Abstract: Hybrid semiconductor materials have an inorganic semiconductor incorporated into a hole-conductive fluorene copolymer film. Nanometer-sized particles of the inorganic semiconductor may be prepared by mixing inorganic semiconductor precursors with a steric-hindering coordinating solvent and heating the mixture with microwaves to a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent.

Abstract: In order to synthesize semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) with molecular sieve characteristics, polyetherimide/bismaleimide (PEI/BMI) chromophore composites were made through sol-gel technique. A tunable and compatible chemical structure with fine morphology was obtained through in situ controlled sol-gel polymerization, crosslinking, chemical modification and membrane fabrication. The novel semi-IPN, synthesized and assembled by using ethanol as polar protic modifier and pore former, had a superior structure and morphology suitable for making gas separation membranes. These semi-IPN membranes gave fifteen times higher gas flux without significant decrease in their gas permselectivity than membranes prepared from pure PEL The chemical structures of these novel semi-IPNs were characterized by using FTIR, XPS and SEM.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to cross-linkable composites of boronic acid or a boronic acid derivative such as a boronate, and an organic or organo-metallic moiety having a functionality such as hole transporting, electron transporting and light emitting, to cross-linked composites and to methods for making same. Multi-layer materials and optoelectronic devices including such cross-linked composites are also disclosed.

Abstract: Ether nitrile co-polymers containing sulfonic acid groups, including wholly aromatic poly(aryl ether ether nitrile)s containing sulfonic acid groups (SPAEEN)s, and poly(phthalazinone ether ketone nitrile) co-polymers containing sulfonic acid groups (SPPEKN)s, intended for fuel cells applications as proton conducting membrane materials, were prepared.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to novel materials of the general formula (Sr1-1.5xM1x)1-y/2Ti1-yM2yO3??[I] wherein M1 is a first trivalent dopant metal atom replacing some of the strontium atoms on a strontium sub-lattice, x is a mole percent of said dopant atoms M1 on the strontium sublattice and 0<x?0.04, and M2 is a second pentavalent dopant metal atom replacing some titanium atoms on a titanium sublattice, y is a mole percent of said dopant atoms M2 on the titanium sublattice and 0<y?0.2. Also disclosed is a novel reduced form of the compounds of formula I, ie. compounds of formula (Sr1-1.5xM1x)1-y/2Ti1-yM2yO3-? II. The variability in oxygen content between the oxidized and reduced forms of these compounds corresponds to 0<??0.7. These novel compounds maintained a stable single phase at both high and low oxygen partial pressures. Also disclosed is a solid oxide fuel cell including an anode made of the novel compounds of formula I.

Abstract: A new series of wholly aromatic poly(arylene ether ether ketone ketone)s containing pendant sulfonic acid groups (SPAEEKK) were conveniently prepared by potassium carbonate mediated nucleophilic polycondensation reactions of inexpensive commercially available monomers: 1,3-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene (BFBB), sodium 6,7-dihydroxy-2-naphthalenesulfonate (DHNS), and 4,4?-biphenol or hydroquinone in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) at 170° C. FT-IR and NMR were used to characterize the structures and the sulfonate or sulfonic acid contents (SC) of the polymers. Flexible membrane films were obtained by casting N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solutions of copolymers. Membrane films in acid form were then obtained by treating the sodium form membrane films in 2 N sulfuric acid at room temperature. Glass transition temperatures (Tgs) and decomposition temperatures (Tds) of SPAEEKKs in both sodium and acid forms were determined. Water uptake and swelling ratio values increased with SCs and temperatures.

Abstract: The synthesis of Pt and PtRu and other Pt based nano-particles that catalyze the electrochemical oxidation of methanol, carbon monoxide and hydrogen, as well as oxygen reduction, is described. The Pt based catalysts are synthesized in solution forming particles of 0.8 to 10 nm size (forming a “colloidal” solution) and are subsequently applied to a desired substrate as e.g., carbon black, graphite, metals. The application of the nano-sized catalyst particles on the substrates involves electroless deposition at open-circuit, such as immersing the substrate into the colloidal solution or spraying the catalyst particles on the substrate. The Pt, PtRu and other Pt based catalyst can also be directly deposited on the substrate involving the simultaneous reduction and deposition of the Pt based catalysts onto the substrate surface and into its porous structure.

Abstract: Fluorinated comb co-polymers have a main chain including a semi-rigid hydrophobic fluorinated poly(ether) backbone and comb segments in the form of flexible and monodisperse side chains that are more hydrophilic than the backbone. The side chains may be hydrophilic polymeric chains obtained from “living-type” polymerization, for example polymethacrylates, polyethylene oxides, polystyrenes. Hydrophilic functionality, for example, ionic groups may be selectively introduced onto the side chain post polymerization. The side chain may be sulfonated ?-methyl polystyrene. Such polymers are useful in proton exchange membranes.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for recovering non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL) from regions below ground where NAPL spills are sources of aquifer contamination. The apparatus includes a system to supply gas-supersaturated liquid, a system of ground wells in fluid communication with the contaminated ground water region (source of contamination) and with an above-ground NAPL recovery system, said system of wells including an injection well in fluid communication with the system to supply gas-supersaturated liquid and with the contaminated region below ground, an extraction well in fluid communication with the contaminated region below ground and with the NAPL recovery system, wherein the NAPL is in the gaseous phase or gas-mobilized non-volatile liquid phase or both, and a pump for delivering the gas-supersaturated liquid to the vicinity of the contaminated region below ground.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell design is disclosed for the particular application of the electrochemical treatment of contaminants in water. The cell is designed to allow the treatment of low concentrations of contaminants in low conductivity water efficiently, and to be simple to fabricate. The design incorporates tapered inlet and outlet fluid flow manifolds so that the cell pressure drop will be almost entirely due to fluid contacting the electrodes, thus maximising the effective use of the system pump power. A short anode to cathode distance and thin working electrodes are used to minimise resistive electrical power losses. The parallel slacked arrangement of the electrodes and the smooth inlet and outlet designs leads to relatively even distributions of current density and mass transfer resulting in maximal utilisation of the entire active electrode surface area.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nanocomposite comprising a nano-reinforcing material (e.g., layered clay), a polymer matrix (e.g., a polyolefin), and, an epoxy-functionalized graft polymer compatible with the polymer matrix (e.g., epoxy-grafted polyolefin). Such nanocomposites are useful in the fabrication of a variety of materials including parts for the transportation and packaging industries, electronics, business equipment, building and construction materials.

Abstract: A series of noble metal organometallic complexes of the general formula (I): MLaXb(FBC)c, wherein M is a noble metal such as iridium, ruthenium or osmium, and L is a neutral ligand such as carbonyl, alkene or diene; X is an anionic ligand such as chloride, bromide, iodide and trifluoroacetate group; and FBC is a fluorinated bidentate chelate ligand such as beta diketonate, beta-ketoiminate, amino-alcoholate and amino-alcoholate ligand, wherein a is an integer of from zero (0) to three (3), b is an integer of from zero (0) to one (1) and c is an 10 integer of from one (1) to three (3). The resulting noble metal complexes possess enhanced volatility and thermal stability characteristics, and are suitable for chemical vapor deposition(CVD) applications. The corresponding noble metal complex is formed by treatment of the FBC ligand with a less volatile metal halide.

Abstract: A process for preparing a fluorinated poly(arylene ether) comprising the repeating unit: wherein n provides a molecular weight up to about 30,000 to 100,000, X represents one of following groups: none, ketone, sulfone, sulfide, ether, hexafluoroisopropylidene, ??-perfluoroalkylene, oxadiazole, and Y is 4,4?-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)-diphenyl, 4,4?-isopropylidene diphenyl, 3,3?-isopropylidene diphenyl, phenyl, or chlorinated phenol which process comprises reacting a bis(pentafluorophenyl) compound and a bisphenol or hydroquinone in the presence of a dehydrating agent and a polar aprotic solvent is disclosed. Polymers resulting from the process show good promise as new passive optic polymer waveguide materials.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to an electrochemical process for decreasing high levels of organic contaminants in metal plating baths. The process involves breaking down the organic contaminants in an electrochemical cell by electrochemical oxidation. The electrochemical cell includes an anode comprising an active material which is stable at low (acid) pH and at the high electrical potential required to break down the organic contaminants by oxidation. Typical examples of such anodes include a valve metal substrate coated with doped tin dioxide, lead dioxide, or platinum-based materials, the latter in some instances being coated on a high surface area valve metal substrate.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a method and apparatus for solid phase microextraction of target analytes from solid or fluid samples. The apparatus comprises gas tight enclosure means, means for introducing a sample including target analytes into the enclosure means, and means located within the enclosure means for extracting the target analytes from the sample, wherein the extraction means either samples a head space near the sample or samples the sample directly.

Abstract: A rotary nozzle for compressed air foam (CAF) has a barrel mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. The barrel is mounted to a CAF supply conduit and has a cross-sectional area substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of the conduit. Two non-equal orifices in the barrel, located on the opposite sides of the axis of rotation, distribute CAF such that it covers an almost complete, typically a circular area on the ground.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to a compound of molecular formula LixCryMn2−yO4+z, wherein 2.2<x<4, 0<y<2 and z≧0, and to the use of this compound as a cathode material in secondary lithium and lithium ion cells.

Abstract: An improved tube probe for measuring volatile compounds in a liquid or gas contained in a reactor or in any other environment is disclosed. The probe is made of a single piece of metal, to one end of which is attached a gas permeable tubing, threaded on a supporting plate. The plate permits to use of a variety of tube lengths and diameters while protecting the tube from mechanical stress due to agitation and aeration. Furthermore, the plate gives the possibility to have a longer permeable tube than the single loop probe approach. The probe is designed so that when in use, substantially only the tube is located inside the reactor. The volatile compounds permeate into the tube into the carrier gas and the carrier gas+volatiles mixture is carried to a detector through a channel provided in the probe body. The probe is economical to make and to maintain, while achieving high performance.

Abstract: The invention disclosed relates to intrinsically bacteriostatic synthetic polymer membranes, and to process for the manufacture thereof. In one embodiment, bacteriostatic metal ions are attached to a surface of a preformed synthetic polymer membrane by static adsorption/adsorption and reduced to the metal in situ. In another embodiment, the instrinsically bacteriostatic membranes are formed by providing a casting solution of a membrane forming synthetic polymer and bacteriostatic metal ions, and casting into a bath containing a reducing agent for the metal ions to form the membrane containing the metal ions incorporated therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new system for generating recombinant adenovirus vectors and adenovirus-based expression libraries, by positive selection of recombinants deleted for the endogenous protease gene, which gene is expressibly cloned into another region of the adenoviral genome. In a preferred embodiment, the invention allows positive selection of E1-deleted, protease-deleted recombinant adenovirus vectors comprising an exogenous gene or an expressible piece of exogenous DNA, by providing an expression cassette comprising the protease gene and the exogenous DNA inserted in place of E1 region in a shuttle vector. In vivo recombination of the shuttle vector with a protease-deleted adenoviral genome in suitable non-complementing cells generates viable recombinants only when rescuing the protease cloned in E1 region. Non-recombinant viral genomes are not able to grow due to the deletion of the protease gene, ensuring that only recombinant viral plaques are generated.