N-doped anodic titania nanotube arrays for hydrogen production

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotube arrays are grown in a mixed electrolyte by anodizing process. The anodic nanotubes for N-doping were calcinated at 773 K in a tube furnace with a mixture of NH₃ and Ar gas. The photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO₂ nanotubes was carried out in a water-splitting reaction under UV and visible light irradiation. Various characterization techniques (Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, etc.) are used to study the surface morphology, phase of structure, and binding energy.     

A micromachined, shadow-mask technology for the OMVPE fabrication of integrated optical structures

A micromachined, silicon shadow-mask technology is described which extends the capabilities of shadow-masked OMVPE for the fabrication of nonplanar micro-optical elements. The deep reactive ion etched (DRIE) shadow mask is inexpensive, reusable and produces smooth, nonplanar structures with precise control of position, shape and size. Direct fusion bonding of the mask to the substrate was found to be a reliable and reproducible method for attaching the mask to the substrate during growth. The DRIE shadow mask technology allows the deposition of microlenses with focal lengths out to 3 mm without the central flattening that was previously observed in shadow masked lenses grown under the epitaxial mask. We also describe novel applications of this technology in the fabrication of micromirrors and concentrically-variable Bragg reflectors, which should improve mode discrimination in large aperture VCSELs.     

Improvement of the quality of a powder material article by increasing the uniformity of properties during die forging

The die forging of articles made of powder materials is studied, and their quality is increased due to an increase in the uniformity of their properties.     

Synthesis of organic-inorganic composite membrane by sol-gel process

Silica was succesfully incorporated into cation exchange polymer membranes, CL-25T and Nafion 417, utilizing sol-gel process. As dipping time increased, increase in silica uptake in membrane was observed. In Nafion 417 membrane, no relationship was found between the silica uptake and the change in ion exchange capacity. But CL-25T which has larger pores than Nafion 417 shows proportional decrease in ion exchange capacity with increasing silica uptake. It suggests that the pore structure of membrane and the size control of silica sol are important to modify the structure of composite membranes. In CL-25T membranes modified by silica, the transport rate of IPA (isopropyl alcohol) increased with increasing OH^- concentration on the pore surface.     

Improved sidewall morphology on dry-etched SiO2 masked GaN features

A number of different methods have been investigated for minimizing sidewall roughness on dry etched GaN features formed using high density plasmas. In many instances, striations on dry etched mesas are a result of roughness in the initial photoresist mask employed, and this roughness is transferred sequentially to the dielectric mask and then to the GaN. Flood exposure of the photoresist, optimization of the bake temperature, choice of plasma chemistry, and ion flux/energy for patterning the dielectric mask all influence the final GaN sidewall morphology.     

Effects of ethylene glycol addition on the properties of Ru/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by sol-gel method

Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by sol-gel method with an organic additive (ethylene glycol). The effect of the addition of ethylene glycol on the properties of Ru/Al₂O₃ was characterized by BET, XRD, EXAFS, and TGA/DTA. Ethylene glycol was effective to promote the phase transition of -Al₂O₃ even at 800°C calcination with high surface area. This finding is ascribed to the modified structure of aluminum alkoxide by ethylene glycol addition in the solution state. Ethylene glycol is also effective to get small particles of ruthenium after the reduction at 500°C. The EXAFS and UV-Vis spectra of Ru complex revealed that the coordination structure of Ru depended on the additive used. The ethylene glycol sol prefers to form octahedral Ru complex. This Ru complex in alumina matrix is stable up to 200°C and forms small Ru oxide particles even at 300°C calcination. This suggests that ethylene glycol coordinates to the Ru complex as well as to aluminum ion in the initial state, which is important to control the final properties of the Ru/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Coke-tolerant La<Subscript>2</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>-Ni-Gd<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ce<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>O<Subscript>1.95</Subscript> composite anode for direct methane-fueled solid oxide fuel cells

Direct CH₄-fueled solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been studied for a few decades, but carbon depositions on the Ni-based anodes are still remained as a major problem. In order to enhance coke tolerances and durability of SOFCs, La₂Sn₂O₇ nano-powders are prepared by co-precipitation. The SOFCs with the different amounts of the La₂Sn₂O₇ nano-powders in the Ni-GDC anodes are tested under dry CH₄, and the 0.3 wt.% La₂Sn₂O₇-Ni-GDC (0.3LNG) anodes show the highest cell performances of all anodes. The maximum power density of the cell is approximately 0.55 W cm^?2 at 650 °C. The durability of the 0.3LNG cell is significantly enhanced without any carbon formations, showing approximately 0.69 V over 600 h at 0.3 A cm^?2, whereas the conventional Ni-GDC cell is stopped only after 90 h. It suggests that the 0.3LNG is a promising anode material to enhance coke-tolerances and durability of direct-methane fuel cells.