Manganese–Schiff base complex immobilized silica materials for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction

Curtailment of platinum catalysts loading in fuel cell is a recent central issue. As substitutes, these days several organic metal chelate compounds having featured moieties of M–N₄ or M–N₂O₂ (M = transition metal ion) are being used as cathode catalysts in fuel cells. Here, in this study, we report in detail the electrocatalytic activity of manganese–Schiff base complexes for oxygen reduction reaction in 0·05 M HClO₄ at room temperature. Actually, [Mn(salen)]⁺: [N,N′-bis(salicylaldehyde) ethylenediimino manganese(III)]⁺ and [Mn(salophen)]⁺: [N,N′-bis(salicylaldehyde)-1,2-phenylenediimino manganese(III)]⁺ were introduced into/onto the MCM-41 type silica spheres and used for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen. Synthesized materials were characterized by UV–Vis, FT–IR and electrochemical techniques. Significant low overpotential for oxygen reduction in 0·05 M HClO₄ on [Mn(salen)]⁺- and [Mn(salophen)]⁺-incorporated silica-modified glassy carbon electrodes was observed.     

Optical,electrical, mechanical,and thermal properties and non-isothermal decomposition behavior of poly(vinyl alcohol)–ZnO nanocomposites

Iranian Polymer Journal - Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposites incorporated with ZnO nanofiller were prepared and examined to study the influence of nanofiller on their properties. All the...     

Adsorptive separation of copper,nickel, lead,zinc and cadmium from aqueous solution using MWCNTs impregnated with D2EHPA and prior to their determination by FAAS: Kinetic and equilibrium studies

Trace metal ions in aqueous samples may be separated and preconcentrated by solid phase extraction (SPE) prior to their determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The trace amounts of heavy metals can form complex with D2EHPA – MWCNTs. The quantitative adsorption was at pH 5.0 with a flow rate of 2 mL^?1. The adsorbed metal ions can be eluted with 2.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃. The highest enrichment factor was 25. The thermodynamic parameter (ΔG) revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous. The procedure was applied to the determination of copper, nickel, lead, zinc and cadmium in laboratory water, well water and electroplating wastewater samples.     

Effect of microwave treatment on the cooking and macronutrient qualities of pulses

The effect of microwave treatment to reduce the cooking times of five pulses, namely red lentil, chickpea, pigeon pea, mung bean, and pinto bean, were determined in this study. Pulses from 10 to 18% moisture contents were treated using 400 to 600 W microwaves for 14 to 56 s. The cooking times of microwave-treated pulses were significantly lower than that of the control samples. The lowest cooking time was observed for 18% moisture content chickpea and pigeon pea treated with 600 W for 56 s. The Fourier transform mid-infrared spectra in both lipids and fingerprint regions showed the macronutrients differences among the five pulses. Major changes were observed in the amide I region of microwave treated pulses. This effect of microwave treatment was higher in red lentil, chickpea, and mung bean than in pigeon pea and pinto bean at 10% moisture content. At 18% moisture content, the change of β-sheets to aggregates was observed in all pulses due to microwave treatment.     

On higher order shear deformation theory of laminated composite panels

In this paper we examine the suitability of higher order shear deformation theory based on cubic inplane displacements and parabolic normal displacements, for stress analysis of laminated composite plates including the interlaminar stresses. An exact solution of a symmetrical four layered infinite strip under static loading has been worked out and the results obtained by the present theory are compared with the exact solution. The present theory provides very good estimates of the deflections, and the inplane stresses and strains. Nevertheless, direct estimates of strains and stresses do not display the required interlaminar stress continuity and strain discontinuity across the interlaminar surface. On the other hand, ‘statically equivalent stresses and strains’ do display the required interlaminar stress continuity and strain discontinuity and agree very closely with the exact solution.     

Synthesis,characterization, and ion exchange voltammetry study on 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulphonic acid and N‐(hydroxymethyl) acrylamide‐based copolymer

A random copolymer of 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) and N‐hydroxymethyl acrylamide (NHMA) was prepared by solution polymerization using ceric ammonium nitrate as an initiator. A grade of poly(AMPS)‐co‐poly(NHMA) (PAMPS‐co‐PNHMA) random copolymer was synthesized with AMPS and NHMA. The homopolymerization of AMPS and NHMA was also carried out by the same way as that of random copolymer. PAMPS‐co‐PNHMA and homopolymers of AMPS and NHMA were characterized by FTIR, rheology, FT‐NMR, scanning electron microscope, thermal analysis, and X‐ray diffaractometry. Cyclic voltammetry is used to explain the ion exchange properties of PAMPS‐co‐PNHMA and its possible application in the trace analysis. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Preconcentration and separation of copper, nickel and zinc in aqueous samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after column solid-phase extraction onto MWCNTs impregnated with D2EHPA-TOPO mixture

A solid phase extraction method has been developed for the determination of copper, nickel and zinc ions in natural water samples. This method is based on the adsorption of copper, nickel and zinc on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) impregnated with di-(2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid) (D2EHPA) and tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO). The influence of parameters such as pH of the aqueous solution, amount of adsorbent, flow rates of the sample and eluent, matrix effects and D2EHPA-TOPO concentration have been investigated. Desorption studies have been carried out with 2 mol L(-1) HNO(3). The copper, nickel and zinc concentrations were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicated that the maximum adsorption of copper, nickel and zinc is at pH 5.0 with 500 mg of MWCNTs. The detection limits by three sigma were 50 μg L(-1) for copper, 40 μg L(-1) for nickel and 60 μg L(-1) zinc. The highest enrichment factors were found to be 25. The adsorption capacity of MWCNTs-D2EHPA-TOPO was found to be 4.90 mg g(-1) for copper, 4.78 mg g(-1) for nickel and 4.82 mg g(-1) for zinc. The developed method was applied for the determination of copper, nickel and zinc in electroplating wastewater and real water sample with satisfactory results (R.S.D.'s <10%).     

Lanthanide based double perovskites: Bifunctional catalysts for oxygen evolution/reduction reactions

In this work, we are reporting the facile synthesis of double perovskite oxide materials LnBa0_.5Sr_0·5Co_1·5Fe_0·5O₆ (LnBSCF, Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd) using citrate-nitrate based sol-gel method. These double perovskite oxide materials exhibit bifunctional catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The phase formation and structure of the prepared oxides have been determined by powder X-ray diffraction, SEM analysis. Presence of various phases is analyzed and quantified by mean of Le-Bail refinement of XRD profiles. SEM analyses confirm the morphology and composition of prepared catalysts. Electrochemical measurements, e.g. Linear Sweep Voltammetry, Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance spectroscopy were used to study catalytic performance of prepared catalyst towards both oxygen evolution and oxidation reduction reactions in alkaline solution. Better catalytic performance was obtained in case of double perovskites as compared to parent perovskite for both reactions. Best catalytic performance was observed for Gd based double perovskite.     

Mechanical properties characterisation of dissimilar joint of high-temperature materials using Thermo-Calc Classic (TCC) diagram analysis

Weldments were fabricated between Incoloy 800HT and P91 steel using ERNiCr-3, and ER505 filler materials by GTAW process. The ERNiCr-3 weld has to interface columnar and equiaxed dendrites whereas the ER505 weld has cellular dendrites. The ER505 weld / P91 steel base interface shows δ ferrite. Unmixed zone (UMZ) on Incoloy 800HT side and Type I and Type II zones were observed on P91 steel side of weldments. It was observed that with an increase in heat input, there was an increase in tensile strength of ERNiCr-3 weldments whereas there was a decrease in tensile strength of ER505 weldments. The impact energy of ERNiCr-3 welds was 96 Joules whereas ER505 welds had the impact energy of 178 Joules. Based on microstructure and mechanical properties, ER505 was found to be the ideal filler for joining of Incoloy 800HT to P91 steel than ERNiCr-3 filler.