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Abstract: The development of affordable, low-iridium-loading, scalable, active, and stable catalysts for the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) is a requirement for the commercialization of proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs). However, the synthesis of high-performance OER catalysts with minimal use of the rare and expensive element Ir is very challenging and requires the identification of electrically conductive and stable high-surface-area support materials. We developed a synthesis procedure for the production of large quantities of a nanocomposite powder containing titanium oxynitride (TiONx) and Ir. The catalysts were synthesized with an anodic oxidation process followed by detachment, milling, thermal treatment, and the deposition of Ir nanoparticles. The anodization time was varied to grow three different types of nanotubular structures exhibiting different lengths and wall thicknesses and thus a variety of properties. A comparison of milled samples with different degrees of nanotubular clustering and morphology retention, but with identical chemical compositions and Ir nanoparticle size distributions and dispersions, revealed that the nanotubular support morphology is the determining factor governing the catalyst’s OER activity and stability. Our study is supported by various state-of-the-art materials’ characterization techniques, like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, Xray powder diffraction and absorption spectroscopy, and electrochemical cyclic voltammetry. Anodic oxidation proved to be a very suitable way to produce high-surface-area powder-type catalysts as the produced material greatly outperformed the IrO2 benchmarks as well as the Ir-supported samples on morphologically different TiONx from previous studies. The highest activity was achieved for the sample prepared with 3 h of anodization, which had the most appropriate morphology for the effective removal of oxygen bubbles.
Keywords: electrocatalysis, oxygen-evolution reaction, TiONx-Ir powder catalyst, iridium nanoparticles, anodic oxidation, morphology−activity correlation
Published in RUNG: 04.01.2021; Views: 2583; Downloads: 0
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Abstract: Ars Electronica Garden Slovenia konS ≡ TALKS - From Art to Innovation: Do they really need us? Kersnikova Institute [Kapelica Gallery + Rampa + BioTehna + Vivarium] (SI), Projekt Atol Institute (SI), Ljudmila Society (SI), Aksioma Institute (SI), Cona Institute (SI), University of Nova Gorica – School of Arts (SI), Youth Cultural Centre Maribor (SI), Youth Centre Velenje (SI), LokalPatriot Novo mesto (SI) Credits Partners: Kersnikova Institute (Kapelica Gallery + Rampa + BioTehna + Vivarium), Projekt Atol Institute, Ljudmila Society, Aksioma Institute, Cona Institute (all from Ljubljana), University of Nova Gorica – School of Arts, Youth Cultural Centre Maribor, Youth Centre Velenje, LokalPatriot Novo mesto – SI konS ≡ Platform for Contemporary Investigative Art is a project chosen on the public call for the selection of the operations “Network of Investigative Art and Culture Centres”. The investment is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and by the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union.
Keywords: interdisiplinary, intermedia, arts, innovation, labs, kons, platform
Published in RUNG: 09.11.2020; Views: 2832; Downloads: 0
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Abstract: Photons have fixed spin and unbounded orbital angular momentum (OAM). While the former is manifested in the polarization of light, the latter corresponds to the spatial phase distribution of its wavefront1. The distinctive way in which the photon spin dictates the electron motion upon light– matter interaction is the basis for numerous well-established spectroscopies. By contrast, imprinting OAM on a mat- ter wave, specifically on a propagating electron, is gener- ally considered very challenging and the anticipated effect undetectable2. In refs. 3,4, the authors provided evidence of OAM-dependent absorption of light by a bound electron. Here, we seek to observe an OAM-dependent dichroic photo- electric effect, using a sample of He atoms. Surprisingly, we find that the OAM of an optical field can be imprinted coher- ently onto a propagating electron wave. Our results reveal new aspects of light–matter interaction and point to a new kind of single-photon electron spectroscopy.
Keywords: FEL, OAM, Photoelectric effect
Published in RUNG: 09.09.2020; Views: 2917; Downloads: 0
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Keywords: hidroelektrarne, proizvodnja, električna energija, obratovanje, vzdrževanje, revizije, meritve, stroški, hidrologija, statistična analiza, učinki, tveganja
Published in RUNG: 13.05.2020; Views: 2639; Downloads: 0

Abstract: Recently, the study of mineralogical and geomicrobiological interactions in volcanic caves is gaining relevance, because there are many factors to consider them as Mars analogues for astrobiology and planetary sciences. In addition, sulfuric acid caves have also shown to be an important field of study for the understanding of chemolithoautotrophic metabolic pathways, especially in regard to the biogeochemical cycle of sulfur compounds. Hitherto, sulfur-rich volcanic caves found in Central America were almost unknown to the scientific community. This work presents the mineralogical and microbiological diversity and the potential geomicrobiological links found in active volcanic settings, such as Cueva los Minerales (CMI) and Cueva los Mucolitos (CMU) at Irazú volcano (Costa Rica), and Cueva Hoyo de Koppen (CHK) at El Hoyo volcano (Nicaragua). The volcanic caves at Irazú volcano (Costa Rica) are located in the northwest (NW) foothills of the main crater. These caves became accessible after the partial collapse of the NW sector of the Irazú volcano in 1994, offering the opportunity to investigate in situ active minerogenetic processes. Detailed mineralogical and geochemical analyses were performed to study the speleothems at CMI and CMU. Mineralogical analyses included X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while geochemical characterization was done using Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) coupled to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). In noveladdition, measurements of cave environmental parameters, cave drip water, and a compilation of geochemical analyses of the Irazú volcanic lake (located ca. 150 m above the cave level) and fumarole analyses, were conducted between 1991 and 2014. Forty-eight different mineral phases were identified, mostly rare hydrated sulfates of the alunite, halotrichite, copiapite, kieserite and rozenite groups; thirteen of which are described here, as cave minerals, for the first time, i.e. aplowite, bieberite, boyleite, dietrichite, ferricopiapite, ferrinatrite, lausenite, lishizhenite, magnesiocopiapite, marinellite, pentahydrite, szomolnokite, and wupatkiite. The presence of other novel cave minerals, such as tolbachite, mercallite, rhomboclase, cyanochroite, and retgersite, is likely, but this was not possible to confirm by the various mineralogical techniques employed in this study. It was determined that uplifting of sulfurous gases, water percolation from the Irazú volcanic lake, and hydrothermal interactions with the volcanic host rock are responsible for such extreme mineralogical diversity. Moreover, acidic (pH < 2) viscous biofilms, known as snottites, were observed hanging from both, walls and ceiling, of the caves at Irazú volcano, in close relation with the presence of sulfate minerals. Knowledge about snottites in volcanic caves is scarce, being biofilms present in carbonated rocks the most studied, e.g. at Frasassi and Acquasanta caves (Italy), and Cueva de Villa Luz and Luna Azufre (Mexico). 16S rRNA techniques (with primers for target Bacteria and Archaea), together with bioinformatics analyses, were used to investigate the snottites from CMU and CMI. The results indicated that both prokaryotic groups in the snottites offer a vast metabolic potential to execute various reactions, including redox reactions. The phylogenetic findings revealed that approximately 65% of the identified taxa corresponded to species related to sulfur-oxidizing metabolic pathways (e.g., Leptospirillum, Mycobacterium, Acidithiobacillus and Acidiphilium), while just 0.04% corresponded to sulfur-reducing species (Desulfosporosinus). Since sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms appeared to be dominant in the acidic snottites, induced-gypsum precipitation by changes in micro environmental conditions, is strongly suggested as the path for biomineralization at the studied caves. 34S isotope signature of sulfur minerals presented negative values (from -16.2 to -3.4 ‰), comparable with data obtained...
Keywords: Volcanic caves, Costa Rica, Irazú, Cueva los Mucolitos, Cueva los Minerales, Nicaragua, Hoyo, Cueva Hoyo de Koppen, mineralogy, sulfur isotopes, hydrated sulfates, active volcano, microbiology, snottites, geomicrobiology, astrobiology, Mars analogue.
Published in RUNG: 15.04.2019; Views: 4038; Downloads: 163
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