Titanium phosphate for Fuel Cell Proton Conduction Membranes

Environmental issues due to increases in emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases are driving the development of clean energy delivery technologies such as fuel cells. Low temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) use hydrogen as a fuel and their only emission is water. While significant advances have been made in recent years, a major limitation of the current technology is the cost and materials limitations of the proton conduction membrane. The proton exchange membrane performs three critical functions in the PEMFC membrane electrode assembly (MEA): (i) conduction of protons with minimal resistance from the anode (where they are generated from hydrogen) to the cathode (where they combine with oxygen and electrons, from the external circuit or load), (ii) providing electrical insulation between the anode and cathode to prevent shorting, and (iii) providing a gas impermeable barrier to prevent mixing of the fuel (hydrogen) and oxidant. The PFSA (perfluorosulphonic acid) family of membranes is currently the best developed proton conduction membrane commercially available, but these materials are limited to operation below 100oC (typically 80oC, or lower) due to the thermochemical limitations of this polymer. For both mobile and stationary applications, fuel cell companies require more durable, cost effective membrane technologies capable of delivering enhanced performance at higher temperatures (typically 120oC, or higher. This is driving research into a wide range of novel organic and inorganic materials with the potential to be good proton conductors and form coherent membranes. There are several research efforts recently reported in the literature employing inorganic nanomaterials. These include functionalised silica phosphates [1,2], fullerene [3] titania phosphates [4], zirconium pyrophosphate [5]. This work addresses the functionalisation of titania particles with phosphoric acid. Proton conductivity measurements are given together with structural properties.

Mesoporous dye-doped titanium dioxide for micro-optoelectronic applications

Optically transparent, mesostructured titanium dioxide thin films were fabricated using an amphiphilic poly(alkylene oxide) block copolymer template in combination with retarded hydrolysis of a titanium isopropoxide precursor. Prior to calcination, the films displayed a stable hexagonal mesophase and high refractive indices (1.5 to 1.6) relative to mesostructured silica (1.43). After calcination, the hexagonal mesophase was retained with surface areas >300 m2 g-1. The dye Rhodamine 6G (commonly used as a laser dye) was incorporated into the copolymer micelle during the templating process. In this way, novel dye-doped mesostructured titanium dioxide films were synthesised. The copolymer not only directs the film structure, but also provides a solubilizing environment suitable for sustaining a high monomer-to-aggregate ratio at elevated dye concentrations. The dye-doped films displayed optical thresholdlike behaviour characteristic of amplified spontaneous emission. Soft lithography was successfully applied to micropattern the dye-doped films. These results pave the way for the fabrication and demonstration of novel microlaser structures and other active optical structures. This new, high-refractive index, mesostructured, dye-doped material could also find applications in areas such as optical coatings, displays and integrated photonic devices.

Modelling fungal growth on surfaces

Fungal growth in time and space at the substrate surface was modelled for a simple system mimicking solid-state fermentation, using a polycarbonate Nucleopore membrane laid over a glucose solution. Biomass production depends on both tip density and the diffusion of glucose within the fungal hyphae. The model predicts early increases in both height and concentration, followed by a period in which the biomass profile moves with a constant wavefront. The rate of increase in height increases as tip diffusivity increases or as the Monod saturation constant for glucose decreases.

A comparative study of the fluidized-bed coating of cylindrical metal surfaces with various thermoplastic polymer powders

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation into the fluidized-bed coating of cylindrical metal specimens using two types of thermoplastic powders, Rilsan(R) PA11, a nylon-11 powder produced by Elf Atochem, France and Cotene(TM) 4612, a linear low density polyethylene powder produced by J.R Courtenay (New Zealand). The effects of dipping time, preheat temperature and particle size distribution on coating thickness and surface finish were investigated. Consistent trends in coating thickness growth with dipping time were obtained for both nylon-11 and polyethylene powders with increases in coating thickness with preheat temperature. For the same preheat temperature, the lower melting point of polyethylene results in thicker coatings compared to those of nylon-11. There is a negligible change in the coating thickness for sieved powders compared to that for unsieved powders. A pre-heat temperatures of between 240 degrees C and 300 degrees C is necessary to achieve an acceptable surface finish with both nylon-11 and polyethylene powders. To minimize errors in achieving the desired coating thickness, dipping times shorter than 2 s are not recommended. The use of graphs of coating thickness versus dipping time in combination with the coating surface roughness plots presented in this paper enable the optimal choice of pre-heat temperature and dipping time to achieve acceptable surface finish. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

Paramagnetism of caesium titanium alum

Caesium titanium alum, CsTi(SO4)(2) . 12H(2)O, is a beta alum and exhibits a large trigonal field and a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect. Exact calculations of the linear (2)T(2)xe Jahn-Teller coupling show that in the strict S-6 Site symmetry the ground multiplet consists of a Kramers doublet 2 Gamma(6) with magnetic splitting factors g(parallel to)=1.1 and g perpendicular to=0, a Gamma(4) Gamma(5) doublet at similar to 60 cm(-1) with g(parallel to)=2.51 and g(perpendicular to)=0.06 and another Gamma(4) Gamma(5) doublet at similar to 270 cm(-1) with g(parallel to)=1.67 and g(perpendicular to)=1.83. The controversial g values observed below 4.2 K, g(parallel to)=1.25 and g(perpendicular to)=1.14, are shown to arise from low symmetry distortions. These distortions couple the vibronic levels and induce into the ground state the off-diagonal axial Zeeman interaction that exists between the first excited and the ground vibronic levels. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.

Myelin proteolipid protein expressed in COS-1 cells is targeted to actin-associated surfaces

The compact myelin sheath represents one of the largest expanses of membrane-membrane contact in the body and, in the central nervous system, requires the myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) for assembly, To determine whether the molecular properties of PLP promote membrane adhesion and direct its subcellular localization in the absence of oligodendrocyte-specific targeting mechanisms, PLP was expressed in COS-I fibroblasts, Immunofluorescence staining indicated that PUP was translated effectively, transited the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, was delivered to the cell surface, and was endocytosed, In the plasma membrane, the PLP distribution was patchy and only sporadically coincided with sites of membrane-membrane contact between PLP-expressing cells, PLP was not randomly distributed, however, but correlated closely with microfilament locations in leading edge membranes and microvilli, as demonstrated by phalloidin double labeling, Our results indicate that even in non-myelinating cells, PLP can be concentrated in membranes associated with movement and growth, and suggest possible roles for the actin cytoskeleton in PLP localization, As PLP, DM20, and the DM20-like M6 protein all associate with actin-enriched membranes, this may be a common feature of PLP/DM20 gene family members. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Receptor for Fc on the surfaces of schistosomes

Schistosoma mansoni masks its surface with adsorbed host proteins including erythrocyte antigens, immunoglobulins, major histocompatibility complex class I, and beta (2)-microglobulin (beta (2)m), presumably as a means of avoiding host immune responses, How this is accomplished has not been explained. To identify surface receptors for host proteins, we biotinylated the tegument of live S, mansoni adults and mechanically transformed schistosomula and then removed the parasite surface with detergent, Incubation of biotinylated schistosome surface extracts witt l human immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc-Sepharose resulted in purification of a 97-kDa protein that was subsequently identified as paramyosin (Pmy), using antiserum specific for recombinant Pmy, Fc also bound recombinant S. mansoni Pmy and native S. japonicum Pmy, Antiserum to Pmy decreased the binding of Pmy to Fc-Sepharose, and no proteins bound after removal of Pmy from extracts. Fluoresceinated human Fe bound to the surface, vestigial penetration glands, and nascent oral cavity of mechanically transformed schistosomula, and rabbit anti-Pmy Fab fragments ablated the binding of Fc to the schistosome surface, Pmy coprecipitated with host IgG from parasite surface extracts, indicating that complexes formed on the parasite surface as well as in vitro. Binding of Pmy to Fe was not inhibited by soluble protein A, suggesting that Pmy does not bind to the region between the CH2 and CH3 domains used by many other Fc-binding proteins. beta (2)m did not bind to the schistosome Fc receptor (Pmy), a finding that contradicts reports from earlier workers but did bind to a heteromultimer of labeled schistosomula surface proteins, This is the first report of the molecular identity of a schistosome Fc receptor; moreover it demonstrates an additional aspect of the unusual and multifunctional properties of Pmy from schistosomes and other parasitic flatworms.

Photocatalytic degradation of the cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin, using titanium dioxide and UV irradiation

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii produces the cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin, which is commonly found in SouthEast Queensland water reservoirs, and has been responsible for the closure of these reservoirs as a source of drinking water in recent times. Thus, alternative more effective treatment methods need to be investigated for the removal of toxins such as cylindrospermopsin. This study examined the effectiveness of two brands of titanium dioxide under UV photolysis for the degradation of cylindrospermopsin. Results indicate that titanium dioxide is an efficient photocatalyst for cylindrospermopsin degradation. The titanium dioxide (TiO2), brand Degussa P-25 was found to be more efficient than the alternate brand Hombikat UV-100. There was an influence from solution pH (4, 7, and 9) with both brands of titanium dioxide, with high pH resulting in the best degradation rate. Importantly, there was no adsorption of cylindrospermopsin to titanium dioxide particles as seen with other cyanotoxins, which would adversely influence the degradation rate. Degradation rates were not influenced by temperature (19-34 degreesC) when P-25 was the source of TiO2, some temperature influence was observed with UV-100. Dissolved organic carbon concentration will reduce the efficiency of titanium dioxide for cylindrospermopsin degradation, however the presence of other inorganic matter in natural waters greatly assists the photocatalytic process. With minimal potentially toxic by-product formation expected with this treatment, and the effective degradation of cylindrospermopsin, titanium dioxide UV photolysis is a promising speculative alternative water treatment method. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of pore structure and coordination of titanium in TiO2 and SiO2-TiO2 sol-pillared clays

Titania sol-pillared clay (TiO2 PILC) and silica-titania sol-pillared clay (SiO2-TiO2 PILC) were synthesized by the sol-gel method. Supercritical drying (SCD) and treatment with quaternary ammonium surfactants were used to tailor the pore structure of the resulting clay. It was found that SCD approach increased the external surface area of the PILCs dramatically and that treatment with surfactants could be used to tailor pore size because the mesopore formation in the galleries between the clay layers follows the templating mechanism as observed in the synthesis of MCM-41 materials. Highly mesoporous solids were thus obtained. In calcined TiO2 PILC, ultrafine crystallites in anatase phase, which are active for photocatalytic oxidation of organics, were observed. In SiO2-TiO2 PILCs and their derivatives, titanium was highly dispersed in the matrix of silica and no crystal phase was observed. The highly dispersed titanium sites are good catalytic centers for selective oxidation of organic compounds. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Empirical evidence for ultrametric structure in multi-layer perceptron error surfaces

Combinatorial optimization problems share an interesting property with spin glass systems in that their state spaces can exhibit ultrametric structure. We use sampling methods to analyse the error surfaces of feedforward multi-layer perceptron neural networks learning encoder problems. The third order statistics of these points of attraction are examined and found to be arranged in a highly ultrametric way. This is a unique result for a finite, continuous parameter space. The implications of this result are discussed.

Surface-active phospholipid in total hip arthroplasty

This is the first report of surface-active phospholipid as the boundary lubricant in total hip arthroplasty. Aspirate and rinsings from the bearing surfaces of 25 revision operations and one primary surgery were analyzed from 3 weeks to 26 years postoperatively. All samples contained substantial amounts of surface-active phospholipids ranging from 14 to 4186 μg. These findings indicate that synoviocytes continue producing the lubricant in significant quantities after arthroplasty surgery independent of the type of joint replacement and its fixation. Surface-active phospholipid was found on all bearing surfaces analyzed including polyethylene, stainless steel, chrome cobalt, alumina, zirconia, and titanium.

Exploring complex fitness surfaces: Multiple ornamentation and polymorphism in male guppies

The sexual ornamentation used by male guppies to attract females comprises many components, each of which varies considerably among males. Although natural and sexual selection have been shown to contribute to divergence among populations in male sexual ornaments, the role of sexual selection in maintaining polymorphism within populations is less clear. We used both parametric quadratic regression and nonparametric projection pursuit regression techniques to reveal the major axes of non-linear sexual selection on male ornaments. We visualized the fitness surfaces defined by these axes using thin-plate splines to allow a direct comparison of the two methodologies. Identification of the major axes of selection and their visualization was critical in determining the form and strength of nonlinear selection. Both types of analysis revealed fitness surfaces comprising three peaks, suggesting that there is more than one way to make an attractive guppy. Disruptive selection may be an important process underlying the presence of multiple sexual ornaments and may contribute to the maintenance of the high levels of polymorphism in male sexual ornaments found in guppy populations.