Analysis of degradation in PEMFC caused by cell reversal during air starvation

The damage caused by cell reversal during proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) operation with air starvation was investigated by a single-cell experiment. Samples from degraded membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs) were characterized. The loss of electrochemical surface area of the cathode platinum was detected by in situ cyclic voltammetry, and platinum sintering was detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Degradation at the anode was not detected in the chemical analysis of the anode catalyst layer of MEA samples by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and TEM. An obvious decrease in the performance of PEMFC was observed in a sample degraded by cell reversal for 120 min.     

Gas Absorption by Wavy Falling Liquid Film Formed on Inner Surface of Vertical lubes

An experimental study on gas absorption into falling liquid film formed on inner surface of vertical tubes has been carried out in order to clarify fundamental characteristics of the gas absorption and enhancement by surface waves. The water supplied into the test tubes is periodically disturbed by fluctuating a silicon tube before the test section with a speaker and the wavy films absorb the oxygen filled in the tubes. Imposing the periodic disturbance enhances the gas absorption and the enhancement has a maximum at around 20-30 Hz, where the gas absorption is 20-30% higher. Mass transfer coefficients obtained with five tubes agree well with those obtained with single tube. Two-dimensional numerical simulations have also been conducted for gas absorption by wavy film and the enhancement mechanism of the gas absorption is discussed.     

Effect of thermal history on the crystallization behaviour of polyetheretherketone by the dynamic viscoelastometer

The effect of thermal history on the crystallization behaviour of PEEK is investigated by the dynamic viscoelastometer. The crystallization behaviour of PEEK shows significant influence on the α peak in the tan δ and the storage modulus. The α peak temperature is rapidly increased at shorter times with the annealing temperature at 160°C or higher, and is then constant. The storage modulus is more gently reduced in the α transition region as the annealing temperature is higher, and becomes then a constant value. It is suggested that the reduction in the storage modulus corresponds to some defect in the crystal structure of PEEK.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Study of Reduction Process of CuO Paste and Its Effect on Bondability of Cu-to-Cu Joints

A bonding method utilizing redox reactions of metallic oxide microparticles achieves metal-to-metal bonding in air, which can be alternative to lead-rich high-melting point solder. However, it is known that the degree of the reduction of metallic oxide microparticles have an influence on the joint strength using this bonding method. In this paper, the reduction behavior of CuO paste and its effect on Cu-to-Cu joints were investigated through simultaneous microstructure-related x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The CuO microparticles in the paste were gradually reduced to submicron Cu₂O particles at 210–250°C. Subsequently, Cu nanoparticles were generated instantaneously at 300–315°C. There was a marked difference in the strengths of the joints formed at 300°C and 350°C. Thus, the Cu nanoparticles play a critical role in sintering-based bonding using CuO paste. Furthermore, once the Cu nanoparticles have formed, the joint strength increases with higher bonding temperature (from 350°C to 500°C) and pressure (5–15 MPa), which can exceed the strength of Pb-5Sn solder at higher temperature and pressure.     

Two different types of age-hardening behaviors in commercial dental gold alloys

Age-hardening behavior during continuous heating in commercial dental casting gold alloys was investigated by means of electrical resistivity measurements, hardness tests and X-ray diffraction. Two distinguishable behaviors were detected. It is considered that the difference was attributed to the amount of platinum, and the atomic ratio of gold and copper in each alloy. The phase transformations during continuous heating progressed into two steps (stages I and II). Increase of the platinum addition in gold-based alloys retards the rate of the reaction and decreases remarkably the amount of stage I.     

Rate enhancement of amines in the photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate under oxygen

The photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate was accelerated by amines such as N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, triethylamine, and diethylamine under nitrogen, in which additional initiating radicals were generated by the reaction of the amines with excited MMA. Enhanced rates were observed under oxygen for this photopolymerization in the presence of amines. Because UV spectra of the amines under oxygen indicated that the amines form charge-transfer complexes with oxygen, the rate enhancement was ascribed to photodecomposition of complexes that yield radical species. Molecular weights of polymers obtained in the photopolymerization in the presence of amines decreased under oxygen, supporting the assumed mechanism. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry     

Molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of liquefied wood obtained by acid-catalyzed phenolysis

By means of gel permeation chromatography analysis, the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of liquefied wood obtained under various liquefaction conditions and species of catalysts were investigated in order to trace the change in the structural characteristics of the liquefied wood. The results indicated that during the liquefaction reaction, wood components were subjected to decomposition, phenolation, and recondensation. The intensities of these reactions depended greatly on the reaction conditions and the species of catalysts, and their competing result determined the structural characteristics of the resulting liquefied wood. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 64: 351–357, 1997     

Photocatalytic decomposition of acetaldehyde in air over titanium dioxide

The photocatalytic decomposition of acetaldehyde in air at initial concentrations ranging from 3 to 200 mg m⁻³ has been studied in a semitransparent closed box with an inlet volume of 0.056 m³. The photocatalytic reactors consisted of a glass tube, 250 mm long with inside diameters of 28, 35, or 45 mm, whose inner surface was coated with a thin film of titanium dioxide, and a 6‐W blacklight fluorescent lamp located at the axis of the glass tube. The decomposition of acetaldehyde was almost complete within 1–3 h and its main product was carbon dioxide. A kinetic study showed that the photocatalytic reaction obeys a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Although the light intensity was certainly decreased with the distance from the light source, the degree of this decrease was much smaller than the degree of the decrease in the kinetic constants, which suggests that the light intensity is not simply proportional to the degree of the photo‐excitation of TiO₂ and the rate of the resulting photocatalytic decomposition of acetaldehyde. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Video Scene Annotation Based on Web Social Activities

This article describes a mechanism to acquire the semantics of video content from the activities of Web communities that use a bulletin-board system and weblog tools to discuss video scenes.     

Effect of surface modification using various acids on electrodeposition of lithium

Sulface modification of lithium was carried out using the chemical reaction of the native film with acids (HF, H₃PO₄, HI, HCl) dissolved in propylene carbonate (PC). The chemical composition change of the lithium surface was detected using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrodeposition of lithium on the as-received lithium or the modified lithium was conducted in PC containing 1.0 mol dm^–3 LiClO₄ or LiPF₆ under galvanostatic conditions. The morphology of electrodeposited lithium particles was observed with scanning electron microscopy. The lithium dendrites were observed when lithium was deposited on the as-received lithium in both electrolytes. Moreover the dendrites were also formed on the lithium surface modified with H₃PO₄, HI, or HCl. On the other hand, spherical lithium particles were produced, when lithium was electrodeposited in PC containing 1.0 mol dm^–3 LiPF₆ on the lithium surface modified with HE However spherical lithium particles were not obtained, when PC containing 1.0 mol dm^–3 LiClO₄ was used as the electrolyte. The lithium surface modified by H₃PO₄, HI, or HCl was covered with a thick film consisting of Li₃PO₄, Li₂CO₃, LiOH, or Li₂O. The lithium surface modified with HF was covered with a thin bilayer structure film consisting of LiF and Li₂O. These results clearly show that the surface film having the thin bilayer structure (LiF and Li₂O) and the use of PC containing 1.0 mol dm^–3 LiPF₆ enhance the suppression of dendrite formation of lithium.