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Although DRDC published an exhaustive technical report (in August 2001) on technology trends in advanced power sources projected out to the year 2020, the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001 (and the consequent, augmented and more broadly-based defence and national security posture adopted by the CF/DND), together with rapid developments in power source technologies over the past five years, internationally, prompted DRDC to update the 2001 report, on a selected number of power source technologies or applications and to provide further guidance to DRDC's Advanced Power Source R&D program. Eight wide-ranging, power source technologies or applications were investigated, using the technique of "expert elicitation" (that is, using independent experts in the various and diverse technological fields), based on a standardized questionnaire, augmented by the contractor's own expertise (and his overall analysis of the experts' responses) in these diverse areas. In addition, each expert was asked about his/her view on the likely role of nanotechnology in each technological area or application. Following collection and analysis of all the data, the contractor made recommendations on the ability of each power source to meet the future requirements of the CF/DND, taking into account the Technology Readiness Level, for each technology or application., The original document contains color images.

A series of transition metal silicides were evaluated as catalysts for the anodic oxidation of hydrogen in acid medium. Overall levels of activity were very low and relative levels of activity were very similar for all the compounds except Cr3Si which showed an activity roughly three times the others. Each of the compounds formed highly irreversible passive films when polarized anodically making them quite stable in acid medium. The usefulness of the compounds as catalyst support materials, however, is hindered by difficulties in obtaining efficient electrodeposition of active metals onto the compounds. The study also revealed that erroneous results can easily be obtained in electrocatalysis studies if care is not taken to exclude all traces of platinum from the test cell as platinum was found to migrate about the cell when platinum counter electrodes were used. (Author), Summary in French.

A study has been made of the effects of temperature and sulphuric acid concentration on the formation of persulphuric acid at a lead dioxide electrode and also the recharge properties of the electrode. The effect of electrolyte pH has also been examined. Based on these results some conclusions have been drawn as to the nature of the low temperature recharge problem of the lead-acid battery.