Pyro-electro-catalytic Disinfection using the Pyroelectric Effect in Low Curie Temperature, Lead-Free Ferroelectric Ceramics

BST particles were synthesised and used to produce a variety of materials structures, including finely ground powders (1-2µm), porous structures and dense materials, which were full characterised using physical and ferroelectric characterisation techniques. The BST materials were used in pyro-electro-catalytic decontamination of water experiments. The results were very promising, showing a significant 3-log reduction in viable bacterial cell counts (in CFU/ml), which is above the accepted 1-2 log reduction using conventional water treatment processes. Further experiments were carried out with the pyroelectric BST powders and porous structures, using other bacteria strains and indicators commonly found in contaminated water

The Spring Has Sprung: The Fate of Plant Relocation As a Mandatory Subject of Bargaining

This Comment examines the issue of whether plant relocation decisions are a mandatory subject of bargaining. The author examines the National Labor Relations Act and the potential impact of characterizing plant relocation decisions as a mandatory subject. The author then examines the Milwaukee Spring cases and their failed attempts to resolve the issue of plant relocation in labor-management relations. The author argues that the NLRB and the courts should refocus their analysis on whether plant relocation is a mandatory or permissive subject of bargaining and deemphasize boilerplate waivers. The author concludes that the balancing test set forth by the United States Supreme Court in First National Maintenance Corp. v. NLRB should be applied to determine mandatoriness, and argues that this approach would achieve relative consistency, encourage bargaining, maintain flexibility and avoid instability due to changes in political and economic conditions

Pyro-electro-catalytic disinfection using the pyroelectric effect of low Curie temperature, lead-free ferroelectric ceramics

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in pyroelectric materials for energy harvesting applications, as they have the potential to convert temperature fluctuations into electrical energy. This work investigates using low Curie temperature (Tc), lead-free, ferroelectric ceramics for pyroelectric-electrochemical catalytic reactions, such as water splitting, dye degradation and disinfection of water.<br/

Senior Recital: Paris Roake, Cello; Lu Witzig, Piano; April 1, 2023

Kemp Recital HallApril 1, 2023Saturday Afternoon1:30 p.m

REPORT OF INVENTION ON THE PREPARATION OF PLUTONIUM TRIFLUORIDE

A method is described for the preparation of PuF/sub 3/ by means of a solid phase-gas reaction between Pu(IV) oxatate or Pu(III) oxalate and Freon-type compounds such as CC1/sub 2/F/sib 2/. (auth

Thermal energy harvesting using pyroelectric-electrochemical coupling in ferroelectric materials

Recently, the coupling of ferroelectrics with electrochemical reactions has attracted increasing interest for harvesting waste heat. The change of polarisation of a ferroelectric with temperature can be used to influence chemical reactions, especially when the material is cycled near its Curie temperature. In this perspective, we introduce the principle of pyroelectric controlled electrochemical processes by harvesting waste heat energy and explore their potential electrochemical applications, such as water treatment, air purificiation and hydrogen generation. As an emerging approach for driving electrochemical reactions, the presence of thermal fluctuations and/or transient waste heat in the environment has the potential to be the primary thermal input for driving the change in polarisation of a pyroelectric to release charge for such reactions. There are a number of avenues to explore and we summarize strategies for forming multi-functional or hybrid materials and future directions such as selecting pyroelectrics with low Curie temperature (< 100 {\deg}C), improved heat conductivity, enhanced surface area or porosity, tailored microstructures and systems capable of operating over a broader temperature range

Pyro-electrolytic water splitting for hydrogen generation

Water splitting by thermal cycling of a pyroelectric element that acts as an external charge source offers an alternative method to produce hydrogen from transient low-grade waste heat or natural temperature changes. In contrast to conventional energy harvesting, where the optimised load resistance is used to maximise the combination of current and voltage, for water splitting applications there is a need to optimise the system to achieve a sufficiently high potential difference for water electrolysis, whilst also maintaining a high current output. For the thermal harvesting system examined here, a high impedance 0.5 M KOH electrolyte with working electrodes connected to a rectified pyroelectric harvester produced the highest voltage of 2.34 V, which was sufficient for H2 generation. In addition to electrolyte concentration, the frequency of the temperature oscillations was examined and reducing the heating-cooling frequency led to a larger change in temperature to generate increased pyroelectric charge and a higher potential difference for pyro-water splitting. Finally, in the absence of sacrificial reagents, cyclic production of H2 (0.654 μmol/h) was demonstrated for the optimised processing parameters of electrolyte and thermal cycling frequency using the external pyroelectric element as a charge source for water splitting