Visible light-induced photocatalytic activity of Ag-containing TiO2/carbon nanofibers composites

TiO₂/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites containing Ag nanoparticles (Ag–TiO₂/CNF) were prepared and their photocatalytic degradation ability upon visible light irradiation assessed. The reduction of methylene blue (MB) adsorption in an aqueous solution by the photocatalysts occurred due to the combined effects of MB adsorption in the pores of CNFs and decomposition by the photocatalysts throughout the process. The Ag–TiO₂/CNF photocatalyst degraded MB 17 times faster than the TiO₂/CNF composites with no Ag nanoparticles after 3 h under visible light illuminations.     

Antibacterial activity of silicate bioceramics

Four kinds of pure silicate ceramic particles,CaSiO3,Ca3SiO5,bredigite and akermanite were prepared and their bactericidal effects were systematically investigated.The phase compositions of these silicate ceramics were characterized by XRD.The ionic concentration measurement revealed that the Calcium (Ca) ion concentration were relatively higher in Ca3SiO5 and bredigite,and much lower in CaSiO3 and akermanite.Accordingly,the pH values of the four silicate ceramics extracts showed a positive correlation with the particle concentrations.Meanwhile,by decreasing the particle size,higher Ca ion concentrations can be achieved,leading to the increase of aqueous pH value as well.In summary,all of the four silicate ceramics tested in our study showed antibacterial effect in a dose-dependent manner.Generally,the order of their antibacterial activity against E.coli from strong to weak is Ca3SiO5,bredigite,CaSiO3 and akermanite.     

Preparation and characterization of polyimide/modified layered double hydroxide nanocomposites

Polyimide (PI)/modified layered double hydroxide (m‐LDH) nanocomposites were prepared in this study. For this work, m‐LDHs were prepared from layered double hydroxides (LDHs) through an anionic exchange reaction with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), succinic acid or terephthalic acid. PMDA and 4,4′‐oxydianiline were used to make the poly(amic acid) precursor for PI. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements confirmed that the PMDA‐modified LDH (PMH) and terephthalic acid‐modified LDH (TMH) were well dispersed in the PI matrix. For the succinic acid‐modified LDH, some of the LDH was intercalated with the succinic acid molecules but most maintained its original structure. Thus, the PI/PMH and PI/TMH nanocomposites exhibited improved mechanical, thermal and electrical properties compared to pure PI. The PMH has aromatic groups and is expected to have better π–π interactions with the PI chains than the other m‐LDHs. Thus, the PI/PMH nanocomposites exhibited the best properties among the nanocomposites investigated. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

独立坐标系在输电线路中的应用

详细介绍了运用TGO软件建立独立坐标系的过程,并结合工作实践阐述了独立坐标系在输电线路中的实用性和可靠性。     

Miniaturized Dual-Band Hybrid Couplers With Arbitrary Power Division Ratios

Branch-line and rat-race couplers are designed to have dual-band operation with arbitrary power division ratios. An elementary two-port is proposed to imitate the 90^deg section at the two designated frequencies with different characteristic impedances. The two-port consists of a stepped-impedance section with open stubs attached to its two ends, and its circuit parameters are determined by the transmission line theory. The use of the stepped-impedance sections also leads to circuit miniaturization. By the standard microstrip technology, investigated also includes the realizable power division ratios and circuit bandwidths in the two bands, the upper limit of the ratio of the two designated frequencies and the miniaturization factor of the proposed circuit. Hybrid couplers operating at 2.45/5.2 GHz with various power division ratios are designed, fabricated and tested. Experiment results are compared with the theory and simulation.     

Effect of phosphorus on the mechanical behavior of a Zr-Nb alloy

The flow stress of Zr-1.0Nb increased with the addition of 20 ppm phosphorous and the activation volume decreased with the addition of 300 ppm phosphorous at room temperature. The rate-controlling mechanism of the deformation of Zr-Nb-P is thought to be the dislocation-solute interaction in which the segregation of alloying elements affects the activation length. Less effective strengthening of phosphorous in Zr-Nb compared to sulphur was explained by a smaller electrostatic interaction between phosphorous atoms and dislocations.     

TEM investigations of MN nitride phases in a 9% chromium ferritic/martensitic steel with normalization conditions for nuclear reactors

The investigations on the precipitate phases in a 9%Cr ferritic/martensitic steel under different normalization conditions have been made by using a transmission electron microscope and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Hot-rolled steel samples were normalized at 1050-1200 °C for 1-2 h followed by an air cooling to room temperature. MN vanadium nitride precipitates with a plate-like morphology and a chemical formula of about (V_0.4Nb_0.4Cr_0.2)N have been observed at triple junctions, grain boundaries and within matrix in the steel samples normalized at 1050-1150 °C for 1-2 h, but they were dissolved out at 1200 °C within 1 h. Vanadium nitride is a stable phase at 1050 °C according to thermocalc prediction of equilibrium phases in the steel. With increasing normalizing temperature and time, there was no a striking change in the chemical composition of metallic elements in the MN phase, but a considerable increase in the size of the MN precipitate.     

Precipitate phases of a ferritic/martensitic 9% Cr steel for nuclear power reactors

One of the reasons that ferritic/martenstic steels have been considered as candidate materials for nuclear power reactors is their superior creep resistance at elevated temperature. The creep rupture strength of 9% chromium steel could be improved by a fine dispersion of secondary precipitate phase. The precipitate phases in extra-low carbon 9% chromium steel with tempered conditions were investigated by transmission electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The steel specimens were normalized and then tempered at different temperatures. Niobium-rich MN nitrides (Nb_0.6V_0.3Cr_0.1)N, and two kinds of vanadium nitrides, (V_0.6Nb_0.2Cr_0.2)N and (V_0.45Nb_0.45Cr_0.1)N having a f.c.c. crystal structure, were identified in the steel specimens tempered at 600-780 °C, and 750 or 780 °C respectively. Hexagonal chromium-rich M₂N precipitate phases with different lattice parameters, a = 2.80 Å/c = 4.45 Å and a = 7.76 Å/c = 4.438 Å, were determined in the tempered steel specimens. The M₂N phase showed a decrease/an increase in its chromium/vanadium content as the tempering temperature was increased. The influence of precipitates and heat treatment conditions on the high temperature properties of 9% Cr steel was discussed.     

Industrial agglomeration,geographic innovation and total factor productivity: The case of Taiwan

The paper analyses the impact of geographic innovation on total factor productivity (TFP) in Taiwan in 2001 using 242 four-digit standard industrial classification (SIC) industries. We compute TFP by estimating Translog production functions with K, L, E and M inputs, and measure the geographic innovative activity using both Krugman's Gini coefficients and the location Herfindahl index. We also consider the geographic innovation variable as an endogenous variable and use two stage least squares (2SLS) to obtain a consistent, albeit inefficient, estimator. The empirical results show a significantly positive effect of geographic innovation, as well as R&D expenditure, on TFP. These results are robust for the Gini coefficients and location Herfindahl index, when industrial characteristics and heteroskedasticity are controlled. Moreover the Hausman test shows that the geographic innovation variable should be treated as endogenous which supports the modern theory of industrial clustering regarding innovation spillovers within clusters.