Effect of oxide film on oxygen reduction current for the platinum-cobalt alloy electrodes in PEFC

Effect of surface oxide on Pt-Co alloy electrodes on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated in 0.5 M sulfuric acid solution by electrochemistry, ellipsometry, laser Raman scattering spectroscopy, and XPS. The oxide as thick as 1-2 nm increases the overpotential of ORR and falls down efficiency of PEFC. The thickness of the oxide films is precisely determined by ellipsometry. The oxide film 1.9 nm thick was formed on Pt-50 mol% Co electrode by constant potential oxidation at 1.20 V and the film 1.5 nm thick remains on the electrode at 0.6 V at which ORR already starts. The remaining oxide decreases the current density of ORR and increases the overpotential. On pure Pt electrode, the similar influence of the oxide film was observed.     

Development of systems reliability analysis code SECOM-2 for seismic PSA

An integrated code system SECOM-2, developed at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), has the following functions for systems reliability analysis in seismic probabilistic safety assessments (PSAs): (1) calculation of component failure probability, (2) extraction of minimal cut sets (MCSs) from a given fault tree (FT), (3) calculation of frequencies of accident sequences and core damage, (4) importance analysis with several measures with consideration of unique parameters of seismic PSAs, (5) sensitivity analysis, and (6) uncertainty analysis. This paper summarizes the special features of SECOM-2 to perform the analyses mentioned above. At JAERI, using an integrated FT which represents seismically induced core damage due to all initiating events as a system model to calculate core damage frequency of a nuclear power plant, SECOM-2 can calculate conditional point estimate probabilities of system failures, losses of safety functions, and core damage as a function of earthquake motions. The point estimate is computed by a method which gives an exact numerical solution using the Boolean arithmetic model method. As for consideration of correlation of component failure, which has been an important issue in seismic PSAs, a new technique based on direct FT quantification by a Monte Carlo simulation is being added to SECOM-2. Adding this technique, the core damage frequency can be calculated not only with the upper bound approximation based on MCSs but also with a near exact solution taking into account the correlation among all components. This paper also presents the preliminary results of a seismic PSA of a generic BWR plant in Japan performed at JAERI to demonstrate the functions of the SECOM-2 code.     

Entropies of general quantum states

The entropy and the mutual entropy for states and channels are totally studied in general quantum systems described byC*-algebras. In particular, we discuss the relations among theS-entropy and the mutual entropy introduced by Ohya and the Connes-Narnhofer-Thirring entropy.     

The separation of fission-product rare elements toward bridging the nuclear and soft energy systems

Based on the present state of the art of the separation technology, recycling of fission-product rare elements (FRE) in the FBR spent fuel is discussed. The rad.-waste fractionation is in accordance with the present society's trend toward zero-emission, and the mean of salt-free method utilizing electrochemistry agrees with the principles of the newly established green chemistry. A catalytic electrolytic extraction method is proposed to separate the target, radioactive but potentially strategic elements, Pd, Ru, Rh, Re (Tc), Te and Se dissolved in the HLLW. It avoids secondary waste arising. This method is particularly feasible for the separation of Pd where cyclic reaction of metal cations such as Pd(II) or Fe(II), acting as promoters or mediators and already contained in HLLW, accelerates the electrochemical deposition of Ru, Rh and Re. Elemental separation not only offers alternative material resources to meet expanding demands for catalysts in Fuel Cell/Soft Energy system but is also the first step for transmutation or other selective strategies for waste management of long-lived fission products (LLFP).     

Observing the Stimulated Raman Gain Spectra of Solutions Using an Infrared Pump Pulse with Narrow Linewidth and a Low-Noise CW Probe Laser

Stimulated Raman gain (SRG) spectroscopy using infrared pump pulses with narrow linewidth and a low-noise cw probe infrared laser was proposed. High-resolution Raman spectra of solutions were obtained. The SRG spectra of crystal GaP, benzene, and toluene were measured to confirm the spectral resolution and sensitivity over the terahertz (THz) region. We discuss the polarization dependence of the spectral measurement of carbon tetrachloride. Our system can detect organic molecules in aqueous solutions.     

Correlation between the hot plate ignition test and other laboratory-scale flammability tests on rubber conveyor belts with fabric skeletons

The hot plate ignition test was conducted on ten different conveyor rubber belts with fabric skeletons. In this test, a 25 × 25 mm² belt sample was placed on a stainless steel plate in an electric furnace and heated. The ‘ignition temperature’ was determined on each sample in almost the same way as proposed in Canada. The test results were compared with those from other laboratory-scale flammability tests (i.e. the small-scale flame tests, the Oxygen Index test and the laboratory-scale gallery test). The calculated results of both sample and rank correlation coefficients imply that the ‘10 signition temperature’ in this hot plate ignition test has a correlation with the results from both the Oxygen Index test and the laboratory-scale gallery test, but that it has very little or no correlation with those from the small-scale flame tests. On the other hand, it is found that the ‘60 s ignition temperature’ in this test has a far better correlation both with the results from the small-scale flame tests and with the time to ignition in the laboratory-scale gallery test than the ‘10 s ignition temperature’.     

Novel Route to Propylene Carbonate: Selective Synthesis from Propylene Glycol and Carbon Dioxide

High surface area zirconium phosphate in an amorphous phase exhibits high activities for water-related reactions such as hydrolysis of ethyl acetate and esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. The zirconium phosphate is insoluble during the reaction, is recoverable by simple filtration, and can be reused at least five times without any treatment.     

A new approach to improve the high-voltage cyclic performance of Li-rich layered cathode material by electrochemical pre-treatment

Lithium-rich nickel–manganese–cobalt oxide, Li[Ni_0.17Li_0.2Co_0.07Mn_0.56]O₂, was prepared by a co-precipitation method, and its cyclic behavior at a high potential was investigated. The as-prepared material shows a rapid capacity fading in its initial several cycles when it was operated above 4.5 V, which could be significantly improved through a pre-cycling treatment. Its reversible capacity in the range of 4.8–2 V could be increased from 200 to 250 mAh g⁻¹ after 50 cycle through a stepped pre-cycling treatment.     

Selective impurity segregation at a near-Σ5 grain boundary in MgO

Grain boundaries (GBs) together with their associated impurity segregation often affect or alter properties of many polycrystalline materials. However, their atomic-scale structures remain difficult to resolve spatially, especially for those with an orientation misalignment. Here, we apply a bicrystal technique to fabricate the near-Σ5 GBs of MgO with a misalignment angle from the exact Σ5 orientation relationship and show an unexpected selective impurity segregation behavior at this GB. We find that the near-Σ5 GB comprises an alternating array of five exact Σ5 GB structural units and one deformed Σ17 GB unit, and interestingly that the Ca and Ti impurities are co-segregated to the Σ5 GB structural units, yet are not to the deformed Σ17 GB structural units. The findings are important for the understanding of GBs with a misalignment and impurity segregation and for correlating structures with properties in polycrystalline materials.