Integrated all-diamond ultramicroelectrode arrays: optimization of faradaic and capacitive currents

Integrated all-diamond ultramicroelectrode arrays (UMEAs) were fabricated using standard photolithography processes. The array consisted of typically 45 ultramicroelectrodes with a diameter of 10 μm and with a center-to-center spacing of 60 μm. The quasi-reference and counter electrodes were made from conductive diamond and were integrated on a 5 × 5 mm(2) chip. On the UMEA, a high ratio of faradaic current to capacitive current was achieved on heavily boron-doped and hydrogen-terminated diamond surfaces at slow scan rates and in high concentration of supporting electrolyte. A sensitive and reproducible detection of dopamine was achieved on hydrogen-terminated diamond UMEA at slow scan rates. The detection limit of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid was 1.0 nM, which is 50-100 times lower than that obtained on the macrosized boron-doped diamond electrodes. This array is promising for sensitive and reproducible detection of analytes in solutions with low detection limits.     

ECRH for JET: A feasibility study

For JET to fulfil its mission in preparing ITER operation, the installation of an electron cyclotron resonance heating system on JET would be desirable. The study described in this paper has investigated the feasibility of installing such a system on JET. The principal goals of such a system are: current drive over a range of radii for NTM stabilization, sawtooth control and current profile tailoring and central electron heating to equilibrate electron and ion temperatures in high performance discharges. The study concluded that a 12 gyrotron, 10 MW, system at the ITER frequency (170 GHz) adapted for fields of 2.7–3.3 T would be appropriate for the operation planned in JET. An antenna allowing toroidal and poloidal steering over a wide range is being designed, using the ITER upper launcher steering mechanism. The use of ITER diamond windows and transmission line technology is suggested while power supply solutions partially reusing existing JET power supplies are proposed. Detailed planning shows that such a system can be operational in about 5 years from the time that the decision to proceed is taken. The cost and required manpower associated with implementing such a system on JET has also been estimated.     

Spectroscopic characterization of the uranium carbonate andersonite Na2Ca[UO2(CO3)3] x 6H2O

The uranium carbonate andersonite Na2Ca[UO2(CO3)3] x 6H2O was synthesized and identified with classical analytical and spectroscopic methods. The classical methods applied were powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitric acid digestion, and scanning electron microcopy combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). To characterize andersonite spectroscopically, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were used. Natural and synthetic andersonite samples were characterized with the nondestructive TRLFS by six fluorescence emission bands at 470.6, 486.1, 505.4, 526.7, 549.6, and 573.9 nm. In addition, andersonite was characterized by FT-IR measurements by the appearance of the asymmetric stretching vibration of the uranyl cation [v3(UO2(2+))] at 902 cm(-1) with a shoulder at 913 cm(-1). XPS measurements verified the composition of the synthetic andersonite sample. The measured intensity ratios of the XPS lines agree with the stoichiometry of Na2Ca[UO2(CO3)3] x 6H2O. The XPS features of the inner valence molecular orbitals are characteristic of the [UO2(CO3)3]4- structural moiety. These spectroscopic methods can be used to identify in a fingerprinting procedure secondary U(VI) phases in mixtures with other phases or as thin coatings on mineral and rock surfaces.     

Influence of selected factors on browning of Camembert cheese

Experimental Camembert cheeses were made to investigate the effects on browning of the following factors: inoculation with Yarrowia lipolytica, the use of Penicillium candidum strains with different proteolytic activity, the addition of tyrosine, and the addition of Mn2+ thus leading to 16 different variants of cheese. Two physical colour parameters were used to describe browning, depending on the location in the cheeses: a whiteness index for the outside browning (mould mycelium), and a brownness index for the inside browning (surface of the cheese body). Mn2+ promoted a significant increase of browning at both locations, whereas Yar. lipolytica had the opposite effect. Outside browning was significantly more intense when using the Pen. candidum strain with higher proteolytic activity. A significant interaction was found between Yar. lipolytica and Pen. candidum. The yeast had no effect in combination with a low proteolytic strain of Pen. candidum, but significantly reduced proteolysis and browning in combination with a high proteolytic strain of Pen. candidum. We further confirmed that both strains of Pen. candidum were able to produce brown pigments from tyrosine and thus both are presumably responsible for the browning activity in this type of cheese.     

吸水性对防污涂料性能影响的研究

由于中国的许多船厂位于淡水流域,淡水浸泡对防污涂料的影响正引起人们越来越多的关注。本研究中,选取了4种基于丙烯酸硅烷技术和6种基于离子交换技术的防污涂料,比较了在海水和淡水里的吸水性能。为了便于确定成膜树脂与相应涂料吸水性能之间的相关性,将成膜树脂从涂料中分离出来进行研究。