An electrochemically impregnated sintered-nickel electrode

An electrochemically impregnated sintered-nickel porous electrode with a capacity of 225 +/- 10 mAh per g of active material has been developed. This capacity is comparable with any state-of-the-art nickel hydroxide electrode reported in the literature, such as the stabilized alpha-nickel hydroxides that contain aluminium, iron and other trivalent cations. A technical update on various types of nickel positive electrodes is given.

Interaction of nitrogen and oxygen with C60

Evidence is presented for the strong interaction of nitrogen and oxygen with buckminsterfullerene.

Low temperature synthesis and hcaracterization of Ag2S1-x Tez(O

A low-temperature route for the synthesis of Ag2S,Ag2Te and their solid solutions Ag2S1-xTex(0 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 1) is reported. Ag2S is prepared by the direct addition of silver nitrate solution to thiourea, while Ag2Te is prepared by reacting silver nitrate solution with tellurium in nitric acid and subsequently reducing it with hydrazine hydrate. The solid solutions of Ag2S and Ag2Te are obtained by the addition of nitrate solutions of silver and tellurium to thiourea followed by its reduction with hydrazine hydrate. The method enables the synthesis of low-temperature crystalline phase of Ag2S1-xTex solid solutions. The powder X-ray diffraction studies suggest that the solid solutions of compositions x < 0.3 have a phase akin to alpha-Ag2S and those with compositions x > 0.6 are similar to alpha-Ag2Te. In the intermediate range of compositions (x = 0.4 and 0.5), the solid solutions are found to be mixtures of alpha-Ag2S and alpha-Ag2Te phases which transform totally to alpha-Ag2S phase on prolonged annealing at about 473 K.

On the performance of stabilized ?-nickel hydroxide as a nickel-positive electrode in alkaline storage batteries

The internal resistance of a stabilized alpha-nickel hydroxide electrode is found to be lower than that of a beta-nickel hydroxide electrode as shown from studies of the open-circuit potential-time transients at all states-of-charge. Nevertheless, the self-discharge rates of the former is higher. Gasometric studies reveal that the charging efficiency of the alpha-nickel hydroxide electrode is higher than that of the beta-nickel hydroxide electrode.

Peristaltic pumping in a circular tube in the presence of an eccentric catheter

The influence of an eccentrically inserted catheter on the peristaltic pumping in a tube is investigated under long wavelength, low Reynolds number assumptions. The radially asymmetric deformation of the wall arising through an eccentrically inserted catheter is taken into consideration by choosing an appropriate bipolar coordinate system. The effect of the position and size of the catheter on pumping characteristics is studied. The best performance of pumping is noticed at a certain position of the catheter. The size of the catheter, when placed eccentrically, alters the pressure signature significantly inside the bolus, unlike the concentric case discussed by Lykoudis and Roos (1971). Further, the maximum pressure rise in one period of the peristaltic wave is observed to decrease with an increase in the eccentricity.

Peristaltic transport of two immiscible viscous fluids in a circular tube

Peristaltic motion of two immiscible viscous incompressible fluids in a circular tube is studied in pumping and copumping ranges under long-wavelength and low-Reynolds-number assumptions. The effect of the peripheral-layer viscosity on the time-averaged flux and the mechanical efficiency is studied. The formation and growth of the trapping zone in the core and the peripheral layer are explained. It is observed that the bolus volume in the peripheral layer increases with an increase in the viscosity ratio. The limits of the time-averaged flux (Q) over bar for trapping in the core are obtained. The trapping observed in the peripheral layer decreases in size with an increase in (Q) over bar but never disappears. The development of the complete trapping of the core fluid by the peripheral-layer fluid with an increase in the time-averaged flux is demonstrated. The effect of peripheral-layer viscosity on the reflux layer is investigated. It is also observed that the reflux occurs in the entire pumping range for all viscosity ratios and it is absent in the entire range of copumping.

Peristaltic transport of a biofluid in a pipe of elliptic cross section

Peristaltic transport of two fluids occupying the peripheral layer and the core in an elliptic tube is, investigated in elliptic cylindrical co-ordinate system, under long wavelength and low Reynolds number approximations. The effect of peripheral-layer viscosity on the flow rate and the frictional force for a slightly elliptic tube is discussed. The limiting results for the one-fluid model are obtained for different eccentricities of the undisturbed tube cross sections with the same area. As a result of non-uniformity of the peristaltic wave, two different amplitude ratios are defined and the time-averaged flux and mechanical efficiency are studied for different eccentricities. It is observed that the time-averaged flux is not affected significantly by the pressure drop when the eccentricity is large. For the peristaltic waves with same area variation, the pumping seems to improve with the eccentricity.

Solid Oxide-Ion Electrolytes

Solid oxide-ion electrolytes find application in oxygen sensors, oxygen pumps and in high-temperature electrolyser-fuel-cell hybrid systems. All the solid electrolytes known so Qr, however, exhibit: tow oxide-ion conductivities below 973 K. Therefore, there is a need for fast oxide-ion conductors operative at temperatures around 673 K, Recently, efforts have been directed towards developing such materials. This article summarizes various type of oxide-ton electrolytes reported in literature and outlines a strategy for the identificatiom/synthesis of improved materials.

Structural and Dielectric-Properties Of A Novel BI2O3-(1-X)WO3-XCUO Solid-Solution

A novel solid solution in the system Bi-W-Cu-O has been synthesized and its structural and dielectric properties studied. The solid solution Bi2O3-(1-x)WO3-xCuO exists up to x = 0.7; the solid solutions up to x = 0.65 are orthorhombic but stabilize in tetragonal structure in a narrow range around x = 0.7. The solid solutions are non-centrosymmetric and exhibit ferroelectric behaviour similar to their parent phase Bi2WO6. The Curie point of the solid solution is found to decrease with increase in x.

Advances in storage batteries

Over the years, new power requirements for telecommunication, space, automotive and traction applications have arisen which need to be met. Although lead-acid and nickel-cadmium storage batteries continue to be the work horses with limited advances, associated environmental hazards and recycling are still the issues to be resolved. As a result, lead-acid and nickel-cadmium storage batteries have declined in importance whilst nickel-metal hydride and lithium secondary batteries with superior performances have shown greater acceptability in newer applications. These developments are reflected in this article.

Effect of chronic administration of Tamoxifen on fertility in male bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata)

Administration of Tamoxifen via the Alzet pump at a rate of 50 mu g hr(-1) for 90 days in the adult male bonnet monkeys Macaca radiata had no effect on the serum testosterone concentration determined at 10 AM and 10 PM as well as total sperm count determined at 15-day intervals over a period of 260 days. However, a significant reduction in sperm motility was observed beyond 90 days up until the 225th day. Breeding studies conducted from day 90 to 260 revealed that these males were infertile.

Methanol electrooxidation on carbon-supported Pt-WO3−x electrodes in sulphuric acid electrolyte

Electrooxidation of methanol has been studied in sulphuric acid electrolyte at 60 degrees C on carbon-supported Pt-WO3-x, electrodes employing varying amounts of WO3-x,. It is found that the electrodes containing (3:1) Pt-WO3-x, composite catalyst exhibit a higher catalytic activity towards methanol electrooxidation than platinized carbon electrodes without WO3-x. In the light of the XPS and XRD data on the carbon-supported (3:1) Pt-WOx sample, it is speculated that the WOx is present in the form of an oxyhydroxide, which can promote surface oxy-species on platinum by proton transfer.

New records from India and redescripton of Corynascus thermophilus and its anamorph Myceliophthora fergusii

Studies of Indian thermophilic fungi have yielded several isolations of Myceliophthora fergusii, anamorph of the heterothallic ascomycete Corynascus thermophilus (Thielaviaceae). Identification was confirmed by matings. Chrysosporium fermentotritici is a synonym of M. fergusii.

Stereospecific solid-state NaBH4-promoted reduction of 1-methylpentacyclo[5.4.0.0(2,6).0(3,10).0(5,9)]undecane-8,11-dione

NaBH4 reduction of a cage dione proceeds in a stereospecific fashion to give the endo,endo-diol. This reactivity is related to the crystal structure.