Aktivitäten v. a. osteuropäischer Biosphärenreservate und UNESCO-Schulen zur Umsetzung der UN-Dekade „Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (2005-2014)"

Seit Beginn der UN-Dekade „Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung“ ist ein Jahr vergangen. Wie weit sind die west- und osteuropäische Länder mit deren Umsetzung? An der Forschungsstelle „Region und Nachhaltigkeit“ wurde dazu im Fachbereich Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaft der Hochschule Fulda eine erste Voruntersuchung1 angestellt, die die Fortschritte von ausgewählten west- und osteuropäischen Ländern betrachtet. Der Vergleich bezieht sich auf zwei kleinere osteuropäische Länder – Tschechien und die Slowakei – sowie drei große osteuropäische Länder – Russland,Weißrussland, Ukraine – und dementsprechend zwei kleine westeuropäische Länder – Österreich und Dänemark sowie drei große – Spanien, Italien und Frankreich. Erkennbar ist, dass die untersuchten westeuropäischen Länder – vor allem Frankreich und Österreich – mit der Umsetzung bereits begonnen haben. In den untersuchten osteuropäischen Ländern ist man sich der UN-Dekade “Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung“ zwar bewusst, es scheinen aber noch konkrete Schritte der Umsetzung zu fehlen. Vermutlich setzten Schulen die UN-Dekade „Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung“ deshalb noch nicht ausreichend um, weil bisher kaum Impulse seitens der Bildungsministerien kamen. Statt Nachhaltigkeit dominiert das Thema Umweltbildung. Bemerkenswert ist, dass manche Schulen und auch Biosphärenreservate „Umweltbildung“ und „Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung“ schwer voneinander abgrenzen können

Identification, Design and Biological Evaluation of Heterocyclic Quinolones Targeting Plasmodium falciparum Type II NADH:Quinone Oxidoreductase (PfNDH2)

Following a program undertaken to identify hit compounds against NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (PfNDH2), a novel enzyme target within the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, hit to lead optimization led to identification of CK-2-68, a molecule suitable for further development. In order to reduce ClogP and improve solubility of CK-2-68 incorporation of a variety of heterocycles, within the side chain of the quinolone core, was carried out, and this approach led to a lead compound SL-2-25 (8b). 8b has IC(50)s in the nanomolar range versus both the enzyme and whole cell P. falciparum (IC(50) = 15 nM PfNDH2; IC(50) = 54 nM (3D7 strain of P. falciparum) with notable oral activity of ED(50)/ED(90) of 1.87/4.72 mg/kg versus Plasmodium berghei (NS Strain) in a murine model of malaria when formulated as a phosphate salt. Analogues in this series also demonstrate nanomolar activity against the bc(1) complex of P. falciparum providing the potential added benefit of a dual mechanism of action. The potent oral activity of 2-pyridyl quinolones underlines the potential of this template for further lead optimization studies

Effect of preparation of Pd and Pd-Pt catalysts from acid leached silica-alumina on their activity in HDS of thiophene and benzothiophene

Mesoporous silica-alumina (MSA) modified by post-synthesis acid leaching was studied as a support for Pd and Pd-Pt catalysts. Activity of catalysts was evaluated in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of model compounds (thiophene and benzothiophene). The leaching decreased the Al(2)O(3) content of MSA from 52 to 9 wt.%. This treatment mainly removed the non-acidic extra-framework Al(oct) species, exposed the Bronsted acidic sites and increased the BET surface area by 50%. The higher acidity and surface area improved the activities of Pd catalysts in HDS of thiophene and benzothiophene. Pd(OAc)(2) deposited on the leached MSA gave the best monometallic Pd catalyst. Two bimetallic Pd-Pt catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation of the leached MSA with Pd(OAc)(2) + Pt(NH(3))(4)(OH)(2) and Pd(OAc)(2) + H(2)PtCl(6). The bimetallic catalyst prepared from Pt(NH(3))(4)(OH)(2) showed significant promotional effect and exhibited the highest activity in HDS of thiophene and benzothiophen

A Novel Sol-Gel Route To Pinhole-Free Iron Sulfide Thin Films

The general purpose of the study is to fabricate and improve upon FeS2 thin films which can be used as the photon absorber layer for a heterojunction or homojunction solar cell. This work deals with the preparation of the pyrite by an unconventional sol-gel approach. Thin pyrite films were prepared by sulfurizing the iron oxide films previously deposited through the sol-gel method using iron (III) chloride as a precursor. The structural, morphological, electronic and optical properties of the deposited films were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, Hall effect and profilometry. The effects of annealing and sulfurization temperatures were studied. The work was also devoted to the research of sodium diffusion from the substrate due to the thermal treatment and its affect on the pyrite films functionality

FeO-based nanostructures and nanohybrids for photoelectrochemical water splitting

The need to satisfy the growing global population's enormous energy demands is a major challenge for modern societies. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting (WS) is seen as a leading strategy for producing an extremely promising renewable store of energy - hydrogen (H-2). However, PEC-WS is a complex process involving several sequential physicochemical reaction steps including light absorption, separation of photoexcited charges, and surface redox reactions. At present, FeO-based semiconductors represent a unique class of materials known to exhibit very high performance in all these processes. This review summarizes and critically discusses the major components of PEC-WS systems incorporating FeO-based light-harvesting systems, and outlines the progress that has been made, particularly over the last decade. Emphasis is placed on materials used as photoanodes (including hematite and nonhematite iron oxides, spinel iron ferrites, and pseudobrookite iron titanates) as well as materials used as cocatalysts and passivation layers - notably iron hydroxyoxides and their composites. We discuss strategies for overcoming the main limitations of the aforementioned materials via nanostructuring, elemental doping, surface decoration, and the formation of advanced hybrid nanoarchitectures. Finally, we use this knowledge to present a critical overview of the field and the future prospects of Fe-O semiconductors in PEC-WS applications

TiO2 Nanotubes on Transparent Substrates: Control of Film Microstructure and Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Performance

Transfer of semiconductor thin films on transparent and or flexible substrates is a highly desirable process to enable photonic, catalytic, and sensing technologies. A promising approach to fabricate nanostructured TiO2 films on transparent substrates is self-ordering by anodizing of thin metal films on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). Here, we report pulsed direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering for the deposition of titanium thin films on conductive glass substrates at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 450 °C. We describe in detail the influence that deposition temperature has on mechanical, adhesion and microstructural properties of titanium film, as well as on the corresponding TiO2 nanotube array obtained after anodization and annealing. Finally, we measure the photoelectrochemical water splitting activity of different TiO2 nanotube samples showing that the film deposited at 150 °C has much higher activity correlating well with the lower crystallite size and the higher degree of self-organization observed in comparison with the nanotubes obtained at different temperatures. Importantly, the film showing higher water splitting activity does not have the best adhesion on glass substrate, highlighting an important trade-off for future optimization

Ultrafine TiO2 Nanoparticle Supported Nitrogen-Rich Graphitic Porous Carbon as an Efficient Anode Material for Potassium-Ion Batteries

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have attracted enormous attention as a next-generation energy storage system due to their low cost, fast ionic conductivity within electrolytes, and high operating voltage. However, developing suitable electrode materials to guarantee high-energy output and structural stability to ensure long cycling performance remains a critical challenge. Herein, anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are encapsulated in nitrogen-rich graphitic carbon (TiO2@NGC) with hierarchical pores and high surface area (250 m2 g−1) using the Ti-based metal–organic framework NH2-MIL-125 (Ti8O8(OH)4(NH2-bdc)6 with NH2-bdc2− = 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) as a sacrificial template. Serving as the anode material in a K-ion half-cell, TiO2@NGC delivers a high capacity of 228 mA h g−1 with remarkable cycling performance (negligible loss over 2000 cycles with more than 98% Coulombic efficiency). The charge-storing mechanism is underpinned using ex situ characterization techniques such as ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. It is revealed that the original TiO2 phase gets transformed to the anorthic Ti7O13 and monoclinic K2Ti4O9 phase after the first charge/discharge cycle, which further initiates the charge storage process via the conversion reactions.</p