys

The current study has investigated the influence of zirconium (Zr) addition to Mg–3Ca–xZr (x = 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 wt%) alloys prepared using argon arc melting on the microstructure and impression properties at 448–498 K under constant stress of 380 MPa. Microstructural analysis of as-cast Mg–3Ca–xZr alloys showed grain refinement with Zr addition. The observed grain refinement was attributed to the growth restriction effect of Zr in hypoperitectic Mg–3Ca–0.3 wt% Zr alloys. Heterogeneous nucleation of α-Mg in properitectic Zr during solidification resulted in grain refinement of hyperperitectic Mg–3Ca–0.6 wt% Zr and Mg–3Ca–0.9 wt% Zr alloys. The hardness of Mg–3Ca–xZr alloys increased as the amount of Zr increased due to grain refinement and solid solution strengthening of α-Mg by Zr. Creep resistance of Mg–3Ca–xZr alloys increased with the addition of Zr due to solid solution strengthening of α-Mg by Zr. The calculated activation energy (Q_a) for Mg–3Ca samples (131.49 kJ/mol) was the highest among all alloy compositions. The Q_a values for 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 wt% Zr containing Mg–3Ca alloys were 107.22, 118.18 and 115.24 kJ/mol, respectively.     

迎向更环保的明天：半导体让汽车更环保

低价位新车打入印度汽车市场,印度的汽车总数将于2012年超过4000万辆。空气质量已成为印度政府关注的首要课题,而针对省油引擎管理系统的重要性,