Phenyl Selenosulfides as Cathode Materials for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries

The Se? Se bond in an organo‐diselenide (RSeSeR, R is an organic group) can break in a 2e^? reduction reaction, but it has limited capacity as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium‐ion batteries. To increase its capacity, redox active species (e.g., sulfur) can be added in the middle of the selenium atoms. Herein, phenyl diselenide (PDSe, PhSeSePh) is mixed with sulfur to form two hybrid compounds with 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios, which almost double and triple the capacity of PDSe, respectively. Theoretical calculations suggest that phenyl selenosulfide (PDSe‐S, PhSe‐S‐SePh) and phenyl selenodisulfide (PDSe‐S₂, PhSe‐SS‐SePh) can form via addition reactions, which is supported by mass spectrometry analysis. The hybrid materials exhibit three highly reversible redox plateaus and enhanced cycling stability due to the reduced solubility of the discharge products. PDSe‐S and PDSe‐S₂ show initial capacities of 252 and 330 mAh g^?1, respectively, followed by stable cycling performance with a capacity retention of >73% after 200 cycles at C/5 rate. In addition, they show steady rate capabilities. This study reports a novel strategy to increase the electrochemical performance of organo‐diselenide by addition of sulfur.     

Synergistic interaction of 2-amino 4-methyl benzothiazole (AMBT) and benzotriazole (BTZ) offers excellent protection to mild steel exposed in acid atmosphere at elevated temperatures: Electrochemical,computational and surface studies

The synergistic interactions and corrosion protection properties of 2-amino 4-methyl benzothiazole, (AMBT) and 1, 2, 3-benzotriazole (BTZ) have been studied for mild steel in HCl at elevated temperatures. The extent of synergistic interaction increases with temperature. The methods of study include the conventional weight loss studies, computational screening, surface characterization and electrochemical studies. Quantum chemical approach was used to calculate some electronic properties of the molecules and to ascertain the synergistic interaction, inhibitive effect and molecular structures. The corrosion inhibition efficiencies and the global chemical reactivity relate to parameters like total energy, E_HOMO, E_LUMO and gap energy (ΔE). Condensed atom Fukui functions also calculated using DFT at B3LYP/6-31G* level, and were found to be correlating with the experimental results.     

Polyacetylene content and UV-induced 6-methoxymellein accumulation in carrot cultivars

The antifungal polyacetylenes falcarindiol and falcarinol, the production potential of the phytoalexin 6-methoxymellein (6-MM), and the carbohydrate profiles of five carrot cultivars were studied in order to assess variability in their content of these compounds as well as to determine the existence of any interrelationship among them. The polyacetylene content was measured in the peel of carrot roots shortly after harvest; the accumulation of 6-MM was measured in carrot slices incubated at 1°C after exposure to ultraviolet light (UV-C); and the carbohydrate content (glucose, fructose, sucrose and total non-structural), determined on whole carrots. Significant differences among the cultivars were noted in the content of polyacetylenes and 6-MM accumulation as well as in the carbohydrate constituents. The variation among the cultivars for the polyacetylene content and that for the accumulation of 6-MM were found to be independent of each other. The results suggest that cultivars with higher levels of antifungal compounds could be bred in order to improve their resistance to diseases. The carbohydrate profiles of the cultivars did not affect their production of 6-MM. Furthermore, 6-MM accumulation–UV dose response was similar for all the cultivars. Thus, a single dose of UV could be used to induce 6-MM in several cultivars of carrot.     

Test of the deterministic conjecture for the instantaneous time phase fluctuations of an oscillator

The fluctuations observed by recording the picosecond pulses of a mode-locked laser with a synchroscan streak camera are due to the laser jitter and to the variations of the zero crossing of the synchronization. By means of a simple model, it is shown that the dispersions measured when the synchronization is generated from the mode-locker oscillator reflect the instantaneous time phase fluctuations of this oscillator. From the study of the experimental recordings with methods of time series analysis it results that the phase noise of the electronic oscillator is consistent with an underlying low-dimensional strange attractor.     

Nanofabrication of 1-D photonic bandgap structures along a photonic wire

A strongly-guided one-dimensional (1-D) waveguide called a photonic wire has high spontaneous emission coupling efficiency, enabling one to realize low-threshold lasers. Combined with the use of 1-D photonic bandgap structures consisting of arrays of holes etched within the photonic wire, novel microcavity lasers can be realized. We report the nanofabrication of a photonic bandgap structure for 1.5 /spl mu/m wavelength along a InGaAsP photonic wire, and discuss numerical simulations for its electrodynamics.     

MLEK crystal growth of (100) indium phosphide

We have used a combined magnetic liquid encapsulated Kyropoulos/Czochralski (MLEK/ MLEC) technique to produce twin-free indium phosphide (InP) crystals. This technique has advantages over the standard LEC method used for commercial production of InP. By stabilizing convective flows with a magnetic field and controlling the angle between solid and liquid, one can grow large diameter twin-free (100) InP crystals; they are shaped with a flat top as is typical for Kyropoulos growth, and then pulled from the magnetically stabilized melt as in Czochralski growth. This shaping method has the benefit of maximizing the number of single crystal wafers which can be sliced from the boule. MLEK InP growth is distinguished from other methods such as LEC and MLEC with respect to solid-liquid interface shape, dislocation density, and impurity distribution. This process has demonstrated that twin-free InP (100) crystals can be consistently grown.     

Energy performance of building envelopes in different climate zones in China

Energy performance of office building envelope designs in the five major climate zones – severe cold, cold, hot summer and cold winter, mild, and hot summer and warm winter – in China was investigated. A major city within each climate zone was selected. These were Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and Hong Kong. Generic building envelopes were developed based on data gathered from building surveys, local energy codes and the ASHRAE Standard. The overall thermal transfer value (OTTV) method and the heating degree-days technique were adopted in the analysis. Cooling and heating requirements due to heat gain/loss through the building envelopes were determined based on the respective OTTV parameters and building load coefficients. Different shape coefficients were also considered. For a typical floor, chiller load due to heat gain through the building envelope varied from 1.0 kW h/m² in Kunming to 23.5 kW h/m² in Beijing, and the heating load ranged from 2.7 kW h/m² in Hong Kong to 124.3 kW h/m² in Harbin.     

Cognitive radio architecture evolution: annals of telecommunications

Cognitive radio research has developed dynamic radio spectrum management to enhance spectrum efficiency, e.g., as secondary users in unused TV bands. The location and user context of the mobile wireless user that regulatory bodies and lawmakers view as significant to spectrum interference policies have not been addressed as thoroughly. In addition, quality of service (QoS) provides a starting point but does not guarantee quality of experience (QoE) that depends on quality of information (QoI) which is a function of place, time, and user state in a social setting (e.g., commuting, shopping, or in need of medical assistance). This paper considers the evolution of cognitive radio architecture (CRA) from dynamic spectrum access (DSA) to QoE via an interdisciplinary perspective. Machine perception in visual, acoustic, speech, and text domains can cue the automatic detection of user state in stereotypical situations, enabling cognitive nodes and networks to select from among radio bands and modes more appropriately, thus enabling cognitive wireless networks (CWNs) to deliver higher QoE within technical policy constraints, in a way that makes cost-effective use of embedded and distributed computational intelligence. The control of networks of such cognitive radios requires advances in policy language architectures, so this paper introduces cognitive linguistics for policy languages.