Rozkład N2ON_2O przy użyciu nowoczesnych mikro-mezoporowatych materiałów o właściwościach zeolitów

In the presented studies two modern approaches of synthesis of hierarchical micro-mesoporous materials with zeolitic properties are shown. In the first synthesis the protozeolitic particles were aggregated (under specified conditions) with simultaneous creation of mesopores between the zeolite seeds. In the second synthesis the zeolite nanoseeds were impregnated on the surface of mesoporous, amorphous SBA-15 material. Both used synthesis routs resulted in formation of combined micro-mesoporous materials with zeolitic properties, what was proven by nitrogen sorption, XRD, TGA and IRDRIFT measurements. The combination of zeolitic properties with mesopores (preferable diffusion rate) increased the accessibility of ion-exchange positions allowing the introduction of iron species nearly exclusively in the form of isolated cations. The prepared micro-mesoporous materials were tested as catalysts in low-temperature N_{2}O decomposition in the presence of oxygen

Morphology and electrical conductivity of carbon nanocoatings prepared from pyrolysed polymers

Conductive carbon nanocoatings (conductive carbon layers-CCL) were formed on \alpha-Al_{2}O_{3} model support using three different polymer precursors and deposition methods. This was done in an effort to improve electrical conductivity of the material through creating the appropriate morphology of the carbon layers. The best electrical properties were obtained with use of a precursor that consisted of poly-N-vinylformamide modified with pyromellitic acid (PMA). We demonstrate that these properties originate from a specific morphology of this layer that showed nanopores (3-4 nm) capable of assuring easy pathways for ion transport in real electrode materials. The proposed, water mediated, method of carbon coating of powdered supports combines coating from solution and solid phase and is easy to scale up process. The optimal polymer carbon precursor composition was used to prepare conductive carbon nanocoatings on LiFePO_{4} cathode material. Charge-discharge tests clearly show that C/LiFePO_{4} composites obtained using poly-N-vinylformamide modified with pyromellitic acid exhibit higher rechargeable capacity and longer working time in a battery cell than standard carbon/lithium iron phosphate composites

Funkcjonalizacja mezoporowatej krzemionki SBA-15 w wyniku szczepienia poliwinyloaminy na powierzchni modyfikowanej grupami epoksydowymi

Mesoporous SBA-15 silica was modified by grafting of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS). An influence of GPTMS/SBA-15 mass ratio used during this pre-functionalization step on the real amount of epoxy-silane grafted on the SBA-15 surface was studied by thermogravimetry and elemental analysis. The pre-functionalized SBA-15 was subsequently used to attach polyvinylamine (PVAm) chains by the opening of oxirane rings and the formation of bonds with NH2 groups from PVAm. The yield of this process was determined. Furthermore, SEM (scanning electron microscopy), DRIFT (diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy) and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) as well as zeta potential measurements were applied to observe the changes in the chemical composition of SBA-15 surface and morphology of the synthesized materials. Various types of organic functionalities present on the modified SBA-15 were identified and analyzed quantitatively.Powierzchnię mezoporowatej krzemionki SBA-15 zmodyfikowano na drodze szczepienia 3-glicydoksypropylotrimetoksysilanu (GPTMS). Z wykorzystaniem metod analiz elementarnej oraz termograwimetrycznej badano wpływ stosunku masowego GPTMS/SBA-15 zastosowanego we wstępnej modyfikacji na rzeczywistą zawartość wprowadzonych na powierzchnię krzemionki grup epoksydowych. Do powierzchni zmodyfikowanego SBA-15 przyłączono następnie łańcuchy poliwinyloaminy (PVAm) w wyniku reakcji otwierania pierścieni oksiranowych połączonej z utworzeniem wiązań z grupami NH2 pochodzącymi od PVAm. Określono wydajność tego procesu. Badania SEM (skaningowej mikroskopii elektronowej), DRIFT (spektroskopii odbicia rozproszonego w podczerwieni), XPS (spektroskopii fotoelektronów) oraz pomiary potencjału zeta pozwoliły na ocenę zmian składu chemicznego powierzchni SBA-15 oraz morfologii zsyntetyzowanych materiałów. Zidentyfikowano oraz oznaczono ilościowo różne rodzaje grup funkcyjnych obecnych na powierzchni modyfikowanej krzemionki SBA-15

Smart historical gardens

Historical parks and garden sites provide a range of social, environmental, ecosystem, recreational, and scientific services. They are witnesses of history, resources of biotic (botanical and dendrological collections) and abiotic (historical buildings or complexes) attributes, sources of knowhow about park maintenance and management accumulated over the centuries as transfer between past and future generations. A series of hazards and processes for finding the best strategies to adapt to climate change are now generally researched. They should also apply to historical greenery – it is particularly sensitive to such alterations. This study aimed to identify the most important pro-climate and pro-ecological trends as well as specific material and organisational solutions noticed by the jury of selected European professional competitions: “European Garden Award”, “Garden of the Year Award” (UK), “Monument of the Year” (Germany) and “Well-kept Monument” (Poland). The available competition regulations, published laudations, and general characteristics of individual parks were analysed. Not only did the research show a diversified level of development and approach to individual sites at the national level, but also variation in sites’ activation: from basic conservation and restoration works to implementation and promotion of pro-ecological and pro-climate solutions, as well as discrepancy in the priorities for assessing objects set by individual competition committees. An unjust tendency among the majority of researched competitions to marginalise the problem of climate change has been noticed (only recently has this problem started to draw some attention). It can contribute to the loss of a significant part of the garden heritage because any activity in such a sensitive substance requires a relatively longer time and often divides the work process into many stages. Their standardisation and equal development would strengthen the European heritage and resilience to climate change. The exchange of knowledge and experience in the form of good practices and appropriate funding can support these actions

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure with Watchman LAA occluder device in a patient with persistent atrial fibrillation

We present a case of a 74-year-old male with persistent atrial fibrillation and ischaemic stroke despite vitamin-K antagonist treatment who underwent successful left atrial appendage closure with Watchman device