Catalyst surface at a fractal of cost—a quest for optimal catalyst loading

Intuition tells us that any decrease in the catalytically active surface area should result in an equivalent decrease in the reaction yield and efficiency. Our findings counter this by showing that the active surface and hence the catalyst loading can be reduced drastically in the diffusion-limited heterogeneous reaction systems, while the conversion rate remains essentially unchanged by using fractals for spatial distribution of the catalyst load. The results of this study provide an unusual circumstance for optimal design of chemically active surfaces and can be used to drastically reduce cost of heterogeneous chemical and biological reactors, sensors, and electrodes of fuel cells. The proposed approach can be exploited to its fullest extent in chemical microsystems by utilizing the latest advances in our abilities to manipulate matter on the micro/nano scale.     

Predictive control of Timed Event Graphs with specifications defined by P-time Event Graphs

The aim of this paper is the predictive control of Timed Event Graphs with specifications defined by P-time Event Graphs. We propose a fixed-point approach which leads to a pseudo-polynomial algorithm. As the performance of the algorithm is crucial in on-line control, we highlight an important case where the resolution of this first algorithm is efficient. The second technique is a space controller on a horizon leading to a strongly polynomial algorithm.     

Tunable TiO2 (anatase and rutile) materials manufactured by mechanical means

Anatase and rutile are two naturally found titanium dioxide phases with attractive dielectric, catalytic, and photo-catalytic characteristics. Anatase and rutile are photo-catalytically active in the UV region, since their band gaps are 3.2 eV and 3.75 eV, respectively. In this work is proposed a cost-effective, easy to launch methodology for modification of the TiO₂ bandgap. Such modifications will make the oxides photo-catalytically active in a wider optical range from the visible wavelengths to an extended UV spectrum. The proposed methodology is based on mechanical means such as mixing and milling. Various ratios of anatase:rutile were investigated and milled from 0 (mixing only) to 50 h using high energy mills. The results on mixing and milling show that it is possible to modify the bandgap of the TiO₂ from 2.53 eV to 4.04 eV. The characterization was conducted by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopy.     

Mechanisms of Shear Resistance of Concrete Beams Strengthened in Shear with Externally Bonded FRP

In recent years, numerous investigations have addressed the shear strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) beams with externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. Despite this research effort, the mechanisms of shear resistance that are developed in such a strengthening system have not yet been fully documented and explained. This clearly inhibits the development of rational and reliable code specifications. This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the shear resistance mechanisms involved in RC beams strengthened in shear with externally bonded FRP. It is based on results obtained from an experimental program, involving 17 tests, performed on full size T beams, and using a comprehensive and carefully optimized measuring device. The resistance mechanisms are studied by observing the evolution of the behavior of the strengthened beams as the applied loads are increased. The local behavior of the FRP and the transverse steel, in particular in the failure zones, are thoroughly examined. The operative resistance mechanisms are also studied through the load sharing among the concrete, the FRP, and the transverse steel, at increasing levels of applied load.     

Theoretical Study of the Doping Effects of n-type and p-type Silicon on the Surface Plasmon Resonance Using a 2D Grating

Silicon - A theoretical study on the excitation of surface plasmon (SP) through a 2D doping silicon gratingis present. Both n- and p-type doping silicon were used. The doping effects of n -type and...     

Management of excess energy in a photovoltaic/grid system by production of clean hydrogen

In this article, the authors design a new clean storage device for a photovoltaic system (PV) reinforced by the electrical grid. The photovoltaic system supplies power to a DC load. When the power of the photovoltaic source is insufficient, the electrical grid compensates the energy deficit. On the other hand, if the load is satisfied and the PV source is still able of supplying energy, the energy excess is diverted to an own storage unit materialized by an electrolysis which produces gaseous hydrogen by the process of electrolysis of water. The authors show that the quantity of hydrogen produced is proportional to the photovoltaic energy excess and also to the flow of water injected into the electrolysis. In this case, it is a question of designing an electrolysis with specific characteristics, which takes into account the quantity of energy excess and the flow of water injected into it. The authors abandon the idea of controlling the water flow by means of a pumping-electrovalve system, and initiate the idea of replacing the function of the pump by the action of gravity. The work focuses on the development of an electrolysis optimization approach using the water flow control in its alliance with the PV power excess which is also maximized. For an optimized use of the global system (load and electrolysis), the authors present an architecture based on energy-converting structures (DC/DC and AC/DC). In addition, to increase the reliability and safety of the system, the authors finish by developing a power management strategy (PMS) in the designed system. This power management strategy organizes the energy flow and selects the appropriate path of this flow between the two energy sources (PV and electrical grid) and the two possible energy receivers (load and electrolysis). A complete modeling of the system is developed in the Matlab/Simulink environment. The simulation results show that the hybrid system (PV and electrical grid) is able to permanently supplying the load and potentially storing the excess of the PV energy in the form of hydrogen gas.     

Perovskite Formation and Dielectric Responses in PZN Modified PMF-PZT Ceramics

PMF-PZN-PZT （0.01Pb（Mol/3Fe2/3）O3-xPb（Znl/3Nb2/3）O3-（O.99-x）P（Zro53Tio 47）03 piezoelectric ceramics）, where x = 0.00 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 were prepared by a conventional mixed-oxide method. The results show that the pure peroveskit phase forms in these ceramics. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the phase of the material is a MPB （morphotropic phase boundary） structure. The effects of PZN content on the crystal structure and electrical properties were investigated, optimal dielectric properties were achieved at composition x = 0.07 ceramics by calcination at 800 ℃ and sintering at 1,180 ℃, with a curie temperature of approximately 430 ℃. These results clearly show the significance of PZN in controlling the electrical responses of the PMF-PZN-PZT system.     

Multi-dimensional Capon spectral estimation using discrete Zhang neural networks

The minimum variance spectral estimator, also known as the Capon spectral estimator, is a high resolution spectral estimator used extensively in practice. In this paper, we derive a novel implementation of a very computationally demanding matched filter-bank based a spectral estimator, namely the multi-dimensional Capon spectral estimator. To avoid the direct computation of the inverse covariance matrix used to estimate the Capon spectrum which can be computationally very expensive, particularly when the dimension of the matrix is large, we propose to use the discrete Zhang neural network for the online covariance matrix inversion. The computational complexity of the proposed algorithm for one-dimensional (1-D), as well as for two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) data sequences is lower when a parallel implementation is used.     

Regional averaged controllability for hyperbolic parameter dependent systems

The purpose of this paper is to extend the notion of regional controllability for hyperbolic parameter dependent systems. The key idea is the characterization of the \textit{averaged regional control} with minimal energy. This control steers the state average (with respect to such a parameter) towards the desired state only on a given part of the system evolution domain. In this paper, we give the precis definition and the properties of this new concept. Then, we use an approach based on an extension of the Hilbert uniqueness method devoted to the calculation of the control in two different cases: zone control and pointwise control.