Marina El-Alamein. Polsko-egipska misja konserwatorska

W okresie od 15 kwietnia do 30 maja 2007 roku, w Marina El-Alamein, na terenie wczesnorzymskiego miasta, trzynasty sezon pracowała polsko-egipska misja konserwatorska w składzie: Stanisław Medeksza, Rafał Czerner, Wiesław Grzegorek i Małgorzata Krawczyk-Szczerbińska - architekci, Grażyna Bąkowska i Monika Więch - archeolodzy, Piotr Zambrzycki Joanna Lis i Irma Fuks- Rembisz - konserwatorzy kamienia i rzeźby, Janusz Skoczylas i Małgorzata Mrozek-Wysocka - geolodzy. Stronę egipską reprezentował dyrektor Marina El-Alamein Mahmud Jasin, inspektorka Nama Sanad Yakoub oraz konserwator Achmed Rashad Ahmed, którym składamy podziękowania i słowa uznania za pomoc, jaką starali się okazywać nam w czasie trwania sezonu.In the period from 15 April to 30 May 2007, at the Marina El-Alamein, in the Early City, thirteenth season worked Polish-Egyptian mission Conservation composed Stanislaw Medeksza, Rafal Czerner Wieslaw Grzegorek and Małgorzata Krawczyk-Szczerbinska - architects, Grazyna Bąkowska and Monika Więch - archaeologists, Peter Zambrzycki Joanna Fox and Irma Fuks-Rembisz - stone and sculpture conservators Janusz Skoczylas and Margaret Mrozek-Wysocka - geologists. Egyptian Party was represented by director Marina El-Alamein, Mahmoud Yasin, Provincial Nama Sanad Yakoub and restorer Ahmed Rashad Ahmed, which our thanks and words of appreciation for the help I have tried to show us during the season

Hierarchical carbon nanofibers/carbon nanotubes/NiCo nanocomposites as novel highly effective counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells: A structure-electrocatalytic activity relationship study

Herein, we propose novel, highly effective Pt-free counter electrode (CE) material for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) based on the hierarchical carbon nanofibers/carbon nanotubes/NiCo (eCNF/CNT/NiCoNP) ternary nanocomposites. The materials were obtained by combining the electrospinning technique and CCVD synthesis of carbon nanotubes directly on the surface of eCNF. By using various conditions of the CNT growth, it was possible to obtain series of nanocomposites differing with their morphology, surface chemistry, and structural ordering. The conducted studies unraveled significant correlations between the disordering of the nanocomposites, and their electrocatalytic activity towards reduction of I3−. The investigation methods included i.a. SEM, TEM, XPS, UPS, EDS, XRD, SAED, CV, EIS and J-V characterizations. The counter electrodes based on the nanocomposite synthetized at the lowest CCVD temperature of 700 °C exhibited remarkable catalytical activity as evidenced by very low charge transfer resistance of 0.93 Ω cm2. Based on the obtained data, we propose new, alternative interpretation of the additional minor arc appearing at the high-frequency region of EIS Nyquist spectra of carbon based-CE. The DSSC with eCNF/CNT/NiCoNP-electrodes were characterized by efficiencies up to 7.08% (avg. η = 6.95%), which was higher than for Pt-based devices (avg. η = 6.80%), thus demonstrating excellent performance of prepared CE. Our results confirm that the eCNF/CNT/NiCoNP nanocomposite material is a promising low-cost CE alternative for DSSC.This study has been supported by the National Science Center, Poland, project no. UMO-2019/33/N/ST5/02500.We thank ‘La Caixa’ for the Jr leader grant awarded to S.R. To the Spanish State Research Agency for the grant Self-Power (PID2019-104272RB-C54/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and the OrgEnergy Excelence Network (CTQ2016-81911- REDT), and to the Agencia de Gestio d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) for the support to the consolidated Catalonia research group 2017 SGR 329 and the Xarxa d’R + D + I Energy for Society (XRE4S). ICN2 is supported by the Severo Ochoa program from Spanish MINECO (grant no. SEV-2017-0706) and is funded by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer reviewe

MATLAS project - Advanced methods of materials engineering in diagnostics of art works after renovation by means of shaped, high-energy laser radiation pulses

Projekt MATLAS PL0259, realizowany w ramach Mechanizmu Finansowego EOG/Norweskiego Mechanizmu Finansowego, w Obszarze Priorytetowym "Konserwacja Europejskiego Dziedzictwa Kultury", został z powodzeniem rozpoczęty w lipcu 2008 r. Naukowe cele projektu obejmują opracowanie metod diagnostyki powierzchni dzieł sztuki wykonanych z metali (stopów) w celu ich bezpiecznej renowacji laserowej, opracowanie systemu laserowego zdolnego do generacji impulsów o wymaganym w renowacji, kontrolowanym kształcie i czasie trwania oraz analizy zjawisk indukowanych przez impulsy laserowe na powierzchni obiektów historycznych. Artykuł przedstawia uczestniczące w projekcie ośrodki naukowe, projekt i wykonanie laserowego systemu czyszczącego oraz metodykę badań eksperymentalnych. Podsumowuje on również najnowsze wyniki projektu oraz przedstawia metalowe dzieła sztuki wybrane do badań, wraz z ich analizami historycznymi i strukturalnymi.MATLAS project PL0259 successfully started in July 2008 under the EEA Financial Mechanism/ Norwegian Financial Mechanism and in the Key Priority Section "Conservation of European Cultural Heritage". The scientific aims of the project include: development of diagnostic methods for analysis of metal (alloy) artworks surfaces for safe laser renovation; development of a laser system capable of generating pulses with controlled shape and time duration required for renovation, and analysis of phenomena induced by laser pulses in the treated surfaces of historical objects. The paper presents participating scientific teams, design and realization of laser cleaning system and methodology of experimental investigations. It also summarizes the latest project results and presents metal artworks selected for examination with their historical and structural analysis

Robotic Surface Analysis Mass Spectrometry (RoSA-MS) of Three-Dimensional Objects

Many technologies currently exist that are capable of analyzing the surface of solid samples under ambient or vacuum conditions, but they are typically limited to smooth, planar surfaces. Those few that can be applied to nonplanar surfaces, however, require manual sampling and a high degree of human intervention. Herein, we describe a new platform, Robotic Surface Analysis Mass Spectrometry (RoSA-MS), for direct surface sampling of three-dimensional (3D) objects. In RoSA-MS, a sampling probe is attached to a robotic arm that has 360° rotation through 6 individual joints. A 3D laser scanner, also attached to the robotic arm, generates a digital map of the sample surface that is used to direct a probe to specific (<i>x</i>, <i>y</i>, <i>z</i>) locations. The sampling probe consists of a spring-loaded needle that briefly contacts the object surface, collecting trace amounts of material. The probe is then directed at an open port liquid sampling interface coupled to the electrospray ion source of a mass spectrometer. Material on the probe tip is dissolved by the solvent flow in the liquid interface and mass analyzed with high mass resolution and accuracy. The surface of bulky, nonplanar objects can thus be probed to produce chemical maps at the molecular level. Applications demonstrated herein include the examination of food sample surfaces, lifestyle chemistry, and chemical reactions on curved substrates. The modular design of this system also allows for modifications to the sampling probe and the ionization source, thereby expanding the potential of RoSA-MS for a great diversity of applications