Influence of alkylpyridine additives in electrolyte solution on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cell

The influence of alkylpyridines additive to an I⁻/I₃⁻ redox electrolyte in acetonitrile on the performance of a bis(tetrabutylammonium)cis-bis(thiocyanato)bis(2,2′-bipyridine-4-carboxylic acid, 4′-carboxylate)ruthenium(II) dye-sensitized TiO₂ solar cell was studied. I–V measurements were performed using more than 30 different alkylpyridines. The alkylpyridine additives showed a significant influence on the performance of the cell. All the additives decreased the short-circuit photocurrent (J_sc), but most of the alkylpyridines increased the open-circuit photovoltage (V_oc) and fill factor (ff) of the solar cell. The results of the molecular orbital calculations suggest that the dipole moment of the alkylpyridine molecules correlate with the J_sc of the cell. These results also suggest that both the size and ionization energy of pyridines correlate with the V_oc of the cell. Under AM 1.5 (100 mW/cm²), the highest solar energy conversion efficiency (η) of 7.6% was achieved by using 2-propylpyridine as an additive, which was more effective than the previously reported additive, 4-t-butylpyridine.     

Data mining assisted by theoretical calculations for improving dye-sensitized solar cell performance

Data mining using experimental data and information generated from theoretical calculations is proposed to study dye-sensitized solar cells, which are complex systems. This method led to new knowledge about the influence of imidazole derivatives as additives in an electrolytic solution on the cell performance. It was found that the solar energy conversion efficiency is strongly correlated to the Mulliken charge of the carbon atom at position 4 in the imidazole group. This result indicates that data mining assisted by theoretical calculations should facilitate the rate that cell performance is improved.     

Molecular cloning, expression, and enzymatic characterization of rabbit hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase AST-RB2

Cytosolic sulfotransferases, which consist of at least three gene families, play a major role in activation and detoxification of both endogenous and exogenous chemicals. We recently purified a rabbit sulfotransferase, AST-RB2, showing high activities to both hydroxysteroids and amines. To characterize this enzyme, a rabbit cDNA library was screened using anti-AST-RB2 antibodies. The isolated cDNA was judged to encode AST-RB2 (ST2A8) based on the amino acid sequences of peptide fragments obtained from purified AST-RB2. The cDNA showed high similarity to other mammalian hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases (ST2) at the amino acid level (58-68%), but low similarity to aryl sulfotransferases (ST1) (less than 37%). The protein expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzed sulfation of typical ST2 substrates. Therefore, ST2A8 was judged to belong to the ST2 family from both its primary structure and substrate specificity. The ST2A8 protein expressed in E. coli clearly differed from rat ST2A1 and ST2A2 on its localization (cytosol/insoluble fraction ratio). ST2A8 had no activity to lithocholate, but showed the highest catalysis on dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone among the four forms (ST2A1, ST2A2, ST2A3, and ST2A8), indicating a clear difference between ST2A forms in substrate specificity to endogenous chemicals.     

Structure and mechanical properties of a thermal-sprayed nickle-20wt.%chromium alloy

Powder of a nickel-chromium alloy (about 20 wt.% chromium) was low pressure plasma sprayed onto substrates which were cooled to various extents. As the maximum temperature of the sprayed deposit was increased up to approximately 1148–1235 K during spraying, the strength of the deposit, measured on tensile test pieces machined from the deposit, increased owing to the combined effects of precipitation strengthening and enhancement of adhesion between the flattened particles composing the deposit. It is proposed that an adequate rise in temperature of the deposit during spraying improves its strength more effectively than annealing a deposit held at low temperatures during spraying, as long as the heating temperature and the heating time of these two deposits are similar to each other.     

Determination of δ(18)O and δ(15)N in Nitrate

The analyses of both O and N isotopic compositions of nitrate have many potential applications in studies of nitrate sources and reactions in hydrology, oceanography, and atmospheric chemistry, but simple and precise methods for these analyses have yet to be developed. Testing of a new method involving reaction of potassium nitrate with catalyzed graphite (C + Pd + Au) at 520 °C resulted in quantitative recovery of N and O from nitrate as free CO(2), K(2)CO(3), and N(2). The δ(18)O values of nitrate reference materials were obtained by analyzing both the CO(2) and K(2)CO(3) from catalyzed graphite combustion. Provisional values of δ(18)O(VSMOW) for the internationally distributed KNO(3) reference materials IAEA-N3 and USGS-32 were both equal to +22.7 ± 0.5‰. Because the fraction of free CO(2) and the isotopic fractionation factor between CO(2) and K(2)CO(3) were constant in the combustion products, the δ(18)O value of KNO(3) could be calculated from measurements of the δ(18)O of free CO(2). Thus, δ(18)O(KNO)((3)) = aδ(18)O(free)(?)(CO)((2)) - b, where a and b were equal to 0.9967 and 3.3, respectively, for the specific conditions of the experiments. The catalyzed graphite combustion method can be used to determine δ(18)O of KNO(3) from measurements of δ(18)O of free CO(2) with reproducibility on the order of ±0.2‰ or better if local reference materials are prepared and analyzed with the samples. Reproducibility of δ(15)N was ±0.1‰ after trace amounts of CO were removed.     

A novel carrier-cooperation scheme with an incentive to offer emergency lightpath support during disaster recovery

Photonic Network Communications - To achieve fast recovery of optical transport networks after a disaster, we investigate a novel scheme enabling cooperation between carriers. Carriers can take...     

Synthesis of Silicon Nitride by a Combustion Reaction under High Nitrogen Pressure

Fine Si₃N₄ powders were prepared by the combustion reaction of an Si powder compact undez 10 MPa nitrogen pressure. Addition of Si₃N₄ powder to the starting Si promoted conversion of the reactants to homogeneous Si₃N₄ particles. Submicrometer SisN₄powders with a uniform size distribution around 0.5 μm were obtained from a 1.8Si-0.4Si₃N₄ mixture (molar ratio); they were free of residual Si.     

Growth of Quasi-Aligned AlN Nanofibers by Nitriding Combustion Synthesis

Quasi-aligned AlN nanofibers were formed by the nitriding combustion synthesis according to a unique micro-reactor model. A charge composed of aluminum and aluminum nitride diluent powders (40/60 mol%) with a mixture of yttria and ammonium chloride as additives (5 wt% each) was combusted at low nitrogen gas pressures of 0.25 MPa. The FE-SEM images of as-synthesized AlN product showed the formation of ball-like grains (same shape and size as the original Al reactant) that consisted of a thin surface nitride layer or crust cover quasi-aligned AlN nanofibers grown in the interior. The cross-sectional view is sea anemone like. Formation of this novel morphology is believed to occur through a two-stage process. The first one occurs at the preliminary stage of the combustion outside Al particles. After the ignition, the heat generated causes the sublimation and dissociation of ammonium chloride into various gaseous species. This effectively interrupts the combustion and slows down the increase of reaction temperature. In addition, yttria interacts with the native oxide layer present on the surface of Al particles and forms a stable Al–N–Y–O crust. The second stage begins by the infiltration of various gaseous species such as HCl_(g), NH_3(g), and N_2(g) through the crust into the molten Al cores. The "crust–core" systems function as "micro-reactors" where both the nitridation and growth processes occur inside. The molten Al cores are spontaneously halogenated to AlCl₃ vapors and the nitridation proceeds by the gas–gas reaction of AlCl₃ and NH₃/N₂ vapors. The AlN nanofibers are then grown from the vapor phase quasi-aligned inside the micro-reactors by VLS and VS mechanisms.     

Accumulation of nitrous oxide in aerobic groundwaters

N₂O concentrations in the groundwaters collected in the Kanto District and Nagano Prefecture in Japan and five counties in New York State were determined. These N₂O data were obtained from the water samples from wells, springs and seepages from soils in forests and cropping fields. The N₂O concentrations in all samples greatly exceeded those of atmospheric equilibration. The average concentration of 690 nM N₂O is one order of magnitude larger than that in deep ocean. All groundwaters of the present study were aerobic with a high level of NO₃⁻, but with the absence of NO₂⁻ and NH₄⁺, and with a very low level of dissolved organic carbon. These characteristics suggest that the nitrate respiration in the aquifers is of little significance for the production of N₂O.

ΔN₂O/NO₃⁻ molar ratios in the groundwaters were between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻² (Δ indicates the excess gas over that which would be in equilibrium). This supports the above view since the observed N₂O yield agrees with that reported for the production during an ammonia oxidation. If nitrification was indeed a major mechanism for the production of groundwater N₂O, subsequent release of N₂O from the aquifers that are polluted with nitrogen may deserve more close attention as a potential source of atmospheric N₂O via diffusion and discharge.     

Purification and characterization of two amine N-sulfotransferases, AST-RB1 (ST3A1) and AST-RB2 (ST2A8), from liver cytosols of male rabbits

Two sulfotransferases (STs), designated as AST-RB1 (ST3A1) and AST-RB2 (ST2A8), with high a amine N-sulfonating activity, were purified from male rabbit liver cytosols. AST-RB1 and AST-RB2 were purified to homogeneity by the anion-exchange, affinity, and hydroxyapatite chromatography. The N-terminus of both enzymes were blocked. The subunit molecular mass of both enzymes was estimated to be 34 kDa on SDS-PAGE. AST-RB1 efficiently catalyzed N-sulfonation of alicyclic, alkyl, and arylamines such as 4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridine, 1-[(5-chloro-2-oxo-3(2H)-benzothiazolyl)acetyl]-piperazine, desipramine, and aniline, whereas its catalytic activities toward 2-naphthol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were very low. On the other hand, AST-RB2 efficiently catalyzed sulfonation of desipramine and DHEA, but had no activity toward 2-naphthol. Amino acid sequences of peptide fragments derived from the purified AST-RB1 showed no significant homology with previously reported STs, but those from the purified AST-RB2 shared a high similarity with those of the ST2 family. Both enzymes were expressed specifically in the liver. The present results strongly suggest that the purified AST-RB1 is a novel enzyme in terms of structure and catalytic properties showing high selectivity for amine substrates, and AST-RB2 is a quite unique from among ST2A enzymes of other species in its substrate specificity.