Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for synthesizing one or more chemical products from a renewable oil, comprising the step of flowing a fluid which comprises a renewable oil through a high voltage electrical field effective to catalyze a chemical reaction involving the renewable oil. Examples of renewable oils include vegetable oils, animal fats, bio-oils, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the fluid further comprises an alcohol mixed with the oil, and the chemical reaction produces biodiesel and an etherified glycerin. In one embodiment, the biodiesel is further reacted to produce acetic acid.

Abstract: The invention provides a nanostructure including an anodized film including nanoholes. The anodized film is formed on a substrate having a surface including at least one material selected from the group consisting of semiconductors, noble metals, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and carbon. The nanoholes are cut completely through the anodized film from the surface of the anodized film to the surface of the substrate. The nanoholes have a first diameter at the surface of the anodized film and a second diameter at the surface of the substrate. The nanoholes are characterized in that either a constriction exists at a location between the surface of the anodized film and the surface of the substrate, or the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

Abstract: A sliding member having excellent seizure resistance comprising a metallic member provided with a sulfide-based solid lubricating layer on the sliding surface thereof is provided, characterized in that the interface of the metallic member in contact with said solid lubricating layer is provided with a surface roughness Rmax of 1 &mgr;m or higher. The sliding member above is obtained by preparing an aqueous solution dissolved therein one or two types or more of thiocyanates or thiosulfates of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, and by performing electrolytic treatment in which a steel member the surface roughness thereof is controlled is used as the anode. In this manner, an iron sulfide based layer is formed on the surface of the steel member by using the Fe component derived from the steel and the S component from the solution as the reacting agents.

Abstract: A colored anodic coating for use on surfaces of substrates, e.g. aluminum substrates in which it is desirable to maintain a high solar absorptance (a) and a high infrared emittance (e), particularly in low earth orbit space environments. This anodic coating is preferably a dark colored coating, and even more preferably a black coating. This coating allows a touch temperature within an acceptable design range to preclude burning of an astronaut in case of contact, but also allows a solar radiation absorption in an amount such that an a/e ratio of unity is achieved. The coating of the invention comprises a first layer in the form of an acid anodized colored anodic layer for achieving a high solar absorptance and a second or high emittance layer in the form of a clear acid anodized layer for achieving a high emittance. The entire coating is quite thin, e.g. 1-2 mils and is quite stable in a hostile space environment of the type encountered in a low earth orbit.