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The formation of a hybrid metal--biopolymer material is described. The synthesis of this material consists of functionalizing the surface of gold nanoparticles through a series of steps that lead to epoxy-functionalized nanoparticles. These are subsequently reacted with hydroxyl moieties of the [alpha]-D-glucopyranosyl groups of dextran. Subsequently, the dextran chains are carboxylated through treatment with bromoacetic acid. The resultant material combines the unique optical properties of gold nanoparticles with the versatility that carboxylated dextran offers for further functionalization with biomolecules. The interaction of this material with three proteins was then investigated through changes in the plasmon resonance properties of the gold nanoparticles. Concanavalin A, a lectin that binds glucose and mannose by means of specific molecular recognition, interacts readily with this material and such interaction is easily detected using optical absorption spectroscopy. Through reaction of the carboxyl groups with (+)-biotinyl-3,6,9,-trioxaundecanediamine, a material bearing biotin groups was obtained. This could interact with streptavidin or antibiotin by means of specific molecular recognition. Further confirmation of biospecific interactions was obtained with control experiments in which the binding sites were blocked through preincubation of the proteins with the corresponding ligand in solution. Binding of these proteins was concentration-dependent over a wide concentration range. This material provides a simple and convenient colorimetric method for biospecific interaction analysis.

Thermal diffusivity measurements on two nanofluids and their base fluids were made using an optical technique called forced Rayleigh scattering. The nanofluids studied were a citrate-stabilized Au nanoparticle suspension in water and an Al2O3 nanoparticle suspension in a petroleum oil. Thermal diffusivity measurements on the nanofluids and base fluids were made at temperatures in the range of 25–75 °C. From these data, it was possible to estimate the thermal conductivity enhancement in the nanofluids as a function of temperature. In contrast to previous reports on similar systems, our experiments are consistent with thermal conductivity enhancement predictions from effective medium theory. In particular, we find that the level of thermal conductivity enhancement is independent of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal diffusivity measurements on two nanofluids and their base are made using an optical technique called forced Rayleigh scattering. The results indicate that the level of thermal conductivity in both Au and [Al.sub.2][O.sub.3] nanofluids is independent of temperature.

Abstract: A novel fibrous MnO2 electrode for a fuel cell/battery system is fabricated on carbon fiber by the electrodeposition method. The characteristics of the fibrous MnO2 electrode are examined by electrochemical impedance spectra, galvanostatic performance and cyclic voltammetry. The experimental results indicate that the fibrous MnO2 electrodes are superior to pasted electrodes because of the following: (i) better contact between MnO2 and the electrical conducting material; (ii) high charge-transfer rate because of a smaller diameter than conventional electrodeposited MnO2 particles (thus it is expected that the specific surface area would be higher); and (iii) a low overpotential. The morphology and the crystal structure of the fibrous MnO2 electrode are investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The entire surface of the carbon fiber is found to be coated with γ-MnO2 after 2h of electrodeposition at 0.01Adm−2 current density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fuel cell/battery (FCB) systems are promising power generation/energy storage systems because of their bi-functionality as fuel cells and as secondary batteries. We investigated the required charging after the discharged manganese dioxide (MnOOH) by oxygen gas under the rest condition and during the fuel cell operation mode using manganese dioxide as a positive electrode for the FCB system. Electrochemical characterization was performed using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic measurements. Additionally, changes in the crystal structure and the chemical functional groups during the electrode reactions were monitored by X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated that MnOOH formed via the electrochemical discharge of manganese dioxide (MnO2) and that the oxyhydroxide can be chemically transformed back to MnO2 with gaseous oxygen (O2). The recharged MnO2 can be used as the cathode in a fuel cell with an O2 supply and it can also be electrochemically discharged without an O2 supply. In addition, we confirmed that MnO2 does not convert to Mn3O4 during the charge/discharge cycles if the redox reaction is maintained within a restricted range where a homogeneous process exists between MnO2 and MnOOH. The results in this study suggest that the FCB system can be constructed using MnO2 as the positive electrode and a metal hydride (MH) as the negative electrode, which can be rapidly charged to more than 70% of the theoretical capacity within 10min using pressurized H2 and electrochemically discharged, in an alkaline electrolyte. This system possesses a high-power generation efficiency, a high-energy density and a high load-following capability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The performance of the positive electrode composed of a mixture of nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) and a small amount of manganese dioxide (MnO2) was investigated for the positive electrode of Fuel Cell/Battery (FCB) system. It was found that the positive electrode can function not only as an active material of secondary batteries when it is charged but also as a catalyst of fuel cells when oxygen is supplied, which was confirmed by the following characterization: electrochemical characterization was performed with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic discharge curve in oxygen and oxygen-free atmosphere. CV of Ni(OH)2/MnO2 positive electrode exhibited the redox reaction of Ni(OH)2 as well as oxygen reduction reaction. It was observed that the discharge curves of positive electrode had two working potentials in half cell test when the electrode was charged and oxygen was supplied: one from the reactions of nickel oxyhydroxide (NiOOH); the other from the fuel cell reactions of manganese dioxide (MnO2). It was also observed that the discharge curves had two working voltages in full cell test when the cell was fully charged and oxygen was supplied: one at 1.2V from the battery reactions of NiOOH; the other at 0.8V from the fuel cell reactions of MnO2. In particular, the discharge capacity of overcharged cell was improved approximately 2 times compared with a battery of the same electrode quantity due to the additional function of this system as a fuel cell by using oxygen generated by water electrolysis. XRD analysis showed that there was no crystal structure change before and after (over)charge–discharge cycles. In summary, these experimental results showed that the novel bi-functional FCB system could provide an improved overall energy density per weight compared with conventional secondary batteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of manganese dioxide (MnO2) as a positive electrode material in Fuel Cell/Battery (FCB) systems is described. A positive electrode containing MnO2 was fabricated and its performance was evaluated for charge/discharge behavior in three different systems: (i) secondary battery positive electrode, (ii) positive electrode in an alkaline fuel cell, and (iii) positive electrode performance in an FCB system by performing half cell tests. MnO2 was observed to possess redox capabilities as the positive electrode of a secondary battery when it was subject to charge/discharge cycles. It was found that Mn3O4, which inhibits the discharge reaction, was produced during charge/discharge cycles. The I–V characteristics of MnO2 material were measured to check the feasibility of the fuel cell system by supplying H2 into the negative electrode and O2 into the MnO2 positive electrode, respectively. The MnO2 electrode showed similar performance to Ni electrode, which was fabricated by using a similar method to the MnO2 electrode. The MnO2 electrode also showed that it functioned as an FCB positive electrode, which was confirmed by continued production of current when the O2 supply was terminated. These results suggest that MnO2 is a good candidate for an FCB positive electrode material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fluidized bed and slurry reactors were employed to increase the CO2 conversion and desirable product selectivity in the direct hydrogenation of CO2 to hydrocarbons over K-promoted iron catalysts, as it is beneficial for the removal of heat generated due to highly exothermic nature of the reaction. The iron catalysts (Fe-K/Al2O3 and Fe-Cu-Al-K) were characterized by BET surface area, CO2 and H2 chemisorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and temperature-programmed hydrogenation (TPH). The results of TPR and TPH study clearly indicated that co-precipitated Fe-Cu-Al-K catalyst has much higher reducibility and catalytic activity of CO2 hydrogenation at low temperature than Fe-K/Al2O3. The performance of fluidized bed or slurry reactors was superior to that of fixed bed reactor for the CO2 hydrogenation over Fe-Cu-Al-K catalyst in terms of CO2 conversion and hydrocarbon productivity. Moreover, light olefins and heavy hydrocarbons were selectively synthesized in fluidized bed and slurry reactors, respectively. The optimum operation conditions and the effects of operating variables on the CO2 conversion and its product distribution in these catalytic reactors were also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]