Comparison of calculations for interplanar distances in a crystal lattice

The derivations for the general formulae of lattice interplanar distances are reviewed along with the methods using elementary geometry, intermediate Cartesian axes, and reciprocal lattice vectors. To highlight the characteristics of these three methods and the connections between them, examples for the simple cases such as orthorhombic, hexagonal, and rhombohedral systems are included. Calculations from reciprocal space are established from those from direct space with heavily involved mathematics for which details are seldom included in crystallography monographs. The only geometric method found in the literature for the interplanar distances in a crystal lattice is derived for a few specific simple cases with cos²α?+?cos²β?+?cos²γ?=?1, where α, β, and γ are the angles between the normal to the plane and the axes of a orthogonal system. However, the geometric method introduced in this work is a newly developed method and this method is complementary to other methods including the advanced contemporary reciprocal method. The connections between Cartesian and crystal coordinate systems, for angular relationships and the volume of unit cell are revealed. The interplanar spacing in non-primitive lattice and crystals are also discussed.     

Evaluation of decay photocurrent measurements in dye‐sensitized solar cells: Application to laser beam‐induced current technique

The use of the laser beam‐induced current (LBIC) technique in photovoltaic devices is widespread, but its use in photoelectrochemical cells, such as dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), is limited due to the configuration of these devices. The main reason is the very slow response time of DSSCs in the decay process, and therefore LBIC scans take too long to perform. We have designed a procedure published in the literature to correct the photocurrent values obtained by the LBIC technique, based on an algorithm that uses a decreasing mono‐exponential model. This work presents a study of the decay measurements in DSSCs using several functions, in order to improve the algorithm designed. It concludes that functions such as a decreasing bi‐exponential or Becquerel function generate better fits to experimental data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modification of poly(ethylene oxide) electrolyte by Brönsted base terminated oligo(ethylene glycol) and its application in dye-sensitized solar cells

Oligo(ethylene glycol) terminated by pyridine derivatives was designed and synthesized for improving the performance of the dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with poly(ethylene oxide) based electrolyte. Effects of the plasticizer on retarding the recombination reaction in DSCs were characterized by current density–voltage characteristics. Combined with the results on electron density measurements, photovoltage–intensity characteristics correlate the retarded electron recombination with the upward movement of the conduction band edge and the reduced order of recombination reaction. The increased electron lifetimes of the DSCs with plasticizer modified electrolyte were confirmed by a small perturbation voltage decay technique. Additionally, WAXS measurements show that the presence of the plasticizer decreases the crystallinity of PEO electrolyte, which facilitates the mass transport of the redox species as impedance spectra indicated. By introducing guanidinium thiocyanate into the plasticizer modified PEO electrolyte, the performance of the DSCs is further improved, which yields the highest efficiency of 3.5%.     

Probabilistic approach to multi-objective Volt/Var control of distribution system considering hybrid fuel cell and wind energy sources using Improved Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm

Deregulation and restructuring in power systems, the ever-increasing demand for electricity, and concerns about the environment are the major driving forces for using Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Recently, Wind Farms (WFs) and Fuel Cell Power Plants (FCPPs) have gained great interest by Distribution Companies (DisCos) as the most common RES. In fact, the connection of enormous RES to existing distribution networks has changed the operation of distribution systems. It also affects the Volt/Var control problem, which is one of the most important schemes in distribution networks. Due to the intermittent characteristics of WFs, distribution systems should be analyzed using probabilistic approaches rather than deterministic ones. Therefore, this paper presents a new algorithm for the multi-objective probabilistic Volt/Var control problem in distribution systems including RES. In this regard, a probabilistic load flow based on Point Estimate Method (PEM) is used to consider the effect of uncertainty in electrical power production of WFs as well as load demands. The objective functions, which are investigated here, are the total cost of power generated by WFs, FCPPs and the grid; the total electrical energy losses and the total emission produced by WFs, FCPPs and DisCos. Moreover, a new optimization algorithm based on Improved Shuffled Frog Leaping Algorithm (ISFLA) is proposed to determine the best operating point for the active and reactive power generated by WFs and FCPPs, reactive power values of capacitors, and transformers’ tap positions for the next day. Using the fuzzy optimization method and max-min operator, DisCos can find solutions for different objective functions, which are optimal from economical, operational and environmental perspectives. Finally, a practical 85-bus distribution test system is used to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Biobutanol: science,engineering, and economics

Among several liquid alternative fuels, biobutanol has shown great promise because of its very similar properties to gasoline. This review provides an overview of research activities in acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation over the past two and a half decades. We have addressed seven important facets of ABE fermentation, viz. biochemistry, microbial cultures, alternative substrates, solvent recovery, fermentation mode and reactor designs, mathematical modeling, and economics. Development of mutant strains having higher yield, selectivity and tolerance to inhibition, and search for cheap alternative substrates for fermentation are most important thrust areas in biobutanol production. New and efficient processes have been developed for in situ removal and recovery of the ABE solvents. Several rigorous kinetic and physiological models for fermentation have been formulated, which form useful tool for optimization of the process. These research activities have been reviewed in this paper. Finally, we have summarized studies on the economic viability of large‐scale ABE fermentation processes employing various process designs, substrates, and microbial cultures. With the use of new strains, inexpensive substrates, and superior reactor designs, economic potential of ABE fermentation has been found to be highly attractive. Research efforts in science, engineering, and economics of ABE fermentation have brought biobutanol close to commercialization as liquid alternate fuel. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dependency of removal efficiency on electrode arrangements in the treatment of oily wastewaters by electrocoagulation

Turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were analyzed depending on electrode layouts by performing electrocoagulation experiments using horizontal and vertical electrochemical cells. Multiple aluminum plate electrodes were placed into different sections of the electrochemical cells. Removal efficiencies at the horizontal electrochemical cell were always higher than the one’s obtained from the vertical electrochemical cell. But the use of vertical electrochemical cell consumed less energy during the electrocoagulation tests. The highest COD removal efficiencies were 97% and 88% in the horizontal and vertical electrochemical cells, respectively. However, the energy consumption for COD removal in the horizontal electrochemical cell was 47% higher than the energy consumed in the vertical electrochemical cell.     

Modeling of the mixed potential in hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cells

A one-dimensional mathematical model is developed for the study of the mixed potential associated with the hydrogen peroxide oxidation reaction (HPOR) at the cathode of hydrogen peroxide-based fuel cells. The complicated physicochemical processes, including mass transport, charge transport, and three simultaneous electrochemical reactions (the hydrogen peroxide reduction, hydrogen peroxide oxidation, and oxygen reduction reactions) are considered. The model is experimentally validated and shows good agreement with the literature experimental data. The model is then applied to the study of the mixed potential by varying the current density. It is found that the largest potential loss due to the HPOR occurs under the open-circuit condition (OCC), and the potential loss decreases with the superficial current density. In addition, the numerical results suggest that under the OCC, an increase in the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and H⁺ ions leads to a decrease in the potential loss, but an increase in the hydrogen peroxide decomposition rate and the oxygen evolution rate.     

Conducting carbon/polymer composites as a catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Carbon/poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene) (C/PEDOT) composites are synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of EDOT monomer on carbon black in order to decrease carbon corrosion that occurred in carbon‐supported catalysts used in proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The effects of different dopants including polystyrene sulfonic acid, p‐toluenesulfonic acid and camphorsulfonic acid with the addition of ethylene glycol or dimethyl sulfoxide on the properties of the composites are investigated. The synthesized composites are characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, surface area analysis and scanning electron microscope. Electrical conductivity is determined by using the four‐point probe technique. Electrochemical oxidation characteristics of the synthesized C/PEDOT composites are investigated by cyclic voltammetry by applying 1.2 V for 24 h. The composite prepared at 25 °C with p‐toluenesulfonic acid and ethylene glycol shows the best carbon corrosion resistance. Platinum‐supported catalyst by using this composite was prepared using microwave irradiation technique, and it was seen that the prepared catalyst did not significantly lose its hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction reaction activities after electrochemical oxidation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of xylan structure and lignin–xylan association on methane production from C5-sugars

Xylan biopolymers are the dominant hemicelluloses present in agricultural plant materials which have potential use in various biotechnological processes including methane production. Hence, the effect of lignin content and the structural features of xylan on anaerobic digestion were studied by using synthetic assemblies consisting of xylans and lignin models (dehydrogenation polymers). The ramification by arabinose and uronic acid was shown to be a key factor in low methane potential (BMP) from xylans and xylan–lignin assemblies. Indeed, BMP increased when xylose content was increased, and decreased when arabinose and uronic acid contents were increased. Lignin content and molecular weight were found to be the most influential parameters on the anaerobic digestion rate. Digestion rate decreased when the lignin content and molecular mass increased.