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Thin Layer (thin + layer)
Kinds of Thin Layer Terms modified by Thin Layer Selected AbstractsPHYCOCYANIN CONTENT OF SPIRULINA PLATENSIS DRIED IN SPOUTED BED AND THIN LAYERJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2008E.G. OLIVEIRA ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to study the drying of Spirulina platensis, evaluating the final product characteristics about its phycocyanin content and its protein solubility in water. Two drying techniques were used: the spouted bed and the thin layer. For drying in a spouted bed, the cone-cylindrical geometry was chosen, namely type conventional spouted bed (CSB) and jet-spouted bed, with a paste concentration of 5%. The thin-layer drying was performed at temperatures of 50 and 60C, with a load of material of 4 kg/m2 in the tray. The spouted bed dryer type CSB demonstrated good functionality, not presenting a collapse during the experiments. The solubility in aqueous mean was similar in all the drying techniques used, being the values found around 37%. The largest phycocyanin values were found in the thin-layer temperature of 50C and in the spouted bed type CSB; however, the thin layer was excluded so as not to reach the commercial moisture content. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Phycocyanin is the major phycobiliprotein in Spirulina. Phycocyanin has significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and radical scavenging properties. It is used as colorant in food and cosmetics. It was also shown to have therapeutic value (immunomodulating activity and anticancer activity). The drying operation is commonly used to prolong the shelf life of microbial biomasses. Preservation of cyanobacteria is a difficult process, since the cells are small and, moreover, the cultures are usually diluted. Drying of liquids and pastes in spouted beds with inert bodies has been presented as an alternative to spray drying in an attempt to obtain high-quality powdered products at a low cost. [source] Generation of Thin Surface Plasma Layers for Atmospheric-Pressure Surface TreatmentsCONTRIBUTIONS TO PLASMA PHYSICS, Issue 5-6 2004ernák Abstract Thin layers of atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma can be generated by pulse surface corona discharges and surface barrier discharges developing on the treated surfaces or brought into a close contact with the treated surfaces. Plasma sources based on these discharge types have the potential of meeting the basic on-line production requirements in the industry and can be useful for a wide range of surface treatments and deposition processes including continuous treatment of textiles. Comparing with atmospheric pressure glow discharge sources, the potential advantages of these plasma sources include their simplicity, robustness, and capability to process in a wide range of working gases. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Toward control of point defects in lithium fluoride thin layersPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3 2007R. M. Montereali Abstract Point defect formation and stabilization properties, as well as their peculiar spectroscopic characteristics, locally modify the optical properties of insulating materials. Thin layers containing high concentrations of colour centres, hosted in a LiF single crystal and/or a polycrystalline matrix, offer the opportunity to develop innovative light-emitting photonic devices. Control of all the critical parameters should be required on spatial dimension comparable with the optical wavelengths. Recent developments in laser technologies, electron and particles beam methods, and novel photon sources, have opened a wide range of opportunities. An overview of the most significant advances in this field is provided, with particular emphasis on colour-centre LiF-based innovative miniaturised light sources, optical amplifiers and lasers. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Optics of Surfaces and Interfaces (OSI-V)PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 8 2003Bernardo S. Mendoza The 5th International Conference on Optics of Surfaces and Interfaces (OSI-V), held in León, Mexico, 26,30 May 2003, brought together researchers and students from universities and institutes who work in different fields of optical spectroscopy. Its goal was the understanding of the potential of the different optical techniques with respect to interface analysis, their present status and their possible limits. Interfaces formed by well understood semiconductors and metals on one side were in the focus of the meeting. Thin layers, rough surfaces, low dimensional structures formed by self-organization through interaction with the substrate, as well as organic and ferromagnetic layers and others structures were of interest as the other interface partner. The scope of the meeting was to bridge the gap between basic and applied science. Apart from recent advances in theoretical modeling and experimental research, special attention was also paid to novel techniques of optical spectroscopy at interfaces. [source] Some properties of very thin Bi2Te3 layers prepared by laser ablationPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (C) - CURRENT TOPICS IN SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 3 2003R. Zeipl Abstract Thin layers of Bi2Te3 60,nm thickness were prepared by laser ablation in vacuum using KrF excimer laser. The energy of laser varied from 300 to 680,mJ and the laser energy density from 2 to 10,J,cm,2. The substrate temperature varied for different depositions in the interval of 20,500,°C. The influence of preparation conditions on Hall mobility, concentration of charge carriers and conductivity at room temperature is presented. Information about morphology and composition of prepared layers is given. [source] Tragverhalten von Verbundbauteilen aus bewehrtem UHFB und StahlbetonBETON- UND STAHLBETONBAU, Issue 8 2009Cornelius Oesterlee Dipl.-Ing. Baustoffe; Bauwerkserhaltung/Sanierung; Bauausführung; Versuche Abstract Ultra-Hochleistungs-Faserbetone (UHFB) eignen sich aufgrund ihrer hohen Festigkeiten, des hohen Verformungsvermögens und der geringen Permeabilität zur Verbesserung und Instandsetzung bestehender Betonbauten. Mit dünnen Schichten von bewehrtem UHFB, die auf bestehende Stahlbetonbauteile aufgetragen werden, können der Tragwiderstand und die Gebrauchstauglichkeit deutlich gesteigert werden. In einer umfangreichen Versuchsreihe wurden die Eigenschaften von mit zusätzlich zu den Fasern auch mit Stabstahl bewehrtem UHFB untersucht. Die Bewehrung des UHFB mit Stabstählen ist vorteilhaft, um den Verfestigungsbereich des UHFB zu erweitern, seinen Tragwiderstand zu erhöhen und die Streuung seiner mechanischen Eigenschaften zu reduzieren. Zur Bewehrung können hoch- oder niederfeste Stähle mit unterschiedlichen Oberflächenstrukturen zum Einsatz kommen. Abschließend werden zwei Anwendungen vorgestellt. Structural Behaviour of Composite Elements Combining Reinforced Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) and Reinforced Concrete Due to their high strengths, high deformability and low permeability Ultra-High Performance Fibre-Reinforced Concretes (UHPFRC) are suitable for the improvement and rehabilitation of existing concrete structures. Thin layers of reinforced UHPFRC that are applied to existing concrete members, increase both the load bearing capacity and the serviceability. By comprehensive experimental studies the behaviour of UHPFRC with additional bar reinforcement was investigated. The reinforcement of UHPFRC is advantageous in order to increase the strain hardening capacity of UHPFRC, its load bearing capacity and to reduce the scatter of its mechanical properties. Low or high strength steel grades with various surface characteristics can be used as reinforcement of UHPFRC. Finally two on site applications are presented. [source] Liquid-based cytology for cervical screeningCYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2000N. Payne England and Wales' new National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has completed the first of its appraisals and issued guidance on a diagnostic technique rather than a therapeutic intervention.1 It was directed to examine the use of liquid-based cytology (LBC) for cervical screening and took evidence from a wide variety of sources. LBC is a new method of preparing cervical samples for cytological examination. Unlike the conventional ,smear' preparation it involves making a suspension of cells from the sample and this is used to produce a thin layer of cells on a slide. [source] Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and mature spermatozoon of Anonchotaenia globata (von Linstow, 1879) (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae)ACTA ZOOLOGICA, Issue 2 2010Aneta Yoneva Abstract Yoneva, A., Georgieva, K., Mizinska, Y., Nikolov, P. N., Georgiev, B. B. and Stoitsova, S. R. 2010. Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and mature spermatozoon of Anonchotaenia globata (von Linstow, 1879) (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae). , Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 184,192 The ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and of the spermatozoon of a species of the family Paruterinidae is described for the first time. The spermiogenesis of Anonchotaenia globata starts with the formation of a differentiation zone with two centrioles associated with thin striated roots. One of the centrioles gives rise to a free flagellum followed by a slight flagellar rotation and a proximodistal fusion of the flagellum with the cytoplasmic protrusion. This pattern corresponds to Type III spermiogenesis in cestodes. The spermatozoon consists of five distinct regions. The anterior extremity possesses an apical cone and a single helically coiled crested body. The cortical microtubules are spirally arranged. The axoneme is surrounded by a periaxonemal sheath and a thin layer of cytoplasm filled with electron-dense granules in Regions I,V. The periaxonemal sheath is connected with the peripheral microtubules by transverse intracytoplasmic walls in Regions III and IV. The nucleus is spirally coiled around the axoneme. Anonchotaenia globata differs from Dilepididae (where paruterinids have previously been classified) in the type of spermiogenesis, the lack of glycogen inclusions and the presence of intracytoplasmic walls. The pattern of spermiogenesis is similar to that in Metadilepididae and Taeniidae, which are considered phylogenetically close to Paruterinidae. [source] A new technique for non-destructive field measurement of rock-surface strength: an application of the Equotip hardness tester to weathering studiesEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 12 2007Hisashi Aoki Abstract Tafone-like depressions have developed on the Aoshima sandstone blocks used for a masonry bridge pier in the coastal spray zone. A thin layer of partial granular disintegration was found on the surface in depressions. To evaluate quantitatively the strength of the thin weathered layer, the hardness was measured at the surface of the sandstone blocks using both an Equotip hardness tester and an L-type Schmidt hammer. Comparison of the two testing results indicates that the Equotip hardness value is more sensitive in evaluating the strength of a thin layer of weathered surface rock than the Schmidt hardness value. By applying two methods, i.e. both the repeated impact method and the single impact method, the Equotip tester can evaluate the strengths of fresh internal and weathered surficial portions of rocks having a thin weathering layer. Comparison of the two strengths enables evaluation of strength reduction due to weathering. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Bismuth/Polyaniline/Glassy Carbon Electrodes Prepared with Different Protocols for Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Trace Cd and Pb in Solutions Having SurfactantsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 2 2010M. Wang Abstract To improve reproducibility, stability and sensitivity, a bismuth (Bi) thin film was coated on glassy carbon (GC) substrates which surfaces were modified with a porous thin layer of polyaniline (PANI) via multipulse potentiostatic electropolymerization to form Bi/PANI/GC electrodes (Bi/PANI/GCEs). The Bi/PANI/GCEs were used successfully for simultaneous detection and determination of Cd2+ and Pb2+ ions, and various parameters were studied with reference to square wave anodic stripping voltammetric (SWASV) signals. The experimental results depicted that the environment-friendly Bi/PANI/GCEs had the ability to rapidly monitor trace heavy metals even in the presence of surface-active compounds. [source] Silver Amalgam Film Electrode of Prolonged Application in Stripping ChronopotentiometryELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 18 2007Kapturski Abstract The utility of the cylindrical silver-based mercury film electrode of prolonged analytical application in stripping chronopotentiometry (SCP) was examined. This electrode allowed us to obtain good reproducibility of results owing to the special electrode design, which enables regeneration of the thin layer before each measurement cycle. The accessible potential window in KNO3 (pH,2), acetate and ammonia buffers was defined, and the optimal conditions (i.e., stripping current, deposition potential and deposition time) for the determination of Cd and Pb traces were selected. The detection limits, obtained for an accumulation time of 60,s, were 0.023,,g/L for Cd and 0.075,,g/L for Pb. The response increases linearly with Cd, Pb and Zn concentration, up to at least 100,,g/L. It was also shown that the proposed procedure ensures excellent separation of the In and Tl, Pb and Tl or the In and Cd signals. The method was tested with dolomite and lake sediment samples, and good agreement with reference values was achieved. The obtained results showed good reproducibility (RSD=5,6%) and reliability. [source] Evaluation of Thin Film Titanium Nitride Electrodes for Electroanalytical ApplicationsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 10 2007Carolina Nunes, Kirchner Abstract Titanium nitride is a hard and inert conducting material that has yet not been widely used as electrode material for electroanalytical applications although there are highly developed protocols available to produce well adherent micro and nanostructured electrodes. In this paper the possibilities of using titanium nitride thin films for electroanalytical applications is investigated. Scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) was used for analysis of the redox kinetics of a selected fast redox couple at thin films of titanium nitride (TiN) in different thicknesses. The investigation was carried out by approaching an amperometric ultramicroelectrode (UME) to the TiN film while the soluble redox couple (ferrocenemethanol/ferrociniummethanol) served as mediator in a SECM configuration. The substrate was biased at a potential so that it rereduces the species being produced at the UME, thus controlling the feedback effect. Normalized current,distance curves were fitted to the theoretical model in order to find the apparent heterogeneous standard rate constant (k°) at the sample. The data are further supported by structural investigation of the TiN films using scanning force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the kinetics are little influenced by prolonged storage in air. The heterogeneous standard rate constants in 2,mM ferrocenemethanol were (0.73±0.05)×10,3,cm s,1 for 20,nm TiN thin layer, (1.5±0.2)×10,3,cm s,1 for 100,nm TiN thin layer and (1.3±0.2)×10,3,cm s,1 for 300,nm TiN thin layer after prolonged storage in air. Oxidative surface treatment (in order to remove organic adsorbates) decreased the kinetics in agreement with a thicker oxide layer on the material. The results suggest that their direct use for amperometric detection of reversible redox systems in particular at miniaturized configurations may be advantageous. [source] A New Optically Reflective Thin Layer Electrode (ORTLE) Window: Gold on a Thin Porous Alumina Film Used to Observe the Onset of Water ReductionELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 1-2 2004Abstract The fabrication and unique characteristics of a new type of thin layer electrode, an optically reflective thin layer electrode (ORTLE), are described. The electrode was fabricated by the anodization of a thin layer of aluminum sputtered onto a plain glass microscope slide to create a 750,nm-thick porous alumina film. A thin film of gold was then sputtered atop the porous and transparent alumina film. The gold layer remained porous to allow solution into the pores but was optically thick and reflective. Reflectance measurements made through the microscope slide did not interrogate the bulk solution, but show spectral features that shift with the optical properties of the material filling the pores of the alumina film. A simple series of experiments, in which the potential of the ORTLE was stepped negatively to various values in an aqueous sodium sulfate solution, shows that interference fringes shift measurably in the ORTLE spectrum at potentials several hundred millivolts positive of the potential at which gas evolution was visible to the naked eye. [source] Direct chiral analysis of primary amine drugs in human urine by single drop microextraction in-line coupled to CEELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 16 2009Kihwan Choi Abstract Three-phase single drop microextraction (SDME) was in-line coupled to chiral CE of weakly basic amine compounds including amphetamine. SDME was used for the matrix isolation and sample preconcentration in order to directly analyze urine samples with the minimal pretreatment of adding NaOH. A small drop of an acidic aqueous acceptor phase covered with a thin layer of octanol was formed at the tip of a capillary by simple manipulation of the liquid handling functions of a commercial CE instrument. While the saline matrix of the urine sample was blocked by the octanol layer, the basic analytes in a basic aqueous donor phase were concentrated into the acidic acceptor drop through the octanol layer by the driving force of the pH difference between the two aqueous phases. The enantiomers of the enriched amines were resolved by using (+)-(18-crown-6)-tetracarboxylic acid as a chiral selector for the subsequent CE separation. From 10,min SDME with the agitation of the donor phase by a small stirrer retrofit to the CE instrument, enrichment factors were about a 1000-fold, yielding the LOD of 0.5,ng/mL for amphetamine. This low LOD value as well as the convenience of in-line coupled SDME make the proposed scheme well suited for the demanding chiral analysis of amphetamine-type stimulants. [source] Open-tubular capillary columns with a porous layer of monolithic polymer for highly efficient and fast separations in electrochromatographyELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 21 2006Sebastiaan Eeltink Abstract Open-tubular columns for CEC separations having inner-wall coated with a thin layer of porous monolithic polymer have been studied. A two-step process including (i),UV-initiated polymerization leading to a layer of porous poly(butyl methacrylate- co -ethylene dimethacrylate), and (ii),UV-initiated grafting of ionizable monomers appear to be well suited for the preparation of these columns. The thickness of the porous polymer layer is controlled by the percentage of monomers in the polymerization mixture and/or length of the irradiation time. The layer thickness significantly affects retention, efficiency, and resolution in open-tubular CEC. Under optimized conditions, column efficiencies up to 400,000 plates/m can be achieved. Use of higher temperature and application of pressure enables a significant acceleration of the open-tubular CEC separations. [source] A methane-driven microbial food web in a wetland rice soilENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 12 2007Jun Murase Summary Methane oxidation is a key process controlling methane emission from anoxic habitats into the atmosphere. Methanotrophs, responsible for aerobic methane oxidation, do not only oxidize but also assimilate methane. Once assimilated, methane carbon may be utilized by other organisms. Here we report on a microbial food web in a rice field soil driven by methane. A thin layer of water-saturated rice field soil was incubated under opposing gradients of oxygen and 13C-labelled methane. Bacterial and eukaryotic communities incorporating methane carbon were analysed by RNA-stable isotope probing (SIP). Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and cloning showed that methanotrophs were the most prominent group of bacteria incorporating methane carbon. In addition, a few Myxobacteria -related sequences were obtained from the ,heavy' rRNA fraction. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) targeting 18S rRNA detected various groups of protists in the ,heavy' rRNA fraction including naked amoeba (Lobosea and Heterolobosea), ciliates (Colpodea) and flagellates (Cercozoa). Incubation of soil under different methane concentrations in air resulted in the development of distinct protozoan communities. These results suggest that methane carbon is incorporated into non-methanotrophic pro- and microeukaryotes probably via grazing, and that methane oxidation is a shaping force of the microeukaryotic community depending on methane availability. [source] Facile Functionalization and Phase Reduction Route of Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Conjugation of Matrix Metalloproteinase,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 6 2010Dan Li Abstract A protocol for the simultaneous functionalization and phase reduction route of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and its further bioconjugation is presented. It was found that surface functionalization of maghemite (,-Fe2O3) nanoparticles with mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) under anoxic environment at above 80,°C promotes in situ conversion to magnetite (Fe3O4). Full conversion to Fe3O4, as probed by Mössbauer spectroscopy, with accompanied increase in the composite saturation magnetization, was achieved at 120,°C. By controlling the MPTMS concentration, the resultant silane-MNPs morphology can be tuned from having homogeneous thin layer (<1,nm) to thick continuous silane with embedded MNP multicores. Likewise the amount of surface distal thiol moieties was dependent on the silanization conditions. The density of distal thiols (i.e., amount of thiol per surface area) and resultant aggregate size have direct impact on the attachment, as well as the activity and reusability of the conjugated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2, using sulfo-SMCC as crosslinker). The work has important implication to the field of magneto-chemotherapeutics, where spatial control of conjugated active biomolecules under magnetic field and T2 -weighted MRI contrast can be achieved simultaneously. [source] Electrode design for skin electroporation with minimal nerve stimulationEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2004U. Pliquett Electroporation is an efficient tool for transdermal delivery of water-soluble molecules sizing up to several kDa. The main barrier to these agents is the stratum corneum, a 15 mm thin layer of dead keratinized cells. Once this layer is charged (approximately 50 V) by an outer electric field, structural rearrangements of the lipids create aqueous pathways (electroporation). Due to the high electric field within the stratum corneum, (E = 50 V/15 µm = 33 kV/cm) electrophoresis can drive charged molecules into the deeper skin layers. A major concern is the high electric field required, because nerve stimulation is inconvenient for the patient. Taking advantage of the fact that up to a depth of 50 µm no nervous receptors appear, a confinement of the field within the upper 15 µm would circumvent sensation. Field confinement within the stratum corneum is arranged by a special electrode geometry, an array of 300 µm holes within a 0.5 mm thick dielectric. The bottom, facing the stratum corneum, is metalized with a gap to the holes. The size of this gap (3,10 µm) is critical for the penetration depth of the electric field between the metalized bottom and a distant electrode at the other side of the holes. A drug reservoir is implemented below the distant electrode and the dielectric. [source] Multifunctional Triphenylamine/Oxadiazole Hybrid as Host and Exciton-Blocking Material: High Efficiency Green Phosphorescent OLEDs Using Easily Available and Common MaterialsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 17 2010Youtian Tao Abstract A new triphenylamine/oxadiazole hybrid, namely m -TPA- o -OXD, formed by connecting the meta -position of a phenyl ring in triphenylamine with the ortho -position of 2,5-biphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, is designed and synthesized. The new bipolar compound is applicable in the phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs) as both host and exciton-blocking material. By using the new material and the optimization of the device structures, very high efficiency green and yellow electrophosphorescence are achieved. For example, by introducing 1,3,5-tris(N -phenylbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzene (TPBI) to replace 2, 9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1, 10-phenanthroline (BCP)/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium (Alq3) as hole blocking/electron transporting layer, followed by tuning the thicknesses of hole-transport 1, 4-bis[(1-naphthylphenyl)amino]biphenyl (NPB) layer to manipulate the charge balance, a maximum external quantum efficiency (,EQE,max) of 23.0% and a maximum power efficiency (,p,max) of 94.3 lm W,1 are attained for (ppy)2Ir(acac) based green electrophosphorescence. Subsequently, by inserting a thin layer of m -TPA- o -OXD as self triplet exciton block layer between hole-transport and emissive layer to confine triplet excitons, a ,EQE,max of 23.7% and ,p,max of 105 lm W,1 are achieved. This is the highest efficiency ever reported for (ppy)2Ir(acac) based green PHOLEDs. Furthermore, the new host m -TPA- o -OXD is also applicable for other phosphorescent emitters, such as green-emissive Ir(ppy)3 and yellow-emissive (fbi)2Ir(acac). A yellow electrophosphorescent device with ,EQE,max of 20.6%, ,c,max of 62.1 cd A,1, and ,p,max of 61.7 lm W,1, is fabricated. To the author's knowledge, this is also the highest efficiency ever reported for yellow PHOLEDs. [source] Controlling Photoactivity in Ultrathin Hematite Films for Solar Water-SplittingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 7 2010Florian Le Formal Abstract A promising route to increase the performance of hematite (,-Fe2O3) photoelectrodes for solar hydrogen production through water-splitting is to use an extremely thin layer of this visible light absorber on a nanostructured scaffold. However, the typically poor performance of ultrathin (ca. 20,nm) films of hematite has been the limiting factor in implementing this approach. Here, the surprising effect of a substrate pretreatment using tetraethoxysilicate (TEOS) is reported; it results in drastic improvements in the photoperformance of 12.5,nm thick films of hematite. These films exhibit a water oxidation photocurrent onset potential at 1.1,V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE) and a plateau current of 0.63,mA cm,2 at 1.5,V vs. RHE under standard illumination conditions, representing the highest reported performance for ultrathin hematite films. In contrast, almost no photoactivity is observed for the photoanode with the same amount of hematite on an untreated substrate. A detailed study of the effects of the TEOS treatment shows that a monolayer of SiOx is formed, which acts to change the hematite nucleation and growth mechanism, increases its crystallinity, reduces the concentration of carrier trapping states of the ultrathin films, and suggests its further application to quantum-dot and extremely-thin-absorber (ETA)-type solar cells. [source] Vertically Aligned Nanocomposite Thin Films as a Cathode/Electrolyte Interface Layer for Thin-Film Solid Oxide Fuel CellsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 24 2009Jongsik Yoon Abstract A thin layer of a vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) structure is deposited between the electrolyte, Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (CGO), and the thin-film cathode layer, La0.5Sr0.5CoO3 (LSCO), of a thin-film solid-oxide fuel cell (TFSOFC). The self-assembled VAN nanostructure contains highly ordered alternating vertical columns of CGO and LSCO formed through a one-step thin-film deposition process that uses pulsed laser deposition. The VAN structure significantly improves the overall performance of the TFSOFC by increasing the interfacial area between the electrolyte and cathode. Low cathode polarization resistances of 9,×,10,4 and 2.39,, were measured for the cells with the VAN interlayer at 600 and 400,°C, respectively. Furthermore, anode-supported single cells with LSCO/CGO VAN interlayer demonstrate maximum power densities of 329, 546, 718, and 812,mW cm,2 at 550, 600, 650, and 700,°C, respectively, with an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.13,V at 550,°C. The cells with the interlayer triple the overall power output at 650,°C compared to that achieved with the cells without an interlayer. The binary VAN interlayer could also act as a transition layer that improves adhesion and relieves both thermal stress and lattice strain between the cathode and the electrolyte. [source] Protein-Enabled Synthesis of Monodisperse Titania Nanoparticles On and Within Polyelectrolyte MatricesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 14 2009Eugenia Kharlampieva Abstract Here, the results of a study of the mechanism of bio-enabled surface-mediated titania nanoparticle synthesis with assistance of polyelectrolyte surfaces are reported. By applying atomic force microscopy, surface force spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, structural changes of rSilC-silaffin upon its adsorption to polyelectrolyte surfaces prior to and during titania nanoparticle growth are revealed. It is demonstrated that the adhesion of rSilC-silaffin onto polyelectrolyte surfaces results in its reorganization from a random-coil conformation in solution into a mixed secondary structure with both random coil and , -sheet structures presented. Moreover, the protein forms a continuous molecularly thin layer with well-defined monodisperse nanodomains of lateral dimensions below 20,nm. It is also shown that rSilC embedded inside the polylelectrolyte matrix preserves its titania formation activity. It is suggested that the surface-mediated, bio-enabled synthesis of nanostructured materials might be useful to develop general procedures for controlled growth of inorganic nanomaterials on reactive organic surfaces, which opens new perspectives in the design of tailored, in situ grown, hybrid inorganic,organic nanomaterials. [source] Silicon Inverse-Opal-Based Macroporous Materials as Negative Electrodes for Lithium Ion BatteriesADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 12 2009Alexei Esmanski Abstract Several types of silicon-based inverse-opal films are synthesized, characterized by a range of experimental techniques, and studied in terms of electrochemical performance. Amorphous silicon inverse opals are fabricated via chemical vapor deposition. Galvanostatic cycling demonstrates that these materials possess high capacities and reasonable capacity retentions. Amorphous silicon inverse opals perform unsatisfactorily at high rates due to the low conductivity of silicon. The conductivity of silicon inverse opals can be improved by their crystallization. Nanocrystalline silicon inverse opals demonstrate much better rate capabilities but the capacities fade to zero after several cycles. Silicon,carbon composite inverse-opal materials are synthesized by depositing a thin layer of carbon via pyrolysis of a sucrose-based precursor onto the silicon inverse opals. The amount of carbon deposited proves to be insufficient to stabilize the structures and silicon,carbon composites demonstrate unsatisfactory electrochemical behavior. Carbon inverse opals are coated with amorphous silicon producing another type of macroporous composite. These electrodes demonstrate significant improvement both in capacity retentions and in rate capabilities. The inner carbon matrix not only increases the material conductivity but also results in lower silicon pulverization during cycling. [source] Nitrate behaviour in the groundwater of a headwater wetland, Chiba, JapanHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 16 2004Changyuan Tang Abstract A wetland is an important part of the headwater in the discharge area of a basin. It controls not only groundwater discharge such as seepage or springs, but also the migration of chemical matter from the basin. In order to make clear how and where natural attenuation processes happen in wetlands, a typical headwater in Chiba, Japan, was chosen for an investigation of the behaviour of nitrate in groundwater. From the viewpoint of hydro-geomorphology, the wetland in the study site can be divided into three zones: the shallow water-table zone, the seepage zone, and the spring zone along the downstream direction. There were six piezometer groups; each group contained four piezometers, individually set at depths of 1, 2, 3 and 4 m. Major ions and ,15N of groundwater from piezometers, wells and springs were analysed. It was found that nitrate in groundwater mainly came from the fertilizers used in the upstream recharge area of the study site. When the groundwater moved up across the wetland, nitrate concentration in the groundwater decreased rapidly in the shallow water-table zone due to denitrification. Nitrate-free water can be found at the seepage zone. However, the behaviour of nitrate in the spring water was different from that in the seepage zone, since both dilution and denitrification processes were involved in the decrease of nitrate concentration in groundwater. In particular, the dilution process mainly controlled the decline of nitrate at the location where the nitrate-free groundwater flowing horizontally from the seepage zone mixed with the high-nitrate groundwater flowing upward before emerging as a spring. It was also found that denitrification only occurs suddenly in a narrow zone or a thin layer of the order of a few metres. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Solutions of pore pressure build up due to progressive wavesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 9 2001L. Cheng Abstract The analytical solution of soil pore pressure accumulations due to a progressive wave is examined in detail. First of all, the errors contained in a published analytical solution for wave-induced pore pressure accumulation are addressed, and the correct solution is presented in a more general form. The behaviour of the solution under different soil conditions is then investigated. It is found that the solution for deep soil conditions is sensitive to the soil shear stress in the top thin layer of the soil. However the solution is significantly influenced by the shear stress in the thin layer of soil near the impermeable base, for shallow and finite depth soil conditions. It is also found that a small error in the soil shear stress can lead to a large error in the accumulated pore pressure. An error analysis reveals the relationships between the accuracy of the pore pressure accumulation and the accuracy of the soil shear stress. A numerical solution to the simplified Biot consolidation equation is also developed. It is shown that the error analysis is of significant value for the numerical modelling of pore pressure buildup in marine soils. Both analytical and numerical examples are given to validate the error estimation method proposed in the present paper. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Three-dimensional finite element analysis of lined tunnelsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 3 2001C. E. Augarde Abstract This paper describes finite element procedures that have been developed to model the ground movements that occur when a shallow tunnel is installed in a clay soil. This study is part of a wider project concerned with the development of new methods to predict the likely extent of damage to surface structures caused by nearby shallow tunnelling. This particular paper, however, is concerned only with the numerical model of tunnel installation. The structural liner is an important component of this tunnel installation model; two different ways of modelling the liner (based on continuum elements and shell elements) are discussed in the paper. A test problem consisting of the installation of a lined tunnel in an elastic continuum is used to investigate the merits of these different approaches. When continuum elements are used to model the liner, the numerical results agree well with an analytical solution to the problem. When shell elements are used to model the liner, however, the results were found to be significantly influenced by the particular formulation adopted for the shell elements. Example analyses, involving incremental tunnel construction in a clay soil where the soil is modelled using a kinematic hardening plasticity model, are described. These analyses confirm that a thin layer of continuum elements may be used, satisfactorily, to model tunnel linings in a soil,structure interaction analysis of this sort. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Carbon Nanofibers Uniformly Grown on ,-Alumina Washcoated Cordierite Monoliths,ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 12 2006E. García-Bordejé A uniform layer of carbon nanofibers is grown on a cordierite monolith by first coating the monolith with a thin layer of ,-alumina. The nanofibers form a thick, uniform layer on the monolith walls as shown in the figure, leading to the formation of a mesoporous and mechanically robust composite. The absence of microporosity in the composite and the ability to tune the thickness of the nanofiber layer suggests that these nanofibers/monolith composites may be useful as catalyst supports for liquid-phase catalytic reactions. [source] Exergetic performance assessment of a pilot-scale heat pump belt conveyor dryerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Zafer Erbay Abstract In this study, olive leaves were dried in a pilot-scale heat pump (HP) belt conveyor dryer as a thin layer. Drying experiments were carried out at the drying air temperature range of 45,55°C with the drying air velocity range of 0.5,1.5,m,s,1. The performance of the system and the process was evaluated using exergy analysis method. The exergy loss and flow diagram (the so-called Grassmann diagram) of the dryer system was presented to give quantitative information regarding the proportion of the exergy input that is dissipated in the various system components. Effects of the drying air temperature and the velocity on the performance of the drying process were discussed. The actual coefficient of performance values were obtained to be 2.37 for the HP unit and 2.31 for the overall system, respectively. The most important component of the system for improving the efficiency was determined to be the compressor. Exergetic efficiencies of the drying of olive leaves were in the range of 67.45,81.95%. It was obtained that they increased as the drying air temperature decreased and the drying air velocity increased. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] X-ray diffraction from inhomogeneous thin films of nanometre thickness: modelling and experimentJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2003F. Bocquet The diffraction of X-rays by a thin layer (of the order of a few nanometres) with a gradient in interplanar spacings is considered. It is shown that optical coherence over the film thickness leads to diffraction peak positions that no longer obey Bragg's law. Although a fitting of the diffracted intensity is indeed still possible, this has direct consequences on the applicability of more straightforward analysis methods, such as the sin2, method, which rely on diffraction peak positions. The intensity and peak position calculations are supported by a comparison with experimental data from a (001) Fe/GaAs thin (3,nm) epitaxic film. [source] A tool for X-ray diffraction analysis of thin layers on substrates: substrate peak removal methodJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2000J.-D. Kamminga A method is proposed that removes the substrate peaks from a diffraction pattern recorded from a substrate covered with a thin layer, using a separate measurement of the uncovered substrate. The obtained diffractogram without substrate peaks can then be used for the characterization of the microstructure of the thin layer. As an example, the method is shown to yield good results for a TiN layer deposited on a tool-steel substrate. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||