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HYDROGEN STORAGE PROPERTIES OF GRAPHENE OXIDE MATERIALS PREPARED BY DIFFERENT WAYS
Král, Lubomír ; Čermák, Jiří ; Bytesnikova, Z.
Graphene-based materials show unique properties. These single layered materials consist of 2D structure of carbon atoms, belong to the strongest known materials, that are very mechanically flexible, optically transparent and that are excellent electrical and thermal conductors. Recently, several studies on these types of materials have highlighted the potential of this material for hydrogen storage (HS) and raised new hopes for the development of an effective solid-state HS media. In the present paper, the structure and HS properties of graphene oxide (GO) and chemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) produced by different procedures were studied. Hydrogen sorption characteristics of GO and rGO were measured using the Sieverts-type gas sorption analyzer PCT-Pro Setaram Instrumentation. The study of HS was carried out at temperature range from 198 K to 423 K under hydrogen pressure from 1x10(-4) to 4 MPa. \n\nFor the HS point of view, the advantage of GO or rGO compared to graphene, is the presence of multiple chemical groups that can be used for introducing modifiers and their superior spreading on the materials surface. The suitably functionalized GO or rGO materials could potentially exhibit outstanding HS properties.
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MICROSTRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF FINE PARTICLES RELEASED BY CAR BRAKING
Švábenská, Eva ; Roupcová, Pavla ; Pizúrová, Naděžda ; Schneeweiss, Oldřich
Vehicular traffic is connected with large volume of fine particles released during brake processes of cars. Our research is focused on the phase, structure and chemical analysis of the fine particles taken from some car brake parts by their services. The information on structure and phase composition was obtained by X-Ray Powder Diffraction, Mossbauer Spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with EDX and transmission electron microscopy. The results of the wear debris analysis are compared with original brake materials components. Most of recognized particles are based mainly on iron oxides. Wear brake particles are discussed in the relation to the potential risk to the environment and human health.
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First-principles study of interface energies in Fe-Al-based superalloy nanocomposites
Miháliková, Ivana ; Slávik, Anton ; Friák, Martin ; Všianská, Monika ; Koutná, N. ; Holec, David ; Šob, Mojmír
Fe-Al-based nanocomposites with a superalloy-type of microstructure constitute a very promising class of materials. They possess a great potential as an alternative to the currently used steel grades in high temperature applications. Intermetallics-containing nanocomposites, such as those with the Fe3Al compound being one of the phases, may open a way towards future automotive and energy-conversion technologies with lower fuel consumption and reduced environmental impact. We employ quantum-mechanical calculations to analyze relations between ordering tendencies of Al atoms in the disordered Fe-18.75at.%Al phase on one hand and thermodynamic, structural and magnetic properties of Fe-Al-based nanocomposites on the other. When comparing supercells modeling disordered Fe-Al phase with different atomic distribution of atoms we find out that the supercell without 1st and 2nd nearest neighbor Al-Al pairs has a lower energy than that mimicking a perfect disorder (a special quasi-random structure, SQS). Further, coherent interfaces with (001), (110) and (1-10) crystallographic orientations between Fe3Al compound and SQS Fe-Al phase have higher energies than those exhibiting atomic distribution without 1st and 2nd nearest neighbor Al-Al pairs.
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Determination of permeability of ulra-fine lead oxide aerosols through military filters
Kellnerova, E. ; Večeřa, Zbyněk ; Kellner, J. ; Zeman, T. ; Hylak, Č.
Military filters introduced in the Army of the Czech Republic are most commonly used when working with combat equipment and weapons and in manoeuvring activities in the terrain with the use of explosives or chemical warfare agents. During such activities, a large number of pollutants in the form of nanoparticles are released. Nanoparticles, irrespective of their chemical composition, are classified as carcinogenic to humans and therefore it is necessary to eliminate them from the air. Military filters, especially the combined ones, which contain a filtration as well as sorption component, are most widely used and are designed for the widest range of pollutants. However, the current methodology to evaluate the effectiveness of military filters does not fix a duty to monitor the ability of the filters to capture relevant pollutants across the whole range of sizes. The paper evaluates the efficiency of selected types of military filters using the methodology and instrumentation introduced in the accredited laboratories of the Institute of Analytical Chemistry of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The testing has been carried out simultaneously with two concentrations of ultra-fine aerosols containing lead oxide nanoparticles ranging in size from 7.6 nm to 299.6 nm. It is an aerosol, the physicochemical and toxicological properties of which are known. During the work the basic parameters of permeability of aerosols tested by filters have been evaluated, especially: size and number of particles in front of and behind the filter, the efficiency and penetration of nanoparticles by the filter.
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Photon-upconverting nanoparticles as a novel background-free label in immunoassays
Farka, Z. ; Hlaváček, Antonín ; Mickert, M. J. ; Skládal, P. ; Gorris, H. H.
Photon-upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have become an attractive label in immunoassays because their anti-Stokes luminescence can be excited by the NIR laser and detected in the VIS region without optical background interference. Further advantages of UCNPs include good photostability, large anti-Stokes shifts, and multiple narrow emission bands that can be used for multiplexed detection. We have developed a competitive upconversion-linked immunosorbent assay (ULISA) for detection of the pharmaceutical diclofenac (DCF) in surface waters. Silica-coated UCNPs (50 nm in diameter) with carboxyl groups on the surface were synthesized and conjugated with the secondary anti-IgG antibody. The structure and monodispersity of the nanoconjugates was studied by TEM and agarose gel electrophoresis. Using a highly affine anti-DCF primary antibody, the optimized ULISA provided a detection limit of 50 pg·mL−1.
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