Ecological and Economic Evaluation of Hydrogen Production by Different Water Electrolysis Technologies

The economic and ecological production of green hydrogen by water electrolysis is one of the major challenges within Carbon2Chem® and other power-to-X projects. This paper presents an evaluation of the different water electrolysis technologies with respect to their specific energy demand, carbon footprint and the forecast production costs in 2030. From a current perspective alkaline water electrolysis is evaluated as the most favorable technology for the cost-effective production of low-carbon hydrogen with fluctuating renewables.     

3D Dislocation structure evolution in strontium titanate: Spherical indentation experiments and MD simulations

In the present work, the dislocation structure evolution around and underneath the spherical indentations in (001) oriented single crystalline strontium titanate (STO) was revealed by using an etch‐pit technique and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The 3D defect structure at various length scales and subsurface depths was resolved with the help of a sequential polishing, etching, and imaging technique. This analysis, combined with load‐displacement data, shows that the incipient plasticity (manifested as sudden indenter displacement bursts) is strongly influenced by preexisting dislocations. In the early stage of plastic deformation, the dislocation pile‐ups are all aligned in 〈100〉 directions, lying on {110}₄₅ planes, inclined at 45° to the (001) surface. At higher mean contact pressure and larger indentation depth, however, dislocation pile‐ups along 〈110〉 directions appear, lying on {110}₉₀ planes, perpendicular to the (100) surface. MD simulations confirm the glide plane nature and provide further insights into the dislocation formation mechanisms by tracing the evolution of the complete dislocation line network as function of indentation depth.     

Polyurethane macromers—new building blocks for acrylic hybrid emulsions with outstanding performance

Emulsion polymerization is an efficient process to produce waterborne binders. It has been observed that films prepared from traditional latices do not show high performance especially concerning humidity and stone chip resistance. Polymeric emulsifiers are promising alternatives to low molecular weight surfactants. Polyurethanes are an interesting polymer class. The structure of the polymer backbone can be varied in a wide range by using different building blocks. The synthesis of copolymerizable polyurethanes, which have an amphiphilic structure similar to traditional surfactants, and their use in aqueous polymerization is discussed in detail. This process leads to polymer emulsions with structured particle morphology. The resulting films show outstanding properties. The polyurethane–polyacrylic dispersions can be used as binders for high performance waterborne coating formulations.     

LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION OF Ag(I), Hg(II), Au(III) AND Pd(II) BY SOME OLIGOTHIA MACROCYCLIC LIGANDS INCORPORATING AROMATIC AND HETEROAROMATIC SUBUNITS*

ABSTRACT

A series of hydrophobic tri- to hexa-dentate sulfur containing macrocyclic ligands incorporating aromatic and heteroaromatic subunits have been studied with respect to their extraction properties toward Ag(I), Hg(II), Au(III), and Pd(II) in aqueous//organic systems. The stoichiometry of extracted species and their extraction constants have been determined. The different ligands are compared with structure related open-chain compounds. The influence of substitution, solvent, and anion on the extraction equilibrium is also discussed providing a basis for future design of selective extractants and for die development of improved separation methods. The extractability of the various metal ions strongly depends on the nature and the number of donor atoms of the corresponding ligands and on the properties of the metal ion itself. In some cases, simple open-chain ligands show extraction properties comparable to the present macrocycles. A trithia crown with incorporated benzo subunit highly prefers Ag(I) to Hg(II). Furthermore a distinct selectivity for Au(ni) and Hg(II) over Pd(II) with pyridine substituted macrocycles was found.     

Analysis of Release and Role of Benzyl Cyanide in Male Desert Locusts, Schistocerca gregaria

Volatiles emanating from living Schistocerca gregaria at various stages of development were trapped by means of a closed-loop-stripping system. Benzyl cyanide was previously identified with GC-MS methods as a volatile that was exclusively released by adult mature gregarious males. The amount of BC released depended on the number of males per group. Mature female locusts did not stimulate the release of benzyl cyanide in gregarious males. After physical isolation of previously grouped males, a steady reduction in benzyl cyanide release was observed. After regrouping the isolated males, BC emission was restored. In olfactometer bioassays, benzyl cyanide had a strong repellent effect on gregarious mature males but only a weak one on immature males. The possible origin and role of benzyl cyanide in sexual behavior are discussed.     

Mechanical tailoring of dislocation densities in SrTiO3 at room temperature

Dislocation-tuned functional properties such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and ferroelectric properties in oxides are attracting increasing research interest. A prerequisite for harvesting these functional properties in oxides requires successful introduction and control of dislocation density and arrangement without forming cracks, which is a great challenge due to their brittle nature. Here, we report a simple method to mechanically tailor the dislocation densities in single-crystal perovskite SrTiO₃. By using a millimeter-sized Brinell indenter, dislocation densities from ∼10¹⁰ to ∼10¹³ m⁻² are achieved by increasing the number of indenting cycles. Depending on tip radius and indenting load, large and crack-free plastic zones over hundreds of micrometers are created. The dislocation multiplication mechanisms are discussed, and the work hardening in the plastic zone is evaluated by micro-hardness measurement as a function of dislocation density. This simple approach opens many new opportunities in the area of dislocation-tuned functional and mechanical studies.     

Humidity Considerations in Filter Testing Based on Analysis of Filters from Gas Turbine Applications

Depth filters used in multistage filter systems adeptly clean the intake air of gas turbines, preventing damage and increasing performance. However, estimation of their service life is based on empirical data and/or standardized testing procedures, e.g., ISO 16890. By applying standardized synthetic test dusts at constant reference humidity, these testing procedures do not reflect application-typical loading conditions. Based on a direct comparison with field data, the influence of temporary exposure to high relative humidity on differential pressure and particle deposit structure is investigated. The results indicate that simulating humidity variations of the ambient atmosphere during filter tests leads to particle deposits, which more accurately reflect the actual behavior during operation.     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Hydrogel Nanoparticles: Synthetic Antibodies for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) accounted for 10 million deaths in 2020. Promising theranostic (therapy and diagnostic) agents in the treatment of cancer are nanomaterials, which have come to the forefront because of their small size approaching those of protein complexes in the human body, and of their easy functionalization giving access to nanocomposite materials with diverse functions (fluorescence, magnetic, stimuli-responsiveness, etc.), and improved biocompatibility. Among them, affinity nanoparticles, often decorated with highly specific targeting ligands such as antibodies, aptamers, lectins and peptides, have enabled enhanced binding and exquisite recognition of biomarkers overexpressed in cancer cells. In this review, we describe an emerging class of targeting ligands, molecularly imprinted polymer hydrogel nanoparticles for their application in the early detection of disease, with the aim to improve diagnosis and treatment.     

No Evidence for the Induction of Brown Algal Chemical Defense by the Phytohormones Jasmonic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate

Induced chemical defense reactions are widespread in marine brown algae. Despite the evidence that the biosynthesis of defense metabolites can be up-regulated upon herbivory, we do not know how this regulation of biosynthetic pathways to secondary metabolites is achieved in brown algae. In higher plants, the phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) is crucial for the mediation of induced chemical defenses, and several findings of this metabolite from marine sources have been reported. We tested the hypothesis that JA or related metabolites play a role in induced brown algal defense. Quantification of oxylipins with a detection limit around 20 ng g⁻¹ algal tissue did not reveal the presence of JA in the seven examined brown algal species Dictyota dichotoma, Colpomenia peregrina, Ectocarpus fasciculatus, Fucus vesiculosus, Himanthalia elongata, Saccharina latissima (formerly Laminaria saccharina), and Sargassum muticum. Moreover, treatment with ecologically relevant concentrations of JA and methyl jasmonate did not lead to a significant change in the profile of medium- and non-polar metabolites of the tested algae. Only when high concentrations of ≥500 μg ml⁻¹ medium of the phytohormones were applied that a metabolic response which could be attributed to unspecific stress was observed. Bioassays with D. dichotoma that focused on medium- and non-polar compounds confirmed the lack of a biological role of JA and methyl jasmonate in the induction of algal induced chemical defenses. The phytohormone-treated samples did not exhibit any increased defense potential towards the amphipod Ampithoe longimana and the isopod Paracerceis caudata. JA and related phytohormones, known to be active in higher plants, thus appear to play no role in brown algae for induction of the defense chemicals studied here.