Effect of acidic additives on the structure and performance of TiO2 films prepared by a commercial nanopowder for dye-sensitized solar cells

This work comprises an experimental study on the effect of various dispersing agents on the morphology of mesoporous TiO₂ films prepared by the doctor blade method and on the performance of the resulting dye-sensitized solar cells. TiO₂ films were prepared using a commercial nanopowder, Degussa P25, which was ground in a mortar, with different dispersing agents and under continuous grinding, in order to break the large agglomerates (>1 μm), present in the powder. These additives can be different acids or bases and must prevent also re-agglomeration of the nanoparticles, by forming a surface charge.Two strong acids (hydrochloric, HCl and nitric, HNO₃), a weak one (acetic acid, CH₃COOH) and a ketone (acetylacetone, C₅H₈O₂) were used in turn. The properties of the films were dependent on the concentration and the kind of the acid. With increasing concentration the coagulation of the nanoparticles also increases, thus affecting the efficiency of the devices. Of all the additives used, HNO₃ gave the best results and a 40% increment in efficiency was observed, compared to the standard dispersing agent that is acetylacetone. The improved homogeneity of the nanoparticle size (24 nm for anatase and 21.5 nm for rutile) and the better connectivity between them were responsible for the improvement in efficiency.     

Effect of Deformation in Controlled Rolling on Ferrite Nucleation

Abstract

Nucleation of ferrite either at austenite grain boundaries or within them on deformation defects has been examined experimentally and analyzed on the basis of the theory of heterogeneous nucleation. Low-carbon low-alloy steels were deformed by controlled rolling schedules to a total reduction of 50 or 68% in finish rolling at 730-800 °C. Deformation accelerates the kinetics of the γ→∞ transformation and strongly activates ferrite nucleation at grain boundaries. Both experimental and theoretical estimations showed that the rate of intragranular nucleation is much less compared to nucleation at grain boundaries. Intragranular nuclei develop notably only in the final stages of transformation in deformed austenite and affect the formation of structure only in the small separated areas.

On a examiné expérimentalement et analysé la nucléation de la ferrite, soit aux joints de grain de l'faustenite, ou à l'finterieur de ceux-ci, aux défauts de déformation, en se basant sur la théorie de la nucléation hétérogéne. On a déformé des aciers peu alliés à faible carbone, en suivant des plans de laminage contrôlé, jusqu'fa une réduction totale de 50 ou 68% pour le laminage final a 800-730 °C. La déformation accélère la cinétique de transformation de γ→α et active fortement la nucleation de la ferrite aux joints de grains. Tant les évaluations expérimentales que theoriques ont montré que le taux de nucléation intragranulaire était beaucoup moins élevé en comparaison avec la nucleation aux joints de grain. Les noyaux intragranulaires se développent particuliérement seulement lors des étapes finales de transformation de l'faustenite déformée et affectent la formation de la structure seulement dans de petites zones séparées.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-6Al-4V/Ti-22Al-25Nb joint formed by diffusion bonding

Ti-6Al-4V (wt.%) and Ti-22Al-25Nb (at.%) were joined by diffusion bonding at 950 °C and 15 MPa for 100 min, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting joints were investigated. The composition of the diffusion layer is B2/discontinuous α/α₂ layer/necklace-shaped β+α′ layer, where the content of any element at a given point mainly depends on the distance of the point from the interface and the phase type at the point. The tensile strength of the joint is 894 MPa, which is almost the same as that of the Ti-22Al-25Nb base alloy. The fracture surfaces on both sides of the joint are composed of two main regions. One region displays a relatively flat surface and fractures along the bonding interface. The other is composed of a moderate number of irregularly-shaped cavities on the Ti-6Al-4V side and many irregularly-shaped bulges on the Ti-22Al-25Nb side. Both regions result from fracture along the boundaries between β+α′ layers and α_p grains or from the transcrystalline fracture of α_p grains.     

Electrochemical behaviour of Ti–25Nb–3Mo–3Zr–2Sn biomedical alloy in different simulated physiological environments

The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of biomedical Ti–25Nb–3Mo–3Zr-2Sn (TLM) alloy was investigated in various simulated body fluids at 37±0·5°C utilising potentiodynamic polarisation and current–time curves. The Ti–6Al–4V (TC4) alloy was also investigated to make a comparison. The different simulated body fluids comprised of 0·9%NaCl saline, Hank’s and Ringer’s solution were employed. The effect of heat treatment on the electrochemical behaviour of the TLM alloy was also considered. It was discovered that all the test specimens were passivated once immersed into the simulated body fluids. It was also found that the TLM alloy has poorer corrosion resistance in Hank’s solution, due to the chemical composition of the Hank’s. After different heat treated, the TLM alloy had different phases and microstructure, and the corrosion behaviour of the TLM alloy was different. In this study, after the heat treatment of 760°C/1 h/AC+550°C/6 h/AC, the TLM alloy had better corrosion resistance. Owing to the corrosion resistance of the TLM alloy was influenced by numerous factors, such as microstructure and the chemical composition of electrolyte, the corrosion behaviour of the TLM alloy is complex. By comparing with the corrosion behaviour of the TC4 alloy, the TLM alloy has poorer corrosion resistant than the TC4 alloy under the same conditions. But the current–time curves of the TLM alloy were more stable than these of the TC4 alloy with further experiments, because of the more passivation film on the surface of the TLM alloy.     

Entrepreneurial quality and regional development: Characterizing SME sectors in low income areas*

This paper analyses the characteristics of SMEs in less‐developed areas in comparison with more advanced economies. The conceptual framework includes different factors making up the so‐called ‘entrepreneurial quality’ of the SME sector: the personal characteristics of the entrepreneurs (motivations and previous experience), different dimensions of the SMEs’ entrepreneurial orientation, and the patterns of the SMEs’ insertion in national and global value chains. The empirical analysis uses data of SMEs in four different Spanish provinces representing examples of low income economies and comparatively high income ones, respectively. Results show the SMEs in the low income economies to be characterized by a lower entrepreneurial quality.     

等温锻造Ti-22Al-25Nb合金的显微组织与力学性能

对Ti-22Al-25Nb(at%)合金在不同相区等温锻造与锻后热处理过程中的组织演变及其对力学性能的影响进行了研究。结果表明,在980℃(B2+α_2+O三相区)、1040℃(α_2+B2两相区)以及1060℃(B2相区)等温锻造并热处理之后,合金的显微组织表现为典型的等轴组织、双态及双尺寸的板条组织,各相的尺寸以及体积分数可以通过热处理制度来控制。合金的力学性能测试表明:双尺寸的板条组织具有较高的室温强度但塑性最低,而等轴组织具有较高的塑性,强度最低。等轴组织的抗蠕变性能最低,双态组织以及双尺寸的板条组织具有相似的抗蠕变性,后两种组织主要以板条组织为主导,板条组织具有比等轴组织更优异的抗蠕变性能。     

低W-W连接度65W-25Cu-10Ni合金的制备及准静态力学性能研究

利用W颗粒表面化学镀Ni结合SPS的方法,制备了低W-W连接度65W-25Cu-10Ni合金,并开展了准静态力学性能研究。结果表明,制得的Ni包W复合粉中Ni包覆层分布均匀且与W结合良好;以Ni包W复合粉和Cu粉为原料制备的65W-25Cu-10Ni合金组织均匀且致密。在准静态压缩加载条件下,与65W-35Cu合金相比,65W-25Cu-10Ni合金的强度及塑性均大幅度提高;在准静态拉伸加载条件下,与65W-35Cu合金相比,65W-25Cu-10Ni合金的强度较高,塑性没有明显提高。机理分析表明,与65W-35Cu合金相比,65W-25Cu-10Ni合金中W-W连接度较低、粘结相由Cu相转变为Cu0.81Ni0.19固溶体,且W与粘结相之间形成了冶金结合,以上三个因素共同导致65W-25Cu-10Ni合金强度的提高;此外,W-W连接度的降低以及W-粘结相界面结合强度的提高是65W-25Cu-10Ni合金在准静态压缩加载条件下塑性提高的原因。     

“零保温”淬火温度对25MnV钢组织性能的影响

研究了“零保温”淬火温度对25MnV钢组织和力学性能的影响，探讨了“零保温”淬火条件下，奥氏体成分的不均匀性和马氏体转变的特点.实验表明，在880~910 ℃范围内，随淬火温度的升高，25MnV钢的强、硬度和延伸率均增加；高于910 ℃后，逐步下降.加热至铁素体消失时淬火，该钢具有最佳的强韧性.25MnV钢“零保温”淬火后得到细小的板条状马氏体组织，其原因与奥氏体晶粒细化和奥氏体中碳分布不均匀有关.     

摇床T25细胞培养瓶流体力学与传质特性研究

细胞培养技术是生物医药产业的支柱,以实现微小体积内的高密度、高通量细胞培养为目的,系统地研究了常用于单层静态培养的T25方瓶置于翘板摇床上在不同操作条件下的流体力学特性和传质性能。结果表明,振荡可以显著提高方瓶的传质速率并降低混合时间,使高密度培养成为可能,但瓶盖上的空气滤膜在高转速时成为传质速率的限制因素;培养瓶对称轴与摇床旋转轴平行时,其相对位置对混合和传质无明显影响,但当二者成45°角时,相同转速下混合时间显著缩短;使用自定义函数实现了基于动态网格的CFD模拟,对不同转速下方瓶内剪切应力和能量耗散在时间与空间上分布进行了分析,为基于T25培养瓶开发一次性高通量微型反应器提供了数据支持和理论基础。     

Alterations in Membrane Phospholipid Fatty Acids of Gram-Positive Piezotolerant Bacterium Sporosarcina sp. DSK25 in Response to Growth Pressure

Pressure is an important thermodynamic property of the ocean and the deep biosphere that affects microbial physiology and biochemistry. Here, we report on our investigation of the response of Gram-positive piezotolerant bacterium Sporosarcina sp. DSK25 to hydrostatic pressure. Strain DSK25 responded in an adaptive manner to upshifts of growth pressure and showed systematic changes in phospholipid fatty acids. As the pressure increased from 0.1 to 10 MPa (Megapascal), unsaturated fatty acids in DSK25 increased from 21.7 to 31.1 % of total fatty acids, while the level of iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids remained unchanged. At higher pressures (30, 50, and 60 MPa), the amount of unsaturated fatty acids decreased, and that of anteiso-branched fatty acids increased from 34.4 to 49.9 % at the expense of iso-branched fatty acids. For the first time, two polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), 18:2n-6 and 18:2n-x, with the latter having much higher abundance than the former, were identified in DSK25. The concentration of the PUFA increased with growth pressure. These results indicate the involvement of unsaturated and methyl-branched fatty acids in the modulation of bacteria membrane fluidity and function over environmentally relevant parameter (pressure). Piezotolerant bacterium Sporosarcina sp. DSK25 appears to utilize two regulatory mechanisms for adaptation to high pressure, a rapid-responding mechanism on transient scale, expressed as increased biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids, and a long-term adaptation mechanism in increased synthesis of anteiso-branched and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Our results further suggest that Gram-positive piezophilic bacteria respond differently than Gram-negative bacteria in adaptation to high pressure.