Effects of bubbles on the electrochemical behavior of hydrogen-evolving Si microwire arrays oriented against gravity

The size-distribution, coverage, electrochemical impedance, and mass-transport properties of H₂ gas-bubble films were measured for both planar and microwire-array platinized n⁺-Si cathodes performing the hydrogen-evolution reaction in 0.50 M H₂SO₄ (aq). Inverted, planar n⁺-Si/Ti/Pt cathodes produced large, stationary bubbles which contributed to substantial increases in ohmic potential drops. In contrast, regardless of orientation, microwire array n⁺-Si/Ti/Pt cathodes exhibited a smaller layer of bubbles on the surface, and the formation of bubbles did not substantially increase the steady-state overpotential for H₂ (g) production. Experiments using an electroactive tracer species indicated that even when oriented against gravity, bubbles enhanced mass transport at the electrode surface. Microconvection due to growing and coalescing bubbles dominated effects due to macroconvection of gliding bubbles on Si microwire array cathodes. Electrodes that maintained a large number of small bubbles on the surface simultaneously exhibited low concentrations of dissolved hydrogen and small ohmic potential drops, thus exhibiting the lowest steady-state overpotentials. The results indicate that microstructured electrodes can operate acceptably for unassisted solar-driven water splitting in the absence of external convection and can function regardless of the orientation of the electrode with respect to the gravitational force vector

Work-Life Balance In Hospitality: Experiences From A Geneva-Based Hotel

This study, carried out on 30 employees in a Geneva-based hotel, argues that employee work-life balance issues are affected by human resource policy.  Questionnaires, containing attitude scales and open-ended questions, revealed that employees remained in their jobs because of work-life programmes.  Variables identified in this study which positively affected employee well-being included increased schedule flexibility and mutually beneficial relationships with line managers.  Negative ones included long working hours, the sacrifice of private life, invasive working hours, decreased social and family life in addition to increased fatigue and stress.  Study results also revealed that work-life balance issues perceived by employees can be mitigated through organisational support and the recognition of informal feedback

Telework: the experiences of teleworkers, their non-teleworking colleagues and their line managers at the Conseil General du Finistere

The introduction of information technology, or IT, has brought increased possibilities to work outside of the traditional office. One of these possibilities is telework. Telework refers to work carried out away from the usual place of business, often via electronic means. This investigation provides a unique contribution to the lack of empirical studies on telework in France. Despite its predicted growth, telework has not developed in the French public sector. This study uses role set analysis to assess the experiences of part-time teleworkers (who telework on average two days per week as part of their full-time schedules) at the Conseil Général du Finistère, or CGF, a regional government in Brittany, France. Role set analysis claims that the expectations of role set holders can be evaluated. In this exploratory case study, role set holders are represented by teleworkers, their non-teleworking colleagues and their line managers. Questionnaires, containing attitude scales and open-ended questions, were distributed in three versions to each group of role set holders to gather data. The use of frequency tables and the extraction of Meaning Units, or MUs, indicated perceived advantages and disadvantages of telework, which were revealed through the lenses of role expectations. Teleworkers experienced more advantages due to role complexity: temporal and spatial flexibility were beneficial to teleworkers, despite increased difficulties for non-teleworking colleagues and line managers. Non-teleworkers experienced more disadvantages due to increased role expectations: working with part-time teleworkers generated increased logistical and co-ordination difficulties. Line managers experienced more disadvantages due to multiplied role expectations: managing teleworkers and non-teleworkers in the same departments meant increased burdens in terms of work organisation, control and resentment from non-teleworkers. From an academic viewpoint, the analysis of role sets through a tripartite perspective brings to light thresholds which regulate perceived advantages and disadvantages of telework and reveals that role set holders do not interact in a static fashion. In terms of business practice, the findings argue that telework upsets work relationships in the French context because it relies on less face-to-face contact. Results also suggest that despite the perceived success of the telework programme, the CGF has not adopted a remote working culture