Reactivity of platinum nanoaggregates on various types of supports in catalytic decomposition of hydrazine in acid solutions

Platinized catalysts on various types of supports were tested in the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine in HClO₄ and HNO₃ solutions, where the process follows different pathways. In HClO₄, the activity of the catalysts supported on a Termoksid ceramic material is higher than that of the catalysts supported on amorphous silica gel. In nitric acid solutions, the trend is reverse. Peptization of the ceramic supports in acid solutions increasing in the order 75% TiO₂-25% SnO₂ < 75% TiO₂-25% ZrO₂ ? TiO₂ < ZrO₂ was observed. In perchloric acid solutions, the catalyst specific activity in the hydrazine adsorption-dissociative decomposition increases with decreasing size of platinum crystallites on the support. In nitric acid solutions, where the hydrazine decomposition proceeds as its catalytic oxidation with nitric acid, the catalyst specific activity decreases with a decrease in the size of the catalyst crystallites, i.e., the catalyst centers located on large crystallites are more active. The results obtained were attributed to the energetic heterogeneity of the surface Pt atoms and various mechanisms of the hydrazine catalytic decomposition in various media.     

Mechanochemical synthesis of the low-temperature (B20) phase of FeGe

We have investigated solid-state reactions in an equiatomic mixture of Fe and Ge powders during ball milling in a water-cooled high-energy mill under an argon atmosphere. The mechanical alloying products have been characterized by x-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and calorimetry. The observed sequence of phase formation correlates with the thermodynamic properties of the iron germanides involved. The alloy prepared by ball milling for 2 h consists entirely of nanocrystallites (?15 nm) of the low-temperature, stable, cubic (B20) phase of FeGe.     

Assurance of uniformity of measurements of spectral and dispersion characteristics in fiber-optic information transmission systems with wavelength-division multiplexing

The state and problems involved in achieving the uniformity of measurements in the field of fiber-optic information transmission systems and their components are considered. Possible approaches to the solution of these problems and the basic methods and techniques that have been developed in Russia up to this point are analyzed. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 5, pp. 30–34, May, 2006.     

Non-alloy Cr/Au Ohmic contacts in the technology of planar beam-lead GaAs <Emphasis Type="Italic">p-i-n</Emphasis> diodes

The characteristics of non-alloy Cr/Au ohmic contacts in planar beam-lead GaAs p-i-n diodes have been studied. The room-temperature reduced contact resistance in the structures studied was 2 × 10⁻⁶ Ω cm². The obtained parameters of p-i-n diodes allow these devices to be used as limiters in radar protection systems.     

Ionization kinetics in a supersonic xenon plasma flow entering electric field

We have studied xenon plasma moving in a supersonic diffuser in external electric and magnetic fields. The main physical parameters of the plasma (electron temperature and density) were determined using specially developed methods based on the theory of continuous optical emission from inert gas atoms. These experimental data are compared to the results of theoretical calculations. Based on an analysis of the results of spectroscopic measurements, a mechanism of plasma ionization is established which is capable of maintaining a high degree of ionization in the supersonic xenon plasma flow.     

Effect of current pulse frequency on the structure and properties of electric-spark alloyed coatings of the Ti - Al - N system

The mass transfer kinetics, composition, structure, and properties of coatings, formed by high-frequency electric-spark alloying of 45 and 40X steels with the Ti - Al (3:1, 1:1, 1:3) intermetallics and TiN - AIN (1:1) nitride were studied as a function of the current pulse frequency(ν = 1200 and 1600 Hz). A decrease in ν was found to lead to a higher mass transfer coefficient and higher microhardness and Young’s modulus of the coating as well. This is due to the decrease in the Ti/Al ratio on the surface. The phase composition of intermetallic and nitride coatings differed only insignificantly and did not depend on the value of ν. The main phases of the coatings were Fe - Ti - O and Al - Ti - O solid solutions. The nitride and intermetallic coatings had similar friction coefficients f and wear rates I (f = 0.26 and 0.28, I = 5.4 and 5.9 µm/km), despite the difference in their structure. We can assume that the coating phase composition which defines the composition of the secondary structure under dry friction, is the main factor controlling tribological behavior.     

The impact of the composition of structural steels on their corrosion stability in liquid Pb-Bi at 500 and 400 °C with different oxygen concentrations

In recent years, heavy liquid metals have found exercise as possible coolants and targets in the conversion of radioactive elements in accelerator driven systems (ADS). Liquid lead-bismuth eutectic alloy is one of candidates for this using tanks to its suitable nuclear and physical properties. Performed examination was aimed at research of compatibility choice materials for parts of ADS with liquid Pb-Bi eutectic alloy, influence of composition choice materials on their corrosion resistance, influence of temperature and oxygen content. We performed corrosion tests of 1000 h each on approximately 20 types of structural steels (austenitic, ferritic and martensitic) in convection loops with flowing Pb-Bi at 500 and 400 °C and using different oxygen concentrations. The impact of Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, Al and Mo content on the corrosion stability of these steels was measured without and after preliminary passivation through creating thin spinel or oxide layers on their surface.     

The Influence of the Annealing Regime on the Properties of Terahertz Antennas Based on Low-Temperature-Grown Gallium Arsenide

Low-temperature gallium arsenide (LT-GaAs) films were grown by the method of molecularbeam epitaxy (MBE) at a reduced temperature (230°C) on GaAs(100) substrates and subjected to postgrowth annealing in various regimes. Photoconductive antennas (PCAs) with flag geometry formed on the film surface were characterized by terahertz (THz) response power at various bias voltages. The method of THz spectroscopy was used to study the characteristics of PCAs based on LT-GaAs films annealed in various regimes and the optimum interval of postgrowth annealing temperatures (670–720°C) was established.     

High-output thermionic converter based on a metal-oxygen system on the collector

The results of comprehensive experimental investigations of thermionic converters with collectors containing oxygen in an adsorbed near-surface layer and capable of decreasing the barrier index below 2 eV are presented. A vanadium-doped alloy based on chromium, which was investigated in a converter in a pair with different emitters consisting of platinum and single crystal tungsten oriented along the (110) face, was examined as an example of an efficient metal-oxygen system on the collector. The emission-adsorption properties of electrodes and the output electrical characteristics, obtained under working conditions of the converter, as well as surface characteristics of the collector, such as the elemental composition temperature, and others, are described. 6 figures, 21 references. State Science Center of the Russian Federation—A. I. Leipunskii Physics and Power-Engineering Institute. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 89, No. 1, pp. 39–48, July, 2000.