Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Review of Recent Developments and Problems

The design of metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) has again aroused interest in recent years due to their low cost of materials, strength, and resistance to thermal cycling, as well as the advantages of manufacturability. MS-SOFCs are promising electrochemical devices for hydrogen energy. Compared to SOFCs, where ceramic electrodes or electrolytes are used as a carrier base, they are of great interest due to their fast start-up capability, greater reliability, mechanical stability, and resistance to the thermal cycle. MS-SOFCs have many advantages over conventional ceramic-based SOFCs, with the selection of metal-based electrode materials (anode, cathode) and their degradation processes being some of the biggest challenges facing researchers. Therefore, this review reports on the state of the latest research on MS-SOFCs with various structures, discusses the corresponding electrode materials and their existing problems, and puts forward topical issues that need to be addressed in MS-SOFCs

Experimental determination with EPR-methods of dose loads on local population in inhabited localities adjacent to the tailing pond “Koshkar-ata” (Kazakhstan)

EPR study of TE from teeth donors in KOSHKAR–ATA region. During the first year we received22 tooth samples from local people in KOSHKAR–ATA region; the teeth were removed by dentists in accordance with their medical prescriptions. Obtained data showed that radiation signal in the analyzed samples corresponds to doses not exceeding 0.3 Gy; only one sample carriers the signal of (0.35±0.15)Gy

Experimental determination with EPR-methods of dose loads on local population in inhabited localities adjacent to the tailing pond “Koshkar-ata” (Kazakhstan)

EPR study of TE from teeth donors in KOSHKAR–ATA region. During the first year we received22 tooth samples from local people in KOSHKAR–ATA region; the teeth were removed by dentists in accordance with their medical prescriptions. Obtained data showed that radiation signal in the analyzed samples corresponds to doses not exceeding 0.3 Gy; only one sample carriers the signal of (0.35±0.15)Gy

Emerging and Recycling of Li-Ion Batteries to Aid in Energy Storage, A Review

The global population has increased over time, therefore the need for sufficient energy has risen. However, many countries depend on nonrenewable resources for daily usage. Nonrenewable resources take years to produce and sources are limited for generations to come. Apart from that, storing and energy distribution from nonrenewable energy production has caused environmental degradation over the years. Hence, many researchers have been actively participating in the development of energy storage devices for renewable resources using batteries. For this purpose, the lithium-ion battery is one of the best known storage devices due to its properties such as high power and high energy density in comparison with other conventional batteries. In addition, for the fabrication of Li-ion batteries, there are different types of cell designs including cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch cells. The development of Li-ion battery technology, the different widely used cathode and anode materials, and the benefits and drawbacks of each in relation to the most appropriate application were all thoroughly studied in this work. The electrochemical processes that underlie battery technologies were presented in detail and substantiated by current safety concerns regarding batteries. Furthermore, this review collected the most recent and current LIB recycling technologies and covered the three main LIB recycling technologies. The three recycling techniques—pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, and direct recycling—have been the subject of intense research and development. The recovery of valuable metals is the primary goal of most recycling processes. The growth in the number of used LIBs creates a business opportunity to recover and recycle different battery parts as daily LIB consumption rises dramatically

Influence of Metal Oxide Particles on Bandgap of 1D Photocatalysts Based on SrTiO3/PAN Fibers

This paper deals with the study of the optical properties of one-dimensional SrTiO3/PAN-based photocatalysts with the addition of metal oxide particles and the determination of their bandgaps. One-dimensional photocatalysts were obtained by the electrospinning method. Particles of metals such as iron, chromium, and copper were used as additives that are capable of improving the fibers’ photocatalytic properties based on SrTiO3/PAN. The optimal ratios of the solutions for the electrospinning of fibers based on SrTiO3/PAN with the addition of metal oxide particles were determined. The transmission and reflection of composite photocatalysts with metal oxide particles were measured in a wide range of spectra, from the ultraviolet region (185 nm) to near-infrared radiation (3600 nm), to determine the values of their bandgaps. Thus, the introduction of metal oxide particles resulted in a decrease in the bandgaps of the obtained composite photocatalysts compared to the initial SrTiO3/PAN (3.57 eV), with the following values: −3.11 eV for SrTiO3/PAN/Fe2O3, −2.84 eV for SrTiO3/PAN/CuO, and −2.89 eV for SrTiO3/PAN/Cr2O3. The obtained composite photocatalysts were tested for the production of hydrogen by the splitting of water–methanol mixtures under UV irradiation, and the following rates of hydrogen evolution were determined: 344.67 µmol h−1 g−1 for SrTiO3/PAN/Fe2O3, 398.93 µmol h−1 g−1 for SrTiO3/PAN/Cr2O3, and 420.82 µmol h−1 g−1 for SrTiO3/PAN/CuO

Electron thermal EMF for Na

In the present study, the temperature dependences of the thermoelectromotive force (thermo–emf) in copper selenide, substituted in a small concentration, were studied. The results of the measurements showed that the thermo–emf coefficient of the samples increases, and the conductivity decreases with increasing silver concentration in its composition. These results allow – with optimal selection of the doping regime and protective coatings – to develop on the basis of nanostructured copper selenide an effective thermoelectric for use at temperatures of 20–500°C as p–type semiconductors suitable for increasing the efficiency of thermoelectric generators

Electron thermal EMF for NaxCu2-xS

In the present study, the temperature dependences of the thermoelectromotive force (thermo–emf) in copper selenide, substituted in a small concentration, were studied. The results of the measurements showed that the thermo–emf coefficient of the samples increases, and the conductivity decreases with increasing silver concentration in its composition. These results allow – with optimal selection of the doping regime and protective coatings – to develop on the basis of nanostructured copper selenide an effective thermoelectric for use at temperatures of 20–500°C as p–type semiconductors suitable for increasing the efficiency of thermoelectric generators

Evaluation of external and internal irradiation on uranium mining enterprise staff by tooth enamel EPR spectroscopy

In order to estimate radiation effects on uranium enterprise staff and population teeth samples were collected for EPR tooth enamel dosimetry from population of Stepnogorsk city and staff of uranium mining enterprise in Shantobe settlment (Akmola region, North of Kazakhstan). By measurements of tooth enamel EPR spectra, the total absorbed dose in the enamel samples and added doses after subtraction of the contribution of natural background radiation are determined. For the population of Stepnogorsk city average added dose value of 4 +/- 11 mGy with variation of 51 mGy was obtained. For the staff of uranium mining enterprise in Shantobe settlment average value of added dose 95 +/- 20 mGy, with 85 mGy variation was obtained. Higher doses and the average value and a large variation for the staff, probably is due to the contribution of occupational exposure

Ex Situ Catalytic Pyrolysis of Invasive <i>Pennisetum purpureum</i> Grass with Activated Carbon for Upgrading Bio-Oil

Energy demands keep increasing in this modern world as the world population increases, which leads to a reduction in fossil fuels. To resolve these challenges, Pennisetum purpureum, an invasive grass in Brunei Darussalam, was examined as the feedstock for renewable energy through a catalytic pyrolysis process. The activated carbon was applied as the catalyst for a simple and economical solution. The catalytic pyrolysis was executed at 500 °C (the temperature for the highest biofuel yield) for both reactors to produce the highest amount of upgraded biofuels. The biochar produced from the non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis processes showed a consistent yield due to stable operating conditions, from which the activated carbon was generated and used as the catalyst in this work. A significant amount of improvement was found in the production of biofuels, especially bio-oil. It was found that for catalysts, the number of phenolic, alcohol, furans, and ketones was increased by reducing the amount of acidic, aldehyde, miscellaneous oxygenated, and nitrogenous composites in bio-oils. The highest amount of phenolic compounds was produced due to a number of functional groups (-C=O and -OH) in activated carbon. The regenerated activated carbons also showed promising outcomes as catalysts for upgrading the bio-oils. The overall performance of synthesized and regenerated activated carbon as a catalyst in catalytic pyrolysis was highly promising for improving the quality and stability of bio-oil