Contact angle of a hemispherical bubble: an analytical approach

We have calculated the equilibrium shape of the axially symmetric Plateau border along which a spherical bubble contacts a flat wall, by analytically integrating Laplace’s equation in the presence of gravity, in the limit of small Plateau border sizes. This method has the advantage that it provides closed-form expressions for the positions and orientations of the Plateau border surfaces. Results are in very good overall agreement with those obtained from a numerical solution procedure, and are consistent with experimental data. In particular we find that the effect of gravity on Plateau border shape is relatively small for typical bubble sizes, leading to a widening of the Plateau border for sessile bubbles and to a narrowing for pendant bubbles. The contact angle of the bubble is found to depend even more weakly on gravity

Synthesis of new azole phosphonate precursors for fuel cells proton exchange membranes

Herein we present the synthesis and characterization of new phosphonate-, bisphosphonate- and hydroxybisphosphonatebenzimidazole derivatives substituted at the N-1 position and new regioisomers phosphonate-, bisphosphonate-, and hydroxybisphosphonatebenzotriazole derivatives substituted at N-1 or N-2 positions. The compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry (low and high resolution) allowing the assignment of their structure, including the identification of regioisomers. These new azole monomers will be precursors for a mesoporous silica host to produce novel membrane materials with high proton conductivity for intermediate temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Study of vanadium doped ZnO films prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures

ZnO films doped with vanadium (ZnO:V) have been prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering technique at different substrate temperatures (RT–500 C). The effects of the substrate temperature on ZnO:V films properties have been studied. XRD measurements show that only ZnO polycrystalline structure has been obtained, no V2O5 or VO2 crystal phase can be observed. It has been found that the film prepared at low substrate temperature has a preferred orientation along the (002) direction. As the substrate temperature is increased, the (002) peak intensity decreases. When the substrate temperature reaches the 500 ºC, the film shows a random orientation. SEM measurements show a clear formation of the nano-grains in the sample surface when the substrate temperature is higher than 400 º C. The optical properties of the films have been studied by measuring the specular transmittance. The refractive index has been calculated by fitting the transmittance spectra using OJL model combined with harmonic oscillator

Atomic jet from SMM1 (FIRS1) in Serpens uncovers non-coeval binary companion

We report on the detection of an atomic jet associated with the protostellar source SMM1 (FIRS1) in Serpens. The jet is revealed in [FeII] and [NeII] line maps observed with Spitzer/IRS, and further confirmed in HiRes IRAC and MIPS images. It is traced very close to SMM1 and peaks at ~5 arcsec" from the source at a position angle of $\sim 125 degrees. In contrast, molecular hydrogen emission becomes prominent at distances > 5" from the protostar and extends at a position angle of 160 degrees. The morphological differences suggest that the atomic emission arises from a companion source, lying in the foreground of the envelope surrounding the embedded protostar SMM1. In addition the molecular and atomic Spitzer maps disentangle the large scale CO (3-2) emission observed in the region into two distinct bipolar outflows, giving further support to a proto-binary source setup. Analysis at the peaks of the [FeII] jet show that emission arises from warm and dense gas (T ~1000 K, n(electron) 10^5 - 10^6 cm^-3). The mass flux of the jet derived independently for the [FeII] and [NeII] lines is 10^7 M(sun)/yr, pointing to a more evolved Class~I/II protostar as the driving source. All existing evidence converge to the conclusion that SMM1 is a non-coeval proto-binary source.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in Astronomy \& Astrophysic

Effect of the deposition rate on ITO thin films properties prepared by ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD) technique

Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films have been deposited onto glass substrates at room temperature by ion beam assisted deposition technique at different deposition rates (0.1 -- 0.3 nm/s). The effects of the deposition rate on the structural, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films have been studied. The optical constants of the deposited films were calculated by fitting the transmittance spectra using the semi-quantum model. Considering the application for the electromagnetic wave shielding which needs a high IR reflectance, the optimising deposition rate is 0.2 nm/s. The films prepared at this deposition rate shows a relative high IR reflectance (60%), a good electrical conductivity (5 x 10-3 -cm), and a reasonable transmittance in the visible region (over 80%)

New proton conductive membranes of indazole- and condensed pyrazolebisphosphonic acid-Nafion membranes for PEMFC

ABSTRACT: The global demands of energy are still increasing alongside many civilizational problems, notably the effects on the environment due to the overuse of traditional energy sources based on fossil fuels. New cleaner, renewable sources for sustainable energy systems are a key challenge of the 21st century society.N/

Chemical stability of new nafion membranes doped with bisphosphonic acids under Fenton oxidative conditions

ABSTRACT: The development of new proton exchange membranes for PEM technology in fuel cells and electrolysers with increased durability is paramount to system's lifetime and scalability. In this work, new modified Nafion membranes doped with bisphosphonic acids are proposed with increased resilience to chemical degradation by H2O2/Fe2+, mimicking ex-situ radical attack to membrane structure. Relevant properties were evaluated throughout Fenton's test using fluoride ion release and gravimetry determinations, and by ATR-FTIR spectros-copy and SEM before and after the chemical degradation. The new membranes showed a very good chemical stability after oxidative degradation under Fenton's test conditions at 80 degrees C, with more durability than Nafion 115 commercial membrane. After chemical degradation, the proton conduction of the membranes was assessed through EIS which reveals a decrease in the proton conductivity of all membranes, with the new modified membranes showing a smaller decrease of their proton conduction properties than Nafion 115 membrane. Fluoride ion release, weight loss measurements and ATR-FTIR spectros-copy data analysis suggest degradation of the side chain of the ionomer.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New proton conductive membranes of indazole- and condensed pyrazolebisphosphonic acid-Nafion membranes for PEMFC

ABSTRACT: In this work, new doped Nafion membranes for PEMFC are prepared by casting with 1 wt% loading of the prepared indazole- and condensed pyrazolebisphosphonic acids (AzBPs). The new membranes were analysed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and their morphology was examined by SEM. Membranes were evaluated for water uptake and ion exchange capacity (IEC), and their hydration number was estimated. The proton conduction properties of the modified membranes were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), at different temperatures (30, 40, 50 and 60 °C) and relative humidity (RH) (40, 60 and 80%). The proton conductivities of all membranes increase with increasing temperature and RH. Also, all new membranes doped with AzBPs exhibited higher proton conductivities than Nafion N-115, used as a reference and tested at the same experimental conditions, with values up to 1.5-fold. Results show that the incorporation of AzBPs dopants on Nafion membranes enhances the proton conduction throughout the modified membranes. The best proton conductivity was observed for membranes with AzBP1 as dopant, with a value of 94 mS cm-1. These results indicate that the Nafion membranes doped with indazole- and condensed pyrazolebisphosphonic acids are a promising approach for new membranes for PEMFC with improved proton conductivity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Description and molecular phylogeny of a new and one known needle nematode of the genus Paralongidorus (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from grapevine in Portugal

A new and a known longidorid nematode, Paralongidorus lusitanicus n. sp. and Paralongidorus plesioepimikis, are described and illustrated from populations extracted from soil associated with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) from Escaroupim and Pó (central-Western Portugal), respectively. The new needle nematode P. lusitanicus n. sp. is characterised by a very large body size (8072–12,022 μm), an expanded and rounded lip region, ca 30 μm wide, with a clear constriction followed by a depression posterior to the amphidial aperture, amphidial fovea very large (11.0–19.0 μm), stirrup-shaped, with conspicuous slit-like aperture as shown in scanning electron microscopy studies, a very long and flexible odontostyle (180.0–223.0 μm), guiding ring located at 28.0–41.5 μm from anterior end, vulva anterior to the mid-body (34–41%), a dorsally convex-conoid tail with rounded terminus (29–42 μm long), bearing two or three pairs of caudal pores and males common (ratio 1:1.6 females) with spicules ca 80 μm long. Morphological and morphometric traits for P. plesioepimikis fit well with the original description, and is reported for the first time in Portugal. Integrative diagnosis of both species was completed with molecular data obtained using D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA, ITS1-rDNA and partial 18S–rDNA. The phylogenetic relationships of these species with other Paralongidorus spp. using these three molecular markers indicated that P. lusitanicus n. sp. clustered together with other Paralongidorus spp. forming a sister clade with P. plesioepimikis, both of them sharing a large body, long odontostyle, an anteriorly located vulva and an expanded and rounded lip region with a clear constriction followed by a depression posterior to the amphidial aperture

Scalar and Spinor Particles in the Spacetime of a Domain Wall in String Theory

We consider scalar and spinor particles in the spacetime of a domain wall in the context of low energy effective string theories, such as the generalized scalar-tensor gravity theories. This class of theories allows for an arbitrary coupling of the wall and the (gravitational) scalar field. First, we derive the metric of a wall in the weak-field approximation and we show that it depends on the wall's surface energy density and on two post-Newtonian parameters. Then, we solve the Klein-Gordon and the Dirac equations in this spacetime. We obtain the spectrum of energy eigenvalues and the current density in the scalar and spinor cases, respectively. We show that these quantities, except in the case of the energy spectrum for a massless spinor particle, depend on the parameters that characterize the scalar-tensor domain wall.Comment: LATEX file, 21 pages, revised version to appear in Phys. Rev.