On characterization of lipoxygenase from barley (author's transl)]

Lipoxygenase from brewing barley of Nordbaden has optimum activity at alkaline pH and predominantly forms 9-hydroperoxy-10-trans, 12-cis-octadecadienoic acid (9-LHPO) from linoleic acid. While at pH 7 90% 9-LHPO is produced, its proportions drops during incubation at more alkaline pH (pH 7,75) to 70%. This positional specifity is not caused by isoenzymes. While linoleic acid methylester is converted only to a lesser degree, trilinolein is not accepted as substrate.     

Influence of Molecular Characteristics and Size Effects in Polystyrene Pyrolysis

Understanding the structure-property-process relationships in pyrolysis-based recycling of polymers offers new possibilities, like, energy-efficient process designs and tailored products. With the consideration of sample size as well as thermal rate effects, the influence of the molecular weight distribution of polystyrene on the pyrolysis kinetics is investigated. It is shown that molecular weight distribution significantly impacts pyrolysis kinetics. Thermal rate and sample weight affect the material conversion rate and are decisive for determining the thermal processing window.     

Microcrystallisation in Si:H: the effect of gas pressure in Ar-diluted SiH4 plasma

Using noble gas argon as a diluent of SiH₄ in RF glow discharge, undoped μc-Si:H thin films have been developed at a low power density of 30 mW/cm². It has been found that the gas pressure is a critical factor for the growth of μc-Si:H films. Undoped μc-Si:H films having σ_D10⁻⁶ S/cm and ΔE<0.57 eV have been obtained at and above a critical pressure of 0.8 Torr. When the RF power density is increased to 90 mW/cm², a more crystalline as well as highly conducting (σ_D10⁻⁴ S/cm) μc-Si:H film has been achieved at a deposition rate of 30 Å/min, which is much higher than that attained from H₂-diluted SiH₄ plasma, by conventional approach. The crystallinity of the films has been identified by the sharp Raman peak at 520 cm⁻¹ and a large number of micrograins in the TEM micrographs. The metastable state of Ar, denoted as Ar^*, plays the crucial role in inducing microcrystallisation by transferring its de-excitation energy at the surface of the growing film. A mechanism has been proposed to explain the dependence of the formation of μc-Si:H film on the working gas pressure in the plasma.     

Highly conductive epoxy/graphite composites for bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Carbon-filled epoxy composites are developed for potential application as bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. These composites are prepared by solution intercalation mixing, followed by compression molding and curing. Electrical conductivity, thermal and mechanical properties, and hygrothermal characteristics are determined as function of carbon-filler content. Expanded graphite and carbon black are used as synergistic combination to obtain desired in-plane and through-plane conductivities. These composites show high glass transition temperatures (T_g ∼ 180 °C), high thermal degradation temperatures (T₂ ∼ 415 °C), in-plane conductivity of 200–500 S cm⁻¹ with 50 wt% carbon fillers, in addition to offering high values of flexural modulus, flexural strength, and impact strength, respectively 2 × 10⁴ MPa, 72 MPa, and 173 J m⁻¹. The presence of carbon fillers helps reduce water uptake from 4 to 5 wt% for unfilled epoxy resins to 1–2 wt%. In addition, morphology, electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties remain unchanged on exposure to boiling water and acid reflux. This data indicate that the composites developed in this work meet many attributes of bipolar plates for use in PEM fuel cells.     

Epoxidation Processes by Pyridoxal Dioxomolybdenum(VI) (Pre)Catalysts Without Organic Solvent

Molybdenum(VI) pyridoxal thiosemicarbazonato complexes have proved to be efficient catalysts in the olefinic epoxidation of cyclooctene by aqueous TBHP in the absence of an organic solvent. High activity and selectivity have been obtained with a catalyst loading of just 0.05% molybdenum in the case of one mononuclear (pre)catalyst (TOF 3360 h⁻¹) under solvent‐free conditions. The influence of methanol on the activity and selectivity has been studied.     

Self-ordered TiO2 quantum dot array prepared via anodic oxidation

The template-based methods belong to low-cost and rapid preparation techniques for various nanostructures like nanowires, nanotubes, and nanodots or even quantum dots [QDs]. The nanostructured surfaces with QDs are very promising in the application as a sensor array, also called ''fluorescence array detector.'' In particular, this new sensing approach is suitable for the detection of various biomolecules (DNA, proteins) in vitro (in clinical diagnostics) as well as for in vivo imaging.The paper deals with the fabrication of TiO₂ planar nanostructures (QDs) by the process of titanium anodic oxidation through an alumina nanoporous template on a silicon substrate. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that the average diameter of TiO₂ QDs is less than 10 nm. Raman spectroscopic characterization of self-organized titania QDs confirmed the presence of an anatase phase after annealing at 400°C in vacuum. Such heat-treated TiO₂ QDs revealed a broad emission peak in the visible range (characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy).