Nanocrystalline TiO2 photosensitized with natural polymers with enhanced efficiency from 400 to 600 nm

TiO₂ sensitization for solar applications requires not only efficient but also stable and inexpensive sensitizers. Different condensed tannins extracted from bark wastes of tropical wood trees were studied as possible sensitizers of TiO₂. These natural polymers adhere strongly to the TiO₂ even from aqueous solutions. Absorption spectra are presented for 1 mM aqueous sensitizing solutions prepared with lyophilized condensed tannins which absorb light in the visible range. Spectral photocurrent measurements and I–V characterization show that no bias is required for electron injection to the TiO₂ from all studied condensed tannins. Incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) analysis indicates that surface complexation originates absorption bands with different electron injection efficiencies. These play a dominant role in determining IPCE spectral shape. We propose that surface modification by the sensitizer changes the surface trap density, thereby decreasing recombination losses.     

火焰图像特征在火灾数字图像识别中的运用

火焰尖角数目和圆形度是早期火灾火焰的主要特征,本文主要论述了如何在数学形态学基础上,利用火灾火焰的两个特点判断和识别早期火情。实验中,对火焰的二值图像进行开运算,即先腐蚀,再膨胀,目的是为了对火焰图像进行形态学滤波,去噪。从实验结果可以看出,该算法可以很好的识别火焰和干扰源。     

Use of recycled copper slag for blended cements

Copper slag is a by‐product generated during smelting to extract copper metal from the ore. The copper slag obtained may exhibit pozzolanic activity and may therefore be used in the manufacture of addition‐containing cements. In this paper the effect of the incorporation of the copper slag in cement is measured. Blends of copper slag with Portland cement generally possess properties equivalent to Portland cement containing fly ash, but very different to the silica fume incorporation. Copper slag and fly ash reduce the heat of hydration more effectively than silica fume in mortars. The replacement of 30% cement by copper slag reduces the flexural and compressive strength in a similar way to fly ash; however, after 28 days, the reduction is less than the percentage of substitution. Hydrated calcium aluminate phases were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The pozzolanic activity of copper slag is similar to that of fly ash and higher than silica fume. In the presence of low water/cement ratios, certain pozzolanic materials produce a very compact cement paste that limits the space available for hydration products, a determining factor in the formation of hydrated calcium aluminates. SEM was found to be a useful analytical technique when aluminates are formed and can be clearly detected by XRD. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Local Strain Measurement within Tendon

Abstract:  Tendon is a dense connective tissue, responsible for transmitting the forces generated by muscles to the skeleton. It is composed of a hierarchical arrangement of crimped collagen fibres, interspersed with proteoglycan matrix and cells, known as tenocytes. During physiological loading, tendons are subjected to strains in the region of 5–6%, which result in the straightening and realignment of the collagen fibres, generating variable local strain fields within the tendon. This study demonstrates a technique for analysing local strains within viable tendon explants, during both loading and unloading of the tissue. Samples were strained in a custom-designed rig, allowing real-time visualisation of cell nuclei, used as local discrete markers, on a confocal microscope. Results indicated that local strains within the fascicle are smaller than the applied strains, never exceeding 1.2%, even at 8% gross applied strain. By contrast, the sliding of adjacent collagen units was recorded at each strain increment in this study, reaching a mean maximum of 3.9% of the applied displacement. Loading–unloading studies indicated that sliding behaviour is reversible up to strains of 5%, and provides the major extension mechanism within the rat-tail tendon. This technique can be extended to further analyse shearing behaviour within the matrix.     

Manufacturing method for monolithic dye-sensitised solar cells permitting long-term stable low-power modules

A manufacturing technique for monolithic dye-sensitised solar cells is presented. Encapsulated modules designed for indoor low-power applications have been prepared using industrial methods and equipment. Under certain conditions (light intensity <5000 lx, temperature between –10°C and 50°C, and relative humidity of appr. 50%), the modules have performed well and shown excellent long-term stability. Moreover, modules withstand illumination in combination with storage at 100% relative humidity. However, a certain degradation of the module performance takes place at illuminations exceeding 5000 lx and temperatures exceeding 50°C.     

ATM网络的可用比特率业务

本文介绍了可用比特率业务的业务特点，速率控制机制以及该业务存在的问题。     

Sensitizing Mechanism and Adsorption Properties of Dye—Sensitized TiO2 Thin Films

The dye-sensitized TiO2 complex films were prepared by the dye coat onto TiO2 surfaces,and the sensitizing mechanism and adsorption properties of the dye-sensitized TiO2 complex films were inverstigated.The influence of the application conditions of dye adsorbed on TiO2 films on the amount of dye adsorption was discussed.Experimental results show that the concentration,the temperature of dye solutions and the dipping time of TiO2 films in the dye solutions have a significant influence on the amount of dye adsorption.Cell test indicates that the conversion efficiency of light to electricity increases with the amount of dye adsorption.     

河口水流、波浪、潮流、泥沙、河床变形二维数学模型

根据河口“波浪掀沙，潮流输沙”的泥沙运动机制，引入“波浪幅射应力”反应波浪对水体和泥沙的驱动力．考虑波浪对底部泥沙作用力、波浪对水流挟沙能力的影响及风场对水流和泥沙运动的影响．同时考虑泥沙粒径大小、水体含盐度、含沙量及水流紊动程度等因素对絮凝沉速的影响．用ＡＤＩ算法求解沿水深平均方程，破开算子法解悬移质不平衡输沙方程及河床变形方程，引入通度概念处理岸滩不规则边界，建立河口水流、波浪、潮流、泥沙、河床变形二维数学模型．通过实测资料及卫星摇感图像对所建数学模型进行检验，表明它可以较好地预测河口泥沙的运动     

Morphology and structure of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) crystallized from dilute organic solution

The high-temperature crystallization of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) from dilute organic solutions was achieved through the introduction of a non-solvent, or precipitating agent, at the desired crystallization temperature. The morphology and crystal structure were examined for crystals produced from PPTA polymer with two different molecular weights (M_w = 46000 and 3430 g mol⁻¹), using transmission electron microscopy. For the high-molecular-weight polymer, ribbon-like crystals were produced, while the low-molecular-weight polymer yielded small needles or platelets. In both cases, electron diffraction showed that the Northolt allomorph was obtained. For the high-molecular-weight polymer, the molecular axes were parallel to the ribbon axes in a chain-extended type structure. A hypothesis for the orientation of the low-molecular-weight PPTA in the small platelets, is also given.     

The As-prepared surfaces of C-axis-oriented Nd1Ba2Cu3Oy thin films characterized using scanning probe microscopes

Recently, superconducting Nd₁Ba₂Cu₃O_y (Ndl23) thin films with high superconducting transition temperature (T _c) have been successfully fabricated at our institute employing the standard laser ablation method. In this paper, we report the results of surface characterization of the Nd123 thin films using an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope/spectroscopy (UHV-STM/STS) and an atomic force microscope (AFM) system operated in air. Clear spiral pattern is observed on the surfaces of Nd123 thin films by STM and AFM, suggesting that films are formed by two-dimensional island growth mode. Contour plots of the spirals show that the step heights of the spirals are not always the integer or half-integer number of thec-axis parameter of the structure. This implies that the surface natural termination layer of the films may not be unique. This result is supported byI-V STS measurements. The surface morphology of the Nd123 thin films is compared with that of thec-axis-oriented Y₁Ba₂Cu₃S_y thin films. Surface atomic images of the as-prepared Nd123 thin films are obtained employing both STM and AFM. STS measurements show that most of the surfaces are semiconductive. The results of STS measurements together with the fact that we are able to see the surface atomic images using scanning probe microscopes suggest that exposure to air does not cause serious degradation to the as-prepared surfaces of Nd123 thin films.