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Background:. Emerging evidence indicates that the sineoculis homeobox homolog 1−eyes absent homolog 1 (SIX1–EYA1) transcriptional complex significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple cancers by mediating the expression of genes involved in different biological processes, such as cell-cycle progression and metastasis. However, the roles of the SIX1–EYA1 transcriptional complex and its targets in colorectal cancer (CRC) are still being investigated. This study aimed to investigate the roles of SIX1–EYA1 in the pathogenesis of CRC, to screen inhibitors disrupting the SIX1–EYA1 interaction and to evaluate the efficiency of small molecules in the inhibition of CRC cell growth. Methods:. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to examine gene and protein levels in CRC cells and clinical tissues (collected from CRC patients who underwent surgery in the Department of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, between 2016 and 2018, n = 24). In vivo immunoprecipitation and in vitro pulldown assays were carried out to determine SIX1–EYA1 interaction. Cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell invasion were determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, clonogenic assay, and Boyden chamber assay, respectively. The Amplified Luminescent Proximity Homogeneous Assay Screen (AlphaScreen) method was used to obtain small molecules that specifically disrupted SIX1–EYA1 interaction. CRC cells harboring different levels of SIX1/EYA1 were injected into nude mice to establish tumor xenografts, and small molecules were also injected into mice to evaluate their efficiency to inhibit tumor growth. Results:. Both SIX1 and EYA1 were overexpressed in CRC cancerous tissues (for SIX1, 7.47 ± 3.54 vs.1.88 ± 0.35, t = 4.92, P = 0.008; for EYA1, 7.61 ± 2.03 vs. 2.22 ± 0.45, t = 6.73, P = 0.005). The SIX1/EYA1 complex could mediate the expression of two important genes including cyclin A1 (CCNA1) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) by binding to the myocyte enhancer factor 3 consensus. Knockdown of both SIX1 and EYA1 could decrease cell proliferation, cell invasion, tumor growth, and in vivo tumor growth (all P

The A-site sublattice order of the Na0.5Bi0.46K0.04TiO2.96 (NBT-K4) compound was changed by the isovalent Na+ ions partly substituting K+ ions. The Na0.5+xBi0.46K0.04−xTiO2.96 (x = 0, 0.01 and 0.02) samples were prepared. By the AC impedance test, the grain conductivity of the Na0.52Bi0.46K0.02TiO2.96 (x = 0.02) samples is 8.23 × 10−4 S/cm at 623 K, which is around 1.65 times higher than that of NBT-K4 sample at the same tested temperature. By anatomizing relaxation spectroscopy, when the Na-doped content x in the NBT-K4 compound increases from 0 to 2 mol%, the activation energy E decreases from 0.64 to 0.57 eV. Accompany with the rise of the Na-doped content in the NBT-K4 compound, although the mobile oxygen vacancy content decreases, the oxygen vacancy diffusivity are strengthened. The higher oxygen vacancy jumping rates and lower oxygen relaxation activation energies were found in the Na-doped NBT-K4 samples, which causes the higher grain conductivity in the Na0.5+xBi0.46K0.04−xTiO2.96 (x = 0.01 and 0.02) samples. There is the higher oxygen-ion conductivity and lower activation energy in the relative A-site order of Na-doped NBT-K4 compound, which is consistent with the first principle simulation results. The investigation provides a new way to design a high oxygen-ion conductivity NBT-based oxide ion conductors and related materials.

Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) has become an indispensable tool in analysis of macromolecule and small molecule in solid and liquid samples. However, there were few studies focusing on the ionization mechanisms especially for the small molecules. In this work, the compounds of pyrene, coronene and rubrene with similar molecular structures were used to investigate the ionization mechanism via SALDI-MS. Additionally, the effect of laser power on product ions was also investigated. It was found that strong cluster ions peaks nM+ (M = pyrene, coronene) were observed for pyrene and coronene, and daughter ions of coronene by loss of C2H2 were also observed. On the contrary, no cluster ion was obtained for rubrene, only daughter ions with the losses of nC6H5 (n = 1, 2, 3) were acquired. Finally, the ionization mechanism was discussed. The formation of clusters of pyrene and coronene was attributed to the interaction of π-π bonds. For rubrene, the spatial barrier weakened the interaction of π-π bonds because the four phenyl groups were not on the same plane of skeleton structure, thus impeding the formation of cluster ions.

Hydrogen is an emerging energy source/carrier for oil refining and fuel cell applications. The development of an efficient and stable catalyst to produce hydrogen-rich gas is required for industrial application. The Ni@yolk-ZrO2 catalyst could be a potential solution to tackle the challenges in hydrogen production. The catalyst was characterized using a combination of XRD, TEM, AAS, TPR, BET, and XPS. In this study, the amount of micropores in ZrO2 hollow shells was demonstrated to influence the catalytic performance. Ni@yolk-ZrO2 catalysts were evaluated for 48 hours under steam reforming of methane and their porosity effect in ZrO2 hollow shells was identified. From the characterization of BET and catalytic evaluation, the physical information of the ZrO2 hollow shell was established, which affected the catalytic performance in steam reforming of methane. Furthermore, the results from XPS and TEM showed that Ni particles were controlled under a ZrO2 yolk–shell structure framework and showed the characteristic of moderately strong hydrothermal stability after the steam reforming test. The catalysts were studied at a GHSV of 50 400 mL gcat−1 h−1 and S/C = 2.5 at 750 °C and they remained stable with methane conversion more than 90% for 48 hours.

In this paper, four types of doped ceria powders and sinters, including Gd 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 1.95 , Gd 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 , Sm 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 1.95 and Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 , are prepared and characterized. The results indicate that the Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 samples possess the lowest densification temperature and a relatively optimal conductivity, which make it more suitable for use as an interlayer compared to other doped ceria. In addition, a series of interlayers were prepared from Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 powders with different precalcination temperatures using an industrial screen printing method. The area-specific resistances of these interlayers were determined from their microstructures, including the grain and pore size, electrolyte/interlayer interface, layer uniformity and density, which are significantly dependent on the precalcination temperatures of the powders. A minimum area-specific resistance of 0.036 Ω cm 2 at 750 °C was obtained for the sample with Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 powders precalcined at 950 °C (the corresponding BET value was approximately 20 m 2 g −1 ). In addition, lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite (LSCF) cells were prepared with the as-prepared Sm 0.2 Ce 0.8 O 1.9 interlayer. Their power density was measured and determined to be 0.72 W cm −2 at 750 °C (0.75 V, active area of 64 cm 2 ).

In this work, the (ZrO 2 ) 0.95 (Yb 2 O 3 ) 0.05 (5YbSZ) electrolyte supported SOFCs with the large area of 10 cm × 10 cm and thin substrate of about 70 μm are prepared, and the microstructures, electrochemical and anti-redox properties of the single cells are investigated systematically. The powders of 5YbSZ with the tetragonal and cubic mixed phase are synthesized by the so-called “solid–liquid composite method” at a somewhat low temperature of 1100 °C. The 5YbSZ electrolyte substrates which are prepared by the tape-casting, multilayer-lamination and sintering method showed the optimal comprehensive performances with the sintering temperature being 1500 °C. By using these electrolyte substrates, the NiO+GDC/5YbSZ/LSM+5YbSZ single cells are obtained at the co-sinter temperature of 1100 °C. The power densities of these cells can reach 0.56 W cm −2 at the output voltage of 0.7 V, and the degradation rate can attain 1.45% kh −1 under a constant current density of 0.2 A cm −2 at the temperature of 830 °C. After 11 redox cycles, no crack through the 5YbSZ electrolyte can be found in the single cells, and the electrochemical properties of the 5YbSZ electrolyte supported single cells show an acceptable degradation.

A series of LaCo0.95-xFexPd0.05O3 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) perovskite-type catalysts have been prepared by a modified sol-gel method. Their structures and physicochemical properties have been studied by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm technique, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). Structural characterization showed that Fe had been successfully doped into the perovskite lattice and that Fe doping improves the stability of LaCo0.95Pd0.05O3. A study of the catalysts showed that aged samples maintain the perovskite structure. They all exhibited similar catalytic performance, which has been ascribed to the similar state of palladium at the surface of the catalysts. Of these as-prepared catalysts, the Fe-doped perovskites achieved better catalytic activities than LaCo0.95Pd0.05O3, and LaCo0.65Fe0.3Pd0.05O3 showed the optimal catalytic performance for vehicle emission purification.

Three hydrogen electrode-supported, large-scale solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) with different composite air electrodes, namely LSM–YSZ, LSC–GDC, and LSCF–GDC (LSM, LSC, and LSCF cells, respectively), were compared for performance and degradation in the same three cell stack with an H 2 O/H 2 ratio of 90/10. The initial SOEC performance increased in the following order: LSM, LSCF, and LSC. The three cells were operated at a constant current density of 0.50 A cm −2 for 640 h during hydrogen production at 750 °C. After the operation, the 10 cm × 10 cm large-scale single cell was divided equally into four subparts from the two diagonal parts with the steam or air inlet area and steam or air outlet area for post-mortem analysis. Delamination mainly occurred in the steam and air inlet areas of the LSM and LSC cells, with more severe delamination in the steam inlet area than that in the air inlet area. Agglomeration of Ni in the Ni–YSZ hydrogen electrode was observed in the LSM and LSCF cells, whereas honeycomb Ni was observed in the steam and air inlet areas of the LSC cell.

Mn-doped La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 perovskite oxides (La0.8Sr0.2Co1–xMnxO3; x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5) were synthesized by a modified sol-gel method. The phase-pure oxides were obtained. CoO and carbonates were formed on the surface of La0.8Sr0.2CoO3. With increasing doping content, these impurities were reduced while the stability of the perovskite structure was improved. The valence state of B-site ions and the amount of absorbed oxygen were influenced by Mn doping. The catalytic activity of the perovskite catalysts was investigated for CO oxidation and simultaneous removal of CO, C3H8, and NO. For CO and NO removal, La0.8Sr0.2Co0.9Mn0.1O3 exhibited the best performance. For C3H8 removal, the reactivity was promoted linearly with the doping content. The structure-activity relationship is also discussed.

Quantitative investigation is conducted on the resistance sources of the components in the NiO–YSZ/YSZ/GDC/LSCF–GDC solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack at the H 2 O/H 2 ratios of 70/30, 80/20 and 90/10 at 750 °C. The results indicate that the cell resistance accounts for 76.3–66.7% of that of the stack repeating unit (SRU), the contact resistance (CR) between the air electrode current-collecting layer (AECCL) and the interconnect accounts for 23.6–27.0%, the CR between the hydrogen electrode current-collecting layer (HECCL) and the interconnect only accounts for 2.3–3.2%, and the resistance of the interconnect can be neglected. Duration test of the stack is conducted at 0.8 A cm −2 for 380 h, the cell resistance increase is found to be the major contribution of the SRU degradation (82.2% of the SRU degradation) while the air electrode CR increase and the hydrogen electrode CR increase are other two important factors.

Steam reforming of methane is a versatile technology for hydrogen production in oil refinery and fuel cell applications. Using natural gas is a promising method to produce rich-hydrogen gas. Ni@yolk–ZrO₂ catalyst is used to study steam reforming of methane under various GHSVs, steam-to-carbon (S/C) ratio, and its recyclability. The catalyst was characterized using a combination of XRD, TEM, AAS, TPR, TPH, TGA, BET, XPS, and Raman techniques. The catalyst is evaluated on time stream and identify its anti-agglomeration property and coking mechanism. From the characterization of TEM and XPS establish the information of Ni particles mobility in the catalyst, which active metal particle size was controlled under the yolk–shell structure framework. Furthermore, the results from TGA, TPH, and Raman analysis of the used Ni@yolk–ZrO₂ catalyst showed the characteristic of inhibiting formation of highly ordered carbon structure.

Electrolyte-supported solid oxide fuel cells (NiO-1Ce10ScZr vertical bar 1Ce10ScZr vertical bar LSM-1Ce10ScZr) were prepared in this study. The effects of cosintering temperatures of cathode and anode with electrolyte and the additions of metal oxide (Bi2O3 and CeO2) in the anode on the microstructures and electrochemical properties were investigated. The carbon deposition behaviors of the anode with added CeO2 were also evaluated. Results indicated that the maximum power density (P-max) initially increased from 0.28 W/cm(2) (1150 degrees C) to 0.35 W/cm(2) (1250 degrees C), and then decreased to 0.33 W/cm(2) (1300 degrees C) with the increase in co-sintering temperature from 1150 degrees C to 1300 degrees C. The variation tendency of P-max was attributed to a complex combination of the bond strength increase of the interfaces and the densification of the electrodes with the increase of the co-sintering temperature. Adding proper CeO2 in the anode effectively improved the electrochemical properties of the ZrO2 doped with Sc2O3 electrolyte-supported single cells. This phenomenon could be related to the increase of the dimension of three-phase boundary. The P-max of the SSZ electrolyte-supported single cell with the anode mixed with 1.0 wt% CeO2 could reach 0.42 W/cm(2). The mixture of 1.0 wt% CeO2 in the anode could also effectively suppress the carbon deposition of CH4 on the anode surface. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

A 30-cell solid oxide electrolysis (SOE) stack consisting of 30-cell planar Ni-YSZ hydrogen electrode-supported single cell with La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-delta-Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (LSCF-GDC) composite oxygen electrodes, interconnects, and sealing materials was tested at 750 degrees C in steam electrolysis mode for hydrogen production. The direction of gas flow in the stack was a cross-flow configuration, and the stack configuration was designed to open gas flow channels at the air outlet. The electrolysis efficiency of the stack was higher than 100% at 90/10H(2)O/H-2 ratio under

The carbon amounts of simulated syngases with different compositions were calculated in this study. The degradation and carbon deposition behavior of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with an active area of 4 cm × 4 cm were then investigated under the simulated syngases at work conditions. Carbon deposition occurred over time with a little or no H2O and CO2 in these gasses, which significantly degraded the single cells. The cell stabilized within 1 h under a gas mixture of 70 % H2–30 % CO because of the chocking of inlet pipelines of the testing house by carbon deposition. Addition of proper H2O and CO2 in the simulated syngas effectively suppressed carbon deposition in the pipelines. However, carbon was still deposited gradually in the single cell anode when H2O and CO2 were insufficient. The mechanisms of carbon deposition were different when the cells were exposed under different syngases. Single cells steadily thrived under 50 % H2–20 % CO–10 % CO2–20 % H2O and 50 % H2–20 % CO–20 % CO2–10 % H2O gas mixtures for about 2000 h without carbon deposition.

Effects of conductivity and adhesive properties of cathode current-collecting layer (CCCL) on cathode contact resistance and cell performance inside a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack during operation are investigated by adding Al2O3 to the CCCL of (La0.75Sr0.25)(0.95)MnO3+delta The conductivity of LSM-15 wt% Al2O3 composite CCCL decreases from 141.6 S cm(-1) to 23.7 S cm(-1) at 800 degrees C, whereas its adhesion to SUS 430 interconnect and LSM-YSZ active cathode increases by 2.5 and 1.8 times, respectively. The area specific resistance (ASR) of SUS 430/CCCL/LSM-YSZ sandwich at 800 degrees C is tested. The result shows that ASR of SUS 430/ LSM-15 wt% Al2O3 /LSM-YSZ sandwich is approximately 2.5 times smaller than that of the SUS 430/LSM /LSM-YSZ sandwich. The maximum output power density (MOPD) of the unit cell with LSM-15 wt% Al2O3 CCCL is slightly higher than that of the cell with pure LSM CCCL at 800 degrees C. The degradation rate of the unit cell with LSM-15 wt% Al2O3 CCCL is nearly 1/7 of the unit cell with pure LSM being discharged at a constant DC of 0.32 A cm(-2) for about 100 h. Consequently, the addition of adhesive to CCCL is much more conducive to improve the long-term stability of the stack operation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

The electrochemical performance of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) manufactured stack module (MSM) subjected to thermal cycling sintering is generally lower than that of a unit cell tested directly. By characterizing a 10-cell stack assembled from a 5-cell testing stack and a 5-cell manufactured short stack module, the main factors that affect the electrochemical performance were determined to be the contact uniformity and depth between the interconnect and cell cathode covering the total surface. The cathode contact is improved by designing the external pressure on the stack during the manufacturing process; thus, the output power of a 30-cell MSM from a typical type of anode made from yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM), Ni-YSZ/YSZ/LSM, for which the cell reached approximately 750 W power at the working temperature of 800 degrees C. Futhermore, the 30-cell MSM shows no degradation during the experiment. The electrochemical performance (herein referring to output power density and operating stability) approaches that of the corresponding unit cell being tested directly.

The electrochemical performance and long-term durability of a solid oxide fuel cell have been evaluated with a simulated coal syngas containing 2 ppm H2S as fuel. The resulting impedance spectra indicate that no observable power loss is caused by the addition of 2 ppm H2S, and the cell shows stability of nearly 500 h at 0.625 A cm(-2). The composition of mixed gas is analyzed both at a current load of 0.625 A cm-2 and open circuit state. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are directly consumed as fuels at the anode side, whereas methane stays unchanged during the operation. It seems the internal carbohydrate reforming and impurity poisoning interacts and weakens the poisoning effects. The oxidation of H-2 and the water gas shift reaction take advantages over methane reforming at the cell operational conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ni/xY(2)O(3)-Al2O3 (x = 5, 10, 15, 20 wt%) catalysts were prepared by sequential impregnation synthesis. The catalytic performance for the autothermal reforming of methane was evaluated and compared with Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. The physicochemical properties of catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS), Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and H-2-temperature programmed reduction techniques (TPR). The decrease of nickel particle size and the change of reducibility were found with Y modification. The CH4 conversion increased with elevating levels of Y2O3 from 5% to 10%, then decreased with Y content from 10% to 20%. Ni/xY(2)O(3)-Al2O3 catalysts maintained high activity after 24 h on stream, while Ni/Al2O3 had a significant deactivation. The characterization of spent catalysts indicated that the addition of Y retarded Ni sintering and decreased the amount of coke. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Steam electrolysis in solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) is considered as an effective method to achieve high-efficiency hydrogen production. In the present investigation, samples of 1-cell, 2-cell and 30-cell SOEC stacks were tested under electrolysis of steam to give a practical evaluation of the SOEC system efficiency of hydrogen production. The samples were tested at 800 � C under various operating conditions up to 500 h without significant degradation, and obtained steam conversion rates of 12.4%, 23% and 82.2% for the 1-cell, 2-cell and 30-cell stacks, respectively. System efficiencies of hydrogen production were calculated for the samples based on their real performance. A maximum effi

This study detects the resistance that influences the stack performance of SOFCs with composition of NiYSZ/YSZ/LSC-YSZ and investigates the variation patterns of the resistances of the stack repeating unit (SRU) during operation and their quantitative contributions to its performance at 700 degrees C, 750 degrees C and 800 degrees C. The results indicate that when the cell cathode contacts the interconnect well, the cell resistance accounts for 70.1-79.7% of that of the SRU, and the contact resistance (CR) between the cathode current-collecting layer (CCCL) and the interconnect accounts for 20.0-28.9%. The CR between the anode current-collecting layer (ACCL) and the interconnect together with the resistance of the interconnect can be neglected during instantaneous I V testing. When the stack is discharged at constant current for 600 h, cell resistance increases by 28.3%, accounting for 93.3% of the SRU degradation, the anodic CR increases by 36.4%, accounting for 6.7% of the SRU degradation, and the resistances of the cathode contact and its neighbor interconnect remain unchanged. Therefore, the increase of the cell resistance is the main reason causing the SRU degradation, and the anodic contact is also an influencing factor that cannot be neglected during stable operation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

10Sc1CeSZ is one of the most important electrolyte materials used for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). A novel solid liquid method (SLM) was adopted for the preparation of 10Sc1CeSZ nanopowder. High-purity, single-phase, homogeneous 10Sc1CeSZ powder was successfully prepared using this method. The resulting powders and ceramic pellets were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). A cubic structure was obtained when the value of the specific surface area (SSA) of the starting material ZrO2 was greater than 60 m(2) g(-1). A conductivity of 0.14 S cm(-1) at 800 C was achieved for the sintered pellets. The performance of the electrolyte-supported cell (ESC) NiO+ GDC/10SclCeSZ /10Sc1CeSZ LSM reached 0.66 W cm(-2) at 0.75 V and 850 degrees C. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

The 30-cell nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni-YSZ) hydrogen electrode-supported planar solid oxide electrolyzer (SOE) stack modules were manufactured and tested at 800 °C in steam electrolysis mode for hydrogen production. The electrolysis efficiency of the stack modules was higher than 100% at a total steam and hydrogen flow of 2.1 sccm cm −2 , a H 2 O/H 2 ratio of 80/20, and a current density of −2 . The electrolysis efficiency, current efficiency, and actual hydrogen production rate of the stack modules increased with increasing H 2 O/H 2 ratio at a constant current density. However, the electrolysis and current efficiencies decreased steadily at high current densities. During hydrogen production, the stack modules were operated at 800 °C and a constant current density of 0.15 A cm −2 for up to 1100 h. A steam conversion rate of 62% and current efficiency of 87.4% were obtained; the actual hydrogen production rate reached as high as 103.6 N L h −1 . Post-mortem analysis showed that delamination of the LSM–YSZ oxygen electrode mainly occurred in the steam and air inlet area of the 10×10 cm 2 cells.

In this study we present a method for the determination of free polyethylene glycol in a gel. We detect the PEG residues of cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel by spectrophotometry. The pretreatment of cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel is special and the plot of working curve is unconventional. The precision, the recovery rate with marker, the reliability and repeatability of this method are tested and verified. The results indicated that the method has an excellent linear relationship in the range of 0-40.5µg mL-1. The regression equation is Y=0.0108X+0.2047 (R2=0.9994). The standard deviation of the detection method is 1.10% (n=9). The recovery rate with marker is 97.8% and the repeatability is perfect. In conclusion, the method possesses the properties of simple operation, quickness, excellent stability. Moreover this method can be applied for the quality control of gel products cross-linked by PEG and liquid samples containing PEG.

Ni/xPr-Al2O3 (x = 5, 10, 15, 20 wt%) catalysts with an application in autothermal reforming of methane were prepared by sequential impregnation synthesis; its catalytic performance was evaluated and compared with that of Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst; the physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS), Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer (TGA) and H-2-temperature programmed reduction techniques (TPR). The results showed that Pr addition promoted the reduction of nickel particle size on the surface. TPR experiments suggested a heterogeneous distribution of nickel oxide particles over xPr-Al2O3 supports and the promotion of NiO reduction by Pr modification. The CH4 conversion increased with elevating levels of Pr addition from 5% to 10%, then decreased with Pr content from 10% to 20%. For the stability catalytic tests, Ni/xPr-Al2O3 catalysts maintained the high activity after 48 h while Ni/Al2O3 had a significant deactivation. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative effect and mechanism of Cr on cell performance inside stack are investigated by incorporating Cr in the cathode current-collecting layer (CCCL). The results show that the maximum output power density (MOPD) of the unit cell inside a stack decreases as the Cr content increases beyond 253.81 μg cm −2 . The MOPD is independent of Cr when its content is less than 253.81 μg cm −2 at the original operation stage. The degradation of the repeating unit inside the stack increases with increasing Cr content. When the Cr content is higher than 182.22 μg cm −2 , cell degradation increases. However, cell degradation is independent of Cr content when its content is less than 182.22 μg cm −2 . The addition of Cr to the CCCL increases the ohmic resistance of the CCCL and the contact between the cathode and the electrode during the initial stage. The effect of Cr on cell degradation increases with time, but Cr content has no influence on the contact resistance between the interconnect and the cathode. Cell degradation is mainly dependent on ohmic resistance, and is independent of polarization resistance. Therefore, the addition of Cr to the CCCL increases the cell ohmic resistance, but does not affect cell polarization resistance.

Ni80Cr20/(La0.75Sr0.25)(0.95)MnO3 dual-layer coating is deposited on SUS 430 alloy by plasma spray for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnect application. The phase structure, area specific resistance (ASR), and morphology of the coating are studied. A two-cell stack is also assembled and tested to evaluate coating performance in an actual SOFC stack. The NiCr/LSM coating adheres well to the SUS 430 alloy after oxidation in air at 800 degrees C for 2800 h. The ASR and its increasing rate of coated alloy are 25 m Omega cm(2) and 0.0017 m Omega cm(2)/h, respectively. In an actual stack test, the maximum output power density of the stack repeating unit increases from 0.32 W cm(-2) to 0.45 W cm(-2) because of the application of NiCr/LSM coating. The degradation rate of the stack repeating unit with no coating is 4.4%/100 h at a current density of 0.36 A cm(-2), whereas the stack repeating unit with NiCr/LSM coating exhibits no degradation. Ni80Cr20/(La0.75Sr0.25)(0.95)MnO3 dual-layer coating can remarkably improve the thermal stability and electrical performance of metallic interconnects for SOFCs. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The spin-dependent electronic transport properties of a zigzag zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoribbon are studied by using density functional theory with non-equilibrium Green’s functions. We calculate the spin-polarized band structure, projected density of states, Bloch states, and transmission spectrum of the ZnO nanoribbon. It is determined that all Bloch states are located at the edge of the ZnO nanoribbon. The spin-up transmission eigenchannels are contributed from Zn 4s orbital, whereas the spin-down transmission eigenchannels are contributed from Zn 4s and O 2p orbitals. By analyzing the current–voltage curves for the opposite spins of the ZnO nanoribbon device, negative differential resistance (NDR) and spin filter effect are observed. Moreover, by constructing the ZnO nanoribbon modified by the Zn-edge defect, the spin-up current is severely suppressed because of the destruction of the spin-up transmission eigenchannels. However, the spin-down current is preserved, thus resulting in the perfect spin filter effect. Our results indicate that the ZnO nanoribbon modulated by the edge defect is a practical design for a spin filter.

Nanocrystalline Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 (GDC) powders are successfully prepared by an acetic–acrylic method using acrylic acid, cerium acetate and gadolinium acetate as the starting materials. The polymeric precursors are characterized by means of TG/DTA, XRD and FT-IR, and the resultant powders are characterized by XRF, BET, SEM and particle size distribution (PSD) analysis. It is shown that the morphology of the oxide particles is dependent on the preparation conditions such as molar ratio of acrylic acid to metallic ions (L/M) and the sort of surfactant. High purity, single phase, homogeneous, nanocrystalline GDC powders with slight aggregation are obtained using ethylene glycol as surfactant, L/M=0.5 and heat treatment above 600 °C. The low application amount and high effect of acrylic acid is attributed to the co-operation of carboxyl group and ethylenic bond. The electrical conductivity of the sintered GDC pellet is 0.053 Scm−1 in air at 750 °C. The present work indicates that the acetic–acrylic method is a relatively green method without any NOx to synthesize high performance GDC powders.

The ternary system (Yb 2 O 3 ) x –(Sc 2 O 3 ) (0.11− x ) –(ZrO 2 ) 0.89 ( x = 0–0.11) specimens have been prepared using a co-precipitation method. The properties of this series of samples are affected by the ytterbium element. A stabilized cubic phase is obtained at room temperature by introducing ytterbium and the unit cell parameters show a linear increasing relationship with content of Yb 2 O 3 , which also contributes to abatement of the conductivity from 0.099 S/cm to 0.020 S/cm at 800 °C. However, the conductivity tends to remain a constant at lower temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 650 °C as the addition of Yb 2 O 3 is reduced to below 3 mol%, achieving high up to 0.015 S/cm at 650 °C for a 3Yb8ScSZ body, indicating a potential to be utilized as an electrolyte material for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells.

Aims: To analyze the incidence of and risk factors for post-pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) hemorrhage (PPH) and to evaluate the outcomes of reinterventions for PPH. Methods: All PDs between January 2009 and December 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. PPH was evaluated according to the criteria of the International Study Group of Pancreatic Surgery. Both univariate and multivariate analyses of risk factors for PPH and mortality were performed. Reinterventions were also evaluated. Results: Of the 1,056 PDs during the study period, 78 (7.4%) developed PPH, including 36 with grade B and 42 with grade C. Of these 78 patients, 24 (30.8%) died of PPH-related causes. Multivariate analysis showed that older age, higher total bilirubin concentration, and postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) were independent risk factors for PPH. Patients who died of PPH were significantly older and had lower preoperative hemoglobin and albumin concentrations than patients who did not die of PPH. Of the 78 patients with PPH, 58 underwent reintervention, including 27 who underwent angiography, 24 who underwent endoscopy, 24 who underwent re-laparotomy, and 15 who underwent more than one reintervention. Conclusions: Older age, total bilirubin, and POPF are independent risk factors for PPH. Higher mortality are associated with advanced PPH and poor nutritional conditions.

Purpose: To search for the change of fibrinolytic activity of different forms of nattokinase when they were treated in human digestive juice, artifical gastric and intestinal juice differently, and to lay the foundation of a proper pharmaceutical dosage form of nattokinase. To provide direct evidences that Nattokinase products can be administered orally and to screen a suitable dosage form for oral administration of nattokinase.Methods: The non-crushed sample was prepared through the solid fermentation of soybean meal at 37°C for 36 h, and evaporation at 70°C for 8 h, The fine and ultra-fine powder were gotten from the non-crushed sample by the micronizer and ultra micronizer. Nattokinase extract was the supernatant liquid of 0.9% saline of non-crush samples. The nattokinase’s fibrinolytic activity of non-crushed sample, fine powder, ultra-fine powder and extract treated in artifical and human digestive were measured by the Fibrin plate method. Results: Three kind of solid form samples still remain about 80% fibrinolytic activity in artificial gastric juice for 4 h, and the fibrinolytic activity of nattokinase extract is 48.7% at the end of treatment. Treated in artificial gastric juice for 4 hours, then handled in artificial intestinal fluid for 4 h, the final fibrinolytic activity of fine and ultra fine powder is 47.0% and 51.0%. The fibrinolytic activity of extract is 79.8% at the end of treatment in human digestive juice for 4 h. At the beginning of treatment in human digestive juice the enzyme activity of fine and ultra fine powder is 130.8U/mL and 132.1U/mL, however, after treatment for 4 h the enzyme activity is 158.7U/mL and159.6U/mL, which is near to the total enzyme activity of sample. Conclusion: Nattokinase products can be administered orally, and solid preparations of nattokinase are more suitable for oral route. The optimum dosage form for oral administration of nattokinase is enteric-coated capsules containing ultra fine powder.

Purpose To prepare Grifola frondosa fermented beverage and study on its production process, ingredients and characteristics. Methods The following process was used to prepare Grifola frondosa fermented beverage: Grifola frondosa original strains →Strain activation →Inclined plane strain →Liquid spawn →Submerged fermentation →Fermentation broth with mycelium →Colloid mill grinding →High pressure homogenization →Homogenate →Add preservatives or not →Package → Sterilizing or not →Finished product. Grifola frondosa mycelium biomass was determined by Weight-Drying method. Total sugar content was measured by Phenol-sulfuric acid method. Reducing sugar content was measured by 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. Protein content was measured by Coomassie brilliant blue method. The quality of Grifola frondosa fermented beverage was evaluated every 10 days from six areas: color, precipitation, transparency, aroma, taste and the bacteria growth situation. Results Mycelia biomass of Grifola frondosa fermentation product is 378.3 ± 7.21mg/100ml. The total sugar content is 1.8995 mg/ml, the reducing sugar content is 0.2539 mg/ml, and grifolan content is 1.6456 mg/ml, protein content 7.971μg/ml. The total number of colonies is 67 CFU/ml and no E. coli in Grifola frondosa fermented beverage, this comply with the requirements of the national food safety standard. The samples of Grifola frondosa fermented beverage without sterilized and preservatives placed at room temperature for 6 months are normal, and no bacteria growth. Conclusion The production process of Grifola frondosa fermented beverage is feasible. In the case without sterilization and preservatives, Grifola frondosa fermented beverage can be placed at room temperature for 6 months without deterioration and still maintain its characteristics of nutrient-rich, pure taste, clean and hygienic, with natural mushroom fragrant. This can provide a reference for the development of Grifola frondosa submerged fermentation products.

Purpose To develop a novel complex antimicrobial agent and determine the optimal components of the composite antimicrobial agents and its antimicrobial activity in vitro. Methods According to antimicrobial mechanisms，antibacterial spectrums，physical and chemical properties and applicabilities of existing antimicrobial agents in clinical use, select out cefoperazone sodium, sulbactam sodium and cephradine as the basic components to make a novel complex antimicrobial agent. Utilize yeast, staphylococcus aureus and E. coli bacteria as test bacteria. Do the three factors four-level orthogonal experiments by the maximum amount, the middle amount, low amount and Minimum amount of the three-component agent to research the optimum ratio of the drug. Measure the titer of the compound antimicrobial agent by the way of tube-plate method (2 doses). With known contents of Penicillin Sodium for Injection as control, and determine its minimum inhibitory concentration against staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and yeast by using the agar doubling dilution method. The experimental results were analysized by statistical analysis software SPSS16.0. Results The results of the three factors four-level orthogonal experiments indicate the optimum ratios of Cefoperazone Sodium, Sulbactam Sodium and Cephradine against E. coli, yeast and staphylococcus aureus were 2:2:3, 1:2:2 and 2:6:5, their titers were 1353.9U/mg, 982.7U/mg and 1015.5U/mg. With the highest titer proportion 2:2:3 as the composition of the antimicrobial compound. This compound antimicrobial agent had a good antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and Fungi, its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and yeast were 2.000μg/ml, 0.500μg/ml and 16.000μg/ml. Conclusion This research acquires a composite of antibiotics. This antimicrobial compound has a broader spectrum and higher antimicrobial activity in vitro comparing with traditional common single antibiotics, and it especially has a good antimicrobial activity against fungi. The results set a scientific foundation for enriching clinical medicines.

Objective In order to increase the Paeonol dissolution and content, cortex moutan were smashed into nanoparticles, and the dissolution and content were compared by microscopy before and after super-micro-particle pulverization. Methods Super-micro-particle pulverization and general grinding were used to broke Cortex moutan into particles. The microscopic morphous characteristics of the before- and after- ultra-disintegration particles were compared by microscopy. Methods of HPLC was used to determine the content and dissolution of Paeonol with different grinding conditions. Methods of precipitation and funnel way were used to examine the stability and fluidity of cortex moutan nano-particles. Results Cortex moutan powder after super-micro-particle pulverization appears sphere or like-sphere, and its average size is 200nm~300nm. After the superfine grinding Paeonol dissolution increases 76.19% in comparison with without nano pulverization. The nanoparticle rest angle is θ=33°.The precipitation ratio of Cortex moutan powder with general grinding is 0.28 at 24h, and the precipitation ratio of its nano-power has been to 0.98 at 60min. Conclusion Paeonol dissolution, stability and fluidity of Cortex moutan nanoparticles were improved greatly and this nanoparticles is beneficial to industrial production for traditional Chinese medicine.

To prepare out a novel preparation of liuweidihuang which effectively preserves Paeonol, Ursolic acid and Polysaccharides, and the preparation process should be scientific, lower-price and simple. The microscopic characteristics and its physicochemical properties of super-micro-particle of liuweidihuang from above process were also discussed. Methods According to the therapeutic and physicochemical properties of materials in liuweidihuang, the processed technology is as follow: Ripe rehmannia glutinosa,Tuckahoe and Alisma digitalis were boiled for 4.5h., the root bark of the peony tree(Paeonia suffruticosa), dogberry and yam were smashed to nanoparticles. Then select the reasonable method to drying the mixture. The microscopic shape characteristics of the before- and after- broken particles was compared. Paeonol content and dissolution were determined by HPLC. The stability and fluidity of liuweidihuang nanoparticles were examined by precipitation and funnel way. Results The approach of prepared liuweidihuang nano-microcapsules is scientific, lower-price and simple. The average size of processed super-micro-particle of liuweidihuang is 400±46nm. The hardness of the table is 9.7kg/cm2. The thickness of the table is 0.6cm. The friability of the tablet is ＜1%. Each tested item complied with standards of troches of Chinese medicine, and it is beneficial to industrial production for Chinese medicine.. Conclusion The nano-microcapsule is dispersive, desiccative, mobilizable, stable and three times concentrated than traditional pills of Liuweidihuang. It also can be used to produce different forms of drugs in the market.

Based on the reversal reaction of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), high temperature electrolysis (HTE) is an effective way for large-scale and low cost hydrogen production. The problem restricted the development for HTE is the stability of steam supplying, conversion rate of steam to H2, hydrogen production rate and the durability of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) and stacks. To solve the problems mentioned above, a steam and gas fogged mixer (SGFM) was designed which can be used for not only experimental HTE but also large-scale hydrogen production. A 30-cell SOEC stack was tested combined with the mixer for 1000 hours at 800oC with an electrolysis current of 4 A. The steam-to-hydrogen conversion (SC) rate was calculated to be 70% by determining the water amount at the inlet and outlet of the hydrogen electrode. The hydrogen production rate was 99.3 NL/h.

The proton/lithium exchange property of the garnet-related lithium-ion conductors Li5La3Ta2O12 is shown to occur at room temperature under ambient air. The internal friction, TGA analysis, and IR spectroscopy techniques are used to investigate the reaction mechanism. XRPD analysis demonstrates the topotactic character of the exchange reaction. The water gas in ambient air is adsorbed on the grain surface and then to exchange proton for lithium ion into the garnet structure,(Li5-xHx)La3Ta2O12. The H+/Li+ exchanging processes are reversible. When the measured temperature is higher over 573K, the internal friction peak gradually shifts toward lower temperature and the like garnet-like phase is recovered.

The diffusion processes of lithium ions in La2/3-xLi3xTiO3 (x=0.06, 0.11) compounds were investigated by dielectric relaxation method. Prominent relaxation dielectric loss peaks, peaks P1 and P2 in La0.56Li0.33TiO3 and peaks P3 and P4 in La0.61Li0.18 TiO3, were observed. From the shift of peak position with frequency, the activation energy of 0.36~0.42 eV and the pre-exponential factor of relaxation time in the order of 10-14 ~ 10-13 s were obtained if one assumes Debye relaxation processes. The activation energies of lithium ion diffusion in La2/3-xLi3xTiO3 compounds and the characteristic vibration frequency for the ionic hopping motion are higher than those measured by 7Li nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and that of the typical phonon frequency (about 1013Hz). These values of relaxation parameters strongly suggest the existence of interaction between the relaxation species (here lithium ions or vacancies). Basing on the coupling model, the decoupled relaxation parameters of the dielectric relaxation peaks is: P1 (0.14 eV, 2×10-13 s), P2 (0.25 eV, 1.8×10-13 s), P3 (0.17 eV, 4×10-13 s) and P4 (0.3 eV, 2.7×10-13 s). These decoupled parameters are very close to the NMR measurement results and the reciprocal of the typical phonon frequency. Judging from the relaxation parameter of the peaks and combining with the crystallographic characterization, it is suggested that the P1 (P3) and P2 (P4) peaks are associated with the lithium ion diffusion in the ab planes and between the adjacent ab planes, respectively.

：PurposeThe physicochemical properties of four Cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gels(CHA) with different cross-linking agents were conpared.In order to research out the different stability and Enzyme-resistant properties of these CHA.Methods The CHA hydrogels were prepared with different cross-linking agents, such as PEG20000, PDE, BDDE and ADH. The optimal reaction conditions were determined by single factor experiment. Dynamic viscosity was tested by Stabinger method. Intrinsic viscosity was tested by Uzziah's viscosity method. The in vitro Enzyme-resistant properties of CHA-gels were analysed by carbazole and spectrophotometry. Results The concentrations of NaOH/HCl, concentrations of HA and the ratio of cross-linking agent to HA were significant conditions which influenced the physicochemical properties of CHA gels. PDE-CHA and PEG20000 gels have best Dynamic viscosity, PDE-CHA gel has best Intrinsic viscosity, ADH-CHA and BDDE-CHA gels have better Enzyme-resistant properties than PEG20000-CHA and PDE-CHA gels.Conclusion The CHA-gel prepared under optimal reaction conditions have different physical and chemical properties, which set foundation for developing double cross-linked gel with both excellent stability and Enzyme-resistant properties.

Purpose To search for an isolation method of grifolan synthase, and research grifolan synthase partly enzymatic properties. Methods Taking Grifola frondosa as material, the mycelium was broken by ultrasonic, and then centrifugated, the supernatant was collected, GS was precipitated by different concentrations of ethanol, ammonium sulfate and acetone, the suitable isolation method of GS was researched out by taking enzyme activity and protein content as parameters. Reducing sugar, protein content and total sugar content were determined respectively by using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method, Coomassie brilliant blue method and phenol-sulfuric acid method. Taking glucose as substrate, GS activity was reflected by the consumption of glucose. Consumption of glucose was measured by DNS method. The optimal temperature and pH of GS enzyme reaction was determined by carrying out the enzyme assay at different temperatures and pH levels.The acid-base stability of GS was determined by subjecting GS to different pH levels for 60 minutes, and the heat stability of GS was determined by subjecting GS to different temperatures for 30 minutes. The direction of GS enzymatic reaction was determined by measuring the consumption of β-glucan in 1 minute. The possibility of GS existing extracellular was judged by determining GS activity in extracellular fermentation liquor. Results The proper isolation method of GS is that the mycelium was collected from fermentation liquor and broken by ultrasonic for 1min, then centrifugated at 5000rpm for 10 minutes and a supernatant was collected. Ammonium sulfate was added to the concentration of 60%, and then centrifugated at 12000rpm for 10 minutes at 4°C, the pellets was collected as GS crude enzyme. Using this method, 93.86mg of crude enzyme which enzyme activity was 5700U/mg was obtained from 100g mycelium with moisture content of 87.28%, extraction rate of crude enzyme was 0.7379%. The optimum pH of GS enzyme reaction was pH=5.0 and the optimum temperature was 15°C, GS was most stable at pH=5.0 and in the range of 30 °C to 50 °C. Just 0.6996μg β-glucan was hydrolyzed in 1 minute by GS which can actually consume 5700μg glucose per minute in the synthetic reaction of β-glucan, considering the error in actual measurement, it can be considered that GS is a one-way enzyme that it can only catalyze the synthesis of β-glucan. GS activity in extracellular Grifola frondosa fermentation liquor was -0.1875U/ml, indicating that GS is one kind of intracellular enzyme and without GS activity in fermentation liquor or extracellular. Conclusion An isolation method of grifolan synthase form the mycelium of Grifola frondosa was researched out, and grifolan synthase partly enzymatic properties were studied in this paper. It can lay the foundation for the further study on the structure and function of GS and grifolan production.

Purpose To research out a suitable method for the determination of enzymatic activity for β-glucan synthase. Methods According to the methods for the determination of ΒGS in current reports, taking Grifola frondosa as material, a suitable method for the determination of enzymatic activity for ΒGS was researched out. ΒGS was isolated from the mycelium of Grifola frondosa. Taking glucose as substrate, ΒGS activity was reflected by the consumption of glucose. Consumption of glucose was measured by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method, the standard curve for glucose content measurement was plotted by determining absorbance values of different glucose concentrations at 540nm. One unit of ΒGS corresponds to the amount of enzyme which incorporated 1μg glucose into β-glucan in 1 minute. The optimum pH and temperature of the determination of enzymatic activity for ΒGS was determined respectively by carrying out the enzyme assay at different pH levels and temperatures. Results The method for the determination of enzymatic activity for ΒGS was a suitable, correct and usable method which can be popularized widely. The regression equation of the standard curve for glucose content measurement was y=0.0008x-0.0247, R2=0.9996. The optimum pH of the determination of enzymatic activity for ΒGS was pH=5.0 and the optimum temperature was 15°C. The suitable determination process for β-glucan synthase enzymatic activity is as follows: 1.0ml of enzyme was added in a test tube followed by 1.0 ml glucose (1.0mg/ml), and then the pH level was adjusted to 5.0. The test tube was incubated at 15°C for 10 minutes. Later, DNS reagent (1.5ml) was added to the test tube kept in boiling water for 5 minutes and cooled in water. A blank was prepared (2.0ml distilled water and 1.5ml DNS solution). Each solution was fixed the volume to 25ml, the color intensity was estimated at 540 nm using spectrophotometry. Conclusion A method for the determination of enzymatic activity for β-glucan synthase was researched out by taking Grifola frondosa as material, and it can be widely extended and applied by its characteristics of simple, rapid, high sensitivity and low cost.

Purpose To screen out the optimal conditions of cross-linking reaction of preparing for an injectable cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel(CHA-gel) with higher resistance to hyaluronidase and research for its viscoelasticity and anti-enzyme degradation properties. Methods The CHA hydrogels were prepared with different molecular weights of PEG as cross-linking agent, such as PEG400, PEG1000, PEG6000, PEG10000, PEG20000. The optimal preparing conditions were determined by single factor test and orthogonal experiment. The Enzyme-resistant degradation properties in vitro of CHA-gels were analysed by carbazole and spectrophotometry. Its viscoelasticity was also compared with natural HA-gel by Stabinger method. Results the results of range analysis and variance analysis show that the pH of CHA solution and the ratio of cross-linking agent to HA were significant factors. The optimal preparing conditions of the parameters are 1.5% of HA, 0.001mol/L NaOH, at 37°C, reacting 4hr and 1:15 PEG20000/HA (g/g). Under these conditions, the CHA-gel has excellent Enzyme-resistant properties, R=85.1%, an high percentage of enzyme-resistant property. Its viscoelasticity can reach 61.3×104mPa.s, three times as much as natural HA-gel. Conclusion The CHA-gel with excellent physicochemical properties can be prepared under the optimal conditions, which can set foundation for developing better mechanical and Enzyme-resistant properties products of CHA-gel.

Planar solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are composites consisting of porous and dense functional layers as electrodes and electrolytes, respectively. Because of the thermo-elastic mismatch between the individual layers, residual stresses develop during manufacturing and cause unconstrained cells to warp. The addition of alumina decreases the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of the NiO and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) anode-support material. Correspondingly, the lower TECs have flattened the half cells during fabrication. In addition, the residual stress at room temperature (RT) for samples with more than 4 wt% alumina is only 20% of the residual stress of the samples without alumina, at approximately 100 MPa. The effects of Al 2 O 3 on the curvature, Young's modulus, TEC and residual stress of the SOFC with (NiO–YSZ) 1− x (Al 2 O 3 ) x ( x = 1–5 wt%) anode support are discussed in this work.

The 0.2% hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) poisoning of Ni/YSZ anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is investigated by varying water content in fuel. The degradation extent of the cell voltage decreases with increasing water content (from 0% to 10%). Water can be generated at the anode side through an electrochemical reaction, and the content of water product augments upon the addition of fuel. However, our results indicate that an increase in fuel utilization significantly aggravates H 2 S poisoning behavior. The results of X-ray analysis suggest that the presence of water in fuel cannot affect the final forms of nickel sulfides, but microstructural inspection reveals different attack modes upon the injection of vapor (from 0 to 10%) into fuel containing 0.2% H 2 S.

The adsorption behaviors of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid on silver and gold nanoparticles were studied by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and density functional theory. The silver and gold films by electrodeposition have the same excellent characteristics as SERS-active substrates. At the same, the SERS spectra indicate that 4-mercaptobenzoic acid molecules are adsorbed on the surfaces of gold nanoparticles through the S atom, and that the carboxyl group is far away from surface of gold nanoparticles, and that there is a certain angle between the plane of benzene ring and gold film. However, 4-mercaptobenzoic acid molecules are adsorbed on the surfaces of silver nanoparticles through the carboxyl group, and the S atom is far away from surface of silver nanoparticles, and there is also a certain angle between the plane of benzene ring and the surface of silver nanoparticles. Here it is demonstrated the calculated Raman frequencies are in good agreement with experimental values, and the calculated Raman frequencies are also helpful to infer the adsorption behaviors of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid molecules.

This study investigates the 0.2% hydrogen sulfide poisoning of Ni/YSZ anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The deterioration degrees and recovery extents of the cell current density, cell voltage and operation temperature are monitored. The results of impedance spectroscopy analysis show that hydrogen sulfide poisoning behavior may affect oxygen ion migration and gas diffusion and conversion on the anode side. Microstructural inspection reveals sulfur or sulfide formed on the anode-active area, which accounts for the immediate and severe cell power drop upon the injection of H2S. The nickel sulfide in the anodic functional layer cannot be completely removed after long-term regeneration and thus may be a key factor in the permanent degradation of the cell.

In this work, the mechanisms of improving the cyclic stability of V–Ti-based hydrogen storage electrode alloys were investigated systemically. Several key factors for example corrosion resistance, pulverization resistance and oxidation resistance were evaluated individually. The V-based solid solution phase has much lower anti-corrosion ability than C14 Laves phase in KOH solution, and the addition of Cr in V–Ti-based alloys can suppress the dissolution of the main hydrogen absorption elements of the V-based phase in the alkaline solution. During the charge/discharge cycling, the alloy particles crack or break into several pieces, which accelerates their corrosion/oxidation and increases the contact resistance of the alloy electrodes. Proper decreasing the Vickers hardness and enhancing the fracture toughness can increase the pulverization resistance of the alloy particles. The oxidation layer thickness on the alloy particle surface obviously increases during charge/discharge cycling. This deteriorates their electro-catalyst activation to the electrochemical reaction, and leads to a quick degradation. Therefore, enhancing the oxide resistance can obviously improve the cyclic stability of V–Ti-based hydrogen storage electrode alloys.

Investigation has been conducted on the poisoning effect of various contaminants containing chlorine at ppm level (

Spray coating is widely used in industrial applications for the preparation of large, uniform thin films on various substrates due to its simplicity and cost-efficiency. To prevent reactions between a yttria-stabilised zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte and a La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3 − δ (LSCF) cathode, a Gd 0.1 Ce 0.9 O 2 − δ (CGO) interlayer with a thickness of 2–3 μm is prepared on a YSZ electrolyte by spray coating. The results indicate that the properties of the CGO interlayer depend on its preparation conditions, including the powder pre-sintering temperature, the concentration of the dispersant and the sintering temperature. A densely packed CGO interlayer is obtained from a well-dispersed suspension of CGO powder pre-sintered at 750 °C with 6 wt.% PVP as a dispersant. After sintering at 1250 °C and 1300 °C, the CGO interlayer achieves an area special resistance (ASR) of 0.1 Ω cm 2 at 800 °C and 0.4 Ω cm 2 at 700 °C. Moreover, LSCF cells with a CGO interlayer obtain an average maximum power density greater than 600 mW cm −2 at 750 °C. Obvious diffusion of Sr is not observed in the cells, indicating that the CGO interlayer prepared by spray coating effectively blocks Sr diffusion.

Oxide ionic conductivities of (CeO2)x(Sc2O3)(0.11−x)(ZrO2)0.89 (x = 0.01–0.10) electrolytes were optimized for the application in intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC). Powders with different contents of CeO2 and Sc2O3 were prepared via a co-precipitation method. The obtained powders and pellets were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and impedance spectroscopy. Among all the compositions, (CeO2)0.04(Sc2O3)0.07(ZrO2)0.89(4Ce7ScZr) gives the highest ionic conductivity of 0.065 S cm−1 at 800 °C. The effects on densification and electrical properties of different sintering additives, such as SiO2, MgO, Co3O4, MoO3 and Bi2O3, were studied and different conducting behavior with these additives were observed. The densification temperatures of CeO2 and Sc2O3 co-doped electrolytes can be reduced by around 280 °C with the addition of 1 mol% of Bi2O3, while the electrical properties of the electrolytes are not significantly affected by the introduction of Bi2O3 aid.