Preparation and characterization of core-shell battery materials for Li-ion batteries manufactured by substrate induced coagulation

In this work Substrate Induced Coagulation (SIC) was used to coat the cathode material LiCoO₂, commonly used in Li-ion batteries, with fine nano-sized particulate titania. Substrate Induced Coagulation is a self-assembled dip-coating process capable of coating different surfaces with fine particulate materials from liquid media. A SIC coating consists of thin and rinse-prove layers of solid particles. An advantage of this dip-coating method is that the method is easy and cheap and that the materials can be handled by standard lab equipment. Here, the SIC coating of titania on LiCoO₂ is followed by a solid-state reaction forming new inorganic layers and a core-shell material, while keeping the content of active battery material high. This titania based coating was designed to confine the reaction of extensively delithiated (charged) LiCoO₂ and the electrolyte. The core-shell materials were characterized by SEM, XPS, XRD and Rietveld analysis.     

Determination of pesticide residues in food matrices using the QuEChERS methodology

The determination of pesticide residues in food matrices is a formidable challenge mainly because of the small quantities of analytes and large amounts of interfering substances which can be co-extracted with analytes and, in most cases, adversely affect the results of an analysis. However, safety concerns require that pesticides of the wide range of chemical properties (including acidic, basic and neutral) should be monitored. Because of the wide variety of food matrices, the sample must initially be cleaned up before final analysis. That is why the analytical chemist is faced with the need to devise new methodologies for determining such residues to be determined in a single analytical run. To accomplish the goal, QuEChERS methodology has been developed. It is a streamlined and effective extraction and cleanup approach for the analysis of diverse analyte residues in food matrices. So far, there have been achieved promising results by liquid or gas chromatography analysis, including pesticides, but also acrylamide, pharmaceuticals and veterinary drugs.     

Properties of Light MMCs Modified with Cordierite Synthesized from Fly Ash

This paper presents novel opportunities for management of fly ash by synthesizing the material into cordierite ceramics and using it as a reinforcing phase for light metal alloys. Metal matrix composites (based on magnesium alloy and aluminum alloy) were produced by squeeze casting. The magnesium matrix composites with a suitably selected reinforcing phase content (2 wt.%) exhibited much better strength properties than the unmodified alloy (AM60). It was also demonstrated that the wettability (or the lack thereof) in the metal-ceramic system is critical to successful production of the composites based on the AK7 alloy with cordierite. Light alloy matrix composites reinforced with cordierite ceramics particles are innovative materials that combine high strength with low weight, which may be a key factor of merit for numerous applications of the composite in various branches of industries.     

Dishwashing behaviour of European consumers with regard to the acceptance of long programme cycles

Since the introduction of the energy label for household dishwashers in the EU, manufacturers have been incentivised to reduce resource consumption and increase the energy efficiency of their appliances. Technological progress has led to very efficient programmes with cleaning cycles of 3 to 4 h or longer. The European Commission recently initiated a revision of the energy label and Ecodesign requirements, leading to their adjustment to the state of the art and to actual usage patterns. The University of Bonn was tasked with investigating dishwashing habits in Europe. An online survey was conducted in 11 countries of the EU with more than 5000 participants. The survey focused on the choice of programme, attitudes towards energy-saving programmes and practices and the willingness to apply them. It appears that consumers are willing to apply energy-saving practices and to use energy-saving programmes, but the acceptance of long cycles that take more than 2 h is low, which stands in contradiction to the fact that 19% of all dishwashing cycles are run in the Eco programme, which takes more than 2 h in most cases. The percentage of people who understand that long cycles can be energy-efficient is smaller than the percentage of those who do not believe this. The statements of the participants are contradictory regarding the importance of saving energy and of programme duration. The results of the survey point out the importance of better consumer education and better communication by manufacturers, consumer organisations and legislation.     

Gemeinsame österreichisch-ungarische Sedimentforschung im Rahmen des EFRE-Projektes SEDDON

The multiple uses of the Danube River for navigation, hydropower production and as a drinking water supply influence its ecological quality. Flow restrictions due to regulation as well as impacts on the sediment regime such as retention in the catchment area and interruption of the sediment continuum result in changes of the hydromorphological structures and can produce major problems in the context of sediment management. In light of these facts, cross-border investigations of sediment transport at the Danube River are called for. As there are no uniform research approaches shared by Austria and Hungary, the EU-funded project SEDDON (Sediment Research and Management at the Danube River) aims to compare different monitoring and modeling techniques used to determine sediment transport, and to develop mutual solutions. Further, the laboratory equipment currently used for hydraulic model experiments is evaluated and a research channel with a free flowing discharge of up to 10 m³/s without pumping will be constructed, allowing large-scale joint laboratory tests concerning sediment to be performed.     

Ion pair extraction of water soluble dyes

The removal of azo dyes from water by ion pair extraction is investigated. Mathematical relationships are derived from batch data and applied to the continuous extraction in a reciprocating plate extraction column.     

Note on the connectivity of line graphs

Let G be a connected graph with vertex set V(G), edge set E(G), vertex-connectivity κ(G) and edge-connectivity λ(G).A subset S of E(G) is called a restricted edge-cut if G−S is disconnected and each component contains at least two vertices. The restricted edge-connectivity λ₂(G) is the minimum cardinality over all restricted edge-cuts. Clearly λ₂(G)?λ(G)?κ(G).In 1969, Chartrand and Stewart have shown that

     

Macroporous polymers made from medium internal phase emulsion templates: Effect of emulsion formulation on the pore structure of polyMIPEs

Emulsion templating is an effective route to prepare low-density, interconnected macroporous polymers known as poly(merised)High and Medium Internal Phase (Ratio) Emulsions. Here, we provide evidence that the interconnectivity of polyMIPEs is strongly dependent on the initiator used for the polymerisation of the continuous phase of the template. The characteristic interconnected pore structure can be observed if an oil soluble initiator, we used α,α′-azoisobutyronitrile, is used irrespectively of the surfactant employed to stabilise the emulsion templates. However, polymerisation of the continuous emulsion phase initiated by water-soluble initiators such as redox initiators or potassium peroxodisulfate results in low pore interconnectivity or even closed celled polyMIPEs.