A Novel Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Structure Based on Metal Photoanode without FTO/ITO

Traditional dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) use FTO/ITO containing expensive rare elements as electrodes, which are difficult to meet the requirements of flexibility. A new type of flexible DSSC structure with all-metal electrodes without rare elements is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a light-receiving layer was prepared outside the metal photoanode with small holes to realize the continuous oxidation-reduction reaction in the electrolyte; Secondly, the processing technology of the porous titanium dioxide (TiO2) film was analyzed. By testing the J–V characteristics, it was found that the performance is better when the heating rate is slow. Finally, the effects of different electrode material combinations were compared through experiments. Our results imply that in the case of all stainless-steel electrodes, the open-circuit voltage can reach 0.73 V, and in the case of a titanium photoanode, the photoelectric conversion efficiency can reach 3.86%.

Geochemical Characterization of Mineralized Pegmatites around Wowyen Areas, Akwanga, Northcentral Nigeria

This study aims to account for the petrogenesis and mineralization of pegmatites around the Wowyen area, northcentral basement complex,Nigeria. Field studies, petrography and whole rock geochemistry (Major oxides were estimated by X-Ray Fluorescence while the trace elements were estimated by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) where the methods adopted. The pegmatites around Wowyen area are emplaced in the remobilized belt of the Nigerian Basement complex. They are predominantly complex pegmatites (rare-metal pegmatites) which are intruded in the biotite-muscovite gneiss while the simple pegmatites intruded more in the migmatitic banded gneiss. The major components of the complex pegmatites are quartz, albite and muscovite and tourmaline.The accessory constituents are garnet; ilmenites; cassiterite-columbitetantalite oxides in contrast to quartz, microcline and biotite of the simple pegmatites. The complex pegmatites show higher peraluminous than the simple pegmatites, however, higher fractionation is observed in the complex pegmatites than the simple pegmatites. The complex pegmatites are rather enriched in rare elements such as Li, Rb, B, Cs, Sn, Nb, Be and Ta and show low ratios in Al/Ga and K/Rb than the simple pegmatites. The pegmatites are likely product of sedimentary origin and originated from post-collisional tectonic event.

Improving the Efficiency of Photoelectronic Converters

The direction of work is the consideration of new principles of solar energy conversion, which involve solving such problems with solar cells as efficiency - what is: the level of efficiency, the high cost of structures associated with the use of rare elements, for example, such as indium and tellurium and mainly the need to use large areas.

Structural deviations in secondary phloem of young shoots of Spiraea beauverdiana near magma volcanoes

We performed a comparative analysis of the internal structure of the secondary phloem of one, two and three-year-old stems of Spiraea beauverdiana growing in extreme conditions of solfataric fields of Golovnin Volcano caldera and Mendeleyev Volcano and in normal conditions. The combination of environmental factors in conditions of solfataric activity, such as high temperatures in the soil and in the near-surface air, as well as saturation with gases toxic to plants, rare elements accumulating in the nearby substrate, and lack of soil moisture, interfere with normal phellogen and cambium activity. Deviations from the normal structure involve changes in the following parameters of the internal structure of a year-old stem of S. beauverdiana. Secondary phloem parameters in the studied habitats are normal, except for the length of the segments of sieve tubes, the height of single-row rays, the length of parenchymal girder; these are shorter in S. beauverdiana stems from volcanos. At two and three years of age in volcanic conditions we see reduction in the width of the secondary phloem (both conductive and non-conductive) and the diameter of the segments of sieve tubes. In samples from Golovnin Volcano we see reduction in tangential diameter, while in the samples from Mendeleyev Volcano it’s the radial diameter. We also see reduction in the height of multiple-row rays. At that age we see changes in the structure of the radial parenchyma; namely, we find no double-row rays in samples from Golovnin Volcano caldera. One of the signs of impact of volcanic activity on the bark structure is development of non-specific anomalies in the internal structure of the S. beauverdiana bark, namely, in the outer bark, or in deeper levels, such as the secondary phloem. That causes sclerification and dilatation of parenchyma, and multiple layers in some tissues.

LCA and LCC of Emerging and Incumbent Technologies on Energy Harvesters

In this study, life cycle assessment and life cycle costing results about piezoelectric and thermoelectric materials for energy harvesters (EHs) are extracted from the literature and evaluated. This study serves as a basis for comparing current EHs with innovative EHs that will be developed within the Horizon 2020 FAST SMART project. FAST—SMART aims at increasing the performance of current EHs while reducing at the same time: The use of rare elements and toxic substances; resources and energy consumption; environmental impact and costs; paving the way for the adoption of new and more environmental-friendly systems for energy harvesting.

Preliminary Studies on Rare Elements Addition and Effect on Oxidation Behaviour of Pack Cementation Coatings Deposited on Variety of Steels at High Temperature

The aim of the paper was to investigate the air oxidation behaviour of pack aluminised steels exposed at 650 °C for 1000 h in static natural air atmosphere. The pack coatings were doped by rare elements such as gadolinium (Gd), cerium oxide (CeO2), and lanthanum (La) in order to enhance the corrosion resistance and plasticity of the deposited layers. In this work, the following steels were used: 16M, T91, VM12, Super 304H, and finally SANICRO25. The results indicated a much higher corrosion resistance in the coated 16M, T91, and VM12 steels; the steels with a higher Cr content than 16 wt % Cr indicated a better behaviour in the uncoated state than in the coated state. However, the observed difference in mass gain between the uncoated and the coated austenitic steels was not enormous. Furthermore, the addition of RE elements to the coating showed some effect in terms of coating thicknesses and differences in the layer structures. The materials prior to testing and after the exposure were investigated using XRD, the SEM X-ray maps with an EDS instrument were used for particular samples to evaluate the phase identifications, element concentrations, microstructure, and chemical composition.

The Effect of Differentiation Processes in Tholeiite-Basalt Melts on the Rare Elements Distribution

Basite magmatism has been manifested repeatedly for a long time in various geodynamic structures within the eastern part of the Siberian platform. In the Middle Paleozoic, it was related to rifting processes, and in the Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic – to the initiation and development of trap syneclises. Differences of the geodynamic regime of magma formation are displayed in the material composition of rocks. This report presents a generalizing study of the petro-geochemical features of the tholeiitic basaltic melts formed in different geodynamic settings. The initial magmas composition changes significantly at different stages of the magmatic system development. Using multicomponent analysis, we reviewed the impact of the fractionation processes of the basal melt, which occurred under various PT conditions, on its material composition. Among the trapp bodies there are powerful differentiated intrusions. A significant change of the composition occurs during the intra-chamber differentiation of the melt in a sequence of rock strata varied from the basic magnesian to felsic alkaline rocks. In the resulting series of rocks, the content of rare elements included in the lattice of the early femic phases decreases, as well as the accumulation of almost all incompatible elements. The evolution of melts of normal alkalinity occurs with an increase of REE content and their insignificant separation. Intrusions that have undergone the stage of high-pressure fractionation in the deep transitional chamber are of particular importance. As a result of such differentiation, a peculiar group of rocks is formed in the cross section of the Middle Paleozoic bodies, such as monzonite-porphyries in one case and anorthosite gabbro-dolerites - in the other. . It is established that the monzoitoid type of differentiation is characterized by accumulation of LREE, LILE and elements of the zirconium group Nb, Ta, Hf and Y. Isolation of anorthosite gabbro-dolerites in the cross-section of bodies, as well as an increase in the content of aluminum, calcium, and strontium in them, is an indication of the anorthositic tendency of magmatic melt differentiation/When the basite-tholeiite melt interacts with the mantle reducing fluid in the deep core, its metallization occurs with the release of drop-liquid separations of native iron up to the formation of its large segregations. Intrusions with a large-scale content of native iron are found among the trap formations of Siberia. All this leads to a decrease in the total concentration and activity of iron in the partially metallized silicate matrix, there is a significant increase in the content of MgO and trace elements-Ni, Co, Cr. The Fe-phase-containing intrusives are characterized by minimal LILE, HFSE, and REE contents. Start your abstract here… 250 to 500 words concise and factual abstract is required. The abstract should include the purpose of research, principal results and major conclusions. References should be avoided, if it is essential, only cite the author(s) and year(s) without giving reference list. Prepare your abstract in this file and upload it into the registration web field.

Petrology of lamprophyric in northern Jirandeh, Iran

This study was performed on the outcrops of lamprophyric lavas found in the north of Jirandeh and east of Lushan in the mountain of Alborz (north of Iran). These lavas has been placed discordantly on the middle Eocene lime..Petrographic observation indicates olivine phenocrysts, green-core alkaline clinopyroxenes, nepheline, abundant biotite, and apatites with flakes. and in the matrix it also contains biotite, olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase.The presence of carbonates, plagioclase and xenocrystals with rounded margins asserts the contamination with continental crust Petrologically, these rocks classify as alkaline lamprophyres of comptonite variety.These rocks can be subsumed under alkaline sodic categories at K2O/Na2O<1 ratio. The rare elements patterns in the rocks, normalized with the primitive mantle, causing partial negative Nb anomalies and showing no blades at the surface. It, therefore, can be indicative of the evidence for an intraplate magmatism with the different degree in the crustal contamination. Geochemistry states the first cause of asthenospheric flow can be occurred at La/Nb<1 and La/Ta 13 ratios, and the presence of garnet can be assumed at 1/8< (Tb/Yb) N ratio in the rocks origin area. In tectonic discrimination diagrams, these rocks fall in the range of intra-continental rift zones. Geochemical analyses indicate that these lamprophyres originate from partial (1%) melting of an OIB-like asthenospheric mantle source of lherzolite garnet nature.

Methodology and algorithm to correct the thermal neutron porosity for the effect of rare elements and rock minerals with high neutron absorption probability

The thermal neutron porosity is routinely acquired in almost every well. When combined with the density, gamma ray and resistivity logs, the basic petrophysical parameters of a reservoir are evaluated. The design of the thermal neutron tool is simple, but its interpretation is complex and affected by the formation constituents. The most challenging situation occurs when the formation contains elements with high absorption probability of the thermal neutrons. The existence of such elements changes the neutron transport parameters and results in a false increase in the measured porosity. The problem is reported by many users throughout the years. In 1993, higher thermal neutron porosity is reported due to the existence of an iron-rich mineral, Siderite, in the Nazzazat and Baharia formations in Egypt. Siderite and all iron-rich minerals have high thermal neutrons absorption probability. Recently, in 2018, high thermal neutron porosity in Unayzah field in Saudi Arabia is also reported due to the existence of few parts per million of gadolinium. Gadolinium is a rare element that has high probability of thermal neutron absorption. Currently, none of the existing commercial petrophysics software(s) have modules to correct the thermal neutron porosity for such effects. This represents a challenge to the petrophysicists to properly calculate the actual reservoir porosity. In this paper, the effects of the rare elements and other minerals with high thermal neutron absorption probability on the thermal neutron porosity are discussed, and a correction methodology is developed and tested. The methodology is based on integrating the tool design and the physics of the neutron transport to perform the correction. The details of the correction steps and the correction algorithm are included, tested and applied in two fields.