Deposition of nanostructured LSM perovskite thin film on dense YSZ substrate by airbrushed solution combustion (ASC) for application in SOFC cathodes

[EN] To make SOFC high efficiency energy generation devices, thin ceramic films are proposed as their main components. The rate of the oxygen reduction reaction is relevant for the overall performance of the SOFC, hence a lot of attention is given to the cathodes and their interfaces. The airbrushed solution combustion (ASC) method was used to fabricate an LSM thin film on a dense YSZ substrate. A single phase LSM perovskite was obtained with very thin and interconnected porosity, and a small average grain size (55 nm). The nanostructured LSM thin film electrode showed a low total activation energy (1.27 eV) at high temperatures, but a high area specific resistance at 850°C (55 Ω.cm²). The activation energy for the dissociative adsorption and diffusion of oxygen was significantly low (1.27eV), while the charge transfer and oxygen ion migration activation energy at the LSM/YSZ interface (1.28 eV) was closer to those usually reported.The authors would like to thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNpQ) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) in Brazil and Instituto de Cerámica y Vidrio (ICV) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) in Spain.Peer reviewe

New direct alcohol and hydrogen fuel cells for naval and aeronautical applications (PILCONAER)

In the current context of demand for reliable, low cost and low environmental impact energy sources, many countries and companies are mostly focused on fuel cells (FC) in fields as transportation and stationary power generation and portable devices. Lately, FCs have begun to be applied in naval and aeronautical systems due to its high efficiency, low noise and environmental advantages. These applications could range from propulsion systems to auxiliary power units(APU). The main problems associated with the use of FCs in these areas are the current high cost due to the materials used, i.e. Nafion and Pt, the lack of durability testing in these specific conditions, security issues to flammability and high H2 pressures and low availability as a fuel, or the toxicity of methanol used as a fuel, and specific parameters such as weight in aircraft applications and volume in marine applications. Currently it is working on each of these issues, and at this point the ethanol as direct fuel is considered crucial. The use of ethanol as fuel has the advantage of easy transportation, storage and refueling, and is nontoxic. Bioethanol is a promising energy source, produced from raw materials containing sugar or starch. These raw materials exists in all parts of the world and is renewable, which involves the use of local energy sources contributing to the diversification of energy supply, reducing import dependence, increasing security of supply and generating new opportunities for agriculture. The main objective of the project is the development of low power stacks (stacks) fed with methanol (DMFC)and ethanol (DEFC) based on the development of new catalysts and membranes. PILCONAER aims contributing to the development of a sustainable use technology, further commitment to the restoration of the natural environment and biodiversity conservation

Genetic landscape of 6089 inherited retinal dystrophies affected cases in Spain and their therapeutic and extended epidemiological implications

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), defined by dysfunction or progressive loss of photoreceptors, are disorders characterized by elevated heterogeneity, both at the clinical and genetic levels. Our main goal was to address the genetic landscape of IRD in the largest cohort of Spanish patients reported to date. A retrospective hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 6089 IRD affected individuals (from 4403 unrelated families), referred for genetic testing from all the Spanish autonomous communities. Clinical, demographic and familiar data were collected from each patient, including family pedigree, age of appearance of visual symptoms, presence of any systemic findings and geographical origin. Genetic studies were performed to the 3951 families with available DNA using different molecular techniques. Overall, 53.2% (2100/3951) of the studied families were genetically characterized, and 1549 different likely causative variants in 142 genes were identified. The most common phenotype encountered is retinitis pigmentosa (RP) (55.6% of families, 2447/4403). The most recurrently mutated genes were PRPH2, ABCA4 and RS1 in autosomal dominant (AD), autosomal recessive (AR) and X-linked (XL) NON-RP cases, respectively; RHO, USH2A and RPGR in AD, AR and XL for non-syndromic RP; and USH2A and MYO7A in syndromic IRD. Pathogenic variants c.3386G > T (p.Arg1129Leu) in ABCA4 and c.2276G > T (p.Cys759Phe) in USH2A were the most frequent variants identified. Our study provides the general landscape for IRD in Spain, reporting the largest cohort ever presented. Our results have important implications for genetic diagnosis, counselling and new therapeutic strategies to both the Spanish population and other related populations.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) of the Spanish Ministry of Health (FIS; PI16/00425 and PI19/00321), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER, 06/07/0036), IIS-FJD BioBank (PT13/0010/0012), Comunidad de Madrid (CAM, RAREGenomics Project, B2017/BMD-3721), European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), the Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE), Fundación Ramón Areces, Fundación Conchita Rábago and the University Chair UAM-IIS-FJD of Genomic Medicine. Irene Perea-Romero is supported by a PhD fellowship from the predoctoral Program from ISCIII (FI17/00192). Ionut F. Iancu is supported by a grant from the Comunidad de Madrid (CAM, PEJ-2017-AI/BMD7256). Marta del Pozo-Valero is supported by a PhD grant from the Fundación Conchita Rábago. Berta Almoguera is supported by a Juan Rodes program from ISCIII (JR17/00020). Pablo Minguez is supported by a Miguel Servet program from ISCIII (CP16/00116). Marta Corton is supported by a Miguel Servet program from ISCIII (CPII17/00006). The funders played no role in study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript preparation and/or publication decisions

Síntesis por combustión de catalizadores metálicos y metal-cerámicos para su aplicación en pilas de combustible de membrana de intercambio protónico

Tesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Fecha de lectura 21-04-200

Una revisión del uso del TiO2 en terapias e ingeniería tisular

El óxido de titanio es considerado un biomaterial multifuncional con una experimentada aplicación en el reemplazo óseo. Sin embargo, gracias a sus propiedades, en los últimos años se ha demostrado la viabilidad de este óxido en nuevas áreas de la biomedicina, como es la ingeniería de tejidos. En esta revisión se pretenden exponer nuevas aportaciones del TiO2-x en su interacción con diferentes tipos celulares, revisando aquellas características físico-químicas del material que pueden explicar la naturaleza de su elevada biocompatibilidad. Se demuestra la idoneidad del TiO2-x como sustrato para el crecimiento de células hepáticas, endoteliales vasculares o neuronales.Peer reviewe

Recycling of sustainable systems and substrates and its energetic use in remote zones (Vasssuren)

En: 1st Spanish National Conference on Advances in Materials Recycling and Eco – Energy Madrid, 12-13 November 2009.-- Editors: F. A. López, F. Puertas, F. J. Alguacil and A. Guerrero.-- 2 pages, 1 figure.This work deals with the development of innovative solutions to cover the energy supply in remote and depressed zones. The cost of so-called “green” energy is being reduced as its efficiency is increasing day by day, both in the electric generation through photovoltaics, wind energy or fuel cells. The aim of this work is to study, design, develop and evaluate a new integrated and self-sustained energy system, able to supply the basic electric energy to a remote and local agricultural plant. It will be integrated by photovoltaic devices used to electrically feed an electrolizer, able to obtain hydrogen from organic residues, the storage of this hydrogen will be done under pressurized tanks or by physical adsorption onto different substrates. This hydrogen will be used in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) with a power density of 5-10kW, in order to provide electricity to a local agricultural self-sustainable plant. This proposal deals also with the viability of the use of residues from the local socioeconomic base as the raw material in the electrolyzer for the hydrogen production. Therefore, generating a self-sustaining energetic system suitable for backwoods and remote areas of undeveloped countries.The authors are gratefull to the finnancial support of the following projects: UE Apollon B (NMP3-CT-033228), MICINN Mariena ENE2008-06888-C02-01/CONPeer reviewe

Membrana híbrida orgánico-inorgánico de intercambio iónico, su preparación y utilización en dispositivos electroquímicos

Membrana híbrida orgánico-inorgánico de intercambio iónico, su preparación y utilización en dispositivos electroquímicos. Membrana híbrida orgánico-inorgánico compuesta por una matriz polimérica preparada a partir de látex prevulcanizado de caucho natural y una carga inorgánica con propiedades de conductor protónico que puede actuar como separador y electrolito sólido en dispositivos electroquímicos tales como, sensores y separadores de gases, baterías o pilas de combustible. Esto les confiere unas excelentes propiedades mecánicas, sobretodo en alargamiento a la rotura, una flexibilidad muy superior a la de sus competidoras, y una inmejorable elasticidad. El proceso de producción es rápido y sencillo, no necesita ni temperaturas ni presiones elevadas, por lo que no supone un gran gasto energético. Por otra parte, no requiere el uso de ningún disolvente, por lo que no es contaminante y además es mucho mas barato.Peer reviewedConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)B1 Patente con informe sobre el estado de la ténic

Combustion synthesis and EIS characterization of TiO2–SnO2 system

TiO2 is an insulator, but using specific dopants, can modify sharply its electronic structure towards semiconducting behavior. This type of response is widely applied in many electrochemical and electrocatalytical devices, namely chlorine production, hydrocarbon oxidation, CO and CO2 hydrogenation and as electroactive substrata for biological cell growth. Combustion synthesis is a very simple, rapid and clean method for material preparation, which will be used in the preparation of the (1−x)TiO2–xSnO2, x = 0.05–0.3. Tin oxalate and titanium isopropoxide are used as precursors for the synthesis. The as-prepared powders are fine and homogeneous, the average particle size is in the range of 5–10 nm, powders and ceramic compact bodies are characterized by DRX, SEM–TEM–EDX, DTA–TG and EIS. The impedance spectroscopy of the sample 10 mol% of SnO2 indicates the presence of several phases which promote a matrix composite based in an electrical TiO2 insulator compatible with an electronic conducting phase tin rich. This could be attributed to the spinodal decomposition effect observed in TiO2–SnO2 system.Peer reviewe

Study of material combustion synthesis by image analysis

[ES] El análisis de la imagen obtenida por una cámara de video digital se utiliza para el estudio de la reacción de síntesis por combustión de Sm0.95CoO3-δ. El método de combustión presenta como característica intrínseca la generación de materiales nanométricos cerámicos y metal-cerámicos; permitiendo la producción de compuestos con actividad catalítica. En este trabajo se obtienen polvos de tamaño de cristalito entorno a 5 nm, con una superficie específica de 24 m2/g y como consecuencia bastante reactivos. Se llevaron cabo estudios preliminares sobre la etapa de ignición de la síntesis usando el análisis de imagen por descomposición de los planos de los tres colores primarios; dichos experimentos muestran que la llama generada en esta etapa de ignición es un proceso termodinámicamente aleatorio. La finalidad de este trabajo es establecer un protocolo de experimentación para la futura correlación entre los parámetros de la síntesis por combustión de un material, naturaleza y concentración de precursores entre otros, y la distribución de temperatura durante la ignición, con objeto de optimizar y controlar el proceso. Se abre una línea de investigación basada en la utilización de la técnica de análisis de imagen para realizar un seguimiento controlado de la evolución de la temperatura e intensidad de la llama durante la etapa de ignición de la síntesis por combustión de un material.[EN] Analysis of the recorded image by a digital video camera of the Sm0.95CoO3-δ combustion synthesis is carried out. Intrinsically the combustion method yields nanometric materials (ceramic and metal-ceramic); allowing to produce catalytic powders. In this work, nanocrystalline powders of around 5 nm with 24 m2/g of specific surface area and, consequently, high reactivity powders were obtained. Preliminary studies were done about ignition step of the synthesis, using image analysis from the three primary colours planes decomposition, these experiments show that the generated flame in this ignition step is a thermodynamically random process. The final aim of this work is to establish a protocol of performance to a future correlation among relevant combustion synthesis parameters of materials, i.e. the precursors nature and concentration, and the temperature distribution during the ignition, to optimise and control the process. This investigation opens an important field, the use of image analysis to carry out a thorough study of the temperature evolution and of the flame intensity during the ignition step of a material combustion synthesis.Los autores de este trabajo agradecen la financiación de los contratos Post Doctoral I3P-CSIC, y a los proyectos CICYT MAT2001-1489-CO2-02, APOLLON ENK5-CT-2001-00572 y ACERINOX.Peer reviewe

Membrana híbrida orgánico-inorgánica de intercambio iónico, su preparación y utilización en dispositivos electyroquímicos

Fecaha de solicitud: 31-12-2008.- Titular: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)Organic-inorganic hybrid membrane characterized in that it comprises a polymer matrix prepared from natural rubber prevulcanized latex and several inorganic proton conductors, which can act as a separator and solid electrolyte in electrochemical devices such as, sensors and separators of gases, batteries or fuel cells. All this gives them excellent mechanical properties, in particular in stretching to breaking point, flexibility which is much superior to that of its competitors, and unsurpassable elasticity. The production process is rapid and simple; it does not require high temperatures or pressures, so that it does not involve high energy costs. In addition, no solvents are required, meaning that it is not pollutant and also it is much more economical.Membrana híbrida orgánica-inorgánica caracterizada por comprender una matriz polimérica preparada a partir de látex prevulcanizado de caucho natural y varios conductores protónicos inorgánicos, que puede actuar como separador y electrolito sólido en dispositivos electroquímicos tales como, sensores y separadores de gases, baterías o pilas de combustible. Esto les confiere unas excelentes propiedades mecánicas, sobre todo en alargamiento a la rotura, una flexibilidad muy superior a la de sus competidoras, y una inmejorable elasticidad. El proceso de producción es rápido y sencillo, no necesita ni temperatura ni presiones elevadas, por lo que no supone un gran gasto energético. Por otra parte, no requiere el uso de ningún disolvente, por lo que no es contaminante y admás es mucho más barato.Peer reviewe