Evaluation of solar energy potential and PV module performance in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia

Here, we present the results of evaluation of solar energy potential and photovoltaic (PV) module performance from actual data measured over a period of more than 2 years in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. To allow estimation of solar energy potentials and durability of PV systems in the Gobi Desert area, a data acquisition system, including crystalline silicon (c‐Si), polycrystalline silicon (p‐Si) modules, and two sets of precision pyranometers, thermometers, and anemometer, was installed at Sainshand City in October 2002. This system measures 23 parameters, including solar irradiation and meteorological parameters, every 10 min. High output gain was observed due to operation at extremely low ambient temperatures and the module performance ratios (PRs) were high (>1·0) in winter. In summary, the present study showed that a PV module with a high temperature coefficient, such as crystalline silicon, is advantageous for use in the Gobi Desert area. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation of refractory nitride fibers by thermal decomposition of transition metal (Ti, Nb) alkoxide-cellulose precursor gel fibers in NH3 atmosphere

Precursor gel fibers have been prepared by extruding cellulose acetate spinning solutions into transition metal (Ti, Nb, Ta) acetone solution as a coagulation bath. Gel formation must be due to the coordination of metal to OH and CO groups on the pyranose ring. The resultant gel fibers have been converted into nitride fibers by pyrolyzing the precursor in NH₃ gas flow at temperatures lower than for powder processing. The precursor gel can give a molecular scale mixture of metal and carbon sources. NbN fiber gave a superconductance at around 13 K.     

In situ binary sol–gel reaction of various trifunctional alkoxysilane in the silane‐grafted polyolefin matrix and its effect upon the mechanical properties

The vinyltrimethoxysilane‐grafted ethylene‐propylene copolymer/trifunctional methoxysilane (EPR‐g‐VTMS/RTMS) composites were prepared via in situ silica sol–gel reactions. Five trifunctional methoxysilane compounds (n‐hexyltrimethoxysilane, n‐decyltrimethoxysilane, n‐tetradecyltrimethoxysilane, n‐octadecyltrimethoxysilane, and phenyltrimethoxysilane) have been selected for this study. The water‐cross‐linked EPR‐g‐VTMS/RTMS composites were characterized by attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel content, solid‐state ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR, wide‐angle x‐ray scattering, tensile strength, and field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements. The type of RTMS additive has a substantial influence on the nature of siloxane band networks and eventually the mechanical tensile properties. This finding suggests that the interaction and/or entanglement between the EPR‐g‐VTMS matrix and the substituent of the RTMS additives are crucial for the modifying mechanical properties. Moreover, for the water‐cross‐linked EPR‐g‐VTMS/CnTMS (n = 6, 10, 14, and 18) composites, the joint evidence provided by attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR, and wide‐angle x‐ray scattering results suggested the formation of ladder‐type poly(n‐alkyl silsesquioxane)s and the presence of the highly ordered structure with a thickness equal to the length of two n‐alkyl groups in all‐trans conformation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Polymerization of ethylene and propylene initiated by milled alumina powder

Generation of free radicals (mechano-radicals) by the milling of alumina powder at 77 K was demonstrated by ESR. After milling of alumina in the presence of ethylene (simultaneous milling) at 77 K, polyethylene-propagating radicals instead of the alumina mechano-radicals were detected by ESR. Also the contact of ethylene with the milled alumina converted alumina mechano-radicals into polyethylene propagating radicals at a temperature above the melting point of ethylene. The products extracted by hot toluene from the simultaneous milling were identified by IR to be polyethylene, and their molecular weights were roughly 10,000. The residues after the extraction were bonded with the alumina. Polypropylene was also produced by a similar method of milling of alumina in the presence of propylene. The obtained polyproylene was atactic, and its molecular weight was about 400.     

Effects of dressing containing plant sterol on serum cholesterol concentration and the safety evaluation in borderline or mildly hypercholesterolemic Japanese subjects

In a placebo-controlled double-blind study, we examined the effects of dressing containing plant sterol (PS) on blood lipids and the safety in Japanese borderline or mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. Fifty-nine subjects [total cholesterol (TC) concentration > or = 200 mg/dL] were randomly divided into two groups and were given daily 15 g of dressing containing 800 mg of PS [PS(+)-group] or without PS [PS(-)-group] for 12 weeks. Every 4 weeks, fasting blood was examined and subjective symptoms were analyzed. Serum TC, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) concentrations did not change in the PS(-)-group, while TC and ApoB significantly decreased in the PS(+)-group at 8 and 12 weeks and LDL-C at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Moreover, serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB concentrations were significantly lower than those of PS(-)-group at 8 and 12 weeks. Other laboratory tests were all in normal ranges and no adverse events were observed. The results indicated that PS-containing dressing decreased serum TC, LDL-C and ApoB concentrations in borderline or mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. It is therefore proved that the dressing containing PS is helpful in maintaining blood cholesterol level normal and hence, the health of Japanese.     

Silicon quantum dot superlattice solar cell structure including silicon nanocrystals in a photogeneration layer

The solar cell structure of n-type poly-silicon/5-nm-diameter silicon nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous silicon oxycarbide matrix (30 layers)/p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon/Al electrode was fabricated on a quartz substrate. An open-circuit voltage and a fill factor of 518 mV and 0.51 in the solar cell were obtained, respectively. The absorption edge of the solar cell was 1.49 eV, which corresponds to the optical bandgap of the silicon nanocrystal materials, suggesting that it is possible to fabricate the solar cells with silicon nanocrystal materials, whose bandgaps are wider than that of crystalline silicon.

PACS

85.35.Be; 84.60.Jt; 78.67.Bf     

Investigation of hydrogen plasma treatment for reducing defects in silicon quantum dot superlattice structure with amorphous silicon carbide matrix

We investigate the effects of hydrogen plasma treatment (HPT) on the properties of silicon quantum dot superlattice films. Hydrogen introduced in the films efficiently passivates silicon and carbon dangling bonds at a treatment temperature of approximately 400°C. The total dangling bond density decreases from 1.1 × 10¹⁹ cm^-3 to 3.7 × 10¹⁷ cm^-3, which is comparable to the defect density of typical hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide films. A damaged layer is found to form on the surface by HPT; this layer can be easily removed by reactive ion etching.     

Structures and mechanical properties of electrospun cellulose nanofibers/poly(ε-caprolactone) composites

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is one of the ecofriendly biodegradable polymers with excellent moldability but with rather low mechanical properties especially for the industrial and biomedical use. In this research, to overcome the problem, the two types of cellulose nanofibers, the cellulose acetate nanofibers (CA-NF) and the cellulose nanofibers (C-NF), were composited into PCL for the enhancement of the mechanical properties of PCL. CA-NF were prepared by electrospinning and converted into C-NF afterward by deacetylation. It was found that the Young's modulus of the CA-NF/PCL composite at the fiber concentration of 35 wt% significantly increased by ~3 times as compared with that of neat PCL, whereas C-NF/PCL of the same fiber concentration also increased by ~4.5 times. It was also found that the Young's moduli of CA-NF/PCL nearly reached the theoretical values calculated by the equation suggested by Tsai, but that the Young's moduli of C-NF/PCL could not reach the theoretical values. It indicates that CA-NF possessed better compatibility with PCL than C-NF, agreeing well with the fracture-surface analyses of the two composites by the scanning electron microscopy.     

Bactericidal effect of cationic hydrogels prepared from hydrophilic polymers

This study investigated whether hydrogels comprising hydrophilic cationic polymers have similar bactericidal effects. Bacteria were seeded on hydrogels and agar and their viability was assessed with time. Cationic hydrogels displayed bactericidal effects upon long-term bacterial contact. Furthermore, we assessed the areal density of cationic monomer unit of the cationic hydrogels, water content, and the initial elastic modulus. We examined correlations between each factor and bacterial death ratios; consequently, the bacterial death ratios were strongly correlated with the areal density of cationic hydrogel monomers. Elastic energy (W_el) generated at the cytomembrane ion-binding region and the cationic hydrogel and the cytomembrane interfacial energy (W_f) were estimated; consequently, W_el exceeded W_f at higher contact areas. The cationic hydrogel may extract cytomembranes with a reasonable adsorption area. Therefore, cationic hydrogels may be used as probes for ultrasonic echo to sterilize medical equipment.     

Entrap-immobilization of invertase on composite gel fiber of cellulose acetate and zirconium alkoxide by sol–gel process

We prepared a composite gel fiber by the gel formation of cellulose acetate and zirconium tetra-n-butoxide. Gel fiber is stable in common solvents, phosphate solution, and electrolyte solution. Invertase was entrap-immobilized on the gel fiber. The immobilization was easily performed under the mild conditions. The apparent Michaelis constant (K_m) and maximum reaction velocity (V_max) were estimated from Eadie–Hofstee plot for immobilized invertase. The K_m of immobilized invertase was larger than that of native invertase, while the opposite tendency was observed for the V_max. The activity for the immobilized invertase became higher with increasing fiber diameter. It indicates that the hydrolysis of sucrose occurs in the neighborhood of the fiber surface. The thermal stability of the immobilized invertase was higher than those of its native counterpart. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2084–2088, 2001