The Effectiveness of TiO2-Loaded Air-Cathode in a Floating Microbial Fuel Cell

This study shows the effectiveness of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) on a floating microbial fuel cell (FMFC). In the experiment, when a UV cutoff filter attached halogen lamp was used, the power density of the FMFC using pristine TiO₂ (P25) and the FMFC using TiO₂ sintered at 650 °C were was 2.11mW/m2 and 10.44 mW/m2 respectively. Next, when measured without UV cutoff filter, pristine TiO₂ type FMFC and 650°C sintered TiO₂ type FMFC recorded 2.93 mW/m2 and 11.93 mW/m2 respectively. From this result, it was confirmed that the power density was improved up to five times when the UV cutoff filter was used and four times when it was not used. According to the results of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), 650°C sintered TiO₂ is composed of more rutile phase than pristine TiO₂.

Protein crystallography beamline BL2S1 at the Aichi synchrotron

The protein crystallography beamline BL2S1, constructed at one of the 5 T superconducting bending-magnet ports of the Aichi synchrotron, is available to users associated with academic and industrial organizations. The beamline is mainly intended for use in X-ray diffraction measurements of single-crystals of macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Diffraction measurements for crystals of other materials are also possible, such as inorganic and organic compounds. BL2S1 covers the energy range 7–17 keV (1.8–0.7 Å) with an asymmetric-cut curved single-crystal monochromator [Ge(111) or Ge(220)], and a platinum-coated Si mirror is used for vertical focusing and as a higher-order cutoff filter. The beamline is equipped with a single-axis goniometer, a CCD detector, and an open-flow cryogenic sample cooler. High-pressure protein crystallography with a diamond anvil cell can also be performed using this beamline.