All-solid-state, high-power, deep-UV laser system based on cascaded sum-frequency mixing in CsLiB6O10 crystals

We report on an efficient use of CsLiB(6)O(10) (CLBO) crystals employed for an all-solid-state deep-UV laser system operated at 5 kHz. We obtained greater than 3 W of UV radiation around 242 nm by mixing the 349-nm third harmonic of a Nd:YLF laser with the tunable output from a Ti:sapphire laser in a CLBO crystal. This UV radiation was subsequently mixed with the residual 1047-nm output from the Nd:YLF laser in a second CLBO crystal. The system produced 1.5 W of deep-UV radiation at 196.3 nm, which is, to our knowledge, the highest deep-UV power below 200 nm generated in a nonlinear optical crystal. Additionally, the bandwidth of both outputs was estimated to be less than 200 MHz.     

Study of cyclic performance of V-Ti-Cr alloys employed for hydrogen compressor

The development of a suitable hydrogen compressor plays one of the key roles to realize the fuel cell vehicle as well as for many other stationary and mobile applications of hydrogen. V-Ti-Cr BCC alloys are considered as promising candidates for effective hydrogen storage. The cyclic durability of hydrogen absorption and desorption is very important for these alloys to be realized as practical options. In connection to this, two alloys of V-Ti-Cr, (1) V₄₀Ti_21.5Cr_38.5 and (2) V₂₀Ti₃₂Cr₄₈, were selected and their cyclic hydrogen absorption-desorption performance was evaluated up to 100 cycles for temperature and pressure ranges of 20–300 °C and 5–20 MPa, respectively. It has been found that the cyclic hydrogen storage capacity continuously decreased for one composition while it was stable after 10 cycles for another composition. This performance difference of the alloys was studied in terms of their structural and microscopic properties and the results are presented in this paper.     

Hydrogen absorption/desorption properties of light metal hydroxide systems

In light metal hydroxide systems, hydrogen desorption generally occurs in exothermic reactions; therefore, these reactions are irreversible in principle. However, according to theoretical calculation of thermodynamics, some of these systems can desorb hydrogen in endothermic reactions. In this research, several hydroxide systems were studied to clarify the reversibility of these systems. Six types of hydroxide systems (XH + Y(OH)_n, X: Li, Na, Y: Li, Na, Mg) were prepared by ball-milling, then the desorption properties of these systems were evaluated. As a result, NaH + LiOH and NaH + NaOH systems desorbed hydrogen in endothermic reactions. Also, NaH + NaOH system absorbed hydrogen almost 100% reversibly under 300°C and 1.0 MPa H₂ pressure. The reversibility in NaH + LiOH system was not accomplished in our experimental condition, because high pressure of GPa order is required for the rehydrogenation. In order to modify the desorption kinetics, we added KH catalyst to NaH + LiOH and NaH + NaOH systems. The hydrogen desorption temperature of the two systems was decreased by addition of 1 mol% of KH. The catalytic effect on hydrogen desorption properties was sustained even after the rehydrogenation of KH-added NaH + NaOH system.     

A new antimicrobial glucosinolate autolysis product, 4-isothiocyanatobutanoic acid,from the diffuse wallflower (Erysimum diffusum): Methyl 4-isothiocyanatobutanoate,a long unrecognized artifact of the isolation procedure?

A GC–MS analysis of Erysimum diffusum Ehrh. (Brassicaceae) glucosinolate autolysis products led to the identification of a new mustard oil constituent – 4-isothiocyanatobutanoic acid. The identity of the new glucosinolate breakdown product was confirmed by means of co-injection of the synthetic compound in the GC with the root autolysate and derivatization reaction to the well known methyl ester. Methyl ester of this acid was long believed to be a genuine glucosinolate hydrolysis product but we now provide evidence that it could be an artifact of the isolation procedure. 4-Isothiocyanatobutanoic acid was assayed for antimicrobial activity and demonstrated significant inhibitory (10–220 μg/ml) and microbicidal (10–1175 μg/ml) activity against important human pathogens.     

Effect of Milling Treatment on the Particle Size in the Preparation of AIN Powder from Aluminum Polynuclear Complexes

Aluminum nitride powder was synthesized from aluminum polynuclear complexes. Basic aluminum chloride (BAC) provided the aluminum polynuclear complexes. The effect of the milling treatment for the precursor made from basic aluminum chloride and glucose on the particle size was investigated. BAC and glucose were dissolved in water and mixed homogeneously. AIN powder was obtained by calcining under a nitrogen gas flow after drying, milling by vibration mill, and precalcining at 800°C. Then excess carbon was removed by firing in air. It was found that the milling treatment affected the particle size of AIN powder and nitridation mechanism. Without the milling treatment, AIN powder was synthesized directly from the γ-alumina of an intermediate product. In using a milled precursor, however, α-alumina was formed during the calcining, and the particle size of the AIN powder obtained was about five times larger than that of AIN powder synthesized from a raw precursor. The formation of α-alumina phase began at the rather low temperature of 800°C. These results suggest that the mechanochemical effects added by the milling promotes the formation of α-alumina during calcining, and the α-alumina phase formed accelerates the particle growth. AIN powders obtained were very uniform. The oxygen content and the surface area of AIN powders synthesized from the raw and milled precursors were 2.9 wt% and 17.5 m²/g, and 1.1 wt% and 3.6 m²/g, respectively.