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Producing syngas and hydrogen from biofuels is a promising technology in the modern energy. In this work results of authors’ research aimed at design of supported membranes for oxygen and hydrogen separation are reviewed. Nanocomposites were deposited as thin layers on Ni–Al foam substrates. Oxygen separation membranes were tested in CH4 selective oxidation/oxi-dry reforming. The hydrogen separation membranes were tested in C2H5OH steam reforming. High oxygen/hydrogen fluxes were demonstrated. For oxygen separation membranes syngas yield and methane conversion increase with temperature and contact time. For reactor with hydrogen separation membrane a good performance in ethanol steam reforming was obtained. Hydrogen permeation increases with ethanol inlet concentration, then a slight decrease is observed. The results of tests demonstrated the oxygen/hydrogen permeability promising for the practical application, high catalytic performance and a good thermochemical stability.

The Persian didactic poem (mathnawī) served among the Sufis of the classical period as a popular form of presenting their doctrine. The article outlines and analyzes the Sufi poet Farīd al-Dīn ‘Aṭṭār’s four main poems belonging to the end of XII – beginning of XIII centuries: “Book of Mysteries” (Asrār-nāma), “Book of Sorrow” (Muṣ ībat-nāma), “Divine Book”(Ilāhī-nāma) and “The Language of the Birds”(Mantiq al-ṭayr). The author examines systematically the composition, the plot and the content of them, showing the principle of their construction, which is the combination the “explicit” (narrative) and “hidden” (Sufi) levels of meaning. Taking this into account the author offers an interpretation of the general Sufi theme, that is the search for and knowledge of God.

Design of oxygen and hydrogen separation membranes is the point of current interest in producing syngas from biofuels. Nanocomposites with a high mixed ionic-electronic conductivity are known to be promising materials for these applications. This work aims at studying performance of oxygen and hydrogen separation membranes based on nanocomposites PrNi0.5Co0.5O3-δ + Ce0.9Y0.1O2-δ and Nd5.5WO11.25-δ + NiCu alloy, respectively. A high and stable performance promising for the practical application was demonstrated for these membranes. For oxygen separation membrane CH4 conversion is up to 50% with H2 content in the outlet feed being up to 25% at 900 °C. For reactor with hydrogen separation membrane complete EtOH conversion was achieved at T ∼ 700 °C even at the highest flow rate, and a high hydrogen permeation (≥1 ml H2 cm−2 min−1) was revealed.

Euchromatic segments of the X chromosomes of placental mammals are the most conservative elements of the karyotype, only rarely subjected to either inter- or intrachromosomal rearrangements. Here, using microdissection-derived set of region-specific probes of Terricola savii we detailed the evolutionary rearrangements found in X chromosomes in 20 vole species (Arvicolinae, Rodentia). We show that the evolution of X chromosomes in this taxon was accompanied by multiple para- and pericentric inversions and centromere shifts. The contribution of intrachromosomal rearrangements to the karyotype evolution of Arvicolinae species was approximately equivalent in both the separate autosomal conserved segments and the X chromosomes. Intrachromosmal rearrangements and structural reorganization of the X chromosomes was likely accompanied by an accumulation, distribution, and evolution of repeated sequences.

Novel and stable to carbonization nanocomposite materials based upon Pr2−xNiO4+δ, Pr1−xSmxNi1−yCoyO3−δ and YDC were synthesized via Pechini route and ultrasonic dispersion, and were sintered using conventional and advanced (microwave, e-beam) techniques. Their real/nano structure and transport properties were characterized by sophisticated methods. Nanocomposites have high oxygen mobility due to cooperative mechanism of migration for Pr2−xNiO4+δ and fast channel of diffusion for nanocomposites due to Pr cations’ incorporation into YDC. Power density values of single SOFCs were up to 0.5 W/cm2 at 700 °C, being comparable with that for state-of-the-art cathodes. For oxygen separation membranes, high and stable performance was demonstrated.

This chapter reviews recent advances in developing intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells; oxygen and hydrogen separation membranes; and methods for obtaining advanced oxide, nanocomposite, and nanostructured materials for such devices. All the materials were synthesized by novel methods and characterized by sophisticated techniques. High ionic conductivity and improved oxygen/protonic mobility and surface reactivity were demonstrated. A new approach to building the functional layers was developed. A high-power density of single-button fuel cells in the intermediate-temperature range was reached. Oxygen and hydrogen separation membranes demonstrated promising and stable performance due to fast ionic transport and high catalytic activity of the materials concerned.

Progress in design of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is based upon application of new materials and deposition techniques. In this work traditional NiCrAl bond coat YSZ top coat were deposited on Ni superalloy substrate by inexpensive dry detonation spraying, while finishing layers of oxide nanocomposites (LaAlO3–La2Zr2O7, LaAlO3–LaCuAl11O19) were deposited on YSZ by slip casting. Complex oxides were prepared via Pechini route. Thin (~ 20 μm) finishing layers were deposited by slip casting of suspensions of oxides mixture in isopropanol with addition of polyvinylbutyral. Genesis of the texture, composition and real/defect structure of bulk nanocomposite materials and deposited layers after annealing in air up to 1300 °C as well as after series of thermal shocks by heating up to 1200 °C by H2–O2 burner were studied by combination of diffraction (high resolution SEM and TEM with EDX, XRD on synchrotron radiation) and spectroscopic (UV–Vis, EXAFS, laser-excited Dy3 + luminescence spectra) methods. Thermal conductivity of nanocomposites and TBCs was determined by using NETZSCH LFA 457 MicroFlash. Nanocomposites were shown to retain porosity as well as nanosizes of disordered domains of oxide phases even after sintering at high temperatures. A good adhesion and compatibility of all layers in TBCs were demonstrated, while in general disordering of the oxides structure in deposited layers was higher than that in bulk materials due to the effect of depositing procedure and interaction between layers. This provides a low thermal conductivity of nanocomposites and functionally graded TBC. After 90 thermal shocks neither layers spallation nor cracks were revealed, 8YSZ and finishing layers retaining porosity, nanocrystallinity and disordering required for a low thermal conductivity and cracks trapping.

Mixed nanocrystalline Ce-Zr-O oxides (Ce/Zr = 1 or 7/3) were prepared by modified Pechini route using ethylene glycol solutions of metal salts. Detailed characterization of their real structure and surface properties by X-ray diffraction on synchrotron radiation with the full-profile Rietveld analysis, high resolution electron microscopy with elemental analysis, Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a high homogeneity of cations distribution in nanodomains resulting in stabilization of disordered cubic phase. This provides a high dispersion of NiO loaded on these mixed oxides by wet impregnation, a high reactivity and mobility of oxygen in these catalysts and strong interaction of Ni with support in the reduced state. This helps to achieve a high activity and coking stability of developed catalysts in CH4 dry reforming in feeds with CH4 concentration up to 15% and CH4/CO2 ratio =1.

Mixed nanocrystalline ceria-zirconia oxides doped with praseodymium containing 5, 7.5, 10, and 12.5 wt. % nickel were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation of the oxide support. Complex physicochemical characterization by X-ray diffraction analysis, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed CO revealed that the nickelcontaining samples are comprised of a solid solution of praseodymium, cerium and zirconium oxides with the fluorite structure as well as nickel oxide particles with a size up to 100 nm. All prepared nanocomposite catalysts show a high catalytic activity in the water-gas shift reaction. The optimum content of nickel in the catalyst providing the maximum activity was found to be 10 wt. %. A high oxygen mobility in these catalysts estimated by the temperature-programmed oxygen isotope heteroexchange with C18O2 provides required coking stability. To eliminate local overheating of the catalyst and decrease the pressure drop in the reactor, as required for further up-scaling, the active component was supported on a metal plate made of Ni-Al foam alloy. At a fixed contact time, the same level of CO conversion with a fraction of the active component was achieved with an approximately 50 wt% loading on the support.

Open cell metal foams made from Ni, Fe–Cr steel and Ni–Al intermetallic were studied as candidate catalyst supports for the internal indirect methane steam reforming. All the samples exhibited good corrosive resistance during 500–1000 h testing in H2–H2O–Ar environment at 600 °C. NiO/8YSZ composite based catalysts doped with fluorite-like (Pr0.3Ce0.35Zr0.35O2) or perovskite-like (La0.8Pr0.2Mn0.2Cr0.8O3) complex oxides with high lattice oxygen mobility and promoted with Pt or Ru were prepared and deposited on the foam-structure supports. Both good catalyst adhesion and stable catalyst performance were achieved in the case of the Ni–Al foam supported catalysts. The Fe–Cr support reacted with the catalytic active components resulting in fast catalyst deactivation. The foam supported catalyst performance was compared with the same catalyst prepared in a form of 0.25 mm fraction. Porous supports with different porosities were prepared by the metal foam deformation and the catalyst performance depending on the support porosity (75–95%) was studied.