Review on zirconate-cerate-based electrolytes for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell

The performance of low-to-intermediate temperature (400–800?°C) solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) depends on the properties of electrolyte used. SOFC performance can be enhanced by replacing electrolyte materials from conventional oxide ion (O^2-) conductors with proton (H⁺) conductors because H⁺ conductors have higher ionic conductivity and theoretical electrical efficiency than O^2- conductors within the target temperature range. Electrolytes based on cerate and/or zirconate have been proposed as potential H⁺ conductors. Cerate-based electrolytes have the highest H⁺ conductivity, but they are chemically and thermally unstable during redox cycles, whereas zirconate-based electrolytes exhibit the opposite properties. Thus, tailoring the properties of cerate and/or zirconate electrolytes by doping with rare-earth metals has become a main concern for many researchers to further improve the ionic conductivity and stability of electrolytes. This article provides an overview on the properties of four types of cerate and/or zirconate electrolytes including cerate-based, zirconate-based, single-doped cerate–zirconate and hybrid-doped cerate–zirconate. The properties of the proton electrolytes such as ionic conductivity, chemical stability and sinterability are also systematically discussed. This review further provides a summary of the performance of SOFCs operated with cerate and/or zirconate proton conductors and the actual potential of these materials as alternative electrolytes for proton-conducting SOFC application.     

Characteristics and nutritional value of biscuits fortified with debittered salmon (Salmo salar) frame hydrolysate

Effect of debittered salmon frame hydrolysate (DSFH) at various levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 g/100 g) on physicochemical, textural, sensory and nutritional properties of biscuits was investigated. The highest thickness was obtained for the sample with 25 g/100 g DSFH (P < 0.05). There was no difference in diameter among all the biscuit samples (P > 0.05). The samples added with DSFH had lower weight, water activity and moisture content than the control (CONT, without DSFH) (P < 0.05). DSFH at 15 g/100 g showed no detrimental effect on sensory properties of resulting biscuits (DSFH-15). The DSFH-15 biscuit showed reduction in cutting force and fracturability. Scanning electron microscopic and cross-sectional images showed that DSFH-15 biscuit had more porous structure, compared to the CONT. The biscuits fortified with 15 g/100 g DSFH had higher protein but had lower energy value, fat and carbohydrate content than the CONT.     

Window materials for high power gyrotron

The room temperature application of sapphire as window material at higher frequencies is not feasible since its absorption coefficient increases almost linearly with increasing frequency in the millimeter wavelength region. At cryogenic temperature the absorption coefficient value decreases only by a few factors (factor of 2 to 3) in the 90 – 200 GHz region. The earlier reported temperature squared dependence (decrease) in the absorption coefficient or the loss tangent value is totally absent in our broad band continuous wave data we are reporting here (at 6.5 K, 35K, 77K and 300K) and one we reported at conferences earlier. Our results are verified by another technique. We utilize our precision millimeter wave dispersive Fourier transform spectroscopic techniques at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures The extra high resistivity single crystal compensated silicon is no doubt the lowest loss material available at room temperature in the entire millimeter wavelength region At higher millimeter wave frequencies an extra high resistivity silicon window or an window made with extra high resistivity silicon coated with diamond film would certainly make a better candidate in the future. A single free standing synthetic diamond window seems to have higher absorption coefficient values at millimeter wavelength region at this time although it is claimed that it possesses good mechanical strength and higher thermal conductivity characteristics. It certainly does not rule out the use of diamond film on a single crystal high resistivity silicon to improve its mechanical strength and thermal conductivity     

An Approach Method to Calibrate the Autocollimator with Small Angle Measurement Range

A new method to calibrate the autocollimator with small angle measurement range has been developed. This method used a system based on rotary encoder for angle measurements with self-calibration function (SelfA47). The SelfA47 has 18,000 graduation lines with angle interval of 0.02°, corresponds to 72 arcsec. Thereby this system cannot be used to calibrate the autocollimator with measurement range <72 arcsec. On the other hand, SelfA47 can be used to calibrate an electronic level. The deviation of electronic level shaped linear gradient. Therefore a small nominal gradient of electronic level can be approximated by interpolation. Since the gradient of a curve corresponds to the angle quantities, it is feasible to calibrate the autocollimator with nominal angle <72 arcsec using SelfA47 and an electronic level. In this proposed method, SelfA47 is placed horizontally on the same plane with electronic level and mirror reflector position. The electronic level value that have been corrected by SelfA47 is used as a reference. This reference value was converted to the angle, thus the angle deviation of autocollimator can be determined. The prominent uncertainty of angle measurement using this new technique derived from the uncertainty of electronic level and rotary encoder. Using this method, the expanded uncertainty of 0.36 arcsec is obtained from calibration of autocollimator with measuring range of ±20 arcsec and it is consistent statistically with the manufacturer calibration result shown by E _n value is <1. In conclusion, this approach method can be applied to calibrate the autocollimator with a resolution smaller than SelfA47 as standard, but it is not recommended for the calibration of highly accurate autocollimator.     

Exploring the relationship between Internet ethics in university students and the big five model of personality

The widespread use of the Internet and the convenient mechanism it provides, such as easy access, easy downloads, and easy copy and paste functions have made many types of unethical behaviors easier, particularly those involving students in academic settings. Among the issues in ethics within the academic environment that can be triggered by the Internet are fraudulence, plagiarism, falsification, delinquency, unauthorized help, and facility misuse. Given these issues, the study seeks to investigate the extent to which students at a public university in Malaysia engage in such unethical behavior and their relationship with the big five personality model. This study was conducted using a survey method of 252 students in three different academic faculties. The results of factor analyses confirm and refine the reliability of the scales for both big five personality variables and unethical Internet behaviors as conceptualized through Internet triggered academic dishonesty (ITADS). The findings indicate that personality traits such as (1) agreeableness, (2) conscientiousness and (3) emotional stability are significantly and negatively correlated with unethical Internet behavior in university students. Significant differences in facility misuse are also observed between the three academic faculties investigated. This research should provide significant contributions to educators in designing the computer ethics curriculum and in allowing for educational institutions as well as other organizations in developing relevant policies and guidelines on matters pertaining to academic conduct, utilization of computers and Internet, and recruitment exercises.     

Short review on cobalt-free cathodes for solid oxide fuel cells

Cobalt-containing cathodes are known for their ability to operate under high-temperature applications in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Reducing the operation temperature into intermediate temperature-to-low temperature (IT-LT) zones may lead to a mismatch in the thermal expansion coefficient between the cathodes and the developed IT-LTSOFC electrolyte materials. Hence, cathode materials are adjusted to resolve this issue. Studies on IT-LTSOFC propose cobalt-free cathodes as an alternative way to produce high electrochemical performance cells for operation within the IT-LT range. Novel cobalt-free cathode powders are developed using perovskite structured materials, such as strontium ferrite oxide, as the main components together with dopants. This paper reviews various studies on cobalt-free cathode development, including the most important parameter in determining cathode performance, namely, the polarization resistance of SOFC cathodes.     

Natural Palm Olein Polyol as a Replacement for Polyether Polyols in Viscoelastic Polyurethane Foam

The impact of replacing three polyether polyols with different levels of a single palm olein‐based natural oil polyol (NOP) was systematically correlated with the changes in foaming reactivity, cell structure, physico‐mechanical properties, and morphology of viscoelastic (VE) foams. The data show that replacing the polyether polyols with the NOP slightly increased the rate of the foaming reactivity. Increasing the NOP content resulted in increased cell size and cells remained fully open. Increased NOP content contributed to higher load bearing properties of VE foam, which can be attributed to higher functionality of NOP compared to polyether polyols. Addition of the NOP slightly increased the resilience of the foams, however, the hysteresis which is the measure of energy absorption remained mostly unaffected. Age properties, characterized by dry and humid compression sets, were mostly unaffected by the replacement of the polyether polyol with the NOP. The addition of NOP did not impact the morphology of the VE foam polymer matrix, which appears to retain a low degree of hard and soft segment domain separation. Overall, the results demonstrate a feasibility that the NOP can be used to partially replace the polyether polyols in VE polyurethane foams without significant impact on the functional performance.     

Organic–inorganic nanomatrix structure and properties of related naturally occurring rubbery macromolecules

The outstanding mechanical properties of soft materials i.e. natural rubber are partly due to the organic–inorganic nanomatrix structure because numerous organic microparticles are dispersed in a small amount of an inorganic nanomatrix composed of inorganic nanoparticles and organic macromolecules. Here we form an organic–inorganic nanomatrix using graft-copolymerization of a vinyl monomer with an inorganic oxide precursor onto natural rubber particles with an average diameter of 1 μm dispersed in water. The inorganic oxide precursor is converted into inorganic oxide nanoparticles through hydrolysis and condensation, forming chemical linkages between natural rubber microparticles and inorganic oxide nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy indicates that the organic–inorganic nanomatrix is densely filled with inorganic oxide nanoparticles and the natural rubber microparticles are dispersed in the nanomatrix. This nanomatrix composite realizes both energetic elasticity and entropic elasticity of a soft material, opening a novel field of building block chemistry with respect to a pair of organic microparticles and inorganic nanoparticles.     

Effect of pH,Temperature and Reaction Time on Calcium Binding by Hydroxypropyl Rice Starches

Calcium binding by both native and hydroxypropyl starches was studied in aqueous media under different pH, temperature and reaction times at various calcium: starch ratios. Calcium binding was markedly influenced by pHs and temperatures of the reaction mixture. Reaction times did not show marked influence on calcium binding. Maximum calcium binding was observed in alkaline pH and at lower temperature. Most of the calcium bound within the first 20 minutes. Thus, alkaline pH and lower temperature is more favourable for calcium binding by both native and hydroxypropyl rice starches compared to acidic pH and higher temperatures.     

Review on Progressive Freeze Concentration Designs

Progressive freeze concentration (PFC) is a process where only a large single ice crystal is formed in the system and grown on the cooling surface so that the separation between the ice crystal and the mother solution is very easy. This makes the system very simple and leads to a lower cost. The conventional setup of PFC produces ice with high purity but lower productivity than suspension freeze concentration (SFC). The volume of ice produced is also usually low. Hence, continued areas of the development for PFC system include the quest for improved productivity and better efficiency. Different kinds of design have been investigated, which are easy to operate and cost-effective besides the ability to obtain high quality of product and better efficiency of the system. The PFC system is recognized as a good alternative if high-quality products can be produced with higher productivity. In this article, previous researches on PFC designs were reviewed for the purpose of providing an understanding on methods of designing a PFC system and also to provide references for future application of PFC.