Here we demonstrate an approach to enhance the growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by including a catalyst reservoir underneath the thin-film alumina catalyst underlayer. This reservoir led to enhanced CNT growth due to the migration of catalytic material from below the underlayer up to the surface through alumina pinholes during processing. This led to the formation of large F...

Hydrogen energy is recognized as the clean with most development potential, and hydrogen fuel cell technology considered ultimate solution utilizing energy. The proton exchange membrane (PEMFC) has merits of high efficiency, density, low operating temperature, clean, affords environmental protection. Improving structure each functional layer could play a significant role in improving PEMFC perf...

A simple, clean, and environmentally benign three-component process for the synthesis of 2-amino-4Hchromenes using [mim]Cl, as an efficient catalyst under solvent-free conditions are described. A wide range of aromatic aldehydes easily undergoes condensations with 1-naphthol and malononitrile under solvent-free conditions to afford the desired products of good purity in excellent yields. Taking...

Concentrated livestock feeding operations have become a source of odorous gas emissions that impact air quality. Comprehensive and practical technologies are needed for a sustainable mitigation of the emissions. In this study, we advance the concept of using a catalyst for barn walls and ceilings for odor mitigation. Two catalysts, a new TiO2-based catalyst, PureTi Clean, and a conventional Evo...

Abstract: We study a pore scale model for the catalyst layer on the cathode side of a fuel cell, where hydrogen and oxygen combine at catalyst sites. Our model distinguishes microscopically the phases of rigid structure, electrolyte, pore-space, and catalyst. The oxygen concentration and the protonic potential are described by diffusion equations with reaction terms on the catalyst’s surface. F...

The homogenous water oxidation catalysis by [Ru(terpy)(bipy)Cl](+) (1) and [Ru(terpy)(Me2bipy)Cl](+) (2) (terpy = 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, Me2bipy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) under the influence of two redox mediators [Ru(bipy)3](2+) (3) and [Ru(phen)2(Me2bipy)](2+) (4) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) was investigated using Ce(4+) as sacrificial oxidant. Oxygen evoluti...

With the aim of developing new molecular devices having higher photo-hydrogen-evolving activity, Pt(ppy)ClX units (ppy = 2-phenylpyridinate, X = Cl(-) or DMSO; DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide) have been employed as an H(2)-evolving site, as the catalytic activity of [Pt(ppy)Cl(2)](-) was confirmed to be higher than those of other mononuclear platinum(II) complexes. In the present study, two new hetero...

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are a promising technology for environmentally friendly automobiles, among other applications. However, performance losses due to oxygen transport hindrances in the PEFC’s cathode continue to be an issue in widespread commercialization. This dissertation focuses on the transport of oxygen through the thickness of the PEFC cathode, and the effect of the cat...

Aromatic bisabolene derivatives were prepared by two methods involving cross-coupling of organozinc reagents. The first synthesis of (+/-)-glandulone A (10), as well as syntheses of (+/-)-curcuhydroquinone (8) and (+/-)-curcuquinone (9), were accomplished via coupling of a secondary alkyl zinc reagent (1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenylzinc halide, 18) to protected bromohydroquinones using Pd(dppf)Cl(2) as...