Abstract: The inventive method for depositing silicon onto a substrate firstly involves the introduction of a reactive silicon-containing gas and hydrogen into the plasma chamber and then the initiation of the plasma. After initiating the plasma, only reactive silicon-containing gas or a gas mixture containing hydrogen is supplied to the plasma chamber in an alternatively continuous manner, and the gas mixture located inside the chamber is, at least in part, simultaneously withdrawn from the chamber. From the start, homogeneous microcrystalline silicon is deposited onto the substrate in the presence of hydrogen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for operating an IGCC power plant, wherein the coal gas from a gasifier, comprising CO and hydrogen, is supplied to at least one shift stage, wherein this is converted primarily into CO2 and hydrogen and the coal gas is subjected to at least one gas cleaning step. The coal gas is conducted over a membrane, which at least partially selectively separates the hydrogen from the coal gas. In order to achieve driving potential in the membrane, a flushing gas is used on the permeate side. The hydrogen depleted retentate is fed to a CO2 conditioning process, while the separated hydrogen is fed together with the flushing gas to a gas turbine as fuel gas. The flushing gas used for the membrane is a component of the waste gas produced in the gas turbine after the waste gas has left the waste heat recovery boiler, which is connected downstream of the gas turbine. In the power plant, the gas turbine also functions as a means for providing the flushing gas.

Abstract: A genetically modified cyclic-nucleotide controlled ion channels where the subunits thereof are altered in such a manner that they have a higher sensitivity for cAMP in relation to cGMP in comparison with the Wildtype according to Seq ID No. 1 and 2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing solar cells comprising at least one p-i-n layer sequence containing micro-crystalline layers with the aid of a PECVD method. Said method is characterised in that all layers of the p-i-n layer sequence are deposited in a single-chamber process. The electrodes are interspaced at a distance of between 5 and 15 mm and the gas is distributed by means of a shower-head gas inlet, which guarantees a homogeneous distribution of the gas over the substrate. SiH4 gas streams with values of between 0.01 and 3 sccm/cm2 are added with a process pressure of between 8 and 50 hPa. The heater temperature is set at between 50 and 280° C. and the HF output is between 0.2 and 2 watt/cm2. The H2 gas streams have values of between 0.3 and 30 sccm/cm2, in particular between 0.3 and 10 sccm/cm2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detector for determining the position and/or energy of photons and/or charged particles. Said detector comprises a plurality of diodes made of a semi-conductor material, n-contacts (1) and p-contacts (4), the n-contacts being provided by dividing an n-layer into individual segments. Said segments of the n-layer are 20-500 ?m wide. Said detectors are produced by diffusing ions on the side of the semi-conductor material in order to produce an n-contact. A metallic layer is metallized thereon. Trenches are etched between the segments by means of lithography for the segmentation thereof. The inventive detector is high-powered and inter alia enables a high local resolution and high counting rates.

Abstract: A silicon on insulator (SOI) substrate is converted into a strained SOI substrate by first providing an SOI substrate having a thin silicon layer and an insulator and at least one first epitaxial relaxing layer on the SOI-substrate. Then a defect region is produced in a layer by implantation of SI ions above the silicon layer of the SOI-substrate. Finally the first layer is relaxed by a thermal treatment in an inert atmosphere to simultaneously strain the silicon layer of the SOI-substrate via dislocation mediated strain transfer and to produce the strained silicon layer directly on the insulator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for desynchronizing neuronal brain activity. According to the invention, the activity in at least two partial zones of a brain area or at least two functionally related brain areas is reset by means of two electrodes, surprisingly resulting in desynchronization in the targeted population of neurons of the patient and the symptoms being repressed. The inventive device comprises at least two stimulation electrodes (2) which are triggered by a control mechanism so as to cause synchronization in the local environment thereof. Preferably, the stimuli of the N electrodes are essentially out of phase by 1/N.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composite membrane for selective gas separation, comprising a layer system having a through-and-through porous, mechanically stable carrier layer, which has an average pore size in the ?m range, further having at least one through-and-through porous intermediate layer, which is disposed on the carrier layer and has an average pore size in the range between 2 and 200 nm, and further having a gas-tight functional layer, which is disposed on the intermediate layer and is made of mixed-conductive material having a maximum layer thickness of 1 ?m. The carrier layer comprises structural ceramics, a metal or a cermet and has a layer thickness of no more than 1 mm. The intermediate layer is present in a total layer thickness of no more than 100 ?m and has an average pore size in the range of 10 and 100 nm. The functional layer comprises a perovskite, a fluorite, or a material having a K2NiF4structure, such as La1-xSrxCo1-yFeyO3-?(LSCF).

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic bearing element having at least one annular permanent magnet (2, 3) that is surrounded by an annular binding band (5), which element is characterized in that the permanent magnet (2, 3) is divided at least one location (4) and spaced apart there.

Abstract: Alloys containing aluminium are characterised by an outstanding oxidation resistance at high temperatures, that is based on, inter alia, the formation of a thick and slow-growing aluminium oxide layer on material surfaces. If the formation of the aluminium oxide layer reduces the aluminium content of the alloy so far that a critical aluminium concentration is not reached, no other protective aluminium oxide layer can be formed. This leads disadvantageously to a very rapid breakaway oxidation, and the destruction of the component. This effect is stronger at temperatures above 800° C. due to the fact that, often at this point, metastable Al2O3 modifications, especially ?- or ?-Al2O3, are formed instead of ?-Al2O3 that is generally formed at high temperatures. The above-mentioned oxide modifications are disadvantageously characterised by significantly higher growth rates.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating trivalent americium from trivalent curium, coming from an aqueous solution containing at least these cations, wherein, at an acid concentration of 0.01 mol/l-0.3 mogl/l, the aqueous solution is brought into contact with an organic solvent containing a bis(aryl)dithiophosphinic acid having the formula (4) where R1=phenyl or naphthyl R2=phenyl or naphthyl, and radicals of R1 and R2 substituted by at least one methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl-, cyano, nitro, or halo substituent, and containing a synergist having the formula (5) where X and/or Y and/or Z is R or RO, wherein R is branched or unbranched alkyl.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleotide sequences of coryneform bacteria that encode proteins that are involved in the biosynthesis of L-serine and to a method for producing L-serine. According to the invention, at least 79 amino acids at the C terminus of the wild-type serA sequence are deleted, thereby producing a 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase having a reduced feedback inhibition by L-serine vis-à-vis the wild-type sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a structured application of molecules on a strip conductor and to a molecular memory matrix. The inventive method makes it possible, for the first time, to economically and simply apply any number of molecular memory elements on the strip conductor in a structured and targeted way, thereby making available, also for the first time, a memory matrix at a molecular level.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the activation of a fuel cell. An exemplary method comprises operating the fuel cell entirely or partially at least briefly in an electrolysis regimen during galvanic operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anode for a high-temperature fuel cell having an anode substrate and/or a functional anode layer, comprising a porous ceramic structure having a first predominantly electron-conducting phase with the general empirical formula Sr1-xLnxTiO3 wherein Ln=Y, Gd to Lu and 0.03<x<0.2, and having a second predominantly ion-conducting phase component comprising yttrium or scandium-stabilized zirconium dioxide (YSZ or ScSZ). In the anode substrate and/or the functional anode layer, the ratio by volume of the first phase to the second phase ranges from 80:20 to 50:50, and particularly from 70:30 to 60:40. The porosity of the entire anode ranges between 15 and 50% by volume. The anode additionally comprises a catalyst in the amount of no more than 15% of the total volume, which is disposed on the surface of the pores of the ceramic structure.

Abstract: In low-temperature fuel cells according to prior art, the problem often arises that the diffusion layer of the cathode is filled by water which is permeated or produced on the cathode, such that oxygen can no longer be transported to the catalyst layer of the cathode in a frictionless manner. As a result, said fuel cells are regularly used with a high excess of oxygen in order to reduce the cited transport problems for the oxygen. The inventive fuel cell enables said problem to be solved in that the arrangement of the diffusion layer and the catalyst layer of the cathode is inverted. The diffusion layer, which is embodied in such a way as to also conduct ions, is directly adjacent to the electrolyte membrane. The catalyst layer oriented towards the free cathode space can advantageously directly react with the supplied oxygen without further transport problems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the microbial production of L-valine in which the dihydroxy acid-synthase (ilvD) activity and/or the ilvD gene expression is intensified in a microorganism. As an alternative or in combination with this, the acetohydroxy acid-synthase (ilvBN) activity and isomeroreductase (ilvC) activity and/or the ilvBNC gene expression are intensified in a microorganism. The process according to the invention preferably makes use of microorganisms in which the activity of at least one enzyme that is involved in a metabolic pathway that reduces the formation of L-valine is weakened or eliminated. Thus, for instance, the process according to the invention preferably makes use of microorganisms having a defect mutation in the threonine dehydratase (ilvA) gene and/or a defect mutation in one or more genes of the pantothenate synthesis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor comprising a substrate, a source contact region, a drain contact region, and the gate oxide of a transistor. A gate electrode is disposed between the gate oxide and a detection electrode made of a nonconducting material. The contact area Asens between the gate electrode and the detection electrode is larger than the contact area Agate between the gate electrode and the gate oxide, whereby the receptor can be immobilized on the surface of the detection electrode in a technically simple manner while the small contact area Agate between the gate electrode and the transistor provides for high sensitivity for detecting the analyte. According to the inventive method for detecting at least one analyte, at least one analyte is brought into contact with a receptor immobilized at the detection electrode so as to modify the electrical charge at the surface of the detection electrode. The analyte is detected by detecting the modified voltage in the transistor.

Abstract: A method for increasing the efficiency of surfactants, broadening the temperature window, and suppressing lamellar mesophases in microemulsions by use of additives that possess at least one water-soluble unit and one hydrophobic unit are added to the microemulsions. The ratio of the number-average molecular weight of water-soluble units to the number-average molecular weight of hydrophobic units is 2 to 1000, the additives being polymers that comprise at least one water-soluble unit that possesses at least one hydrophobic unit on one chain end and/or one hydrophobic unit as a non-terminal substituent and/or at least one hydrophobic unit that is incorporated between the water-soluble units of the polymer.

Abstract: Mass transfer and/or heat transport processes in a fuel-cell stack are controlled by first modeling a selected region of the stack with at least two fluid components separated from one another by solid material. Each fluid component of the selected region is then transformed into a respective auxiliary volume in which all of the fluid components and solid material in the region are assembled additionally and whose outer cell corresponds to that of the region. Then each auxiliary volume is divided into a lattice with individual lattice elements that are linked by references so that linked or coupled lattices result. Finally the exchange between the fluids in the fuel-cell stack is implemented via the references of the respective component lattices.