Anhydrous proton conductor consisting of pectin–inorganic composite material

An organic–inorganic proton conductive composite material consisting of a biopolymer was prepared by mixing the pectin, tetraethyl titanate, and imidazole. Although the pectin material without the composite dissolved in water, the pectin–inorganic composite material did not show water solubility. In addition, in the composite material, the pectin and imidazole formed an acid–base structure by an electrostatic interaction, and as a result, these composite materials showed a thermal stability at intermediate temperatures (100–200°C). Furthermore, these composite materials indicated the proton conductivity of 5.6 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at 180°C under anhydrous conditions. The activation energy of the proton conduction under anhydrous conditions was 0.32–0.22 eV and these values were one order of magnitude higher than that of the typical humidified perfluorinated membrane, such as Nafion^®. The organic–inorganic composite material consisting of a biocomponent may have the potential to be utilized as a novel proton conductor under anhydrous conditions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42433.     

Applications of microstructures fabricated by proton beam writing to electric-micro filters

Fabrication of high-aspect-ratio microstructures was performed by proton beam writing (PBW) using a microbeam line at Takasaki Ion Accelerators for Advanced Radiation Application (TIARA), JAEA Takasaki, JAPAN. As one of the applications of the high-aspect-ratio structures micro-machined by PBW, we utilized the high-aspect pillars for electric-micro filters of microbes such as Escherichia coli and Yeast based on the dielectrophoretic force. The filter is equipped with high-aspect pillars with a height of ～20 μm and a diameter of ～1 μm on a glass plate. Evaluation of the dielectrophoresis (DEP) device for capturing E. coli and Yeast was made using either observation by optical microscope or photoluminescence (PL) measurements.     

Physicochemical properties of monosodium glutamate-compounded tapioca starch exceeds those of simple heat-moisture treated starch

Monosodium glutamate (GluNa)-compounded starch was prepared by heat-moisture treating a mixture of tapioca starch and GluNa. GluNa-compounded starch exhibited a higher gelatinization temperature and reduced swelling and solubility, essentially lower hardness of the granule center, and paste viscosity than those of the heat-moisture treated tapioca starch and the untreated starch. However, its appearance, unit chain length distribution, and α-amylase digestibility were similar to those of the heat-moisture treated tapioca. It is thus concluded that GluNa compounding is useful for providing a unique type of starch that possesses a less swollen and viscous texture than that produced with simple heat-moisture treatment.     

Thermoelectric Properties of Multifilled Skutterudites with La as the Main Filler

Bulk multifilled n- and p-type skutterudites with La as the main filler were fabricated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The thermoelectric properties and thermal stability of these skutterudites were investigated. It was found that the interactions among the filling atoms also play a vital role in reducing the lattice thermal conductivity of the multifilled skutterudites. ZT = 0.76 for p-type La_0.8Ba_0.01Ga_0.1Ti_0.1Fe₃CoSb₁₂ and ZT = 1.0 for n-type La_0.3Ca_0.1Al_0.1Ga_0.1In_0.2Co_3.75Fe_0.25Sb₁₂ skutterudites have been achieved. Furthermore, the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results show that there is no skutterudite phase decomposition till 750°C for the La_0.8Ba_0.01Ga_0.1Ti_0.1Fe₃CoSb₁₂ sample. The thermal stability of the La_0.8Ba_0.01Ga_0.1Ti_0.1Fe₃CoSb₁₂ skutterudite is greatly improved. Using the developed multifilled skutterudites, the fabricated module with size of 50 mm × 50 mm × 7.6 mm possesses maximum output power of 32 W under the condition of hot/cold sides = 600°C/50°C.     

Effects of V content on hydrogen storage properties of V–Ti–Cr alloys with high desorption pressure

Hydrogen storage is one of the most important issues to realize hydrogen society especially for on-board usage. Recently, high-pressure metal hydride (MH) tank attracts many attentions due to its high volumetric hydrogen storage density and relatively easy heat management. To emphasize its merits, further improvements of properties of MH, such as capacity, hydrogen desorption capability at low temperature and durability, are required. In this paper, V–Ti–Cr alloys of V-rich compositions were investigated with perspective of increasing of hydrogen desorption pressure and durability. In both of 60at%V–Ti–Cr and 80at%V–Ti–Cr alloys, good relationship between hydrogen desorption pressure and Ti content was observed. In comparing with 60at%V–Ti–Cr alloys, 80at%V–Ti–Cr alloys showed good durability. It is quite notable that relationship between limitation line (upper substitution limit of Ti by Cr without degradation of hydrogen capacity) and desorption pressure for V–Ti–Cr ternary system with V-rich composition is clarified. And also, it is revealed that in the case of V–Ti–Cr ternary system, not only Ti/Cr ratio but also V content is important factor to obtain alloys with high hydrogen desorption pressure. 75at%V–5at%Ti–Cr as-cast sample showed good durability, hydrogen desorption capability at low temperature and relatively high effective hydrogen capacity simultaneously.     

Ion beam induced luminescence of polyethylene terephthalate foils under MeV H and He ion bombardment

The evolution of the ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foils was studied under the irradiation of H and He ions of MeV energy. The optical and chemical changes of the samples were also examined by photo-stimulated luminescence and optical absorption measurements after the irradiation. A prominent broad emission peak of IBIL appeared at around 380 nm, and its intensity monotonically decreased during the ion irradiation. The decay curves of the emission intensity were quantitatively explained as a function of the electronic energy deposition of the incident H and He ions. On the contrary, to the decrease of the main emission peak, a growth of new peaks was observed in the wavelengths between 500 and 600 nm.     

An analysis of the length of hospital stay for cataract patients in Japan using the discrete-type proportional hazard model

We analyze the length of hospital stays of patients hospitalized for cataract and related diseases (Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) 2041) in Japan, utilizing the data pertaining to 3436 patients on whom one-eye lens operations are performed. We use the discrete-type proportional hazard model to analyze variables that may affect the length of stay.     

Sweep‐out flow of film condensation on vertical plates with horizontal grooves

We have investigated fluid flow characteristics of film‐wise condensation on vertical plates with horizontal periodic grooves. Condensate stays at the edge of the grooves due to the surface tension. The condensate starts to flow, however, when the balance between the surface tension and the condensate's own weight is broken. It is found that the condensate flows downward successively and periodically from the top part of the plate as a group. In addition, we have obtained the relation between the frequencies of the periodic flow and the degree of sub‐cooling for two different pitches of the grooves. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20249     

Molecular structures of gellan gum imaged with atomic force microscopy (AFM) in relation to the rheological behavior in aqueous systems in the presence of sodium chloride

Aqueous solutions of gellan gum with comparable molecular mass but with different acyl contents were investigated by atomic force microscopy and rheological measurements in the presence of sodium chloride (NaCl). Results obtained were discussed in relation to our previous report using potassium chloride (KCl) as an added salt. For a low-acyl sample, continuous fibrous network structures were identified microscopically as in the case of KCl. The network structures were more heterogeneous than those formed with KCl in terms of the height distribution of molecular assemblies. Rheological thermal hysteresis between sol–gel transitions was detected as in the case of KCl. The storage modulus (G′) of the gelled system was ca. 15% of the corresponding data with KCl at 20 °C. For a high-acyl sample, no continuous network structures were identified but branches with observable ends were identified as in the case of KCl. The hysteresis was less evident than the corresponding data with KCl and for the low-acyl sample with NaCl. Also, G′ values at 20 °C were ca. 30% and 20% of the corresponding data with KCl and for the low-acyl sample with NaCl, respectively. Continuousness and homogeneity of network structures related to the hysteresis and elasticity of the system, respectively.     

Parity induced edge-current saturation and current distribution in zigzag-edged graphene nano-ribbon devices

We show computationally that the current-voltage characteristics of the zigzag-edged graphene nanoribbon (ZGNR) with the even width exhibit remarkable current saturation behavior in spite of the absence of the bandgap. Mechanism of such current-saturation behavior can be understood to be originated from the symmetries of the wavefunctions corresponding to the edge states in ZGNR. We further demonstrate that the current-voltage characteristics of ZGNR can be drastically changed even by the presence of a single lattice vacancy, with the strong dependence on the position of the vacancy. The origin of such properties is intuitively understood by analyzing the transmission probabilities through such systems.