Preparation,characterization and catalytic behavior of copper oxide nanoparticles on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate particles

In this study, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) with mean particle size of 43–32?nm were prepared by wet grinding of commercial micronized CuO powders in a high-energy wet ball-milling apparatus during 20 and 30?h, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analyses were used to characterize the structure, mean particle size and morphology of the resulting CuO NPs. The results confirmed that the CuO NPs obtained at different milling times consist of nanostructures with nearly spherical morphology and by increasing the milling time, smaller particle size was obtained. The catalytic activities of the synthesized CuO NPs on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles were examined through differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC/TG) analyses. Evaluation of the experimental results illustrated that the surfaces of CuO NPs were effectively coated with AP particles and by adding 5%CuO NPs with 32?nm, the thermal decomposition temperature of the treated particles reduced by 83.0°C and the heat of decomposition reached 1553.7?Jg^?1. Moreover, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the thermal decomposition of pure and AP?+?5%CW30 nanocomposites have been investigated by using the Kissinger, Boswell and Ozawa methods.     

Barrierless Free Charge Generation in the High-Performance PM6:Y6 Bulk Heterojunction Non-Fullerene Solar Cell

Organic solar cells are currently experiencing a second golden age thanks to the development of novel non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). Surprisingly, some of these blends exhibit high efficiencies despite a low energy offset at the heterojunction. Herein, free charge generation in the high-performance blend of the donor polymer PM6 with the NFA Y6 is thoroughly investigated as a function of internal field, temperature and excitation energy. Results show that photocurrent generation is essentially barrierless with near-unity efficiency, regardless of excitation energy. Efficient charge separation is maintained over a wide temperature range, down to 100 K, despite the small driving force for charge generation. Studies on a blend with a low concentration of the NFA, measurements of the energetic disorder, and theoretical modeling suggest that CT state dissociation is assisted by the electrostatic interfacial field which for Y6 is large enough to compensate the Coulomb dissociation barrier.     

Factors affecting the transfer of radionuclides from the environment to plants

Much of our food directly or indirectly originates from plant material; thus, detailed studies on plant contamination processes are an essential part of international environmental research. This overview attempts to identify and describe the most important parameters and processes affecting the behaviour of radionuclide transfer to plants. Many parameters influence these processes. These parameters are related to: (1) plant, (2) soil, (3) radionuclide, (4) climate and (5) time. Often there is no boundary between the factors and they are linked to each other. Knowledge of important factors in radionuclide transfer to plants can help to assess and prevent radiological exposure of humans. This knowledge can also help to guide researches and modelling related to transfer of radionuclides to food chain.     

Optical range microcavities and filters using multiple dielectric layers in metal-insulator-metal structures

We present a technique to adjust omnidirectional resonances in planar metallic microcavity structures. It is demonstrated numerically with realistic material parameters that by changing the thickness of different dielectric layers in metal-dielectric-metal structures, the omnidirectional resonance can be chosen to lie at an arbitrary frequency in the optical range. These ideas can also be applied to design a high-pass filter in the optical frequency range.     

Numerical investigations of a new thermal de-icing method for overhead conductors based on high current impulses

The theoretical background of a thermal de-icing method for overhead bare conductors subjected to ice accumulation is presented. The proposed thermal method is based on Joule effect but uses current impulses superposed onto the AC nominal current of the conductor whose perimeter is half-covered by a semi-elliptic ice sleeve. The purpose is to study the influence of environmental parameters on the shedding time obtained. For theoretical investigations, a specific numerical model using finite elements, finite volumes and explicit finite differences was developed. Several numerical simulations were carried out in order to study the influence of characteristic environmental parameters such as air speed, air temperature and ice thickness on ice shedding time, number of required current impulses as well as temperature distribution along the ice/conductor composite. The results obtained showed that the use of current impulses allows the confinement of the Joule effect heat to the ice/conductor interface. By decreasing the current impulse duration or increasing the current impulse magnitude, a more efficient heat confinement can be obtained at the ice/conductor interface. Also, the results showed than this method is not sensitive to wind speed and that shedding time is decreased with thicker ice sleeves.     

Improvement of the conductivity,electroactivity, and redoxability of polythiophene by electropolymerization of thiophene in the presence of catalytic amount of 1‐(2‐pyrrolyl)‐2‐(2‐thienyl) ethylene (PTE)

The electropolymerization of thiophene in the presence of 1‐(2‐pyrrolyl)‐2‐(2‐thienyl) ethylene (PTE) was investigated. PTE was synthesized via Wittig reaction and by the addition of catalytic amount of PTE during the electropolymerization of thiophene, the conditions of electropolymerization of thiophene were modified. The cyclic votammograms of polythiophenes (PThs) in different conditions were obtained. The analysis of cyclic votammograms of PThs shows a considerable increase in the electroactivity and redoxability when the electropolymerization of thiophene in the presence of catalytic amount of PTE was performed. The presence of PTE during electropolymerization of thiophene leads to an increase in the rate of polymerization too. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement of electron transfer ferro/ferricyanide redox system on different modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode has shown that the rate of charge transfer for PTh in the presence of PTE increased in comparison to pure PTh. The conductivity of obtained polymers was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique in 3.5% (w/v) NaCl solutions. The Zview(II) software was applied to the EIS to estimate the parameters of the proposed equivalent circuit, based on a physical model for the electrochemical behavior of coatings on GC. The R_ct value obtained for PTh is 7667 Ω cm². This value decreases in the presence of PTE to 4437 Ω cm². Thus, the new film has more conductivity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

High voltage gain dual-input dual-output DC-DC converter with reduced voltage stress on semiconductors

This paper proposes a new nonisolated multiport DC-DC converter with two inputs and two outputs with different voltage levels. Different energy sources with distinct voltage-current characteristics can be utilized as the input sources. Regarding multiple outputs, the proposed converter can be utilized in electric vehicles (EVs) to supply the DC traction motor and the auxiliary loads. The main advantages of the proposed converter include the high voltage gain with small values of the duty cycles, low normalized peak voltage stress (NPVS) across the semiconductors, and the continuous input currents. The voltage stress across the semiconductors is lower than the maximum output voltage. This feature makes it possible to use the switches with low turn-on resistance and the diodes with reduced rating voltage. Performance principals of the proposed converter along with the steady-state analysis, such as the derivation of the voltage gains, voltage and current stresses of the semiconductors, etc, are carried out. Experimental measurements made for the laboratory prototype of the proposed converter confirm the theoretical analysis.     

Local behavior of column-tree connections with considering bolt-hole clearance and bolt pretension effects

In this paper, effects of bolt-hole clearance and bolt pretension level on seismic performance of column-tree moment resisting frames with reduced beam section have been investigated. In a typical constructional environment, manufacturing tolerances and field situations cause inappropriate positioning of bolts in their corresponding holes in bolted connections, so bolt-hole diameter increases by incorrect methods like acetylene gas cutting method. On the other hand, nonlinear local behavior of the connection elements and effects of dynamic friction during the process of applying the bolt pretension cause wrong evaluation of bolt pretension level. In order to investigate these problems, models of column-tree connections with various bolt-hole clearances and bolt pretension levels subjected to cyclic loading were developed and analyzed with 3D FEM and their hysteresis curves were obtained and evaluated. Results show that bolt-hole clearance can reduce the flexural capacity of column-tree connections especially along with reduction in the bolt pretension level while interstory drift angle increases during inelastic cycles.