Materials for supercapacitors: When Li-ion battery power is not enough

Supercapacitors, also known as electrochemical capacitors, have witnessed a fast evolution in the recent years, but challenges remain. This review covers the fundamentals and state-of-the-art developments of supercapacitors. Conventional and novel electrode materials, including high surface area porous carbons for electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) and transition metal oxides, carbides, nitrides and their various nanocomposites for pseudocapacitors – are described. Latest characterization techniques help to better understand the charge storage mechanisms in such supercapacitors and recognize their current limitations, while recently proposed synthesis approaches enable various breakthroughs in this field.     

2004 award winners: Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research.

Presents the citations, biographies, and selected papers of the 2004 recipients of the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research (Robert J. Gatchel), the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Independent or Institutional Practice in the Private Sector (Miki Paul), the APA Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Practice in the Public Sector (Rodney R. Baker), and the APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology (Tonia L. Nicholls). The Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research is given to a psychologist whose research has led to important discoveries or developments in the field of applied psychology. The Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Independent or Institutional Practice in the Private Sector recognizes outstanding service delivery by a licensed psychologist who is primarily engaged in the practice of psychology in a private sector setting. The Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Practice in the Public Sector recognizes outstanding service delivery by a psychologist who is primarily engaged in the practice of psychology in a public sector setting. The APA/APAGS Award for Distinguished Graduate Student in Professional Psychology is awarded on an annual basis by the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) to a graduate student who has demonstrated outstanding practice and application of psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of a bipolar near-infrared laser desorption/ionization aerosol mass spectrometer

A novel method of soft ionization aerosol mass spectrometry (AMS), bipolar near-infrared laser desorption/ionization AMS (BP-NIR-LDI-AMS), has been developed for the on-line, real-time analysis of organic aerosols. Use of a single NIR laser pulse to desorb/ionize aerosols deposited onto an aluminum probe results in minimal analyte fragmentation to produce exclusively intact pseudomolecular ions at [M–H]^? for acidic organic analytes and [M+H]⁺ for basic organic analytes. Incorporation of a bipolar mass spectrometer with the NIR-LDI source enables simultaneous detection of acidic and basic species in organic particles. Limits of detection (total particulate mass sampled) for amino acids common to the organic fraction of atmospheric aerosols ranged from 69.1 pg for ornithine to 197 pg for serine on the positive channel, and from 17.0 pg for glycine to 100 pg for ornithine on the negative channel. From studies of the laser energy dependence of the NIR-LDI mechanism, it was found that [M–H]^? formation for oleic acid proceeds through simultaneous action of two 1064 nm photons, suggesting a surface-assisted process rather than direct photoionization, for which photon energy is insufficient. For acidic aerosol species, sensitivity was found to increase as a function of analyte acidity, while for basic species, [M+H]⁺ ion signals were detected only in the presence of a labile proton source, with the intensity of the ion signals scaling with the acidity of the proton source. The sensitivity of BP-NIR-LDI-AMS to the amino acids was rationalized in terms of their acidic/basic character, as measured by isoelectric point (pI), with the cationic sensitivity scaling proportionally with pI and the anionic sensitivity scaling inversely with pI.

© 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Transient and steady states of Gd2Zr2O7 and 2ZrO2∙Y2O3 (ss) interactions with calcium magnesium aluminium silicates

Reactions between calcium magnesium aluminium silicates (CMAS) and Gd₂Zr₂O₇ or 2ZrO₂?Y₂O₃ (ss) are investigated within a temperature range of 1200–1300 °C and for durations of 1 h–100 h. The evolution of CMAS penetration depth in Gd₂Zr₂O₇ and 2ZrO₂?Y₂O₃ (ss) pellets varies considerably depending on the interaction time. A quantitative analysis of the nature and composition of phases observed in stationary conditions (powder/powder interaction) is performed by SEM-FEG coupled with WDS analyses using micro-agglomerated nanoparticles of Gd₂Zr₂O₇ and 2ZrO₂?Y₂O₃. Faster kinetics of the gadolinium-based system are illustrated through an analysis of the morphology of the reaction area and of the resulting CMAS tightness of reaction products. The compositions and quantities of reaction products observed at equilibrium are very similar for the two systems, but transient states are significantly different.     

The Cut and the Continuum: Sophie Ristelhueber’s Anatomical Atlas

From her early photographs of the ruinous aftermath of the Lebanon War in Beirut (1982) to her more recent images of bomb craters in Eleven Blowups (2006), the French artist Sophie Ristelhueber has been intent to maintain, in her own metaphor, ‘the analytical distance of an anatomy lesson’. Exhibiting the evidence of warfare but withholding their explanation, Ristelhueber’s provocative gesture of making art of war, removing human conflicts from their political contexts to render them as still-lifes, ready-mades, earthworks, or surrealist poems, is patently anti-journalistic. In keeping with the artist’s surgical analogy, this article explores Ristelhueber’s aesthetic mode of address as one that shares its fundamental operation with that of photography – namely, to make a cut. Retracing the morphology of recurring imprints and injuries that appear across the terrestrial and corporeal expanses traversed in her work, the article considers the ways in which these cuts pertain to the transformative power of violence and images alike.     

MELCOR/MACCS simulation of the TMI-2 severe accident and initial recovery phases, off-site fission product release and consequences

MELCOR has become the preferred code of the Swiss nuclear industry and of PSI for severe accident analysis, on account of its integrated systems-level approach and validation against experiments and more detailed codes, while MACCS is commonly used by safety authorities for independent assessment of off-site consequences, in particular health effects. The present work arises out of a programme to assess MELCOR independently using empirical data consistent with the recommendations of the OECD/CSNI validation matrix for core degradation codes. The MELCOR 1.8.5RD calculations are based on a model for phases 1 and 2 provided by the code developers but with a simplified thermal hydraulic noding in certain regions and the inclusion of a simple representation of the fission product release and transport pathways. The model has also been extended to simulate phases 3, 4, and the continuing initial period of core recovery and stabilisation. These calculations are a first attempt to demonstrate a MELCOR–MACCS capability to simulate the whole plant accident sequence beyond phase 4, including the containment response and off-site consequences arising from fission product release from the containment. Emphasis is placed on the overall accident evolution and whole plant response, rather than the detailed behaviour. Results are compared with observed and deduced data for the major accident signatures and rough estimates for exposure based on off-site monitoring. The results provide a good basis for the NPP analysis foreseen.     

2010 award winners: Distinguished international contributions.

The American Psychological Association 2010 Award for Distinguished International Contributions is given to individuals who have made sustained and enduring contributions to international cooperation and the advancement of knowledge in psychology. The 2010 recipient is Paul B. Pedersen. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Award for distinguished contributions to the international advancement of psychology: Puncky Paul Heppner.

This journal article contains a citation, biography, and selected bibliography of Puncky Paul Heppner, the 2008 recipient of the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology. An article written by Heppner is also presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gold medal award for life achievement in the applications of psychology: Paul Everett Meehl.

Presents the citation and biography for Paul Everett Meehl, recipient of the American Psychological Association's Gold Medal Award for Life Achievement in the Applications of Psychology. Meehl received this award for seminal contribution to the understanding and measurement of personality and the prediction of human behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paul E. Meehl as Scientist and Colleague.

The author summarizes some of his memories and thoughts concerning Paul E. Meehl as a scientist and colleague. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)