Interface control of atomic layer deposited oxide coatings by filtered cathodic arc deposited sublayers for improved corrosion protection

Sublayers grown with filtered cathodic arc deposition (FCAD) were added under atomic layer deposited (ALD) oxide coatings for interface control and improved corrosion protection of low alloy steel. The FCAD sublayer was either Ta:O or Cr:O–Ta:O nanolaminate, and the ALD layer was Al₂O₃–Ta₂O₅ nanolaminate, Al_xTa_yO_z mixture or graded mixture. The total thicknesses of the FCAD/ALD duplex coatings were between 65 and 120 nm. Thorough analysis of the coatings was conducted to gain insight into the influence of the FCAD sublayer on the overall coating performance. Similar characteristics as with single FCAD and ALD coatings on steel were found in the morphology and composition of the duplex coatings. However, the FCAD process allowed better control of the interface with the steel by reducing the native oxide and preventing its regrowth during the initial stages of the ALD process. Residual hydrocarbon impurities were buried in the interface between the FCAD layer and steel. This enabled growth of ALD layers with improved electrochemical sealing properties, inhibiting the development of localized corrosion by pitting during immersion in acidic NaCl and enhancing durability in neutral salt spray testing.     

Low-Temperature Anomalies in Magnetic, Electric Transport and Thermal Properties of CeRhSn

In this review work we review the low-temperature specific heat data, thermal expansion coefficient, and magnetic properties of CeRhSn. The data are consistent with non-Fermi liquid behaviour; the magnetic susceptibility, χ (T), and the zero-field electronic specific heat coefficient γ ≡ C/T varies as T ⁻ⁿ , and the magnetic contribution to the resistivity ρ is nearly linear in T. We also discuss the effect of alloying in the series of CeRhSb_1-x Sn _x and Ce_1-x La _x RhSn alloys on the ground state properties across the series with the increasing x. The series CeRhSb_1-x Sn _x with variable x exhibits a complicated. Previously, we have determined a quantum critical point at the border of Kondo insulator (KI) CeRhSb and the non-Fermi liquid (NFL) phase, located at x = x _c ≈ 0.12 in the Sb-rich regime. At the CeRhSn side singular quantum fluctuations due to 4f electrons of Ce coexist with the spin fluctuations. In the series of Ce_1-x La _x RhSn alloys we discuss the NFL-like behavior near the critical concentration x _c ≈ 0.5 which separates the spin fluctuations in components x > x _c and the spin-glass-like behavior for x < x _c .     

Characterization of novel GdBa0.5Sr0.5Co2−xFexO5+δ perovskites for application in IT-SOFC cells

Novel, Sr-substituted A-site ordered perovskites with GdBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co_2−xFe_xO_5+δ (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) chemical composition were studied, and results of measurements of their phase composition, crystal structure, oxygen content δ, transport properties and chemical stability in relation to ceria electrolyte are presented in this work. It was found that despite 50% substitution of Ba by Sr, the tendency of ordering in A-sublattice is retained in Co-rich materials, but with the increase of iron content, a significant amount of unordered, but also perovskite phase appears. Compounds with high Co content possess highest electrical conductivity, which for GdBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co₂O_5+δ greatly exceeds 1000 S cm⁻¹ at temperatures above 400 °C. Seebeck coefficient remains positive for all studied compositions in 25–850 °C temperature range, indicating dominance of holes as main charge carriers. The double perovskite structure is responsible for a high deviation from the oxygen stoichiometry in studied materials, which increases considerably above 300 °C.     

Reducing life‐cycle environmental impacts of coal‐power by using coal‐mine methane

The exploitation of coal‐mine methane is analysed to reduce the environmental impact from coal power systems. The analyses are based on a life cycle assessment, and the results were compared with carbon‐capture and storage technologies. The results suggest that by increasing the use of coalmine methane, the environmental impacts of coal power plants could be clearly reduced. Although the CO₂ reduction is much less than through sequestration of CO₂, increased use of coal‐mine methane in Poland could potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions up to 9 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, which corresponds to about 2.5% of the emissions of Poland. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improvement in sprouted wheat flour functionality: effect of time,temperature and elicitation

This study was aimed at optimising conditions of wheat germination (temperature, time of sprouting and elicitation) to improve its phenolics content, antioxidative capacity and nutritional quality. Total phenolics and antioxidant potential were improved most effectively after 4 days of sprouting at 20 °C. The highest reducing ability and the ability to quench free radicals (1.24 mg Trolox equivalent (TE) g^?1 d.m. and 0.38 mg TE g ^?1 d.m., respectively) were determined for 4‐day‐old control and willow + yeast elicited sprouts germinated at 20 °C. The kinetics of starch and protein mobilisation were affected by sprouting conditions. The highest protein digestibility was found for 2‐day‐old sprouts germinated at 20 °C, whereas the lowest for 4‐day‐old sprouts germinated at 25 °C. Starch was more effectively mobilised during germination at 25 °C. Sprouting conditions were found to effectively modify the quality of sprouts. A key role was ascribed to time and temperature of sprouting, whereas the effect of elicitation was marginal.     

Optically active interface states in MOS structures

The results of studies of the interface states in clean n-type MOS capacitors by the low-temperature photocapacitance technique are reported. Energy distribution of the interface states density and photoionization cross-section are determined from the analysis of the photocapacitance kinetic. It is shown that the energy distribution of the interface state density can be described by the Gaussian distribution with maximum at about 0.7 eV below the conduction band edge and standard deviation of about 0.1 eV. The photoionization cross-section of these states can be described by the Lucovsky relationship. The maximum of the photoionization cross-section vs photon energy was equal to about 5 × 10^?20/(E_c ? E_ss) cm² for a given energy of the interface states E_ss.From the comparison of the photocapacitance and quasi-static C-V measurements the existence of two types of interface states is suggested: “optically active states” with density decreasing towards the band edges, and “optically inactive states” with density increasing towards the band edges. No photocapacitance associated with “optically inactive states” was observed.     

Comparative study of CeO2/CuO and CuO/CeO2 catalysts on catalytic performance for preferential CO oxidation

The CeO₂/CuO and CuO/CeO₂ catalysts were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and characterized via XRD, SEM, H₂-TPR, HRTEM, XPS and N₂ adsorption–desorption techniques. The study shows that the rod-like structure is self-assembled CeO₂, and both hydrothermal time and Ce/Cu molar ratio are important factors when the particle-like CeO₂ is being self-assembled into the rod-like CeO₂. The CuO is key active component in the CO-PROX reaction, and its reduction has a negative influence on the selective oxidation of CO. The advantage of the inverse CeO₂/CuO catalyst is that it still can provide sufficient CuO for CO oxidation before 200 °C in the hydrogen-rich reductive gasses. The traditional CuO/CeO₂ catalyst shows better activity at lower temperature and the inverse CeO₂/CuO catalysts present higher CO₂ selectivity when the CO conversion reaches 100%. The performance of mixed sample verifies that they might be complementary in the CO-PROX system.     

Integrability and non-integrability in quantum mechanics

The concepts of integrability, non-integrability and chaos in quantum mechanics are examined, and it is indicated that they all are sensibly definable only in connection with the corresponding properties of their classical analogues. The concrete examples concern the quantum and classical properties of dynamic systems on SU₃ algebra and classically integrable but quantum nonintegrable system with two degrees of freedom.     

Biologically active peptides obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of Adzuki bean seeds

This study investigated the antioxidant and antihypertensive activities of peptides obtained from protein fractions of Adzuki bean seeds. Peptides were obtained by the use of hydrolytic enzymes in vitro under gastrointestinal conditions. A determination was made of the activity of the peptide inhibitors of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE), and the antiradical and ion chelating activity of peptides from different protein fractions. The highest peptide levels after the absorption process (<7 kDa) were noted in the albumin fraction (50.69 μg/ml). Furthermore, it was found that peptides from the prolamin fraction were characterised by the highest antiradical activity and ACE inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 0.17 mg/ml). Peptides obtained from the globulin fraction showed the highest ability to chelate iron ions, and peptides from the glutelin fraction were characterised as being the most effective in the chelation of copper ions.