Effect of metal precursor on Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis for direct DME production

Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts were synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis (FSP). The effect of different metal precursor types, i.e. metal nitrates and organometallics, on the catalytic properties was investigated. Organometallic precursors are commonly used for flame spray pyrolysis because small nanoparticles can be produced. In this study, we have obtained nanosized copper and zinc oxide clusters also from the nitrate precursors. Characterization was applied to reveal the difference between the clusters obtained from the different precursor types. Both precursors allowed the formation of well-ordered Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 particles with similar size according to TEM investigations. However, the catalyst from metal nitrate precursors possessed a lower reduction temperature, a higher active copper surface area, and a lower overall BET surface area than the one from the organometallic precursor. The catalytic performance of the obtained catalysts was investigated in the direct DME synthesis from synthesis gas. Methanol dehydration catalyst, H-ZSM-5, was therefore admixed to the FSP powders in a pre-defined amount; the FSP powders served as methanol synthesis catalyst in the mixture. The catalyst from metal nitrate precursors showed higher conversion of syngas than the catalyst from the organometallic precursors at same reaction conditions. This effect can be explained mainly by the higher copper surface area. Catalysts with different Cu/Zn ratio were also tested and the best catalyst was further studied by variation of the reaction conditions. In conclusion, we have demonstrated an efficient utilization of less expensive precursor materials for flame spray pyrolysis for production of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts

Discontinuous Transition from a Real Bound State to Virtual Bound State in a Mixed-Valence State of SmS

Golden SmS is a paramagnetic, mixed-valence system with a pseudogap. With increasing pressure across a critical pressure Pc, the system undergoes a discontinuous transition into a metallic, anti-ferromagnetically ordered state. By using a combination of thermodynamic, transport, and magnetic measurements, we show that the pseudogap results from the formation of a local bound state with spin singlet. We further argue that the transition Pc is regarded as a transition from an insulating electron-hole gas to a Kondo metal, i.e., from a spatially bound state to a Kondo virtually bound state between 4f and conduction electrons.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Complete genome sequence and description of Salinispira pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel spirochaete isolated form a hypersaline microbial mat

During a study of the anaerobic microbial community of a lithifying hypersaline microbial mat of Lake 21 on the Kiritimati atoll (Kiribati Republic, Central Pacific) strain L21-RPul-D2(T) was isolated. The closest phylogenetic neighbor was Spirochaeta africana Z-7692(T) that shared a 16S rRNA gene sequence identity value of 90% with the novel strain and thus was only distantly related. A comprehensive polyphasic study including determination of the complete genome sequence was initiated to characterize the novel isolate. Cells of strain L21-RPul-D2(T) had a size of 0.2 - 0.25 x 8-9 mu m, were helical, motile, stained Gram-negative and produced an orange carotenoid-like pigment. Optimal conditions for growth were 35 degrees C, a salinity of 50 g/l NaCl and a pH around 7.0. Preferred substrates for growth were carbohydrates and a few carboxylic acids. The novel strain had an obligate fermentative metabolism and produced ethanol, acetate, lactate, hydrogen and carbon dioxide during growth on glucose. Strain L21-RPul-D2(T) was aerotolerant, but oxygen did not stimulate growth. Major cellular fatty acids were C-14:0, iso-C-15:0, C-16:0 and C-18:0. The major polar lipids were an unidentified aminolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified glycolipids. Whole cell hydrolysates contained L-ornithine as diagnostic diamino acid of the cell wall peptidoglycan. The complete genome sequence was determined and annotated. The genome comprised one circular chromosome with a size of 3.78 Mbp that contained 3450 protein-coding genes and 50 RNA genes, including 2 operons of ribosomal RNA genes. The DNA G + C content was determined from the genome sequence as 51.9 mol%. There were no predicted genes encoding cytochromes or enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of respiratory lipoquinones. Based on significant differences to the uncultured type species of the genus Spirochaeta, S. plicatilis, as well as to any other phylogenetically related cultured species it is suggested to place strain L21-RPul-D2(T) (=DSM 27196(T) = JCM 18663(T)) in a novel species and genus, for which the name Salinispira pacifica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed

Labour Market and Social Policy in Italy: Challenges and Changes. Bertelsmann Policy Brief #2016/02

vEight years after the outbreak of the financial crisis, Italy has still to cope with and overcome a plethora of economic and social challenges. On top of this, it faces an unfavourable demographic structure and severe disparities between its northern and southern regions. Some promising reforms have recently been enacted, specifically targeting poverty and social exclusion. However, much more remains to be done on the way towards greater economic stability and widely shared prosperity

Optimization of a high work function solution processed vanadium oxide hole-extracting layer for small molecule and polymer organic photovoltaic cells

We report a method of fabricating a high work function, solution processable vanadium oxide (V2Ox(sol)) hole-extracting layer. The atmospheric processing conditions of film preparation have a critical influence on the electronic structure and stoichiometry of the V2Ox(sol), with a direct impact on organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell performance. Combined Kelvin probe (KP) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) measurements reveal a high work function, n-type character for the thin films, analogous to previously reported thermally evaporated transition metal oxides. Additional states within the band gap of V2Ox(sol) are observed in the UPS spectra and are demonstrated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to be due to the substoichiometric nature of V2Ox(sol). The optimized V2Ox(sol) layer performance is compared directly to bare indium–tin oxide (ITO), poly(ethyleneoxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and thermally evaporated molybdenum oxide (MoOx) interfaces in both small molecule/fullerene and polymer/fullerene structures. OPV cells incorporating V2Ox(sol) are reported to achieve favorable initial cell performance and cell stability attributes

Melghirimyces thermohalophilus sp. nov., a novel thermoactinomycete isolated from an Algerian salt lake

A novel filamentous bacterium designated Nari11AT was isolated from soil collected from a salt lake named Chott Melghir located in south east of Algeria. The strain is an aerobic, halophilic, thermotolerant, Gram-positive bacterium, growing at NaCl concentrations between 5 and 20% w/v and temperature and pH ranges between 43-60 °C and 5.0-10.0, respectively. The major fatty acids were isoC15:0, anteisoC15:0 and isoC17:0. The G+C value was 53.4 mol %. LL-diaminopimelic acid was the diamino acid of the peptidoglycan. The major menaquinone was MK-7, but MK-6 and MK-8 were also present in trace amounts. The polar lipids' profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and three unidentified phospholipids. Results of molecular and phenotypic analysis led to the description of the strain as a new member to the genus Melghirimyces, family Thermoactinomycetaceae. Strain Nari11AT shows a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.7% with Melghirimyces algeriensis. On the basis of phenotypic, physiological and phylogenetical data the type strain Nari11AT (DSM 45514T =CCUG 60050T) represents a new species for which the name Melghirimyces thermohalophilus sp. nov., is proposed

THE TOOLS AND MONTE CARLO WORKING GROUP Summary Report from the Les Houches 2009 Workshop on TeV Colliders

This is the summary and introduction to the proceedings contributions for the Les Houches 2009 "Tools and Monte Carlo" working group.Comment: 144 Pages. Workshop site http://wwwlapp.in2p3.fr/conferences/LesHouches/Houches2009/ . Conveners were Butterworth, Maltoni, Moortgat, Richardson, Schumann and Skand