Cyclic voltammetry and impedance studies of undoped diamond films

The undoped, polycrystalline diamond films were deposited on tungsten wire substrates by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HF CVD), using a precursor gas mixture of methanol with excess of hydrogen. The morphology and quality of the as-deposited films were monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The surface morphology analyzed by SEM resembles a continuous and well faceted diamond film. Raman results showed essential differences in qualities of diamond films grown at different hydrocarbon concentrations. The electrochemical properties of diamond electrodes were examined with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The CV experiments revealed a large chemical window (>～4.3 V) of undoped diamond. Analysis of the ferrocyanide-ferricyanide couple at a diamond electrode suggests some extent of electrochemical quasi-reversibility, but the rates of charge transfer across the diamond substrate interface vary with diamond quality.     

Pool Boiling of Water–Al2O3 and Water–Cu Nanofluids Outside Porous Coated Tubes

This paper deals with pool boiling of water–Al₂O₃ and water–Cu nanofluids on porous coated, horizontal tubes. Commercially available stainless-steel tubes having 10 mm outside diameter and 0.6 mm wall thickness were used to fabricate a test heater. Aluminum porous coatings 0.15 mm thick with porosity of about 40% were produced by plasma spraying. A smooth tube served as a reference tube. The experiments were conducted under different absolute operating pressures of 200 kPa, 100 kPa, and 10 kPa. Nanoparticles were tested at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% by weight. In all cases tested, enhancement heat transfer was always observed during boiling of water–Al₂O₃ and water–Cu nanofluids on smooth tubes compared to boiling of distilled water. Contrary to smooth tubes, addition of even a small amount of nanoparticles resulted in deterioration of heat transfer during pool boiling of water–Al₂O₃ and water–Cu nanofluids on porous coated tubes in comparison with boiling of distilled water.     

A new generation of fibers from alginic acid for dressing materials

We developed and elaborated manufacturing conditions for the production of alginic acid fibers with high sorption properties. The fibers' tenacity obtained at a level of 16 cN/tex is suitable for textile processing these fibers, and will make it possible to produce a new generation of highly absorptive dressing materials. The presence of acid groups in the fiber‐forming material allows us to use them for the addition of new generation antibiotics, which makes it possible to extend the antibacterial effects of these fibers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Prediction of Oxygen and Ozone Solubility in Liquids with the Peng-Robinson Equation of State

The results of predictions of ozone solubility in the inert organic solvents based on the Peng-Robinson EOS have been reported. A hypothesis that there is a possible similarity of the values of the binary coefficients, k₁₂, between oxygen and ozone has been tested. Some attempts to estimate ozone solubility in perfluorocarbons have been discussed.     

Influence of constant magnetic field on the electrodeposition of Co–Mo–W alloys

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a constant magnetic field (CMF) on the electrodeposition of Co–Mo–W alloys, and to observe changes in the topography of the alloy surface and its chemical composition. The investigation included the use of Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Coulometry (C), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX). At higher electrolyte concentrations (so-called II), the CV method revealed an increase in cathode current density in a CMF environment. During crystallisation of the Co–Mo–W alloy, fractures appeared on the surface due to internal stresses. The application of CMF reduced the fracture widths resulting from the increased concentration of electroactive particles at the working electrode and the greater deposited alloy mass. Electrolyte motion under the influence of CMF caused an increase in the percentage of the main ferromagnetic component (Co) in the alloy.     

Comparison of the high vacuum standard parameters computed from two models

The paper presents the results of analyses of the high vacuum standard obtained with the use of two models: traditional and the new, so-called ‘global’. It was found that the assumptions used in the traditional approach i.e. uniform and cosine gas flux density distribution at the orifice plane and the uniform distributions of the gas flux on the calibration and pumping chamber walls, are not fully fulfilled. These effects cause the effective pumping speed calculated with both models to differ and the relative difference equals 4×10⁻⁴. Additionally it was found that the uncertainty of the vacuum standard due to the orifice dimensions measurements being imprecisely computed using the global model is twice smaller taking into account the gas beaming effect.     

Applications of fullerene beams in analysis of thin layers

Molecular dynamics computer simulations have been employed to model ejection of particles from Ag{1 1 1} metal substrate and thin benzene overlayer bombarded by fullerene cluster projectiles. The sputtering yields are analyzed depending on the size (from C₂₀ up to C₅₄₀) and the kinetic energy (5-20 keV) of a projectile. It has been found that for clean metal substrate bombarded by 15 keV projectiles the maximum ejection is stimulated by the impact of the C₆₀ cluster. However, the size of the cluster projectile maximizing the yield depends on the kinetic energy of the cluster, shifting towards larger clusters as the impact energy increases. For a thin benzene overlayer, the yield increases monotonically with the size of the cluster within investigated range of fullerene projectiles and kinetic energies.     

Identification of tillering node proteins differentially accumulated in barley recombinant inbred lines with different juvenile growth habits

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop grown for both the feed and malting industries. The allelic dwarfing gene sdw1/denso has been used throughout the world to develop commercial barley varieties. Proteomic analysis offers a new approach to identify a broad spectrum of genes that are expressed in the living system. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were applied to investigate changes in protein abundance associated with different juvenile growth habit as effect of the denso locus in barley homozygous lines derived from a Maresi × Pomo cross combination. A total of 31 protein spots were revealed that demonstrate quantitative differences in protein abundance between the analyzed plants with different juvenile growth habit, and these protein spots were selected to be identified by mass spectrometry. Identification was successful for 27 spots, and functional annotations of proteins revealed that most of them are involved in metabolism and disease/defense-related processes. Functions of the identified proteins and their probable influence on the growth habit in barley are discussed.     

The relationship between grain hardness, dough mixing parameters and bread-making quality in winter wheat

The influence of grain hardness, determined by using molecular markers and physical methods (near-infrared (NIR) technique and particle size index-PSI) on dough characteristics, which in turn were determined with the use of a farinograph and reomixer, as well as bread-making properties were studied. The material covered 24 winter wheat genotypes differing in grain hardness. The field experiment was conducted at standard and increased levels of nitrogen fertilization. Results of molecular analyses were in agreement with those obtained by the use of physical methods for soft-grained lines. Some lines classified as hard (by physical methods) appeared to have the wild-type Pina and Pinb alleles, similar to soft lines. Differences in dough and bread-making properties between lines classified as hard and soft on the basis of molecular data appeared to be of less significance than the differences between lines classified as hard and soft on the basis of physical analyses of grain texture. Values of relative grain hardness at the increased nitrogen fertilization level were significantly higher. At both fertilization levels the NIR parameter determining grain hardness was significantly positively correlated with the wet gluten and sedimentation values, with most of the rheological parameters and bread yield. Values of this parameter correlated with quality characteristics in a higher degree than values of particle size index.