Preparation and Characterization of Sulfonated Poly (ether ether ketone)/Phosphated Zirconia Nanoparticles Composite Proton-conducting Membranes

Proton-conducting membranes of organic–inorganic (sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone)/phosphated zirconia nanoparticles) composite were prepared by incorporating various ratios of phosphated zirconia nanoparticles (ZP) in sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK). SPEEK/ZP showed an improvement of properties compared with those of the parent SPEEK membrane. Key amongst these is increased proton conductivity to 0.02Scm–1, reduced water uptake to 22 % and reduced methanol permeability to 1.13 × 10–7 cm2 s–1. The methanol permeability was decreased by 28 % compared with SPEEK membrane. It was decreased by one order of magnitude compared with commercial Nafion® 117 (1.39 × 10–6 cm2 s–1).KEYWORDS: Composite membrane, phosphated zirconia, proton conductivity, SPEEK; methanol permeability, direct methanol fuel cell

Electrical impedance spectroscopy of ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (ECOENG™ 110)

When a videogame is being played it is rarely a static experience. A videogame can consist of various systems that affect each other in an unpredictable manner which makes the player experience unique for every player. Throughout the years developers of games have used random chance in a games programming to affect the user experience. Sometimes it even goes so far as to having entire games based around the idea of the game itself randomly generating content for a player to experience. This paper will examine randomly generated content in videogames. It will take examples from existing ones and describe how they use it, and reason regarding the benefits and drawbacks of having random chance affect the user experience. The paper will step-by-step examine the purpose of various commonly occurring objects and features of a typical dungeon in an adventure videogame. It will reason around their purpose, and figure out ways to use them in a structured  manner so that we can guarantee that there will be no deadlocks that the player can't overcome. This will range from the environments in rooms, the shape of them, to the objects and creatures that inhabit them, such as locked doors, keys, and bosses. And in the end they'll be combined in an application that'll provide an graphical user interface to easily examine dungeons that are randomly generated

Carbon-nanostructured materials for energy generation and storage applications

We have developed and refined a chemical vapour deposition method to synthesise nanotubes using liquid petroleum gasasthe carbonsource. The nanotubes were thoroughly characterised by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopyX-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The protocol to grow nanotubes was then adapted to deposit nanotubes on the surface of different substrates, which were chosen based upon howthe substrates could be applied in various hydrogen energyconver-sion systems. Carbon nanotubes area nanostructured material with an extremely wide range of application sinvariousenergy applications. The methods outlined demonstrate the completedevelopment of carbon nanotube composite materials with direct applications in hydrogen energy generation, storage and conversion

Evaluation of radiation stability of electron beam irradiated Nafion® and sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) membranes

Proton exchange membranes (PEM), which have been commonly used in fuel cells have raised interest for the application in harsh environments involving ionizing radiation. Therefore, radiation stability and ability to sustain their functionality under the radiation environment are of great interest. Within this study, electron beam irradiation in dose range from 50 to 500kGy was used to evaluate the effects of radiation on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of two types of PEM: commercial Nafion®117 and sulfonated poly(ether-ether-ketone) (SPEEK) with high degree of sulfonation (DS = 0.75±0.5). SPEEK membrane presented higher mechanical and thermal stability compared to that of Nafion® at doses up to 250 kGy, which was evidenced by infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermal analysis, ion chromatography methods. Tensile tests at room temperature and dynamical mechanical analysis of irradiated membranes revealed improved strength, storage modulus at room and elevated temperatures (80°C) for irradiated SPEEK as compared to pristine PEM. For comparison Nafion® exhibited notable deterioration of mechanical properties including elongation at break due to the predominant oxidation and chain scission already at doses exceeding 50 kGy. The study indicated that SPEEK could be perspective replacement of traditional PEM for application in fuel cells exposed to ionising radiation.peerReviewe